2100 HRS.

21st May, 2013

THE HEADLINES:

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Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has called for increased people-to-people interaction between India and China while advocating a favourable trade balance. He said China is willing to launch a regional trading arrangement with India for the progress of the two countries and of South and East Asia. Addressing a meeting of the representatives of Indian Trade and Industry in New Delhi today, he said India and China have the potential to address trade imbalance. Pitching for greater synergy between the markets of both the countries, the Chinese Premier pointed out if the markets are connected, it will be conducive for New Delhi and Bejing to create a new dynamism to global economy.

Mr. Li said Beijing will support Chinese enterprises to increase investments in India and help Indian products to have access to Chinese market. On the border issue, the Chinese premier said New Delhi and Beijing have the wisdom to find mutually acceptable solution to the problem and the two countries have not shied away from addressing the issue. On the issue of trans-border rivers, Mr Li assured Chinese assistance of hydrological technology to India and also in handling emergencies in a humanitarian spirit. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang met the President Pranab Mukherjee.

He said Beijing views India as an important bilateral partner and would do nothing to harm New Delhi's interests. Mr. Pranab Mukherjee expressed happiness over the fact that India is the first country Mr. Li is visiting after assuming office. This he said reflected the importance attached to India-China relations. Mr. Mukherjee emphasised that the two countries should be sensitive to each other's concerns and there is need to build trust as well as expand shared interests. Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang visited Mumbai today and discussed the opportunities for cooperation in the industrial and infrastructure sector. During a 45 minute conversation with Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, both the leaders discussed the prospects offered by Maharashtra in industries, infrastructure, textile and pharma sectors.

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Peace and reconciliation process in Afghanistan came up for discussion in the meeting between visiting Afghanistan President and Indian leadership today. India assured its full support to Afghanistan and its people in the critical period of transition, development and nation-building. The Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai who is on a three day visit today called on President Pranab Mukherjee at Rashtrpati Bhawan in New Delhi.

The two leaders discussed the security situation and other issues of mutual interest. Mr. Mukherjee called for strengthening and deepening bilateral relations in all areas of Strategic Partnership Agreement. On this occasion, Mr. Karzai said India is amongst the closest of countries to Afghanistan and their relations stand on solid cemented grounds. Later, the Afghan President had a meeting with the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh at his residence. The two leaders discussed the security and infrastructure development in the war-torn country.

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India today said that it has no hegemonic desires in Afghanistan and it is playing a role in that country to help the people in the best possible manner. Talking to media persons on board his special aircraft, on way to Uzbekistan, Vice president Mohammad Hamid Ansari said that India implemented projects in Afghanistan and are people centric. They include building roads, hospitals, industrial estates and power transmission lines. Mr.Ansari arrived in Tashkent this evening on a four day visit to Uzbekistan. He said, India and Uzbekistan share a common strategic concern on what may happen in Afghanistan in future. He said, both the countries are of the firm view that terrorism in all its manifestations is destructive of human civilization.

"Specific agenda is to exchange views with the leadership of Uzbakistan, benefits from their perceptions about what is happening in their own region. We have a joint marking group with them on countering terrorism and that is the work which is in progress."

Mr.Ansari will have interaction with senior Uzbek leaders, including President Islam Karimov in Tashken and also visit historic cities of Samarkand and Bukhara.

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Cricketer S. Sreesanth and 10 others have been remanded to 5 day police custody in the alleged IPL spot-fixing case. The court also sent four other arrested bookies to judicial custody till the 4th of next month. Earlier in the day, he was taken to Jaipur as part of the probe into spot-fixing allegations. Rajasthan Royals had yesterday filed a complaint with Delhi police against Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila and Ankit Chavan, for indulging in unfair means and breaching the contract. Meanwhile, S Sreesanth has been suspended by Public sector Bharat Petroleum Corporation.

In a related development, the first incidence of bollywood connection in the IPL spot fixing case came to light today after actor Vindu Dara Singh was arrested by Mumbai Police and remanded to police custody till 24th of May. 49-year-old Vindu, son of late bollywood actor Dara Singh has been booked under various sections of the IPC related to cheating and forgery. According to Mumbai Police, Vindu’s call records showed that he was in constant contact with arrested bookie Ramesh Vyas, absconding bookie Jupiter, Pawan Jaipur and others. Along with Vindu, Mumbai Police have also arrested two more people today. Meanwhile, Pune Warriors India have announced withdrawal from the IPL.

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Government will seek the Attorney General's opinion about having a national legislation to deal with spot fixing and related unfair practices. Talking to reporters in New Delhi today, Law Minister, Kapil Sibal said that at the moment, the ministry is trying to reflect on whether there can be a national legislation on this issue because sports are under the list of state subjects and betting and gambling are also state subjects.

"This is neither a betting nor gambling it is infect an activity or unfair practice that changes the outcome of a game but these are issues that are complex and legal in nature. So we have decided to put up a case for opinion to the Attorney General of India."

