Manchester City have a golden opportunity to deal Arsenal’s hopes of finishing in the top four when they travel to the Emirates Stadium for their English Premier League clash on Sunday.

The last time the sides met, City overcame a sluggish start to edge the Gunners 2-1 in December and the odds are heavily in favour of the visitors this time round.

Arsenal are tottering in sixth place and in desperate need of a win, but third-placed City have too much quality and should be able to secure an important away win.

Arsenal

The fans are up in arms against Arsene Wenger and if recent reports are to be believed, Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil are stalling on new contracts. The biggest stars at the capital club by a country mile, the uncertainty surrounding their future coupled with four losses in five games has severely damped the mood at the Emirates.

While the German playmaker is fit to start, his individual performances on the whole have been sub-par this whole season, the burden falls on Alexis Sanchez to lead Arsenal single-handedly.

The Chilean winger is a fine player but his petulant attitude and clashes with Wenger haven't helped matters and with comments made in midweek hinting at a summer transfer to a certain derby rival, perhaps his mind is not in the right place.

However, it isn't all gloom for Arsenal, for in the likes of Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade Chamberlain they have real pace, which could shatter City’s shaky defence. 

Petr Cech is the big name set to miss out on the team-sheet, with David Ospina expected to deputise, with Lucas Perez and Santi Cazolra the long term absentees. 

Manchester City

City’s form of late hasn't been great itself, two back-to-back draws in the league and an ignominious exit from the Champions League at the hands of Monaco has led many to question Pep Guardiola’s managerial abilities.

The scathing criticism is a bit unfair, but the Catalan was hired to contend for titles and both the Champions League and the Premier League are out his reach now. As a result, the 2016-17 season will go down as a failure even if he managed to lift the FA Cup (City play Arsenal in the semis on April 23rd).

So with automatic Champions League qualification the primary goal now, City know they cannot afford to slip up against Arsenal and must make the trip back to Manchester with three points in the bag.

Key to their fortunes will be star striker Sergio Aguero, who is in the midst of a lean season, by his own standards. However, as the likes of Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling have proved in 2016-17, City are no longer a one-man team.

So while there are plenty of positives for next season, one potentially fatal flaw looms large at the moment: A suspect defence. Their high-profile signings at the back haven't inspired confidence and could come undone against a pacy Arsenal side.

Guardiola confirmed in his pre-match press conference that he has no fresh concerns as Ilka, with Pablo Zabaleta and Bacary Sagna touch and go for the game, which leaves him a little short of options at right back.

Super Stat: Goals are a virtual guarantee in this fixture, with the last scoreless draw in the 2010/11 season!

Confrontation is the new norm of the political game. And, as recent events would confirm, the BJP/NDA plays it with cynical relish ~ despite the shouting of  sabka saath sabka vikas from every available platform. The summary use of the numbers in the treasury benches in the Lok Sabha to reject the amendments to the Finance Bill that had been voted by the Rajya Sabha articulates the cementing of the stand-off between the two Houses of Parliament.

Since the numbers crunch differently in each House, the potential for further confrontation is “live”, and with government expected to secure a majority in the Elders only rather close to the end of its Lok Sabha mandate there will be some tense times ahead ~ with the Leaders of both Houses, and the ministers for parliamentary affairs indicating that they would deem it a loss of prestige if they were to make the mini-compromises needed to secure cooperation or consensus across the aisle.

It would be over-simplistic to argue that the squabble over the Finance Bill started when the majority-Opposition in the Rajya Sabha pressed amendments to a “money bill” that it was not empowered to reject. The trouble actually began when the Finance Bill made sweeping changes in other enactments, thereby bypassing the Elders. The questionable misuse of the money bill route to provide an umbrella for authoritarian legislation has aroused the ire of the Elders earlier too: some of its Opposition members wonder if the “Upper House” or “second chamber” is being stripped of its relevance.

The matter has been raised in the apex court, a number of leading intellectuals have recently expressed their apprehensions in a letter to the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha/Vice-President of India. That high dignitary has not spoken out on the issue, maybe he will as his tenure nears its conclusion a few months hence ~ though he has not minced his words when flaying the prevailing climate of “intolerance” that is as “suffocating” as the smog-poisoned air in the Capital during winter. A climate, which as some provisions in the Finance Bill suggest, enhances the powers of the income-tax officials ~ the government’s new-found storm-troopers after demonetisation.

