1400 HRS.
23-05-2013

THE HEADLINES:

• Prime Minister says, government is committed to developing the country's defence industry.

• Mr. Shashikant Sharma takes over as the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.

• Mumbai police arrives in Chennai to question Chennai Super King CEO, Gurunath Meiyappan on recent spot fixing controversy.

• A dreaded Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorist killed in an encounter with police in Srinagar.

• Sensex plunges over 300 points in afternoon trade as global markets fall; Rupee depreciates 37 paise.

• At least 12 people, including 10 security personnel, killed in a bomb attack in the Pakistani city of Quetta.

• And, an 80-year old Japanese climber becomes the oldest person to conquer Mount Everest.

<><><>

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh today said that India is well positioned to become a net provider of security in its immediate region, in the Indian Ocean and beyond. Speaking after laying the foundation stone for the Indian National Defence University, INDU, in Gurgaon this morning, Dr. Singh said, India's defence co-operation has grown, and it now had unprecedented access to high technology, capital and partnerships.

"In last few years we have added significantly to the land forces to protect our borders and inducted new equipment to increase the Army's fire power. Our ability to service our frontiers with improved infrastructure and enhance air mobility considerably greater today that in the past."

The Prime Minister said, New Delhi has also sought to assume the responsibility for stability in the Indian Ocean Region. He expressed confidence that the country's armed forces are capable to defend the country against any security threat. 

"We seek to advance peace stability friendship and cooperation in our region and beyond. We do so with the confidence that our arm forces can defend our country against any threat. This confidence is based on the many steps that the government has taken to strengthen our nations defence capabilities."

Noting that the government is making defence acquisition less vulnerable to unethical practices, Dr. Singh said, close attention has been paid to indigenisation of defence procurement. Dr. Singh said the government is committed to taking steps to stimulate the development of the country's domestic defence industry, including the private sector. The Prime Minister said the India's deterrence capabilities have matured in the last nine years and have taken concrete shape.

Dr. Singh added that the government has placed special emphasis on strengthening the capabilities of the Navy, which is fully equipped to operate.

Dr. Singh said, the Defence University will provide an avenue for soldiers to think beyond the physical arts of war and conflict.

Speaking on the occasion, Defence Minister AK Antony said that INDU will be a milestone in capacity building and stressed the need to have adequate human resources to deal with security challenges.

<><><>

Shashikant Sharma was today sworn-in as the new Comptroller and Auditor General, CAG of India. President Mr. Pranab Mukherjee administered the oath of office to Mr. Sharma at a glittering function held at the Darbar Hall of Rashtrapati Bhawan.

Mr. Sharma succeeds Mr. Vinod Rai, whose 5 and a half year tenure ended yesterday. Mr. Shashikant Sharma from the 1976 IAS Bihar cadre is a Masters in Political Science from the University of York. Mr. Sharma had also served as Defence Secretary.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram and Senior BJP leader L. K. Advani were among those who attended the function.

<><><>

The IPL match fixing controversy is getting murkier, with the Mumbai police arriving in Chennai to conduct further investigation in the case. A team of official from the Crime Branch of the Mumbai police has reportedly arrived in Chennai to question Chennai Super Kings CEO Gurunath Meiyappan, in connection with the telephonic interaction with Vindoo Dara Singh, who has been arrested in connection with match fixing racket, in betting in the current IPL. During interrogation, he has reportedly confessed that he had back-to-back interaction with Chennai Super Kings owner Gurunath Meiyappan and Ramesh Vyas, a bookie who has been arrested by the Mumbai police. Our correspondent reports a huge contingent of media persons outside the residence of Gurunath Meiyappan is expecting the arrival of Mumbai police.

In Kolkata, ten people, including one bookie, were arrested by a special team of Police for being allegedly involved in a cricket betting racket. Deputy Commissioner Santosh Pandey told newsmen that the they will be produced before a court today.

Meanwhile, talking to reporters in New Delhi today, Sports Minister Jitendra Singh said that his ministry is in touch with the Home Ministry and the Law Ministry to work out the law to deal with the menace of match fixing. The Sports Minister said, he will consult with the Attorney General before moving forward. He added that it is necessary that there is a law or a deterrent to stop such scandals. Expressing concern about other sports, the Minister added that there is no guarantee that this is not happening in other sports.

<><><>

In Jammu and Kashmir, a dreaded Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorist was today killed in an encounter with the police in the old city area of Srinagar. He was involved in the killing of several civilians in Pattan and Sopore area of north Kashmir. Police said, on a tip off about the presence of self-styled LeT commander Hilal Molvi in the area, police laid a cordon around Narparistan in Fatehkadal area of the city in the wee hours. As the police personnel were zeroing in on the target house, the ultras fired on them. The cops returned the fire, triggering a brief gun battle, which ended with the killing of the terrorist. Three policemen, including an officer, sustained injuries in the operation.

<><><>

Union Urban Development Minister Kamal Nath has sanctioned 100 crore rupees under the Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small and Medium Towns- for the development of small and medium towns of Madhya Pradesh. This scheme aims at improvement in urban infrastructure in towns and cities in a planned manner. During a meeting with the state’s Urban Administration and Development Minister Babulal Gaur in New Delhi yesterday, Mr. Kamalnath also sanctioned 195 rupees crore rupees for the state under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.

<><><>

In Pakistan, at least 12 people were killed when a bomb planted in a rickshaw tore through a vehicle used by security forces in Quetta today. The dead include 10 security personnel. Police said the bomb, containing around 100 kilograms of explosives targeted a truck carrying paramilitary force personnel who have been deployed to help the police maintain law and order near the eastern by-pass. More than a dozen have been injured in the blast. The injured, most of them security personnel, have been admitted to a local hospital. No group has claimed responsibility for the blast.

