Police, SFI activists clash in Thiruvananthapuram

The main road of the Kerala capital was strewn with stones, broken tubelights, used non-lethal high-sounding grenades and petrol bombs Wednesday morning, as policemen tried to pacify angry activists of the Students Federation of India (SFI) protesting against the state government’s decision to grant autonomy to a few colleges in the state. Five student activists […]

100 percent FDI in existing pharma companies stays

India will continue with the policy of allowing 100 per cent foreign investment in existing pharmaceutical firms, the government said Wednesday. In a Press Note, the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry also said that the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) will decide on the contentious non-compete […]

Bengal government did not like my recommendations: Ganguly

Justice (retd.) A.K. Ganguly, who quit as West Bengal Human Rights Commission (WBHRC) chairman, said Wednesday the state government did not like his recommendations as the panel’s head in certain matters. Ganguly said in his resignation letter that he stepped down to “obviate any further controversy” and “to ensure the peace and happiness” of his […]

Sensex closes 36 points up; healthcare stocks rise

After five consecutive days of losses, a benchmark index of Indian equities markets ended Wednesday’s trade in the positive zone — up 36 points or 0.17 percent. Healthy buying was observed in healthcare, automobile and metal stocks while selling pressure bogged down capital goods, consumer durables and realty company’s scrips. The 30-scrip S&P Sensex of […]

Man who led attack on AAP office surrenders

Bhupendra Tomar alias Pinky Chaudhary, the national convenor of the Hindu Raksha Dal, accused of leading the mob attack on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) office in this Uttar Pradesh town, bordering the national capital, surrendered to police Wednesday, officials said. Tomar is believed to have led the protests and vandalisation at the AAP office […]

Rahul Gandhi to visit Amethi

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi will visit his parliamentary constituency Amethi Friday, a party leader said Wednesday. Amethi district Congress president Yogendra Mishra told  that Gandhi would be accorded “a grand welcome”. Gandhi, party sources said, would kickstart a slew of railway projects in Amethi. He is also scheduled to inaugurate 10 branches of the […]

Tobacco control in US saved 8 million lives: Study

All is not yet lost for India where huge tobacco use kills nearly 1.5 million people a year. Tobacco control measures that began in the US 50 years ago have resulted in saving an estimated eight million premature smoking-attributable deaths, said a new study. Researchers estimate that tobacco control also resulted in the beneficiaries of […]

UP MLAs’ Europe junket in harsh winter surprises Omar

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah Wednesday expressed surprise at the Uttar Pradesh legislators’ decision to go on a study visit to European countries during the harsh winter season. Omar Abdullah wrote on his Twitter handle Wednesday: “Clearly no one told the UP (Uttar Pradesh) legislators that you don’t head to countries like UK, […]

Indian men smoking like never before

While the US is upbeat at reducing number of tobacco users, there has been an alarming growth in the number of daily smokers globally, including in India. More people are smoking in India now, 110 million, compared to just 74.5 million smokers over three decades back, claimed a study published in the Journal of American […]