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India developing indigenous swine flu vaccine
India is expected to be among the first few countries to develop an indigenous, injectable swine flu vaccine and the government has already invited health centres to carry out human trials, says a top health official.

Bangalore new haven for militants from the northeast?
Southern India has become the new destination for separatist groups from the northeast with intelligence inputs that rebel leaders from the region were taking shelter in cities down south, especially Bangalore, following intense pressure from security forces, a senior police official said.

Who will get to keep the gunmen, who will not
After the government sought to assure senior leaders Mulayam Singh Yadav, Lalu Prasad and Murli Manohar Joshi that there would be no scaling down of their security cover, former bureaucrats and ministers have been lobbying to ensure that their security too remains untouched.

It is a tough job being foreign minister
If there is one thing common between Minister for External Affairs S.M. Krishna and his predecessor Pranab Mukherjee, it is their propensity to work 24x7. The only difference is that while Mukherjee seemed to be enjoying all that whirligig, Krishna looks like a reluctant foreign minister thrust into the high profile job.

What about war crimes? - Kargil hero's family to government
Shimla, July 26 (IANS): A decade ago Captain Saurabh Kalia and five of his men were captured by Pakistani insurgents in the icy hills of Kargil and tortured for days before their mutilated bodies were handed back.

Confession or no confession, Kasab remains mere gunman for NYT, others
Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab was captured in a chilling photograph and now he has confessed his role in the Mumbai terrorist attacks, but he remains a 'gunman', rather than a 'terrorist', for the New York Times and other leading American newspapers. And with a reason.

Harnessing India's healing traditions for public health
Ravaged by chronic renal failure, Radha Gulale looked more like a bloated 60 kg woman than the 10-year-old she was.

End-user pact must to access US arms market: Experts
Notwithstanding the political brouhaha raised by the agreement reached on the draft of a pact that allows verification of end-use of military hardware purchased from the US, Indian security experts say the pact is necessary for India to gain access to the high-end American arms market.

We have to make heart of submarine tick, says project head
Visakhapatnam, July 26 (IANS): The head of India's ambitious project to build a nuclear powered submarine, Vice Admiral (retd) D.S.P. Verma, Sunday said that the vessel is ready and now they have to make its heart, the nuclear reactor, tick.

End-use agreement is compulsory if India buys US military equipment
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had created a furore in parliament Tuesday accusing the government of "compromising" on India's sovereignty by allowing the US to monitor the use of military hardware purchased from it.

As Mi-17s roared in Kargil, pilots celebrated with chocolates
Air Commodore A.K. Sinha remembers vividly the first shots he fired from his Mi-17 helicopter at the Pakistanis seated on Tiger Hill and Tololing peaks in the icy heights of Kargil in 1999 -- and celebrating it with crunchy chocolates high in the air.

The eclipse behind the clouds - and a dejected Taregna
The overcast skies cast a dampener and the rare celestial event unfolded behind rain clouds, disappointing the many thousands from India and the world. But the clouds did part momentarily to let the crowds glimpse the century's longest solar eclipse. And for some that was enough.

This IAF pilot chased the sun's shadow
For an Indian Air Force (IAF) fighter pilot chasing a target at Mach 2.5 or more than twice the speed of sound and yet not managing to play catch seems like something out of a sci-fi film. But for Air Marshal S. Mukerji, chasing the sun's shadow during the total solar eclipse on Oct 24, 1995, that's exactly what happened.

Religious leaders pass resolution against gay sex ruling
New Delhi, July 23: Maintaining that homosexuality is against Indian culture, religious leaders at a meting here passed a resolution Thursday opposing the Delhi High Court judgement decriminalising gay sex.

G8 leaders 'ignored' UN findings on climate change: Pachauri
United Nations, July 21: The world's largest economies have "clearly ignored" the findings of the Nobel Peace Prize-winning UN scientific body that evaluates climate change when formulating their recent proposals on slashing greenhouse gases, a top official said.

Kasab confession - a bombshell in court
It was like any other day at the Arthur Road Jail where Pakistani terrorist Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab is housed and undergoing trial for the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. The court had assembled for the day's proceedings amid a steady drizzle outside.

Hollywood-Bollywood, food, politics - Clinton floors students
It was more than education, women empowerment and other such issues that the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke about when she visited the Delhi University Monday. From Hollywood-Bollywood, food and dieting to campaign tricks, Clinton shared quite a few light moments with the students.

Don't feel isolated, Rahul tells people of northeast
Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi Saturday said the youth of the country would shape India's destiny, while urging people of the northeast never to feel isolated due to the geographical distance of the region from the rest of the country.

Indian diamond company comes to Botswana's rescue
Diamond Trading Co (DTC) Botswana, the sales arm of global diamond major De Beers, has appointed an Indian diamond producer as its sightholder to ensure the sustainability of its diamond manufacturing capacity in the African country.

Cat is finally out of the bag, Ujjwal Nikam after Kasab confession
Mumbai, July 20: Terming the unexpected confession of Pakistani terrorist Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab on his involvement in the 26/11 mayhem as "a victory for truth and for prosecution", Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam Monday said that now the "cat is finally out of the bag".

Most happening restaurants in Bangkok have India connection
Bangkok, July 19 (IANS): It is difficult to imagine Bangkok without Lebua at the State Tower, among the tallest buildings in Bangkok and home to a luxurious all-suite hotel. The same goes for the Dome at Lebua that houses spectacular dining venues like Sirocco, the world's highest al fresco restaurant, Mezzaluna, Breeze and Cafe Mozu.

Why can't Sino-India war report be made public, court asks government
New Delhi, July 16: The Delhi High Court Thursday directed the government to place before it the report of Lt Gen Henderson Brooks on the reasons behind the 1962 Sino-India war to decide whether it could be made public.

Dirty air, lack of water threaten Ladakh
Ladakh is no longer pristine. Rising temperatures are drying up glaciers in this trans-Himalayan cold desert and generator smoke from the power-strapped towns across the rugged mountains in northernmost India are eating into the fragile ecosystem, destroying its sparse green cover.

India cannot afford to be climate sceptic: official
New Delhi, July 16: India's poor will have enormous problem in arranging their livelihood due to climate change, and it will be better the country stops being a climate sceptic, a government official said Thursday.

An afternoon in Paris: France celebrates its India connection
The sun broke through the clouds to shine brightly over the famed Parisian boulevard of Champs Elysees Tuesday as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh became the first foreign leader to be chief guest at France's national day parade.

