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Expect LPG hike regularly, says Aiyar

      New Delhi: In a move that is likely to throw domestic budgets haywire and anger housewives across the country, Union Petroleum Minister Mani Shanker Aiyar said on Tuesday that LPG prices would go up by Rs five per cylinder every month, and there would be no roll-back on the decision. "On November 4, the government decided that petrol will be charged at import parity prices and diesel, LPG and kerosene prices will be administered by government. As of now, the decision to increase LPG prices every month stands," Aiyar told reporters here. Aiyar also said that while oil marketing companies had the right to fix petrol prices, the government would continue to decide on the prices of diesel, LPG and kerosene as it had done before the administered price mechanism was dismantled on April 1, 2002. He said the prices of petrol was reduced yesterday due to fall in international crude prices and diesel prices were not revised as its international value in still high.

Manmohan for greater autonomy for cooperatives (Go To Top)

       New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said that the cooperatives are suffering from lack of greater autonomy and therefore the UPA government was considering constitutional amendments to ensure their democratic, autonomous and professional functioning. "Our government is committed to the success of cooperatives. We are seriously engaged in considering possible constitutional amendments to ensure democratic, autonomous and professional functioning of cooperatives", Singh said while addressing a press conference here. He also said that the task force set up to improve efficiency and viability of the cooperative banking sector was expected to present its report shortly.

SC verdict on doctors with degrees from CIS countries (Go To Top)

      New Delhi: The Supreme Court today upheld the decision of the Medical Council of India and government to subject all students having medical degrees from CIS countries to clear a screening test before being allowed to practice in India. In another important decision it dismissed a petition filed by a visually challenged person seeking reservation of some seats in the Parliament, state assemblies and local bodies for the blind. Dismissing the petition, it said that there is no fundamental right in the Indian Constitution to reserve seats for blind persons in such elected bodies.

Sonia in Rae Bareli (Go To Top)

      New Delhi: Congress president Sonia Gandhi is in Rae Bareli today on a two-day visit to her parliamentary constituency. Gandhi is likely to cover areas of her constituency that she failed to reach out to during her last visit in September. The Congress chief is likely to get a feedback on ongoing development works in the constituency.

Nepal forces clash with rebels (Go To Top)

      Kathmandu: Nepalese security forces and Maoist rebels have clashed in two districts west of the capital, authorities say. Casualty figures are unclear, but some reports say at least 10 people died in the fighting. Violence has escalated in Nepal after a temporary truce between the government and the rebels ended last month. The authorities said security forces clashed with the rebels in Dhading, 90km (50 miles) west of the capital, Kathmandu, as well as in the far western district of Kailali. The authorities said the clash in Dhading occurred when security forces were trying to force open a highway linking the capital with the rest of the country. They rejected reports that a number of soldiers had died in an ambush in the area, but said the rebels had suffered significant casualties. There has been no word from the rebels on the latest violence. About 9,500 people have died since the Maoist insurrection began in 1996.

Gold hits all-time high at Rs 6495 per ten grams (Go To Top)

      Mumbai: The yellow metal's prices touched an all time high today at Rs 6495 per ten grams. According to the traders, the standard gold (99.5 purity) resumed at a new high of Rs 6495 against Rs 6480 quoted during the special Diwali Muhurat trading on Friday. Pure gold (99.9 purity) which had closed higher at Rs 6515 on Friday rose further today to an all-time high of 6530. The previous highest level for standard gold and pure gold were Rs 6490 and Rs 6525 respectively.

Business, political organisations join Patna bandh (Go To Top)

       Patna: A day-long Patna bandh called by CPI-ML (Liberation) to protest the murder of eminent surgeon N.K. Agarwal, affected health services as well as normal life in the state today. Several business and political organisations including Samata Party, Shiv Sena and Bihar Vyavasayi Sangharsh Morcha, have extended their support to the bandh protesting the killing of Agarwal and his compounder here on Diwali. The president of the joint action front of the business and trade organisations, Jagdish Prasad Mohanka said 33 business establishments would take out processions here demanding immediate arrest of Agarwal's killers. The Bihar branch of Indian Dental Association too has joined the strike, while the Bihar Medical Officers Association threatened that its members would go on mass casual leave if the surgeon's killers were not nabbed within the next two days. The bandh, however, was peaceful so far and no untoward incident was reported, official sources said. Most of the shops and offices didn't open, while colleges and schools remained closed on account of the 'Chhath' festival.

India expects Indo-US ties status quo, despite Rice's appointment (Go To Top)

      New Delhi: Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh's UPA government is not anticipating in major shift in Indo-US policy or interaction vis-a-vis the appointment of Condoleeza Rice as the 66th U.S.Secretary of State. Informed sources in the PMO reacted diplomatically to the announcement, describing it as an internal matter of the United States. They, however, said that they expected the status quo in bilateral ties to be maintained and carried forward to the mutual benefit of both countries. President George W Bush chose Rice, presently his National Security Adviser as his next Secretary of State, shortly after formally accepting Colin Powell's resignation from the post. Powell had submitted his resignation on Friday and the news of it was confirmed by the White House only on Monday. Rice, 50, will become the first female black secretary of state if she accepts the offer. Rice was nominated for the job after Powell quit the post, saying it was always his intention to serve only one term.

      The White House also announced the resignation of Education Secretary Rod Paige, Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman and Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham on Monday. Rice, who celebrated her fiftieth birthday during the weekend, is a brilliant academic who is perhaps closer to Bush than anyone else in the Cabinet. Deputy national security adviser Stephen Hadley is expected to replace Rice. Hadley served as the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Policy, and was responsible for defense policy toward NATO and Western Europe, on nuclear weapons and ballistic missile defense, and arms control. Both Rice and Hadley held foreign policy posts under Bush's father, former president George Bush.Rice, who is an expert in arms control and the Soviet Union, shares many of President's Bush's ideas. Media reports here said that Rice has accepted the offer and a formal announcement is expected later in the day.