0815 HRS
17th February, 2013

THE HEADLINES:

• Supreme Court refuses urgent hearing on plea of Veerappan's four aides, seeking stay on execution of their death penalty.
• President says, CAG's role arises only when there are aberrations in financial matters.
• In Assam, ruling Congress wins 14 out of 21 Zila Parishads and is leading in 2 other districts.
• Romanian film Child's Pose bags Golden Bear prize for best film at the 63rd Berlin film festival.
• Australia to take on West Indies in the title clash of the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup today.

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The Supreme Court has refused urgent hearing on the plea of four aides of sandalwood smuggler Veerappan, seeking stay on execution of their death penalty. Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, who had mentioned the matter at the CJI's residence said, the Chief Justice did not hear the matter last evening, on the ground that there was no proof that execution is scheduled today. He said the CJI told him that the matter will be taken up for hearing in due course.
Veerappan's elder brother Gyan Prakash, Simon, Meesekar Madaiah and Bilavendran were awarded death sentence in 2004 in connection with a landmine blast at Palar in Karnataka in 1993 in which 22 police personnel were killed.

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The CBI is rushing a two-member team, consisting of a senior investigator and law officer, to Italy soon in a bid to make some headway in connection with the VVIP chopper deal probe. The team is expected to get in touch with prosecutors of the case in that country.
The Defence Ministry has also deputed senior Joint Secretary AK Bal to visit Italy to gather evidence relating to the allegations of corruption in the case. The official will be leaving for Rome tomorrow.
An Italian court has rejected India's request for documents on the investigations in to the VVIP chopper deal scam case. The court said the information is covered in Secrecy.
Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister Salman Khursheed has said that there should be no politics on the issue.

I don't think there is a need for any politics in this.  We have said very clearly that this is a matter of national interest.  As far as we are concerned, all procedure was followed and very strictly followed.  There is no scope for anyone to speculate about the procedure.  But, if there is any corrupt act at any level for any reason, there will obviously be a free and fair investigation by the CBI, case has been given to CBI.  The CBI will do exactly what the law mandate it to do.

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Suspected Indian Mujahideen module Fasih Mahmood, who was deported from Saudi Arabia last year, has been chargesheeted for terror acts, in connection with the 2010 Jama Masjid attacks. The charge sheet was filed in the court of Additional Sessions Judge Asha Menon in Delhi. Fasih, one of the founding members of the banned outfit, has been charged under the Indian Penal Code for forgery and possessing fake currency and also under the Explosive Substances Act and the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.

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The President Mr. Pranab Mukherjee has said the CAG's role arises only when there are aberrations in financial matters and the Parliament need not wait for its report on an issue to discuss the matter. Delivering the first NKP Salve Memorial Lecture in Delhi yesterday, the President emphasised the need for having serious discussions in Parliament on financial issues.

Corruption, misuse of funds, diversions of the funds can be definitely, substantially checked.  We need not have to wait for the report of Comptroller and Auditor General and thereafter to raise certain issues, which to my mind are also because Comptroller and Auditor General's job is only to find out the fault.  If the procedures have been strictly followed, CAG has nothing to make comment.  CAG's comment arises as and when there are aberrations and many of these aberrations can be checked.
Voicing concern over frequent disruptions in Parliament and state legislatures, the President said, due to disruptions, even the powers of discussing the monetary and financial matters which are vested in the Lok Sabha, are not utilised fully.

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The Congress President Mrs. Sonia Gandhi has said the matter pertaining to grant of minority status to Aligarh Muslim University is an issue of great concern and her party will do its best to ensure that the varsity gets autonomy. She said this while addressing the 60th annual convocation of AMU through audio conferencing yesterday after her visit was cancelled due to inclement weather. She said AMU had played a very important role in the country's freedom struggle and had produced a galaxy of freedom fighters like 'Frontier Gandhi' Abdul Ghaffar Khan, Maulana Mohammad Ali Jauhar and Rafi Ahmad Kidwai.

Unity in diversity  and secularism are the most integral part of our democracy.  Aligarh Muslim University truly represents this culture and tradition of our country.

