2100 HRS. 
08-07-2013

THE HEADLINES

• CBI files status report in Supreme Court on coal gate scam; Says it will abide by apex court's direction and not share any investigation details in the scam.
• Temple reopens for prayers at Bodhgaya in Bihar; Probe into serial blasts on.
• Iraq to supply more crude oil to India; Both countries to enhance cooperation in energy, security and economic sectors.
• Sensex drops 171 points to close at 19,325; Rupee loses 39 paise, to close at 60.61 against the dollar.
• Indian Boxer Shiva Thapa bags gold in 56 kg in the Asian Boxing Championships in Jordan.
• India storm into the final of Under-19 Tri-nation  Cricket tournament at Darwin, Australia.

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Central Bureau of Investigation, CBI, in its report filed in the Supreme Court has said that it will abide by the Apex Court's direction and not share any details of its investigation in the coal gate scam. The agency however said that it may need to share information in cases where it needs to seek the government's sanction for prosecution. Recently the CBI had to inform the Ministry of Corporate Affairs while summoning former Coal Secretary H.C. Gupta as an accused. The Ministry refused to give sanction till they had details of evidence against Gupta.The Apex Court, during the last hearing, had said that only the investigating officers and the CBI Director should know details. Apart from this, the CBI also informed the court about the developments in its investigations. The agency said it has questioned PMO officials and booked Congress MP Navin Jindal and former Minister Dasari Narayan Rao for manipulating the allocation process. The case will come up for hearing  on Wednesday

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In Bihar, blasts hit Bodhgaya temple has been reopened for prayers.  Buddhist monks from 50 countries today held a special prayer inside the temple. Head of Monasteries of different countries also attended the prayer. Earlier today, authorities released CCTV footage of the serial blasts that rocked the famous Bodhgaya temple town yesterday. A team of investigators from NIA, NSG and other agencies searched for clues in the serial blasts that left two monks injured. A team of National Security Guards which picked up samples from the area has sent a preliminary report to the Home Ministry saying the low intensity bombs worked like IEDs and were triggered through analog clock timers. The Director General of Bihar Police, Abhayanand today said that lab tests confirmed the presence of Ammonium Nitrate in the crude low intensity bombs used in the blasts. He said the person arrested in connection with the blast has been identified. 

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In Jharkhand, police claimed a breakthrough in the case of naxal attack and murder of Pakur SP Amarjeet Balihar and five other policemen. Speaking to reporters today, the DIG of Dumka Range Priya Dube said one naxal, Satan Besra, who was involved in the attack has been arrested. 

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In Andhra Pradesh, the death toll rose to 13 in the building collapse in Secunderabad this morning. 20 others are injured. The condition of two persons is  stated to be critical . The Hyderabad Municipal Corporation Commissioner Krishna Babu told reporters in Hyderabad, the rescue teams of the Natural Disaster Management, Police and Fire department have saved the lives of seven persons.  Meanwhile, the State Government and the Corporation have announced a compensation of 8.5 lakhs rupees each to the kin of those who died due to the mishap.  
        
The rescue operation has almost been completed while authorities have begun removal of debris of mangled steel and concrete slabs. Meanwhile, the reason behind the mishap is yet to be ascertained even as the police registered a case against the owners and the municipal authorities say that the building is not listed among the 307 dilapidated constructions listed earlier in the Twin Cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad. The state government is mulling over bringing an amendment to its Municipal Corporation Act to make compulsory renewal of the Structural Stability Certificate for buildings. A special drive is also being launched from tomorrow to check the status of the Structural Stability of all the old and commercial buildings and especially those built without pillars in the twin cities. Lakshmi, AIR News, Hyderabad.

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Prime Minister  Dr. Manmohan Singh has called upon the Scientists community to provide viable solutions to national problems of food, nutrition, energy, environment and water security. Releasing a book of the Scientific Advisory Council in New Delhi  today, Dr. Singh  said, science is a tool to empower and emancipate people. He said  unless country's internal asymmetries are bridged, India will lack human development.  

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The News Services Division of All India Radio in its weekly "PUBLIC SPEAK" programme tonight will bring you a discussion on "FOOD SECURITY ." This can be heard on FM Gold Channel and additional frequencies at 9:30 p.m. Listeners can pose questions to the experts sitting in our studio on telephone number: 011-2331-4444. This programme is also available on Doordarshan DTH.

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Iraq says, it is ready to supply more crude oil to meet India's growing energy requirements.  The assurance came close on the heels of a similar pledge by Saudi Arabia.  India and Iraq decided to enhance cooperation in energy security and economic cooperation. The Joint Commission meeting between the two countries was held in Baghdad in which Oil Ministers of the two countries held detailed discussions and took stock of the progress in various sectors.  During his visit, Petroleum Minister, Mr. Veerappa Moily met the top Iraqi leaders including the Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki and the Minister in charge of oil policy Hussein Sahristani in Baghdad. 

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India, Maldives and Sri Lanka today reached an agreement on areas of maritime security cooperation. At a meeting on Trilateral Cooperation on Maritime Security between the three countries in Colombo today, an outcome document detailing specific areas of cooperation in the maritime security sphere was signed. According to a Sri Lankan defence ministry press release, the agreement recognizes the importance of raising the maritime cooperation between the three countries in the current context of maritime security environment in the Indian Ocean region. 

