Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today demanded central assistance for the state hit by cyclones Hudhud and Phailin saying it was a "genuine" need. 

Pakistan today reacted sharply to a blunt Pentagon assessment that it harbours terrorist sanctuaries, saying the remarks in the report contained "unsubstantiated allegations" and "unwarranted comments". 

Army Chief General Raheel Sharif will make a visit to Kabul on Thursday to meet the new Afghan leadership, the Pakistani military said in a short statement today.

Six-hundred people were charged today for the gruesome murder of a Pakistani Christian couple accused of desecrating the Quran in Punjab province. 

Mortar shells struck a school east of Damascus today, killing at least 11 children, said activists, and the death toll was likely to rise. It was the most serious violence against Syrian minors since a twin suicide bombing killed at least 25 children near a school in October. 

Amnesty International has accused Israel of committing war crimes during the war in Gaza this summer, saying its military showed "callous indifference" in its attacks on family homes.

At least one person has died and 13 others have been injured after a Palestinian man rammed a car into a crowd on a light rail platform in east Jerusalem Wednesday in what Israeli police describe as a terror attack.

Saudi authorities today blamed militants linked to Al-Qaeda for an unprecedented attack that killed six Shiite worshippers, including children, and stoked sectarian tensions in the Sunni-dominated kingdom. Masked gunmen in Saudi Arabia's east late Monday killed at least six Shiites as they celebrated Ashura, the last day of the Muharam, one of the holiest festivals of their faith. 

The Swedish co-founder of the website Pirate Bay website was hauled to Bangkok today following his arrest in northeast Thailand, with police from Stockholm waiting to press for his deportation to serve a jail term for copyright infringement. 

The Telangana government presented its maiden budget with an outlay of over Rs 1 lakh crore in the Assembly today. Etela Rajender, Finance Minister of Telangana state formed on June 2 this year, said in his budget speech that for the ten months of the financial year 2014-15, the Government proposes total expenditure of Rs 1,00,637.96 crore, of which the non-plan expenditure is estimated at Rs 51,989.49 crore and plan expenditure at Rs 48,648.47 crore.

Gearing up for the assembly polls in a bid to recapture power, Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal has said he will be the party's "face' for the election campaign and indicated that he will be the chief ministerial nominee.

Kejriwal (46), who led AAP to a stunning debut in the assembly polls in December last year, said there was no reason why there would be a change in chief ministerial nominee though a final decision on it would be taken by the party. 

PM Narendra Modi chairing a high-level meeting to review connectivity related infrastructure sector

At the book release of his autobiography, Sachin Tendulkar, says this book is a sincere attempt. The book has taken me three years to write but it was nice relive the moments. I don't want to change anything. I want people to know what my life has been. I owe it to the people across the world who have supported me.

The first copy of Sachin Tendulkar's much-anticipated and talked-about autobiography -- 'Playing It My Way' -- was presented to his mother Rajni by the batting maestro himself, in Mumbai, today.

Even as Assam paid rich tributes to Bhupen Hazarika on his third death anniversary today, the Assam government renewed its plea for a Bharat Ratna to the legendary singer, musician, poet and filmmaker, with chief minister Tarun Gogoi saying a fresh proposal has been sent to the Centre in this regard.  Read

The task of injecting more professionalism into the Maharashtra police force is an enormous challenge. The problem may not be one of finding the resources, but primarily one of changing attitudes at the top. Read

Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko hosted a luncheon for Dr Manmohan Singh and his wife Gursharan at the Imperial Palace after the award ceremony. He is among 57 foreign recipients named for the 2014 Autumn Imperial Decorations. Singh had earlier said he was truly honoured and felt "humbled by the love and affection showered upon me by the people and government of Japan".

I wish that everybody had remained united in Congress, we are not in strong position in TN: Karti Chidambaram on GK Vasan.

Karti is former union minister P Chidambaram's son.

The first copy of Sachin Tendulkar's much-anticipated and talked-about autobiography -- 'Playing It My Way' -- was presented to his mother Rajni by the batting maestro himself, in Mumbai, today.

"Gave the first copy of my book to my mother. Look of pride on her face was a priceless moment!"

Tendulkar said on his facebook and twitter page. The now-retired batsman also posted a picture of himself with his mother, who is seen smiling on receiving the book.

Tendulkar called it quits from international cricket last year after playing a record 200 Tests.

If there is any party which can hope to make electoral gains from holding Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir at this moment, it is, undoubtedly, the BJP.

It seeks to ride on what it claims is a Modi wave and is hoping to at least emerge as the single largest party in the State.  Read more

Narendra Modi acknowledges Japan's award to former PM Dr Manmohan Singh.

