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Mon, 08 October 2012
Lt Gen Brar attack: One more arrested in London

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22:34   Mozambique president sacks PM in cabinet reshuffle
Mozambique President Armando Guebuza has sacked his prime minister in a surprise cabinet reshuffle that saw five ministers and four provincial governors shifted amid uncertainty over who will be his successor.

In a statement the presidency said Prime Minister Aires Ali who was once a favourite to succeed Guebuza and the minister of education were among those to get the chop. 

Alberto Vaquina, governor of the coal rich province of Tete was named new prime minister. 

A Portugal trained medical doctor with specialisation in tropical medicine, he was previously governor of eastern Sofala province, according to Mozambique analyst Joseph Hanlon of the UK's Open University.

Guebuza was elected unopposed to head ruling party Frelimo for a third term three weeks ago, raising speculation about who will run for the southern African country's presidency in 2014 polls.
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21:16   Lt Gen Brar attack: One more arrested in London
One more person has been arrested in London today for attacking Lt Gen (retd) K S Brar, who led Operation Blue Star in 1984.

Also, two men -- Barjinder Singh Sangha and Mandeep Singh Sandhu (34) -- were ocharged in connection with last weeks murderous attack.

They were charged with wounding with intent to do grievous bodily harm to Gen Brar.

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21:02   Nitish's cavalcade rams autorickshaw, 1dead
Bihar Chief Mininster Nitish Kumar's cavalcade rammed an autorickshaw in east Bihar's Jamui town and killed one person earlier today, reports NDTV. 

Kumar, who was in the cavalcade, is holding rallies and public meetings across the state.

More details awaited.
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20:31   K'taka to file fresh plea before Cauvery River Authority
Amid a row over Cauvery water sharing, Karnataka will file a review petition tomorrow before Cauvery River Authority after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today made it clear that only the authority can revisit the decision about the state releasing water to Tamil Nadu.   

Congress' Union ministers from Karnataka S M Krishna, Mallikarjun Kharge and K H Muniyappa and 16 BJP MPs from the state, led by M Venkaiah Naidu, met Dr Singh separately today seeking a review of the CRA decision.    "Both the groups sought a stay.

The PM told them that it is not permissible as there is no mechanism under CRA to change its award...it is not the decision of the PM but of the CRA. The CRA will have to meet again for any such thing," Water Resources Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal, who was present in both the meetings, told reporters here.  

Later, speaking to reporters, Karnataka Chief Minister Jagdish Shettar said the state would file a review petition before the CRA tomorrow and demanded that Dr Singh take up the issue immediately.
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19:25   Haryana: Sonia to visit to Dalit rape family's tomorrow
Congress Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday will visit the family of a Dalit girl who burned herself to death after being gangraped in Haryana's Jind district.

Haryana has been rocked by a series of 11 rapes in the last one month, according to a report on NDTV

The Haryana Congress, which is in power in the state, called the rapes a "conspiracy to malign the government".
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19:02   No possibility of Third Front: Sharad Yadav
Ruling out the possibility of formation of Third Front, Janata Dal (U) president Sharad Yadav today said new alliances by "some parties" may, however, emerge post Lok Sabha polls. 

"There is no possibility of a Third Front in the country. As Congress is the basis of UPA, BJP is the basis of NDA," Yadav told reporters here. "NDA was, is and will continue to exist but some parties may join some other organisation after Lok Sabha polls," the NDA convener said. He was referring to those parties that are not part of either UPA or NDA.
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18:38   6.3 quake strikes off Indonesia coast
An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.3 struck off the southeastern Indonesia coast this evening, the US Geological Survey said. The epicentre of the quake, which occurred at 6:43 pm Monday (1143 GMT), was located in the Banda Sea 139 km southeast of the town of Ambon, USGS reported. 

