NEWS
1400 HRS
19 January, 2014
THE HEADLINES:
- BJP promises accountable and
transparent governance with all round development of all sections of the
society; Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi alleges Congress nominates
and not elects a Prime Minister.
- In Assam, a high level security meet
is under way, as the state gears up to counter insurgency ahead of the Republic
Day.
- Polio drops being administered to
over 17 crore children under five years of age today.
- In Pakistan, 20 security personnel
killed in a suicide bomb attack in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
- US says aid to Pakistan will
continue only if it cooperates in counter terrorism efforts.
- India walking a tight
rope in the Napier onedayer against New Zealand; Kohli again stands
tall with a ton.
- World Number One Serena Williams
crashes out of Australian Open Tennis; Leander Paes and his Czech partner storm
into the quarterfinals.
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BJP
has promised to address the country's problems through accountable and
transparent governance. In a unanimous resolution passed at the ongoing
National Council meeting in New Delhi
today, the party said it will give a strong leadership promising all round
development of all sections of the society. Earlier moving the resolution on
current political situation in the country, BJP leader Sushma Swaraj expressed
confidence that the party will win more than 272 seats in the upcoming polls.
Ms Swaraj said that Congress is running away from announcing its Prime
Ministerial candidate as it is afraid of defeat in Lok Sabha polls. She accused
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi of spreading rumours that the BJP did not
allow Parliament to run smoothly. Ms Swaraj expressed satisfaction over the
passage of Lokpal Bill in Parliament for which she said her party took an
initiative and made concerted efforts.
"You didn't want to bring the Lokpal Bill, you kept the
report of the select committee of Rajya Sabha in the cold storage for a year.
It was BJP, which from the first day, was demanding in both houses to bring the
Lokpal Bill to pass it, and due to our pressure you had to bring Lokpal Bill
and when after its passage in Rajya Sabha, it came in Lok Sabha, we passed it
within one day."
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Speaking
at the National Council Meeting BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi
said that Congress President Sonia Gandhi did not name her son Rahul Gandhi as
the Prime Ministerial candidate as she wanted him to be saved from imminent
defeat in Lok Sabha polls.
"When defeat is certain and destruction is clearly visible
then no mother in this world will sacrifice her son in politics. Sonia Gandhi
did not name Rahul Gandhi as Prime Ministerial candidate as she wanted to save
him."
Mr.
Modi said Dr Manmohan Singh was not chosen the Prime Minister by Congress's
Parliamentary Committee but was nominated to the post by party President Sonia
Gandhi. He sought to know whether Rajiv Gandhi was chosen for the Prime
Ministership by the same committee. The BJP leader was referring to Congress
deciding not to name its Prime Ministerial nominee reasoning that it is against
the party's traditions.
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In
Assam,
a high level security meet is being held in Guwahati to chalk out plan to
counter insurgent groups in the run up to the Republic day. The meeting which
includes Army and CRPF, has been convened after the National Democratic Front
of Bodoland -Sangbijit faction killed 9 persons in three separate incidents
during last 48 hours. More from our Correspondent:
"Militants have gunned down one person and injured four at
Dhekiajuli in Sonitpur district today. Earlier, NDFB also killed a shopkeeper
at Manglajohra in Dhubri district. IGP, L R Bishnoi said that two additional
companies of security forces have been deployed in Chirang and Kokrajhar
district to keep an eye on railway tracks. Security has already been beefed up
at sensitive areas. The army and other security forces have launched combing
operation against militants. Police have arrested 10 persons yesterday in
connection with the firing incident in Kokrajhar district. Manas Pratim Sarma,
AIR News, Guwahati."
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National
polio immunisation campaign is being carried out across the country today to
administer polio drops to children under five years of age. More than 17 crore
children will be vaccinated under the Pulse Polio Immunization programme this
year. Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said 23 lakh workers and volunteers will
go to every nook and corner of the country to vaccinate children. Over 100
polio posts will be set up along international borders as well and every single
case will be treated as public health emergency. In Delhi, over 24 lakh children are being
vaccinated at 8400 booths set up at different places, including bus stops,
metro and railway stations. In Madhya Pradesh Mobile teams have been formed to
administer polio drops to the children of labourers and migrants. In Tamil Nadu
also special arrangements have been made to give polio drops to children of
migrant labourers in the state.
