A United States military judge has again held the Muslim suspect of a mass shooting in contempt of court after he appeared at a pretrial hearing with a beard, in violation of Army regulations.

The Union Cabinet gave its final nod to the Rs 450 crore Mars mission slated for launch in October-November next year. India will be the sixth space power to undertake such an effort.  

After the moon mission, ISRO's plans for Mars exploration -- touted as one of the most ambitions space efforts -- got a big boost with the government allocating Rs 125 crore in the Union Budget 2012.

The mission was cleared by the Space Commission last December.   The proposed project schedule says that the space agency plans to launch a Mars Orbiter as early as November next year from Sriharikota.

The Mars mission, which comprises putting a spacecraft in the Red Planet's orbit to study its atmosphere, will be launched using Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle.

HRD Minister Kapil Sibal today took a dig at Team Anna by calling them "weighty politicians"and saying they had taken the "anshan" (hunger strike) routeto enter politics.   

Sibal replied in the negative when asked if he was surprised by Team Anna's move to declare a political front.   

"I am not surprised at all. There are two ways to become political, either you go through the normal route or you go through anshan. So, they have adopted the alternative way,"Sibal said.   

Sibal said Team Anna had earlier not realised that important laws could not be framed outside Parliament.   

"Actually it was not their fault and I don't blame them for it. They were a small set of people who are not in the Parliament, who are outside Parliament and they perhaps thought that laws can be made from Ramlila Maidan or Jantar Mantar," Sibal told a TV channel.   

"But they did not realise that a law cannot be made from there. There can be no prescription of a law and a law as important as the Lokpal Bill from Jantar Mantar.

Instead of Jantar Mantar, you have to be in Parliament," he added.

Concerned over the establishment of a new military garrison by China in the South China Sea, the US today said it was monitoring the situation and asked all stake holders to lower tension in the disputed waters.  

Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde will visit the blast sites in Pune on Saturday. 

Law Minister Salman Khurshid, who has so far maintained silence on his meeting with Anna Hazare over a month ago, today lamented that nothing could come out of the talks. 

Congress leader Sajjan Kumar's plea to use statements by a victim of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case -- before judicial commissions to defend himself -- was today allowed by the Delhi high court. 

Five Pakistan Army officers, including a brigadier who was accused of plotting to overthrow the civilian government, have been sentenced by a court for having links with the banned Hizb-ut-Tahrir group. 

China has accused Secretary of State Hillary Clinton of trying to create a wedge between Beijing and Africa, saying such "cheap shots" on the part of the US were uncalled for. 

The Cabinet has approved fixing a floor or minimum price of Rs 14,000 crore for the auction of telecom spectrum.

The Lokpal Bill has not been listed in the business of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, Parliamentary Affairs Minister P K Bansal has said.

Anna and team ended their fast with coconut water, not juice, we are told. In fact last August, the 74-year-old Gandhian accepted a glass of tender coconut water mixed with honey from a Dalit and a Muslim girl - Simran and Ikrah - when they were fasting at the Ramlila Ground. Anna was on fast for 12 days then. 

And so, there we go, a fast ends and a political party begins. Team Anna ends their meet with the national anthem and then, shouts of Vande Mataram and Bharat Mata ki jai. VK Singh looking distinctly uncomfortable with the sloganeering.

Anna says that the government has forced them to enter politics, people want an alternative.
OK, there we go VK Singh offers Anna Hazare a glass of juice and Team Anna ends its nine-day fast. All Team Anna members also take a sip (from their own glasses, of course).

The Lokpal Bill has not been included in the agenda in the Monsoon session of Parliament. 

Incidentally, the name of the party will be decided by the people, Kejriwal had announced.

Anna says that he is happy Gen VK Singh will help him break his fast and he will carry on his fight with us. He says he will travel across the length and breadth of the country to awaken the people. 

Kejriwal gives the the government one last chance saying they will not join politics if it is willing to pass the Lokpal Bill.
Anna Hazare speaking now. He says he will not personally stand for elections. 

In what could be an answer to Justice Hegde's remarks that Anna should not enter politics as among other things, it will cost money, Kejriwal says they will fight elections using public support, not money.

Kejriwal says the political scenario within the nation should change within the next three years. He breaks into a song and despite a nine-day long fast, manages to do a sing-along. Quite rousing.

Outlining the first plans for the political party, Kejriwal says the objective is not just to win elections, but to bring about change and clean up politics. He says there will be no high command in the movement. 

