Indian Software Engineer kill Wife, Children in US

Breaking News! The global meltdown has taken a heavy toll on Indian techies in the US. Three weeks after another techie Karthik Rajaram killed his family before shooting himself, 42-year-old Software Programmer Lakshminivasa Rao Nerusu, killed his wife and two children before fleeing from the spot. The incident occurred at Wharton Court in Novi area, 20 km from Detroit.

The victims were identified as Jayalakshmi Nerusu (37), her daughter Tejasvi (14) and son Siva (12). Lakshminivasa reportedly caused grievous injuries on the head and neck areas of the victims. The US police have launched a massive manhunt to nab Lakshminivasa. According to sources, Lakshminivasa had lost his job a few days ago and was on a state of depression. He originally belongs to Andhra Pradesh.

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Raj Thackeray speaks out, MNS won't stop Chhath Puja

Breaking News! MNS Chief Raj Thackeray held a press conference to speak out his mind on the controversies surrounding his party and North Indians in Maharashtra. Raj Thackeray alleged that nobody raised the issue when Biharis were killed in Assam. But some politicians from Bihar "with vested interest" are targeting him, when Biharis were attacked in Mumbai and Maharashtra.

Raj made it clear that he won't tolerate migrants not knowing Marathi, but decided against politicising "Chhath Puja" or any other festivals. "MNS won't stop Chhath (Chhat) Puja. There is no question of violence on Chhath (Chhat) Puja", said Raj Thackeray. People can celebrate all festivals including Chhath Puja without any fear, said Raj. Raj asked why no probe was ordered when Biharis were killed in Assam.

"Bihar politicians have ganged up on this issue and they are targeting me. Ironically, Maharashtra politicians are united on this issue, which is creating confusion in the state. Nobody wants violence, but it is being imposed. I won't issue any statement, which may lead to violence", said Raj Thackeray. Raj Thackeray also justified the encounter of Rahul Raj from Patna and praised Mumbai Police for doing the "right job".

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Gambhir banned for 1 Test Match, Watson fined just 10% of Match Fee

Breaking News! In a shocking development, Match Referee Chris Broad (England) banned in-form batsman Gautam Gambhir for one test match for his on-field spat with Shane Watson during the ongoing test match in Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi. To add insult to injury, Broad imposed a fine of just 10% of match fee on Shane Watson, although he started the altercation and provoked Gambhir to fall into the trap. He was not even reprimanded. Read more here...

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Prime Minister writes to Deshmukh for strong action against Raj Thackeray

Breaking News! The Union Cabinet meeting yesterday witnessed some heated discussions over Maharahstra Navnirman Sena and its chief Raj Thackeray. Many ministers demanded tough action against MNS chief Raj Thackeray for vitiating the peaceful atmosphere in the state and even asked the Centre to arrest him under NSA (National Security Act). They also demanded a judicial probe into the killing of two youths from Bihar and UP in Maharashtra.

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh expressed deep concerns over the situation in Maharashtra and revealed that he had already written a strong-worded letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh to take tough action against Raj Thackeray.

The UPA seemed to be divided on Maharashtra, as senior ministers from the state Sharad Pawar, Praful Patel and AK Antulay skipped the meeting. The UPA allies were not convinced at Home Minister Shivraj Patil's statement that Centre has already sent three advisories to the Maharashtra government.

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Inflation dips to 10.68 per cent

Breaking News! The inflation continued its downward turn for the fifth successive week, as it fell to 10.68% during the week ended October 18 as compared to 11.07 per cent for the previous week. The drop in inflation rate has been attributed to the one percentage cut in the repo rate announced by the RBI last week.

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ULFA denies involvement in Assam Blasts

Breaking News! The banned United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) has denied any involvement in the serial bomb blasts that rocked Assam this morning, claiming over 60 lives and injuring 300. ULFA condoled the death of innocent people and expressed concerns over the prevailing situation in Assam. The ULFA also said that Assam government should take immediate steps to restore peace and harmony in Assam.

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Assam Blasts: Death Toll reaches 60, ULFA or HuJI could be behind Blasts

Breaking News from North East! The death toll in the serial blasts that rocked Guwahati and upper Assam in the morning, reached 60 with more injured succumbing to the injuries in the hospitals. People, who browsed for 'NE News' or 'Assam News' in the morning, got a rude shocker, as terrorists carried out 11 blasts in Guwahati, Bongaigaon, Kokrajhar and Barpeta. In Guwahati, Dispur Road, Pan Bazar, Fancy Bazar and Ganeshguri Flyover have been targeted.

The impact of the serial blasts was so high that people and vehicles both charred beyond recognition. The dead bodies were seen lying here and there. Over 300 people were injured in the blasts. They are being treated in various hospital. Forensic experts believed that IDE and RDX of high intensity were used to trigger the blasts. The blasts were carried out in a planned manner and Assam government failed to prevent the blasts even though it was repeatedly warned by the Centre.

Although ULFA's involvement in the serial blasts in Assam is suspected, the intelligence sources believe that Bangladesh-based HuJI could be behind the blasts. The recent communal clashes between local Assamese and Bangladeshis are being attributed to the serial blasts in Assam. Some Islamic terrorist organizations may have carried out the blasts to seek revenge. However, nothing can be said at the moment, as the investigation is still going on. The recent Assam blasts shook the nation, which just celebrated Diwali two days ago.

People in Assam are in a state of shock and anger. Angry people attacked police forces and resorted to stone pelting. The police had to resort to lathicharge to control the crowd. Curfew has been imposed in several parts in Guwahati. Tension is high in Guwahati and other places after the serial bomb blasts in Assam.

As expected, Union Home Ministry, Prime Minister and many other leaders have condemned the serial bomb blasts in Assam. Union MoS for Home Shakeel Ahmed tried to take a swipe on BJP and other Sangh Parivar groups even though he was asked about Assam bomb blasts. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi looked lost to find words, while the AGP demanded the immediate resignation of the government.

The BJP, which has been gunning for the head of the UPA government on the issue of terrorism, is on a defensive after the Mumbai ATS proved the Saffron angle to Malegaon blasts. The blame game, which began a few months ago, is not on its peak and no political party is trying to address the real issue. They are just worried about their vote banks. In such a situation, it won't be surprising, if we witness more terror attacks in the country over the next few months.

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Malegaon Blast: Lt. Colonel Purohit to be questioned by Mumbai ATS

Breaking News! The Malegaon blast probe has taken an intersting turn, with a serving Army officer Lt. Colonel Purohit has been picked by the Army for questioning. The Army detained Colonel S.P Purohit from Panchmarhi and he is being brought to Mumbai to be questioned by the Mumbai ATS. He is said to be associated with main accused Sadhvi Pragya (Pragnya) Singh and 'Abhinav Bharat'.

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Serial Blasts rock Guwahati and Upper Assam, 50 killed

Breaking News! (October 30). Five serial bomb blasts rocked Guwahati, the most important city of Assam, a few minutes ago. The blasts reportedly occurred at Ganeshguri Flyover, Fancy Bazar, Dispur Road and Pan Bazar. According to latest reports, five more blasts occurred in Barpeta, Kokrajhar and Bongaigaon in upper Assam. Some sources put the number of blasts across Assam at 11.

Several injuries have been reported. The police have cordoned off the areas and injured have been rushed to the hospitals. Forensic experts and bomb disposal squads have been rushed to blast sites. The blasts occurred in crowded market places, caused serious damage. At least 50 people were killed in the blasts and over 120 have been injured. No organization has taken responsibility for the attack, but ULFA's involvement is suspected. Further details are awaited.

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Vishwanathan Anand beats Kramnik to retain World Chess Title

Breaking News! India's Vishwanathan Anand beat Vladimir Kramnik by 6-5-4.5 to retain his world chess championship title. The 12-game series was held in Bonn. Anand won the title with one game to spare. He held Kramnik to a draw in the 11th game. This is the third time Anand won the World Chess title. He earlier won the world title in 2000 and 2007.

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UP Migrant Killing: Mayawati seeks PM's Intervention

Breaking News! The killing of UP migrant Dharamdev Rai by a group of Marathi youth in a local train in Mumbai, has taken a political turn, with UP Chief Minister Mayawati seeking the Prime Minister's intervention on this matter. Mayawati announced a compensation of Rs. 2 lakh for the family of Dharamdev Rai, who hailed from Gorakhpur district in Uttar Pradesh.

Meanwhile, UPA allies Lalu Prasad Yadav and Ram Vilas Paswan have demanded stern against MNS chief Raj Thackeray and Maharashtra government. Without naming any state, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav threatened to suspend train movement in states where rail passengers and properties are repeatedly attacked. The Railway Minister announced a compensation of Rs. 3 lakh for Dharamdev Rai's family.

Both Lalu and Paswan slammed the Maharashtra government over the growing attacks against North Indians. Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh, whose party is supporting the UPA government at the Centre, has decided to take on the Maharashtra government and chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh.

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ASSOCHAM: India may witness 25% job cuts in 10 Days

Breaking News! The market meltdown and economic crisis are all set to affect the Indian industry. According to ASSOCHAM predictions, there may be 25 per cent job cuts in key sectors such as Steel, Cement, ITeS/BPO, Finance, Brokerage Services, Construction, Real Estate and Aviation. The ASSOCHAM predicts the job cuts within 10 days of post-Diwali.

ASSOCHAM President Sajjan Jindal confirmed that a large number of companies in the above segments have already drawn up plans to cut their workforce by 25 - 30 per cent. ASSOCHAM believes that the gloomy situation could be negated if the RBI sheds its tight monetary policy and reduced the interest rates by at least 3 per cent, which may not be a reality at all.

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Two Pilots killed, as Punjab Govt Plane crashes near Ludhiana

Breaking News! A six-seater plane of the Punjab government, crashed near Ludhiana, a few minutes ago. According to sources, two pilots were killed in the crash. The pilots sacrificed their lives, but prevented further damage by flying the plane away from a crowded industrial area after it developed a technical snag.

The aircraft Beechcraft C-90 King, was purchased by the Punjab government in 1978. The badly charred bodies of both pilots were recovered from the wreckage of the plane. The pilots were identified as Dalip Kataria and Manjit Singh Khokar. The Punjab government has expressed deep grief over the crash and announced a compensation of Rs. 10 lakh each for the families of the dead. A probe has been ordered into the incident.

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LTTE attacks Power Plant in Colombo

Breaking News! In a daring attack, the rebel LTTE attacked a power plant in Colombo using a bomber aircraft. LTTE's attack came in the wake of government claim that they have breached the rebel group's last defence.

The LTTE also raided an Army camp in the Sri Lankan capital, injuring one soldier. The attack on Kelanitissa power station, left one person dead and another injured. The city remained without power for several hours because of the strike on the power station. Even as anti-aircraft guns were activated by the Sri Lankan Army immediately, the LTTE aircraft had already left the area after dropping the bombs.

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160 feared dead in Earthquake in Pakistan

Breaking News! At least 160 people were killed when a powerful earthquake struck areas 70 kilometres northeast of the Pakistani city of Quetta. The earthquake with a magnitude of 6.5 on the Richter scale, occurred at 5:09 AM. People in Quetta were in a state of panic, when the quake struck the region in the wee hours.

Most number of deaths have been reported from Ziarat, 50 kilometres east of Quetta. A huge number of people are feared trapped inside the debris. According to sources, the death toll may cross 200. The rescue operation is going on a full strength.

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UP Migrant killed by Marathi Youth in Mumbai Local Train

Breaking News from Mumbai! In a shocking development, a 25-year-old migrant labourer from Gorakhpur district, Uttar Prdesh, was beaten to death by a group of 8-10 Marathi people in a local train in Mumbai. Dharamdev was travelling with three other labourers in a local train from Khopoli to Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) station.

According to Dharamdev Rai's friends, the Marathi speaking people beat up Rai and his friends after learning that they were from Uttar Pradesh (North India). Rai was rushed to the hospital, where he was declared brought dead. His friend is being treated in the hospital. the postmortem report revealed that Dharamdev Rai died of severe liver injury. The Mumbai police have registered a case of murder and rioting against the assailants. A massive manhunt has been launched to nab the culprits.

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Two 'Abhinav Bharat' cadres arrested in Malegaon Bomb Blast Case

Breaking News! In a new twist to the Malegaon bomb blast case, the Mumbai ATS arrested two 'Abhinav Bharat' cadres - Samir Kulkarni and Retd. Major Ramesh Upadhyay. The Mumbai ATS reportedly got concrete proof that the arrested people were involved in the Malegaon bomb blast and provided training for making bombs. They will be produced in Nasik court tomorrow.

Abhinav Bharat is a little known fundamentalist and nationalist organization. It was formed by five saffron workers after their expulsion from the RSS. Abhinav Bharat started functioning in Madhya Pradesh in May 2008. The name 'Abhinav Bharat' was taken from Veer Savarkar's Abhinav Bharat Society, which was formed before independence.

Meanwhile, the Nasik court has granted permission to Mumbai ATS to conduct narco test and brain mapping on Sadhvi Pragnya (Pragya) Singh, who is said to be the mastermind behind Malegaon bomb blast.

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Muhurat Trading at Stock Market, BSE Sensex crosses 9,000

Breaking News! October 28, 2008. The BSE Sensex celebrates Diwali like a millions of people in India with the beginning of Muhurat Trading at 6.15 PM today. Surprisingly, the BSE Sensex, which had witnessed a slump in the past few days, rose past 9,000 mark in the opening trade. The Nifty too gained 163 points to trade at 2,687. The BSE Sensex finally closed at 9,008.08 points with a gain of 498.52.

Muhurat trading is the auspicious stock market trading for an hour on Diwali (Deepawali), which holds much significance for the business community in India. The investors, brokers and everyone in India have eagerly waited for Muhurat trading, which they hoped would revive the fortune of Indian stock market. There is no doubt that Muhurat trading brought cheer to millions of people on Diwali. Latest reports suggest that the stock markets in the US also opened in green.

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Happy Diwali 2008!

Breaking News Online wishes its readers a happy and prosperous Diwali! May this Diwali brings more wealth, joy, happiness and prosperity to your life. Let's hope that Diwali 2008 eradicates all evils such as regionalism, terrorism, communalism and casteism from our society. Peace and Harmony should prevail everywhere. Let's chant this today and always........

"Sarve bhavantu sukhinah
Sarve santu niraamayaah
Sarve bhadraani pashyantu
Maakaschit duhkha bhaag bhavet"

Meaning in English:

May all be happy! (sukhinah)
May all be free from disabilities! (niraamayaah)
May all look (pashyantu) to the good of others!
May none suffer from sorrow! (duhkha)

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Lalu, Nitish and Paswan unite against Raj Thackeray

Breaking News! The killing of Bihari youth Rahul Raj by Mumbai police in an encounter in Mumbai, has united political rivals Nitish Kumar, Lalu Prasad Yadav and Ram Vilas Paswan. The three leaders held a joint press conference in New Delhi after meeting the Prime Minister over the issue.

While Nitish Kumar looked agitated over Rahul's killing, demanded a judicial probe and slammed Raj Thackeray and MNS, Lalu Yadav demanded a ban on Shiv Sena and MNS. Lalu also demanded immediate arrest of Raj Thackeray on treason charges. Paswan also shared the same view.

The entire Bihar is agitated over the unprecedented killing of 23-year-old Rahul Raj, whom the police claims of trying to hijack the bus and opening fire from a country-made revolver. Everyone was on the opinion that Rahul Raj could have been overpowered, but the cops preferred to gun him down. However, Deputy CM of Maharashtra RR Patil justified Rahul Raj's killing and said Mumbai cops have done a commendable job.

