0815 HRS

07th April, 2013

THE HEADLINES:

• Finance Minister says, fiscal deficit for the financial year, just ended, will be less than 5.2 per cent, pegged for the year; Growth rate likely to improve to 6 per cent in the current year.

• Government probing the names mentioned in the investigative journalists expose on bank accounts held by Indians abroad.

• The latest round of talks between six major world powers and Iran, onTehran's nuclear programme, ends without an agreement.

• Today is World Health Day, with a focus on High Blood Pressure.

• India retains its place in Asia Oceania Group-I; Takes unassailable 3-0 lead in relegation play-off tie.

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The Finance Minister says that the fiscal deficit for the previous financial year will be less than 5.2 per cent, pegged for the year. The growth rate for the current financial year will improve to over six per cent from five per cent last year.

"When the GDP is growing at 5 per cent or a shed above 5 per cent, to achieve a revenue growth of 16.7 per cent is indeed commendable, which is why I maintain that the revenue target for 2013-14 is achievable, because we expect that the GDP will grow at 6 per cent or little over 6 per cent."

Speaking at a press conference in New Delhi yesterday, Mr. Chidambaram said that the tax collection target of over 10.38 lakh crore for the financial year, just ended, had been achieved.

The Minister said that the Government has taken note of the names mentioned in the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists expose on bank accounts held by Indians abroad and it is being probed.

About the allegations of money laundering by some officials of ICICI Bank, Axis Bank and HDFC Bank, exposed by a sting operation, the Finance Minister said, the Reserve Bank is seriously looking into it and stern action will be taken if any violation of tax law is found.

Mr. Chidambaram said that the entire country is expected to be covered by the Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme by the end of the current year.

"We have now decided to roll it out in 78 more districts, that will make it 121 districts or roughly 20 per cent of the whole country. There will be further roll outs and I am confident that by the end of the financial year, that is 2013-2014, the roll out will be complete or nearly complete."

The Minister said that he would take up with the Petroleum Minister, the matter of including LPG subsidy in the Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme. He described sugar decontrol as a major step which will benefit farmers and industry.

"States are free to procure sugar through competitive bidding or otherwise from sugar mills at a price, all inclusive price not exceeding 32 rupees a kilo. And if they distribute it at rupees 13.5 per kilo, which is current issue price, the Government of India will bear the difference as a subsidy for two years."

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India has said, it has taken note of a North Korean evacuation advisory to foreign missions in Pyong Yang, amidst global concerns that the isolated state was preparing a missile launch at a time of heightened nuclear tensions. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said, India has taken note of it and is in touch with its diplomatic mission in North Korea. Yesterday, North Korea had warned that it could not guarantee the safety of diplomats after next Wednesday and asked embassies to consider moving staff out of the country.

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The Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh will inaugurate the Conference of Chief Ministers and Chief Justices of High Courts in New Delhi today. With over three crore cases pending in various courts in the country, the agenda of the conference is to find ways for expeditious disposal of these cases. The conference is expected to produce definite outcomes, in the form of Resolutions for implementation both by the Judiciary and the Government.

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In Jharkhand, polling for 26 local civic bodies began from 7 this morning. It will continue till 3 PM. Polling for Ranchi and Bundu Municipal bodies will be held tomorrow. Our correspondent reports that elaborate security arrangements have been made in view of the bandh call given by the Naxals. Every polling booth has been provided with security cover by armed forces and all important buildings and places are being manned by CRPF and Jharkhand armed police.

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The latest talks on Iran's nuclear programme have ended without agreement. After a 2-day meeting in Kazakhstan, the European Union's Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton said that their positions remain far apart. The five permanent members of the UN Security Council - the US, Russia, China, the UK and France - plus Germany, had asked Iran to stop enriching uranium up to 20 per cent in exchange for some relief from sanctions. Iran said, it would not compromise on its right to enrich uranium. Analysts say that with Presidential elections in Iran round the corner in June, it is unlikely that there would be a breakthrough in the talks.

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King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia has announced a 3-month grace period for illegal workers to abide by regulations or face deportation. Saudi authorities have launched a massive campaign to deport thousands of foreigners, who overstayed their residence permits, or worked illegally, or did not have the legal documents to work or stay in the country. The move is also a part of the nationwide campaign for labour market reforms and to give a boost to the employment for Saudi nationals under the Nitaqat system.

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Today is World Health Day. This day mark the anniversary of the founding of WHO in 1948. More from our correspondent:

"The theme of this year's World Heath Day is High Blood Pressure, also known as hyper-tension. It increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes and kidney failure and that's what the day is targeting. High Blood Pressure affects one in three adults world over, which leads to more than nine million deaths a year. In India, the menace is no less concerning. As such raising the awareness level is paramount. ASHOK HANDOO, AIR NEWS, DELHI."