Kejriwal says the party (as yet nameless) will make all donations as well as spending public. "We will tour the country, people will select our candidates," he says.

Kejriwal says the fight now will be on the streets and inside Parliament. "We have not accepted defeat at the hands of the government. You will decide what kind of party we will form," he tells the people.

Kejriwal says the first stage of agitation is over, the next stage has to begin. It is time to topple this government, he says amid cheers.  

Kejriwal's speech is primarily a thanksgiving speech to everyone who supported the movement. He says this is the first time he has realised what is hunger and can therefore identify the pain of peasants who go to bed hungry. 

VK Singh says there is no governance in the country. The only alternative that people therefore have is the one offered by Anna Hazare. Possibly drawing frome experience, Singh says that each time you fight the powers that be, they will try to dent the image of the movement.

Arvind Kejriwal, who is on fast for nine days, has speaking to the people. Team Anna and doctors have been concerned about his health. 

The retired army chief has taken on the government several times. At Jantar Mantar, Singh tells people that most government policies have failed because of corruption  Singh ends his speech with a rousing Bharatmata ki jai. 

Singh says it's time for a new political era, and tells the people to get ready for a political war. We are all soldiers in the fight against corruption. 

Referring to a scrap of paper, VK Singh says the real revolution for Team Anna will need to be political. A smattering of applause from the crowd peppers his speech.

Former Army chief VK Singh speaking at Team Anna's fast at Jantar Mantar. He says Anna has taken the right decision to end the fast and to join the political arena.
He says corruption is the biggest issue in India and it is necessary to change the political system.

Team Anna's fast to end any minute now. 

Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde to be the Leader of House in Lok Sabha. Shinde replaces former finance minister Pranab Mukherjee as the Leader of the House.

The Congress has said that Anna's decision to enter politics is a facesaver for him. Gen (Retd) VK Singh will break Anna's fast at 5 pm.

Swami Agnivesh slammed Team Anna for deciding to look for a "political alternative. "Anna has broken the sanctity of 'anshan' (fast). Anshan is always the last option. This is a black day," Agnivesh said. "Calling off the anshan and looking at an alternative political option has hurt the dignity of the fast that was introduced by Mahatama Gandhi. They should apologise to the country to have used the sentiments of the country," Agnivesh said.

Ex-Army chief VK Singh has arrived at the Team Anna fast venue at Jantar Mantar. Almost unrecognisable in civilian clothes, Singh is one of 23 eminent citizens pledging support to the cause. Singh will give Anna a glass of juice to break his fast.  

The Maharashtra Police has prepared sketches of two persons who may have planted explosives in Pune as investigators suspect the involvement of at least three persons in executing the August 1 serial bomb blasts.

"The sketches of two persons who could be bomb planters are ready. It will not be made public but would be given to the policemen involved in the investigations," a police officer said today.

"Initial probe suggest that the there could be atleast three suspects who have planted bombs that exploded within an area of 500 meters," the official added.

On Wednesday, four low intensity explosions took place between 7.37 and 8.15 pm during rush hour in the heart of Pune on Junglee Maharaj Road, crowded with restaurants, shops and the large Sambhaji Park, popular for family outings in the evening.

Pune blast suspect's wife has been released after questioning. Satyakala was picked up for questioning at 1 pm yesterday. Suspect Dayanand Patil was the only person injured in the blasts. He was carrying one of the bags which exploded in the blasts.

Gagan Narang failed to replicate the form that fetched him the 10m air rifle bronze as he crashed out of the 50m rifle prone event at the London Olympics but compatriot Joydeep Karmakar kept alive India's hopes by advancing to the finals here today.

Narang, who just four days ago became the country's first medal winner at the London Games, could fire just 593 out of 600 to finish a shocking 18th in a field of 50 competitors and lost a great chance of another podium finish. However, Karmakar kept India in the hunt by finishing with 595 points and then 51.6 in the shoot off at the Royal Artillery Barracks.

An Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) on drought headed by Sharad Pawar today sanctioned Rs 480 crore as immediate relief to Gujarat for rural drinking water and also announced increase of man days under MGNREGA from 100 to 150 per person.

Pawar, along with rural development minister Jairam Ramesh and central government officials, today held a detailed meeting with Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi on the situation arisen in the state out of water scarcity due to deficient rains. The state government presented a memorandum of Rs 14,683 crore to the EGoM to fight the drought-like situation in the state.

