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AgustaWestland chopper scam: CBI to produce former IAF Chief SP Tyagi before court today

The CBI will produce before the court on 10 December former Air Force Chief S P Tyagi and seek his remand after he was arrested on 9 December in the Agusta Westland helicopter deal case.

Delhi based lawyer Gautam Khaitan and another person namely Sanjeev Tyagi were also arrested in the case.

The deal is related to purchase of 12 helicopters for VVIPs from Italian manufacturer, Finmeccanica in 2010 during UPA-2 government's rule.

71-year old Tyagi, who retired in 2007, was called for questioning at CBI Headquarters along with Khaitan and Sanjeev Tyagi.

CBI acting at the behest of the Centre; SP Tyagi's arrest diverts attention from demonetisation: Bhushan

Reacting to the arrest of former Air Chief Marshal S.P. Tyagi in the AugustaWestaland deal, senior advocate Prashant Bhushan on 10 December said the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), is acting at the behest of the Centre and wants to divert attention from the demonetisation "fiasco."

"All the facts relating to Air Chief Marshal Tyagi are known for more than two years, yet he was not arrested till now. Now, suddenly he has been arrested since this whole fiasco of demonetisation," Bhushan told ANI.

Bhushan further said had the CBI and the Centre been serious about weeding out corruption, then, they should have launched an inquiry into the defence deals done by the Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand governments who have agreements with AugustaWestaland.

India, US share common belief that Pakistan is a problem for both: Georgetown University expert

A leading American expert on security affairs Dr Christine Fair, Associate Professor at the Georgetown University has said that India and the United States have a shared belief that Pakistan is a problem for both.

In an article for the warontherocks.com web site, Fair opines that one of the key motivations for India - U.S. rapprochement is a shared belief that Pakistan is a problem for both India and the United States, even if they have long disagreed about how best to manage this problem.

She says, "Both countries should seize this opportunity of a new and unpredictable U.S. administration to work together and minimize the ever-present dangers posed by Pakistan. Given the unpredictability of the president-elect (Donald Trump), the above-noted threats should be compelling to Pakistan."

Bangladesh police fear radicalisation by militants as more youth go missing

The issue of youths going missing in Bangladesh first received attention after the deadly Holey Artisan Bakery attack - that killed 29 people mostly foreigners in the an upstate area of Dhaka - where all five militants belonged to affluent families and have been missing for many months before resurfacing as militants.

Since the attack, many more reports have surfaced of young students going missing for months and their whereabouts remaining unknown.

Police believe these missing youth may have been radicalised by militants.

USCIRF condemns brutality against Ahmadis in Pakistan

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has condemned the raid by Pakistan's Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) on the publications and audit offices of the Ahmadiyya community in Punjab province.

Police had beaten and arrested several Ahmadis during this raid which took place on 5 December. Those arrested were later charged under provisions in Pakistan's penal code and Anti-Terrorism Act.

"USCIRF condemns the brutal raid on the Ahmadiyya offices, the first such raid since Pakistan amended its constitution 42 years ago, declaring that Ahmadis are 'non-Muslims," said USCIRF Chair Rev. Thomas J. Reese, S.J.

Chartered accountants' body advises members not to share any negative views on demonetisation

An adivsory note was shared on Friday by the Institute of Chartered Accountants to its members telling them to refrain from criticising the government's move to scrap Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 note.

"All members are advised to be more cautious and careful while advising their clients, sharing/writing their views on any platform regarding demonetisation," the circular read.

280 people have died of grief and shock over Jayalalithaa's death: AIADMK

The ruling AIADMK has updated the death toll after Jayalalithaa's demise on the night of 5 December. 280 people have died of grief and shock, the party announced. This is more than than twice the death toll after demonetisation.