Gilani insists on resumption of Indo-Pak talks
Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Saturday made a strong pitch for the resumption of the Indo-Pak composite dialogue, saying Pakistan wants good relations with its neighbours "on the basis of equality". 'Advani to quit after new BJP chief takes over'
L K Advani, who turns 82 on Sunday, may quit as leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha early next year after a new president takes over the Bharatiya Janata Party. Yeddyurappa sobs, admits to "ditching" confidantes
Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa on Saturday sobbed on television and confessed to "ditching" confidantes under pressure from dissident Reddy brothers, who were still holding out despite a reported compromise formula. Koda to remain hospitalised till Sunday
Former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda, against whom the Enforcement Directorate and the Income Tax Department are investigating money laundering charges, will not be discharged from hospital on Saturday, as he has an upset stomach. Koda got himself admitted to the hospital on complaints of stomach pain on November 3, after the launch of Income Tax raids on his residence in connection with alleged hawala transactions and illegal investments, amounting to Rs 2000 crore. Mamata removes chairmen of rail recruitment boards
Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee has ordered removal of chairmen of all Railway Recruitment Boards across the country, appointed during the tenure of Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad. Reddy brothers meet Karnataka speaker Shettar
Dissident Bharatiya Janata Party leaders, campaigning for Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa's ouster, on Saturday discussed the latest developments in the crisis in the party with Assembly Speaker Jagadish Shettar, who has emerged a rallying point for the rebels, in Bengaluru. 20 per cent polling till mid-day in by-polls
Polling for one Lok Sabha and 31 assembly seats spread across seven states started on Saturday morning amid tight security. As polling started at 8 am, voters were seen trickling in at some booths. The most hi-profile electoral battle is being held between Congress' actor-turned-politician Raj Babbar, who is pitched against Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav's daughter-in- law Dimple, in the Firozabad Lok Sabha seat in Uttar Pradesh. BJP's 'compromise formula' to save Karnataka govt
A last-ditch attempt by the Bharatiya Janata Party high command to resolve the ongoing crisis in the Karnataka government appears to have failed, with the rebel state ministers -- Tourism Minister Janardhan Reddy, Revenue Minister Karunakar Reddy, Chairman of Karnataka Milk Federation Somashekhar Reddy and Health Minister B Sriramulu -- sticking to their demand for the removal of Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa. New Pak judge adjourns 26/11 trial for a week
A Pakistani anti-terror court on Saturday adjourned the trial of the seven suspects arrested for their involvement in the Mumbai terror attacks, after hearing arguments on the applications filed by the accused, for a week.Judge Malik Muhammad Akram Awan adjourned the case till November 14 following today's proceedings, said Shahbaz Rajput, one of the defence lawyers. "The court took up the applications filed by the accused and a decision is expected," Rajput said. Assam police gains custody of arrested ULFA men
The Border Security Force has handed over the two top leaders of the United Liberation Front of Assam, who were picked up from the Indo-Bangla border in Tripura, to the Assam police, which has begun interrogating them. Five railway employees killed in train mishap
Five railway workers, including an officer, were on Saturday run over by Delhi-bound Dehradun Janshatabdi Express near Ghaziabad at approximately 11.30 am. Northern Railway sources said a railway inspection officer and four workers were killed in the accident between Ghaziabad and Shahibabad stations. The incident comes close on the heels of a similar mishap in which six men were knocked down by a local train near Palwal in Haryana. Andhra CM meets PM, Sonia
On his maiden visit to the national capital after taking over as Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, K Rosaiah on Saturday met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi and is understood to have discussed political developments in the state, particularly the convening of the Congress Legislature Party meeting.The chief minister is also expected to have discussed the state's political situation, in the wake of Y S Rajasekahara Reddy's death. Reward for backing Cong govt? Ministerial berths
All the seven Independent Members of Legislative Assembly, who bailed out the minority Bhupinder Singh Hooda government in Haryana during a confidence vote in the state assembly, were rewarded with ministerial berths during the expansion of the 13-day-old Congress ministry on Saturday. With the induction of six Cabinet ministers and three Ministers of State, the size of the Hooda ministry has gone up to ten, including the chief minister. FBI recovers Qaeda videos from LeT operative
