2100 HRS.
04-02-2013

THE HEADLINES 

• Government says stringent provisions in Criminal Law Amendment Ordinance on sexual violence is just a beginning; Adequate amendments will be placed in Parliament soon.
• Supreme Court decides to review the definition of juvenile in Juvenile Justice Act.
• Enforcement Directorate slaps 100 crore rupee as penalty on Rajasthan Royals IPL under FEMA.
• Information and Broadcasting Ministry sets up a Committee headed by Justice Mukul Mudgal to review Cinematograph Act.
• In Iraq 22 persons killed in a suicide bomb blast in north of Baghdad.
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• India meet Sri Lanka in the ICC Women's World Cup Cricket Group-A match in Mumbai tomorrow.

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The government today said 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. Speaking to newsmen in New Delhi, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said, the ordinance is just a beginning and adequate amendment in the criminal law will be brought in soon after discussions in the Parliament. He said, there was a strong case to promulgate an ordnance in view of public demand for immediate amendment to criminal laws relating to crimes against women. Mr. Chidambaram also said, no recommendation of the Justice Verma Committee has been rejected. He maintained that some of the recommendations of the panel have not been incorporated in the ordinance because of divergence of opinion on the issues which requires more consultations and deliberations.

"Government wishes to assure everyone that further consultations will take place. There will be discussions with political parties, there will be debate in Parliament when the bill is introduced to replace the ordinance. These consultations, discussions and debate will afford ample opportunity to make changes in the ordinance which was promulgated yesterday."

Saying that sexual violence against women is a grave issue, the Finance Minister appealed to everyone to deal with it with utmost seriousness and sensitivity.

"Government is confident that when the bill to replace the ordinance is introduced and passed in the Parliament, the bill will reflect the broadest possible consensus on the imperative and urgent need to have an effective law to protect women and to punish crimes against women."

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

"Ordinance is a first step is making any law. If there are any suggestions from anyone in this regard, Government will consider them in a constructive way. Whatever will the required to be taken into cognizance we will definably take it."

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The Supreme Court today decided to review the definition of juvenile in the Juvenile Justice Act. The Apex court also directed the Attorney General to assist the court in the plea challenging the absolute immunity to delinquents up to the age of 18 years from being prosecuted like adults despite the gravity of the crime committed by them. The court has fixed April 3rd as the next date for deciding on the issue.

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A Delhi court today framed charges against sacked Commonwealth Games, Organising Committee Chairman Suresh Kalmadi and nine others for allegedly cheating, conspiring and causing a loss of over 90 crore rupees to the exchequer in a Games-related corruption case. After framing of charges, the court fixed February the 20th for recording of evidence. The judge said that the evidence will be recorded on a day-to-day basis barring Monday and Friday. Special CBI Judge Ravinder Kaur framed charges under various provisions of the IPC and the Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act against Kalmadi and other accused, including Organising Committee Secretary General Lalit Bhanot, in the case.

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Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy today held consultations with the party's central leadership including Congress President Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi. Mr Reddy had about a half an hour long meeting with Mrs Gandhi and her political secretary Ahmed Patel during which he is learnt to have briefed the party leadership on the situation in the state over the issue of a separate Telangana. Earlier, Mr Reddy had a separate meeting with AICC General Secretary in-charge of Andhra Pradesh Ghulam Nabi Azad. The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister also met President Pranab Mukherjee.

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Senior advocate Rohinton Nariman has resigned as Solicitor General of the country. Nariman who was appointed as the Solicitor General on July 23, 2011, sent his resignation letter today to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh with a copy to the Law Minister. Our correspondent reports, the second senior most law officer of the country, Mr Nariman has not given any reason for quitting his post in his resignation letter.

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In Nagaland, the filing of nominations are continuing. The State goes to the poll on the 23rd of this month. More from our Correspondent:

"With just two days left for filling of nomination papers, candidates from all political parties in Nagaland have come forward to submit their nomination papers at the respective District headquarters. Prominent among those who filed their nomination today include the State Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, Besides, the Nagaland Legislative Speaker and other veteran candidates of the NPF has filed their nominations. Several independent candidates have also filed their nomination papers today taking the total candidates who have submitted their papers to more than 20 till now. The nomination of candidates for the forthcoming State assembly will continue till February 6. Anenla Jamir AIR NEWS Kohima."

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In Tripura Assembly elections, helicopters will not be used for transportation of polling staff as there is no remote polling station in the state this time. The state is going to polls on the 14th of this month.

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The Enforcement Directorate has slapped 100 crore rupees as penalty on the IPL team, Rajasthan Royals. Our correspondent reports, the team owners have been penalised under Foreign Exchange Management Act contraventions. The Directorate has issued showcause notice to the owners. It has been alleged that the owners of the IPL team have received some funds from abroad on illegal basis. The team has been given 45 days to pay the penalty with an option to appeal against the charges.

