In the Q-2 of 2008-09, Indian economy grew at 7.60 per cent, as compared to 7.9 per cent in the previous quarter. In the year ago period, the services sector growth was at 9.6 per cent.

A 2.7% growth was recorded in the farm sector during Q2 of 2008-09. Manufacturing growth stood at 5%; as compared to 9.2%on a year-on-year basis.

For the Q2, the construction growth came in at .7 per cent from 11.8 per cent a year ago.

Recently NASA informed that the crew of the U. S. space shuttle Endeavour is back in the spacecraft, facing a Friday departure from the International Space Station.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration reported that the hatches between the shuttle and the orbiting scientific research facility were closed at 7:31 p. m. EST, following a freeze-dried Thanksgiving dinner onThursday and a round of good-byes to their comrades aboard the space station.

At 9:47 a. m. Friday, the undocking is planned and the final separation burn at 12:14 p. m.

The Allahabad High Court has reserved its judgment on the issue of sugar price fixation by the state government of UP. The petition was filed by the sugar mill association challenging the validity of government's move to fix sugarcane prices unilaterally. It is to be noted that state government has fixed the price of sugar cane as Rs 140 per quintal for session 2008-09 which was rejected by millers.

The state is the second largest produce of sugarcane in the country having large number of cane crushing mills.

The recent terror attack on Mumbai has hit the normal life of city where all educational institutions, schools and corporate offices remained close following large scale bloodshed by militants. The city is a witness of much terror and communal violence in past and it is known as fast-paced commercial capital of country. However, its streets gave a more deserted look with public transport system running almost empty after recent attack on prominent locations of city.

The Karnatka government may postpone the decision to show pictorial warnings on tobacco products and decision in this regard is reported to have taken by state. Government is likely to notify the decision on Monday. The pictorial warning was due to be implemented from December 1 and expected to defer till May 31 next year.

India's third largest software exporter, Wipro has asked its latest batch of recruits to join its business process outsourcing (BPO) division instead of technical and software division. The management has intimated all engineers, selected from various Engineering colleges, about the decision of the company through e-mail. The company has sited unfavorable market conditions and economic slowdown as a reason for its recent decision.