2100 HRS

10th January, 2013

THE HEADLINES

• Pakistani troops again resort to heavy firing from across  the Line of Control in Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir.

• India rejects Pakistan's proposal for UN probe into the brutal killing of two Jawans on the Line of Control.

• Laskar -E-Toiba founder Hafiz Saeed was present in PoK  a few days before the incident, says Home Minister.

• Cabinet raises housing assistance under the Indira Awas Yojana to 70,000 rupees in the plains.

• Delhi Police files fresh status report in the court in the  gang rape case.

• This year's Oscar nominations announced.

• The first one dayer  between India and England at Rajkot tomorrow.

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Pakistani troops have again resorted to heavy firing from across the Line of Control, LoC in the Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir. Defence sources say , the firing using medium and small arms started around 5 PM this evening and is continuing still when reports last came in. The Indian posts-   Dogra and Chhajjaman of KrishnaGhati  - have been targeted. The firing was reported to have started from the Roza and Battal posts in PoK. The firing is being effectively retaliated by the Indian troops. There are no reports of any loss of life from the Indian side so far. The fresh violation of ceasefire comes just two days after the brutal killing of two Indian jawans by pak troops, which crossed over the LOC to ambush an Indian patrol party.

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India today outrightly rejected Pakistan's proposal for UN investigation into Tuesday's incident on the Line of Control in which two Indian soldiers were killed with the body of one badly mutilated. Finance Minister P Chidambaram said this in a press conference after the meetings of the Union Cabinet and Cabinet Committee on Security, CCS in New Delhi today. He said India is certainly not going to agree to internationalise the issue or allow the United Nations to hold an inquiry. That demand is obviously rejected out of hand. The Finance Minister said the issue figured at a meeting of the CCS, which was briefed by Defence Minister A K Antony on the incident. Describing the incident as brutal Chidambaram said, India has taken a serious view of what happened and whatever has to be done will be done.

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Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said, Laskar -e-Toiba founder Hafiz Saeed was present in Pak-occupied Kashmir, a few days before Tuesday's incident at the LoC in which two Indian jawans were killed and the body of one badly mutilated.  In reply to a question at a press conference in New Delhi, he said according to intelligence information Hafeez Saeed was present in POK before the incident. It has been our information just 4-5 days back that in PoK area, Hafiz Saeed had entered and he had talked with some people. Answering another query, he said the visa agreements between India and Pakistan will stay. He said it will be operationalized as per the schedule. The new Visa Agreement signed between New Delhi and Islamabad on 8th of September 2012 was operationalized on 14th of last month.  Presenting the monthly report of his Ministry  Shinde said, in a major set back to terrorists 14 of them including 8 foreigners were eliminated in a joint operation by the Army and security forces in Jammu and Kashmir

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Delhi Police today tendered an unconditional apology to Delhi High Court for not naming in its report the cops patrolling the area in which a girl was gang raped in a moving bus on the 16th of last month.  The Police has filed a fresh report containing the names of the policemen who were present at the time when the 23 year old victim and her friend sought help.  The court accepted the fresh status report of the Police. The status report says that the Police personnel deployed in the PCR vans are witnesses in the case and the chargesheet has their names.  The court had yesterday taken strong exception to the fact that only a junior Police Officer was suspended in connection with the case and senior ones were not made accountable.  The Special Metropolitan Court hearing the case today fixed the 14th of this month for scrutiny of documents filed with the chargesheet in the case .

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The Government has decided to step-up night patrolling on motor cycles by Delhipolice to ensure safety for women in the city. Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, said this after reviewing  the law and order situation in the capital. Night patrolling will be done by the officers.  One will go to the right direction and the second will come from the left direction.  They will meet at the Centre point and they will report to each other, was there any incident.  They will go in the by-lanes also so that the whole night in that area of the police station, patrolling will be done by the police. Mr Shinde also said that Mahila Help Desks will be set up in each police station to enhance security.  It will be given a cell number and the telephone number of Mahila Help Desk to be notified in all schools and colleges in the area of police stations.  There will be a specific officer deputed and that officer's number will be given.  That will be informed to all the principals of the schools and the principals of the colleges.

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Justice Usha Mehra Commission,constituted to review responses to the Delhigangrape case has extended its deadline for receiving suggestions from the public till  the 18th of this month. Earlier, the last date for receiving  suggestions was 10th of January. A Home Ministry release said that any information, suggestions and responses could be sent to the Justice  Usha Mehra Commission of Inquiry through email at usha.mehracommission@nic.in or through Fax at 011-23022364.

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In Jharkhand, a high tech bomb was defused after removing it from the stomach of a dead CRPF jawan.  The bomb was planted inside the stomach of dead CRPF jawan Babulal Patel of 112 Battalion who was killed in an encounter with the naxals in Latehar two days ago.  His  body was brought to Ranchi for  postmortem during which the live bomb was discovered . The Bomb defusal squad team leader later told media in Ranchi that such bombs are not manufactured in India and it is the first incident of this nature.

