Howrah News Service - Latest news and headlines on Howrah,West Bengal and World

Cyclone Nargis may hit Bangladesh coast

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 03:06:00 -0400

Moving slowly across the Bay of Bengal, cyclone Nargis has gathered strength, intensifying into a "severe cyclonic storm" that may hit the Bangladesh-Myanmar coast, media reports said Wednesday.

Chidambaram assures to control inflation

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 11:26:00 -0400

Finance Minister P Chidambaram today gave assurances that the Reserve Bank of India?s monetary policy and fiscal measures would help to control inflation.

HC grants bail to arms dealer Suresh Nanda, son

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 09:16:00 -0400

The Delhi High Court today granted bail to arms dealer Suresh Nanda, his son Sanjeev

Iranian President Ahmadinejad arrives in Delhi today

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 03:47:00 -0400

En-route to Srilanka, President of Iran Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is scheduled to have a brief stay in the Capital today during which India and Iran are tipped to hold highest-level discussions

Indian student taxi driver stabbed in Melbourne

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 03:32:00 -0400

A 23-year-old Indian student, who was also working as a taxi driver, was found Tuesday stabbed outside a hotel in the Clifton Hill suburb of Melbourne, the police said.

US not ready to call 'critically important' n-deal dead

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 03:01:00 -0400

The United States considers its civil nuclear deal with India "critically important" and is never going to pronounce it "dead" even as it remains stalled due to opposition from the Indian coalition government's leftist supporters.

Govt may soon announce relief for Bundelkhand farmers

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 08:31:00 -0400

Expressing concern over the condition of farmers due to severe drought in the region of Bundelkhand, Government today informed the Lok Sabha that a special programme for the region would be announced soon.

US says n-deal 'definitely feasible' if India crosses own hurdle

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 01:57:00 -0400

The United States considers it 'definitely feasible' to get the remaining steps on its civil nuclear deal with India completed if New Delhi approves the agreement stalled by opposition from the ruling coalition's Leftist supporters.

India condemns assassination bid on Karzai

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 12:04:00 -0400

India today condemned the assassination attempt on Afghan president Hamid Karzai in Kabul, describing it as an "dastardly" act

Clashes in Seoul during Olympic torch relay

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 11:53:00 -0400

The Olympic torch relay concluded in the South Korean capital Sunday marked by sporadic clashes between pro- and anti-China demonstrators and a self-immolation attempt.

Baalu, inflation to keep mercury level high in Parliament

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 11:48:00 -0400

With Shipping Minister T R Baalu episode coming towards the end of the week just gone by, parliamentary mercury is set soar like anything once again from Monday.

'No country can give in writing not to undertake N-tests'

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 11:45:00 -0400

Opposing the Indo-US nuclear deal, the Bharatiya Janata Party today said that no country can give in writing that it will not undertake nuclear tests in future.

UPA trying to deviate from Constitution: Advani

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 15:03:00 -0400

Senior BJP leader L K Advani today accused the Congress-led UPA government of attempting to deviate from the Constitution

Bhajji issued showcause notice for allegedly slapping Sreesanth

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 09:19:00 -0400

The BCCI on Saturday has issued a showcause notice to Mumbai Indians stand-in skipper Harbhajan Singh for allegedly slapping his IPL rival and Indian team mate, S Sreesanth.

Nuclear power plants set to get no-fly zone status

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 02:06:00 -0400

Security at the country's nuclear power plants is set to be stepped up with each of them getting a no-fly zone status. "Yes, of course. We need a no-fly zone over reactors. They (security agencies) are working on it," Anil Kakodkar, Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission told reporters in Capital.

High Court rejects Thales plea on Scorpene probe

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 14:44:00 -0400

The Delhi High Court today rejected French military major Thales' plea to dismiss a public interest suit seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the 2.4 billion Euro Scorpene submarine deal

Kidnapped Indian in Afghanistan safe, says official

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 08:54:00 -0400

Indian national Mohammed Nayeem who was kidnapped from the Afghanistan province of Herat four days ago is safe, official sources said today.

Kidnapped Indian in Afghanistan safe, says official

Fri, 25 Apr 2008 03:22:00 -0400

Indian national Mohammed Nayeem who was kidnapped from the Afghanistan province of Herat four days ago is safe, official sources said today.

