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Wed, 09 October 2013
Live! Police forcibly evicts fasting Jagan Reddy
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23:23 Police forcibly evicts fasting Jagan Reddy
Hyderabad Police has forcibly arrested fasting YSR Congress Party chief Jaganmohan Reddy.
Jagan Reddy has been on a fast for five days in Hyderabad against government's move to carve out Telangana state.
There were reports that Jagan's health started deteriorating on the fifth day of his indefinite fast.
Read more here
22:19 White House denies plan to cut aid to Egypt's military
The White House reaction to reports that the USA is preparing to suspend some aid to Egypt because of the Egyptian military's suppression of political opponents shows the difficulties of using such aid to influence a regime in the midst of a power struggle, an analyst says.
"You're basically putting pressure on the military when they're dealing with a major and increasingly violent crisis," said Anthony Cordesman, a Middle East analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies who has advised the U.S. State Department, Defense Department, and intelligence community.
21:52 Britain's spy chief warns against Muslim terror threat
Britain's senior-most intelligence official has warned that UK-based Islamist extremists pose a serious threat to the country.
MI5 director-general Andrew Parker highlighted that Al Qaeda and its affiliates in South Asia present "the most direct and immediate threats to the UK" in his first public address since he took charge of his role as the head of the country's Security Service in April.
21:27 India asks Pakistan to uphold sanctity of LoC
India today conveyed its concern to Pakistan over continuing terror emanating from its soil and areas under its control, and asked Islamabad to uphold the sanctity of the LoC, a key confidence building measure.
Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, who met her Pakistani counterpart Ayaz Sadiq, said India "desires peaceful, friendly and cooperative relations with Pakistan, and is also committed to resolving all outstanding issues bilaterally".
20:38 Cyclone hits Andaman Nicobar islands
A cyclonic storm today hit the Andaman and Nicobar islands and is expected to reach the coast of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha over the next 48-72 hours, the MET department said.
According to the Meteorological Department there was a deep depression area over the North Andaman Sea this morning. The cyclone hit the islands near the Mayabandar between 12.30-1.30 pm. This resulted in very-heavy rainfall in the islands.
20:30 Obama calls in lawmakers on political crisis
President Barack Obama is inviting all Republican and Democratic lawmakers to the White House for discussions on defusing a dual showdown over the shuttered government and raising the debt ceiling.
Obama will begin the process by meeting minority Democrats in the House of Representatives later today, a White House official said.
20:29 Etihad buys 5 Boeing 777-200 LR from Air India
Etihad Airways, Abu Dhabi's national carrier, intends to buy five wide-body Boeing 777 aircraft from Air India. The two airlines signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) in Mumbai earlier this week but the deal amount has not been disclosed.
According to official sources, the sale is subject to approval from Air India's board and the government. After these approvals, the planes would be delivered to Etihad Airways by February or March next year.
20:23 India's tryst with destiny
India could offer the world a signal electoral drama next spring, with geopolitical repercussions for the whole Eurasian rimland.
Narendra Modi, the charismatic chief minister of Gujarat in northwestern India, will likely run for prime minister against Rahul Gandhi, the great-grandson of the political forefather of India's modern republic, Jawaharlal Nehru.
20:12 Hazare claims political nexus in sale of "sick" sugar mills
Social activist Anna Hazare today alleged a nexus among some Maharashtra politicians in selling sugar factories to private players by deliberately declaring them "sick".
Hazare, who led a farmers rally here, along with activist Medha Patkar and Lok Sabha member Raju Shetty, sought a judicial inquiry into these transactions. "Many sugar mills and cotton mills have been declared sick and sold off to private players at throwaway price," Hazare said.
20:10 Aadhar number increases convenience "dramatically": Nilekani
Unique Identification Authority of India chairman Nandan Nilekani today said the Aadhar number "dramatically improves the convenience" and makes the life "simpler".
"People often think that why do they need the Aadhar number. Fundamentally, our view is that the possession of an Aadhar number dramatically improves convenience in your life," Nilekani said at the launch of an Aadhar-linked banking facility.
19:02 Kerala CM questioned in solar case: AG tells HC
Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy was questioned by the Special Investigation Team probing the solar panel scam, the high court was today told by the Advocate General.
