1. PM in Pretoria: Bypoll loss doesn't reflect performance
2. Clinton reaches Libya in hush-hush visit
3. Yeddy still in hospital as jail awaits him
4. Rajagopal: Serious differences between Anna, Bhushan
5. F1: SC questions UP govt on tax exemption
6. Gulburg case: SIT to submit reports before court
7. Anger drove people to vote against Cong: Chautala
8. Anna's dig at Bhushan: Incoherent talk, no action
9. Israeli swap soldier back home
10. Maruti lost Rs 15 bn due to labour unrest since Aug
11. Gilani's chair breaks, spectator calls it bad omen
12. Rape accused Bhandarkar fails to appear in court
13. We fight for truth, govt plays politics: Kejriwal

Stay with us tomorrow, but in the meanwhile, keep the posts coming on ZaraBol.

Just in: Former Karnataka CM BS Yeddyurappa has been discharged from Jayadeva hospital but has been moved to Victorial Hospital. Treating doctors at Jayadeva hospital say he is not fit enough to go to jail and probably suffers from depression.

Medha Patkar speaks to CNN IBN on team Anna split. She admits the team was in a dilemma about political involvement, but it is untrue that Rajendra Singh and Rajgopal, who quit from the core committee were not informed. She said the two never attended the meetings.

Rediff.com's Shishir Bhate who is accompanying the Prime Minister to the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) summit in Pretoria, South Africa, reports that speaking on the sidelines of the summit, the PM today said that one by-election cannot be seen as a reflection on the performance of any government.

The PM responded to BJP senior leader LK Advani's comment that the UPA had to heed the warning of the electorate.

"It is the peoples warning to the government that they are tired of the prevailing corruption. The results of the by-polls are a reflection of the government's inability to govern, Advani said at a press conference immediately after the bypoll results in Hisar, Haryana and Khadakwasla, Maharashtra were announced yesterday, where the Congress was defeated.  

The CPI(M) today said the Congress was rejected in the latest bypolls due to people's ire against corruption and price rise and decided to launch nationwide protests taking a cue from the 'Occupy Wall Street' movement currently on in several world cities.
The results of the bypolls indicate "how corruption and the failure to curb price rise are causing the people to reject the Congress all over the country," the party Politburo said after a two-day meeting.

The Congress should take a lesson and now pass the Jan Lokpal Bill,' said Arvind #Kejriwal, declaring victory in Hisar. But as most analyses show, the real message of the elections is that the Congress party is in trouble -- irrespective of outside intervention -- thanks to a series of corruption scandals, runaway inflation and inept handling of the Hazare protests. There has been no good news for the ruling party over the past year, and the bye-election results show it.

Read more on Firstpost.com

PV Rajagopal, a social activist also says there are serious differences between Prashant Bhushan and Anna Hazare. He said both he and Magsaysay winner Rajendra Singh are unhappy with the political turn the movement is taking.  

Meanwhile two core members of Team Anna have quit --  P V Rajagopal and Rajendra Singh dissociate themselves from the Core Committee of  Team Anna.

Kiran Bedi reacts saying they were volunteers who can come and go any time. 

Indicating a hardening of his stand against #PrashantBhushan, #Anna Hazare today took an indirect dig at the lawyer-activist saying some people talk
"incoherent" things about Kashmir though they cannot do anything on ground.

"Some people talk incoherent things about Kashmir related issues... Today once again if I have to, am ready to take part in war against Pakistan. But some people can only speak and don't do anything on ground (for Kashmir) and this is unfortunate," he said on his blog as he continued his indefinite "silence".

Addressing the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) summit, the PM said the three
leading emerging economies, were united in their efforts to address the deficit in global governance and pressed for enlargement of the UN Security Council to reflect the present day reality.

Gaunt and pale-looking, the strain of her marriage woes seem to be taking a heavy toll on Demi Moore, reports the sun.co.uk. The actress showed off a shocking weight loss at a film premiere last night.

The 48-year-old's bold red frock failed to detract attention from her worryingly skinny frame, as she posed with stars Kevin Spacey and Paul Bettany on the red carpet. See 

The Supreme Court today sought explanation from the Uttar Pradesh government for granting tax exemption to the company organising Formula 1 event in Greater Noida.

A bench headed by Justice D K Jain also issued notice to Jaypee Group, organiser of the sporting event, and asked them to file their response by Friday on why the event was given exemption from entertainment tax.

The court passed the order on a PIL challenging the state government decision to grant tax exemption to the event. 

India's first #F1 event is scheduled to be held in Greater Noida, adjacent to the national capital, on October 30.

Hamas has handed over soldier #GiladShalit after five years in captivity, as part of a prisoner swap deal agreed with Israel. More than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners are to be freed in exchange for Sgt Shalit's freedom. The first 477 are being released on Tuesday.

