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Plane scare over White House, Dick Cheney evacuated

          Washington, Nov 11: US Vice-President Dick Cheney and White House chief of staff Andrew Card were briefly evacuated from the White House after a tourist plane violated an aerial security zone over the residence. "A small private plane violated the TFR (Temporary Flight Restricted) zone late on Monday," US Secret Service spokeswoman Ann Roman was quoted as saying. The incident happened at around 2145 hours (IST). The TFR was put in place after the 9/11 air attacks in the US. Giving details, she further said: "It was intercepted and escorted out of the zone by military jets a few moments after it had broached the secure zone." The tourist plane's pilot had fully cooperated with the authorities, she, however, added. Meanwhile, reports said that within a few minutes of spotting the plane, US fighter planes went into action, surrounded it in the air, and successfully forced it to land.

Vajpayee embarks on three-nation tour

          New Delhi, Nov 11: Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Tuesday left on a six-day three-nation tour that includes visits to Russia, Tajikistan and Syria. Talking to reporters before his departure, Vajpayee , who had earlier in the day inaugurated the third SAARC information ministers' meeting here, confirmed that he had received an invitation from Pakistan's Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed to attend next January's SAARC summit in Islamabad. He described the holding of the information ministers' summit as a positive step, and hoped that it would come up with credible suggestions for improving regional contact. He said that he had not had an opportunity to speak to Ahmed.

          When asked to comment on the controversy surrounding the disclosures of the Central Vigilance Commissioner P. Shanker that some ministers in his cabinet had taken kickbacks, Vajpayee acerbically replied that he could not understand what all the brouha was about. He said that Cabinet Secretary Kamal Pande had clarified the matter to the media, and that there was no such specific allegation made against any of his ministers. He, however, confirmed that Shanker had met him in the middle of October along with Pande to discuss the matter of pressure being put on the PSUs, but stated categorically that no names were taken at that meeting.

Pak formally invites Vajpayee for SAARC (Go To Top)

          New Delhi, Nov 11: Pakistan's Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed on Tuesday formally invited Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for the SAARC Summit to be held at Islamabad in January even as he called for the resolution of ''basic issues'' between the two countries. Ahmed extended a verbal invitation to Vajpayee soon after the Prime Minister inaugurated the third Conference of SAARC Information Ministers here this morning. ''I have conveyed to Mr Vajpayee good wishes of President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali and invited him for the SAARC Summit,'' Ahmed told reporters later. Asked what was the response of Vajpayee to his invitation, the Pakistani Minister quoted the Prime Minister as saying, ''milenge" (we will meet).

Ranil agrees to confer with Chandrika (Go To Top)

          Colombo, Nov 11: Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe Tuesday agreed to have talks with his political rival President Chandrika Kumaratunga in a bid to keep alive the peace process with Tamil rebels but rejected her call for a unity government, officials said. The offer came as Norwegian envoys tried to breathe new life into the peace process for the first time since President Kumaratunga threw the country into a tailspin last week by sacking three ministers and suspending parliament.

Five killed in Baramulla encounter (Go To Top)

          Srinagar, Nov 11: Three militants and two civilians were killed in an encounter between suspected militants and security forces in Baramulla district this morning. Gunfire was exchanged after security forces cordoned off the Kuil Bandipora village late last night. The security personnel later blew off the house where the militants were hiding, they said. The bodies of three militants were found from the debris in the early hours of the day, the sources said, adding two civilians were also killed in the gun battle between the two sides. Further details were awaited.

Jayalalitha files defamation case against Hindu journalists (Go To Top)

          Chennai, Nov 11: Undeterred over the controversy generated by the Tamil Nadu Speaker's order to arrest six prominent journalists of the Hindu, state Chief Minister Jayalalitha has filed a fresh criminal defamation case against the the Hindu. The case was filed late on Monday on behalf of the state government by the city public prosecutor taking the number of criminal defamation cases against the daily to 17. According to the petition filed, the article dated April 13, 'People's court only way out for Opposition', written by chief of bureau V Jayanth, was "defamatory, false, frivolous. It further went on to claim that the article had misrepresented facts to give an impression that legislators were frustrated and helpless as they were unable to raise key issues in the Assembly and that they feared chastisement at the hands of the chief minister.

China, India naval exercises no military drill: Beijing (Go To Top)

          Beijing, Nov 11: The proposed China-India naval exercise is not a military drill, but a bilateral cooperation in non- traditional security field, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said. "The two countries will undertake a joint maritime rescue operation in non-traditional security field," the News quoted the ministry sources as saying while commenting on reports about the cooperation of the two navies. According to reports, as many as three Indian naval ships docked in Shanghai on Monday are to take part in the India-China joint naval exercise. The exercise is scheduled to take place off the Shanghai coast from November 14. The sources said that China has conducted various forms of cooperation with many other countries in those fields, which is of significance to the development of bilateral relations. Apart from enhancing mutual trust and confidence, the exercises are also aimed at ensuring the safety of maritime trade and improving coordination in search and rescue at sea.

