2100 HRS. 
06-05-2013

THE HEADLINES

• Government asks Public Sector banks and LIC to take immediate action against those exposed by Cobrapost.
• Suspended Railway Board Member Mahesh Kumar remanded to three day's CBI custody in the 10 crore rupees bribery case.
• Lok Sabha extends tenure of JPC on 2G spectrum till the end of Monsoon session of Parliament.
• In Pakistan ,fifteen people killed in an explosion at an rally in tribal north-west .
• Sensex gains 98 points to close at 19,674.
• Indian men and women's teams enter the semifinals of the Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships, in New Delhi.

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The Finance Ministry has asked Public Sector banks and Life Insurance Corporation, to take immediate action against employees who appear to be advising customers on ways of violating the Know Your Customer (KYC) and other regulatory norms. In a circular, Financial Services Secretary Rajiv Takru asked heads of several state-owned banks and LIC today that an inquiry must be initiated and completed expeditiously. The circular was issued in connection with Cobrapost, Red Spider 2 Expose that was released today morning indicating alleged money laundering by the financial institutions.In its expose earlier in the day, Cobrapost has named

as many as 23 public and private sector banks and insurance companies for allegedly running a nation-wide money laundering racket, blatantly violating laws of the land. They are alleged to have violated the KYC and Anti Money Laundering Guideline.The Finance Ministry has also sought a detailed report from the financial institutions about names of erring employees, their designations and action taken against them.

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Suspended Railway Board Member Mahesh Kumar, arrested for the alleged 10 crore rupees bribery case was today remanded to three-day CBI custody by a Delhi court. Kumar was produced before Special CBI Judge Swarana Kanta Sharma who remanded him to CBI custody till May 9 after the agency said, he is the main accused in the case and his custodial interrogation was required to unearth the entire conspiracy. The CBI had sought a five-day police custody of Kumar, saying he is the one for whom the entire arrangement was being made.Besides Kumar, CBI has arrested Bansal's nephew Vijay Singla and six others for their alleged roles in the bribery case, in which a deal of 10 crore rupees was allegedly finalised between them for fixing a top-level position for Kumar in the Railway Board. CBI also said, they have to arrest two more accused in the case.

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The BJP today demanded that Law Minister Ashwani Kumar and Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal be sacked immediately and the illegal acts committed by them, be investigated. Briefing the media in New Delhi, senior party leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said that the CBI affidavit raises very serious questions about the entire functioning of the government.

The CBI Affidavit clearly discloses there was a conscious attempt to weaken the import of the status report so that the decision making process may not be shown under a serious clout before the Supreme Court in the status report

The Congress however said that the demand for the resignation of Ashwani Kumar and Pawan Kumar Bansal is premature. The party spokesperson Renuka Chowdhary told media that there is need to wait to get more information 

We need to wait till we can ascertain certain facts after that decisions will be taken. But prematurely to jump the gun it is not judicious.

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The CBI Director today admitted before the Supreme Court that certain changes were made in the coal scam draft report on suggestions given by Union Law Minister Ashwani Kumar, Attorney General G E Vanahvati and the officials of PMO and Coal Ministry.In its nine-page affidavit, CBI chief Ranjit Sinha gave details of the meetings which took place between the officials of the probe agency, the Law Minister, AG, then Additional Solicitor General Harin Raval and officials of PMO and Coal Ministry.The affidavit said the changes made in the draft report on the suggestion of the Law Minister and Vanahvati have neither altered the report nor shifted the focus of inquiries in any manner.Sinha also said that no names of suspects or accused were removed from the status report and also that no suspect or accused was let off in the process.

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The opposition today stalled the proceedings in both the Houses of Parliament, forcing their adjournment, on various issues. They were adjourned twice in the pre-lunch session.

In the Lok Sabha when it reassembled at 2 PM, BJP members demanded Prime Minister's resignation on coal blocks allocation issue. The Shiromani Akali Dal members demanded the resignation of Railway Minister P K Bansal and called for reopening of the 1984 Delhi riots case. Samajwadi Party members also demanded the resignation of the Railway Minister in the bribery case involving his nephew. As uproar continued, the Chair adjourned the House till 3 PM. The House had a brief discussion on the National Food Security Bill, 2011, before it was adjourned for the day today.The Rajya Sabha was adjourned finally for the day at 2 PM as the BJP members continued to demand Prime Minister's resignation. They also raised slogans against Railway Minister, Mr Bansal.

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The Lok Sabha today adopted a resolution to give a fresh extension to Joint Parliamentary Committee, JPC, on the 2G spectrum till the end of the Monsoon Session. The resolution was moved by its Chairman, P. C. Chacko which was approved by a voice vote. The resolution is likely to be moved in the Rajya Sabha tomorrow and if the Upper House also adopts it, the JPC will get an extension till the end of the Monsoon session.