The disclosure was made by Advocate General K P Dandapani after much persuasion by Justice Harun-Al Rashid hearing a petition relating to solar scam over which opposition LDF has been seeking the resignation of Chandy in view of alleged involvement of some former staff of chief minister's office with the prime accused.
When the arguments in the petition were going on, the AG said "a responsible person has been questioned by Invesitgating officers".
When the judge asked who the person is, the AG refused to answer saying he did not want to say.
The disclosure was made by Advocate General K P Dandapani after much persuasion by Justice Harun-Al Rashid hearing a petition relating to solar scam over which opposition LDF has been seeking the resignation of Chandy in view of alleged involvement of some former staff of chief minister's office with the prime accused.
When the arguments in the petition were going on, the AG said "a responsible person has been questioned by Invesitgating officers".
When the judge asked who the person is, the AG refused to answer saying he did not want to say.
17:28 Shinde refuses to get involved in AP govt-Naidu tussle
Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde today refused to get into the ongoing tussle between Andhra Pradesh government and Chandrababu Naidu over the TDP chief's indefinite fast in the Andhra Bhavan premises here.
"We have nothing to do with it. Ye unka mamla hai. Hume kya karna hai? (It's their matter. What do we have to do with it?)," he told reporters.
Shinde was replying to a question over the Andhra Pradesh government's request to the home ministry to help it vacate the premises where Naidu is on dharna.
The former Andhra Pradesh chief minister began his indefinite fast on Monday to protest against the split of Andhra Pradesh, accusing Congress of playing politics in view of the Lok Sabha polls.
Resident Commissioner of Andhra Pradesh Shashank Goel has served a notice to the TDP chief stating that the hunger strike is "unauthorised" as permission was granted only for a press meet at the venue.
Goel has also requested the Union Home Secretary to get the premises vacate through Delhi Police.
"We have nothing to do with it. Ye unka mamla hai. Hume kya karna hai? (It's their matter. What do we have to do with it?)," he told reporters.
Shinde was replying to a question over the Andhra Pradesh government's request to the home ministry to help it vacate the premises where Naidu is on dharna.
The former Andhra Pradesh chief minister began his indefinite fast on Monday to protest against the split of Andhra Pradesh, accusing Congress of playing politics in view of the Lok Sabha polls.
Resident Commissioner of Andhra Pradesh Shashank Goel has served a notice to the TDP chief stating that the hunger strike is "unauthorised" as permission was granted only for a press meet at the venue.
Goel has also requested the Union Home Secretary to get the premises vacate through Delhi Police.
17:18 Cyclone hits Andaman Nicobar islands
A cyclonic storm today hit the Andaman and Nicobar islands and is expected to reach the coast of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha over the next 48-72 hours, the MET department said.
According to the Meteorological Department there was a deep depression area over the North Andaman Sea this morning. The cyclone hit the islands near the Mayabandar between 12.30-1.30 pm.
This resulted in very-heavy rainfall in the islands. As the cyclone moves west-northwestwards in the next 48 hours, it is expected to turn into a "very severe cyclonic storm", the weathermen said. It it likely to hit the eastern coast by October 12 midnight.
According to the Meteorological Department there was a deep depression area over the North Andaman Sea this morning. The cyclone hit the islands near the Mayabandar between 12.30-1.30 pm.
This resulted in very-heavy rainfall in the islands. As the cyclone moves west-northwestwards in the next 48 hours, it is expected to turn into a "very severe cyclonic storm", the weathermen said. It it likely to hit the eastern coast by October 12 midnight.
17:07 'Pak army role obvious in Keran incidents'
Pakistani army's role is "obvious" in the latest incident of intrusion by terrorists in Keran sector of Kashmir valley, official sources said today but rejected any comparison with the Kargil episode.
The incident has been exaggerated a lot by calling them another 'Kargil', official sources said terming such a propaganda "a fit case of dog chasing its tail".
A massive infiltration bid by terrorists backed by suspected Pakistani special forces, the biggest after the 1999 Kargil incident, was foiled by the Indian army which yesterday called off its 15-day-long major operation in Keran sector along the LoC in Kashmir.
