Earthquake toll rises to 50; Fresh landslide near Sikkim

Gangtok:  Over 50 people have died in India, most of them in Sikkim, in the devastating earthquake which measured a forceful 6.8 on the Richter scale. The quake hit parts of North India at around 6 pm on Sunday and was centred on the Sikkim-Nepal border, 64 kilometres north-west of Gangtok. Casualties have also been reported from neighbouring Bihar and West Bengal.

A Nano car worth Rs 22 crore

Mumbai:  The Tata Group Monday unveiled a Nano car - made with gold and silver, and studded with precious stones - worth an astronomical over Rs.22 crore.

But, it's not for sale - the valuable and fully functional car is a unique branding and promotional initiative by Goldplus Jewellery, part of Titan Industries, a Tata Group company, an official said.

'Stockholm syndrome in Gujarat': Salman Khurshid

Ahmedabad:  Photo-ops with the many Muslims who attended his three-day sadhbhavna mission were an important part of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's attempt at an image makeover in preparation for a larger national role.

2G spectrum scam case falling apart?

New Delhi:  In another setback to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the 2G spectrum scam case, the trial court has asked it to produce a letter written by the Law Ministry to the telecom department that contradicts what the agency has been saying about Swan Telecom.

Tamil Nadu nuclear plant protest: PM's emissary to meet villagers

Chennai:  As protests over the construction of Koodankulam nuclear power plant in Tamil Nadu escalate, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has sent an emissary to the state to mediate. Union minister V Narayanaswamy will hold talks with Koodankulam villagers today. Around 100 of them have been fasting for nine days against the power plant. 

Earthquake toll rises to 70; rescue teams land at quake's epicentre

Gangtok:  Over 50 people have died in India, most of them in Sikkim, in the devastating earthquake which measured a forceful 6.8 on the Richter scale. The quake hit parts of North India at around 6 pm on Sunday and was centred on the Sikkim-Nepal border, 64 kilometres north-west of Gangtok. Casualties have also been reported from neighbouring Bihar and West Bengal.

Karnataka's Lokayukta Shivraj Patil resigns

Bangalore:  Barely a month after he was appointed the ombudsman of Karnataka, Justice Shivraj Patil has resigned. His letter of resignation is being studied by the Governor of the state, HR Bhardwaj.

Narendra Modi's fast ends: Highlights of his closing speech

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Ahmedabad:  Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi's closing remarks  at his camp in Ahmedabad where he ended his three-daysadbhavana fast this evening:

Modi has passed 'agni pareeksha' or trial by fire: Sushma

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Ahmedabad:  Sushma Swaraj spent the afternoon with Narendra Modi at his camp in Ahmedabad where he ended his three-day fast for "harmony" today.  Like other BJP leaders, Ms Swaraj was lavish with her praise of Mr Modi. 

Controversy over Modi's alleged refusal to wear skull cap

Ahmedabad:  Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi refused to put on a 'skull cap' offered by a Muslim cleric during his three-day 'Sadbhavana' fast here.

Sayed Imam Shahi Saiyed, a cleric of a small Dargah in Pirana village on the outskirts of the city, had on Sunday, gone up to the stage to greet the Chief Minister, at Gujarat University Convention hall.

Raj to Uddhav: Photograph potholes, not animals

Mumbai:  Taking potshots at estranged cousin and Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray's penchant for photography, Maharashtra NavNirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray today said the former should concentrate on shooting the potholes that dot the city.

Cash-for-votes case: Hindustani collapses, Jethmalani u-turns, all in court

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New Delhi:  It was a day of ferocious drama in the court that's handling the cash-for-votes scam. First, Suhail Hindustani collapsed in court, and was moved to hospital in a wheelchair. Then lawyer Ram Jethmalani, who is representing politician Amar Singh, changed his version of events substantially, alleging that the money used to bribe BJP MPs in 2008 was organised by Congress leaders.

Nitish Kumar's wry remarks on Modi's fast

Patna:  After maintaining a diplomatic silence on Narendra Modi's three-day fast in Gujarat, Nitish Kumar finally addressed the issue today. "It is not proper for me to comment on each and every fast by BJP leaders", the Bihar Chief Minister said in Patna today.

Strike against petrol price hike hits life in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram:  The dawn-to-dusk strike called by the CPI(M)-led LDF and BJP separately in Kerala against the petrol price hike hit normal life across the state today.

The shutdown call crippled mobility of people as buses, taxis and auto rickshaws were off roads throughout the state.

Sikkim the morning after offers a grim picture

Gangtok:  26 people have died in India as a result of the earthquake that shook Sikkim last evening. Another 12 people have been killed in Nepal and Tibet. The earthquake that measured 6.8 on the Richer scale was centred on the Sikkim-Nepal border. One of the reasons why it resulted in so much damage is because it occurred at just 10 kilometres below the earth's surface.

Telangana strike paralyses transport services

Hyderabad:  Road transport services in Andhra Pradesh's Telangana region came to a grinding halt on Monday as employees of the state-owned Road Transport Corporation (RTC) joined the indefinite general strike for a separate Telangana state.

MNS would support Narendra Modi as PM: Raj Thackeray

Ahmedabad:  Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray here today said that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi could become a good Prime Minister, and his party would be happy to support him.

Big earthquake in Sikkim, tremors across India; 54 dead, over 100 injured

New Delhi:  At least 54 people have been killed, 42 in India, five in Nepal and seven in Tibet, and over 100 are injured after an earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter Scale shook Sikkim on Sunday evening. Strong tremors were also felt in parts of North and East India and parts of Bangladesh and Nepal, causing widespread panic. The epicentre of the quake is said to be just 64 kilometre North-West of Gangtok.

Corruption case: Lokayukta court to hear Yeddyurappa's bail plea

Bangalore:  The Lokayukta special court will take up the bail plea hearing of former Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa in the land denotification case.

Rescue teams, doctors yet to reach earthquake-affected areas

New Delhi:  Around 400 personnel of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and a team of 20 doctors, sent to Sikkim for rescue and relief operations, have not been able to reach the quake-hit areas yet due to blockade of roads following landslides, officials said today.