2100 HRS.

7th January, 2013

THE HEADLINES

• Prime Minister calls for phased rationalisation of energy prices; Stresses the need for curbing subsidies.
• Jharkhand Mukti Morcha withdraws support from the BJP-led government in Jharkhand.
• A Delhi Court orders in-camera proceedings in the Delhi gang rape case; Home Ministry orders a probe into the allegation of slow police response by victim's friend
• Chief Justice of India directs all High Courts to set up fast track courts to deal exclusively with offences against women.
• Sensex declines 93 points to close at 19,691; Rupee depreciates 16 paise to 55.23 against the dollar.

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The Prime Minister today stressed the need for undertaking a phased rationalization of domestic energy prices to bring them in line with the environs at the world level. Dr Manmohan Singh said that 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 phase rationalisation of energy prices to bring them in line with global prices.

Dr. Singh was laying the foundation stone for the 20,000 Crore rupee Integrated Expansion project of the Kochi Refineries at Ambalamugal this evening. The Prime Minister said that Bharat stage IV advanced fuel network will be  vastly expanded in the next two years.

Bharat-stage-IV petroleum and diesel have already been introduced in 26 cities. In recognition of the need for progressively moving towards better and better quality fuel, this exercise will be extended in a phase manner to cover another 37 cities by 2015.

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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 from the  government. Speaking to media this evening, the leader of the JMM Legislators in the House and Deputy Chief Minister Hemant Soren said that there was problem of coordination between the JMM and the government, and this led to withdrawal of support.

Speaking to the media  in Ranchi, the JMM Supremo Shibu Soren said that letter of withdrawal of support to the government would be submitted tomorrow to Governor Dr. Sayyed Ahmed. Our Ranchi Correspondent reports that last Friday, Jharkhand Chief Minister Arjun Munda had openly denied of any agreement on sharing of power with the JMM for 28 months each.

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The full Team of the Election commission of India is in Meghalaya to take stock of the preparations for the upcoming Assembly election scheduled in February-March . The team, headed by Chief Election Commissioner of India V S sampath,will meet leaders of different political parties and deputy commissioners and superintendents of police.

It will discuss the general preparedness of the State for holding the elections besides taking stock of the law and order situation in the State.

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The proceedings in the case of gang rape and murder of the 23-year-old girl in a bus in Delhi will be held in-camera. A  metropolitan court in Delhi today 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 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 on Wednesday.

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The Home Ministry has ordered a probe into the allegation of the friend of the Delhi gang rape victim that police response to their distress call after the incident was slow.

A joint-secretary level officer of the Ministry will investigate the veracity of the claim by the software engineer that even after reaching the spot  on the night of December 16th, the police were arguing over jurisdiction of the case and were hesitant to lift the 23-year-old girl, losing crucial time.A senior Home Ministry official said today in New Delhi ,the probe will also look into the counter-claim by the Delhi Police and check the log books of the Police Control Room vans which came to the spot where the girl and her friend were dumped by the six men after the gang rape.

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Chief Justice of India,Altamas Kabir today asked all high courts to set up fast track courts to deal exclusively with offences against women. In a letter to all the Chief Justices of High Courts, Chief Justice Altamas Kabir said that the delay in disposal might be one of the factors for rise in crimes against women, therefore  the time has come to deal expeditiously with such cases.

The Justice said the High Courts should get in touch with the state governments for appointment of judicial officers but in the meantime some court should be designated as fast-track courts.

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In Chhattisgarh, a tribal girls’ hostel Superintendent and a teacher were dismissed and a block education officer suspended in connection with the case involving sexual exploitation of minor school girls in Narharpur block of Kanker district. Police arrested the teacher and a guard following complaints by 11 minor tribal girls that they were sexually exploited in the hostel being run by the state tribal welfare department.

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Meanwhile, the court of additional session’s judge in Dantewada today ordered acquittal of 10 accused in the Tadmetla massacre.  In this naxal attack, 76 security personnel, including 75 from the Central Reserve Police Force were killed in April 2010. The additional sessions judge acquitted 10 accused, who include three panchayat members, on the ground that the prosecution had failed to provide substantial evidence that could lead to their conviction.

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New entrants to undergraduate courses in the Indian Institutes of Technology-IITs will now have to pay 40 thousand rupees  more per annum from the coming academic session. The IIT Council in its 46th meeting today approved the hike in  the annual tuition fee from 50 thousand  rupees to 90 thousand rupees. Talking to reporters in New Delhi after the meeting, the Human Resource Development Minister, Mr. M.M. Pallam Raju said  the Group of Directors of IITs and Empowered Task Force had recommended revision of fee in this regard.

