0815 HRS

2nd November, 2013

THE HEADLINES,

• Finance Minister hints at a bumper crop this year; Expresses hope that inflation will remain under control.
• Pakistan Taliban Chief Hakimullah Mehsud killed in a US drone strike in North Waziristan.
• 965 nominations filed for second phase of Chhattisgarh Assembly elections; Scrutiny today.
• 16 Sri Lankan fishermen arrested off the Andhra Pradesh coast, for allegedly fishing in Indian waters.
• Final ODI of 7-match cricket series between India and Australia to be played today in Bangalore.
• And, India bag 3 medals, including a Gold, in the Asian Archery Championship in Chinese Taipei.

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The Finance Minister has said that the economy is doing well in all sectors. Hinting at the recovery of the economy, Mr. P Chidambaram told a press conference in New Delhi yesterday that the country is heading for a bumper crop this year. 

"We estimate that this will be very good year. We compare the estimate with the corresponding estimate.  In fact all of our reservoirs are either full or nearly full.  This August well, for the rabby crop also.  So we believe that if the estimate of the Kharif food production hold and then with enough water the rabby crop also turns out to be good.  This year will be a bumper harvest year."

Chidambaram said the current account deficit will come down to 60 billion dollars against 88 billion last year. The fiscal deficit target of 4.8 per cent of the GDP will be met and so also the 40,000 crore rupee disinvestment target.

The Minister expressed the government's resolve to extend full support to new investment proposals and said that corporates need not sit on cash. He asked them to start investing. Mr. Chidambaram exuded confidence that measures taken by the RBI and the government at maintaining fiscal discipline will help in moderating inflation. 

"There are still many challenges. Most important being inflation and reviving investment. But i think there will be green shoots even in investment and we are confident that the measures taken by the Reserve Bank of India and our own measures maintaining fiscal discipline will eventually bring about a moderation of inflation."

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In Chhattisgarh, 965 nominations have been filed in 72 constituencies which are going to the poll in the second phase on the 19th of this month. 445 nominations were filed yesterday, the last day for filing nominations. Our correspondent reports that for the second phase, scrutiny will take place today, while nomination papers can be withdrawn till Monday. Campaigning has picked up for the first phase of assembly elections covering 18 constituencies. 143 candidates are in the fray. These constituencies will go to polls on the 11th.

Meanwhile, in Madhya Pradesh, 36 nominations were filed in 19 districts of the state on the first day of filing of nominations yesterday. Our correspondent reports that no nomination papers filed in the remaining 32 districts. 

"Among those who filed their nomination papers on Friday are ministers Antar Singh Arya and Brajendra Pratap Singh. Former chief minister Digvijay Singh’s son Jayvardhan also filed his nomination papers from Raghogarh segment, although the main opposition party congress has yet not announced its candidate from the seat. Meanwhile congress declared its first list of 115 candidates last evening. Names of 49 sitting MLAs including leader of opposition Ajay Singh have been included in the list. Sitting congress MLA Ranbir Jatav has been denied ticket from Gohad seat. Shariq Noor, AIR News, Bhopal."

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In Mizoram, the coalition of three opposition parties -- The Mizoram Democratic Alliance(MDA) -- finalised 12 candidates on the first day of filling of nomination papers yesterday.  The alliance comprises the Mizo National Front (MNF), the Mizoram Peoples Conference (MPC) and Maraland Democratic Front(MDF). The BJP had already finalised 11 candidates to contest the ensuing Mizoram assembly Elections.

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The 'None Of The Above', NOTA option, that will be exercised for the first time in the country, will be printed in pink colour on the Electronic Voting Machines and ballot papers in the forthcoming Assembly polls in five states. However, it will be in white in the next Parliamentary elections. Voters may opt not to vote for any candidate in the fray for a particular seat without their right to maintaining secrecy over their decision being violated.

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 In Uttar Pradesh, the situation in trouble hit areas of Muzaffarnagar is under control. Life is limping back to normal amid tight security. No untoward incident has occurred since Wednesday night after the killing of four people in two villages of Bhaurakalan police area in the district. The administration has deployed large numbers of security forces in the sensitive areas of the district.

Meanwhile, the administration is probing whether PAC jawans had actually shot dead three youths in Hussainpur village, as allegations were leveled against them by many villagers. 

"IG of Special Task Force, Ashish Gupta confirmed that the probe is underway and findings are awaited. Meanwhile Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has warned stringent action against those fuelling communal tensions in western Uttar Pradesh. He categorically refuted the allegations of one sided action and  said that nobody found guilty will be spared. Merajuddin, AIR NEWS, Lucknow."    

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Pakistani Taliban Chief Hakimullah Mehsud was among six militants killed in a US drone strike in the North Waziristan tribal region. A high ranking Taliban official said this to the BBC yesterday. However, neither Pakistan nor the United States has confirmed the news. Pakistani media reported that besides Mehsud, his uncle and two bodyguards were killed in a CIA-operated spy plane operation in Danday Darpakhel area of North Waziristan.

The news of Mehsud's killing came just hours after Pakistani government said, it is hoping to hold peace talks with Taliban leaders.

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India has said that a country should harmoniously accommodate people and groups of different identities for optimum social good. Addressing at the Oxford Centre of Islamic Studies in London, Vice President Mohammed Hamid Ansari said that India has successfully achieved this objective since independence. 

"Taking societal realities into account, the concept of group differentiated citizenship was grafted to assure the minorities and other identities based groups."

India counts amongst its citizens the third largest Muslim population in the world and the largest Muslim minority anywhere.

