SC verdict a vindication of PAC draft report on 2G: Joshi
New Delhi, Feb 3 : Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Chairperson and BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi has said that the Supreme Court verdict quashing 2G spectrum allocation to 122 companies is a virtual endorsement of the draft report of Parliament's PAC headed by him and vindicates his stand. Read Full Story

Manmohan Singh terms naxalism, terrorism, fundamentalism as key challenges
New Delhi, Feb 3: Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh today termed Maoist violence, cross border terrorism and religious fundamentalism as key internal security challenges. Read Full Story

Congress condemns BJP for sensationalizing Supreme Court 2G verdict
New Delhi, Feb 3 : Congress has condemned the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) attempt to politicize and sensationalize the Supreme Court verdict in the 2G scam case. Read Full Story

IAF plans to induct more drones in fleet
Bangalore, Feb 3 : The Indian Air Force (IAF) plans to induct more unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones in its fleet for surveillance and reconnaissance on the borders as an effective weapon for deterrence, a senior official said. Read Full Story

Congress defends PM, Chidambaram after 2G order
New Delhi, Feb 3 : The Congress Friday hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for its "double standards" over the Supreme Court's order on the 2G spectrum case, and said the UPA government "can't be punished for following the NDA policy". Read Full Story

UPA misused telecom policy: BJP
New Delhi, Feb 3 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Friday blamed the UPA government for "misusing" the telecom policy and said the Supreme Court order on the 2G spectrum allocation was similar to parliament's Public Accounts Committee report on the issue. Read Full Story

States warned against infringing on press freedom
Mumbai, Feb 3 : The Press Council of India (PCI) has taken strong note of the recent attacks on the media, including the editorial offices of Maharashtra Times, and warned states against infringing on press freedom. Read Full Story

Indian carriers have provided carbon emission data: EU
New Delhi, Feb 3: Despite the government's appeal to airlines to refrain from submitting carbon emission data to the European Union (EU) for a new tax, EU climate action commissioner Connie Hedegaard Friday said Indian carriers have submitted data to them. Read Full Story

Indian railways needs private participation: official
New Delhi, Feb 3: Indian Railways needs large investment from private players to make it more efficient, a senior official said Friday. Read Full Story

No war with China in near future, says IAF officer
Bangalore, Feb 3 : Discounting US intelligence reports of a limited armed conflict between India and China, a senior Indian Air Force officer Friday ruled out any war in the near future but said Indian forces were fully prepared to protect the country's strategic interests. Read Full Story

Six non-timber forest projects in Maoist-hit areas: Ramesh
New Delhi, Feb 3 : The Indian government Friday announced six projects in non-timber forest produce (NTFP) such as gum and medicinal plants to cover around 60 Maoist-affected districts in the country. Read Full Story

No need for India to cut carbon emissions: EU
New Delhi, Feb 3: The world must respect that India has a right to grow and no one wants it to cut emissions but it must not carry on as usual, said European Union (EU) climate action commissioner Connei Hedegaard Friday. Read Full Story

Long way to go to ensure probity in public life: PM
New Delhi, Feb 3 : Amid constant attack by the opposition on the issue of corruption, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Friday said the government had taken several measures in the previous year to curb the malaise but there was still a long way to go. Read Full Story

Railways need a national policy, says official
New Delhi, Feb.3 : India urgently needs a national railway policy, a senior railway official has said. Read Full Story

Sunny day in Delhi, rains likely Saturday
New Delhi, Feb 3 : It was a bright, sunny day in Delhi Friday with the minimum temperature settling a notch above average at 9.8 degrees Celsius. The Met office has forecast showers for Saturday morning. Read Full Story

TRAI seeks initial response on 2G spectrum auction by Feb 15
New Delhi, Feb 3 : India's telecom sector regulator Friday released a pre-consultation paper on allocation of airwaves in the 2G band across 22 circles by auction. Read Full Story