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India and Albania today entered into an agreement for Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital. The agreement was signed by the  Chairperson of Central Board of Direct Taxes, Dr. Sudha Sharma and the  Ambassador of Republic of Albania, Mr. Fatos Kercikuon in New Delhi. An official statement said, the agreement will provide tax stability to the residents of India and Albania and will facilitate mutual economic cooperation between the two countries.

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THE BUSINESS WORLD: 
The Sensex at the Bombay Stock Exchange declined 171 points, or 0.9 percent, to close at 19,325, on rupee weakness, and falling regional markets, today. The Nifty dropped 56 points, to 5,812. Stock markets in Japan, China, Hong Kong, Singapore and South Korea lost between 0.5 percent and 2.4 percent. The rupee dropped to a record intra-day low of 61.21 against the dollar, but later recovered somewhat, to close with a loss of 39 paise, at 60.61 against the US currency. Falling for the third straight session, gold lost 75 rupees, to 26,550 rupees per ten grams in Delhi. Silver dropped 290 rupees, to 40,140 rupees per kilo. And Brent crude oil futures climbed toward 108 dollars a barrel, while US crude increased 37 cents, to 103.59 dollars a barrel. Pradeep Kumar, AIR News.

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Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has assured Chief Minister of Assam Tarun Gogoi of all central help as the flood situation in the state is deteriorating. According to PMO sources the Prime Minister inquired about the latest on the flood situation during telephonic talks with the Assam Chief Minister today. Around 15 thousand people are reeling under flood in 4 districts since last the 24 hours but the condition in Dhemaji district has improved today. Around 100 villages have been affected in Dhemaji, Chirang, Lakhimpur district and Majuli River Island in Jorhat.
                      
Official report said that 900 people have taken shelter in 7 relief camps. District administration  distributed relief materials to flood affected people. The Brahmaputra is flowing above the danger level at Nematighat .Flood water damaged one thousand 700 hectare crop land in Dhemaji, Lakhimpur and Chirang district during last 24 hours. Senior forest officials said that low lying areas of Kaziranga National Park have been inundated in flood water. But no casualties to wild animals have been reported. Manas Pratim Sarma, AIR News ,Guwahati

In Uttarakhand, rain continues to lash several places of Kumaon and Garhwal region. This hindered relief operation today. Meanwhile,  Government today cancelled the Kailash-Manasarovar Yatra for this year for  batch numbers 11 to 14 due to torrential rain and floods in Uttarakhand that have caused heavy damage. 

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The Government will distribute 20 thousand solar lanterns free of cost to the people in the flash flood hit Uttarakhand. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy has decided to sanction four crore forty lakh rupees for the state in this regard.  Our correspondent reports that the lanterns would provide lights in far-flung and badly affected areas which have been totally cut-off from the grid.

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In Uttar Pradesh, four persons two each in Siddharthnagar and Lakhimpur Kheri districts were killed today in flood and rain related incidents. A total of 105 persons have lost their lives in flood and rain related incidents till now in the current monsoon season in the state. 

Though the flood water has receded from most of the affected areas, residents are facing huge problems as the connecting roads have been washed away and knee deep mud and silt is strewn all over the place. State relief commissioner says that all possible help is being provided to remaining twelve thousand flood victims of Terai districts. Merajuddin, AIR News, Lucknow".

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In Himachal Pradesh,  heavy rainfall continued in several districts today. Shimla, Solan, Kullu, Sirmaur and Mandi districts received moderate to heavy rainfall. Several link roads in far flung areas of these districts remained blocked due to landslides on the fourth day.

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THE WORLD OF SPORTS
In Boxing, teen sensation Shiva Thapa, 56 kg has become the youngest pugilist from the country to clinch a gold medal at the Asian Championships. At Amman, Jordan, today, the 19-year-old from Assam, defeated home favourite Obada Alkabeh on a split decision of 2-1 after fighting out a tactically superior bout.  India rounded off the campaign with a gold, two silver and a bronze while fighting under the International Boxing Association's flag. The silver medals came through L Devendro Singh in 49 kg category and Mandeep Jangra in 69 kg category, while the bronze was bagged by Manoj Kumar, 64 kg. In Cricket, India have sailed into the final of the Under-19 Tri-nation Cricket tournament. At Darwin today, they beat Australia convincingly by seven-wickets. Opting to bowl, India restricted Australia to 191 for six in the allotted 50 overs and then chased down the target in 45.4 overs. With an unbeaten record, India now top the table. Australia sit second ahead of third-placed New Zealand due to a superior run rate. The Kiwis will have an opportunity to overtake Australia when they play India in the last round match of the series on Wednesday. The final will take place at Darwin on Friday. Swati Rakheja from Sports Desk.

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India will take on Sri Lanka at Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain, tomorrow, in the last league match of the on-going Tri-Series cricket tournament. All India Radio will broadcast live commentary of the match.  The commentary can be heard on Rajdhani and FM Gold Channels from 6.30 P.M. onwards.  

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In Egypt, 42 Islamists supporters of deposed President Mohamed Morsi were killed while 322 injured in Cairo in firing by the military this morning. A Muslim Brotherhood spokesman has alleged that tear gas and shells were fired by the army on peaceful protesters during early morning prayers in Cairo near the Republican Guards headquarters. This is the same place where the deposed President and his aides are being held under house arrest.