Narendra Modi tweets: Matter of joy & pride that Japan has conferred Dr. Manmohan Singh with Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers. Congrats to him.

The PMO has identified four secretaries to the Government of India who are in constant touch with Congress leaders either through phone calls or courtesy calls over dinners.

The PMO is believed to encourage rivalries amongst IAS batchmates. 

And an announcement...

MR B.T. Cumberbatch And Miss S.I Hunter
The engagement is announced between Benedict, son of Wanda and Timothy Cumberbatch of London, and Sophie, daughter of Katharine Hunter of Edinburgh and Charles Hunter of London.

That's the advertisement in the Times, London, that's got fans goggle-eyed and happy -- Benedict Cumberbatch appears to have announced his engagement to rumoured girlfriend Sophie Hunter. The two have been quietly dating for months, and the couple have made just a handful of public outings together.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will soon reshuffle his Cabinet. The move has been necessitated due to many reasons, mainly the overburdening of some ministers.

The key portfolios of defence and finance are handled by Arun Jaitley, which is considered an impossible task. CNN IBN reports that the PM is keen to move Goa CM Manohar Parrikar to Delhi to be the defence minister.

Ravi Shankar Prasad (information technology and law) and Prakash Javadekar (information and broadcasting, and environment) are also handling two ministries each.

Modi is looking for more energy quotient in his ministry. The image has been gaining ground that Modi is struggling to bring in change without the backing of a strong council of ministers.

Except for Jaitley, Sushma Swaraj (external affairs) and Rajnath Singh (home), there are no political heavyweights in Modi's Cabinet.

Also, Sushma's political mandate is limited while Rajnath has Ajit Doval, national security advisor, overlooking his tasks. Read more

Prime Minister Narendra Modi does not mince words. He has been calling up senior union ministers and telling them to perform and perform quickly, we hear. 

Modi also called a union minister and said that he had received reports that the said minister was neither attending office nor clearing files.

Within 120 minutes of the call, this is what happened:

1. The minister rushed to his office in CGO Complex.
2. A meeting of senior officials was called.
3. Forty files were cleared.

That's what a single phone call can do.

More on Arvind Kejriwal's interview to ANI: "We offered her (Kiran Bedi) the CM candidature for AAP, five times but she declined it.

RBI governor Raghuram Rajan is a Tamil Brahmin, an Iyengar, but he does not speak in his mother tongue whenever he meets union minister Nirmala Sitaraman or politicians from Tamil Nadu or for that matter Tamil-speaking babus.

That's a departure from Pepsico chief Indra Nooyi who always sends text messages or emails in chaste Tamil and speaks in a typical Mylapore Brahmin accent to Sitharaman, P Chidambaram or to APJ Abdul Kalam.

Nooyi was born in Tamil Nadu but is a naturalised US citizen.

Telecom major Bharti Airtel has called off its plans to acquire business and assets of Mumbai based Loop Mobile, for about Rs 700 crore, as the Department of Telecom is yet to clear the deal. "Loop Mobile and Bharti applied to DoT for approval of the business transfer in March 2014.

The approval for the transaction is still awaited from the relevant authorities as a result of which Bharti Airtel has withdrawn from the proposed transaction causing huge loss to the company," Loop Mobile spokesperson said.

DoT is yet to give clearance to the deal as it estimates that Loop Mobile and its sister concern Loop Telecom owe about Rs 808 crore in spectrum and other charges to the government.

Loop Mobile's permit in Mumbai is expiring on November 29 and the company did not purchase spectrum in February auction which was mandatory for continuing its operations.

Airtel had signed a deal with Loop in February this year to buy business and assets of Loop Mobile in Mumbai under a strategic agreement for about Rs 700 crore.

Under the agreement, Loop Mobile's 3 million subscribers (at that time) in Mumbai were suppose to join Airtel's over 4 million subscribers, making it largest network in the metropolitan city.

Kejriwal in an interview to ANI says, "I haven't performed badly both as a CM and a party convener, party should support me. AAP will go to polls with a CM candidate, who will be the CM candidate party will decide. I never commented on personalities of Modi-ji, Rahul-ji or Vadra-ji. I spoke on issues. People in Delhi need to understand that Narendra Modi will not be the CM of Delhi, it will be some Mukhi or Khattar."

AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal on resigning as Delhi CM: We all make mistakes, we are humans. I have accepted I made a mistake by giving my resignation. AAP will go to polls with a CM candidate, who will be the CM candidate party will decide."