PM terms food security bill historic, seeks PDS reform
New Delhi, Feb 3 : Terming the food security bill "historic", Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Friday urged the states to speedily reform the public distribution system (PDS) so that the government is in a position to implement the legislation when it is passed in parliament. Read Full Story

Ahead of BRICS summit, Krishna to visit China
New Delhi, Feb 3: Amid renewed efforts by India and China to smooth out rough edges in their ties, External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna next week goes to Beijing on a three-day visit that will review bilateral relations and set the stage for Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit here March-end. Read Full Story

Supreme Court raps government over army chief's age row
New Delhi, Feb 3 : The Supreme Court Friday rapped the government over the way it has handled army chief Gen. V.K. Singh's age row, saying the entire process of deciding his year of birth was "vitiated". Read Full Story

Chidambaram's alleged complicity in 2G scam to be decided Saturday
New Delhi, Feb 3 : A court here will rule Saturday whether or not Home Minister P. Chidambaram, who was the finance minister when former communications minister allocated 122 telecom licenses that have now been cancelled by the Supreme Court, should be made a co-accused in the 2G spectrum scam. Read Full Story

BJP charges against PM, Chidambaram politically motivated: Congress
New Delhi, Feb 3: The Congress Friday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of levelling allegations against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister P. Chidambaram on the 2G spectrum verdict to serve "its narrow political interests". Read Full Story

Govt has high esteem for armed forces: Ambica
New Delhi, Feb 3 : Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni on Friday said the government would go by the decision of the Supreme Court in the Army chief age row. Read Full Story

India, Bangladesh border guards to meet every four months
Khowai (Tripura), Feb 3 : Border guards from India and Bangladesh will meet every four months to resolve border disputes and check cross-border movement of militants, it was decided at a meeting of senior officials of the two sides, a Border Security Force (BSF) official said here Friday. Read Full Story

Long way to go to ensure probity: PM
New Delhi, Feb 3 : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Friday said the government had taken several legal and administrative measures to curb corruption in the past year but there was still a long way to go to ensure transparency, accountability and probity in public life. Read Full Story

Priyanka cautions people against voting on caste or religion lines
Gauriganj, Amethi, Feb 3: Congress star campaigner Priyanka Gandhi Vadra today cautioned the people of Uttar Pradesh against voting on caste or religion lines. Read Full Story

Capital to host Global hospitality Summit
New Delhi, Feb 3 : The who's who of the hospitality sector will come together on one platform to deliberate on various issues concerning the sector at a Global Hospitality Summit to be held here next month. Read Full Story

Manmohan Singh expects financial growth at 7 to 7.5 percent
New Delhi, Feb 3 : Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Friday said that India's economy is expected to grow by 7 to 7.5 per cent in the current fiscal year ending March. Read Full Story

Manmohan Singh promises systemic response to reduce corruption
New Delhi, Feb 3 : Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Friday stressed on a systemic response to reduce chances of corruption and to ensure transparency, accountability and probity in public life. Read Full Story

Supreme Court defers hearing in Army chief's age row case till Feb 10
New Delhi, Feb.3 : The Supreme Court on Friday deferred the hearing in the ongoing stand-off between Army Chief General V K Singh and the government over his age till February 10. Read Full Story

Supreme Court defers hearing of army chief age row petition to Feb.10
New Delhi, Feb.3 : The Supreme Court on Friday deferred Chief of Army Staff General Vijay Kumar Singh's writ petition that seeks to settle the dispute over his date of birth till February 10. Read Full Story

Rahul Gandhi accuses Mayawati of being numb during land acquisition stir
Meerut, Feb 3 : Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi has slammed Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati of being numb during land acquisition stir in Bhatta Parsaul village in the state's Bulandshahr District. Read Full Story

Supreme Court to take up army chief age row petition
New Delhi, Feb.3 : The Supreme Court will take up Chief of Army Staff General Vijay Kumar Singh's writ petition seeking to settle the dispute over his date of birth on Friday. Read Full Story

