Some 10-12 gunmen were holed up at three sites in Mumbai nearly 24 hours after a series of devastating attacks in the city, an Indian general said.Maj Gen RK Hooda said police were evacuating people from rooms in one hotel targeted, but that gunmen did not appear to be holding hostages there.Earlier, a fire had broken out at the hotel, the Oberoi-Trident.Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh vowed to track down the attackers. At least 110 people have been killed. Another 300 people were injured when gunmen targeted at least seven sites in Mumbai late on Wednesday.

Elite commandos have freed some hostages at the Oberoi-Trident and another luxury hotel, the Taj Mahal Palace, where dozens of people had been reportedly trapped or held hostage.

A home ministry official said earlier there might be 20-30 people being held hostage at the Oberoi-Trident. Owners said some 200 people were trapped in the hotel.But Maj Gen Hooda said he did not think there were any hostages there, and 39 people had been rescued.“When the search was carried out from room to room these were the people, they had locked themselves into the rooms,” he said.Explosions and gunfire were still being heard by witnesses outside the Taj Mahal hotel.A third stand-off was continuing at a Jewish centre, where an Israeli rabbi and his family are believed to have been taken hostage.
One militant reportedly phoned local TV from the centre offering to negotiate over the release of hostages.
Israel’s embassy in New Delhi said at least 10 Israeli nationals were trapped or being held hostage in Mumbai.
In other developments:
· The Indian navy said it was searching ships off the west coast following reports that gunmen had arrived in Mumbai by boat
· The UK Foreign Office said a British national, Andreas Liveras had died; a German, a Japanese man and an Italian are also among the dead
· The Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Toiba, which has been blamed for past bombings in India, denied any role in the attacks
In a televised address, Mr Singh said the government “will take whatever measures are necessary to ensure the safety and security of our citizens”.
He said the attackers were based “outside the country” and that India would not tolerate “neighbours” who provide a haven to militants targeting it.
He described the attacks as “well-planned and well-orchestrated… intended to create a sense of panic by choosing high profile targets and indiscriminately killing foreigners”.

India has complained in the past that attacks on its soil have been carried out by groups based in Pakistan, although relations between the two countries have improved in recent years and Pakistani leaders were swift to condemn the latest attacks.Maj Gen Hooda said authorities had intercepted conversations between some of the attackers speaking in Punjabi, an apparent reference to Pakistan-based militants.Earlier reports said the attackers spoke Hindi, indicating they were from India.But Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, in New Delhi for talks, said no-one should be blamed until investigations were finished.”Our experience in the past tells us that we should not jump to conclusions,” he told Dawn television.Amid international condemnation of the attacks, US President George W Bush telephoned Mr Singh to offer his condolences and support.Claim of responsibilityIn the attacks late on Wednesday night gunmen, using grenades and automatic weapons, targeted at least seven sites including the city’s main commuter train station, a hospital and a restaurant popular with tourists.Police say 14 police officers, 81 Indian nationals and six foreigners have been killed.Four suspected terrorists have also been killed and nine arrested, they add.State police chief AN Roy earlier told local television that hostages held by the gunmen at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel - one of Mumbai’s most famous hotels - had been freed.

Witnesses said civilians could be seen running from the hotel, some with suitcases. Ambulances were also reported to be arriving.But the BBC’s Mark Dummett, outside the Taj Mahal, said the situation had since become very confused, with the sounds of explosions and gunfire being heard from within the hotel, suggesting the siege is not yet over.Earlier eyewitness reports from the hotels suggested the attackers were singling out British and American passport holders.If the reports are true, our security correspondent Frank Gardner says it implies an Islamist motive - attacks inspired or co-ordinated by al-Qaeda. A claim of responsibility has been made by a previously unknown group calling itself the Deccan Mujahideen. Our correspondent says it could be a hoax or assumed name for another group.

Source:-http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7753177.stm#infographic

It is a great news for India and India’s scientific movement that India is able to fly its tricolor flag on Moon,it is  a matter of glory for all countrymen.

Now india joined the other 3 countries USA,Soviet Rush and japan who have lareday done this years before.

It was a dream project of former President A.P.J abdul kalam.4 years back he inspired all scientists to go fo this mission.

It went off smoothly and at 8.01 pm the command was issued for it to separate from the orbiting spacecraft
. The MIP began its flight towards the Moon’s south pole and after a 25-minute flight, crashlanded.

During its flight, its video camera took pictures of the Moon, the spectrometer began its analysis and the altitude meter did what is known as a ranging. While approaching the Moon, it slowed down slightly, then spun. While spinning, its three instruments went into action. When it was 5 km above the Moon’s surface, the altimeter did the ‘ranging of the Moon’. ‘‘All this while the atmosphere was pretty tense in the mission control room,’’ said a scientist.