A Turkish cosmetics company committed -- in nonadvertising speak -- a bit of a marketing no-no when it used a picture of 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed in a recent ad campaign.

The company, in an attempt to hawk its hair removal products, repurposed a picture of the al-Qaida leader accompanied by a caption urging Turkish men to act now.

"The ad for the hair removal product reads, in Turkish, 'Waiting won't get rid of that hair!' or, more literally, 'The hair will not go away because you keep waiting!' ' according to Turkey's English-language paper, Hurriyet Daily News.

The image of KSM, as Vox points out, is ubiquitous, and the picture'"taken when KSM was captured in Pakistan in 2003'"was for many years the only known photo of the terrorist leader who is currently a prisoner in Guantnamo. Read more

A notification issued by the Home Ministry said that President Pranab Mukherjee has dissolved the "Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi with immediate effect" on November 4.

The Union Cabinet had yesterday recommended the dissolution of the Assembly following recommendation of LG Najeeb Jung after talks on Monday with BJP, Congress and AAP which expressed inability to form government and sought fresh mandate.

While fresh elections may be held early next year, the process for the November 25 by-elections to three constituencies, for which last date of nominations is today, was revoked by the Election Commission today.

As the race for the Delhi polls hots up with the President dissolving the assembly today, AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal tweets this picture and says, "Our legal hoardings torn. Anyone's guess who wud have done it. Are they soooo scared?"

BJP MP from Chhapra, Rajiv Pratap Rudy has been sent to a punishment posting to Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.

Here's the inside story. Rudy was the party's central observer during the Maharashtra elections, but his failure to get a majority for the party has been frowned upon by the powers that be. 

So, Rudy has got marching orders out of Maharashtra and was told to head to Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.

This is also believed to be a reminder from the party that they will not forget that Rudy was in the Advani camp and therefore needed to be cut to size.

After the Bihar elections in mid of 2015, Rudy will have to strive hard to keep his position in the BJP.

Rahul Gandhi denies naming Sajjan Kumar, Jagdish Tytler in Congress panel for upcoming Delhi elections: NDTV.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley today expressed hope that the long-pending and controversial Insurance Amendment Bill, that seeks to raise FDI in the sector from existing 26 per cent to 49 per cent, will get Parliament nod in the upcoming Winter Session.

"I do hope that the amended bill would be passed in the forthcoming session of Parliament later this month," Jaitley said at the India Economic Summit here. The month-long Winter Session of Parliament is scheduled to commence from November 24.

Stage set for polls as President Pranab Mukherjee dissolves Delhi assembly.

Black buck poaching case: The Supreme Court reserves the order on the Rajasthan govt's appeal against suspending conviction of actor Salman Khan. The SC questions if Salman deserved relief only to enable him to travel to the UK; the court says Salman remains a convict.

Reportedly, today was supposed to be the final hearing in connection with infamous 1998 case. Salman was convicted and sentenced to one year and five-year prison term in separate cases of poaching of two Chinkaras at Bhawad and one black buck at Ghoda Farm (Mathania) on the intervening night of September 26-27, 1998 and September 28-29, 1998 respectively.

Buzz is that Rahul Gandhi got pictures of P V Narasimha Rao and GK Moopanar removed from the Congress Membership Identity card meant for Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Tamil Nadu Congress workers.
Vasan's supporters are angry with Rahul and see no reason why Kamaraj and Moopanar's photographs should have been taken off from the cards since they've been there for the last 20 years. 

And that, dear reader, was the straw that broke G K Vasan's back and prompted him to walk out of the Congress.

Congress leaders in Andhra Pradesh are also planning to break away from the Congress.

Meanwhile, in the US mid-term polls -- the only Indian American in the US Congress, Democrat Dr Amerish 'Ami' Bera, 49, was in a dead heat with Republican challenger, former US Congressman Doug Ose, leading by a few hundred votes by 50.4 percent to 49.6 percent with 56 percent of the precincts reporting in Sacramento's 7th Congressional District.

Another closely-watched race in California, in Silicon Valley's 17th Congressional District, the iconic Asian American incumbent Mike Honda, 73, was leading comfortably by 53.5 percent over Indian American challenger Ro Khanna who had garnered 46.5 per cent.

Here are the other names in Rahul Gandhi's panel for the Delhi polls. DPCC chief Arvinder Singh Lovely, Ajay Maken, Shakeel Ahmed and Haroon Yusuf. Expect a huge, huge backlash from both the BJP and the AAP for the decision to have 1984 riots tainted leaders Sajjan Kumar and Jagdish Tytler in the panel as well. What was he thinking?

