AP High Court strikes down law on quota for Muslims
A Constitution bench of the Andhra Pradesh High Court has struck down a state law providing 4 percent reservation in educational institutions and jobs to 15 groups belonging to the Muslim community.

Rathore stabbed by NID student outside court, condition stable
Former Haryana DGP SPS Rathore, convicted in the Ruchika molestation case, was attacked when a student of the prestigious NID posing as a journalist and said to have a pyschological disorder stabbed him thrice in the face with a pocket knife outside a local court.

Govt estimates GDP to grow at 7.2 pc in FY'10
The government estimated the economy to grow by 7.2 per cent in financial year 2009-10, against 6.7 per cent a year ago, despite contraction in farm production.

Steyn claims 7/51 wickets to strangle India
Dale Steyn produced a sensational exhibition of seam bowling to rip apart India's fragile middle order and leave the hosts staring at an embarrassing defeat in the first cricket Test against South Africa in Nagpur on Monday.

17 armymen killed in Kashmir avalanche
In the worst-ever snowslide in recent years in Kashmir, 17 soldiers were killed and an equal number injured when an avalanche slammed into them during their winter warfare training on steep slopes of a ski resort, 70-km from Srinagar, on Monday.

Need for precise information on climate change: Shyam Saran
Against the backdrop of an IPCC report making a wrong conclusion about Himalayan glaciers melting, Prime Minister's Special Envoy on Climate ChangeShyam Saran today harped on more research to generate precise information on the matter.

US has never propped up India: Gates
United States has dismissed Pakistani perceptions that it was propping India, saying that New Delhi "did not need us for that purpose" and has advocated that the two neighbours resolve their differences bilaterally.

Aus tightens immigration rules; 20,000 applicants affected
Australia on Monday tightened its immigration rules rejecting over 20,000 migrant applicants from foreign students, including Indians, seeking permanent residency through hairdressing, cookery and other courses.

Fiscal deficit to come down to 6.5 pc
The Centre will get statistical advantage as fiscal deficit will automatically come down to 6.5 percent of the gross domestic product during this fiscalfrom the earlier estimate of 6.8 per cent, after govt came out with a fresh estimate based on a new base year.

Railways register over 8 pc increase in earnings
With barely weeks to go before the presentation of the Railway Budget, the Ministry has said it has registered over 8 pc increase in earnings at Rs 70,501 crore during the ongoing financial year ending 31st Jan.

Sharma for ending stimulus to export sectors growing robustly
The Finance Min could consider withdrawal of stimulus to some exporting sectors which have shown robust growth, but an across-the-board "abrupt" pullout is not desirable, Commerce and Industry Min Anand Sharma said.

Montek pitches for withdrawal of stimulus in up coming budget
Expressing satisfaction at the 7.2 pc growth estimates for this fiscal, the Planning Comm pitched for phased withdrawal of stimulus in the forthcoming budget to be unveiled by FM Pranab Mukherjee on 26th Feb.

Kamal Nath revises 20km/day highway target to June
Road Transport Minister Kamal Nath on Monday revised the ambitious target of achieving 20km of highway construction per day to June, from the earlier set deadline of March.

Handique seeks continuation of 50pc duty waiver for refineries
Union Dev of North Eastern Region (DONER) Minister B K Handique has sought continuation of 50 pc excise-duty waiver for four state-run oil refineries in Assam for their long-term "sustenance" and "viability".

Oil rises but stays below USD 72
Oil rose in Asian trade Monday as investors returned to the market after a massive selloff triggered by weak US jobs data and debt woes in the eurozone, analysts said.

Price rise will be in control soon : Pranab Mukherjee
As food inflation spiralled to over 17 per cent, the government said that the price situation is being reviewed regularly and surge in prices of essential items would be controlled soon.

Mkts manages to end in positive zone
In a highly choppy trade, the BSE benchmark index Sensex failed to regain the psychological 16,000-mark on Monday, despite ending in the positive terrain for the second day with a gain of 20 points, as funds continued to their selling spree in heavy-weight counters.

Govt estimates GDP to grow at 7.2 pc in FY'10
The government estimated the economy to grow by 7.2 per cent in financial year 2009-10, against 6.7 per cent a year ago, despite contraction in farm production.

Five killed in Connecticut blast; dozens injured
A powerful explosion blew out the outer walls of an unfinished natural-gas plant in Middletown, Connecticut, killing five persons and wounding dozen others.

Yanukovych declares victory in Ukrainian vote
Russia-friendly candidate Viktor Yanukovych held a narrow lead on Monday in a presidential election that seemed likely to spawn a court challenge from his opponent.

Iran's decision to enrich uranium provocative: West
Western country's including Germany and the US have described Iran's decision to start enriching uranium at a higher level as provocative, even as they asked for tightening UN sanctions on the country.

S Korea eyes return of royal documents looted by Japan
South Korea is working to secure the return of hundreds of volumes of royal documents, including official records of the royal family, that were looted during Japan's colonial rule of Korea in 1910-1945, according to a media report on Monday, citing a South Korean official.

Costa Rica's Chinchilla declares election victory
Laura Chinchilla, a protege of Nobel peace laureate President Oscar Arias, declared victory in Costa Rica's election on Sunday, making her the country's first woman to be elected president.

