2100 HRS

28^th September, 2013

THE HEADLINES:

• Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh is now addressing the UN General Assembly; To meet Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharief tomorrow.
• India and China  call for early conclusion of IMF quota reforms; Talks on new border agreement tomorrow.
• President Pranab Mukherjee stresses greater application of Directive Principles for inclusive growth.
• Death toll in Mumbai building collapse rises to 50.
• Second earthquake hits Pakistan; At least 20 people die in Awaran district of Balochistan Province.
• In Sports: Nikhat Zareen enters the final of Albena Women's Youth World Boxing Championships in Bulgaria.

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Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has just started  addressing the 68th session of UN General Assembly.  The focus is on terrorism, expansion of U N Security Council, disarmament and development. Dr. Singh is expected to raise the issue of recent terror attacks by militants in Sambha of Jammu and Kashmir and continuing menace of terrorism emanating from across the border of  Pakistan. He will take the opportunity to stake India's claim for permanent membership of Security Council. Our Correspondent says, India's claim for permanent seat in the Security Council is sure to get the backing of African countries.  We are bringing out live his address from New York.

The News Services Division of All India Radio will broadcast a half an hour special live programme on Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh's address to the United Nations General Assembly. This can be heard on Indraprastha, FM Gold channels and additional frequencies from 9.30 pm tonight.

Dr.Manmohan Singh will hold his first meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sherif tomorrow where he is likely to ask him to rein in terror elements operating from Pakistan's soil and unleashing violence in India. This will be his first meeting with him after Nawaz Sherif returned to power winning the polls. Though expectations were high, Dr.Manmohan Singh himself had cautioned against it because of this week’s terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir.

Nawaz Sharif told news persons earlier that he is committed to improving bilateral ties with India. He said he is looking forward to the meeting with Dr.Singh to make a new beginning and to re-engage with India in a substantive and purposeful dialogue.

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Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has hailed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for his decision to stick to the scheduled meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif despite another attempt by militants to derail the talks through a fresh attack.

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India and China have called for early conclusion of IMF quota reforms. They gave the call in the joint statement issued at the end of sixth Financial Dialogue between the two countries in Beijing. The annual dialogue was held on Wednesday and Thursday ahead of Prime Minister Dr.Manmohan Singh's proposed visit to Beijing next month.

The statement said, the two sides agreed to intensify cooperation with other BRICS nations to push for reforms in international institutions. They will also work for  implementation of the commitment to implement IMF Quota and Governance Reforms.

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India and China are to hold talks on a new border agreement in Beijing tomorrow. The talks will be held by a key Sino-Indian group on border matters called "Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on China - India Border Affairs".  The meeting comes ahead of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit next month and also against the backdrop of several incursions by Chinese troops along the Line of Actual Control.

The two sides are expected to discuss the proposed Border Defence Cooperation Agreement - BDCA. The agreement  aims at more comprehensively dealing with tensions related to patrolling by both sides along the Line of Actual Control. The BDCA agreement is expected to be signed during Prime Minister Singh's visit to Beijing next month.

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President Pranab Mukherjee has called for greater application of Directive Principles in policymaking for inclusive growth. Addressing an all India seminar on Directive Principles of Indian Constitution in New Delhi today, Mr Mukherjee said, it is a cherished goal of every democracy not only to ensure participation of its every citizen in political process but also make him or her part of economic development and social change.

Our national progress will count for nothing unless each and every citizens is made a partner  in this transformation.  It is a cherished goal of any democracy to ensure that each individual feels empowered to not only to participate in political process but also became a part of the economic development and social changes.

Referring to the Central government efforts in prioritizing universal healthcare and education, he said, people have been empowered with security for food, education and employment.

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The BJP has criticised  the adoption of draft report on 2G scam by the Joint Parliamentary Committee, what it called  "in a hurry". Party leader Ravi Shankar Prasad alleged that JPC Chairman P.C Chacko has attempted to shield the Prime Minister and the then Finance Minister by giving them a clean chit in the scam.

CPI leader Gurudas Dasgupta said Chacko prepared the draft report without any discussion and handpicked the facts from the available documents and evidence that suited him.

