Latest News

New Delhi: Admitting lack of specific data on or detailed assessment of "misappropriations" in MNREGA scheme, the government on Wednesday said it was strengthening the social audit system and sought cooperation from state governments to tackle corruption in the flagship programme. "As of now there is no detailed assessment of misappropriations. The functioning of the […]

Peshawar: Four soldiers and 16 Taliban militants were killed in a clash that erupted when militants attacked a security check post in the volatile Mohmand tribal region of northwest Pakistan on Wednesday, a security official said. A group of militants attacked Anargi check post in Mohmand Agency. Four soldiers were killed and as many injured […]

New Delhi: National Advisory Council Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday expressed concern over shortcomings in implementation of MNREGA scheme but put the onus of dealing with them on the state governments. "I want to share some of my concerns with you. There are reports that its (MNREGA) funds are being spent on other works. Reports […]

Dubai: Eight Indians facing trial for allegedly killing a Pakistani youth have paid blood money to the victim`s father who agreed to a compromise and pardoned them, a move likely to help the accused escape the gallows. "We arranged the visit of the victim Mumtaz Yusuf`s father Mohd Yusuf to Dubai. He appeared in the […]

Hyderabad: Senior Congress leader from Andhra Pradesh, G Venkataswamy, who created a flutter by demanding Sonia Gandhi`s resignation as party president, on Wednesday said he is ready to withdraw all his comments. "I had to make those comments because I was worried that party may suffer in Telangana region. I am ready to withdraw all […]

New Delhi: Concerned over a spike in crude oil prices in international markets due to turmoil in the Middle East, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday said the government is monitoring the situation and will manage it. "Unfortunately, because of developments in the Middle East and its impact on the Arab world… (it) is causing […]

Boston: An American woman, who styled herself `Jihad Jane`, on Wednesday pleaded guilty to charges that she worked online to support Islamic terrorists and moved overseas to plot killing of a Swedish artist who drew cartoons of Prophet Mohammad. Blonde-haired, blue-eyed Colleen LaRose replied "yes" when she was asked by US District Court Judge Petrese […]

New Delhi: Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday accused Leader of Opposition Sushma Swaraj of making thoughtless allegations and "tying herself in knots" by levelling the charge that he had misled the panel which selected P J Thomas as CVC. Taking exception to Swaraj`s charge that he misled the committee by informing it that […]

Melbourne: Indian national Gursewak Dhillon, who accidentally knocked down three-year-old Gurshan Singh Channa last year, was on Wednesday jailed for five years by an Australian court, which also ordered his deportation. Victorian Supreme Court judge Justice Lex Lasry sentenced Dhillon and said he had put his own welfare before the toddler who could have survived. […]

Mumbai: National carrier Air India on Wednesday said it will operate a third flight to airlift Indian citizens caught in the violent unrest in Cairo over the demand for ouster of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. "We are dispatching a jumbo aircraft (Boeing 747) from Mumbai to Cairo this afternoon to ferry some more Indians stuck […]

Boston: An Indian-American doctor has been sentenced to 15 years in prison by a US court for committing health care fraud with his wife and has been ordered to forfeit over USD 43 million in cash and property gained through the fraud. Arun Sharma, 56, conspired with his wife Kiran Sharma and committed a health […]

Mumbai: The Indian rupee gained 19 paise to Rs 45.56 against the US dollar in early trade at the Interbank Foreign Exchange on Wednesday, supported by a higher opening in the stock market and weakness of the American currency against the euro. The rupee had appreciated by 15 paise to close at Rs 45.75/76 against […]

Cairo: Defiant Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Wednesday refused to step down immediately but said he will not fight for another term in September, an announcement rejected by protesters who demanded his ouster by Friday. In a televised address, Mubarak said, "I say in all honesty and regardless of the current situation, that I did […]

Mumbai: The Sensex gained nearly 220 points in opening trade on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) on Wednesday amid a firming trend overseas. The 30-share index of the Bombay Stock Exchange surged by 219.18 points, or 1.21 per cent, to 18,241.40 within the first few minutes of trade, with oil and gas, realty and banking […]

Bhubaneswar: In an apparent move to hike the power tariff, the Orissa Electricity Regulatory Commission (OERC) has scheduled a hearing from Wednesday. Working over the proposals submitted by eight premier power distributing companies in the state, the commission will begin its hearing. OERC sources said that Gridco, which is currently incurring around Rs 100 crore […]