BRISBANE: As India attempts to unearth black money stashed abroad, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will push for stepping up global cooperation against the key issue of cross border tax avoidance and evasion at the G20 summit starting here tomorrow.

Modi, who is the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Australia in 28 years since Rajiv Gandhi in 1986, arrived here on a five-day trip to Australia on the second leg of his 10-day three-nation tour.

He will also undertake a bilateral visit to the Australian capital Canberra for talks with Premier Tony Abbott on Tuesday.

The Prime Minister will also utilise the two-day 9th G20 summit of the world's biggest developed and emerging economies, to flag India's concerns over "jobless growth" prospects.

Ahead of the summit, Modi felt that focusing on transforming the quality of life of people and not just on issues like the health of the financial markets was necessary for creating employment-generating economic growth.

It was a bright and sunny day at Brisbane as Modi stepped out of his Special Air India plane at the international airport after an overnight flight from Myanmar capital Nay Phi Taw where he attended two back-to-back international summits and had a string of bilateral meetings.

"Reached Brisbane. It is bright and sunny outside," Modi tweeted.

Modi was received at the airport by the Queensland Premier Campbell Newman among others. Indian High Commissioner in Australia Biren Nanda was also present.

"A key issue for me would be to highlight the importance of international cooperation against black money," Modi had said, as he is set to renew the country's commitment to a global response to deal with cross border tax avoidance and evasion.

Modi had also said he intends to discuss how G20 can accelerate creation of next generation infrastructure, which also includes digital infrastructure and ensure access to clean and affordable energy.

The G20 includes 19 individual countries -- Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the UK and the US -- and the European Union (EU).

Collectively, the G20 economies account for around 85 per cent of the GDP, 80 per cent of world trade and two-thirds of the world population. The G20 was launched in 2008 in the US.

Jobs and growth will remain the focus of the G20 summit, despite strenuous lobbying to shift the spotlight to climate change and Ebola.

Australia, which holds the G20 presidency, today re-emphasised the summit's mission when Treasurer Joe Hockey stressed the heavy burden on group members "to get real outcomes".

"We have a plan before the leaders of the world to grow the world economy, to create the jobs that are necessary, to lift people out of poverty, and we are determined to deliver that," he said.

On the table is Australia's call for the G20 to collectively add at least two per cent to world growth to 2018. If successful, this could generate millions of jobs, massive infrastructure activity and cut red tape.

G20 countries have also produced 1,000 plans to support the growth target.

Modi, referring to his four-city Australia visit that covers Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney besides Canberra, had earlier said, "While we have much in common with Australia, our political, strategic and economic relations have been below potential."

"A closer strategic partnership with Australia will support India's economic goals; promote our security interests, including maritime security; and, reinforce our efforts to foster a climate of peace and stability in our extended continental and maritime neighbourhood," he said.

Indian officials said that the Prime Minister's trip will be a "landmark visit" and is aimed at "re-engaging" Australia.

Prime Minister Abbott had a telephonic talk with Modi before his departure from India to discuss the agenda for the multilateral meeting and he asked the Indian leader to share, in particular, his vision for accelerating global economic growth and employment generation.

Abbott conveyed that he and the Australian people were keenly awaiting the visit of Modi, who appreciated his personal attention to his visit and emphasised the importance he attached to his Australia visit as a step towards qualitatively transforming a relationship that he greatly values.

Abbott also sought Modi's support for Australia's infrastructure initiatives in the G20.
On his part, Modi thanked Abbott for his leadership in developing a meaningful agenda for the G20 Summit and expressed confidence that it would be one of the most memorable G20 Summits, which will impart new momentum to the global economy.

Modi also suggested that, in addition to facilitating financial flows for infrastructure financing, there was a need to look at innovative mechanisms for infrastructure development, including research on transforming waste into infrastructure inputs.

During the telephonic conversation, Modi also talked about creating a virtual centre for information exchange, guidance, identifying opportunities and facilitating flows, which would be beneficial to the poor countries as well.

Modi and Abbott had summit talks in Delhi last month during which India and Australia sealed a civil nuclear deal.

On the sidelines of the G20 summit, Modi is due to hold a series of bilateral meetings. He will also have an informal interaction with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a meeting of leaders of five-nation BRICS.

Modi has already met Chinese Premier Li Keqiang yesterday in Nay Phi Taw. Modi is also due to address a joint sitting of Federal Parliament in Canberra and the Indian community at a reception at the Olympic park in Sydney.