It is  ironic that the finance minister should spearhead the assault on the rights of the Elders: he is a member of the Rajya Sabha having bitten the Amritsar dust when he attempted to secure a spot in the Lok Sabha.

Like so many other senior members of the BJP, Mr Arun Jaitley consistently points out how the common folk were deprived of their rights during Indira Gandhi’s Emergency. The increasing  reality is that Modi sarkar favours a similar brand of high-handedness  ~ without even the formal proclamation of 1975.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday called upon Indian youth to innovate new ideas and use technology to bring about the changes that the country needs while urging them not to let their setbacks dampen their spirits.

"Technology has made things so much simpler. Technology and innovation are powering so many changes. Things like floppies, tape recorders and the walkman are history. Artificial intelligence, 3D technology… see how the world is undergoing changes. This is an era of 'Internet of Things'," he said in his address at the Smart India Hackathon 2017.

"To solve problems of the common people, IT solutions are necessary," he added.

Encouraging the youth to fulfill their dreams, the Prime Minister said that while innovating new ideas, they may face setbacks but they should "not let those setbacks dampen your spirits".

Modi also cautioned them not to compromise with quality.

"When you are innovating, remember that quality is key. Good quality products will bring changes in the lives of many people.

"Youth of India wants to find solutions to the nation's problems. They want results that are quick and credible," he said.

Describing democracy as the "true essence of Jan Bhagidari", he said: "Together we will solve all the issues that are affecting the nation. This will be done through Jan Bhagidari." 

He also said the perception that democracy was restricted to voting only was not the reality and "Democracy is not only giving contract to one government for five years. In reality it is Jan Bhagidari," Modi said.

"A series of issues have been placed before our youth to work on. The issues are challenging but this is also an opportunity. There is a need to use technology more and innovate more. We live in a technology-driven era," he added.

Modi said that the youth of India is blessed with phenomenal energy and this energy will bring very good results for the nation.

"India is a youthful nation. The youth of India has come together with enthusiasm for this programme. I am confident the outcomes of what my young friends are doing will lead to very positive results."

Describing the "Smart India Hackathon" as an innovative experiment, he said that youthful India has come together for the event.

"Youth of India wants to find solutions to the nation's problems. They want results that are quick and credible," he said.

After his speech, Modi interacted with engineering students across the sevearal centres listening to their sugestions about their various problems and also asking them some questions.

During "Smart India Hackathon", 598 problems were identified and posted by 29 central government departments, including issues like geo-fencing of airports, online toll collection, smart traffic management, cyber attacks and smart drones to make the airspace safer.

The 36-hour non-stop digital programming competition started at 8 a.m. on Saturday in 26 different locations in the country with each location handled by one central department or ministry.

The top three teams would be awarded Rs 1 lakh, Rs 75,000 and Rs 50,000 respectively and the digital solutions so awarded would be used by the ministry/departments for improving their governance systems, if necessary, with suitable upgradation. 

All the prize winners would be connected to form a Community of Innovative Minds. The hackathon also aims at improving awareness about patents in the country. 

According to World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), India registers 40 patents per million population.

The raging political row over alleged tampering in Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) today flared up as a video clip relating to yesterday's demonstration of an EVM-VVPAT(voter-verifiable paper audit trail) in Madhya Pradesh's Bhind ahead of the 9 April Ater assembly bypoll there surfaced that allegedly indicated that the machines had recorded voting and dispensed slips only in favour of the BJP. 

This demonstration had taken place in the presence of the MP chief electoral officer Saleena Singh and the Bhind collector and returning officer.     

Seizing on the episode, the Congress and the AAP met the Election Commission (EC) today, demanding a thorough probe into the entire matter as well as these machines and a return to conduct of elections through the old system of ballot papers instead of EVMs.  

The EC has sought a report from the MP poll authorities, even as Saleena Singh reportedly denied reports that the VVPAT machine had dispensed slips for only the BJP symbol.  

The AAP's Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal met the chief election commissioner (CEC) Nasim Zaidi, urging him to investigate cases of "faulty" EVMs and ascertain if their software could be tampered to favour the BJP. He also demanded that EVMs should be scrapped and replaced with ballot papers for conducting free and fair elections in the country. 

Later in the day, a delegation of senior Congress leaders ~ including Digvijay Singh, Jyotiraditya Scindia and Mohan Prakash ~ met the EC to highlight the Bhind EVM-VVPAT's alleged malfunctioning, demanding action against the poll and district officials and pressing for conduct of elections through ballot papers. 

