Lokesh accuses parties of trying to defame TD

Hyderabad: Nara Lokesh, Telugu Desam’s youth leader, accused the Congress, YSRC and other parties of deliberately targeting and indulging in a misinformation campaign to defame the Telugu Desam and his father N. Chandrababu Naidu.

“Telugu Desam is being targeted by ruling Congress, YSRC and others. The state which developed under the leadership of Mr Naidu is now in tatters,” he alleged. 

Mr Lokesh said Mr Naidu who was born into agricultural family is always concerned about the welfare of farmers.

“Some people have launched a disinformation campaign against my father, saying that he had called agriculture a waste. This is absolutely false. We are committed to the welfare of farmers,” he said. Mr Nara Lokesh, who is trying to step into his father’s shoes, asked the youth to come forward and join politics to ensure good governance like in Gujarat.

He alleged that AP has regressed in development by a decade due to dirty politics. Gujarat has overtaken State on the developmental front, he added.

In another development, Mr Chandra-babu Naidu demanded that the state government stop fixing the controversial high security number plates on vehicles till a high level probe goes into the allegation of overcharging for the plates by the agency.

In a letter to the Chief Minister he had demanded a probe by the ACB or Vigilance Department into the transaction between the government and the contractor.

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YSRC submits affidavit for united Andhra Pradesh to Pranab Mukherjee

Hyderabad: After submitting affidavits to President Pranab Mukherjee opposing the division of Andhra Pradesh, YSRC president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy appealed to MLAs belonging to the TD and the Congress, to follow suit.

A YSRC delegation led by Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy met the President Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday at Rashtrap-athi Nilayam at Bollaram for a united Andhra Pradesh.

Later, speaking to media, Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy said 23 MLAs, 3 MPs and 5 MLCs gave affidavits. Transcending party lines, he requested MLAs from various other parties to join him in his endeavour for a Samaikyandhra that will make their argument strong in both the court and the Parliament as well. The YSRC?president alleged that the TD chief, Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu,  was preventing his party MLAs from submitting affidavits because he has also to give affidavit in favour of a united state.

Targeting Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy said that though the CM claims to be in favour of a united Andhra Pradesh, his actions prove the opposite.

The CM has sent a circular to all the 56 departments asking for information on the issue of state division. Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy also criticised Assembly speaker Nadendla Manohar for visiting Uttar Pradesh to learn the process involved in its bifurcation. The YSRC?chief said that the CM and the Assembly Speaker are in a hurry for the bifurcate the state.

He asked the Seemandhra MLAs to pass a resolution demanding a united state before the discussion began on Telangana Bill. He said that his party will not allow the discussion on the Telangana Bill in the assembly until it passes a resolution on a united state. Jagan said that his party will circulate a note to the MLAs in the assembly on the problems arising out of the division. Jagan also condemned all allegations that he is splitting the APNGOs union.

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Jaya’s welfare boost to film workers

Chennai: The chief minister has al­located Rs 11.49 lakh for various welfare schemes for the film industry wo­rkers. This move is exp­ected to benefit over 300 film technicians and ot­her workers in the industry, a government release said.

Announcing the welfa­re scheme during the third meeting of the Ci­ne Welfare Board held at the MGR Government Film and Television Tra­ining Institute in Tara­mani, information minister K.T. Rajendra Bal­aji said that the chief minister had also allocated Rs 3.69 crore tow­ards constructing a new buil­ding for Animation and Visual Effects Depa­rtment introduced at the Institute recently.

“The government has also sanctioned Rs 99 lakh for renovating the existing film screening halls in the campus,” a release said. The state government has also allocated `61 crore for constructing a Fine Arts Audit­orium at the Omandurar Government Estate, the release added. 

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Mission accomplished: Snowden

Washington: Just six months after first leaking National Security Agency (NSA) secrets in a move that triggered a revaluation of US surveillance policies, Edward Snowden is declaring “mission’s already accomplished.”

Snowden told The Washington Post in his first in-person interview since his June arrival in Russia, which granted him temporary asylum, that he was satisfied because the public is now informed about the US government’s massive sweep of Internet and phone records.

“For me, in terms of personal satisfaction, the mission’s already accomplished,” he said in the the interview published on Tuesday.

“I already won. As soon as the journalists were able to work, everything that I had been trying to do was validated,” Snowden told the Post.

“Because, remember, I didn’t want to change society. I wanted to give society a chance to determine if it should change itself.”

The NSA’s collection of communications data has grown dramatically since the September 11, 2001 attacks. On Friday, President Barack Obama said he welcomed a debate about the NSA’s role as he weighs possible changes to its broad powers amid a public outcry over rights to privacy. The President said he would make a “pretty definitive statement” in January about how the NSA should be overhauled.

A panel of legal and intelligence experts chosen by the White House has recommended curbing the agency's powers among 46 proposed changes and a federal judge has warned that NSA’s  collection of nearly all Americans' phone records was probably unconstitutional.

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Angela Merkel sworn in as German Chancellor for rare third term

Berlin: Angela Merkel was on Tuesday sworn in as German Chancellor for a rare third term to govern Europe's biggest economy after she painstakingly forged a deal with her centre-left rivals to end three months of post-election limbo.

Merkel, 59, will have a four-year term after being overwhelmingly elected by 462 votes in the Bundestag, the lower house of parliament, where her new left-right coalition holds a comfortable majority.

"I accept the election result and thank you for your trust," said Merkel after the confirmation vote in the Bundestag. Smiling, she received a bouquet of flowers and shook hands with other MPs.

Merkel's conservatives secured a stunning hat-trick win with 41.5 per cent of the vote in the September 22 elections but failed to grab an outright majority, forcing her to enter into lengthy coalition negotiations with initially reluctant centre-left Social Democratic Party (SPD).

Germany's first female chancellor held talks with rival SPD lawmakers, who voted on Sunday to back the 'grand coalition' after her previous junior coalition partners, the Free Democrats, for the first time failed to win any seats in the elections.

Merkel's centre-right Christian Democrats Union (CDU) bloc and the SPD now command a huge majority in the Bundestag with a whopping 504 of the 631 seats. For today's vote, 621 members of parliament were present, of whom 150 voted against Merkel, with nine abstentions.

Lawmakers on Tuesday began the vote by standing for a short memorial to South African peace icon Nelson Mandela who died this month, as Bundestag president Norbert Lammert paid tribute to his example in fighting racism.

Merkel went to the palace of President Joachim Gauck to be confirmed in the post and returned to the Bundestag to be formally sworn in as Germany's only third post-war chancellor to win a third four-year term after her mentor Helmut Kohl (1982-1998) and Konrad Adenauer (1949-1963).

Raising her right hand, Merkel took the oath of office and received a standing ovation from lawmakers before taking the first seat on the new government bench.

The new cabinet will meet for the first time after Merkel's ministers are sworn in, bringing the chancellor back to business in the EU's most industrialised state. Germany's tough stance on fiscal discipline is unlikely to change under the new coalition.

The new government will be slightly to the left of the previous one, in which the CDU were in coalition with the market-oriented Free Democrats (FDP), BBC reported. But the SPD will form a minority part of the government and no one doubts that Merkel will be in charge. As the EU's most populous state, with its biggest economy, Germany dominates decision-making for the eurozone.

Peter Altmaier of the CDU was sworn in as the Head of Chancellery (chief-of-staff). Trusted Merkel ally Wolfgang Schaeuble remains the Finance Minister in the new government, one of 10 CDU politicians in the 16-strong cabinet.

"His name stands for euro stability and I'm glad that he's continuing," Merkel said after news of the new line-up emerged. Other CDU picks include Ursula von der Leyen as the Defence Minister and Thomas de Maiziere as the Interior Minister in the new cabinet that groups CDU, its Bavarian sister party the Christian Social Union (CSU) and the SPD.

For the SPD, party chairman Sigmar Gabriel becomes Economy Minister and deputy chancellor, while Frank-Walter Steinmeier was sworn in as the Foreign Minister. Merkel was obliged to turn to the SPD after the FDP failed to win any seats in the elections, falling short of the five per cent hurdle to enter the Bundestag.

The coalition talks had been the longest for any German government since since World War 2. The CDU and SPD finally signed the deal, a 185-page agreement entitled "Shaping Germany's Future", late last month. 

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India will get back its 'golden age' in ten years: Arvind Kejriwal

New Delhi: Holding out the promise of a "new beginning" in Indian politics, Arvind Kejriwal, who was sworn in as Delhi Chief Minister on Monday, said that in coming ten years India's "golden age" will be "restored".

"In coming ten years, the country will once again live up to its moniker of the golden bird (aane wale das saalon mein desh wapas sone ki chidiya kehlaiga)," Kejriwal said here.

Taking reins of power on Aam Aadmi plank, the new government in Delhi decided to shed vestiges of VIP culture by dispensing with security and red beacon cars for ministers and officials and promising action on free water supply and cutting down of power rates in the next few days. 

