New Delhi/Srinagar, Nov 20 (IANS) Moderate Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who is slated to travel to China, has said Beijing has a 'direct link with Kashmir'.

Ghaziabad, Nov 20 (IANS) The Hindon river can literally breathe easy now. Civic authorities here Friday launched a huge 'prayer chamber' along the river banks especially designed to immerse puja ritual materials like flowers and ash - in a move to clean up the river and reduce pollution.

Chandigarh, Nov 20 (IANS) City police Friday said they had solved a spate of snatchings and robberies, in which elderly women out on morning walk were attacked, with the arrest of a man.

Lucknow, Nov 20 (IANS) The six new medical colleges and two para-medical colleges coming up in Uttar Pradesh would be run under a public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement.

New Delhi, Nov 20 (IANS) The Dalai Lama Friday said here that India should be seen as one of the most important Asian countries. He also stressed that while he no longer considered himself the temporal leader of Tibetans, China had 'revitalised' him as a politician.

Chandigarh, Nov 20 (IANS) The Chandigarh police Friday conducted surprise raids at various cyber cafes in this union territory and found over a dozen cafes were not keeping proper records of the customers.

New Delhi, Nov 20 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has strongly condemned Friday's attack by Shiv Sena activists on the offices of IBN-Lokmat network channel in Mumbai and Pune.

New Delhi, Nov 20 (IANS) Tamil Nadu crushed Punjab by an innings and 45 runs on the fourth and the last day of the Ranji Trophy Super League match at Amritsar Friday.

New Delhi, Nov 20 (IANS) Scientists Friday said that the government was in the process of formulating guidelines for regulation of probiotic foods, which have flooded the Indian markets, and the guidelines would be in place by January 2010.

Hyderabad, Nov 20 (IANS) Top Maoist leader Kobad Ghandy, who was arrested in New Delhi two months ago, was Friday brought to a court in Karimnagar town of Andhra Pradesh in the case of the murder of former Assembly Speaker D. Sripada Rao.

Bangalore, Nov 20 (IANS) Global technology and manufacturing major Honeywell International is upbeat on growing its business in India in the light of opportunities emerging in aerospace, homeland security, environment and infrastructure.

Bhubaneswar, Nov 20 (IANS) At least two tribals were killed Friday when police opened fire at a mob that attacked a police station in Orissa's Koraput district, an official said.

New Delhi, Nov 20 (ANI): Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh leaves for United States on invitation of President Barack Obama on Saturday, but chances are very slim that any big-ticket agreements will be signed.

New Delhi, Nov 20(ANI): Lawyers from Uttar Pradesh held a demonstration in the national capital on Friday, demanding setting up of a Bench of the Allahabad High court in the region.

Coimbatore, Nov 20(ANI): Green house technology is getting popular among the farmers in Tamil Nadu, where a farmer has reaped rich dividends by growing tomatoes with this technology.

New Delhi, Nov 20 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Friday said that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), its ideological fountainhead, was not interfering in choosing the next party president.

Hyderabad, Nov 20 (IANS) National champion Meenal Thakur saw off a spirited challenge from her younger sister Anuja Chandra for a 4-3 decision and progressed to the quarter-finals in the women's section of the ONGC-IBSF World Snooker championship, here Friday.

New Delhi, Nov 20 (IANS) India Friday said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will raise the issue of terrorism emanating from Pakistan-based extremist groups with US President Barack Obama in Washington next week, and underlined the need for Islamabad to dismantle the infrastructure of terrorism.

New Delhi/Washington, Nov 20 (IANS) India and the US are set to unveil a new template for expanding their partnership by firming up a new counter-terror framework and signing a clutch of agreements in areas ranging from agriculture and green energy to trade and health when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh meets US President Barack Obama in Washington Tuesday.

New Delhi, Nov 20 (IANS) Two people were arrested here Friday for allegedly shooting at a property dealer in south Delhi, injuring him severely, police said.

Chennai, Nov 20 (IANS) India's Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu raised his game to upset top seeded Andrew Wagih Shoukry of Egypt 11-3, 11-6, 11-7, to enter the final of the PSA Challenger Series squash tournament, here Friday.

New Delhi, Nov 20(ANI): External Affairs Minister SM Krishna on Friday said that Chairman of the separatist Hurriyat (Freedom) Conference Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was free to travel wherever he wanted, including China.

Mumbai, Nov 20(ANI): Personnel of the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) platoon, who were deployed at the Gateway of India in Mumbai to guard the Taj Mahal Hotel- one of the prime targets of 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, were sent back to their barracks on Friday.

New Delhi, Nov 20 (IANS) India football captain Bhaichung Bhutia has been advised three weeks' rest after he stretched calf-muscle at the national training camp at Margao in Goa.

Manali, Nov 20 (IANS) Eight people were killed Friday as they were caught in high velocity winds near the snow-capped Rohtang Pass in Himachal Pradesh, an official said. Seven of the victims were from Jharkhand.

Bhubaneswar, Nov 20 (IANS) At least two people were killed when police opened fire Friday on a mob attacking a police station in Orissa's Koraput district, an official said

New Delhi, Nov 20 (IANS) Hockey India (HI) president Ashok Kumar Mattoo's assertion in Pune that Rajpal Singh was not the choice of selectors for captaincy is factually correct -- but an HI release clearly mentioned the striker as captain for the Champions Challenge tournament in Argentina.

New Delhi/Washington, Nov 20 (IANS) India and the US are set to unveil a new template for expanding their partnership by firming up a new counter-terror framework and deepening their strategic dialogue on key global issues, including non-proliferation and climate change, when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh meets US President Barack Obama in Washington Tuesday.

Kolkata, Nov 20 (IANS) To get more young people to vote, the Election Commission (EC) is planning to issue temporary Electronic Photo Identity Cards (EPIC) to students settled outside their home states.

Lucknow, Nov 20 (IANS) Four people were killed and one seriously injured when a train rammed into a tractor-trolley on the outskirts of the state capital early Friday, officials said.

Kolkata, Nov 20 (IANS) India Power Corp Ltd (IPCL), a consortium comprising Srei Infrastructure Finance and Bhaskar Silicon, was Friday selected for picking up a controlling 57.17 percent stake in power utility DPSC Ltd.

Amritsar, Nov 20 (ANI): Under the aegis of the Institute for Multi-Track Diplomacy (IMTD), the US based NGO is preparing a blueprint for the peace corridor between India and Pakistan in order to support the safe and easy passage of pilgrims to Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib.

New Delhi, Nov 20(ANI): Union Environment and Forest Minister Jairam Ramesh on Friday said that India needs better governance to support its progressive forest and environment laws.

Bhubaneshwar, Nov 20(ANI): A visually impaired family has formed a musical orchestra group to showcase their talent in Orissa.

Aurangabad (Maharashtra), Nov 20(ANI): Recent heavy unseasonal rains in Maharashtra's Aurangabad district have destroyed crops, including cotton, maize and sugarcane.

Amritsar, Nov 20 (IANS) This is one 'success' that has left the customs department in Amritsar sector embarrassed. Over 14 months after they seized fake currency from a woman coming from Pakistan, officials checked the rest of her baggage and found heroin worth Rs.10 crores (Rs. 100 million) in it.

New Delhi, Nov 20 (IANS) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Friday mourned the death of veteran Congress leader and former minister B. Shankaranand, who headed the joint parliamentary probe into the $1.3 billion Bofors gun scandal.

Ahmedabad, Nov 20 (IANS) Teenaged Abhijit Chadha won his maiden title on the amateur circuit by three shots at the inaugural LG Gujarat Open at the par-72 Kensville Golf Club here Friday.

