0815 HRS

31^th October, 2013

THE HEADLINES:

• Union Cabinet approves Pharmaceuticals Purchase Policy for five years; also declares the airports at Bhubaneswar and Imphal as International airports.
• Centre hands over Patna serial bomb blasts case to National Investigation Agency.
• India and Cuba sign an MoU for cooperation in broadcasting between Prasar Bharati and Cuban Radio and Television Institute.
• Nation pays homage to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on her 29th death anniversary.
• India beat Australia by 6 wickets in sixth cricket one-dayer to level the 7-match series 2-2 at Nagpur.
• Saurav Ghosal becomes first Indian player to reach the quarter-finals in the World squash Championship.

<><><>

The Union Cabinet has approved the Pharmaceuticals Purchase Policy (PPP) for five years. The move is aimed at ensuring optimum utilization of the installed capacity of the Pharma sector Central Public Sector Enterprises, CPSEs. The PPP in respect of 103 medicines will be valid for five years and will extend only to CPSEs under the administrative control of the Department of Pharmaceuticals.
The Cabinet also approved some amendments made to the Food Security Bill including the extension of deadline for implementing the law to one year from six months. Nine amendments were approved by the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on 28th of August without the cabinet nod. The Food Ministry had sought ex-post facto approval of the cabinet for the amendments since the food law has been passed in Parliament.
The Cabinet also gave its approval for declaring airports at Bhubaneswar in Odisha and Imphal in Manipur as International airports.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has reduced the minimum export price of wheat by 40 dollars to 260 dollars per tonne.
The CCEA approved development of four-laning of Sangrur-Punjab and Haryana border section of the National Highway-71. It also approved the development of four laning of Aurangabad-Yedeshi section of National Highway-211 in Maharashtra.

<><><>

The Centre has handed over the Patna serial bomb blasts case to the National Investigation Agency following a request from Bihar government. This was stated by Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde after meeting the Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in New Delhi last evening.

"Chief Minister of Bihar has written a letter, asking to hand over the case to NIA and we are handing over the case to the agency."
Talking to reporters,Mr. Nitish Kumar said that Bihar has to strengthen its anti-terror capabilities as it had not witnessed any such major incident.

"Now, the people will be alert. Meanwhile, we have requested the Centre for the forces and equipments. The Centre has assured every possible help."
Six people lost  their lives and over 80 others  were injured in the serial blasts at the BJP rally in Patna last Sunday.

<><><>

In Uttar Pradesh, the death toll in fresh clashes in Muzaffarnagar district has risen to four. While three youth were killed in Mohammadpur village under Bhorakalan Police Station area in a scuffle yesterday, one woman was killed in Hasanpur village late last evening. More from our correspondent :

"The police has arrested eight persons on the charges of murder and violence which resulted the death of four people. In view of the prevailing tension, all the senior administrative officers have reached the recent violence hit areas of Muzaffarnagar. High alert has been issued in nine districts of western UP. Additional battalions of paramilitary forces have been deployed in the troubled and sensitive areas, besides putting army on the alert. With Ranveer Saini from Muzaffarnagar this is Merajuddin for AIR NEWS from Lucknow."

<><><>

In Assam, indefinite curfew continued at Mushalpur and Simla police station area in Baksa district after bandh supported clashed with local people yesterday. One person was killed and several injured in the incident. Miscreants also damaged several houses. Official sources in Guwahati said, the Assam government has sounded an alert to all districts of Northern Assam after violence erupted in Baksa. District authorities have been asked to maintain vigil so that violence does not spread to other areas.

<><><>

Andhra Pradesh government has ordered preliminary enquiry into the Mahabubnagar district bus fire accident that claimed 45 lives yesterday. A senior official from Transport department will look into accident and submit a report within a week.
Meanwhile, the identification of charred remains of the victims is underway. The authorities have asked the relatives of the victims to give their blood samples so that the DNA profiling can be matched. The remains of the victims have been shifted to Osmania Hospital in Hyderabad from the accident site which is about 130 kilo meters away.

<><><>

Pakistani troops violated ceasefire last night along the Line of Control  by resorting to firing on forward villages of Hamirpur and Gigariyal in Khour area of Jourian sector in Akhnoor tehsil of Jammu region. More from our correspondent:

"Pakistan Army started firing at 7:45 PM and targeted forward Indian posts with small and automatic weapons. Indian Army retaliated effectively leading the exchange of fire which continued till 10.20 PM. There were no report casualties or damages on the Indian side in Pakistani firing. Pakistan has violated the ceasefire a day after BSF and Pakistani Rangers agreed to maintain ceasefire on the international border at a flag meeting. Chandrkant Sharma, AIR News from Jammu."

