* Himachal DGP Ashwani Kumar new CBI Director
The government on Thursday night appointed senior IPS officer Ashwani Kumar as the new director of the Central Bureau of Investigation, superseding the agency's Special Director M L Sharma.
* Home loans get costlier
Home loans just got costlier with the lending institutions on Thursday announcing a hike in their interest rates by an average of 0.75 per cent -- a move that would increase repayments by a minimum of about Rs 2.5 lakh for a Rs 20-lakh loan. HDFC Ltd has raised the retail prime lending rate by 0.75 per cent with effect from August 1.
* Images: Fear over Surat's diamond hub
* Indian Mujahideen threatens India TV
A television channel on Thursday received an email purportedly written by the Indian Mujahideen , which had claimed responsibility for the Ahmedabad blasts, threatening to blow up its office.
* Bush's poser on ISI
An "annoyed" US President George W Bush has confronted Pakistan Prime Minister over the leaking of intelligence, shared by Washington, to militants by the ISI and quizzed him on who was controlling the spy agency.
* Inflation rises to 11.98 per cent
Inflation rose to 11.98 per cent for the week ended July 19 as some food and manufactured products turned dearer, justifying the harsh monetary stance of the Reserve Bank of India announced a couple of days back.
* Pak can't get N-deal: US
Nicholas Burns, one of the architects of the Indo-US nuclear deal, feels that Pakistan cannot expect a similar pact, a day after its Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani openly demanded from the US such a deal.
* Images: Final farewell to a martyred soldier
Hundreds turned up to pay their last respects to jawan Ajit Gaokar, who died in the recent exchange of fire between India and Pakistan at the Line of Control at Rajouri in Jammu, and was cremated with full military honours in Mumbai on Thursday.
* 'Indian Express' ready to chug at Beijing
The star tennis duo of Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi have set aside differences and come together to enhance India's medal prospects at the Beijing Olympics.
* Tatas scrap $3-bn Bangladesh plan
The Tata Group on Thursday scrapped its ambitious $3 billion investment plans in Bangladesh that included a steel mill and power plant, after four exhaustive years of trying to get requisite infrastructure support.
* GDP growth to slow down to 7.8% in 2008-09: NCAER
Economic think-tank NCAER on Thursday revised downwards economic growth projection to 7.8 per cent from its earlier estimate of 9 per cent for the current fiscal and said global slowdown and rise in inflation will have an adverse impact on the growth of Indian economy.
* Reforms: FM to seek support of all parties
Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Thursday said he would reach out to all political parties to support bills on economic reforms in Parliament.
* Inflation rises to 11.98 per cent
* Foreign firms' tax issue: SC to decide
The Supreme Court will decide whether a non-resident company is liable to pay advance tax on fee charged by it for providing services in India.
* Tatas scrap $3-bn Bangladesh plan
* RCOM Q1 net up 24% at Rs 1,512 cr
Riding high on a sharp growth in subscriber base, Anil Ambani group's telecom arm RCOM on Thursday reported a 23.9 per cent jump in its first quarter net profit at Rs 1,512 crore (Rs 15.12 billion) and announced plans to invest over Rs 25,000 crore (Rs 250 billion) in the current fiscal.
* Sensex ends up 69 points at 14,356
The Sensex opened with a positive gap of 72 points at 14,359, but soon slipped into the negative zone owing to nervousness ahead of derivatives expiry of the July series.
* FinCom plan to achieve fiscal deficit target
The government on Thursday decided to ask the 13th Finance Commission to map the road for achieving fiscal deficit targets by including off-budget subsidies like oil, food and fertiliser bonds estimated at over Rs 100,000 crore (Rs 1,000 billion) in the Budget.
* Nokia to invest $150 mn more in VC arm; focus on India
The world's largest mobile handset maker Nokia on Thursday said it will pump in an additional $150 million in the company's private equity and venture capital arm to focus on investment opportunities in the emerging markets of India and China.
* Outsourcing? Tech to blame, says Obama
The Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama has held the revolution in technology and communication in last few decades responsible for outsourcing of jobs to India and China.
* Depp to be next Batman villain?
* Akshay to rock Vancouver
* 'Stallone was very impressed with Indians'
* Spotted: Shankar Mahadevan in Switzerland
* Relatives demand probe into Ishmeet's death
* 'I thought the combination of Rajni Sir and Daler...
* Mamta Mohandas directs Rajni in *Kuselan*
* Does Britney have a new man in her life?
* Prime Minister 'shocked' by Ishmeet's death
* Spotted: Fardeen Khan in UK
* India win AFC Challenge Cup football opener
An injury time goal by Climax Lawrence saw a patchy India scrap past minnows Afghanistan in their opening Group A match of the AFC Challenge Cup in Hyderabad on Wednesday.
* No proposal to join government: Amar Singh
Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh on Wednesday said his party had not received any proposal from the Congress for joining the UPA government neither had it given any proposal in this regard.
* IB identifies Pakistan-based masterminds
Who carried out the blasts at Ahmedabad and Bengaluru? Investigating agencies say they were masterminded by two Karachi-based men -- Rasool Khan Parti and Mohammad Sufiya Ahmed Patangiya.
* Cash for vote: BJP MPs summoned on Aug 4
The parliamentary panel probing the "cash-for-vote" scam on Wednesday decided to summon on August 4 the three Bharatiya Janata Party members of Parliament who made the charge during last week's trust vote, to record their statements and gather evidence from them.
* My party will sweep next AP polls: Chiranjeevi
The popular Telugu film star Chiranjeevi, who is all set to announce his political party next month, has exuded confidence that his proposed party will sweep the next elections and come to power with overwhelming majority.