Asked about the role of Pakistani Army in the incident, the sources said that it was obvious as "nothing like that can happen at the Line of Control without Pakistani Army being involved at least once. That is obvious. Otherwise, how did they come in, how did they enter.
"It was just an intrusion. But the issue got exaggerated a lot and some people went to the extent of calling it another Kargil. We must remember it was just an intrusion, which was effectively countered by our armed force," they said.
The incident has been exaggerated a lot by calling them another 'Kargil', official sources said terming such a propaganda "a fit case of dog chasing its tail".
A massive infiltration bid by terrorists backed by suspected Pakistani special forces, the biggest after the 1999 Kargil incident, was foiled by the Indian army which yesterday called off its 15-day-long major operation in Keran sector along the LoC in Kashmir.
Asked about the role of Pakistani Army in the incident, the sources said that it was obvious as "nothing like that can happen at the Line of Control without Pakistani Army being involved at least once. That is obvious. Otherwise, how did they come in, how did they enter.
"It was just an intrusion. But the issue got exaggerated a lot and some people went to the extent of calling it another Kargil. We must remember it was just an intrusion, which was effectively countered by our armed force," they said.
16:45 First meeting of GoM on Telangana on Friday
Notwithstanding ongoing protests in Seemandhra, Centre has expedited the process of creation of a separate Telangana state with the announcement that the first meeting of the GoM set up to look into the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh will be held on Friday.
"The first meeting of the GoM on Telangana will be held day after tomorrow," Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde toldmediapersons .
Shinde will head the reconstituted Group of Ministers consisting of seven Union Ministers.
Defence Minister AK Antony, Finance Minister P Chidambaram, Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, M Veerappa Moily and Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh are among the members of the GoM.
"The first meeting of the GoM on Telangana will be held day after tomorrow," Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde toldmediapersons .
Shinde will head the reconstituted Group of Ministers consisting of seven Union Ministers.
Defence Minister AK Antony, Finance Minister P Chidambaram, Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, M Veerappa Moily and Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh are among the members of the GoM.
16:08 Ahmedabad police procure transfer warrant to question Asaram
The Ahmedabad police have procured a transfer warrant from a court in Gandhinagar to question self-styled godman Asaram Bapu, currently lodged in a jail in Jodhpur, in connection with a sexual assault case lodged by two sisters from Surat against him and his son.
"We have got evidence against Asaram during probe. We want to interrogate him and so we have procured a transfer warrant from a court in Gandhinagar," Joint Commissioner of Police, Sector-I, J K Bhatt told reporters.
A police team from the city is expected to leave for Jodhpur any time to bring and produce the self-styled godman before a judicial magistrate in Gandhinagar.
16:03 Politicians should draw lessons from Lalu
The sentencing to five years rigorous imprisonment of RJD chief Lalu Prasad in a fodder scam case was made a point by West Bengal Chief MinisterMamata Banerjee to urge politicians to draw a lesson.
"Lalu Prasad was convicted in a fodder scam case. From this incident I will urge all politicians to take a lesson," Banerjee commented in an article.
"Why should there be so much greed? Be one a politician or anyone else, how much money is required to run a family," she queried.
16:02 Chinese court accepts Bo Xilai's plea for appeal
A Chinese court today accepted an appeal by disgraced Communist Party leader Bo Xilai,who was sentenced to life for bribery, embezzlement and abuse of power, giving him the last chance to clear his name.
Bo, 64, shouted "unfair" when the Jinan Intermediate People's Court in east China's Shandong Province in September sentenced him to life in jail. He submitted an appeal to the Shandong Higher People's Court which accepted his plea.
"This court, upon investigation, decided in accordance with the law to accept," the court said in a statement, without mentioning any specific date.
16:00 Naxal killed in encounter in Chhattisgarh
A Naxalite was today killed in an encounter with security personnel in Maoist-hit Narayanpur district of Chhattisgarh.
The face-off between the ultras and the security forces took place in the forests of Malingwar village, Narayanpur Additional Superintendent of Police OP Sharma said.
A joint party of the District Reserve Group of state police and district force was on a combing operation in restive Benoor region, located over 300 km from the state capital Raipur, since early morning.