US swimming champ Rebecca Soni has something to look forward to after the Olympic Games are over - she has won free hamburgers for life for setting a new world record. A New Jersey-based company announced that the 25-year-old sportsperson will be awarded with one Smashburger, Smashfries and a drink per week, free of charge, for life.

Soni, a New Jersey native, set another world record on Thursday, while defending her 200-meter breaststroke title at the London Olympics. She came in at 2 minutes 19.59 seconds, beating her own semi-final mark by 0.41 seconds.

Saina Nehwal tells CNN IBN that it just wasn't her day and she wasn't moving fast enough. Saina lost to China's Yihan Wang 13-21, 13-21, and will now play for the bronze on Saturday. She said she made too many errors of judgment.

The Assam government today said only genuinely displaced people in the recent clashes between Bodos and migrants would be rehabilitated in the affected BTAD and Dhubri districts.

"The attention of the state government has been drawn to the fact that there is an apprehension among people that people who were not displaced during the recent happenings in the BTAD area will also be rehabilitated in those districts," an official statement said here.

"The government wants to make it clear that only the genuinely displaced people of the area will be rehabilitated and there is no need of any apprehension that anyone who was not displaced during the recent incidents will be rehabilitated in the area," it said.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi had announced that the August 15 was fixed as deadline to send back the inmates of the relief camps to their homes.

And in other stories -- Asia's two biggest powers see each other as a threat. But are China and India destined for conflict? Read

So, India's golden girl Saina Nehwal fails to make it to the finals. She will play for bronze on Saturday. Saina lost China's Yihan Wang 13-21, 13-21, but played feisty sets. Her father Harvir Singh Nehval says it wasn't her day, and she mustn't lose heart.

Former Army chief Gen V K Singh will share dais with Anna Hazare and offer juice to the 74-year-old activist to break his six-day long fast. Singh, who had locked horns with the government on the issue of his age, will arrive at Jantar Mantar this evening where Hazare and his aides are on a fast. Gen Singh will offer juice to Hazare to break his fast, Team Anna member Prashant Bhushan told protesters here this afternoon.

Singh was among 21 others who yesterday appealed to Team Anna to end their stir contending that their energies are needed for reforming the existing political system. They also appealed to Hazare and his associates to take up the challenge to "democratise and decentralise" power while accusing the government of stonewalling the demands of the civil society and even alleged that the Opposition did not fare well on this score.

Another health story... Scientists are beginning to understand one of life's enduring mysteries - why women live, on average, longer than men. The study led by Monash University, describes how mutations to the DNA of the mitochondria can account for differences in the life expectancy of males and females. Mitochondria, which exist in almost all animal cells, are vital for life because they convert our food into the energy that powers the body.

One or two glasses of wine a day can protect older women from thinning bones while abstaining from alcohol can lead to a higher risk of osteoporosis, a new study has claimed.

Researchers from University of Oregon found that regular moderate intake of alcohol after the menopause helps to maintain bone strength in women, the Daily Mail reported. In comparison, abstaining from alcohol leads to a higher risk of developing osteoporosis which leads to thinning and weakening of bones.

The study which looked at 40 healthy postmenopausal women aged around 56 found that while women were drinking 19 g of alcohol a day -- about two small glasses of wine -- they had a drop in loss of old bone that improved the balance between old and new bone, maintaining strength.

When the women were asked to stop drinking, their 'bone turnover' went up. Alcohol appears to remedy the imbalance between the dissolving of old bone and poor production of new bone that can lead to osteoporosis in older women.

The Goa government today told the Legislative Assembly that the Research and Analysis wing (RAW) has been informed about the terror message, allegedly originating from Spain, which threatened to blow up Panaji and the coastal belt.

Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said since the origin of the SMS was from Spain, the information has been shared with the Intelligence Bureau and RAW for further developing intelligence in the matter. "The details are awaited," he said, adding the district police, coastal police and crime branch have been sensitised and precautionary measures were taken by them.

Congress leader Sajjan Kumar's plea to let him use a 1984 anti-Sikh riots victim's statement to judicial commissions to defend himself was today allowed by the Delhi High Court.

Setting aside the trial court's June 2 decision which had dismissed Kumar's plea, Justice Pratibha Rani asked all the parties to appear before the trial court on August 6.

The veteran Congress leader had moved the high court during the summer vacation against denial of the permission to use victim Jagdish Kaur's statements to various judicial commissions, which had probed the 1984 riots.