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In Assam, nomination papers of three candidates including Prime Minister Dr.Manmohan Singh have been found valid for 2 seats from the state in the Rajya Sabha. Thursday is the last date for withdrawal of nominations.

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The government today said it would send letters to 70 thousand high priority assesses this month asking them to disclose their true income and pay taxes in the current financial year. In a statement, the Finance Ministry said that these letters are being sent in two batches. Of these, the first batch of 35 thousand letters was dispatched yesterday. The Ministry said the tax department has identified 12.19 lakh persons who have not filed tax returns. The exercise is in continuation of crack down on tax defaulters which the government launched last fiscal.

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Shashi Kant Sharma has been appointed as the New Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India .Mr Sharma is presently holding the post of Defence Secretary in the Ministry of Defence. He will be taking over the charge of the CAG from Thursday. He will replace Vinod Rai who is demitting his office tomorrow.

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Glowing tributes were paid to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 22nd death anniversary today. President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice President Hamid Ansari and the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh were among those who paid floral tributes at his Samadhi Veer Bhoomi apart from his family members including the Congress President Mrs. Sonia Gandhi. A number of functions were organised across the country to mark the day.

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The BJP Parliamentary Board meeting held in New Delhi today discussed its strategy for the 2014 General elections. Briefing reporters after the meeting, party General Secretary Ananth Kumar said that in the meeting party top brass decided to highlight the shortcomings of the UPA government during the next General elections. He said that the strategy for Assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Delhi and Jharkhand scheduled to held later this year was also discussed in the meet. The meeting chaired by the party president Rajnath Singh was also attended by the party senior leader L.K Adwani, Arun Jaitely, Sushma Swaraj and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

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Former Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala was today granted interim bail for six weeks by the Delhi High Court for undergoing pacemaker implant surgery at a hospital in New Delhi. The court of Justice Siddharth Mridul asked Chautala to furnish a personal bond of five lakh rupees along with two sureties of like amount before the trial court as a pre-condition for his release on bail.

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In a step towards enhancing transparency, the Centre has extended the facility of e-filing of RTI applications to ministries of Home Affairs and Agriculture. The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), which acts as nodal ministry for implementation of Right to Information Act, has launched-- www.rtionline.gov.in -to facilitate e-filing of applications and payment of fees. The portal, developed by NIC, is a facility for online filing of RTI applications and first appeals and also to make payment of fees for seeking information.

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Heat wave conditions sweeping large parts of the country worsened today, killing three persons in Madhya Pradesh during the past 24 hours. Our Nagpur correspondent reports that the city experienced the hottest day.

Nagpur city recorded the maximum temperature of 47.8 degrees Celsius today and leveled with the historic high in the month of May after the span of around six decades. The mercury soared to a new high of 48.2 degrees Celsius in Chandrapur today which was also the highest maximum temperature in the region for the day. The heat wave conditions are expected to continue in the region for the next couple of days, according to the information received from the Regional Meteorological Centre in Nagpur. Sunil Dabir from Nagpur.

Sriganganagar in Rajasthan, registered a blistering 47.5 degrees.

"Entire state is facing trmandous heat since last one week and according to met office there is no indication of relief from heat wave in next 48 hours. Today temperatures were ranging between 42 to 46 degree celcius at various places. Churu it was 47.2 and at Jaipur,Jaisalmer and Barmer it was above 44 degree celcius. Keeping in view of heat wave the state government has changed the timings of Mahatma Gandhi NREGA works ,now these works will be operated from 6 to 10 am. Anurag Vajpeyi AIR News JAIPUR."

MET office Director Ravindran said because of western disturbances, there will be some respite from Saturday or Sunday.

"The temperature over Safdarjung today was maximum 45.1. and over Palam it has been around 46.7 and that also in general area, the temperature are exceeding 45 .This kind of trend prevailing for next 2-3 days that is after 24. Cooling will takes place in plains ,in that temperature may drop by 1 or 2 degree and thereafter next week also, temperature will be more than normal but it may not be truly touching 45.

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THE BUSINESS WORLD

"Falling for the second straight session, the Sensex at the Bombay Stock Exchange declined 112 points, or 0.6 percent, to close at a one-week low of 20,112, today, on profit-booking by investors. The Nifty fell 43 points, to 6,114. Stock markets in Japan, China, Hong Kong, Singapore and South Korea ended mixed. The rupee depreciated a hefty 30 paise, to a nearly six-month closing low of 55.41 against the dollar. Gold shot up a massive 680 rupees, to 27,050 rupees per ten grams in Delhi. And recovering from a 31-month low, silver surged 2,030 rupees, to 44,200 rupees per kilo. But Brent crude oil futures fell toward 104 dollars a barrel, while US crude lost 20 cents, to 96.51 dollars a barrel. Pradeep Kumar, AIR News."

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