1400 HRS. 
8th July, 2013

 THE HEADLINES,

• Bihar police detains one person in connection with Bodhgaya serial blasts; State government requests Centre to deploy CISF for temple security.

• BJP says, it is ready to face snap polls if the Congress opts for it.

• In Andhra Pradesh, at least eleven persons killed and 20 injured in a building collapse in Secunderabad; Several feared trapped under the debris.

• Ten people die in a plane crash at Akaska airport in United States.

• Sensex falls over 170 points in afternoon trade; And after recovering from all time low of 61.19, Rupee still down at 61 rupees, 4 paise against Dollar in late morning deals.

•  IN SPORTS,India climbs to second spot in ICC test rankings.

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Bihar police have detained one person from Gaya for questioning in connection with the Bodhgaya serial blasts. Sources said, the man was detained on the basis of eye witness accounts and the ongoing investigations. He, however, has not yet been declared a suspect.

The Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee, BTMC has decided to completely handover the security of the temple to Bihar Police following yesterday's blasts. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has demanded deployment of Central Industrial Security Force at the shrine.

Two monks were injured when 9 low intensity blasts rocked the temple town early yesterday. National Investigation Agency, NIA has begun probing the blasts. Union Home Secretary Anil Goswami termed the blasts as terror attack. No group has claimed responsibility for the blasts so far.

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Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today said that his government will do everything to bring the culprits of the Bodhgaya blasts, to justice. Addressing a press conference in Patna, he said, investigation is on into the blasts and experts are handling it. He said, we should learn lessons from these blasts and do everything not to allow such things from happening again. He also appealed to political parties not to politicise the blasts.

Meanwhile the District Administration has said that the Bodhgaya Temple will be reopened for general public after a Special Puja this evening.

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Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said that his Ministry took prompt action and sent National Investigation Agency (NIA) and National Security Guard (NSG) teams immediately after the Bodhgaya blasts. He however refused to divulge more details saying that the investigation is under way.

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A Delhi court today fixed July 31th for further hearing in the additional 2G spectrum allocation case in which Bharti Cellular CMD Sunil Mittal, Essar Group promoter Ravi Ruia and others have been summoned as accused. Special CBI Judge O P Saini deferred the proceedings after lawyers appearing for Mittal and Ruia informed the court that the matter is pending in the Supreme Court.

The Counsel also submitted before the judge that the apex court in its interim order of April 26th, had postponed the trial court proceedings till further orders and had also exempted Mittal and Ruia from personal appearance. The apex court's interim order had come on Mittal and Ruia's pleas challenging the special court's March 19 order by which it had summoned them as accused in the case. Others who were summoned as accused are Canada-based NRI Asim Ghosh, who was the then Managing Director of accused firm Hutchison Max Telecom Pvt Ltd, and former Telecom Secretary Shyamal Ghosh.

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DMK chief M Karunanidhi’s wife Dayalu Ammal has moved the Suprem Court SC seeking exemption from deposing as a witness in 2G case. Earlier, a Delhi court had dismissed two applications filed by 82-year-old Ammal seeking exemption from personal appearance as a witness and to dispense with her presence in the case citing her ailing health condition. The Delhi High Court on Thursday asked Ammal to move the Supreme Court against the trial court order dismissing her plea seeking exemption from personal appearance as a prosecution witness in the case.

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The BJP today said it is ready to face snap polls if the Congress party opts for it. Briefing newsmen in New Delhi after the Party Parliamentary Board meeting, Senior BJP Leader Ananth Kumar alleged that the Congress may go for early polls. He alleged, the Congress party brought the Ordinance on the Food security as it was not confident of getting the support of its allies in Parliament. Alleging failure of congress led UPA government on all fronts, Mr. Ananth Kumar said, the BJP will go to polls with development and good governance as its main plank. The meeting was attended among others by BJP president Rajnath Singh, Campaign Committee Chief Narandra Modi, Senior party leaders L.K. Advani, Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley.

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In Andhra Pradesh, at least eleven persons were killed and 20 others injured when an old building collapsed in Secunderabad this morning. Rescue operations are underway with the help of poclainers and cranes to pull out the trapped persons from the debris. The two storied building of a restaurant, City Light has suddenly collapsed with heavy noise trapping several people inside the debris around six thirty this morning. The injured have been admitted to the Government Gandhi Hospital and the condition of the two is stated to be critical. Our correspondent says the number of causalities may go up further.
The mishap took place at a noted restaurant - City Light on the RP Road of Secunderabad a little before seven o clock in the morning when most of the hotel workers are beginning their work and a number of daily wagers are having their first cup of tea. Eye witnesses are saying that 70 to 80 persons must be there at the restaurant and the surrounding areas when the two-storied building came down with a heavy noise. With in no time, the teams of Police, Fire and Municipal Corporation have reached the site to carry out the rescue operations. The rescue operations gained momentum when the team from the Disaster Management came to site with vital equipment like gas cutters to cut through the steel and concrete slabs. About 40 persons have been pulled out from the debris and 20 persons who were injured have been sent to nearby Government Gandhi Hospital. Lakshmi, airnews, Hyderabad.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy has ordered an enquiry into the incident. -lakshmi, airnews, Hyderabad

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The Tamil Nadu Government has ordered a one man Commission to probe the mysterious death of Ilavarasan, a dalit youth who was found dead at a railway track in Dharmapuri. Chief Minister Ms.Jayalalithaa, in a statement expressed shock and disbelief at the death of the youth and has ordered a Commission under former High Court Judge, Justice S.R.Singaravelu to probe the matter.

