MORNING NEWS

0815 HRS 14.01.2014 THE HEADLINES Supreme Court directs Centre to place Justice Shah Commission's report on illegal mining in Orissa and Jharkhand by 27th of this month.  Army Chief General Bikram Singh says India will respond in equal measure if Pakistan breaks any rule in border areas. Srilankan Courts order release of 163 Indian fishermen. Centre to provide wage employment of 50 days beyond the stipulated 100 days under MGNREGA for Scheduled tribes in forest areas. Egypt to vote for new constitution today and tomorrow.  India enters quarterfinal after tough draw against Germany in Hockey World League finals at New Delhi. []><><><[] The Supreme Court has directed the Centre to place the Justice Shah Commission's report on illegal mining in Odisha and Jharkhand before it by January 27. A green bench headed by Justice A K Patnaik also directed the Centre to provide a copy of the reports to Central Empowered Committee. The bench passed the order after advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for petitioners, alleged that contents of the report, published in newspapers, are shocking and the apex court should analyse them. []><><><[] Army Chief General, Bikram Singh has said India will respond in equal measure if Pakistan breaks any rules as he revealed that ten Pakistani soldiers had been killed in a recent military action. On ceasefire violation in Krishna Ghati sector of Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir, General Singh said, the Director General of Military Operations, DGMO, will take up the matter with his Pakistani counterpart.    It is to deal with some measures if not more and give a befitting response in a professional manner, at the place we are fired upon.  It depends, I mean, if the rules are followed by our neighbours we follow the rules.  If the rules are broken, then obviously we can't stick to the rules.  Even we got to break the rules. While addressing the media in New Delhi yesterday, he said the violation started after Indian troops detected movement of three terrorists trying to infiltrate into Indian territory.  The Army Chief also said that Armed Forces Special Powers Act, AFSPA should not be diluted in Jammu and Kashmir in view of the prevailing situation in the region. []><><><[] The Centre has decided to provide an additional wage employment of 50 days beyond the stipulated 100 days under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, MGNREGA  for Scheduled Tribe households in forest areas. Rural Development Minister, Jairam Ramesh said in New Delhi yesterday that those tribals who have received land rights under the Forest Rights Act, 2006 will be eligible for this additional benefit.  The Minister said the additional man days through MGNREGA will allow the households to undertake work on their own land. []><><><[] The Congress in Maharashtra bagged the highest number of 42 seats out of the total 124 in eight Municipal Councils. Elections to the Councils of Mahadula, Karjat, Risod, Srigonda, Sillod, Brahampuri, Sacner and by-poll in one seat in Buldhana were held on Sunday and results were declared yesterday. Congress bagged 42 seats followed by BJP 32, NCP 26, Shiv Sena 7 and MNS 1. Three Independents also won while 13 seats went to local outfits. []><><><[] NCP will announce candidates for the Lok Sabha elections on January 21st and will retain majority of the sitting MPs. Union Agriculture Minister and NCP chief, Sharad Pawar met party leaders in Mumbai yesterday to discuss probable candidates for the elections. []><><><[] The Allahabad high court has declared as illegal all out of turn promotions made in the Uttar Pradesh police to the post of inspectors, sub-inspectors and head constables since 2008. Justice Sudhir Agarwal has directed the state government for taking appropriate corrective measures immediately and recalling such orders within six months. []><><><[] In Maharashtra, at least nine people including one woman and a child were killed and four seriously injured after a jeep in which they were travelling, came under a container truck on Pune-Satara road last night. Both the vehicles were heading towards Pune from Satara when the accident occurred.   []<><><>[] Sri Lankan courts ordered the release of 163 Indian fishermen yesterday. These fishermen were arrested by naval personnel of the island nation in the past two months and lodged in prisons there. Our Colombo correspondent has filed this report:   The first release to be ordered was by a magistrate’s court in Mallakam near Jaffna in the afternoon. This was followed by an order by the Trincomalee court that set 32 Indian fishermen free. Later in the evening, another Trincomalee court ordered the release of 111 fishermen from Nagapattinam. The release has been made to coincide with the festival of Pongal today.  Abhishek Dayal, AIR News, Colombo. Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan delegation headed by Fisheries Minister Rajitha Senaratne, will leave for India today for talks with Indian leaders scheduled for tomorrow. []><><><[] Egypt will vote on the country’s new constitution today and tomorrow. Our correspondent reports that ahead of the vote, the interim President Adly Mansour and the Army chief General Sissi urged the Egyptians to vote in large numbers and uphold their national duty.    It will be the third constitutional referendum in Egypt in three years, and its sixth election since the ouster of Hosni Mubarak‘s regime in 2011. More than 160,000 soldiers have been deployed to secure around 30,000 polling stations across the country in coordination with the Ministry of Interior, the High Election Commission and the concerned agencies. 