Mr. Ansari has left for New Delhi after concluding his successful tours of Peru, Cuba and United Kingdom.

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Indian Coast Guard arrested 16 Sri Lankan fishermen off the Krishnapatnam coast in Andhra Pradesh yesterday, for allegedly fishing in Indian waters. An official release said in Chennai that in a sea-air coordinated operation, the Lankan fishermen on board three boats were arrested. The fishermen and their boats have been booked under the Maritime Zones of India Act, 1981. This fresh arrest comes after nabbing of 20 Sri Lankan fishermen on 10th October near Tuticorin.

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The Punjab Assembly has passed a resolution asking the Centre to take action to check drug smuggling and to strengthen border security in the state. Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal said illegal supply of drugs from Pakistan and Afghanistan pose serious threat and it should be addressed urgently to save our younger generations. 

"Besides this seizure, Border Security Force has  also seized over 281 kg heroine worth crore of rupees till now this year as compared to over 288 kg last year. This troop has recently killed 3 Pakistani smugglers during the ambush adjoining Pakistan border in Amritsar sector. Now to contain the ever increasing smuggling of other criminal activities on the India-Pakisatn Border in Punjab, BSF is contemplating on acquiring all terrain vehicles. This will help in manning 553 kilometer border with Pakistan. With Rajesh Bali, AIR News, Jalandhar"

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The intense cold wave sweeping Himachal Pradesh further aggravated as mercury slipped below freezing point at several places. Frequent light snowfall spell on higher reaches of the Lahaul Spiti, Kinnaur, Dhauladhar ranges in Kangra and Pangi area of Chamba have been reported.

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Former IPL commissioner Lalit Modi's legal counsel Mahmood Abdi has lodged an FIR against BCCI president N Srinivasan and his son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan in Jaipur charging them of fixing an IPL-VI match between CSK and Rajasthan Royals held on May 12. Abdi, who is also the president of Sriganganagar District Cricket Association, filed a complaint in a local court on October 26 and 28.

The court of the additional Chief judicial magistrate issued directions to Jaipur police to investigate into the allegations.

In compliance with the directions of the court, Jyoti Nagar police station registered an FIR yesterday in the matter.

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The final one day international of the 7-match cricket series between India and Australia will be played in Bangalore today. The series is currently even at 2-2. Two matches were washed out due to rain in Ranchi and Cuttack. 

"The Aussies have, so far, been perfect on all fronts, with skipper George Bailey anchoring the side like a true hero. However, the absence of in-form paceman Mitchell Johnson, who has flown back home to prepare for the Ashes, may prove costly for the visitors, as the Indian batsmen, especially the Virat Kohli juggernaut, are ready to give a final blow. The only scare for Dhoni is the bowling, which has been expensive and not at all supportive. Team India, which last won a proper ODI series against the Kangaroos in 1986, must fire in unison today, because the Aussies will leave no stone unturned to fly back home for the Ashes with a series win on the Indian soil. SAVVY HASAN KHAN, FOR AIR NEWS.”

All India Radio will broadcast live commentary on the match, alternately in Hindi and English. It can be heard on the Rajdhani and FM Gold channels from 1 PM onwards.

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India has clinched a Gold, a Silver and a Bronze to climb to the second position in the Asian Archery Championship being held in Chinese Taipei. The Indian mixed team duo of Abhishek Verma and Lily Chanu Paonam beat the Iranian team by one point to win the coveted yellow metal.

India now have 2 Gold, one Silver and one Bronze and are second in the medal standings behind Korea.

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World Champion Sebastian Vettel clocked the fastest time in Second Practice session at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi yesterday to stake his claim for the Formula-1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix  title this year. The German champion racer posted  the fastest time of 1 minute, 41.335 seconds to finish ahead of Red Bull teammate Mark Webber and Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton. Lotus driver Kimi Raikkonen was fourth quickest after narrowly avoiding a crash.

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NEWSPAPERS HEADLINES: 

• Newspapers have noted on their front pages the killing of Pak Taliban Chief Hakimullah Mehsud in a US drone strike in Pakistan. The Asian Age says this is the latest in a series of blows to the country's most feared militant group.

• Narendra Modi's forthcoming visit to Bihar to visit the homes of the six people killed in the serial bomb blasts during the BJP's hunkar rally in Patna on Sunday has also been covered by newspapers on their front pages. Under the headline, "Modi's visit heats up Bihar", the Pioneer writes that a war of words has broken out between the JD(U) and the BJP over the latter's state-wide march with the ashes of the victims.

• The Jaipur police has registered a case against BCCI Chief N Srinivasan and his son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan, accusing them of fixing an IPL 6 game between their team Chennai Super Kings and the Rajasthan Royals, reports Hindustan Times.

• The Indian Express writes that a woman teacher in tribal dominated Rayagada district of Orissa, who was set on fire for refusing to withdraw a sexual assault complaint against a school inspector, has succumbed to her burn injuries.

• As the Delhi Assembly election campaign enters a decisive phase, the Aam Aadmi Party plans to re-launch its fortnightly mouthpiece "Aap Ki Kranti", reports the Hindu.

• The Indian Express says that a JD(U) MP Anil Sahani has been named by the CBI in a scam of leave travel claims for Rs. 9.5 lakhs.

• An alarming 69 percent of the nearly 5 lakh drivers of all vehicles involved in accidents last year did not possess the mandatory educational qualification to command the steering wheel, writes the pioneer .

• And finally, in good news for pizza lovers, The Times of India says that British scientists claim to have developed the world's first nutritionally-balanced pizza by reducing salt, adding whole wheat flour, Scottish seaweed, vitamins and red peppers.