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Tamil Nadu Govt sets up Sri Lanka Tamils' Relief Fund

Breaking News! The Tamil Nadu government has set up a Sri Lankan Tamils' Relief Fund to help displaced Tamils in the war zone in Sri Lanka. A statement in this regard, was issued by Tamil Nadu CM M Karunanidhi. He urged the public to send money through cheques or drafts to the Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu.

People can send food and clothes to the district collectors so that those could be sent to Sri Lanka for distribution to affected Sri Lankan Tamils. The distribution would be done through International Red Cross and the United Nations Organization. In addition to the 800 tonnes relief materials announced by the Centre, the Tamil Nadu government would send relief materials such as food, clothes and medicine.

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Bihari Youth killed by Mumbai Cops in a BEST Bus

Breaking News! Rahul Raj, an unemployed youth from Bihar, who was carrying gun in a BEST bus in Mumbai, was shot dead by the police after he challenged them and opened fire. According to sources, the person was a "mentally challenged" one. He shouted slogans against MNS chief Raj Thackeray and threatened to opened fire. The Mumbai Police asked him to surrender.

The scuffle continued for a while and the person opened fire, forcing the cops to retaliate. He was rushed to the hospital, where he was brought dead. The conductor of the bus was injured in the scuffle. He is being treated in Rajawadi Hospital in Mumbai. Rahul Raj had come to Mumbai on October 24 in search of job and he was in a depressed condition, according to his friends.

The killing of Rahul Raj has sparked off a major controversy and it has taken a political colour. Bihar CM Nitish Kumar has termed the killing of Rahul Raj as unwarranted and demanded a proper inquiry into the incident. He accused the Mumbai Police of excess against Rahul Raj. The Union Home Ministry has sought a detailed report from the Maharashtra DGP on this issue.

With inputs from CNN-IBN and Star News

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BSE Sensex crashes 800 points, dips below 8,000

Breaking News! The global meltdown continued to affect the Indian market. The BSE Sensex crashed by over 800 points to dip below 8,000 mark. The Sensex was trading at 7,885 points at 12.55 PM today. The Sensex crashed 62% in just 198 days and moreover, it crashed 35% in October 2008. The Nifty shed 250 points to trade at 3,205 points. The Sensex is expected to slump further over the next few hours.

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Gadget Advisor - A New Place for the Geeks

While browsing for sites on gadgets and Gadgets, we came across a new websites called Gadget Advisor. Gadget Advisor is a growing and emerging website, which exclusively focuses on gadgets. The site gives complete information on the release of new products and updates. The site provides insight into several interesting products.

1) Have you heard about Google Cache Checker Firefox extension? Being able to immediately see if a page is cached by Google is what the Google Cache Checker extension for Firefox offers. Gadget Advisor offers the free Google Cache Checker extension for Firefox.

2) If you are looking for a FireFox extension, then read more about best extensions for Firefox. Adblock Plus, Adsense Notifier, AI RoboForm, AutoAuth, Converter, Copy Link Text, Download Statusbar, ErrorZilla and Mod Flagfox are some of the best FireFox extensions available on the web.

3) Blaze Media Pro review is a powerful all-in-one audio and video converter for CD, MP3, WAV, WMA, OGG, MPEG-1, MPEG-2, AVI, WMV, MOV, Flash (SWF and FLV), iPod, PSP, 3GP and many more. It's a powerful multimedia software, which caters to all your needs.

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Pragya Singh Thakur - Sadhvi or Terrorist?

Breaking News! The Mumbai ATS confirmed that only a fringe Hindu group headed by Sadhvi Pragnya (Pragya) Singh Chandrapal Singh Thakur (38) is involved in the Malegaon bomb blast. Pragnya Singh Thakur, known as Sadhvi Purnachetnagiri has taken 'Sanyas' in January 2007 and reportedly formed a group of fundamentalists to avenge the bomb blasts conducted by Islamic terror groups.

Sadhvi Pragya had joined ABVP in 1993. However, she later became a fierce leader, advocating Hindu Nationalism. Sadhvi Pragya was the head of Madhya Pradesh ABVP Unit in 2002. She was seen campaigning for the BJP in Gujarat in 2002 and 2007 elections. Pragnya also shared the stage with Gujarat CM Narendra Modi during an election campaign. She denounced the material life and took 'Sanyas' in January 2007. The BJP, Bajrang Dal and ABVP now deny any link with Pragya for a long time.

According to sources, Pragya was a fighter since her childhood. If we believe her father, who gave an interview to Star News TV Channel, Pragya Singh always fought injustice and never tolerated anti-social activities. According to her father Chandrapal Singh, Pragnya and her sister once beat up a group of goons from Congress party when they dared to take on the sisters. Pragya and her sister reportedly beat up those goons to such an extent that they begged for mercy before these strong girls.

Sadhvi Pragya has been a tomboy since her childhood. She dressed up like boys, kept short hairs, learned fighting skills and had a great passion for bikes. She can ride any bike including Pulsar, Bullet etc. etc. She founded the Jai Vande Mataram Jan Kalyan Samiti in 2002. Pragnya's accomplices Shivnarayan Gopalsingh Kalsangra (36) and Shyam Sabarlal Sahu (42), who were arrested by the Mumbai ATS, were part of her network. Her speeches were fiery and full of hatred against the Islamic terrorists.

The Mumbai Police believe that Pragnya had a mission of carrying out bomb blasts across the country to avenge the bomb blasts conducted by Islamic terror groups. She had hatred in her mind and followed religious fanaticism. Although she was a former member of ABVP and Hindu Jagran Manch, she had formed her own network and pursued the mission secretly. It's surprising that she chose her own bike to carry out the blast.

According to Mumbai ATS, two Army officers detained in Pune, helped her to bring RDX from Kanpur. More arrests are likely in this case, as the ATS has reached Bhopal to proceed with their probe. The ATS sources claim that they have a 400 minutes tape between Sadhvi Pragnya and her associates. The tape was compiled after analyzing Pragnya's mobile call details. More skeletons will tumble, as the probe progresses.

Meanwhile, BJP and ABVP have distanced themselves from Sadhvi Pragya, saying she was a former member of ABVP and had no recent links with the organization. However, Sadhvi Uma Bharti and Sadhvi Ritambara have come out in support of Sadhvi Pragnya and termed the latest development as a pre-planned conspiracy to frame Hindu groups. Hundreds of people took out a procession in Jabalpur in support of Sadhvi Pragya. They burnt the effigy of Maharashtra government for allegedly framing Sadhvi Pragnya.

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ASEM Meet: PM Manmohan Singh slams West over Gas Emission

Breaking News! Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh addressed the 7th ASEM Meet (Asia-Europe Meeting) in Beijing today and slammed the Western countries over the gas emission. He said that the Western countries have not lived up to their commitments for technology transfer and additional financing. Dr. Manmohan Singh has called for a global action plan to promote food and energy security.

PM Dr. Manmohan Singh lamented that gas emissions for developed nations is rising and progress of the Kyoto Protocol has been unexpectedly slow. "We should call upon our European partners to do more in this regard," said Manmohan Singh.

As expected, the Prime Minister said that poverty eradication in Asia will require comprehensive global effort to promote development and create more job opportunities. He also stressed the need for international cooperation to combat terrorism. Dr. Manmohan Singh supported globalization and sustainable development, but at the same time, he also stressed on the need for preserving environment.

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh met China's President Hu Jintao on the sidelines of the ASEM meet. Both leaders held bilateral talks and admitted that China and India shared common interests in dealing with global issues ranging from the international financial crisis and climate change to energy and food security.

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NCP "goons" attack ABVP Office in Nasik

Breaking News! A group of miscreants belonging to Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) ransacked the Akhil Bhartiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) office in Nasik, protesting against the former ABVP member Pragyan (Pragnya) Singh in the Malegaon blast. The NCP goons shouted anti-ABVP slogans and attacked the ABVP office in Ashok Stambh locality in Nasik.

The miscreants damaged the furniture and the board of VHP. They reportedly blackened the face of some ABVP members present in the office. Later, VHP and ABVP workers took to the streets in protest against the attack on ABVP office. Situation is tense, but under control in Nasik.

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Bihar Bandh turns Violent, Sheikhpura Railway Station set on Fire

Breaking News! Students in Bihar went on a rampage during today's Bihar Bandh. Thousands of students turned violent and tried to vandalize the Patna University. The police had to resort to lathicharge to disperse the mob. The mob also set Sheikhpura Railway Station on fire and disrupted train services across Bihar. At least 150 students have been arrested so far. The Bihar Bandh has been called by student unions in Bihar.

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Orissa Nun Meena Lalita Barwa goes live on TV, demands CBI Probe

Breaking News! The much-talked Orissa nun rape case has taken an interesting turn, as the nun, Sister Meena Lalita Barwa, who had gone into hiding and refused to cooperate with the police, broke her silence and held a press conference in New Delhi. The nun, whose face and head were covered with a scarf, sobbed before the international, national and regional TV cameras while narrating her tale of horror.

The nun, Sister Meena revealed that she was raped by a rioting mob in K. Nuagaon in Kandhamal on August 25. Her press conference was held under the aegis of Catholic Bishops' Conference of India. The nun had to come out in open after the Supreme Court rejected her demand for a CBI probe and asked her to cooperate with the state crime branch.

With tears rolled down her cheeks and a choked voice, Sister Meena said, "I was raped and now I don't want to be victimised by the Orissa Police. I want a CBI inquiry. The state police were present when I was brutally raped. They were friendly with the attackers and tried their best to prevent me from filing an FIR. I don't have any trust in Orissa police. I want a CBI probe", said the nun.

The nun read from a prepared statement at the press conference held at the Indian Social Institute on Lodhi Road in Delhi. During the 15-minute press conference, she narrated her traumatic experience in details, but did not take any questions. She also said that the rape occurred in the presence of over a dozen policemen.

According to her version, she was raped, paraded naked and then handed over to the Block Development Officer, who took her to K. Nuagaon police outpost. Later, when she and Father Chellan tried to file an FIR, they were discouraged by the IIC, Baliguda Police Station. She also had to undergo a medical examination around 10 in the night.

The nun confirmed that the mob also misbehaved and beat up Father Thomas Chellantharayil alias Father Chellan, who was with her. She demanded an immediate CBI probe and maintained that she does not want to cooperate with the state police, as she has lost trust in them.

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OPEC to cut Oil Production by 1.5 million barrel per day from November 1

Breaking News! The OPEC (Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) has decided to cut the oil production by 1.5 million barrel a day in order to halt the sliding crude oil prices. The crude oil prices reached a bottom low of $63.15 a barrel from an all-time high of $147 in July. According to the decision taken at OPEC meeting, the oil output cut would be effective from November 1.

The 12-member OPEC expressed concerns over the global financial crisis and said it had a significant impact on the world economy and affected the demand for energy and oil. The OPEC expressed surprised over the unprecedented and dramatic collapse of oil prices. Currently, the oil production ceiling is kept at 28.8 million barrels a day. The decision to cut oil production will be reviewed at the next meeting in Oran, Algeria on December 17.

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Adam Gilchrist says "SORRY" to Sachin Tendulkar

Breaking News! Adam Gilchrist has been brought to his knees by millions of cricket fans across the globe. Gilchrist called up Sachin Tendulkar and apologised for his indecent remarks against Sachin in his upcoming autobiography, "True Colours of My Life". Gilchrist said that his comments on Sachin Tendulkar was taken out of context and he will issue a clarification soon. Read more here.

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BSE Sensex crashes by 1,000 points to dip below 9,000

Breaking News! The RBI's Credit Policy failed to bring cheer to the market, as the BSE Sensex crashed by over 1,000 points or over 10% to dip below 9,000 for the first time since 2006. The Nifty too crashed by 320 points. The BSE Sensex was trading on 8,788.67 points, while the Nifty was trading on 2,620.75 points at 3 PM. The Indian Rupee recovered slightly from 50.15 and was at 49.93 against the US Dollar at 3 PM.

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Speaker Somnath Chaterjee walks out of Lok Sabha

Breaking News! Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee walked out of Lok Sabha today after being accused of bias by CPM leader and his erstwhile party colleague Gurudas Dasgupta. The Left parties have been locked in a battle with the LS Speaker since the last session in which Somnath Chatterjee defied the party directive and continued as the Speaker.

The Left parties - CPM in particular had attacked Somnath Chatterjee yesterday also, forcing the Speaker to say "this is the worst period of my life". Mr. Somnath Chatterjee hit back at Gurudas Dasgupta, saying "you are insulting the chair and you are doing it deliberately. You are aware of the situation. Still you are all out to pursue your political purpose".

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Mumbai Police confirms Hindu Jagran Manch's role in Malegaon Blast

Breaking News! Putting all speculations and rumours into rest, the Mumbai Police confirmed the involvement of "Hindu Extremists" in the Malegaon bomb blast on September 29, which claimed five lives. The Mumbai Police chief confirmed that three members arrested in connection with the Malegaon bomb blast case, are affiliated with ABVP and Hindu Jagran Manch.

The arrested persons included a lady, Pragyan Singh Chandrapal Singh Thakur, whose bike was used in the blast. She was a former member of Durga Vahini, the women wing of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP). The arrested persons were produced in Nasik court today and have been sent to police custody for 10 days.

The latest development put the BJP in a tight spot and gave further ammo to anti-BJP parties such as Congress, Left, Samajwadi Party and RJD. If the Hindu groups' involvement in bomb blasts is proved, it might force some other friendly parties to stay away from the saffron party.

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RBI announces Credit Policy, GDP Growth lowered to 7.5%

Breaking News! The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) finally announced the Credit Policy. All key rates including the CRR, repo rate and reverse repo rate were kept unchanged. The GDP growth forecast was lowered to 7.5%. The RBI admitted that moderating growth remains a concern. the Central Bank expects resumption of export growth during the next quarter.

It also hopes that net capital flow will meet the external financial requirements. The RBI has decided to enhance liquidity if pressure on the market persists. Here are the key features of RBI's Credit Policy:

• All key rates including CRR, repo rate and reverse repo rate unchanged
• SLR norms unchanged
• GDP Growth Forecast lowered to 7.5%
• Inflation target was unchanged at 7%
• Credit Growth target lowered to 20% from 29%

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Adam Gilchrist calls Sachin Tendulkar "Liar" and "Bad Sport"

Breaking News! In a shocking development, former Australian cricketer Adam Gilchrist, who can't even be compared with the great Sachin Tendulkar, accused him of lying during the Sydney Test to save his team mate Harbhajan Singh.

In his latest autobiography, "True Colours of My Life", Adam Gilchrist has called Sachin Tendulkar "dishonest", "liar" and "bad sport". It could be a publicity stunt by Gilchrist to gain publicity for his book. Read more here.

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Rupee opens at an all-time-low of 50.15 against US Dollar

Breaking News! The Indian Rupee continued to slide further, as it opened at an all-time-low of 50.15 against the US Dollar. Yesterday, it was closed at 49.81 against the USD. For the first time in history, the Rupee breached the psychological barrier of 50.00, causing panic in the market. As the trading progresses today, Rupee is feared to dip further.

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Motihari Railway Station in Bihar set on Fire

Breaking News! Angry students protesting against Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and its chief Raj Thackeray, set Motihari Railway Station on fire. Ironically, the mob fury was so high that GRP (Government Railway Police), RPF (Railway Protection Force) and police personnel fled from the spot, leaving the Railways Station at the mercy of rampaging students.

