India's apex court orders probe of Modi's role in Gujarat riots

The Supreme Court on Monday asked Raghavan Committee, a special a special panel formed by it to look into Modi's role of Naredra Bhai Modi in 2002 Gujarat riots.

Court also asked the panel to investigate the role of 50 other politicians and government officials who allegedly aided and abetted statewide communal riots that sparked throughout the state after Godhra incident.

A bench of Justices Arijit Pasayat and Asok Kumar Ganguly directed the panel headed by former Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) director R.K. Raghavan to particularly look into the allegations that Modi was involved in the killing of an MP in Ahmedabad's Gulbarga Society arson case.

More than 1,000 people, mostly Muslims, were killed in Gujarat in a frenzy of reprisals after the Godhra incident, in which 59 Hindus were torched alive by suspected Muslims in a train carriage.

Sonia Gandhi criticises the Third and Fourth Fronts

Sonia Gandhi, Chief of India's ruling Congress party lashed out at the third and fourth front and said these fronts were only formed to grab power.

Addressing a public rally on Saturday (April 18) in Bhadrak of India's eastern Orissa state she said that newly formed fronts have no future.

"There are several fronts for grabbing power and chair. These fronts have no ideals, principles and also no future," said Sonia Gandhi.

Sonia further added that these fronts have no political agenda for the betterment of the country and welfare of the people except to criticise the UPA government at the Centre headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

Gandhi also criticised state government for not utilising funds provided by the federal government in the development of state. The state, she said, had been pushed to backwardness due to "misrule" by the Naveen Patnaik government in the last nine years.

BJP rubbishes Rahul Gandhi's charge

Bangalore (PTI): The BJP in Karnataka on Saturday rubbished Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi's charge that the state government had failed to use Central grants, accusing the UPA government of meting out "step-motherly" treatment to the state.

"As against the plea for Rs 23,000 crore assistance for various projects by the BJP government, the Centre sanctioned only Rs 1700 crore," Transport Minister R Ashok said here.

Slamming Mr. Gandhi's reported assurance to sanction Rs 11,000 crore aid for Bangalore's development, Ashok, who is also party in-charge of the IT city, asked: "is he the Prime Minister to sanction funds?"

He claimed that it was BJP General Secretary Anantkumar who was responsible for bringing more funds for Bangalore's development when he held the Urban Development portfolio in the Vajpayee government.

State unit President D V Sadananda Gowda released the Kannada version of the BJP's poll manifesto.

Addressing public meetings at Gulbarga and Devanahalli near Bangalore on Friday, Mr. Gandhi had flayed the BJP government for its "failure" to use Central grants for the state's development.

India asks for ceasefire in Sri Lanka

India, on Saturday (April 18) asked both the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE rebels to declare a ceasefire in the island nation.

"Our appeal to both the Sri Lanka government and the LTTE is to declare a ceasefire," External Affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee told reporters in Jangipur of India's eastern West Bengal state.

A day before, Mukherjee said that Tamil civilian casualties in Sri Lanka was totally unacceptable to India and that Colombo should ensure their safety and security.

Sri Lanka's two-day humanitarian truce ended on Wednesday and the military announced it was now free to begin a final assault to end the 25-year war against the rebel Tamil Tigers.

Gisele Bundchen strips for Vanity Fair

Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen has peeled off her clothes for the cover of the latest issue of Vanity Fair magazine.

Apart from baring all in the pictures, the 28-year-old has also related how she was teased as a child by classmates who called her Olive Oyl after Popeye's stick-thin girlfriend, The Sun online reports.

She has also spoken in the magazine interview about her life with new husband, Ameican football star Tom Brady, and given out her thoughts on motherhood, ex-boyfriend Leonardo Dicaprio and adoption. IANS

Travel Picks: 10 Top International Wine Destinations

SYDNEY (Reuters Life!) - Wine tourists are a growing breed as wineries around the globe step up their game and offer visitors better services and gourmet food alongside wine tasting.

