Tokyo, Oct 22 : On the successful launch of Chandrayaan-1, India''s spacecraft mission to moon, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh today said that it marked the first step in India''s space programme, and also described it as a "historic milestone".

Singh, who is presently on an official visit to Japan, congratulated all the scientists associated with this mission for the successful completion of the first step.

"When completed, the mission will put India in the very small group of six countries which have thus far sent space missions to the moon. Our scientific community has once again done the country proud and the entire nation salutes them," Dr. Singh said.

Rumors are afloat that slinky supermodel Gisele Bundchen is tying knot with American football star Tom Brady.

SEBI would take strict actions against illegal overseas lending and borrowing of Indian securities by FIIs. The regulatory body said in a release that it would not allow the overseas lending and borrowing activity of FIIs as it is not in the favor of cash market in India. It would give a vigil watch to such activities and may take more measures to deal with the lending/borrowing by FIIs.

The security and exchange board of India already asked FIIs to provide details of sub accounts and securities held by them. The detail would be available on the website of SEBI.

Cotabato City, Philippines - Four Muslim rebels, one soldier and one pro-government militiaman were killed in clashes in the southern Philippines, a regional army chief said Wednesday.

Major General Raymundo Ferrer said four Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) guerrillas and one pro-government militiaman were killed Tuesday in fierce fighting in Datu Piang town in Maguindanao province, 960 kilometres south of Manila.

Ferrer said a soldier was also killed Tuesday in a clash with a separate group of MILF rebels in nearby Mamasapano town, also in Maguindanao.

Tokyo - Japan's central bank has supplied 50.17 billion dollars in its first unlimited dollar-supplying money market operation, the bank said Wednesday.

The Bank of Japan's move to lend dollar funds at a fixed rate for one month was intended to ease the stress in the short-term money markets.

Jakarta - Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono left Jakarta on Wednesday morning for Beijing to make a five-day official visit to China, where he will attend the 7th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM).

Yudhoyono, accompanied by his wife Ani Yudhoyono, and a number of cabinet ministers, including Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda, Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu, State Minister for Environment Rachmat Witoelar and Energy Minister Purnomo Yusgiantoro.