0815 HRS

  23rd October, 2013

THE HEADLINES:

• Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to meet his Chinese counterpart in Beijing today; An agreement to prevent incursions by Chinese troops along the Line of Actual Control, high on agenda.
• One BSF jawan killed and 3 injured in heavy shelling by Pakistani troops in Jammu division along the LOC.
• Government proposes mandatory insurance cover for public deposits by companies; Defaulters to pay additional 18 per cent annual interest on principal amount.
• Fourth one day international cricket match between India and Australia to be played in Ranchi today.
• And, five Indian boxers to play in the quarterfinals of World Championships in Kazakhstan.

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India and China are likely to sign more than six agreements and Memorandum of Understanding at Beijing today. The signing of agreements will be followed by summit and delegation-level talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang. Our correspondent covering the Prime Minister's visit reports that both India and China are expected to ink an agreement on a mechanism to prevent incursions by Chinese troops along the Line of Actual Control, LAC. Both sides are engaged in negotiating a Border Defence Co-operation Agreement to maintain peace and tranquillity on the LAC. The agreement is aimed at avoiding face-offs between the armies of the two countries like in the Depsang valley in Ladakh recently. However, plans for putting in place a liberalized visa regime look elusive.

A top diplomatic source said, issues including issuing of stapled visas to two archers from Arunachal Pradesh by China and deficit in bilateral trade is high on the agenda. The source said both sides are also cooperating on terrorism and discussing Afghanistan where international troops are set to withdraw by the end of next year. Our correspondent, covering the Prime Minister's visit, has filed this report:

"Prime Minister is being accorded ceremonial reception at the Chinese Parliament, the Great Hall of the People today. China is attaching high importance to Dr. Manmohan Singh’s visit. This is the second meeting between the two Prime Ministers in five months. Chinese Premier had visited India in May and it was his first foreign visit as Prime Minister. India is also pressing China hard to open its market to Indian goods especially pharmaceuticals, IT and agro-products. The possibility of Chinese investment through Industrial Park mechanism is also being explored to correct the trade imbalance.<>With Sunil Shukl, Sant Bahadur, reporting from Beijing for AIR News."   

Along with Chinese Premier Li, Dr. Singh will address business leaders attending the second India-China CEOs Forum being held on the sidelines of the Indian Prime Minister's visit. Ten top Indian industrialists led by Reliance Anil Dhirubai Ambani Group chief Anil Ambani and prominent Chinese industrialists are taking part in the CEOs' meeting. The Prime Minister reached Beijing last evening on a three-day official tour, after completing a two day successful visit to Moscow. At the Beijing International airport, Dr. Singh told media persons that China is a great neighbour of India.

"China is our great neighbour. We have centuries old civilizational links. There are lot of things, we have to discuss. I am looking forward to discussing all these issues to promote further cooperation between two countries."

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At the end of the two-day meeting of the India-Bangladesh Joint Group of Customs in Dhaka, both countries inked an agreement last night for enhanced trade facilitation and for combating evasion of duties and taxes. Our correspondent reports that this was the ninth meeting under the Secretary-level Joint Group of Customs.

"Under the Agreement India and Bangladesh identified 16 Land Customs  Stations  of high bilateral trade for synchronisation of working hours and days, and extension of Car Pass System thereby allowing movement of trucks for unloading  up to the point of Land Custom Station.  It has also been agreed to allow custom officials of both countries to cross the  borders to  each  other's land Custom Stations for coordination and for resolving operational issues.  Both sides also agreed to keep the Land customs Stations operational for 7 days a week from 1st January, 2014.  Melinda  Dias  for  AIR News, Dhaka."

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In Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistani Rangers resorted to heavy shelling and firing last night in the Jammu division along the Line of Control. One BSF jawan was killed and three others injured at Chenaz post in the Arnia sector. Three mortar shells fell in Arnia town around 9 pm and exploded with big bangs, spreading panic in the entire area. Reports said, Pakistan suffered heavy damages in retaliatory firing of the BSF. Our correspondent reports that the Pakistan Army resorted to heavy firing in the Poonch district earlier in the day.

"Few hours after the visit of Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah apart from top brass of BSF and security agencies in Samba and Hiranagar sectors, Pakistani Rangers last night resorted to heavy shelling and firing in entire R S Pura, Ramgarh and Arnia sectors and parts of Pargwal, Akhnoor and Kanachak sectors. There was panic among the people of forward villages everywhere with people confine themselves to indoors and switching off lights of their houses despite Karva Chouth festival. People  from some forward villages  have shifted to safer places  in panic and fear. R. K. Raina for AIR News from Jammu."
Earlier, the Director General of Military Operations, DGMO of India, Lt. General Vinod Bhatia called up his Pakistani counterpart, in the wake of repeated ceasefire violations along the LoC and the International Border. Official sources said, as per the existing arrangement between the two countries, their DGMOs talk over the hotline to discuss issues on the LoC and the International Border.

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The Corporate Affairs Ministry has proposed mandatory insurance cover for public deposits garnered by companies and hefty penalty of up to 18 per cent annual interest for defaulters. This has been proposed to safeguard investors from fraudulent money-collection schemes. The premium of the deposit insurance cover will need to be paid by companies themselves. The proposed measures, which form part of the draft rules for the new Companies Act, also bar the companies from promising huge returns and hefty agent commissions in excess of the prevailing rates prescribed by the RBI for such deposits.