I am not quitting from Indian Hockey Federation: Gill

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:56:00 -0400

Clearly in no mood to oblige Sports Minister M S Gill who wants him to go, Indian Hockey Federation President K P S Gill on Thursday said he is not quitting from his post.

Census to keep citizens' biometric records: Patil

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 13:37:00 -0400

After the successful completion of a pilot project on a multi-purpose identity card, the Government is planning to dovetail the preparation of a National Population Register (NPR) with the 2011 Census, Home Minister Shivraj Patil said today.

We know where Dawood is: CBI

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 02:07:00 -0400

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) director Vijay Shanker on Wednesday said the agency knew the whereabouts of India's most wanted fugitive Dawood Ibrahim but Pakistan's non-cooperation was impeding his arrest.

CPM slams US statement, seeks summoning of American envoy

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 11:03:00 -0400

Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) today demanded that the US ambassador be summoned to express India's "disapproval" of "gross interference" by Washington in its relations with other countries.

We do not need any guidance on dealing with Iran: India

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 04:12:00 -0400

In an unusually sharp reaction to the US counsel on New Delhi's dealing with Iran, India on Tuesday said it does not need "any guidance" on its conduct of relations with the Persian country as both the nations are "perfectly capable" of managing all aspects of their ties.

Antony promises modernisation, better pay in Defence

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 03:33:00 -0400

Defence Minister A K Antony on Tuesday told the Lok Sabha that modernisation of the defence forces and dealing with the pay disparities in the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations were the top priorities of his ministry.

Home Minister favours 'middle path' to fight Maoism

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 18:04:00 -0400

A moderate approach, which includes persuasion as well as use of force as and when required, is the right way to tackle Maoist violence in India, Home Minister Shivraj Patil told the Lok Sabha on Monday.

Internal security situation of country stable: report

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 15:45:00 -0400

India's overall internal security remains stable with a fall in terror incidents in Jammu and Kashmir and other insurgency affected areas of northeastern states, says a government report.

India discusses G8 issues, talks with China Tuesday

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 15:25:00 -0400

Ahead of the G8 summit in Japan in July, India and four other "outreach countries" Monday held talks to evolve a common stand on key global issues, including climate change and multilateral trade negotiations.

India's energy security at 'risk' if no nuclear deal: Sweden

Sun, 20 Apr 2008 13:13:00 -0400

India was 'at risk' of endangering its energy security if it did not grab the opportunity offered by the civil nuclear cooperation deal with the US, visiting Swedish Foreign minister Carl Bildt said today.

Ministry sets up Implementation Cell for Sixth Pay Panel report

Sun, 20 Apr 2008 11:09:00 -0400

The Finance Ministry is understood to have set up a cell to implement by September, the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations that is awaiting government approval. Sources said Finance Minister P Chidambaram approved setting up of the Implementation Cell "to process and implement the accepted recommendations of the Pay Commission by September."

Ideology undermining growth should be rejected: FM

Sun, 20 Apr 2008 11:04:00 -0400

With the government under attack on inflation from the Left parties, Finance Minister P Chidambaram today said India would remain poor if achieving high growth was not given priority and asserted that any ideology which undermines expansion of the economy should be rejected.

Iran president to visit India this month

Sun, 20 Apr 2008 07:38:00 -0400

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will make his first visit to India towards the end of April. National Security Advisor M K Narayanan announced on Sunday that Ahmadinejad "will be visiting India soon" before the Iranian leader visited Sri Lanka.

Mayawati issues threat to withdraw support to UPA

Sun, 20 Apr 2008 06:32:00 -0400

Apparently peeved at Rahul Gandhi's espousal of the cause of drought-hit and poverty-stricken farmers of Bundelkhand, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Saturday issued yet another threat to withdraw her party's support to the Manmohan Singh government.

Mayawati issues threat to withdraw support to UPA

Sat, 19 Apr 2008 15:38:00 -0400

More courts and judges needed to dispense justice effectively

Sat, 19 Apr 2008 08:29:00 -0400

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today favoured a suggestion by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan to open more courts to deal with corruption cases involving government officials.

