0815 HRS
27th January , 2013

THE HEADLINES:

• Secretary level talks on water sharing between India and Pakistanpostponed in wake of the ceasefire violations at LOC.

• North India continues to shiver under severe cold conditions; Srinagarrecords coldest night of the season.

• In Egypt, the death toll in clashes sparked by Football Riot case verdict in Port Said rises up to 31.

• The fifth and final ODI between India and England to be played in Dharamshala this morning.

• World No. 1 Novak Djokovic to clash with Andy Murray in Men’s Singles final of the Australian Open Tennis today.

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Secretary level talks between India and Pakistan on water sharing, scheduled tobegin in Islamabad tomorrow, have been put off. A Pakistan Foreign Ministry officialtold PTI in Islamabad that new dates for the talks are yet to be decided. The official did not specify reasons for the postponement of the parleys. Pakistani mediareports say, the two-day talks were cancelled in the wake of tension between thetwo countries over ceasefire violations along the Line of Control. The two sides were scheduled to discuss the Tulbul

navigation project-Wullar Barrage issue during the talks.

This is the second high-level bilateral interaction that has been put off because of bad atmospherics between India and Pakistan over ceasefire violations along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir.

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The Congress Core Group met in New Delhi last evening to discuss the Telangana issue. The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, Congress President Mrs. Sonia Gandhi and Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde among others. Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, who is AICC General Secretary in-charge of Andhra Pradesh, was specially invited to the meeting. A couple of days ago, Mr. Azad had hinted that a decision on the Telangana issue could be delayed. A section of Congress leaders feel that Mr. Shinde can speak on the issue before his Dhakavisit tomorrow.

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Karnataka Governor HR Bhardwaj has not asked the Chief Minister Jagdish Shetter to seek a vote of confidence in the state assembly. Talking to media persons inBangalore yesterday, the Governor said, the resignation of 13 MLAs does not reduce the government to a minority. The Chief Minister has expressed confidence that his government is safe and will present the budget on February 8th.

On the other hand, the sources in Yeddyurappa led-Karnataka Janata Party say that many more Ministers and BJP MLAs will resign tomorrow. Our correspondent reports that the Speaker, who is abroad since Wednesday, is likely to return tomorrow.

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In Assam, two separate bomb blasts created panic in Goalpara last night. State Home Secretary G D Tripathi said that unidentified miscreants triggered a blast at the campus of the Jaleshwar MLA’s residence at Jaleshwar in the district. Another bomb blast was reported at Gaurnagar area. No casualty has been reported .Our correspondent has filed this report.

Goalpara district administration is maintaining a close watch on the situation. The overall Situation in some areas are tense but under control. No organisations have claimed responsibility for the twin blasts. The Home Secretary further said that one miscreant has been beaten by mob who later succumbs to injuries when he was trying to throw a bomb like object at Jaleshwar area. Extortion notes were recovered from him.Security has been intensified in the area. Manas Pratim Sharma, AIR News, Guwahati.

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The President Pranab Mukherjee hosted an At Home reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan yesterday evening on the occasion of the Republic Day. The reception was attended by this year's Republic Day Chief Guest King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and his wife Queen Jetsun Pema, Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, Congress President Sonia Gandhi, BJP leader L K Advani and several Union Ministers.

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The extended spell of cold wave continued to affect normal life in parts of North India. Kashmir Valley continued to bear the brunt of the cold wave as the mercury plunged by several notches. Srinagar witnessed the coldest night of this winter with a low of minus 5.8 degree Celsius early yesterday.

Cold conditions prevailed in Punjab and Haryana as mercury remained a few notches below normal in both the states.

In national capital, the minimum temperature settled two notches below normal at 6.4 degree Celsius, while the maximum was recorded at 21.4 deg C.

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In Egypt, the death toll in the clashes in Port Said has gone up to 31, while more than 300 people have been injured. The Army has been deployed in Port Said and has taken control of the Suez canal. A report from our correspondent.

On Saturday morning an Egyptian court announced death sentence for 21 persons on charges of killing of 74 people in the rioting and stampede in Port Said in February last year. As the verdict was passed by the court in Port Said, the supporters of the accused tried to storm the city prison. In the gunfire , two police officers were shot dead outside the prison while 30 people in all lost their lives. All 21 accused sentenced to death are fans of thePort Said club Al-Masry. More than 70 accused are standing trial over the tragedy at the Post Said stadium and the court will hear the cases of the other accused in early March. Atul Tiwary, AIR News.

