Srinagar, Oct 30 : The Centre has dispatched 70 companies of para-military forces for maintaining peace and security during the seven-phase elections in Jammu and Kashmir.

Security officials said that the centre has so far sent 70 out of 425 sanctioned companies for holding peaceful polls during first phase of polling on November 17.

The State Government had demanded for 625 companies of security forces for poll duty but due to elections in other five states only 452 were sanctioned.

Lahore, Oct 30 : After being crowned as the “best Twenty20 bowler”, Pakistan pacer Sohail Tanvir has reportedly vowed to prove his mettle in ODI and Test cricket too.

The left-arm pacer is expected to play a crucial role when Pakistan face the West Indies at Abu Dhabi in a three-match ODI series to be held from November 12 to 16 and then against India early next year, which includes three Tests, five ODIs and a Twenty20 match.

“It will be a huge series. It will be a great platform for me to show the world that I can excel in ODIs and Tests as well,” the Daily Times quoted Tanvir as saying.

Washington, October 30: Actor-turned-author Denis Leary has apologised for making controversial comments about autistic children in his book, which he says were taken out of context by the media.

The ‘Rescue Me’ star sparked fury by writing in his book ‘Why We Suck: A Feel-Good Guide to Staying Fat, Loud, Lazy and Stupid’ that some parents were using the brain development disorder as an excuse to explain their children''s "laziness".

He also said that the surge in autism was a result of "inattentive mothers and competitive dads".

Guwahati, Oct 30 : The Assam government on Thursday said that the banned United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) may be behind today’s serial blasts in the state, adding that it was too early to reach a conclusion.

Minutes after the explosions, Assam''s Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told reporters, "It is very early to make a conclusion but ULFA has a history of triggering serial blasts."

Sarma said the objective of triggering the blasts in crowded places was to claim maximum lives.

Washington, Oct 30 : Samuel Wurzelbacher aka ‘Joe the Plumber’, who gained unexpected popularity during the past two weeks after being repeatedly mentioned by Republican presidential nominee John McCain in his debate, is now being offered to turn into a singer.

According to politico. com, he is being pursued for a major record deal and could come out with a country album as early as Inauguration Day.

“Joe”, a Ohio-based pipe-and-toilet man, had just signed with a Nashville public relations and management firm to handle interview requests and media appearances, as well as create new career opportunities, including a shift out of the plumbing trade into stage and studio performances.

Lahore, Oct 30 : Noted Pakistani ghazal singer Mehdi Hassan was admitted in Aga Khan Hospital in Karachi last evening after his health deteriorated.

owing to his deteriorating health, Express News reported.

The singer was hospitalised following a lung ailment, reported the Daily Times.

Hassan’s family has requested the nation to pray for his health, added the paper.

Affectionately called Khan Sahib, Mehdi Hasan has been bestowed with the title "Shahenshah-e-Ghazal". He is a legendry Pakistani Ghazal singer and a former playback singer for Lollywood.