0815 HRS.

28.11.2013

THE HEADLINES:

•   Group of Ministers finalises its report on bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh along with draft Telangana Bill.

•   Intensity of Cyclonic storm Lehar weakens; Likely to hit Andhra coast  this afternoon.

• Goa Police summon Tehelka Editor Tarun Tejpal in woman journalist's sexual assault case.

• A series of shootings and bombings claim 46 lives in Iraq.

•  India clinches nine more medals, taking tally to 48 in Commonwealth Weightlifting Championships in Malaysia.

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The Group of Ministers, GoM, set up to look into the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, has finalised its report along with the Draft Telengana Bill. The GoM, which met in New Delhi last evening, discussed various issues concerning bifurcation and distribution of assets between Telangana and residuary Andhra Pradesh. After a four-hour meeting, Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, who heads the GoM, told reporters that some discussions are still left but he remained non-committal as to when the GoM will submit its report to the Union Cabinet. The Cabinet is scheduled to meet today in New Delhi.

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The intensity of cyclonic storm Lehar, which is expected to hit the Andhra Pradesh coast this afternoon and bring heavy rain, has weakened. An official bulletin said in Hyderabad last night that the very severe cyclonic storm, located over west-central and adjoining south Bay of Bengal, has weakened into a severe cyclonic storm. It is expected to weaken further and cross the Andhra coast near Machillipatnam this afternoon. Our Correspondent reports that the Andhra Pradesh government has evacuated people from vulnerable areas and is taking all precautionary measures.

Though the intensity of the very severe cyclonic storm ‘Lehar‘ is declining gradually all the coastal districts are on high alert and prepared to face any eventuality. About 33 National Disaster Response Force teams, four columns of Army and 450 members of State Disaster Response Force have taken position for providing rescue and relief operations.  Additional rescue teams are being sent to Guntur, Krishna, West and East Godavari districts as the cyclonic system is heading towards Machilipatnam. The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, reviewed the situation over the cyclone.  He asked all coastal district administrations to be on high alert. The southcentral and eastcoast railways have announced that all the trains which are diverted or rescheduled or cancelled due to very severe cyclonic storm would now run normally. Henry, AIR News, Visakhapatnam.

Meanwhile, the Odisha government has deployed fire service teams with rescue gear in it's southern districts in the wake of cyclonic storm. the State's Special Relief Commissioner PK Mohapatra said, Collectors of Southern and Western districts have been alerted and fire services have been deployed in Ganjam, Gajapati, Koraput, Rayagada, Malkangiri and Navarangpur districts to meet any eventuality. The Met Department has advised fishermen not to venture into the sea.

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In Rajasthan, all political parties have intensified their efforts in the last leg of campaigning for the Assembly elections. Polling for 199 seats will be held on the 1st of December. Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi will address an election rally in Banswara today. BJP President Rajnath Singh will address election meetings in Jalor,Jodhpur and Barmer districts.

"National level leaders of Both Congress and BJP are present in the state to campaign for their candidates but real contest could be seen between Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and State BJP President Vasundhara Raje. Both the leaders are addressing 5 to 7 meetings every day. Mrs Raje is alleging the congress government for corruption ,inflation and unemployment. On the other hand in every meeting Mr Ashok Gehlot is criticizing Mrs Raje’s tenure for alleged corruption and lawlessness. Gehlot is emphasizing on free medicine and social pension schemes. Anurag Vajpeyi, AIR News, Jaipur."

Meanwhile, electioneering in Delhi is in full swing with the Assembly elections inching closer. Candidates and their supporters are undertaking door to door campaigns in their respective constituencies in the city, besides using social media platform like facebook and twitter to reach out to voters.

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The Goa Police has asked Tehelka Editor Tarun Tejpal to appear before it by 3 PM today in connection with the alleged sexual assault of a woman journalist. This was disclosed by the DIG of Goa Police, OP Mishra yesterday. The move follows the recording of statement by the victim, before a Goa court. The former Tehelka journalist  was allegedly sexually assaulted in a lift in a five-star hotel in Goa earlier this month. The Delhi High Court yesterday reserved its order on Tejpal's bail application till tomorrow. Tejpal applied for anticipatory bail even before the Goa Police summoned him. Meanwhile, Tehelka Managing Editor Shoma Chaudhury has rejected the journalist's allegation of a cover up in the sexual assault case. She said, there is no attempt to hush up the incident nor to intimidate the victim and her family members.

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In Assam, a high level security meeting will be held in Guwahati today to chalk out an action plan to combat the subversive activities of several insurgent groups. Additional DGP (Law and Order) AP Rout said that 10 SPs including those of the Bodoland Territorial Area Districts will attend the meeting besides other senior officials. This meeting assumes significance as the Centre has asked the Assam government to enhance security in the Bodo tribe dominated areas. Discussion will be held to counter insurgent groups like ULFA and the NDFB and to maintain the law and order situation.

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In Iraq, a series of bomb blasts and shootings left 46 people dead and more than 70 injured yesterday. At least ten people were killed and 30 others injured in a suicide bomb attack at a funeral tent after sunset in the Abu Gharib area, west of Baghdad. And seven policemen were killed and 23 others were injured in a car bomb blast followed by suicide bombers at two police stations in Ramadi. The targets in these attacks were Shiite neighborhoods or the security personnel. No one has claimed responsibility for these attacks but the security agencies have blamed the Al Qaeda affiliate Islamic State of Iraq for being behind these attacks.