<><><>

Vice President Hamid Ansari met former President of Cuba Fidel Castro in Havana last night. Mr Ansari's meeting with the 87-year old Castro reflects the warmth in the relationship between India and Cuba, two of the founding members of the Non Alignment Movement. This is the first time in several months that Mr Castro met a foreign dignitary. Mr. Castro has been in poor health and demitted office in July 2006.
The Vice President also met Cuban President Raul Castro. They discussed the matter of mutual interest.
India and Cuba have also signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU for cooperation in broadcasting between Prasar Bharati and Cuban Radio and Television Institute, ICRT. More from our correspondent:

"Cuban share a emotional warmth for Indians and bollywood films in Cuba are a big hit with the people. Shahrukh Khan is a household name in Cuba. The pact between Prasar Bharati and Cuban ICRT has opened up a plethora of opportunities . The pact would facilitate exchange programmes in the fields of cultural entertainment, education, science, sports and news. It also opens up avenues for co-production of broadcast content for creative ventures including films and coverage of special events. Cubans are admired by Indians for their success as brave revolutionary people who continue to inspire those fighting for social equality. For India, it’s a strong embrace of long trusted friendship to forge ahead through mutual cooperation. MADAN KUMAR, AIR NEWS, from Havana."

<><><>

In Pakistan, bomb attacks have killed at least 10 people, including five soldiers, and injured 18 others.  Officials said, a powerful bicycle bomb exploded in a crowded car repair market in the restive south-western city of Quetta around sunset, killing at least five people and wounding 17.  Earlier in the day, five Pakistani soldiers were killed in the South Waziristan tribal region near the Afghan border when a roadside bomb went off. 

<><><>

Palestinian groups have alleged that Israel is trying to derail the peace process by going ahead with the plans to build 1500 new jewish settlements in east Jerusalem. Nabil Abu Rudeina, Spokesman for Palestinian Authority President Mahmud Abbas, said the move destroys the peace process and is a message to the international community that Israel does not respect international law. A report:
 
"Israel’s Interior Ministry spokeswoman Lital Apter said that Israel also plans to develop an archaeology and tourism site near the Old City which is home to Jerusalem's most sensitive holy sites. Analysts say that the move is almost along the similar lines to those on August 13, when the first batch of 26 prisoners was freed and Israel announced construction of more than 2,000 new settlements, mostly in east Jerusalem. Hence it may be seen as the move to deflect the criticism by the Israelis back home over the release of the prisoners, who were jailed for deadly attacks on Israelis. Atul K Tiwary, AIR News."

<><><>

The US government has run a budget deficit below one trillion dollars for the first time in five years. The government said yesterday that the deficit for the 2013 budget year totalled 680.3 billion dollars, down from 1.09 trillion dollars in 2012. That's the smallest imbalance since 2008. It's still the fifth-largest deficit of all time.

<><><>

The Reserve Bank of India Governor Raghuram Rajan has said that inflationary expectations are high and the central bank will take a tough stance to bring it down to 5 per cent. In an interview to a TV channel, he attributed the high inflation to food, services and increasing rural wages. Mr Rajan said, 7-8 per cent growth will be feasible in the long run. He said, the growth slowed down because of problems in allocations of natural resources like coal and spectrum.
    

<><><>

The nation pays homage to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on her 29th death anniversary. President Pranab Mukherjee, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and other dignitaries paid floral tribute at her memorial - Shakti Sthal in the national capital. A series of functions have been organised to highlight the contribution of Indira Gandhi in the nation building. The nation also pays tribute to first Home Minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his birth anniversary today. He played a crucial role during the freedom struggle and was instrumental in the integration of 500 princely states into the Indian Union.
 

<><><>

India beat Australia by 6 wickets in the sixth cricket one-dayer to level the 7-match series 2-2. Put into bat, Australia made 350 for six in the stipulated 50 overs at Nagpur yesterday. George Bailey scored 156, while Shane Watson made 102 for Australia. R Ashwin claimed 2 wickets. Chasing the target, India made 351 for 4 in 49.3 overs. Virat Kohli scored 115 not out, while Shikhar Dhawan scored 100. Mitchell Johnson took 2 wickets.

<><><>    

Saurav Ghosal has become the first Indian squash player to reach the quarter-finals of the World Championships. He defeated Henrik Mustonen in a keenly-contested match at the National Centre in Manchester, United Kingdom. The World No. 17 Ghosal next faces Ramy Ashour, the top-seeded defending champion from Egypt, who beat Australia's Cameron Pilley.

<><><>

NEWSPAPER HEADLINES

• The Sensex rising to an all time record on Wednesday marking a stock market turn around, makes the headline in most papers this morning "Sensex touches life high of 21,034 on reform of FIIs and stronger rupee" writes the Economic Times.
• Sensex at all time closing high, but euphoria's missing" writes thetimes of India.
• The other major story reported by most papers is the uniting of secular parties to project themselves as a national alternative post the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. The Pioneer has a front page story with photograph of prominent members in the conclave "Third front broth has UPA flavour writes mail today adding that the leader of 17 parties attended the left sponsored anti communalism convention.
• "14 parties come together, new front on the cards? " asks theHindustan Times on its front page.
• Photographs of tearful relatives and the burning bus that caught five in Andhra Pradesh. in which 45 passenger were  burnt alive, finds prominent coverage in most papers this morning.
• "SC unsafe and lawless in Delhi" writes mail today adding that the supreme court expressed serious concern over the spurt in crimes against women in the national capital.
• Tech savvy children are using mobile phones, tablets and computers before they  can talk, reveals a U.K study in London. According to the Times of India, the study shows that 70% of the children know how to use gadgets before starting primary school.
• And finally, In a one of its kind of rescue operations, a  marsh crocodile confiscated by the Delhi wildlife department at the Delhi Railway station was finally rehabilitated after it was released into its natural habitat at the National chambal sanctuary.