2100 HRS

01^st November, 2013

THE HEADLINES:

• Finance Minister says,the economy is doing well; a bumper crop is expected this year and current account deficit is under control.
• Nine persons killed in an explosion at a fireworks Unit near Kumbakonam in Tamilnadu.
• Filing of nomination opens in Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram; 965 nominations filed for the second phase of polls in Chhatisgarh.
• Sensex gains 32 points to touch an all-time high of 21,197.
• IN SPORTS- Yuki Bhambri reaches men's singles semifinals of the Traralgon tennis tournament in Australia.

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The Finance Minister says, the country is heading for a bumper crop this year and 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 today that green shoots are visible even in investments.

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 current account deficit is likely to be perhaps 60 billion dollars are below. Last year it was 88 billion dollars and this year we able to contain it at 60 billion dollar are below, that will be very significant achievement.

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 expressed confidence that measures taken by the RBI and the government at maintaining fiscal discipline will help in moderating inflation.

Chidambaram was hopeful that gold imports will remain at 20 tonne a month in the remaining period of the fiscal. The Finance Minister said the government is hopeful of passing the long-pending insurance amendment bill in the forthcoming Winter Session of Parliament. The bill seeks to raise the FDI limit in the sector to 49 per cent from 26 per cent.

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Senior Congress leader and Law Minister Kapil Sibal has said that the UPA government has performed in all sectors including the economy, health, education and agriculture compared to the erstwhile NDA regime. Talking to reporters on the sidelines of a function in New Delhi today, Mr Sibal said during the UPA rule, the GDP has increased substantially. He said the per capita income has also gone up to 61,000 rupees compared to NDA's 24,000 rupees in 2004. Replying to a question, Mr Sibal alleged that the BJP is not talking about issues and instead the party is promoting individuals.

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The BJP has criticised the Law Minister Kapil Sibal saying that he is misleading the country with wrong facts. Talking to reporters in New Delhi, party spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain alleged that ministers in the UPA regime never talk about issues like corruption, inflation, terrorism and security.

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Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh says BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi's agenda of development is just a mask to hoodwink people. Addressing a press conference at Kannur in Kerala, he said there will be a determined effort in the coming months to create communal polarisation across the country.

The Minister said the outcome of the forthcoming assembly polls, which will be known in December, cannot be considered a national referendum.

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BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi has alleged that UPA government has failed to keep it promise of controlling the price hike within 100 days of coming to the power. Speaking at a rally in Pune he said it is the Congress that does not answer media queries.

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The Centre has upgraded security of BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi by ensuring an advance fool-proof drill for wherever he visits ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.

Official sources said that the venue will be sanitised well in advance under this drill in close coordination with local police.

The move came after multiple blasts rocked Modi's rally in Patna on Sunday that claimed seven lives and injured more than 80.

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One of the prime suspects in the Patna serial blasts Tarique alias Ainul died at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital (IGIMS) Patna. IGIMS Director Arun Kumar Singh said he died late last night. Tarique was caught while he was running away from a toilet at platform number 10 of Patna Junction after the first bomb exploded there on the day of BJP's Hunkar rally in the city.

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In Tamil Nadu, nine persons were killed today in a fire accident in a private Fireworks factory near Kumbakonam.

The fire accident happened in a private fire cracker factory near Olugacheri, Kumbakonam in Tamil Nadu. Diwali season was almost over and the fireworks factory was busy making local fireworks which are used for many functions like local festivals apart from Diwali. Nine persons were charred to death in the accident. 15 persons injured in the accident have been admitted to Kumbakonam Government Hospital. Police has registered a case and investigation is going on. K Devi Padmanabhan, air news,Tiruchirapalli

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The Supreme Court has turned down a plea by self-styled godman Asaram Bapu for restraining the media from broadcasting stories allegedly projecting him in bad light.

Dismissing his plea, a bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam said it is not satisfied with his arguments and his remedy lies elsewhere.

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In Madhya Pradesh, the process of filing of nomination papers for the state legislative assembly began today. Nomination papers will be filed till the 8th of this month. The scrutiny of nomination papers will take place on the 9th of November while nomination papers can be withdrawn till the 11th of November. All the 230 assembly segments of the state will go to the polls on the 25th of this month.

Our Bhopal correspondent reports that three nominations were filed in Chindwara district while one nomination was filed in Chattarpur district today.

BJP and Congress are traditional contenders in Madhya Pradesh, but BSP, SP, Gondwana Gantantra Party and some other parties too have their influence. These parties have the potential to influence election results on several segments in some regions. The ruling BJP has issued its first list of 147 candidates for the assembly polls. BSP has announced its 153 candidates while SP announced names of 124 candidates. Shariq Noor, AIR News, Bhopal.

