2100 HRS.

13th January, 2013

NEWS AT NINE.

THE HEADLINES

• India and Pakistan to hold Brigade-Commander level flag meeting in Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir tomorrow; recent intrusions and brutal killing of two jawans by Pakistani soldiers to be discussed.
• Haryana Assembly Speaker holds as legal, merger of five Haryana Janhit Congress MLAs with Congress in 2009.
• Overseas investors pour in a record 8,800 crore rupees in Indian equities in the first half of January this year.
• At least seven civilians killed in a bomb blast inside a village mosque in Central Afghanistan.
• A court in Egypt orders retrial of former President Hosni Mubarak after accepting an appeal against his life sentence.
• North India celebrates Lohri today; Maha Kumbh Mela begins at Allahabad tomorrow.

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In a bid to de-escalate tension along the Line of Control (LoC), India and Pakistan will hold a Brigade Commander-level flag meeting in Poonch sector tomorrow during which the recent intrusions and the brutal killing of two jawans by Pakistani soldiers will figure.

Defence Spokesperson, Col. R. K. Palta said that Pakistan agreed to hold the Flag meeting, in a communication through a hot line in the sector.

The Indian Army had sent a hotline message to the Pakistan Army on January 11 and asked for a flag meeting to discuss the issues of brutal killing of two jawans by Pakistani troops and increasing incidents of firing and ceasefire violations in the Poonch sector.

Confidence Building Measures (CMBs) of cross-LoC trade and travel are also expected to come up for discussion during the flag meeting tomorrow. Pakistan has suspended cross-LoC trade and travel at Chakan-Da-Bagh crossing point in Poonch sector since Thursday and Friday respectively. This is the second Brigade Commander-level flag meeting to be held in the Poonch sector in the last 6 months. The first such meeting was held at Chakan-Da-Bagh LoC point on June 23 following the killing of two Indian soldiers and injuries to four other jawans in ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops between June 11 to June 16, besides closure of the cross- LoC trade and travel via Chakan-Da-Bagh. R.K. RAINA, AIR NEWS JAMMU

The jawans were killed on January 8 by Pakistani troops after intruding deep into Indian territory along the line of control. India had also summoned the Pakistan High Commissioner in Delhi to protest against the provocative attack.

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 Pakistani Army again resorted to heavy firing on eight pickets in Krishna Ghati sector along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district last night creating fresh tension. The firing started as the Indian troops guarding the LoC observed movement of six to seven persons trying to head towards the Indian territory.

Meanwhile, Madhya Pradesh Public Works Department Minister Nagendra Singh today handed over a cheque of Rs 15 lakh to the widow of martyred Lance Naik Sudhakar Singh at his ancestral village Dadhia.

Lance Naik Sudhakar Singh was killed in a brutal manner by Pakistan Army at the LoC in Mendhar sector of Jammu region on January 8.

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Haryana Vidhan Sabha speaker, Kuldeep Sharma today pronounced in a judgement that the merger of the Haryana Janhit Congress, HJC with the Congress party is legal. In a case relating to five legislators of HJC in joining Congress, the Speaker had dismissed all petitions and clubbed them as one petition while deciding the case.

The speaker who announced the judgment at a press conference in Chandigarh said that he has accepted the merger of the HJC with the Congress under the provisions of the 10th schedule of the Constitution which allows such a merger provided it is supported by two-third strength of the Legislators.

These five MLA`s Satpal Sangwan, Vinod Bhyana, Narender Singh, Zile Ram and Dharam Singh had joined Congress and helped the party in the formation of the Government in the State in 2009.

HJC Chief Kuldeep Bishnoi has decided to move the court against the speaker's order.

The Speaker decision on the 14 petitions filed by HJC, an Indian National Lokdal under the anti-defection law comes on the last day of the three-month deadline set by the Supreme Court last year to dispose of the plea against the five MLA. Haryana Janhit Congress Chief Kuldeep Bishnoi today said he will challenge the decision in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Bishnoi said that his party, the HJC, has never merged with any other political organisation. Ashwini Kumar Sharma, Chandigarh.

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Telecom operators have to pay the first instalment amounting over 8,000 crore one-time spectrum fee by Tuesday. Talking to AIR, Telecom Secretary R Chandrasekhar said that all the 8 telecom companies have to pay a total of 8,115.68 crore rupees. Vodafone has to pay around 2,093 crore rupees, followed by Airtel 1,758 crore rupees, BSNL 1,282.98 crore rupees and MTNL 916 crore rupees. In the case of Idea Cellular the amount is 810 crore rupees, Aircel 584 crore rupees, Loop Mobile 607 crore rupees and Reliance Communications about 63 crore rupees.

Our Correspondent reports that in November last year, the Government had decided that the telecom operators should pay for holding spectrum above 6.2 MHz retrospectively, from July 2008 to January 1, 2013.

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Overseas investors have poured in a staggering 8,800 crore rupees in Indian equities in the first two weeks of this year. From 1st January to 11th this month, Foreign funds were gross buyers of shares worth 25,458 crore rupees, while they sold equities amounting to 16,645 crore rupees, resulting into a net inflow of 8,813 crore rupees, the market regulator SEBI said in a report.

In 2012, FIIs had made a net investment of 1.28 lakh crore rupees in Indian equities, making it the second best year for the market after record inflow of 1.33 lakh crore in 2010.