Nano makes its debut run on Indian roads Friday
Mumbai, July 16: Deliveries of the first Nano cars begin here Friday, with Tata group chairman Ratan Naval Tata set to hand over to proud owners the keys of the small automobile that has been compared with Ford's Model T and the Volkswagen Beetle for the potential it holds in transforming the way people commute.

Wait, push and pull - the long awaited joint statement
It was a three-hour stakeout for journalists at the plush Maritime Jolie Ville resort here with the Indian and Pakistani prime ministers closeted in a room with their delegations for what was the most anticipated meeting of the NAM summit.

Madrassa reform proposal evokes mixed response
New Delhi, July 15 (IANS): Should the education imparted at madrassas be broad-based to include subjects like English, maths, science and computers to make it employment oriented? The proposal by Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal has not found favour with madrassa authorities, though it has been welcomed by many Muslim intellectuals.

IAF chooses Boeing's latest C-17 for heavy-lift transport aircraft
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has shortlisted the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III as its new Very Heavy Lift Transport Aircraft (VHTAC).

A month after: BJP in generational battle
A month after its stunning election defeat, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which once took pride in its disciplined cadre, has its top leaders tearing at one another in a blame game that is seen as a power struggle between two generations.

Talks on climate deal remain bogged down
Officials from 182 countries Tuesday started their second reading of a draft global agreement to combat climate change, while delegates admitted in private and NGOs charged in public that no progress was being made.

Chaats, curries spice up Indian's business in Macau
She was a single mother and came here over 25 years ago with a mission to teach kathak to Indian classical dance enthusiasts. But Aruna Jha ended up owning a restaurant chain and has been popularising chaats and spicy Indian curries in this small Chinese town ever since.

Men in uniform warned on use of Orkut, Facebook
They say nothing is personal in the cyber world. Everyone and anyone is vulnerable and can be hacked. Taking a cue, the Indian Army recently issued a circular asking its personnel not to post work-related information like ranks, place of posting etc on social networking sites like Orkut and Facebook.

Indian wellness in vogue in top global spas
Ayurveda-based treatments are getting popular in most of the top spas across the globe. Now another traditional Indian system 'vastu' - which believes positive energy emanates from how all things material are arranged - is also taking root at these health and healing resorts.

IAF moving Sukhoi base to northeast to thwart Chinese threat
A squadron of the frontline combat aircraft Sukhoi 30- MKI would become operational in India's sensitive northeast next week, a strategic decision to move advanced assets close to the Chinese border, defence officials said Tuesday.

Scars of Operation Bluestar remain - 25 years later
Although the Sikhs have moved on, with one of them now ruling India, there is no forgetting Operation Bluestar, the 1984 military assault on the Golden Temple here that left the community scarred and in some ways changed the face of the country.

'Khalistan' hardliners today believe in democratic means
Some are businessmen, some are social activists, and one even a homeopath. Ideologues of 'Khalistan', many of whom had taken up arms at the peak of Sikh militancy in Punjab during 1981-1995, are these days using democratic ways in the world's biggest democracy to get their voices heard.

Defence research agency woos graduates to design drones
In a bid to lure graduate engineers for a bright career in aerospace technologies, the state-run remier Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has selected 10 college teams from across the country to demonstrate low-cost unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) they have designed and developed for reconnaissance.

Cyclone Aila devastates Sundarbans
The aftermath of devastating cyclone Aila that ravaged large parts of the West Bengal delta May 25 could cause lasting ecological damage to the Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest, experts fear.

Left-free, new government to focus on volatile neighbours
Armed with a renewed electoral mandate that liberates it from the pressure tactics of the anti-US Left parties, the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government is set to pursue a more robust foreign policy that will deal with a restive neighbourhood, tackle the China challenge and have a more vigorous engagement with the US.

Chhattisgarh losing the plot in battle against Maoists?
This month Maoist rebels in Chhattisgarh have killed over 30 people, most of them security personnel. Security experts are saying the police are not following "basic points" of insurgency warfare and were thus often reduced to "sitting ducks".

Muslim-peasant factor, alliance arithmetic sink Left in Bengal
Singed by Muslim anger and mauled by peasants' rage, the Left citadel in West Bengal gave way in these Lok Sabha elections, unable to withstand the determined onslaught of an opposition alliance stitched by Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee.

Indian polls take backseat to Bollywood in South Africa
Indian politics took a backseat to Bollywood in the biggest South African weekly, the Sunday Times, with photographs of film stars participating in the Indian Premier League (IPL) gala finale hogging page three, while the Congress party win at the general elections got only two short columns on page 15.

Muslim vote no longer monolithic
The penultimate phase of the Indian general elections takes place on May 7 and 85 seats will be contested in seven states. These include Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Punjab, West Bengal, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir and national capital Delhi. While the number of seats being contested is relatively modest in relation to the total of 543, the symbolism of these states is significant.

Pakistan Army's fine art of brinkmanship
All the gloom and doom in the Western media about Pakistan in the last few days has begun to translate into faster cash-flow from Washington to Islamabad and with far fewer conditions.

Challenges Of Transition
The dramatic but not totally unexpected resignation of Nepalese prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal better known as Prachanda on Monday after a tense stand-off with resident Ram Baran Yadav over the sacking of army chief General Rukmangad Katuwal points to the complex challenges that Nepal faces in its transition from a traditional monarchy to a nascent but viable democracy.

Post-elections, will India-US ties become a casualty?
With political equations in a flux and the Left parties seeking to play the role of kingmaker in the formation of the next government, the fate of the India-US nuclear deal and the trajectory of bilateral ties are being called into question.

For Kashmir voters, issues and promises remain the same
Raising the same issues in almost the same pitch in their election campaigns, the National Conference and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are busy accusing each other of deceiving the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Obama's South Asia policy: Pakistan will be the acid test
As President Barack Obama completes 100 days in office next week, experts have sat down to grade his foreign policy initiatives so far - and the report card is not too impressive, at least from the South Asian perspective.

BrahMos attracts buyers at Latin American defence expo
New Delhi, April 26 (IANS): A joint military product of India and Russia, the supersonic BrahMos cruise missile has impressed countries at the recently concluded Latin American defence expo held in Brazil, with at least three nations showing keen interest in buying the missile system, a senior official said.

