Wednesday, February 16, 2011, Chandigarh, India
Updated at 2:30 am (IST)

Wrong to say no loss in 2G: CBI chief
l Contradicts Sibal’s claim before PAC l MM Joshi says panel could question Shourie if he approaches it
New Delhi, February 15
CBI Director AP Singh today contradicted Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal on his claim that the 2G Spectrum allocation had caused “zero loss” to the national exchequer as he appeared before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

CBI chief Amar Pratap Singh arrives to appear before PAC at Parliament in New Delhi on Tuesday. — PTI

NITHARI CASE
SC not impressed with Pandher’s ignorance alibi
New Delhi, February 15
“How could Moninder Singh Pandher be unaware of serial crimes taking place inside his house,” was a poser by the Supreme Court, which today kept pending the CBI’s appeal against his acquittal in a Nithari killing case.

Moninder Singh Pandher

Confirms death for Koli
New Delhi, February 15
The Supreme Court today upheld the death sentence awarded to Surinder Singh Koli for murdering 14-year-old Rimpa Haldar, one of the 19 children allegedly subjected to sexual assault and killing in Nithari village on the outskirts of Delhi in 2005-06.

Surinder Singh Koli

Omar contests Army’s claim on youth’s killing
Srinagar, February 15
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today questioned the Army's version on the death of a youth in an ambush in Kupwara earlier this month, saying there were more injuries on the victim's body than just the bullet in the foot.“ I'm not disparaging anything. I'm just saying that a bullet wound to the foot wasn't the only injury," Omar wrote on Twitter.

Swiss govt eases rules on black money info
New Delhi, February 15
In a move that could help India in its black money trail, Switzerland today relaxed norms for sharing information on secret bank accounts of overseas tax offenders by allowing varied modes of identification. At present, only name and addresses are accepted as valid identity modes.

EPF subscribers likely to get 9.5% interest
New Delhi, February 15
Around 4.71 crore Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) subscribers are likely to get 1 per cent increase in interest to 9.5 per cent on their deposits for 2010-11 with Labour Minister Mallikarjun Kharge today expressing hope the Finance Ministry will shortly approve the proposal.

Egypt forms panel to rewrite constitution
As Egypt takes baby steps towards establishing a democracy after Mubarak’s ouster, political unrest mounts in other Arab nations, with Egypt-inspired rallies witnessed in Yemen, Algeria, Bahrain and Iran
Cairo, February 15
The Egyptian military today constituted a panel of legal experts, including a member of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, to suggest amendments to the Mubarak-era constitution. Details on (world) page

The Last Word
Marching to his beat
Even his detractors, and there are many, cannot accuse Murli Manohar Joshi of not taking his job seriously. As chairman of Parliament’s all-important Public Accounts Committee, he has patiently and painstakingly been explaining how the committee questioned the Comptroller and Auditor General of India and now the Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation on the 2G Spectrum allocation scam. Of course, the ultimate 'kick' for Joshi will be to grill Prime Minister Manmohan Singh himself.

Italian PM to go on trial for sex with minor Rome, February 15 Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi will go on trial for buying underage sex and abuse of power in April, a judge ruled today. Silvio Berlusconi is facing trial for allegedly having sex with Ruby (R), who is said to be a minor. — AFP