1. F1 champ Hamilton pays tribute to Wheldon
2. Single women in India ready to adopt
3. 'Khadakwasla victory of Sena-BJP-RPI alliance'
4. Cong: Will Anna vouch for Bishnoi's integrity?
5. Hisar polls: 'Win foundation of alliance with BJP'
6.  'Van Gogh did NOT kill himself'
7. Patkar: Bhushan very much part of team Anna
8. Ralegan Siddhi sarpanch to meet Rahul tomorrow
9. Kejriwal: No hand in Bishnoi win, wanted Cong loss
10. Hisar bypoll: JHC's Bishnoi wins by 23,617 votes
11. Anti-Modi cop walks free, 'rule of law prevailed'
12. Widow fails to sway voters, huge setback for NCP in Khadakwasla
13. Revised Sports Development Bill has WADA exemption
14. Karuna on civic polls: Webcams, govt don't work

Eulogies to Steve Jobs continue: Harvard cancer expert says Jobs probably doomed himself with alternative medicine. Read.

Apple co-founder Jobs died of pancreatic cancer on October 5.

BlackBerry maker Research In Motion will offer free mobile applications worth over USD 100 as well as technical support to every enterprise customer, as a token of appreciation for subscribers' "patience" during its service disruptions last week.

The applications will be made available to customers over a period of four weeks, beginning October 19, on BlackBerry Application World. These will available until December 31, this year, Research In Motion (RIM) said in a statement today. 

RIM will also offer its enterprise customers one month of free technical support.
 

After all that reading (or so we think), watch this video on rediff.com: Bigg trouble in the Boss' house today.  

The #Khadakwasla #bypolls today, which saw  NCP's Harshada Wanjale defeated by 3,625 votes, was necessitated by the death of MNS MLA
Ramesh Wanjale, Harshada's husband. The name may not strike a bell, but in essence, here's a sketch.

In the 2009 assembly elections, Wanjale, who was a virtual political non-entity stunned his political opponents including BJP bigwig Murlidhar Mohol by winning the Khadakvasla seat. He was the only MNS MLA from Pune. Thick gold chains around his neck, gold bracelets on his right wrist and gold rings defined his persona -- and on an average he wore at least 2 kilos of gold on any given day.

On Open magazine: The courageous struggle of three women to expose corruption in a remote Meghalaya village, even as long-protected tribal traditions begin to be held to account by the Right to Information. Read

Also read: PM Manmohan Singh: RTI Act needs urgent review

Author Salman Rushdie thinks 'Game of Thrones' is dumb, bemoans the lack of good modern novels and believes terrorism is dying out; over 20 years after fleeing for his life from an Iranian-issued fatwa, novelist Salman Rushdie is still unafraid to speak his mind.

The definitive Rushdie interview. Read

#Hisar polls: Thanking voters, Kuldeep Bishnoi said that Hisar had been a traditional seat won by  a member of his family. "The win is basically because of my father [Bhajan Lal] and the family's track record. We have done a lot for Hisar," he said.

"The win today is a foundation stone for the formation of HJC-BJP government in the state in the future," he said. He said that the people were dejected with the ruling Congress which had discriminated with areas of the state as far as carrying on developmental works were concerned. 

"(Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh) Hooda's (alleged) corrupt practices and caste politics resulted in ruling Congress nominee finishing at third place," he said.

South Mumbai reacts to power cuts...

Shobhaa De tweets: South Mumbai more scared of power cuts than terror attacks. People have left town. Chckd into hotels. Ajit Pawar's brand of 'power terrorism?'

On Twitter:  

Stephanie Nolen: Every time I go to Srinagar am struck by how it really is a city under occupation. Huge military presence...

In the continuing battle for Libya (nine months now),  revolutionary forces bulldozed the green walls surrounding Muammar Gaddafi's main Tripoli compound, saying it was time "to tear down this symbolof tyranny." 

The sprawling, fortress-like compound known as Babal-Aziziya has long been hated by Libyans who feared to even walk nearby during Gaddafi's more than four decades in power and its capture was seen as a turning point in the civil war as revolutionaries overran the capital in late August.

#TeamAnna member Santosh Hegde today called for a wide debate on electoral reforms, similar to the Lokpal Bill and said he want to know why measures like 'Right to Recall' and 'Right to Reject' won't work in India. 

"We will have to discuss why it's not practical in our country. If it's suited to one country, we got to find if there is a way by which you can modify it to suit the (our) country", the former Karnataka Lokayukta said.

As Team Anna crows over the Congress losing in Hisar, a three member team including Anna Hazare's close aides Jaisingh Mapari, sarpanch of Ralegan Siddhi and Suresh Pathare, a member of the India Against Corruption core committee, will meet Rahul Gandhi in Delhi on Tuesday.

This is to pave way for the Congress general secretary's possible visit to the village.