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In Himachal Pradesh, the continuous rain since the last four days has badly crippled normal life, especially in the far flung areas of the state. The Mandi-Kullu National Highway was blocked due to landslides near Pandoh and Dawarda late last night and has not opened till reports last came in. Several other interior roads in various parts of the state were also blocked, increasing the woes of rural people. The water level is continuously rising in Beas, Yamuna and Sutlej. Our Correspondent reports that Met department has predicted more rain in the next 24 hours.

The two out of three flood gates of Pandoh Dam situated on river Beas in Mandi district were opened by the Bhakra Beas Management Board authorities last night as the rainfall continues in upper areas of Kullu district. After this the water level in Govind Sagar and Pong Dam in Bilaspur and Kangra districts has also increased. At two places, Kholanal and Tyori in Mandi district low intensity cloud burst late last night caused severe damage to several buildings. Five cows were buried under debries in these incidents while a bridge also washed away in the flood water.<> Shishu Sharma Shantal,Air News, Shimla

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In Assam, flood situation has improved in worst hit Dhemaji district. Dhemaji Deputy Commissioner said that flood water has receded. No new villages have been inundated during last 24 hours. Around 100 villages have been affected in current wave of flood in 4 districts including Dhemaji. In Majuli river island, 20 villages are reeling under flood but the situation is not beyond control. Ferry movements during night have been suspended in Majuli as the Brahmaputra is flowing above the danger mark at Nematighat. More than one thousand hectare crop land has been affected due to flood in Lakhimpur and Chirang district during the last 24 hours. Our Correspondent reports that seven relief camps have been set up in flood affected Dhemaji and Chirang district.
Around 800 people are being sheltered in 5 camps in Dhemaji district. 2 camps have also been set up in Chirang district. Medical teams have been formed in Dheamji and they are visiting flood affected villages and relief camps. In Majuli Island, river side residents have been asked to move to the safer places as the Brahmaputra is flowing above danger level at Nematighat. People have also taken shelter in embankments and other safer places in the river island.<>MANAS PRATIM SARMA/AIR NEWS/GUWAHATI

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In Assam, indefinite curfew continues in Mankachar police station area of Dhubri district since last evening. Curfew was imposed as a precautionary measures, after a body was recovered along its boundary with Meghalaya. Assam Law and Order IGP, SN Singh said, tension prevails in Mankachar area after the recovery of the body as people alleged that the person was killed by miscreants from Meghalaya side. Three additional companies of para-military forces have been deployed in the area to maintain law and order. Senior officials are camping at Mankachar to take stock of the situation.

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In Madhya Pradesh, the Monsoon session of the state legislative assembly began in capital Bhopal today. As soon as the proceedings begun, the House paid tributes to deputy-speaker of the legislative assembly Harbansh Singh, former deputy-chief minister of the state, Subash Yadav, former union ministers Vidyacharan Shukla and Bhawna Chikliya and several ex-members who passed away after the last session. The House observed two minutes silence in respect for the departed souls. Later proceedings were adjourned for the day.

Our Bhopal correspondent reports that the session is likely to be stormy. The twelve day session will all ten sittings in all. The state government is expected to table its first supplementary budget for the current financial year and some important bills. The main opposition party Congress has already given a written notice to bring a no confidence motion against the state government. It will raise issues of resignation of finance minister Raghav ji after an alleged sex scandal, corruption and deteriorating law and order situation in the state.

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The News Services Division of All India Radio in its weekly "PUBLIC SPEAK" programme, will bring you a discussion tonight on "FOOD SECURITY FOR ALL."

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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Ten people have died in a plane crash at Akaska airport in the US. Aviation authorities said that all ten people, including the pilot, on board the air taxi died when it crashed at Soldotna Airport at 11:20 AM local time. The names of the passengers have not been released. The cause of the crash is yet to be ascertained. The Alaska plane crash comes a day after an Asiana flight crashed at San Francisco's airport killing two people and injuring more than 180.

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In Egypt, 34 Islamist supporters of the deposed President Mursi are reported killed while scores have been injured in the firing by the military this morning. Muslim Brotherhood spokesman Saeed Aref said that tear gas and shells were fired by the army during early morning prayers in Cairo near the Republican Guards headquarters while trying to disperse the sit ins. This is the same place where the deposed President and his aides are being held under house arrest. The death toll is likely to mount since many of those injured are in serious condition and have been admitted in six hospitals in Cairo. The incident flared up as one of the security officers was killed in the melee. After the shootout, Salafist Al Nour party has broken itself off from the negotiations with the army to form a caretaker Government. 

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Recovering partially from initial losses, the Sensex at the Bombay Stock Exchange stood 179 points, or 0.9 percent in negative territory, at 19,317 in afternoon trade a short while ago. Earlier in the morning, the Sensex had opened with a bigger loss of 263 points, or 1.4 percent, at 19,233 on profit-booking by funds, amid falling regional bourses. The Sensex had gained almost 320 points in the previous two trading sessions.

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After slumping to a new record low of 61 rupees 19 paise against the dollar in early trade, the rupee today recovered a bit to 61 rupees 4 paise in late morning deals on suspected intervention by the Reserve Bank of India, RBI. The local currency commenced the day's trade at an all-time low level of 61 rupees 19 paise against the dollar at the Interbank Foreign Exchange market.

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India climbed to second spot in the latest ICC Test rankings issued today. South Africa have strengthened its position as the number one side after the annual update of the championship table. Despite England having won its last two Test series against India, it finds itself on the third spot on account of less consistent performance