Bhubaneswar, Nov 20 (IANS) Home Secretary G.K. Pillai Friday ruled out military action against Maoists who he described as 'terrorists'.

Chandigarh, Nov 20 (IANS) The Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), the main opposition party in Haryana, Friday demanded a probe into Haryana Janhit Congress (HJC) legislators switching sides and supporting the Congress, violating the anti-defection law.

New Delhi, Nov 20 (IANS) Delhi Police Friday arrested a security guard for stealing laptops from a warehouse where he worked, a police official said Friday.

New Delhi, Nov 20 (IANS) The Delhi High Court Friday pulled up the state government for adopting a discriminatory attitude towards some convicts, allowing them parole easily and quickly while applications of others are kept pending for months.

New Delhi, Nov 20 (IANS) With two out of every three children, a majority studying in schools, reported being physically abused in India, a child rights organization Friday called for immediate implementation of the proposed safer schools guideline in the country.

New Delhi, Nov 20 (IANS) Some 3,000 Indians, mostly in Jammu and Kashmir, have been killed in landmine explosions over the past 10 years, according to an NGO working for a world free of antipersonnel landmines and cluster munitions.

New Delhi, Nov 20 (IANS) The Delhi High Court Friday asked Delhi Police to provide security to the mother and her family of a boy who was allegedly beaten up by policemen after he helped a victim of a roadside brawl.

New Delhi, Nov 20 (IANS) In a bid to spread awareness on HIV/AIDS, the Confederation of Indian Industriy (CII) Friday announced the launch of a toll free helpline in four languages.

New Delhi/Srinagar, Nov 20 (IANS) Jammu and Kashmir's Hurriyat leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was free to travel anywhere he wanted to, including China, but his visa should not be separately stapled as the Chinese embassy issues to Kashmiris, the government said Friday.

Ranchi, Nov 20 (IANS) The Congress is campaigning hard in Jharkhand for the coming assembly polls, with party chief Sonia Gandhi addressing two rallies in the state Friday and party general secretary Rahul Gandhi set to address four meetings Saturday.

New Delhi, Nov 20 (IANS) The Delhi High Court Friday refused to grant bail to a man who was accused of being responsible for his wife's suicide and said the deceased died because of 'great trauma and mental agony'.

New Delhi, Nov 20 (IANS) The Archdiocese of Delhi Friday said it would like to partner with the Delhi and Haryana governments to develop schools that would provide affordable education as access to schools was increasingly going beyond the poor man's reach.

New Delhi, Nov 20 (IANS) Indian Internet shoppers spent on an average $2,086 (Rs.97,200) in the past 12 months, according to the Visa e-Commerce Consumer Monitor survey report released Friday.

Ranchi, Nov 20 (IANS) Maoist guerrillas Friday continued their violence spree in Jharkhand, after blowing up a passenger train overnight that left a woman and an infant dead, police said.

New Delhi, Nov 20 (IANS) The Supreme Court Friday suspended a Madhya Pradesh High Court order directing the state government to give land to the adult children of those displaced by the Indira Sagar dam project on Narmada river.

New Delhi, Nov 20 (IANS) Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit Friday launched the 'Time for Change' campaign against child labour and asked police to proactively take action against offenders.

New Delhi, Nov 20 (IANS) The release date of Farhan Akhtar's 'Karthik Calling Karthik' has now been pushed ahead to avoid a clash with Amitabh Bachchan starrer 'Teen Patti'.

New Delhi, Nov 20 (IANS) The health ministry will spend Rs.9.2 billion this financial year for promoting Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH) - the Indian systems of medicine - in the country, Minister of State for Health S. Gandhiselvan told parliament Friday.

Amethi (Uttar Pradesh), Nov 20 (IANS) A smiling Priyanka Gandhi drove her elder brother and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi to his constituency Amethi after landing at the nearest airport Friday - all the while keeping the media at bay.

New Delhi, Nov 20 (IANS) Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit Friday launched a website that will have information on all lost children staying in children's homes in the capital.

Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 20 (IANS) The central government has formally notified the third phase of the Technopark IT campus here and that at Kollam as special economic zones (SEZ), according to the Kerala government.

Ahmedabad, Nov 20 (IANS) Gautam Gambhir and Sachin Tendulkar Friday hit match-saving centuries as India drew the first cricket Test, leaving Sri Lanka still without a Test victory in this country.

Jaipur, Nov 20(ANI): A Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) is setting up a hospital for camels in Jaipur, which will be completed by the end of the year.

New Delhi, Nov 20 (IANS) By-elections to fill assembly vacancies in Andhra Pradesh, Manipur and Tamil Nadu will be held Dec 19, the Election Commission announced Friday.

New Delhi, Nov 20 (IANS) If you are a fan of US President Barack Obama and want to take him everywhere with you, then buy one of the many jute bags with images of him and his family on them available at the India International Trade Fair (IITF).

Manali, Nov 20 (IANS) At least eight people were killed Friday as high velocity icy winds lashed Himachal Pradesh's Kullu district, an official said.

New Delhi, Nov 20 (IANS) Putting an end to the bitter row, the central government Friday decided to restore the earlier sugarcane pricing policy, a move welcomed by opposition parties.

Ahmedabad, Nov 20 (IANS) Sachin Tendulkar reached another milestone Friday when he completed 30,000 runs in international cricket en route his century on the last day of the first Test against Sri Lanka here.

Lucknow, Nov 20 (IANS) Policemen and passport officials here are blaming each other for a passport issued by the Regional Passport Office to suspected Pakistani spy Amir Ali, arrested in New Delhi last month.

Mumbai, Nov 20 (IANS) Suspected Shiv Sena activists Friday ransacked the offices of the IBN-Lokmat television channel in north-east Mumbai and in Pune and assaulted journalists.

New Delhi, Nov 20 (ANI): With less than a week to go before the first anniversary of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, Defence Minister A.K. Antony reviewed the security scenario in the country in a high level meeting here on Friday.

New Delhi, Nov 20 (ANI): Union Government on Friday informed the Lok Sabha that it has taken a series of measures to promote safety in and around oil depots across the country.

Amethi, Nov 20 (ANI): Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi said here on Friday that more women should be associated with self help groups working in rural areas to make them financially strong.

Mumbai, Nov 20 (ANI): At least 25 people were hurt when Shiv Sena allegedly attacked the offices of IBN7 and IBN Lokmat, the Hindi and Marathi news channels of the IBN Network on Friday afternoon.

Meghatpu (Orissa), Nov 20 (ANI): Maoist activists on Friday exploded a bomb in a Steel Authority of India (SAIL) mine here on Friday.

Chennai, Nov 20 (IANS) Private sector insurer IDBI Fortis Life Insurance is planning to double its headcount to 2,000 as well as expand its branch network in the country.

Hyderabad, Nov 20 (IANS) In his first attempt to prove that he is a crowd puller, the late Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy's son and Congress MP Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy Friday drew good response when he campaigned for the party's candidates in Greater Hyderabad municipal elections.

Mumbai, Nov 20 (IANS) A late rally by banking and energy stocks Friday helped a benchmark index close above the 17,000-point mark, up 1.41 percent, after languishing in the negative terrain for most of the day.

New Delhi, Nov 20 (IANS) India has offered all help to the small African island nation of Cape Verde, which has asked for assistance especially in developing its information technology sector.

Bhopal, Nov 20 (IANS) For the first time in Madhya Pradesh, a clutch of children released the Unicef State of the World Children Report 2009 here Friday, praising the efforts of the government for their survival, care and protection but also calling for more focus.

Palakkad (Kerala), Nov 20 (IANS) While former Kerala chief minister K.Karunakaran's son K.Muraleedharan is meeting Congress leaders in Delhi to plead for his re-entry to the party, leader of opposition Oommen Chandy Friday said no such talks were going on this issue.

