2100 HRS
16th February, 2013

THE HEADLINES:

• CBI to rush two-member team to Italy to probe the VVIP chopper deal; Italian court declines to share documents of investigations with India.

• Veerappan's four aides move Supreme Court against execution of their death penalty.

• In Assam, Congress leads in Panchayat polls; Wins 14 Zila Parishads.

• India and Bangladesh exchange strip map of border regions.

• In Pakistan, 25 people killed in a bomb blast in Quetta city.

• Australia to take on West Indies in ICC Women's World Cup final in Mumbai tomorrow.

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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 A K Bal to visit Italy to gather evidence relating to the allegations of corruption in the case. The official will be leaving for Rome by Monday.

Meanwhile, 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 by Secrecy.

The request for the details and documents of the probe was made by Indian embassy in Rome three days ago. This followed the arrest of Finmeccanica chief Giuseppe Orsi on the allegations that kickbacks to the tune of 360 crore rupees were paid in the 3,600 crore rupee deal.

India has already initiated action to scrap the deal for purchase of 12 VVIP helicopters from AgustaWestland following allegations of kickbacks in the deal. The Defence Ministry has issued a show cause notice to AgustaWestland, asking it to explain within seven days why the 3,600 crore rupees deal of 2010 should not be scrapped.

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Four aides of sandalwood smuggler Veerappan today moved the Supreme Court against the execution of their death penalty. They were sentenced to death in a land mine blast case that had killed 22 policemen in Karnataka nearly 20 years ago. Their mercy petition was rejected by President Pranab Mukherjee on the 13th of this month.

Lawyers of Veerappan's aides said, the court did not take up the plea for hearing as urgent business today, saying there is no proof that execution will take place tomorrow.

Veerappan's elder brother Gnanaprakash, Simon, Meesekar Madaiah and Bilavendran were awarded death sentence in 2004 in the case. A TADA court in Mysore had in 2001 sentenced them to life term which was enhanced to death sentence by the apex court.

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A fresh case of illegal land de-notification was filed against former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa in the Lokayuktha Court today. Complainant H.K. Chandrasekhar has alleged in his petition that five acre land was denotified in Rajarajeshwarinagara in Bangalore to benefit Tumkur MP Basavaraj and Nippani MLA Kaka Saheb Patil in 2010. After allowing the case to be registered, Lokayuktha Judge Justice N K Sudhindra Rao posted the hearing of the case to the 19th of this month.

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In Assam, the ruling Congress is leading in the Panchayat polls. It has won 14 Zila Parishad and is leading in another district, when reports last came in.

Congress has won 250 Zila Parishad member seat so far out of 420 total seats. The ruling party has got majority in 14 districts while opposition All India United Democratic Front succeeded in two districts of Lower Assam. Asom Gana Parishad won 25 seats while BJP managed to win 12 seats. Counting trend shows that Congress is also leading in Gaon Panchayat President and Anchalik Panchayat member. MANAS PRATIM SARMA,AIR NEWS,GUWAHATI

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The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh has expressed concern over the large number of pending cases in the judiciary, especially, in the trial courts. Inaugurating the golden jubilee celebrations of the Bar Council of India in New Delhi today, Dr. Singh asked the legal fraternity to find ways and means for faster disposal of cases.

I am fully aware of the responsibilities of the government in working with the judiciary and other stake holders to build a strong and effective delivery system in our country. I reaffirm our government's commitment to take all necessary action in this direction.

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In Jammu and Kashmir, the situation by and large remained peaceful in all the major towns of the valley. Curfew was lifted this morning from all the districts of Kashmir region after a week. 

People came out of their homes and were busy in purchasing essential commodities, medicines, etc. Public and private transport was plying normally throughout the valley. Internet and mobile services have been restored after remaining suspended for a week. According to police, some incidents of stone pelting were reported from downtown area of Srinagar and towns of Sopore,Baramullah,Anantnag, and Vilgam .One security personnel and one civilian were injured in these incidents. Sanjit Khajuria, AIR News, Srinagar.

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India and Bangladesh today exchanged strip maps as part of the process of the implementation of the agreement signed to resolve land boundary issues between the two countries. In a symbolic gesture to mark the process, Minister of External Affairs Salman Khurshid and Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dipu Moni exchanged one strip map in the presence of Bangladesh Home Minister M,K. Alamgir and Minister for Land Reazul Karim at the end of the Joint consultative commission meeting in Dhaka today.

