0815 HRS
28th September, 2013
28th September, 2013
THE HEADLINES:
- Prime Minister lowers the expectations of his meeting with his Pakistani counterpart in the wake of recent militant attacks in Jammu & Kashmir; Says epicentre of terrorism remains in Pakistan.
- India and the United States reaffirm their commitment to further strengthen defence cooperation and full and timely implementation of India-US Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement.
- UN Security Council unanimously approves a resolution with binding obligation on Syria to eliminate its chemical weapons.
- Congress Vice President describes as wrong government's decision to bring an ordinance to protect convicted lawmakers; Cabinet to consider the issue raised by Rahul Gandhi says the Prime Minister.
- The death toll in building collapse in Mumbai's Dockyard area goes up to 23; Rescue operations still on.
- India to take on Uzbekistan in their opening match of 17th Asian Senior Men’s volleyball championship in Dubai today.
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In the aftermath of this week’s terrorist attack in India, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has lowered expectations of his meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif, saying the epicentre of terrorism remains in Pakistan. Dr. Singh made these remarks after his meeting with US President Barack Obama at the White House Oval Office in which the two leaders touched on a range of subjects, from terrorism to trade and Syria to Afghanistan.
We also discussed our relations and our close dealing with Afghanistan and Pakistan. I explained to President Obama the difficulties that we face given the fact that the epicentre of terror still remains focussed in Pakistan.
The Singh-Obama summit called upon Pakistan to work towards bringing the perpetrators of the November 2008 Mumbai attacks to justice. The two leaders strongly condemned the September 26 terrorist attack in Samba in Jammu and Kashmir. In the joint statement issued after the meeting both the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to eliminate terrorist safe havens and infrastructure, and disrupting terrorist networks including Al-Qaeda and the Lashkar-e-Toiba. The Leaders decided to significantly expand information sharing and intelligence cooperation to address threats to their nations, including strengthening the bilateral relationship to exchange information on known and suspected terrorists.
Both the leaders expressed satisfaction with the progress achieved so far in defence relations and emphasized the need for more intense defense cooperation on both sides. They reaffirmed their desire to further strengthen defence trade cooperation endorsing a Joint Declaration on Defence Cooperation as a means of enhancing their partnership in defence technology transfer, joint research, co-development and co-production.
In the civil nuclear power sector, President Obama and Prime Minister Singh noted that with government-to-government procedures agreed upon commercial negotiations between U.S. companies and the Nuclear Power Corporation of India, NPCIL are proceeding well. They welcomed the announcement that NPCIL and U.S. Nuclear Company Westinghouse have concluded a Preliminary Contract to develop a nuclear power plant in Gujarat in India. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to the full and timely implementation of the India-US Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement. Our correspondent reports from Washington:
At their third bilateral summit meeting , Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and US President Barack Obama affirmed that both sides have developed a comprehensive global strategic partnership in last decade . They pledged to make next decade equally as transformative particularly in the areas of security co-operation , bilateral trade and investment, energy , environment and higher education. Affirming the deep concern over threats posed by terrorism, both leaders stressed the need for joint and concerted effort. The meeting demonstrated that interests of the two largest democracies of the world continue to converge and their partnership will indeed be a defining one for the 21st century. This is Veena Jain for AIR News..
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Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has sent a clear message to the US Investors to invest in India saying that India is committed to continue the economic reforms and bring the economy back on the track. Addressing a meeting of Business Leaders of United States in New York , the Prime Minister tried to clear the doubts and concerns of business community in the United States about India’s growth prospects, macroeconomic stability and the economic policy environment.
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The United Nations Security Council has approved unanimously a resolution with binding obligations on the Syrian government to eliminate its chemical weapons. In a related development, the Hague based UN Chemical weapons watchdog, Organization for Prevention of Chemical weapons has given a go ahead to the US-Russia plan to get rid of chemical weapons in Syria. UN Secretary General has welcomed the developments and called for the Geneva-II peace conference in Mid-November to find a comprehensive political solution to the two and a half year long crisis in Syria. More from our West Asia Correspondent:
It was a voice vote by all 15 members of UN Security Council that paved the way for dismantling. the weapons of mass destruction in Syria. The resolution asks the organization for Prevention of Chemical weapons Director General and the U.N. secretary-general to report non-compliance to the Security Council. If there is non-compliance, the Security council by another resolution impose measures under Chapter VII of the UN Charter which allows for sanctions and or use of military force. Ban Ki Moon said the onus is now on all the sides to ensure that violence must come to an end in Syria and the focus should be on the humanitarian and political crisis in the country. Atul Tiwary, AIR News.
In the aftermath of this week’s terrorist attack in India, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has lowered expectations of his meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif, saying the epicentre of terrorism remains in Pakistan. Dr. Singh made these remarks after his meeting with US President Barack Obama at the White House Oval Office in which the two leaders touched on a range of subjects, from terrorism to trade and Syria to Afghanistan.
