0815 HRS
5th February, 2013

THE HEADLINES:

• Government to bring in adequate amendments to the criminal law relating to crimes against women; Fast track court to begin hearing in Delhi gang rape case today.
• The Supreme Court asks the Centre to notify the Cauvery water Disputes Tribunal Award by 20th of this month; Also directs Karnataka to release 2 TMC of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.
• The Centre plans to bring in affordable housing schemes under infrastructure sector.
• Rain and snowfall lash North India; The Met Department predicts more rain and hail storm over the next two days.
• The Bangladesh Cabinet approves amendment in the existing Double Taxation Avoidance Convention with India for the exchange of income tax related information. 
• India take on Sri Lanka in their must win third and final Group-A match of the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup.

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The government says stringent provisions in the Criminal Law Amendment Ordinance on sexual violence against women will have a deterrent effect on potential criminals until a new law is enacted by Parliament. Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said that the ordinance is just a beginning and an adequate amendment in the criminal law will be brought in soon after discussions in Parliament. He said, there is a strong case to promulgate an ordinance in view of the public demand for immediate amendment to the criminal laws relating to crimes against women.

The legislative process is not yet complete. I would appeal to everyone to allow the legislative process to be completed in the forthcoming session of Parliament. It would not be correct to say that any recommendation of the Justice Verma Committee has been rejected by the government. The correct position is that some recommendations of the Justice Verma Committee have not been incorporated in the ordinance, because of the divergence of opinion on the issues. These issues require more consultations and deliberations.

The Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari has asked political parties to rise above political considerations and support the government's move to provide stringent punishment for crimes against women.

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A fast-track court in New Delhi will begin today hearing charges against the five accused in the December 16 gang rape case. The charges are framed on various counts including conspiracy to abduct the 23-year-old girl and sexually assault and murder her. A fresh offence under section 366 of the Indian Penal Code was added by the court against them. The court also charged them with the murder of the paramedic girl under section 302 of the IPC which entails the maximum punishment of a death penalty.

The sixth accused has been declared minor by the Juvenile Justice Board, which will try him separately.

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The Supreme Court has asked the Centre to notify the six-year-old final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal by the 20th of this month. A bench headed by Justice RM Lodha expressed displeasure over the government not notifying the award even after the warring Tamil Nadu and Karnataka had agreed before it on January the 4th that they had no objection if the award was notified. The Centre had earlier assured the apex court that it would notify the tribunal’s award by December the 31st.

The apex court also directed Karnataka to release 2 Thousand Million Cubic feet, of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu and asked the Central Water Commission to file a report on the water requirement of the two states. It asked the Commission to form a three-member expert body which will visit the states and directed it to file report within two days. The court posted the matter for further hearing on Thursday. The court was hearing Tamil Nadu's petition seeking the immediate release of 12 TMC of water.

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In order to improve the urban housing scenario, the government may soon provide ‘Infrastructure Status’ to affordable housing schemes. The Union Minister for Housing and Poverty Alleviation Ajay Maken said that a proposal to bring in affordable housing segments under the infrastructure sector has been sent to the Finance Ministry and a positive decision is expected during the budget session. He was addressing a conference on "Governance of Mega City Regions" in Mumbai yesterday. Talking about the challenges faced by the mega cities while undertaking urban development; Mr. Maken said mega cities like Mumbai and Delhi need to review their Floor Space Index policy and make appropriate changes to boost affordable housing.

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Rain and snowfall continued to lash North India. In Jammu and Kashmir, the 300 kilo-meter long Jammu-Srinagar National Highway remained closed on the second consecutive day today due to landslides triggered by heavy rain and fresh snowfall at several places. Our correspondent has filed this report:

The highway has been closed due to snowfall at Jawahar Tunnel and landslides at Seri and Panthayat areas of Ramban district in Jammu region. Although with the little improvement in the weather some of the important link roads in Udhampur and Doda districts are thrown open for traffic. Meanwhile, Army and Police have rescued nine civilians including four women after almost six long hours rescue operation which continued late last evening, as avalanche hit mountainous belt of Banihal in Ramban district of Jammu region. One dead body is also recovered from the site. With R.K.Raina, Chander Kant Sharma, AIR News, Jammu.

