1400 HRS
15th January, 2013

THE HEADLINES

• National Security Advisor briefs Leaders of Opposition in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on situation along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir.
• Information and Broadcasting Minister says response to Pakistan's Army should be left to professionals.
• Indian Army is prepared to meet any challenge to national security, says Gen. Bikram Singh.
• India opens a visa centre at Attari- Wagah joint check post; Pakistani senior citizens to get Visa on Arrival.
• India and Vietnam sign an MoU for cooperation in the field of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.
• Sensex crosses 20,000-mark in opening trade after a gap of two years; Rupee strengthens by 15 paise to 54.34 against the dollar.
• AND IN CRICKET: India were 128 for 4 against England in the Second One Dayer at Kochi, a shortwhile ago.

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National Security Advisor, Shivshankar Menon today briefed the leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha, Sushma Swaraj and leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Arun Jaitly on the situation along the Line of Control,LoC, in Jammu and Kashmir. Both the BJP leaders are believed to have been apprised of the current situation and measures taken by the local Commanders at the LoC.

Sources said the BJP leaders have asked the government to act tough withPakistan over the ceasefire violations in the last week and have also assured it of the opposition party's support.

The meeting, held at Ms Swaraj's residence in Delhi, lasted 45 minutes. On Monday evening, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had called the two senior BJP leaders to discuss the Pakistan issue and assured them that his government would keep them in the loop. The PM's call yesterday came soon after Ms Swaraj, who visited the home of one of the two jawans killed by Pakistani troops last week,had made an aggressive remark.

The Congress has asked the BJP to leave the response to the incident to professionals who are equipped and tasked with the responsibility. Congress Spokesman Manish Tewari said today in New Delhi, professional armies around the world respect rules of engagement. It is advisable that jingoism be avoided.

The Government has responded to it by not only expressing its outrage but by defining it as some sort of turning point. But, what we need to keep in mind is that professional armies around the world respect rules of engagement. The response is best left to professionals who are equipped and who are tasked with the responsibility of dealing with the situation.

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The Indian Army has said that on January 8th, Pakistani troops crossed over toIndian territory and ambushed Indian soldiers, killing Lance Naik Hemraj Singh and Lance Naik Sudhakar Singh and then mutilating their bodies. Hemraj Singh's body was beheaded.

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The Army Chief Gen Bikram Singh today assured the nation that the Indian Army was prepared to face all challenges to national security. Addressing the 65th Army Day celebrations in Delhi this morning, he said that Indian Army is always prepared for securing boundaries of the nation and foil designs of enemies. General Singh added that in view of various challenges, the operational preparedness of the forces is at the highest level.

Our country's borders are among the world's toughest terrains, which include Siachen Glacier, Ladakh and North East's far flung areas. The Indian army is prepared to face all challenges to national security and foil the designs of the enemy.

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Gen Singh also said that the Indian Army's record as far as human rights are concerned is the best in the World.

Earlier, the President, Prime Minister and Defence Minister extended greetings to all serving personnel and ex-servicemen of the Indian Army to mark the day.

In his message, President Pranab Mukherjee said the boundless contribution of the Indian army to nation building is amongst its greatest legacies. He said, the day is an occasion for every citizen to offer a prayer for all those gallant soldier, who made the supreme sacrifice at the call of duty.

Lauding the efforts of the Army in serving the nation, The Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh said, The Army continues to serve with outstanding professionalism, dedication and bravery in guarding the borders, security of the nation, providing support in internal security and assisting the civil administration during natural disasters.

Defence Minister AK Antony said, the Army has displayed its professionalism in nearly all situations in the most commendable manner and the nation is always proud of their contributions, both during times of war and in peace.<><><>

The Army today accused Pakistan of committing three ceasefire violations after a Brigadier-level flag meeting between the two countries but said it will not act in haste or anger.

Talking to reporters at Akhnoor in Jammu and Kashmir, General-Officer-in Command (Northern Command), Lt Gen K T Parnaik,said the Indian Army has a lot of options and is watching the developments closely

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India has opened up a visa centre at the Attari- Wagah joint check post today. The Foreign Regional Registration Officer, S.N.Sharma inaugurated the centre. Visa on Arrival will be issued to Pakistani senior citizens above 65 years of age on arrival.

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Information and Broadcasting Minister, Manish Tewari today said that digesting and disseminating news content in an ethical manner is a challenge for media persons. Addressing an Annual Convocation of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, IIMC, in New Delhi, Mr. Tewari said that in this context people in media spaces have a larger ethical responsibility.

People in the information dissemination space or in the media space do have a larger responsibility. In terms of not only digesting content, but then before disseminating it, doing it in a manner which is most responsible but at the same time candid, is the ethical challenge.

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Talking about social media, the Minister said that the internet has completely transformed the form of communication and the dissemination of news and its consumption and reaction to it is also going to be completely transformed. He said that there is enormous scope of innovation after the emergence of the new media.

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The government today asserted that it will continue to ensure that nuclear power remains completely safe. Conferring the Atomic Energy Department's life time achievement awards to scientists and technologists in New Delhi, the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh said, India will reach a new milestone soon, as the first nuclear reactor with Russian collaboration at Kudankulam starts operating. He said that the government will ensure that the safety and livelihoods of people are not jeopardized. He said that the Fukushima incident in 2011 raised justifiable safety concerns about nuclear power.

