Italian court says can’t give copter deal papers
Joint teams of Defence Ministry, CBI to visit Italy tomorrow
New Delhi, February 16
As teams from the Defence Ministry and the Central Bureau of Investigation are getting ready to fly to Italy to obtain details of the alleged illegal pay-offs in the Rs 3,500-crore VVIP copter deal, an Italian court is learnt to have rejected India’s plea for documents related to the investigations into the case.

Curfew lifted, but Valley tense
Srinagar, February 16
Curfew was lifted from Kashmir Valley on Saturday, a week after restrictions were imposed following hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru. Normal life, however, remained affected in the wake of bandh called by hardline Hurriyat Conference and fresh protests that broke out after restrictions were lifted.

People walk in a street after curfew was lifted from Srinagar and some other parts of the Kashmir valley on Saturday. PTI

Kanda booked for abetting suicide
New Delhi, February 16
The Delhi Police today registered a fresh case against Haryana’s former minister of state Gopal Kanda and his associate Aruna Chadha over suicide committed by former MDLR airhostess Geetika Sharma’s mother Anuradha. The two have been charged with abetting suicide.

Chill returns as rain, snow lash North India
New Delhi, February 16
Chill returned to the plains of northwest today as upper reaches received heavy snowfall, throwing normal life out of gear. The forecast warns of some more rain and snowfall in the next two days. (Details on Nation page)

Tourists make the most of the fresh snowfall at Nehru Kund near Manali on Saturday. Photo: MC Thakur

63 killed, 200 injured in Pak blast
Islamabad, February 16
As many as 63 persons, including women and children, were killed and over 200 injured when a powerful bomb ripped through a Shia neighbourhood of Quetta city in south-west Pakistan today, the latest in a string of attacks targeting the minority community. (Details on World page)

Rain delays potato harvest in Bathinda 
Bathinda, February 16
Farmers of Bathinda have expressed apprehensions about a low yield due to heavy rains. Potato growers rue that the harvesting of the tuber had been delayed due to the weather conditions. (Details on Punjab page)