0815 HRS  

8th January , 2013

THE HEADLINES:

• Prime Minister pitches for phased rationalization of domestic energy prices; Calls for curbing subsidies.
• Jharkhand government reduced to minority following withdrawal of support by to JMM.
• Delhi gang rape case proceedings to be held in-camera.
• Seven CRPF personnel killed in a Maoist encounter in Latehar district of Jharkhand.
• And, Indian Skipper MS Dhoni returns to the top five in ICC Cricket Rankings for ODI batsmen.

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The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh has stressed the need for undertaking a phased rationalization of domestic energy prices to bring them in line with the environs at the world level. Laying the foundation stone for the 20,000 Crore rupee Integrated Expansion project of the Kochi Refinery at Amalgam last evening, the Prime Minister said this is necessary for putting India on fast track development.

Energy remains under priced in our country with coal, petroleum product and natural gas prices well below international prices. To meet our target of rapid, inclusive and sustainable development, we must undertake a phased rationalisation of energy prices to bring them in line with global prices.

The Prime Minister said that the Bharat Stage IV advanced fuel network will be vastly expanded in the next two years. He called upon the central and state governments to work together to create awareness among the public on the need for curbing energy subsidies.

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The Prime Minister will formally inaugurate the 11th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas this morning. The 3-day annual event began at Kochi in Kerala yesterday. Dr Manmohan Singh will also release a stamp on the Ghadar Movement formed in the United States in support of India's Freedom Movement and release two publications of the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs on the occasion. The President of Mauritius Rajkeswur Purryag is the Chief Guest of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas. Later, the Prime Minister will take part in a meeting of the Global Advisory Council of Overseas Indians. More from our correspondent,

Engaging the Diaspora, the Indian Growth Story continues at the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas meet in Kochi. A number of seminars and discussions are lined up for the day with a galaxy of speakers that include Union and State Ministers, policy makers and experts. The discussions will cover a variety of subjects including the potential of the country's economy, diverse elements of its heritage and values, and an oration on Ghadar Movement. One of the sessions will attempt to initiate a dialogue between the young achievers inIndia with Pravasi youth. The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas  draws to a close tomorrow with President Pranab Mukherjee giving away the Pravasi Bharatiya awards. Raj Mohan, AIR News, Kochi.

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In Jharkhand, the BJP-led coalition government of Arjun Munda has been reduced to minority as the major coalition partner - the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, JMM has announced withdrawal of support to the government. Talking to media persons last evening, JMM Legislature Party leader and Deputy Chief Minister Hemant Soren said there is problem of coordination between the JMM and the government, and that had led to the withdrawal of support.

Meanwhile, the State unit of the BJP last night decided to consult its national leadership for the next course of action following the JMM's decision to withdraw support to the state government. The Core Committee of the State BJP met inRanchi last evening to take stock of the situation. Another meeting of the Core Committee will take place today.

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Seven CRPF personnel were killed and 17 injured in an encounter with the Maoists in Latehar district of Jharkhand yesterday. Police said, the encounter took place near Katila locality of Amuatikar village, when CRPF personnel went there following information that several Maoist guerrillas, including those from outside the state, had gathered there. We have a report from our correspondent:

Three CRPF jawans were killed on the spot while four others succumbed to injury in an encounter with the Naxals. Eight to ten Naxals have also been killed, as per Police sources. This encounter has once again emphasised the need for a shift in strategy to match the Maoists' tactics of attacking from behind. The injured jawans could not be air-lifted to Ranchi for better treatment in time, as the helicopter did not have night vision. This points for better facilities for the operation. Rajesh Sinha, AIR news, Ranchi.

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The proceedings in the Delhi gang rape case will be held in-camera. A metropolitan court yesterday passed the order after the five accused were produced before it.
The Metropolitan Magistrate also restrained the media from reporting and publishing the proceedings of the case in the court after the Delhi Police filed an application for in-camera proceedings. The judge said in the order that it shall not be lawful to print or publish any matter or content in this case, except with the permission of this court.

Challenging the order, some lawyers filed an application before the District Judge for lifting the curb on the media. The judge issued notice to the Delhi Police and posted the issue for hearing tomorrow.

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Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath has pitched for tougher laws to check crimes against women. While speaking to a news agency in New Delhi, he favoured the setting up of fast-track courts to try the politicians charged with heinous crimes so that a judicial verdict is possible in six months. The Minister said, the amendments to the anti-rape laws will take precedence over everything else during the next session of Parliament.

He said all political parties should reach a consensus on the issue which is not related to any party nor politician.

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The cold wave and fog continues to affect normal life in several parts of the country.

