0815 HRS
25th January , 2013

THE HEADLINES:

• Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist David Headley sentenced to 35 years in jail by US Court for his role in 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks; India to continue to press for his extradition.

• Centre approves modifications in special industry initiative UDAAN for generating employment for youth in Jammu and Kashmir.

• Supreme Court questions Centre's power to allocate coal blocks.

• Today is National Voters' Day.

• Eid Milad-un-Nabi is being celebrated across the country with traditional gaiety and religious fervor.

• Britain's Andy Murray to clash with Roger Federer of Switzerland in the second semi final of Men's Singles today; Serbia's Novak Djokovic already in the final.

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Pakistani-American Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist David Headley has been sentenced to 35 years in jail by a US court for his unquestionable role in the killing of 166 people in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

Under a plea bargain, death sentence for Headley was already knocked down. But many were left surprised when the US prosecutors did not seek life sentence for Headley who was sentenced on 12 counts. These included conspiracy to aid the Pakistani terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba, which attacked the Taj Hotel and other targets in Mumbai.

Headley confessed that he had undertaken numerous scouting missions for his handlers in Pakistan. He had videographed a number of targets in India, including the Taj hotel. According to security agencies, the detailed videos made by Headley were the prime source on which the Mumbai attacks were planned and carried out.

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India will continue to press for extradition of David Headley and hope to get access to his accomplice Tahawwur Hussain Rana. New Delhi's request for access to Headley's wife Shazia Gilani, his girlfriend Portia Peter and one more female friend is yet to be acceded to by Washington.

US Attorney Gary S Shapiro testifying before the court on Tuesday ruled out extradition of Headley under a guilty plea that he had entered into with the US government.

Public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam has expressed unhappiness over the quantum of punishment announced to key conspirator of 26/11 Mumbai attack by the US court.

David Headley has played a vital role in the criminal conspiracy behind the terror attack of 26 November. Not only that, he had strong links with Pakistan army official and on account of the entire information which he has supplied to the LeT, as well as Pakistan army official, they could successfully carry out the attacks on Mumbai. He deserves infact, the death penalty.

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President Pranab Mukherjee will address the nation today on the eve of the 64th Republic Day. All India Radio will broadcast his speech in English from 7 p.m. This will be followed by its Hindi translation.

The address will also be broadcast over all AIR stations including CBS, Vividh Bharati and local radio stations. All FM stations including FM rainbow and FM Gold channels will also broadcast the speech. The regional version of the President's address will be broadcast by regional stations of All India Radio from 9.30 p.m. Many evening regional bulletins have been rescheduled. All India Radio will also broadcast Sarva Bhasha Kavi Sammelan today from 10 p.m.

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King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck will be the chief guest at this year's Republic Day parade. He will be given a ceremonial reception by the President Mr. Pranab Mukherjee at the forecourts of Rashtrapati Bhawan today. The Bhutan King, is on a 8 day State visit to India at the invitation of the President.

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The Centre has given its approval to modifications in the 750 crore rupee special industry initiative scheme UDAAN in Jammu and Kashmir to make it more flexible. The Cabinet committee on Economic Affairs decided to allow Public Sector Undertakings to participate in the scheme and meet the expenses as a part of their social responsibility. Our correspondent reports that under the scheme 40 thousand youth will be trained in five years. Companies which enter into agreement with National Skill Development Corporation will screen and select students from the state. The scheme will facilitate gainful employment for the youth in Jammu and Kashmir and channelise their energies into creative work.

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The Supreme Court has questioned the Centre's power to allocate coal blocks to companies. The Court said the statutory Act empowers only the states to undertake this task.

The apex court said that the centre cannot undermine the Mines and Minerals Act which has given no power to it to allocate coal block to companies.

A bench of Justices R.M. Lodha and J.Chelameswar asked the government to go through other legislations particularly the Coal Mines Nationalisation Act, to find out whether it is empowered to allocate the resources.

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In Karnataka, uncertainty continues over the future of BJP government as several party MLAs wish to resign and join Karnataka Janta Party of B.S. Yeddyurappa. The absence of Speaker since a couple of days has prevented the MLAs from submitting their resignation letters. They had met Governor H.R. Bhardwaj and handed over copies of their resignation letters to him.

Meanwhile, on the recommendation of the State Cabinet, the Governor has given his consent for the budget session from February 4th to 13th.