Modi will travel to Fiji on a day-long visit on November 19 before returning home the next day. He will be the first Indian Premier to visit the south Pacific Island nation after a gap of 33 years, the first being Indira Gandhi in 1981. –PTI

Brisbane: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today held his first meeting with British Premier David Cameron who described relations with India as top priority of the UK's foreign policy and invited the Indian leader to Britain.

The bilateral meeting took place shortly after Modi arrived here on a five-day visit to Australia to attend the G20 Summit beginning tomorrow.

At their meeting, Cameron told Modi that "relations with India are at the top of the priorities of the UK's foreign policy."

The British Premier also invited Modi to visit the UK to which the Indian Prime Minister said he would do so at the earliest, the Ministry of External Affairs spokesman Syed Akbaruddin said.

Modi told Cameron that his vision was "very inspiring" and the two countries can partner in any way they can.

The UK Premier was one of the first world leaders to congratulate Modi following his victory in the general elections in May.

Earlier, Cameron's spokesperson had said that the Brisbane meeting was set to strengthen the broad and deep relationship that UK and India have, building on a partnership of equals based on mutual respect.


The Indian community in the UK is keen to have a visit by Prime Minister Modi to inaugurate Mahatma Gandhi's statue which is being raised outside the Palace of Westminster in London's Parliament Square. The statue will stand amid monuments to other statesmen, including Nelson Mandela, Winston Churchill and Abraham Lincoln. -PTI

New Delhi: Indian security agencies have learnt that Chinese troops are training Pakistan Army personnel right across the Indo-Pak border in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Chinese troops, according to a report submitted by the BSF intelligence wing, have been seen training Pak armymen in "weapon handling" techniques bang opposite Rajouri sector of International border.
The report, accessed by PTI, said these military manoeuvres were being conducted at forward defence locations of Pakistan which are usually manned by border guarding personnel-- the Pak Rangers.
Preliminary inputs analysed by BSF also showed some Pak army units have taken over paramilitary posts of Rangers opposite Sriganganagar sector.
BSF also found a handful of new observation towers have also been set up by Pakistan in recent past along Abohar and Gurdaspur sectors in Punjab.
The BSF intelligence reported that phone intercepts along the border indicate that Pakistan army and Rangers are planning to deploy snipers and sharp shooters at strategic locations and posts to target Indian soldiers and assets.
The Border Security Force intelligence also reported that a special squad of Pak army commandos have been placed at select locations along the IB and LoC, which may attempt to carry out raids and Border Action Team (BAT)-sponsored attacks into the Indian territory.
It also said a large grouping of terrorists has been detected along Sialkot area in Pakistan which may be planning to infiltrate into Jammu and Kashmir at a time when assembly polls are scheduled in the state.
It also said agencies have detected a few launch pads for terrorists to infiltrate along either the International Border (IB) or the Line of Control (LoC).
The Indo-Pak border, which has been witnessing a series of ceasefire violations in the last few months is peaceful but tense, in the last few days, the report said. -PTI

SRINAGAR: Two militants and a civilian were killed in an overnight encounter with security forces in Kulgam district of South Kashmir, the police said today.

"Two militants were killed in an encounter with security forces in Chenigam village of Kulgam," a police spokesman said, adding, "a civilian who was injured in the firing later succumbed to his injuries."

Security forces had launched a cordon and search operation in the village last evening following information about presence of militants in the area, he said.

The spokesman said the security forces' party was fired upon by the militants, which was retaliated, triggering off a fierce gun battle.

"Arms and ammunition have been recovered from the site of the encounter along with the bodies of the slain militants," the spokesman said, adding the identity of the slain ultras is being ascertained.

The police spokesman said the firing started again at the site of the encounter resulting in injuries to three security personnel and a civilian.

"After the recovery of two bodies (of militants) from encounter site, firing again started in which two armymen, a CRPF personnel and a civilian got injured who later died" the spokesman said.

He said the operation is still in progress. — PTI

SRINAGAR: The Election Commission on Friday issued a notification for the third phase of the five-phased Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir for 16 constituencies where voting will be held on December 9.

The notification was issued by respective returning officers of the 16 Assembly segments, which are all in the Kashmir valley.

The constituencies for which the notification was issued today include Uri, Rafiabad, Sopore, Sangrama, Baramulla, Gulmarg and Pattan in Baramulla district.

Chadoora, Budgam, Beerwah, Khansahib, Chrar-e-Sharief (Budgam district), Tral, Pampore, Pulwama and Rajpora (Pulwama district) are the other assembly segments going to polls in the third phase.