The trial court had dismissed Kumar's plea on June 2 saying Kaur's statements to judicial commissions cannot be used for any purpose, including that for discrediting her testimony or to impeach her.

Olympic gymnasts have brought back in vogue, the most debated hair accessory in history. The scrunchie, usually resigned to laughable images from the Eighties and Nineties, is a traditional hair accessory for the gravity-defying sport.

The put-together Olympians, with their clean and slicked back ponytails, always complete their outfits with a matching scrunchie.

Popularised during the mid-Eighties, the scrunchie, patented by Rommy Revson in 1994, quickly became the most fashionable hair accessory of that time. 

Kate and Wills celebrate with a rare public display of affection as Britain's cyclists continue Team GB's Olympic domination. Read more

The Olympic veteran, 71, on his horse Whisper, tackles the dressage '" almost half a century after his first Games. Read

Some Olympics news now...

The badminton scandal isn't only a blow to the Olympics, but for China -- a nation obsessed with gold medals, stars, and the 'feather hair ball -- it's devastating. Read the report on the Daily Beast. 

Supporters of veteran social activist Anna Hazare on Friday expressed disappointment over the civil society activists move to float a new political party.

Earlier on Thursday while addressing his supporters, Hazare hinted of forming a political party. Ram Avatar, a supporter told reporters that they were let down with Anna''s decision as their purpose was to combat graft and not any political party.

"We are very disappointed with Hazare's statement. We have been participating in the campaign for past eight-nine days we were shocked to listen to his statement. We want that this movement should continue and it should not be transformed in any type of political battle because people and students who have come from far off areas, from schools and universities want to fight against corruption and not against any political system. "I think Anna should take his decision back," said Ram Avatar .

Vijay Kumar, a campaigner, said that formation of a political party would not help to make a difference in the democratic system of the country. "If Anna will choose politics, then we would like to tell him that there are many parties who had majority in parliament but still they were not able to pass those laws which will benefit the democratic system of the country. That is why I want that Anna Hazare should drop the idea of politics as an alternative and should concentrate on the movement," said Kumar.

Rediff.com's Vicky Nanjappa adds that Sudarshan was found sitting on the road outside the Lalith Mahal hotel in Mysore, hours after he went missing from his 5am walk. A bystanders spotted him and informed the police after which he was brought back. He has now been taken to hospital for a check-up.

The former RSS leader is believed to be suffering from amnesia and police say that he could have forgotten his way back home. 

There is no better word for the claim that Anna Hazare's anti-corruption movement is 'apolitical'. Read the story on Open magazine. 

Former RSS general secretary K Sudarshan who was missing since 5 am today, has been found. The 81-year-old was traced to Kesare Lake in Mysore and is in a good condition. He is believed to be suffering from dementia and could have lost his way. 

Justice Santosh Hegde, a member of Team Anna since the inception, expressed doubts over whether Anna Hazare should contest the elections. Speaking to rediff.com's Vicky Nanjappa, Hegde said, "Frankly, I am not for it at all. Team Anna does not know the art of swimming in the muck and hence politics is a very bad idea."

Speaking from Bengaluru, Hegde said that Anna has championed the cause against corruption, and while people hated corruption, hatred does not convert into votes. I do not think they have the experience in the political field. To enter into politics one needs a lot of money, manpower and workers, who have the expertise to go door-to-door seeking votes. In my view the Anna Hazare team does not have all this and hence frankly in my opinion getting into politics is a bad idea."

For Justice Hegde's opinion on the candidates, await the full report on rediff.com.

Nearly 1000 pilgrims are stranded in various areas of Garhwal following a series of landslides in Uttarkashi and Chamoli districts. The landslides, which began following heavy rains during the past few days, are continuing intermittently in various areas of the two district disrupting vehicular traffic on both Rishikeish-Badrinath and Rishikesh-Gangotri highways.

Officials of disaster management and mitigation centre, a state government nodal agency for management of disasters, today said that intermittent landslides were continuing at Paatal Ganga, Birahi, Bhimtalla areas of the hilly Chamoli district since last night causing disruption of vehicular traffic on the Rishikesh-Badrinath Highway.

Madhura Nagendra, the mysterious woman who gatecrashed into the Indian Olympic contingent's march past at the opening ceremony of the London Olympics, today regretted the incident, saying "it was an error of judgement" on her part.