We also discussed our relations and our close dealing with Afghanistan and Pakistan. I explained to President Obama the difficulties that we face given the fact that the epicentre of terror still remains focussed in Pakistan.
The Singh-Obama summit called upon Pakistan to work towards bringing the perpetrators of the November 2008 Mumbai attacks to justice. The two leaders strongly condemned the September 26 terrorist attack in Samba in Jammu and Kashmir. In the joint statement issued after the meeting both the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to eliminate terrorist safe havens and infrastructure, and disrupting terrorist networks including Al-Qaeda and the Lashkar-e-Toiba. The Leaders decided to significantly expand information sharing and intelligence cooperation to address threats to their nations, including strengthening the bilateral relationship to exchange information on known and suspected terrorists.
Both the leaders expressed satisfaction with the progress achieved so far in defence relations and emphasized the need for more intense defense cooperation on both sides. They reaffirmed their desire to further strengthen defence trade cooperation endorsing a Joint Declaration on Defence Cooperation as a means of enhancing their partnership in defence technology transfer, joint research, co-development and co-production.
In the civil nuclear power sector, President Obama and Prime Minister Singh noted that with government-to-government procedures agreed upon commercial negotiations between U.S. companies and the Nuclear Power Corporation of India, NPCIL are proceeding well. They welcomed the announcement that NPCIL and U.S. Nuclear Company Westinghouse have concluded a Preliminary Contract to develop a nuclear power plant in Gujarat in India. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to the full and timely implementation of the India-US Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement. Our correspondent reports from Washington:
At their third bilateral summit meeting , Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and US President Barack Obama affirmed that both sides have developed a comprehensive global strategic partnership in last decade . They pledged to make next decade equally as transformative particularly in the areas of security co-operation , bilateral trade and investment, energy , environment and higher education. Affirming the deep concern over threats posed by terrorism, both leaders stressed the need for joint and concerted effort. The meeting demonstrated that interests of the two largest democracies of the world continue to converge and their partnership will indeed be a defining one for the 21st century. This is Veena Jain for AIR News..
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Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has sent a clear message to the US Investors to invest in India saying that India is committed to continue the economic reforms and bring the economy back on the track. Addressing a meeting of Business Leaders of United States in New York , the Prime Minister tried to clear the doubts and concerns of business community in the United States about India’s growth prospects, macroeconomic stability and the economic policy environment.
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The United Nations Security Council has approved unanimously a resolution with binding obligations on the Syrian government to eliminate its chemical weapons. In a related development, the Hague based UN Chemical weapons watchdog, Organization for Prevention of Chemical weapons has given a go ahead to the US-Russia plan to get rid of chemical weapons in Syria. UN Secretary General has welcomed the developments and called for the Geneva-II peace conference in Mid-November to find a comprehensive political solution to the two and a half year long crisis in Syria. More from our West Asia Correspondent:
It was a voice vote by all 15 members of UN Security Council that paved the way for dismantling. the weapons of mass destruction in Syria. The resolution asks the organization for Prevention of Chemical weapons Director General and the U.N. secretary-general to report non-compliance to the Security Council. If there is non-compliance, the Security council by another resolution impose measures under Chapter VII of the UN Charter which allows for sanctions and or use of military force. Ban Ki Moon said the onus is now on all the sides to ensure that violence must come to an end in Syria and the focus should be on the humanitarian and political crisis in the country. Atul Tiwary, AIR News.
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US President Barack Obama and the Iranian President Hassan Rouhani have spoken on telephone in the first high level direct contact between the US and Iran since the Islamic revolution in 1979. Speaking to reporters later Obama said that the two leaders have instructed their teams to work as swiftly as possible to seek a solution to Iran's nuclear programme.
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Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi has criticised the government's decision to bring an ordinance to protect convicted lawmakers saying that it is wrong. Observing that no compromise be made to fight corruption, he said the ordinance should be thrown away. He was talking to reporters in New Delhi yesterday.
The ordinance should be torn up and thrown away. In my organization, argument that is being made is that we need to do this because of political consideration. The Congress party does this, the BJP does this, the Janata Dal does this, Samajwadi does it, everybody does this. And I really feel that its about time that political parties stop making these type of compromises because if we want to actually fight corruption in this country, whether it is us, the Congress party or the BJP, we can not continue making these small compromises.
After Rahul Gandhi's comments, Congress spokesperson Ajay Maken said the party is opposed to the ordinance.
Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has said that the issues raised by RahulGandhi on the Ordinance will be discussed by the cabinet on his return from the United States. BJP spokesperson Meenakshi Lekhi has termed Rahul Gandhi's statement as a damage control exercise.
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The death toll in building collapse in Mumbai in the Dockyard area has risen to 23. Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Management cell has confirmed the number of deaths. According to the Disaster Management Cell, 18 people have been safely rescued from the debris while 32 people injured in the incident, are being treated at Mumbai’s J J Hospital.