Meta university by next year: Sibal
New Delhi, Feb 3 : Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal Friday said a network of universities forming a meta university to allow students to pick courses from across disciplines from different institutions will be ready by next academic session. Read Full Story

Baba Ramdev slams Congress over SC's verdict on 2G scam
Mathura, Feb 2 : Yoga guru Baba Ramdev said that after the Supreme Court's verdict of quashing all 122 telecoms licences issued under a scandal-tainted 2008 sale, the next move should be to extract the money with interest from the tainted ministers. Read Full Story

TRAI to abide by SC verdict on 2G scam
New Delhi, Feb 2 : Chairman of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), J. S. Sharma said that the Supreme Court verdict on the controversial 2G-spectrum scam is final, and it will abide by the apex court's ruling. Read Full Story

State govts to ensure payments within 15 days under MNERGA, says PM
New Delhi, Feb 2 : The Prime Minister today urged the state governments to ensure that Mahatma Gandhi National Rural employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) workers were given their wages within 15 days. Read Full Story

Rahul targets SP, BSP for making false promises
Ambedkar Nagar, Feb 2 : Congress general secretary, Rahul Gandhi here today targeted the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) for allegedly making false promises to woo the voters ahead of the assembly polls. Read Full Story

UPA-II's administrative structure has collapsed: BJP
New Delhi, Feb 3 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Friday said the administrative structure of the UPA-II (United Progressive Alliance) government has collapsed. Read Full Story

Apex court questions process on army chief's age row
New Delhi, Feb 3 : In a setback for the government, the Supreme Court Friday questioned the way it had rejected army chief Gen V.K. Singh's plea that his year of birth be restored to 1951 from 1950 and said the entire process "appears to be vitiated". Read Full Story

Government to examine Supreme Court's verdict on telecom scam: Mukherjee
New Delhi, Feb 2 : Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday said that the Central Government would examine the Supreme Court's verdict to quash 122 telecom licences issued under a scandal-tainted 2008 sale. Read Full Story

Changing lifestyle toughens India's cancer battle
By Madhulika Sonkar, New Delhi, Feb 3: It's time you stopped saying, "It can't happen to me". Cancer is climbing the Indian graph due to rapid lifestyle changes, adding nearly a million new cases every year. Read Full Story

Manmohan Singh, Chidambaram not responsible for 2G spectrum loss: Sibal
New Delhi, Feb 2 : Welcoming the Supreme Court's judgement of quashing 122 spectrum licences, Union Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal on Thursday said that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and then Finance Minister P Chidambaram were not responsible for the loss of revenue in the 2G allocation scam. Read Full Story

2G case: BJP demands Chidambaram's resignation
Lucknow/New Delhi, Feb 2 : Welcoming the Supreme Court's decision on directing a trial court to decide on Union Home Minister P Chidambaram's role in the 2G spectrum scam, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday demanded his resignation over the issue. Read Full Story

Kashmir and the politics of fear and intimidation
By Dr Shabir Choudhry, London, Feb.2 : Kashmir is not only known for its natural beauty; but was also famous for culture of tolerance, peace and co existence. All this was shattered when backed by Pakistani secret agencies culture of gun, violence, fear and intimidation was introduced in 1988/89. Read Full Story

Three killed, 50 injured in Assam train accident
Guwahati, Feb 3: At least three people were killed and 50 injured when a Guwahati-bound train hit a road construction vehicle at an unmanned crossing near here Friday morning, a railway official said. Five coaches went off the tracks while four other coaches overturned under the impact. Read Full Story

Telecom judgement paves way for policy clarity: Experts
New Delhi, Feb 3: A day after the Supreme Court's far-reaching judgment cancelling 122 telecom licences issued in 2008, experts said Friday the larger implications of this will finally lead to clarity in policy and consolidation in the industry. Read Full Story

