BEIJING: In a major departure from protocol by the Chinese leadership, Prime Minister Narendra Modi became the first world leader to be hosted outside Beijing, at President Xi Jinping’s hometown of Xi’an. President Xi warmly welcomed the PM at the Shaanxi Guest House as the two leaders shook hands forRead More

BEIJING: India and China are likely to sign over 20 business agreements during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s three-day visit, the Indian envoy said on Wednesday, emphasising that both sides are trying to look for synergies in their respective agendas. “India and China agreed on a close developmental partnership during ChineseRead More

New Delhi, Parliament today cleared the Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets Bill providing for heavy penalties for stashing black money away in foreign accounts. The Black Money Bill to deal with black money stashed abroad was passed by the Rajya Sabha with the government warning those having such assets toRead More

Jodhpur, A court here today rejected the revision petition of actor Salman Khan seeking permission to summon five witnesses in the Arms Act case against him in connection with the black bucks poaching case. Khan’s counsel H M Saraswat said they were awaiting the detailed order to find out theRead More

New Delhi, Achal Kumar Jyoti, a former Chief Secretary of Gujarat, today took over as the new Election Commissioner, filling one of the two vacancies in the three-member body. “Jyoti took over his charge today at the Election Commission of India here,” a senior official said. Jyoti is a 1975-batch IndianRead More

CHENNAI: DMK chief M Karunanidhi today said the Supreme Court verdict on banning photos of Chief Ministers in government advertisements amounts “to snatching away the rights of states” as the constitution gives “equal status” to Prime Ministers and Chief Ministers. “The Supreme Court judgement that government advertisements should carry photosRead More

NEW DELHI: The Defence Ministry has agreed to buy 56 planes from Airbus for $1.87 billion, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi moves to modernise the country’s military, an official said Thursday. The ministry’s Defence Acquisition Council, which approves big ticket orders, agreed Airbus and India’s Tata Advanced Systems would jointlyRead More

NEW DELHI: In a major embarrassment for Arvind Kejriwal, the Supreme Court has today suspended an order issued by his government that called for criminal defamation cases against the media. The top court pointed out that Mr Kejriwal has personally challenged criminal defamation cases against him on the grounds thatRead More

NEW DELHI: Jayalalithaa’s widely expected return as chief minister has reportedly been delayed over a possible appeal by Karnataka against her acquittal in a corruption case on Monday. Sources in her AIADMK party say the 67-year-old is waiting for a move by the Karnataka government, which had said yesterday thatRead More

NEW DELHI: Ranjit Sinha, the former chief of the CBI, held “inappropriate meetings” at his home with those being investigated by his agency, abused the powers of his office and must be investigated himself, the Supreme Court said today. Mr Sinha retired in December. His last few weeks in officeRead More