Midday News Date:- 25/01/2015

THE HEADLINES:
  • US President Barak Obama arrives in New Delhi this morning on a three-day visit to India; The two sides holding delegation-level talks to further deepen the bilateral relations.
  • President Pranab Mukherjee to address the nation this evening on the eve of Republic Day.
  • Another incidence of ceasefire violation by Pakistan forces reported today in RS Pura Sector of Jammu and Kashmir.
  • Mobile service consumers can now directly give feedback on quality of services to TRAI through on line or an Android based mobile application.
  • A series of rocket attacks kills 30 people in east Ukraine.
  • Leander Paes advances to Mixed Doubles pre-quarterfinals of Australian Open Tennis.
  • And, Saina Nehwal to play in the final of Syed Modi International Badminton Championships in a short while from now; Srikanth K. to meet P. Kashyap for Men's Singles trophy.
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Visting United States President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are now holding expanded delegation-level talks. Earlier, both the leaders held restricted talks over luncheon at Hyderabad House.

The US President was given a guard of honour with a 21-gun salute at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhawan soon after his arrival.

Mr Obama was introduced to Indian Cabinet Ministers and senior leaders there. Our correspondent reports after inspecting the guard of honour and meeting the dignitaries, Barack Obama said, he is grateful for the extraordinary hospitality which is a great honour for him.

"Barack Obama and Narendra Modi are expected to push for operationalising the civil nuclear pact. The two leaders will also speak about defence co-operation besides strengthening ties in areas like trade. Co-operation in space and cyber security and counter terrorism are also on the discussion table. Looking ahead, India sees vast potential for growth in relations between the two countries. New Delhi will also make efforts to seek peace and stability globally and in its extended neighbourhood. The United States is a key partner for capital, technology, knowledge, and skills in India's development path. It is India’s key interlocutor in adjustments to the global security and economic architecture including reforms of the United Nations Security Council. The people of the two countries have high expectations from the meeting between the heads of the largest and oldest democracies. WITH SANT BAHADUR, SHIELA, AIR NEWS, DELHI."

Accompanied by the First Lady Michelle Obama, Mr Obama arrived in New Delhi on a three-day visit this morning. Breaking normal protocol, Prime Minister Narendra Modi warmly received the United States President and the First Lady.

President Obama's National Security Council in a tweet said, Jai Hind. It said, Mr Obama is honored to be back in India to celebrate Republic Day and begin a new chapter in the US-India partnership. 