It took place at a depth of 34 km. Indonesia sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire" where continental plates collide, causing frequent seismic and volcanic activity. An 8.7 earthquake that struck west of Indonesia in April was the biggest of its kind ever recorded and confirms suspicions that a giant tectonic plate is breaking up, scientists said last month.
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18:35   New version of Aakash tablet from Nov 11: Sibal
Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal today said the new version of the low-cost Aakash tablet PC is expected to be available to students on November 11. "Hopefully on November 11, you will see the President talking to 20,000 students across the nation (who) will have their hands on Aakash," Sibal told reporters here at the Economic Editors' Conference. 

He added that Aakash, an instrument of empowerment, will feature 1 Ghz processor, four-hour battery time, capacitive screen and Android 4 operating system under the new version.
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18:28   HC rap govt on failure to curb drunken driving
The Bombay High Court today came down heavily on the Maharashtra government for failing to comply with orders passed a decade ago in connection with measures taken with regard to drunken driving, following the 2002 road accident involving Bollywood superstar Salman Khan.

A division bench headed by Justice D D Sinha was hearing a public interest litigation filed by journalist Nikhil Wagle, seeking enhancement of punishment awarded under section 304 A of IPC for causing death by rash and negligent act and increase in compensation awarded under the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act.

The scribe had filed the PIL soon after the road accident involving the 46-year-old actor. On September 29, 2002 an inebriated Salman's Toyota Land Cruiser run over five persons sleeping on a pavement in Bandra.

He was arrested the next day and booked under sections 304 A, 337 and 338 of IPC. However, he was released on bail of Rs 950 immediately at the Bandra police station as all the sections were bailable.
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18:13   Sangeet Natak Akademi awards tomorrow
President Pranab Mukherjee will confer the Sangeet Natak Akademi's fellowships and awards on 47 eminent personalities and artists tomorrow. 
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18:10   Court raps former Army Chief V K Singh for filing separate plea
Former Army Chief Gen V K Singh was today ticked off by a Delhi court for filing separate application seeking permanent exemption from personal appearance before it in a criminal defamation case against him and warned of "stern action".

"I will take a stern action against him (V K Singh). You are moving this application now. You should have filed it earlier along with the other accused. "You are increasing my work. Now I would have to pass a separate order for this application (with a similar plea)," the judge told former Army chief's counsel.
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18:07   Petrol price cut by 56 paise/litre from midnight
Just in: Petrol price cut by 56 paise per litre with effect from midnight tonight.
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17:47  
Just in: A 6.3 earthquake hits eastern Indonesia. Details awaited. 
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17:45   Modi: Sonia should apologise for spiralling inflation
Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi today said that UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi should apologise for the union government's failure to control inflation. Addressing different election rallies in the district, Modi attacked Gandhi and the union government over the rising inflation.

"Did it (Congress before 2009 general elections) not promise to check inflation in 100 days if it came to power? Did the prices go down after they (UPA II) came to power? When Soniaji came to Rajkot, she did not speak anything about inflation. Is this not cheating?" Modi said referring to Gandhi's recent visit to the state. "Soniaji should apologise for cheating the people of the country on the issue of price rise," Modi stated.
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17:40   Heroin, ammunition recovered in Samjhauta Express
Just in: Drugs and ammunition have been found in the Samjhauta Express at the Wagah border. Around 101 kilos of heroin priced at Rs 505 crore and 500 rounds of ammunition were recovered. The train was en route to Delhi from Pakistan.  
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17:24   The woes of Robert Vadra
Robert Vadra, Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law, hit back at allegations that he had improper financial dealings with a real-estate company. But the way he did it also attracted criticism. Read
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17:12   'Charges against Gandhi family fall like nine pins'
Virtually coming to the defence of Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra, facing allegations over property dealings with DLF, Karnataka Governor H R Bhardwaj today said many such charges had been made against the Gandhi family in the past but they "fell like nine pins."