Post-elections, will India-US ties become a casualty?
With political equations in a flux and the Left parties seeking to play the role of kingmaker in the formation of the next government, the fate of the India-US nuclear deal and the trajectory of bilateral ties are being called into question.

For Kashmir voters, issues and promises remain the same
Raising the same issues in almost the same pitch in their election campaigns, the National Conference and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are busy accusing each other of deceiving the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

Obama's South Asia policy: Pakistan will be the acid test
As President Barack Obama completes 100 days in office next week, experts have sat down to grade his foreign policy initiatives so far - and the report card is not too impressive, at least from the South Asian perspective.

BrahMos attracts buyers at Latin American defence expo
New Delhi, April 26 (IANS): A joint military product of India and Russia, the supersonic BrahMos cruise missile has impressed countries at the recently concluded Latin American defence expo held in Brazil, with at least three nations showing keen interest in buying the missile system, a senior official said.

Can information technology help politicians win elections?
As India seeks to emerge upfront in today's knowledge economy, the national elections will give its verdict on whether information technology can help politicians reach out to their vote banks, as US President Barack Omaba did last year.

BSP at 25 - travelling the electoral road to victory
When it marks its 25th birthday Tuesday, the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) -- one of India's youngest political parties -- will have plenty to celebrate. In a country where parties decades old are in struggle mode due to growing fragmentation of the Indian vote, the BSP has mastered the art of winning elections and scripting history.

Manmohan Singh won friends abroad, but can he influence people at home?
Fresh from earning plaudits from global leaders, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has plunged into a taxing election campaign that will test if his political acumen matches his economic insights that were much sought after and acted upon at last week's G20 summit in London.

A microcosm of India in the heart of oil-rich Kuwait
The 580,000-strong Indian community in Kuwait, comprising self-made millionaires, techies, engineers, doctors, professionals and service workers, has created a "microcosm of India" in the oil-rich Gulf emirate.

India has a bright idea at climate talks
A member of the Indian delegation to the UN climate change talks here has been brandishing a light bulb in order to make a political point.

Tempers run high ahead of Lok Sabha elections
New Delhi, April 7 (IANS): The political temperature was rising ahead of Lok Sabha elections just nine days away with arrest orders against Railway Minister Lalu Prasad for threatening BJP candidate Varun Gandhi, now in jail, and an emotional Sikh journalist hurling a shoe at Home Minister P. Chidambaram at a Congress press conference Tuesday.

Nuclear issues — Face-off with Obama Administration
India needs to sensitise world opinion to the fact that countries possessing nuclear weapons have an obligation to commence negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament.

India's political kaleidoscope comes alive
India's splintered and confused state of politics came to the fore Friday as the BJP issued its election manifesto, Lalu Prasad and Mulayam Singh Yadav addressed their first joint meeting in years in Lucknow, and the Congress scored a point as veteran Sharad Pawar kept away from a rally of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Left parties.

India's climate refugees forced to fight - here and now
The rising sea has drowned two of Jalaluddin Saha's small homes and threatens a third. Last monsoon surging water ruined his crops and he and his family ran for their lives. His livestock drank the brine and died.

Hindi belt troika teams up to shore slipping vote banks
Three of the Hindi heartland's most influential politicians -- Lalu Prasad, Mulayam Singh Yadav and Ram Vilas Paswan -- teamed up here Friday to consolidate their core vote bank of Muslims and Yadavs and reach out to voters beyond their traditional turfs.

BJP manifesto reflects struggle to transform image
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) manifesto, released Friday, is a curious mix of promises reflecting its dilemma - clinging on to its Hindutva agenda partially while trying to woo the middle-class and young voters - to take on the Congress in the Lok Sabha elections.

Pawar watches from afar as BJD-NCP-Left launch joint front
Sharad Pawar did not attend in person but his Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), a key constituent of the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA), joined the joint poll campaign launched here Friday by Orissa's ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the Left parties.

Policy reboot
"I am announcing a comprehensive, new strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan" was the opening line of the much awaited Barack Obama speech on Friday. A preliminary review of the six-page text suggests that while the speech is earnest and eloquent -- twin traits of Obama's articulation -- it is not as comprehensive or new as one had hoped for.

India's own Air Force One takes to the skies
New Delhi, April 1: Three Business Boeing Jets (BBJ) - all modelled on the US president's office-in-the-sky Air Force One - were Wednesday inducted into the Communication Squadron of the Indian Air Force (IAF) by President Pratibha Patil.

What recession? Indian political parties are flush with funds
It may be recession time for the world, but Indian political parties appear to be awash with money as they plunge into the world's biggest electoral battle.

Indian consulate in Dubai launches monthly magazine
Dubai, March 30 (IANS) India Matters, a monthly magazine of the Indian consulate in Dubai, was launched by former Indian president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam at a glittering function here Sunday night.

Should voting be compulsory? Of course, say many Indians
Voting should be made compulsory -- that seems to be the general consensus binding celebrities and common people alike as the country hurtles towards another election, though politicians themselves are divided.

RSS: A journey of 83 long years
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), which has got a new chief in Mohan Bhagwat, has travelled a long way since it was born in a middle class house in Nagpur in 1925 to mould the Hindu way of thinking and influence the national struggle for independence.

'Outplacement' is new corporate mantra in stressed times
In these difficult times for the corporate sector when job cuts have become commonplace, employers are not leaving their fired staff in the cold. Rather, many are hiring what are called outplacement agencies to find suitable new openings for their erstwhile employees.

Slowdown-hit India Inc has wish list ready for next government
Hit by a demand slowdown and meltdown in the global economy, India Inc has its wish list ready for the next government, with sector-specific policy reforms and tax sops on top of the agenda to tide over the crisis.

Tibetans in Delhi: 50 years as outsiders, but hopes alive
Some fled Tibet as children 50 years ago, some were born here. Yet what binds the Tibetan community in exile - despite being well-entrenched in the ebb and flow of life in the Indian capital - is a yearning to go back home to the 'Roof of the World'.

Mukesh Ambani, Lakshmi Mittal among world's top ten rich
Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani has overtaken the London-based steel tycoon Lakshmi N. Mittal to emerge as Asia's richest person, as per the Forbes' list of world billionaires for 2009.

It's a low-key Holi for political leaders
Holi, celebrated by many political leaders with much fanfare every year, was a sombre affair Wednesday with leaders of major political parties refraining from all-out revelry.

