0815 HRS

28^th October, 2013

THE HEADLINES:

• Seven suspects detained in connection with Patna serial blasts.
• Flood situation continues to be grim in North Coastal districts of Andhra Pradesh, while it improves in Odisha; A central team to visit Odisha today to assess the damages caused by cyclone Phailin and subsequent floods. 
• Israel to release second batch of 26 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the resumption of peace talks. 
• Syria submits a detailed plan to international watchdog, OPCW, on destruction of its chemical stockpile.
• Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull wins the India Grand Prix; Becomes the youngest driver to clinch the World Driver Championship for the 4th consecutive time.

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At least 7 suspects have been detained in connection with yesterday's Patna blasts that killed 5 people and left 83 injured. While 3 persons were detained in Ranchi last night, 4 were nabbed in Patna. Our correspondent reports that based on the tip-off by Bihar police, the Jharkhand Police raided a place in Dhurva area of Ranchi and detained three suspects. 

 

"According to reports, the suspected terrorists reached Patna yesterday from Ranchi and went straight to the toilet of Patna railway station to set timers of bomb, when one bomb exploded injuring one of the terrorists. After this, his accomplice Imtiyaz left the bombs there, and started running when he was arrested from the spot. By profession a painter, Imtiyaz told police that the plot of serial blasts was hatched in Ranchi by Tahsin alias Monu, along with his five associates. Police has recovered huge amount of explosives from Imtiyaz's residence of Ranchi. Raids are being conducted in different places of Jharkhand. Rajesh Sinha, AIR News, Ranchi."

Bihar DGP Abhyanand said, six live bombs were also recovered and defused by the bomb disposal squad. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said, the explosions could be the handiwork of a terrorist organisation.

Seven low intensity blasts rocked Patna yesterday between 9.30 AM and 12.45 PM, shortly before BJP leader Narendra Modi's address to a rally in the capital.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh spoke to the Bihar Chief Minister and asked him to speedily probe the blasts and ensure that the perpetrators are punished. 

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In Andhra Pradesh, rain fury continued in the north coastal districts of the state, while the situation improved a bit in the rest of the state. Normal life remained badly hit in Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and East Godavari districts due to very heavy rain. Our correspondent reports that ten teams of the National Disaster Response Force have been rushed to the worst-hit district for rescue and relief operations. 

 

"Incessant rains for the past one week left a trail of destruction affecting two thirds of the state. Preliminary official reports show that the affected areas incurred losses to a tune of 1,868 crore rupees. About 22 houses damaged, about 1,500 irrigation tanks breached and roads up to a 1,000 kilometres length damaged. Farmers suffered major losses as crops like paddy, maize, cotton and soybean damages in over 15 lakh hectares. Rail and road transport remained badly hit in north coastal region of the state. Laxmi, AIR News, Hyderabad."

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A central team will visit Odisha today to assess the damage caused by cyclone Phailin and the subsequent floods. The 12-member inter-ministerial team will make an on-the-spot assessment of the damage. Our correspondent reports that the flood situation in the state has slightly improved with the water level in some rivers receding, except the Subarnarekha in Balasore district. 

 

"Life is slowly getting back to normalcy with the cessation of rainfall that has lashed the state for the last couple of days. Schools are back to business from today except in Ganjam district where the rivers continue to carry high waters. Kuchha houses in many flood affected areas of Ganjam, Mayurbhanj and Balasore have literally become a sight of the past. As of now, the canopy of cloudless sky overhead has brought a ray of relief to the flood ravaged people of the state. Girish Chandra dash, AIR News, Cuttack."

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In Assam, the dawn-to-dusk bandh called by three sister organizations of the opposition Asom Gana Parishad evoked a mixed response. Vehicles are off the roads at some places. Sources said that the bandh had been called to protest against the alleged failure of the Assam government to maintain the law and order situation and the rising prices.
 

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The Himachal Pradesh government has cancelled the lease of the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association, HPCA properties and has taken control of five stadia with immediate effect. It includes the International Cricket Stadium at Dharamshala and the luxury hotel, The Pavilion, near the stadium.

BJP MP and Bhartiya Janata Yuva Morcha President Anurag Thakur heads the HPCA. The state BJP has criticised the move and called it an undemocratic step.

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In Chhattisgarh, today is the last day for withdrawal of nominations for the first phase of assembly elections. 18 constituencies in the Maoist-affected region of the state will go to the polls on the 11th of next month in this phase. After the scrutiny of nomination papers, a total of 172 nominations were found valid.

Meanwhile, filing of nominations for 72 other seats in the state is going on.

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The full Election Commission will arrive in Bhopal today to take stock of the preparations for Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh. Chief Election Commissioner VS Sampat and Election Commissioners HS Brahma and Naseem Zaidi will hold a meeting with representatives of six recognised national parties this evening. The commission will review election preparations at a meeting with Divisional Commissioners, Inspectors General of Police, District Election Officers and SPs tomorrow.

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The Israeli government has decided to release a second batch of 26 Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the resumption of peace talks with the Palestinians. A statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said that 26 prisoners, jailed for violence before the 1993 Oslo Accord, will be released.

In August, Israel had agreed to release 104 prisoners in four stages. 26 have been freed so far. 

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Syria has handed over a detailed plan to destroy its chemical stockpile on time. The international watchdog, OPCW, said in a statement that Syria submitted to the OPCW, its formal initial declaration covering its chemical weapons programme. Damascus was required to submit the destruction plan under a US-Russian deal agreed upon last month that headed off military strikes on Syria.

