Face off

NEWSPAPERS HEADLINES

'Face off', reads the Mail Today headline, adding the battle for Bundelkhand got fiercer, with Rahul Gandhi doubting Uma Bharti's concern for Uttar Pradesh.

The Hindustan Times reports on its front page that the Prime Minister has fully supported Unique Identification Authority of India Chief Nandan Nilekani's efforts to ensure all residents of India are covered under the Adhaar Card Scheme. The headline reads, 'PM stands firm by Nilekani.'

Many papers have covered the last ditch efforts at the highest levels of the Government to find a peace formula to ward-off an all-out battle in Supreme Court over Army Chief General V K Singh's petition challenging the government's determination that he was born in 1950.

Amidst accusations that Prime Minister's media team has not been successful in managing public perceptions, the PMO's Media Adviser Harish Khare has resigned. His resignation was preceded by the appointment of Pankaj Pachauri as communication Adviser in the PMO with immediate effect. This story has widely been covered by most newspapers.

Survivor of Italian Cruise liner Costa Concordia, which ran aground off the Italian coast, returning home has been widely covered by most of the dailies. The Asian Age has shown a picture of one of the survivor Jonathan Pathri being greeted by his parents on his arrival at Hyderabad Airport.

The Hindu has widely covered the story under the headline, 'Coup Bid Against Hasina Failed' claims Army. It has reported that the Bangladesh Army has failed an attempt by some mid-ranked Army officers to topple the Shiekh Hasina's government in Bangladesh.

And finally, According to the Times of India, as several parts of India reel under a cold spell, here's worse news, expect the rest of winter to be colder than usual. There's a good chance that February and March too will see below normal temperatures. And loading the dice in favour of long winter is La Nina - a phenomenon better known in India for aiding good monsoon rain.