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who met officials of various departments shortly after taking oath of office and secrecy, also promised to get back on the issue of the steep increase in the price of compressed and piped natural gas effected on Thursday. He also promised there will be no witch-hunt against officials who work honestly and in people's interest. "No minister or official in Delhi government will be allowed to use red beacon," Kejriwal said after chairing the first cabinet meeting. The cabinet also decided that no Personal Security Officer and escort vehicle will be be provided to any official. "Security is to be allowed based on threat perception," he said.

In a stirring 20-minute speech Kejriwal, who was sworn in on Monday as Chief Minister, asked the people, politicians and bureaucrats to "work together for a greater collective future of the country".

"People of Delhi will have to show it to the people that if we can come together, if all politicians come together and if all officials come together, then there is nothing that we cannot achieve," Kejriwal said drawing a resounding applause.

Wrapped in his usual 'aam aadmi' dress, , Kejriwal in his speech promised to the people a "corruption-free government" and "new style" of governance without "arrogance of power".

No minister or official in Delhi governement will use red beacon, decided Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on his first cabinet meeting.

Read more: Congress, BJP, Left congratulate CM Kejriwal

"Our aim was not to get power, to become CM or ministers but to hand the governance back into the hands of the people Kejriwal asked his minsters and partymen to shun arrogance. "We were born to remove the arrogance of big parties. We should be careful that no other party has to take birth to dismantle us," he said.

Minutes after assuming the reins of power, the 45-year-old Magsaysay award-winner laid out a preliminary roadmap for his government in his speech before holding the first cabinet meet later. 

Chief Minister Kejriwal also asked everyone present at the venue to take a pledge to never indulge in corruption and concluded his speech with a Manna Dey song from the film 'Paigam'.

"Let us all take a pledge from this day to neither take nor give any bribe," he said. "And if anybody asks you for a bribe, don't give it.

Report it to us so that we can catch them red-handed. We will make India corruption-free," he added. 

Aam Aadmi Party convener Arvind Kejriwal arrives at Koshambi metro station. Kejriwal boarded the metro on Monday to take oath as Delhi Chief Minister at the Ramlila Maidan in the national capital as hundreds of people jostled with each other to board the train with him. There was no place to stand in the Metro premises and people were falling over each other as Kejriwal arrived to board the train. Kejriwal waits for the train at Koshambi station. Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and other AAP supporters took the metro train around 11 a.m. Before boarding the train, Kejriwal said, "It is a beginning. The second fight for independence. Till this country gets freedom from corruption, famine and injustice, this fight will continue. It is the victory of the common man."Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung with Arvind Kejriwal and other cabinet ministers at a procession before oath ceremony at Ramlila maidan in New Delhi. "We will start our work the moment our swearing in ceremony is finished", said Kejriwal.Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung administers the oath of office and secrecy to Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi's seventh CM, who is Delhi's youngest CM too, at Ramlila maidan in New Delhi. 45-year-old Kejriwal, a former revenue service official, who scored a stunning debut in electoral politics winning 28 of the 70 seats promises a corruption-free govt and new style of governance without arrogance of power.Kejriwal speaks after taking oath as Delhi Chief Minister. "We were born to remove the arrogance of big parties. We should be wary that no other party has to take birth to dismantle us". On the confidence motion on the floor of Delhi Assembly next week, Kejirwal said his party was not bothered about its fate as "we are not here to grab power".Kejriwal after taking oath as Delhi Chief Minister. "It is not Kejriwal who took oath today but it is the common man. It is the victory of the common man," he said, adding "the road to truth is not easy but full of thorns and we will face all future challenges". Kejriwal during the oath taking ceremony in New Delhi. In his 20 minutes long speech, Kejriwal said, "We don't have solutions to all problems. We don't have a magic wand to solve problems immediately. The fight is very long and we will need the support of people to end corruption in the capital and the country. The main problems in the country arise due to dirty politics and we have to clean it."Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung administers the oath of office and secrecy to AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal as Delhi Chief Minister and party leaders Manish Sisodia, Somnath Bharti, Saurabh Bharadwaj, Girish Soni, Rakhi Birla and Satyendra Jain as cabinet ministers during the oath-taking ceremony at Ramlila maidan in New Delhi.Kejriwal with cabinet ministers Manish Sisodia, Somnath Bharti, Rakhi Birla, Satyendra Jain, Saurabh Bharadwaj, Girish Soni waves after they took oath as ministers administered by Lt Governor Najeeb Jung. "Whether we pass or fail in the test of confidence motion, we are ready to face elections, if we fail. The people will vote us with a huge majority," Kejriwal said to the a huge crowd at the Ramlila Maidan.Arvind Kejriwal signs a document after being sworn-in as Delhi Chief Minister, at Ramlila maidan in New Delhi. Kejriwal had said that AAP's fight is not over till the country is free of corruption.Arvind Kejriwal, center, pays respect at the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi after being sworn in as the chief minister of Delhi, in New Delhi. Tens of thousands of people cheered as the anti-corruption crusader who heads a new political party vowing to uproot graft from Indian politics was sworn in as the chief minister of India's capital.Arvind Kejriwal pays his respect at the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi after being sworn in as the CM of Delhi. "I don't believe that all bureaucrats are corrupt. I will not hesitate in admitting that most officers are honest. It is also a challenge before the bureaucracy to deliver a corruption free regime," Kejriwal said.Arvind Kejriwal, center, leaves after paying respect at the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi. "We had lost all hope and thought that politics is hooliganism and corruption. But in Delhi Assembly elections, people have proved that politics can be done with honesty, elections can be fought and won with honesty," Kejriwal said.A supporter holds a broom, the party symbol of Aam Aadmi Party and greets Arvind Kejriwal, inside car, after the latter was sworn in as the chief minister of Delhi. "I used to suggest Anna Hazare that if we want to clean the system, then we will have to get down in this 'dirty politics'. Hazare was opposed to entering into politics. I told him that we will have to enter it to clean it", said Kejriwal.Arvind Kejriwal addresses the media after assuming the office of the Chief Minister of Delhi in New Delhi. As per decision of first meeting of the cabinet presided by CM Arvind Kejriwal, no minister or official in Delhi Government are allowed to use red beacon, or personal security or escort car. Security to be allowed based on threat perception, Delhi cabinet decides.Arvind Kejriwal talks on a phone as he is seated to assume the office of the Chief Minister of Delhi in New Delhi.Arvind Kejriwal drinks water as he sits to assume the office of the Chief Minister of Delhi in New Delhi.Delhi CM Kejriwal with cabinet ministers before the start of the cabinet meeting at Delhi Secretariat in New Delhi.

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Politicians spotted in different avatars

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Egypt declares Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist group

A supporter of the Muslim Brotherhood runs past burning tyres during clashes with riot police following a protest in Cairo - AFP/File photo

Cairo: Egypt's military-installed government declared the Muslim Brotherhood of ousted president Mohamed Morsi a "terrorist" group Wednesday, banning all its activities, including demonstrations, ministers said after a cabinet meeting.

Deputy prime minister Hossam Eissa said the movement has been declared a "terrorist" group and social solidarity minister Ahmed al-Borei said the government would ban all its activities, including 'protests'.

The decision is likely to accelerate a crackdown on the movement that has killed more than 1,000 people, mostly Islamists, in street clashes and imprisoned thousands since Morsi's overthrow by the military in July.

It comes a day after a suicide car bombing of a police station killed 15 people, in an attack condemned by the Brotherhood and claimed by an Al-Qaeda-inspired group based in the restive Sinai Peninsula.

Morsi's supporters, who continue to organise near-daily demonstrations demanding his reinstatement, insist they are committed to peaceful protest.

Eissa said the government decided to "punish according to the law whoever belongs to this group or remains its member" after the decision was adopted.

Egypt will notify Arab countries who signed a 1998 anti-terrorism treaty of the decision, he added.

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Chief Minister denies misleading centre on Aranmula

Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has refuted the charge that his office had misled the centre on the Aranmula airport project. He said that the Ministry of Environment and Forests was aware of the land filling at the project site even as early as in 2011.

The MoEF had sought a clarification on the reclamation of paddy lands and wetlands at the project site on February 16, 2012. The environment principal secretary, in his report, had stated that the KGS Group had filled the wetlands without securing the necessary approvals.

The charge is that the file had a jotting “to be avoided” against a paragraph indicting the company. The industries minister sent the file back to the environment department stating that advance permission was not required for reclamation. After the stand of the industries minister, the environment secretary did a volte face on the issue. 

The Chief Minister said that the clarification given by the state government on June 26, 2012 had stated that  paddy land had been filled illegally.

But it also pointed out the claim of the promoters that the land was filled by their predecessors. Chandy said that the Expert Appraisal Committee of the MoEF was aware of the land filling by the original owner even earlier.

The EAC, in its report on December 16, 2011 refers to the company’s letter dated June 20, 2011 that mentioned that the original owner of the site had carried out minor developmental works at the site.

