0815 HRS
8th February, 2013

THE HEADLINES:

• RBI asks for changes in the law to deal with the menace of fake currency.
• Maharashtra Police lodges an FIR against VHP leader Praveen Togadia for his alleged hate speech.
• Karnataka goverment seeks legal opinion on the future course of action, following Supreme Court directions to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.
• High alert sounded in tribal districts of Himachal Pradesh, in view of threat of avalanche, following heavy snow fall.
• NHRC issues notice to Centre on illegal clinical trials on children in Delhihospitals.
• And in Cricket,
• The Super-Six stage of the ICC Women's World Cup begins from today.

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The RBI has called for changes in laws to deal with the menace of fake currency. RBI Governor D Subbarao said, the central bank is in talks with the government to amend the relevant laws to ensure that persons generating fake currency are punished and not those who possess such notes innocently. He was talking to reporters after the RBI Board meeting in Guwahati yesterday. Dr Subbarao said, the RBI has asked branch managers to be more sympathetic to people, who come with fake currencies and go into the circumstances under which that person has come in possession of the currency notes. He also stressed the need to simplify the process for filing of FIR in this regard.

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The Union Cabinet has approved proposals worth 38,500 crore rupees for road connectivity, under the Prime Minister's Gram Sadak Yojana, PMGSY. Briefing newsmen on the Cabinet decisions, Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh said, all habitations with a population of 100 tribals and above in 82 Naxal-hit districts will now be connected with all-weather roads, under government's flagship programme, PMGSY.

The Union Cabinet also approved raising the authorised capital of National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development to 20,000 crore rupees from 5,000 crore rupees. It also approved the formation of a Special Purpose Vehicle, SPV, for funding the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India Pipeline Project and to permit GAIL India Ltd. to join the SPV.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, CCEA gave the nod for the merger of National Lake Conservation Plan and National Wetlands Conservation Programme into a new scheme called the 'National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Eco-systems'.

Doubling of the Palanpur-Samakhiali section of the railway line under the Western Railway in Gujarat was also approved by the CCEA. Other important approvals include, construction of a new broad gauge line between Raigarh and Bhupdeopur Railway Station and between Gevra Road and Pendra Road of South East Central Railway. The CCEA also approved an increase in Minimum Support Price of Copra by 150 rupees per quintal.

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The Maharashtra Police has lodged an FIR against VHP leader Praveen Togadia for his alleged hate speech made in the state. Additional Director General of Police, Ahmed Javed said that the FIR has been lodged in a police station in Nanded, in connection with the hate speech made on the 22nd of last month. The case was filed after the State government reportedly ordered forensic examination of Togadia's speech for its allegedly inflammatory content.

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The CBI has submitted before a Delhi court the first list of prosecution witnesses to be summoned for recording their statements in a Commonwealth Games related corruption case, involving Congress leader Suresh Kalmadi and nine others. The witnesses, named in the list include, some former officials of the 2010 CWG Organising Committee, OC and others. Besides Kalmadi, the court had also framed charges against OC Secretary General Lalit Bhanot and others for offences punishable under the IPC and Prevention of Corruption Act for allegedly causing a loss of over 90 crore rupees to the exchequer. The court has fixed February 20 for commencement of trial in the case.

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Karnataka has sought legal opinion on the future course of action, following Supreme Court directions to the state to release 2.44 tmc feet of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, accompanied by State Water Resources Minister Basavaraj Bommai, held consultations with State's counsel Fali S Nariman in New Delhi last evening, about the fallout of the apex court order and the steps the state should take now. Mr Shettar refused to comment on the contentious issue after his meeting with Mr Nariman.

The Supreme Court yesterday directed the Karnataka government to immediately release 2.44 TMC feet of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.

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The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has launched a digital volunteer programme, which will allow the government to spread its development messages across social media platforms. Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari said, the initiative titled, 'My India Initiative - A Digital Volunteer Programme', is a milestone as it will enable the government to disseminate information to citizens, especially the youth of the country.

"We do hope, this would become another milestone campaign, in terms of proliferating the positive message of the government among the new media users across the entire spectrum."

The registration for the programme is now open at the Ministry's blog. After people are selected, they will be regularly sent updates about various government initiatives and plans, which they will assist in disseminating on the net.

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For news updates, follow us on Twitter @ airnewsalerts. You can also visit our facebook page All India Radio News for more news and events.