Process on army chief's age complaint vitiated: Supreme Court
New Delhi, Feb 3: The Supreme Court Friday questioned the government's decision to reject army chief Gen V.K. Singh's plea that his date of birth be restored to May 10, 1951 from May 10, 1950 and said the entire process was vitiated. The court will now hear the case Feb 10. Read Full Story

Cancellation of 2G spectrum licenses has clearly brought out a big scam: Swamy
New Delhi, Feb 2 : Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy on Thursday said the cancellation of 2G spectrum licenses by the Supreme Court has clearly brought out the big scam, adding that it was a collective failure of the government, which overlooked warnings given by the Comptroller and Audit General on India (CAG) and the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) on the issue. Read Full Story

India has stake in evolution of successful response to climate change: PM
New Delhi, Feb 2 : Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Thursday said that India has a vital stake in the evolution of a successful response to climate change. Read Full Story

Mumbai hospital offers tips to tackle mass casualties in terror attack
London, Feb 2 : Indian researchers have presented disaster management plan for hospitals, which could help them meet the challenges when handling injuries sustained in major terrorist incidents. Read Full Story

SC cancels 122 spectrum licences, asks trial court to decide on probe against Chidambaram
New Delhi, Feb 2 : Quashing all 122 spectrum licences granted after January 2008, the Supreme Court on Thursday asked a trial court to decide whether Union Home Minister P Chidambaram needs to be probed for his role in the 2G spectrum scam case. Read Full Story

Congress ruled states growing faster unlike others: Rahul Gandhi
Faizabad/Deoria, Feb 2 : As politics heats up in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh, Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi has said states ruled by his party, including Maharashtra, Haryana, Delhi and Kerala, are growing faster unlike non-Congress ruled states. Read Full Story

Assam train accident kills 3, injures 50
Guwahati, Feb 3 : At least three people were killed and 50 injured after nine coaches of a passenger train derailed at an unmanned crossing in Kamrup district of Assam on Friday morning, media reports said. Read Full Story

Baby Falak taken off ventilator, still unconscious
New Delhi, Feb 3 : Two-year-old Falak, who has been battling for life after being battered and beaten, has been taken off the ventilator though she continues to be critical and is still unconscious, doctors at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) said Friday. Read Full Story

India, US to cooperate on labour issues
By Arun Kumar, Washington, Feb 3 : India and the United States have signed a memorandum of understanding establishing a framework for conducting a dialogue and to cooperate on future labour and employment issues. Read Full Story

Temperature rises in Delhi
New Delhi, Feb 3: It was a sunny and pleasant morning in the capital Friday as the minimum temperature settled at 9.8 degrees, making it the second warmest Feb 3 in the last five years. Read Full Story

Age row: SC to hear V K Singh's plea today
New Delhi, Feb 3 : The Supreme Court on Friday is expected to hear a petition by Indian Army Chief General V K Singh against the government, seeking to resolve his long-raging controversy over his official age. Read Full Story

India Post offers stamps bearing your picture
Mumbai, Feb 2: In a unique initiative, the India Post will offer stamps printed with your picture on it, an official said. Read Full Story

Army chief meets Pranab, no breakthrough on age row
New Delhi, Feb 2 : The Indian Army chief, General V.K. Singh Thursday met Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee over the raging age row, a day before the Supreme Court is likely to take up the issue. Read Full Story

Trial court to decide on Chidambaram's role in 2G
New Delhi, Feb 2: The Supreme Court Thursday said the trial court will decide on Janata Party chief Subramanian Swamy's plea to make Home Minister P. Chidambaram a co-accused in the 2G spectrum allotment case. Read Full Story

Google has right to remove content, court told
New Delhi, Feb 2: The contention of Google that it was not aware of the content hosted on the search engine and its subsidiary company doesn't hold ground, a complainant Thursday told the Delhi High Court. Read Full Story