Chandy said that this was proof that the EAC had taken into account the land filling issue two months before seeking a clarification from the state.

In the final report given by the EAC on November 18, 2013, it was stated that land filling was the main issue that came up during the public hearing on May 10, 2011.

“All this makes it clear that the EAC was fully aware that land filling had taken place at the project site,” he added.

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Former BBC commentator Coleman dies aged 87

London: Former BBC sports broadcaster David Coleman has died at the age of 87, his family announced today.

Remembered chiefly for his work as an athletics commentator, Coleman worked at the BBC for almost 50 years, covering 11 Olympic Games and six football World Cups.

"We regret to announce the death of David Coleman OBE. After a short illness he died peacefully with his family at his bedside," his family said in a short statement.

The BBC's Director-General, Tony Hall, said: "David Coleman was one of this country's greatest and most respected broadcasters. Generations grew up listening to his distinctive and knowledgeable commentary.

"Whether presenting, commentating or offering analysis, he set the standard for all today's sports broadcasters. Our thoughts are with his family and many friends."

Coleman joined the BBC in 1954 and was affectionately known for on-air blunders that became known as 'Colemanballs'.

He was made an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) by Queen Elizabeth II for services to broadcasting in 1992 and retired in 2000.

In the year of his retirement, he became the first broadcaster to receive an Olympic Order medal to recognise his contribution to the Olympic movement.

Gary Lineker, the former England striker who now works as a BBC presenter, wrote on Twitter: "Sad to hear, David Coleman has died. A giant of sports broadcasting. Brilliant, gifted, precise and concise. Much more than 'one-nil'."(

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Telangana is no cup of joy, Kiran Reddy tells Rahul Gandhi

Hyderabad: On Friday, Chief Ministers of Congress-ruled states and other AICC leaders seemed surprised when Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy urged AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi not to go ahead with the state bifurcation as it would spell disaster for the party in the upcoming general elections.

Reddy also informed the Congress vice-president that public attendance in the thanksgiving meetings that were being organised in Telangana to honour AICC president Sonia Gandhi were also poor. That, coupled with the Narendra Modi wave and the TRS stealing the Congress’ thunder regarding bifurcation, meant that the party could not be sure of securing maximum seats even in Telangana.

Gandhi had convened the party Chief Ministers’ meeting in New Delhi on Friday to ask them to give more impetus to the drive ag-ainst corruption, take up more pro-poor schemes, and to effecti-vely execute the welfare projects taken up by the UPA-II government.

He also wanted to know the ground-level political situations in the respective states, including possibilities of tie-ups with like-minded parties.
Reddy had exclusive talks with Gandhi on the sidelines of the meeting and urged him to reverse the Tela-ngana decision so that he could ensure a respectable number of seats for the Congress in the state upcoming polls.

T meet turnouts poor, says Kiran

Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy said that even the thanksgiving meetings organised by Telangana Congress leaders did not go off well in as the turnouts for the meetings had been poor.

He did not seek an appointment with Congress president Sonia Gandhi this time too. He has not met the party chief since July 12 meeting of the Congress Core Committee, when he had made his presentation for the united AP cause.

Sources said that when Mr Reddy’s turn came to speak in the meeting, he said that with the recent decision by the Centre to carve out Telangana, the political situation in the state had completely changed and there was no guarantee that the Congress would have a respectable showing in the coming elections owing to the bifurcation.

According to him, the Congress would not repeat its 2009 performance in Telangana (50 Assembly and 12 Lok Sabha seats), let alone the landslide win that the party high command was expecting for granting T state.

He reportedly observed that despite his repeated requests to keep the state united, the high command had acted in haste and decided to divide AP. He said that despite his government introducing several schemes, which had significantly decreased the anti-incumbency factor, the bifurcation decision had made matters worse.

He reported that TRS men were claiming credit for creation of Telangana.

He also reportedly informed that the Narendra Modi factor and TRS activists taking credit for the Telangana state were also impacting the Telangana voter.

Mr Reddy informed the leaders that there was widespread resentment in Seemandhra over the bifurcation decision, otherwise things would have been entirely different in the upcoming elections.
Regarding taking up pro-poor measures, particularly the food security scheme, Mr Reddy informed that the AP government had been supplying food grains at Rs 1 per kg. He also distributed a booklet containing various programmes and schemes in this regard.

After keeping mum for sometime, Andhra Pradesh chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy has once again raised voice against the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh to form a separate Telangana. He cautioned millions of farmers in Seemandhra and Telangana regions of the serious consequences of division of the state. According to him, the bifurcation was done without addressing key issues of water, power and infrastructure, which could lead to deficit and bigger problems. He fears the lapses in water distribution would erupt.In Andhra Pradesh, the dams located in one region serve the needs of other region. For example, Srisailam dam is located in Rayalaseema, but it serves the irrigation needs of Rayalaseema, Telangana and Andhra regions. So, Kiran is worried as how can that waters be shared. Telangana comprises 68 pc of the catchment area of the Krishna river and 79 pc catchment area of Godavari river. Utilising these resources for the development of the region will be a big challenge for the state.Andhra Pradesh's major rivers include Godavari, Krishna and Pennar. According to the Krishna tribunal award, Maharashtra gets 560 tmc feet of water, Karnataka 700 TMC and Andhra Pradesh 811 TMC. The Srisailam and Nagarjunasagar dams are central to the Krishna river in Andhra Pradesh. (1 TMC equals 28.3 billion litres).The Nagarjunasagar dam is right on the border of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and caters to the irrigation needs of Andhra and Telangana. Kiran feels the new state would badly hit irrigation projects.Godavari is less exploited as compared with Krishna and most of the water flows into the Bay of Bengal. The Godavari Waters Disputes Tribunal in 1975 awarded 1,480 TMC to Andhra Pradesh, but proponents of separate Telangana are demanding more than 60 pc of that water share.As for agriculture is concerned, Seemandhra regions are better irrigated and account for 60 pc of total crops cultivated in Andhra Pradesh. Telangana has over 65 pc agriculture pumpsets. But with Telangana expected to face at least 40-50 pc power shortage, the irrigation projects will be affected.Currently in Andhra Pradesh, the power generation is only 57 million units per day against a demand of 115 MU. Though Telangana boasts of major coal deposits, Seemandhra has more gas-based stations with higher installed capacity of power. The Ramagundam thermal power station is in Telangana but is controlled by the Centre.Kiran accused TRS chief K. Chandrasekhar Rao of misleading farmers with a promise to bring 10,000 MW from Chhattisgarh since the installed capacity of the neighbouring state was only 6300 MW.Before bifurcating the state, the Centre, Kiran feels, must have clarity on the status of Hyderabad, which several people from Seemandhra made their home after the formation of AP decades ago.Even as APNGO members are protesting against shifting of the secretariat employees to Seemandhra, Kiran rejected the TRS statistics and said out of 18,856 employees identified as non-locals under GO 610, 9,174 were repatriated and 4,062 were exempted as per the rules.As the capital of united AP for nearly 60 years, Hyderabad city has witnessed enormous growth and transformed into a large metropolis. In the process, many other regions of the State have been neglected. People from Andhra and Rayalaseema are heavily dependent on Hyderabad for health facilities, education and employment opportunities.

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Man commits suicide at Vatican

Vatican City:  A 51-year-old Italian man set himself on fire on St Pet-er’s Square on Thursday and has been rushed to hospital, a Vatican spokesman said citing the police.

The 51-year-old poured petrol over his body before setting himself alight on Thursday morning, the Vatican said in a statement.

He was taken to hospital with severe burns on his upper body.

The Vatican told journalists the motives for the man’s actions remained unknown. Although, a Guardian report says that the man  had a piece of paper with the phone number of his daughter.
Officials said a Jesuit priest walking across the square had tried to smother the flames with his cloak.

He was then joined by two police officers who managed to put out the blaze with a blanket and fire extinguisher.

The officers were taken to hospital and treated for “respiratory problems and burns to the hands,” the Vatican said.

The man has been taken to the Vatican’s Santo Spirito clinic with serious burns to the upper part of his body.

This is not the first case of self-immolation inside Vatican City.

In 1998, Alfredo Ormando died after setting himself on fire in protest at the church’s condemnation of homosexuality.  Meanwhile, a leader of the Ukrainian feminist group Femen bared herself near St Pet-er’s Square on Thursday shouting “Christmas is cancelled!” in a protest against the Catholic Ch-urch's stance on abortion.

Inna Shevchenko, 23, went topless and ran towards the square but was stopped by some 20 police officers.

She had “Jesus is aborted” written across her chest. The police quickly formed a barrier around the activist to prevent media from documenting the event.

Covered in a blanket, she was taken away in a police car as tourists and pilgrims looked on.  

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Kumaraswamy allowed jaunts in 2006, now opposes them!

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on his way to attend the CMs conference which was held in New Delhi on Friday.

Bangalore: Opposition leader, H.D. Kumaraswamy on Friday said he would advise his party MLAs not to go on the foreign tour.