15:59 Economy to see turnaround in coming quarters: Montek
India's GDP will see a turnaround in the coming quarters on account of various steps taken by the government to spur growth as well as good agricultural production, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia said today.
"Taking all these things together, I expect to see recovery in the coming quarters. Exactly how much it will produce is difficult to predict right now. But we are definitely on a turnaround path," Ahluwalia said.
15:41 Martin Karplus, Michael Levitt, Arieh Warshel get chemistry Nobel
The Nobel Prize for Chemistry this year has been awarded jointly to Martin Karplus, Michael Levitt and Arieh Warshel "for the development of multi-scale models for complex chemical systems".
According to a press release by the Nobel Committee, the trio "laid the foundation for the powerful programs that are used to understand and predict chemical processes. Computer models mirroring real life have become crucial for most advances made in chemistry today. They managed to make Newton's classical physics work side-by-side with the fundamentally different quantum physics".
15:32 PM arrives in Brunei
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today arrived in Brunei for the ASEAN summit and will hold discussions on crucial bilateral and regional issues.
Dr Singh is accompanied by his wife Gursharan Kaur, National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon and other top officials.
He is on a four-day visit to Brunei and Indonesia.
In Brunei, he will take part in the 11th India-ASEAN Summit and the 8th East Asian Summit, followed by a bilateral visit to Indonesia.
15:32 China proposes treaty with ASEAN over South China Sea dispute
Seeking to play down its maritime dispute over South China Sea with East Asian countries, China will propose a treaty of friendship and cooperation with the 10-member ASEAN bloc.
"China is ready to actively discuss with ASEAN countries the signing of a treaty on good-neighbourliness, friendship and cooperation to consolidate the political foundation for our strategic mutual trust," Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said before leaving for Brunei to attend the ASEAN summit.
15:30 India may NOT return to 8 pc growth: IMF
Emerging economies including India may not be able to return to growth rates of 8 per cent and more under present circumstances and neither would it be advisable for them, an IMF official has said.
"The 8 per cent growth in large part was because of the stimulus many emerging markets gave in order to prevent the major negative spillover from advanced countries," said Rupa Duttagupta, deputy chief of the World Economic Outlook Division of the IMF.
14:37 Fight against terrorism has to be unrelenting: Jaitley
India has said the fight against the scourge of terrorism has to be unrelenting and nations cannot adopt selective approaches in dealing with terrorist groups.
Talking tough on terror, visiting Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley said resorting to the use of terrorism as an instrument of state policy is short-sightedness.
"The fight against terrorism has to be unrelenting and fought across all fronts. The international community cannot afford selective approaches in dealing with terrort groups or in dismantling the infrastructure of terrorism," Jaitley said during a session on Measures to Eliminate International Terrorism.
14:31 Mayawati hits back over Rahul's 'Escape Velocity' remark
A day after Rahul Gandhi attacked her, BSP supremo Mayawati today slammed the Congress for adopting a "casteist" attitude towards party founder Kanshi Ram by not declaring national mourning on his death.
The Congress vice-president had accused Mayawati of not allowing any Scheduled Caste leader to rise in Uttar Pradesh, as he said the Dalit community needs the Escape Velocity of Jupiter to underline that they needed to make more efforts for success.
"This is the reason why the Congress-led government at the Centre did not declare even a day's mourning on his death, for which our people will never forgave Congress. This is a proof of their anti-Dalit mentality for which we criticise them in strong words," she said in a statement.
13:55 CBI takes over case against rape accused former minister
The CBI has taken over the probe in the rape case against former Rajasthan minister Babulal Nagar.
13:33 GoM on Telangana will meet on Friday
The first meeting of the Group of Ministers on Telangana, headed by Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, will be held on Friday.
Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy will hold talks with senior state government officials in an attempt to end the ongoing agitation in the state against its bifurcation.
13:31 Cyclone forecast: Odisha cancels puja holiday of employees
With the Met department forecasting a cyclone in Odisha-Andhra Pradesh coast by Sunday, the state government today cancelled puja holidays of its employees in 14 districts and ordered the deployment of the Disaster Rapid Force in all vulnerable points.