Later, CRPF intervened and fired several rounds in the air to disperse the mob. The CRPF personnel had to resort to lathicharge and lobbed teargas shells to control the mob violence. Railway properties have been attacked elsewhere in Bihar for the third consecutive day. According to Railways, properties worth Rs. 5 - 7 crore have been destroyed by angry students.

Several Bihar-bound trains including Rajdhani, Sampark Kranti and others have been cancelled, causing high inconvenience to the passengers. The passengers are not even able to get correct information regarding the cancellation, departure or reschedule of trains.

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Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) to begin in Beijing today

Breaking News! Even as the global economy has reached a bottom low, the Asia-Europe meeting will begin in Beijing to discuss important issues including the economic cooperation. India makes its debut at the ASEM with Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh (an Economist himself) representing India.

Dr. Manmohan Singh is expected to provide vital suggestion on how to handle the global economic crisis. The ASEM has 45 countries with China taking the centre stage. The ASEM group includes 27 EU countries, the European Commission, ASEAN (10 countries), India, Pakistan, Mongolia and ASEAN Secretariat.

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ABVP and Hindu Jagran Manch under scanner in Malegaon Bomb Blast

Breaking News! While everyone tried to identify terrorism with Islamic Fundamentalism over the years, a new form of terror has been revealed by Mumbai ATS. According to media reports, the September 29 bomb blasts in Malegaon (Maharashtra) and Modasa (Gujarat) were allegedly carried out by Indore-based Hindu Jagran Manch and BJP's student wing, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). The media reports quoted anonymous ATS sources to put forward their claim.

Five Muslims were killed in Malegaon blast, while one person was killed in Modasa blast in Gujarat's Sabarkantha district. According to Maharashtra police, the suspects are being questioned. The ATS sources revealed that the biked used in Malegaon blasts belonged to a former VHP woman member.

The ATS has arrested three people including that woman from Indore for questioning. According to ATS sources, Pragya Singh, aged between 25 and 30 years, is a former member of the Durga Vahini, the women’s wing of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad.

Even though the ATS has not made any formal announcements on this regard, CPM leader Brinda Karat raised this issue in the Rajya Sabha and said Hindu terror groups are behind the blasts in Malegaon and Madasa. That created a furore, forcing the Rajya Sabha to get adjourned for the day. BJP has rubbished the charges and asked the Maharashtra ATS to come up with substantial evidence on this matter.

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MDMK Leader Vaiko arrested for making provocative pro-LTTE Speeches

Breaking News! MDMK leader Vaiko was arrested a few minutes ago for making pro-LTTE speeches, which were provocative by nature. Vaiko even said that he would not hesitate to carry arms to LTTE if required.

There has been a growing demand for his immediate arrest in the wake of his provocative speeches against a friendly neighbouring country, which is clearly in deviation of India's foreign policy. He will be produced in the court soon. According to latest reports, a group of miscreants pelted stones at Sri Lankan Consulate in Chennai. One Indian staffer was reportedly injured.

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Murli Deora: Govt may cut Fuel Prices within a Week

Breaking News! Union Petroleum Minister Murli Deora on Thursday hinted that the government may go for a reduction of fuel prices within a week. Murli Deora was responding to a question made in the Lok Sabha. Global crude prices have come down below 67 dollars a barrel from a record high of $147.21, putting pressure on the government to slash the prices of petrol and diesel.

The OPEC (Oil and Petroleum Exporting Countries) is meeting tomorrow in Vienna to consider production quotas for the fourth quarter of 2008. The OPEC members are expected to take favourable action, which might help the Indian government to announce a cut in the fuel prices just on the eve of Festival of Diwali.

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Indian Rupee dips to an all-time-low of 49.86 against US Dollar

Breaking News! The Indian Rupee is just a stroke away from breaching the 50.00 barrier against the US Dollar. After closing at 49.28/29 against the dollar yesterday, the Rupee hit an all-time-low of 49.86 and finally closed at 49.79/80 per dollar.

The Rupee has already shed nearly 21 percent against the US Dollar in 2008. Experts believe that Rupee will slide further to end at something in the range of 51.00 - 52.00 against the dollar over the next few weeks.

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Backlash in Bihar against Raj Thackeray, Several Bihar-bound Trains cancelled

Breaking News! Situation in Bihar continued to be tense, as thousands of students have come out in open protesting against Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and its chief Raj Thackeray. All Bihar-bound trains have been cancelled or disrupted following the violent protests by angry students. As many as 15 Bihar-bound trains have been cancelled and seven trains have been rescheduled.

The prominent among the cancelled trains are New Delhi-Guwahati Sampark Kranti Express, Delhi--Malda Farakka Express, Puri Express, New Delhi-Bhubaneswar Rajdhani Express and Howrah Express and the Sealdah Express. The Mahananda Express, the Northeast Express, the Howrah Express and the New Delhi-Guwahati Rajdhani Express have been rescheduled.

Meanwhile, the Railways have refused to run trains in Bihar unless the Bihar government provides adequate security to trains and staffs. The issue has taken a political colour with RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar coming to face-to-face over this issue. The cancellation of trains has caused immense trouble to people in New Delhi and Patna, as thousands of people were left stranded.

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BPO Employee Anindita's Murder Case solved

Breaking News! The 34-year-old BPO employee Anindita Mishra's murder case has been solved by the Navi Mumbai police with the arrest of Jacob Pinto, a Senor Manager with Reliance Infocomm. Anindita Mishra was working as a HR professional (Assistant Manager) with the Dhirubhai Ambani Knowledge City in Navi Mumbai. She was stabbed to death in front of Koparkhairane railway station on October 17.

According to police sources, Jacob murdered Anandita, as she refused to marry him despite having friendship with him for a long time. The duo worked in the same office and developed good friendship. However, when it came to marriage, Anindita was reluctant, which annoyed Jacob. Anandita had even filed complaints with the Reliance management against Jacob for harassing her.

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Inflation dips to 11.07%, as market meltdown continues

Breaking News! Even as the BSE Sensex fell below 10,000 mark and Nifty too witnessed a fall below 3,000 mark, the inflation rate slided further to close at 11.07% during the week ending October 11, a six-month low. The inflation rate was recorded at 11.44% during the previous week. The fall in the inflation rate has been attributed to the cut in repo rate by the RBI.

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18 die in Firecracker Explosion in Bharatpur

Breaking News! At least 18 people including 10 children were killed and over 20 injured when a firecracker explosion took place in an illegal firecracker factory in Deeg town in Rajasthan's Bharatpur district.

According to sources, the blast caused a major fire in the area and a few nearby houses were gutted by it. The injured are being treated in a local hospital. The police are investigating the matter. Further details are awaited.

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BSE Sensex dips below 10,000, Nifty trading below 3,000

Breaking News! The market meltdown continues... While the Dow Jones (down 551 points) and Nasdaq (down 81 points) crashed by a huge margin tonight, the Indian market opened on a disastrous note this morning. The BSE Sensex crashed by over 450 points to go below 10,000 mark. The Sensex was trading at 9,721 points when reports last came in.

The Nifty too witnessed a sharp decline in it stocks and went below 3,000 mark for the first time since July 2006. All Asian markets opened in deep red, while markets in Brazil, Chile, Russia and Europe too witnessed a slump. The crude oil prices fell further to reach $67 per barrel. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown acknowledged for the first time that the global economic downturn may push the UK towards recession.

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No Orderlies (Batmen) for Army Officers, recommends Parliamentary Committee

Breaking News! After the pay shock from the Union Government, the Army Officers got another jolt, as the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence has recommended the abolition of batmen or orderlies for them, terming the system as a "shameful practice". The committee urged the defence ministry to abolish the orderly or sahayak system with immediate effect. It was a practice, which existed since the colonial era.

The committee said that jawans are recruited for serving the nation and not to serve the family members of officers in household work. The Parliamentary Committee termed this as demeaning and humiliating. The report of the Parliamentary Committee was tabled in the Parliament on Tuesday.

The committee believed that orderlies or sahayaks were misused by many officers and were forced to do lowly work such as taking kids to schools, washing clothes and taking the dogs to walk.

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Raj Thackeray gets bail in Kalyan Case, interim bail in Dombivali Case

Breaking News! MNS Chief Raj Thackeray was granted bail in Kalyan case by the Kalyan court. Raj had to pay a personal bond of Rs. 15,000 to get the bail. Raj Thackeray also granted an interim bail in Dombivali rioting case and other cases till October 24.

After the Kalyan court granted bail to Raj Thackeray, MNS activists erupted into joy and celebrations across Maharashtra. Raj Thackeray will remain a free man till October 24.

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Rahul Gandhi: Congress will take on Raj Thackeray

Breaking News! Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has denounced the divisive politics played by MNS chief Raj Thackeray and announced that Congress will take on Raj Thackeray and politicians like him if needed. He also sent a veiled threat to Raj Thackeray and MNS workers in Mumbai, who have held the city to ransom over the last few days or months.

Rahul Gandhi was addressing a press conference in Dehradun. He also stressed on the need for organizations reforms for Congress and advocated the active participation of youth in Congress politics. "I am not Congress' Yuvraj. I don't like such terms being used", said Rahul replying to the questions of media persons.

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Maharashtra Govt brings Ordinance against Hooligans

Breaking News! The Maharashtra Cabinet approved an ordinance, which will ensure that hooligans destroying public property would be forced to compensate for the loss. The ordinance comes in the wake of ongoing violence by MNS chief Raj Thackeray and his supporters across Maharashtra.

According to Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra (who is also in charge of Home Ministry) RR Patil, the ordinance will have provisions under which destruction of public property will be subject a to a hefty fine up to Rs. 25,000 and jail up to five years. The ordinance has been approved by the State Cabinet and will be sent to the Governor for ratification.

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Protest in Bihar against Raj Thackeray, Durg Express set on Fire in Barh

Breaking News! Thousands of students in Bihar came to the streets to protest against MNS chief Raj Thackeray and his tirade against the North Indians. Train and road traffic have come to an halt in several places. Several trains including the Aurangabad-Mumbai Express were stopped by angry students. Violent protests have been reported from Barh, Sasaram and Patna.

According to latest reports, a group of students set Durg Express on fire in Barh. At least three AC coaches of Durg Express were affected by the fire. The security personnel have been rushed to the spot. All passengers are reportedly safe. The police had to open fire in the air to disperse the violent students in Sasaram. At least four students were injured in the incident.

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MNS on rampage in Mumbai, 3 killed in Dombivali Violence

Breaking News! Maharashtra News! Mumbai News! At least three people were killed and scores of injured in the violent clashes in Dombivali area last night. The MNS workers went on a rampage in the late night and burnt shops around the Manpada police station in Dombivali, where Raj Thackeray was stationed.

The MNS activists also indulged in stone pelting and damaged over 200 vehicles. They set many houses and a hotel on fire. Clashes occurred between the locals and MNS activists, resulting in the death of three people. Raj Thackery's wife Sharmila Thackeray, who became active after his husband's arrest, went on a dharna or sit-in after she was denied a meeting with Raj Thackeray.

Meanwhile, the Mumbai police filed an application in Vikhroli court for the cancellation of Raj Thackeray's bail, which was granted to him on February 12, 2008. The police have charged him for rioting in Dombivali. Separate cases have been registered against Raj Thackeray in Jalgaon, Bhusawal, Solapur, Thane and Chalisgaon. Raj Thackeray's lawyers have also filed an application in Jamshedpur court to quash the case registered against him there.

Raj Thackeray will be produced in the Kalyan court after 2 PM. The Mumbai Police has decided to impose curfew in Kalyan from 11 AM to prevent any untoward incidents.

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Destination Moon: India's First Lunar Mission "Chandrayaan I" launched successfully

Breaking News! October 22, 2008 - India made history in space science today by joining the elite club of countries that have sent space missions to moon. India's dream moon mission, Chandrayaan I was lifted off from Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota today at 6.22 AM (IST). This is the first time India has sent an unmanned mission to moon. Chandrayaan I was launched on schedule without any glitch. Scientists confirmed that launch of Chandrayaan I was completely successful and it is heading in a right direction.

Not only over a billion people in the country, but also millions across the world witnessed India's entry into the elite club today. Chandrayaan 1 will take 11 days to reach the moon and it will spend around two years there. People of India rejoiced at the live telecast of India's first-ever moon mission 'Chandrayaan I'. Everyone was looking for Chandrayaan live. Scientists at ISRO jumped off their seat after the successful launch of Chandrayaan I. Chandrayaan 1 was put into orbit within 18 minutes of its launch. Chandrayaan launch became a big milestone in Indian history.

The 1,380 kg (1.38 tonne) spacecraft, Chandrayaan 1 was put into orbit by India's home-grown rocket PSLV-C11. It was PSLV's 13 success in a row, as it already had launched 12 spacecrafts before the Chandrayaan launch.

The Chandrayaan I is shaped like a cuboid or rectangular prism. Chandrayaan I carries 11 payloads - five from India and others from foreign countries. India became the third Asian country after Japan and China and sixth nation in the world to send a unmanned lunar mission to moon. ISRO (Indian Speace Research Organization) has already planned the Chandrayaan 2 mission in 2011. Besides India, the USA, Russia, the European Space Agency, Japan and China have already sent missions to moon.

According to ISRO sources, India is planning a manned space mission in 2014 and a manner moon mission in 2020. Interestingly, China has planned a manned moon mission for 2024. The Chandrayaan -1 mission was built at a budget of $86 million (Rs. 386 cr). President Dr. Pratibha Patil, PM Dr. Manmohan Singh and many other top leaders have congratulated the scientists at ISRO and countrymen on the successful launch of Chandrayaan I. There is no doubt that ISRO (Indian Space Research Organization) made the country proud.

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14 dead, 30 injured in a bomb blast in Imphal, Manipur

Breaking News! At least 14 people were feared dead and 30 injured in a powerful bomb blast in Imphal, capital of Manipur. The bomb went off around 7.20 PM in the Ragallong village on the outskirts of Imphal. The injured have been rushed to Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal.

The police personnel have cordoned off the area and stepped up combing operation. The blast took place close to a Manipur Police commando complex.

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Violence breaks out in Kalyan, as MNS Supporters torch Shops

Breaking News! Violence erupted in Kalyan in Mumbai, where Raj Thackeray is slated to spend a night in police custody before his case is taken up in a Kalyan court tomorrow. Angry MNS protesters went on a rampage and torched a large number of shops outside Kalyan court. They also resorted to stone pelting when police reached to contain the violence. The police personnel resorted to lathicharge to disperse the violent mob.

Thousands of MNS workers took to the streets in Kalyan, protesting Raj's arrest. They no only torched shops, but also damaged vehicles and set two buses on fire. Over 100 BEST buses were attacked by angry MNS workers. Section 144 has been imposed in Kalyan. The police have arrested over 200 MNS workers in Kalyan. According to Mumbai Police, more than 2,000 MNS workers have been arrested so far across Maharashtra.

Earlier, Raj Thackeray, who got bail from Bandra court in Kherwadi violence case, could not reach Kalyan court on time and will have to spend a night in Manpada police station in Thane. His bail plea will be taken up in Kalyan court tomorrow.

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Raj Thackeray sent to Judicial Custody till November 4

Breaking News! MNS Chief Raj Thackeray has been sent to judicial custody till November 4. Raj Thackeray's bail plea was rejected by the Bandra Court. Although Raj got the bail in the Chetna College violence in Kherwadi after producing a bail bond of Rs. 15,000, he was denied the same in the Kalyan violence case.