"At a time when the central team has visited the state and the state in turn, has asked for funds to mitigate the crisis, the situation is not appropriate for a foreign tour of legislators which would burden the state exchequer further," Kumaraswamy said.

Surprisingly, it was during the JD (S)-BJP coalition government’s tenure in 2006-07 that the rules were amended to permit such tours. Till then, the legislators were entitled to go on five tours inside the country. The rule was amended to facilitate two foreign tours and another one inside the country.

Kumaraswamy was speaking to reporters after he met agitating teachers who were on strike demanding that the government  bring the schools where they were serving, under the grant in aid scheme. Three teachers had tried to consume poison and end their lives on Thursday, however, they were rushed to  hospital and were out of danger.

"The government needs only Rs 20 crore to extend grant-in-aid to over 1700 educational institutes. Let the government suspend foreign tours of legislators and extend the same funds to resolve the teachers' crisis," Kumaraswamy said.

He said he would personally call on all legislators and persuade them to drop the tour programme.

"If they want to go, let them spend money from their pocket" .

Next: Day after CM’s support, Dr G backs legislators going on foreign jaunt

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Rifle designer Mikhail Kalashnikov dead at 94

Russian weapon designer Mikhail Kalashnikov presents his legendary assault rifle to the media while opening the exhibition "Kalashnikov - legend and curse of a weapon" at a weapons museum in Suhl, Germany. -AP

Moscow: Mikhail Kalashnikov, whose work as a weapons designer for the Soviet Union is immortalised in the name of the world's most popular firearm, died on Monday at the age of 94. Kalashnikov once aspired to design farm equipment.

But even though his most famous invention, the AK-47 assault rifle, sowed havoc instead of crops, he often said he felt personally untroubled by his contribution to bloodshed. "I sleep well. It's the politicians who are to blame for failing to come to an agreement and resorting to violence," he said in 2007.

Kalashnikov died in a hospital in Izhevsk, the capital of the Udmurtia republic where he lived, said Viktor Chulkov, a spokesman for the republic's president. He did not give a cause of death. Kalashnikov had been hospitalised for the past month with unspecified health problems. The AK-47, "Avtomat Kalashnikov", and the year it went into production, is the world's most popular firearm, favoured by guerrillas, terrorists and the soldiers of many armies. An estimated 100 million guns are spread worldwide.

Though it is not especially accurate, its ruggedness and simplicity are exemplary: it performs in sandy or wet conditions that jam more sophisticated weapons such as the US M-16.

"During the Vietnam war, American soldiers would throw away their M-16s to grab AK-47s and bullets for it from dead Vietnamese soldiers," Kalashnikov said in July 2007 at a ceremony marking the rifle's 60th anniversary.

The weapon's suitability for jungle and desert fighting made it nearly ideal for the Third World insurgents backed by the Soviet Union, and Moscow not only distributed the AK-47 widely but also licensed its production in some 30 other countries.

The gun's status among revolutionaries and national-liberation struggles is enshrined on the flag of Mozambique. Kalashnikov, born into a peasant family in Siberia, began his working life as a railroad clerk.

After he joined the Red Army in 1938, he began to show mechanical flair by inventing several modifications for Soviet tanks. The moment that firmly set his course was in the 1941 battle of Bryansk against Nazi forces, when a shell hit his tank.

Recovering from wounds in the hospital, Kalashnikov brooded about the superior automatic rifles he'd seen the Nazis deploy; his rough ideas and revisions bore fruit five years later.

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Rajnath, Ananth throw weight behind BSY return

Bangalore: BJP national president Rajnath Singh, in the city to attend a state executive, strongly indicated that former CM B.S. Yeddyurappa would soon be reinducted into the party. When asked about the specific date for the reentry of Yeddyu­rappa, Singh replied: "Each and every process is underway, we will let you know once the party takes a decision".

More categorical was party general secretary Ananth Kumar, once considered an arch rival of Yeddyurappa. He said the exit of 'some of our brothers before the assembly polls, had affected BJP prospects. These leaders would soon return and "we fill fight the Lok Sabha polls unitedly," he said.   

With BSY on board, BJP dreams of 19 seats
The reinduction of former CM B.S.Yeddyurappa into the BJP is expected to give the party a fighting chance of retaining  the 19 Lok Sabha seats it won in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections.

In 2009, it was  then CM Mr Yeddyurappa who led the party to victory. Subsequently the BJP  lost the Udupi-Chikmagalur Lok Sabha seat in the by-election held in 2012.

Party leaders are hoping  the clout Yeddyurappa enjoys in the Lingayat community and the anticipated Narendra Modi wave, would help them retain all 19 seats in 2014.

According to party insiders, in the 2013 Assembly elections, the BJP and KJP put together, had  taken a lead in ten Lok Sabha constituencies. Minus KJP, the BJP could secure a lead only in Chikkodi and Belgaum Lok Sabha seats. 

BJP leaders are wary of facing the elections  without Yeddyurappa and feel they would at the most be able to win seven to eight seats. Their argument: the ten percent vote share  the Yeddyurappa led KJP secured in the Assembly elections is enough to damage party prospects in the Lok Sabha polls.

"KJP won six assembly seats but stood second in 33  segments. It was  responsible for the defeat of BJP in 80 seats and the party lost its deposit in nearly 120 seats", explained K. Dhananjay Kumar, KJP campaign committee chief.

The return of Yeddyurappa would help the party  retain Lingayat dominated seats of Davangere, Haveri, Belgaum, Hubli-Dharwad. However, the BJP would have to fight the embarrassment of taking in a tainted leader, an issue the Congress and AAP are sure to harp on.

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Japanese woman, 115, named world's oldest woman

Japan's 115-year-old Misao Okawa, poses with the certificate of the world's oldest woman, which was presented to her by Guinness World Records Japan Country Manager Erika Ogawa, right, at a nursing home in Osaka, western Japan - AP

Osaka, Japan: A 115-year-old Japanese woman, the daughter of a kimono maker, has been recognized as the world's oldest woman.

Misao Okawa said Wednesday that she was "very happy" to receive the recognition and a certificate from Guinness World Records. Asked for her secret for longevity she said it was to "watch out for one's health."It was a nice gift for Okawa, who will mark her 115th birthday next week. According to the Gerontology Research Institute, which verifies age information for Guinness World Records, she was born March 5, 1898.Okawa lives in a nursing home in Osaka.The world's oldest living person as recognized by Guinness - 115-year-old Jiroemon Kimura - also lives in Japan.Japan has the most centenarians in the world, with more than 51,000 of them.

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Kejriwal appeals honest officers to approach him

IANS  New Delhi, December 26, 2013 | UPDATED 18:15 IST AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal addresses a meeting in Delhi.Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal, who will take oath as Delhi's chief minister December 28, appealed to all honest officers Thursday to approach him via SMS, emails and letters.

"We would give such officers good position in our government, and take their help to make strategies," Kejriwal told reporters after addressing a Janata Darbar at AAP's office in Kaushambi, in neighbouring Ghaziabad.

Adding that he would solve their problems at the earliest, Kejriwal said: "I also appeal to those honest officers (to contact me) who have been suspended, and their pension, medical and other dues have not been cleared so far."

On sending an invitation to social activist Anna Hazare for the oath-taking ceremony Saturday, Kejriwal said he would personally talk to him over the phone and invite him.

He said he would announce his cabinet's portfolios within the next two days.

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'Great Train Robber' Ronnie Biggs dies at 84

London: Ronnie Biggs was a petty criminal who set out to transform his life with the daring heist of a mail train packed with money.

The plan worked in ways he could never have imagined.

Biggs was part of a gang of at least 12 men that robbed a Glasgow-to-London Royal Mail train in the early hours of Aug. 8, 1963, switching its signals and tricking the driver into stopping in the darkness. The robbery netted 125 sacks of banknotes worth 2.6 million pounds — $7.3 million at the time, or more than $50 million today — and became known as "the heist of the century."

Biggs, who has died aged 84, was soon caught and jailed, but his escape from a London prison and decades on the run turned him into a media sensation and something of a notorious British folk hero.

He lived for many years beyond the reach of British justice in Rio de Janeiro, where he would regale tourists and the media alike with stories about the robbery. He appeared to enjoy thumbing his nose at the British authorities and even sold T-shirts and other memorabilia about his role in the robbery.

He was free for 35 years before voluntarily returning to England in 2001 on a private jet sponsored by The Sun tabloid.

Biggs died Wednesday, daughter-in-law Veronica Biggs said. She did not provide details about the cause of death.

Most of the Great Train Robbery gang was caught and sentenced to long terms in jail. Biggs got 30 years, but 15 months into his sentence he escaped from London's Wandsworth Prison by scaling a wall with a rope ladder and jumping into a waiting furniture van.

It was the start of a life on the run that would hone his image as a cheeky rascal one step ahead of the law.

Biggs fled to France, then to Australia and Panama before arriving in Rio de Janeiro in 1970. By that time, life on the run and plastic surgery to change his appearance had eaten up most of his loot from the robbery.

