Indian Sub-continent

Bhopal, Nov 26 (PTI) Curtains came down Monday evening on the acrimonious campaigning for the high-stakes November 28 assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh, where star campaigners of the BJP, the Congress and other parties addressed a series of rallies and held roadshows to seek support for candidates.

Canvassing came to a formal end at 5 pm and voting to elect a new 230-member assembly will take place on Wednesday. As many as 2,907 candidates are in the fray.

Kohima, Nov 26 (PTI) Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio Monday launched Nagaland Tourist Police which will work for the safety and security of the tourist and report any crime against them to the nearest police station.

Rio also flagged off the Tourist Police vehicles and inaugurated the Integrated Police Control Room for tourist while also releasing booklet comprising important contacts along with important tourist spots, details of all homestay and hotels.

Bengaluru, Nov 26 (PTI) ISRO is all set to launch its workhorse rocket PSLV-C43 carrying India's earth observation satellite HysIS and 30 co-passenger satellites, including 23 from the US, from Sriharikota on November 29.

The space agency said the 45th flight of PSLV will be launched from the First Launch Pad (FLP) of Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, Sriharikota.

"HysIS is an earth observation satellite developed by ISRO. It is the primary satellite of the PSLV-C43 mission.

Hyderabad, Nov 26 (PTI): The opposition Congress, TDP, CPI and Telangana Jana Samiti (TJS), who formed a "grand alliance" for the December 7 assembly polls in Telangana, Monday released a common agenda for governance.

The "grand alliance" would be known as the "people's front", the parties said.

The agenda was released by Congress president in Telangana N Uttam Kumar Reddy, TDP's state unit president L Ramana, TJS president M Kodandaram and CPI's incharge state secretary Palla Venkat Reddy.

Hyderabad, Nov 26 (PTI) As many as 1,821 candidates are left in the fray for 119 constituencies in the December 7 Telangana Assembly polls, the state election commission said Monday.

The commission is coming out with the official figure Monday after withdrawal of nominations ended on November 22.

According to an official release, 1,762 nominations were either rejected or withdrawn.

Election officials had Thursday said the final number of candidates left in the fray would be known after receipt of information from the constituencies.

COLOMBO, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's Court of Appeal on Monday accepted a legal challenge against newly appointed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and his cabinet, deepening the political crisis that enters its second month in the island country, local media reported.

The court accepted the petition filed by 122 legislators against Rajapaksa and 48 others who have been named as ministers, state ministers and deputy ministers in the new government appointed by President Maithripala Sirisena.

The case is to be taken up for preliminary hearing on Friday.

KANPUR: Two bundles containing Korean cigarettes worth nearly rupees six lakh have been confiscated by the RPF team here on Sunday.

In a raid, in the Parcel coach of the Gauwhati-New Delhi Poorvottar Sampark Kranti Express, RPF team seized two doubtful bundles. After opening the bundle, they found banned Korean cigarettes in a large quantity. Seizure included 6000 pieces of banned cigarettes in the packets.

Suresh Nair was arrested on Sunday by Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) for supplying the bombs used in 2007 Ajmer dargah blast that killed three and injured 17.

According to The Indian Express, “Nair has been accused of having supplied the bombs used in the attack that killed three and injured 17. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) had declared Rs 2 lakh reward on his arrest. Nair was one of three absconding accused in the case. The other two are Sandeep Dange and Ramchandra.”

New Delhi, Nov 25; GANASHAKTI:  The Prime Minister's Office has refused to share details on the quantum of blackmoney brought back from abroad, citing a provision of the RTI Act that bars disclosure of information that may impede investigation and prosecution of offenders.

The PMO's response came after the Central Information Commission, in an order passed on October 16, had asked it to provide details on blackmoney within 15 days.

Replying to an RTI query, the PMO said a Special Investigation Team is investigating the matter.

Srinagar, Nov 25 (PTI) Four militants were Sunday killed in an encounter with security forces in Kulgam district of Jammu and Kashmir, the Army said.

The four were killed in an encounter at Hipura Batagund area in Kulgam district of south Kashmir, an Army official said.

He said the identity and group affiliation of the slain militants is being ascertained.

The official said security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the area following specific information about the presence of militants there.