29 Lok Sabha candidates have criminal records: study
New Delhi, March 12: As many as 29 Lok Sabha candidates from various parties have criminal records, according to an analysis made as part of a national campaign by NGOs.

From UN to Lok Sabha - Tharoor gets ready to join politics
Author, columnist, former UN undersecretary general and now MP from his native state Kerala? That seems to be the way forward for the versatile Shashi Tharoor who has already informed the Congress party about his "willingness to serve the country as a member of parliament" and is just waiting for an answer.

Gandhi treasure set to return home as Mallya wins $1.8 mn bid
A national treasure is set to return home with Indian tycoon Vijay Mallya buying Mahatma Gandhi's personal possessions, including his trademark round-rimmed spectacles, for $1.8 million at an action-packed auction here.

Indian Air Force bids adieu to MiG-23 fighter jets
Halwara (Punjab), March 6 (IANS): The Indian Air Force's (IAF) swing-wing ground attack fighter jet MiG-23 BN took to the skies for one last time Friday at this airbase, as the force bid a nostalgic adieu to the formidable supersonic combat aircraft.

Pride of place for vernacular Indian writing at London Book Fair
New Delhi, March 6: The London Book Fair, which is focussing on India as an emerging market and literary hub this year, will take a look at not only English writing from the south Asian nation but also other vernacular languages, said Alistair Burtenshaw, group exhibition director of the event.

Did Bhabha accelerate China's nuclear ambitions?
Did Homi Bhabha, father of the Indian atomic energy programme, make a mistake by showing off India's nuclear achievements to Chinese prime minister Zhou Enlai during his 1960 visit to Trombay?

How FBI helped India probe Mumbai terror attacks
An FBI agent working in New Delhi was preparing to play cricket one day last November. Instead he flew off to Mumbai to coordinate the US investigation agency's efforts to help India deal with the aftermath of the Mumbai terror attacks.

When Indian and American dreams intersect
It's not often the Great Indian Dream intersects with the Great American Dream. The spectacular Oscar haul of "Slumdog Millionaire" is one such moment, mingling Hollywood and Bollywood and putting the spotlight on a quintessential 'masala' film that won the hearts and minds of people in a country teeming with dollar millionaires.

India's indigenous warships may have women officers onboard
New Delhi, Feb 24: Envisaging a 20 percent women crew on the future Indian Navy warships, the first indigenous aircraft carrier is designed to have berthing facilities for women officers.

'Jai Ho' for India at the Oscars
From the slums of Mumbai to the glamorous world of Los Angeles, the world went "Jai Ho" as India's sound magicians A.R. Rahman and Resul Pokutty made history along with lyricist Gulzar and bagged three Oscars for "Slumdog Millionaire" that won eight of its 10 nominations in a ceremony that had India written all over.

Leaders shower praise on Rahman, Pookutty for Oscar glory
Composer A.R. Rahman and sound designer Resul Pookutty had made India proud with their three Oscars, President Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said Monday as congratulations poured in following the sweep by "Slumdog Millionaire" at the Academy Awards.

'Ashok Chakra is for bravery, not for getting killed'
Former army officers, including a retired general, feel that most of the Ashok Chakras, the nation's highest peacetime award for gallantry, awarded to policemen this year have been on emotional grounds, as they got the medal for "getting killed" during the Mumbai terror attacks rather than for "bravery".

Indian slum kids' fairytale experience at Oscars
Starry-eyed, excited and wearing little tuxedos and dresses for the first time, a motley of Indian slum kids from Academy award winning "Slumdog Millionaire" and "Smile Pinki" walked the Oscar red carpet with panache despite the stark contrast between their everyday living and the glitzy event.

Bankruptcy to billions: Turnaround saga of Indian Railways
The turnaround saga of the world's second largest railroad network, scripted by an unlikely candidate, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, first caught the attention of the best-known management schools. This amazing story of the 156-year-old Indian Railways over a short span of just five years has now been captured in a book.

Recession's flip side: Army retaining its officers
The economic slump has a silver lining for the officer-strapped Indian Army. Officers planning to seek premature retirement are having second thoughts and those who had applied have begun withdrawing their applications.

'Slumdog Oscaraire' - perfect blend of Indian exotica and brilliant cinema
After a breathless evening where it seemed that everything was indeed written, the combined toast of two filmmaking cultures, "Slumdog Millionaire", swept the 81st Academy Awards, winning eight out of 10 Oscars.

Lawyers view Kasab custody hint as an eyewash
Pakistan's hint of seeking custody of Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone terrorist captured during the Mumbai mayhem, has been termed an eyewash by prominent lawyers here.

After Rushdie, 20 years of fatwas
Twenty years on from global protests over the publication of "The Satanic Verses" by Salman Rushdie, the storm itself has ended -- but the world has had to strike an uneasy truce with a new word added to its lexicon: the fatwa.

And now, Indian cosmonaut flies Boeing fighter jet
India's only cosmonaut Wing Commander (retd) Rakesh Sharma Friday co-piloted Boeing's fighter jet F/A-18 Super Hornet at the Aero India international air show here.

Indian woman becomes world's first to fly Russian fighter
Suman Sharma, daughter of a retired Indian naval officer and an army colonel's sister, became the world's first woman to fly the mighty Russian MiG-35 fighter jet at the Aero India international air show here.

Asia's biggest air show turns into carnival
Asia's biennial international air show near here turned into a carnival Sunday with about 80,000 visitors flocking the venue for a glimpse of the magnificent flying machines and assorted aerospace products and technologies.

Global fighter jets scramble for Indian aero showpiece
Global aerospace majors like Lockheed Martin, Boeing and Dassault have flown in their metal birds to India's IT hub to showcase their air power at the seventh Aero India 2009 biannual trade expo that takes off Wednesday from the Indian Air Force (IAF) station at Yelahanka.

No blogging, social networking for Indian diplomats
Indian diplomats now cannot open a Facebook account, use external e-mail services, or write blogs, thanks to new rules and much stricter firewalls aimed at preventing cyber attacks and leakage of classified information.

Life in 12 square metres - resettling with hope
A person needs no more than two square metres of land after death. Chandana Das shows how a family of five can live on 12 - and hope.

Thales awaits IAF nod for Mirage-2000 upgrade
New Delhi, Feb 8 (IANS) Even as it supports a French bid for an Indian Air Force tender for 126 combat jets, European aerospace major Thales is awaiting the IAF's final nod for upgrading its fleet of Mirage-2000 fighter bombers to enhance their strike capabilities and extend their operational life by at least 20 years.