Himachal Pradesh is in the grip of cold wave conditions following fresh snow fall and wide-spread rain for the last 36 hours. Several parts of Lahaual Spiti, Kinnaur, Chmaba and Kullu districts received heavy snow fall and normal life has been badly affected. The tourist resorts Kufri, Narkanda and Manali also received snowfall. Here is more from our correspondent:

In Himachal Pradesh, fresh snow fall and wide spread rain accompanied by high speed winds have affected the normal life . Due to fresh snow fall, the problems of the people have further aggravated in the snow-bound areas of Kinnaur, Lauhal Spiti, Shimla and Chamba districts. The supply of water and other necessities have been disrupted in several areas. Fearing avalanches at the higher reaches, the district administration has sounded a high alert and advised the people to remain indoors. Neeraj Rana, AIR News, Shimla.

The national capital Delhi also experienced rain last night and early this morning. The Met department has predicted more rain and hailstorms in the region over the next two days.

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A group of 29 fishermen arrived early this morning at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport from Dubai. According to Airport Authority officials, all the fishermen from Tamil Nadu left for their homes immediately on arrival at the airport.

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22 Asian workers including an Indian national from West Bengal were killed in the worst ever highway mishap near Al Ain in United Arab Emirates yesterday. Here is more from our correspondent:

The tragic incident took place on the old Truck road near Al Ain City during rush hours when a bus carrying 46 workers of a cleaning company, mostly from Bangladesh and Pakistan collided with a large truck carrying cement, sand ,concrete and other construction materials. 22 workers died on the spot while 24 others injured were being treated at the Al Ain Hospital. Their injuries ranged from minor and moderate to serious. Atul Tiwary, AIR News, Dubai.

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The Bangladesh cabinet has approved an amendment proposal on the existing Double Taxation Avoidance Convention with India for the exchange of income tax related information. The amendment was approved at weekly meeting of the cabinet chaired by Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the Secretariat in Dhaka yesterday. Briefing reporters after the meeting, the Bangladesh Cabinet Secretary M Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan said that the Internal Resources Division of the Ministry of Finance placed the proposal for amendment to the existing convention which has been effective since 1991.

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Hosts India will lock horns with Sri Lanka in their must-win third and final Group-A match of the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai today. The match will begin at 2:30 PM. Here is more from our correspondent:

The last encounter in Group-A will be a do or die contest for the two teams involved. With a win and a loss each, both India and Sri Lanka are in with a chance of progressing to the Super Sixes, when the teams face each other at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai today. After a 32-run defeat against England, India will take this as an opportunity to come back strong at Sri Lanka, who come into the game after a massive 209-run loss against West Indies. Though Sri Lanka has a victory to their name against England, the defending champions, their poor show against West Indies highlighted concerns in both batting and bowling departments. Lubna Yusuf Moosa, AIR News, Mumbai.

In the other Group-A match today, England will take on the West Indies at the Bandra Kurla Complex in Mumbai. The match is slated to kick off at 9 AM.

In the Group-B matches, which will be played at different venues in Cuttack today, Pakistan will clash with South Africa and Australia will meet New Zealand. These matches will also begin at 9 AM.

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NEWSPAPER HEADLINES

In a front page story today's Hindustan Times says that the rising food prices have forced the athletes training at the National Institute of Sports in Patila to cut down their diet and it is bound to affect their performance. "Plate half full, Indian athlete loses out to rising prices", reads the headline of the story.

The Times of India reports that the Supreme Court has agreed to examine the scope for tougher penalties for heinous crimes by juveniles. The Government promised to examine the definition of a juvenile, and the deemed cut-off age in the event of heinous crimes, says the paper.

The most technologically advanced cancer detection test may soon be within the reach of the common man, writes The Times of India and goes on to say that the Central Food and Drugs Administration is working towards making the cervical cancer test available for just a hundred rupees which now costs almost 900 rupees.

Most newspapers this morning reported about the resignation of Solicitor General of India, Rohinton Nariman. According to The Hindu, Mr. Nariman is reported to have resigned due to a difference of opinion between him and the Union Law Minister.

To keep diet related diseases at bay, ensure that you have only half a teaspoon or six grams of salt daily. This new guideline has been suggested by the World Health Organisation specially in the context of Indians who on an average consume nine grams of salt a day and that causes 14 per cent of the global burden of uncontrolled hypertension. The Pioneer has reported this story.

And finally, crossing main roads in the national capital will soon become less daunting for the differently abled, writes Hindustan Times. The Delhi Government has asked agencies to install audio signals at all traffic intersections across the Capital. In addition, the Social Welfare Department has also asked for the construction of slopes on pavements for wheelchair users.