NEWSPAPERS HEADLINES

'CBI moving the Supreme Court for conspiracy charge on LK Advani in the Babri case is widely reported  by the papers today.
Another prominent story is BJP leader L.K. Advani, apologising to Congress President Sonia  Gandhi, in a letter, for the allegation that she and her late husband, Rajiv Gandhi, had Swiss bank accounts. 'Advani says sorry to Sonia for slur' reads the Hindustan Times lead, and on the reaction from the BJP commissioned task force, which made the allegation in their report, the paper adds--Party worried that apology letter on black money charges may scuttle battle plan.'
The Tribune leads with the first instance of a senior army official being cashiered for professional impropriety. 'Lt.General gets 3-yr Rigorous Imprisonment in ration scam' reads the headline, on SK Sahni found guilty by a General Court Martial.
'CBI searches Kalaignar TV office in Chennai, focus is on flow of funds' is the Hindu lead on fresh developments in the 2G scam investigations.
'Supreme Court seeks status of probe against ex-Chief Justice of India' is a top story in the Times of India, regarding complaints of corruption made against the CJI and his kin.
India's first match in the Cricket World Cup against Bangladesh today, makes it to the front pages, with many papers carrying photographs of the Indian team during a practice session in Dhaka.
'Deadline extended', Bid to secure Collector's release' is a Statesman report on developments in Orissa, regarding the abduction of a Collector and an Engineer by Naxals, with the government giving the nod to mediators.
'Bird Flu strikes India again' reports the Hindu, this time in Agartala. The 'Scientists building the first anti-laser' is  a story in the Asian Age.

The 2G Spectrum Scam continues to grab headlines in national dailies, with each highlighting different aspects of the scam.  Under the headline, "Anil is now a suspect" Hindustan Times writes that the CBI is not satisfied with his responses during questioning.  "2G probe reaches Karuna's doorsteps" reads the headline in The Pioneer, while The Hindu writes, "CBI may question Kanimozhi".  Many dailies have reported A. Raja being sent to Tihar jail for 14 days, on their front pages.

Newspapers have widely reported the calling off of the Antrix-Davos deal, in their front pages.  The Times of India quotes defence minister A K Antony as saying that the defence establishment was not consulted when the deal was being finalised.  "Antrix deal off, Devas may move court" states the headline in Hindustan Times.

"To free Orissa IAS officer, Maoists want 700 in return", headlines The Times of India.  The Indian Express reports that the Maoists have demanded the release from prison of several of their top leaders, including the wife of a central committee member, in return for the abducted Malkangiri Collector, Krishna.  The headline in The Pioneer reads, "Government blinks, halts anti-Naxal operations."

The "spectacular" start of the Cricket World Cup in Dhaka, makes front page news in many dailies, with colourful photographs of the Banagabandhu stadium, where the inaugural ceremony took place.  The caption of one such photograph in Hindustan Times reads, "Now, for the fireworks on the pitch."  The Statesman writes, under the headline, "Cup affected by cricket overkill", that there is so much cricket being played these days that the hype around the World Cup is somewhat less.  The Asian Age reveals that bookies in Mumbai have now opened accounts on international official betting websites to accept bets for the world cup.  Hard cash has been sent through Hawala operators to associates in Dubai, who have made online deposits.

The Tribune writes that the conduct of members of the Andhra Pradesh Assembly touched a new low when pro-Telangana MLAs heckled Andhra Pradesh Governor during his address, tearing copies of his speech, uprooting his mike, ransacking seats and grappling with martials. 

NEWSPAPERS HEADLINES

Various aspects of the Prime Minister's rare televised interaction with TV Editors, at his residence, dominate headlines this morning. 'PM breaks silence on scams', exonerates him from any wrongdoing in ISRO DEVAS agreement' reads the Tribune headline.' PM admits governance gaps; will stay and fight' is how the Hindustan Times puts it.
Quoting the PM, the Hindu says--'Manmohan "dead serious" about tackling wrongdoers. Shrugs off responsibility for scams, saying these are a by-product of coalition politics'. Getting more specific on this, the Times Of India lead, quoting the PM again, reads--"I'm not as big a culprit as being made out to be". 'Some compromises have to be made in managing a coalition'.
The Financial Express focuses on the PM breaking his silence for the first time on the 2G scam, with its headline-'Fire fighting PM says Raja was asked to consider 2G auctions'. The Business Standard, highlights the PMs remarks, on the impact of various scams on the economy--quoting him, in its lead--'Scams won't impede economic reforms'. The paper also refers to two important announcements--a corporate debt market and an infrastructure fund --which the PM hinted at, during the interaction, that could be expected in the upcoming Budget.
The Pioneer, reports the reaction of the firm involved in the ISRO spectrum deal--'Devas ups ante, to move court if Govt. scraps deal'.
The reaction of the Opposition parties to the PM's media interaction ranges from a Hindu report which reads--'A cover up exercise says Opposition', to 'BJP, Left attack PM over scams'  in the Statesman.
The Government agreeing to set up a JPC on the 2G scam, with the announcement to be made, ahead of the Budget session, is widely reported.
Anil Ambani quizzed by the CBI in the 2G scam is a story across papers.
Some other stories, on the front pages are a landmark Indo-Japanese free trade agreement reported in the Tribune and developments in Bahrain and Libya, a fallout of the Egypt protests, in the Asian Age.
India's longest rail bridge coming up in Kerala is reported in the Times of India. Zinc lozenges may edge out even chicken soup in tackling the cold virus is an Indian Express report, on new findings led by a PGI Chandigarh scientist, appearing in an international journal.
Extensive reports on Cricket's biggest extravaganza,--the 10th World Cup, kicking off in Dhaka, with a lavish opening ceremony are on front pages too.  