Mr Obama also visited Rajghat and laid a wreath at the samadhi of the father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi, and planted a sapling there.
Mr Obama will be the Chief Guest on the Republic Day Parade tomorrow.
We spoke to former diplomat Vinod Grover on Mr. Obama's visit to India:
"The visit of President Obama is very very important. We have never, since our independence, had an American President on Republic day as our Chief Guest. And, I must take my hat off to Prime Minister Modi for having able to get him. We still have to solve the Nuclear deal, Nuclear liability issue. We have to sort out trade, economic and other issues, as well as Defence deal. I do feel its a very important visit. It will greatly strengthen the personal relationship between India and US, and it will have a fallout on the NRI community all over the world, particularly in US, who will start working in the Obama administration in favour of India and Prime Minister Modi."  
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Barack Obama will jointly address the nation in the next edition of Mann Ki Baat on All India Radio. The programme will be broadcast on Tuesday at 8 PM on FM Gold and Rajdhani Channels. The regional channels will broadcast the programme at 9 AM on Wednesday. Public can pose their questions at MyGov website.
The Prime Minister has been addressing the nation over radio every month since last October through the 'Mann Ki Baat' programme.
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President Pranab Mukherjee will address the nation today on the eve of the 66th Republic Day. The address will be broadcast from 7 PM on the national network of All India Radio and telecast over all channels of Doordarshan in English followed by Hindi versions. Broadcast of the address in English and Hindi on Doordarshan will be followed by broadcast in regional languages by regional channels of Doordarshan. AIR will broadcast regional language versions from 9.30 PM onwards.
Consequent to this broadcast English News at 2000 hrs., Sports News at 2005 hrs. and Akhil Bharatiya Ravivasariya Sangeet Sabha at 2130 hrs. stand cancelled.
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Haryana Government has decided to grant special remission to the prisoners on Republic Day. However, life convicts and those who are on bail would not be eligible for remission. Giving this information at Chandigarh today, an official spokesman said that remission of 60 days would be granted to the convicts who have been sentenced for a period of ten years and more and convicts who have been sentenced for five years or more but less than ten years would be granted remission of 45 days.
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After the withdrawal of nominations, political parties have started to land their star campaigners in the field for the ensuing Delhi Assembly elections. BJP President Amit Shah will address two party worker's meeting in South and East Delhi today. State party leaders and candidates are holding public meetings in several constituencies to garner support.
Janata Dal United has pledged its support to Aam Aadmi Party and its senior leaders including Nitish Kumar may campaign for the party.
On the other hand, Congress Campaign Committee Chief Ajay Maken and state President Arvinder Singh Lovely are also reaching out to people highlighting the work done by the party's government during its 15 years' rule in the national capital. RJD chief Lalu Prasad is all set to campaign for Congress.
Parties like BSP, NCP and Shiv Sena have also fielded their candidates.
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi today asked people to utilise the Election Commission's easy voter registration process. In his message on the occasion of National Voters' Day, Mr Modi greeted people and the Election Commission and urged  people to utilise this year's theme of 'Easy Registration, Easy Correction'. He said, recent elections through the years have witnessed increased turnout, which is a wonderful sign. He also congratulated all officials and persons who will be awarded today for their campaign towards voter education and awareness.
According to Election Commission estimates, India has approximately 84 crore voters.
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In Jammu and Kashmir, in yet another incidence of ceasefire violation, Pakistan forces today resorted to firing in RS Pura Sector along the Indo-Pak International Border. Police sources said, forces from across the border targeting Tent and Jugnuchak  Indian forward posts started unprovoked firing around 2 AM. Pakistani forces pounded the Indian posts with Mortars and small arms. The BSF troops guarding the border retaliated the Pak firing and the exchange of fire lasted for about two hours. However there is no report of any causality or injury to anyone on the Indian side.
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In Kerala, a hotel belonging to the state owned Kerala State Tourism Development Corporation at Thirunelli in Wayanad district was attacked by Maoists this morning. The window panes of the hotel reception and computers were damaged in the attack.
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In Manipur, one bomb blast took place at Keishamthong in the state capital Imphal this morning. This is sixth such incident in Imphal in the last three days inspite of tight security measures ahead of Republic Day Celebration. Police sources said, the blast took place at around 9:30 this morning at the Nambul River bank of Keishamthong Laisom Leikai under Imphal Police Station in Imphal West. No one was injured in the blast.
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Mobile phone subscribers can now give instant feedback on quality of services provided by operators to regulator Telcom Regulatory Authority of India, TRAI through online or through an Android based mobile application. TRAI Secretary Sudhir Gupta said, operators will invite penalty if they fail to meet minimum service quality benchmarks set up by TRAI. Under existing regulations, TRAI can impose up to 50,000 rupees penalty on telecom operators for failing to meet any quality of service parameter for mobile services and up to 1 lakh rupees for repeating such failure.
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In Himachal Pradesh, the 45th statehood day is being celebrated with full enthusiasm today. The state-level function was held at Bilaspur town where Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh unfurled the tri colour. More from our Correspondent:
"It was a memorable day for citizens of Bilaspur where the statehood function was held in bright sunshine today. Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh paid his respect to the first Chief Minister Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar. He called upon people to work hard to make Himachal Pradesh most developed state in the country. SHISHU SHARMA SHANTAL, AIR NEWS, SHIMLA."
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World Bank says, a few countries, including India, have begun undertaking structural reforms to deal with the gloomy global economic scenario. Speaking at the closing session of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, World Bank Chief Jim Yong Kim said this. He was talking about the World Bank's economic outlook for global economy. On falling oil prices, Kim said the World Bank has done its calculations on oil prices and if average price remains around 60 US Dollars, a few countries like Russia will be hit hard, but on the other hand countries like India are benefiting and they are better prepared for such a scenario.
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In east Ukraine, a series of rocket attacks has left 30 people dead and many more injured in the city of Mariupol in east Ukraine. Ukraine blamed pro-Russia rebels, but the separatists said Ukrainian forces were behind the attacks. East Ukraine's main rebel leader claimed he had begun an offensive against Mariupol, but later said he will not storm the city. The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe said the rockets came from rebel-held areas. But Alexander Zakharchenko, head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic said his forces had not carried out active operations near Mariupol until yesterday.
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Yemen's Parliament is scheduled to hold an emergency meeting in the capital Sanaa today. The Parliament is expected to discuss the political and security crisis in Yemen triggered by resignation of President Haadi and the Government. Thousands of Yemenese took to streets across the country yesterday in support of President Haadi. The beleaguered President was forced to quit after Houthi rebels surrounded the presidential palace and his private house demanding more share in power. President Haadi accepted their demands but Houthis backtracked which resulted in his resignation. Yemenese cabinet followed suit.
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Now, news from the world of Sports:

"Leander Paes and his Swiss teammate Martina Hingis today advanced to the Mixed Doubles pre-quarterfinals of the Australian Open Tennis tournament, the first Grand Slam of the season. The seventh seeded Indo-Swiss pair defeated the Aussie team of Sam Thompson and Masa Jovanovic, 6-2, 7-6. However, Rohan Bopanna and his partner crashed out.

In the Singles, Rafeal Nadal, Maria Sharapova, Eugenie Bouchard, Ekaterina Makarova and Tomas Berdych progressed to the quarterfinals.

Onto the Syed Modi International Badminton Championships in Lucknow, top seed and world number three Sania Nehwal will look to retain the Women's Singles title when she takes on Carolina Marin of Spain in the title clash in a short while from now. For the Men's Singles trophy, top seed Srikanth K. will lock horns with third placed P. Kashyap in the all-Indian summit clash. The pair of Manu Attri and K. Maneesha will be seen in action in the Mixed Doubles Final.

And in Cricket, India will take on hosts Australia tomorrow in their must win game of the tri-nation ODI series which also features England. The match will be played in Sydney at 8:50 AM Indian Time. All India Radio will broadcast live commentary on the match after the commentary of the Republic Day function. SAVVY HASAN KHAN, FOR AIR NEWS."
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Some more International news,

A massive power failure hit Pakistan after midnight as authorities struggled today to restore electricity supply in the country which has been plagued by a crippling energy crisis. Official sources said the nature of fault was not known exactly but it plunged about 80 per cent of the country into darkness. This was the fourth major breakdown of the system within the past one month.There were contradictory statements about the reason for the breakdown.