"Many allegations were levelled against the Gandhi family even in the past. Indira Gandhi was also attacked. But she had a towering personality and fought back. Morarji Bhai (late Prime Minister Morarji Desai) made so many cases against her but they fell like nine pins," he said.

Bhardwaj, a former Union Law Minister, was replying to a question on the allegations levelled by social activists Arvind Kejriwal and Prashant Bhushan of India Against Corruption that realty major DLF had favoured Vadra, who has, however, dismissed it as "utterly false and defamatory."

The question is people should build their personality in such a way that attack fails, Bhardwaj said, adding "you have to be above controversy and transparent." Bhardwaj said it was also wrong to level allegations against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

"Opposition parties should also take note of the Prime Minister's image before launching a tirade against him," he added.
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17:06   Cong to go it alone in Meghalaya assembly polls
The ruling Congress in Meghalaya will contest next year's assembly elections on its own, with opposition parties like the UDP and NPP, which have spoken of an alliance not entering into any pact as yet.

"We have been doing it in the past ... the Congress is going alone this time also," Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said today. Confident of securing a clear mandate, Sangma said, "Time has come for the state to have a government that is led by a single major political party." Left with just two legislators in its fold, the NCP though said it wanted a pre-poll alliance with the Congress as in Maharashtra and at the Centre.
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16:59   Maldives ex-president Mohamed Nasheed arrested
Supporters say police in full riot gear pepper sprayed Nasheed and dragged him from a house after he ignored summons. Read
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16:46   Debating the death sentence for honor killings
Five people from Delhi were sentenced to death on Friday for the honor killing of a couple, the latest in a series of death penalty judgments in India for the murder of young people who wish to marry outside their caste or religious group. Read
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16:36  
Robert Vadra ties up with DLF, makes low-key entry into Real estate business. This is the 2011 story carried by the Economic Times, that first spoke about the Robert Vadra-DLF nexus. Read
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16:29   NIA gets custody of 26/11 handler Jundal till 20th
The 26/11 key handler and LeT terrorist Abu Jundal was remanded today in the National Investigation Agency's (NIA) custody till October 20 by a Delhi court. Jundal, who was produced before District Judge H S Sharma in an in-chamber proceeding, was handed over to NIA for 12 days.

The anti-terror agency had sought Jundal's custody for 15 days saying he is required to be thoroughly interrogated. The NIA also told the court that since his arrest in June 2012, he had never been in its custody.

The NIA had been seeking Jundal's custody in connection with an FIR registered earlier this year following unearthing of a Lashkar-e-Toiba's conspiracy for terror strikes across the country.

Jundal had earlier been handed over to ATS Mumbai after the Delhi police had said he was no longer required to be interrogated by it in the Jama Masjid attack case.
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16:24  
"Varsha Bhosle will be missed by her many friends, professional colleagues, and legions of readers who admired her forthright style and ability to effortlessly fuse erudition with earthy wisdom." Read more
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16:21   Bomb explodes in Manipur, no casualty
A powerful bomb suspected to be planted by insurgents exploded early this morning in Manipur's Imphal West district. The bomb, which did not cause any casualty, went off at 6:25 am at Moidangpok area where security and paramilitary personnel frequently passed while going to their camps at Langjing, about 20 km west of here. No individual or group claimed responsibility for the blast. Over 20 bombs have been set off by insurgents in different parts of Manipur in the past two months.
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16:18   PVR to distribute Midnights Children in India
Until recently, it seemed as though Deepa Mehta's worst nightmare -- the non-release of her latest project, Midnight's Children, in the country in which the movie is set -- had come true. There is some good news at last for the beleaguered film-maker: Midnight's Children has been acquired by PVR Pictures and will be released in India before the end of the year. Read
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16:14  
Dilip D'Souza @DeathEndsFun I'm so sad, Varsha Bhosle. Why did it come to this?

Dilip D'Souza, like Varsha, was one of Rediff.com's earliest columnists.