* Hollywood's blockbuster trilogies
* Special: Diamond city on razor's edge
It was a different Chief Minister Narendra Modi [Images] who walked through the terror-shadowed bylanes of Surat [Images] on Wednesday. Battered by a series of blasts in Ahmedabad and the discovery of several bombs in Surat, the Gujarat chief minister was without his usual boasts, promises of security and jibes at political opponents. He was, obviously, ruffled by the grim turn of events.
* 10 wonderful stocks to invest in
With inflation ruling high at nearly 12 per cent, investments in debt instruments including bank deposits that offer about 10 per cent returns per annum have turned unattractive as the real rate of return works out to be negative.
* L N Mittal's street costliest in Britain
After being hailed as the richest Indian in the world and the wealthiest in the United Kingdom, it has now emerged that India-born steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal resides on Britain's most expensive street.
* How the young Muslim mindset is changing
"The liberalisation of the Indian economy has triggered a growing belief in education, because they -- especially the younger Muslims -- believe they too can join the economic bandwagon, they can be a part of it and benefit from it."
* HDFC Bank moves SC over insolvency laws
The Supreme Court will decide whether banks can initiate insolvency proceedings while recovering dues from individual defaulters as private sector lender HDFC Bank has sought the apex court's intervention in this regard.
* Reliance Capital to foray into housing finance
Anil Ambani Group firm Reliance Capital on Wednesday said it is planning to enter the housing finance and non-banking finance businesses, for which it has already filed applications with the concerned regulatory authorities.
* Delhi Metro to introduce 131 new trains
Delhi Metro will add 131 more trains, some of them with six coaches, to its fleet to cater to the additional traffic caused due to the increasing number of passengers.
* Sensex gains 496 points to 14,287
Despite a 550-point fall on Tuesday, the Sensex opened with a positive gap of 215 points at 14,007 on the back of positive cues from the global markets.
* BSNL offers rent-free landlines
In a bid to tap the rural market, state-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd on Wednesday said it would provide rent-free telephones to customers in villages.
* L N Mittal's street costliest in Britain
* Reliance Cap to manage EPF: CPM slams move
The Communist Party of India-Marxist on Wednesday said the inclusion of Anil Ambani-led Reliance Capital as one of the managers of Employees Provident Fund was an indication of the 'cost' the United Progressive Alliance paid for ensuring support for the government.
* M & M acquires Kinetic Motors
Auto major Mahindra & Mahindra has announced that it would form a JV with Kinetic Motors for manufacturing two-wheelers
.
* Rural India boosts FMCG firms' sales
ITC, Godrej Agrovet, DCM Shriram and other companies expanding in rural areas may eclipse the growth of their urban counterparts, including Reliance Fresh and the Future Group-owned Food Bazaar chain, helped by higher farm income that is spurring a boom in sales of fast moving consumer goods, consumer durables and apparel.
* Ten most value-packed cars
With automakers trying to regain consumers' attention, they're offering a range of vehicles designed to appeal to value-conscious buyers who want a quality ride, better than average long-term reliability and a low-cost ownership experience. Extra safety features like multiple airbag systems, and conveniences like power-adjustable seats, are all now easier than ever to come by--if those are the specific things you're looking for.
* Does Britney have a new man in her life?
* Prime Minister 'shocked' by Ishmeet's death
* Spotted: Fardeen Khan in UK
* Amitabh, Tendulkar in religious film
* *Sohni Mahiwal* producer passes away
* Ishmeet's Bollywood dream unfulfilled
* Bachchans get a taste of India in Toronto!
* Shooting a Hollywood film in Munnar
* Pay your tribute to Ishmeet Singh
* The *Kinng* can do no wrong
* 319 animals killed for UPA survival. Divinity?
he SP legislator from Lanji constituency in Madhya Pradesh had been camping in the famous Kamakhya temple since July 21, a day before the trust motion, and has sacrificed 315 animals as part of the ten-day long 'yagna' that comes to an end on Wednesday.The ceremony will end with four more animals being sacrificed. The animals being offered to the goddess include 302 goats and 17 buffaloes.
* Spotted: Nadal
* Sushma should be tried for treason: Congress
Minister of State for Home Affairs and Congress spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed said the general view in the Congress party is that BJP leader Sushma Swaraj should be tried for treason for alleging that the "Centre has role in the blasts in Karnataka and Ahmedabad
".
* BCCI decline ECB 20-20 invite
The Board of Control for Cricket in India has rejected England's [Images] invitation to play in their version of the Champions League, to be held in Sharjah in October, giving a new twist to the wrangling between the two boards over the Twenty20 event.
* How the Indian Mujahideen was formed
Three men, instead of a single commander, would be in charge of the operation, it was decided at the Kotli meeting, say Intelligence Bureau sources. The Lashkar, Harkat and ISI agreed that it was too dangerous to entrust one man with charge of the entire operation. They had learnt their lesson after Shahid Bilal became synonymous as the face of terror in India.According to the IB, after Saturday's Ahmedabad blasts the three men have all fled to Pakistan, where they had sought refuge immediately after the Haren Pandya murder in March 2003 as well. When the heat was off they had returned to India and lived under various pseudonyms, focusing primarily on recruiting Muslim youth for their terror mission, till July 26.IB reports suggest the trio had imparted preliminary training to over 29 youth, before sending them to Pakistan for further indoctrination. The youths were taught to handle explosives, use e-mail and browse the Internet.