Digvijay said, "The next elections, be it in Gujarat or elsewhere, should be held with ballot papers and the use of EVMs be stopped….When elections all over the world, including in the developed countries, are taking place with ballot paper, why should we have problems in doing so," adding he shared the doubts expressed by leaders like the BJP staklwart L K Advani, the BSP chief Mayawati and Mr Kejriwal about EVMs' functioning. 

Meanwhile, the EC has reportedly decided to send its team of senior officials to MP to supervise the bypolls there. 

At least 400 CRPF jawans posted at the Pallipuram unit in the capital city suburbs were taken ill reportedly due to food poisoning on Saturday.

While 200 of them have been admitted at the Medical College hospital, the rest have been admitted at a hospital near the unit.

"The condition of four was a bit serious when they arrived here, but they have quickly responded to the treatment," the hospital superintendent said. 

At least 400 CRPF jawans posted at the Pallipuram unit in the capital city suburbs were taken ill reportedly due to food poisoning on Saturday.

While 200 of them have been admitted at the Medical College hospital, the rest have been admitted at a hospital near the unit.

"The condition of four was a bit serious when they arrived here, but they have quickly responded to the treatment," the hospital superintendent said. 

The Congress on Saturday reiterated its demand that Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) should be scrapped after an EVM malfunctioned during an official demonstration ahead of by-elections to two assembly constituencies in Madhya Pradesh.

In a letter to the Election Commission of India (ECI), the Congress asked the poll panel to "revert to paper ballot".

The by-polls are scheduled to be held in Ater and Bandhavgarh assembly constituencies next week.

During a demonstration to the media ahead of the by-polls, the voter-verified paper audit trail showed the BJP as the voted party no matter whichever button was pressed on the EVM.

The Congress asked the ECI to investigate the case alleging that the District Returning Officer (DRO) in Bhind, Madhya Pradesh, threatened media personnel not to publish the news.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also urged the ECI on Saturday to investigate cases of faulty EVMs to ascertain if they were tampered with to favour the BJP in the just-concluded assembly elections in Manipur, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa and Punjab.

The Congress on Saturday reiterated its demand that Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) should be scrapped after an EVM malfunctioned during an official demonstration ahead of by-elections to two assembly constituencies in Madhya Pradesh.

In a letter to the Election Commission of India (ECI), the Congress asked the poll panel to "revert to paper ballot".

The by-polls are scheduled to be held in Ater and Bandhavgarh assembly constituencies next week.

During a demonstration to the media ahead of the by-polls, the voter-verified paper audit trail showed the BJP as the voted party no matter whichever button was pressed on the EVM.

The Congress asked the ECI to investigate the case alleging that the District Returning Officer (DRO) in Bhind, Madhya Pradesh, threatened media personnel not to publish the news.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also urged the ECI on Saturday to investigate cases of faulty EVMs to ascertain if they were tampered with to favour the BJP in the just-concluded assembly elections in Manipur, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa and Punjab.

In one of its biggest crackdowns on shell companies, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday conducted simultaneous countrywide raids on around 110 premises and 300 shell companies that were suspected to be involved in dubious and illegal transactions during demonetisation, officials said.

The operation was carried out across 16 states with multiple teams of the agency raiding the premises of about 300 shell firms in prominent places like Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Chandigarh, Patna, Ranchi, Ahmedabad, Bhubaneswar and Bengaluru among others.

"Several top business houses were searched in various cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru and Kolkata," the official said.

The raids were carried out under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) to investigate instances of money laundering and illegal foreign exchange transactions.

"Investigations had revealed that certain entry operators and fraudsters were using a network of companies, some of which have been used repeatedly while some others were discarded after use or kept dormant for a long period," an Enforcement Directorate official told IANS.

The official said that some of the companies were involved in major money laundering cases related to Maharashtra-based politician Chhagan Bhujbal, YSR Congress chief Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, former chief engineer of Noida Yadav Singh, National Rural Health Mission, AGS Infotech, Rajeshwar Exports and others.

He said that some other entities were found to have been used for laundering demonetised currency after the November 8 banning of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. The official said that certain shell companies remitted huge amounts to other countries for imports but no imports had been made, thus causing loss of foreign exchange.

"These companies had either produced forged bill of entry or not submitted any bill of entry. A sum of Rs 20 crore was found available in bank account of one entity and the same will be considered for attachment."

In a case relating to Kolkata, the official said more than 50 companies had the same registered address which on verification was found to be vacant residential premises.

