Daily National News Updates

Eurozone crisis an opportunity for Indian IT: Expert

Infosys TechnologiesInfosys Technologies

Paris, Feb 13, 2012 India's Information Technology sector is well placed to take advantage of the current Eurozone crisis as an increasing number of companies will look at "offshoring" as a way to cut their costs, says an expert with a leading consultancy.

High prices behind weak demand for diamonds this V-Day

Tata GroupTata Group

Kolkata, Feb 13 Diamonds may be woman's best friend, but due to high prices this year their Valentines may not buy them the rock as gift despite shoppers' preferred shift away from gold jewellery.

Love finds the right track - on Delhi Metro

Delhi UniversityDelhi University

New Delhi, Feb 13 Cupid can strike in the unlikeliest places, even in the congested confines of a Delhi Metro station or train. Ask the many youngsters who traverse the length and breadth of the national capital and its suburbs in the trains and find that romancing in the crowd may be just the way to go.

Entertainment and morals dont mix: Kalki Koechlin (Interview)

Anurag KashyapAnurag Kashyap

New Delhi, Feb 12 Known for her unconventional choice of scripts, Kalki Koechlin says it's time Bollywood filmmakers sat back and got the idea of commercial cinema right. The actress, who also supports bold portrayal of women on the big screen, says filmmakers should avoid mixing entertainment with a moral story.

Communists in Kerala squabble like never before (Kerala Newsletter)

Communist Party of India

Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 12 Forget Left unity, the two Communist parties in Kerala have been at each other's throats for a while now. It has reached a crescendo with the smaller of the two, the Communist Party of India (CPI) warning "big brother" Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) to immediately stop abusing it.

India, Pakistan to dismantle trade barriers (Round-up)

Lahore, Feb 13 Commerce Minister Anand Sharma, accompanied by business leaders of more than 100 Indian companies, Monday walked into Pakistan through the Wagah border, vowing to bring down barriers hampering trade and facilitate economic engagement between the two neighbours that would see bilateral commerce doubling to $6 billion in the next three years.

India, Pakistan to open new gate for trade by April-end

Attari-wagah Border, Feb 13 A dedicated gate at the Attari-Wagah border to facilitate movement of goods between India and Pakistan will open by the end of April this year, Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma announced Monday.

Islamist politics rages in sun-kissed Maldives, India worried (Lead)

New Delhi, Feb 13 The dramatic transfer of power in the Maldives has ripped the mask off a placid tourist paradise with sun-drenched beaches and global jetsetters. Behind the veil is brewing a heady mix of Islamisation and politics that also has India worried.

HAL prepares to manufacture Rafale combat jet in India

New Delhi, Feb 13 State-run Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) is getting ready to progressively manufacture the Dassault Rafale combat jet that has apparently been chosen by the Indian Air Force (IAF) for its $10.4 billion order for 126 planes.

Behind 'coup': Islamist politics rages in sun-kissed Maldives

New Delhi, Feb 13 While the debate rages on whether the resignation of former Maldives president Mohamed Nasheed was voluntary or a coup, there is a larger churning going on in the island nation beyond its stunning, sun-drenched beaches and super luxury resorts patronised by global jetsetters - a worrying mix of Islamisation and politics that has also India worried.

India's dragflickers grateful to Jugraj for improving penalty corner conversion rate

New Delhi, Feb 12 Drag-flicker Jugraj Singh, now 28, would have been at the peak of his international hockey career had it not been for a life-threatening accident that put him out of competitive hockey in 2003. He is still a part of the national team but as a key figure in the support staff, fine-tuning the skills of the present lot of drag-flickers.

Mauritius will find solution on tax evasion: Mauritius minister (Interview)

New Delhi, Feb 12 Mauritius will find a mutually satisfactory solution with India to the misuse of a bilateral treaty by investors to evade taxes, a senior minister of the island nation has said.

India needs to streamline visa, infrastructure to tap tourism potential: Experts

New Delhi, Feb 12 As tourism becomes a key driver of the Indian economy with its growing foreign exchange earnings and income generating potential, the government has to streamline infrastructure and visa procedures to tap the segment's full potential, experts across the industry say.

MFN status unlikely during Sharma's Pakistan visit

Attari-wagah Border, Feb 13 Pakistan Monday said it is committed to granting the most-favoured nation (MFN) status to India, but refused to set a time-frame as some issues are yet to be resolved by the two neighbours.

Hello! Delhi Police women's helpline gets lewd, abusive calls

New Delhi, Feb 13 "Are you single or married?", "What's your phone number, sweetie", "Main tumse shadi karna chahta hoon"... are some of the pesky calls that female cops handling Delhi Police's women's helpline have to contend with daily.

Rape-murder accused's acquittal reversed; gets life term

New Delhi, Feb 13 Three years after a rape-murder accused walked free, he is set to be put behind bars again. The Delhi High Court has sentenced the man to life term and slammed the trial court for committing an error by acquitting him in 2009.

Adding self-reliance to conservation, with jams and jellies

Guwahati, Feb 13 Mrinali Moshahary had never imagined that her bottles of papaya jelly would be an instant hit among those visiting the North East Agri-Fair 2012 in the Khanapara area of Guwahati.

Indian bookscape: New sensibilities emerging in literary translation

New Delhi, Feb 12 In Kerala, Gabriel Garcia Marquez is among the most popular novelists - thanks to his translated works in Malayalam. Translations of popular fictions, non-fictions and classics are very much in demand in India and adorn bookshelves in many urban homes like status tags.

Business as usual for Indian companies in Maldives

New Delhi, Feb 12 It is business as usual for Indian companies and the economic interests of India are safe in the Maldives, wracked by political tumult and violence after the deposition of former president Mohamed Nasheed, diplomats and others said.

Nasheed disappointed with India, says Maldives ex-foreign minister (Interview) (Lead)

New Delhi/Male, Feb 12 As India steps up efforts to broker a political deal in the Maldives, Ahmed Shaheed, a former foreign minister of the Indian Ocean nation, says ousted president Mohamed Nasheed is "very disappointed" with New Delhi's stand and has rejected any attempt at a national government of unity.