MIDDAY NEWS
1400 HRS.
16 January,
2014
THE HEADLINES,
- India and South Korea sign nine agreements in different areas, including trade and commerce.
- Delhi High Court restrains media from publishing or televising contents of sexual harassment allegations against ex-SC judge.
- Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh files three defamation suits against BJP leaders in CJM Court at Shimla.
- India and Sri Lanka begin repatriation of fishermen detained in their captivity.
- Sensex drops over 40 points in afternoon trade; Rupee weakens 4 paise at 61.58 against the dollar.
- Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna, with their team-mates, advance to second round of Australian Open Tennis tournament.
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India and Korea have
signed nine pacts in different areas to deepen economic
co-operation and bolster defence engagements. The pacts include Protection of
Classified Military Information, peaceful use of space and establishment of Nalanda University. The agreements were signed
after delegation level talks between Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and
Visiting South Korean President Park Geun-hye in New Delhi this afternoon.
In his opening remarks,
Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh said India
and Korea
have agreed to set up CEOs Forum to provide new ideas for deepening economic
collaboration. The Prime Minister said, sustaining trade growth and expanding
economic exchanges are necessary for stronger India- Korea relations. He said,
today's meeting between him and visiting dignitary will strengthen the
strategic partnership between the two sides.
"President
Park
and I had an opportunity to touch upon regional issues, particularly
developments in the Korean peninsula and our co-operation in the East
Asia Summit. The visit of President Park has imparted fresh momentum to
our
partnership. I am confident that our talks today have laid out a roadmap
for
the expansion and enhancement of our strategic partnership in the coming
years."
Dr Singh added that
both the countries have agreed to initiate a cyber affair dialogue between both
governments. He said, India
has also decided to extend tourist visa on arrival facility to the nationals of
the Republic of Korea.
"I have conveyed
to President Park
the decision of the Government of India
to extend a tourist visa-on-arrival facility to the nationals of Republic of Korea. We are also exploring the
possibilities of better civil aviation links."
Earlier in the morning,
the South Korean President was accorded a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati
Bhawan. The visiting dignitary is scheduled to meet the President, the
Vice-President and the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha during her
four-day stay in the country. The South Korean President is accompanied by a
delegation, which includes the Foreign Minister, the Minister for Science and
the Minister for Trade and Industry. Our correspondent reports, the visit will
strengthen the India-Korea Strategic Partnership. The two countries have a very
robust economic relationship and bilateral trade reached over 18 billion Dollar
in 2012.
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The Delhi High Court
has restrained the media from publishing or televising contents of sexual
harassment allegations against former Supreme Court judge Swatanter Kumar. The
court ordered two news channels and a daily to delete offending contents from
their reports relating to the case. The High Court also asked the media not to
carry the photograph of Justice Swatanter Kumar in any news items. The
restraint order would be effective till February 24, next date of hearing. Justice
Swatanter Kumar yesterday moved the High Court seeking to restrain the media
from reporting the alleged sexual assault case of his former woman law intern.
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"Arun Jaitley and
Dhumal deliberately suppressed facts in their press conferences to suit their
political motive. They have made selective opportunist disclosures and tried to
mislead the people by twisting vital facts."
The Chief Minister
said, one suit has been filed against Bhartiya Janta Yuva Morcha National
President and BJP MP from Hamirpur, Anurag Thakur and one against his younger
brother Arun Dhumal.
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The Maharashtra
government has decided to withdraw around 1.46 lakh minor and old cases lodged
against people in the state. A senior home department official said, these cases
will be withdrawn using Sections 288 and 321 of CrPC. The bulk of these cases
involve participation in political or social agitations. There are around 35-40
lakh minor cases pending in courts and the punishment in these cases does not
exceed three months. Committees at the district and state level have been
formed to scrutinize the cases to be withdrawn.
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Aam Aadmi Party MLA
Vinod Kumar Binny has charged the party with deviating from its poll promises
and principles. He accused Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government
of not delivering what it had promised on several issues, including 50 per cent
reduction in power tariff. Addressing a press conference this morning, Mr Binny
said there is difference in what AAP says and does. He denied allegations that
he is greedy for power.Referring to the alleged recent gangrape of a
51-year-old Danish tourist at knife-point near New Delhi railway station, Mr Binny said, the
party should be ashamed of it.
"If there was any
other government in power at this time, the Aam Aadmi Party would have held
demonstrations. But now, there is not even a statement. You said, a commando
force would be set up. Nothing has even started yet."
Reacting sharply to the
allegations of Mr Binny, AAP leader Yogendra Yadav said, the party is surprised
and sad after hearing the charges leveled by him. Speaking to reporters this
afternoon, he said, Political Affairs Committee of the party will decide
whether to issue a show cause notice to Mr Binny and take disciplinary action
against him. He said, there were many party forums where he could have aired
his grievances. Mr. Yadav said that AAP government is just two weeks old and it
has done its best to fulfill its poll promises.
"I am grateful
that we are expected to do more than what we have done. And, I would urge
people to continue to do so because it would keep us on toes. But please do
remember, it's only a little over two weeks. About referendum, the Aam Aadmi
Party is committed to seeking people's opinion on every critical major issue
like forming the government itself."