In all, he spent more than 30 years in Brazil, making a living from his notoriety. For a fee, he regaled journalists and tourists with the story of the heist and offered T-shirts with the slogan "I went to Rio and met Ronnie Biggs ... honest."

Biggs recorded a song with punk band the Sex Pistols titled "No One Is Innocent," wrote a memoir called "Odd Man Out" and even promoted a home alarm system with the slogan: "Call the thief."

"It's been a screwed-up life in many respects, but a different life," he told The Associated Press in 1997. "I've never been much of a 9-to-5er."

Biggs foiled repeated attempts to force him out by deportation, extradition and even kidnapping.

British detectives tracked him down in 1974, but the lack of an extradition treaty with Brazil saved him. When Brazil's military government tried to deport him, Biggs produced a son Michael with a Brazilian woman and the law again prevented his expulsion.

In 1981, two men posing as journalists grabbed Biggs at a Rio restaurant, gagged him, stuffed him into a duffel bag and flew him to the Amazon River port of Belem. From there they sailed to Barbados, expecting to turn Biggs in and sell their story to the tabloids. But Barbados also had no extradition treaty with England and sent him back to Rio.

At a dive bar just down a winding street from the house where Biggs' lived in Rio de Janeiro, regulars fondly remembered the fugitive.

"He never talked about the heist," said Ronaldo Mendes, a 58-year-old photographer who said he often drank draft beers with Biggs.

"He spoke a sort of English-Portuguese, but you could understand him. People liked him a lot, and when he disappeared from Rio it was a surprise to us all."

Maria do Ceu Narciso Esteves, who owns a grocery store in Rio's Santa Teresa neighborhood that Biggs frequented for decades, said he "was a good client and a friend."

"He used to buy his whiskey here, one, two or three bottles, and also ingredients for lunches at home that he served to tourists. That's how he earned his money," said Narciso, 77. "He didn't do anything for free.

"He used to buy here on credit and always paid his bill in the end," she said. "He was a good person, a polite person and a good client."

In 1997, Brazil's Supreme Court rejected an extradition request on the ground that the statute of limitations had run out. At the time, Biggs said he didn't want to go back to Britain.

"All I have to go back to is a prison cell, after all," he said. "Only a fool would want to return."

But within a few years, debilitated by strokes and other ailments, Biggs began to yearn to see England again.

The Sun newspaper helped arrange his return, even chartering the private jet that flew him home. Aboard the plane was Detective Superintendent John Coles of Scotland Yard, who took Biggs into custody with the words: "I am now going to formally arrest you."

Biggs spent several years in prison, emerging as a frail shadow of his dapper "gentleman thief" image.

Biggs' lawyers had long argued that he should be released on health grounds, although then-Justice Secretary Jack Straw objected, saying Biggs was "wholly unrepentant."

Unionized train drivers, mindful that railway man Jack Mills never fully recovered after being hit on the head with an iron bar during the robbery — he died seven years later — also lobbied to keep Biggs behind bars.

Finally convinced that Biggs was a dying man, officials released him on Aug. 7, 2009, a day before his 80th birthday. He had been living in a nursing home since.

In late 2011, Biggs appeared at a London news conference to promote an updated version of his memoir. Unable to speak because of several strokes, he said through his son Michael Biggs that he had come to regret the train robbery and, if he could go back in time, he would now choose not to participate.

Still, he insisted he'd be remembered as a "lovable rogue."

Not everyone agreed.

"Biggs is not a hero. He's just an out-and-out villain," said the train driver's widow, Barbara Mills.

Biggs had not been one of the ringleaders of the robbery, but he became its most famous participant. The British media remained fascinated with him until the end.

The 50th anniversary of the train robbery this year brought a slew of new books and articles, and the very day of Biggs' death coincided with a long-planned BBC television show about the crime.

In 2002, Biggs married Raimunda Rothen, the mother of Michael. They survive him, as do two children — Chris and Farley — from his first marriage to Charmian Brent. A third son, Nicholas, died in a car crash in 1971.

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Shameless Samajwad: Mulayam, his men mock Muzaffarnagar victims

Akash Deep Ashok  New Delhi, December 27, 2013 | UPDATED 14:27 IST After Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav infamously said a couple of days ago that there were no victims left in the relief camps in Muzaffarnagar and Shamli and those staying there were instead supporters of the Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party purposely staying there to sully the image of his party's government in Uttar Pradesh, top officials of the state government seem have taken recourse to notorious Goebbelsian methods to prove the leader's point.

In the latest, Principal Secretary for Home Anil Gupta ruled out on Friday that children in relief camps died of cold. "No one can die of cold. If people die of cold then nobody will survive in Siberia," he is reported to have said. Gupta argued that the children died of pneumonia, premature deaths and not of cold.

People staying in the Muzaffarnagar relief camp sit next to fire during winters.

Gupta's highly insensitive comment comes hours after a fact-finding committee of the state government, led by the SP chief's son Akhilesh Yadav, admitted that at least 34 children below the age of 15 died in the aftermath of the clashes.

"Can't die of the cold"!!!! Send him out in a few less clothes & let's see if he isn't singing a different tune pretty damn quick.

Omar Abdullah (@abdullah_omar) December 27, 2013

The panel also contradicted the SP supremo's comment that no victims were left in the relief camps, saying that over 2,500 riot-affected people are still languishing in relief camps.

In another insensitive move, the state government kick-started the fortnight-long Saifai Mahotsav in the father-son duo's native village in Etawah district on Thursday with much fanfare. An official was also suspended on the same day for causing unnecessary delay in the release of funds for construction of a swimming pool in Saifai. The festival which concludes on January 8 will include many sports and entertainment activities, including a comedy night anchored by Raju Srivastava on the New Year eve. 

The clashes between the minority community and Jats which began in Muzaffarnagar district on August 27 claimed 43 lives and left around 100 injured while more than 50,000 displaced. The state government as well as humanitarian organisations set up relief camps in Muzaffarnagar and Shamli, which housed around 9,000 families. There have been disturbing reports of the displaced facing shortage of food and clothes and braving intense cold wave without adequate woollens.

Principal Secretary for Home Anil Gupta ruled out on Friday that children in relief camps died of cold.

In the past few weeks, there have been frequent reports of children in relief camps dying due to intense cold, a fact admitted even the state government-appointed fact-finding commission. On Thursday, even the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) issued notices to the Uttar Pradesh chief secretary and district magistrates of Muzaffarnagar and Shamli on reports of children's death due to cold in relief camps.

However, instead of addressing the issue, there has been insensitive politicisation from all the major political parties.  

The SP chief's 'no victim in relief camps' comment came in the wake of Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi's visit to the relief camps on Sunday. After visiting relief camps in Muzaffarnagar and Shamli, Gandhi had said, "The condition is bad in these relief camps. Children are dying. There is a young Chief Minister here in the state. I urge him to focus on this area. He should improve the conditions in these camps and also mediate between the two communities to ensure normalcy returns to the area."

Replying to Gandhi's suggestions, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Monday said that any suggestions on rehabilitating the displaced was welcome but people should not politicise them. "We are ready to work on suggestions if they want to give one. If they want to play politics, it is up to them," he said.

Gandhi has his own burden of sins to atone for. Speaking at a public rally in Indore on October 24, the Congress scion had blamed the BJP for the riots in Muzaffarnagar and claimed that intelligence inputs had revealed that some ISI agents were in touch with riot victims, trying to recruit disgruntled riot-affected youngsters to carry out its nefarious designs.

Samajwadi party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav.

While the Opposition went for his jugular, asking him to apologise, and the minority leaders criticised him unequivocally, Congress spokesperson and Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tiwari defended Gandhi, saying that what he said was correct. The Election Commission expressed its displeasure over Gandhi's use of words and warned him against repeating the offence.  

While BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi who proudly claims that Gujarat did not witness any riots in the past 10 years of his rule, carefully leaving behind the infamous 2002 Gujarat riots; two men accused of inciting the riots in Muzaffarnagar, BJP legislators Sangeet Som and Suresh Rana, were felicitated as guests of honour at Narendra Modi's rally in Agra on November 21.

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Now, visit White House without going to Washington

Washington: Anyone who wants to take a look inside the White House can do it without going to Washington, D.C.

The White House and the Discovery Channel launched a series of virtual 'field trips' aimed at middle school and high school students that explore different facets of the mansion.

Classrooms can register as a unit on Discovery's website, and each tour will be broadcast live before it is archived there.

According to Mashbale, Kori Schulman, director of online engagement for the Office of Digital Strategy, wrote in a White House blog post that they were looking at new ways to open the White House and engage with citizens online.

The series, which will run throughout 2014, is called "Of the People: Live from the White House".

Each segment will showcase a different part of the first family's abode.

According to Schulman's post, future field trips will cover topics such as community service, climate change, foreign policy and science and technology, the report added.