New Delhi/Srinagar, Nov 20 (IANS) Jammu and Kashmir's separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was free to travel anywhere he wanted to, External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna said here Friday. The chief of the moderate faction of the Hurriyat Conference plans to visit China and Pakistan after Eid on Nov 28.

New Delhi, Nov 20 (IANS) A day after a passenger was killed and 40 others were injured in a train derailment after Maoist guerrillas blew up a track in Jharkhand, the government Friday asked the civil society to condemn such 'wanton acts of violence' meant to sabotage polls in the state.

Colombo, Nov 20 (IANS) The security situation in Sri Lanka has improved since the defeat of the Tamil Tigers but Americans travelling to the country should remain careful, the US said Friday.

Panaji, Nov 20 (IANS) The Congress Friday criticised the Indian Navy for its delay in parting with 2.5 acres of land sought by government agencies for the expansion of Goa's only airport at Dabolim.

Ahmedabad, Nov 20 (IANS) Scoreboard of the first cricket Test between India and Sri Lanka at Motera's Sardar Patel Stadium that ended in a draw here Friday.

Hamilton, Nov 20 (IANS) As many as 32,573 Indian nationals obtained visitor visas during 2008-09 for New Zealand which has topped a survey of tourism organisations from around the world to rank the best destination brands, says official data released Friday.

New Delhi, Nov 20 (IANS) The defence ministry has in principle approved the purchase of US firm Boeing's C-17 heavy lift aircraft for the Indian Air Force (IAF), which is hoping to replace its ageing fleet of Russian IL-76 transport aircraft, an official said Friday.

New Delhi, Nov 20 (IANS) In order to increase urea production, the government is considering reviving closed units and has drawn up a new investment policy to attract investments in this sector, the Rajya Sabha was told Friday.

New Delhi, Nov 20 (IANS) Emphasising the threat of civil war in Afghanistan if the US withdrew its forces, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has warned of 'catastrophic consequences for the world, particularly for South Asia' if the Taliban triumphed.

Kathmandu, Nov 20 (IANS) India and Nepal Friday kicked off water-sharing talks in the Himalayan republic that will finally give a push to the massive 6,000 MW Pancheswor Multipurpose Project more than 10 years after the two governments signed a treaty to develop the hydro-power project.

Mumbai, Nov 20 (IANS) Suspected Shiv Sainiks Friday attacked and vandalised the office of the IBN Lokmat TV channel at Vikhroli in north-east Mumbai.

New Delhi, Nov 20 (IANS) Progress on child issues is slow even though India has accomplished a great deal in ensuring the rights of children almost two decades after it ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), Unicef India representative Karin Holshof said Friday.

New Delhi, Nov 20 (IANS) The Supreme Court Friday dismissed a plea to ban idol immersions in water bodies across the country, saying restrictions would militate against the fundamental right of a section of citizens to profess and practice the religion of their choice.

Ahmedabad, Nov 20 (ANI): Two Non-Governmental Organisations-Aadhar and Saral-are helping HIV-infected women prepare and sell nutritious and tasty food items in Ahmedabad.

Chandigarh, Nov 20 (IANS) Chandigarh's oldest boys school has sought the intervention of the National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions against the union territory administration for 'interfering' in the school's internal matters. However, officials have denied the charge of interference.

Bangalore, Nov 20 (IANS) Nehru-Gandhi family loyalist and long time Congressman B. Shankaranand, who headed the joint parliamentary probe into $1.3 billion Bofors gun scandal, died Thursday of cardiac arrest. He was 84.

Ahmedabad, Nov 20 (IANS) India drew the first cricket Test with Sri Lanka at Motera's Sardar Patel Stadium here Friday.

New Delhi, Nov 20 (IANS) Moving beyond the transformational nuclear deal, India and the US are set to unveil a new template for deepening strategic partnership on key global challenges, ranging from counter-terrorism to non-proliferation and climate change, when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh meets US President Barack Obama in Washington Tuesday.

Bangalore, Nov 20 (IANS) Frail and wrinkled Shivaswamy goes around the agri fair here - not to learn about the latest trends in farming but to tap people for a job. The 56-year-old farmer's small field was destroyed in the Karnataka floods.

Bhopal, Nov 20 (IANS) The Madhya Pradesh police Friday ordered an inquiry into the circumstances that led to three prisoners of Central Jail escaping from police custody, an official said.

Mumbai, Nov 20 (IANS) A late rally by banking and energy stocks Friday helped a benchmark index close above the 17,000-mark, up 1.47 percent, after languishing in the negative terrain for most part of the day.

New Delhi, Nov 20 (IANS) The government should sell off half its public sector undertakings and use the $200 billion it will thus make to build environmental assets, 13th Finance Commission Chairman Vijay Kelkar said here Friday.

New Delhi, Nov 20(ANI): Ahead of his landmark visit to the United States, the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, has asserted that India wants the US to use all of its influence with Pakistan to stop it from sponsoring terrorism.

Mumbai, Nov 20 (ANI): The Maharashtra Government on Friday ordered an inquiry into the violation of human rights of three undertrial prisoners by the state police.

Amethi (Uttar Pradesh), Nov 20 (IANS) Priyanka Gandhi took to the wheel even as elder brother and Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi sat next to her after the two landed in his constituency Amethi Friday.

New Delhi, Nov 20 (IANS) Pakistan was using 'terror as an instrument of state policy' and the US must use 'all its influence' to get it to desist from that path, says Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh ahead of his visit to Washington.

Dhanbad, Nov 19 (IANS) Congress president Sonia Gandhi Friday asked the people of Jharkhand to vote for her party in the coming assembly elections so that the state could have a stable and corruption free government that would ensure development for the tribals.

Kathmandu, Nov 20 (IANS) Nepal's historic peace pact, which ended a decade of violent communist insurgency, turned three years Friday under the threat of unravelling.

New Delhi, Nov 20 (IANS) With 25 new dengue cases reported in the capital Friday, the total number of people affected with the vector borne disease touched 970, health officials said.

New Delhi, Nov.20 (ANI): The Asian Centre for Human Rights today urged Home Minister P. Chidambaram to order an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the killing of one Mizo youth identified as Zarzokima on November 13 and the subsequent burning down of villages inhabited by the Brus also known as the Reangs in Mizoram since November 14.

Ludhiana, Nov 20 (ANI): The grand set of Hollywood's blockbuster 'The Mummy' is being recreated in Ludhiana for a pre-wedding ceremony.

Srinagar, Nov 20 (ANI): About half a million migratory birds have arrived for their annual sojourn at the Hokersar wetlands in Kashmir from Central Asia.

Imphal, Nov 20 (ANI): Suspected militants lobbed a grenade on an army convoy here on Thursday, injuring two soldiers.

Kanchanpur/Janpui (Tripura), Nov 20 (ANI): Tension continues to prevail in border areas along Mizoram and Tripura.

Doars (WB), Nov 20 (ANI): A herd of around 25 wild elephants has entered a tea garden in the Doars region of West Bengal.

New Delhi, Nov 20 (IANS) It's nothing short of a Bollywood love story. India's Zubair Khan and Bangladesh's Shazia Zarin met on Facebook, fell in love, she fled from home, they got married and are expecting a child. Now the girl's millionaire businessman father is seeking her deportation, and the desperate couple is pleading with President Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to intervene.

Kochi, Nov 20 (IANS) Another glass ceiling was broken Friday as two women were commissioned into the Indian Navy as navigators in the flying branch, in a way also becoming the first women combatants in the armed forces.

Ahmedabad, Nov 20 (IANS) Scoreboard at tea on the fifth day of the first cricket Test between India and Sri Lanka at Motera's Sardar Patel Stadium here Friday.

