1. Issues Related to Trade and Terrorism Discussed in Modi Summit
Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Tamil Nadu's coastal town of Mamallapuram on Friday, 11 October, for an informal summit. The two watched cultural performances at the UNESCO World Heritage site, and had a traditional Tamil dinner hosted by PM Modi.
This second informal summit comes amid tensions between the two countries over the Kashmir issue, with India, in response to Chinese comments, asserting that it is an internal matter.
Read more here.
2. PIL Wants Gas Delivery Boys to Stop Demanding 'Tips'
A PIL petition has been filed in the Madras High Court to prevent LPG cylinders delivery men from demanding extra money.
According to Dr M Logarangan of Annanur near Avadi, domestic cylinders are supplied by public sector oil companies and the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Gas is responsible for regulation of pricing, supply and subsidy. An estimated 5326 MT’s of LPG gas was imported between April and August 2019, while the rest was produced in India.
To avoid confusion, pilferage and ensure smooth supply, the oil companies started online bookings and government-paid subsidy directly to bank accounts of customers. There are about 1,600 LPG agents supplying millions of cylinders. The oil companies were being provided commission for the distribution, which includes delivery charges and the bill is inclusive of all charges and taxes.
(Source: The New Indian Express)
3. ‘BJP-AIADMK Trying to Gain Mileage out of Modi-Xi Meet’
Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president KS Alagiri on Friday, 11 October, alleged that the BJP and AIADMK were trying to gain political mileage out of the informal summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping and reminded that there were still a number of issues to be resolved between the two countries.
In a statement, Alagiri welcomed the meeting between the two leaders and said that having Mamallapuram as the venue was very fitting. But a number of issues between the two countries were still to be resolved, he said.
(Source: The Hindu)
4. Works on Chennai’s Fifth Reservoir Delayed
Chennai will have to wait longer than planned to make use of its fifth reservoir being built in Tiruvallur district. Continuous rains in the Uthukottai-Gummudipoondi stretch have been delaying work for the past two months and hence, it will take four more months to complete the construction, said officials.
The reservoir, being built by combining two lakes in Thervoy Kandigai and Kannankottai villages, was supposed to be ready by September 30 as per the Public Works Department's initial plan. But with 20 per cent of the work remaining, the project is yet again delayed. Officials said that in the last two months, workers could engage in construction work only for 10 days due to rains.
(Source: The New Indian Express)
5. Tibetans' Bid to Stage Protest Thwarted
Police personnel near the ITC Grand Chola were kept on their toes on Friday morning as a group of Tibetan nationals tried to stage a protest outside the hotel where Chinese President Xi Jinping is staying. Elaborate security arrangements had been made around the hotel, and every visitor was being frisked. Police personnel were posted atop all the buildings on the stretch. Around 11 am, six Tibetan nationals approached the hotel premises from the Halda Junction, after passing through metal detectors and being frisked.
As a woman from the group started filming, a man ran towards the gates of the hotel and began waving the Tibetan flag while shouting slogans. The police nabbed him and took him to the station. In the meantime, the four other members of the group also began raising slogans. They too were taken to a police station. “They claimed to be students from Nepal at the checkpoint,” a police officer said.
(Source: The Hindu)
