Another chilly morning in Delhi, 79 trains delayed
New Delhi, Dec 26 (PTI) Delhiites today woke up to another chilly morning with moderate to dense fog engulfing the city which continued to disrupt rail traffic with 8 trains cancelled and 79 delayed. The minimum temperature settled two notches below the season's average at 6.3 degrees Celsius. "Visibility was 700 metres at 8.30 AM and the humidity recorded was 94 per cent," a MeT official said. The weatherman has predicted mainly clear sky for the day.

Sr Bush spends another night in hospital: spokesman
Houston, Dec 26 (PTI) Former US President George H W Bush, admitted to a hospital after experiencing shortness of breath, was in "great spirits," his spokesman said today. 90-year-old Bush, a Texas resident, was admitted to Houston Methodist Hospital on Tuesday as a precaution. His spokesman Jim McGrath said that the 41st president's prognosis was positive and that he remained hospitalised as a precaution.

Arunachal CM Nabam Tuki allots portfolios to 3 new
Itanagar, Dec 26 (PTI) Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Nabam Tuki has allocated portfolios to the three newly inducted ministers in his cabinet. Rajesh Tacho, Wanglin Lowangdong and Thangwang Wangham were inducted to the council of ministers and Governor Lt Gen (Retd) Nirbhay Sharma administered oath and secrecy of office to them at a ceremony in the Darbar Hall of Rajbhawan here.

Rupinder keen to perform well in HHIL
New Delhi, Dec 26 (PTI) Bracing up for the third Hero Hockey India League, penalty corner specialist Rupinder Pal Singh said he would be aim to be a standout performer for his team -- defending champions Delhi Waveriders. Playing for Delhi Waveriders consecutively for the third time, Rupinder is eagerly waiting to display his proficiency alongside an experienced bunch of defenders like India's Surender Kumar and Diwakar Ram, New Zealand's Steven Edwards, Andrew Hayward and...

Maha govt allots Rs 64 cr to LWE-affected districts
Mumbai, Dec 26 (PTI) Maharashtra government has decided to allocate Rs 64 crore to four Left Wing Extremism (LWE)-affected districts in the Vidarbha region to fast-track their development. "On receiving funds from the Central government for the Left Wing Extremism affected districts, the state has decided to allot Rs 16 crore each to Gadchiroli, Gondia, Chandrapur and Bhandara districts of Vidarbha region. These funds will be handed over to the district collectors for...

Bombay HC refuses to stay Sunburn Music Festival in Goa
Panaji, Dec 26 (PTI) The Bombay High Court today refused to grant a stay on hosting the popular Sunburn Electronic Dance (EDM) Festival scheduled to start in Goa from tomorrow. Congress party's Goa spokesman Sunil Kawathankar had filed a public interest litigation (PIL) before the High Court pleading that the festival be stopped accusing the organisers of tax evasion.

Home guard jawan killed in road accident
Sant Kabir Nagar (UP), Dec 26 (PTI) A 45-year-old home guard jawan was today killed after being hit by a tractor- trolley near Mukhlishpur railway crossing, police said. Devisharan was going to his village when he was hit by the tractor-trolley. He died on the spot, they said. An FIR has been registered in this connection and hunt is on to trace the absconding driver.

Govt seeks views on increasing age for induction in IAS
New Delhi, Dec 26 (PTI) The Centre has sought views from state governments on increasing the present age limit of 54 for induction of state service officers into IAS and IPS among others. At present, maximum age limit for consideration for induction into three all India services--Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and Indian Forest Service (IFoS)--is 54 years as on January 1, of the year for which the select list is prepared.

Death toll rises to 81, operations launched agst NDFB(S)
 Operations were today intensified against NDFB(S) militants along the border with Arunachal Pradesh even as the death toll in the massacre rose to 81. Normal life was, meanwhile, disrupted by a bandh called by several organisations in Assam. Two persons, one each in Sonitpur and Chirang, injured in Tuesday's attack by NDFB(S) militants succumbed to their injuries last night, while a charred body was recovered from Gossaigaon in Kokrajhar district this morning, a police...

Drug menace a national pain: PM
Voicing concern over the "devastating" drug addiction menace, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said society as well as the government will have to work together to fight this problem and that a helpline would be set up soon to assist those seeking solutions. In his third 'Mann Ki Baat' programme on radio, he said the menace is a "national pain" but instead of the youth mired in the problem, drugs should be shunned.