Read Varsha Bhosle's column written in 1997 on her mother on rediff.com.
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16:05   And the Oscar doesnt go to
On Open magazine: Barfi! The debate over India's official pick for the Academy Awards is not as clear cut as it seems. Read
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16:02   Heaven IS real: A doctor's experience with the afterlife
When a neurosurgeon found himself in a coma, he experienced things he never thought possible -- a journey to the afterlife. Read
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15:52  
Anant Rangaswami @AnantRangaswami What a brilliant writer -- and, therefore, what a great loss to all. Varsha Bhosle writes on her mother.
On rediff.com.
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15:48   We will miss you, Varsha
Varsha Bhosle, who tragically ended her life on Monday morning, may be known to the world as singer Asha Bhosle's only daughter, but she had her own identity, of a hugely popular columnist for Rediff.com. Read
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15:46   Cong, BJP leaders meet PM over Cauvery water row
Cutting across party lines, Congress and BJP leaders from Karnataka today met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to voice concern over the decision of the Cauvery River Authority asking the state to provide Tamil Nadu with 9000 cusecs of water daily and sought a review.

Union Ministers from Karnataka belonging to Congress and BJP MPs from the state held separate meetings with Singh where they tried to impress upon him about the "grim" situation in the state.
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15:42   China deserves more respect as a first-class power
The distrust over the mutual long-term strategic intentions between the United States and China is worsening, said Wang Jisi, a top expert of American studies in China. Read
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15:35   Think Again: The BRICS
Together, the BRICS GDP now nearly equals the United States. But are they really the future of the global economy? Read
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15:30   Briton, Japanese win Nobel Prize for medicine
British researcher John Gurdon and Shinya Yamanaka of Japan have won this year's Nobel Prize in medicine or physiology, reports the Seattle Times. The prize committee at Stockholm's Karolinska Institute said Monday that the two researchers won the award "for the discovery that mature cells can be reprogrammed to become pluripotent."

The committee says the discovery have "revolutionized our understanding of how cells and organisms develop." The medicine award was the first Nobel Prize to be announced this year. The physics award will be announced Tuesday, followed by chemistry on Wednesday, literature on Thursday and the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday.
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15:12   Brit, Japanese win Nobel Prize for medicine
Just in: Britain's John Gurdon and Japan's Shinya Yamanaka win Nobel Prize in medicine. Details in a bit. 
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15:07   Murder most foul
The world's 10 deadliest cities. Read
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15:02   A Conversation With: P. Chidambaram
Palaniappan Chidambaram, the powerful minister of finance and senior leader in the Indian National Congress, has been a central figure in the recent flurry of economic measures pushed through by the government. Read 
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14:48   Vadra expos: UPA2 wants to skip winter session
Our Delhi sources tell us that the UPA2  wants to skip the winter session of Parliament after the Robert Vadra-DLF story and FDI in retail and the threat that the BJP will support former ally TMC chief Mamata Banerjee in bringing a no-confidence motion.

Also read on rediff.com: Robert Vadra not new to controversy
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14:28  
An SMS doing the rounds in the corridors of power goes like this. London's Madame Tussauds's museum has finally approached Dr Manmohan Singh for a commissioning. They want him to stand in the museum for rest of his life. Why waste wax? 
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14:26   Cong believes Vadra story will affect HP, Gujarat polls
Our Delhi correspondent tells us that the negative publicity on Robert Vadra has given a jolt to India's first family. With Sonia Gandhi unwell, Vadra's episode has been difficult on her as well. The government is set to interact with the media and then analyse how serious the impact of the DLF-Vadra 'scam' has been and the likely fallout on the ensuing winter session of Parliament. The Congress is also apprehensive that the Vadra story will affect the outcome of the Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh polls.
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14:05   More Americans support torture to fight terrorism: Poll
Also read: A surprising number of Americans are supportive of controversial Bush-era tactics used to undermine terrorism, and are even open to more extreme measures like using nuclear weapons.
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14:03   India: Gutting of India's cotton farmers
In other news, a new US film blames Monsanto for a rash of Indian farmer suicides. Read
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13:57   Brar case downgraded, injuries not life-threatening
The case against the two men charged with the attack on Lt Gen (retd) K S Brar, the Operation Bluestar hero, has been downgraded as the injuries sustained were not life threatening.