Lalit Kala Akademi to reach out to northeast
Agartala, Feb 2 : The Lalit Kala Akademi is reaching out to the young in the northeast in its hunt for hidden talent, its vice chairman K.R. Subanna said Thursday. Read Full Story

Jayant Chaudhary's wife is cynosure at Congress-RLD rally
By George Joseph, Meerut, Feb 2 : Charu Chaudhary, the wife of Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) leader Jayant Chaudhary, was the cynosure of all eyes at the Ramlila Ground in Meerut as the crowds waited impatiently for Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi to arrive for the Congress-RLD rally here Thursday. Read Full Story

2G scam: A chronology
New Delhi, Feb 2 : Following is the chronology of events leading to the Supreme Court order cancelling 122 telecom licenses given out during the tenure of former communications minister A. Raja Read Full Story

Salient features of Indian telecom sector
New Delhi, Feb 2: Following are the salient features of the Indian telecom sector which was jolted Thursday by the Supreme Court order cancelling 122 telecom licenses given out during A. Raja's tenure as the communication minister: Read Full Story

Operative parts of apex court's 2G judgment
New Delhi, Feb 2 : The operative parts of the Supreme Court's decision Thursday in which it cancelled all 122 licences for 2G spectrum (airwaves) allocated to telecom companies in 2008 are: Read Full Story

New art installation at Nizamuddin railway station
New Delhi, Feb 2: A public art installation by noted artist Naresh Kapuria depicting train journeys will lend a breath of fresh air to the capital's Nizamuddin railway station. Read Full Story

Breather perhaps, but Chidambaram still in trouble
By Sarwar Kashani, New Delhi, Feb 2 : The Supreme Court ruling on the 2G scam may have provided him a breather. But Home Minister P. Chidambaram, facing unending flak since 2009, is still not out of danger zone in the case. Read Full Story

PM concerned over delayed NREGA wages, Sonia suggests reforms
New Delhi, Feb 2 : Delayed payments of wages under the rural job scheme are a cause of concern, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Thursday as Congress chief Sonia Gandhi stressed that complaints of corruption about the UPA government's flagship scheme cannot be ignored. Read Full Story

Operative parts of apex court's 2G judgment
New Delhi, Feb 2: The operative parts of the Supreme Court's decision Thursday in which it cancelled all 122 licences for 2G spectrum (airwaves) allocated to telecom companies in 2008 are: Read Full Story

Raja completes a year in jail, adapting well
New Delhi, Feb 2 : Having spent a year behind bars for his alleged involvement in the 2G scam, former communications minister A. Raja seems to have adapted to life in Tihar Jail, officials said Thursday. Read Full Story

Capital to host 2nd edition of human rights film fest
New Delhi, Feb 2 : The capital is set to host the second edition of Flashpoint Human Rights Film Festival, which will bring 16 films from various parts of the world focusing on issues like violence, fundamentalism and corruption to gender discrimination and homophobia. Read Full Story

With China watching, India, Seychelles to up anti-piracy efforts
New Delhi, Feb 2 : Amid China’s increased foray into the picturesque Indian Ocean archipelago nation, Seychelles has assured India that it remains its key developmental partner and sought to to intensify bilateral anti-piracy cooperation. Read Full Story

Blow to government as court quashes Raja's 122 phone licences
New Delhi, Feb 2: In a blow to the government, the Supreme Court Thursday quashed all 122 licences for mobile phone services issued in 2008 and left it to a trial court to decide on a possible probe into the role of Home Minister P. Chidambaram, then finance minister. Read Full Story

Burn care training planned for doctors, nurses
New Delhi, Feb 2: Doctors and nurses will be trained in burn care and management as the country reports nearly seven million burn injuries in infernos like the one in Kolkata's AMRI hospital in December 2011, experts from the National Academy of Burns-India (NABI) said here Thursday. Read Full Story