Prez recovering after angioplasty at Army hospital
President Pranab Mukherjee was today recovering well after undergoing a heart procedure at the Army's Research and Referral Hospital where doctors installed a coronary stent in his artery to remove a blockage. The coronary angioplasty was conducted on Mukherjee, 79, yesterday at the hospital after he was admitted there with stomach problems and related ailments.

Thoughts with parents undergoing surgery in UK: Omar
As polling was underway in Sonawar assembly constituency in Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah who is contesting from the seat, said his thoughts were with his parents who are undergoing an organ transplant in the UK. "My thoughts are with my parents as they both prepare? for surgery today. I wish I could be there with them but that? wasn't to be," Omar wrote on micro-blogging site Twitter.

Rumblings in political parties in focus in Punjab
Growing friction between ruling alliance partners Shiromani Akali Dal and BJP, infighting within opposition Congress, and the Aam Aadmi Party making inroads in Punjab's political scene kept the state in focus in 2014. The second consecutive term of Parkash Singh Badal led SAD-BJP alliance government witnessed souring of relations between the two "oldest" allies, which had an adverse impact on governance in the otherwise vibrant Punjab

Man crushed to death by rally-bus
A man died and another was injured when a scooty, which they were riding, was mowed down by a private bus returning from BJP rally, the police said today. The incident occurred yesterday and the deceased was identified as Mohmmed Shahzad (35), while his colleague Ikram, who was injured, was taken to nearby hospital, they said.

Senior horticulture officer commits suicide ?
A 47-year-old senior officer with horticulture department here allegedly committed suicide at his residence, police said today. Guruzada Srinivasa Rao, working as senior assistant director with East Godavari's Rajahmundry Horticulture department, hanged himself from a ceiling fan at his AV Appa Rao colony residence here last night, Deputy Superintendent of Police K Muralikrishna, Prakasha Nagar police station, said. Rao, reportedly the great-grand son of noted Telugu writer...

Sufism taught me to learn from all truths: Sonam Kalra
Singer Sonam Kalra whose music amalgamates teachings of different faiths, says Sufism has taught her to accept all truths and believe that all truths have their own substance. "I came to accept that each of us has our own truths and feel an overwhelming love for God that I take from Sufism" said the singer.

PM holds talks to boost cooperation with sanctions-hit Russia
Russian President Vladimir Putin today held talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to further boost cooperation between the two strategic partners in crucial sectors like defence, energy and trade at a time when Russian economy was facing Western sanctions. Putin, who arrived here last night, is likely to push for enhancing supply of military hardware to India as well as expansion of bilateral economic engagement in a range of areas. It is the first annual summit meeting...

Pakistan stun Holland to reach Champions Trophy semis
Putting their disappointing pool campaign behind, an inspired Pakistan notched up their first win over the Netherlands in 16 years, stunning the World Cup and Olympic silver medallist 4-2 to reach the semifinals of Hero Champions Trophy hockey tournament, here today. The 4-2 win was Pakistan's first win over the Dutch in the Champions Trophy in 12 attempts, a run dating back to 1998 edition of the tournament in Lahore. After back-to-back wins in pool stages, the Netherlands...

Dilip Kumar turns 92, discharged from hospital
Legendary actor Dilip Kumar, who turned 92 today, was discharged from hospital where he was admitted last week for a chest infection. As the actor stepped out of the hospital, he was greeted by anxious fans who had come to enquire about his health and wish him on his birthday. "Dilip Saab is feeling great now and does not require to be in hospital. So we have discharged him," Dr Jalil Parkar, a well-known pulmonologist, who treated the veteran actor at Lilavati hospital,...

GSLV-Mk III rolls out to launch pad at Sriharikota
India's Geo-synchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle-Mark III (GSLV-Mk III) scheduled to be launched next week has been rolled out to the launch pad at Sriharikota for an experimental mission, ISRO today said. "ISRO's most powerful launcher ever, GSLV Mk-III rolls out from the Vehicle Assembly Building to the launch pad for its Experimental Flight slated later in this month," Indian Space Research Organisation said on its Facebook page. First experimental suborbital...