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Operation Kejriclean: Delhi officials caught destroying dubious files

Headlines Today   |   Headlines Today  |   New Delhi, December 27, 2013 | UPDATED 09:38 IST

With hours left before Arvind Kejriwal becomes the Chief Minister of Delhi, a wave of panic is swirling through Delhi's government departments, leaving shredded paper in its wake. A sting operation by Headlines Today has revealed incriminating files being quietly destroyed, dubious documents being shredded, and suspicious data being discretely erased in Delhi government offices.

Headlines Today sting operation shows former minister Arvinder Singh Lovely's officer on special duty caught destroying documents.

The team equipped with sting cameras carried out operation into the offices of ministers at Delhi Secretariat near ITO and at the office of Delhi Jal Board (DJB).

Incidentally, Sheila Dikshit was also the DJB chairperson.

Former minister Arvinder Singh Lovely's officer on special duty (OSD) was found busy destroying files and documents by the operation.

While files were being destroyed in one room, groups of officers were running around others trying desperately to get transfers from out of the expected Kejriwal tsunami.

The team also visited the office of Delhi Jal Board Headquarters in Delhi's Jhandewalan area. Arvind Kejriwal had levelled allegations of a scam of over Rs 10,000 crore in DJB. Ironically, the officials working here would soon be reporting to Kejriwal, who as Chief Minister would also take charge as chairman of the board.

Kejriwal speaking to the media on Friday.

The most shocking revelation of the sting came from the P. A. to the Jal Board Chief Vigilance Officer A.K. Ambasht. Speaking to the reporters on sting cameras he accepted that most of the DJB officials have two cars, and that even the head clerk of his office moves in car.

The CVO said that he and a handful of upright Jal Board officials now hope that Kejriwal will play demolition man and rid the board of these politically powerful private players.

The team questioned a DJB official, "Where will revenue for 700 litres free water come from?" The answer was shocking. The official replied that revenue was not required for free water. He advised to curtail extra expenses to have extra money.

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Bobby Jindal plans to run for US presidency in 2016: Senator

Washington: Indian-American Louisiana Governor and the rising star of the Republican Party Bobby Jindal is planning to run for the 2016 US presidential elections, a top Senator from his state has said.

"I do think, he (Jindal) will run...He would be a significant candidate," Senator David Vitter told American TV channel C-SPAN's Newsmakers programme.

"I like Bobby, I respect his leadership, I agree with all of his political values. But I haven't thought about what I would do or wouldn't do personally," Vitter, also a member of Republican party, said. "Oh yeah. I think that's very obvious to everybody who has been paying attention," the Senator said when asked if he believes Jindal, 42, would to be the next president.

Jindal's second term as the Lousiana Governor ends in 2015. He can't run for the third term. Vitter is considering running for governor.

Jindal had earlier did not rule himself out from entering the presidential race in 2016, but said, "I think it's too early." "I would expect we will come to a conclusion sometime in January," Vitter said.

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Verdict on plea against Modi in 2002 Gujarat riots today

PTI  Ahmedabad, December 26, 2013 | UPDATED 18:16 IST

2

A Magistrate court in Ahmedabad is likely to pronounce its order on Zakia Jafri's petition against the closure report of Special Investigation Team which gave a clean chit to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and 58 others in connection with a 2002 communal riots case on Thursday.

Magistrate B J Ganatra had earlier said he would deliver the order on October 28, but it was deferred to December 2, and then to December 26.

Arguments got over in September 2013.

Jafri, whose husband and former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri was among 69 people killed in the Gulbarg Society massacre here during the 2002 , contends that Modi and others should be tried for their role in the conspiracy which facilitated the state-widpost-Godhra riotse violence.

SIT, appointed by the Supreme Court, probed Jafri's allegations against Modi and others, and filed a final report on February 8, 2012, which said there wasn't sufficient evidence to prosecute them.

SIT counsel R S Jamuar argued before the court that no direct or circumstantial evidence supporting Jafri's allegations was found, while her lawyers argued that SIT ignored the relevant evidence and shielded the main culprits.

About a thousand people were killed in the riots.

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US man kills girlfriend's baby for crying during football game

Tre'viance Markese Walker was looking after his girlfriend's baby last week.

Washington: A US man allegedly killed his girlfriend's 5-month-old baby, after the boy wouldn't stop crying, while he was watching a football match on TV. Tre'viance Markese Walker, 22, from Oklahoma, US was looking after his girlfriend's baby for a few hours on December 7 while he watched a football match on TV, police said.

After the baby's incessant crying, Walker allegedly grabbed the baby so hard that he caused head trauma and hematoma on the brain, which autopsy revealed killed the infant, Fox 25 reported. He also dropped the infant from a height of two-feet, the report said.

The boy was found four hours later "unresponsive" with bruises in his head and blood in his ear. The infant was taken to a local hospital where he was soon pronounced dead. A neighbour reportedly heard Walker saying he grew angry because, "the baby wouldn't stop crying," police said. Walker was arrested and police said he initially denied that he had harmed the child but later admitted the abuse. 

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Akhilesh govt to use force and drag families from refugee camps

Piyush Srivastava   |   Mail Today  |   Muzaffarnagar, December 27, 2013 | UPDATED 09:36 IST Eager to remove refugee families from the relief camps in Muzaffarnagar before the campaign for general elections picks up momentum, the Akhilesh Yadav government in Uttar Pradesh has apparently decided to use force and drag them away.

The local administration has already removed 35 families from the Loee camp in the last two days and is planning to evict more in the coming days. Muzaffarnagar District Magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma told newspersons that the intezamia (management) committees of the relief camps have been taken into confidence while evicting refugees who have received compensation.

The ruling Samajwadi Party is apprehensive about the fallout of the August-September communal clashes in Muzaffarnagar and adjoining districts, which claimed over 60 lives and displaced thousands of families.

Nearly 2,000 families are still staying in the 17 relief camps of Muzaffarnagar and Shamli.

"We have evicted some of the families who had been given their compensation. The remaining will also be removed from the camps in the next few days," said additional district magistrate of Muzaffarnagar Indra Mani Tripathi about the Loee camp, which houses 450 families. Officials claim that 167 families from the camp have got Rs 5 lakh in compensation for resettlement. Some of the evicted families, they say, have returned to their villages.

Muneesh Chandra Sharma, SDM of Muzaffarnagar's Budhana - under which Loee village falls - said, "We don't have any arrangements for those who have been evicted. Some of the refugees have bought land from the compensation money. The intezamia committee has also sold them its own land. They will raise huts on that land and live there till they build their houses."

However, several families have alleged that only those people who either had a ration card or bribed village chiefs got the compensation.

Yaqub Shaikh of Fugana, who is living in the Loee camp, said, "The problem is that only one micro-family of a joint family has got compensation. There are also instances where the younger brother influenced the village chief and got his name listed for compensation.But the other brothers, who had their own families, got no relief from the government."

Another refugee, Yasin Shaikh, said, "The officers are dragging us away. I don't know where I should go. The affluent villagers in Fugana have captured our houses and declared that we would be killed if we return."

"It is unfortunate that at a time when we are living here in extreme cold weather, the government officers ask us to show them our ration cards before giving us milk powder for children. They should know that we didn't think about carrying our ration cards and clothes before running away to save our lives," he lamented.

The state government wanted the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to recommend eviction of the refugees from the camp. The district administration had requested the same to the members of human rights' panel on December 21, but it turned down the demand. When contacted, SP spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary said, "The government has already given all possible assistance to the victims. If needed, we will provide them more. But they should return home or wherever they have made arrangements for themselves, and start leading a normal life."

Victims shudder at apathy of cold govt

The predicament of Mohammad Rukmuddin, one of the thousands of people living at the Loee relief camp, all but punctures the state government's tall claims about its rehabilitation efforts. Rukmuddin and his brood of 21 live in a small tent and are yet to receive any monetary compensation.

Not to forget the fact that the camp itself - with open sewers surrounding the tents and devoid of clean water and medical facilities - is nothing short of a cruel joke on the 450-odd families that stay there.

"We are three brothers, each with his own family - four women, four men and 13 children. We ran away from our village, Fugana, when the rioters started burning our houses," Rukmuddin said.

Victims at the apathy of governmentHe added: "We used to think that a government exists in the state, and that it will soon come to our rescue. But we were wrong. Now the government is behaving like our enemy."

The arrival of winter has made matters worse for the family, which has been living at Loee since September 8. "Life is difficult here because of winter," said Rukmuddin's younger brother Mohammad Idris. "It rains every now and then and the tent leaks. The humidity makes the cold worse."

Anwar Haji, a businessman who arrived at the camp of his own accord to provide relief material to the victims, described to Mail Today the poor quality of supplies distributed by the government. "The food-grain is rotten, and the blankets provided are very thin," he said. "We think the government should take the problem seriously," Haji added.

These assertions fly in the face of claims consistently made by the UP government about having done a lot to help the people displaced by riots. In fact, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav - despite the flood of reports about his government's inadequate relief efforts - refuses to admit any shortcomings, and says he is serious about helping out the riot victims.

