1400 HRS.

16-05-2013

THE HEADLINES:

• Delhi Police arrests S. Sreesanth and two other cricketers Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan on charges of spot fixing in IPL; BCCI suspends all three.

• Supreme Court says, no person should be arrested for posting objectionable comments on social networking sites without the permission of senior police officials.

• At least 34 people killed in a series of bomb attacks in Iraqi capital Baghdad.

• India among 5 nations given observer status in Arctic Council.

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Indian paceman S Sreesanth and two of his Rajasthan Royals teammates Ajit Chandila and Ankeet Chavan have been arrested by the Delhi police on charges of spot fixing in the ongoing Indian Premier League. The special cell of the Delhi police arrested Sreesanth from his friend's place in Mumbai while the other two cricketers were arrested last night from the team hotel at Nariman Point for their alleged role in spot fixing.

The arrest took place immediately after the players returned to their team hotel, following their match against Mumbai Indians at Wankhede stadium. The Delhi police source said that these players were under the scanner for their role in spot fixing in some of the earlier IPL match although they did not elaborate which matches were under scrutiny.

The police have also arrested seven bookies in Mumbai and three bookies in Delhi in connection with the same case. They are looking for two more bookies in Delhi.

IPL Chairman Rajiv Shukla said he was awaiting details of the incident. Rajasthan Royals CEO Raghu Iyer said that the three players were picked up by Delhi police last night and the team management is co-operating with the investigation.

The BCCI has suspended all the three players charged with spot-fixing in the IPL pending inquiry. BCCI General Manager Ratnakar Shetty said that there is zero tolerance for corruption:

It is really shocking. BCCI is all for a clean sport and we always mention zero tolerance as far as anti doping and anti corruption is concerned. Our President has made this clear on several occasions the stand that BCCI takes on this. Our actions are there to prove that we mean what we say.

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Sports Minister Jitendra Singh pledged that strict action be taken against all those found guilty of spot fixing in IPL cricket tournament. Mr. Singh who spoke to IPL Chairman Rajeev Shukla on the issue , impressed upon him to take urgent steps to put in place a mechanism to prevent such unethical activities and ensure clean sports in the country. He described the incident as very unfortunate.

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Supreme Court today said that no person should be arrested for posting objectionable comments on social networking sites without the permission of senior police officials. The court also directed all states and union territories to comply with the Centre's advisory on arresting people for their comments on websites.

The court made these observations while hearing a plea that challenged the arrest of a human rights activist from Andhra Pradesh. She was apprehended last week for posting allegedly defamatory comments against a Congress leader on Facebook. Jaya Vindyala, a lawyer and president of the Andhra Pradesh unit of People's Union for Civil Liberties, was arrested in Hyderabad on Sunday afternoon for her comments against A Krishnamohan, a Congress MLA from Chirala in Prakasam district.

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The national conference of State Social Welfare Board Chairpersons is currently underway in Andaman and Nicobar islands. The Chairpersons and Executive Officers from 33 State Social Welfare Boards are taking part in this two day conference. More from Our Correspondent: 

The Conference gives an opportunity to the Chairpersons from different states to discuss about various social issues like gender discrimination, alcoholism, child abuse etc. and explore ways of fostering meaningful coordination with the state Governments and other stakeholders to tackle these issues effectively. The Chairperson of Central Social Welfare Board, Dr Prema Cariappa stressed the need for strengthening the State Social Welfare Boards with more programmes for women empowerment. Expressing concern over the increasing incidences of violence against women, she said the Board will launch the much needed woman help line services across the country. A DHANASEKARAN/AIR NEWS/PORT BLAIR

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In Arunachal Pradesh, voters turned out in large numbers to elect their representatives for two municipal segments and panchayat bodies today. Municipal elections are being held for the first time in the state for Itanagar and Pasighat municipalities. 40 percent voters had exercised their right of franchise till noon for municipal polls. Around 35 percent voters had cast their votes in the panchayat elections. The voting is by and large peaceful . The State Election Commission has withheld polling in 20 polling booths in remote Kurung Kumey district as choppers were not able to transport men and materials to these areas due to bad weather. More from our Itanagar Correspondent.

Large number of security personnel has been deployed at vulnerable points and hyper-sensitive polling stations. For both municipal and panchayat elections, the main contest is between the ruling Congress party, BJP and Peoples Party of Arunachal, which is a regional party. Several independent candidates are also contesting the elections and are mainly pitted against the candidates of the three parties. The Commission has announced that elections in Tali will be held on May 20 and Pipsorang on May 29. Voters are very enthusiastic and officials said the turnout will be much better in the evening. This is Sonikumar Konjengbam for AIR News ,Itanagar.

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Retd. Lt. General Nirbhay Sharma has been appointed as the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh. A Rashtrapati Bhavan communique said, the appointment will come into effect from the date of his assuming office.

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Actor Sanjay Dutt is surrendering before a court in Mumbai this afternoon. He has left home to surrender in the court.

The actor will have to serve the remaining three-and-half years of a five-year sentence under the Arms Act for illegal possession of an AK-56 rifle at his Bandra bungalow about a month before the March 12, 1993 bomb blasts in the city. He has already spent about a year-and-a-half in jail as an undertrial.

