NEWS

THE HEADLINES:

• Aam Aadmi Party expels its MLA Vinod Kumar Binny for publicly making false statements against the party.
• Congress announces names of seven candidates for Rajya Sabha polls slated for 7th February.
• Lt. Governor of Andaman & Nicobar Islands orders a magisterial inquiry into boat tragedy that claimed 21 lives.
• Fishermen of India and Sri Lanka to hold talks in Chennai today to find a solution to fishing dispute.
• Stanislas Wawrinka wins Men's Singles title in Australian Open.

<><><> 

 The Aam Aadmi Party has expelled its MLA Vinod Kumar Binny, who had accused the party of betraying the people of Delhi by backtracking on its election promises. In a statement last night, the AAP said that the disciplinary committee, set up to look into the matter, has decided to expel Binny for publicly making false statements against the party and its leadership, thereby bringing disrepute to the party. The AAP said that Binny has been sent a letter informing him about the party's decision. However, Binny described his ouster from the AAP as unfortunate. He had announced that he will sit on a dharna at Jantar Mantar if the party fails to fulfil it's promises by today.

<><><>

The Congress has announced the names of seven candidates, including Motilal Vora, Murli Deora and Ranjib Biswal, for the February 7 Rajya Sabha polls. Motilal Vora was renominated from Chhattisgarh, and Murli Deora and Hussain Dalwai from Maharashtra. Ranjib Biswal is the party's nominee from Odisha. Other nominees were Viplove Thakur from Himachal Pradesh, Haji Abdul Salam from Manipur, and Wansuk Syiem from Meghalaya. The names were announced yesterday, a day after party President Sonia Gandhi and Vice President Rahul Gandhi discussed the matter with the AICC General Secretaries in-charge of the concerned states. The party's candidates from Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat, Jharkhand, and Madhya Pradesh are expected to be announced today. Tomorrow is the last date for filing of nominations for the polls and scrutiny will be held the next day. The last date for withdrawal of candidature is the 31st of this month.

<><><>

Andaman & Nicobar Islands Lt. Governor, Lt Gen AK Singh has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the boat tragedy that claimed 21 lives. One person is still missing after the incident. A tourist boat named Acqua Marine with 51 passengers onboard capsized yesterday while on its way to the Coral Island from Ross Island. 29 persons including 3 crew members have been rescued so far. Nine of them are still undergoing treatment at GB Pant Hospital in Port Blair. A report:
 
 The bodies of all the 21 victims have been identified. While 16 of them are  from Kanchipuram District in Tamilnadu, 3 from Maharashtra and one each from West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh. Talking to AIR news, the Commissioner cum Secretary for Disaster Management, Punya Salila Srivastav informed that the islands administration is in touch with the respective State Governments to make arrangements for dispatching the dead bodies with due formalities to their respective places. A. DHANASEKARAN/FROM PORTBLAIR FOR AIR NEWS .

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has announced an ex gratia of one lakh rupees to the each family of the Tamil Nadu tourists killed in the boat tragedy.

<><><>

Congress leader and Member of Parliament Sanjay Nirupam has ended his indefinite fast demanding a cut in the power tariff in Mumbai. Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan said that he has promised Nirupam to look into the matter, and requested him to end his fast.

<><><>

State-owned telecom company MTNL is planning to launch high speed Wi-Fi services in Mumbai and Delhi, which will provide Internet services to customers at different locations, apart from their homes. MTNL Executive Director Peeyush Agarwal said that MTNL will be tying up with malls, coffee chains and food courts to provide this unlimited Wi-Fi service. Customers already using the MTNL Wi-Fi services on mobile devices will be charged an additional 50 to 100 rupees apart from their existing monthly rentals.

<><><>

The Kerala Legislative Assembly will begin discussion on the 2014-15 budget today. Three days have been earmarked for the discussion. After the discussions, voting will take place on Thursday.

            <><><>

The News Services Division of All India Radio in its weekly Live Phone-in programme “PUBLIC SPEAK” will bring you a discussion tonight on “Dharans, demonstrations and Indian democracy." This can be heard on FM Gold Channel and additional frequencies from 9.30 to 10.05 p.m. Listeners can ask questions from the experts in our Studio on telephone number: 011: 2331-4444. This programme  is also available on Doordarshan DTH.

[]<><><>[]

The fishermen of India and Sri Lanka will hold talks in Chennai today. The talks are being held to find a solution to the dispute over fishing in the Palk Straits which has seen Tamil Nadu fishermen coming under alleged attacks and detentions by the Lankan Navy frequently. Indian High Commissioner YK Sinha said the problem of fishermen of the two countries requires to be handled with sensitivity. Our correspondent reports that the Tamil Nadu government has also said that the talks will be held without prejudice to a case pending in the Supreme Court on the Katchatheevu issue.
 