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Voters’ turnout in the Karnataka Assembly election held yesterday, has touched 71.29 per cent, which is the second largest turnout in the electoral history of the state. Giving the latest figure on voters’ turnout, the Chief Electoral Officer Anil Kumar Jha told media persons in Bangalore today that the highest turnout of 71.90 per cent was reported in 1978.

The Chief Electoral officer felt that voters’ awareness programmes and interaction with resident welfare association helped generate momentum on the polling day. Mr.Jha informed that Bangalore city which recorded the lowest of 57.38 percent voter’s turnout is better than 49.87 percent that was recorded in 2008 assembly elections in the state. Devendra/Sudhindra, AIR NEWS, Bangalore

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The Supreme Court has dismissed the plea against commissioning of Kudankulam nuclear plant. The Court observed that nuclear power plants are needed in the country for the present and future generations. The Apex Court asked authorities to endeavour to withdraw criminal cases against those protesting the plant's commissioning. The Court also gave 15 guidelines on commissioning, safety and security and environmental issues concerning the plant.

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The Business World
(The Sensex at the Bombay Stock Exchange gained 98 points, or 0.5 percent, to close at 19,674, today, on buying by funds. The Nifty at the National Stock Exchange rose 27 points, to 5,971. Stock markets in China, Hong Kong and Singapore gained between 0.4 percent and 1.2 percent.The rupee depreciated 24 paise, to close at a nearly one week low of 54.18 against the dollar. Gold rose 120 rupees, to 27,870 rupees, per ten grams, in Delhi. Silver gained 200 to 46,200 rupees per kilo. And Brent crude oil futures stood above 104 dollars a barrel, while US crude added 1.56 dollars, to 97.17 dollars a barrel.Arjun Choudhary, AIR News) 

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New Delhi today said that the visit of External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid to Beijing on the 9th of this month will take place as scheduled. This was disclosed in an official release that during the two-day visit, Mr Khurshid will discuss bilateral, regional and global issues of concern with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. The two leaders will also discuss preparations for the proposed visit of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang to India.Earlier, India and China agreed to restore status quo along the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh as it existed prior to Chinese incursion on 15th of last month.

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Sanaullah, the Pakistani prisoner under treatment at PGI, Chandigarh, continues to be critical. According to the medical bulletin released by PGI, his neurological status continues to be the same without any improvement.The Pakistan High Commissioner Salman Bashir today visited PGI to see Sanaullah.

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In Pakistan, at least fifteen people were killed and 70 others injured in an explosion at an election rally in the north-west of the country. According to reports, the blast took place at the Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam rally jointly organized by the party's candidates at a local seminary in Sawak area of Kurram Agency. One of the candidates was injured in the attack. Around 3000 people, including tribal elders from border areas were attending the rally when the blast occurred.

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Afghan government has lodged a strong protest over the unprovoked attack on Afghan forces by Pakistani forces near the Durand Line in Goshta district of eastern Nangarhar province this morning. A press release issued by the Foreign Ministry said the Director General in the Afghan ministry Azizddin Ahmadzada summoned the Pakistani Charge d'Affaires Shah Nazar Afridi at the Ministry in Kabul this morning and objected against the use of heavy and light weapons against Afghan forces near the Durand Line.

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A Syrian activist group says that Israel's weekend airstrike on a military complex near the Syrian capital Damascus, has killed at least 42 Syrian soldiers. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said today that the toll is based on information from sources in Syrian military hospitals. The Syrian government has however not released a death toll. Israeli officials say, the attacks were meant to prevent advanced Iranian weapons from reaching Lebanon's Hezbollah militia which is a Syrian ally and Israel foe.

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UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has expressed grave concern about the reported Israeli air strikes in Syria and called on both sides to exercise maximum calm and restraint. Arab League also condemned suspected Israeli air strikes on Syrian capital Damascus and demanded action from the United Nations. .

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Former Italian Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti died at the age of 94. One of the most prominent political figures of post-war Italy, Andreotti was the Prime Minister of the country seven times between 1972 and 1992.He was a member of the Christian Democratic Party.

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Both the Indian Men's and Women's teams have entered the semi-finals of the 19th Commonwealth Table Tennis Championships. In New Delhi today, the Men's team beat Northern Ireland, Scotland and Malaysia and finished at the top of Group 'F'.

The Indian women paddlers made it to the last four stage after finishing second in Group 'E' with two wins in three matches. They won against Scotland and Wales, but had lost their second fixture against Singapore.

There is no third and fourth places in the competition, and both the losing semi-finalists receive bronze medals.

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In the IPL cricket match at Mohali, Royal Challengers Bangalore were 133 for one in 15 overs against Kings Eleven Punjab, a short while ago.

Earlier, Kings XI skipper David Hussey Gilchrist won the toss and opted to bowl.

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In Himachal Pradesh, the tribal districts are again in the grip of cold as higher reaches of Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti are experiencing light snowfall while other areas lashed with rain since last night.

The 13,050 feet high Rohtang pass in Kullu district also experienced 6 inches fresh snowfall affecting normal vehicular traffic