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The cyclonic storm "Mahasen" has weakened slightly after it began crossing the Bangladesh coast triggering of strong winds and heavy rain in the coastal districts. According to Bangladesh Met Department, Cyclone Mahasen has moved north eastwards and was crossing Noakhali - Chittagong coast near Sitakunda .It adds that storm is likely to move further in a North -Easterly direction further and is likely to take 3-5 hours to complete crossing the coast.

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India has welcomed its inclusion of Observer Status in the Arctic Council that coordinates policy in the Arctic region. Responding to the inclusion of India, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Syed Akbarrudin affirmed India's commitment to contribute its proven scientific expertise in polar research capabilities and to the work of the Arctic Council to support its objectives. Our correspondent reports, the decision to grant special status to five nations including India, China, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Italy was taken at the meeting of the Arctic Council at Kiruna in Sweden yesterday. 

The Arctic Council was formed in 1996 by the eight nations that ring the Arctic circle including United States, Russia, Iceland, Norway, Sweden Denmark, Singapore and Canada. The council had stood guard to the rights of the Arctic region's indigenous people and is committed to protecting the fragile ecosystem of the Arctic region. The addition of Asian nations for the first time including growing economies of India and China comes at a time when the impact of Climate is resulting in melting of ice. Ice melting has also opened up shipping and energy exploration possibilities. With gaining of observer status countries can to participate in meetings, propose and finance policies of the Arctic council. MADAN KUMAR, AIRNEWS, NEW DELHI.

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India today asked Brazil and South Africa to enhance mutual cooperation by sharing views on promoting gender equality. Addressing the India, Brazil and South Africa, IBSA, Women's forum in New Delhi, Women and Child Development Minister Krishna Tirath stressed the need for women empowerment at a greater level. Ms Tirath called for redoubling efforts by IBSA to increase women's participation in socio-economic development in these countries. Expressing concern over crimes against women and children, she said creating awareness at the grassroots level is must.

Stating that India is committed to promote gender equality, Ms Tirath added the government is providing safe environment for women at work places as sustainable development is linked with equality.

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Awais Sheikh, the Pakistani lawyer of slain Indian prisoner Sarabjit Singh, and his son were kidnapped today in Lahore by unidentified men from an area near the border with India, officials said. Sheikh and his son Shahrukh had gone to a village in Burki Hudaira area this morning to buy land for a farmhouse. Two men riding a motorcycle, who were reportedly wearing police uniforms, intercepted them, said Haroon, another son of Sheikh. Police said that the lawyer and his son were bundled into a pick-up truck and taken to an unknown location.

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Six suspects, including two women, were arrested today during an operation to trace the kidnapped son of former premier Yousuf Raza Gilani in Pakistan's restive northwest, officials said. A joint team of police and law enforcement agencies raided the property of a man named Sardar Ali near Akhora Khattak in Nowshera district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province early this morning. The team arrested six suspects and freed a kidnapped man named Abdul Wahab but could not trace Ali Haider Gilani, who was abducted on May 9.

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A former US diplomat says Pakistan's Prime Minister-elect Nawaz Sharif appears to be sincere in his efforts to improve ties with India. He however said that Nawaz Sharif may not be able to do much unless powerful military is brought on board. Responding to questions on the positive vibes coming from Lahore on improving Indo-Pak ties, Former US Ambassador to Pakistan Cameron Munter said unless Nawaz Sharif and Pak military are able to come up with a coherent approach , there may be limits to what they can do.

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A Nepal Airlines aircraft crashed while landing at Jomsom Airport in Mustang district this morning. Quoting authorities our correspondent reports that seven persons were seriously injured in the accident.

The Pokhara Jomsom Flight had taken off from with nineteen passengers and three crew from Pokhara and was landing at the Jomsom airport when it skidded and overshot the runway falling into the banks of the Kaligandaki river. The twin otter plane of the national airlines had eight Japanese nationals on board with eleven neplais including a child . Seven of them including three of the crew were seriously injured in the accident and they have been brought to Pokhara for further treatment . The small mountainous airport is the entry for Mustang valley which is popular among tourists.Jane Namchu/Air News/Kathmandu.

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In Iraq, at least 34 people have been killed in a series of bomb attacks across the country last evening, several of which targeted mainly Shia districts of Baghdad. Officials said eleven blasts in the space of an hour in the capital left 23 people dead and more than 100 others injured. Bomb attacks also killed at least 10 people in the northern city of Kirkuk.

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The government says, bringing hi-tech manufacturing to centre stage is its top priority to achieve inclusive growth and economic development in the country. Speaking at a FICCI award function in New Delhi today, Secretary Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion Saurabh Chandra said, manufacturing is the only option to address concerns about the current account and trade deficit. He mentioned that the reason behind the three of the top five countries having trade surpluses is prevalence of manufacturing powerhouses there.

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Recovering from initial losses, the Sensex at the Bombay Stock Exchange stood 33 points, or 0.2 percent in positive territory, at 20,246 in afternoon trade, a short while ago. Earlier in the morning, however, the Sensex had opened with a loss of 51 points, or 0.3 per cent, at 20,162. The Sensex had gained 521 points in the previous two trading sessions.