Since the Mumbai Police did not demand Raj's custody, he was sent to judicial custody by the court. Raj Thackeray was charged with provoking violence under Section 153. He was also charged for "creating mischief", "intent to cause riots" and "causing damage to property". Raj was taken into custody by the Kalyan police. The Kalyan case hearing will take place on October 22. If Raj fails to get bail, then he will be sent to judicial custody till November 4.

The court's decision came as a major setback for Raj Thackeray and his supporters who expected Raj to be released on bail. Security has been beefed up in and around Mumbai, as the police anticipate more trouble after the rejection of Raj Thackeray's bail plea. Raj's supporters have already started making trouble after the news came that he was sent to judicial custody.

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Mumbai Police issues gag orders against Raj Thackeray

Breaking News! The Mumbai Police issued gag orders against MNS chief Raj Thackeray, banning him from making public speeches for two months. Raj Thackeray won’t be able to speak to media during that period. The gag orders against Raj Thackeray come with non-bailable warrants. Meanwhile, Mumbai has come to a standstill aftermath Raj Thackeray’s arrest.

Train and bus services have been badly affected. Schools, colleges, offices and shops are closed in many parts of Mumbai. There is a jam on the Western Express-Way. MNS workers are on rampage in Mumbai, causing widespread damage to vehicles and public property. Raj Thackeray will be produced in Bandra court at 2:45 p.m. today. The police have been unable to contain the rampaging MNS workers inside the court premises despite the imposition of Section 144.

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Raj Thackeray arrested from Ratnagiri, MNS Workers on rampage in Maharashtra

Breaking News! The inevitable finally happened. MNS (Maharashtra Navnirman Sena) Chief Raj Thackeray was arrested from a guest house in Ratnagiri at 2.30 AM today. Raj Thackeray is being brought to Mumbai amid heavy security arrangements. It ended all speculation whether Raj Thackeray will be arrested or not.

Raj will be produced in a Bandra court at 11 AM. Raj Thackeray was arrested in connection with the thrashing of North Indian students at Chetna College, Mumbai. He has been charged with inciting violence. He is likely to be served the NBW issued by a Jamshedpur court. The one news that dominates the major TV Channels and newspapers today is "Raj Thackeray arrested", Raj Thackeray arrested", "Raj Thakre arrested" and "Raj Thackery arrested".

As soon as news of Raj Thackeray's arrest spread, MNS workers in various parts of Maharashtra went on a rampage and damaged private and public properties. Buses and trucks in Bhiwndi, Dahisar, Check Naka, Borivili, Thane, Nasik and Pune have been set on fire. Some MNS workers ransacked Congress MP Sanjay Nirupam's house in Mumbai.

A large number of Taxis belonging to North Indians were attacked in Mumbai. One CRPF platoon has been deployed and the riot-control police has been kept on standby in Mumbai. Even though over 1,100 MNS activists were taken into custody throughout Maharashtra before Raj Thackeray's arrest, Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra still witness large-scale violent incidents. Finally, the people of Mumbai can sigh a huge relief that "Raj Thackeray arrested".

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1,100 MNS Workers arrested in Maharashtra, Raj's arrest likely tomorrow

Breaking News! In a significant development, the Maharashtra Police have launched a massive operation against the MNS (Maharashtra Navnirman Sena) workers across the state. The latest reports suggest that over 1,100 MNS workers have been arrested from various parts of Maharashtra. While 350 MNS workers were arrested in Nasik, over 150 detained in Pune.

At least 100 - 150 MNS workers were arrested from Solapur. The Mumbai Police reportedly have taken hundreds of MNS workers into custody. MNS Chief Raj Thackeray, who is camping in Ratnagiri, is likely to be arrested tomorrow on the NBW issued against by a Jamshedpur court. The preventive arrests of MNS workers are being made to prevent any untoward incidents aftermath Raj Thackeray's arrest.

With inputs from Star News TV and Aaj Tak TV

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Countdown begins to India's Moon Mission Chandrayaan I

Breaking News! India - the country of 1.3 billion people is today talking only Chandrayaan, Chandrayaan and Chandrayaan. Yes, the countdown began to India's first-ever moon mission, Chandrayaan I. the Chandrayaan I will take off from Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota (Tamil Nadu) at 6.20 AM (0050 GMT) on Wednesday, October 22, 2008.

History will be made with the launch of India's dream lunar mission, Chandrayaan I. All major TV Channels in India will telecast the launch of Chandrayaan I from 5.50 AM onwards on Wednesday.

With the launch of Chandrayaan I, India will join its regional space competitors Japan and China. Last month, China became only the third country in the world to independently carry out a space walk mission. The Chandrayaan-1 will be on a two-year mission. It was built at a cost of $80 million. The Chandrayaan I will provide an in-depth map of the moon's mineral, chemical and topographical characteristics.

The Chandrayaan I has a weight of 1.3 tonnes and is shaped like a cuboid or rectangular prism. It carries 11 payloads - five from India and others from foreign countries. Chandrayaan-1, being a scientific project, has no insurance cover. Chandrayaan I is powered by a single solar panel generating a maximum of 700 W.A 36 Ampere-Hour (AH) Lithium ion battery, which supplies power when the solar panel is not illuminated by the sun.

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Rupee closes at 8-year-low of 49.02 per US Dollar

The Indian Rupee ended at an eight-year-low of 49.02 against the US Dollar on Monday. The dollar gained because of a rush in dollar purchases by leading banks. The earlier low of Rupee was recorded on June 18, 2002, when it closed at 48.99/49.00 per dollar.

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17 BJP MLAs in Uttarakhand revolt, submit resignation to Rajnath Singh

Breaking News! Crisis gripped BJP's Uttarakhand unit, as 17 MLAs of the ruling party, resigned from their seats, protesting against the Chief Minister BC Khanduri. They have aligned with former CM Bhagat Singh Koshiyari.

The BJP has 36 seats in the Uttarakhand assembly. Since almost half of the MLAs have revolted against Chief Minister BC Khanduri, the BJP Central leadership finds itself in a tight spot. The MLAs have sent their resignation letters to party chief Rajnath Singh. The BJP hasn't yet reacted to this latest development.

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Indian Banks are safe, says PM Manmohan Singh

Breaking News! In the wake of the global recession that has taken a toll on the Indian market, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has tried to assure people that their money is safe in the respective banks and there is no reason to be panic. "All Indian banks are safe and there should be no fear of failure of any bank", said Dr. Manmohan Singh in Lok Sabha.

The Prime Minister also said that inflation would come down in the next two months. He admitted that Indian economy could be a bit slow due to the global financial crisis. "The RBI and the government are closely monitoring the flow of credit and will ensure additional liquidity results in actual credit," he said.

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Raj Thackeray to be arrested? Jharkhand Police in Mumbai

Breaking News! According to latest reports, MNS Chief Raj Thackeray, who has become a headache for the Maharashtra Government, is likely to be arrested shortly, after a Jamshedpur court issued non-bailable warrant (NBW) against him for a speech made in Mumbai in February 2008.

The Jharkhand police already reached Mumbai to arrest Raj Thackeray and they are working in tandem with the Mumbai Police. If Raj Thackeray is arrested, it would be interesting to see how the Maharashtra government maintains law and order while protecting the lives and properties of North Indians, who have been on target of Raj Thackeray and his MNS (Maharashtra Navnirman Sena).

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RBI slashes Repo Rate by 1 percent to 8%

Breaking News! In an unprecedented move, the Reserve Bank of India has slashed the repo rate by 1 percent to 8% in order to improve the liquidity in the market. This is for the first time since 2004 that RBI has slashed the repo rate. Repo rate is the lending rate at which RBI offers loans to the banks. With the reduction in repo rate, the home loan and car loan rates are likely to go down.

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LTTE losing ground, Sri Lankan Army on offensive

Breaking News! Media reports from Sri Lanka suggest that the decades-long battle between Sri Lankan Army and LTTE has reached a decisive phase with the Lankan Army launching a major offensive against the LTTE guerillas. The LTTE is losing ground and its defence has been breached by the Sri Lankan Army. Large scale causalities have been reported from the interior areas where the Army is on offensive.

Sri Lankan Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse claimed that Sri Lankan Army have breached the last defence of the LTTE and the military action is on its last stage. He also said that the Lankan Army has captured 14 rebel bunkers in Kilinochchi. He denied the charges of genocide in Sri Lanka and said that Sri Lanka has waged a war against terrorists, not against any particular community.

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MNS Workers beat Railway Job aspirants from North India

Breaking News! Enough is enough. Raj Thackeray's MNS (Maharashtra Navnirman Sena) activists went on a rampage on Sunday and attacked Railway Board Exam centres across Maharashtra. They even went berserk at the railways stations where students from Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan gathered to appear in examinations.

MNS workers vandalised the Railway Board exam centres and beat up North Indian aspirants in Mumbai, Thane, Nasik, Sholapur and other parts of the state. At least railway board examination centres in suburban Mumbai were attacked. At least 20 MNS activists were arrested so far. According to media reports, Shiv Sena workers also joined the MNS activists in the vandalism. Both parties are trying hard to become the saviour of "Maharashtrians".

The Union Minister for Railways, Lalu Prasad Yadav has condemned the incident and said that Raj Thackeray has lost mental imbalance and he should be put behind the bars as soon as possible. He also sought a ban on MNS, comparing it with a terrorist organization.

Lalu also said that he would take up the issue with Congress President Sonia Gandhi. Lalu talked to Maharashtra CM Vilasrao Deshmukh and asked him to take stern action against Raj Thackeray and his MNS "goons". He also assured the students that Railways would conduct re-exam for those aspirants who failed to appear in today's examination.

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Delhi Metro Flyover collapses; 2 dead, 10 injured

Breaking News! At least three people were killed and 10 injured when a girder launcher and a part of the under-construction on Metro Flyover collapsed near Shakarpur in New Delhi. The incident occurred on the Metro line between Lakshmi Nagar and Nirman Bhavan in East Delhi. The collapsed flyover fell on passing vehicles. A blueline bus driver and a labourer died on the spot.

All the injured are being treated Lok Nayak Hospital, Hedgewar Hospital and MCD Hospital in Karkardooma. According to sources, one person had to undergo amputation of both legs and another person underwent an amputation of one leg. The DMRC (Delhi Metro Rail Corporation) has ordered an inquiry into the incident. Chief Minister Sheila Dixit visited the site and hospital. She announced a compensation of Rs. 5 lakh for the kins of each dead and Rs. 50,000 each to all injured.

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Kingfisher Airlines cuts salaries of Trainee Co-Pilots

Breaking News! The downturn in the aviation industry continues, as the Kingfisher Airlines has taken a major cost-cutting initiative, by cutting the salaries of new trainee co-pilots. According to Kingfisher sources, about 70 trainee pilots' monthly salaries will come down drastically. The newly endorsed A320 pilots will see their salary going down from Rs. 1.95 lakh per month to a stipend of Rs. 20,000 per month. The trainees on probation will also get the same stipend as against Rs. 90,000 per month.

According to Kingfisher Airlines, about 14 commanders and 30 first officers on A340 aircraft will be losing Rs. 1.2 lakh each from their monthly salaries. They will be phased out to the singleaisle 320 aircraft.

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Seven-phase Assembly Polls in Jammu & Kashmir from November 17

Breaking News! Putting all speculations into rest, the Election Commission has finally announced the poll dates for Assembly elections in Jammu & Kashmir. According to the announcement made by the Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswamy, elections will be held in seven phases in Jammu & Kashmir. The first phase of elections will begin on November 17. Rest of the phases will be held on November 23, November 30, December 7, December 13, December 17 and December 24.

The entire poll process in Jammu & Kashmir will take more than a month. Polling will be held in 87 Assembly segments of the state. The counting of votes will be held on December 28. The Election Commission has decided to plan heavy security arrangements during the elections in the state. The conditions in Jammu & Kashmir cannot be termed "favourable" for elections in the wake of rising separatist movements and a wide rift between people in Jammu and Kashmir on communal lines.

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Mayawati makes a U-Turn, UP Govt to give Land to Rail Coach Factory

Breaking News! After indulging in a public spat with Congress President Sonia Gandhi over the land allotment to Rail Coach Factory in Rae Bareli, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati made a complete U-Turn on Saturday and decided to hand over 189 hectares of land to the Rail Coach Factory in Rae Bareli. The land will given on a 99-year lease.

Mayawati's move came in the wake of growing public sentiment against her on this issue. She did not want to be identified as an anti-development Chief Minister. In addition, there were indications that the Supreme Court may decide against her move to cancel the land allotment and put the Uttar Pradesh government in an embarrassment position.

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Sri Lanka-Tamil Row: Jayalalitha dares Karunanidhi to resign

Breaking News! The political battle in Tamil Nadu hots up further over the Sri Lanka-Tamil issue. Even as all 14 DMK MPs including seven Union ministers, submitted their symbolic resignation letters to DMK chief M Karunanidhi, AIADMK chief J Jayalalitha dared Tamil Nadu CM M Karunanidhi to end farce and resign over the issue of atrocities against Tamils in Sri Lanka if he has the guts.

Jayalalitha termed the post-dated resignation letters submitted by the DMK MPs a a farce and asked Karunanidhi to let his Members of Legislative Assembly resign if he is serious about taking up the issue of Sri Lankan Tamils. She also dared Karunanidhi to dissolve the state assembly if he has the guts.

The resignation letters submitted by the DMK MPs were post-dated to October 29, when the deadline given by DMK to Centre ends. The DMK, which is an important constituent of the UPA government in Centre, has set a 15-day deadline for the government to halt Sri Lankan troops' offensive against LTTE.

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Parliament Session begins Today, Left brings Privilege Motion against PM Manmohan Singh

Breaking News! The special session of the Parliament, which began today, is expected to be stormy, as both ruling coalition and opposition have taken heads on each other. The BJP questioning the timing of the Parliamentary session when assembly elections are due in five states. The party has decided to rake up the issue of terrorism in the Parliament. BJP is also expected to raise the recent crisis in stock market and may ask the government to explain about the financial crisis in the country.

The Congress on the other hand, is upbeat over the win in trust vote and the successful passage of Indo-US nuclear deal. The party and its allies may raise the issues of communal violence in Kandhamal, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh and try to embarrass the BJP and its allies. Meanwhile, the Left parties have decided to bring a Privilege Motion against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the issue of Indo-US nuclear deal.

While the Lok Sabha was adjourned till tomorrow after paying tribute to departed members of the House, the Rajya Sabha witnessed uproarious scenes. The BJP raised issues like terrorism and price rise. The Left parties moved a privilege motion against the Prime Minister on the Indo-US nuclear deal. They accused the PM of misleading the Parliament over the nuclear agreement with the US. Left parties were supported by the BSP MPs. They shouted slogans such as "Bush sey yaari hai, Desh sey gaddari hai".

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BSE Sensex drops below 10,000, Rupee slips to 48.88 against Dollar

Breaking News! Even as Dow Jones gained 400 points yesterday, the market meltdown in India continues. The BSE Sensex dropped 606.14 points to close at 9,975.35. This is the first time since July 2006 that BSE Sensex fell below 10k. The Sensex lost 5.73% during the day's trade. The Nifty too dropped 194.95 or 6 percent to close at 3,074.35. Other Asian market including that of Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong too crashed heavily.

The Indian Rupee continued its downward trend by falling to a 6-year-low of 48.88 against the US Dollar. The RBI measures failed to bail out the Rupee from falling further against the Greenback.