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NEWS FROM THE BUSINESS WORLD

Snapping a four-session winning streak, the Sensex at the Bombay Stock Exchange declined 93 points, or 0.5 per cent, to close at 19,691, on profit-booking by investors, amid subdued global markets, today. The Nifty fell 28 points, to 5,988. Stock indices in Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea and Singapore ended weak. The rupee depreciated 16 paise, to close at a nearly six-week low of 55.23 to the dollar. Gold rose 20 rupees, to 31,160 rupees per ten grams in Delhi. Silver gained 140 rupees, to 58,040 rupees per kilo.And Brent crude oil futures eased to 111 dollars a barrel, while US crude fell 29 cents, to 92.80 dollars a barrel. AIR News

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The Government has set out to establish ten model institutes of driver training and research across the country to address the problem of road accidents arising out of driver's faults. Addressing the valedictory function of road safety week in New Delhi today, the Minister of Road Transport and Highways C.P. Joshi said these institutes will have world class infrastructure, including driving tracks, simulators and innovative driving test systems.

We have set out to establish ten model institutes of driving training and research across the country in consultation with states.  These institutes with world class infrastructure, including driving tracks, modern equipments like simulators innovative driving test systems and hostel facilities.  Drivers coming out of such institutes will not only have educate skills in driving but will also be fully familiar various road safety practices.

Citing various studies which attribute the accident to the driver's fault in more than 70 per cent road accident cases, he said these institutes will provide qualified driver trainers for the driving schools. Mr Joshi also informed that the Government is setting up ten fully automated model inspection and certification centres in States for ensuring the proper fitness of vehicles.

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Severe cold wave continued to sweep several parts of the country. In Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh heavy fog, coupled with near-freezing temperatures today brought normal life to a complete stand-still . Flights, trains and road transport have been badly hit. Cold wave has badly affected normal life in the tribal areas of Himachal Pradesh.

In Rajasthan minimum temperature was recorded below 4 degree Celsius at the maximum number of places today. Crops are also being affected due to the cold wave in the northern parts.

An official at Chandigarh railway station said most of the trains coming from New Delhi or from Uttar Pradesh have been delayed because of heavy fog.

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The three day annual meet of the Indian Diaspora, the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, began at Kochi in Kerala today. A seminar on NRIs in the Gulf organised as part of the event, was inaugurated by the Union Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi this morning.

The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas will be formally inaugurated by the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh tomorrow. More than 2000 delegates from different parts of the world are taking part in the meet.

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In Jammu and Kashmir,the First Civil Air Service between Kargil and Jammu was inaugurated by the Chief Minister  Omar Abdullah at Kargil Airport today. Air Mantra will operate daily flights from Kargil to Jammu, with its 17 seater aircraft.

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Two light intensity earthquakes hit Arunachal Pradesh within a span of two hours today. The first quake of 4.5-magnitude hit around 11.03 AM while the second tremor of 4.2-magnitude was recorded at 12.50 PM. The Met Department said,both the quakes hit almost at the same place.

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A 5.2-magnitude earthquake struck off Taiwan today, shaking buildings in the capital city of Taipei. The US Geological Survey said the quake struck 152 kilometres east-southeast of Taipei, with a depth of 73.3 kilometres. However, there were no reports of damage or casualties.

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Sri Lanka’s Court of Appeal today quashed the parliamentary panel report that holds Chief Justice of the Supreme Court guilty on three charges of misconduct. Meanwhile, the ruling party has decided to ignore the court verdict and hold the debate on the impeachment motion on the coming Thursday and Friday and then take a vote on it. The government has the necessary two-third majority to impeach the Chief Justice.

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A 5.2-magnitude earthquake struck off Taiwan today, shaking buildings in the capital city. The US Geological Survey said the quake struck 152 kilometres east-southeast of Taipei, with a depth of 73.3 kilometres. However, there were no reports of damage or casualties.

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Ghana's President John Dramani Mahama has been sworn in for a new term after narrowly winning an election last month. The main opposition New Patriotic Party boycotted today's ceremony in the capital, Accra. They dispute the results of the vote and have challenged the election in the country's Supreme Court.

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India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has returned to the top five in the latest ICC Player Rankings for ODI batsmen.  He has moved up two places to reach the fourth position in 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 teammate AB de Villiers in second.

India's Ravindra Jadeja has climbed two places to seventh in the all-rounders' list, which is headed by Mohammad Hafeez.

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The News Services Division of All India Radio in its weekly “PUBLIC SPEAK” programme today, will bring you a discussion on "Need to sensitize police on women's issues."

This can be heard on the FM Gold Channel and additional frequencies at 9.30 p.m. Listeners can ask questions to the experts sitting in our studio on telephone number: 2331-4444..