Once in same jail as Gandhi, Naidoo gets Pravasi Award
Two years ago, Parmanathan 'Prema' Naidoo stood in the doorway of the cell at the Fort in Johannesburg, now the premises of the Constitutional Court in a democratic South Africa, and recalled the torture he had undergone as an apartheid-era prisoner in the same jail where young lawyer Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi had been imprisoned almost a century earlier and later Nelson Mandela as well.

Durrani's sack shows rift in Pakistani leadership: Indian experts
The sacking of Pakistan's National Security Adviser Mahmud Ali Durrani has exposed serious rift between key power centres in Islamabad and points towards renewed assertion by the military and hardliners in setting post-Mumbai policy towards India, say Indian diplomats and experts.

Kashmir pins its hopes on young, energetic Omar Abdullah
For Hassan Parray, Omar Abdullah's ascendance to the chief ministership of Jammu and Kashmir has brought hope. A casual labourer in a semi-government body here, he has been waiting to be confirmed for the last nine years.

Northeast leads in terror casualties, overtakes Kashmir
India's restive northeastern region saw the maximum number of fatalities in terror strikes in 2008, surpassing Jammu and Kashmir in the latest figures released by an independent security think tank.

India to turn to UN pacts on maritime security, hostages
With no bilateral pact on extradition with Pakistan, New Delhi has specifically gone on a strategy of stressing Islamabad's commitment to offences ranging from marine security to terrorist bombings to make the international community party to the pressure build-up against the Mumbai attack masterminds.

Troop redeployment is Pakistan's not-so-subtle message to Obama
Away from Chicago's intensely cold winter and vacationing in the salubrious climes of his birth state Hawaii, President-elect Barack Obama is being delivered a not-so-subtle message by Pakistan.

Jammu and Kashmir poll verdict could surprise all
With a 62 percent turnout, Jammu and Kashmir voters have already given democracy an absolute majority in the assembly polls this month and the last. But the verdict may be more fractured when it comes to any political party, feel observers, as everyone waits for the vote count Sunday.

There was no delay in dispatch of troops: NSG chief
Exactly a month after the terror attack, National Security Guard (NSG) chief J.K. Dutt says there was no slackness in the dispatch of the elite commandos to Mumbai and it was unfair to blame then home minister Shivraj Patil for any delay "when actually there was no delay".

Mumbai remembers terror victims, gets on with life
Against the backdrop of a calm sea, a small group of Jews lit candles in a quiet corner off the Gateway of India and chanted prayers in a sombre voice.

Terrorists Attacking Mumbai Have Global Agenda
WASHINGTON: Whenever New Delhi points a finger at Pakistan in the aftermath of a terrorist attack in India, a weary world seems to say, "Here we go again!" The old enmity between the two countries can tire spectators who often quickly dismiss Indian accusations of Pakistani malfeasance as little other than political recriminations. Yet, the latest terrorist assault in Bombay - involving 10 coordinated strikes that killed close to 200 and the capture of a Pakistani terrorist, Azam Amir Kasab, from Faridkot - leaves no doubt about the authenticity of the Indian charge. Whether or not the carnage in Bombay is India's 9/11, the information now available abundantly confirms that it was not the act of domestic malcontents - another "Oklahoma City."

PDP versus NC in Kashmir, Congress vs BJP in Jammu
Eleven constituencies across Jammu and Kashmir go to vote Saturday in the fifth phase of the staggered seven-phase assembly elections in the state. The fight is expected to be mainly between the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and the National Conference (NC) in the Valley and between the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) in the Jammu region.

Seven years after parliament attack, serious security questions remain
Seven years after armed militants stormed the Indian parliament and engaged security personnel in a deadly gun battle, questions persist about the security of the country's highest democratic institution in the light of the Mumbai terror spree.

Text of Home Minister Chidambaram's parliament speech
Following is the text of Home Minister P. Chidambaram's speech in the Lok Sabha November 11th on the Mumbai terror attacks

What if I was a bomber on a jam-packed local train?
A lifeline for thousands of office-goers and students commuting to and from Delhi, local trains are a frighteningly easy terror target. The realisation came to me as soon as I boarded a jam-packed train for a 20-minute ride into the city. Given our poor police-people ratio I know it is impossible to guard every train or every inch of every station. But I still felt vulnerable.

Two-nation theory has bred practice of hatred
Why has Pakistan become synonymous with terrorism? The vast majority of Pakistanis surely find terrorism, which is the purest form of hatred, as repellent as Indians do. Why then does Pakistan breed an endless flow of suicide missionaries?

Unchecked boxes at parking lots, could they be bombs?
Deftly manoeuvring my car, I squeezed it inside a packed parking lot in the capital's busy Nehru Place commercial complex. My eyes fell on rows of motorcycles and scooters - many with suspicious looking cardboard boxes strapped on them. A nice little place I thought to plant a bomb. I shivered.

Policemen with sticks guard ISBT against terror attack!
The first thought that came to my mind as I stood at one of India's busiest bus terminals watching the crowds and the innumerable buses come and go, was that the terrorists who had held Mumbai to ransom were armed with automatic guns. The policemen I saw deployed here were armed with bamboo canes!

I carried 'explosive material' on bus undetected
It was so easy. I boarded a tourist bus to Jaipur - without a ticket - and placed my bag on the overhead deck. Inside were two tiffin boxes wrapped in paper, with 'explosive material' written on them. No security checks were done, and no questions asked. Thankfully, this was just a reality check on the security arrangements in the capital.

Shared vision for world on climate change? India sceptical
Industrialised countries talked about a "shared vision for long-term cooperative action" on climate change while countries like India expressed scepticism if there could be any such shared vision at all as the annual climate change conference got down to business here Tuesday.

'No delay in troop despatch; aircrafts were on the ready'
About 800 National Security Guard (NSG) commandos and other troops were ferried in five shuttles to Mumbai in an IL-76 transport aircraft belonging to the Aviation Research Centre and there was no time lost in transporting them Nov 26-27 after the city was attacked by terrorists, it was authoritatively learnt.

Make piracy walk the plank
The robust response by the Indian Navy's missile destroyer, INS Tabar in the Gulf of Aden north of Somalia on November 18, when fired upon by Somali pirates, which led to the sinking of the mother ship used by the pirates, has generated waves of appreciation and muted admiration the world over.

