Indian equities opened strongly on the back of positive global cues.

IT, FMCG and oil & gas stocks gained ground. BSE Midcap and Smallcap index rose more than 2% each.

The US Federal Reserve slashed bank rates by 50 basis points on Wednesday (Oct 29), and many other central banking institutions are likely to follow suit sooner than later.

The inflationary figures declined to 10.68% for the week ended October 18, as compared with 11.07 per cent for the previous week. The annual rate of inflation was 3.11 per cent in the corresponding period a year ago.

Sydney - A German doctor serving in a country town has been told to leave Australia because the possible cost to the state of looking after his 13-year-old disabled son.

Bernard Moeller, the only doctor at a small hospital in rural Victoria, has been on a temporary visa since arriving in 2005 and had hoped to gain citizenship and make a new life in Australia with his wife and child.

Melbourne, Oct 31 : Popstar Madonna has reportedly spoken to estranged hubby Guy Ritchie for the first time in weeks, after making a desperate late-night phone call to him in a bid to settle their divorce amicably.

The 50-year-old singer, who raises three children with Guy, was reportedly encouraged to contact her estranged spouse by her Kabbalah spiritual leader Rabbi Berg.

London, Oct 31: Sienna Miller has taken a paparazzo to court claiming that her life was made intolerable by a "campaign of harassment" by pursuing photographers.

The details of the alleged campaign came to surface during a preliminary hearing as the actor launched legal proceedings against the Big Pictures photography agency.

She claimed harassment and invasion of privacy, reports Guardian. co. uk.

New Delhi, Oct 31 : Most adults discriminate against HIV/AIDS patients, shows a survey based on six major cities in China.

The survey, which covered 6,000 people, was conducted from February to March conducted by Renmin University of China.

The financial and technical support was provided to them by UNAIDS.

In the study, 30 percent said children suffering from HIV/AIDS should not be allowed to attend school, 65 percent were not willing to stay in the same room as a sufferer, and 
48 percent would not share a meal with them, reports the China Daily.

"HIV/AIDS discrimination must be eliminated in order to encourage sufferers to seek treatment," Edwin Cameron, a South African AIDS prevention expert, said.