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Doha, Aug 9: Qatar announced on Wednesday a programme to allow visa-free entry for citizens of 80 countries to encourage air transport and tourism amid a two-month boycott imposed on the Gulf state by its neighbors. Nationals from dozens of countries in Europe and elsewhere including India, Lebanon, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United States will now receive tourist visas on arrival to the

Washington, Aug 9: Nearly two years before the assassination of Indira Gandhi, the CIA had suggested that her son Rajiv Gandhi may not succeed her in the event of her sudden death because he was "politically immature" and had "failed toexcite either the party or the public", according to a secret report declassified by the US agency. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) in a report dated January

Chandigarh, Aug 9: The Chandigarh police today finally re-arrested Vikas Barala, the accused son of Haryana BJP president, and his accomplice after they were charged with attempted abduction in the high profile Varnika Kundu stalking case. The arrest and pressing of fresh charges against the accused came five days after the incident that arguably exposed the ‘shoddy’ investigation by the cops in

Mumbai, Aug 9: Mumbai’s Azad Maidan turned into a sea of orange on Wednesday as thousands of people demanding reservation for the Maratha community gathered there in what was their 58th protest in a year. Wearing orange caps and carrying flags, the protesters walked down south Mumbai’s JJ flyover, which was closed for vehicular traffic, winding their way to the protest venue. At the Jijamata Udyan

Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel, who pulled off a victory in the bitterly fought Rajya Sabha election in Gujarat, has the reputation of being a trouble-shooter and strategist for the party. The long-serving political secretary to Congress president Sonia Gandhi has been one of the most powerful functionaries in the party. An organisational man, he had gently turned down offers to join the

Senior Congress leader Ahmed Patel, who pulled off a victory in the bitterly fought Rajya Sabha election in Gujarat, has the reputation of being a trouble-shooter and strategist for the party. The long-serving political secretary to Congress president Sonia Gandhi has been one of the most powerful functionaries in the party. An organisational man, he had gently turned down offers to join the

Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 9: Forty-two people linked with various organisations, including terror outfit ISIS, were suspected to have gone missing from Kerala in last five years, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Tuesday. There was no information about these missing people, Vijayan said in a written reply in the state Assembly, adding that all cases connected with IS were probed by the

Mangaluru, Aug 9: RSS veteran Kalladka Prabhakar Bhat has lashed out at Karnataka government for withdrawing financial grant, given through the Kollur Mookambika Temple, to two government-aided private schools managed by the Sri Rama Vidyakendra Trust. Bhat, who is alpha and omega of the Trust, accused Dakshina Kannada district in-charge minister B Ramanath Rai and chief minister Siddaramaiah of

New Delhi, Aug 9: Stress is one of the biggest enemies of Indian Army. According to a report, the 15-lakh strong armed forces losing over 100 personnel in stress-related deaths in the form of suicides and fragging or fratricide (to kill a fellow-soldier or superior) every year. There have been 44 suicides and a fratricide case in the Army alone this year. The defence ministry told Parliament on

New Delhi, Aug 9: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday congratulated Union Minister Smriti Irani and BJP chief Amit Shah on being elected to Rajya Sabha from Gujarat. While Mr. Shah made his maiden entry to the Rajya Sabha, Ms. Irani was reelected to the upper House in the polls held on Tuesday. “Congratulations to BJP president @AmitShah & ministerial colleague @smritiirani on getting