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Govt can’t stop Judges’ selection: SC
New Delhi, November 25
The Supreme Court today made it clear to the government that it would not like holding back the appointment of judges in the Madras High Court despite recommendations made by the apex court collegium even as allegations were made by counsel for bar associations in Chennai that the appointments were being withheld as some political parties in power wanted their nominees appointed.

Volcker report debate on Monday likely
New Delhi, November 25
The contentious Volcker Committee report on oil-for-food scam could be taken up for discussion on Monday, with the Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee today rejecting the Opposition-moved adjournment motion.
In video (28k, 56k)

Editorial: Don’t disturb

PM wants to be in ambit of Lok Pal
New Delhi, November 25
Noting that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh himself wants to be in the ambit of the Lok Pal Bill, Union Law Minister Hansraj Bhardwaj today said the Cabinet would take a final decision on the issue. “Prime Minister himself wants to be retained in the Lok Pal ambit. He is one of us. We will consider and once the Cabinet decides that would be the decision,” he said.

Nitish drops scam-tainted minister
Patna, November 25
Even before the new NDA government in Bihar could settle down properly, the pitfalls of “turncoat politics” cost it dear on the very first day. The NDA received a jolt just a day within Mr Nitish Kumar was sworn in when a Cabinet minister from his JD(U) party, Mr Jitan Ram Manjhi, had to resign following a controversy over his alleged involvement in a teachers’ training institution scam in the 1990s.

India suffer huge defeat Kolkata, November 25 Graeme Smith cracked a blistering unbeaten 134 as a ruthless South Africa kept themselves on course for their first one-day series win on Indian soil with a resounding 10-wicket win against India in the fourth one-dayer here today. (Details on Sports page)

Tearful adieu to Kutty
Chingoli (Alappuzha), November 25
Amdist cries of “Maniappan amar rahe,” the body of the Border Roads Organisation driver Maniappan Raman Kutty, brutally killed by his Taliban captors in Afghanistan, was cremated with full state honours in his native village this evening.

Eight-year-old Ajay, the eldest son of Maniappan Kutty, the slain BRO employee, performs the last rites at the funeral of his father at Chingoli village on Friday. — PTI photo

Sensex closes at record high Mumbai, November 25 India’s key stock market index today zoomed to touch an all-time high of 8,863.93 points as funds pumped up investments in blue-chip counters on hopes that a strong economy would drive corporate earnings. — PTI

Maoist scare in Haryana
Chandigarh, November 25
Intelligence agencies have warned against the spread of Maoist movement in Haryana. The mushrooming of various frontal organisations in Jind, Kaithal, Kurukshetra Yamunanagar, Hisar, Rohtak and Sonepat districts in the recent past has set off alarm bells.

India for consensus on Iran issue New Delhi, November 25 India is happy and relieved that the door has opened for the resumption of Iran-EU3 talks and no resolution was put up for voting before the Board of Governors’ meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency at Vienna yesterday.