The Congress has released its first list of 115 candidates for the Madhya Pradesh assembly elections.

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In Mizoram, the coalition of three opposition parties- The Mizoram Democratic Alliance(MDA) has finalised 12 candidates on the first day of filling of nomination papers today. 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.

According to Official sources , no candidate have filed their nomination papers today since most of the political parties are yet to announce their candidates. The ruling party INC is likely to announce their candidates soon while the Zoram Nationalist party(ZNP) is likely to announce their candidates on Monday. Altogether 6 lakhs 86 thousand & 305 voters including 2 lakhs 49 thousand & 506 female voters will decide the fate of 40 legislators in the coming state Assembly elections. Jonathan L Hnamte, air news, Aizawl

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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 November the 19th. 445 nominations were filed today, the last day for filing nominations. Our correspondent reports that for the first phase, Scrutiny will take place tomorrow , 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 November the 11th.

Chhattisgarh has 90 constituencies and the assembly election is scheduled in two phases.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission has permitted shifting of 167 polling stations in tribal Bastar region to different places because of concerns raised over security and accessibility. All the polling booths have been catagorised as hypersensitive.

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In Assam, the World Heritage site Kaziranga National park was re-opened today for visitors after its annual monsoon closure. With this, the tourism industry of the state is likely to pick up momentum.

With the starting of tourists inflow, the Kaziranga National park, spread in 4 districts, has got a new lease of life today. Booking for elephant and jeep safaris have all the division. 33 elephants are being prepared to take visitors to the distinct areas of the park. British national, Patrick, in his maiden visit to Kaziranga National park was mesmerized to see 6 one horn rhinoceros together at a same place today. Along with hotels and guest houses, local people who have also provided home stay facilities to tourists, are expecting a humper business this season. Manas Pratim Sarma, AIR News, Kaziranga.

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The News Services Division of All India Radio in its weekly"Current Affairs" programme tonight will bring you a discussion on "Supreme Court's direction on Civil Service Reforms".

This can be heard on the Rajdhani, and FM Gold channels and additional frequencies from 9.30 p.m.

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NEWS FROM BUSINESS WORLD

The Sensex at the Bombay Stock Exchange gained 32 points, or 0.2 percent, to a new all-time closing high of 21,197, today, amid renewed optimism on the economic front. Earlier during the day, the Sensex had hit a record intra-day high of 21,294. The Nifty rose 8 points, to 6,307. The rupee closed 24 paise weaker, at an over two-week low of 61.74 against the dollar. Falling for the fifth straight day, gold dropped 50 rupees, to 31,400 rupees per ten grams in Delhi. Silver slipped 450 rupees, to 49,100 rupees per kilo., AIR News.

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India and Vietnam have signed a treaty for transfer of sentenced prisoners languishing in their respective jails. Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde and Vietnam Minister of Public Security Tran Dai Quang signed the agreement in New Delhi today.

The pact will help the prisoners of the two countries to serve the remaining part of their sentence nearer to their families. It will also facilitate the process of their social rehabilitation.

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In Pakistan, 3 suspected millitants were killed and several others injured in a US drone strike in Waziristan. The attack targeted a house in the lawless North Waziristan tribal region of northwest Pakistan.

The drone fired four missiles at a house in Danday Darpakhel area near Miransah, the main town of North Waziristan Agency.

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Yuki Bhambri has reached the singles semifinals of the Traralgon tennis event in Australia. Eighth seed Yuki pipped fourth seed Japanese Tatsuma Ito 6-4 ,1-6,7-5 in the quarterfinal . Meanwhile,Somdev Devvarman and Saketh Myneni reached the quarter-finals of the Charlottesville ATP Challenger event in the United States.

Second seed Somdev scored an easy 6-2 , 6-3 win over Denis Molchanov of Ukraine to progress to the next stage. He is now up against seventh seed American Rhyne Williams.

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The final and all important match of the seven match one day International Cricket series between India and Australia will be played at Bangalore tomorrow. Both the teams are level 2-2 in the series. Two matches were washed away because of rain. Australian pacer Michelle Johnson will not play in the match as he is returning home to prepare for the Ashes. All India Radio will broadcast a running commentary on the match from 1.00 p.m.

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China has opened a highway connecting a remote part of Tibet located near the frontier with Arunachal Pradesh. The 117 Kilometer highway links the strategically important Medog county in Tibet to the rest of China. This also ends the region's status as the only one in the country inaccessible by road.