SINGAPORE: India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have clinched a trade pact that took nearly six years of talks to finalise. This will create a new free trade area of 1.7 billion people and cover 11 countries, India and the ten ASEAN states, with a combined Gross Domestic Product of $2.3 trillion as of now.

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday described the ongoing violence in Orissa as a “shame on the nation” and is understood to have assured a delegation of church leaders that Rs. 3 lakh would be given as compensation to the families of those killed.

Singur: Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee said here on Thursday that she would not settle for anything less than the return of 400 acres of land allegedly acquired forcibly for the Tata small car project. Her “fight against the government will continue till that is achieved.”

PUDUCHERRY: Industries and Power Minister V. Vaithilingam was on Thursday elected the new leader of the Congress Legislature Party following the resignation of N. Rangasamy as Chief Minister.

BHUBANESWAR: Attacks on prayer houses and villages and hamlets with a Christian majority continued in Kandhamal district of Orissa on Thursday. The violence had been sparked off by the killing of VHP leader Swami Lakshmanananda.