"The state government has cancelled puja holidays of employees in coastal districts in view of the possible cyclone," Revenue and Disaster Management Minister S N Patro said.
"Besides issuing instructions to other departments to remain alert to the situation, the government has already ordered deployment of the Odisha Disaster Rapid Action Force," he said.
13:11 Muzaffarnagar: Attachment proceedings initiated against politicians
District authorities have initiated attachment proceedings against some party leaders after they failed to surrender in a local court in connection to charges of instigating communal violence in the district.
Attachment proceedings have been initiated against BSP MP Kadir Rana, BSP MLA Maulana Jamil, former UP minister Saeeduzama. All of them have been charged with inciting communal tension by making inflammatory speeches during the panchayat held in Muzaffarnagar on August 30.
12:49 Moily hops on to Delhi Metro
Oil and Petroleum Veerappa Moily on Wednesday took the Delhi Metro to travel to his ministry to kick-start an initiative to save fuel.
Moily, who has been on a mission to slash the Indian government's eye-popping oil import bill, described his journey as "pleasant".
His ministry has already asked all senior bureaucrats and officials of oil PSUs to forsake their cars and travel by public transport every day.
12:39 Curfew relaxed in simmering Vizianagaram
Curfew in violence-hit Vizianagaram town in Andhra Pradesh was relaxed for two hours today morning to facilitate people to purchase essential commodities, as the situation is fast returning to normal. Deputy Inspector General of Police, Vizag, P Umapathi said that curfew was eased for two hours between 7 am and 9 am.
The authorities took the decision to lift the curfew for two hours as one hour was not enough to buy essential commodities, he said.
12:34 Impossible to normalise ties if Pak doesn't stop infiltration: Omar
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said it was impossible for India to normalise its relationship with Pakistan till the neighbouring country does not stop infiltrations and ceasefire violations.
He also said that calling the operation against holed up militants in Keran sector as "Kargil Part 2" was mere hype.
"At least, it is through talks that Prime Minister (Manmohan Singh) talked to (Pakistan Prime Minister) Nawaz Sharif in clear terms in New York and he said the situation should not remain as such and infiltration and ceasefire violations should stop," he said.
12:32 NC, PDP want JK assembly to summon General Singh
Warring political parties of Jammu and Kashmir, NC and PDP, on Wednesday demanded that former army chief V K Singh should be summoned to explain his statement on the Indian Army paying off some politicians in the Valley.
The BJP, however, supported the Speakers' decision to seek an explanation from the former army chief.
12:30 Trade deficit dips to US$ 6.76 billion
Trade deficit has dipped to US$ 6.76 billion in September from US$ 17.15 billion a year ago.
Further details are awaited.
10:58 Top Tibetan monk killed in China
A well-known Tibetan monk, who founded the first Tibetan Buddhist monastery in Europe, has been killed in southwest China's Chengdu city.
According to local police, 73-year-old Choje Akong Tulku Rinpoche was stabbed to death along with his nephew and their driver in the city's Wuhou district.
Three suspects, all ethnic Tibetans, have been detained by police, Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post quoted a police statement as saying. Police said a monetary dispute caused the altercation.
10:45 Pakistan's General Kayani to hang up his boots
Two-time army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, one of the, if not the most powerful person in Pakistan, is set to retire from his post this weekend.
10:42 Sheila Dikshit on why the people of Delhi keep choosing here
Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit has questioned the findings of a survey conducted by the Aam Aadmi Party and also clarified that she has no prime ministerial ambitions.
10:38 Modi or Gandhi? Google survey tries to find out
A Google India survey of urban Indian voters has revealed some interesting factoids -- like 42 per cent of them are yet to make up their minds about whom to vote for -- Narendra Modi or Rahul Gandhi.
The survey also shows that most voters are more concerned about the local leaders than about the next prime ministerial candidate.
10:29 Protests continue in Andhra, children die in powerless hospitals
Nearly 4,000 children have died in hospitals across Andhra Pradesh due to the acute power shortage in the wake of the strike by employees of power plants in Seemandhra.
Authorities have implored these employees, who have gone on strike to protest the bifurcation of the state, to resume work as soon as possible.
