India

Mumbai, Aug 27: The BSE benchmark sensex was down by over 450 points in the late morning session on Monday on fresh selling pressure due to sharp fall in rupee value and lower global advices coupled with capital outflows by foreign funds. Shares of banking, realty, PSU, metal, auto, refinery and capital goods sectors declined on heavy selling pressure. The sensex resumed lower at 18,460.72 and

New Delhi, Aug 27: Sonia Gandhi is doing 'fine' after being discharged from Delhi's AIIMS hospital, where she was taken last night just before a crucial vote on the Food Security Bill, a landmark welfare scheme she had championed. Hours after she returned home on Tuesday, the Congress president received wishes from across the political spectrum. "Glad to know that Soniaji's health is fine. Wishing

Lucknow, Aug 26: VHP leader Ashok Singhal was on Monday released along with 957 fellow cadres, a day after nearly 2,500 activists were arrested in a massive crackdown by Uttar Pradesh authorities to foil its yatra, which also led to protests by its workers. Another arrested VHP leader Pravin Togadia, however, remained in custody and was shifted by the district administration from Faizabad to Etah

New Delhi, Aug 26: Declaring Congress' goal to "wipe out hunger and malnutrition", Sonia Gandhi today asked all political parties to set aside differences and support the Food Security Bill so that a "big message" could be sent out about India's capabilities. Opening the Congress innings on the debate in Lok Sabha on Food Bill, she rejected questions over whether the country had resources to

New Delhi, Aug 26: Lok Sabha today witnessed outrage over the gangrape of a young photo-journalist in Mumbai with many members demanding death for the culprits, as Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde assured them of expeditious action against the accused. His assurance came after Leader of the Opposition Sushma Swaraj asked whether any time-frame has been set for prosecuting those found guilty of the

New Delhi, Aug 26: VHP's controversial Ayodhya yatra and subsequent developments paralysed Parliament on Monday with BJP and SP members creating uproar leading to adjournment of both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha twice before noon. The Parliament was again adjourned till 2 pm after uproar over VHP yatra and protests by Samajwadi Party members against attack on their office in Delhi. Immediately after

New Delhi, Aug 26: The Supreme Court today dismissed a plea for initiating contempt proceedings against the UP government and its Chief Minister for suspending IAS officer Durga Sakthi Nagpal, who had cracked down on the sand mafia in Gautam Budh Nagar. The petition filed by an advocate had contended that the officer had only complied with the orders of this court in demolishing the illegal

New Delhi, Aug 26: With the Food Security Bill pending in Parliament, government on Monday reached out to various political parties hoping for a smooth functioning of both the houses. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath told reporters at the sidelines of a conference here that he had spoken to representatives of various political parties on important issues. "Let us see if Parliament

Ayodhya, Aug 26: Even as Vishwa Hindu Parishad president Praveen Togadia was arrested here on Sunday for defying prohibitory orders against the 84 Kosi Parikrama, his appearance from a temple remained a mystery in view of the tight security arrangements by the State government. Speculation is rife that he might have entered the town days before the administration sealed the borders of Faizabad

New Delhi, Aug 26: A city court has observed that consensual sex with a girl aged below 18 years does not constitute an offence under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The court said the provisions of POCSO Act suggest that where a physical relationship — which is not in the nature of an assault — takes place with the minor girl's consent and where the consent has not