There has been no let up in the biting cold in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh. Narnaul in Haryana was the coldest place in the region at minus 3 degree Celsius. Our correspondent reports that Amritsar with a minimum of 1.4 degrees Celsius was the coldest place in Punjab,

As the cold wave has intensified with minimum temperature going down, crops are also being affected. In Punjab, 84,000 hectare is under potato crop which is being affected badly due to fog and frost in the absence of sun-shine. Although cold weather is considered beneficial for wheat crop toll now, but lack of sun-shine for longer period can affect it also badly. Jasvinder Singh Randhawa, AIR News,Chandigarh.
In Uttar Pradesh, Muzaffarnagar remained the coldest place where the mercury dipped to below freezing point yesterday. The death toll due to the severe cold in the state has reached 170 as 15 more people lost their lives during the past 24 hours.
Dense fog coupled with low temperature continues to affect normal life in the national capital today. However, flight operations at the Indira Gandhi InternationalAirport remained almost normal this morning. According to the MeT department, the maximum temperature was recorded 13.4 degree Celsius, while the minimum settled at 3.3 degree Celsius this morning.

Madhya Pradesh is also the grip of the intense cold wave. Satna and Panchmari recorded minimum temperature of zero degree Celsius yesterday.

In Bihar, dense fog disrupted air and rail services yesterday.

North Bengal is in the grip of cold wave condition with Jalpaiguri recording a minimum of 5 degrees Celsius, the lowest in the last 30 years.

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The President Mr. Pranab Mukherjee will address the special joint session of both Houses of the Uttar Pradesh Legislature in Lucknow today, on the occasion of its 125th anniversary. The President will also release a special commemorative postal stamp to mark the occasion. Our correspondent reports that the legislative house in Uttar Pradesh was established on the 8th January 1887 at the 'Thornhill Memorial Hall' in Allahabad.

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The winter session of Himachal Pradesh Assembly begins at Tapowan near Dharamshala in Kangra district today. This is the first session of the assembly after the recent elections in the state. Besides the newly elected MLAs taking oath, the election of Speaker and Deputy Speaker will be held during 4-day session.

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The Supreme Court Judge, Justice DK Jain has been appointed Chairman of the 20th Law Commission. The terms of reference of the Commission include identifying the laws which are no longer needed and are not in harmony with the existing climate of economic liberalization. It will give suggestions to take all such measures as may be necessary to harness the law and legal process in the service of the poor. The commission will also examine the existing laws with a view of promoting gender equality and to revise the Central Acts of general importance.

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The centenary session of the Indian Science Congress ended in Kolkata last evening, with a call to bridge the perceptional gap between Scientists and society on bio-diversity, bio-technology, nuclear technology and nano-technology. We have more from our correspondent,

More than 15,000 delegates, including six Nobel laureates from the country and abroad, deliberating on shaping of the future of India in about 60 sessions is  something that fits quite well into the stature of the Indian Science Congress, which turned a glorious 100 this year. Besides the event being historical in itself, it also ushered in quite a few chapters in history ; for the first time, the President and Prime Minister of the country shared the dias of the Indian Science Congress. On the other hand, by releasing the new Science, Technology and Innovation Policy, 2013 from the platform of the Indian Science Congress, science has also been sought to be brought closure to society. Girish Chander Das, AIR News, Kolkata.

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US President Barack Obama has named Chuck Hagel as his next Defence Secretary and John Brennan to lead the CIA. Mr Hagel, a decorated Vietnam War veteran, will be the first enlisted soldier to lead the Pentagon. Former Nebraska Senator Hagel's fellow Republicans have accused him of being hostile to Israel and soft on Iran.

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Indian Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni has returned to the top five in the latest ICC Cricket Rankings for ODI batsmen. He has moved up two places to reach the fourth position on the chart. This follows his consistent performance with the bat in the recently-concluded three-match ODI series against Pakistan. The batting table is still headed by South Africa's Hashim Amla followed by team-mate AB de Villiers in second position.

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Newspapers Headlines

• Pre-trial court proceedings in the Delhi gang rape case descending into chaos, are reported prominently. The Hindu reports that a section of lawyers created a ruckus, objecting to some advocates wanting to defend the accused. The Metropolitan Magistrate had to direct all present in the courtroom, except the prosecutor and the accused persons, to vacate the court.
• Hindustan Times reports that even as a Delhi fast track court started in camera hearing of the case,  the Home Ministry has ordered a probe into the immediate response of the police to the December 23 attack and the charges of incompetence and callousness made by the friend of the victim who was the sole eye witness.
• The Statesman says that the new batch of undergraduate students in the 16 premier Indian Institutes of Technology will have to pay 80 per cent more fees with the Standing Council recommending a 40,000 Rs hike.
• The Times of India highlights the "ungodly words"  of controversial god man Asaram Bapu, who said at a gathering near Sawai Madhopur in Rajasthan that the Delhi Braveheart was 'equally responsible' for the fatal attack on her.
• "Chief Justice of India Altamas Kabir blames crime against women on slow justice", writes Mail Today. He has asked all High Court Chief Justices to insure that cases pertaining to offences against women are fast - tracked and heard on a priority basis at the High Court and District Court levels.
• The Indian Express writes that an Empowered Group of Ministers, headed by Finance Minister P. Chidambaram has recommended reducing the minimum price for sale of spectrum used by CDMA mobile operators by up to 50 percent in the second round of auction planned in March.