* Five buys that will never go out of style
* RBI rate hike: How it will affect EMIs
Repayments may increase by over Rs 3.5 lakh (Rs 350,000) over a 20-year period on a Rs 20 lakh (Rs 2 million) home loan, if the bankers hike interest rates by up to 1 per cent in the wake to tight monetary measures announced by the Reserve Bank of India on Tuesday.
* LoC violation a cause for concern, says Antony
With as many as 19 violations of the Line of Control recorded since January 2008, India on Tuesday told Pakistan to respect the 2003 ceasefire agreement between the two countries.
* RBI warns over worsening fiscal position
The Reserve Bank of India on Tuesday warned the government against the deteriorating fiscal position due to growing off-budget liabilities, expenditure on subsidies, loan waiver and possible implementation of the 6th Pay Commission recommendations during the year.
* 3 in Rajasthan
Three bombs, placed in containers, were found on the road near Marwar in Pali district on Tuesday afternoon, the police said. A team of the bomb disposal squad from Jodhpur defused the explosives on the spot.
* I'm not being pushed out of Vodafone: Sarin
Arun Sarin on Tuesday got a left handed compliment on the last day as CEO of the world's largest telecom firm Vodafone when he was asked to intervene to pacify agitated Indian-origin sharholders who wanted to know if he was being pushed out of the company that he took to new high.
* Stock market to remain under pressure
The bears are likely to tighten their grip on the market in the short term, following hardening of interest rates by the Reserve Bank amid negative cues from global markets, say analysts.
* Railway profit may top Rs 1 lakh crore soon
The profits earned by the railways would cross the Rs one lakh crore mark in the next financial year.
* Monetary steps not seen since 1929 Great Depression:...
Facing threats of a global crash, the central banks have taken 'extraordinary' action on a scale not seen since the Great Depression of 1929, the Reserve Bank of India [Get Quote] said on Tuesday.
* RBI warns banks on credit-deposit ratios
Some banks have expanded credit rapidly in relation to the system level growth, with attendant worsening of their credit-deposit ratios...If necessary, RBI would consider undertaking supervisory review of those select banks which are overextended in terms of their credit portfolios relative to their source of funds," the RBI said in its quarterly review of monetary policy.
* RBI may raise interest rates again
The Reserve Bank of India may again raise short-term lending rate and mandatory cash reserves by 25 basis points each in its mid-term review slated for October 24 to bring down inflation to 7 per cent by this fiscal-end, financial sector experts said on Tuesday.
* Is this Y V Reddy's swan song?
The monetary measures announced on Tuesday by Reserve Bank Governor Y V Reddy, just little over a month before his term ends, may well be his swan song in his quest to contain inflation.
* Rel Cap, HSBC break SBI monopoly as PF manager
he monopoly of the state-owned State Bank of India [Get Quote] in managing provident fund totalling about Rs 2.5 lakh crore (Rs 2.5 trillion) on Tuesday ended with government allowing three private players including ICICI [Get Quote] and HSBC a piece of the cake.The Anil Ambani group firm Reliance Capital [Get Quote] is the third private player that would share the management of the provident fund that is deducted from the salaries of about 4 crore (40 million) workers in the government and organised sector
* India, US need to compromise: EU
The European Union on Tuesday said India and the US need to compromise on their stands and bridge differences as a face off between them could cost the World Trade Organisation negotiators a deal for opening the world market.
* RBI rate hike: How it will affect EMIs
* A formula to calculate celebs' shelf-life!
* Yukta Mookhey to direct?
* Spotted: Mohanlal in Singapore
* Aamir: I don't need more security
* Winehouse rushed to hospital
* Snoop Dogg to take over Bollywood!
* Rajnikanth's heartfelt appeal
* Marathi film goes to UNESCO
Marathi film, Jinki Re Jinki!, which depicts an emotional bond between a boy and his teacher -- who cultivates in him the liking for schooling -- has been selected by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) for their teacher's training Initiative.Directed by Rishi Deshpande, Jinki Re Jinki! is based on a biography by Bhau Gavande named Prakashachya Umberthyavar. The film has been co-produced by Deshpande as well as Vikrant Patil.
* 'I wasn't aware of the politics in IIFA'
* *Surya's* music is forgettable
* What Modi told Sonia in Gujarat? Nothing
Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi maintained a clear distance from each other on Monday during their entire visit to the serial blast victims.
* Pak troops open fire, Army jawan killed at LoC
A army jawan was killed on Monday when Pakistani troops opened fire on an Indian border post in the Nowgam sector of Kupwara district near the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir
.
* Bomb defused in Surat
One more live bomb was defused by the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) in Varacha area of Surat [Images] on Monday, a senior police official said.
* New weapon: E-mails
While the security agencies were grappling with the e-mail of Indian Mujahideen , some media houses have been busy in receiving emails warning of more bomb explosions in various parts of the country.
* Obama warns Pak
In some blunt talking on Pakistan's role in fomenting terrorism in Kashmir, Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama has said the US should confront Islamabad on its funding of "mujahideen" groups in the valley and the terror camps running under its nose.
* Mumbai: Rains disrupt life
The rain fury continued unabated in Mumbai on Monday with local train services affected and several low-lying areas in the Western suburbs under knee-deep water, hampering flow of vehicular traffic.
* Aishwarya, Madhuri floor Los Angeles
* Terrorist acts aimed at destroying social fabric:..
Commending the people of Gujarat for the resilience shown by them in the wake of terror attacks, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh ontoday said such attempts to destroy social fabric and demoralise people will not succeed..