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The death toll in the collapse of a four-storey building in Mazgaon Dockyard area in Mumbai yesterday has mounted to 50 and at least  30 persons injured in the mishap are currently being treated in JJ hospital and Nayar Hospital in Mumbai. Our correspondent reports that Police have arrested a decorator for carrying out illegal renovation which allegedly affected the stability of the building resulting in a sudden collapse.

Rescue efforts to find every possible survivor at the building collapsed site in south Mumbai’s dockyard area are carried out round the clock. Many people are still feared to be trapped under the debris while, the rescuers have taken out nearly 40 persons so far. 12 engines, four ambulances and two rescue vans of Mumbai fire brigade and a team of National Disaster Response Force  from Mumbai and Talegaon have joined in the efforts with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporations’ disaster management team since yesterday following the tragic mishap. WITH NIVEDITA- ABHISHEK KUMAR, AIR NEWS MUMBAI

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In Uttar Pradesh, all efforts are being made to instil faith in the riot victims who are living in the relief camps. Principal Secretary, health and family welfare, Praveer Kumar today visited the relief camps of Muzaffarnagar and Shamli. He took first hand information regarding health facilities being provided to the riot victims living in Budhana and Shahpur camps. He instructed the officials to immediately deploy lady doctors in the camps to attend the women patients and expecting mothers.

Our Lucknow Correspondent quoting DM Muzaffarnagar, Kaushal Raj Sharma, says a platoon of CRPF has been deployed each in 51 villages. He told AIR that as of now, people hailing from 192 villages are living in the camps.

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41 Tamil Nadu, fishermen released by Sri Lanka returned home today. The Sri Lankan Navy handed over them at Rameswaram and Mandapam in Tamil Nadu to Indian Coast Guard.

The Tamil fishermen released by Lankan court were handed over to Indian Coast Guard at the International Maritime Border Line. They were questioned in Mandapam Camp by Indian Coast Guard officials and sent back to their homes. Fishermen complained that their five boats were confiscated by Sri Lanka. Twenty one fishermen from Rameswaram and Mandapam were apprehended by Lankan Navy on 5th of July and twenty fishermen were caught on August 5. Tamil fishermen are apprehended by Lankan Navy for crossing the international maritime border line and fishing.K DEVI PADMANABHAN, AIR NEWS, TIRUCHIRAPALLI

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At least 20 people have lost their lives after a second earthquake hit the remote district of Awaran of Pakistan's Balochistan Province just days after the first one that left hundreds dead.  Officials say that Mashkay area of the district has been the worst hit this time with one village suffering  so badly that most houses have been damaged and some villages trapped under rubble.  The powerful 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck yesterday.

US Geological Survery says, the epicentre of the quake was recorded at 96 kilometers northeast of Balochistan's Awaran district and 14 kilometers deep. The local meteorological office recorded the intensity of the earthquake at 7.2 on the Richter scale and said the epicentre of the quake was 150 kilometers southwest of Khuzdar.  Strong tremors were felt in different parts of the province.

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Delhi continues to remain in the grip of dengue with the number of people affected with the disease going up.  1729 cases have been reported from various hospitals of the city  so far in this season. Of them, 31 cases are from outside Delhi.  Three people have also succumbed to the disease in the city.  Earlier this week , Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad   reviewed the situation and asked private hospitals  to reserve 5 to 10 beds for dengue patients.

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Reigning junior world champion Nikhat Zareen (54kg) continued her winning run to enter the final of the AIBA Women's Youth World Boxing Championships in Albena, Bulgaria.

The 17-year-old is now assured of at least a silver medal from the completion and will stake a claim for her second world title.

Zareen, who won the flyweight division gold medal at the inaugural edition of the AIBA Women's junior World Championship, has moved into the youth category and fights in the bantamweight division.

In the semi-finals, the Andhra boxer defeated another junior world champion Viktoriya Virt of Ukraine who had won Gold Medal at the 2011 junior world championships in the bantamweight category.

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India and hosts Malaysia hockey clash has ended in a draw in the last league match in the Sultan of Johar Baru Cup under-21 tournament. Both scored three goals each.  Both the teams have already qualified for the final match to be played tomorrow