Hostile witnesses to be punished

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 19:35:00 -0400

With more and more witnesses turning hostile especially in criminal cases, the Home Ministry has proposed to enhance punishment for perjury. Proposals have been made to insert new sections in the Code of Criminal Procedure and also to enhance the punishment for perjury to ensure reliability of witness during deposition in court. This was revealed by Minister of State for Home Affairs Radhika V Selvi in a written reply to the Lok Sabha earlier this week.

India takes up Sarabjit issue with new Pakistan govt

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 10:44:00 -0400

Indian authorities have established contact with Pakistan's new government on the issue of its national Sarabjit Singh, whose execution has been deferred till May 1, and are hopeful that he will be shown clemency.

Price rise robs Opposition of other issues to corner UPA

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 10:17:00 -0400

t seems that the haunting issue of price rise of essential commodities has robbed the opposition parties of other political issues as they are finding it hard to corner the UPA on other issues for there are no takers of other issues either in public or in media.

Attempt by Tibetans to storm Chinese embassy foiled

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 10:58:00 -0400

About 100 Tibetan activists tried to storm the Chinese embassy today. However, the protestors were whisked away by the police. The activists, under the banner of Tibetan Youth congress, arrived at the embassy at around 10.30 am.

Bus plunges into Narmada, death toll rises to 44

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 10:55:00 -0400

The toll in the Narmada canal tragedy has gone up to forty-four according to the latest reports pouring in from Vadodara in Gujarat. Most of the victims of the unfortunate incident were children aged between 8 to 10.

Developed countries must cooperate on climate change

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 10:28:00 -0400

India has urged the developed countries to massively reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and also provide financial help and facilitate technology transfer to the developing nations so that the problem of climate change could be resolved.

Tibetans to run parallel torch relay on Thursday

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 10:27:00 -0400

As the Beijing Olympics torch relay takes place in the capital on Thursday, protesting Tibetans will run a parallel torch relay for a "free Tibet" on the other side of the city at the same time.

Delhi businessman's murder solved: Police

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 04:09:00 -0400

Delhi Police on Sunday claimed to have solved the case of a businessman's murder that took place in the capital last week with the arrest of two men from Bulandshahar in Uttar Pradesh who were allegedly hired by a kin to kill him.

Live bombs found on route of Maitree Express

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 02:36:00 -0400

A day before the launch of Kolkata-Dhaka Maitree Express, the Railway Police on Sunday morning recovered seven crude bombs from the way of the train near Bankimnagar station in Nadia.

India asks Bangladesh to hand over top ULFA leader

Sun, 13 Apr 2008 11:28:00 -0400

India has asked Dhaka to hand over United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) leader Paresh Barua against whom red corner notices were issued by Interpol. "Paresh Barua is no longer in Bangladesh

India's inflation hits 41-month high of 7.41 per cent

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 11:41:00 -0400

As per data released by the Commerce and Industry Ministry today, India's annual rate of inflation rose further to hit a 41-month high of 7.41 per cent for the week ended March 29, from 7 per cent for the week before, on account of higher food and commodities prices.

12 member expert committee to review 6th Pay Commission report

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 11:39:00 -0400

The Union Cabinet today gave its approval for the setting up of an Empowered Committee of secretaries to process the Sixth Central Pay Commission report. The 12 member high power committee under the Cabinet Secretary K M Chandrasekhar would examine the report and address the grievances of the non-IAS officers.

Shut down disrupts normal life in Darjeeling

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 16:48:00 -0400

The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) called a 24-hour shut down in Darjeeling today in response to police personnel preventing GJM activists from taking out a procession on Wednesday.

Maoists guns down six people in Bihar

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 15:54:00 -0400

Banned Communist Party of India- Maoist guerrillas today shot dead six persons of a rival naxalite outfit in Bihar's Rohtas district.

ICPA threatens to file defamation suit against MP

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 10:29:00 -0400

The Indian Commercial Pilots Association (ICPA) today threatened to file a defamation suit against Muslim League MP, Abdul Wahab, for calling a pilot a "glorified driver" after allegedly barging into the cockpit of an Air India aircraft two days back.

Pranab Mukherjee to break Riyadh jinx on April 19

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 10:12:00 -0400

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee looks set to break the Riyadh jinx when he goes to Saudi Arabia on April 19 for two days, a long-planned trip that was postponed more than once due to last-minute hitches.