Foreign telecom firms want government to clarify stand
New Delhi, Feb 2 : Norwegian firm Telenor Thursday sought a fair deal from the Indian government to protect its investment in the country after the Supreme Court cancelled the license of its joint venture Uninor, while analysts viewed the verdict as a setback for foreign investment in the sector, at least in the short run. Read Full Story

Exhibition chronicles Gandhi-King ties
New Delhi, Feb 2 : The Black History Month in the US, which began Feb 1, has connected to India with a showcase of civil rights icon Martin Luther King, Jr.'s pilgrimage to the country and his ideological tryst with Mahatma Gandhi. Read Full Story

Court blames implementation, not government: Sibal
New Delhi, Feb 2: Seeking to put a brave face, Communications Minister Kapil Sibal Thursday said the Supreme Court order on telecom licences did not indict Prime Minister Manmohan Singh but was a criticism of the policy inherited from the previous government. Read Full Story

Sibal must quit, says CPI-M
New Delhi, Feb 2 : The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Thursday demanded the resignation of Communications Minister Kapil Sibal after the Supreme Court ordered the cancellation of 2G telecom licences. Read Full Story

SC cancels 122 'arbitrary' 2G licences, government in trouble
New Delhi, Feb 2 : In a fresh blow to the government, the Supreme Court Thursday cancelled all 122 licences for 2G spectrum allocated in 2008 and left the decision of a probe into the role of Home Minister P. Chidambaram, then finance minister, to the trial court. Read Full Story

Less than 5 percent users to be affected: TRAI
New Delhi, Feb 2 : Less than 5 percent users will be affected by the Supreme Court's order Thursday which cancelled 122 telecom, said the sector's watchdog. Read Full Story

Delayed wages, corruption in MNREGA worry PM, Sonia
New Delhi, Feb 2 : Payments under the MNREGA rural jobs scheme get delayed and should be given within 15 days, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Thursday as Congress chief Sonia Gandhi stressed that the panchayat has a key role in the scheme's implementation. Read Full Story

26 get 1-5 years' jail terms for fodder scam
Ranchi, Feb 2: A special CBI court here Thursday awarded jail terms ranging from one to five years to 26 people convicted in a case related to the multi-crore rupee fodder scam in which funds of the animal husbandry wing meant for buying cattle feed were embezzled in undivided Bihar. Read Full Story

Government will study SC order, implications: Pranab
New Delhi, Feb 2: The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government reacted cautiously to Thursday's Supreme Court verdict canceling 122 telecom licences issued during jailed former communications minister A Raja's tenure, saying it would formulate a comprehensive response after studying the order and its implications. Read Full Story

India wants equitable response at climate talks: PM
New Delhi, Feb 2 : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Thursday expressed concern over the lack of collective global will to seriously address climate change and said India would play a constructive role in climate talks as long as it was based on an equitable response. Read Full Story

Pong wetlands hosting over 100,000 feathered guests
Pong Dam (Himachal Pradesh), Feb 2 : Over 100,000 feathered guests of 103 species are holidaying in Himachal Pradesh's Pong Dam wetlands and among them falcated duck, the silvery plumage species predominantly found in China, has been spotted for the first time. Read Full Story

Festival brings Iran, Afghan puppet traditions to India
New Delhi, Feb 2: Puppetry has been vital to traditional performing arts in India and abroad, having laid the foundation of visual and cinematic arts. Now a 15-day puppet festival has brought 10 groups from places as diverse as Iran, Taiwan, Afghanistan and the US under one roof for Indian audiences. Read Full Story

Government will examine verdict on 2G: Pranab Mukherjee
New Delhi, Feb 2: The government will examine the Supreme Court's verdict on cancellation of licences to telecom firms during the tenure of former communications minister A. Raja and will take appropriate action accordingly, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said Thursday. Read Full Story

Over 6,200 poultry culled after fresh flu in Tripura
Agartala, Feb 2: Over 6,200 poultry birds and ducks were culled in Tripura after reports of a fresh outbreak of bird flu, officials said here Thursday. Read Full Story