Text of the PM's address to the nation
New Delhi, Nov 27: The following is the text of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's address to the nation Thursday:

Marcos - men in black who rescued Mumbai's hostages
They were the least known of the special forces commandos who were pressed into an anti-terrorist operation in Mumbai. But the 25-odd elite fighters of the Marcos - acronym for marine commandos - grabbed the national and international spotlight with their all-black overalls and faces masked by black cloth.

Third phase Kashmir poll can throw up surprises
Five constituencies of north Kashmir's Kupwara district go to polls Sunday in the third of the seven-phase assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir amid speculations that there will be surprise victories here.

Marine commandos fight militants in their own coin
At first glance, they can be mistaken for militants. Sporting long beards and even toting AK-47 assault rifles - Indian Navy's marine commandos follow in letter and spirit the adage of the counter-terrorism doctrine: "Fight a militant like a militant".

Indian Navy - projecting a force beyond borders
The Indian Navy's "proactive" move against Somali pirates in the strategic Gulf of Aden marks a significant step in New Delhi's aspirations of projecting its force beyond its borders and translating its growing economic and military strength into political clout, says officials and analysts.

Which way will warship Admiral Gorshkov sail?
The transfer of the aircraft carrier Vikramaditya, formerly known as Admiral Gorshkov, to India has been planned for several years already. Although the warship, under refurbishment since 2004, was to join the Indian Navy in 2008, the carrier's update is behind schedule.

Heavy voting a trendsetter in Kashmir: Mufti Sayeed
The heavy turnout of voters in the first round of balloting in Jammu and Kashmir will set the trend for the rest of the staggered polls, says former chief minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed.

Our strategic interests lie with India: Maldives foreign minister
The Maldives' primary strategic interests lie with India and there is nothing that can change this plain fact, says the new foreign minister of the Indian Ocean country that installed a democratic regime last week after three decades of one-man rule.

Obama victory and Indo-US relations
Audacity of Hope - the title of Barack Obama's biography published in 2006 captured the collective mood on Tuesday, November 4, when the US elected its first black President. The much-awaited 'change' that the American voter was seeking became real. The anxiety and unease that persisted till the very end that the US was not yet ready to put its shameful racial and colour prejudices behind it, has finally been put to rest.

India Economic Summit reflects underlying unease amid hope
An underlying unease amid hope! This perhaps best describes the mood among the participants at this year's India Economic Summit, which evidently lacked the high-profile attendance that the Davos, Switzerland-based World Economic Forum (WEF) had generally managed to draw in the past.

India set for biggest election ahead of Lok Sabha battle
In what will be a crucial and last popularity test ahead of parliamentary elections due early next year, six Indian states will elect new governments in staggered elections beginning Friday.

Are Assam blasts due to split in Bodo militant group?
The National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) has been named as one of the two insurgent groups responsible for the Oct 30 Assam serial blasts in which 86 people were killed and 300 injured, a charge its leaders have vehemently denied. Analysts here feel this indicates a split in the outfit into pro and anti-talk factions.

Obama's leap of faith fired by Mahatma Gandhi
From a virtual unknown outside his home state of Illinois to the most powerful man on earth, Barack Obama has come a long way in less than two years with his historic election as the first African American US president.

What Obama presidency means for India
With Democrat Barack Obama winning the White House, India is hopeful that its multi-faceted ties with the US, revolutionised by a landmark nuclear deal during the Bush tenure, will acquire new force.

Army officer's terror link serious issue, say analysts
The arrest of a serving Indian Army officer for his suspected involvement with a terror blast by a Hindu hardline group is a serious development and the army should act fast to nip such radicalism in the bud, say defence experts.

Revisiting civil-military relations: The ever supplicant 'fauj' in India
Over the years, the Indian military as an institution has been progressively downgraded in the hierarchy of government and within the caste-system of the state

Is Orissa creating militia to fight Maoists?
Human rights activists have reacted strongly to the Orissa government's move to recruit tribal youths to fight Maoists, alleging it is trying to replicate the controversial Salwa Judum civil militia of Chhattisgarh.

Pakistan and Afghanistan: The enemy is not India
The road to stability in Afghanistan, it is now clear, runs through Pakistan - specifically the tribal areas that Taliban and al Qaeda fighters use as a sanctuary. Less understood is that the road to stability in the tribal areas, and across the region, also runs through India.

Muslims ask: from Kashmir to Kerala, how did terrorism spread?
Kozhikode, Oct 30: The killing of four men from Kerala by security forces in far away Jammu and Kashmir has led to worried community leaders here introspecting on the hows and whys of terrorism striking root in their state.

Democracy in Maldives good news for India, say experts
The first democratic government in the Maldives in three decades has brought much cheer to the Indian establishment as it will make it easier for New Delhi to deal with a democratic regime instead of a one-man dictatorship in the neighbourhood, experts said Thursday.

'Chandrayaan brings science, faith together in India'
New York, Oct 29: Chandrayaan is on its way to the moon, regarded by many Indians as a god, but "devout Hindus - many of them, no doubt, rocket scientists - see no disharmony between ancient Vedic beliefs and contemporary scientific practice", according to a New York Times opinion article.

India poised to be major player in global satellite manufacturing
Chennai, Oct 29 (IANS): India can become a major player in the emerging small satellite manufacturing industry. The country's space agency has estimated a market potential of 50 satellites over the next decade, worth around $1.5 billion, says a space official.

Signs of change in Maldives
THIRTY years ago, when a short, bespectacled man took the oath as president of a slice of paradise, about an hour's flight from India, the international community did not even blink.

Probe complete, but no trace of SN Market Diwali blasts mastermind
Three years have gone by, but the suspected mastermind of the 2005 pre-Diwali terror bombings here is still absconding even as Delhi Police claim that investigations into the case are complete.

'Over 42,000 converted to Christianity in Kandhamal, only two followed law'
There has been a 66 percent growth in Christian population in Orissa's Kandhamal region, which has seen attacks on Christians and churches. Of the 42,353 who adopted Christianity between 1991 and 2001, only two followed law to change religion.

Light combat aircraft to enter service in 2011
Bangalore, Oct 25: An indigenous combat jet that has been 26 years in the making will enter squadron service with the Indian Air Force (IAF) by 2011, Defence Minister A.K. Antony said Saturday, even as he admitted to glaring gaps in the country's radar surveillance cover.