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The Union Cabinet has given its approval for infusion of 12,517 crore rupees of additional capital  in public sector banks. Briefing the media after the Cabinet meeting in New Delhi, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said this will be completed by March this year and will enable the banks to maintain their Cash reserve ratio. Disinvestment of ten per cent paid up equity of Public sector Engineers India Ltd.  was also given the cabinet nod today. The divestment of 10 per cent paid up equity in Engineers India Ltd, current holding is 80.4 per cent, 10 per cent will be disinvested.  We expect to get around about 800 crore at current prices.  Mr Chidambaram said that the Centre has also raised housing assistance substantially under the Indira Awas Yojana to provide quality and affordable houses.  Assistance will be increased from 45 thousand rupees to 70 thousand rupees in plain areas and from rupees 48,500  to rupees 75,000 in hilly districts, difficult districts and the IAP districts. The unit assistance provided for homestead site to those living below the poverty line has been doubled to 20 thousand rupees. Those, who have neither agricultural land nor a house site for buying  a homestead site will be eligible for the assistance.

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The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs today approved the proposal of the Ministry of Coal for the enhancement of the area of dwelling units for rehabilitation from 27 square mtr. of super built area to 38.92 square mt. area  for the affected persons under the Master Plan for Jharia and Raniganj Coalfields. The Coalfields are under the leasehold of Bharat Coking Coal Limited and Eastern Coalfields Limited respectively.

THE BUSINESS WORLD:
The Sensex at the Bombay Stock Exchange closed with a marginal loss of 3 points, at 19,664, today, ahead of the release of industrial growth data, and quarterly corporate results. The Nifty also fell 3 points, to 5,969. Rising for the third straight day, the rupee appreciated 18 paise, to close at a nearly one-week high of 54.57 against the dollar. Gold lost 200 rupees, to 30,840 rupees per ten grams in Delhi. Silver also dropped 200 rupees, to 57,900 rupees per kilo. Pradeep Kumar, AIR News

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In Uttar Pradesh, the death toll due to chill is still mounting as 16 more people lost their lives raising the toll to 249 this winter. Our Gorakhpur correspondent quoting met office reports that Lucknow and Najibabad remained the coldest places in the state with mercury dipping to 0.5 degrees. In neighbouring Uttarakhand, 7 persons died due to the cold wave. All the casualties were reported from Roorkee and surrounding villages in Haridwar district in the plains.

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In Allahabad, more than 20 bathing Ghats have been developed in Kumbh Nagar on the bank of the  river Ganga and the Sangam - the confluence of the rivers Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati for first bathing festival of Kumbh, on the auspicious occasion of Makar Sankranti on Monday.  Divisional Commissioner Allahabad and nodal officer of the Mela Devesh Chaturvedi told media persons this afternoon that  the preparation for smooth conduct of the first bathing has been completed when around 1 crore 10 lakhs people will take a holy dip.  He said all arrangements for the first royal bathing of the 13 Akharas have also been completed which will also be held on 14th of this month.

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Unidentified miscreants abducted four labourers of Coal India Limited at the Assam -Arunachal Pradesh border area in Tinsukia district today.Police has not ruled out involvement of any insurgent group in the kidnapping.

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The 2013 Academy Award nominations have been announced in Hollywood, with Steven Spielberg's drama Lincoln dominating the short list with 12 nominations. Ang Lee's Life of Pi secured 11 nominations, while romantic comedy Silver Linings Playbook secured a nod in all six of the major categories. Nine films vie for the best picture award including action thriller Zero Dark Thirty, Argo and Les Miserables. But Dame Helen Mirren missed out on a best actress nomination for Hitchcock. Bond film Skyfall also failed to secure any major nominations, although Adele did win a place on the best song short list. It also received four nominations in the technical categories but prior to the nominations it has been suggested that it might become the first Bond film to win a best picture nod. Emmanuelle Riva and Quvenzhane Wallis became the oldest and youngest nominees in the best actress category at the age of 85 and nine respectively. The ceremony will take place at the Dolby Theatre on 24th of next month.

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The latest unemployment rate for Greece has risen to 26.8 per cent, the highest figure recorded in the European Union. The official  data for October sees Greeceovertake Spain.  The Greek economy remains mired in recession and the government is in the process of imposing significant austerity measures.  Athens is cutting spending to meet the terms of its financial bailouts. So far, the European Central Bank, International Monetary Fund, and the European Commission have pledged a total of 240 billion euros in rescue loans, of which Greece has received more than two thirds. The unemployment rate for Spain for the month of November was 26.6 per cent.  Spain is also in recession, with its Government having to cut spending to reduce its debts.

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The first one day international of the 5-match series between India and England will be played at the SCA Stadium in Rajkot tomorrow. The match will begin at 12 noon. All India Radio will broadcast live commentary on the match. The commentary can be heard on the Rajdhani and FM Gold channels from 11:30 AM onwards. Fiery opener Virender Sehwag has been dropped from the Indian squad for the first three matches and in-form batsman Cheteshwar Pujara is his replacement.

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India's Saina Nehwal today waltzed into the Women's Singles quarterfinals of the season-opening Korea Open Badminton tournament at Seoul.Third seed Saina defeated Mingtian Fu of Singapore in straight games. However,PV Sindhu in Women's Singles and P. Kashyap in the Men's Singles,crashed out of the tournament, losing their pre-quarterfinal games.

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The 39th Under-20 National Women Hockey Championship  opened today at the Gachibowli stadium in Hyderabad . A total 21 teams from various states will play 18 league matches and 7 knockout matches before the final match on the 16th of this month. The National Women Hockey team will be picked up from the tournament.