New Delhi, Nov 20 (IANS) Sugarcane stems and broken dustbins at Janpath market in the heart of the capital Friday bore testimony to the vandalism by farmers, a day after nearly 30,000 of them descended here from Uttar Pradesh to protest the new sugarcane pricing policy.

Ahmedabad, Nov 20 (IANS) India were 341 for four in their second innings against Sri Lanka at tea on the fifth day of the first cricket Test here Friday.

Mumbai, Nov 20 (IANS) Dimple Kapadia and Nana Patekar starrer 'Tum Milo Toh Sahi', a film about love at different ages, will release on Jan 29 next year.

Manali, Nov 20 (IANS) Himachal Pradesh Friday deployed a private chopper to rescue people who have been marooned in the cold desert for the past 11 days in tribal Lahaul and Spiti district due to heavy snowfall, an official said.

Srinagar, Nov 20 (IANS) Mirwaiz Umer Farooq, who heads the moderate faction of Jammu and Kashmir's separatist Hurriyat Conference, plans to visit Beijing after Eid on Nov 28 on an invitation from an NGO.

Melbourne, Nov 20 (IANS) Michael Clarke, who missed the ODI series in India due to a back injury, will lead the Australians against Shane Warne-led All Star team in Sunday night's All Star Twenty20 match at the Gabba in Brisbane.

New Delhi, Nov 20 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Friday chose its young face Varun Gandhi to lead the party's agitation against sugarcane pricing in the Lok Sabha.

New Delhi, Nov 20 (ANI): The Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Union Law and Justice Minister Veerappa Moily and Opposition Party Leader L.K. Advani are meeting here on Friday to decide on who will become the new Chief Information Commissioner (CIC).

Amethi, Nov 20 (ANI): Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka have begun their two - day visit of Amethi constituency.

Kathmandu, Nov 20 (IANS) Nepal's coalition government has turned a deaf ear to urgent pleas by celebrated French actress and animal rights activist Brigitte Bardot to prevent the slaughter of thousands of birds and animals at a religious fair in the Terai plains next week.

New Delhi, Nov 20 (IANS) A united opposition forced three adjournments of the Rajya Sabha Friday, the last one for the day, as it vociferously protested the United Progressive Alliance's new sugar pricing policy.

Kochi (Kerala), Nov.20 (ANI): The Indian Navy created history on Friday by inducting two women aviators or combatants into its combat arm, which is happening for the first time in the Indian Armed Forces.Sub-lieutenants Ambica Hooda of Haryana and Seema Rani Sharma of Uttar Pradesh will now serve the nation as naval observers are airborne tacticians on the Indian Navy's multi-role Dornier aircraft, which are used for transportation and aerial surveillance and work at the front line during war situations.

New Delhi, Nov 20 (ANI): Both houses of Parliament adjourned till Monday on the sugarcane pricing issue following opposition protests.

New Delhi, Nov 20 (IANS) Work in both houses of parliament stalled for the second consecutive day Friday with opposition members stirring up a massive row over sugarcane prices and demanding a better deal for farmers.

Mumbai, Nov 20 (IANS) Spotlights can often be welcome but not this one. The notoriety that came with having as a client the lone terrorist caught alive after the 26/11 Mumbai terrorist attacks has left S.G. Abbas Kazmi weary, insecure and financially spent.

Agartala, Nov 20 (IANS) The government's allocation for the natural rubber sector is not enough for expanding the area under cultivation or enhancing production, according to Rubber Board of India chairman Sajen Peter.

Ranchi, Nov 20 (ANI): The Maoists on Friday called for a shutdown in Jharkhand to protest against the police operation against them.

New Delhi, Nov 20 (ANI): The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, will leaves for a landmark visit to United States on Saturday.

Mumbai, Nov 20 (ANI): A mix of high performing cars and bikes along with the latest accessories are being showcased at the Auto Car Performance 2009 here.

New Delhi, Nov 20 (IANS) Asian-American filmmaker Krishna Shah is set to make a biopic on Indira Gandhi and has roped in Bollywood diva Madhuri Dixit to play the role of India's first and only woman prime minister.

Patna, Nov 20 (IANS) A 12-year-old girl was set on fire by her neighbour here after she allegedly stole Rs.1,400, police said Friday.

New Delhi, Nov 20 (IANS) The Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day Friday following noisy protests by the opposition on the issue of sugarcane prices.

Ranchi, Nov 19 (IANS) One passenger was killed when a train was blown up while those on a bus miraculously escaped a gun attack and a 20 kg bomb was defused at a SAIL iron mine, police in Jharkhand said Friday as Maoist guerrillas enforced a 24-hour strike in the state.

New Delhi, Nov 20 (IANS) 'Please, don't disturb trains,' Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee appealed to Maoists Friday, a day after the rebels blew up track in Jharkhand derailing a passenger train and leaving a man dead.

Jamshedpur, Nov 20 (IANS) Every evening, as dusk gathers on the smoking chimneys of this iron and steel township, an army of giant vampires creeps out of lairs on a small island in the middle of a lake.

New Delhi, Nov 20 (IANS) A technology that converts rice husk into electricity is gaining ground in Bihar. Some 100,000 households in the state already use electricity produced from biomass and their number is steadily growing.

Mumbai, Nov.20 (ANI): Australian High Commissioner Peter Varghese today presented a cheque for Rs 10,00,000 to Magic Bus for the provision of sport and personal development training to 240 underprivileged children in Mumbai.

Belgaum (Karnataka), Nov 20 (ANI): Veteran Congress leader and former Union Minister B. Shankaranand died at a private hospital here this morning.

Ahmedabad, Nov 20 (IANS) India were 256 for three in the second innings at lunch on the fifth day of the first cricket Test against Sri Lanka here Friday.

New Delhi, Nov 20 (IANS) The Rajya Sabha was adjourned twice Friday following protests by sugarcane farmers over falling prices for their crop.

Lucknow, Nov 20 (ANI): Men, mostly harassed husbands, dressed up as grooms, took to the streets here on Thursday to demand the creation of a National Commission for Men.

Shimla, Nov 20 (ANI): A three-day international meet on climate change and its impact on forests began here on Thursday.

New Delhi, Nov 20 (ANI): The Union Government on Friday asked the Uttar Pradesh Government to increase the security provided to Congress Party General Secretary Rahul Gandhi during his visits to the state.

Poonch (J-K), Nov 20 (ANI): Security forces seized a huge cache of ammunition from Dhoke-Sawjian in Poonch District on Thursday.

New Delhi, Nov 20 (IANS) Artistic memory is spreading itself beyond the brain, says noted Mumbai-based poet, art critic and curator Ranjit Hoskote, whose show 'Retrieval Systems' in the capital, featuring five leading contemporary artists, deals with the 'nature of memory and how it preoccupies artists'.

New Delhi, Nov 20 (IANS) The Lok Sabha was adjourned until noon Friday after opposition members disrupted the proceedings demanding a better deal for sugarcane farmers.

Daltonganj (Jharkhand), Nov 20 (IANS) Fifty-year-old Hasulal Topno has never seen an electronic voting machine (EVM).

Shimla, Nov 20 (IANS) Bollywood actress Kangna Ranaut, whose father strongly denied that she had any link with 26/11 terror suspect David Coleman Headley, headed back to Mumbai Friday morning after a few days at her ancestral home in Himachal Pradesh.

Darjeeling, Nov 20 (IANS) Normal life came to a halt here Friday as Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) activists called a 12-hour shutdown in Darjeeling district of West Bengal, demanding permanent status for iver 6,000 employees working with Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) on temporary basis.

Sydney, Nov 20 (DPA) An Australian who strangled his wife for waking up his dog and then went out for a drink at his local pub was sentenced to prison Friday by a Melbourne court.