"The landlord of the premises has stated that he had let out his home to a private individual around three years back who disappeared in three months. He had then subsequently received loan recovery letters against two companies registered on the address.

"These two companies are already under investigation," the official said.

During investigation, the Enforcement Directorate said it arrested one person named Jagdish Prasad Purohit who has admitted to having formed around 700 shell companies using 20 dummy directors, and 130 of the companies are still in existence.

"He had also provided accommodation entry to the tune of Rs 46.7 crore to Chhagan Bhujbal," the official said.

The official said the agency officials recovered the photograph of a fake ID card of a special agent in the anti-terrorism division, Interpol, in the name of one Chetan Shah during a raid at a house in Mumbai.

"The entry operator connected to Rajeshwar Exports company was also searched. The company had made remittances to the tune of Rs 1,476 crore for import of diamonds, which were grossly overvalued," the official said.

The official said a chartered accountant at Barakhamba Road in Delhi had formed more than 200 shell companies and had given accommodation entries to a number of persons in Uttar Pradesh.

"He was also found to be involved in conversion of black money into white for some of the sand mafias of Uttar Pradesh."

In another case, the Enforcement Directorate investigators found a shell company which has exported carpets to its sister concern incorporated outside India.

"The export proceeds were never realised and the person behind these companies had applied to RBI (Reserve Bank of India) for write off of the outstanding export proceeds," the official added.

Official sources said the action is part of the mandate given to the ED under a Special Task Force created by the government last month on the directions of the Prime Minister's Office.

The task force was created under the co-chairmanship of the Revenue Secretary and Corporate Affairs Secretary to monitor the actions taken against shell companies by various agencies from regulatory ministries and Enforcement Agencies.

In a statement, the Finance Ministry said last month that harsh punitive action will be taken against shell companies, including freezing of bank accounts, striking off of names of dormant companies and invoking Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Amendment Act, 2016.

Shell companies are companies that exist only on paper, and can be used for money laundering.

The statement said there were about 15 lakh registered companies in India and only six lakh of these file their annual returns.

In one of its biggest crackdowns on shell companies, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday conducted simultaneous countrywide raids on around 110 premises and 300 shell companies that were suspected to be involved in dubious and illegal transactions during demonetisation, officials said.

The operation was carried out across 16 states with multiple teams of the agency raiding the premises of about 300 shell firms in prominent places like Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Chandigarh, Patna, Ranchi, Ahmedabad, Bhubaneswar and Bengaluru among others.

"Several top business houses were searched in various cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru and Kolkata," the official said.

The raids were carried out under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) to investigate instances of money laundering and illegal foreign exchange transactions.

"Investigations had revealed that certain entry operators and fraudsters were using a network of companies, some of which have been used repeatedly while some others were discarded after use or kept dormant for a long period," an Enforcement Directorate official told IANS.

The official said that some of the companies were involved in major money laundering cases related to Maharashtra-based politician Chhagan Bhujbal, YSR Congress chief Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, former chief engineer of Noida Yadav Singh, National Rural Health Mission, AGS Infotech, Rajeshwar Exports and others.

He said that some other entities were found to have been used for laundering demonetised currency after the November 8 banning of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. The official said that certain shell companies remitted huge amounts to other countries for imports but no imports had been made, thus causing loss of foreign exchange.

"These companies had either produced forged bill of entry or not submitted any bill of entry. A sum of Rs 20 crore was found available in bank account of one entity and the same will be considered for attachment."

In a case relating to Kolkata, the official said more than 50 companies had the same registered address which on verification was found to be vacant residential premises.

"The landlord of the premises has stated that he had let out his home to a private individual around three years back who disappeared in three months. He had then subsequently received loan recovery letters against two companies registered on the address.

"These two companies are already under investigation," the official said.

During investigation, the Enforcement Directorate said it arrested one person named Jagdish Prasad Purohit who has admitted to having formed around 700 shell companies using 20 dummy directors, and 130 of the companies are still in existence.

"He had also provided accommodation entry to the tune of Rs 46.7 crore to Chhagan Bhujbal," the official said.

The official said the agency officials recovered the photograph of a fake ID card of a special agent in the anti-terrorism division, Interpol, in the name of one Chetan Shah during a raid at a house in Mumbai.

"The entry operator connected to Rajeshwar Exports company was also searched. The company had made remittances to the tune of Rs 1,476 crore for import of diamonds, which were grossly overvalued," the official said.