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Authorities in Himachal Pradesh have sounded a high alert in tribal Kinnaur, Lahaul and Spitti and Pangi areas in view of avalanche. The threat of avalanche heightened due to heavy snowfall in these areas during the past few days. Normal life remains paralysed in tribal areas and other higher reaches, as vehicular traffic and water and power supply remained disrupted. All schools have been closed till Monday. The upper areas of Shimla, Kullu and Chamba districts also remain cut off from the rest of the state.

The Kashmir Valley is again in the grip of an intense cold wave, as night temperature across the valley dipped below the freezing point. Gulmarg at minus 14.2 degrees celsius remained the coldest place in the state.

Meanwhile, bright sunshine greeted Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. However, night temperature in these states dropped at most places bringing back chilly conditions.

In Uttar Pradesh, rabi crops have suffered substantial loss due to incessant rain that continued for three days. Our correspondent reportsCrops of wheat, pulses and tomato have got damaged in Bundelkhand and Terai regions due to heavy hailstorm.

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The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC has issued a notice to the Centre on the allegations of illegal clinical trials on 3,479 children in Delhi hospitals during the last five years. The NHRC, in a statement, said that it has issued a notice to the Union Health Secretary on a complaint and asked him to submit a report within four weeks in this regard. The complainant, who is a representative of an NGO, in his petition to the NHRC, alleged that he got the information, under right to information, about the number of children subjected to clinical trials.

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The Central Board of Secondary Education, CBSE has provided one more chance to all the aspirants and registered candidates of the Joint Entrance Examination, JEE (Main) 2013 for correction in their data. The corrections can be made between today and the 14th of this month. The CBSE, in its release, said that it has advised all such candidates to visit the website www.jeemain.nic.in and verify their particulars for the purpose of corrections. However, the change of city for examination and change of mode from computer based to pen and paper based is not allowed.

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"The Super-Six stage of the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup begins from today. At two seperate venues in Mumbai, Australia will take on England, while New Zealand will meet Sri Lanka. In Cuttack, South Africa will play against the West Indies. All matches will begin at 9 AM.

Meanwhile, hosts India yesterday finished their campaign on a winning note, after they earlier failed to make it to the Super-Six stage. They defeatedPakistan by 6 wickets in the seventh place play-off match at Cuttackyesterday.

In Men's Cricket, India have retained their third spot in the ICC rankings for Twenty-20 teams. In the latest rankings released in Dubai yesterday, Indiais placed third with 119 points, while the table is headed by reigning T-20 champions Sri Lanka who have 131 points. The West Indies are second.

In Tennis, India's Somdev Devvarman and his Italian partner Fabio Cipolla have stormed into the Men's Doubles semi-finals of the ATP Zagreb Indoors tennis tournament at Croatia. In the quarterfinals last night, the Indo-Italian pair defeated the German-Czech combination of Benjamin Becker and Lukas Rosol, in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2. SAVVY HASAN KHAN, for AIR NEWS."

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NEWSPAPER HEADLINES

All major newspapers of the day have reported the story of slashing of the GDP estimate by the government. Mail Today says, the government estimates 5 per cent growth for the year showing rapid economic deceleration for the worst performance in a decade. Hindustan Times says, the crippling deceleration will also increase the pressure to unveil growth-reviving measures in the budget, that the Finance Minister will present later this month.

Under the headline, 'IAF Chief defends crew', the Indian Express writes that Indian Air Force Chief N.A.K. Browne dismissed allegations that an IAF crew had abandoned an injured Chhattisgarh policeman in the naxal-affected area, claiming they had tried to avoid a hostage situation.

'3 cops to protect each VIP, just 1 policeman for 761 citizens'. Under this caption, The Times of India reports that there is a staggering deployment of police personnel for security duties rather than basic tasks like making the nation's streets safer.

Hindustan Times writes that Ram temple and Narendra Modi were the focus of the Sangh Parivar gathering at the Maha Kumbh mela yesterday.

The Pioneer says that the Supreme Court has cautioned the CBI against politicising the controversial Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid case and asked the agency not to call the demolition of the structure in 1992 a national crime.

The Tribune writes that the J&K police arrested a cable operator for allegedly issuing threats to the members of the valley's first all-girl rock band, Pragaash.

The Asian Age says, breaking a four-year dry spell, researchers have identified the world's largest prime number, beating the previous record by over 4 million digits.

And finally, The Times of India under the headline, 'Move over memory pills, kids count on apps', writes that as CBSE, ICSE and state board exams begin, a number of students are using computer applications rather than traditional remedies to increase their concentration levels