Bhubaneswar, Nov 20 (IANS) Orissa has verified to Goa the identity of 14 people, who had gone missing last week in Cyclone Phyan that hit the Arabian sea, an official said Friday. They were working as fishermen in Goa.

Mumbai, Nov 20 (IANS) After ending nearly 215 points down a day before, a key Indian equities index opened on a weak note yet again Friday in line with the mood in other Asian markets on concerns over the short-to-medium term global economic outlook.

Bangalore, Nov 20 (IANS) The Karnataka government has to walk a tightrope so that the state gets over its Bangalore-centric development without hurting the nation's IT capital. It hopes to do this through the new Karnataka Urban Renewal Mission, on the lines of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM).

Panaji, Nov 20 (IANS) Goa Chief Minister Digambar Kamat said fear of litigation had forced the central government to go slow on the de-notification of three special economic zones (SEZ) allotted to the state.

West Singhbhum (Jharkhand), Nov 20 (ANI): Two passengers were killed and over 47 others injured when eight bogies of the Tata-Bilaspur passenger train derailed after Maoists blew up railway tracks on Thursday night in Jharkhand's West Singhbhum district.

Ranchi, Nov 20 (IANS) One passenger was killed and 25 others injured when Maoist guerrillas blew up a train in West Singhbhum district of Jharkhand, a railway official said Friday.

Chandigarh, Nov 20 (IANS) You have heard of teachers evaluating their students - but vice versa? Very soon Panjab University (PU) students will start grading the performance of faculty members.

Lucknow, Nov 20 (IANS) Imagine riding through a lush green forest, soaking in lessons on the environment. That's what many school students in Uttar Pradesh are about to experience, thanks to the officials of a wildlife sanctuary.

Mumbai, Nov 20 (IANS) Age is no bar for Amitabh Bachchan. From television to films to endorsements, he is doing everything and that keeps the 67-year-old megastar busier than his younger colleagues.

New Delhi, Nov 20 (IANS) Mouthing expletives for her role in 'Ishqiya' embarrassed Vidya Balan as she says she never uses foul language in real life.

Ranchi, Nov 19 (IANS) Nearly a dozen passengers were injured when six coaches of a passenger train derailed Thursday night after Maoist rebels blew up a stretch of railway track in Jharkhand's West Singhbhum district, a railway official said.

Jalandhar, Nov 19 (IANS) The Punjab police Thursday recovered nearly 100,000 pirated DVDs and compact discs (CDs) from a building in this Punjab city.

Noida, Nov 19 (IANS) The Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) Thursday introduced 20 of its new low-floor buses on its service between Noida and Delhi. However, one of them had an accident on the first day itself.

New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) The cabinet meeting Thursday did not discuss the government's sugarcane pricing policy, which has come under attack from opposition parties and farmers.

Mumbai, Nov 19 (IANS) The multimedia house, Pritish Nandy Communications Ltd, said Thursday that Rahul Bhatt, son of eminent filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt did not train Lashkar-e-Taiba suspect David Coleman Headley at its Moksh gym where he was a member.

Mumbai, Nov 19 (IANS) Embarrassed after the criticism from various quarters, the Maharashtra government Thursday evening shifted a platoon of police - entrusted with guarding the Hotel Taj Mahal Palace & Tower - from the Gateway of India where they were living since nearly two months.

New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) Gujarat skipper and wicketkeeeper Parthiv Patel slammed a century against Hyderabad to give his team the first innings lead on the third day of the Ranji Trophy Super League match at Hyderabad Thursday.

Pune, Nov 19 (IANS) Hockey India (HI) president Ashok Kumar Mattoo appears to have brought about at least a temporary truce between the players and national coach Jose Brasa.

Bangalore, Nov 19 (IANS) Leading software product firm Manthan Systems secured $15 million from three venture capital partners in the second round (series b) of funding, the company said Thursday.

New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) A 75-year-old retired teacher at Jamia Millia Islamia University allegedly committed suicide by setting himself on fire here Thursday, police said.

Chennai, Nov 19(ANI): A Chennai court on Thursday dismissed the bail petition by William Heum, a Dutch national, who has been charged under the new IT Act for digital child pornography.

New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) The government has decided to convene an all-party meeting Monday to discuss the sugarcane pricing policy following the growing political row on the issue.

New Delhi, Nov.19 (ANI): In a significant step, the Centre on Thursday recommended a special economic package of Rs. 7,266 crore for Bundelkhand region, spread over Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, to help it recover from draught's affect.

New Delhi, Nov 19(ANI): Apprehending the threats posed by global warming and nuclear armament, religious leaders of different faiths on Thursday came together to voice their concern over these issues which, they said, were pushing the world to the path of destruction.

New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) In a major boost for the energy sector, the cabinet Thursday approved the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission that aims to generate 20,000 megawatt of power a year by 2022.

Raipur, Nov 19 (IANS) Police in Chhattisgarh have launched a hunt for a man who had set his pregnant wife ablaze over dowry. The woman died Thursday after battling for life for over a week.

New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) Delhi government's excise department Thursday claimed to have busted a gang that used to sell smuggled foreign liquor through online communities on social networking sites. Three people have been arrested.

Bangalore, Nov 19 (IANS) Wipro subsidiary Infocrossing signed a five-year deal with the US-based Cliffs Natural Resources Inc, an international mining and natural resources firm, to provide IT infrastructure services, the global software major said Thursday.

Chennai, Nov 19 (IANS) The annual convention of All India Hotels and Restaurants will be held in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, Dec 7-8, its organisers said Thursday.

Noida, Nov 19 (IANS) Gaurav Pratap Singh of the Noida Golf Course fired his second successive 70 here Thursday to grab the second round lead at the ONGC Masters 2009.

Bhubaneswar, Nov 19 (IANS) Passengers of an intercity train in Orissa had a providential escape after one coach went off the tracks at Baghuapada station in Jajpur district. There were no casualties, officials said.

New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) India is interested to set up joint ventures abroad in the fertiliser sector to reduce its urea imports, Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers Srikant Kumar Jena said Thursday.

Noida, Nov 19 (IANS) Demanding that Dow Chemicals pay for cleaning up the toxic contamination due to the Bhopal gas tragedy, more than 300 survivors of the disaster staged a protest outside the company's office in this Uttar Pradesh suburb of Delhi Thursday.

New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) Three swine flu deaths, two from Rajasthan alone, were reported Thursday, taking the toll in India to 537, health authorities said here.

Hyderabad, Nov 19 (IANS) Yasin Merchant notched the tournament's highest break of 134 en route to the knock-out round of the ONGC-IBSF World snooker championship here Thursday along with a clutch of Indians, including Pankaj Advani and Geet Sethi.

Ranchi, Nov 19 (IANS) After propping up for nearly two years the government led by Independent legislator Madhu Koda, who is at the centre of a Rs.2,500 crore money laundering scam, the Congress Thursday promised to provide a fair government and root out corruption from Jharkhand.

New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) The government Thursday discussed the issue of allocation of third generation (3G) spectrum as well vacation of airwaves by the defence ministry for commercial use, but declined to divulge details.

New Delhi, Nov.19 (ANI): Former Defence Secretary Vijay Singh took the oath of office and secrecy as Member, Union Service Public Commission today.

Shopian (Jammu and Kashmir), Nov. 19 (ANI): Two key witnesses in the Shopian rape and murder case, Ghulam Mohiuddin Lone and Abdul Rashid Pampori have turned hostile, retracting their statements which implicated the security forces.

New Delhi, Nov 19 (ANI): President Pratibha Patil said here on Thursday that education is a very powerful tool for empowering people and for giving them self-dignity.