Chamling to complete 20 years in office tomorrow
Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling, who is serving his fifth consecutive term, will complete 20 years in office tomorrow. 64-year-old Chamling first assumed office on December 12 in 1994 when his Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) won the Assembly elections. He won a fifth consecutive time in the state Assembly elections held in May 2014. Chamling is currently the longest serving Chief Minister in the country. He may break the 23-year-old record of Jyoti Basu, Chief Minister of...

Unregistered taxi services asked to stop operations
In the wake of Centre's advisory to states to ensure stoppage of web-based taxi services following the alleged rape of a 27-year-old woman executive in Delhi, Karnataka government today said all taxi services not registered in the state will be considered illegal and will have to stop operations immediately. "All those taxi services who have not registered in the state will be considered illegal and will be stopped from operating. Those who have registered will be legal and can...

I am not doing any South projects: Asin
Asin Thottumkal has rubbished rumours that she is returning to South films. The actress, whose last Bollywood release was 'Khiladi 786', clarified that she had no plans to return to South after the news was posted on a fake handle in Asin's name on Twitter. "I am not on Twitter and I'd appreciate it if people checked with me before publishing rubbish put up on fake handles. I'm am not doing nor looking at doing any South projects currently. I am currently...

Woman dies during sterilisation operation, probe ordered
District administration of Mathura has formed a four-member team of doctors to probe into the death of a woman who died of cardiac arrest when she had gone for a tubectomy surgery at a hospital here. "On the direction of District Magistrate Rajesh Kumar, the inquiry team has been formed," Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr B S Yadav said. Poonam (30), resident of Aligarh, yesterday died of cardiac arrest when she had gone for a tubectomy surgery at the district hospital...

India's communication satellite GSAT-16 launched successfully
Bengaluru, Dec 7 (PTI) Augmenting India's space capacity to boost communication services, its latest satellite GSAT-16 was successfully launched on board Arianespace rocket from the space port of Kourou in French Guiana in the early hours today, after a delay of two days due to bad weather. The satellite with a lift-off mass of 3,181 kg was injected into the intended Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit (GTO) about 32 minutes after a perfect lift-off of Ariane 5 at 2.

Aatish Taseer delves into Ayodhya, Sanskrit in new book
   New Delhi, Dec 7 (PTI) A new book by writer Aatish Taseer has Sanskrit as the central metaphor and touches several issues like Ayodhya, 1984 riots and the Emergency. "The Way Things Were" is a family saga set in Delhi amid the commotion of the last 40 years of Indian history. Skanda's father Toby, the Maharaja of Kalasuryaketu who is a master of Sanskrit, has died, estranged from Toby?s mother and from the India he loved.

India, Russia to hold talks on FGFA aircraft project
  New Delhi, Dec 7 (PTI) Ahead of President Vladimir Putin's visit here, Indian and Russian officials will be holding talks on the multi-billion dollar Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA) joint project. Defence sources said talks would be held before Putin's visit on December 10 as both India and Russia are keen to go ahead with the FGFA. However, there are issues on which both sides have not arrived at a consensus.

SEBI can withhold info on probe against RIL: CIC
  New Delhi, Dec 7 (PTI) The Central Information Commission has allowed Securities and Exchange Board of India to withhold the information on its probe into alleged short selling of shares by Reliance Industries Limited in 2007 saying investigation has not concluded yet.

Two clerks suspended in Hastinapur land grab scam
Muzaffarnagar, Dec 7 (PTI) Two revenue clerks were suspended on corruption charges in connection with the land grabbing case at Hastinapur Sanctuary. The district authorities suspended Revenue Clerks Ramesh Chand and Promod Kumar yesterday after they were found involved in alleged encroachment of the sanctuary land. According to Tehsildar Harsh Chawla, the two were found involved in the government land grabbing case. Earlier, these clerks were shifted to Budhansa Tehsil from...

Search on to trace accused in cab rape case
   New Delhi, Dec 7 (PTI) A massive search operation was today on across three states to nab the taxi driver of an international cab-booking service, who allegedly raped a 27-year-old woman on her way home on Friday night. The driver identified as Shiv Kumar Yadav (32) hails from Mathura, UP, and the car in which the crime took place was recovered from the city late last night.