* View: Incubus of Indian Mujahideen
There is no need for any fumbling guesswork as to who were behind the lethally orchestrated Bengaluru and Ahmedabad blasts that have taken place on successive days. The perpetrators, calling themselves the Indian Mujahideen [Images], have declared a no-holds-barred war on the Indian State by brazenly sending e-mails to that effect to the security establishment and the media.
* BJP sees link between blasts, cash scam
Bharatiya Janata Party leader Sushma Swaraj claimed that there was a deep-rooted conspiracy between the bomb blasts that took place in Karnataka and Gujarat and the cash-for-vote scam.
* Flight crew with hypertension to be grounded
Airline pilots and flight crew will be grounded if they are found suffering from hypertension before flying under fresh medical guidelines laid down by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
* Skoda raises prices up to Rs 25,000
Luxury segment auto player, Skoda India, on Monday said that it will increase prices of all models by Rs 10,000 to Rs 25,000 from August 1. The company sells models like Fabia, Octavia, Laura and Superb in the price bracket of Rs 4.5 lakh (Rs 450,000 to Rs 22 lakh (Rs 2.2 million).
* New Delhi to have its own IT hub
Within the next two years the national capital will have its own IT hub aiming to foster industry-institute partnership in the areas of advanced technology research in the city.
* WTO talks in jeopardy: US blames India, China
The US on Monday blamed India and China for creating hurdles in the ongoing WTO talks here and said Doha trade talks have been thrown into the "gravest jeopardy" by these two countries which are not willing to open their markets for more imports
* IT sector to constitute 8% of India's GDP
Continuing its growth momentum, the Indian IT industry is projected to constitute over 8 per cent of the economy and employ the second largest number of professionals after the United States in the next eight years, says a study.
* Inflationary pressures to continue: RBI
The Reserve Bank of India [Get Quote] on Monday said inflationary pressures because of oil and food prices are likely to continue, giving an indication that monetary policy could be tightened further when it comes for review on Tuesday.
* Tax notice slapped on British Airways
UK-based British Airways has been slapped a service tax notice by the Revenue Department asking it to pay the balance of Rs 143.5 crore (Rs 1.44 billion) liability on sale of tickets in India between May 2006 and November 2007.
* Inflation may have peaked: Moody's
Credit rating agency Moody's on Monday said inflation may have peaked in India as is reflected by the latest moderation, even though global investment banker Goldman Sachs raised projection for the rate of price rise by 1.5 per cent to 11.5 per cent for the current fiscal.
* ONGC Q1 net up 44% at Rs 6,636.33 cr
State-run Oil and Natural Gas Corporation on Monday announced a net profit of Rs 6,636.33 crore (Rs 66.36 billion) in the first quarter ended June 30, a 43.94 per cent growth from that in the corresponding period a year-ago.
* Sensex ends up 74 points at 14,349
A day before the Reserve Bank's quarterly review tomorrow, the Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex today closed higher by a marginal 74 points even as brokers and fund operators maintained a low profile.
* Bono, the Godfather?
* Spotted: Sushmita Sen in Bangkok
* A'bad blasts: Scriptwriter's nightmare comes true
* Super Bore Sajid Khan
* *Sarkar* inspires television show?
* Forgettable controversies over Unforgettable show
* An experiment gone terribly wrong
* 'I am not interested in commercial ventures'
* Madhuri Dixit joins Unforgettable tour in US
* *Ullasanga Utsahanga* is a good watch
* Video
* Bengaluru cops intensify probe into blasts
The investigation into the serial blasts in Bengaluru has intensified with the police on Sunday questioning an unknown number of people as the needle of suspicion still pointed towards banned outfit Students Islamic Movement of India, with the crack team pursuing leads.
* Ahmedabad blasts: SIMI activist held
An activist of the banned Students Islamic Movement of India, who was wanted in the 2002 Gujarat riots, was arrested on Sunday from Ahmedabad after a combing operation for his alleged connection to the blasts there
* Deshmukh, Mukesh Ambani figure in terror e-mail
The e-mail of Indian Mujahideen, which has claimed responsibility for the terror strikes in Ahmedabad, has warned of dire consequences to some politicians and business heads, prompting authorities to increase their security.Reliance Industries Limited head Mukesh Ambani also figured in the e-mail in which he was asked to "think-twice" before "usurping and building a citadel on a land in Mumbai that belongs to the Waqf board.
* Advani arrives
Leader of the opposition and MP from Gandhinagar constituency Lal Kishenchand Advani arrived in Ahmedabad on Sunday to review the situation after serial blasts that shocked the state on Saturday.
* Investigators say Indian Mujahideen is SIMI, V2.0
nvestigators are pursuing the line that the Indian Mujahideen, which sent an e-mail alert about Saturday's Ahmedabad blasts and an e-mail after last year's Uttar Pradesh blasts, is the Students Islamic Movement of India in a new guise.
* Gujarat forms special panel to probe blasts
The Gujarat government on Sunday constituted a special coordination committee, headed by the principal secretary of the home department, to coordinate between the Central security agencies and the state agencies.
* Ahmedabad blasts claim unborn child
It looked as if destiny was playing a cruel game with Dr Parek Shah (32) who along with his pregnant wife was killed at the Civil Hospital where one of the 16 serial bomb blasts took place.
* Surat on high alert; 2 cars with explosives found
A live bomb was defused near a hospital and two cars stuffed with explosives were found in and on the outskirts of Surat on Sunday, sparking a high security alert in the diamond city.