Brar, who had led 'Operation Blue Star' in 1984 to flush out pro-Khalistan militants from the Golden Temple, was on a private visit to London, when he was attacked by four men, suspected to be Khalistan sympathisers, while he was returning to his hotel with his wife.

He suffered a wound on his neck and cheek but his wife was not injured in the attack.
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13:51   Asha Bhosle rushing home from Singapore
Varsha Bhosle (56) was a journalist and a hugely popular columnist with rediff.com. Read her columns here.

In 2008, Varsha tried to commit suicide by consuming a dangerously high dose of sleeping pills. Varsha lives alone near her mother's Peddar residence. The second of Asha's three children, Varsha has also worked as a columnist for The Sunday Observer.

Asha Bhosle is rushing back to Mumbai from Singapore, say reports.
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13:28   Asha Bhosle's daughter commits suicide
Veteran singer Asha Bhosle's daughter has committed suicide. Early reports indicate that Varsha Bhosle shot herself in the head. She had reportedly attempted suicide in 2008 and 2010 as well. She shot herself at her mother's house, Prabhu Kunj in Peddar Road, south Mumbai. Details awaited.  
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13:25   Varsha shot herself at Asha's home
Police have confirmed that Varsha Bhosle died after a single gunshot wound in the head. Her mother Asha Bhosle is in Singapore for an awards ceremony. The incident happened this morning. 
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13:20   Vadra shuts Facebook account
Meanwhile, Robert Vadra has shut his Facebook account. This presumably comes in the aftermath of RTI activist and former Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal's close aide Kumar Vishwason accusing Vadra of updating his Facebook status to: "Mango people in banana republic.

"Demanding apology from the industrialist, Kumar said, "Today Robert Vadra has written 'mango people in banana republic' on his Facebook page. He insulted our country because he is related with the most arrogant family ie the Gandhi family. He should apologise before the nation."Vadra's alleged Facebook status ignited ruckus over his alleged involvement in an inappropriate land property deal with DLF.

Kejriwal earlier on Friday, Oct 5 claimed that Vardra was provided an interest-free unsecured loan by real estate firm DLF with which Vadra allegedly bought property worth Rs 300 crore from the DLF itself. More
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13:02   Allegations false, baseless, defamatory: Vadra
This is what Robert Vadra, businessman and son-in-law of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, said on Sunday that the allegations against him were "utterly false, entirely baseless and defamatory". Readmore 
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12:57   PC: No specific charge, CANNOT probe Vadra
Union Finance minister P Chidambaram said today, while addressing the Economic Editors Conference in the capital that unless there was a specific charge against Robert Vadra on the allegation of quid pro quo, the government can't probe private deals.

Chidambaram was reacting to Arvind Kejriwal and Prashant Bhushan's allegations against Robert Vadra on Friday that realty major DLF had favoured Vadra in property deals in return for a quid pro quo.

Chidambaram on Saturday that he was not aware of the rightness or wrongness of the allegations. Transactions between two private individuals cannot be questioned on the basis of certain imputed or implied act of corruption." 
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12:51   Firing in Delhi college, two injured
Firing reported in a residential area behind Zakhir Hussain College, Delhi. Two persons have been seriously injured. Details awaited.
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12:23  
Also read on the Hindu: Behind Robert Vadra's fortune, a maze of questions
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12:20   DLF shares tank over Robert Vadra 'scam'
Shares of DLF today fell by over 5 per cent amid allegations of the company providing undue favours in its transactions with Robert Vadra -- although the charges have been vehemently denied by both the parties.