Meanwhile, Senior Congress leader Haroon Yusuf said, "The BJP has to answer why the elections in Delhi were repeatedly re-scheduled in last five months."

The Congress party has also not named its chief ministerial candidate. The AAP has tried to pitch it as a direct fight between Arvind Kejriwal and senior BJP leader Jagdish Mukhi but the latter refused to bite the bullet.

Jaitley on Pakistan incursions: The kind of misadventure when you start killing civilians probably have consequences which will be unaffordable to Pakistan. India wants to normalize relations with Pakistan, does Pakistan want the same? Question is who decides these things in Pakistan? 

Finance minister Arun Jaitley's address to investors at the World Economic Forum continues in Delhi. Big takeaways include...

-- Allegations of crony capitalism were true (under last government).

-- Element of fairness in the system was lacking. Reforms in developed society are different because people there have already tasted fruits of development. In a country where a very large number of people are so poor, for governments to push reforms is far more challenging. Our reform process cannot be one that simply confronts public opinion - doubts have to be cleared. Debate has to continuously go on.

-- Retrospective tax (Vodafone case) was a bad idea which damaged the economy.

-- Railways was almost close to private sec investment let alone foreign,if initial experiments succeed will enable us to open up more:

-- We welcome large investment participation, even international participation in area of infrastructure.

-- No quarrel with provision raising compensation to farmers in Land Acquisition Act but land acquisition procedure made complicated.

-- India not opposed to trade facilitation under WTO; a permanent solution should be found in stock holding in agriculture.

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi chooses Sajjan Kumar and Jagdish Tytler in his core team for the Delhi Election. So much for the clean politics Rahul has promised voters -- both Kumar and Tytler are linked to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots. 

Finance minister Arun Jaitley addresses investors at the World Economic Forum in Delhi.

Jaitley says that he is satisfied with the beginning the government has made, but admits that it will take a lot of time to rectify the economy.

"Reforms is not about one sensational idea. No step should be taken which sends a contrary signal, one has to pursue in one direction, and the present government is doing that.

"The pit was reasonably deep, rectifying that is going to take a lot of time, and a large number of steps is required," he said. 

The Indian Navy today pulled out two warships from the Calcutta port, citing "operational reasons', after an alert of a possible terror strike that could damage the vessels.

The alert is understood to have specified that militants in the guise of visitors or staff who have access to the port could threaten the security of the berths and assets on the waterside in Kidderpore.

Terror alerts are fairly routine but the Burdwan blast last month has added an edge to the latest intelligence input. Read

Who is he (Arvind Kejriwal) to decide about Cong or BJP? He should see his own house first: Satish Upadhyay on CM candidate for Delhi poll

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh received one of Japan's top national awards today, for his contribution to India-Japan ties, becoming the first Indian to receive the rare honour.

Singh was awarded 'The Grand Cordon of the Order of the Paulownia Flowers' for his "significant contribution to the enhancement of relations and promotion of friendship" between Japan and India for about 35 years.

Pic: Manmohan Singh receiving the award from Japanese emperor Akihito. 

As Delhi heads towards elections (dates not announced yet), former Delhi CM Sheila Dixit has said that she will not contest the elections, but will help the Congress.

Ignoring weak global cues, benchmark indices gained ground on Wednesday when the markets resumed for trading after a day's holiday on 4 November on account of Mohrrum.

The S&P BSE Sensex crossed the 28,000 mark for the first time ever - hitting a high of 28006.60 in morning deals. The CNX Nifty, on the other hand, is trading nearly 0.5% higher at 8,360 at 10:07 am after a technical glitch caused around 15-minute delay in stock feed updatation when the markets opened for trade at 9:15am.

The Congress plans a public pledge on Jawaharlal Nehru's birth anniversary on November 14 and stoutly denies that it is borrowing the idea from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who administered two public pledges last month on the birth anniversaries of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Read more

The election shaped by widespread voter discontent with Obama could complicate his last two years in office, reducing his room to maneuver but also potentially opening new areas for compromise. As polls close across the country, early results indicate a number of both Democratic and Republican Senate incumbents have held onto their seats.

Here's what the senate election results look like. Take a look.

And back in India...The Sensex today breached the 28,000-mark for the first time in early trade. The Nifty too rose to 8,363, also a new high.

The Sensex and NSE Nifty have hit a new high for the fourth consecutive session, buoyed by growing optimism about Indian economy. The announcement of stimulus measures from Bank of Japan on Friday also boosted the sentiment.

CNN projects Republicans win United States Senate majority. This means they will control Congress during Obama's last years in office.