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Tassaduq Hussain Jillani has been named Pakistan's new Chief Justice, replacing activist judge Iftikhar Chaudhry. His appointment will come into effect from December 12, a day after Chaudhry, the longest serving Chief Justice, retires. Jillani is a close relative of former premier Yousuf Raza Gilani and a confidante of the outgoing chief justice. He is described as a gentleman judge and will serve for nearly seven months.

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In Bangladesh, widespread violence, arson and uprooting of rails marked the second day yesterday of the nationwide blockade enforced by the Opposition. Eight more people were killed and scores of others injured, raising the death toll to 17 since the Election commission announced the polls Monday night. 

Citing increased levels of repression, the Opposition has extended the blockade by 23 more hours till Friday early morning. The countrywide blockade has virtually paralyzed railway communication between Dhaka and outlying destinations. The EC is meeting law enforcement agencies today to finalize strategies for maintaining law and order and safety of voters and officials during elections.  Election Commissioner Abu Hafiz told reporter last night  the decision about army deployment will be taken today after consulting intelligence reports. Melinda dias, AIR News, Dhaka.  

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The Sri Lankan government will start work to compile statistics on the death and loss of property in the Civil War from today. The work is expected to be completed within the next six months. In a statement issued by President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s office last evening, it was announced that the Department of Census and Statistics would conduct an island-wide census to assess the loss of human life and damage to property. 

Under intense international pressure to come clean on the allegations of civilian deaths and disappearances during the last phase of the civil war, Sri Lanka will finally begin compiling data on the magnitude of the loss. The terms of data collection covers the period from 1983 to 2009 and all families affected throughout the nation. Sri Lankan governments admits that the death toll of civilians during the 30-year conflict has been variously assessed, ranging from a UN report’s figure of around 40,000 dead. The announcement comes immediately after the Commonwealth summit earlier this month, where leaders of several countries had called for an impartial probe into allegations of war crimes and civilian deaths and disappearances.Abhishek Dayal, AIR News, Colombo.

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The Italian Senate has voted to expel ex-Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi from Parliament with immediate effect in the wake of his tax fraud conviction. Berlusconi, who has dominated politics for 20 years, could now face arrest over other criminal cases as he has lost his immunity from prosecution. Calling it a day of mourning after the vote, he said, he would continue his struggle outside Parliament.

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"Indian weight lifters show a clinical performance at the Commonwealth Weightlifting Championship as they bagged nine more medals, including six gold, yesterday at Penang, Malaysia. India's total medal count reached 48. India is being represented by 15 lifters in the senior section, 15 in junior section and 11 in youth section. In cricket, India defeated West Indies by five wickets in the third and final One-day International, yesterday at Kanpur, to clinch the series 2-1. With this win India has won six one-day series successfully this year. A moderate total of 263 was posted by West Indies which the hosts chased with ease in 46.1 overs. Virat Kohli was adjuged Man of the Series. And in Hockey, 18-member squad for the upcoming FIH junior hockey World Cup tournament has been announced. Manpreet Singh, has been named the captain. The Junior Hockey world Cup is scheduled scheduled from December 6-15 in New Delhi. THIS IS MEEQAT HASMI FOR SPORTS NEWS."

NEWSPAPER HEADLINES

• The Tarun Tejpal saga continues to make headlines. Hindustan Times writes "No relief, Tejpal faces arrest". Accused of sexual assault by a former colleague, Tehalka founder-editor Tarun Tejpal faces imminent arrest - with the Goa police asking him to appear before them at 3 PM on Thursday. "Times up for Tejpal", is a Mail Today headline.

•   "For major crimes 16 is not minor", reports the Pioneer as Women and Child Development Ministry's Draft is against shield for juveniles indulging in heinous crimes.

•  "Just one in 10 women whose parents own agricultural land inherit any land", reports the Hindu.

•   Hindustan Times reports that the recently held assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh have registered the highest-ever female participation, of 69.77%.

• The Hindu, reporting on the formation of the new state of Telangana, writes, "Telangana Bill in Winter Session of Parliament says Narayanasamy", though the Times of India writes that it is likely to be tabled in the Budget Session, in early 2014.

•   In an appointment that is being watched very closely in India and across the world, Pakistan's Prime Minister on Wednesday chose a new 'moderate' Chief for its Army - Lt. Gen. Raheel Sharif, an infantryman who supersedes two senior generals, reports Mail Today. "Nawaz goes for Sharif Chief", headlines the paper.

•  In Bihar, every fourth primary and middle teacher failed the Class V-level test in September in a mandatory 'competence test', writes the Indian Express.

•  The Asian Age gives us a glimpse into the frenetic world of aspiring legislators who are trying to reach voters ahead of the Delhi polls. They are taking recourse to new age remedies like yoga, meditation or even listening to old classical Hindi songs after long hours of canvassing. New age remedies - with the age old touch.

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The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, TRAI, has given banks time till mid-December to check unsolicited commercial calls and SMSes. Talking to reporters in New Delhi yesterday, TRAI Chairman Rahul Khullar said, the regulator has stringently implemented the guidelines on pesky calls and has also penalized some telecom operators. However, it has so far, not penalized banks and insurance companies. Mr Khullar said that insurance companies have asked for four to six weeks' time to deal with pesky calls. He added that TRAI has warned them that if pesky calls continue, their connections would be cut off.