In his first interview following his release, Sgt Shalit looked somewhat overwhelmed, but said that he hoped the deal could be a step on the road to peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

He also spoke about his time in captivity, saying that he had missed his family and friends. Watch.

The Special Investigation Team probing the 2002 Gulburg society riot case today told a Special Court here that it would submit its reports to the appropriate magisterial court as directed by the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court on September 12 had refused to pass any order on Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's alleged inaction to contain the 2002 Gujarat riots after the Godhra carnage, as claimed by Zakia Jaffery, a victim of Gulburg
society, and referred the matter to the concerned magistrate in Ahmedabad for a decision.

Citing lack of evidence, a fast track court has acquitted 14 volunteers of religious sect Dera Sacha Sauda, who were charged with killing a Sikh at a
suburban Mall three years ago.

The main accused, Jagdev Singh Gurudev Singh, was among those who were acquitted by Sewri Sessions Court Judge N P Dalvi yesterday for lack of evidence after being given the benefit of doubt.

According to forensic reports produced in the court, the bullets in the victim's body did not match with the gun allegedly used by the accused.

Israeli army spokesman tells the Associated Press that freed soldier Gilad Schalit is back in Israel and in good health.  

Read: Why Israelis believe one soldier is worth 1,000 Palestinian prisoners

#Hisar bypoll update: Rejecting Team Anna's claim of tilting the scales in the Hisar by-election, INLD chief Om Parkash Chautala today said people voted against Congress to vent their anger against the ruling party.

"Team Anna's claim of taking credit is wrong. People voted against Congress to vent their anger against the ruling party...they were fed up by the misrule of Congress at the Centre and the state," he said in Chandigarh. 

Chautala, however, said INLD will support Team Anna on corruption issue and its demand for passage of Jan Lokpal Bill. "We are ready to support anyone against corruption," he said.

It's not men, but women who seem to call the shots in bed -- at least, when it comes to deciding which side of the mattress to sleep on, a survey has found.

According to the survey, in order to get a good night's sleep, barely one man in 10 insists on his preferred side; and while a quarter of couples disagree over sleeping arrangements -- the woman nearly always gets her way.

Reasons for women choosing one side of the bed over the other range from wanting to avoid their sleeping partner breathing on them to wanting the man to sleep nearest to the door so he can confront any burglars, the poll suggested.

The sarpanch of Anna Hazare's village Ralegan Siddhi says they were deceived. See our 11:53 am post for the background.

Within five months of quitting cricket due to a spat with his Board, former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi today announced his availability for the
national team following a change of guard in the PCB and claimed that he had never retired.

"I have decided to make myself available for Pakistan again. I had never retired  from cricket, I had only said I don't want to play under the previous board setup. Now that a new Chairman has taken over I want to play for Pakistan
again," Afridi said.

Pakistan PM Yousuf Raza Gilani faced some embarrassing moments when a chair buckled under his weight at an official function in Islamabad,
prompting a participant to say that this may be a "bad omen" for the top PPP leader.

Gilani's aide-de-camp, who was standing behind him, came to his rescue and saved him from falling to the ground after the chair gave way during the event at the National University of Science and Technology yesterday.

The Prime Minister "sat on the edge of the broken chair for a while" and the organisers replaced his chair later while he was standing and distributing prizes to students, The News daily reported.

Here's a must read. A big hit in India and now ubiquitous in malls as well, the fish spa therapy (tiny fish nibble on your feet, eating away dead skin) may actually be dangerous. A report in the sun.co.uk says that these trendy fish pedicures could spread HIV and hepatitis C, officials. The Health Protection Agency said risks from the foot-nibbling treatment are "low but could not be completely excluded".

Read

Advani also said the party had cautioned Yeddyurappa.

Update on LK Advani's response to B S Yeddyurappa's arrest.

The senior BJP leader admitted today that "small mistakes" were embarrassing the party leadership which had cautioned the former Karnataka Chief Minister on the developments. "The party had cautioned Yeddi on the developments,"
Advani said, adding that, "Small mistakes by others was embarrassing the party
leadership. There may be chances of a slip up so I am telling every one in the party to remain vigilant." he said without directly naming the ex-CM for his alleged involvement in the mining scam.

It's finally done. Israel's abducted soldier Gilad Shalit's five year ordeal under captivity came to an end today as his captors, Hamas militants, handed him over to Egyptian authorities.

Here's the background to the Preeti-Madhur story.

In July 2004, Preeti Jain, a model and an aspiring actress, had lodged a complaint with the Versova police against Bhandarkar, alleging that he had raped her 16 times between 1999 and 2004 under the pretext of casting her in his films.

Bhandarkar, who has films like Fashion, Page 3 and Traffic Signal to his credit, had said he would look at a copy of the case and accordingly challenge it in the higher court.

Bollywood director #MadhurBhandarkar, who was to appear in court today on charges of rape and criminal intimidation, failed to make an apperance. The court has now adjourned the case till November 14.