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The Centre has asked the States to take immediate steps for constructing intermediary godowns at the block level under the MGNREGA scheme to ensure additional storage facilities for effective implementation of the Food Security Law. In a joint letter to all Chief Ministers yesterday, Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh and Food Minister KV Thomas said, the Schedule-I of MGNREGA has been expanded to include construction of foodgrain storage facilities for the implementation of the Act. Both the Ministers asked the states to take immediate steps to identify locations in each block, where storage is needed.

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Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has begun talks with his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang to discuss various bilateral and international issues at Beijing.
Earlier, Dr. Singh was received at the Great Hall of the People and accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honour, after which the two leaders met for restricted delegation talks followed by another meeting with full delegations from both sides.

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The Centre has made a strong plea before the Supreme Court for passing an appropriate order to ban all kinds of gutka in the country, saying they are addictive and harmful even if they don't contain tobacco. Appearing before a bench headed by Justice G S Singhvi, Additional Solicitor General Indira Jaising made a forceful submission against the manufacturing and selling of gutka products. Senior advocate Gopal Subramaniam, who is assisting the bench as amicus curiae, also supported the Centre's stand saying that companies are making a mockery of rules by selling pan masala and tobacco separately as they cannot manufacture gutka with tobacco.

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The tripartite talks between the Centre, the Assam government and the Ranjan Daimary faction of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland, NDFB will be held in Guwahati today. Assam Home Secretary Gyanendra Dev Tripathi said, if everything goes according to plan, the Suspension of Operation treaty is likely to be signed today. It may be recalled that this will be the second treaty with the NDFB faction.

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Heavy rain lashed several parts of Andhra Pradesh yesterday, due to the low pressure area formed in the Bay of Bengal and the vigorous North East monsoon. Normal life has been thrown out of gear at many places in the Coastal and Rayalaseema regions. More from our correspondent:

"More than hundred cities and towns in Nellore, Prakasam, East and West Godavari, Srikakulam, and Visakhapatnam districts received very heavy to heavy rains till this morning. Water bodies in several districts are in spate. Standing crops including paddy, cotton suffered losses. Met officials warned off very heavy to heavy rains for next two days. Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy last evening directed the administrations of all the coastal districts to be on alert and extend all assistance to the affected people. - Lakshmi, AIR news, Hyderabad."

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The Information and Broadcasting Ministry has invited suggestions from the public on the proposed Cinematograph Bill, 2013. The bill has a provision specifically stating that only the central government can pass an order of suspension of exhibition of any film and not any state. An official release, said the  suggestions can be sent to jsfilms.inb@nic.in and dirfilms2-inb@nic.in.

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The fourth one day international of the 7-match cricket series between India and Australia will be played in Ranchi today. The Aussies, who handed the hosts a dramatic 4-wicket defeat in the last ODI at Mohali, are currently leading the series, 2-1. We have a report:

“In the last ODI, it was Dhoni who, with his flawless innings of 139 not out, steered India to post a formidable 303, after a nervy start. But the Skipper's Herculean effort went in vain, as the Indian bowlers, in particular Ishant Sharma, let slip a straight victory in the death overs, something that’s haunting India for quite a while. So far, most of India's strike bowlers have been expensive and really not that penetrating, with the bladesman, especially the wonder opening duo of Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan, and Virat Kohli, doing most of the repairing work. With Jaydev Unadkat and Amit Mishra waiting in the wings, Dhoni may consider making some amends in the bowling line up, as Team India will leave no stone unturned to square the series, just like they did in the second one dayer at Jaipur. Savvy Hasan Khan for AIR News."
All India Radio will broadcast a live commentary on the match. It can be heard alternately in Hindi and English on the Rajdhani and FM Gold Channels from 1 PM.

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A total of 5 Indian pugilists have booked quarterfinal berths in the World Boxing Championships at Almaty, Kazakhstan. Three boxers, who made it to the last-8 stage yesterday were: Vikash Malik in the 60kg category, Sumit Sangwan in 81kg category and Satish Kumar in +91kg category. The three joined two other Indians, Shiva Thapa and Manoj Kumar. Shiva in the 56kg and Manoj in the 64kg category had made it to the quarters on Monday.

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NEWSPAPER HEADLINES

• Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to China is prominently noticed on the front pages of most papers today. "PM in Beijing, border pact on cards, stapled visa a sore point" reports theHindustan Times. Highlighting India's decision to hold back on signing a new visa agreement, the Indian Express writes "Visas to trade: Some India-China hardtalk before the talks".
• Fresh moves by the CBI as it continues its investigations in the coal blocks allocation scam get wide attention in the papers today. "CBI asks for PMO's files on Hindalco" reports the Asian Age. The Hindustan Times writes "Agency wants records of correspondence before Talabira coalfield was allocated to Hindalco in 2005".  The Statesman, meanwhile quotes the Union Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, V Narayansamy as saying "PMO has nothing to hide".
• In the backdrop of the Supreme Court asking the CBI to probe alleged criminality in the tapped phone conversations of corporate lobbyist Nira Radia, the Times of India reports "CBI starts four inquiries into criminality in Radia tapes".
• The Supreme Court's directions to the authorities regarding the alarming levels of pesticide and insecticide residues in food items is prominently noticed in the press. "SC: Ensure food items are free of pesticide" reports the Tribune. Highlighting the fact that the court has ordered periodic inspections of all cola manufacturing facilities, the Mail Today observes "SC takes fizz out of colas".
• And finally, in what would be a major green initiative, the Times of India reports that the government is planning to set up the world's largest solar power plant with a staggering capacity of 4000 megawatts near Jaipur. Do we have a new saying in the making...."make electricity while the sun shines"