A team of Fire Brigade and officials of the National Disaster Response Force is continuing relief and rescue operations. Many people are still feared to be trapped inside the rubble of the building that housed about 22 families.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Pritviraj Chavan visited the spot late last night and announced compensation of One lakh rupees each to the kin of deceased and 50 thousand to seriously injured persons. He said following a complaint by BMC, local police has registered a case against the decorator Ashok Mehta, owner of Mamamiya Decorators.
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A day after twin attacks in Jammu resulting in killing of 10 people including an army officer, Pakistani Army has resorted to unprovoked firing on Indian forward posts along the LoC in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, drawing effective retaliation.
Defence Spokesman S N Acharya said that Pakistani troops opened fire from small and automatic weapons on Indian forward posts along the LoC in Mendhar-Bhimbhergali Sub-sector of Poonch district.
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The Union Minister of State for Food and Public Distribution Prof. K. V. Thomas has said that provisions in the food security bill will further strengthen the efforts for women empowerment. Addressing a meeting at Kochi in Kerala, he food security bill paves way to designate the eldest woman of every family as the head of the family.
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In Maldives, Election Commission finally backed down from its stand to hold second round of Presidential elections as scheduled for today. In a statement issued in Male late last evening, the Commission said that voting will not take place today as the environment is not conducive for holding a free, fair and democratic election. Our correspondent reports that no new date for holding of elections has been announced.
Election Commissioner Fuwad Towfeek issued the statement after the police barricaded his office in a late evening action and threatened to take over the premises. Tension prevails in Male as protests by Nasheed’s supporters that started to gather momentum around afternoon yesterday, continued late into the night. President Mohamed Waheed has cancelled his planned visit to the United States to take part in the UN General Assembly. Abhishek Dayal, AIR News.
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The Nation is celebrating the 106th birth anniversary of the great son of the soil, Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh today. He was born to Sardar Kishan Singh and Vidyavati ji on this day in 1907.
Our correspondent reports that many functions are being organised by various organisations across the country to remember the Immortal Martyr.
Nicknamed as "Bhaganwala" by his elders which means the ‘lucky one’, the great martyr lived upto his name by playing an unforgetable role in the country’s freedom struggle. Functions are being organised at Hussainiwala in Ferozepur where the memorial of the trio - Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev is situated. He is not amongst us today but his memories along with his slogan - 'Inquilab Zindabad' will always remain alive. Rajesh Bali, AIR News, Jalandhar
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Legendary playback singer Lata Mangeshkar is celebrating her 84th birthday today. She is one of the best-known and most respected playback singers of the country. The nightingale of India has won several awards and honors, including India's highest civilian award, Bharat Ratna, Padma Vibhushan and Dada Saheb Phalke Award.
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The 17th edition of Asian Senior Men’s championship in volleyball gets underway in Dubai today. India will take on Uzbekistan in their opening game at Al Nasr Club. Indian spikers are placed in Group-F with Qatar and Uzbekistan. The team would try to make amends to its loss to China in the World Cup Qualifying rounds in Chenzou on Tuesday where despite taking an early lead in all the three sets, Indian team could not capitalize on its gains.
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NEWSPAPERS HEADLINES
Rahul Gandhi's statement criticising the Governments ordinance on protecting convicted politicians from disqualification has dominated the headlines of all news dailies today."Rahul trashes Ordinance, shames government." remarks the Times of India. "Rahul jolts Govt, calls ordinance "nonsense" says the Asian Age, while the Economic Times opines "There's much sense in Rahul Gandhi "Nonsense"". The Hindu adds "Rahul blitz makes party see new light".
The Supreme Court decision to allow the voters the Right to Reject candidates standing for elections has also been prominently noticed by many newspapers. "Hate your Netas? SC gives voters right to reject", reports the Hindustan Times. "SC allows negative ballot, voters can now say no candidate is worth it", adds the Times of India. The Pioneer reports that "Delhiites may get first chance in November", to exercise this option.
The meeting between the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and President Barak Obama on the side lines of the UN General Assembly meet has also caught the attention of many newspapers. "Obama shares India's concerns over renewed 'cross border' terror", reports the Pioneer. The Tribune informs "India - US seal first commercial civil nuke power deal", while the Times of India adds. "Don't expect too much from meeting with Sharif, says Manmohan".
In a significant front page story, The Indian Express reports, "8 army ex-chiefs counter V.K. Singh, say no money was paid to politicians". They asserted the army does not dabble in politics.
The Hindustan Times reports, "After seven hikes, petrol price may be cut by two rupees a litre soon", while the Asian Age adds, "To save oil, Moily to take bus to work every Wednesday".
The Times of India reports that a New UK study on 2000 married people found that couples are happiest in their third year of marriage.
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