NEWSPAPERS HEADLINES

The Mail Today leads with the Headline "Government caves in on JPC but BJP wants more" The Paper adds " Cornered center agrees to set up House Panel on 2G scam but opposition wants to widen probe to include CWG and Adarsh Scandals". The Pioneer writes "Advani includes CWG, Adarsh, in JPC to nail Congress".

Congress banks on Budget to stem anger over scam, prices" writes the Times of India.

The Times of India writes " CBI puts 2G loss at 50,000 crore rupees" saying that this refutes the governments "zero loss' claim in the 2G mobile spectrum allocation scam.

Most papers have reported on the EPF organisation's decision to pay 9.5 per cent on Provident Fund deposits for 2010 -11. "EPF sticks to 9.5 per cent interest rate, 4.71 crore set to benefit", writes the Asian Age while the Tribune says " EPF subscribers likely to get 9.5 per cent interest.

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi going on trial for buying underage sex and abuse of power in April is another front page story in most papers. "Italian court puts Berlo in dock for sex with minor" writes the Mail today.

The Swiss Government's move to ease rules on Sharing information on secret Bank accounts has been welcomed by papers. "Swiss lift the veil of Secrecy on Tax cheats". Writes the Mail today. "Swiss make it easier to spot tax offenders" says the Hindustan Times while The Asian Age writes 'Swiss will make tracking easier".

The Supreme Court upholding the death sentence of Surendra Kohli in the Nithari murder case is on the front page of most dailies. Papers write that in one of its shortest hearings in an appeal on capital punishment, the court took just 90 minutes to confirm Surendra Kohli's sentence of death by hanging in one of the 16 cases of the brutal killing of Children in Nithari in Noida in 2005-06.

And for those who like secrets being unveiled, the Times of India gives out the secret coke formula, saying that since it was made in 1886 the coca cola formula is one of the most fiercely guarded trade secrets of the corporate world. The paper adds that the 'Mystery was a marketing tool".

TODAY'S NEWSPAPERS

With just a week to go for the important budget session, the opposition demand for a JPC probe into the 2G scam, which had stalled the winter session of Parliament, once again dominates news.In what it calls a 'Session Saver', the Hindustan Times headline reads-- 'Secret meeting on JPC Jam. Pranab drives to Advani's home for peace formula: signs of thaw'.

The Hindu lead on the same issue reads--'Congress Core Group grapples with nitty-gritty of JPC, Opposition demand should not be "subterfuge" to run away from house debate.'

'Yeddy victory as disqualification of MLAs upheld' is a top story in the Asian Age on the Karnataka High Court granting relief to CM Yeddyurappa, by dismissing the petition of five independent MLAs,who were disqualified by the Assembly Speaker. The Yeddyurappa Govt. at present has a wafer thin majority.

The Govt. plan to provide fuel, and farm subsidy as direct cash transfers, to stem leakages, with the first pilot project kicking off this year, under a taskforce headed by Nandan Nilekani, chief of the Unique Identification Authority is the top story in the Indian Express.

The Statesman leads with a story on a first of its kind protest by the Kerala govt.'PM in Marxist line of Fire' reads the headline, which says that the Kerala Assembly passed a resolution,with the Congress walking out, on what it perceived as the snubbing of CM Achuthanadan during the PM's three day visit to the state.

The Times of India poses a startling question as its lead--'Over 1 lakh phones tapped every year'?. This conclusion by the paper, is after Reliance, the second largest service provider, told the Supreme Court, that govt agencies ordered nearly one and a half lakh phone taps between 2006-'10.

China stonewalling India's UNSC seat bid is the lead in the Tribune. The report reads--'India's UN bid faces China Wall.Premature plans will undermine unity among UN Members says China'.

