Sao Paulo - Local hero Felipe Massa had a perfect start into the Brazilian Formula One Grand Prix weekend when he beat world championship rival Lewis Hamilton for first place in the opening practice session on Friday.

Massa clocked 1 minute 12.305 seconds in his Ferrari for the 4.309-kilometres lap on the Sao Paulo course.

The Briton Hamilton had 1:20.495 minutes in a McLaren-Mercedes and dethroned 2007 world champion Kimi Raikkonen of Finland recorded 1:12.507 for third place in the second Ferrari.

Hamilton takes a seven-point lead over Massa into the season-ending race as he bids to become the youngest world champion in F1 history at age 23. He requires fifth place to secure the title if Massa wins the race.

Bhiwani (Haryana), Oct. 31 : In a gesture to support social cause, the Olympic medallist Vijender launched two social campaigns-- ''Tree Plantation'' and ''Save Girl Child'' here on Thursday on the occasion of his birthday.

Vijender who celebrated his 22nd birthday, visited the local temple of Goddess Durga and offered prayers. His coach Jagdish and the President of Boxing Club of Bhiwani, Kamal Singh accompanied him.

Vijender prayed to Goddess Durga for more laurels to India in the boxing ring. After prayers, Vijender planted a tree and inspired others to follow suit. He also urged the people to stop female foeticide and participate in ''Save the Girl Child'' campaign.

Amritsar, Oct. 31 : Apart from its agricultural success, Punjab has also excelled in educational field, with universities and institutions imparting quality education and carrying out research work.

The State’s Guru Nanak Dev University in Amritsar is one among the five existing universities in the state that focus on nurturing and rewarding talent.

Established in 1969, to mark the 500th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, the Guru Nanak Dev University in Amritsar is today viewed as ‘a leader in education''. Having demonstrated its impact on the national level in nurturing talents, the university is now all set to scale new heights internationally.

New Delhi, Oct. 31 : Meera, the Canada-based businesswoman of Indian origin, recently launched her debut Punjabi music album `My Ranjha''.

For Meera, her debut album is a celebration of her feelings and value for the vibrant Punjab. The singer, on the release function in New Delhi recently said that she shared a special bond with Punjab and was on a promotional tour to India recently.

Meera''s `My Ranjha'' is a fusion of earthy Punjabi lyrics with new age music.

Born and brought up in Jalandhar, Meera started singing at a very young age. She said that her first teacher happened to be her mother, who was also a trained singer.

Guwahati, Oct 31: Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil today visited Kokrajhar to to take the stock of the situation after Thursday''s serial blasts in the state in which 70 people were killed and over 300 injured.

The Home Minister visited the blast sites to access the intensity of the blast. He also visited Kokrajhar Rupnath Brahma Civil Hospital and meet some of the blast victims.

Talking to reporters, he said that he would take the matter with the state government and assured all possible help from the Centre.

Senior BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, L K Advani, is also arrived here this morning and visited the blast sites at Panbazar, Kachari Ghat and Ganeshguri and the injured in the hospitals.

Moenchengladbach - Bundesliga club Borussia Moenchengladbach will travel to Israel in December and play against the club coached by their former star Lothar Matthaeus, it was announced on Friday.