1400 HRS.    

8^th November, 2013

THE HEADLINES:

• Filing of nominations for Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram ends today.

• Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi replies to Election Commission notice for alleged violation of model code of conduct.

• 22 Indian fishermen return to Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu after Sri Lankan authorities handed them over to Coast Guard.

• Super Typhoon Haiyan batters central Philippines; Over one million people evacuated.

• Sensex loses over 100 points; Rupee weakens 25 paise to 62.66 against the dollar.

• West Indies were 112 for 3 at tea in their second innings against India in Kolkata Test.

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Filing of nominations for Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram ends today. In Madhya Pradesh, it will end at 3 PM. The scrutiny of nominations will take place tomorrow. More than 2,000 nominations have been filed for the 230 assembly segments till yesterday.

Among those who filed their nomination papers today include chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan from Vidisha and former union minister Suresh Pachori from Bhojpur. Mr. Pachori is contesting assembly elections for the first time on the other hand Mr. Chouhan is contesting elections from two assembly seats for the first time. Meanwhile dissidence over ticket distribution in BJP and Congress is still continuing. Opponents pelted stones on the convoy of Congress candidate Mahendra Joshi in Shujalpur area today. After incidents of vandalism yesterday, now elaborate security arrangement have been made at the state headquarters of both the parties in Bhopal. Shariq Noor, AIR News, Bhopal.

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In Mizoram, 77 candidates have filed their nominations for the Assembly Elections so far. Among them, 25 are from Congress, 23 from Mizoram Democratic Alliance, 26 from Zoram Nationalist party, two from BJP and one from Nationalist Congress Party. More nominations are likely to be filed on the last day today. The last day for withdrawal of nomiations is Monday. Scrutiny will take place on Tuesday. The state will go to polls on the 25th of this month.

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Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi today replied to the Election Commission notice over the alleged Model Code of conduct violation. Mr. Gandhi's reply in a sealed envelope was received at the office of the Chief Election Commissioner this morning ahead of the deadline set by the poll body. Election Commission sources said that the Commission is processing the reply of Mr. Rahul Gandhi.

The EC had issued a notice to Mr. Gandhi on October 31 for his speeches in which he had said that Pakistan's ISI was in touch with Muzaffarnagar riot victims and had charged the BJP with indulging in politics of hatred. Mr. Gandhi who was earlier asked to reply to the EC by November 4, had sought one more week's time to reply to the notice served on him.

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The Congress Core Group today met in New Delhi under the leadership of Party President Sonia Gandhi. The meeting took place in the backdrop of political parties and various groups in Tamil Nadu being strongly opposed to India's participation in the Commonwealth Heads of Governments Meeting. The Tamil Nadu Assembly had recently adopted a resolution demanding a complete boycott of the event, alleging that Sri Lanka has indulged in atrocities against ethnic Tamils. The Congress Party has maintained that it will back whatever decision the Prime Minister takes on India's participation in the summit keeping in mind national interests.

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22 Indian fishermen returned to Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu today after Sri Lankan authorities handed them over to Coast Guard. However, their boats have been confiscated by Lankan authorities.

Twenty two fishermen from Rameswaram were arrested by Sri Lankan Navy and lodged in Lankan jail when they were fishing in international waters last month. They were released by Lankan court and were handed over to Indian Coast Guard at the International Maritime Border Line today. The fishermen were brought to Mandapam Coast Guard Station by Indian Coast Guard ship INS Rajkamal. Fishermen in Rameswaram are continuing their indefinite strike urging the government to ensure the release of Tamil fishermen still lodged in Lankan jail. In spite of several warnings issued by the district administrations fishermen from Tamil Nadu coastal districts cross the international maritime boundary line where they are confronted by Sri Lankan Navy. K Devi Padmanabhan ,AIR News, Tiruchirapalli.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has urged Prime Minister Dr.Manmohan Singh to personally intervene and take up the fishermen issue through the highest diplomatic channels and secure the immediate release of 86 fishermen and their boats which are in the Srilankan custody. In a letter to Dr. Singh today, the Chief Minister expressed deep sense of anguish and pain on the attacks on the fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy.

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In Assam, four bombs were recovered in poll bound Goalpara district this morning. State Law and Order IGP, SN Singh confirmed that four IEDs were recovered from the railway tracks at Khoriapara under Krishnai police station. He said that as per primary investigation, elements who were opposing the upcoming Rabha Hasong Council polls, may have planted the bombs. He has not ruled out the indirect involvement of Garo militants in this case. Later, bomb experts took away the bombs. Rail traffic was disrupted for some time. 

Railway track men noticed the bombs and informed local police. Senior police officials said that as per primary investigation, local groups opposed to the Rabha Hasong Council polls may have planted the bombs. But the indirect involvement of Garo militants has not been ruled out. Train services resumed after bombs have been taken away. Search operation is on to nab the culprits who have planted the bombs. The Assam government has deployed 32 companies of security forces in Goalpara district to ensure peaceful election to be held from 13th of this month. Manas Pratim Sarma , AIR News, Guwahati.

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The indigenous Agni-1 missile was test fired from Wheeler island off the Odisha coast today. The user trial of the 12 ton missile was conducted at around 9.30 am from, Chandipur in Balasore district of Odisha. Senior scientists and officials from the DRDO and the Army were present during the trial.