After making weak opening, shares of DLF further lost 5.25 per cent at Rs 229.05 on the BSE. At the NSE, the scrip tanked 5.29 per cent to Rs 229.10. DLF had on Saturday rejected the allegations that it had given unsecured loans to Robert Vadra as a 'quid pro quo' for favours and said it had transparent dealing with him as an individual entrepreneur.
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12:19   SC steps in over drug trials
The Supreme Court has stepped in over drug trials and served  a notice to state governments asking details of how may trials were conducted between 2005 and 2012, whether compensation was given in the event of death, whether side effects of the drugs were tested before being handed out for trial. This comes after mounting deaths due to alleged unauthorized clinical trials of drugs on humans took centre stage a few months ago. 
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11:57   10,000 fishermen begin Jal Satyagraha at Kudankulam
Here's the latest from Kudankulam. Launching another phase of their agitation against the Kudankulam atomic power project, anti-nuclear protestors today began a day-long 'siege' of the plant by placing fibre boats and floating buoys in the sea.

Rediff.com's Ganesh Nadar reporting from Kudankulam says that over a 1000 boats carrying over 10,000 fishermen from the three districts of Tuticorin, Tirnelveli and Kanyakumari have laid seige to the Kudankulam nuclear plant where over 75 tonnes of uranium were recently uploaded.

The protestors, including hundreds of local fishermen from Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari districts, remained 500 metres away from the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project, demanding scrapping of the KNPP.

Over 5,000 security personnel including Rapid Action Force, have been deployed, besides five Coast Guard vessels, ADGP Rajendran, who is overseeing the security, said.

Led by People's Movement Against Nuclear Energy (PMANE), the protestors are also demanding withdrawal of police from the villages, release of those arrested and taking back false cases filed against anti-nuclear activists. PMANE coordinator S P Udayakumar said the struggle would be peaceful and democratic protest and assured of full cooperation to police.

Udhayakumar also said they would launch their next agitation in Chennai on October 29 when the assembly session begins. He would also hold discussions with the local community about intensifying the agitation. This is the second time the protestors are laying siege after September 22, when they did so at Tuticorin port against loading of uranium in the atomic power plant. 
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11:46  
Just in: A man committed suicide by jumping on to the tracks of the Kolkata metro at 10:15 am today. Services were disrupted for over an hour.  
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11:43  
Speaking at the Economic Editors' Conference in New Delhi today, Chidambaram said he hoped to resolve issues related to GST soon and would meet the Empowered Committee Chairman Sushil Modi on October 22.
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11:33   No jobs without economic reforms, warns PC
Chidambaram adds that without reforms the economy would be at risk and it would not be possible to create enough jobs. Fiscal and monetary policy must therefore act in tandem to promote growth. He pointed out that the first draft on allowing FDI in multi-brand retail was prepared by the NDA government.
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11:25   India should aim at 8-9 per cent growth: PC
Finance Minister P Chidambaram today announced that global problems, high inflation and declining investments are responsible for slow growth. The Reserve Bank's tight money policy dampened growth and investments, said Chidambaram and added that India should should aim at 8-9 per cent economic growth.
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11:15   SC refuses to stop training of Lanka army personnel
The Supreme Court refuses to restrain the Centre from giving training to personnel of the Sri Lankan Armed Forces.The DMK and AIADMK had protested the training. Notwithstanding stiff opposition from political parties in Tamil Nadu, Sri Lanka had asserted that it was "very firm" on continuing the training programme of its defence personnel in India and ruled out sending them to countries like China.
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11:07   Unprecedented security breach in J-K Assembly
The three protestors who breached security in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly were all employed and had entered the well of the house when the marshalls overpowered them and hauled them away. As we told you earlier, they were protesting the Omar Abdullah government's employment policy.
Remember, J-K faces militancy constantly and three people jumping into the well of the house is unprecedented. 
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11:04   Karnataka CM meets Krishna over Cauvery issue
Karnataka Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar today met Union Minister S M Krishna here today amid demands by Karnataka leaders for a review of Cauvery River Authority's decision asking the state to release 9,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu.