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Sachin Tendulkar breaks Lara's Record, becomes highest run-getter in Test Cricket

Breaking News! Master blaster Sachin Tendulkar created history in Mohali test, when he surpassed Brian Lara's 11,953 runs to become the highest run-getter in test cricket. Sachin Tendulkar achieved this milestone in his 152nd test match. Brian Lara had taken only 131 tests to score his 11,953 runs.

Sachin is now the leading scorer in test cricket. He has scored those runs on an average of 54.08. He scored 39 hundreds and 50 half centuries so far with a carer-best of 248*. Sachin has been playing cricket since 1989. He may have a couple of years cricket left, but his milestones and records have made him a legend in cricket history. He will always be rated among the top cricketers in the world.

Latest Update: Sachin later went on to become the first cricketer to complete 12,000 runs in test cricket.

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Praful Patel: We forced Jet Airways to reverse decision, No lay off in Air India

Breaking News! Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel revealed that government forced Jet Airways to reverse the decision on the sacking of over 800 employees. Mr. Patel also claimed that he talked to Jet Airways Chairman Naresh Goyal and asked him to reconsider the retrenchment.

Earlier, Naresh Goyal had denied of any political pressure to take back the sacked employees. Mr. Praful Patel also clarified that there would not be any lay-offs within Air India.

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Amitabh Bachchan discharged from Hospital

Breaking News! In a huge relief for millions of fans, Superstar Amitabh Bachchan has been discharged from Lilavati Hospital this morning. Amitabh spent 6 days in hospital after he complained abdominal pain. His condition was critical, but later he recovered completely. Amitabh was discharged from the hospital, after the doctors declared him fit. He has advised rest for a few weeks.

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Jet Airways reinstates all sacked Employees, Naresh Goyal apologises

The Big Breaking News! (October 16, 2008). Jet Airways has decided to take back all sacked employees with immediate effect. Jet Airways Chairman Naresh Goyal held a press conference and announced this decision. "I apologise for all agony you went through. You are like my family. And, my conscience does not allow me to sack you", said Naresh Goyal to his employees.

"My management made the decision to sack employees because of financial woes. But I have reversed it. My management may not like my decision, but I made it. I feel mentally disturbed with the recent events. I do not look at economies, I go with my conscience" said Naresh Goyal.

Jet Airways Chairman Naresh Goyal firmly said that he did not act under pressure. He even denied of having meeting any political leaders. As the news of cancellation of retrenchment in Jet Airways flashed on the TV channels, the fired employees erupted into joy and celebrations. They termed it as a major victory and distributed sweets to each other.

Naresh Goyal confirmed that there would not be any retrenchment or lay offs in Jet Airways. However, he stressed on the need of cutting costs by every possible means. He also urged the government to come forward to bail out the sick aviation industry and loss-making airlines. Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel termed Jet Airways' decision to take back all sacked employees as a welcome step.

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Fighting Ship Piracy: Indian Navy to deploy Warships in Gulf of Aden

Breaking News! In a bid to save our sailors from the clutches of pirates in the Gulf region, the Indian Navy has decided to deploy warships in the Gulf of Aden. The pirates from Somalia are highly active in the region and recently they hijacked a few ships with Indians on board. The Iranian cargo was released after the company paid heavy ransom to the hijackers. Three Indians on board were freed immediately.

The fate of Japanese ship MV Stolt Valor is not yet known. The ship with 22 crew including 18 Indians was hijacked in the Red Sea off Somalian coast last month. The pirates had given a 48-hour ultimatum to pay $2 million to release the ship. The ultimatum will end shortly. The Indian Navy ruled out any armed action to rescue MV Stolt Valor, but confirmed that it would such action in future after consulting other warships deployed in the region.

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Air India plans "leaves wthout pay" for 15,000 Employees

Breaking News! While the downturn in Aviation sector and issue of Jet Airways lay off have become the biggest talk in India, the Air India is reportedly planning to give 3-5 years leave without pay to around 15,000 of its total staff. According to PTI sources, it was confirmed by Air India CMD Raghu Menon on Thursday.

Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel later clarified that there won't be any job cuts within Air India and the employees would be taken back on the same pay if they desire to return after the specified leave period.

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Raj Thackeray gives Ultimatum to Jet Airways, CPM ups ante in Kolkata

Breaking News! Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray gave an ultimatum to Jet Airways to reinstate all sacked employees within 48 hours. Raj threatened Jet Airways of dire consequences if the airlines fails to comply with his ultimatum. Jet Airways has already fired 800 employees and is planning to sack another 1,100 within a few days.

Meanwhile, the ruling CPI(M) in West Bengal has openly supported the sacked employees and decided to block all Jet Airways flights from Kolkata if the airlines does not reinstate the sacked employees with immediate effect. Shiv Sena in Mumbai has also supported the terminated Jet Airways employees. Meanwhile, the Centre has sought a detailed report from the Labour Secretary on Jet Airways lay off issue.

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Singapore Nifty (SGX Nifty) falls by 6 Percent, BSE Sensex drops 710 points

Breaking News! The global market meltdown has taken a toll on Singapore Nifty or SGX Nifty with the index falling by 6 percent on Thursday. The stocks were down by 200 points at 3,139. The Singapore Nifty (SGX Nifty) was expected to fare better than Indian stock market, but that was not the case.

Meanwhile, BSE Sensex continued moving downwards with losing over 710 points in the first hour of trading. The Nifty too lost over 220 points. RBI's decision to cut the CRR (Cash Reserve Ratio) failed to bolster the market or improve the confidence of the investors. The bloodbath at Dalal Street continues...

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US Markets Crash; Biggest Fall in 21 Years, as Recession fears loom

Breaking News! The financial tsunami continued to play havoc in the US market. The recession fears loom large over the United States, as Dow Jones witnessed its biggest drop in the past 21 years. The Dow dropped 733.08 points or 7.9% to 8577.91 causing panic in markets across the world. If we believe the indications, the US economy is heading towards its deepest recession since the Great Depression in 1980s. The global crude oil prices reached a 13-month-low of $75 per barrel.

Other indexes including the Standard & Poor's 500 stock index, fell sharply. Investors across the globe lost about $1.1 trillion during the US market crash on Wednesday. This is the second time in stock history that investors lost over $1.1 trillion in a day. Asian markets too witnessed a decline. India's BSE Sensex crashed by over 600 points, while Tokyo's Nikkei Stock Average fell by 9.7%.

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RBI cuts CRR by 100 basis points to 6.5%

Breaking News! The Reserve Bank of India sprung a surprise by slashing the cash reserve ratio (CRR) by 100 basis points or 1 percent. The CRR now remains at 6.5%. The CRR rate cut will be with retrospective from October 11, 2008. The CRR cut is expected to release Rs. 40,000 crore into the market.

The RBI has also raised the ceiling on FCNR (B) deposits by 50 basis points. The international ceiling rate on NRE(R)A deposits has been raised by 50 basis points. The hike in FCNR (B) and NRE(R)A was taken to ease the pressure on Rupee, which has declined significantly against the USA Dollar. The CRR rate cut is seen is a positive step by the RBI to improve liquidity and confidence.

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Jet Airways CEO speaks, 1,900 Employees to be terminated

Breaking News! The crisis within the Jet Airways has just begun, it seems. Jet Airways CEO Wolfgang Prock-Schaeur revealed that his airlines will terminate 1,900 out of a total of 13,000 employees in a phased manner. According to Jet CEO, those employees were hired as part of the expansion plan, but it was held back for some reason. He also said that 800 employees have already been served termination notice and 1,100 more will soon get the boot.

Mr. Wolfgang Prock-Schaeur termed the process of termination of employees as completely legal and maintained that adequate compensation will be given to sacked employees as per the contract. He also said that decision to fire the employees had nothing to with the alliance with Kingfisher Airlines. "It was a tough decision, but we had to take it. We have sacked employees for the first time in 15 years", said Mr. Wolfgang Prock-Schaeur.

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Raj Thackeray backs sacked Jet Airways Employees

Breaking News! The current turmoil within the Jet Airways, has taken an interesting turn with MNS (Maharashtra Navnirman Sena) chief Raj Thackeray deciding to support the sacked Jet Airways employees. Jet Airways has sacked around 1,000 employees today, who were on probation and were supposed to get their confirmation letter on November 1.

After getting a snub from Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel, the sacked Jet Airways employees decided to approach MNS chief Raj Thackeray, who in return echoed their sentiments. Raj Thackeray warned the Jet Airways of dire consequences if the sacked employees are not reinstated with immediate effect. "No Jet Airways flight will be allowed to take off from Mumbai if needed", thundered Raj Thackeray. A MNS delegation will meet Jet Airways management tomorrow to discuss the issue.

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Sacked Jet Airways Employee go on rampage, consider legal options

Breaking News! As the Jet Airways sacked around 1,000 employees without giving any prior notice, the sacked staff went on a rampage outside the Jet Airways office in Mumbai. All sacked employees were on probation and they were supposed to get their confirmation letter on November 1, but they never expected a sudden termination letter as 'Diwali Gifts'. The employees are now considering legal options, as Jet Airways did not keep its promise of one month termination notice to its employees.

The sacked Jet Airways employees included the cabin crew and customer service officers. They are in a state of shock at this latest development. The Jet Airways Chairman Naresh Goyal defended the decision to lay off around 1,000 staff saying they were non-permanent and unconfirmed employees. He also said that his company would do everything possible to reduce costs. The Jet Airways also decided to reduce its flights by 10-12 percent during the coming winter.

According to latest reports, Jet Airways will sack more employees in the categories of cabin cockpit crew and management. Kingfisher Airlines also said that it would soon fire a sizable number of employees to reduce costs. Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel has refused the government intervention on this matter, saying the companies reserve the right to hire/fire their staff. The sacked Jet Airways employees have decided to approach MNS chief Raj Thackeray for his support to their cause.

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Alibaba.com - The World's Largest B2B Marketing Website

Alibaba.com is the official website of the Alibaba Group, which is considered as the world's largest B2B marketing website. Alibaba.com is a big name in the field of B2B e-commerce. Jack Ma, a former English teacher from the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou founded Alibaba.com in 1999 along with 18 other founder members. Today, Alibaba.com has over 32 million registered users from over 240 countries and regions.

Alibaba.com has offices in over 30 cities across China as well as in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Europe and the US. The company has around 7,000 full-time employees today. Alibaba.com connects millions of buyers and suppliers through three marketplaces - http://www.alibaba.com/, http://www.alibaba.com.cn/ and http://www.alibaba.com.jp/. Alibaba.com is a certified B2B marketing website is considered as the most trusted among all available e-commerce websites.

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Capt. GR Gopinath plans to buy back Air Deccan

Breaking News! Captain GR Gopinath, vice chairman of Kingfisher Airlines, is planning to buy back Air Deccan. He is reportedly unhappy over the alliance between Kingfisher Airlines and Jet Airways struck a couple of days ago.

Gopinath is planning to offer a package to buy back Air Deccan from Kingfisher Airlines. Currently, UB Group Chairman Vijay Mallya has 65% share in Kingfisher Airlines, while Captain Gopinath has only 5.58% stake.

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Jet Airways lays off 800 Staff to cut costs, Turmoil in Aviation Sector

Breaking News! The Jet Airways has decided to lay off over 800 employees citing reasons of ill health and cost-cutting measures. Jet Airways' decision to fire over 800 employees sent a panic across the aviation industry. The cabin crew and customer service officials will be fired as part of a cost-cutting exercise. According to sources, Kingfisher Airlines is also planning to lay off a sizeable number of staff soon.

According to major Ailrlines in the country, the aviation sector is in a bad shape and it requires a bailout package to move up. Airlines across the world are suffering huge losses due to the steep rise in jet fuel. Aviation Minister Praful Patel has expressed concerns over the latest deveopment and assured that he would take up the case with the Finance Minister.

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Orissa Nun Rape Case: Eyewitness Father Chellan refuses to help Police

Breaking News! In a shocking development, Father Chellan, the lone eyewitness in the sensational nun rape case in Kandhamal, Orissa, refused to cooperate in the investigation, saying he did not have faith in the system. Father Chellan's refusal to help the Orissa Police, came as a shocker for all and it provided ammo to critics who have already raised questions on the alleged rape of the nun.

In 1999, a similar incident occurred in Baripada, where a nun alleged that she was raped by Hindu extremists. But the later the allegations turned out to be false. Although the state police have arrested eight persons in connections with the nun rape case in Kandhamal, Father Chellan's refusal to cooperate with the police, raised several questions that remain unanswered.

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Arvind Adiga wins Man Booker Prize 2008

Breaking News! India's Arvind Adiga created history by winning the Man Booker Prize 2008 for his much-publicized debut novel "The White Tiger". Arvind Adiga's book "The White Tiger" is all about the poverty in India and the wealth gap between the rich and the poor. The Chairman of the judges described Arvind Adiga's "The White Tiger" as a revelation of "the dark side of India".

The Booker Awards ceremony was held in London's Guildhall. "The White Tiger" narrates the story of a village boy Balram Halwai, who became an entrepreneur through villainous means. According to Arvind Adiga, most of the poor people in India can make it to the top either through crime or politics.

It's a dream came true for Arvind Adiga, who beat five other competitors including India's Amitabh Ghosh (Sea of Poppies), Steve Toltz of Australia (A Fraction of the Whole), Sebastian Barry of Ireland (The Secret Scripture), and British writers Linda Grant (The Clothes on Their Backs), and Philip Hensher (The Northern Clemency).

Arvind Adiga is the third writer to win the prestigious Man Booker Prize on debut after Arundhati Roy (1997) and DBC Pierer (2003). He is the fifth Indian-origin writer to win the coveted award after V.S. Naipul, Salman Rushdie, Arundhati Roy and Kiran Desai. Arvind Adiga, who was born in Chennai, dedicated his award to New Delhi, where he has lived for many years.

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5 injured in a Crude Bomb Blast in Kanpur

Breaking News! At least five people were injured when a crude bomb exploded in the Bajaria locality in Kanpur. The blast occurred at 6.30 PM this evening. Two of the injured are said to be critical. All of them have been admitted to a city hospital. According to police, the crude bomb was planted on a cycle. The police refused to term this blast as a terror attack and said it could be the handiwork of some anti-social elements.

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Sonia Gandhi dares Mayawati, defies Prohibitory Orders to enter Rae Bareli

Breaking News! Congress President Sonia Gandhi has decided to take heads on Uttar Pradesh CM Mayawati. Sonia defied the prohibitory orders (Section 144) imposed by Mayawati government and entered Rae Bareli amid a huge welcome crowd. People defied Section 144 to welcome Sonia Gandhi and shouted slogans against Mayawati.

"Rai Bareli is my Karmabhoomi. No one can stop me from coming to my home. I am ready to go to jail on this issue if required", thundered Sonia Gandhi. Earlier Sonia Gandhi had cancelled her public rally in the wake of prohibitory orders imposed in the area. Although Mayawati had diverted Sonia Gandhi's route to Rae Bareli, a defiant Sonia took the same route and snubbed Mayawati and her administration.

The UP police was pain to explain why they could not stop Sonia from entering Rae Bareli and meeting with the public despite the prohibitory orders. Sonia did not comment on the cancellation of land allotment for the Rail Coach Factory, terming it "sub-judice". Meanwhile, Congress legislator Ashok Singh and eight of his supporters were booked by the UP government for vandalism against the state government.