New Delhi, Nov 19 (ANI): The Union Government on Thursday announced the setting up of 193 Grama Nyayalayas (village courts) in various states in the current year.

New Delhi, Nov (ANI): The Union Agriculture Ministry said here on Thursday that Rs. 1.38 lakh crore have been disbursed among farmers across the country as agriculture credit up to September.

New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) Twenty women officers of the Indian Army Thursday sought to know from the Delhi High Court why they were discriminated in service vis-a-vis the men when both got similar training.

New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) The Delhi High Court Thursday asked a deputy commissioner of police to investigate a case in which a man was allegedly beaten up by policemen after he helped a victim of a roadside brawl.

Ahmedabad, Nov 19 (IANS) Pune's Aditya Bhandarkar shot one of only two under-par rounds Thursday to set up a final-day clash with overnight leader Abhijit Chadha at the LG Gujarat Open at the par-72 Kensville Golf Club.

Lucknow, Nov 19 (IANS) Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka will Friday visit his parliamentary constituency Amethi in Uttar Pradesh, party sources said.

Panaji, Nov 19 (IANS) Goa Police Thursday dismissed media reports about a possible terror threat to the forthcoming International Film Festival of India (IFFI) which gets underway here Nov 23.

New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) In order to facilitate better security in the city, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi will do a survey of squatters and hawkers to monitor their activities, Mayor Kanwar Sain said Friday.

New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) Five people were arrested in the national capital for allegedly beating to death a man who allegedly stole a mobile phone, police said Thursday.

Melbourne, Nov 19 (IANS) Australia included left-arm fast bowler Doug Bollinger in the 12-man squad for the first Test against the West Indies at the Gabba, Brisbane, from Nov 26.

Ghaziabad, Nov 19 (IANS) A sub-divisional magistrate was allegedly beaten up by revellers when he objected to loud music they were playing in a club here, police said Thursday.

New Delhi, November 19 (IANS) The union cabinet Thursday approved the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission that aims to add 20,000 megawatt of power in India by 2022.

New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) The Indian Air Force (IAF) vice chief, Air Marshal P.K. Barbora Thursday offered his apologies if anyone's feelings have been hurt by his remarks on induction of women fighter pilots, and stressed that the views were his own and not an official policy.

New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) The Delhi High Court Thursday ordered an inquiry against Delhi Police officials for shoddy investigation of a rape case due to which the accused could not be arrested for over a year.

New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) The union cabinet Thursday approved a Rs 7266 crore package for drought relief and integrated agricultural development of Bundelkhand region of Uttar Pradesh that has been a victim of a sustained drought.

Noida, Nov 19 (IANS) A 15-year-old Class IX student was killed instantly when a speeding private bus crushed him in Noida Thursday morning, police said.

Imphal, Nov 19 (IANS) At least three people, including two paramilitary troopers, were injured in a grenade attack on an Assam Rifles security patrol van near a crowded marketplace in Manipur Thursday, officials said.

New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) Tongas and other horse-driven vehicles that have for centuries clip-clopped on the streets of the national capital, especially in the walled city, will be completely taken off the streets, civic authority officials said Thursday.

Chennai, Nov 19 (IANS) Harinder Pal Singh Sandhu kept Indian hopes alive by advancing to semi-finals in the PSA Challenger Series-5 squash tournament here Thursday even as his compatriots fell by the way side.

Mumbai, Nov 19 (IANS) Rumours are rife that Kareena Kapoor's role in 'Kurbaan' is similar to Katrina Kaif's in 'New York' -- both the actresses are featured in near-identical roles of a wife who discovers her husband to be a closet-terrorist.

New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) A Delhi court Thursday granted bail to the man who allegedly blackmailed sitar player Anoushka Shankar, the daughter of sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar.

Ahmedabad, Nov 19 (IANS) India are fighting hard to prevent Sri Lanka from winning their first Test on Indian soil by giving themselves a fair chance of batting out the fifth and last day for the first cricket Test here Friday.

New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) Till a few years ago Dalits in Alwar, Rajasthan were employed in inhumane manual scavenging practices. But thanks to social activism and NGO Sulabh International, the town was Thursday declared free from the illegal practice.

New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) Women, particularly those in poor countries, are among the most vulnerable to climate change, said a United Nations report released here Thursday.

Chandigarh, Nov 19 (IANS) Despite the global slowdown, Haryana's exports crossed the Rs.35,000-crore mark in 2008-09, a top government official said here Thursday.

New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) Distance education, via cell phones and other technology geared to provide open access to education, could address the dearth of teachers plaguing the Indian education system, Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal said Thursday.

New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi Thursday led the nation in paying homage to Indira Gandhi, the country's first and only woman prime minister, on her 92nd birth anniversary.

Ranchi, Nov 19 (ANI): Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda on Thursday denied receiving any summons from the Enforcement Directorate and the Income Tax department.

New Delhi, Nov 19 (ANI): The Union Government on Thursday informed the Lok Sabha that the vision document 2015 has been prepared in order to increase the level of processing and to promote food processing industries to exploit both the domestic and international market potential for processed food products.

New Delhi, Nov.19 (ANI: The rich and vibrant culture of Punjab has gained big popularity over the years across the world. It gets strongly reflected during Punjabi weddings and other ceremonies. And, 'The Great Big Punjabi Wedding', a new music album promises to cater all that and much more.

New Delhi, Nov.19 (ANI): Home Minister P. Chidambaram administered the National Integration Pledge to the officers and staff of the Ministry of Home Affairs in connection with the Quami Ekta Week today.

Kochi (Kerala), Nov.19 (ANI): Indian Navy is once again poised to create history by inducting two women combatants into its combat arm, which is happening for the first time in the Indian Armed Forces.

Mumbai, Nov 19 (IANS) Aamir Khan, Javed Akhtar and Ranbir Kapoor on the same platform? That's the line-up for a discussion organised by the Tehelka magazine on Bollywood and other social phenomena Saturday in New Delhi.

Ahmedabad, Nov 19 (IANS) Scoreboard at stumps on the fourth day of the first cricket Test between India and Sri Lanka at Motera's Sardar Patel Stadium here Thursday.

New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) It was a photo exhibition on climate change, but instead of the negative impact of the phenomenon, it showcased how people in rural India are coping with changes in climate and evolving new ways to cope with it.

New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) Seventy percent of chief information officers (CIOs) in India integrate business and technology to promote innovation for their organisation against 47 percent overseas, a study conducted by global IT major IBM has revealed.

Chennai, Nov 19 (IANS) The Madras High Court Thursday asked the Tamil Nadu government to take action against officials in Nilgiri district who failed to stop the illegal stone quarries in the region, resulting in landslides during the recent rains that killed about 45 people.

New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) The row over the government's sugarcane pricing policy forced adjournment of the Lok Sabha on the opening day of parliament's winter session Thursday as opposition members created a ruckus demanding higher rates for farmers. Outside parliament, thousands of farmers held a protest, paralysing key Delhi roads and forcing Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to review the pricing ordinance.

New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna has said the government is in talks with Sri Lanka to bring back the Indian prisoners languishing in jails in that country.

New Delhi/Mumbai, Nov 19 (IANS)Investigators probing David Coleman Headley's links in India said they were close to nailing the connection between American terror suspect and his Canadian accomplice Tahawwur Hussain Rana with the larger module that had planned and executed the 26/11 strikes.

Guwahati, Nov 19 (IANS) Former Intelligence Bureau chief P.C. Haldar, appointed by the central government as interlocutor for advancing talks with separatist groups, arrived here Thursday amid hopes of providing the deadlocked peace process a boost.

New Delhi, Nov 19 (ANI): A man was injured today at a Metro construction site in South Delhi, when a metallic grider on which he was sitting along with his friend fell down.

