1400 HRS.

22nd July, 2013

THE HEADLINES:

• At least six persons killed in poll related violence in fourth phase of West Bengal Panchayat elections.

• Delhi High Court issues notice to Congress leader Sajjan Kumar on CBI's appeal challenging his acquittal in 1984 anti-Sikh riots case.

• Allahabad High Court stays interviews of Uttar Pradesh State Public Service Commission for Civil Services for 10 days on reservation issue.

• At least 47 people killed and 300 injured as 6.6 magnitude earthquake hits western China.

• Sensex gains over 90 points; Rupee falls nine paise to 59.44 against the dollar.

• In Indian Badminton League auction, world number one Lee Chong Wei goes to Mumbai and Saina Nehwal to Hyderabad among others.

• Australian Spin legend Shane Warne announces retirement from all forms of Cricket.

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In West Bengal, at least six persons were killed in poll related incidents in the fourth phase of Panchayat Elections in the State today. According to official sources, two persons were killed at Raninagar, while making bombs and another one died in a bomb attack at Beldanga in Murshidabad District. One person was killed in firing by CRPF at Ratua in the district of Malda. Police recovered two bodies from Mayureswar in Birbhum District this morning. Besides, sporadic clashes between ruling Trinamool Congress and opposition CPIM and Congress supporters, were also reported from Domkal in Murshidabad and Mahammad Bazar in Birbhum Districts. Both the warring groups indiscriminately used bombs during clashes. Two persons also received bullet injuries at Jalangi and Islampur in Murshidabad District. Over 43 percent polling was recorded in the first six hours of voting. The State Election Commissioner, Mrs. Mira Pandey told our Kolkata Correspondent that voting have been stopped at least in six polling booths in Murshidabad, Malda and Nadia districts due to snatching and tampering of ballot papers.

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The Delhi High Court today issued a notice to Congress leader Sajjan Kumar on an appeal of the CBI, challenging his acquittal in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case relating to the killing of five Sikhs by a mob. A Bench of Justices G S Sistani and G P Mittal asked the Congress leader to file his response to the petition of the probe agency and fixed the matter for further hearing on August 27th. A lower court had on May 30th, let off Kumar in the 29-year-old case as key witness Jagdish Kaur did not name him as an accused in her statement.

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The Allahabad High Court today stayed the interviews of Uttar Pradesh State Public Service Commission for Civil Services, for 10 days. Hearing a bunch of petitions on reservation policies adopted by the Commission for combined Civil Services examination, a Division Bench consisting of Justice L.K. Mahapara and Justice Rakesh Srivastava, passed the order. The Court has reserved its judgement. The students are agitated over the reservation policies adopted by the Commission. To maintain law and order in Allahabad, the local administration has closed all educational institutions up to class 12th for two days.

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the News Services Division of All India Radio, in its weekly PUBLIC SPEAKprogramme, will bring you a discussion on "Supreme Court's Ban on Common Medical Entrance Test." This can be heard on FM Gold channel and additional frequencies at 9.30 PM. Listeners can pose questions to the experts in our studio on telephone number : 011-2331- 4444. This programme is also available on Doordarshan DTH.

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Market regulator SEBI will conduct an auction today for the grant of investment limits to foreign investors in government debt securities worth more than 23,000 crore rupees. In a circular, the bourse said, the bidding will be held on a designated electronic exchange platform of the NSE between 3:30 and 5:30pm. The auction follows robust interest shown by Foreign Institutional Investors,FIIs, for the sale of government debt bond investment limits to the tune of 42,000 crore rupees last month. The encouraging response came at a time when FIIs have been pulling out of the Indian debt market.

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The country is poised towards achieving a record production of pulses in 2012-13 crop year. According to the 4th advance estimates of foodgrain production released today, the production of pulses is estimated to be 184.5 lakh tonnes in the current crop year. Overall, foodgrain production is pegged at 25.5 crore tonnes. Last year, the country had produced record 25.93 crore tonnes of foodgrains. Oilseeds production is estimated to be around 310 lakh tonnes.

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US Vice President Joe Biden arrives in New Delhi this evening on a maiden visit to the country since he assumed office. During his four-day stay in India, Mr Biden will meet President Pranab Mukherjee, Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha,tomorrow. 

"Trade and economic cooperation, energy and climate change are likely to dominate Indo-US talks. The Discussions on enhancing defence cooperation and regional security are also likely to take place. The US maintains that India's Look East policy is an important element of the regional cooperation. Progress on Indo-US Civil Nuclear Cooperation, situation in Afghanistan after withdrawal of US forces would figure in the high level talks besides Indian concerns over work visas in America. Vice President Biden's trip will further firm up Indo-US relationship as a defining partnership of the 21st century."With Sant Bahadur, Zakir Malik, AIR News, Delhi.

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In China, a 6.6-magnitude strong earthquake today ripped through northwestern Gansu Province, killing at least 47 people and injuring nearly 300 others. The quake shook the area at 7:45 am (local time) at the junction of the Minxian County and Zhangxian County, the Gansu Provincial Seismological Bureau said. The epicenter, with a depth of 20 km, was 170 km away from the provincial capital Lanzhou. A 5.6-magnitude quake jolted the same area later at 9:12 a.m. Some 5,600 houses have been damaged in Zhangxian county. Cables were damaged, cutting telecommunications in Minxian country. Communication was cut off in 13 towns of Zhangxian County. The townships of Meichuan and Puma were also seriously hit. Soldiers, police and more than 300 local militiamen have been dispatched to the quake-hit region to help with rescue efforts. The Red Cross Society of China has also dispatched a team of disaster relief workers with tents, family emergency kits and cotton-padded jackets.