Iran to begin 20 percent uranium enrichment Tuesday: Salehi
Iran will tell the UN nuclear watchdog tomorrow of its plans to enrich uranium to 20 percent, atomic chief Ali Akbar Salehi said on Monday, adding that the process will begin on Tuesday.

Aus tightens immigration rules; 20,000 applicants affected
Australia on Monday tightened its immigration rules rejecting over 20,000 migrant applicants from foreign students, including Indians, seeking permanent residency through hairdressing, cookery and other courses.

Obama invites Republicans to healthcare session
President Barack Obama said he will hold a meeting with Democratic and Republican lawmakers to discuss ways to move forward on legislation to overhaul the US healthcare system.

Afghan floods, avalanches kill 20
At least 20 people have died in floods and avalanches triggered by some of the heaviest rain and snow in Afghanistan for 50 years, an official said on Monday.

Steyn claims 7/51 wickets to strangle India
Dale Steyn produced a sensational exhibition of seam bowling to rip apart India's fragile middle order and leave the hosts staring at an embarrassing defeat in the first cricket Test against South Africa in Nagpur on Monday.

India wins 21 golds at SAG; medal tally at 170
India has won 21 golds at the South Asian games in addition to 13 silvers and 7 bronze in the events held in Dhaka on Monday.

Bangladesh beat SL, takes gold in SA Games
Hosts Bangladesh snatched a narrow six-run victory over Sri Lanka to clinch the Twenty20 Under-21 cricket title for the gold medal in 11th South Asian Games in Dhaka on Sunday.

Thackeray to announce stand on Aussies in IPL in 2-3 days
A day after Union Minister Sharad Pawar met Bal Thackeray requesting him to withdraw Shiv Sena threat against Australian cricketers' participation in IPL, the party on Monday said it would take a final call on the issue in two-three days.

SAG: India go down to Pak, settle for silver in hockey
Senior duo of Dharamvir Singh and Varinderjeet Singh misfired in tie-breaker as India had to content with a silver after going down to arch-rivals Pakistan 4-5 in a keenly contested hockey summit clash in 11th South Asian Games on Sunday.

Bopanna-Qureshi wins maiden ATP doubles title
Rohan Bopanna and Aisam Qureshi clinched their first ATP World Tour doubles title after a hard-fought 2-6, 6-3, 10-5 victory over Karol Beck and Harold Levy in the final of USD 442,500 South African Open on Sunday.

Bindra wins silver, Shirur gold at InterShoot
Olympic champion Abhinav Bindra missed his third gold by a whisker but Suma Shirur bagged her second yellow metal in the final of triple match competition in men's and women's 10m air rifle at the 33rd InterShoot tournament in the Hague, The Netherlands.

India's Bhullar wins Asian Tour opener
Gaganjeet Bhullar of India produced a brilliant course record eight-under-par 64 to win the season-opening Asian Tour International in Bangkok by one shot on Sunday.

Dikshit asks MCD to remove illegal mobile towers from Delhi
Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Monday said her government has asked the MCD to remove the illegal mobile towers across the city but told it to take all care to see that people do not face inconvenience.

Gadkari to be formally elected as BJP chief on Tuesday
BJP President Nitin Gadkari is all set to be elected as the party president for a three-year term in the organisational polls on Tuesday.

13 armymen killed, 15 injured in avalanche-hit in Kashmir
In one of the most tragic incidents, 13 army personnel, including an officer, were killed and 15 seriously injured when a group of about 350 men were swept away by a snow avalanche while setting up a winter warfare camp at Khilanmarg, 70 kms from Srinagar.

Buddhadeb announces reservation for Muslims
On a day when the Andhra Pradesh High Court struck down job reservation for Muslims, the West Bengal govt has announced 10 pc quota in employment for the community under the OBC category.

Court orders in-camera proceedings in Ruchika case
A local court on Monday ordered in-camera proceedings on the petition of disgraced former Haryana DGP SPS Rathore challenging his six months' imprisonment in the Ruchika Girhotra molestation case.

AP High Court strikes down law on quota for Muslims
A Constitution bench of the Andhra Pradesh High Court has struck down a state law providing 4 percent reservation in educational institutions and jobs to 15 groups belonging to the Muslim community.

More number of business incubators to be set up: Chavan
Aiming to augment research and entrepreneurship, the government is contemplating to set up more number of business incubators across the country.

Special Prosecutor appointed for 1984 riot cases: CBI to HC
The Central Bureau of Investigation on Monday told Delhi High Court that a special Public Prosecutor would be appointed to handle 1984 anti-Sikh riot cases.

Maoists blow up tracks in Orissa and Bihar
Maoists on Monday blew up railway tracks in Orissa and Bihar on the second of their 72-hour bandh in five states to protest the Centre's proposed all-out offensive against them.

Thackeray to announce stand on Aussies in IPL in 2-3 days
A day after Union Minister Sharad Pawar met Bal Thackeray requesting him to withdraw Shiv Sena threat against Australian cricketers' participation in IPL, the party Monday said it would take a final call on the issue in two-three days.

HM to chair meet of CMs of Naxal-hit states in Kolkata today
In a bid to help states to coordinate their campaign against Naxals, the Centre has convened a crucial meeting of four Maoist-affected states -- West Bengal, Orissa, Bihar and Jharkhand -- in Kolkata on Tuesday.

LS Speaker for consensus on Women's Reservation Bill
Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar has said all political parties and government should arrive at a consensus and take a decision on the long-pending Women's Reservation Bill.