The official said a chartered accountant at Barakhamba Road in Delhi had formed more than 200 shell companies and had given accommodation entries to a number of persons in Uttar Pradesh.

"He was also found to be involved in conversion of black money into white for some of the sand mafias of Uttar Pradesh."

In another case, the Enforcement Directorate investigators found a shell company which has exported carpets to its sister concern incorporated outside India.

"The export proceeds were never realised and the person behind these companies had applied to RBI (Reserve Bank of India) for write off of the outstanding export proceeds," the official added.

Official sources said the action is part of the mandate given to the ED under a Special Task Force created by the government last month on the directions of the Prime Minister's Office.

The task force was created under the co-chairmanship of the Revenue Secretary and Corporate Affairs Secretary to monitor the actions taken against shell companies by various agencies from regulatory ministries and Enforcement Agencies.

In a statement, the Finance Ministry said last month that harsh punitive action will be taken against shell companies, including freezing of bank accounts, striking off of names of dormant companies and invoking Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Amendment Act, 2016.

Shell companies are companies that exist only on paper, and can be used for money laundering.

The statement said there were about 15 lakh registered companies in India and only six lakh of these file their annual returns.

Responding to reports that several top Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders would arrive in West Bengal this month to strengthen the party before the 2019 Lok Sabha election, Trinamool Congress Secretary General Partha Chatterjee on Saturday claimed his party was not concerned about the BJP leaders' visit.

"Whether 40 leaders or 400 leaders of the BJP are coming to the state, is not our concern," Chatterjee said at the end of the Trinamool Congress' core committee meeting here.

"We do not know whether 40 leaders or 40 thieves are coming here. What we know for sure is, under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee, all the people of the state are in our favour," he claimed.

Countering Chatterjee, BJP National Secretary Rahul Sinha said the state ruling party's response clearly shows that they are feeling intimidated by the reports.

"This is an internal programme of our party. Why should Trinamool talk about it? Their response clearly indicates that they are scared and terrorised hearing the news," Sinha said.

"The BJP MPs and central leaders would go to the major parliamentary constituencies in the country including Bengal to campaign for the party before the 2019 election. This is our party's nationwide agenda," he added.

Responding to reports that several top Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders would arrive in West Bengal this month to strengthen the party before the 2019 Lok Sabha election, Trinamool Congress Secretary General Partha Chatterjee on Saturday claimed his party was not concerned about the BJP leaders' visit.

"Whether 40 leaders or 400 leaders of the BJP are coming to the state, is not our concern," Chatterjee said at the end of the Trinamool Congress' core committee meeting here.

"We do not know whether 40 leaders or 40 thieves are coming here. What we know for sure is, under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee, all the people of the state are in our favour," he claimed.

Countering Chatterjee, BJP National Secretary Rahul Sinha said the state ruling party's response clearly shows that they are feeling intimidated by the reports.

"This is an internal programme of our party. Why should Trinamool talk about it? Their response clearly indicates that they are scared and terrorised hearing the news," Sinha said.

"The BJP MPs and central leaders would go to the major parliamentary constituencies in the country including Bengal to campaign for the party before the 2019 election. This is our party's nationwide agenda," he added.

The Centre for United Nations Peacekeeping (CUNPK) in India and the UN Women will together organise a two-week training programme for female peacekeepers here from April 3 to 14, said an official release.

"The Centre for United Nations Peacekeeping (CUNPK) in India, in partnership with the UN Women is organising two-week training at Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi from April 3 to April 14," said the Ministry of External Affairs in a release. 

"A total of 41 participants from 27 different countries are attending the course to derive benefit from it and to be available to the United Nations for deployment in field areas," it said.

The CUNPK is training the female peacekeepers for a record third time.

India is one of the leading countries to host specialised UN peacekeeping courses on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (CRSV) at the CUNPK.

India was one of only a few nations to field a complete women police battalion in a UN mission in Liberia from 2007 to 2015.

The Centre for United Nations Peacekeeping (CUNPK) in India and the UN Women will together organise a two-week training programme for female peacekeepers here from April 3 to 14, said an official release.

"The Centre for United Nations Peacekeeping (CUNPK) in India, in partnership with the UN Women is organising two-week training at Manekshaw Centre in New Delhi from April 3 to April 14," said the Ministry of External Affairs in a release. 

"A total of 41 participants from 27 different countries are attending the course to derive benefit from it and to be available to the United Nations for deployment in field areas," it said.

The CUNPK is training the female peacekeepers for a record third time.

