ROME: Italians voted today in regional elections seen as a key measure of the fading fortunes of ex-Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and an important test for centre-left PM Matteo Renzi. 20 million voters are eligible to elect governors in seven of the country’s 20 regions, as well as the mayorsRead More

LONDON: The income of Queen Elizabeth II is set to be reviewed by Prime Minister David Cameron-led UK government after public funding of the royal household surged to 40 million pounds last year. Talks between Buckingham Palace and the Treasury are expected to begin soon to negotiate a new dealRead More

KABUL: Afghan President Ashraf Ghani demanded tough action from Pakistan against Taliban militants in a letter seeking greater anti-terrorism cooperation, after facing strong public criticism over a controversial intelligence-sharing deal between the neighbours. The spy agencies of both countries this month agreed to trade intelligence and bolster cooperation in theirRead More

GENEVA: US Secretary of State John Kerry was hospitalised in Geneva on Sunday after injuring a leg in a cycling accident across the border in France, the State Department said. The 71-year-old was flown by helicopter to the Geneva University Hospital following the accident in Scionzier, near Chamonix in theRead More

LONDON: Prince William will to return to work tomorrow as an air ambulance pilot after taking nearly six-weeks of paternity leave ahead of the birth of his second child. The Duke of Cambridge is due to start on Monday with the East Anglian Air Ambulance having taken unpaid leave inRead More

New Delhi: India Sunday reaffirmed adherence to three conditions including having an atmosphere “free of terror and violence” as a precursor to any engagement with Pakistan and demanded action against terrorists including Mumbai attack mastermind Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi. Asserting that there was no “flip-flop” or “confusion” in the government, whichRead More

RAIPUR: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on friday said that a strong strategy would be devised to deal with the Naxalism. “The Centre is serious over the issue. We will put in maximum efforts to ensure internal security. Strong strategy will be devised (on Naxalism),” he said, answering a questionRead More

New Delhi,  Terming the UPA’s proposed deal for 126 Rafale fighter jets as “economically unviable” and not required, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has said the NDA government will buy only 36 of the French aircraft, to be used for strategic purposes, and no more. Parrikar also raised questions on theRead More

NEW DELHI: President Pranab Mukherjee has approved the land ordinance, which was cleared by the Cabinet yesterday for the third time after the government failed to convert it into law during the recently concluded Budget Session of Parliament. The Union Cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had decided toRead More

New Delhi, May 31: Completing one year in office, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said the ‘manthan’ (debate) about the performance of his government is good for democracy as it would help him know what was “lacking”. During his monthly ‘Mann Ki Baat’ radio programme, he said the entire nationRead More