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%.
 

Jalandhar, Nov 2 : The Red Ribbon Express, spreading awareness about HIV/AIDS, has reach Jalandhar.

The exhibition train will remain open for people for their viewing at Jalandhar station on Sunday, according to reports.

The train comprises of seven coaches, which is equipped with educational material (primarily on HIV/AIDS), interactive touch screens, an LCSD projector and platform for folk performances and counseling cabins for providing counseling.

The express was flagged-off from New Delhi on December 1, AIDS Day, last year.

Till date, it has covered 22 states.

La Paz - Bolivian President Evo Morales barred the US Drug Enforcement Adminstration from working in his country, accusing the agency of spying and providing financial support to Bolivia's conservative opposition.

The leftist Morales said Saturday on a visit to Chimore in Cochabamba department, an area where coca is grown, that it was a "personal decision" and he must defend Bolivia's sovereignty.

The Indian Oil Company (IOC) has incurred a loss of Rs 7,047 crore in the second quarter ending Sept 30.The loss is believed to be more than Rs 6,963 crore that the company made in 2007-08.

The company in the first half of the year 2008-09 lost Rs 6,632 crore, as against a net profit of Rs 5,286.16 crore in the same period last year.

Lahore, Nov 2 : Quite to the surprise to many, a Hindi movie was erroneously dubbed on CDs supposed to be containing Haj-related information.

The error was detected only when they landed in the hands of the ultimate users.

The CDs were forwarded to all four provincial offices and travel agents across the country. They were recorded at a private firm in Rawalpindi.

Each CD cost the pilgrims Rs 50.

Some of these CDs, bought from a stall at the Haji camp in Karachi, contained an Indian film, confirmed Karachi Haj Director Abdul Sattar Sameeto.

“I have informed the ministry about the CDs,” the Daily Times quoted Sameeto as saying in a TV interview.