The long awaited meeting between the fishermen of the two countries is undoubtedly a step forward to end the misery of fishermen whose livelihood depend on the sea. Hundreds of fishermen have been arrested, their boats have been seized and they have been languishing in Srilankan prison for crossing over the Palk bay. Many have lost their lives for violation. Though may have been released by both country, yet a permanent solution is necessary as thousands of fishermen have pinned their hopes on the talks which has given them a ray of hope to end the issue. Joy/AIR News Chennai.

Meanwhile, Sri Lankan court yesterday ordered the release of all remaining 40 Indian fishermen in the island nation's custody.

<><><>

In Tamil Nadu, Kanchipuram near Chennai is known for its silk industry and ancient architecture. It has now achieved another milestone in health sector. 92 percent of deliveries are taking place in the Primary Health centres and Government Hospitals. Deputy Director of Health Services Dr.Krishnaraj says NRHM Projects like the Janani Suraksha Yojana and NVPDC programs have achieved great success in Kanchipuram.
 
NHRM is one of the best compliments for our system. Before 95 our Health and family welfare system, struggled because of  less man power. With the help of NHRM fund we are doing caesarean section at 4th upgraded primary health centers. We have done five thousand caesarean section per year. This is a massive achievement compared to other districts.

            <><><>

West Bengal will observe an Electorate Photo Identity Card, EPIC week from today. Chief Electoral Officer Sunil Gupta said in Kolkata that the move is aimed at replacing damaged and faulty voters’ identity cards and at issuing new ones to those who have lost theirs.

             <><><>

After a second day of peace talks in Geneva, the Syrian government delegation has agreed that women and children may leave the besieged centre of the city of Homs. He, however, said a list of names will be needed of the men who want to leave. Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad said women and children are free to leave. The United Nations mediator Lakhdar Brahimi welcomed the first tangible outcome of the talks. Mr Brahimi said, a humanitarian convoy from the UN and the Red Cross will be able to go to Homs today.

<><><>

At least six people were killed and more than 30 others wounded in two separate attacks in Afghanistan yesterday. In the first incident a suicide bomber blew up his explosives-packed vest near an Afghan army bus in Kart-e-Nau area of Kabul, killing four persons and wounding another 22. In the second incident two persons were killed and six others injured in eastern Nangarhar yesterday.

<><><>

In China, five people have died and 131 others affected in a village fire in southwest Guizhou province yesterday. Investigation into the cause of the fire is underway. Meanwhile, in another incident in China, a fire broke out at the foot of a mountain in the tourist city of Lijiang in southwest Yunnan Province yesterday. No casualties have been reported.

<><><>

In Australian Open Eighth seeded Stanislas Wawrinka has lifted the Australian Open men's singles title. Playing his first major Tennis final, Wawrinka beat top seeded Rafael Nadal 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 in Melbourne yesterday. Nadal, playing  his third Australian Open final, was hoping a win for the first time since 2009.
IN BADMINTON,
India's ace shuttler Saina Nehwal has clinched the Women's Singles title at Syed Modi India Grand Prix Gold Badminton Championship. She defeated PV Sindhu in the straight sets in Lucknow yesterday. In Men's Singles, China's Xue Song defeated India's Srikanth K.
AND IN CRICKET,
Australia has again replaced India from the number one spot in the ICC ODI rankings. The Aussies yesterday registered a five-run win in the fifth and final ODI against England at Adelaide to take the series as well as the number one spot. The win pushed India to the number two position again. THIS IS MERCY FOR SPORTS DESK.

    []><><><[]

NEWSPAPER HEADLINES

• The front pages are replete with photographs of the Republic Day parade, with the Naval nuclear submarine, the IAFs light combat aircraft Tejas, several colorful tableaux,  fly past and daredevils On bikes - stealing the show.
• President Pranab Mukherjee's 'At home' yesterday is covered by the Press. The Times of India writes "Pranab hosts the show, Kejriwal steals it".
• The Indian Express reports on its front page that Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy has sought a resolution in the Assembly to reject the Telangana Bill forwarded by the Center in its current form, arguing that it fails to mention why the state is being divided.
• According to The Hindu - Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram is all set to report a fiscal deficit of 4.65 % of the Gross Domestic Product for the current fiscal, when he presents the Vote-on-Account in the Lok Sabha on Feb 17.
• Hindustan Times reports that India and Japan are set to take their fast growing ties a step further with a 'first ever' meeting between their national security advisors. The Japanese PM briefed Dr. Manmohan Singh about China's territorial muscle-flexing in the East China Sea and the Asian balance of power.
• Hindustan Times writes - in a significant verdict, the national consumer court has ruled that if a patient will-fully withholds medical information from his physician, the doctor cannot be liable for medical negligence in case of complications during treatment.
• And finally, Times of India writes "Flying dinosaur fossils found in Jaisalmer". The Golden City could soon become a new destination for geotourism, after discovery of evidence of a sea and rivers in ancient times, along with 180 million year old fossils of a species of flying dinosaurs.

[]><><><[]

IN SOME NEWS
Protests against the Ukrainian government are spreading further outside Kiev, with reports of unrest in the east, north and the south. Activists besieged government buildings and in some cities clashed with the riot police.

<><><>