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International financial leaders have wrapped up the World Economic Forum meeting at Davos in Switzerland with warnings that much remains to be done to stabilize the global economy. International Monetary Fund chief Christine Legarde said, the IMF outlook for a fragile and timid recovery depends on leaders in the top economies of Europe, the United States and Japan making the right decisions.

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A large number of pilgrims are taking a holy dip at the Sangam, the confluence ofGanga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati rivers in Allahabad on the occasion of Paush Purnima today. About 55 lakh people are expected to arrive at the Sangam on this occasion of bathing, which is an important part of the ongoing Kumbh Mela. Our correspondent reports that the month-long Kalpwas, which begins on Paush Purnima and ends at Maghi Purnima, also begins today.

Bathing stated at most of the Ghats and at Sangam from early in the morning in a cold weather and it will continue whole day. The District Magistrate made a formal appeal to the pilgrims for taking baths at Sangam but it was started before the announcement. Adequate security measures have been taken at bathing Ghats and barricadings are erected at deep water at all Ghats. Entry of heavy vehicles into Allahabad city has also been restricted and they are moving on diverted routes. For providing pollution free water and maintaining water level at Ghats and at Sangam about 2500 cusecs of water is being released on daily basis. Sunil Shukla, AIR News Allahabad.

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The 166th Thyagaraja Music festival will begin today at Thiruvaiyaru in Tamil Nadu. The five-day music festival will be opened by Tamil Nadu Governor K Rosaiah and Union Minister for Shipping GK Vasan. More from our correspondent:

During Thyagaraja Aradahana festival. thousands of musicians from all over the country will throng the place and pay homage to Sadguru Thyagaraja by singing songs and playing musical instruments like nadaswaram, thavil, violin, mridangam, veena, ganjira. On Thursday, the final day of the Thyagaraja Aradhana musicians from all over the world will sing pancharatna kritis of Sadguru Thyagaraja including Jagadanandakanaka, Dinduku kala, Sadhinchane, kana kana ruchire and finally Endoru Mahanubhavulu. K Devi Padmanabhan, AIR News, Tiruchirapalli.

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India will take on England in the fifth and final ODI match of the ongoing series in Dharamshala today. A report.

Team India would be aiming to finish with a flourish having already secured the series. A 4-1 victory will be sweet revenge for the side after losing an embarrassing home test series against the English. This will also be a historical moment for Dharmshala, which is set to become the 43rd international cricket venue in India. With the series already decided, the match is academic interest but for the team management and the national selectors, there are a few areas that they would like to check out. Cheteshwar Pujara may make his ODI debut considering that he has not been released for the high-profile Ranji Trophy final against Mumbai. With Pawas Kumar this is Lalima Aneja Dang for Sports Desk

All India Radio will broadcast a running commentary in Hindi and English alternately on the match. This can be heard on FM Gold and Rajdhani Channels from 9 AM to5.30 PM or till the end of the match.

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In the Men’s Singles, World No. 1 Novak Djokovic of Serbia will lock horns withBritain’s Andy Murray in the final today.

Victoria Azarenka of Belarus has won the Women’s Singles title of the Australian Open Tennis tournament .

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NEWSPAPERS HEADLINES

• Most news dailies have highlighted the spectacular Republic Day parade with colourful photographs. "Perfect blend of might and cultural diversity", notes the Pioneer. Referring to the chief guest at the Republic Day parade, the King of Bhutan, The Times of India captions his photograph at the parade with the remark "King of happiness, spreads warmth in Delhi".
• On a sombre note the Hindustan Times reports "On R-Day, Delhi sees rerun of rape protests, calls for action", while the Asian Age adds "Freedom Parade" to reclaim the Republic".
• The Indian Express reports "In 3 weeks, Delhi's six fast track courts get 500 rape cases" and adds "Many more in queue wait for completion of probe, remand".
• In a significant story, the Indian Express reports that Pakistani Lt. General Shahid Aziz, heading an ISI cell during the 1999 Kargil conflict, has admitted in a newspaper article that only regular troops of the Pakistan Army took part in the Kargil conflict with India in 1999 and not Mujahideen fighters as claimed by Islamabad. He also adds that the intrusion was an "Unsound military plan based on invalid assumption" and that there was a "cover up".
• In a related Pakistan story, the Times of India reports "Bhuto-Zardaris' Indian friend helped break LoC ice" referring to the recent stand off between the two countries.
• And finally, the Times of India reports that today one of India's most loved patriotic songs Ai mere watan ke logo - completes 50 years. Lata Mangeshkar had sung Kavi Pradeep's immortal classic this day in 1963 before Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, moving him to tears