2100 HRS.
25-02-2013

THE HEADLINES:

• PSLV C20 carrying seven satellites launched successfully into space from Sriharikota.
• Investigating agencies working on definite leads to probe the Hyderabad twin blasts.
• Centre keen to introduce National Counter Terrorism Centre to firmly deal with terrorism, says Union Home Minister.
• EPF interest rate raised by 0.25 to 8.5 per cent for the current fiscal.
• India on verge of a comprehensive win against Australia in the Chennai test.

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The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, PSLV C 20, carrying seven satellites, has been launched successfully. It took off at 6.01pm from the first launch pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota this evening. President Pranab Mukherjee, Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, V.Narayanasamy, Andhra Pradesh Governor E.S.L.Narasimhan, Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy witnessed the successful launch of the 101st satellite mission. Although the first mission of the year, PSLV C 20, had a five minute delay, it had a perfect take off from the Space Centre. Beginning its first mission for the year today, ISRO is poised to launch nine other missions this year including a journey to MARS. SARAL, one of the satellites launched by PSLV C-20, was built by India and France and is the first of its kind under Indian Mini satellite bus series 2 configured for 400 kg satellites. It will be useful for operational as well as research user communities in fields like marine meteorology and sea state forecasting, management and protection of marine eco-system, environmental monitoring and improvement of maritime security.

The 44-metre tall vehicle hurtled itself towards the skies carrying seven satellites weighing 668.5 kgs. With the PSLV-C20’s successful mission, ISRO has successfully launched 35 foreign satellites till date. PSLV rocket has put into orbit seven satellites in one go for second time. Through its quest for unraveling the mysteries of the cosmos, ISRO is sure to continue in the path of success .Joy, air News, srihariikota

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President Pranab Mukherjee has congratulated scientists at ISRO for having successfully carried out the launch mission of PSLV C20. The President said that he is delighted to witness the entire sequence of the launch.

I congratulate the Indian Space Research Organisation for successfully executing this mission. I am confident that the SARAL Space Craft launch today would function as planned and perform as designed and serve the intended applications of ocean topography, coastal altimatory, Ocean currents monitoring and animal migration studies all over the world.

Expressing faith and confidence on the organisation, the President said, ISRO should strive towards greater heights and explore new frontiers.Calling for the need to occupy its rightful place in the comity of nations, he said that innovation and technological advancement must be promoted.

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Investigating agencies are working on two or three definite leads to probe the Hyderabad twin blasts. Highly placed sources told our Correspondent that they are however yet to get a breakthrough in the probe. A high level review meeting was held in Hyderabad today to discuss the progress in the probe into the Hyderabad twin blasts, which killed 16 persons and injured 117 others. Senior officials from the Central agencies including the National Investigation Agency, NSG, Intelligence Bureau and State Intelligence and Police have discussed the progress made so far in the Blasts case.Meanwhile, medical authorities said, the condition of six injured persons who are in private hospitals, continues to be critical.

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Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde reiterated that the Centre is keen to set up National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) to firmly deal with terrorism. After a meeting with the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at Frasergunj in South 24 Parganas district of the State, Mr. Shinde said that he had taken up the issue once again with Ms. Banerjee and she has a positive mind towards it. The Home Minister said that the Chief Ministers' of some states earlier objected on certain issues of the NCTC and it will be implemented when consensus will emerge. Mr. Shinde also discussed with the West Bengal Chief Minister the coastal security of the riverine Indo-Bangladesh border in the Sunderbans.

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The CBI has registered a preliminary enquiry in the AugustaWestland VVIP chopper deal. The CBI registered the enquiry after its team obtained some documents from Italy into the alleged payment of kickbacks by AgustaWestland in India to bag the 3,600-crore rupees VVIP chopper deal. A law officer who was part of the two-member team returned to New Delhi yesterday from Milan with the documents. A Deputy Inspector General is in Italy for further probe.

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The Election Commission has ordered re-poll in nine polling stations of Nagaland which went to polls on Saturday. In an official press release issued this evening, State Chief Electoral Officer, J. Alam said that re-poll will be held tomorrow from 7am to 4pm. The re-poll is necessitated following damage of Electronic Voting Machines, electoral malpractices and intervention due to inter-state border dispute, at the polling stations.

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The Railway Budget 2013 will be presented in the Lok Sabha tomorrow. All India Radio will broadcast a special programme from 1130 hours onwards, followed by a live broadcast of the presentation of the Budget. A special live discussion will also be broadcast immediately after the presentation of the Railway Budget. In view of the above broadcasts, the Language bulletins originally scheduled between 1230 and 1400 hours, have been re-scheduled.