"It was an error of judgement. This act of mine disappointed many. I regret my action," Madhura Nagendra said here yesterday. Madhura also clarified that she had not committed any security breach as she entered the stadium with permission. Dressed in a red shirt and blue trousers, Madhura was seen walking with the Indian contingent in the march past alongside Beijing Games bronze-medallist wrester Sushil Kumar during the opening ceremony.

Her unwanted presence left the Indians fuming as they had no clue as to who she was. Madhura said she didn't expect this to happen. "I have a lot of spirit and courage, I didn't want to hide from the media," she replied to a query. Madhura wished all the Indian athletes and said the country would rock the world. 

Another Former Civil Aviation Secretary Nasim Zaidi is likely to be appointed as Election Commissioner. The Law Ministry is learnt to have moved the file recommending the name of Zaidi to the Prime Minister's Office, sources in the government said today.

The new appointment is likely to be notified in the next few days, the sources said. Zaidi had retired as Civil Aviation Secretary on August 31. The new Election Commissioner will fill the post vacated by V S Sampath who was recently elevated as the Chief Election Commissioner following the retirement of S Y Quraishi. H S Brahma is the other Election Commissioner.

The Supreme Court has upheld the two-year jail term for Sanjeev Nanda and ordered him to do community service for two years. The SC directed Nanda to pay Rs 50 lakh to the Centre which will be used to pay compensation to road accident victims.

Nanda ran over six people in his BMW in 1999 and then spend away after the accident. He was sentenced to five years in jail by a Delhi High Court; which was then lowered to two years instead.

The Delhi Police then asked the Supreme Court to impose a stricter punishment with a 10-year-sentence. Today, the SC agreed that Nanda should have been convicted under a tougher section of the law, but said he does not need to return to jail.

The judges, however, faulted Nanda for showing "no mercy" by not stopping to help the people he had injured. He has been asked to do two years of community service and to donate 50 lakhs which will be used to help victims of road accidents.

In 2010, AICC general secretary Janardan Dwivedi had called Sudarshan a "fossil" and said that a person associated with an organisation which boasts of culture and decency should not stoop so low by using such a derogatory language and make false charges. Sudarshan had allegedly called Sonia Gandhi a CIA agent and accused her of plotting the assassinations of her husband and former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and his mother Indira Gandhi.

Vicky Nanjappa adds that Sudarshan is said to be suffering from dementia, which causes memory loss. The 71-year-old former leader of the RSS had gone for a walk this morning and did not return home. Foul play has been ruled out at the moment as the police believe that he may have lost his way back home.

Just in: Former RSS general secretary KS Sudarshan goes missing in Mysore. Rediff.com's Vicky Nanjappa reports that that Sudarshan, who was staying at his brother's place in Mysore, had gone for a walk at 5 am, but did not return. A missing person complaint has been filed. 

The United Nations says North Korea has requested immediate food aid after devastating floods last month.

UN officials in Pyongyang said the need for aid was urgent after visiting flood-hit parts of the country to assess damage.

North Korea state media said that at least 119 people died and tens of thousands were left homeless.

Damage to infrastructure and farmland has affected the country's already dire food shortage problem.

Read the full story on BBC

A gunbattle between security forces and militants which was on since Thursday night at Handwara in North Kashmir's Kupwara district got over on Friday morning.

The body of a top Lashkar-e-Tayiba commander Hanzullah has been retrieved from the debris of a structure that had caught fire. Forces are continuing with their search operation for more militants.

Read the full story on CNN-IBN

NDTV reports: At least 3000 pilgrims remain stranded near Uttarakhand's Badrinath after landslides on Wednesday night.

Landslides were reported from three places in the area.

The Army's Border Roads Organisation has been pressed into service and is trying to open up the roads.

President Barack Obama unleashed a direct personal attack on Mitt Romney today, warning his multi-millionaire foe's tax plans would swell his own wealth and make the middle classes foot the bill.

AFP reports: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday called Kofi Annan's resignation as Syria peace envoy a 'great shame' that should not deter efforts to find a diplomaticsolution to the conflict.

AFP reports: Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday called Kofi Annan's resignation as Syria peace envoy a 'great shame' that should not deter efforts to find a diplomaticsolution to the conflict.

AFP: The United States on Thursday blamed theresignation of UN peace envoy Kofi Annan on the refusal of Russia and China to back resolutions targetting SyrianPresident Bashar al-Assad.

Egypt's prime minister unveiled a new 35-minister cabinet on Thursday that tries to strike a balance between the country's rival political forces, including the military, Islamists, and liberals.