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Election Commission announces Assembly poll date for five States, No dates for J&K

Breaking News! The Election Commission of India announced assembly poll dates for five states including Chhatisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Mizoram and Rajasthan. Elections in Chhatisgarh will be held on November 14 and 20. It's neighbouring state Madhya Pradesh will go into polls on November 25.

Madhya Pradesh, Delhi, Mizoram and Rajasthan will have a single phase election. Mizoram and Delhi will go to polls on November 29, while elections in Rajasthan will be held on December 4. Counting of votes in all states will be held on December 8. The dates were announced by CEC N Gopalaswami. The Election Commission is still undecided on the elections dates for Jammu & Kashmir.

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Union I&B Minister PR Dasmunsi still Critical

Breaking News! Union Minister for Information & Broadcasting, P R Dasmunsi is still critical and is on a ventilator at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). Dasmunsi was rushed to hospital on Monday after he complained breathlessness due to lung congestion. The doctors confirmed that it was a heart failure. According to sources, the left side os his heart is completely paralysed.

Meanwhile, Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee visited the medical and inquired about Dasmunsi's health.

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ICICI Bank: Still A Force to Reckon with in Banking Industry

-- By Sagar Satapathy, Editor-in-Chief

There has been a huge hue and cry over the financial health of ICICI Bank during the recent market meltdown. The ICICI Bank suffered huge losses, causing panic among the investors. But everyone forgot that ICICI Bank remains a big power in the banking sector and it has enough money to overcome any temporary crisis.

The rumours, speculations and all permutations and combinations proved wrong, as the ICICI Bank led the market surge yesterday. Only a few days ago, situation was so bad that ICICI Bank MD and CEO KV Kamath, Finance Minister P Chidambaram and the RBI had to step in to assure the investors of ICICI Bank's stability and growth.

It is not known whether some vested interests played the spoilsport by indulging in a malicious campaign against the ICICI Bank. But the bank proved anyone wrong and emerged as a strong force to reckon with in the banking industry. ICICI Bank not only managed to generate trust and confidence among its investors, but led the way in market surge. As a result, other banks such as HDFC Bank, SBI and others also witnessed good results.

The ICICI Prulife from ICICI Prudential still remains a big hit among the investors. The ICICI Prulife is rated high among other insurance and unit-linked products. It has been a huge relief to see ICICI Bank on top again. Millions of investors in India can now feel safe and secure. Their money should be always safe with ICICI Bank. There is no doubt about this.

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Jet-Kingfisher alliance takes off

Breaking News! Kingfisher Airlines and Jet Airways have entered into a code sharing alliance. The two airliners signed a pact for common fuel management, ground handling, network rationalisation and cross-crew use. They will also work together on cross-sales and staff training. The new alliance between Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines has much significance, as it does not have any equity implication.

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Terrorism, Anti-Christian Violence top on agenda in NIC Meet

Breaking News! The National Integration Council (NIC) meeting was dominated by the issues such as terrorism and anti-Christian violence. While the UPA leaders tried to focus only on anti-Christian violence and Communalism, the BJP-led NDA tried to take a swipe at the UPA government on the issue of rising terror activities in the country.

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh expressed deep regret and anguish over the communal violence in Assam, Orissa and Karnataka. The NIC adopted a resolution condemning all acts of violence and terrorism and resolved to deal with such activities firmly. Gujarat CM Narendra Modi stole the show by taking the UPA government into task on the issue of terrorism. The BJP CMs demanded a tough terror law, which was rejected by Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil.

On the expected lines, Samajwadi Party, CPI and CPM warned against targeting the Muslim community as terrorists. The Prime Minister also supported their views. The NIC meet also witnessed a war-of-words between Orissa CM Naveen Patnaik and Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil.

Naveen Patnaik refuted all charges against his government and revealed that Centre had delayed sending forces to tackle the communal violence. Later, he urged everyone to forget all political difference and work together towards the growth and development of all sections of the society.

The NIC, which met after a gap of 3 years, is comprised of 146 members including all Union Ministers, Chief Ministers, leaders of national and regional political parties and eminent personalities. Senior BJPO leader, former Deputy PM and leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, LK Advani, who was invited as #134 to the NIC meet, did not attend, taking it as an insult to his stature. Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, Jaswant Singh was also not invited to the NIC meet.

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UP Government stalls Sonia Gandhi's rally in Rae Bareli; imposes Section 144

Breaking News! Even as the Lucknow Bench of Allahabad High Court ordered a stay on the cancellation of land allotment for Sonia Gandhi's dream Rail Coach Factory in Rae Bareli, Mayawati sprung another surprise by imposing Section 144 in Rae Bareli on the eve of Sonia Gandhi's rally.

The government has denied permission for the rally citing law and order problem. The latest development could lead to a bitter face-off between Maywati and Sonia Gandhi.

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Paul Krugman wins Nobel Prize for Economics

Breaking News! Paul Krugman, a Professor at Princeton University, United States, was awarded the Nobel Prize for Economics. Paul Krugman is an Op-Ed columnist for New York Times. Mr. Paul Krugman received the Nobel Prize for Economics for his commendable work on international trade and economic geography.

Paul Krugman developed models that explained observed patters of trade between the countries. He also explained what goods are produced where and why. Paul Krugman's theories explained why worldwide trade is dominated by a few countries that have similar policies and why some countries import the same goods they export.

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BSE Sensex bounces back with a gain of 804 points; ICICI, RCom top gainers

Breaking News! After causing panic among the investors for almost a week, the BSE Sensex bounced back with a net gain of 804 points to close at 11,332. The BSE Bankex also registered a profit of 12.5% to close at 5,985. The Sensex rallied past 11,000-mark because of a positive swing in the Capital Goods and Consumer Durables indices.

The Banking sector was the major gainer during today's trading. The ICICI Bank rose by 17 percent to Rs. 604 per share. The Reliance Communications soared 20% to Rs 285, while the Reliance Infrastructure rose by 17% to Rs. 425. Other major gainers were Sterlite (rose by 16% to Rs. 318), HDFC Bank (up by 12.5% to Rs. 1,178) and SBI (up by 12% to Rs. 520). Mahindra & Mahindra, BHEL and Larsen & Toubro, Infosys, Wipro and Satyam also registered good profits. ICICI Bank topped the turnover chart with Rs. 486 crore.

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Sonu's Dead Body brought out of Borewell

Breaking News! Two-year-old Sonu, who fell into a 150-feet deep borewell near Agra on Thursday, was finally brought out of the borewell by the Army after 90 hours. But she was declared dead by the doctors.

The Army had to try hard to bring Sonu out of borewell. Sonu was trapped at a height of 72 feet inside the borewell. Sonu was immediately taken to the hospital, where the authorites declared him brought dead.

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Six charred to death in Adilabad, Andhra Pradesh Govt. seeks CBI Probe

Breaking News! The communal clashes that had erupted in Bhainsa town of Adilabad district of Andhra Pradesh on October 10, took an ugly turn, as six persons of a family, were charred to death in Watoli (Vatoli) village, 13-km from Bhainsla. The six victims belonged to a tailor's family. The dead included the head of the family, his wife, daughter and three grand children.

The Andhra Pradesh government has ordered a judicial inquiry into the incident and also sought a CBI probe. The judicial probe will cover the loss of lives and destruction of property in Bhainsla and then the gruesome burning of six people in Watoli. According to police sources, violence in Bhainsla erupted during the immersion procession of Goddess Durga.

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Setback for Sonia's Rail Coach Factory in Rae Bareli, as UP Government cancels Land Allotment

Breaking News! UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi's proposed dream Rail Coach Factory in Rae Bareli received a huge setback today, as Mayawati government in Uttar Pradesh has cancelled the allotment of land for the factory. Sonia Gandhi and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav were scheduled to inaugurate the land for the Rail Coach Factory on October 14.

The Uttar Pradesh government had earlier given 189.25 hectare of land for the factory in Rae Bareli on May 19, when BSP and Congress were on good terms. The situation has changed now, as the Congress has joined hands with Mulayam Singh Yadav's Samajwadi Party. Mayawati had tried her best to topple the UPA government during the recent trust vote in Lok Sabha. While cancelling the land allotment, the UPA government has attributed it to the resentment among the farmers and law and order problems.

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Sister Alphonsa becomes India's first Woman Saint

Breaking News! Sister Alphonsa, a nun from Kottayam, Kerala became the first-ever woman saint from India today. She is the second from Indian Roman Catholic church to get canonised. On the previous occasion, half-Indian St Goncalo Garcia, who died in Japan, was conferred the sainthood.

Sister Alphonsa Muttathupandathu, who was born in 1910, died at the age of 36 in 1946 at Bharananganam. She was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1986. Alphonsa was conferred the sainthood today by Pope Benedict XVI in Vatican City. Over 5,000 Indians were among the huge congregation of people present at the ceremony. It was a proud moment for Indian Christians. Sister Alphonsa was considered for the sainthood after a boy suffering from deformity was cured while praying at her tomb.

Currently, 14 other Indians including Mother Teresa are waiting for the sainthood. They already have been beatified. The journey to sainthood is not an easy step. A miracle in the form of medical healing is needed to confer the sainthood. The medical healing should take place in case of a disease that cannot be cured by medical science. It has to be certified by the doctor involved, and a group of doctors. Once the report is sent to Rome, it is counter checked. The Vatican is very strict on recognising miracles. If there is a slightest of the doubts, it automatically gets rejected.

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Nokia 6233 - A Phone that fits into your Pocket

If you are looking for a phone that meets all your requirements, yet fits into your pocket, then you have a solid option here - Nokia 6233. Nokia 6233 is available in Indian market at a price of Rs. 6000 - Rs. 7000, depending on the locations. It has most of the features that a common cell phone user looks for.

Here are the Features and Specifications of Nokia 6233:

• TFT Screen with a resolution of 320x240 pixels
• Voice Dialling, Voice Memo, Speaker Phone,
• Vibration Alert, Video Calling, Photo Caller ID
• 2 Megapixel Camera
• Video Recording, Video Sharing
• FM Radio, MP3 Player
• 6 MB Internal Memory
• MicroSD Expansion up to 2 GB, 64 MB Card included
• Bluetooth, WAP, GPRS and Infrared Facilities
• SMS, MMS and Email

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Legendary Actor Amitabh Bachchan admitted to Hospital on his Birthday

Breaking News! Legendary bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan, who was admitted to Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai today, is reportedly stable and out of danger. Amitabh, who turned 66 today, was rushed to Nanavati hospital following an abdominal pain. He was later referred to Lilavati hospital. According to sources, Amitabh Bachchan will stay in the hospital for another two to three weeks.

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Question after 57 Hours: Will Sonu survive inside Borewell?

Breaking News! As 57 hours have already passed, the big question still remains. Will two-year-old Sonu survive inside the 150-feet deep borewell? Sonu fell inside the borewell in Leharkapura village in Uttar Pradesh's Agra district. The efforts are still on to rescue him from the death trap. The army personnel have stepped in to rescue Sonu, but it is not sure whether he is still alive or lost the battle with life.

There has been no movement of Sonu since morning today. There is a bleak chance that he would survive the biggest challenge of his life. The villagers are praying for a divine intervention for Sonu's survival. Meanwhile, the Superintendent Engineer of Jal Nigam has ordered an inquiry into the incident. Two Jal Nigam officials have been suspended and the contractor Sanjeev Kumar has been blacklisted.

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Prime Minister inaugurates Kashmir's first Train Service

Breaking News! Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh inaugurated Kashmir's first train service amid heavy security arrangements. At least two people were killed in the violent protests, which erupted during the Prime Minister's visit. Dr. Manmohan Singh flagged off the train at a simple ceremony at Nowgam station. Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav were also present during the inauguration of Kashmir's first train service.

The train line will link the town of Rajwansher in the north Kashmir with Anantnag in the south. The train will cover a distance of 72km (44 miles). It will be extended next year to 117km to Baramullah and Qazigund. Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh also inaugurated a dam built in the "disputed' territory amid protests from Pakistan and separatists.

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India, USA sign historic 123 Agreement

Breaking News! India and the USA signed the historic 123 Agreement in Washington. The US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and India's External Affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee signed the agreement. With this the operationalisation of the Indo-US nuclear deal formally began.

Both Mukherjee and Rice hailed the deal, saying it would usher a new era in the relations between India and the US. According to Pranab Mukherjee, the American companies now can enter into the Indian nuclear market after over three decades. Mr. Mukherjee termed the day as very important for Indo-US relations, for global energy security and promotion of sustainable development.

The US has already made it clear that contents of the 123 Agreement were politician and not legally binding on India. The main goal of the Indo-US nuclear deal is to enhance civil nuclear cooperation and trade between India and the US.

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Indian Crew of Hijacked Iranian Ship released by Somalian Pirates

Breaking News! All crew members including three Indians on board Iranian cargo ship 'Iran Senate' were released after the Iranian company reportedly paid a huge ransom to secure their release. The Iranian cargo ship 'MV Iran Deyanat' was hijacked along with 24 crew off the Somalian Coast on August 21.

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Payal Rohatgi is out of Big Boss

Breaking News! It's officials now. Model Payal Rohatgi is out of Big Boss house, as he was voted out by the audience. Payal, Rahul Mahajan and Raja were nominated this week. But eventually, it was Payal, who got evicted from the Big Boss house. Payal Rohatgi had to pay price for showing closeness and intimacy with Rahul Mahajan, who is said to be very close friend.

Rahul Mahajan and Payal Rohatgi have been known to each other for long. There are rumors and speculations over their alleged love affairs. Monica Bedi, who liked Rahul Mahajan in the early days, got a taste of reality and later ignored Rahul completely after returning to Big Boss house through a wild card entry.

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2008 Nobel Prize Winners (Chemistry, Physics, Medicine, Literature and Peace)

Breaking News! Finland's ex-president Martti Ahtisaari received the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to build a lasting peace from Africa and Asia to Europe and the Middle East. Mr. Martti Ahtisaari was hailed for his peace efforts on several continents for more than three decades. Here's the list of Nobel Prize winners for the year 2008:

Nobel Prize in Chemistry: Osamu Shimomura (Japan) and Martin Chalfie and Roger Y. Tsien (United States) for the discovery and development of the green fluorescent protein, GFP.

Nobel Prize in Physics: Yoichiro Nambu (Japan-born US Scientists) and Makoto Kobayashi and Toshihide Maskawa (Japan) for work on "spontaneous broken symmetry" in subatomic physics.

Nobel Prize in Medicine: Germany's Harald zur Hausen and French researchers Francoise Barre-Sinoussi and Luc Montagnier for the discovery of a pair of major viruses including HIV and ones that cause cervical cancer.

Nobel Prize in Literature: Jean-Marie Gustave Le Clézio (France). He was hailed as "the author of new departures, poetic adventure and sensual ecstasy, explorer of a humanity beyond and below the reigning civilization".

Nobel Peace Prize: Finland's ex-president Martti Ahtisaari for his efforts to build a lasting peace from Africa and Asia to Europe and the Middle East.

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Breaking News Online - Team

Breaking News Online, a part of 24/7 News Network, has a team of young, talented reporters, guest writers and marketing professionals. Our flying reporters send their inputs whenever they come across any breaking news stuffs. We also get hot, breaking news from live TV Channels in India and write our own analysis on those events.

All our Guest Reporters and Writers are located in different cities. We also have a team of professionals who handle the markering activities.