A country like India which can aspire for the Mars, that too on the strength of purely indigenous technology, can as well aim at self reliance in its defence prowess and preparedness. The Wheeler islands off the Odisha coast, today savored yet another round of success in the user trial of Agni-1. Test fired from a mobile launcher, the medium range 15 meter long missile proved once again that it can deliver 1000 kg of both conventional and nuclear war heads against enemy target within a range of 700 kilometers. Last tested on the 12th of December last year , today’s successful test of the Agni-1 missile has brought natural cheers as much for the DRDO as for the Army. Girish Chandra Dash , AIR News, Cuttack.

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The second orbit raising maneuver of the Mars orbiter spacecraft was carried out today. The orbit of the Mangalyaan was successfully raised to 40,186 Kilometre. ISRO officials said that orbit raising is part of a series of five such operations scheduled for the Mars Mission. The third orbit raising operation will take place tomorrow to raise the orbit to 71,650 kms. Similar maneuvers will be repeated on 11th and 16th of November. Scientists say that the satellite is functioning normally and the health of the orbiter is perfect according to the latest data available.

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The Sensex at the Bombay Stock Exchange fell 109 points, or 0.5 percent, to 20,713, a short while ago, as selling continued in afternoon trade. Earlier in the morning, the Sensex had dropped 54 points, or 0.3 per cent, to 20,768, on selling by funds, amid weak regional bourses. The 30-share Sensex had declined 417 points in the last three trading sessions.

Stock markets in Japan, China, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Indonesia and South Korea lost between 0.5 percent and 1 percent, today, after the U.S. GDP growth data fueled concerns that the Federal Reserve may reduce its monetary stimulus sooner than expected. Wall Street's Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 1 per cent lower in yesterday's trade.

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Moving in line with equity market, the rupee dropped further by 25 paise to 62 rupees, 66 paise per dollar in late morning trade today on sustained demand for the US currency from banks and importers. Persistent capital inflows from foreign funds failed to restrict the rupee's fall following good dollar demand from importers.

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Visiting Prime Minister of Kuwait, Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah was accorded a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhavan this morning. Prime minister Manmohan Singh met the visiting dignitary and also the members of the Kuwait delegation who are on an offcial four day visit to India. Kuwait Prime Minister who arrived in New Delhi last evening visited Rajghat this morning and paid floral tributes at the Samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi.

The visiting dignitary also held talks with External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram and Commerce Minsiter Anand Sharma. Our correspondent reports India and Kuwait are to sign several agreements in diverse areas after delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Manmohan at the Hyderabad House this evening.

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Super Typhoon Haiyan, one of the world's strongest storms on record, has battered the central Philippines with winds gusting up to 300 kilometres an hour. Intense rainfall has triggered landslides and floods. Communications and power supplies have been severely disrupted. The typhoon Haiyan landed with a massive force around dawn. Local television pictures showed coastal villages under water, as huge storm waves were driven inland. Upto a million people have been evacuated from their homes. Thousands are still living in temporary accommodation following an earthquake last month. Officials said it will take several days to know the full extent of the damage.

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In Afghanistan, eight civilians were killed when a roadside bomb ripped through a car in restive southern Zabul province today. Officials said most of those killed were women and children. They included five women and two children. Three other civilians were injured and have been admitted to a local hospital. Mohammad Jan Rasoulyar, the deputy provincial governor, said the victims were members of the same family and that they were travelling to the provincial capital of Qalat when the bomb hit. Taliban has been blamed for planting the improvised device.

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In Bangladesh, Jamaat-e-Islami is no longer a registered political party and its registration with the Election Commission, has been cancelled. This was told to reporters by Election Commissioner Shah Nawaz last night. The High Court had declared the registration of Jamaat, the largest Islamic party of Bangladesh, illegal on the 1st of August on the grounds that some of the provisions in its Charter ran counter to the country's Constitution and the Representation of People Order.

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The European Union, EU has urged Opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party, BNP leader Khaleda Zia to sit in a dialogue to resolve the conflict over the poll-time government and not to boycott the polls. Diplomats of 9 EU countries including UK, Germany, France and the Netherlands led by the EU Ambassador in Dhaka, William Hanna met the Opposition leader last night and discussed the political crisis and violent incidents, and asked her to avoid any political violence either before, during or after the elections. In statement released to the press, the EU Ambassador said, the next few weeks were critical for Bangladesh's democracy and the EU wanted to help Bangladesh in maintaining democracy.

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West Indies were 121 for 4 in their second innings against India in the first cricket test at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, a shortwhile ago. Earlier, India were all out for 453 in their first innings today. The visitors were all out for 234 in their first innings. India resumed the third day's play at 354 for 6 this morning. Ravichandran Ashwin completed his century and made 124. Falling short of his double century in his maiden test, Rohit Sharma was out at 177.

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Chinese media say that police have arrested a man in connection with the explosions in the northern Shanxi province, earlier this week. The man lives in the city of Taiyuan where the blasts occurred outside the local Communist Party offices. One person was killed and several others were injured in the explosions.

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Pakistan has denied a foreign media report about nuclear cooperation with Saudi Arabia. Reacting to the report‚ Pak Foreign Office spokesman Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhry described the report as entirely baseless and mischievous. He said Pakistan supports the objectives of non-proliferation as well as nuclear safety and security.