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Foiling
the evil attempts of Pak based smugglers to smuggle Heroin in Punjab from
across the border, the Border Security Force has seized 17 kilogram contraband
with two pistols and cartridges after a brief shoot out in Amritsar sector, early this morning. This is
the second such attempt within two days when anti-national elements tried to
sneak in the Heroin from across the fence. Four kilogram of contraband was
recovered in Ferozepur sector yesterday.
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In
Uttar Pradesh, rain along with hailstorm has disrupted normal life across the
state. At least fifteen people have died in rain and cold related incidents in
different districts during the last 36 hours. The weather has improved in some
districts though there is mist and fog in most of the eastern districts. A
report-
"Light rain along with chilly wind is still continuing in some
parts of eastern Uttar Pradesh. Waterlogging in low-lying areas has also posed
problems to commuters. The schools and colleges upto intermediate in most of
the districts are closed till today. The met office has predicted hailstorm and
light rain during 24 hours. Salman Haider, AIR News, Gorakhpur."
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Overnight
rain in most parts of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh
has brought back the winter chill in the region. Adampur in Punjab
was the coldest place with a low of 3 degrees Celsius. While Hisar in Haryana
braved a low of 3.6 degrees. It was a bright sunny morning in Kashmir Valley
for the second consecutive day today though there was no respite from cold in
the night as mercury dipped below freezing point.
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In
Uttarakhand, sunny weather today gave people some respite from severe cold
conditions following heavy snowfall in the hills and widespread rain in the plains
in the last two days. More from our Correspondent:
Garhwal
hills including Char Dhams, Mussoorie, Dhanolti, Chakrata, Tehri and Pauri
experienced heavy snowfall. Nainital, Ranikhet, Almora, Munsyari, Champawat and
Kapkot in Kumaon also had heavy snowfall of the season. Tourists in large
number visited the tourists destinations of Mussoorie and Nainital. However,
they had to face difficulties in reaching the stations following landslides on
the highways and heavy snowfall in the areas. Efforts were on to reopen the
national highways of Nainital-Haldwani and Nainital-Kaladhungi. All schools in
Dehradun district have been closed till Tuesday following severe cold. Sanjeev Sundriyal, AIR News,
Dehradun."
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In Pakistan,
at least 20 security personnel were killed and 25 injured in an explosion in
Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province today. The blast near Razmak gate
in Cantt area targeted a convoy of vehicles carrying Frontier Corps and
Pakistan Army personnel travelling from Bannu district to Miramshah. Rescuers
said the the blast was suspected to have been carried out by a suicide bomber.
Emergency and security forces rushed to the attack site. Security forces
cordoned off the area as a probe into the incident went underway. The Pakistani
Taliban said it carried out the attack.
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Afghan
President Hamid Karzai has called upon the NATO-led coalition members,
especially the United States
to work unitedly with the people of Afghanistan in fighting terrorism.
Strongly condemning the brutal terrorist attack in Kabul on Friday, Karzai said that the war
against terror in the country could succeed only when a distinction is made
between the victims and the perpetrators of terrorism. President Karzai said Pakistan and the United
States can help Afghanistan in peace and
reconciliation process in the country. Afghan President conveyed his heart felt
condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the quick recovery of those
wounded in the terror attack. Twenty one people including thirteen foreigners
and eight Afghan citizens were killed and four others wounded in the deadly
attack at a restaurant in Kabul
on Friday.
UN
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has vowed that the United Nations would maintain
its work in Afghanistan
despite Friday's Taliban suicide attack.
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U.S.
President Barack Obama has signed a spending bill of over one trillion dollars
that also includes conditions put on continuation of aid to Pakistan.