* ISI behind Ahmedabad, Bengaluru blasts: Gill
Former director general of Punjab police K P S Gill, who is credited with finishing terrorism in the state, feels blasts are still taking place in Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled states, first Rajasthan, Karnataka and now Gujarat because the authorities have failed to catch the culprits and punish them for acts of terror.
* The good and bad of India's new airports
* Let's get digital
* What's the economic agenda, Mr Prime Minister?
* M & M rethinks Renault brand sale deal
* RNRL may sell KG gas to third parties, fears RIL
* UB to offer equity to Baramati farmers
* 16 mn people may slip into poverty: UN
* Is Obama bad news for the US dollar?
* India acts tough at WTO, softens on Pascal's truce
* Food prices under threat as major parts of India suffer...
* Madhuri Dixit joins Unforgettable tour in US
* *Ullasanga Utsahanga* is a good watch
* Watch *Money Hai* if you're a Govinda fan
* Don't miss this *Taj Mahal*
* Unforgettable takes toll on Amitabh; falls ill
* This *Mission* is a Turkey
* The Cheetah Girls in India
* Now, catch *Taare Zameen Par* in DVD
* 'Singing and dancing is done to death'
* Sarath Kumar's daughter debuts
* Video
* Advani blames lack of tough anti-terror law
"It looks like our anti-terror legal framework is not upto the mark and it got exposed," he said reacting to the serial bomb blasts in Ahmedabad close on the heels of similar blasts in Bangalore on Friday.
* Stop us if you can: Indian Mujahideen's email
Minutes before the Ahmedabad serial blasts, an email was sent to the Gujarat police which is now in the possession of the Intelligence Bureau. It read: Stop us if you can.
* Blasts condemned
Condemning the serial bomb blasts in Ahmedabad, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has sanctioned an ex-gratia payment of Rs 1 lakh to the next of kin of those dead.
* 'BJP-ruled states targeted'
Speaking to rediff.com, BJP vice president Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the terrorists were targeting BJP-ruled states because they know the party was determined to finish off terrorism in India.
* Speaker orders inquiry into cash-for-vote scam
The committee to be headed by senior Congress member V Kishore Chandra Deo was set up by Speaker Somnath Chatterjee [Images] who was petitioned on Friday by the three BJP MPs -- Ashok Argal, Fagan Singh Kulaste and Mahesh Bhagora -- seeking an inquiry into their charge.
* Security ring at Madurai Meenakshi temple
The famous Meenakshi temple in Madurai in Tamil Nadu is on the Lashkar-e-Tayiba's hit-list, fears the Intelligence Bureau.
* Ahmedabad Blasts: Be a citizen reporter
A day after low-intensity serial blasts rocked Bengaluru, Ahmedabad has been hit by several low intensity blasts. The blasts in two important urban areas point to the terrorists' ability to strike at will.
* Taking jihad to the rest of India
* Earlier: 'Our son was sold to terrorists'
* The good and bad of India's new airports
* Let's get digital
Does your cable TV operator ever give you a bill when he comes to collect his monthly payment? Chances are he doesn't. But if he does, does the bill explain the charges under various heads like subscription fee, service tax and entertainment tax, among others?Needless to say, cable operators are up in arms on the issue and have written to TRAI. Given this, and some of the legitimate issues raised - like the one about not being able to digitise without CAS being made mandatory - both the TRAI and the cable operators are in for some trai-ing times.
* What's the economic agenda, Mr Prime Minister?
As there is a sea change between what the UPA and its supporting comrades stood for in May 2004, and what the UPA and its new allies stand for now, it may not be out of place for the alliance to revisit its economic manifesto and present the chiselled version to the public and market.
* M & M rethinks Renault brand sale deal
Mahindra & Mahindra, the country's biggest utility vehicle maker, is re-considering plans to sell French carmaker Renault's vehicles through its own distribution network after pulling out of a joint venture agreement in January.
* RNRL may sell KG gas to third parties, fears RIL
Mukesh Ambani controlled Reliance Industries fears that gas supplied to Reliance Natural Resources , belonging to younger brother Anil Ambani, would be traded to a third party as RNRL does not have a power plant, said Harish Salve, the legal counsel of RIL.
* UB to offer equity to Baramati farmers
UB Group's Four Seasons Wines announced on Friday that it would offer equity participation to its local partners and farmers for its new project at the Four Seasons Winery in Baramati. The company will enter into long-term contracts with local farmers for around 2,000 acres of vineyards over the next three to five years for its crushing requirements.
* 16 mn people may slip into poverty: UN
Top United Nations experts on Latin America and the Caribbean have warned that global economic shocks could throw some 16 million people of the Americas into extreme poverty, threatening important gains toward achieving the Millennium Development Goals in the region.
* Is Obama bad news for the US dollar?
Why is the dollar so weak?
Part of the reason, says Douglas Holtz-Eakin, senior policy adviser to John McCain, is Barack Obama. He's scaring off international investors.
* India acts tough at WTO, softens on Pascal's truce
India on Friday stood its ground against attempts to dilute the triggers in the Special Safeguard Mechanism to check unforeseen rise in imports of farm goods, while showing flexibility to consider a compromise agreement prepared by World Trade Organization director-general Pascal Lamy on other elements of the Doha Development Agenda, like agriculture and market-opening for industrial commitments, Business Standard was told.
* Food prices under threat as major parts of India suffer...
As of July 23, crucial crop-growing regions like Maharashtra, north interior Karnataka and Saurashtra and Kutch in Gujarat, among others, are bearing the brunt of deficient rainfall. The cumulative seasonal rainfall between June 1 and July 23 for the entire country has been 2 per cent below the long-period average.