Giving a new dimension to the Lashkar-e-Tayiba plot to attack Indian facilities, Federal Bureau of Investigation's sleuths have recovered two inflammatory Al Qaeda videos, containing speeches by Osama bin Laden and other terrorists, from the house of Pakistan-born Canadian Tahawwur Hussain Rana, who was arrested in October. Produced by 'As Sahab Media', commonly acknowledged to be the media wing of the Al Qaeda, one of the videos is titled 'Bombing of Denmark Embassy'. Hundreds of Indian students stranded in Australia
Hundreds of Indian students studying in Australia have been left in the lurch, with the sudden collapse of the Global Campus Management Group closing down four colleges in Sydney and Melbourne on Thursday.The collapse has particularly come as a major blow for the Australian government, which has been working hard to rebuild the image of the country's education scenario. Accused Ansari wants new judge for 26/11 trial
In a new twist to the 26/11 terror attack case, Faheem Ansari, who is accused of facilitating the attacks perpetrated by the ten terrorists, has moved the Bombay High Court seeking a re-trial on the ground that he had no confidence in the judge.Hearing Faheem's petition sent through the jail authorities, Justice J N Patel and Justice Amjad Sayed on Friday directed Additional Public Prosecutor Rajesh More to file a reply within two weeks. Have briefed India about LeT plot probe: US
The United States on Friday said it has briefed the Indian government about the progress made in the case of David Coleman Headley, who was nabbed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in October, for plotting a major terror attack in India at the Lashkar-e-Tayiba's behest."I know that our ambassador (Tim Roemer) has briefed the government of India on the case, and we continue to follow the case," State Department spokesman Ian Kelly told. Three youths shot dead by Maoists in Bengal
Hours before Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee's visit to Naxal-infested Midnapore on Saturday, three youths were shot dead by Maoists in Kusbani jungle in the district.Bullet-riddled bodies of the three youths -- Lakhi Das, Jayram Mandi and Manoranjan -- with their limbs tied with ropes, were found on a road near Kusbani jungle, police sources said. The Maoists had left behind posters near the bodies of the three, claiming that they had been 'punished'. Pak wants to discuss India's 'role in terror acts'
Pakistan will soon discuss the issue of India's alleged involvement in terror activities inside its geographical boundaries with New Delhi, Foreign Office spokesman Abdul Basit has said.Reiterating that the security forces have recovered Indian arms and ammunitions during search operations in South Waziristan, where the military is engaged in an intense battle with the Taliban, Basit blamed India for not taking Islamabad's commitments against terrorism seriously. US army base gunman was 'nicest guy you'd meet'
An United States military psychiatrist, accused of killing 13 people in a shooting rampage at a key defence base, has been moved to the trauma centre of a San Antonio medical facility. The tragedy unfolded when Major Hasan walked into a soldier readiness centre at the base and opened fire, in the worst attack against the military by one of its own men, killing 12 soldiers and one defence department civilian.A neighbour said he was the 'nicest guy'. CPI-M, Congress fight it out in Kerala by-polls
Heavy polling has been reported in the three assembly constituencies in the Kerala by-polls. According to information available with rediff.com, Kannur recorded 20 per cent polling at 10 am while Alappuzha recorded 14.5 per cent and Ernakulam 12.90 per cent.The Kannur by-poll has been marred by allegations and counter-allegations between the Communist Party of India - Marxist and the Congress.Chief Minister Achuthanandan has openly spoken up against the EC. Crisis over, says K'taka CM; rebels disagree
Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa on Saturday told journalists that the ongoing crisis in the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government in the state had come to an end. However, rebel leader and state Tourism Minister B Janardhan Reddy, who is demanding a change in the state leadership, declared that he had not changed his stance.Informed sources said that as per the formula, certain changes will be made in the state cabinet. Army warms up to Akash missile
India's long-criticised Akash anti-aircraft missile is now blazing towards success. After years of rejection from the military, the Akash is being accepted as a world-class missile. Two dead in Orlando office shooting
At least two persons were killed and many others injured on Friday when a gunman went on a shooting spree in a high rise building in Orlando city of Florida – otherwise known for Disneyland, police official said. US: Attorney Sheela Murthy wins top awards
Sheela Murthy, founder, president, and managing attorney of the Murthy Law Firm, has won the Philanthropist of the Year award from the United Way of Central Maryland for her $1 million gift to United Way, a large portion of the sum being marked to go to India.