Writing Team:

• Sagar Satapathy (Bhubaneswar)
• P. Neelakantha Achary (Bhubaneswar)
• Sonam Sutar (Cuttack)
• Manoj Garg (Lucknow)
• Priya Tomor (Noida)
• Rohit Raj (Patna)
• Kajal Apte (Mumbai)
• Deepti Taneja (Delhi)
• Ritika Sharma (Bangalore)
• Nishi Mishra (Hyderabad)
• Anmol Chaterjee (West Bengal)
• Hema Suri (Chandigarh)
• Ashok Mattoo (Jammu)
• Seetika Sabat (Sambalpur)

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Gold Rate spiralled to Rs. 14,200 per 10 gram in Delhi Market

Breaking News! The market mayhem continued to take a heavy toll on gold buyers. While the BSE Sensex crashed by over 800 points on Friday, the gold rate touched a new high of Rs. 14,200 per 10 grams in Delhi Market. The Indian Rupee already witnessed an all-time-low of 49.30 against the US Dollar. Experts believe that gold rate may rise further and will hover around Rs. 13,000 for another six months or so.

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Indian Rupee touches all-time low of 49.30 against US Dollar

Breaking News! While the Indian stock market tumbled like a pack of cards, the Indian Rupee touched an all-time low of 49.30 against the US Dollar at 11.53 AM today. The previous low was recorded at 49.07 in 2002. Later, the Rupee recovered to close at 48.34 at the end of trading on Friday.

In order to bail out the market from current crisis, the RBI has slashed the CRR (Cash Reserve Ration) by 150 basis points to 7.5 percent. The RBI's move will infuse Rs. 60,000 crore to the market and improve the banking system. Finance Minister P Chidambaram intervened on Friday to assure the investors that India's banking system is very strong and has enough money to overcome any crisis. The BSE Sensex lost over 800 points to trade at 10,527 points at close.

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BSE Sensex crashes again, RBI slashes CRR to 7.5 %

Breaking News! The market tumbled again after the holiday. There is no respite for the investors, as BSE Sensex fell by over 620 points during the first hour of trading on Friday. Nifty too crashed by 150 points. The BSE Sensex was trading at 10.648 points at 11 AM, while the Nifty was trading at 3,347 points. The Indian Rupee has already hit a six-year-low of 48.00 against the US Dollar.

In a bid to save the market from further decline, the RBI has decided to slash the CRR (Cash Reserve Ratio) by 150 basis points to 7.5 percent from Saturday. It might be able to help the market to some extent. This is the highest one-time increase in the CRR. Meanwhile, the global market including that of the US continued to tumble, causing further impact on Indian market.

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TDP changes stance, supports Telengana State

Breaking News! In a major policy reversal, Chandrababu Naidu's Telugu Desam Party (TDP) changed stance and supported the creation of a separate Telengana state. According to TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu, the core committee of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has decided to support Telengana State on the basis of the sentiment of the Telengana people.

It could be recalled that TDP was routed in 10 districts of Telengana region during the 2004 assemble elections. Pro-Telengana parties such as TRS, BJP and others have welcomed TDP's change of stance. However, the ruling Congress termed it as a politically motivated step. If the indications are true, the creation of a separate Telengana state could become a reality soon.

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Maharashtra Government to legalise Live-in Relationships

Breaking News! The Maharashtra Government on Wednesday decided to amend the Section 125 of Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), which will formally legalise the live-in relationships. However, it would be subject to the approval from the Centre.

According to the amendment proposed by Maharashtra cabinet, the definition of the word 'wife' under Section 125 of CrPC will be changed to include a woman who lives with a man as his wife for a long period without marriage. The new amendment would protect the interests of women in polygamous or live-in relationships. The Maharashtra government's decision was based on the recommendations of the Justice S Mallimath Committee, which suggested reforms in CrPC.

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Nation celebrates "Dassehra - Victory of Good over Evil"

It's festive mood all around in India. Millions of people across India celebrate Dassehra or Vijaya Dashami. Dassehra - the Festival of Goddess Durga is considered as a victory of Good over Evil and is celebrated with much pump and show. Devotees thronged to temples and puja pandals in their villages and cities to worship Goddess Durga.

Durga Puja is a festival of Navratri, which is spread over 9 days. Dassehra is the last day of the festival. West Bengal, Assam and Orissa witness the maximum excitement and activities on Dassehra or Durga Puja Festival.

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George W. Bush signs Indo-US Nuclear Deal into Law

Breaking News! US President George W. Bush finally signed the historic Indo-US nuclear deal into a law. Bush hailed the Indo-US Nuclear deal for strengthening growing ties between the world's two largest democracies. "Even though the United States and India are separated by half the globe, we are natural partners as we head into the 21st century," Bush said.

As George Bush signed the historic deal, the 123 Agreement will be now signed by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and India's External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee in Washington on Friday.

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Union Government bans Exit Polls

Breaking News! The Union Cabinet banned the publication or telecast of exit polls in the middle of any staggered election. The government will bring a bill in the Parliament soon. The Cabinet observed that exit polls influence the voters. All political parities are on the same opinion and the bill is expected to be passed without any hitch.

According to Finance Minister P Chidambaram, the Cabinet has approved making amendment to the Representation of the People Act, 1951. The new amendment will ban the exit polls till the last poll in an election is over. That will ensure that voters are not influenced by the outcome of the exit polls. Even CEC N N Gopalaswami echoed the same feeling that exit polls should be permitted only after the last phase of elections.

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Global Market Meltdown: Central Banks across World slash Interest Rates

Breaking News! The markets across the world continued to crash on the second consecutive day. After USA, India, China, Japan, Russia and all European market witnessed a bloodbath on Monday and Tuesday. The Central Banks across the world cut their lending rates today to bolster the sinking market.

The US Fed leads the way with a cut in interest rated by 50 basis points. the Fed cut its key federal funds lending rate by half a percentage point to 1.5 percent and lowered its discount rate by 50 basis points to 1.75 percent. The European Central Bank cut its lending rate by 50 basis points to 3.75 percent. The Bank of England too lowered its rate by 50 basis points to 4.5 percent.

While China cut its interest rated by 27 basis points, Swiss National Bank, Bank of Canada and Bank of England too lowered their rates by 50 basis points. The Reserve Bank of India had already cut its CRR (Cash Reserve Ratio) to bring stability to market. The UK has already announced a 20 billion pound bank rescue plan to bail out the market.

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Bomb explodes in Vadodara, 3 live bombs recovered

Breaking News! A crude bomb exploded in Vadodara this afternoon. But it did not cause any major damage. Only a teenage boy suffered minor injuries. The police recovered three live bombs from a dustbin. They were defused later. All crude bombs were of low intensity. The police is investigating the matter.

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BSE Sensex falls below 11,000 first time since August 2006

Breaking News! The bloodbath at Dalal Street continues, as the BSE Sensex fell below 11,000 mark for the first time since August 2006. The stocks crashed by 827 points in the first hour of trading on Wednesday. The BSE Sensex was trading 10,844 points. The Nifty too crashed by over 200 points and was trading at 3,385 points.

Markets across the world witnessed the big decline yesterday. The Dow Jones fell by 500 points, while the Nasdaq slipped to a 5-year-low. The Tokyo stock market too witnessed a 20-year-low with Nikkei 225 crashing by 9.3 percent at close. The US Fed (Federal Reserve) is considering a rate cut to bailout the market. Investors and common people are in panic in the US and elsewhere in the world. The UK government has unveiled a 20 billion pound bank rescue plan to overcome the banking crisis.

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Freedom Fighter Laxmi Indira Panda - A True Soldier

Truly said, recognition comes only after death. Former Captain of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose's Indian National Army (INA), Laxmi Indira Panda struggled for six decades to get the status of a freedom fighter. She finally got it on death bed. When she received the status, she had already slipped into coma following a brain stroke. What an irony!

The 83-year-old Laxmi Indira Panda, who passed away in All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, had joined Netaji's INA, but could not provide any jail record to get the freedom fighter status. Laxmi Indira Panda belonged to Jeypore in Orissa's Koraput district. Despite being a freedom fighter, she was overlooked by the authorities and did not receive any help from the government. She was even forced to work as a domestic help to earn a living.

In August 2008, Laxmi Indira Panda met President Pratibha Patil in New Delhi and narrated her story to her. President Pratibha Patil acted immediately to honour Panda by giving her the freedom fighter status and also sanctioned a pension. But it was too late. The President's office oversaw her treatment in AIIMS.

Laxmi Indira Panda's body was brought back to Bhubaneswar in a special plane arranged by the central government. Her body was received by Orissa Governor MC Bhandare. Captain Laxmi Indira Panda was cremated at the Satyanagar crematory in Bhubaneswar with full state honour. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who offered floral tributes to departed soul, announced that a statue of Laxmi Indira Panda will be installed in her hometown Jeypore.

Source: Orissa News Online

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Celebrations in Gujarat, Welcome Tata Nano

Breaking News! The entire Gujarat erupted into joy and celebrations, as it became official that Tata's dream Nano project is finally coming to Sanand, Gujarat. Just after the joint press conference held by Ratan Tata and Narendra Modi, people came to streets and started distributing sweets to each other. They also bursted crackers. It was a Diwali in Gujarat.

Of course, it was a proud moment for Gujarat. The Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) burst crackers worth Rs 1 lakh and distributed sweets to mark this historic occasion.

The Chharodi village in Sanand, which is the site for new Nano Plant witnessed celebrations across the night. Jubilant villagers danced to the tunes of drum-beating, played Holi and burst fire-crackers to welcome Nano. Unilke the Singur farmers, farmers in Chharodi believe that they will gain good land deals as well as better employment opportunities. They think about growth and development, not POLITICS. Is Mamata Banerjee watching???

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Wild Card Entry Monica Bedi returns to Big Boss House

Breaking News! In a dramatic development, Monica Bedi is returning to Big Boss house as a wild card entry. She was chosen over Rakhi, Alina and Sambhavana by the viewers across India and other parts of the world. Monica will formally enter the Big Boss house tomorrow. Monica's entry has made the show more interesting and exciting.

The Big Boss 2 has become dirtier with housemates turning against each other. Rahul Mahajan and Raja Choudhury were considered as the strongest candidates among all housemates. However, Diana Hayden who made a late entry into the Big Boss house, has emerged as a strong contender to win the crown.

Diana is slowly, but strongly increasing her hold over the weak and soft candidates like Debojit, Zulfi and a few others. She maintained a distance from Rahul in a bid to thwart his game plan. However, Monica Bedi's re-entry into Big Boss 2 will change the atmosphere. It would be interesting to see how the housemates react when Monica Bedi sets her feet inside the house tomorrow.

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Victory for Narendra Modi, as Gujarat bags Nano Project

Breaking News! On the auspicious day of Durga Ashtami, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi scored a major victory, as Tata Motors shifted their dream Nano Car project to Gujarat. It was announced in a joint press conference held by Tata Motors Chairman Ratan Tata and Gujarat CM Narendra Modi. Modi termed the day as historic for Gujarat and people of India, as Nano finally got a place it deserved.

Ratan Tata expressed satisfaction over the deal and said it was as good or slighly better that what they got in Singur. "We are happy to set up the Nano plant in Gujarat. All Singur costs will be retrieved, no big loss on book", said Ratan Tata. The Nano plant will be set up at Sanand near Ahmedabad. The Gujarat government has already handed over 1,100 acres of land to Tatas for the Nano plant. According to Ratan Tata, the plant will have a capacity of 2.5 - 3.5 lakh Nano cars per year in the first phase. "It is a special day for us, as we had a bitter experience in West Bengal", said Ratan Tata.

According to Narendra Modi, Tatas will buy the land at the current market value. "We have opened a new chapter in partnership with Tatas", said a victorious Modi. The industry has expressed huge relief over the deal signed between Tatas and Gujarat. Narendra Modi, who has already taken Gujarat to the zenith of its growth and development, has been hailed as a industry-friendly Chief Minister.

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Sourav Ganguly announces retirement from Cricket

Breaking News! Proving media speculations right, India's successful test skipper Sourav Ganguly announced his retirement from cricket. Ganguly dropped the bombshell today, by saying he would say good bye to cricket at the end of series against Australia. Ganguly said he has already conveyed his decision to selectors and his team mates. "I want to leave with a winning knock", said Sourav.

Before the selection for the Australia series, the media speculated that he would be given a deal by the selectors and would announce his retirement from cricket after the Australia series. According to sources, selectors wanted to give all seniors a dignified exit and Ganguly's selection in the test squad was part of that plan.

Sourav Ganguly played 109 tests for India and scored 6,888 runs at an average of 41.74. He scored 15 centuries in test cricket. Ganguly's ODI record was illustrious, as he scored 11,363 runs in 311 matches at an average of 41.02. He scored 22 centuries in ODIs. Ganguly will play four more tests against Australia before calling it a day. Sourav, who was chosed as 'Bengali No. 1" in a CNN-IBN poll yesterday, chose the auspicious day of "Durga Ashtami" to announce his retirement from cricket.

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Tatas to roll out Nano from Gujarat

Breaking News! According to TV reports, the Tatas have finally decided to roll out their dream Nano Car project from Gujarat. Tata Motors Chairman Ratan Tata and Gujarat CM Narendra Modi will address a joint press conference today to announce this much-awaited decision. Tatas' decision to roll out Nano from Gujarat has come as a huge victory for Gujarat CM Narendra Modi who completes seven years in office today.

According to sources, Tata Motors has selected Sanand, 25 km from Ahmedabad for the relocation of Nano plant. Tatas have already pulled out of Singur, West Bengal. The Gujarat government reportedly agreed to transfer 1,000 acres of land to Tata Motors. the land is located within the 2,200-acre campus owned by the Anand Agriculture University. The University has already transferred that land to the government.

According to TV channels, both Tatas and Gujarat government officials are trying to reach a deal that will favour both parties and remove all confusions. The Tatas are on a high, as they are getting invitations from Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Haryana, Orissa and many other states. It will be a prestige issue for Gujarat CM Narendra Modi and he will never let this opportunity go.

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US Market crashes, Dow Jones fall below 10,000

Breaking News! The bailout package failed to revive the mood in American market, as the Dow Jones shed 800 points to fall below 10,000-mark for the first time since 2004. While the European markets struggle to cope up with the credit crunch, the fall in US market, deepened the global financial crisis. The Dow Jones finally closed at 9,955 at the end of Monday's trading.

The recession fears are now looming large, as the markets across the world are going down. The US, European countries and Asian countries such as India and Japan are feeling the heat of credit crunch. The Federal Reserve (Fed) tried to revive the financial stability in the US market by increasing the amount of short-term lending money to $600 billion, but in vain.

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3 Christian Maoists arrested in Laxmanananda Saraswati murder case

Breaking News! In a major breakthrough in the sensational Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati murder case, the Orissa CID arrested three Christian Maoists from Baliguda block. They were allegedly involved in the murder of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati on August 23. The arrested persons were Duryodhan Sunamajhi, Munda Badamajhi and Sanatana Badamajhi.

According to CID sources, at least 18 Christian Maoists were involved in the murder of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati at the Jalespeta Ashram. These arrested people were among those who launched an attack on Swami Laxmanananda on that fateful day. Some guns and masks were recovered from the arrested Maoists.

The latest development almost confirmed a "nexus" between the Maoists and Christian Missionaries and there is no doubt that a large number of Christians have joined the naxal groups. The Christian-run NGOs and Churches could have been a funding source for the Maoists. Such speculations are on the rise, as top Maoist leader Sabyasachi Panda tried in desperation to own up responsibility for Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati's killing. Mr. Panda had reportedly admitted that Maoist groups in Orissa always received support from Christian groups.