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Another round of the pulse polio immunization programme is to be launched in the national capital today, to administer polio drops to children upto the age of five years. According to a Delhi government health official, over eight thousand booths have been set up across the city to ensure its maximum reach. Around 30 thousand health worker have been engaged to administer polio drops to children.

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The Sri Lankan Navy apprehended 56 Tamil fishermen from Rameswaram last night, for fishing in Lankan waters. More from our correspondent:

"30 fishermen, hailing from Rameswaram, were apprehended by Sri Lankan Navy, when they were fishing near Kachatheevu island last night. Friday night, 26 Tamil fishermen from Karaikkalmedu and Pattanacheryy were arrested by Lankan Navy. Indian Coast Guard has warned Tamil fishermen not to cross international maritime border and use the global positioning instruments provided to them. K. Devi Padmanabhan, AIR News, Tiruchirapalli."

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A British tourist, Sarah Elizabeth holidaying in Kashmir, was allegedly murdered by a Dutch tourist in a houseboat on Friday. Police said that the suspect D. Richard was arrested in Qazigund in Srinagar Jammu National Highway, while he was trying to flee in a taxi with just his passport leaving all his belongs in the houseboat.

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In Assam, the police recovered a huge cache of arms in Dima Hasao district last evening. District SP M J Mahanta said that acting on a tip off, a joint team of the police and the army recovered the arms and ammunitions near a railway track. Further investigations are on.

In another incident, security forces safely rescued a kidnapped journalist in Kokrajhar district. State Law and Order IGP S N Singh said that, Pawan Kumar Tiwari, working as an Assistant Editor in a weekly newspaper, was kidnapped by the National Democratic Front of Bodoland cadres from Balijan Tiniali area.

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President Pranab Mukherjee welcomed Lieutenant Commander Abhilash Tomy yesterday, who sailed round the globe solo and entered the historic Gateway of India in Mumbai. A special ceremonial reception was organized by the Indian Navy for the successful completion of India’s first solo nonstop circumnavigation around the globe - Sagar Parikrama II.

Setting of to sail from Mumbai on November 1, 2012, Lt.Cdr Tomy took 150 days at sea and completed the journey of 23,100 miles across the globe solo.

"It's the end of 14 years of dreaming for me. Something that I wanted to do since 1999, when I had read a book about a solo race that was happening around the world, and I thought I should do it, and we should put a name of an Indian in the list."

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In Davis Cup Tennis, the duo of Leander Paes and Sanam Singh registered an easy victory against their Indonesian opponents yesterday in Bangalore. With this, Indiaretained their place in the Asia Oceania Group-I, by taking an unassailable 3-0 lead in the Davis Cup relegation play-off tie, after Somdev Devvarman and Yuki Bhambri won their respective Singles matches on Friday.

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Mumbai Indians defeated Chennai Super Kings by nine runs in a thrilling Indian Premier League Twenty-20 cricket match last night in Chennai. Opting to bat first Mumbai Indians scored 148 for 6 in the stipulated 20 overs. In reply, Chennai managed to make just 139 in their 20 overs.

Earlier, in another match, the Rajasthan Royals beat Delhi Daredevils by 5 runs at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium in Delhi.

In today's fixtures, Pune Warriors will take on Kings Eleven Punjab in Pune, while Sunrisers Hyderabad will lock horns with Royal Challengers Bangalore in Hyderabad.

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NEWSPAPERS HEADLINES

BJP foundation day celebrations in Ahmedabad get top billing on the front pages in many papers today. The Hindustan Times highlights Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's comment, 'Mother India not a beehive', a reaction to Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi's deion of India as a beehive rather than an elephant. The Indian Express highlighting Mr. LK Advani's address reports, 'I am active in politics with a dream, Advani reminds party'.

The Supreme Court staying the execution of eight persons whose mercy pleas had been rejected by the President is prominently noticed in the press. '8 convicts denied mercy by President, get SC stay on hanging', reports the Times of India.

President Pranab Mukherjee's address at the golden jubilee celebrations of the CBI is keenly noticed by all the papers. The Tribune quotes him as saying, 'Corruption a threat to Indian democracy'. The Hindu writes, 'Nirbhaya symbol of aspiring nation, says President'.

In a special story, the Mail Today reports that Malaysia, Thailand and Oman have emerged as new centres, from where fake currency comes into India and the smuggling is not just restricted to the Pakistan, Nepal And Bangladesh borders.

Most papers report on how a man claiming to be an army officer, duped the widow of Lance Naik Hemraj Singh, who was beheaded by the Pakistani troops along the line of control, of 10 Lakh rupees. The Pioneer writes with a dash of irony, 'Beheaded by Pak, cheated by Indian'.

In a special front page story, 'Ghost protocol: saving missing monuments', the Times of India writes that 35 structures across India are included in the Archaeological Survey's list of untraceable monuments.

And finally, the Tribune informs us of a very special marriage ceremony in Assam as it writes, 'Parched Assam marries frogs to please rain god'