Congratulation to all scientists from Indianexpress.info

NEW DELHI: Armed with all regulatory approvals from the Russian authorities, ONGC Videsh Ltd — the foreign arm of state-run Oil & Natural
Gas Corporation (ONGC) — is all set to make a “firm” offer to Imperial En-ergy’s shareholders in the next 28 days. The Russian government paved way for the $2.58 billion acquisition on Tuesday, after it allowed OVL to own a company that holds oil and gas assets in Russia.

On September 5 this year, the company had announced that it had sought the Russian government’s approval regarding the two manda-tory pre-conditions required to be met before making a formal acquisi-tion offer. While the first pre-conditions was related to the approval by the governmental commission of the Russian Federation with respect to restrictions on the ownership of a Russian entity by entities con-trolled by a foreign government. The other was related to the anti-monopoly regulations.

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MUMBAI: Oil and gas sector index on Tuesday sank by as much as 7.18 per cent on the Bombay Stock Exchange after stocks of most-weighted Reliance Industries crashed by 7.37 per cent on a sell-off by funds after reports of a likely delay in commissioning o f its refinery.

An extremely bearish mood could be gauged from the BSE Oil & Gas sector index, which tumbled by 458.45 points, or 7.18 per cent, at 5,922.61 points with all components of the sectoral indices ending in the negative territory, with losses of between 2.59 to 7.39 per cent.

The key benchmark Sensex plunged by 696.47 points, or 6.61 per cent at 9,838.69 points. Trading sentiments were dampened by reports that refinery of India’s most valuable company, Reliance Industries, was unlikely to meet its previously-announced commiss ioning schedule.

Shares of Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries was hammered by Rs 96.05, or 7.37 per cent, at Rs 1,207 after touching the day’s low of Rs 1,194 and a high of Rs 1,288.45 on the BSE.

Over 21.83 lakh shares of the firm changed hands during the session. - PTI

Reports suggest that Simbhaoli Sugar has started buying cane for crushing even though the case of ISMA (The Indian Sugar Mills Association) versus the State of UP is in the Courts, and the pricing issue is yet to be sorted out.
GSC Rao, Executive Director of Simbhaoli Sugar Mills said that wheat planting can go on and farmers are benefited (as a result). “We spoke to our cane co-operative society Chairman, Directors and all the farmers and said that irrespective of what the court decides, we would pay Rs 125 for general variety and Rs 135 per kg for normal variety. The farmers agreed to the proposal. Farmers and mills are bound by the courts’ decision, whatever it takes,” he said.

Q: Is it true that Simbhaoli Sugar Mills and Modi Sugar have started crushing. Was there an informal agreement not to do any crushing till the pricing issue is sorted out by the court? Why did only two companies choose to be different?

A: It’s not different; it was making understanding with the farmers. Crushing operations and the price issue should be separated so that farmers can harvest the cane and sow wheat. Wheat planting can go on and farmers are benefited. We spoke to our cane cooperative society Chairman, Directors and all the farmers and said that irrespective of what the court decides we would pay Rs 125 for general variety and Rs 135 per kg for normal variety. The farmers agreed to the proposal.

Farmers and mills are bound by the courts’ decision, whatever it takes.

Q: Is there any concern that cane maybe in short supply which is why you all started earlier and just to reiterate, the exact agreement with the farmers – you currently would be paying them Rs 125 and the balance once as and when the court’s ruling come out?

A: There is definitely a shortage of cane this year all over Uttar Pradesh. The cases will go on but the farmers will get the interim price and then they can harvest the crop and things can get going.

Q: If there is a fear of cane shortage; how do you expect sugar prices to pan out for the remaining part of the year from January to June. What kind of average prices are you seeing? Given that price level do you think Rs 140 per quintal would be a very big burden for sugar mills?

A: For next six months prices will not be high because the Government of India has dismantle the buffer stock and there’s lot of sugar in the market because of the buffer stock supply. I do not expect anything to happen in a big way. We will be hovering around Rs 1,700-1,750 per bag.

Q: You said that in the next six months you don’t see sugar prices rising much above Rs 17,000 per quintal. What would it be thereafter? Do you think in end 2009 you could see a spurt?

A: It depends on how much production we do. The production figure varies from 19 million to 22 million. The government estimates are 22 million, ISMA feels that it is a little less than that. It depends on how the season goes. If the sugar stocks are low then the prices would definitely be bullish but that will not happen in this season, it will be anytime after June-July.

There is a possibility of international prices coming down and the government policy allows the import raw sugar, we will convert it to white sugar. So there are many possibilities.

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Mumbai, Nov 10 (PTI) The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad today obtained permission from a Nashik court to interrogate a high-profile leader from Uttar Pradesh whose role has emerged during questioning of those arrested in connection with Malegaon blasts. The application was filed seeking permission to interrogate a high-profile leader and to obtain co-operation from the Uttar Pradesh government in doing so, special counsel for the ATS Ajay Misar told PTI. He declined to identify the leader saying the application was confidential.