The last date for filing of nominations is November 21 while the scrutiny of the papers shall be conducted the next day. The last date for withdrawal of nominations is November 24. -PTI

NEW DELHI: A Delhi court today fixed December 8 for commencement of arguments on framing of charges in 2013 IPL spot-fixing scandal case in which suspended cricketers S Sreesanth, Ajit Chandila, Ankeet Chavan and others, including underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, have been chargesheeted.

Additional Sessions Judge Neena Bansal Krishna listed the matter for December 8 after the Special Cell of the Delhi Police told the court that it would start arguments on framing of charges in the case.

During the hearing, the advocates representing the accused submitted that the arguments should be heard in batches as there were several accused in the case.

"Accused having identical roles should argue together in batches otherwise it would be a never ending process," one of the defence counsel said.

The police, meanwhile, gave names of accused in six groups to the court, saying as per the charge sheet, the persons named in one group have similar roles in the entire conspiracy.

The first group contains names of Dawood Ibrahim, his aide Chhota Shakeel, who were declared as proclaimed offenders by the court earlier, and others.

Sreesanth, Chandila and Chavan have figured in the third group having 13 names.

The accused would advance their arguments on framing of charges in the case from January 7, next year.

The court had earlier declared Dawood, Shakeel and Chandigarh-based Sandeep Sharma, who were chargesheeted by the police, as proclaimed offenders as they are evading arrest in the matter.

The police had told the court that properties of Dawood and Shakeel in Mumbai have already been attached in connection with the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case and upon inquiry, it was revealed that they have not visited India since 1993.

It had submitted that Dawood had properties in his name at Dongri in Mumbai whereas Shakeel owned property in Nagpada there.

The court had earlier issued non-bailable warrants (NBWs) against Dawood and Shakeel, Pakistan-based Javed Chutani, Salman alias Master and Ehteysham, who all are considered to be Dawood's associates.

The police had filed a 6,000-page chargesheet against the accused in the case. It had also filed supplementary chargesheet in the court later on.

The court had on June 10, last year granted bail to Sreesanth, Chavan and 19 others for lack of evidence against them under the provisions of stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).

Other accused, including Chandila, were also granted bail later on by the court.

The police, in its charge sheet, had claimed that Dawood and Shakeel, who have been "controlling the fixing and betting market" in cricket in India, were behind IPL spot-fixing. — PTI

Moga: A person has been booked for allegedly impersonating as Chairman of Punjab State Human Rights Commission (PSHRC), police said on Friday.

A case was registered yesterday against the accused, Joginder Singh Matto, but no arrest has been made so far as he is evading, police said.

The matter came to light when Matto held a media interaction at Chandigarh recently posing as the Chairman of Punjab State Human Rights Commission, Superintendent of Police Harjit Singh Pannu said.

The Commission reported the matter to police. Matto was summoned five times to produce the letter of authority or licence as Chairman of PSHRC but he failed to appear before police, Pannu said.

A probe revealed that Matto was allegedly misleading the local administration and was cheating people by posing as Chairman of PSHRC, police said. -PTI

HISAR: Uneasy calm prevailed around the Satlok Ashram today with the police and supporters of self-styled godman Sant Rampal appearing headed for a face-off, as heavy police force is closing-in to execute the court orders to arrest him.
The situation is volatile around the ashram, which has been created into a virtual fortress by the disciples of controversial godman who have gathered in large numbers to prevent his arrest in a contempt of court case.
Hisar-Barwala Road had been blocked and prohibitory orders were imposed around the ashram, police said, adding senior police officials were camping in the district and keeping a close eye on the volatile situation.
Senior police officials today assessed the situation in view of the disciples adopting aggressive attitude towards Punjab and Haryana High Court order to arrest and produce the controversial self styled godman on November 17.
The disciples of the godman have maintained that they would not allow the police to arrest him till he recovers completely.
Earlier, the doctors monitoring him had pronounced his health as normal.
A large number of supporters of Rampal, including women and children, are still in and outside the ashram, where power supply had been disconnected and there was apprehension of them resorting to violence to avert the arrest, senior police official said.
The police force is getting closer to the ashram and about forty ambulances are ready in case of a showdown between the police and followers of the godman. 
Rejecting the state government's plea that Rampal was unwell and his arrest would create law and order problems, Punjab and Haryana High Court had on Monday issued a fresh non-bailable arrest warrant against him in a contempt case and asked why his bail in a 2006 murder case should not be cancelled.
Observing that the state government lacked willingness to arrest the godman and no sincere efforts were made to produce him before it, the HC directed the Haryana Director General of Police and the Home Secretary to ensure that Rampal appears in person before it in Chandigarh on or before November 17.
Rampal has been charged with interfering in judicial proceedings during the hearing of a case in the Hisar sessions court. On July 15, his supporters had marched inside the district court complex in Hisar and tried to create trouble in the court proceedings.
The HC took cognisance of the case and issued notices to Rampal and the state government. As he failed to appear before it, the court had last week issued non-bailable warrant against Rampal and asked the Haryana government to produce him and his aide Ram Kunwar Dhaka before it.
Rampal had shifted his base from Rohtak to Barwala town of Hisar. In July 2006, during a clash with villagers, thousands of his followers had gathered at his ashram and made it tough for police to arrest Rampal in a murder case.
Again in 2013, when they tried to take possession of his ashram at Karontha village in Rohtak district, a large number of followers went inside the ashram during the night and refused to leave which led to a clash in which two persons were killed and many others injured. PTI

