Washington - Republican John McCain quickly conceded defeat in Tuesday's election, congratulating Democrat Barack Obama for his historic victory and urging Americans to help the new president meet the country's challenges.

Speaking from his campaign headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona, McCain told his supporters to cast aside differences with Obama and the Democrats. McCain, 72, said he telephoned Obama, 47, a few minutes earlier to congratulate Obama and his family.

Washington, Nov 5: Pakistan embassy in the US has reportedly said that there was no “secret agreement” achieved between the two countries regarding Predator bombings in Pakistan’s tribal areas, as being reported in a section of the American press.

A portion of the US media had repeatedly carried reports recently that Islamabad and Washington had agreed to a secret pact, according to which the former would continue to publicly protest against the US drone strikes on its tribal areas, “but privately would have no objection”.

Reacting to such reports in the American press, a spokesman at the Pakistan embassy said that the understanding between the two countries was “open and public”, reported the Daily Times.

Tata Teleservices Ltd (TTSL) announced that it has rolled out CDMA operations in the Assam circle with an initial investment of Rs 100 croreit.

In the early stage of launch, TTSL will offer seamless coverage in 31 towns of Assam and will shortly be introducing services in the North East region.

According to the sources, the company has launched a range of products, which include prepaid and postpaid mobile services, photon-high speed internet access, fixed wireless telephony under the brand name Walky Talky and a host of value-added services.

London, Nov 5 : A team of US engineers has developed artificial hairs like those used by fish to sense water flow around them to avoid predators or take the most efficient path through complex turbulence, a move which could help improve robotic submarine maneuverability.

It''s a well known fact that fish rely on more than just their eyes to navigate.

A prominent example is the cave-dwelling Mexican fish that has lost its eyes altogether, but can expertly navigate its environment using only an unusually sensitive lateral line - the sense organ that runs lengthwise down each side of a fish''s body.

The lateral line consists of many sense organs called neuromasts, each with a number of microscopic hairs with a mucus cap, or cupula.

London, Nov 5: The absentee ballot from Barack Obama’s late grandmother will be counted, election officials in Hawaii have confirmed.

State elections chief Kevin Cronin said state law typically would require an absentee ballot cast by someone who dies before Election Day to be discarded.

But that would only be if certification of death is received from the state Department of Health before the election.

Cronin said the absentee ballot sent by Obama’s grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, was received by the elections office on October 27.

London, November 5: Guy Ritchie, who is currently in the middle of a fierce divorce battle with estranged wife Madonna, has hired Britain’s top lawyer to make sure his kids live in London, according to reports.

The celebrity couple have been at war over where their children – Rocco, seven, and adopted David Banda, three – will be raised and educated, reports the Sun.

The 40-year-old will use the services of Stephen Cobb QC, who specialises in international divorce cases where one parent wants to take kids out of the country.