"It is a fact that Christians form the majority in our organisation. Our supporters in Rayagada, Gajapati and Kandhamal also belonged to the Christian community," said Sabyasachi Panda during his interview to some correspondents in a recent interview. Laxmanananda Saraswati was killed, as he did not stop his movements against religious conversion and cow slaughter.

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Furore over Amar Singh's Remarks: Martyr MC Sharma's family return Cheque

Breaking News! There is a huge furore over Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh's remarks on Batla House encounter and late Mohan Chand Sharma. Martyr Mohan Chand Sharma's family immediately returned the cheque worth Rs. 10 lakhs, which was given to them by Amar Singh after Sharma's death in Batla House encounter in Jamia Nagar.

Amar Singh, who visited Batla House in Jamia Nagar on Saturday, had termed the encounter with terrorists as fake and demanded a judicial inquiry into the incident. To woo the minorities, Amar Singh even questioned martyr Mohan Chand Sharma's movement, by asking "When authorities had decided to transfer Sharma, why was he sent to Jamia Nagar?" He even sarcastically said it was not clear whether the bullets from terrorists or police killed Mohan Chand Sharma.

The Delhi Police later clarified that MC Sharma was not transferred from the Special Cell and he had gone to Jamia Nagar in his capacity as a Special Cell inspector. A group of ABVP students today protested outside Amar Singh's residence against his remarks.

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RBI cuts CRR (Cash Reserve Ratio) by 50 basis points

Breaking News! After the BSE Sensex dropped 725 points on Monday to close at a two-year-low of 11,801.70, the RBI has decided to cut the cash reserve ratio (CRR) by 50 basis points to 8.5 percent, which will become effective from October 11. The cut in CRR will pump Rs. 20,000 crore to the system, which will help the market recover from the current financial crisis.

In another development, the Securities & Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has eased restrictions imposed on FII to encourage capital inflows. The 40 percent cap on offshore derivative instruments (ODIs) and derivative contracts will be lifted. The SEBI has revised the P-note norms, making the system easier for the foreign institutional investors (FIIs).

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Mumbai Police: Media Wing of Indian Mujahideen busted, 20 people arrested

Breaking News! The Mumbai Police held a press conference this evening to announce that they have busted the media wing of Indian Mujahideen, which used to send emails before the serial bomb blasts. At least 20 people have been arrested in connection with this. The accused were arrested from Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, Azamgarh and Gujarat.

According to Mumbai Police, the arrested people were trained by Abdul Subhan Qureshi. They all are highly educated and worked in big corporate companies. One of the arrested, Mohd. Asgar is earning Rs. 19 lakh per annum in a MNC. The police recovered 5 laptops and CPUs from these suspects. The police admitted family members of these suspects did not know anything about their activities.

The arrested Indian Mujahideen members were planning blasts during Navratri celebrations. The Mumbai Police is now probing the money flow via hawala and more arrests are likely to be taken place over the next few days.

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Cash-for-Vote Scam: No Substantial Proof against Amar Singh, Ahmed Patel

Breaking News! The cash-for-vote scandal took an interesting turn today, with the Parliamentary Committee saying it did not find any substantial proof against SP leader Amar Singh and Congress leader Ahmed Patel. The committee has reportedly recommended a CBI probe into the case and suggested the case needs to be investigated further.

Media reports said that committee has raised questions on the role of SP leader Rewati Raman Singh. The report is likely to be tabled in the Parliament on October 17. The issue will definitely rock the Parliament.

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Farmers in Raigad (Maharashtra) reject SEZ

Breaking News! Farmers in Raigad, Maharashtra rejected the proposed SEZ by a huge referendum. At least 91 percent of farmers voted against the proposed SEZ. The referendum came as a huge setback for Maharashtra government, which had proposed 30 SEZs in Raigad district.

The lands were mostly owned by poor and illiterate farmers. Those lands were considered as barren by the government, but the farmers think otherwise. It would be interesting to see what course of action the government will take now.

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BSE Sensex crashes, falls below 12,000-mark

Breaking News! The BSE Sensex crashed by over 500 points to fall below 12,000, a two-year-low for the premier stock exchange of India. There is a bloodbath on Dalal Street with major companies such as Tata Power and Sterlite suffering huge loses in the market meltdown. Even though the US House approved the $700 bailout package, it failed to revive the market mood. The Nifty too suffered a loss of over 165 points till 1 PM.

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UPA Allies seek ban on Bajrang Dal

Breaking News! Even as the Prime Minister has called a meeting of National Integration Council (NIC) on October 13 to discuss the communal violence in Kandhamal and Karnataka, UPA allies have demanded a complete ban on Bajrang Dal and its activities in the country. The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) has already recommended a ban on Bajrang Dal in the wake of attacks on Christians in Kandhamal, Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh.

Kandhamal has been an eye of the storm, as violence continued there for more than a month. At least 35 people were killed in communal clashes, over 1000 houses were burnt, a nun and a Hindu girl were raped. Over 30,000 people were forced to take shelter in forests and later in relief camps. The communal violence was triggered by the killing of senior VHP leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati at Jalespata Ashram in Kandhamal.

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WWE No Mercy Results - October 5, 2008

Breaking News! The 11th WWE No Mercy was held on October 5, 2008 at the Rose Garden in Portland (Oregon). The WWE No Mercy saw some nail biting finish and complete excitement. Here are the final results of WWE No Mercy 2008:

• ECW Championship: Matt Hardy beat Mark Henry by pin
• Women's Championship: Beth Phoenix (with Santino Marella) beat Candice Michelle (with Santino Marella) by pin
• Rey Mysterio beat Kane by DQ
• Contender for World Heavyweight Title: Batista beat JBL by pin
• Contender for World Heavyweight Title: Big Show beat The Undertaker by KO/Referee Stoppage
• WWE Championship: Triple H beat Jeff Hardy by countering a pinfall attempt
• World Heavyweight Championship:
• Ladder Match - Chris Jericho (with Lance Cade) beat Shawn Michaels

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5 killed, 80 injured in Communal Violence in Dhule, Maharashtra

Breaking News! At least 5 people were killed and 80 others injured in violent clashes between Hindus and Muslims in Dhule in Maharashtra. The injured included 8 policemen and additional collector M Y Patel. The rioters burnt several houses, damaged hundreds of vehicles and looted shops. The communal clashes took place in Azad Nagar, Moglai, Gurudwara, Bhangar Bazar and Ekveera Devi Chowk in Dhule town.

Curfew has been imposed in Dhule following the communal violence. Security forces have been put on high alert. The injured have been rushed to hospital to Dhule Civil Hospital. The trouble started when Muslims torn off banners of Hindu Rajashan Samiti that appealed people to attend a public meeting in Dhule.

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Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari: J&K Terrorists are no Freedom Fighters

Breaking News! In a clear deviation from the official line taken by Pakistani leaders since the partition, Pakistan's President Asif Ali Zardari said that militants in Jammu & Kashmir are no freedom fighters, but they are just terrorists.

Asif Ali Zardari's statement has surprised all both in India and Pakistan. Zardari also said that India has never been a threat to Pakistan. Nawaz Sharif's PML(N) has strongly objected to Zardari's statement and decided to take up this issue in the Parliament. There is an outrage in Pakistan over Zardari's remarks against J&K militants.

Both Congress and BJP have welcomed Zardari's statement and saw it as a positive development towards improvement of relations between both countries. However, the communal People's Democratic Party (PDP), an UPA ally, termed Zardari's statement as unfortunate. PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti criticized Zardari and said that protesters in Kashmir cannot be termed as terrorists. If we read between the lines, she defended terrorists and terrorism.

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Fight for Nano Project: Battle hots up between Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh

Breaking News! Sunday has been hectic for Nano officials, as they visited both Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh to make a survey of sites available for the possible shifting of Nano Car project, which was pulled out of Singur, West Bengal. Both Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh governments have made a strong bid to welcome Nano project in their respective states. The Nano officials from Tata Motors held talks with the Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh governments on Sunday.

Another state Gujarat has become a strong contender to bag Tata's dream Nano car project. If there is someone who can easily overcome any challenges to make an industrial project possible in his state, it is none other than Gujarat CM Narendra Modi. His political and social clout in Gujarat may impress Ratan Tata to move his Nano project to Bhuj, Gujarat. According to sources, Tata officials will soon meet Gujarat government officials to discuss the matter.

Other states such as Maharashtra, Haryana and Orissa also invited Tatas to shift their Nano project to their states. But the main battle is between Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat. Let's wait and watch for the winner of this hot game. Whoever wins at last, the loser is West Bengal CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, whose investor-friendly image has taken a huge beating.

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Curfew imposed in Srinagar, "Greater Kashmir" suspends publication from Sunday

Breaking News! Kashmir is on boil again. Indefinite curfew has been imposed in all 10 districts of the Kashmir Valley to prevent people from taking out the march from Lal Chowk to LoC tomorrow. The separatist Coordination Committee (CC) has asked the people to reach Lal Chowk on October 6. Several separatist leaders including Jaffar Akbar Bhatt, Sajad Lone and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq have been put under house arrest.

Meanwhile, Jammu & Kashmir's leading newspaper "Greater Kashmir" has suspended its publications from Sunday following the denial of curfew passes. Another local TV channel has been taken off air by the government for allegedly showing hatred and divisive content.

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Lakshmi Mittal loses £16.6 billion in Global Meltdown

Breaking News! The global meltdown, which caused widespread crisis in many bigger firms across the world, has affected Steel Baron Lakshmi N Mittal too. According to media reports, Lakshmi Mittal has lost 16.6 billion pounds in the global credit crunch that crashed major stock markets in the world in the last few months. Another NRI businessman Anil Agarwal, also lost 2.7 billion pounds.

Lakshmi Mittal was considered as the richest person in Britain before the global credit crunch happened. His stakes fell from 33.24 billion pounds to 16.63 billion pounds during this weekend. The report was published on Sunday Times.

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Chamunda Devi Stampede Death Toll reaches 215

Breaking News! The Rajasthan government has put the death toll in the Chamunda Devi temple stampede at 215. The government has also announced a compensation of Rs. 5 lakh for the families of each dead. In addition, children who have lost their fathers will receive a payment of Rs. 4000 per month till adulthood.

Children, who have lost only their mothers, will receive Rs. 1500 per month till their adulthood. Parents of the deceased will get Rs. 2000 per month. According to the Rajasthan government, families of victims and injured will get the benefits of health insurance, self-employment schemes and training facilities.

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Communal Violence in Assam: 29 kiled, 70 injured

Breaking News! With the death of four people in police firing on Sunday, the death toll in the communal violence in Assam reached 29. At least 70 people are reportedly injured in the clashes between tribal Assamese people and migrant Bangladeshis in the last couple of days. Shoot-at-sight order has been issued in Central Assam, as the violence spread to other parts of the state. Over 250 houses were burnt in Assam since the communal violence broke out. Udalguri was the worst-affected district.

According to media reports, Pakistani flags were hoisted by the Bangaldeshi migrants in the trouble-torn areas of Assam. The violence was started by Bangaldeshi migrants, when they attacked local Bodos. The Bodos supported by other local communities retaliated, which triggered a widespread conflict between the two communities. Over 1,000 soldiers have been deployed to contain the violence. Curfew has been imposed in the troubled areas.

The Union Home Ministry, which talked about the imposition of President's Rule in Orissa over communal violence in Kandhamal, remains silent over Assam violence since the state is ruled by Congress.

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'93 Surat Blasts: Former Gujarat Minister Mohammad Surti sentenced to 20 years

Breaking News! Former Congress Minister from Gujarat Mohammad Surti and four other accused were sentenced to 20 years in prison in the 1993 Surat blasts case. Seven other accused were handed over a 10-year jail term. Mohammad Surti and other accused were convicted in the twin blasts in Surat, which killed a teenager girl and injured 31 in 1993.

The blasts were conducted in retaliation to Babri demolition in 1992. The blasts had taken place in January 1993 in Varachha area and on the platform number one of Surat railway station during the communal riots.

Mohammad Surti was a former minister of state for Fisheries. All accused belonged to minority community. The TADA court also slapped a fine of Rs. 5 lakh on Surti and other four other accused. One accused was acquitted due to lack of evidence. Eight accused are still absconding.

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Rice meets Pranab, 123 Agreement to be signed later

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who arrived in India this morning, met India's External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee in New Delhi. Both leaders later addressed a joint press conference and said that India and the US will soon sign the 123 Agreement to operationalise the civilian nuclear deal.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said once the US President George Bush signs the bill, the process will be be complete and India will be in a position to sign the 123 Agreement. Condoleezza Rich gave a diplomatic statement - "There are no open issues left in the 123 Agreement".

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Outrage in Singur after Tata's Pullout, People turn against Mamata Banerjee

Breaking News! There is deep anguish and desperation in entire West Bengal after the Tatas pulled of Singur and decided to move the Nano Car project to elsewhere in the country. Local employees in Singur came to streets with chest-beating and tears on their eyes. They had no option now. They do not know how to live and where to go. The poor women demanded that Mamata Banerjee came to Singur and provide them enough work for their survival.

A strong public wave has been created against Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee in Singur and other parts of West Bengal. People feel humiliated and insulted by Tata's pullout and they blame Mamata for this unfortunate incident. Nano was seen as a matter of pride for West Bangal. But now it has become a shame, thanks to Mamata Banerjee.

West Bengal not only lost investors' faith, but also it lost face on the global arena. After Tata's pullout, West Bengal will no longer remain a hot destination for the investors and that will hit the youth of the state and create more problems for the future generation. It will also act as a boomerang for Mamata Banerjee, who thought of taking political mileage over Singur issue. The Singur episode will mark her political death sooner or later.

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Centre asks Orissa Guv for report on Kandhamal Violence, President's Rule likely

Breaking News! The Centre has sent a strong signal to Orissa government over Kandhamal violence today. Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil has sought an official report from the state governor over the continued violence in Kandhamal. The Home Minister hinted at President's Rule in the state, saying there is a growing demand for imposition of President's Rule in Orissa.

Shivraj Patil also accused the Orissa government of breaching the Constitution by "ignoring" Centre's advisories to restore law and order in the state. He said the Centre has already warned the state government six times and sent 77 companies of BSF and CRPF personnel.

The Home Minister said India is getting a bad name on the global arena because of the situation in Kandhamal and the PM was embarrassed because of this during his visit to France. He also added that Centre is very much unhappy and disappointed with Naveen Patnaik government's inaction to control the violence in the state.

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CPM calls for Singur Bandh to protest Tata's Pullout

The ruling CPI-M has called for a 12-hour Singur bandh in protest against Tata's pullout from Singur. Tata Group Chairman Ratan Tata yesterday announced the pullout and announced that his dream "Nano Car' project will be moving out of Singur, West Bengal.

Farmers, who had willingly given their land for the Nano project, had blocked the Durgapur Expressway last night and their blockade continued. They raised slogans against the people who opposed the Nano project in Singur. CPM also protested against the pullout and made a scathing attack on Trinamool Congress Chief Mamata Banerjee, who was responsible for Tata's pullout of Singur, West Bengal.

Tata's pullout came as a serious blow to industrial growth in West Bengal. It will not only erode the faith of investors, but also portray West Bengal as a hostile state on the global arena. The industry is shocked over the latest development. Mamata Banerjee, who went into a defensive mode after Tata's pullout said that West Bengal government was responsible for the situation, as it did not abide by the agreement signed on September 7.