LS polls: 15-20% turnout in first 4 hrs in fifth phase

The fifth and final phase of Lok Sabha elections 2009, which began on Wednesday morning, recorded an estimated 15 to 20 percent voting during the first four hours of polling. The polling so far has largely been peaceful, with voters turning out braving summer heat to cast their ballot.

Two scribes of private TV channels were injured when they were allegedly attacked by activists of ruling Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) at Duneke village on the outskirts of Moga town, while recording footage of party workers carrying weapons in vehicles, police sources said. One person was killed early this morning in a clash between Trinamool Congress activists and CPI(M) cadre at Baliguri on the outskirts of Kolkata, before the polling began.

BACK

 
'US, Pak jointly carrying out Drone missions'

In a sensational revelation, unnamed American military officials have revealed that the US and Pakistan are jointly carrying Drone attacks inside Pak territory to flush out the Taliban. Quoting these officials, media reports said that the US and Pakistan are co-opting in the Predator Drone missions against targets inside the latter’s territory.

As per the report, the US military has given Pakistani officers ''significant control over targets, flight routes and decisions to launch attacks under a new joint operation.''

BACK

 
Miowal village residents in Punjab boycott polling

Tension prevailed in nearby village Miowal and polling could not be started till 10.30 AM Wednesday as hundreds of voters were protesting against alleged transferring of their votes from village Miowal to Village Mao-Sahib due to alleged political reasons.

When this correspondent visited the village , several voters including Village Sarpanch Smt Gaijo were seen protesting and boycotting the poll process. Only thirty votes were polled in polling booth number 129 in the village till 12.30PM. The Protesters burnt effigy of SAD-BJP Government before polling booth this afternoon.The Protesters alleged that about seven hundreds votes including 196 dalits votes out of total 1316 votes of the village miaowal were shifted to village Mao-Sahib due to political reasons.

BACK

 
Markets weaken on election worries

The fears of a fractured mandate from the ongoing parliamentary election pulled the market lower in afternoon trade. IT, metal, auto and FMCG stocks led the decline. Volatility was high. Realty stocks rose after promoters of realty giant DLF sold 10% stake through bulk deals on BSE. Index heavyweight Reliance Industries slipped. The BSE 30-share Sensex was down 133 points to 12,024.

The BSE Sensex fell below the psychological 12,000 mark in early afternoon trade but regained that level shortly. The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, was positive. On BSE, 1,176 shares rose as compared with 1,048 that fell. A total of 93 shares remained unchanged. The breadth was quite strong earlier in the day.

BACK

 
Gerrard named Footballer of the Year

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard was named England's Footballer of the Year by the Football Writers' Association (FWA). The 28-year-old England midfielder won the FWA poll ahead of Manchester United pair Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney.

Giggs was named the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) Player of the Year last month. The FWA award, the oldest of its type in Europe, has been running since 1948 and Gerrard is the first Liverpool player to win it since John Barnes in 1990, the last time the Anfield club won the top-flight title.

BACK