Forbes.com (www.forbes.com) has come up with 10 top international wine destinations assisted by George Taber, author of "In Search of Bacchus: Wanderings in the Wonderful World of Wine Tourism". The list is not endorsed by Reuters:

1. Castello Banfi, Tuscany, Italy
The Banfi winery was started by John Mariani, an American wine importer. One of the more gorgeous wineries in Tuscany, it boasts a beautiful castle with two great restaurants, a wine tasting room and cellar tour.

2. Montes, Colchagua Valley, Chile
Montes is among the most well-known Chilean wine producers, but it hasn't lost its eccentricity. "It's the only winery in the world I know where the wines are aged with Gregorian chants being played in the background," says Taber.

3. Ken Forrester, Stellenbosch, South Africa
Stellenbosch is considered one of the most beautiful wine areas in the world, with a Mediterranean climate and scenery reminiscent of the Napa Valley, without the crowds. Winemaker Ken Forrester made several trips to France's Loire Valley before applying his expertise back home in South Africa.

4. Fournier, Mendoza, Argentina
This winery is only about 10 miles from the Andes "so in the background you can see the snow-capped mountains all year long," says Taber. The winery has a modern design, almost like a spaceship that landed in the middle of the desert.

5. Leeuwin Estate, Margaret River, Australia
Margaret River is closer to Singapore than it is to Melbourne, so it's a long trip getting there. "It's a little pocket that makes just outstanding wines," says Taber. The beautiful landscape with old forests "is so isolated it's not so crowded -- you get wonderful service."

6. Felton Road, Central Otago, New Zealand
Relatively new to the wine world, Central Otago is also the southernmost wine region on the planet. Some areas, like the Gibbston Valley, are more aesthetically pleasing than others, such as the Bannockburn area, the site of Felton Road. But Otago's pinot noir superstars, such as Carrick, Mt. Difficulty, Akarua and Felton Road are all here in Bannockburn.

7. Bodegas Ysios, Rioja, Spain
The area has become famous in the past few years for architecture by the likes of Frank Gehry. Bodegas Ysios, designed by Santiago Calatrava, resembles the mountains that lie just behind it. "They also make great wine," says Taber.

8. Quinta do Portal, Douro Valley, Portugal
Reach this winery by driving along narrow, winding roads. If you're planning on tasting more than one glass of wine, consider staying the night. "They have a guest house hotel that has beautiful views," notes Taber.

9. Chateau Lynch-Bages, Bordeaux, France
Bordeaux is known to produce some of the best wines in the world. But until recently, the region did not have a reputation for beautiful views or a friendly tourist experience. Lynch-Bages now offers a hotel, restaurants and shopping.

10. Peter Jakob Kuhn Oestrich, Rhein/Mosel, Germany
This is one of the world's most romantic settings, with mountain-top castles and a friendly, welcoming winery. Don't be put off by the screw caps on all this winery's bottles, says Taber -- the wines are now the best and most consistent they've ever been.

Religious leaders to be consulted on national issues: Advani

New Delhi (PTI): BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate L.K. Advani has promised to set up a "consultative mechanism" involving religious leaders if voted to power to discuss "issues facing the nation."

"It will be our endeavour to seek on a regular basis the guidance of spiritual leaders of all denominations on major challenges and issues facing the nation. For this, we shall evolve a suitable consultative mechanism," Mr. Advani said in a letter to religious leaders today.

The letter said to be send to more than 1,000 religiousleaders across the country, says it had been the lifelong ambition of Mr. Advani that "politics, governance and other national affairs should be guided by lofty ideals as enshrined in the concept of Ram Rajya (ideal state), popularised by Mahatma Gandhi."

"At the present crucial juncture in our nation's life, when people are looking for a decisive change, I seek your blessings, guidance and support with 'Sashtang Namaskar' (utmost reverance)," says the letter.

When contacted Mr. Advani's office said the copies of the letter have been send to Baba Ramdev, Shri Shri Ravi Shanker, Maulana Waihuddin and several archbishops of different churches.