* Madhuri Dixit joins Unforgettable tour in US
* *Ullasanga Utsahanga* is a good watch
* Watch *Money Hai* if you're a Govinda fan
* Don't miss this *Taj Mahal*
* Unforgettable takes toll on Amitabh; falls ill
* This *Mission* is a Turkey
* The Cheetah Girls in India
* Now, catch *Taare Zameen Par* in DVD
* 'Singing and dancing is done to death'
* Sarath Kumar's daughter debuts
* Bengaluru hit
Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa has constituted a special team to probe into the serial blasts that rocked Bengaluru on Friday
* Images: Obamania sweeps Berlin
To say Barack Obama's tour to Germany was a hit is an understatement. The US Democratic presidential candidate and the frontrunner floored Berlin. He was lapped up like a Pope star, wherever he went.
* Areas hit
It has become clear that the serial blasts in Bengaluru were carried out to create a scare. With due respect to those who lost their lives and were injured in the blasts, the people of Bengaluru could consider themselves lucky as the blasts were of low intensity in nature.
* The truth is security in India is a joke
* Graphic
* Ammonium nitrate used | Special team for probe
Nine explosions in one single day leaving two dead and six injured. Bengaluru on Friday was placed very high on the terror map. Even as police dig deep to find out who is behind this attack, Intelligence Bureau sources say that it could be the handiwork of the Students Islamic Movement of India and Harakat-ul-Jihad-i-Islami.
* Images: Blasts rock Bengaluru
* Video
* Pix
* All employees are safe: Infosys
Reacting to the horrific blasts that ripped through Bengaluru, India's third-largest software company, Infosys Technologies Ltd , said that it had increased security on its campus and that all its employees are safe.
* HSBC, ICICI Pru, SBI to manage PF
Leading private financial players HSBC and ICICI [Get Quote] Prudential along with country's largest bank SBI [Get Quote] have been shortlisted to manage about Rs 25,000 crore (Rs 250 billion) in provident fund of about four crore employees annually
* India sticks to its guns.; WTO talks may flop
The US had recently made an offer to reduce its overall trade distorting subsidy to $15 billion."It is hardly an offer when their applied duty subsidy is $7 billion, Nath told reporters.He said the US offer is 'not commensurate with current food prices'. Developed countries have to put something on the table and not 'look into the pockets of the developing countries', he said.
* All employees safe: Infosys
* HUL Q2 net 13% at Rs 558 cr
On the back of robust growth in personal care and food products category, FMCG major Hindustan Unilever on Friday reported a 13.18 per cent rise in net profit at Rs 558 crore (Rs 5.58 billion) for the second quarter ended June 30, against Rs 493 crore (Rs 4.93 billion) during the same period last year.
* Sensex ends down 502pts; ICICI, Reliance weigh
Following weak cues from the global markets, the Sensex opened with a negative gap of 325 points at 14,452. The index barely managed to touch a high of 14,484, and then started slipping deeper into red.
* 2 roads to trading success in the markets
When markets are stormy and covered with dark clouds, even the hardiest of investors and traders sometimes feel discouraged. Is this is what it's all about, they wonder? Losing money left and right, getting decimated by choppy, unpredictable markets where nothing works? For the unprepared and the tip-followers, the answer is yes. It's not for lack of trading or investing tools, though, but for alack of clarity as to the road to follow...
* ArcelorMittal buys 70% pie in Brazilian firm
World's largest steel producer ArcelorMittal today said it has acquired 70 per cent stake in Brazilian steel processor Manchester Tubos e Perfilados SA.
* Indian brothers sued by Scrabble owners in US
* Global economy, national problems, petty politicians
The recent happenings, in the run up to the confidence vote and in Parliament, exposed the soft underbelly of Indian democracy. Perhaps no other democracy anywhere else in the world at any point in history is witness to such bizarre events. Surely, Winston Churchill's ghost continues to haunt us. Often one wonders whether he was a mystic, for who else could be so prophetic?
* 'We have hedged about 44% of our revenues'
MindTree, the Bangalore-headquartered IT services company created history last year by becoming the first listed Indian IT firm to acquire another listed Indian company, Aztecsoft.
* Madhuri Dixit joins Unforgettable tour in US
* *Ullasanga Utsahanga* is a good watch
* Watch *Money Hai* if you're a Govinda fan
* Don't miss this *Taj Mahal*
* Unforgettable takes toll on Amitabh; falls ill
* This *Mission* is a Turkey
* The Cheetah Girls in India
* Now, catch *Taare Zameen Par* in DVD
* 'Singing and dancing is done to death'
* Sarath Kumar's daughter debuts
* 'No N-deal time frame'
The United Progressive Alliance government on Thursday expressed hope that India will get the support of all member countries during its negotiations on the nuclear deal but noted that it would be difficult to fix an exact timeframe for making the agreement a reality.
* PM meets President Patil
Two days after winning the trust vote, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday met President Pratibha Patil and briefed her about the special session in the Lok Sabha.
* Hamilton sizzles in wet Mumbai
India got its first real taste of Formula One action when McLaren Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton touched down in Mumbai and did a few short laps in a go-kart.
* Video
* Sena's puja at Taj Mahal creates stir
A group of Shiv Sena activists on Thursday claimed to have performed a puja at the Taj Mahal [Images], the 17th century monument of love, creating a commotion but authorities denied that any worship took place.
* Ready to drop? Skydive from Mt Everest!
* Uttam's Take: Somnath and Democracy
* Women
President Pratibha Devisingh Patil had an interaction with a group of eminent women at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Thursday
.
