San Francisco, Nov. 2 : While recognizing the concerns of non-immigrants residing in the United States of America, the Democratic Party''s Vice Chairman Mike Honda has said that there is need for a comprehensive immigration reforms and his party would bring in such reforms if they were voted to power. 

Taking to ANI after attending an election campaign meeting for Barack Obama, in the Silicon Valley on Saturday, Congressman Honda said that it was for all Americans. 

Washington, Nov 2 : Soccer ace David Beckham feels honoured to be called the ‘gayest straight man in Britain’ and ‘blackest white man’ in history.

In an interview to GQ magazine, the 33-year-old midfielder said he loves to be called a gay and black icon.

“When people talk to me about being a gay icon I think of it as a great honour,” the Daily Star quoted him, as saying.

“To have that kind of affect on so many people around the world, I was honoured,” he added.

Washington, Nov 2 : Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin was “mildly bemused” at knowing from French-Canadian comedian, who while impersonating as French President Nicolas Sarkozy, told her that his wife Carla Bruni was “hot in bed”. In her response, the Alaska Governor chuckled and complimented him for his “beautiful family”.

Lusaka - Rioting broke out in Zambia's capital overnight, after it emerged that acting president Rupiah Banda had overturned opposition leader Michael Sata's lead in Thursday's presidential by-election with only a few results left to count, reports in South Africa said.

With just two constituencies out of 150 in the southern African country left to be announced, Banda, 71, the candidate of the ruling Movement for Multi-Party Democracy, was poised to become president for the next three years, replacing ex-leader Levy Mwanawasa, who died in August.

Ranchi, Nov 2 : Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren has run into a fresh controversy with former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi alleging that he has links with the chief of an outlawed extremist outfit in the state. 

Marandi, who is also heading the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (P), is demanding a CBI inquiry into the matter in the wake of reports of one hardcore member of the Jharkhand Liberation Tigers (JLT) that Soren is in touch with the head of JLT.

JLT is splinter group of the outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoist) in the state.

The government today withdrew the 15 per cent export duty on pig iron, iron and steel ingots, bars and rods, angles and sections. It also replaced the 15 per cent ad valorem export duty on iron ore fines. The export duty on scrap and iron ore lump remains unchanged.

The ministry also withdrew full exemption from basic customs duty on import of ferro-molybdenum and ferro-vanadium. The items will now attract basic customs duty of 5%.