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The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has set up a committee under Justice Mukul Mudgal to review the Cinematograph Act in the wake of row over the film Vishwaroopam. The movie, which has been cleared by the country's censor board, ran into trouble in Tamil Nadu after some groups alleged it depicted Muslims in poor light.

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Actor Kamalhassan today said that the film Viswaroopam will be released in Tamil Nadu on the 7^{th of this month. Speaking to newspersons in Chennai, the actor said he had overcome many hurdles which stopped the release of the film. The Madras High Court today closed the cases related to Viswaroopam as the concerned parties had reached an agreement between themselves. The State Government lifted the ban after the agreement and the Court closed the case today.}

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The Commerce Ministry today notified the Government's decision that export of processed food items such as wheat flour and cheese will not be banned even though shipments of basic items are not allowed. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade said in a notification that the government has exempted with immediate effect 10 processed and value-added agricultural products from any export restrictions or ban.

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The meeting of the Consultative Committee attached to the Ministry of Finance was held in New Delhi today under the Chairmanship of the Union Finance Minister, P. Chidambaram. During the meeting, Mr Chidambaram said that the purpose of the meeting was Pre-Budget Consultations. Participating in the discussion, members present gave various suggestions. Some of the members said that budget should give incentive for job creation, growth oriented and give recognition to young entrepreneurs and innovators.

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"Falling for the third straight session, the Sensex at the Bombay Stock Exchange declined 30 points, or 0.2 percent, to close at a three-week low of 19,751, on mild profit-booking by investors, amid some weak quarterly corporate results, today. The Nifty fell 12 points, to 5,987. Stock markets in Japan, China, Hong Kong, South Korea and Singapore ended mixed. Snapping a four session winning streak, the rupee lost 9 paise, to 53.28 against the dollar. Falling for the third straight day, gold declined 50 rupees, to 30,750 rupees per ten grams in Delhi. Silver fell 395 rupees, to 58,305 rupees per kilo. Pradeep Kumar, AIR News."

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS In Iraq, 22 persons were killed and 44 others injured in a suicide bomb blast in Taji city, north of Baghdad. According to reports, a suicide bomber blew himself up near a group of anti-Al Qaeda fighters as they were receiving salaries. The blast took place soon after officials raised the salaries of the Sunni militiamen in a bid to placate weeks of anti-government demonstrations in Sunni dominated areas of the country.

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In the United Arab Emirates, at least 22 Asian workers have been killed and 24 injured in a road accident in Zakhir district. According to GulfNews.com, most of the workers were cleaners of Indian, Bangladeshi or Pakistani origin. Reports said a bus transporting workers collided with a lorry carrying construction materials in the Zakhir district of al-Ain city.

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The two month long general amnesty scheme by the UAE Government for illegal workers to go back to their home country without paying fines or get their residency visas regularized came to an end today. The amnesty scheme was valid from December the 4th for a period of two months. The UAE Government has ruled out extending the amnesty and said that this was the last chance for the illegal migrants who have overstayed in the country and now action as per the law will be taken against the violators.

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Jammu & Kashmir Police today achieved a major success with the arrest of four Hizbul Mujahideen militants including three top former surrendered militants involved in the killings of seven civilians including four Village Defence Committee members in district Udhampur of Jammu region.

"With these arrests, J&K Police has claimed a big breakthrough in 2001 militant attack that took place at village Chakan Galiote in Pancheri area of Udhampur district. According to SSP Udhampur, Ashkoor Ahmed Wani, a militant identified as Abdul Latif alias Fayyaz, who was arrested recently, during the interrogation disclosed that a total of 12 militants were involved in November 30, 2001 militant attack and following his information, Police arrested three more militants wanted in this case. The arrested surrendered militants have remained top ranking commanders of Hizbul Mujahideen operating in Gool area of district Udhampur. With R. k Raina Chander Kant Sharma AIR NEWS Jammu."

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The 300 kilo-meter long Jammu-Srinagar National highway remained closed due to landslides triggered at many places by heavy rains and fresh snowfall. Meanwhile, Army and Police rescued nine civilians including four women after an almost six hours long rescue operation, as avalanche hit the mountainous belt of Banihal in Ramban district of Jammu region today.

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The News Services Division of All India Radio in its weekly "PUBLIC SPEAK" programme tonight will bring you a discussion on "Preventing Cancer". This can be heard on FM Gold Channel and additional frequencies at 9.30 p.m. Listeners can ask questions to the experts sitting in our studio on telephone number: 2331-4444. This programme is also available on Doordarshan DTH.

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India will meet Sri Lanka in a Group-A match of the ICC Women's World Cup in Mumbai tomorrow. The Day-Night encounter is scheduled to begin at the Brabourne Stadium at 2.30 P.M. In another Group 'A' match at Bandra, Mumbai, defending champions England will take on West Indies. It will be a Day Fixture and is slated to begin at 9 A.M. For India, it is a must-win game tomorrow, to qualify for the Super Six stage. At present, all the four teams in Group A have won a match each.