72-member Pak team to attend Delhi trade fair (Go To Top)

          Lahore, Nov 11: A 72-member Pakistani delegation is likely to cross the Wagah border on Tuesday to participate in this year's India International Trade Fair (IITF) that starts in New Delhi on November 14. The delegation will set up nearly 36 stalls at Asia's biggest trade fair for various industries such as textiles and leather, the Daily Times reported. In the Indian Capital, special arrangements have been made for the delegation, which consists of members of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry, South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation Chambers of Commerce and Industry, and many other industrialists and traders.

Court allows Amarmani to attend Assembly session (Go To Top)

          Lucknow, Nov 11: A Special CBI Court has allowed Amarmani Tripathi, ex-minister and the main accused in the murder of poetess Madhumita Shukla, to attend the budget session of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly. Earlier, Amarmani Tripathi had sent a request to the Special CBI court demanding permission to attend the Budget session of the Assembly. The jail superintendent would be in charge of taking Amarmani from jail to Assembly, and inside the Assembly he would be under the supervision of the Speaker. Vijay Vidwan, Amarmani`s advocate, said, "Daily the jail superintendent, Lucknow, would make arrangements for commutation of Amarmani Tripathi from jail to court and the CBI can call Amarmani for investigation whenever it requires him. But the court has ruled out the CBI`s logic that Amarmani can try to influence the witness. It is completely baseless as the concerned area is restricted one and not everyone is allowed. And the court has given this permission for the entire session commencing from Nov 10 to Dec 2."

"Cricket is the fastest-growing sport in New York" (Go To Top)

          London, Nov 11: Move over baseball as cricket takes centrestage in New York. Believe it or not, New Yorkers have been bowled over by the sport. An increasing number of baseball gloves in the city are being swapped for pads, especially after the opening of a 17-acre state-of-the-art cricket centre in Spring Creek Park, Brooklyn. The area has traditionally been a training ground for basketball, American football and baseball. "Cricket is the fastest-growing sport in Brooklyn," the Sun quoted Julius Spiegel, Spring Creek Park boss, as saying. According to him, the craze is being fuelled by Asian and Caribbean immigrants. So what's more? Well, a second pitch overlooking the famous Manhattan skyline is already being built.

Srinath hangs his boots (Go To Top)

          Bangalore, Nov 11: Pace bowler Javagal Srinath on Tuesday bid adieu to international cricket. The 34-year old Karnataka speedster, who had scripted many a memorable victory in a career spanning 12 years, has been plagued by injuries for the last couple of years. Srinath had hinted recently of an imminent retirement saying he might hang his boots if he felt he was not fully fit ahead of India's tour Down Under later this month. "Yes, I have decided to retire. It is time to go," Srinath told reporters here. "I have no regrets. In fact, I am happy that Indian fast bowling is in good health with Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra," said Srinath who took the pace mantle from the legendary Kapil Dev in 1993-94.

Bottomlines

'Lord of the Rings' all set to sing! (Go To Top)

          Washington, Nov 11: Viggo Mortensen, Lord of the Rings star, has recruited co-stars Rlijah Wood, Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd as guest stars on his upcoming musical album. The British boy has displayed exceptional musical talents during his recent gigs while performing with Hollywood hunk Russel Crowe's Thirty Odd Foot of Grunts music band, reports Teen Hollywood. Mortensen has been working with the three Hobbit actors and with Guns 'N Roses, on the long-player titled "Pandamonium From America", which is to be released later this month.

Now, Fred Durst finds refuge in Kabbalah! (Go To Top)

          Washington, Nov 11: Fred Durst, Limp Bizkit star, has become the latest celebrity after Britney Spears, Madonna and Barbara Streisand to practice Kabbalah, the ancient Jewish mystic faith to cope with his depression. According to ratethemusic.com, the rocker says, "I am just reaching around, grabbing for something that can help me." Durst also admitted to have dabbled with Scientology, which he claimed, was not of much help in solving his personal problems. Durst refuses to take pills as prescribed to him and is convinced that finding a girlfriend will be a major help. He says,"I keep telling myself that's the answer."

Will Smith turns 'match-maker' (Go To Top)

          Washington, Nov 11: Actor Will Smith is all set for an image makeover by giving up on his usual action movies to play a match-maker in romantic comedy 'Last First Kiss'. Will plays a match-maker who claims that his service can set the perfect couple in just three dates. Movie bosses hope to sign Eva Mendes in the role of the journalist who wants to expose Will's character as a fraud. Mendes has yet not committed to play the female lead in the romantic comedy. According to ratethemusic, Mendes has signed a film 'The Dust' opposite Colin Farrell that is likely to keep her busy for a long time.

Keanu wants to bring mom, sick sister together (Go To Top)

          New York, Nov 11: Hollywood actor Keanu Reeves is trying his level best to end the estrangement between his mother and ill sister. The "Matrix" star wants his leukaemia-stricken younger sister Kim to meet their mom Patric Taylor before it's too late. "Keanu loves his mother and his sister dearly and it tears him apart that the two most important women in his life don't talk," the National Enquirer quoted a source as saying. "With Kim's health deteriorating, Keanu has stepped up his efforts to bring back harmony to the family. He doesn't have any idea how long Kim has left."

-ANI

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