"Officers have been instructed to protect people from winter. The government is also trying to send them home," he said. Akhilesh also said financial assistance has been given to dependents of people who had died and other affected families.

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Santa cleared for entry to US: Official

A man from Lapland, Finland dressed as Santa Claus poses outside city hall to celebrate the upcoming Christmas in downtown of Seoul, South Korea - AP

Washington: Santa Claus was officially cleared for entry into the United States on Monday as federal agriculture officials waived stringent livestock checks on his nine reindeer.

The US Department of Agriculture announced in a light-hearted statement that a "Mr. S.Claus" of the North Pole was free to enter the United States with his reindeer from December 24 to December 25.

"During this season of giving, USDA wants to do everything in its power to help Santa," said John R. Clifford, USDA's Chief Veterinary Officer.

"We agreed to waive the normal application fees and entry inspection/overtime costs, provided he winks his eye and wishes port personnel a Merry Christmas at the time of crossing."

Authorities also waived the normal health checks for Santa's reindeer -- provided they met certain alternative conditions. "As a condition of entry, the reindeer must be certified by Santa Claus as never having been fed anything other than hay, sugar plums and gingerbread," the statement said.

"The reindeer must also be individually identified with microchips or official eartag identification, and must respond to the names 'Dasher', 'Dancer', 'Prancer', 'Vixen', 'Comet', 'Cupid', 'Donner,' 'Blitzen' and 'Rudolph' when interacting with port personnel.

"No more than one reindeer in the group may be visibly affected by 'Rednose Syndrome', and upon entry, port personnel will visually inspect the reindeer to ensure they are healthy and fit for continued travel."

Also read: Santa being tracked by Microsoft and Google

The reindeer would also be required to be "pulling a wooden sleigh that has jingling bells attached and is filled with brightly-wrapped gifts." 

"Port personnel will clean and disinfect the runners and underside of the sleigh at the time of entry," the statement said.

The USDA's festive statement was in keeping with agencies who acknowledge the existence of Santa Claus, albeit with tongue firmly in cheek.

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), which polices the skies above Canada and the United States, regularly tracks the progress of Santa Claus and his reindeer in realtime on its NORAD Santa Tracker (www.noradsanta.org).

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Muzaffarnagar deaths: Nobody dies of cold, says UP home secy

Akash Deep Ashok  New Delhi, December 27, 2013 | UPDATED 12:46 IST Is Muzaffarnagar's temperature equal to that of Siberia? Well a minister in Akhilesh Yadav's government has certainly got his facts wrong.

Making a mockery of deaths in the Muzaffarnagar relief camps, Uttar Pradesh Principal Secretary for Home Anil Gupta on Friday said that children living in the relief camp did not die of cold.

Children died because they were taken for treatment outside the camps in which they were living, he said.

Gupta said that the children died of pneumonia, premature deaths and not of cold. "No one can die of cold. If people die of cold then nobody will survive in Siberia, " he said.

Reacting to this insensitive statment, Kamal Farooqi who was sacked from Samajwadi Party over his remarks on Bhatkal, said that Gupta should spent a night in these relief camps, he doesn't need to go to Siberia. He also demanded Human Rights panel's action against him.

On Thursday, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) had issued notice to the Uttar Pradesh chief secretary and district magistrates of Muzaffarnagar and Shamli on reports of children's death due to cold in relief camps.

"NHRC has taken suo motu cognizance of media reports that at least 40 children died in riot relief camps due to extreme cold," the commission said in a statement.

"It is also reported that there were not enough blankets for inmates of these camps, resulting in the death of infants and young children in Shamli and Muzaffarnagar districts," the statement added.

The commission also said that the contents of the press reports, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of human rights of infants and children.

Mulayam's remark on riot camps taken to minorities panel
The National Commission for Minorities admitted a petition seeking action against Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh for saying that not one of the Muzaffarnagar riot victims now lives in any relief camp.

The petitioner cited remarks made by Mulayam Singh while addressing a party gathering in Uttar Pradesh capital Lucknow Dec 23, on the occasion of the birth anniversary of late prime minister Chaudhary Charan Singh.

"There are no riot victims at all in the (Muzaffarnagar) camps. You can check. These are people who are conspirators. BJP and Congress have conspired. They have asked people to stay there at night and sit on dharnas," the petitioner quoted Mulayam Singh as saying.

The petitioner, Shehzad Poonawala, a lawyer by training who has delivered over 3,000 blankets donated by people to the camps, listed 31 children who have died of cold at the relief camps.

He also listed the number of people in at least 13 camps in Muzaffarnagar and Shamli districts of western Uttar Pradesh.

The inhabitants of the camps fled their homes after the riots in early September, and many of them are now unwilling to return to their villages.

The petitioner has sought that besides taking action against the Samajwadi Party chief, the commission should also direct the state government to make an honest and accurate assessment of the people displaced in the riots, and provide ration and relief material to those in the camps.

Poonawala said that Minorities Commission chairperson Wajahat Habibullah has promised to take up the matter.

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Over 80 hurt in London theatre ceiling collapse

London: More than 80 people have been injured in a ceiling collapse at a theatre during a performance in the heart of London. Apollo Theatre, one of the popular venues in the city's West End theatre district, was packed with audience for yesterday's evening show of 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time', when eyewitnesses reported hearing a "crackling" sound.

Ambulance service said there were 81 "walking wounded" and that all those who had been trapped inside were freed. Some 25 ambulance crews and an air ambulance attended the scene, it added. The Fire Brigade said four people were seriously injured but none have life-threatening injuries and its "search is now complete" with the theatre being sealed off.

"A section of the theatre's ceiling collapsed onto the audience who were watching the show. The ceiling took parts of the balconies down with it," said Kingsland Fire Brigade station manager Nick Harding. "Firefighters worked really hard in very difficult conditions and I'd like to pay tribute to them. They rescued people from the theatre, made the area safe and then helped ambulance crews with the injured. In my time as a fire officer, I've never seen an incident like this."

"I imagine lots of people were out enjoying the show in the run-up to Christmas. My thoughts go out to all those affected," he added. The historic theatre, named after the Greek and Roman god of the arts, opened in 1901. It seats 755 on four levels and the balcony on the third tier is considered the steepest in London. Martin Bostock, who was in the theatre, told 'Sky News': "I was in the stalls with my family in the early stages of the show. I think the front part of the balcony fell down. At first we thought it was part of the show, it was very dramatic."

"We got out with cuts and bruises, I think most people did." An Indian-origin theatre-goer Khalil Anjarwalla told the BBC that his heavily pregnant wife and her parents managed to escape from the theatre safely after "kilos of concrete plummeted from the ceiling."

British Prime Minister David Cameron tweeted: "I've been updated regularly on the Apollo incident. I'm grateful for the fast work of the emergency services in helping the injured." The play, based on the novel of the same name by Mark Haddon, has been running to packed audiences in London since August 2012. The show started at The National Theatre, before transferring to the Apollo in March this year.

London Fire Brigade said it sent eight fire engines and three fire and rescue units to the scene with a total of about 60 firefighters. The Scotland Yard said many of the wounded were treated at the nearby Gielgud Theatre, while three London buses were used to transport others to hospitals. London was hit by a freak thunderstorm yesterday evening, which seems to have resulted in the incident at the building but the exact cause of the collapse is yet to be confirmed.

"There is no suggestion at this stage that this was as a result of a criminal act, however, at this stage we of course are keeping an open mind. Police are in liaison with Westminster City Council and structural engineers to establish how safe the building is before a full assessment can be carried out," the Metropolitan Police said in a statement.

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All is 'unwell' between Anna Hazare and Arvind Kejriwal

Akash Deep Ashok  New Delhi, December 26, 2013 | UPDATED 18:17 IST Mid-winter should ideally be a time for acclimatisation. The chill accentuates but by then it has been there for some time. People getting unwell in such times need more attention than others. Veteran Gandhian Anna Hazare and his former disciple Arvind Kejriwal, for example. They have both been "unwell" on occasions too significant for others to miss.

On Thursday, the anti-graft crusader made it known that he was "unwell" and would not attend Kejriwal's swearing-in in Delhi on December 28. When asked in Ralegan Siddhi whether he will be travelling to Delhi on December 28 to attend the ceremony, Hazare said, "I am not well." Prodded again, he said, "I can't say right now, I am not well."

Two days ago, the Gandhian had said he was yet to receive an invitation for the oath-taking ceremony and his former disciple had assured that he would personally invite his "guru".

A few days ago-almost a few hours after the Delhi Assembly elections sprang a surprise in Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) bagging 28 seats in its maiden polls-Hazare had started a fast in Ralegan Siddhi forcing the parliamentarians to pass their own version of anti-corruption law, called the Lokpal Bill.

Amid questions from media if Kejriwal would take part in Hazare's hunger strike, words came out that Kejriwal was "unwell" and would instead send three party colleagues to Ralegan Siddhi to join Anna.