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Andhra Pradesh police today questioned MIM legislator Akbaruddin Owaisi for the second consecutive day for his alleged "hate speech". Police said Owaisi was questioned by the investigating officer at Adilabad in the presence of his lawyers, as directed by the court. The MIM legislator is in police custody till January 17.

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At least seven civilians were killed in a bomb blast inside a village mosque after a joint security operation by Afghan and the international forces in Maidan Wardak province of central Afghanistan early this morning. Reports quoting local officials said the blast took place shortly after joint forces finished their operation in Sayed Abad district of the province killing four insurgents. As the forces returned from the area and villagers were retrieving the bodies of the dead insurgents from the rubble, a massive explosion took place killing seven civilians.

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At least 14 Pakistani soldiers were killed and more than 20 others injured today when a security forces convoy was targeted by a roadside bomb in the North Waziristan tribal region.

Security officials said the incident occurred near Miranshah, the main town of North Waziristan tribal agency. No further details were immediately available.

The attack came just a day after Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan Chief Hakimullah Mehsud reportedly directed his militants not to target Pakistani troops in North Waziristan.

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A court in Egypt has ordered a retrial of former President Hosni Mubarak after accepting an appeal against his life sentence over the deaths of protesters. The ruling was met with cries of "long live justice" by Mubarak supporters gathered in the courtroom. Mubarak, 84, was overthrown in 2011 after mass street protests in the capital Cairo and other cities, and jailed in June. His former Interior Minister, Habib al-Adly, was also granted a retrial. Since Mubarak was jailed, there have been frequent reports about his ill-health.

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The Health Ministers of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) have decided to set up a Technical Working Group (TWG). According to Agreed Action Plans released by the Health and Family Welfare Ministry, member countries will nominate their respective Nodal Officers to jointly for the Working Group. The group will exchange information regarding the prevailing systems and institutional mechanisms through meetings.

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Vice President Hamid Ansari embarks on a four day trip to Vietnam beginning tomorrow marking the 40th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations with India. Mr. Ansari's visit also coincides with the 5th Anniversary of strategic partnership between the two countries.

Vietnam is part of the ASEAN, with which India has a Free Trade Agreement in goods. Vietnam is a key pillar in India's Look East policy. Bilateral trade between India and Vietnam stood at 4 billion US Dollar last year and is expected to go up to 7 billion US Dollar by the end of this year.

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The President Mr Pranab Mukherjee today launched the National Immunization Day- 2013 by administering polio drops to children at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Speaking on the occasion, the Union Health Minister Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad said that over 170 million children below the age of five years will be administered polio drops in the Nation-wide Immunization Campaign for Polio Eradication beginning on the 20th of this month.

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Schools in the national capital will reopen from tomorrow. Earlier, Directorate of Education had ordered closure of the schools run by Delhi Government, municipal corporation, NDMC, Delhi Cantonment Board and recognised aided and unaided schools till 12th of January in view of the extreme cold weather conditions.

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In Karnataka, Swami Bal Gangadhar Nath head of Adhichunchanagiri Math passed away in Banglore today. Known for his philanthropic work, he was awarded Padmabhushan in 2010. He was instrumental in starting various educational institutions and hospitals all over the country. His mortal remains will be kept in the Vijay Nagar Math till tomorrow morning to enable people to pay their last respects.

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All India Radio has launched its frequency modulation (FM) relay centre in Kakinada of East Godavari District of Andhra Pradesh today.

Union Minister for Human Resource Development M.M. Pallam Raju formally opened the centre at a function held this morning.

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In Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and at other places of north India Lohri is being celebrated today. Lohri marks the culmination of winter, and is celebrated on the 13th day of January in the month of Paush, a day before Makar Sankranti.

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Bhogi was celebrated with traditional gaiety in Tamil Nadu today. People discarded old things and made a bonfire of them.

It was a pollution free bhogi in Tamil Nadu today. The district administration in Tiruchirapalli, Kanchipuram and many districts of Tamil Nadu had appealed to the people not to burn plastics and rubber tyres which will pollute the air. People cleaned their houses and made colourful kolams in front of their houses. The harvest festival Pongal will be celebrated tomorrow and Tamil Nadu is having a festive look. There is no lack of intensity in rural Tamil Nadu as people are ready to show their gratitude to nature by making pongal dish tomorrow for the Sun God. K DEVI PADMANABHAN, AIR NEWS, TIRUCHIRAPALLI

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Bhogali Bihu is being celebrated in Assam today. Celebrations for Assam's harvest festival began on 'Uruka' today with community feasts and prayers to the fire god. People from all communities in a spirit of brotherhood gathered to participate in the celebrations.

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 In Uttar Pradesh all the preparation for the first bathing festival of Makar Sankranti of the Kumbh Mela at Allahabad has been completed. The Mela authorities claimed that around 30 lakh people have already reached the Kumbh Mela area while several millions are on their way. The authorities are expecting above 1 crore pilgrims to reach Sangam the confluence of river Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati for bathing on January 14.

Kumbh Mela begins formally with its first bathing festival Makar Sankranti. Most of the religious organisations, Akharas, saints and seers have reached for the event being organised after 12 years. All Akharas from Dashnami, Bairagi and Udasin sects have reached at their camps in the Mela area. Their first Shahi Snan royal bathing will be held on this occasion. It will start at 0515 in the morning and will end at 1700 hrs in the evening. Above 20 bathing Ghats have been developed at the Sangam and on the bank of rivers for first bathing festival of Kumbh. Elaborate security arrangements have been made. With Diwakar Kumar this is Sunil Shukla AIR News Kumbh Mela Allahabad.

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