Dr Singh said that reviews of all our nuclear power plants have been completed. He said Parliament is also examining a Bill to set up a new Nuclear Safety Regulatory Authority in the country.

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President Pranab Mukherjee today said, boosting Agriculture is the key for achieving food and nutrition security, employment generation and higher sustainable economic growth. Giving away the Krishi Karman Awards to the States for record food grain production at the Rashtrapati Bhavan today, Mr. Mukherjee said, it is the collective responsibility of the centre and states alongwith other stake holders to ensure that Agriculture is given priority and becomes economically viable.

Our correspondent reports, Madhya Pradesh won the Krishi Karman Award for best performance under the category for states with total food grain production above 10 million lakh tonnes. Tamil Nadu grabbed the honours for the best performing state with food grain production between one to ten million tonnes. The Krishi Karman Award for Best performing state with food grain production of upto 1 million tonnes was jointly won by Nagaland and Manipur.

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India and Vietnam today signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the field of micro,small and medium enterprises. The MOU was signed by the Minister of Planning and Investment of Vietnam Dao Quang Thu and the Ambassador of India in Vietnam Ranjit Rae at Hanoi. The MoU will focus on building capacities for developing policy and institutional frame work through exchange of experts for the development of medium, micro and small enterprises. According to the MoU, Indiawill conduct a survey and feasibility studies to identify thrust areas and opportunities for the development of these enterprises in Vietnam. Vice President Mohd. Hamid Ansari has said that there is a need to enhance trade and investment opportunities between India and Vietnam. Addressing the closing ceremony of the India-Vietnam friendship year at Hanoi, Mr.Ansari said both countries have set a target of 7 billion US dollar bilateral trade by 2015. Our correspondent covering the visit has filed this report:

At the Friendship House in Hanoi a colourful cultural function was organized to commemorate India-Vietnam friendship year. Mr.Ansari said that Indo-Vietnam partnership is based on a common vision,shared interests and mutual trust and friendship. He said that opening of the Indian Cultural Centre in Hanoi this year will facilitate our cultural ties and promote people to people contact. Earlier, the Vice President discussed bilateral issues with the Vice President of Vietnam Nguyen Thi Doan. Today he visited ancientuniversity of Hanoi and temple of literature. Anurag Vajpeyi, AIR News,Hanoi.

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Police in Islamabad have reportedly used teargas against anti-corruption protesters on a march led by cleric Tahirul Qadri. Reports say, the clashes erupted after demonstrators threw stones at security forces outside the parliament. Qadri, who is calling for electoral reforms, left the city of Lahore on Sunday with thousands of supporters, and reached Islamabad late yesterday. Authorities accuse him of trying to postpone elections due by May. The cleric wants the military and judiciary to be involved in installing a caretaker government to oversee the forthcoming elections.

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The Sixth edition of the World Future Energy Summit begins in the UAE Capital Abu Dhabi today. The Focus at the three day long summit is on sustainable energy solutions in the global energy mix. The summit will open with the key note address by the French President Francois Hollande, Argentine President Christina Fernandez and Jordan Queen Rania Abdullah. More from our West Asia Correspondent:

The three day long World Future Energy Summit is the platform for the global leaders to discuss measures to enhance the share of clean and green energy, expand its reach and find out efficient ways to meet energy demands. More than 30,000 delegates from 150 countries including Heads of States, Energy and Environment Ministers, UN Agencies, experts, academicians and leading figures from the public and private sector are taking part in the summit. Indian delegation is led by India’s Ambassador to UAE, M.K. Lokesh. For the first time an International Water Summit is being held together with the World Future Energy Summit this year to emphasize the role of water. Atul K Tiwary,AIR News,Dubai.

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The BSE benchmark Sensex rose by 20 points in afternoon trade to 19,926 points, when reports last came in. Earlier, the sensex breached the 20,000 mark in opening trade after two years by gaining over 100 points in early trade to touch a little higher than 20,000. The wide based National Stock exchange index the Nifty, also moved up by 8 points to 6,032. Meanwhile in the Asian region, Hong Kong's Hang Seng shed 0.26 per cent, while Japan's Nikkei was up 1.26 per cent in early trade today.

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The rupee today strengthened by 15 paise to 54.34 rupees against the dollar in early trade at the Interbank Foreign Exchange, on selling of the US currency by exporters and banks and strong capital inflows.

Forex dealers said, besides a higher opening in the domestic equity market and continued capital inflows, the strengthening of the euro against the dollar overseas also supported the rupee.

The rupee had bounced back by 27 paise to end at a one-week high of 54.49 rupees against the US dollar yesterday as the government delayed the implementation of the controversial GAAR and a fall in wholesale inflation for December boosted rate cut hopes.

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In the second one day international of the five match series between India andEngland, hosts India were 146 for 4 in 32 overs against the visitors when reports last came in. The match is being played in Kochi today. Earlier, England pacers Jade Dernbach and steven Finn dismissed openers Gautam Gambhir and Ajinkya Rahane repectively, while Yuvraj Singh was bowled out by James Tredwell.