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The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation, EPFO, has decided to pay 8.5 per cent rate of interest on Provident Fund, PF, deposits for 2012-13. It is higher by 0.25 per cent provided in the previous fiscal. It will benefit over five crore subscribers of the retirement fund body.

The decision was taken at the meeting of the Central Board of Trustees, the highest decision making body of the EPFO, chaired by Labour Minister Mallikarjun Kharge. According to the EPFO's estimates, payment of 8.5 per cent interest rate on PF deposits for the current fiscal, would leave a surplus of 4.13 crore rupees with the retirement fund body.

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The Sahara group's hope to get more time to refund 24,000 crore rupees to its investors, was today dashed by the Supreme Court. The apex court dismissed Sahara Group's plea and pulled it up for not complying the Court's earlier order to return the money by the first week of this month. A Bench headed by Chief Justice Altamas Kabir, which had earlier extended the deadline to two companies of the group for refunding the money from November end to the first week of February, refused to grant more time.

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Civil Aviation Minister, Ajit Singh has decided to withdraw all International Bilateral Traffic Rights allocated to Kingfisher Airlines with immediate effect. Under the rights, Kingfisher Airlines were allowed to fly the sky of eight countries including Bangladesh, Nepal, Singapore, SriLanka, UAE Dubai and UK. The traffic rights have been withdrawn from Kingfisher Airlines on account of non-utilisation by the airlines.

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The Food and Crafts Bazaar at Dilli haat has come alive with Baul singers rendering melodious folk music while craftsmen briskly sell their handicrafts to the cosmopolitan crowd including foreign tourists. Resident Commissioner of West Bengal, Mr. Bhaskar Khulbe said, the major attractions of the Geographical Indication, G.I. Products at the West Bengal Stalls include Darjeeling Tea, Santiniketan embossed Leather, Baluchari Sarees and Nakshikantha embroidered quilt from Birbhum, Santipur Saree from Nadia and Dhanekhali Saree from Hooghly are on display till the 28th of this month.

The Primary job of promoting these GI products is trying to bring to the customers the traditional products made by the rural communities over generations. The second purpose is to add value to these supply chains. So that market come closer to the end users. And, above all the idea is to preserve these traditions so that the rural community benefit from these continuing heritage efforts.

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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 "Strikes in a Democracy". This can be heard on the 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: 011-23314444. This programme is also available on Doordarshan DTH.

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THE BUSINESS WORLD

The Sensex at the Bombay Stock Exchange closed with a slim gain of 15 points, or 0.1 percent, at 19,332, today. The Nifty rose 4 points, to 5,855. Stock markets in Japan, China and Hong Kong climbed between 0.2 percent and 2.4 percent. The rupee appreciated 31 paise, to close at an over one-week high of 53.86 against the dollar. Snapping two days of gains, gold declined 160 rupees, to 29,900 rupees per ten grams in Delhi. Silver plunged 1,450 rupees, to 53,750 rupees per kilo. And Brent crude oil futures rose toward 115 dollars a barrel, while US crude added 30 cents, to 93.43 dollars a barrel. Pradeep Kumar, AIR News

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A 5.7-magnitude earthquake hit Japan today setting buildings swaying in the capital Tokyo, but causing no risk of a tsunami. The US Geological Survey said the quake hit at a depth of nine kilometres at 16:23 (local time) with its epicentre 57 kilometres north-northeast of Maebashi and around 143 kilometres north-northwest of Tokyo. According to the National broadcaster NHK, there had been no abnormalities detected at the nuclear power plants near the epicentre. NHK said several bullet trains had been temporarily stopped, but service had resumed moments later. Also, there were no reports of any casualty or damage to property.

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Ang Lee's Life of Pi today bagged 4 Oscars at the 85th Academy Awards in Los Angeles, United States. Ang Lee beat master Directors like Steven Spielberg and Michael Haneke to take home the best director Oscar for "Life of Pi", his visually stunning 3D tale of an Indian boy adrift in the ocean for months with a Bengal tiger. Besides, Life of Pi claimed the top honour in the best Original Score.

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India is inching towards a comprehensive victory against Australia in the first Cricket Test at Chennai. Australia have a slender lead of 40 runs in their second innings with just one wicket remaining. At stumps on the 4th day today, Australia were 232 for 9.

Earlier India resumed their first innings at 515 for 8 and finished at 572.