News from India, World, Sports & related to Indians Abroad

India, Iraq to resume direct flights

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:40:10 GMT

India and Iraq would resume direct flights which were stopped during the first Gulf War two decades ago, official sources said today.

Porn scandal: Gowda slams Cong as it steps up attack on BJP

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 08:13:37 GMT

Facing the heat on porn scandal, Karnataka chief minister DV Sadanada Gowda today accused Congress of engaging in petty politics, even as the opposition stepped up its attack demanding the resignation of the BJP government over the issue.

Minister rejects DG's research centre proposal

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 18:22:56 GMT

Natarajan irked over CAMPA fund being used in the name of forestry; govt has no money for such institutes, say officials. Chetan Chauhan reports.

Shot in arm for Cong, BJP flexes muscles for Round 2

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 18:55:54 GMT

The special CBI court's verdict dismissing the petition to make home minister P Chidambaram a co-accused in the 2G spectrum allocation scam has come as a huge relief to the Congress-led UPA government.

Congress heaves sigh of relief

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 17:48:01 GMT

Saturday's verdict major boost for home minister; party in upbeat mood, ready to take on oppn in Parliament. Saubhadra Chatterji reports.

Swamy to 'fight till the end', will move SC against Chidambaram order

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 16:22:10 GMT

Refusing to give up his efforts to make home minister P Chidambaram a co-accused in 2G scam, Janata Party chief Subramanian Swamy on Saturday said he will move the Supreme Court within a month to challenge a Delhi court's order rejecting his plea as he has a "very very strong case". Watch

Clean chit to Chidambaram in 2G spectrum case, govt breathes easy

Sat, 04 Feb 2012 02:56:17 GMT

In a huge relief to home minister P Chidambaram and to the government, a Delhi court today threw out a plea to make him an accused in the 2G case holding that he did not indulge in any criminal conspiracy or derived any pecuniary advantage in the decisions taken with former telecom minister A Raja. Watch

Court to give order on Swamy's plea against Chidambaram tomorrow

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:08:55 GMT

The suspense over home minister P Chidambaram's alleged role in the 2G scam is likely to be over by Saturday when a Delhi court would decide the plea of Janata Party chief Subramanian Swamy to make him an accused in the case.

No evidence to show Praful Patel took bribe: Canadian scribe

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:21:11 GMT

In a series of tweets through the day, The Globe And Mail scribe, Stephanie Nolen, made it clear that she had written only on allegations made against Patel by an Indian-born Canadian citizen, Nazir Karigar.
Canadian accused of bribing Praful Patel | Cong, NCP back Praful

Trai to make new recommendations

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:06:40 GMT

The telecom regulatory Authority of India (Trai) on Friday started the process of auction of 2G spectrum by issuing pre-consultation paper on this issue seeking views from all the stakeholders. HT reports. Guessing the future | Anatomy of a scam

Govt refuses to accept CIC order on 2G opinion

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:12:45 GMT

The law ministry has refused to accept the Central Information Commission's order directing it to make public the advice given by Attorney General GE Vahanvati to jailed former telecom minister A Raja on giving licences for allocation of 2G spectrum. HT reports.

AMRI MD Mani Chettri granted interim bail

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:51:23 GMT

A city court today granted interim bail to renowned doctor Mani Chettri, arrested in connection with the fire at AMRI Hospital in Kolkata that claimed 93 lives.

Examine Tata's plea on Radia taps row: SC to Centre

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:25:16 GMT

The Supreme Court today permitted industrialist Ratan Tata to approach the Centre for disclosure of certain contents of the confidential report placed before it on Nira Radia tapes relating to secret conversations of politicians, bureaucrats and media personnel.

Big 2G verdict was justice AK Ganguly's last hurrah

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:01:32 GMT

"I always tried to play with a straight bat," he said at a function organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association that gave him a warm send off in the presence of Chief Justice of India SH Kapadia, judges, advocates and a huge contingent of media persons. Satya Prakash reports.

'Act of war' if Iran closes Strait of Hormuz: Romney

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 04:26:26 GMT

Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney said Monday he would consider it an "act of war" if Iran was to shut down the Strait of Hormuz, a key transit route for global oil supplies.

BJP's pro-lokpal face takes a beating

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:54:40 GMT

The BJP left no stone unturned when it wanted to be seen as supportive of social activist Anna Hazare's demand for a strong lokpal, but matters related to lokayuktas in its states have ended up hitting the party politically. HT reports.

UPA ministers arrogant or sulking, difficult to talk: Jaitley

Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:25:25 GMT

BJP leader Arun Jaitley feels ministers in the Manmohan Singh government are either "arrogant or sulking" and that it was tough to have a dialogue with them.

Fake admissions bring down enrolments in schools across India

Tue, 17 Jan 2012 17:57:00 GMT

Years after an overdrive to enroll children in schools, the government suspects that a number of these children may not exist and higher enrollment may have been shown to claim more funds from the Central government. Chetan Chauhan reports.

For students: Faster Aakash at no extra cost

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 19:01:55 GMT

College students across India will get an enhanced version of Aakash tablet without the government having to pay a penny extra. Chetan Chauhan reports.

Krishna declines to comment on Pak turmoil

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 17:25:08 GMT

External affairs minister SM Krishna on Monday declined to comment on the turmoil in Pakistan where the Supreme Court issued a contempt notice to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, saying it is an internal matter of that country.

Cong delegation meets CEC on Khurshid notice

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 15:23:35 GMT

A delegation of senior Congress leaders on Monday met Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi and discussed with him the notice given to law minister Salman Khurshid on his sub-quota for minority reservation remarks during campaigning for his wife in Uttar Pradesh recently.

No lesson learnt, 50% Class 5 students can't read Class 2 books

Mon, 16 Jan 2012 14:48:02 GMT

The startling fact is finding of NGO Pratham’s annual education survey of 6.3 lakh children across India in over 16,000 villages, who under the Right To Education Act are supposed to get quality education.

'EC's cover-up move is anti-Dalit'

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 17:58:59 GMT

While calling the Election Commission (EC) order on draping elephants, the BSP symbol, and her statues “anti-Dalit”, UP chief minister Mayawati on Sunday said the controversy had proved beneficial for her party. Rajesh Kumar Singh reports. Poll trivia

Agni-V in final phase of testing, launch soon: DRDO

Sun, 15 Jan 2012 13:54:06 GMT

Agni-V, the 5,000-km version of the nuclear capable missile, is in the final phase of testing and is soon set for launch, a senior DRDO official said in Chandigarh today.

Minorities done, govt turns focus on Jat quota

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 17:44:09 GMT

Panel for backward classes okayed social, cultural study on whether Jats should be included in OBC list. Saubhadra Chatterji reports.