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In Assam, the ruling Congress has won 14 out of 21 Zila Parishads and is leading in two other districts. Congress has won 250 Zila Parishad member seats. Its candidates won all Zila Parishad seats in Sivsagar and Golaghat. Opposition All India United Democratic Front has dominated in two Zila Parishads. The final results are likely to be declared today.

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In Jammu and Kashmir, the situation is returning to normal  in the entire Kashmir valley. Curfew was lifted from all the ten districts of the valley yesterday. Barring a few incidents of stone throwing, the overall situation is normal. Additional Police force has been deployed in sensitive areas of the valley.

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Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi has set time-bound targets for the state Congress chiefs, who were asked to increase contact with workers. After a two-day interaction with PCC chiefs and CLP leaders in Delhi yesterday, Mr. Gandhi asked the state party presidents to move out of party's state offices for at least 10 days in a month and visit the districts and blocks to hear the partymen's grievances.
Talking to reporters, Congress leader, Janardhan Dwivedi said that various flagship programmes of the central government were also discussed in the meeting.

Everyone expressed the views.  Various flagship programmes of the Central Government were discussed.  The use and misuse of the assistance given to the State Governments by the Centre was also discussed.

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Entire Himachal Pradesh is reeling under extreme cold condition.  Fresh snow fall and wide spread rain have paralysed normal life in  the state. More from our correspondent:

The incessant snow fall   in the last three days has badly affected the normal life  in the already snowbound areas specially the kinnaur and Lahaul Spiti districts where  the road connectivity  and  electricity supply are distrupted .In Kinnaur district,   the Hindustan -Tibet highway is closed due to snow fall and landslides .  Due to heavy snowfafall in the upper areas, the state administration has sounded  a  high alert andadvised the people to remain indoors in view of the avalanche. . The educational institutions in Kinnaur district have been closed till 23rd of this month.  Niraj Rana, AIR News, Shimla.

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In Pakistan, the death toll following a blast in the southwest city of Quetta has risen to 79, bringing the number of injured to 170 as more of the critical victims succumbed to their wounds. The incident occured, when a powerful bomb ripped through the Shia dominated city in the country yesterday. The blast occurred at Kirani Road in Hazara Town, a suburb of Quetta.
Lashkar-e-Jhangvi has claimed responsibility for the attack.

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The Romanian film Child's Pose has bagged the coveted Golden Bear prize for best film at the 63rd Berlin film festival. The Romanian drama is about a dominating mother using her social position to try to save her son from jail.
The awards ceremony brought to a close the 11-day cinema showcase, where hundreds of movies were screened across Berlin.

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Five-time champions Australia will lock horns with the West Indies, in the title clash of the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup today. The match will be played at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai at 2:30 PM.
 

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NEWSPAPERS HEADLINES

An Italian court rejecting India's plea for information and Indian officials leaving for Rome to gather evidence is the lead story in many newspapers. 'Chopper gate is Italy's loss, Russia's gain' is the Hindustan Times headline, indicating that Russia may be the winner, if India cancels the helicopter contract with AugustaWestland.
A fresh FIR against Gopal Kanda and Aruna Chadha on the basis of the suicide note of Geetika's mother is covered prominently by most dailies. 'Kanda booked for abetting suicide', writes the Tribune.
The Ponty Chadha murder case figures on the front pages of the Hindu and the Times of India. 'Namdhari charged with murder', says the Statesman.
Rahul Gandhi ticking off Congress leaders over his PM issue find place in the Asian Age and The Statesman. 'Livid Rahul snubs sycophant Vijay Bahuguna for PM chant', writes the Mail Today.
The Financial Express lead story focuses on the run up to the budget. 'Budget 2013-14 to be most austere in years', reads the paper's headline.
The Business Standard reports of gold prices slipping to a 6 month low of under 30,000 rupees per 10 gram in Mumbai and adds that global cues may further weaken the yellow metal.
Feeling cold Delhites? You are bound to. The Times of India reports that Delhi temperature hovered between 13.7 and 16.1 degrees Celsius yesterday due to the rain and wind. And today is also expected to be a 'Wet Sunday' in Delhi. "Its raining chills', writes Mail Today, as it gives the general weather picture of North India with snow, hail and rain.
And finally, there is an easy way to get a passport now. 'Tormenting touts and long queues should be a thing of the past'.  Just log on to Passportindia.gov.in