10:22 One killed, many trapped in Delhi building collapse
One person was killed and several feared trapped when a three-storey building collapsed in Bara Hindu Rao area in Delhi on Wednesday morning.
Fire Brigade trucks have rushed to the spot and rescue operations have started, according to media reports.
Photograph Courtesy: https://twitter.com/ANI_news
09:43 Canada PM to boycott Commonwealth summit in Lanka
Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper has decided to boycott the forthcoming Commonwealth summit in Colombo to protest the "lack of accountability" of the Sri Lankan government over its dodgy rights record.
Harper's decision comes in the wake of speculations that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh may also skip the summit due to pressure from Tamil parties like the DMK and the AIADMK.
09:39 Keran operation was NOT 'Kargil part 2'
Many security experts have described the 15-day anti-infiltration operation in Kashmir's Keran sector as 'Kargil Part 2', but there is no reason to panic just yet.
09:35 UPA forges ahead with flagship Aadhar scheme
The UPA-led government is in no mood to listen to any reservations about its flagship Aadhar scheme.
While the Union Cabinet has cleared the National Identification Authority of India Bill despite the concerns expressed by the Standing Committee, the Centre has decided to take on both the judiciary and the opposition over the ambitious scheme.
09:31 Why did Francois Englert and Peter W Higgs win the Nobel?
Francois Englert and Peter W Higgs were jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics 2013 on Tuesday for the theory of how particles acquire mass.
Want to know exactly what that means? Click here to find out
09:19 Terrorism to continue for some time: Obama
Days after America flexed its military muscles in two African countries -- Libya and Somalia -- against terrorists, US President Barack Obama has said that the risk of terrorism is going to continue for some time, even as top Al Qaeda leadership has been decimated in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Asserting that Abu Anas al-Libi, an alleged top Al Qaeda kingpin snatched in a US commando raid in Libya, would be brought to justice, Obama said America needs to engage in a "war of ideas in the region", engage with Muslim countries and try to isolate radical elements.
09:16 PM leaves on four-day visit to Brunei, Indonesia
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today left on a four-day visit to Brunei and Indonesia, during which he will attend the ASEAN summit and hold talks on crucial bilateral and regional issues, including ways to enhance economic cooperation.
Ahead of his departure, Dr Singh said his visits "will further intensify our engagement with East, which has been at the forefront of our foreign policy, and contribute to peace, prosperity and stability in the Asia Pacific".
03:32 Sri Lanka's economic boom fails to erase painful civil war memories
In a stand of scruffy palms a few yards from a dirt track, two brothers are building their third house in under a decade. They hope it will last longer than the others. They do not want to be identified '" for fear of security agencies '" but their story is a common one in Kilinochchi, a small town in northern Sri Lanka, once the capital of the de facto state run by the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
All over the north of Sri Lanka men are building. In Kilinochchi, more than four years after the Tamil Tigers were routed by the Sri Lankan army, there are new banks, ATMs, shops, street lighting, an internet cafe and a station that still smells of fresh paint. Trains run three times a day to Colombo, 200 miles to the south. A large sports complex is taking shape, alongside the widened road.
03:30 Obama: Republicans using 'extortion' on debt limit
US President Obama has said he is willing to hold budget talks with Republicans, but not until they agree to lift "threats" against the economy. Mr Obama said they were committing "extortion" by demanding policy concessions in return for raising the US debt limit and reopening government.
The US government shut down last week when Congress failed to agree a budget. Republican leaders on Tuesday reiterated calls for Mr Obama to open negotiations over ending the impasses. Republican House Speaker John Boehner told reporters he was "disappointed that the president refuses to negotiate".
03:29 Nobel laureate Peter Higgs proves as elusive as Higgs boson
The media spotlight has often been too harsh for Peter Higgs, the Edinburgh physicist, who disappeared off on holiday without a mobile phone this week to escape the inevitable rush of journalists that bears down on every winner of a Nobel prize.
The move was carefully calculated and profoundly successful. The Royal Swedish Academy made calls to the scientist's phone but failed to make contact before '" or after '" announcing the winners of the 2013 prize in physics on Tuesday morning.
