Hundreds of passengers in several airports across the country bound for foreign trips faced woes as Air India cancelled its international flights after a section of pilots went on a flash strike since Monday. More than 150 pilots have not reported for duty since Monday, throwing the entire international flight schedule haywire. Outbound passengers in Delhi, Kerala, Mumbai and Amritsar are facing difficulties as their flights have been abruptly cancelled …

India is to return to the elite group of countries with a nuclear-powered submarine on Wednesday when it inducts a new vessel leased from Russia. Indian Defence Minister A.K. Antony is to formally commission the INS Chakra II at its base in Visakhapatnam, a navy shipyard on the country's south east coast in the state of Andhra Pradesh. The 8,140-tonne submarine, capable of firing a range of torpedoes as well as nuclear-tipped Granat cruise …

The Defence Ministry was today dismissive about a media report that the Army moved two units towards Delhi in January without informing the government, saying such exercises are conducted from time to time. “The points raised in the report have already been clarified by the Army...such exercises are conducted by the Army from time to time,” Defence Ministry spokesperson Sitanshu Kar said in a statement. He also dubbed the report as “baseless and …

The government today stepped up efforts to iron out differences on contentious aspects of the Lokpal Bill, with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh meeting leaders of various parties during which it was decided that the legislation could be taken up during the second half of the Budget Session. At the all-party meet of Rajya Sabha members convened by the Prime Minister at his residence here, it was agreed that the government will work for a consensus …

The Obama administration is threatening to impose sanctions on India over its continued economic ties with Iran amid disagreements between Washington and New Delhi over how much and how soon the latter is reducing oil imports from the (in US eyes) pariah nation. India has "failed" to reduce its purchase of Iranian oil and if it doesn't do so, President Barack Obama may be "forced" to impose sanction, unnamed administration officials were cited …

The opposition including the Left today lashed out at Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee for his Budget proposals seeking to hike Service Tax and Central Excise, saying it would add unbearable burden on the aam aadmi (common man). "This is a coma budget from a coma govt", said BJP deputy leader Ananth Kumar. Kumar said, Rs 40,000 crore burden has been dumped on the common man by hiking service tax and central excise. "Even in the rail budget and …

Director, Animal Husbandry Sindh Dr. Abdullah Mewati has informed the livestock owners & farmers about the possibilities of spreading of the contagious diseases in large animals (cattle & buffaloes) as well as small animal (sheep & goat) from April 2012 to June 2012 advising them to get their animals vaccinated against the contagious diseases from the nearby veterinary hospitals & dispensaries. According to a press release issued here cattle …

As the government prepares to face the opposition in Parliament, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today exuded confidence that the UPA has “all the numbers” that are needed to tackle issues. “I think pressure is part of parliamentary life. We are willing to discuss and debate all issues on the floor of Parliament,” he said ahead of the start of the Budget Session. “I am confident that we have all the numbers that are needed,” the Prime Minister …

Sindh Minister for Labour Ameer Nawab visited the hospitals in Hyderabad and Jamshoro districts run by Sindh Employees Social Security Institution (SESSI) on Wednesday and expressed dismay over the lack of cleanliness and other facilities. The minister asked the concerned heads of the hospitals to maintain cleanliness and provide a healthy environment to the patients. "We will not tolerate any negligence in the health service offered to the poor …

In a bid to tighten the noose around habitual traffic offenders, the government today approved five-fold increase in fines under the Motor Vehicle Act, and substantial hike in compensation to accident victims. Under one of the proposed amendments, the government has cleared four-fold increase in compensation to Rs 1 Lakh in fatal accidents, and Rs 50,000 for grievous hurts in hit and run cases. These changes will be incorporated in the Motor Vehicle …