New Delhi - Indian equities fell by more than 3 per cent in early trade on Wednesday after a two-day rally, following cues from stock exchanges in New York and Tokyo.

The 30-share Sensex of the Bombay Stock Exchange lost 373.68 points on funds selling metal, information technology and banking stocks, following weakening markets.

The index which had gained 955 points over the past two sessions fell to 11,109.72, a loss of 3.25 per cent at 11:55 am (0625 GMT).

Similarly, the broader 50-share Nifty index fell by 84.95 points to 3433.70, a decline of 2.41 per cent.

Market analysts said weakness at the US markets and similar trends in other Asian bourses including the Tokyo stock exchange pulled down trading sentiment.

Srinagar/Jammu, Oct 15: Politicians and residents have given mixed reactions to the Election Commission''s decision to buy more time to decide on the poll dates in Jammu and Kashmir.

Leaders of the state's National Conference party backed the decision.

"I think it is a right decision because Jammu and Kashmir is a sensitive state. Here, whenever elections are held it should be credible one. There is no doubt that the security situation is improving, but the Election Commission should ensure that there should be people participation as only when people participation is there we will consider elections as credible," said Raheem Rather, a senior leader of National Conference.

Hyderabad, Oct 15 : The country''s first International Exhibition and Conference on Civil Aviation “India Aviation 2008” will begin here today.

The four-day event is being jointly organised by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the FICCI, with the United States being the partner country.

The exhibition, to be held at city’s Begumpet Airport, will showcase the development of Indian Civil Aviation sector and a theme pavilion displaying rare photographs and models will highlight its past, present and future.

Washington - Nothing prepares you for Aravind Adiga's India - a deep, oozing, festering sore that you are desperate to ignore, but one that he forces you to stare at, and later laugh about.

The White Tiger, the Indian author's debut novel about one man's unscrupulous journey from a village life of unbearable poverty to blazing entrepreneurial success was awarded the 2008 Man Booker Prize for Fiction late Tuesday in London.

Adiga described the novel as "a portrait of society that is on the brink of unrest." But it's also funny. "It's meant to get people thinking," he said.

New Delhi, Oct 15 : The Sixth Council meeting of the International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR) will begin here today.

This is for the first time that the council meeting is being organised outside its headquarter in China.

India being chair of the council session is hosting the Sixth Council Session. This meeting will provide guidance for future thrust of INBAR activities. INBAR has 34 member countries at present, which include 13 in Africa, 10 in Asia, 10 in America and one in Oceania.

New Delhi, Oct 14 : The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Central Government to fill all vacant seats in central educational institutions for Other Backward Classes (OBC) with General Category students by October.

The apex court said that allowing vacant reserved seats to be carried over to the next year would be a waste of a precious resource.

The court also stated that the cut-off marks for OBC candidates cannot be lowered beyond 10 per cent from that of general category students.