UPA stands united in front of Left's FDI onslaught

          New Delhi: The UPA today decided to stand united in working out its post-budget strategy in Parliament, despite the Left's announcement that it would oppose the Manmohan Singh government's decision to allow higher FDIs in the insurance, telecom and aviation sectors. After a meeting that took place under the aegis of UPA chief Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Singh, it was decided that the status quo would be maintained on the Foreign Direct Investment issue. Finance Minister P. Chidambaram also explained the government's thrust on agriculture and rural development to accelerate economic growth during the meeting today. The UPA members also raised the issue of two per cent education cess, the transaction tax and short-term capital gain tax. Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, Coal and Mines Minister Shibu Soren, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, HRD Minister Arjun Singh, Petroleum Minister Mani Shanker Aiyar and Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Meira Kumar were among those present at the 90-minute meeting.

SC cracks down on Pappu Yadav (Go To Top)

          New Delhi: The Supreme Court today decided to conduct a thorough probe into former Bihar MP Pappu Yadav's 'sneak' visit to Madhepura constituency on May 3 while he was in judicial custody. The court asked the CBI to give within a week a report pertaining to Yadav's hospitalisation at Patna Medical College Hospital. The apex court also demanded report on Yadav's visits outside the hospital between March 16, when he was arrested, and May 31.

Four persons die in West Tripura (Go To Top)

          Agartala: At least four persons died in two incidents involving militant attacks in West Tripura. In the first incident one Tripura State Rifles (TSR) jawan died in an encounter with the militants at Champhwar. The jawan belonged to the sixth battalion of TSR. In another similar incident at Barkathal, falling under Sidhai, unidentified militants fired at a vehicle and then set afire. Three persons died instantly in the attack. The total number of injuries in both the incidents could not, however, be ascertained. Further details are awaited.

Two million stranded by north-east floods (Go To Top)

          Hajo (Assam): Floods in India's northeast have left over two million people stranded. Official sources said that the swirling waters of the River Brahmaputra have swept away thousands of bamboo and straw homes, ripped up power lines and breached over two dozen small dams, besides claiming the lives of more than 70 people the in India and Nepal. "It has been three days since our houses have been filled with water. Our houses have also submerged in water," said Hamida Begum, a resident of Hirajani, one of the worst hit areas in Assam. At least six Air Force helicopters have been deployed to rescue the marooned people, most of them women and children trapped on rooftops. In Arunachal Pradesh, landslides and heavy rains have blocked roads and washed away bridges. The local weather office says heavy rains are expected to continue for some more days.