China far ahead, but Kazakhstan still desires India alliance
Despite being slow off the block, India can still build close economic and trade ties with oil and mineral rich Kazakhstan as the country is keen to attract Indian investments and expand economic collaboration, experts say.

India's air defence inadequate: Comptroller and Auditor General
New Delhi, Oct 25: Revealing gaping holes in the country's air defence, the Comptroller and Auditor General in its recent report on the defence ministry says that the number of radars with the Indian Air Force (IAF) is inadequate for efficient surveillance of the skies.

Mission moon: the young are gung ho
Bangalore, Oct 18 (IANS): The student community in India's tech capital is quite busy these days, not just with preparations for the mid-term exams but with newfound interest to know more about the moon.

India joins lunar race at time of renewed interest in moon
With the maiden launch of unmanned moon mission Chandrayaan-1 Oct 22 from spaceport Sriharikota, about 80 km from Chennai, India joins the lunar race in quest of space supremacy and its place in the elite club of space-faring nations, at a time when there's renewed global scientific interest in the moon.

Indian spacecraft will try to unravel moon's origins
Sriharikota (Andhra Pradesh), Oct 16 (IANS): India's lunar explorer, Chandrayaan-1, will try to unravel the moon's origins as it scouts for minerals and water there, according to project director M. Annadurai.

With polls announced, parties gear up in Jammu region
Jammu, Oct 20: The mood of the Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is a study in contrast in Jammu region after the announcement of polls in Jammu and Kashmir. While the BJP is upbeat and plans to cash in on its role during the Amarnath land row, the Congress workers are not very enthusiastic.

Up above the world so high, tracking satellites in the sky
Chennai, Oct 20 (IANS): S.K. Shivakumar is 55 years old. For 32 years out of that, he has been the eyes and ears of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

Space scientist from a star village
M.Y.S. Prasad, associate director, Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, has something common with Telugu movie stars Chiranjeevi and Krishnam Raju. All three are from Mogaltur village in West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh.

Mission moon: the young are gung ho
Bangalore, Oct 18 (IANS): The student community in India's tech capital is quite busy these days, not just with preparations for the mid-term exams but with newfound interest to know more about the moon.

India joins lunar race at time of renewed interest in moon
With the maiden launch of unmanned moon mission Chandrayaan-1 Oct 22 from spaceport Sriharikota, about 80 km from Chennai, India joins the lunar race in quest of space supremacy and its place in the elite club of space-faring nations, at a time when there's renewed global scientific interest in the moon.

Indian spacecraft will try to unravel moon's origins
Sriharikota (Andhra Pradesh), Oct 16 (IANS): India's lunar explorer, Chandrayaan-1, will try to unravel the moon's origins as it scouts for minerals and water there, according to project director M. Annadurai.

'India committed to peaceful use of outer space'
New York, Oct 15: India favours peaceful uses of outer space for the common good of mankind, a member of the Indian delegation to the UN General Assembly session here has said, citing initiatives such as the country's first unmanned mission to the moon to be launched next week.

This space engineer has licence to kill
Chennai, Oct 15 (IANS): The name's Krishnamurthy. S. Krishnamurthy. He is 59 and has a dull designation: general manager safety. But he is the only man licensed to kill in midair the rockets of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) without seeking anybody's permission.

Moon mission won't lead to big satellite launch orders
Chennai, Oct 17 (IANS): The launch of India's lunar spacecraft Chandrayaan Oct 22 will not immediately result in big satellite launch orders for Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), but will improve its expertise in the area where India specialises - Polar Satellite Launch Vehicles (PSLV).

Come rain or shine, India's lunar mission to keep Oct 22 date
Sriharikota (Andhra Pradesh) Oct 11: Come rain or shine, India's maiden moon mission to be launched from here Oct 22 will proceed as scheduled, with scientists at work to weatherproof the project.

Terror-hit India to sharpen its intelligence set-up
New Delhi, Oct 8 (IANS): Embarrassed by a string of terror attacks, the Indian government has set up a task force to shore up gaps in its intelligence agencies and address critical manpower and resource shortages.

Milestones on way to India-US civil nuclear deal
New Delhi, Oct 11: Following are the twists and turns in the journey of the India-US civilian nuclear deal in the last three-and-a-half years. The deal was inked Friday.

Anti-Christian violence a result of Hindu anger: Rajnath Singh
New Delhi, Oct 11 (IANS): While distancing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from the Bajrang Dal, party president Rajnath Singh has stopped short of blaming the rightwing outfit for continuing anti-Christian violence and attributed it to "Hindu anger" against forcible conversions instead.

Cautious celebrations
Though India's nuke dream will soon be reality, there are still some hurdles to cross
The much debated and deeply contested July 18, 2005 (J 1805) civilian nuclear cooperation agreement between India and the USA crossed a major hurdle with the satisfactory legislative completion on September 28, 2008 when the US House of Representatives approved the Berman Bill listed as HR 7081. A degree of semantic irony is inherent given

Full text of Manmohan Singh's speech at UN General Assembly
Following is the full text of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's speech at the general debate of the 63rd UN General Assembly on 26 September 2008:
Your Excellency, Mr. President, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Milestones in India-US n-deal
Twists and turns in the journey of the India-US nuclear deal in the last three and half years at a glance:
* July 18, 2005: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President George W. Bush sign a joint statement in Washington on India-US civil nuclear cooperation.

Patil's resignation no solution to terrorism: Lalu
New Delhi, Sep 15 (IANS): "Don't blame Home Minister for everything that goes wrong. The resignation of (Shivraj) Patil is no solution to terrorism problem," Railways Minister Lalu Prasad said here amid growing calls for Patil's resignation after serial bombings in Delhi.

Delhi blasts: Fourth deadly strike by Indian Mujahideen
New Delhi, Sep 13: The serial blasts Saturday that ripped through the national capital's three teeming business hubs killing at least 18 and injuring nearly 100 is the fourth terror act allegedly triggered by the Indian Mujahideen, the terror outfit that became increasingly more notorious since late last year.

Terrorists used plasticisers to bind explosives: NSG chief
New Delhi, Sep 14 (IANS): In what could prove to be an alarming trend, terrorists who struck here used plasticisers for the first time in India to bind the explosive ammonium nitrate, says the chief of the National Security Guard (NSG).