* President's day out with kids
* Govt may amend nuke law to scuttle Hyde Act
As it moves to take the next steps in the implementation of the Indo-US nuclear deal, the Indian government has indicated its openness to consider some amendments in the Atomic Energy Act to insulate the country's strategic interests.
* Honda launches 125 CC CBF Stunner
Targeting youth, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India Ltd on Thursday launched its latest offering 125 CC 'CBF Stunner' in Bhopal.
* Google launches online encyclopaedia to counter Wikipedia
Internet giant Google has come up with a new online encyclopaedia to counter Wikipedia.
* China sets a record in oil consumption
The spiralling world fuel prices failed to lower its use in China, the world's second biggest consumer after the US, with data showing that the consumption had set records in the first half of 2008.
* Govt approves Volvo's $275m investment in JV with...
The government on Thursday approved Swedish truck major Volvo's FDI proposal to invest $275 million (over Rs 1,150 crore) in their joint venture with commercial vehicle manufacturer Eicher Motors
.
* Economic reform: BJP keen to support govt
The Opposition BJP on Thursday said it is willing to consider supporting the government in expediting economic reforms if the Prime Minister takes the initiative
* Reliance Industries Q1 net at Rs 4,110 crore
Reliance Industries Ltd on Thursday recorded 13 per cent rise in net profit at Rs 4,110 crore (Rs 41.10 billion) in the first quarter of the current fiscal as against the corresponding quarter of the previous fiscal.
* IIT-B alumni gift $7 mn for bioscience hub
IIT Bombay's alumni raised a whopping $7 million for their alma mater at a function to celebrate 50 years of the premier institution to set up a bioscience centre.
* Rolta, Nestle top challengers to blue chip cos
Two mid-sized Indian companies - Rolta India [Get Quote] and Nestle India have been named among 300 top challengers to the world's leading blue chip firms, complied by leading global index provider Standard and Poor's.
* Don't levy high rates on credit cards, banks told
Seeking to tighten the leash on credit card issuing banks, the Reserve Bank has asked them not to charge excessive interest rates on personal loans and prescribe a ceiling rate on small advances, a move that will benefit lakhs of card users.
* RBI director's power on SBI board to be recast
Government will bring changes in the law, redefining the powers of the RBI nominee director on the board of State Bank of India
The government has also decided to bring about enabling amendments in the State Bank of India (subsidiary banks) Act, 1959, following transfer of ownership of the SBI from the Reserve Bank to the central Government.
* Too many stars spoil even the idiot box
* Amy Winehouse immortalised!
* Stallone gets up close with Kareena!
* Karan Johar's next: *Wake Up Sid*
* Shyamalan for Obama!
* 'If you are making a film on terrorism, there should...
* Peppy but unoriginal
* Who is the most kissable celeb?
* Spotted: Ileana in Johannesburg
* 'I am trying my best to portray the madness in my...
* Somnath can continue as speaker: Experts
The decision of the Communist Party of India-Marxist to expel Somnath Chatterjee from the party will not come in the way of his continuing as the speaker of the Lok Sabha, say constitutional and legal experts.
* Uttam's Take: What N-deal means to US and India
* Crab cakes, cabbage koftas and other video recipes
* Profile
* Images
* Warnapura lights up gloomy opening day
India captured two early wickets before opener Malinda Warnapura lit up a rain-truncated opening day with a sparkling unbeaten half century to guide Sri Lanka to 85 for 2 wickets in the first Test in Colombo on Wednesday.
* Nepal's first president sworn in
Amid the political limbo over government formation, Indian-origin Madhesi leader Ram Baran Yadav was sworn-in as the first President of the nascent republic of Nepal on Wednesday, three days after his victory in the historic poll for the coveted post.
* 'As Indians, we need to build self-confidence'
He likes designating himself as the 'Gardener' of MindTree , a global IT and R&D company that he along with 10 other entrepreneurs formed in 1999. However, he is a recent convert to gardening. After nine successful years at the helm of MindTree as a co-founder and chief operating officer, Subroto Bagchi is now busy gardening and writing books.
* Eight and a half lessons from the trust vote
* Follow the leaders. Invest like they did in June
there was very little pressure on the mutual funds in terms of investors selling their units and taking back their money even after markets falling continuously
* Boeing says no cancellation of orders from Indian...
Aircraft manufacturer Boeing said on Wednesday there were no deferrals or cancellations of orders placed by Indian air-carriers in the wake of the carriers posting losses.
* Economic reforms prior to polls unlikely: Moody's
* N-deal to boost India's energy production
With the government emerging victorious in the confidence motion, the country would be signing the civilian nuclear deal with the US which has the potential to significantly boost India's nuclear energy production, says a report by Moody's economy.com.
* More economic reforms unlikely: Moody's
Amidst the widespread anticipation that UPA government after winning the trust vote will initiate key reforms, rating agency Moody's on Wednesday said uncertainties pertaining to reforms persist, given the prevailing pressures and policy differences among its coalition members.
* India Inc aware of climate change but indecisive
Climate change is an important business issue for India Inc, even though more than half of these businesses do not have a clear strategy in place to tackle the environmental challenges, a latest KPMG study says.
* Indian cities become costlier for expats
Strengthening rupee and growing aspirational demand has made four Indian cities -- Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai -- increasingly expensive for expatriates to live in, a latest global survey says.
* Nath asks US to offer 'real' cuts in subsidy
Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath, who rejoined the WTO talks in Geneva on Wednesday, said the US must offer 'real' cuts in subsidy to its farmers and its proposal to reduce the doles was not in line with the current food prices.