Responding to a reporter's questions at a joint press conference with Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr.Dipumoni, Minister For External Affairs Salman Khurshid said that the cabinet has recently approved the constitutional amendment bill related to the land boundary agreement. The government is making efforts to get the bill ratified in the upcoming budget session of parliament to ensure full implementation of the land boundary agreement. In addition to this two MOUs were also signed for the construction of a rail link to connect Akhaura in Bangladesh to Agartala in India and for setting up a think-tank to be called Bangladesh- India Foundation. An addendum amending the existing Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement between the two countries was also signed today.

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The ministerial meeting of BASIC countries has said that there would be no renegotiations of what was agreed upon at Durban. Speaking to reporters after the ministerial meeting of the 14th BASIC conference held at Chennai, the Ministers jointly reiterated that the developing countries, including BASIC countries have done much to raise the global ambition. They urged the developed countries to come forward and reciprocate the gesture and efforts of developing countries.

Minister for environment and forest Jayanthi Natarajan said that efforts should be made on the basis of equity. She said that it should be supported and enabled by finance, technology transfer and capacity building directed towards developing countries.

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At least 25 people have been killed and some 50 wounded in a bomb attack on a crowded market in the Pakistani city of Quetta today. Police say, the attack took place in a Shia Muslim part of the south-western city, and it is feared the death toll could rise. A senior local police officer said that the bomb was detonated by remote-control. He called it a sectarian attack where the Shia community was the target.

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In Uttarakhand, the hills of Garhwal and Kumaon regions are experiencing snowfall and rain since yesterday, while the plains had intermittent rain.

Over a week of sunny days, weather turned inclement once again across Uttarkhand with rain lashing several places including capital Dehradun and higher reaches experiencing snow.In Uttarkashi, Gangotri and Yamunotri had heavy snowfall and Gangotri highway was blocked at Nalupani due to heavy landslide resulting in complete stoppage of vehicular movement and supply of essentials commodities to remote places including the district headquarters of Uttarkashi. Vehicular traffic on Yamunotri highway beyond Dharasu has also been affected following landslides at several places. SanjeevSundriyal, AIR, News, Dehradun.

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In Himachal Pradesh, coldwave has further tightened its grip after continuance of snowfall at higher reaches and rainfall in other parts throughout the day. Mercury dipped several degree at most of the places.

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Information & Broadcasting Minister, Manish Tiwari has emphasized upon the need for equal and equitable representation of women in the work force to make the 21st Century truly an Indian Century. Addressing the annual convocation of a Girls College, at Ludhiana today he appreciated the rise of women in the work0 force. Underlining the need for creating a free and safe environment for women he said that the government is putting in all efforts for this. He sought society’s support for the success of government policies meant for safety of womenfolk.

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Former President Mohamed Nasheed’s Maldivian Democratic Party has said that it will hold rallies and demonstrations every night till the case against it leader is withdrawn. Nasheed’s supporters organized a big protest rally last night causing tension in the capital.

Nasheed continues to stay inside the Indian High Commission complex in Male as he fears he would be arrested by the police despite the statement issued by the government that no arrest warrant is pending against him.

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In Russia, a big rescue and clean-up operation involving more than 9,000 workers, is going on in the Ural mountains following yesterday's meteor strike. President Vladimir Putin has ordered the operation to help some 1,200 people who were injured, including 200 children, mostly by shattered glasses.

A fireball had streaked through the sky yesterday, followed by loud bangs. A large fragment reportedly landed in a lake near Chebarkul. A Russian army spokesman said a crater, 6 metre wide, had been found there.

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Five-time champions Australia will take on a spirited West Indies, in the summit clash of the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup in Mumbai tomorrow.

Australia were undefeated in the series until the West Indies beat them by eight runs in their last Super Six match.

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Gold prices plunged 235 rupees, to a six-month low of 30,390 rupees per ten grams at Delhi's bullion market, today, on brisk selling by stockists, amid a weak global trend. Silver fell 570 rupees, to 56,530 rupees per kilo. Silver coins dropped 2,000 rupees, to 78,000 rupees for buying 100 pieces