News headlines - 7 December 2011

• Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari on 6 December suffered a minor heart attack while he was in Dubai, and some in the US government believe he may even resign on account of "ill-health", media reported.
  
  
• Because of public protests in Tamil Nadu, the first two reactors of the Kudankulam nuclear power project may not be commissioned before December 15 when PM will visit Russia. The PM’s agenda also includes signing of contracts for the third and fourth reactors.
  
  
• The ongoing tensions between Kerala and Tamil Nadu over the safety of the Mullaperiyar dam may get diverted as there is a plan to link it to the Kudankulam nuclear plant issue. Pro-Tamil groups have unleashed violence against Kerala-bound vehicles passing through Theni and Gudalur taluk of Nilgiris district, bordering Kerala’s Indukki district.
  
  
• Under pressure from opposition and also from coalition partner Mamata, Govt puts retail FDI on hold, Parliament to function normally.
  
  
• Team Anna member Kiran Bedi on 7 December said that bringing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) under the Lokpal will make anti-corruption efforts more effective than any other measure. It seems their priority now is inclusion of CBI, not the PM, under the Lokpal bill.
  
  
• Police in Russia are preparing for a fourth day of anti-Putin protests against the result of Sunday's election where Putin has suffered a set back.
  
  
• A common brain chemical that is used for the treatment of mental patients seems to improve the treatment for cancer. Scientists have discovered that this chemical can significantly increase chemotherapy's efficiency by repairing damaged blood vessels around cancerous tumors.