India

New Delhi, August 8: As the month-long monsoon session of Parliament got underway on Tuesday, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the government is prepared to discuss any issue in accordance with rules and hoped the opposition would cooperate in tackling legislative business before the two Houses. “Our government is prepared to discuss any issue in accordance with the rules and procedure,” he told

New Delhi, August 8: The INS Arihant, India's indigenously-built nuclear-powered submarine which is capable of carrying nuclear missiles "will be going for sea-trials soon," Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Nirmal Verma told reporters today in New Delhi. The submarine is now the in last stage of testing. Sources have told NDTV that barring any major set-backs, the INS Arihant should be able join the

New Delhi, August 8: In what could turn out to be its calling card for the 2014 general elections, the government is finalizing a Rs 7,000 crore scheme to give one mobile phone to every family living below the poverty line. Sources in the PMO said the scheme—Har Hath Mein Phone—expected to be announced by PM Manmohan Singh on August 15, will not only aim to give away mobiles to around six million

New Delhi, August 7: UPA's Hamid Ansari has been elected for a second term as the Vice-President of India on Tuesday. Ansari, who got 490 votes, defeated NDA's Jaswant Singh by a margin of 252 votes. As many as 600 electors from an effective electoral college of 787 members of Parliament had cast their vote by 1.00pm, Ansari's election agent and senior advocate Pravin Parekh said here. Prime

Chennai, August 7: The condition of Union Science and Technology Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, admitted to a private hospital here for liver-related ailment, is "critical," hospital sources said today. "His condition is critical. He is in the ICU. Doctors are attending on him," said an official in the Global Hospital at suburban Perumbakkam, where he was admitted after being brought to the city in

Guwahati, August 7: Four more persons fell victim to the fresh wave of violence in lower Assam districts, triggering protest by locals who blocked National Highway 31 at Beltoli on the Kokrajhar-Dhubri border on Tuesday. With four more people being killed, the death toll in the ethnic violence in Assam has climbed to 65. In the worst-affected Kokrajhar district, three persons were killed and two

New Delhi, August 7: Polling today began on a brisk note for the Vice Presidential election in which UPA candidate Hamid Ansari appears set to fend off the contest put up by NDA nominee Jaswant Singh. A total of 788 Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MPs, including nominated members, are eligible to vote in the poll to elect the 14th Vice President. Ansari, who is seeking re-election, has the support of

Kokrajhar, August 7: The situation in Assam appears to be far from over. Reports coming in that three people have been killed and two injured after armed miscreants entered at Ranighuli village and fired. The armed men then disappeared. The incident happened at 11 pm after which police forces came and secured the area. Indefinite curfew continues in Chirang district and since this morning curfew

New Dehli, August 7: Former BJP leader Keshubhai Patel on Monday announced the name of his new party -- Gujarat Parivartan Party. Keshubhai Patel, one of the founder-leaders of the BJP in Gujarat, on Saturday resigned from the party to float a new party to contest the coming assembly elections in Gujarat. Patel is considered as the most powerful leader of strong 'Patel' community in the state

Chandigarh, August 7: The Sunday shootout at a gurdwara in the United States that claimed six lives has invited sharp reactions from various Punjabi and Sikh organisations, especially from North America. They criticised the U.S. administration as well as the Indian government for allegedly ignoring security concerns that were voiced repeatedly. President of the California-based North American