0815 HRS
03rd May, 2013 

THE HEADLINES:

• Last rites of Sarabjit Singh to be performed with full state honours at his native place Bikhiwind in Punjab today.

• Cabinet approves Swedish retailer IKEA's 10,500 crore rupees investment proposal in single-brand retail.

• Campaigning for Karnataka Assembly polls ends this evening; Voting to take place on Sunday.

• World Press Freedom Day is being observed today.

• India's PV Sindhu to meet Sapsiree Taerattanchai of Thailand in the semi-finals of Malaysian Open.

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The body of Sarabjit Singh, who died after a brutal attack by inmates in a Pakistani jail, was handed over to his family last night, after the post-mortem. A contingent of Punjab Police led by SSP Tarn-Taran, Raj Jeet Singh handed over Sarabjit's body to his family at Bikhiwind village in Punjab, where he will be cremated with full state honours today. Our correspondent has filed this report,

"Sarabjit Singh's sister, Dalbir Kaur, whose best of efforts for the last many years to get her brother released from Pakistani jail came to an abrupt halt. She lamented that she could not bring her brother back alive to unite him with his two daughters and wife. Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal is leading the state to pay tributes to the departed soul. Leaders from various political parties are also reaching there to be with the family at this hour of grief. The state government has made elaborate police arrangements to take control of any situation. RAJESH BALI, AIR NEWS, JALANDHAR."

Sarabjit's body was airlifted to his village yesterday and sent to GovernmentHospital at Patti where a team of six doctors of government-run Amritsar Medical college conducted the second post-mortem.

The Centre has announced an ex-gratia payment of 25 lakh rupees for Sarabjit's family from the Prime Minister's Relief Fund. The Punjab government has also announced a financial assistance of one crore rupees for the family of Sarabjit and declared a three-day state mourning.

External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said there is an extreme level of sadness throughout the country over the issue and the government will provide all support to the family of the deceased prisoner.

"We are in a state of mourning. We are sad and whatever we can do to comfort the family and support the family, is what we are today, working on."

BJP has asked the UPA government to sever bilateral ties with Pakistan in the wake of brutal murder of Sarabjit Singh. Party spokesman Shahnawaz Hussain demanded the recall of the Indian High Commissioner from Islamabad.

"This is a totally cowardly act of Pakistan. There is no point in maintaining ties with Pakistan, BJP demands that all ongoing dialogue should be stopped and High Commissioner from Pakistan recall."

The Home Ministry has issued advisory to all states asking them to step up security of all Pakistani prisoners lodged in their respective jails.

Meanwhile, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, HRCP has demanded action against all those who played role in the assault on Indian prisoner Sarabjit Singh, which led to his death in a Lahore hospital on Wednesday. The HRCP called uponIslamabad and New Delhi to take urgent measures to prevent the incident from undermining bilateral ties and to improve the lot of detainees from the other countries in each other’s prisons.

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The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, CCEA has given its approval to the Swedish retailer IKEA for Foreign Direct Investment, FDI in single-brand retail. The approval would result in FDI inflows amounting to around 10,500 crore rupees in the country. A decision to this effect was taken in the meeting, chaired by the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in New Delhi last evening.

It also approved the proposal of the Human Resource Development Ministry for the revision of certain norms and subsuming of other centrally sponsored schemes of secondary education under Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan. This will facilitate the State governments to execute the civil works for construction of new schools as well as expanding capacity in the existing ones.

The CCEA also gave its nod to the removal of the cap on the amount of losses to be reimbursed on the procurement of copra under Price Support Scheme for the benefit of farmers. The government took this decision to ensure remunerative prices to copra growers and to see that farmers get the Minimum Support Price, as per government policy.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs cleared the extension of government guarantee of 1,781 crore rupees to enable the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd. (NAFED) and Central Warehousing Corporation to undertake price support operations for procurement of oil seeds, pulses and cotton.

The CCEA also approved the setting up of a Central Public Sector Enterprises Exchange Traded Fund to help in minimizing market disruptions seen in public offerings of listed CPSEs.

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Finance Minister P Chidambaram has pitched for a greater use of knowledge and technology to meet the challenges of economic growth and improve the plight of people at the bottom of the pyramid. Chidambaram in his address, which was read by Economic Affairs Secretary, said, India has the ability to take leadership position in the world in the next few decades by evolving into a knowledge society and finding innovative solutions to socio-economic challenges.

The Minister, who was scheduled to attend the Seminar at the ADB annual meet jointly organised by Ministry of Finance and FICCI, could not take part due to discussions on the Finance Bill in the Rajya Sabha.

Stressing that the government is keen on promoting uniquely inclusive model for innovation, he said it is willing to leverage on new approaches to innovation in technology platforms, connectivity and collaboration through National Innovation Council.