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In Nepal, the Election code of conduct has come into effect from today. The Election Commission has implemented the code of conduct 120 days ahead of the Constituent Assembly election slated for November the 19th, to make it free, fair and credible. Election Commission Spokesman Bir Bahadur Rai has said that the code of conduct applies to candidates, political parties, the government and its various bodies, NGO’s and the media. 

"The Code of Conduct has come into effect for the 19th November with the election Commission banning wall chalking, use of banners with parties being allowed to design only monochrome posters not exceeding 180 square inches in size and they are barred from resorting to hate speeches, abusive language, intimidation during mass meetings. The Election Commission can slap a fine of one lakh rupees and can also disqualify any party or candidate or bar from contesting the next elections for violating the code of conduct. One hundred and thirty nine parties have registered in the Election Commission which the Commission is verifying whether they meet the criteria to contest in the coming polls." Jane Namchu /AIR News/Kathmandu.

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Recovering smartly from initial losses, the Sensex at the Bombay Stock Exchange stood 95 points, or 0.5 percent in positive territory, at 20,245 in afternoon trade, a short while ago. Earlier, in morning deals, the Sensex had opened with a loss of 20 points, or 0.1 per cent, at 20,130, as funds and retail investors booked profits after recent gains. The 30-share Sensex had climbed nearly 300 points in the previous three trading sessions.

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The rupee fell by nine paise to 59 rupees 44 paisa against the dollar in early trade today at the Interbank Foreign Exchange market. Forex dealers said, besides increased demand for dollar from importers, a weak opening in the domestic equity market, mainly put pressure on the domestic currency. The rupee had gained 32 paise to close at 59.35 against the dollar on Friday.

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The two-day media workshop of Congress began today with Rahul Gandhi emphasising on the need to tone up the party's communication strategy and to institutionalise a framework for it in all states ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. In his inaugural address, the Congress Vice President said, the projection of party's image will automatically boost personal image of individual leaders. He asked the leaders to focus on positive politics. Gandhi advised them to speak in one voice and remain united and not to focus on projecting themselves as individuals but stay focused on projecting the party.

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In Andhra Pradesh, heavy rain continued to lash several parts of the state today while water levels in various reservoirs are rising. The water levels in Godavari River came down to 48 feet at Bhadrachalam while it is still flowing at dangerous levels of 17 feet at Dhawaleswaram in East Godavari district. Several parts in Telangana and North Coastal Andhra regions have received rainfall to a tune of 3 to 5 cms since this morning under the influence of the fresh formation of low pressure in North Bay of Bengal. Meanwhile, heavy inflows are reaching Jurala project on Krishna River following opening gates of Almatti reservoir in Maharashtra. 

"Over hundred villages abutting Godavari River especially island villages remained marooned and relief measures are underway on war footing. Two more helicopters have been pressed into service to carry out rescue and relief operations in Rajhamundry and Karimnagar. Besides ten teams of the National Disaster Relief Force already operating at different parts of the rains affected districts, one more team has been sent to Narsapur in West Godavari District with all rescue materials . Over 15 thousand people are taking shelter in relief camps set up at various places. Over five thousand houses were damaged and crops in sixty thousand hectares were damaged due to heavy rains." Lakshmi/AIR News/Hyderabad.

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In Uttar Pradesh, the flood situation continues to be grim as most of the major rivers flowing through the state, continue to be in spate. About 134 villages have been affected in Lakhimpur Kheri, 68 in Sitapur, while 225 in Bahraich and 53 in Barabanki have been affected by floods. Our correspondent reports that though the government has pressed relief teams into service for conducting the rescue operations and to rehabilitate people, the situation remains grim in all the nine affected districts.

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Various parts of Delhi received light rain today, a day after heavy rainfall disrupted normal life in the city. The weatherman has forecast more rain later in the day.

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IN SPORTS NEWS:

In the inaugural Indian Badminton League (IBL) players' auction in New Delhi, Saina Nehwal was bought by her home team, Hyderabad Hotshots for 120,000 dollars. World number one Lee Chong Wei who proved to be the costliest, was taken up by Mumbai Masters for 135,000 dollars. Saina is among the six icon players whose base price was set at 50,000 dollars. Commonwealth Games bronze-medallist Parupalli Kashyap, also an icon player, was picked up by Banga Beats for 75,000 dollars. P V Sindhu was another big buy netted by Lucknow Warriors for 80,000 dollars, while doubles star Jwala Gutta went to Delhi Smashers at 31,000 dollars.

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Australian Spin legend Shane Warne today retired from all forms of the Cricket after confirming the news that he will not be playing for the Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash T-20 league anymore. The master leg-spinner who was inducted into the International Cricket Council Hall of Fame at Lord’s on Friday decided to call it a day after citing business, family and commentary commitments, resulting in hanging up his cricket boots. 43-year-old, Warne claimed 708 Test wickets at an average of 25.41 and represented Australia in 145 Test matches. He withdrew from Tests in 2007 and retired from ODIs in 2005.