New Delhi: India's front line combat aircraft Sukhoi-30 fleet was today cleared for flying after being grounded for nearly a month following a crash near Pune.

"The Sukhoi-30 fleet has been cleared for flying," IAF spokesperson Wing Commander Simranpal Singh Birdi said.

Air Force sources said the Court of Inquiry into the accident is still going on and is in the final stages.

They said the Air Force has expressed satisfaction over the safety checks that have been carried out on all the nearly 200 Sukhoi-30 MKI jets. Incidentally, Air Force chief Air Marshal Arup Raha said earlier in the day that the fleet would be back in air "within a week's time".
This is the longest period that the Russian-made aircraft has been grounded since 2009 when its operation was suspended for nearly three weeks following an accident.
"This (Pune crash on October 14) was an accident which appeared to be automatic firing of the seats. Court of Inquiry is about to be complete and the findings are being finalised," Raha had told reporters.
He said that "preliminary findings" do indicate that they have been able to find the reason and "we will be able to tackle the problem without much issue".
A team of 10 experts from Russia is currently in Pune, the Sukhoi-30 base, probing the crash that took place on October 14 near there with both the pilot seats ejecting without any command during landing.
The pilots were safe but the aircraft crashed about 20 kms short of the runway.
As a precaution, the flying of the aircraft was suspended and a CoI ordered.
The sources said the Russian experts have claimed that the ejection of seats cannot take place automatically, a contention that is not being accepted by the Indian Air Force.
The grounded fleet represents almost a third of the country's fighter plane fleet.
IAF is already down to 34 combat squadrons, as against an authorised strength of 44. Each squadron has up to 18 fighter planes.
This was the fifth accident involving a SU-30 MKI since 2009 and the fleet has at least been grounded twice earlier.-PTI

LONDON: Swiss veteran Roger Federer crushed Andy Murray 6-0, 6-1 to qualify for the semi-finals from Group B at the ATP World Tour Finals at the O2 Arena here.

The 17-time Grand Slam champion Federer, who qualified with a perfect 3-0 round-robin record, was joined by Japanese debutant Kei Nishikori, who fought back from one set down to beat David Ferrer of Spain 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 Thursday, reports Xinhua.

Federer, six-time champion of the season-ending tournament, demolished fifth seed 
Murray in 56 minutes to complete Group B play. It was the 250th indoor match win of his career.

"It wasn't what I was looking for when I went on the court. Everything he tried tonight came off. He has the ability to do that," said Murray.
"I now have seven weeks before the next tournament. I have time to work on some stuff." It was the joint worst tour-level loss of Murray's career. The Scot lost to Novak Djokovic 6-1, 6-0 in the 2007 Miami Open.

"I had the upper hand from the baseline, which hasn't always happened against him," said Federer.

"But I definitely was able to play on my terms. For me, things went very well. I was able to put Andy under pressure very often, and I think the match couldn't have gone any better for me really." Nishikori, the fourth seed, recorded his 55th match win of a career-best season against Ferrer, who was a replacement for the injured Milos Raonic.

"It's never easy playing against David because he's very consistent from the baseline. If I want to win, I have to do something to break his tennis. From the second set, I was more aggressive. The final set was almost perfect," said Nishikori.

"Kei has improved his game a lot. He's a very great player. He has a very good future. I think he will be in the top 10 for a lot of years." Ferrer is competing at the season finale for the sixth time. He finishes his year with a 54-24 match record. –IANS