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In Bangladesh, the first day of the strike called by the Opposition parties was marked by countrywide clashes, arson, vandalism and bomb explosions. Although Dhaka remained comparatively peaceful, five people were killed in Faridpur, Jessore, Pabna, Pirojpur and Bhogra. Over 100 people were injured in clashes with the police. More from our correspondent:

 

"In Dhaka, home-made bombs were hurled in front of the residence of International Crimes Tribunal Prosecutor, Tureen Afroz, injuring a policeman. Crude bombs were also hurled at the offices of several media houses, as well as outside the office of Communist Party of Bangladesh. A storage room of the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's Court was gutted destroying many case documents and the police suspect the strikers for the fire. A haul of 17 home-made bombs were recovered from a staff quarter in Dhaka university. 2 trains were torched in Joypurhat injuring over 50 passengers. Melinda Dias, for AIR News, Dhaka."

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In Georgia, according to partial results from the Electoral Commission, an ally of the Georgian Prime Minister has won the Presidential Election outright.  With votes at 12 per cent of polling stations counted, Giorgi Margvelashvili has won 64 per cent of the votes. His closest rival, David Bakradze, trails with 21 per cent. Mr Bakradze has admitted defeat and congratulated Mr Margvelashvili.

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At least 18 Afghan civilians, mostly women and children, were killed in a roadside bomb blast in the eastern Ghazni province of Afghanistan. Reports quoting provincial officials said, the blast took place when a bus carrying people to a wedding ceremony struck a road side bomb in Andar district of the province last evening. Ghazni is one of the restive provinces of Afghanistan where militants use road side bombs to target Afghan and NATO coalition forces.

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Leading experts at the Overseas Employers' Conference for the Gulf region in Dubai have underlined the need to develop skill sets among the migrant Indian workers to meet professional challenges. Inaugurating a two-day conference in Dubai yesterday, Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vyalar Ravi said that in addition to training the workers with the required skill sets, the government has come out with pension, insurance cover and resettlement plans for the benefit of overseas Indian workers. More from our West Asia correspondent:

 

"The International Labour Organization, ILO, in its latest report has said that India will have the largest workforce around 25 per cent across the globe by 2020. The Gulf region has been one of the favoured destinations of expatriate Indian workers. In this backdrop, the Chairman of the National Skill Development Corporation, Dilip Chenoy said, it is urgent to harness the youth potential by training and orienting them with the skill sets for the future. The ILO representative in India, Dr. Paul Comyn said a proper labour market assessment holds the key to have the right fit. Atul Tiwary, AIR News, Dubai."

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The Chief of the US spy agency, NSA, has not discussed the alleged bugging of German Chancellor's phone with President Barack Obama. An NSA spokesman said, Gen. Keith Alexander never discussed alleged operations involving Chancellor Angela Merkel. The German media said, the US has been tapping the Chancellor's phone since 2002, and Mr. Obama was told in 2010.

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Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel has become the youngest driver to win the Formula One World Driver's Championship for the fourth consecutive time. The German driver clocked 1 hour 31 minutes 12.1 seconds to win the 60-lap Indian Grand Prix for the third time in a row at the Buddh International circuit at Greater Noida yesterday. A report:

 

"It was a supersonic drive from Sebastian Vettel, who yet again showed that he was uncatchable in his RB09. Vettel bowed on the Buddh International circuit after completing the victory and then jumped on his car to celebrate the historic win. This is what he had to say:

Before Vettel, only two drivers had won four straight titles -- Juan Manuel Fangio from Argentina and German great Michael Schumacher. It was double delight for Red Bull, as it bagged the Constructor's title. SAVVY HASAN KHAN, FOR AIR NEWS."

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The News Services Division of All India Radio in its weekly 'PUBLIC SPEAK" programme will bring you a discussion tonight on 'FOOD INFLATION AND MEASURES TO CURB IT". This can be heard on the FM Gold Channel and additional frequencies at 9.30 pm. Listeners can ask questions to the experts in our studio on telephone number: 011-2331-4444.This programme is also available on Doordarshan DTH.
  

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NEWSPAPER HEADLINES 

• The serial blasts in Patna yesterday, ahead of BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi's rally there, dominate the front pages of all the papers. Highlighting the possible involvement of terrorist group Indian Mujahideen, the Times of India reports, on its front page, '4 held, say it was to avenge Muzzafarnagar'. The Hindustan Times draws attention to the blame game between Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and the BJP, as it states 'Conspiracy by vested interests, says Kumar; BJP cries negligence'.
• Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi's endorsement of Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit at a rally in the capital is widely noticed. TheAsian Age quotes him as saying, 'Shiela changed Delhi in past 15 years'. Drawing attention to Shiela Dixit's demand for ending the multiplicity of authorities that govern the city, the Mail Todaywrites, 'Sheila asks Rahul for unified command'.
• The Twitter confrontation between Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh and senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj is keenly noticed in the press. 'Sushma better PM candidate for BJP, tweets Digvijay', writes the Hindu. The Times of India highlights Ms. Swaraj's retort, 'You're better for PM than Rahul: Sushma to Diggy'.
• In a special story, the Pioneer reports that in an effort to boost the rail infrastructure on its border with China, 'India plans 14 railway lines near Line of Actual Control'.
• Many papers like the Asian Age, the Pioneer and the Indian Express report that Foreign Direct Investment or FDI in August dipped 38 per cent to 1.4 billion dollars, the lowest in five years.
• The Times of India informs us that the Andoman and Nicobar Islands have been declared the new 'hope spots' by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. A 'hope spot' is an area of an ocean that merits special protection because of its significant underwater habitats.