"He didn't tell even me," said Alan Walker, a close friend and fellow physicist at Edinburgh University, who was among a crowd of scientists who celebrated at the Higgs Centre for Theoretical Physics after watching the announcement from Stockholm online. "He's not available, and good for him." Higgs, 84, shares the 8m Swedish kronor (775,000) prize '" and no small measure of kudos '" with the Belgian theorist, Franois Englert.
Higgs had been favourite to win the award since researchers at the Large Hadron Collider at Cern near Geneva declared last July that they had discovered the particle he predicted, the elusive Higgs boson.
03:24 Argentina President Cristina Fernandez surgery 'went well'
Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has undergone surgery to treat bleeding on her brain, at a hospital in Buenos Aires. The operation, which has lasted about two hours, "went very well" said her spokesman, Alfredo Scoccimarro.
Ms Fernandez, 60, is expected to remain in intensive care for the next 48 hours and stay in hospital until next week. She was ordered to rest for at least a month after doctors discovered the subdural haematoma. "The president is in good spirits and is already in her room," said Mr Scoccimarro.
01:19 Bangladesh garment factory fire kills at least 10 people
A fire Tuesday at a garment factory outside Bangladesh's capital has killed at least 10 people, an official said. Fire official Zafar Ahmed said 10 bodies were found inside the four-storey building housing the Aswad garment factory in Gazipur outside Dhaka. He said several other people were injured while trying to escape from the building.
Local journalist Iqbal Ahmed said from the scene that the fire occurred when the factory was closed for the day, but some employees were still inside working overtime.
01:18 Obama urges Congress to re-open government
US President Barack Obama said on Tuesday he is willing to negotiate with Republicans on fiscal issues and his signature health care law, but warned that "we can't make extortion routine as part of our democracy." In a press conference at the White House, he urged John Boehner, the House speaker, to hold a vote to end the partial government shutdown and lift the debt ceiling. The US government has been partially shuttered for more than a week because Congress did not pass a budget before the fiscal year ended on September 30.
Dozens of Republican lawmakers demanded that any budget bill also include provisions to delay implementation of health care law, which took effect this month.
01:15 Revote in Maldives on October 19 after SC orders fresh ballot
The Maldives must hold a fresh round of presidential polls before October 20, the Supreme Court has ruled while annulling the first phase as the government today appealed to all parties to support new elections.
The verdict is a major blow to former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed who had emerged as the winner in the first round.
The first round of fresh presidential poll must be held before the 20th of this month and the second round, if necessary, should be before November 3, 2013, the apex court directed on Monday.
The ruling came after a case was filed by the Jumhooree Party leader Qasim Ibrahim, alleging serious irregularities. The Elections Commission, meanwhile, said the revote would be held on October 19.
00:20 IMF cuts global growth outlook
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has trimmed its forecast for global economic growth at the same time as lifting its UK growth projection. It now expects global growth of 2.9% this year, a cut of 0.3% from July's estimate. In 2014 it expects global growth of 3.6%, down 0.2%.
It cited weakness in emerging economies for the cut. The forecast for UK growth this year received a significant upgrade to 1.4%, up from July's estimate of 0.9%. And for next year the IMF expects UK growth of 1.9%, up from July's projection of 1.5%.
00:18 Live! Top headlines at this hour
Exclusive Amit Shah Interview: People are waiting to vote for Modi
Poll awakening: Sonia, Rahul inject development in Rae Bareli, Amethi
Pak on Keran infiltration: Blame game not a solution
Chargesheet filed in July 31 Shakti Mills gang-rape case
Even Congress leaders unsure of what Rahul Gandhi wants
Power restored partially in parts of Andhra Pradesh
Bring paper trail to EVMs for free, fair, accurate voting: SC
India played key role in polls in Sri Lanka's Tamil areas: CM
Asaram moves Supreme Court against 'media trial'
No President's Rule in Andhra Pradesh: Shinde
Higgs and Englert share 2013 Nobel physics prize
PHOTOS: Chaos on roads after part of Mumbai flyover caves in
Jagan seeks Left support in his fight against Telangana
'Blackout to continue in Andhra, even hospitals won't be spared'
TOP STORIES
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