Amendments attached to the bill require a certification from the secretaries of
State and Defence that Pakistan
is cooperating with the US
in counter-terrorism efforts against domestic and foreign terrorist
organizations. Congress has also withheld three million dollars from the
assistance until Pakistan
releases Dr. Shakil Afridi, the Pakistani Doctor who was detained after the
killing of Osama Bin Laden, from prison and clears him of all charges.
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In
Bangladesh,
25 people, including 22 security personnel were injured during clashes between
activists of Jamaat and its Students' Wing Islami Chaatra Shibir and Joint
Police forces today in Gaibandha. The Jamaat-Shibir activists torched a police
van and then vandalised 12 houses in the area. The joint security forces
consisting of RAB, BGB and police came under attack from the Jamaat-Shibir
activists when they went to Kadamtala village in Sarbananda upazilla to arrest
persons accused in diferrent cases filed in connection with the recent spate of
violence and arson.
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Chasing 293 for victory, India
were 237 for 7 in 44.1 overs against New Zealand in the first cricket
one dayer of the 5-match series at Napier, when reports last came in. Virat
Kohli, who scored his 18th ODI ton, was out on 123.
India still need 56 runs to win, with
35 balls remaining. India,
earlier, got off to a shaky start, losing 4 wickets for 129. Skipper MS Dhoni
was out for 40, after ably supporting Kohli.
The
hosts had posted 292 for 7 in the stipulated 50 overs, after they were put in
to bat at the McLean
Park. Kane
Williamson top scored for the Kiwis with a brilliant 71.
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World Number One Serena Williams today made a shocking
exit from the Australian Open Tennis tournament, the first Grand Slam of the
season, at Melbourne.
In the Women's Singles pre-quarterfinals, Serbia's Ana Ivanovic defeated
injury-hit Serena, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, denying the American an 18th major title. Na
Li of China and Italian Flavia Pennetta also, booked the last-eight berths.
In
the Men's Singles, Serbia's Novak Djokovic and
Spaniard David Ferrer have made it to the quarterfinals.
In
the Men's Doubles, India's Leander Paes and his Czech
partner Radek Stapanek today stormed into the quarterfinals. The fifth seeded
Indo-Czech duo defeated the Indo-Kiwi pair of Yuki Bhambri and Michael Venus,
6-3, 6-2. Rohan Bopanna and his Pakistani team-mate Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi today
crashed out of the tournament, after losing in the pre-quarterfinals.
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11th Mumbai marathon was dominated by Keniyan athletes.
Evans Rutto won full marathon’s title, while Ethiopian Dinknesh Mekash won the
women's event. Our Mumbai Correspondent reports that the whole event was the
culmination of unity in variety with highlight of various social and
environmental concerns.
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Planning Minister Rajeev Shukla has said, no state has
approached the Centre with any proposal to avail funds under the 25,000 crore
rupee Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA), a scheme for upgrading higher
education infrastructure. In an interview to PTI, he said, states can improve
their existing higher education infrastructure and convert those into excellent
studies centres. The scheme was approved by the Union Cabinet in October last
year.
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फेसबुक ने कैलीफोर्निया में एक स्पेशल इवेंट के दौरान 'एफबी होम' को लांच किया है। इससे
सैमसंग के नए स्मार्टफोन 'गैलेक्सी एस4' को न्यूयॉर्क में एक भव्य कार्यक्रम के दौरान लांच
माइक्रोमैक्स ने अपनी कैनवस सीरीज में 5 इंच की डिस्पले में नया स्मार्टफोन एचडी 'A116' को
ब्लैकबेरी ने अपने नए ऑपरेटिंग सिस्टम 'ब्लैकबेरी 10' पर आधारित दो नए फोन Z10 और Q10
सैमसंग ने गैलेक्सी सीरीज के सबसे बड़ी स्क्रीन वाले स्मार्टफोन 'गैलेक्सी ग्रांड' को 21,500 रुपये
नोकिया ने नया स्मार्टफोन लूमिया 1020 पेश किया है। इस स्मार्टफोन में 41 मेगापिक्सल का कैमरा लगा है।