Mr Yadav said, the
party has fulfilled its promises like reduction in power tariff and free water
supply to households consuming 20 kilo litres water per month. Mr Yadav alleged
that Mr Binny's speech seems to be prompted by BJP.
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Minister of State for
Power Jyotiraditya Scindia has said there is no issue in the audit of power
companies by CAG, which has been ordered by the AAP government in Delhi. He told reporters
in New Delhi,
if the companies are transparent and they have nothing to hide there should be
no objection to a CAG audit. Mr Scindia said that power distribution is a state
subject and the state governments can give subsidy to power consumers from
their treasuries. He also said that the electricity rates are fixed by the
State Electricity Regulatory Commission and the Centre has nothing to do with
it.
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The Indian Coast Guard
and Sri Lankan Coast Guard have started the repatriation of Tamil and Lankan
fishermen today. The Indian Coast Guard officials told AIR that the
repatriation process is going on and Indian fishermen will be brought back to
the coast. More from our correspondent:
"Indian Coast
Guard officials took the 52 Lankan fishermen in Indian Coast
Guard Ship Vishwast. They were handed over to Sri Lankan Coast Guard. Indian Coast
Guard will bring back 51 fishermen handed over by Sri Lankan Coast Guard. They
will be handed over to Karaikal fisheries authorities according to Indian Coast
Guard officials by today evening. Among the Indian fishermen released by Sri Lanka, 32
are from Karaikal and 19 are from Pudukottai in Tamil Nadu. There is a sense of
relief amongst the fishermen families of Nagapattinam, Rameswaram and Mandapam
hearing the news about release of Tamil fishermen lodged in Lankan jails.
However, they insist that only if they get their fishing boats they can pursue
their livelihood. K. Devi Padmanabhan,
AIR News, Tiruchirapalli."
One more Indian
fisherman, who was also released, will not be handed over to India today,
since he fell sick and has been hospitalized.
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Giving up all its
initial gains, the Sensex at the Bombay Stock Exchange stood 46 points, or 0.2
percent in the negative zone, at 21,243 in afternoon trade, a short while ago,
on mild selling by investors. Earlier in the morning, however, the Sensex had climbed
54 points, or 0.3 percent, to 21,343.
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The rupee recovered its
initial losses against the US dollar but it was still trading 4 paise lower at
61.58 in afternoon trade on good demand for the American currency from banks
and importers. The rupee lost 10 paise to 61.64 against the dollar in early
trade today. It lost 2 paise to close at 61.54 in yesterday's trade against the
dollar.In New York
market, the dollar strengthened across the board yesterday after US data
underscored a recovery in the manufacturing sector.
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The Group of Ministers,
GoM, headed by Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, today approved incentives to
the sugar industry for exports of up to 40 lakh tonnes of raw sugar for two
years. The Prime Minister had constituted the panel to address the financial
problems being faced by the sugar industry.Talking to reporters after the
meeting in New Delhi,
Food Minister KV Thomas said that the decision has been taken to give
incentives to promote raw sugar as a new product. He said, the quantum of
incentives would be worked out soon, taking inputs from the Finance Ministry.
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The Congress Working
Committee, CWC will meet in Delhi this evening, ahead of tomorrow’s All India
Congress Committee, AICC meeting. The CWC will give final touch to the issues
which will come up for discussion in the
AICC meet.In the AICC meeting, the party will fine tune its strategy for the
upcoming Lok Sabha polls, besides discussing the issues which will be
incorporated in the poll manifesto. It is also significant amidst the talks of
anointment of Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi as Prime Ministerial
candidate.
On the other hand, the
BJP National office bearers meeting is also taking place in the national capital this evening,
before the party’s three-day brainstorming National executive and council
meeting, beginning tomorrow.Party Vice President Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the
conclave will discuss issues related to social, political, economic and
internal security. The party will also brush up its strategy for the next
general elections.
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Home Minister Sushil
Kumar Shinde today refused to react to RK Singh's allegations against him,
saying he does not consider the retired bureaucrat as being a former home
secretary but as a BJP politician. Talking to reporters in New Delhi, Mr Shinde said his allegations are
politically motivated. Singh has claimed that the Home Minister had allegedly
interfered with the transfers and postings of the Delhi Police. He has also
accused Shinde of having given wrong information in the matter of the US helping India bring back underworld don
Dawood Ibrahim. Mr. Shinde said,
his party and ministerial colleagues had already reacted to Singh's
allegations.
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Sania Mirza and Rohan Bopanna,
with their team-mates, today advanced to the second round of the Australian
Open Tennis tournament at Melbourne.
In the Women's Doubles first round, the sixth seeded Indo-Zimbabwean pair of
Sania Mirza and Cara Black defeated the Aussie team of Arina Rodionova and
Tammi Patterson in straight sets, 6-1, 6-4.
In the Men's Doubles
opening round, the Indo-Pak team of Rohan Bopanna and Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi beat
the Australian-French combination of Rameez Junaid and Adrian Mannarino, 6-3,
4-6, 7-6.
In the Singles, World
Number One Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Maria Sharapova,
Agnieszka Radwanska and Caroline Wozniacki have made it to the third round.
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People in the Chinese
capital Beijing
are being warned to take precautions after air pollution reached dangerous
levels. The monitoring post of the US embassy said, the pollution was
briefly more than 25 times higher than the mark considered safe by the World
Health Organisation.
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