The thumping win upends the balance of power between the White House and Capitol Hill only six years after Obama's Democrats swept to power and marginalized Republicans in a rush to reform health care, Wall Street and pass a huge stimulus package.

Now, it's Democrats who will take the back seat on Capitol Hill, relying mostly on the power of the filibuster to stymie Republicans and keep Obama's legacy intact.

Image: Image: US Republican Senator Rand Paul from Kentucky  waves with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and McConnell's wife, former United States Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao, at McConnell's midterm election night victory rally in Louisville, Kentucky

Rediff.com's George Joseph reports:  "I am deeply honoured to have been elected the State Representative for Ohio's 42nd House District. I'll make you proud,' tweeted Niraj Antani, a 23-year-old law student at University of Dayton.

"I will work hard and fight every day for my constituents in the Ohio House of Representatives. Together, I know that we can create opportunities so all can achieve their American Dream. Thank you."

Antani, a Republican, trounced Democratic Party's Patrick Merris, a member of the city council in West Carrollton.The party central committee chose him in the fourth ballot against four candidates, older than him and well known in party circles.

The seat fell vacant after the three-term state Rep Terry Blair, 67, died in office in June. Since Blair had won the party primary in May, it fell on the party to select the next candidate.

CNN reports: Republican Rep Cory Gardner has won the race for Colorado's US Senate seat, defeating one-term incumbent Senator Mark Udall, according to a CNN projection.

The win leaves Republicans one seat away from a Senate majority. 

With a resounding victory in the Republican Primary and later the withdrawal of the Democratic opponent from election from District 66, Dr Sabi Kumar of Springfield, was assured of a seat in Tennessee State House of Representatives weeks ago, reports Rediff.com's George Joseph.

Once the election is over, Representative Sabi 'Doc' Kumar looks forward to serving in the Tennessee Legislature. He is the first Indian to become a member of the House in Tennessee when the legislative session begins in 2015.

Kumar, a surgeon, has served in Springfield for 37 years. "It has been a remarkable journey. Considering that I came to this community as an adult immigrant, the mere fact that I could run for public office is a reward in itself. But, to win the election is indeed an honor. I am fortunate to live in a wonderful community. It is truly a great country that we live in," he said.

Rediff.com's George Joseph reports: Connecticut State Representative Dr Prasad Srinivasan, a Republican, won re-election for a third term to the State House, unopposed.

The Democrats choose not to put up a candidate against Srinivasan, a medical doctor, who has a proven track record for serving all people in the state. Even Democrats were supporting his candidacy. His strategy of starting an aggressive campaign early on in June itself sent a strong signal that he was not taking the election for granted. He greeted people at cross roads and knocked on the doors of many houses.

"I made it loud and clear that I was not taking any chances or sitting idle," Dr Srinivasan said.

He added that he was "extremely happy with what he could achieve in the last four years in the assembly". "When so many Democrats come to me to appreciate my work I feel touched. I worked for all and for the right causes for the people," he said. 

Rediff.com's Aziz Haniffa reports from Washington, DC:  Democratic Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard, the only Hindu American in the United States House of Representatives and a darling of the Indian American community is coasting to a rollicking re-election victory in Hawaii's 2nd District.

She has been called up for active duty and will not be returning to Capitol Hill on November 12 when the US Congress reconvenes after the mid-term elections.Gabbard has been called up for activation by the Hawaii army national guard to support their assistance to Hawaii County's response to the ongoing Kilauea lava flow.

The first and only Hindu American in Congress, who was elected two years ago, serves as a military police captain.

Her office said that because of Pentagon rules, "During this time, she will be unable to accept media requests or make public statements related to her official Congressional duties."

"Her offices in Hawaii and Washington DC will remain open and serving her constituents during this period.  The duration of her duty is yet to be determined," a close aide to Gabbard told rediff.com.

Indian-American Republican Nikki Haley was re-elected to a second term as South Carolina's governor.

Haley faced Democrat Vincent Sheheen at the polls, in a rematch of their 2010 race.

Haley was declared the winner based on projections from exit poll data that suggests the Republican will win by a wider margin than 2010, when just 4.5 percentage points separated her from Sheheen.

Chattergam shooting: Army in damage control mode

Will sit in opposition if BJP doesn't make 'respectable' offer, says Sena

NCAER lowers India's growth forecast to 5%

Selection of squad for Aus tour postponed; Binny replaces Aaron for SL ODIs

Manavaditya Rathore wins gold at Asian Shotgun Championships

Muslim world mourns on Muharram