* Vinod Gupta sacked as infoGROUP chairman
The United States-based business and consumer database provider infoGROUP has removed its Indian-origin founder Vinod Gupta from the post of its chairman, following a shareholder lawsuit against the company and a probe by the market regulator SEC.
* Petrol, diesel demand drops
The hike in petrol and diesel prices has moderated the demand for the two auto fuels with consumption in June drastically falling from double digit growth in the previous months.
* SBI to hire 3,000 'recovery officers'
Amid the displeasure expressed by the regulators and judiciary on high-handedness of agents hired by banks to recover loans, the country's biggest lender -- State Bank of India [Get Quote] -- is planning to hire 3,000 marketing and recovery officers in its second such recruitment drive in less than a year.
* Natalie Portman in a Bollywood spoof
* Is Shah Rukh selfish?
* Shilpa Shetty's sexy secret!
* Image: Udita's item number in *Fox*
* Mallika does a Sharon Stone!
* Spotted: Abhishek Bachchan in Miami
* Christian Bale denies hitting his mom, sister
* An interesting offering from Yuvan
* *Kuselan* faces rough weather in Karnataka
* Happy Birthday, Himesh!
* Somnath Chatterjee to quit on Aug 12: Sources
Just as the United Progressive Alliance government gears up for the trust vote in Parliament on Tuesday, sources close to Somnath Chatterjee revealed to a section of the media that the Lok Sabha Speaker would put in his papers only on August 12
.
* Rebel Cong MP against UPA
Arvind Sharma, rebel Congress MP from Haryana, on Monday met BSP chief Mayawati here and announced that he would vote against the government in the trust vote as he was opposed to the nuclear deal.
* BJP MP for UPA
Suspended Bharatiya Janata Party MP from Gujarat Somabhai Patel on Monday declared his support to the United Progressive Alliance government and claimed that "no force or incentive" can bring him back to the party-fold.
* Sena says flock will vote against UPA
The Shiv Sena, which helped the United Progressive Alliance during last year's Presidential election, may end up helping the ruling alliance once again.
* Foolish to focus only on Mendis: Dravid
The Sri Lankan attack is not all about Ajantha Mendis. It will be foolish to focus only on the mystery spinner and ignore others, warned former India captain Rahul Dravid
* Pics
* 2008 is year of Liberalisation 2.0
* Uttam's Take
* Deve Gowda changes tune again
Janata Dal-Secular chief H D Deve Gowda -- who on Sunday said he would not support the United Progressive Alliance during the trust vote -- cryptically said on Monday, "anything can happen tomorrow." But he later clarified to rediff.com that he has not changed his stance and will vote against the UPA government in the trust vote.
* Trust vote headlines
* India rejects proposals to limit farm subsidy
India, South Africa and Argentina, key members of NAMA-11 alliance at World Trade Organisation, on Monday rejected a move by developed countries to limit the flexibility on tariffs and imports of developing countries to protect their domestic industry and farm sector.
* No slow down in production: India Inc
A majority of CEOs from top Indian companies including ICICI Bank, Bajaj Auto , TVS Motor GE India, and HUL, do not foresee any production slowdown in this fiscal, even as rising input and interest costs are affecting the net profit margins, a CII survey has found.
* UPA govt to sail through trust vote: CEOs
The UPA government will sail through the confidence motion and emerge victorious to hasten its unfinished reforms in areas of pension, insurance, civil aviation and even labour," say majority of 400 CEOs surveyed by apex industry body Assocham
* Cars to run on fuel from waste by 2010
Vehicles will soon run on fuel made from household waste as a chemical company in Britain has found a way to make bioethanol from rubbish.
* Maruti Suzuki Q1 net at Rs 466 cr
The country's largest car maker Maruti [Get Quote] Suzuki on Monday reported a net profit of Rs 465.9 crore (Rs 4.65 billion) in the first quarter of 2008-09, against Rs 499.6 crore (Rs 4.99 billion) during the same period of the last fiscal year.
* 3 Oberoi hotels among the best 6 in the world
Hospitality major Oberoi Group's three hotels have been ranked as the best three in entire Asia and among the top six in the world by the Travel Plus Leisure World's Best Awards 2008.
* Housing prices may drop 25%
Housing Development Infrastructure Ltd (HDIL) on Monday said a 20-25 per cent price fall is likely in the country's real estate sector, but Mumbai may be slightly insulated as it may witness a 10-15 price correction in prices.
* MTN's India adventure over: Reports
In what seems to be curtains for MTN's Indian adventure with the collapse of talks with Anil Ambani-led RCom after a similar fate of negotiations with Bharti Airtel the South African company might now open doors to other alternative offers, reports said on Monday.
* Sensex ends up 215pts; NTPC, HDFC Bank gain 5%
Continuing with its uptrend, the Sensex opened with a positive gap of 147 points at 13,782. Profit-taking in early trades saw the index pare gains and slip into red to a low of 13,581.
* G-20 pushes rich nations to cut farm support
An influential G-20 alliance, spearheaded by India, Brazil and South Africa, on Monday mounted pressure on rich nations to substantially cut their lavish farm support in the wake of change in the world commodity prices.
* God Tussi Lame Ho
* Manyata's first husband challenges session court
* Spotted: SRK on the sets of *Paanchvi Pass*
* Bringing out the colours in black & white!
* *The Dark Knight's* smashing record
* *The Dark Knight's* smashing record
* Police detains *Indian Idol*'s Amit Paul
* Making music, from *Aamir* to *Dev D*
* Mammootty's *Parunthu* is lacklustre
* *Moggina Manasu* works
|
RSS Feed