Gautam Vora, the playboy head of one of India's oldest and most respected stockbroking firms, the ULJK financial group, has been arrested for allegedly hiding Vijay Palande as detectives searched for him in connection with the murder of a Bollywood actor's wealthy father and an aspiring film director.

The detectives say Vora has confessed he knew Vijay Palande and Karan Sood, the brother of Simran Sood, but did not know his real identity or of any allegations when he helped him attempt to leave India.

He was in fact wanted for the murder of Arun Tikku, whose actor son Anuj he had befriended, and also for the disappearance of Karan Kakkad, who had approached him believing he could help finance a film music production company.

The Bollywood industry has long been associated with crime and is still largely financed by money launderers and produced by people of questionable credentials.

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Responding to questions raised by a Congressman to the Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, inquiring whether the US Government will reverse its 2005 decision not to issue a US visa to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland stated that their position on the visa issue has not changed at all.

The Indian American Muslim community had earlier demanded the State Department should not change its policy on Modi's visa.

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Cricketer Sachin Tendulkar has been nominated by the government to the Rajya Sabha (Upper House) along with actress Rekha and industrialist Anu Aga. Their nominations were approved by President Pratibha Patil under the Constitution that allows the President to nominate 12 members to the 250 member Rajya Sabha.

Sachin Tendulkar 39, is famous for his masterful exploits in the game, Rekha 57, is known for her superb portrayals in Hindi cinema in the 80s, and industrialist and social worker Aga 70, a member of the Sonia Gandhi led National Advisory Council, is a social worker who figured among the richest Indians on the Forbes list.

Tendulkar is the first sports personality to be nominated to the Rajya Sabha. There have been several film personalities nominated in the past including Hema Malini, Vyjayantimala, Nargis Dutt, Lata Mangeshkar and Sivaji Ganesan. A nominated member has the option to provide a declaration within 6 months if he wants to associate himself with a political party in the House.

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According to its operator GMR Infrastructure Ltd, the New Delhi airport will be the world's most expensive, since it has received permission to raise charges. GMR received a regulatory approval to raise the airport charges from May 15, which increase it called 'adequate' to cover its costs.

Air ticket prices for international flights operating from the airport will rise by around Rs.580, domestic fares will increase by an average Rs.290. These charges will push up landing and parking fees for aircraft and raise the user development fee, a move that may discourage foreign airlines to operate to and from the Indian capital.

One IATA executive said "India's aviation industry is already sick and the increase in Delhi's charges will put it in intensive care from a cost perspective".

The move may also hurt demand from cost-conscious Indians, who are already battling high inflation and have the option of travelling by much cheaper trains.

The Airports Authority of India, Germany's Fraport and Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd are GMR's consortium partners for the airport.

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Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad announced the launch of India's first indigenously developed anti-malaria drug in the country and stressed upon its accessibility and affordability urging states to be more active in eradication of the disease.

The drug called Synriam was developed by Ranbaxy in collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology with the support of the Indian Council for Medical Research.

It is uncertain how many cases of malaria exist in the country, but it is estimated that mortality is between 35,000 and 40,000.

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