Indian Sub-continent

Mumbai, Nov 13 (PTI) The rupee nosedived 62 paise to hit an over two-month low of 72.09 to the US dollar on Wednesday as poor macro data and lingering worries over US-China trade war weighed on sentiment.

At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened on a weak note at 71.75 against the US dollar. As the day progressed, it crashed below the 72-level and touched the day's low of 72.10. The Indian unit finally settled at 72.09 -- registering a fall of 62 paise over its previous close.

Patna, Nov 13 (PTI) The five-member Grand Alliance along with the Left parties on Wednesday took out protest march here against "anti-people" policies of both Central and the state governments, though RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav gave a miss to the stir.

RJD, the major constituent of the opposition grouping in Bihar, however, said Yadav could not participate in the "Aakrosh march" because of his engagements in the ensuing Jharkhand polls and also legal matters.

New Delhi, Nov 13; GANASHAKTI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday held that the office of the Chief Justice of India is a public authority and falls within the ambit of the Right to Information Act.

A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi upheld the 2010 Delhi High Court verdict and dismissed three appeals filed by Secretary General of the Supreme Court and the Central Public Information officer of the apex court.

Mumbai, Nov 13 (PTI) In a vitriolic attack on the BJP, the Shiv Sena on Wednesday said it was deriving "sadistic pleasure" out of the struggle of other political parties to form government in Maharashtra.

Without taking any names, the Sena, in an editorial in party mouthpiece 'Saamana', said those who talk of ethics in politics are currently the "most disruptive".

Basirhat (WB), Nov 13 (PTI) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, after conducting an aerial survey of cyclone 'Bulbul'-hit areas in North 24 Parganas, said on Wednesday that the loss incurred by the state due to the natural calamity might go up to Rs 50,000 crore.

Banerjee handed over a cheque of Rs 2.4 lakh each to the family members of five people from the district who lost their lives in the calamity.

Bareilly (UP) Nov 12 (PTI) The newborn girl, who was rescued from an earthen pot buried almost three feet below the ground, is fast on the path of recovery, doctors said on Tuesday.

The doctors attending to her in a city medical centre said her weight has doubled in one month and other medical parametres are also under control.

Last month, a trader had found the newborn girl in the earthen pot while he had gone to bury his daughter, who died minutes after being born prematurely.

Katihar, Nov 13 (PTI) A man taking cattle to sell at a market in West Bengal was beaten to death in Bihar's Katihar district for allegedly refusing to pay extortion money demanded by miscreants, police said.

The incident took place on Monday evening when the man identified as Mohammed Jamal, his brother and another person were taking 18 cows and bullocks to the market at Kursel in Azamnagar, the police said.

Panaji, Nov 13 (PTI) Goa is soon likely to get an 'Organic Agriculture University', which would primarily focus on studying organic crops that could be grown in the state, Deputy Chief Minister Chandrakant Kavlekar said on Wednesday.

Chief Minister Pramod Sawant gave an in-principle nod to the proposal during a meeting held on Tuesday, Kavlekar, who is also the state's agriculture minister, told PTI.

"The government has set a target of one year to set up the university, the first-of-its-kind in the state," he said.

Imphal, Nov 13 (PTI) The Congress has asked Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh to give a written assurance that the state's territorial integrity would be safeguarded while resolving the vexed Naga issue.

Urging people to have trust in the government, the chief minister had said that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had assured state government representatives during a meeting on November 10 that all stakeholders would be consulted before inking a final accord with the Nagas.

Mumbai, Nov 13 (PTI) Congress leaders from Maharashtra met Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday to discuss the modalities of a 'common minimum programme' (CMP) for a possible alliance to form government in the state.

Maharashtra Congress president Balasaheb Thorat, former state chief minister Ashok Chavan and senior party leader Manikrao Thakare held talks with Thackeray at a suburban hotel.