53 million Egyptians are eligible to cast their ballots. A crackdown has been launched against the Islamists in Sinai and other parts of the country. Muslim Brotherhood has been banned, its top leaders have been arrested and accounts have been frozen.  Once the constitution is approved in the referendum it would be followed by elections for the Parliament and the new President.  Atul Tiwary, AIR News. []><><><[] The entire country is buzzing with festivals as Makar Sankranti, Bangali Bihu, Pongal and Milad-un-nabi is being celebrated with devotion and gaiety today.  In Uttar Pradesh, Makar Sankranti is the first important bathing festival of about one and a half month long Magh Mela being held on the banks of Sangam, the confluence of rivers Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati at Allahabad. Eid-e-Meeladunnabi, is also being celebrated in the state. The mosques and other religious places have been colourfully decorated.  In Assam, the post-harvest festival Bhogali Bihu marks the burning of traditional Meji and Bhelaghar made of thatch and fire wood amidst chanting of prayers to the God Agni.  In Tamilnadu, Pongal, the harvest festival, is being celebrated today. One of the most popular festivals in Tamil culture, it signals the end of winter and the onset of spring.  A report:   Tamil Nadu is all decked up to celebrate Pongal festival, the first day of Thai month. Women in traditional sarees made pongal dish with rice, sugar and jaggery and lot of ghee. As the earthen pot boiled over facing the Sun God, chants of Pongal O pongal rented the air.  House entrances are decorated with kura flowes, turmeric and sugarcane. K Devi Padmanabhan, AIR News, Tiruchirapalli. In Jammu & Kashmir,  amid chilling cold, processions and prayers marked the Milad-un-nabi, the birthday of prophet Muhammad. Our Srinagar correspondent has filed this report:       Bearing the chilly weather, thousands of devotees thronged Hazratbal shrine in Srinagar and participated in night long special prayers. In the morning they had a glimpse of holy relic of the Prophet. Shrines, Mosques and homes have been illuminated. Besides processions, symposiums are being held on life and teachings of Holy Prophet. Tantray, AIR News, Srinagar. The President, the Vice President and the Prime Minister have greeted the nation on the festivals. []><><><[] The Centre has asked all tiger range states to take precautionary measures to protect the big cats. In an urgent advisory, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) said that the country's wild tiger population is under threat from Canine Distemper Virus and asked the States to deal it as a top most priority. []><><><[] In Himachal Pradesh, nearly one lakh migratory birds have reached in the manmade Maharana Pratap Sagar Lake or Pong Dam. The dam is located in Nagrota Surian sub division of Kangra district. Our correspondent reports that these birds come every year from Siberia and other countries.               This time birds like Bar Headed Geese, Pintale and Common Pochard in thousands can be seen flying in the beautiful lake area. These birds stay here till March and mid April before leaving for new place. The state forest department has made elaborate arrangements for the security of these foreign guests with the help of locals. Shishu Sharma Shantal, AIR News, Shimla.  []><><><[] India came up with a spirited performance to draw with Olympic champions Germany 3-3 and register their first points at the Hockey World League Finals at Delhi last night. India now faces a tough quarterfinal clash against Australia tomorrow. In other quarter final matches, Germany will clash against the Netherlands, England will face Belgium and Argentina will take on New Zealand. []><><><[]   NEWSPAPER HEADLINES AAP saying no to FDI in multi brand retail in Delhi is front page news in most papers. "AAP kills Congress FDI plan" writes Mail Today. 'No multi brand retail for Delhi's aam aadmi' is the Economic Times headline. Former Home Secretary R. K Singh accusing home minister Shinde of shielding a Dawood man figures on the front page of the Hindustan Times, the Pioneer and the Economic Times. "Shinde prevented Delhi police from interrogating a businessman in the IPL match fixing case, who allegedly has links with Dawood" writes the Hindustan Times, quoting R. K Singh. "Saifai fallout - Times Now vanishes from TV sets in U.P" is the lead story in the Times of India, apparently a case of muzzling the media. The Supreme Court to hear sexual harassment plea against Justice Swantanter Kumar tomorrow is covered prominently by the Hindu and the Indian Express. Kejriwal forced to drop darbar plans is covered widely by the press. "After chaos, AAP goes online writes the Tribune. Delhi Chief Minister launches nursery admission helpline" states the Express Newsline. Mail Today shows Kumar Vishwas playing cricket in an Amethi village. "Vishwas keeps up attack on Rahul turf'' writes the paper. "Gen Musharraf in the dock' writes the Hindu, adding that the Sharif government seems determined to take the case to the bitter end. The Hindustan Times, in a block item, titled "Happy new year" reports of arrival of fresh veggies, bringing down retail inflation to a 3 month low. And finally, the world's cheapest car- the Nano has now come in a new avatar. "Nano with a twist gets pricier" says the Asian Age, of the latest model called Nano Twist, which comes with power steering and a 4 speaker music system. The price 2.36 lakh rupees.   []><><><[] In some more news - India's Somdev Devvarman will clash with Feliciano Lopez of Spain in Men's singles first round of the Australian Open Grand Slam Tennis tournament in Melbourne today. []><><><[]