The role of the leader had emerged during the interrogation of the other suspects in the case, he said. PTI.

Thank You.

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I’m writing about some worst condition of slums in Cuttack, Orissa, India. Every years world bank and different western countries like UK, Japan, USA and India govt is giving Crores of Rupees for development of slums ,their sanitation and health through different NGOS,but no organisations ,No govt authority really worried to inspect whether the money is really spent or gone to the NGO owner’s pocket,now a days in India lots of NGO’s are registering like Mushrooms.for improving their life styles only,because at least 2% of money not utilizing for development of slums.
I went to different slums with a digicam to see whether the money is really spent or not ,and what i saw ,tears came out from my eye,the way people suffering ,hundreds of people using one latrine ,they are drinking dirty water and suffering from many diseases.This is not the condition of my city only ,but everywhere in India poor people are suffering and lots of money going to rich man’s pocket.
When i went to see their sanitation I could not believe my eyes,one latrine with no walls ,can u believe, at least i could not believe. But my dear friend people are maintaining their life like this, days, months, years, even whole life time.They are using canal water ,where lots of wastage,medical wastage flowing everyday .Their life is worst than stray dogs and animals.I asked some women how they are doing their sanitation,latrine in this condition ,they told me ,”what to do our life is like this sir…we have to finish this very early morning,but in day time we face severe problem,no body is in administration here to listen us or to solve our problem.This is really pathetic and disgusting.I can’t sleep well thinking about these people .

Article Submitted By:- Mr. Satyakam

Apple’s new iPhone appears to be winning ground on the U.S. corporate market, which up until recently was clearly dominated by Research in Motion Ltd’s BlackBerry. The number of units sold in the third quarter by the two companies points out that each of them has a significant user base, as Apple managed to sell 6.9 million iPhones and RIM reached the 6.1 million mark. Both companies had a great run and the trend seems to continue. Apple managed to get 17.3 of the market, while RIM boosted its BlackBerry shipments with 83 percent and also gained 5 market share points.

RIM appears to have the better overall strategy, as its offer and upcoming releases should successfully cover every demand. The company released several new models such as the Storm, the Bold and the Pearl. The Storm represents RIM’s first attempt with a touchscreen smartphone and received many positive reviews thanks to its e-mail, messaging and calendar capabilities, but also clickable touchscreen and its 3 megapixel camera with zoom, flash and video-recording options.

Even though several companies such as Nike Inc., Walt Disney Co. and Genentech Inc. announced the transition to Apple, the company still has a long way to go before reaching RIM’s figures, as the company is still the leader in the enterprise segment. The security requirements of certain industries such as finance and government will be difficult to win over as they demand, among other features, higher e-mail security.

Still topping the charts is Nokia, the world’s biggest smartphone manufacturer, with its 38.9 percent of the market share. During this third quarter, the company sold more than 15.5 million units. Even though its position for now is secured, it was the only manufacturer in the top 5 to record a decline in unit shipments. The minus was of 3.8 percent and should keep the company’s officials on the lookout. The fourth place is taken by Motorola, which also has great expectations for the beginning of next year when its Google-powered device is scheduled for release and the fifth place is occupied by HTC. HTC also had a great run with its G1 release and it is expected to continue over the next few months as the interest in smartphones is higher than ever at this point.

“It was expected that Apple would figure among the smart phone leaders this quarter, with that huge initial new product shipment, it was just a question of how high up it would be - and this is impressive,” explained Mr. Pete Cunningham, a senior analyst at Canalys, as quoted by TgDaily. He also added that RIM numbers represent a huge performance, especially because of the delays in the release of its BlackBerry Bold and that it is very likely for the company to win back its number two spot in the fourth quarter, boosted by the release of the Storm and the Pearl 8220.

With the holiday season approaching, all companies are looking forward to cashing in on the gift-madness, putting together their reports and preparing the new releases.

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Spice S-930 Phone Spice Mobiles latest innovation the Spice S-930 has left everyone gaping. This incredible technology can be put into action with just a finger swipe! Users no longer need to activate their cell phones via keypads.

Irrespective of a sleek metallic finish exterior, Spice S-930 has various incredible internal features as well, namely: 2 Mega Pixel Camera with Webcam facility, 2 GB Expandable memory, Complimentary 1 GB Memory Card, Video and MP3 player, FM Record and Play, and something new that steps in is the most awaited: The Finger Swipe Touch Screen Facility. Not to forget VAS’s new Opera Mini Browser and Thomson Reuters, for speedy browsing and keeping up abreast with the various worldly events.

With the help of this incredible technology, you can view your gallery images and even unlock your keypad with just a fingers swipe! Spice sure knows how to keep alive their Mantra of Innovation! Who would not want to own this latest technology, and that too just for a price of Rs. 7,999/-.

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