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Campaigning for the Karnataka Assembly Elections comes to an end this evening. 223 out of 224 constituencies will go to the polls on 5th of this month, while counting will take place on the 8th. The election in one constituency was countermanded due to the death of BJP candidate in Periyapattana in Mysoredistrict. The election in this constituency will be held on the 28th of May. More from our correspondent,

"Fate of 131 candidates for nine assembly seats of Gulbarga district will be decided by more than 16 lakh voters. Only eight women candidates are contesting from Gulbarga district and none of them is from prominent national or regional party. 54 independents are also in the fray. For the Gulbarga north , Chittapur,Sedam and Jewargi assembly seats Congress candidates are in direct contest with BJP while a triangular fight is possible at Gulbarga south between BJP,KJP and JD(S). At Gulbarga, Rural the contest is mainly between Congress,BJP and KJP candidates. ANURAG VAJPEYI, AIR NEWS, GULBARGA."

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India has said that diplomatic contact at various channels is on with China, over the border standoff in Ladakh. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin told the media in New Delhi that the country has been able to communicate its concerns to Beijing about incursion by Chinese troops in Daulat Beg Oldi area. He said, the main objective of the establishment is that the two sides return to the status quo in the area prior to 15th of last month.

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Former Union Minister Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss was arrested at his residence in Chennai this morning on charges of inciting violence in the course of his speech during one of his party function at Mahabalipuram on April 25th.

Earlier, the founder of the Pattali Makkal Katchi Dr. S Ramdoss was also arrested and is lodged in Tiruchi Prison on charges of indulging in acts that disturbed public peace and for violation of conditions laid down for conducting the Chithirai Thiruvizha at Mamallapuram.

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In Uttar Pradesh, Project Directors of rural development department from Allahabad, Jaunpur and Jhansi have been put under suspension with immediate effect. Quoting official sources our Allahabad correspondent reports that they have been charged for negligence in the implementation of rural development schemes and programmes, including implementation of Indira Awas Yojana and MGNREGA, in their respective districts, during just concluded financial year.

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Today is World Press Freedom Day. The day is observed every year on the 3rd of May to raise awareness about the importance of freedom of the press. The theme this year is, 'Safe to Speak: Securing Freedom of Expression in All Media'. It highlights the need for action to upholding the right of journalists to carry out their vital work. A report,

"Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right as stated in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Media freedom and access to information feed into the wider development objective of empowering people. It is also a reminder that in dozens of countries around the world, publications are censored, fined, suspended and closed down, while journalists, editors and publishers are harassed, attacked, detained and even murdered. Over the past decade, more than 600 journalists have been killed - at least 120 in the past one year alone. As we mark the World Press Freedom Day, let us pledge to do our utmost to enable all journalists in all media to do their jobs. WITH S.N.PATTNAIK, THIS IS LALIMA ANEJA DANG FOR AIR NEWS."

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And now, news from the world of sports

India's PV Sindhu will lock horns with Sapsiree Taerattanchai of Thailand in the semi-finals of the Malaysia Open Grand Prix Gold Badminton tournament in Kuala Lumpur today. In the Women's Singles quarterfinals yesterday, top seed Sindhu defeated Hera Desi of Indonesia, 21-17, 21-17. PV Sindhu is the lone Indian left in the tournament.

And in the Indian Premier League, Royal Challengers Bangalore registered their first away win, as they defeated Pune Warriors by 17 runs at Pune last night.

Earlier in another match, Chennai Super Kings beat Kings Eleven Punjab by 15 runs at Chennai.

In today's IPL fixture, defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders will clash with Rajasthan Royals in Kolkata at 8 in the evening. SAVVY HASAN KHAN, AIR NEWS."

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NEWSPAPERS HEADLINES

22 years after he left the fields of Punjab, Sarabjit Singh's final journey, back home has been widely covered by all newspapers on their front pages. The Indian Express headline reads "Sarabjit returns in a Coffin, PM calls him a "brave son of India" and the Mail Today headlines it as "Angry India mourns Sarabjit".

According to the Pioneer as the Indian Government desperately tries to resolve the continuing face-off Ladakh, China continued to act tough and refuses to give any timeline for pulling back its troops. Beijing also warned that it would not ignore "provocation from India.

The Hindustan Times carries a news of a young wildlife biologist who converted bird hunters into their saviours in remote forests of Arunachal Pradesh being awarded the 2013 Whitley Award, also known as Green Oscar, in London. Aparajit Datta was among the eight conservationists from across the world to win the prestigious award and shared 295000 pounds as the prize money.

From June, Delhites will have access to digitally signed birth, death, marriage certificate and ration cards which will be made available on the electronic repository, to be verified or printed whenever required reports the Times of India.

As the UPA government grapples with the controversy over Law Minister Ashwani Kumar vetting the CBI's coal blocks allotment probe report, that Solicitor General Mohan Parasaran said that the CBI director should have shared the report with the Minister.

According to a survey, "Thinking outside the box" and 'going forward' and 'lets touch base' along with phrases like "reach out", ''it's on my radar" and "take it to the next level" are some of the office phrases that irk workers the most across the globe, reports the Times of India.