Jalpaiguri (West Bengal), Nov 19 (ANI): A woman here was compelled to sell her three-month old baby in order to release her husband, who has been allegedly held by the hospital authorities from the last three months over non-payment of bill.

Rae Bareli (Uttar Pradesh), Nov 19 (ANI): People paid tribute to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on her 92nd birth anniversary in her constituency here.

New Delhi, Nov 19 (ANI): Air India pilots, owing allegiance to the Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA), staged a demonstration here today asking the management to fulfill their demands.

Ranchi, Nov 19 (IANS) Taking a cue from Chhattisgarh, the Jharkhand Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Thursday released its manifesto promising rice and wheat at Rs.1 per kg to poor families if voted to power.

Karachi, Nov 19 (IANS) Eminent Pakistani cricket umpire Aleem Dar Thursday said the new umpire referral system will help minimise errors.

New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) Indian and Pakistani foreign ministers met in Kabul Thursday on the sidelines of the inauguration ceremony of Afghan President Hamid Karzai.

Mumbai, Nov 19 (IANS) Weak cues from global markets and heavy profit-booking across sectors Thursday pulled down a key index of Indian equities markets, which shut shop 213 points lower than its previous close.

New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) The national capital Thursday reported 32 new dengue cases, taking the total number of people infected with the vector-borne disease to 945, health officials said.

Ahmedabad, Nov 19 (IANS) India were 190 for two in their second innings, trailing by 144 runs against Sri Lanka on the fourth day of the first cricket Test at Sardar Patel Stadium here.

Agartala/Aizawl, Nov 19 (IANS) The central and Tripura governments have asked Mizoram to resolve the long-standing deadlock on the repatriation of 35,000 Reang refugees to the state, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar said Thursday.

New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is the recipient of the prestigious Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for 2009 for her contribution to the promotion of democracy and pluralism.

Kolkata, Nov 19 (IANS) The West Bengal government has written a letter to the centre asking the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) to highlight the Sundarbans issue in the Copenhagen climate summit, state Environment Minister Sailen Sarkar said here Thursday.

Mumbai/Kolkata, Nov 19 (IANS) Indian steel major JSW Steel Thursday announced an agreement with Japan's second largest steelmaker JFE Holdings to set up a greenfield project in West Bengal and an automotive steel manufacturing unit in the country.

New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) Health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad's constituency in Jammu will reach 100 percent sanitation and toilet coverage by the year 2266 - taking the longest time amongst all other constituencies, according to a report on the occasion of World Toilet Day Thursday.

Hyderabad, Nov 19 (IANS) Andhra Pradesh's main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Thursday demanded a multi-disciplinary probe into alleged irregularities by the Obulapuram Mining Corporation (OMC) owned by Karnataka Tourism Minister G. Janardhana Reddy.

New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) A section of Air India employees including pilots Thursday organised a march to parliament to pressurise the government to regularise their salaries without cuts.

Kathmandu, Nov 19 (IANS) A man, who was arrested by Nepal Police for trying to extract money from deposed king Gyanendra Shah's daughter Prerana Singh, is trying to mitigate his action saying he had treated the former princess with 'respect' throughout the extortion attempt.

New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) A young boy was injured at an under construction Metro site in south Delhi Thursday when an iron beam on which he was sitting toppled over. The boy and his three other teenage friends were trespassing at the site, a Delhi Metro official said.

New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee Thursday angrily refused to answer a question from the media about the outcome of a meeting of the Group of Ministers on the third generation (3G) spectrum allocation issue.

New Delhi, Nov 19 (ANI): The Union Government on Thursday announced that entrepreneurs are free to set up steel plants anywhere in the country except in restricted locations based on their commercial judgement.

New Delhi, Nov 19 (ANI): The Centre on Thursday informed the Lok Sabha that there has been considerable growth of the pharmaceutical industry in the country during the last few years.

Noida (Uttar Pradesh), Nov 19 (ANI): A private chartered bus crushed a Class 9 student of the Gyan Bharti School here this morning.

New Delhi, Nov 19 (ANI): The winter session of the parliament was adjourned for the day on Thursday due to opposition protests over sugarcane prices.

Mumbai, Nov 19 (IANS) Indian equities closed lower Thursday on intense selling, with a key index shutting shop 226 points lower than its previous close.

New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) Reliance Natural Resources Ltd (RNRL) Thursday gave its consent in the Supreme Court to the oil ministry becoming a party in the dispute over supply of gas from Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) but without giving up the right to cross-examine its officials.

Ahmedabad, Nov 19 (IANS) Openers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir gave a good start as India made 77 for no loss in the second innings at tea after Sri Lanka declared their first innings at 760 for seven on the fourth day of the first cricket Test here Thursday.

New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) The right-wing Hindu group Bajrang Dal Thursday wrote letters to major trade associations and chambers of commerce in Delhi calling for a boycott of Chinese goods saying that China was using India as a 'dumping market' for 'cheap goods'.

New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) Faced with a protest by farmers and almost all opposition parties over sugarcane pricing, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Thursday held an emergency meeting on the issue with senior cabinet colleagues.

New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), a key partner in the ruling Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) coalition, Thursday opposed the government's decision to fix sugarcane price at Rs.129.85 a quintal for the 2009-10 crushing season.

Srinagar, Nov 19 (IANS) Jammu and Kashmir's Hurriyat Conference is committed to solving the Kashmir issue through meaningful dialogue with New Delhi but also wants Pakistan on board, says the separatist group's chief Mirwaiz Umar Farooq.

New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) Do not expect anything much from next month's climate summit in Copenhagen, Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said Thursday, reiterating that India is not going to accept any legally binding cuts on its greenhouse gas emissions.

Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 19 (IANS) The release of zoo elephants into wildlife parks should be closely monitored as they could end up creating difficulties for their peers in the wild, say experts in Kerala, which has a large number of pachyderms.

Mumbai, Nov 19 (IANS) A key Indian equities index extended its losses Thursday afternoon and was ruling 269 points lower than its previous close.

Noida (UP), Nov 19 (ANI): A warehouse of Hindi newspaper Dainik Jagran was gutted in a fire here this morning.

Mumbai, Nov 19 (ANI): When bullets were flying thick and fast at Cama Hospital on the night of 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai, a girl was born in the hospital. Her parents have aptly named her Goli (Bullet) in memory of the bullet shots fired.

Panaji, Nov 19 (IANS) An offshore casino locked in a legal dispute with the Goa government has said that seven senior police officers seen on its premises last week were its guests and were not gambling.

Kochi, Nov 19 (IANS) Another male bastion in the Indian Navy will fall Friday when two women will be inducted as navigators in the flying branch, in a way also becoming the first women combatants in the armed forces.

New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) The winter session of parliament got off to a chaotic start Thursday with the Lok Sabha being adjourned for the day as the entire opposition united to stage noisy protests against the new sugarcane pricing policy of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.

New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) Shouting slogans and paralysing key roads as they marched in protest, thousands of farmers from Uttar Pradesh gathered in the capital Thursday to force the government to rethink the new pricing policy for sugarcane.

Patna, Nov 19 (IANS) The Bihar government has decided to set up a Ground Water Regulatory Authority to conserve and ensure proper usage of groundwater, said Public Health and Engineering Department (PHED) Minister Ashwani Kumar Choubey.

Ahmedabad, Nov 19 (IANS) India were 77 for no loss in the second innings at tea against Sri Lanka on the fourth day of the first cricket Test here Thursday.

Mumbai, Nov 19 (IANS) Indian steel major JSW Steel Thursday announced an agreement with Japan's second largest steelmaker JFE Holdings to set up a greenfield project in West Bengal and an automotive steel manufacturing unit in the country.