Blockbuster headlines toast India's nuclear re-birth
India's rebirth as an atomic power, armed with a unique NSG passport to carry on global nuclear trade, was feted with celebratory headlines in leading Indian newspapers - save for some dissenting voices that saw in it a "sell out" of the country's strategic interests.

India's key officials behind n-deal, waiver
A group of key officials worked behind the scene to ensure that doors of global civil nuclear commerce were re-opened for India. They are:

Too Early To Celebrate
Pervez Musharraf's resignation as Pakistan's president comes exactly a week after he celebrated his 65th birthday and a few days after he addressed the nation on the eve of the country's independence day celebrations. At the time, amidst considerable speculation as to whether he would resign or face impeachment, he appeared defiant - true to his confident, commando image - and appealed for national reconciliation.

Don't Give In To Them
A number of people have written on why India should consider allowing the Kashmiris to secede since the widespread demonstrations and disturbances taking place day after day would indicate that they don't want to be part of India. If this logic is to be accepted, Indian Parliament should be wound up since there are disruptions day after day holding up the proceedings of the two Houses. One writer has raised the issue whether the Kashmir problem involves the idea of India. It certainly does, just as the orderly conduct of Parliament also involves the idea of India. Both of them encompass the idea of an India as a pluralistic, secular, federal democracy aiming to achieve justice, equality and fraternity for all its citizens.

What Musharraf's exit means for India
With the resignation of Pervez Musharraf as president of Pakistan, there is a growing feeling here that Islamabad is likely to be more hawkish on the Kashmir issue and its preoccupations with internal politics may affect the pace of the peace process between the two countries.

Open trade route to Pakistan to heal Kashmiri wounds: Sajjad Lone
The "economic blockade" forced by Hindus in Jammu in the wake of the Amarnath land row has left a "deep psychological imprint on Kashmiris" and the subsequent agitation in the Kashmir Valley has re-ignited "irreversible separatist sentiment" among the people, says a Kashmiri leader.

The 'harm' the land row did to Kashmir peace process
A frenzied mob of not more than a thousand marched through the narrow roads of old Srinagar - some carrying green flags and shouting slogans. Incidentally, nobody was leading them as none of the known political faces, from separatist or mainstream camps, was seen in the procession.

Chronicle of a crisis that divided Jammu and Kashmir
The genesis of the crisis that has seen Jammu ranged against Kashmir lies in what appeared to be a routine order May 26 allotting 40 hectares of land in the valley to create shelters for pilgrims going to Amarnath.

Fifth generation Indo-Russian fighter by 2017: IAF chief
The fifth generation Indo-Russian fighter aircraft will be ready for induction by 2017, says Air Chief Marshal Fali H. Major, while pointing out that the Indian Air Force's (IAF) squadron strength has grown after plummeting to an all-time low.

India should dream of double-digit growth: Rangarajan
Economic reforms in India now need a major push forward to log a higher and inclusive growth of over 10 percent in a bid to end stark poverty and achieve overall development, former central bank governor C. Rangarajan said Wednesday.

Are terrorist attacks in India only due to a security failure?
Post Ahmedabad, there has been a lot of anger and anguish over India's visible vulnerability to the kind of terrorism motivated by a deliberate distortion of the tenets of Islam that has been unleashed periodically in different parts of urban India. Ahmedabad alas, is neither the first nor the last such target and I would not see this as a security failure alone.

The growing divide between Jammu and Kashmir
As Hindu majority Jammu burns and Muslim dominated Srinagar simmers over conflicting claims on land being allotted to the Amarnath shrine board, close watchers fear the polarisation between the plains and the valley may have reached a point of no return.

A 'gang' of countries stands between India and NSG waiver
Days before the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) meets here to consider selling nuclear fuel and technology to India, those for the deal seem to be in a majority even as there is said to be a "gang" of countries who could put a spanner in New Delhi's hopes.

Text of Manmohan Singh's speech at SAARC summit opening
Colombo, Aug 2: The following is the text of the speech of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the inaugural session of the 15th SAARC Summit here Saturday:

Loopholes persist in India's new defence purchase policy
India's new defence purchase policy enunciated Friday has at least two glaring loopholes that will enable its circumvention, even as it provides the private sector much cause for cheer.

Harkishan Singh Surjeet - nationalist to Communist and then kingmaker
A hardcore nationalist who was known in his youth as "London Tod Singh" (one who breaks London, the centre of colonial power), Harkishan Singh Surjeet took to politics in Punjab at a young age as a follower of iconic freedom fighter Bhagat Singh.

Generate your own power, use it and sell it too
The Indian government has placed solar energy development at the centre of its strategy for energy security and combating climate change. There is a town in Germany where most new buildings have solar power roofs that not only cater to all the energy requirements of homes, but also allow residents to sell power to the grid.

India's 'manmade' water crisis can incite more conflicts: Assocham
The water crisis staring at India is manmade, could get more complex and lead to more interstate conflicts if prompt measures are not taken to tackle the problem, warns a study by a leading industry lobby.

I have been concentrating on motivating the youth
I did not realize that I have already completed one year after demitting office on 25 July 2007. This one year has been an extremely eventful one me having visited over 12 states in India and nine countries.

Nuclear deal spin-off: 100,000 new jobs, more research opportunities
One of the spin offs of the India-US civil nuclear deal coming through will be the creation of 100,000 new jobs for the 30-odd reactors that India hopes to set up to meet its nuclear power deadline of 20,000 MW by 2020, experts say.

Do terror movies inspire terror masterminds?
Do movies on terrorism really influence the psychology of the masterminds of terror? Could Saturday's heartless serial bombings in Ahmedabad, including in hospitals where the wounded were being rushed to, have been influenced by the recently released Hindi film "Contract"?

Once Marxist voice, now speaker without a party
His was the stentorian voice that effectively projected the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) view in parliament - and outside - for four decades. On Wednesday, just two days before Somnath Chatterjee's 79th birthday that link snapped when one of India's most skilful parliamentarians and now speaker of the lower house of parliament was expelled from the party.

A Civil Nuclear Power
Of the world's 25,000 nuclear warheads, over 90% are in the United States and the former Soviet Union. The nuclear and missile activities of North Korea and Iran have created considerable apprehension in certain national capitals. Amid these genuine concerns, the proposed U.S.-India nuclear deal has become a flashpoint of anxiety over proliferation. It needn't be. Criticism of the deal stems from an unwillingness to acknowledge that India poses no proliferation danger.

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