India is one of the leading countries to host specialised UN peacekeeping courses on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (CRSV) at the CUNPK.

India was one of only a few nations to field a complete women police battalion in a UN mission in Liberia from 2007 to 2015.

India and Malaysia today signed seven MoUs, including one on setting up a fourth generation technology park in Andhra Pradesh, as the two countries decided to intensify cooperation in countering terrorism and radicalisation.

The accords were signed after wide-ranging talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak during which they also agreed to step up defence and security cooperation between their two nations.

The other MoUs relate to air services, sports, setting up of a urea and ammonia manufacturing plant, exchange of palm oil technology, mutual recognition of educational qualification and human resource development.

Mr Razak, who is on his third visit to India since becoming the Prime Minister in 2009, complimented PM Modi on bold economic reforms and congratulated India on high economic growth.

‘’History binds us together. Indian languages, culture and food are popular in Malaysia. I am a fan of Indian films, especially after my visit to Chennai,’’ he said at a brief media interaction with PM Modi after the agreement-signing ceremony.

On his part, Mr Modi said the decisions taken by the two sides today would drive the strategic partnership between the two countries to a new level. Referring to the bilateral defence relationship, the Indian leader noted that the two countries were cooperating in training and capacity building, maintenance of equipment and military hardware and disaster response.

He also hailed as inspirational the Malaysian PM’s leadership in countering terrorism and radicalisation. ‘’We agreed on a shared vision to enhance our strategic partnership. A vision that prioritises an action-oriented approach,’’ he added.

Mr Modi said the two countries had agreed to further strengthen their strategic partnership to shape an effective response to common concerns and challenges.

Meanwhile, the India Malaysia CEO Forum, which also had its meeting today, emphasised the need for public and private sector investments from both sides in the identified sectors and called for conclusion of a balance Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement at an early date.

India and Malaysia today signed seven MoUs, including one on setting up a fourth generation technology park in Andhra Pradesh, as the two countries decided to intensify cooperation in countering terrorism and radicalisation.

The accords were signed after wide-ranging talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak during which they also agreed to step up defence and security cooperation between their two nations.

The other MoUs relate to air services, sports, setting up of a urea and ammonia manufacturing plant, exchange of palm oil technology, mutual recognition of educational qualification and human resource development.

Mr Razak, who is on his third visit to India since becoming the Prime Minister in 2009, complimented PM Modi on bold economic reforms and congratulated India on high economic growth.

‘’History binds us together. Indian languages, culture and food are popular in Malaysia. I am a fan of Indian films, especially after my visit to Chennai,’’ he said at a brief media interaction with PM Modi after the agreement-signing ceremony.

On his part, Mr Modi said the decisions taken by the two sides today would drive the strategic partnership between the two countries to a new level. Referring to the bilateral defence relationship, the Indian leader noted that the two countries were cooperating in training and capacity building, maintenance of equipment and military hardware and disaster response.

He also hailed as inspirational the Malaysian PM’s leadership in countering terrorism and radicalisation. ‘’We agreed on a shared vision to enhance our strategic partnership. A vision that prioritises an action-oriented approach,’’ he added.

Mr Modi said the two countries had agreed to further strengthen their strategic partnership to shape an effective response to common concerns and challenges.

Meanwhile, the India Malaysia CEO Forum, which also had its meeting today, emphasised the need for public and private sector investments from both sides in the identified sectors and called for conclusion of a balance Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement at an early date.

The Press Association of India on Saturday demanded from the central government a suitable pension scheme for working journalists, accredited by the Press Information Bureau (PIB).

The demand came at the first meeting of the newly elected executive committee of the Press Association headed by senior Journalist Jaishankar Gupta. A resolution, in this regard, was also passed by the association.

"It is high time that the Government of India should introduce a suitable pension scheme for the working journalists accredited by it," the resolution said. 

The demand is genuine and would provide some social security to a large number of accredited journalists who do not come under any such scheme, it added. 

The Press Association said many state governments already have pension schemes for working journalists in their states while many others, who had no such schemes, have now started introducing such schemes for the scribes.

The Press Association also demanded that the existing Central Government Health Scheme for the accredited journalists should be applicable in all government and private hospitals as was done in the case of the employees and pensioners of the government. 

It also stressed on the need for a suitable health insurance policy for the accredited journalists adding that pension and health facilities are the minimum requirements for the scribes.

The Press Association will write letters to the concerned Central Ministers and seek meetings with them to press for the demands.