A file photo of Arvind Kejriwal with Anna Hazare during their hunger strike in New Delhi in 2012. Reuters Photo

Things got even more "unwell" when Hazare ordered AAP leader Gopal Rai to leave his fast venue and village after he engaged in a spat with former Army chief General VK Singh who had slammed Kejriwal and others for having deserted Hazare and formed a political party.

Instead of congratulating his former mentor, Kejriwal did not mince words on his reservation against the Lokpal Bill after its passage, saying, "The Lokpal Bill in its current form won't send a mouse to jail, forget a politician."

Kerjiwal has avoided making any acrimonious statement directly against Hazare ever since their fallout in 2012 which led the former IRS official to form a political party and contest polls. But the sheer timing of Hazare's fast and his new-found contentment with a toned-down version of Jan Lokpal Bill indicated his regret at the loss of immense public support which Kejriwal has unwittingly appropriated.  

The acrimony between Anna and Kejriwal has been going on for quite some time. First, Anna alleged in a subdued tone that he suspected bungling in the funds collected from the sale of SIM cards during his fast at Jantar Mantar in Delhi in 2012. Then he alleged that he suspected funds collected by India Against Corruption were being used by AAP in its poll campaign.

Kejriwal came out clean of both these allegations. But after some time, Anna put his foot down and said his photographs or name should not be used by AAP for its poll campaign.

All along these allegations through which Anna more than tried to let people know he was not with Kejriwal, the AAP chief negotiated his way very cleverly and denied Anna an opportunity to take away the halo he gathered around himself of being the harbinger of clean politics.

But now, I guess, things, like people, are getting "unwell" too often to last long. Whatever remains between the two might soon die.

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PM Nawaz Sharif is Pakistan's richest parliamentarian with assets of over Rs 1.43 billion

Sharif owns a Toyota Land Cruiser 2010, 1973 and 1991 models of Mercedes Benz and a 1991 model tractor - AP/File photo

Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is the country's richest parliamentarian with assets of over Rs 1.43 billion, according to data released by the Election Commission of Pakistan. The fortune of the elected representatives in Pakistan range from billions of rupees to just a few lakhs.

Several legislators are industrialists owning sugar and textile mills, landlords and businessmen.

Sharif, as per the declarations, owns agriculture land worth Rs 1.43 billion, has made investments of over Rs 13 million – he has shares in six different mills – and has Rs 126 million in seven bank accounts. He also owns a Toyota Land Cruiser 2010 as well as the 1973 and 1991 models of Mercedes Benz.

The premier also owns a 1991 model tractor.

The prime minister has also given details of the jewellery of his spouse and its value has been pegged at Rs 1.5 million.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chairman Imran Khan was relatively poorer this year as his net assets slightly decreased by Rs 500,000 as compared to the previous fiscal year. His net assets amounted to Rs 29.6 million this year.

Out of the 14 different properties he owned in Pakistan, he inherited eight while two were gifted, according to his declaration. Khan also owned a Toyota Prado whose estimated value is Rs 5 million. He also has cash worth Rs 13.6 million in a bank account.

Independent Member of National Assembly Jamshed Dasti was declared the 'poorest' MNA last year, declaring nothing save his MNA salary. This year, he 'owned nothing'. He did not fill his asset-declaration form and only informed the ECP of an account in Allied Bank and even that did not show any cash.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Parvez Khattak has declared ownership of real estate priced at Rs 221 million and a Toyota Corolla worth Rs 1.3 million.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif's assets are valued at Rs 142.2 million and his wives attained more wealth than him, according to the declarations.

Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik has declared agricultural land worth over Rs 280 million but said that he does not own any vehicle. Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah valued his movable and immovable property at an implausible Rs 16.2 million. He also claimed that he does not own a car and uses his daughter's Honda City. 

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Modi to share his thoughts on Gujarat riots judgment today

India Today Online  New Delhi, December 27, 2013 | UPDATED 11:30 IST The BJP's prime ministerial candidate and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi is likely to "share his thoughts" on Friday on the Gujarat court's verdict in the 2002 Gujarat riots case in which criminal charges had been filed against him.

Modi said that he would share his thoughts on the judgement today on twitter.

Leaving Goa. Will share my thoughts on the judgment with you all tomorrow.

Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 26, 2013

On Thursday, the court had rejected a petition by Zakia Jafri, whose husband Ehsan Jafri was burnt alive during the riots. In her petition, Zakia had asked for Modi to be prosecuted for conspiracy in the communal violence that had rocked the state in 2002.

Thursday's order comes as a huge relief to Modi who is the BJP's prime ministerial candidate.

Modi was in Goa when the judgement was announced. Upon hearing about it, Modi tweeted, "Satyamev Jayate! Truth alone triumphs."

??????? ????! Truth alone triumphs.

Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 26, 2013

This tweet was followed up with a quote from Mahatma Gandhi.

"Truth by nature is self-evident. As soon as you remove the cobwebs of ignorance that surround it, it shines clear"- Mahatma Gandhi

Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 26, 2013

Reacting to the judgement the BJP had said that it was a moral victory for the BJP and Narendra Modi.

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Pussy Riot punks freed from Russian prison

Moscow: Russia on Monday freed members of anti-Kremlin punk band Pussy Riot whose imprisonment prompted global outrage, but she immediately denounced her release as a "PR stunt".

The release of Maria Alyokhina from her prison in the city of Nizhny Novgorod under a Kremlin-backed amnesty was followed by that of her bandmate Nadezhda Tolokonnikova from detention in Siberia.

Nadezhda Tolokonnikova was released from prison Monday, her husband wrote on his Twitter blog.

"Nadya is free!" wrote Pyotr Verzilov, as his wife walked out of the prison hospital in the Siberian city Krasnoyarsk after a Kremlin-backed amnesty. The two members of the punk Pussy Riot band were freed after serving one year and 10 months for staging a protest performance in Moscow's biggest cathedral.

The move comes just three days after the shock pardoning and liberation of anti-Kremlin tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, which many saw as a bid by President Vladimir Putin to improve Russia's image ahead of the 2014 Winter Olympics that it is hosting in Sochi in February.

Showing she had lost none of her fighting spirit during her incarceration, Alyokhina used her first interview after her release to slam the amnesty as a mere publicity stunt, and said that she would have preferred to remain in prison.

"I don't think it's an amnesty, it's a profanation," she told the Dozhd television channel, saying it only applied to a tiny minority of convicts. "I don't think the amnesty is a humanitarian act, I think it's a PR stunt."

"In this situation, I was just a body being moved in space, nothing depended on me," she said. "If I had a choice to refuse (the amnesty), I would have, without a doubt," she said.

Whisked away to freedom

Alyokhina's release was marked by the same kind of security that marked that of Khodorkovsky, who was not seen after his release until he touched down at a Berlin airport on Friday afternoon.

She was whisked away from the prison without speaking with the media after the highly-anticipated release, her lawyer said.

"Today around 9:00 am (0500 GMT) she walked out to freedom," the spokeswoman of the prison service in Nizhny Novgorod Yelena Nikishova told AFP.
Her lawyer Irina Khrunova said prison officials drove the 25-year-old out of the penal colony to avoid a media frenzy.

Instead of going home to Moscow, Alyokhina went straight to the local rights NGO Committee Against Torture to discuss rights violations of fellow inmates.

Khrunova said Alyokhina's bandmate Tolokonnikova, 24, who is staying at a prison hospital in the Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk, will also likely be freed Monday.

Rebels with a cause

The pair and fellow activist Yekaterina Samutsevich were convicted on charges of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred after staging a "punk prayer" in Moscow's Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in February 2012.

They later released a video clip of their performance which has now been banned.

The stunt came just ahead of Putin's re-election to the Kremlin in March 2012 and was aimed at denouncing the Orthodox Church's support of the Russian strongman during the campaign.

All were arrested in early March 2012. Samutsevich was later freed on appeal with a suspended sentence, but Tolokonnikova and Alyokhina were sent to faraway penal colonies to serve their two-year terms.

Alyokhina and Tolokonnikova, whose sentences would have run out in early March, were granted the amnesty last week after parliament approved a Kremlin-backed bill.
"I'm really happy that she is out," Samutsevich told Dozhd.

"If she wants to be involved in human rights activities that is great, but the main thing is that she is fine and healthy," she added. Their jailing turned them from little-known feminist punks who staged a handful of guerrilla performances in Moscow to the stars of a global cause celebre symbolising the repression of civil dissent under Putin.

They received support from luminaries ranging from Madonna to Yoko Ono to Myanmar democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi. The case also polarised Russian society, with Orthodox conservatives regularly getting into fights with Pussy Riot supporters during the trial, and even staging rallies of their own.

Alyokhina told Dozhd she had not met a single person in prison who said their religious feelings were hurt by the performance. If offered to do it over again, "we would sing the song to the end," she said. "You have to listen to the whole thing, not just the first verse."

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