<><><>

In Pakistan, former President Pervez Musharraf's bail plea in the judges' detention case was today rejected by an anti-terrorism court. Before rejecting the bail, anti-terrorism court judge Kausar Abbas Zaidi had reserved the ruling on Musharraf's bail application during the hearing of the case yesterday. The former military ruler has already been granted bail in the 2007 Benazir Bhutto assassination case. Mr Musharraf, who is currently being held at his farmhouse on the outskirts of Islamabad, was arrested shortly after he returned to Pakistan in March from self-exile.

<><><>

Sri Lanka’s main opposition party, the UNP, has said that holding elections for the Tamil majority Northern Province and devolution of power under the 13th Amendment of Constitution will solve ethnic problem. Speaking to the press, UNP parliamentarian Lakshman Kiriella said the elections should be held in September and Singhalese groups which are planning to stall the same should be checked.

<><><>

The British Prime Minister David Cameron has flown back to London, cutting short a trip to France, to lead the government response to a suspected terror attack in south-east London. Two men have been arrested after a man, thought to be a soldier, died in an attack near Woolwich Barracks. The Prime Minister will chair a Cobra emergency response committee meeting to be attended by politicians, the UK's most senior police officer and the new head of MI5.

Meanwhile, security has been increased at barracks across London. Two suspects shot and wounded by police after the attack - which took place in John Wilson Street, have spent the night under arrest in hospital. One is in a serious condition while the other is also being treated for injuries.

<><><> 

Severe heat wave conditions have gripped the Northern and Western parts of India. In Rajasthan, both day and night temperatures are showing a rising trend, which has disrupted normal life. Our correspondent reports,

"The northern and western parts of the state are worst hit by scorching heat where mercury is recording temperatures as high as high 45 degree Celsius. According to Met Deptt. Sri Ganganagar was the hottest place, with 48 degree Celsius, followed by Churu and Dholpur with 47. Most of places in other parts of the state recorded temperatures more that 44 degree celsius. In some cities water is being sprayed on the roads by fire tenders to provide relief to the people from the blistering heat. Disruption in drinking water supply in some parts of the state has made the life more miserable. Prem Bharti, AIR NEWS, Jaipur."

Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh continued to sizzle. Chandigarh recorded the season's highest temperature of 43.5 degrees celsius. Amritsar and Ludhiana in Punjab and Hisar and Bhiwani in Haryana have been reeling under severe heat conditions with temperatures hovering between 45 and 47 degrees Celsius in the past few days.

In Uttar Pradesh, the mercury hovered above 40 degrees Celsius in most parts of the state.

"Most of the regions in the state are experiencing intense heat wave combined with humidity and piercing sunshine which has affected most of the people. Almost all the regions of UP are in the grip of above normal range of temperatures. Met department has predicted that no relief is in sight for next three four days. MerajUddin, AIR NEWS, Lucknow."

<><><>

Officials of the Chennai Corporation again sealed three stands of MA Chidambaram Cricket Stadium today declaring them as unauthorized construction. The stands were first sealed on the 12th of May following which the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association approached the Supreme Court and was granted an interim stay to hold the match between Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Dare Devils on the 14th of this month.

<><><>

The Sensex at the Bombay Stock Exchange fell 85 points, or 0.4 per cent, to slip below the 20,000 level, at 19,978 in opening trade, this morning, on sustained selling by funds, amid falling global markets. Later, selling pressure intensified, and the Sensex had lost a hefty 330 points, or 1.7 percent, to stand at 19,732 in afternoon trade, a short while ago. The 30-share Sensex had declined over 220 points in the previous three trading sessions.

Global markets also fell, with the bourses in Japan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Singapore, Taiwan and South Korea dropping between 0.5 percent and 3.3 percent, today, amid speculation that the US central bank may soon wind back stimulus measures if economic conditions improved. Over on Wall Street, the Dow Jones Industrial Average had ended 0.5 per cent lower in yesterday's trade.

<><><>

The rupee declined by a hefty 37 paise to trade at a fresh six-month low of 55.83 in early trade today, on sustained dollar demand and strengthening of the US currency overseas. Forex dealers said besides the dollar's gains against the euro and other currencies in the overseas markets, sustained dollar demand from importers and some banks and a lower opening in the stock market put pressure on the domestic currency.

<><><>

Oil extended its losses in Asian trade today on a stronger dollar, after the US Federal Reserve hinted that it could ease its massive stimulus policy soon. New York's main contract, West Texas Intermediate light sweet crude for delivery in July, dropped 58 cents to 93.70 dollar a barrel in morning trade. Brent North Sea crude also for July delivery shed 47 cents to 102.13 a dollar.

<><><>

An 80-year-old Japanese mountain climber, who has had four heart surgeries, reached the top of Mount Everest this morning, becoming the oldest person to conquer the world's highest mountain. Yuichiro Miura, who took the standard southeast ridge route pioneered by Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay 60 years ago, reached the top of the 29,028 feet mountain at roughly 0830 IST. He was accompanied by three other Japanese, including his son, and six Nepali sherpas.

<><><>

Sathwik Karnik, an Indian-origin boy from Massachusetts, has bagged this year's National Geographic Bee contest. Sathwik won after gruelling rounds, testing his geographic of knowledge about lions in Botswana, mountain ranges in Asia and port cities in England. To clinch this title, the 12 year old Karnik correctly named Chimborazo as the mountain in Ecuador that represents the farthest point from the Earth's center.