New Delhi - At least five separatist rebels were killed in an encounter with government troops in India's north-eastern state of Assam Monday, a news report said.

The combat between rebels belonging two separatist militant outfits, the National Democratic Front of Bodoland and Muslim United Liberation Tigers of Assam and the army took place in central Sonitpur district, the PTI news agency reported quoting defence sources.

New Delhi - India placed an Israeli-built spy satellite into orbit Monday to enhance its defence capabilities and help security agencies monitor its borders in the aftermath of the November Mumbai terrorist attacks, news reports and officials said.

The locally built PSLV-C12 rocket carrying the 300-kilogramme radar-imaging satellite and a 40-kilogramme education satellite, lifted off from the Satish Dhawan spaceport in Sriharikota city, 90 kilometres north of southern Chennai city early Monday morning.

Aurangabad/ New Delhi, Apr 20 : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Rajnath Singh vowed to stop a controversial Sethusamudram shipping canal project, if voted to power.

Religious groups say the project will destroy a mythical bridge of sand made by Hindu god, Lord Ram.

New Delhi, April 20 : Nowadays, keyboards made of bamboo are a rage in China, as they provide a more environment-friendly alternative to the usual keyboard made of plastic.

As hi-tech brings conveniences and also pollution to the modern world, people who have a keen awareness of ecological protection are looking for green ways of living to offset the negative impact of advanced technologies.

Although bamboo keyboard is still a new thing to most computer users, it is nevertheless gaining popularity.

New Delhi, April 20 : A Chinese farmer has much to complaint after her cow started to feed on its own milk, leaving her empty-handed.

Owner Guli Nisha, from Urumqi, capital of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, said the animal had found a unique way of being self-sufficient by turning its head around and drinking its own milk, reports the China Daily.

Guli revealed: "I do not know what caused the cow to drink its own milk, but I know I got no milk from it and had to spend some 30 yuan (4.40 dollars) to feed it."

New Delhi, Apr 20 : Election Commissioner Navin Chawla will take over as the next Chief Election Commissioner today.

Chawla, who will succeed incumbent N Gopalaswami, will hold charge till July 29, 2010.

Chawla, who is taking charge in the midst of the five-phased Lok Sabha elections, will oversee four phases of the polls.