Delhi HC dismisses PIL challenging Tendulkar's nomination to Rajya Sabha

NEW DELHI: The Delhi high court on Wednesday approved the decision of the Centre to nominate cricketer Sachin Tendulkar to the Rajya Sabha. Dismissing a PIL challenging Tendulkar's nomination to the Upper House, a division bench of Chief Justice D Murugesan and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw agreed with the Centre's argument that his craft is an art for which he deserves to be considered an artist....

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Grabbing Water From Future Generations

This piece is part of Water Grabbers: A Global Rush on Freshwater, a special National Geographic Freshwater News series on how grabbing land—and water—from poor people, desperate governments, and future generations threatens global food security, environmental sustainability, and local cultures.Suresh Ponnusami sat back on his porch by the road south of the Indian textile town of...

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Obama Launches Gun-Violence Task Force

Five days after deadliest elementary school shooting in U.S. history, President Obama said his administration plans immediate action early next year on proposals to curb an "epidemic of gun violence."At a morning news conference, Obama announced the formation of a task force to be headed by Vice President Joe Biden that will formulate a package of policy recommendations by January."The...

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Eric Cantor plays loyal lieutenant to Boehner

In a breach of bedrock conservative principles, House Speaker John Boehner on Tuesday laid out a proposal Tuesday to allow tax rates to rise for those making more than a million dollars a year. And standing side by side with Boehner as he outlined what many in his party regard as GOP apostasy — but what Boehner argued was the only way to spare most Americans from a tax hike — was House...

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Samsung is top 2012 phone brand

WASHINGTON: Samsung has overtaken Nokia as the top mobile phone brand for 2012 and has opened up a decisive lead over Apple in the smartphone market, a research firm said Tuesday.This will mark the first time in 14 years that Finnish-based Nokia will not sit atop the global mobile phone business on an annual basis, according to IHS iSuppli.Samsung is expected to account for 29 per cent...

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Economists cast doubt on cash transfer, say violence limits freedom of choice for women

NEW DELHI: Increasing violence against women limits their freedom of choice. That casts doubt on the efficacy of policy decisions like cash transfer through which the UPA government aims to give women freedom of choice and empower the poor. Calling cash transfer the "big elephant in the room", IIM-Bangalore professor Gita Sen said, "Given the rising violence against women and denial of rights to...

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Pictures: "Beautiful" Geminid Meteor Showers Grace Skies

Over the Dunes Photograph courtesy Jack FuscoA Geminid meteor streaks across the sky above the beach in Ocean City, New Jersey, in a picture taken December 14. The piles come...

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Can Cops Read Shooter's Sabotaged Computer?

Sandy Hook Elementary School shooter Adam Lanza may have tried to sabotage his own computer before going on a murderous rampage that claimed the lives of 20 children, but experienced investigators said today that law enforcement forensic experts could still recover critical evidence from the damaged drives.Connecticut State Police Lt. Paul Vance revealed Monday that a computer...

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Manchin, Warner change stances on gun rights in wake of Newtown shootings

As funerals began in Connecticut on Monday, there was further proof that Friday’s mass shooting has reawakened a long-dormant debate in Washington: whether, and how, to limit assault weapons like the one used by the gunman at Sandy Hook Elementary School. White House spokesman Jay Carney said on Monday that President Obama supports reinstating an assault weapons ban and is likely to advocate...

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Big turn-out at Punggol East Meet-the-People Session

SINGAPORE: While a typical Meet-the-People Session (MPS) at Punggol East would see about 50 residents seeking their Member of Parliament (MP) each week, Monday night's session - the first since former MP Michael Palmer resigned last week over an extramarital affair - saw a queue of about 50 people even before the session began. The Monday night's MPS was conducted by Deputy Prime Minister...

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