From the Current Intelligence magazine: There's a story going round that Myanmar is turning all sweet and democratic. The signs of a new dawn include such marvels as journalists being allowed to ask people questions, and opposition leaders being permitted to travel around the country, a bit. Read

Last week, India pledged $500 million for a host of developmental projects for Myanmar and decided to expand security cooperation .

Here's the background to Kejriwal's statement.

Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia, started "officially" campaigning against the Congress from October 8. On Sunday evening, Kejriwal, who is from Hisar, and Sisodia addressed a fair-sized gathering in the market square in the heart of the town, reports DNA.

Not to be seen to be worried, a senior Congress leader said Hisar was not of national importance. But Kejriwal pounced on the chance and tried to stoke the sentiments of the local people.

"If the Hisar by-election is not important, I think it is an insult to the voters of Hisar," he said. "The voters should see and figure out for themselves that the Congress is openly saying they do not want their votes. Now, why should anyone vote for the Congress?"

From the Times, London: Iran could scrap the post of a directly elected president, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said yesterday, in a renewed sign of simmering mistrust between the Supreme Leader and President Ahmadinejad.

In a speech broadcast on state television, he suggested that, in future, the president could be elected by MPs, rather than through a national poll. It remained, he said, a "distant" prospect" but his words are certain to embolden hardliners determined to force Ahmadinejad from office.

Iran's two most powerful men have been locked in a power struggle since April, when Ahmadinejad dismissed his intelligence minister, only to see him reinstated by the Supreme Leader.

Hisar by-polls tweets: Sagarika Ghose 

Team Anna could have claimed victory in Hisar only if Arvind Kejriwal had contested in his hometown and won. Can't have victory by proxy? Team Anna supports Bhajan Lal's son in the fight against corruption. And was Bhajan lal's record entirely blemishless? How ironical if Team Anna campaigns in UP in support of Mayawati in fight against "corruption". Perhaps Team Anna could read up on CMO scam.

Anti-Modi cop #SanjivBhatt who has just been released from Sabarmati jail in Ahmedabad, addresses the media saying, the rule of law has prevailed, but the cause is much bigger than him and needs everybody's support.  

Read the 11:18 pm post for a background.

Update on the #Khadakwasla by-poll, which saw a BJP-Sena-RPI combine win.

The BJP win has been a major setback to the Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, with Bhimrao Tapkir's win. He defeated NCP candidate Harshada Wanjale in the assembly bypoll in Pune district.

#Tapkir won by the margin of 3,625 votes, defeating Harshada, widow of MNS legislator Ramesh Wanjale, whose death necessitated the bypoll, which was held on October 13.

Ajit Pawar was instrumental in bringing Harshada Wanjale to the NCP fold a day ahead of the bypoll. The byelection was a matter of prestige for Ajit Pawar,
as he wields sway over local civic bodies in Pune.

Meanwhile, hectic deliberations are on in New Delhi to put in a "serious effort' to rope in Kashmiri separatist leaders, including the Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (G) Syed Ali Shah Geelani for talks.

The report in the Greater Kashmir says that if "all goes well', New Delhi may offer an "unconditional dialogue' to separatists at the Home Minister's or the Prime Minister's level. Read

Bypoll break.

Many plants and animals, including polar bears, are shrinking due to the impact of climate change on their natural habitats, say scientists. 

A report in the 'Nature Climate Change' journal has claimed that rising global temperatures and changes in weather patterns have knock-on effects which are already stunting the growth of a wide range of species worldwide. 

Species which are unable to adapt quickly enough are at risk of extinction as ecosystems shift dramatically, altering the balance of food and other resources needed for survival, according to the report.

Ajay Maken, Union Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports has unveiled the revised draft National Sports Development Bill , 2011 today. Here are the details. 

Basically, the revised national sports bill exempts cricketers from some World Anti-Doping Agency rules, including the whereabouts clause, in view of BCCI's objections.

The new draft of the proposed national sports legislation continues to swear by the age and tenure caps imposed on office-bearers of national sports federations and national Olympic committees, but has done away with the ombudsman and the National Sports Development Council.

In the Hisar by-polls, out of the total nine Assembly segments, Bishnoi and Chautala are locked in a close contest in three segments - Uklana, Hansi and Bawani Khera. In the rest of the assembly segments, Bishnoi is far ahead of Chautala. 

Team Anna member Devinder Sharma said the results will open in new chapter in the electoral politics of the country. "This time a common issue - corruption - came out as the major trendsetter and the issue is apolitical," he said, adding the Anna factor will have a bearing on the results.

Bishnoi said, "If I win by God's grace, it will be basically because of my father and family's track record. We have done a lot for Hisar". Jai Prakash said Team Anna's campaign has no impact here. "Results will show that in a while," he said.