NEWSPAPERS HEADLINES

The 2G Spectrum Scam continues to grab headlines in national dailies.  "Arun Shourie to appear before CBI on February 21" headlines The Hindu.  The Pioneer has quoted BJP's chief spokesperson, Ravi Shankar Prasad, as denying Shourie's assertions that Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley ignored Shourie's brief on the 2 G Scam.  The paper also reports that after questioning Reliance Communications officials, the CBI is set to summon Tata Teleservices Limited executives in connection with the scam.  Hindustan Times reports that a sister concern of Aircel invested 675 crore Rupees in Sun TV within months of getting the spectrum. 
The news of Pakistani singer, Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, being detained at the IGI Airport for carrying a huge amount of undeclared foreign currency is reported prominently in papers.  "Rahat hits a bad note with Dollar stash" reads the headline in Mail Today.
The ripple effect of the revolution in Egypt is captured in the headline in The Tribune which reads  "After Egypt, winds of change sweep 7 nations".  The headline in The Hindu reads, "Egypt's army suspends constitution, sets 6-month timeline for elections."  The Statesman reports that several ancient treasures were looted from the Egyptian Museum, when looters broke into the museum on the 28th of January. 
"PC warns Mehbooba of action on map row", under the headline The Tribune quotes the Union Home Minister as saying that if the People's Democratic Party does not correct the mistake of showing parts of Jammu & Kashmir as belonging to China, some action will be taken.

NEWSPAPERS HEADLINES
Revamp in the Indian Space Research Organisation ISRO and Egypt after Mubarak dominate headlines this morning.
'Hit by spectrum scam, ISRO being restructured' reads the Hindustan Times headline. In a box, titled-'All about the Devas deal'--the paper also gives details of the controversy regarding spectrum sale by ISRO's commercial arm Antrix to a private firm.On the same topic, The Tribune lead reads-- 'Space Commission nod to scrap Antrix-Devas deal. Cabinet panel to take final call. Antrix Corporation to have new CMD'.
The Statesman however adds a scientific extra amidst all the controversy. The paper says India and NASA will co-operate on Project Moon Rise-A New Moon Mission.
The Hindu lead is on the aftermath of events in Egypt after the exit of Hosni Mubarak.'The Egyptian Military says it is in control, begins exploring options. Euphoria over Mubarak's exit gives way to circumspection,' reads the headline'.
The BJP's fact finding team unveiling a report on an alleged 58 lac crore power scam  in the North East is the top story in the Pioneer. The Asian Age highlights the verdict of the Supreme Court in a graft case involving Kerala's power Minister R. Balakrishna Pillai, saying "SC's Pillai verdict sets new parameters'. The report says the Apex Court's decision in the case lays down stringent  tests to evaluate misuse of power by the executive especially in awarding contracts involving natural resources.
'Now, eligibility test must for schoolteachers' is a Tribune report on a new exam, notified by the govt. with 60% marks required to qualify, as a teacher, in any school across India.
Ranchi rolls out red carpet for National Games is a front page report in the Tribune. In the Pioneer--'Haryana village evens out ratio', states that Budena in Faridabad has achieved the improbable--girls leading the sex ratio signalling a welcome change in mindset.

In Gujarat, hundreds of thousands of Greater Flamingos have nested in the Greater Rann of Kutch for hatching activities.  The Andabet, an island in Kutch district is the only place in the entire Asian continent where the Greater Flamingos have made their hatching spots.  
The andabet of Kutch reigeon on the Indo-Pak International border is the only hatching place of Greater flamingos  goes in entire Asian continent . The beautiful pink birds with four feet of height and long, lean,  curved, neck constructs hatching pad of two fit above ground level in this andabet area coming all the way from Siberia and European countries .The Greater flamingos has considered the Kutch reason as the maternity home  for hatching.

The historic change in Egypt with President Hosni Mubarak stepping down dominates the front pages of all the papers. "Mubarak steps down, Egypt rejoices" reads the banner lead in the Hindu. The Tribune captures the spirit of this change as it writes "Egypt boots Mubarak out". There is a note of caution in the Mail Today's front page lead as it reports "People oust Pharaoh but army in power". The Hindustan Times says that the 82 year old leader has fled to the holiday retreat of Sharm el Sheikh. All the papers carry photographs of jubilant crowds in Cairo's Tahrir Square, which has been the centre of the anti Mubarak protests.
A remark made by the Supreme Court Bench while hearing former Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh's petition on the tapping of his phone is prominently noticed in the papers today. "No Govt wants strong judiciary says SC judge" reports the Hindustan Times. The Asian Age writes that the bench cited the meagre budgetary allocation to the judiciary which is less than 1 percent of the G.D.P. 
The Indian Express reports that the Group of Ministers on corruption headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee will recommend to the Government to put an end to all discretionary powers enjoyed by ministers and all requests for sanction of prosecution of government officers will be decided upon within three months. 
Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar denying any links with the promoter of Swan Telecom and 2G scam accused Shahid Balwa and the CBI arresting Shekhar Deorukhar, personal secretary to the Commonwealth Games Oraganising Committee Chairman Suresh Kalmadi, in connection with the Games scam are the other stories that are widely noticed in the papers today.
And finally, in a special story on what it calls Bihar's silent revolution, the Pioneer writes that the State Government has distributed over 14000 acres of land among poor and landless women in the last three years.

This is your new blog post. Click here and start typing, or drag in elements from the top bar.