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UK says will help in copter probe
PM meets Cameron, conveys concern over graft claims in AgustaWestland deal
New Delhi, February 19
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today extracted an assurance from his British counterpart David Cameron that London would respond to any request for information with regard to the graft-tainted Anglo-Italian helicopter deal as the issue figured prominently during talks.
British PM David Cameron with PM Manmohan Singh in New Delhi on Tuesday. A Tribune photograph

Nation page: Open to JPC probe into helicopter scam: Govt
Punjab page: Heavy security for Cameron’s Amritsar visit

Service sector to take a hit as unions begin stir today
New Delhi, February 19
The UPA government faces a major challenge as central trade unions go on a two-day nationwide general strike from tomorrow against its economic policies. Gurudas Dasgupta, general secretary of CPI-affiliated All-India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), said the strike would affect the country severely, including the movement of oil and goods.

HP Govt to cancel land lease to Ramdev trust
Shimla, February 19
The Himachal Government today decided to cancel the 28-acre land lease made by the previous BJP regime in favour of Patanjali Yogpeeth Trust of Swami Ramdev at Sadhupal, near Kandaghat, in Solan district. The decision was taken by the state Cabinet at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh here today.

RTE Act doesn’t apply to nursery admissions: HC
New Delhi, January 19
In a much awaited verdict, the Delhi High Court today held that the Right to Education Act (RTE) was applicable to the age group 6 to 14 and not on pre-school (nursery) admissions.

Trilateral talks begin in delhi
India, US mull joint projects in Afghanistan
New Delhi, February 19
India, the United States and Afghanistan today held a trilateral dialogue to discuss the situation there and consider how they could jointly take up developmental projects and ensure stability in the war-ravaged nation. YK Sinha, Additional Secretary in-charge of Afghanistan, led the Indian delegation at the day-long meeting while Afghan Deputy Foreign Minister Jawed Ludin and US Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert Blake led their respective delegations.

No fresh taxes in UP budget
Lucknow, February 19
With many sops and no fresh taxes, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav’s second populist budget banks on consolidating the party’s constituency of youth, Muslims and farmers. The 2013-14 budget estimates tabled by the CM today has a fiscal deficit to the tune of Rs 23,913.29 crore which is 2.94 per cent of the gross state domestic product. It is a 10 per cent rise from the last year’s budget size of Rs 2,00,110.61 crore.