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The National Voters' Day is being observed today across the country. The objective of the day is to increase citizen's participation in the electoral process, more specifically to enroll the newly eligible youth, who have just attained the age of 18 years, in the electoral rolls. According to the data released by the Election Commission, over 2.32 crore citizens have been registered under the enrollment drive conducted by the Commission across the country ahead of the 3rd National Voters' Day. Of them, around 93 lakh voters are in the age group of 18 to 19 years. Director General, Election Commission Akshay Rout said, on this day the newly enrolled voters will be given Electoral Photo Identity Card at functions across the country.

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Eid Milad-un-Nabi, the birth anniversary of Prophet Mohammad, is being celebrated across the country today with traditional gaiety and religious fervor. The President, the Vice President, the Prime Minister and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi have greeted the nation on this occasion.

In Uttar Pradesh, a number of programmes are being held in Lucknow on the life and teachings of prophet Muhammad

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In Australian Open Tennis, Britain's Andy Murray will clash with World Number Two Roger Federer of Switzerland in the semi final match of the Men's Singles today. World Number One Novak Djokovic of Serbia had already booked a berth in the final by beating Spaniard David Ferrer, 6-2, 6-2, 6-1 in the first semi final yesterday.

In the Women's doubles, the Italian pair of Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci will fight it out with the Australian duo of Ashleigh Barty and Casey Dellacqua for the title today.

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The Bombay High Court has asked the Badminton Association of India, BAI, and players to refrain from fighting over petty issues and not let sports suffer. The Court directed the BAI to consider the entry of Jwala Gutta and Prajakta Sawant in the upcoming international tournaments. A division bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice A V Mohta was hearing a petition filed by 19-year-old Sawant, who had alleged mental harassment by chief national coach Pullela Gopichand after she was refused entry to the All India National Coaching Camp in Hyderabad. The court also observed that the Sports Authority of India should look into the issue and resolve it. The matter has been posted for further hearing on January 30.

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In Pakistan, four persons including a senior police officer, have been killed and over a dozen injured in two successive bomb blasts in the port city of Karachi. The Officials said two policemen, including a Deputy Superintendent of Police were killed.

No group has claimed responsibility for the blasts, which occurred amidst a heightened alert across Pakistan in view of Eid-e-Miladun Nabi today.

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The Supreme Court of Canada has dismissed the plea of Inderjit Singh Reyat, the only person convicted in connection with the June 23, 1985 Kanishka bombing that killed 329 people on Air India Flight 182. He had sought the court's permission to file appeal against his nine-year sentence for perjury.

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NEWSPAPERS HEADLINES

• The story of sentencing of 26/11 terror attack accused David Headley has been widely reported on front pages of the newspapers of the day. "Headley gets 35 years for role in 26/11 plot" reads a Hindustan Times headline, while Mail Todaysays Headley escapes harsher punishment for cooperating with US authorities on terror networks but judge says he deserved death penalty.

• The Asian Age reports that the Juvenile Justice Board has dismissed a plea seeking trial of the juvenile, who was among the six people held for the brutal December 16 gangrape in New Delhi, along with five adult accused in a fast track court.

• The Times of India writes that Delhi Police has assured that the number 1096 will be linked to the police control rooms to ensure speedy action to deter stalkers.The Indian Express reports that the Justice Verma Commission has recommended installation of tamper-proof CCTVs in each metropolitan bus to track signals or messages from women in distress.

• Under the headline, "Free man Nitin Gadkari warns IT witch-hunters", The Pioneerreports that a day after Rajnath Singh replaced him as BJP president, Nitin Gadkari warned the Income Tax officials probing the questionable dealings of the Purti group linked to him, saying that nobody would come to their rescue when his party comes to power at the Centre.

• The Indian Express and the Tribune report that a Supreme Court bench has questioned the authority of the Centre to allocate coal blocks, pointing out that coal was a State resource.

• The Hindu reports that Madras High Court has refused to stay the ban on Kamal Haasan's film Vishwaroopam adding that Judge K Venkataraman will view the film himself before deciding on the merits of the 2-week ban by the Tamil Nadu government.

• The Times of India says that according to a new research by the University of Otago in New Zealand, eating more fruit and vegetables may make young people calmer, happier and more energetic in their daily life.