News in Brief

Turkey, US hold talks on China missile deal
Afp, Ankara

 
A senior US defence official has held talks in Turkey, the embassy said yesterday, after Washington expressed "serious concerns" about Ankara's plans to acquire a long-range anti-missile system from China.
Turkey announced in September it was entering negotiations with the China Precision Machinery Export-Import Corporation (CPMIEC) to buy its first long-range anti-missile system. The move irritated its NATO allies, particularly the United States, which has imposed sanctions on CPMIEC for selling arms and missile technology to Iran and Syria.

Lata roots for Modi as PM
Ndtv, Online

 
Narendra Modi, who is leading the BJP's campaign as its prime ministerial candidate, on Friday found support from legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar who backed the Gujarat Chief Minister for the top job in the country.
"Narendrabhai is like my brother. All of us want to see him become the prime minister. On the auspicious occasion of Diwali, I hope our wishes would come true," the 84-year-old Ms Mangeshkar said at a function in Pune after Modi inaugurated a super-speciality hospital named after the singer's father, Deenanath Mangeshkar.

China fireworks factory blast kills 11
Afp, Beijing

 
Chinese police have detained two people after 11 died and 17 were injured by an explosion in a fireworks factory, state media reported yesterday.
The factory in southern China's Guangxi province exploded on Friday afternoon, the official Xinhua news agency said, without citing a cause. Local police have detained the manager and the legal representative of the factory, the report said.

Indian actress 'molested' by MP
Pti, Kollam

 
Congress MP N Peethambara Kurup, embroiled in controversy over alleged molestation of Malayalam cine actress Shweta Menon at a function here on Friday evening, yesterday strongly denied having committed such an act.
Shweta had complained, without naming her tormentor, that she was physically humilated at the venue of the President's Trophy boat race function here on Friday evening. Media footage showed Kurup touching her after which the MP issued the statement.