The interaction assumes significance as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has convened a meeting of political leaders from the state for consultations on the contentious water dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu today.

External Affairs Minister Krishna hails from Cauvery River basin district of Mandya. Seeking the review of the PM-Chaired body's decision, BJP MPs from the state will also meet Singh separately at his office, sources said.
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10:52   Activists storm J&K Assembly; major security breach
Just in: There has been a security breach at the Jammu and Kashmir assembly as protestors jumped into the well of the house. The protestors who were sitting in the well of the house demanded a favourable employment policy. Marshalls took over and lead them out of the Assembly.    
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10:45   Anti-Kudankulam activists begin protest at sea
At the site of the Kudankulam siege fishermen, farmers, traders and volunteers of various political parties from Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi districts are set to participate in the protest. Heavy police force has been deployed at various places to prevent any untoward situation, police said.

The first unit was scheduled to be commissioned in December last year but had been delayed due to protests by locals on safety concerns.
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10:36   Narendra Modi in list of PM frontrunners: Gadkari
BJP chief Nitin Gadkari on Sunday said it was still early to decide on the opposition's prime ministerial candidate for the 2014 elections but admitted that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi was among the frontrunners.

Read more here
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10:17   Anti-Kudankulam protestors begin siege to sea

A Ganesh Nadar reports from Kudankulam: Anti-Kudankulam protestors, onboard around 500 boats, have started their siege to sea near the Kudankulam nuclear plant in Tamil Nadu.  

 

Activists of People's Movement Against Nuclear Energy, led by SP Udaykumar, against whom a non-bailable warrant has been issued, have begun their siege.

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09:42   Sensex down 61 pts in opening trade

The BSE benchmark Sensex fell by almost 61 points in opening trade today on emergence of profit booking at higher levels.    

 

The 30-share index, which had lost 120 points in the previous session, fell by 61.48 points, or 0.32 per cent, to 18,880.50.    

 

Similarly, the wide-based National Stock Exchange Nifty Index shed 26.35 points, or 0.46 per cent, to 5,720.60.    

 

Brokers said investors indulged in profit booking following a recent rally in the stock market. They added that the recent upsurge in the markets was on the back of government's measures to support economic growth.

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09:00   Ivory Coast to reopen Ghana land and sea borders

Ivory Coast is to reopen its land and maritime borders with Ghana, more than two weeks after they were shut following a deadly cross-border attack.

 

Read more on BBC

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08:59   Libyan Prime Minister Mustafa Abu Shagur dismissed

Libya's Prime Minister-elect has been dismissed from his post, after failing for a second time to win parliamentary approval for a new cabinet.

 

Read more on BBC

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08:58   Venezuela's Hugo Chavez wins re-election

Venezuela's electoral council says President Hugo Chavez has won re-election, defeating challenger Henrique Capriles.

 

National Electoral Council president Tibisay Lucena said on Sunday that with most votes counted, Chavez had about 54 per cent of the vote, while his rival Henrique Capriles garnered 44.99% of votes. It was Chavez's third re-election victory in nearly 14 years in office.

 

Read more on Al Jazeera

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08:37   Won't allow bauxite mining in Vizag agency: Ramesh

Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh on Sunday said bauxite mining would not be allowed at any cost in the Visakhapatnam agency area to protect the interests of tribals.        

 

He said this following reports that some private companies had shown interest in mining bauxite there. However, local villagers and tribals are opposing the proposed move.        

 

While talking to reporters at Paderu village in Vishakhapatnam, Ramesh said along with the local tribals, he and Union Minister for Tribal and Panchayat Raj Kishore Chandra Deo had been against mining in the tribal areas since long.

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