Update on TN civic polls: DMK chief M Karunanidhi also exuded confidence that his party would emerge victorious in the civic polls. In fact, all parties have been saying that they will win the polls.

"I also say the same thing", he told reporters after casting his vote at a polling booth in Gopalapuram. Asked about the complaint that web-cameras installed in many polling booths, as per a Madras High court directive, were not functioning properly, he said "even the government does not function properly."

Reference point to that tweet on the Chinese newspaper Global Times, today: India and Vietnam inked an agreement for joint oil exploration in the South China Sea last week. Both countries clearly know what this means for China. China may consider taking actions to show its stance and prevent more reckless attempts in confronting China in the area. Read

Varun Gandhi on Twitter: China: Vietnam oil deal 'will lead to a crushing defeat for India, derail its econ devpt'.

Wow.You've really got to love their gentle subtlety.

Haryana Janhit Congress candidate Kuldeep Bishnoi is leading over his nearest rival Ajay Singh Chautala of INLD by over 29,000 votes after seven rounds of
counting for the bypolls to the Hisar Lok Sabha seat. Jai Prakash of Congress is at the third spot with just 50,637 votes.

Bishnoi has so far bagged 1,36,254 votes as against Chautala's 1,06,861 votes
The bypoll held on October 13 had witnessed a turnout of nearly 69 per cent with the Anna factor raising the stakes for the Congress in a triangular fight.

And to keep you in the loop, polling for the first phase of the civic polls in Tamil Nadu started across the state this morning on a peaceful note. No untoward incident was reported as polling began at ten corporations including Chennai besides many other local bodies at 7 am.

Arch-rivals AIADMK and DMK are locked in a battle in the polls while actor-politician Vijayakant's Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam and Left parties, AIADMK's allies in the April 13 assembly polls, have joined hands.

Meanwhile, AIADMK General Secretary and Chief Minister Jayalalithaa exuded confidence that her party will win the civic polls, saying most of the promises given by her for the April 13 Assembly polls have been fulfilled.

Kuldeep Bishnoi of Haryana Janhit Congress is leading over his nearest rival Ajay Chautala of Indian National Lok Dal by over 11,000 votes after two rounds of counting for the bypolls to the Hisar Lok Sabha seat.

Jai Prakash of Congress is at the third position. The bypoll held on October 13 had witnessed a turnout of nearly 69 per cent with the Anna factor raising the stakes for the Congress in a triangular fight.

"If I win with God's grace, it will be basically because of my father and family's track record. We have done a lot for Hisar," Bishnoi said.

Jai Prakash said Team Anna's campaign has no impact here. "Results will show that in a while," he said. Chautala said, "It is just the counting which is left
otherwise I have already won".

The results should be out by 2 pm, Haryana's Chief Electoral Officer Sumita Misra said.

Hisar in Haryana goes to the polls today. The counting in the Parliamentary bypolls has begun, the results should be out by 2 pm today. Haryana Janhit Congress' Kuldeep Bishnoi in the lead. Initial poll trends shows Congress' Jai Prakash in the third place.

The polling, which was necessitated due to the death of sitting MP Bhajan Lal of Haryana Janhit Congress in June will decide the electoral fortune of Jai Prakash (Congress), Bhajan Lal's son Kuldeep Bishnoi (HJC-BJP) and Ajay Chautala (INLD).

There were in all 40 candidates, mostly independents, in the fray.

Good morning. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today embarked on a three-day visit to Pretoria to attend the trilateral India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Summit that is expected to be dominated by pressing global issues like the
difficult economic scenario and UN-related matters.

During his visit, Singh will also have bilateral meetings with Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff and South African President Jacob Zuma.

In his pre-departure statement, Singh said he looked forward to an "exchange of views with our IBSA partners on the current global economic and financial situation especially in the context of the forthcoming G-20 Summit in France".

Hisar bypoll: Counting begins, all eyes on Anna factor (Indian Express)
Team Anna's anti-Congress stance has raised stakes for the ruling party in the triangular fight. Read

Rahul steps in, Anna aides step forward: 'Talks only way' (Indian Express)
Congress leader has stepped in to bridge the divide between the social activist and his party. Read

Voting for first phase of TN civic polls begins (The Hindu)
DMK candidate and Chennai Mayor M. Subramanian and AIADMKs S. Duraisamy, who lost to DMKs M.K. Stalin in the April 13 Assembly elections, among others, are among the prominent candidate.Read

Telangana bandh on Monday against police excesses (The Hindu)
Normal life is likely to be affected by yet another bandh' in the Telangana region on Monday as public transport, educational institutions, shops and establishments are expected to remain closed. Read

RDX in Indica seized in Ambala was to bomb mall or multiplex (DNA)
The nature and manner in which the RDX was kept in the car indicate that it was meant for large-scale destruction, said experts. Read