Raipur, Nov 19 (IANS) The Chhattisgarh government Thursday suspended a labour department official in connection with the Sep 23 collapse of an under-construction chimney at a Bharat Aluminium Company Ltd (Balco) power plant in which at least 41 people were killed.

Bhubaneswar, Nov 19 (IANS) The Orissa assembly was repeatedly adjourned Thursday as the opposition Congress took up the issue of dozens of distressed farmers committing suicide allegedly due to their crops failing and government neglect.

Mumbai, Nov 19 (IANS) A key Indian equities index was 111 points in the red early Thursday afternoon on weak sentiments in other Asian markets.

New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama will give the valedictory address at a conference on Tibetan history and culture at Delhi University Saturday in which more than 40 scholars from across the world are participating.

Guwahati, Nov 19 (IANS) The outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) has set up bases in China and other foreign countries with the help of money extorted in the state, two senior ULFA leaders have told police interrogators.

New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) He could well have been discovered by John Le Carre. He came from Barack Obama's hometown, an Islamist at heart with a Christian name who claimed to be a Jew. His mission was to cause mayhem in India. As he remains in an American prison, Indian detectives are slowly uncovering David Coleman Headley's silent but vital role in the horrific Mumbai terror attack.

New Delhi, Nov 19 (ANI): Farmers from all parts of the country have begun congregating in the national capital in an attempt to stall proceedings in the winter session of parliament in protest against high sugarcane prices.

Kabul, Nov 19(ANI): Indian External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said here on Thursday that international forces should continue to stay in Afghanistan to bring about a balance in that country.

Raipur, Nov 19 (IANS) Farmers in Chhattisgarh Thursday called a statewide shutdown Nov 25, accusing the state's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of not living up to its pre-election promise of a bonus of Rs.270 per quintal of paddy it procured.

Mumbai, Nov 19 (IANS) It's breezy and, oh yes, bustling with people. Over a lunch of roast chicken and cold coffee, Leopold Cafe regular Wesley Paul says casually, 'There are gunmen at the door.'

Sydney, Nov 19 (DPA) One of the Bangladeshi conjoined twins Australian surgeons separated this week is talking and cuddling her stand-in mother while the other is wiggling her fingers and soon will be woken from her induced coma.

Kolkata, Nov 19 (ANI): West Bengal Industries and Commerce Minister Nirupam Sen has accused the Trinamool Congress of creating problems in the state government's land acquisition plans, thus delaying industrialisation in the state.

Ahmedabad, Nov 19 (IANS) A record stand of well over 300 runs between Mahela Jayawarnede and Prasanna Jayawardene took Sri Lanka to a mammoth 708 for five in the first innings at lunch, in reply to India's 426, on the fourth day of the first cricket Test here Thursday.

Patna, Nov 19 (IANS) Opposition parties and activists have slammed restrictions imposed on the Right to Information (RTI) Act by the Bihar government, saying the move is aimed at shielding corruption.

Ahmedabad, Nov 19 (IANS) The following is the scoreboard at lunch on the fourth day of the first cricket Test between India and Sri Lanka at Motera's Sardar Patel Stadium here Thursday.

New Delhi, Nov 19 (ANI): An Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) will meet today to evaluate the development on the auction of 3G mobile licenses, and differences that have arisen between the Telecom and the Defence ministries over the release of spectrum for viable use.

New Delhi, Nov 19 (ANI): The winter session of parliament has been adjourned till noon today, due to opposition protests over sugarcane prices.

Ahmedabad, Nov 19 (IANS) Sri Lanka piled up 708 for five in the first innings, in reply to India's 426, by lunch on the fourth day of the first cricket Test at Motera's Sardar Patel Stadium here Thursday.

New Delhi, Nov 19 (ANI): Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan has said there is no controversy in the state over the use of Marathi and Hindi languages.

New Delhi, Nov 19 (ANI): Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) chief Nandan Nilekani has said that various banks, tax authorities, utilities and other service providers would be roped in to enroll people for the issue of unique identification numbers.

New Delhi, Nov 19 (ANI): The nation today paid homage to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on her 92nd birth anniversary.

Panitanki / Siliguri/ Fulbari (WB), Nov 19 (ANI): India has stepped security along the 'Chicken Neck area', a narrow strip of land in West Bengal wedged between Nepal and Bangladesh, to keep a check on arms smuggling.

Bangalore, Nov 19 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) senior leader Sushma Swaraj has said her party will emerge stronger from the internal crisis in Karnataka.

Mumbai, Nov 19 (IANS) Mukesh Ambani has emerged the wealthiest person in India with a net worth of $32 billion, as the number of Indian billionaires in Forbes' 'India Rich List' this year has nearly doubled to 52, thanks to the rebound in stock markets.

Bangalore, Nov 19 (IANS) Buddhism, Tibetan medicine, 'chaam' dance, monastic chanting. It will be a peek into the Tibetan way of life at a festival here to thank India for providing a home to refugees from the 'Roof of the World' for five long decades.

New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) Holding sugarcane stems and shouting slogans, hordes of farmers from Uttar Pradesh arrived in Delhi Thursday to voice their protest against the new sugarcane pricing policy announced by the central and state governments.

Lucknow, Nov 19 (IANS) Eight people of a family were killed early Thursday when a tanker hit their Tata Sumo in Uttar Pradesh's Hathras district.

New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) India Thursday paid homage to the late Indira Gandhi, the country's first and only woman prime minister, on her 92nd birth anniversary with floral tributes and other ceremonies.

Mumbai, Nov 19 (IANS) A key Indian equities index opened marginally higher Thursday but soon registered a decline, in line with the sentiments in other Asian markets on worries over the pace and depth of of economic recovery.

Noida, Nov 19 (IANS) A warehouse of Hindi newspaper Dainik Jagran was gutted in a fire here Thursday morning, officials said.

Shimla, Nov 19 (IANS) After Bollywood actress Kangna Ranaut's name surfaced in connection with the probe into David Coleman Headley -- a man suspected of involvement in the 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai -- Kangna's father Thursday strongly denied any link.

Guwahati, Nov 19 (IANS) Assam's main opposition Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) has sounded the poll bugle for the 2011 assembly elections by stressing on the need to unite all regional forces to stop the ruling Congress party from coming back to power for the third straight term.

Shimla, Nov 19 (IANS) The week-long winter session of the Himachal Pradesh legislative assembly will be held at Dharamsala from Dec 14, a minister said here Thursday.

New Delhi, Nov 19 (ANI): The National Integration Week will be observed in India from today.

New Delhi, Nov.19 (ANI): The Winter Session of Parliament beginning from today is likely to be stormy on a number of issues.

New Delhi, Nov.19 (ANI): The Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts will celebrate its 24th Foundation Day on Thursday to commemorate the 92nd birth anniversary of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

Ranchi, Nov 19 (ANI): The Enforcement Directorate (ED) will question former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda here today over an alleged Rs 2,000 hawala transaction case.

Bhubaneswar, Nov 19 (IANS) A spell of rainfall has pushed the mercury down across Orissa -- a state which witnessed unusually high temperature a few days ago.

New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) 'Nine Lives: In Search of the Sacred in Modern India' by William Dalrymple continued to retain the number one position in the non-fiction section of the bestseller list for the fourth consecutive week while Dan Brown's 'The Lost Symbol' topped the fiction category.

Mumbai, Nov 19 (IANS) Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan says it is 'ridiculous' to think that his mother and censor board chief Sharmila Tagore gave an 'adult' rating to 'Kaminey' because it starred Shahid Kapoor.

New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) A notorious tiger poacher was arrested in the Champawat district of Uttarakhand by a joint team of the police and forest department, an NGO which helped in his capture said.