#PreetiJain, who accused Bhandarkar of raping her, in a high-voltage address to the media said Bhandarkar is an "absconding accused with a criminal past."

Earlier, Preeti Jain's lawyer Sushan Kunjuraman said that the court has issued the process, which means that it has taken cognizance after observing that prima facie a case of rape and criminal intimidation has been made out against Bhandarkar."

Update on that news:

Apparently the sarpanch of Anna Hazare's village and his colleagues today decided to return home saying that even if they get an appointment, the village will decide whether to meet the Congress leader.

Congress' P T Thomas, who had interacted with them and had reportedly fixed the much-talked about meeting, however apologised for the "communication gap" that led to theconfusion.

"We have come here after being told that we have anappointment with Rahul Gandhi on October 18 at 9 am. We came here believing the words of the MP. Now the MP says there was a communication gap. We are returning home."

Huge PR embarassement for the Congress as the team from Anna Hazare's village Ralegan Siddhi reached Delhi to meet Rahul Gandhi, but were told they had no appointment.

The Times of India report says that the delegation of Ralegan sarpanch Jaisingh Rao Mapari, Hazare's personal secretary Suresh Pathare and Ramdas Ugale landed here on Monday evening, amid reports that they had been invited to meet the Congress heir-apparent. Anna's team were kept waiting as Rahul's team tried to work through the confusion.

Congress sources said there was neither an invite nor an appointment for the visiting trio from Ralegan, triggering a controversy which may further strain ties between Congress and the anti-corruption campaigner.

Kiran Bedi tweets: At airport got speking with a Cong MLA from UP. He feels distressed by attitude of his Party on JLPB & hopes better sense will prevail. The UP Cong MLA's daughter further told me she does not want her father to take Cong ticket this time! Such is the situation!

In the bypolls yesterday, Congress was beaten on all counts.

Back in India: The Delhi High Court today deferred till tomorrow the hearing on the bail plea of Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh, arrested for his alleged role in the 2008 cash-for-vote scam.

Justice Suresh Kait decided to hear Singh's interim as well as regular bail pleas tomorrow at 2.15 PM after the state counsel sought an adjournment due to non-availability of its senior advocate to advance arguments on its behalf.
Singh moved the high court after a city court had on September 28 rejected both his interim and regular bail pleas, saying his role was "major" in the entire episode aimed at "disgracing" parliamentary democracy.

Gruesome footage of a #toddler falling victim to two successive hit-and-run accidents and then being ignored by many passers-by at the scene last week in southern #China continued to galvanize the nation yesterday, prompting a fierce debate on the state of morality in Chinese society.

See the footage on cnn.com

In world news:

Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit is due to be freed from five years' captivity today in return for the release of more than 1,000 Palestinian prisoners. Sgt Shalit was seized in 2006 by Hamas militants who tunnelled into Israel, reports bbc.co.uk.

On Monday, the Israeli Supreme Court turned down an appeal for a 48-hour delay from the families of victims of attacks by Palestinian militants. The first of 477 Palestinian prisoners due to be freed on Tuesday have now started leaving their jails. A total of 1027 Palestinians will be released.

Breaking his silence on #Yeddyurppa, LK Advani said, it was the BJP which asked #Yeddy to go. "We do not take weaknesses lightly," Advani said.

Meanwhile, doctors attending to Yeddyurappa says his condition is stable, all parameters are normal and he is likely to be discharged today. He will then go back to jail till his bail plea comes up for hearing on Thursday. Yeddy was arrested on an alleged land scam.

OK, here it is.

Rediff.com's Vicky Nanjappa says: The Karnataka High Court today issued notices while adjourning the hearing on the bail plea filed by former Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa. The court said that it would hear the matter on the interim bail plea filed by Yeddyurappa on Thursday.

Yeddyurappa had moved the High Court after his bail was rejected by the Special Lokayukta court on Saturday.

He was remanded in judicial custody following that order. The ex CM was however moved to hospital after he complained of chest pain and has been kept under observation for 48 hours. He is likely to be released today.

Former SP leader #AmarSingh's bail hearing today

Former Karnataka CM BS #Yeddyurappa's bail hearing is today

The BSE benchmark Sensex fell by over 221 points in opening trade today, dragged down by IT stocks amid a weakening trend on other Asian bourses.

The 30-share Sensex, which lost 57.60 points in the previous session, fell by 221.31 points, or 1.30 per cent, to 16,803.78 in opening trade today.

In a similar fashion, the wide-based National Stock Exchange Nifty index declined by 67.70 points, or 1.32 per cent, to 5,050.55.

Meanwhile, the Indian rupee lost 19 paise to Rs 49.13 per US dollar in early trade on the Interbank Foreign Exchange today due to appreciation of the US currency against other major rivals overseas and a weak opening in the domestic equity market.

Dealers attributed the rupee's fall to dollar gains against the euro overseas and a lower opening in the stock market.