Reincarnation is my personal right: Dalai Lama

Dharamsala:  Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on Friday said the issue of reincarnation is his personal right.

"My reincarnation is to be decided by myself, nobody has the right to decide about that," the Nobel Peace laureate said, referring to China's interference with issues of his reincarnation.

After 'sadbhavna' fast, Modi plans massive rally

Ahmedabad:  First a 'sadbhavna' fast, and now plans of a massive rally. Narendra Modi is flexing some serious political muscle. 

The Gujarat Chief Minister will hold a mega rally - his partymen promise it will be "the mother of all rallies" - on Sunday, September 25. The slogan of the rally: "Anyaya Hatao, Gujarat Bachao" (Get rid of injustice, save Gujarat). 

IIM-Calcutta to tap corporates for funds

Chennai:  The Indian Institute of Management-Calcutta (IIM-C) is planning to tap Indian corporates for funds to complete some of its infrastructural projects following increased intake of students over the last three years.

Train services to come to standstill in Telangana

Hyderabad:  Rail services across Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh will come to a standstill from Friday night as trains scheduled for the weekend have been cancelled in view of the two-day blockade by the Telangana Joint Action Committee (JAC). 

Tiwari's refusal for paternity test suggests he is the father: Court

New Delhi:  The Delhi High Court today said though veteran Congress leader N D Tiwari cannot be physically compelled to give a blood sample for a DNA test in a paternity suit filed by a man, his persistent refusal can lead to the presumption that he is the father.

2G note storm: Pranab advances New York visit to meet PM

Washington:  Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee is cutting short his visit in Washington and rushing to New York to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh amid a storm back home over his ministry's note to the PMO on the 2G scam. 

Chidambaram would be in jail if we had Jan Lokpal: Anna

Ralegan Siddhi:  Amid the fresh controversy in the 2-G spectrum case, anti-graft crusader Anna Hazare today said Home Minister P Chidambaram would have been behind bars had the Jan Lokpal legislation been in existence.

"Had there been a Jan Lokpal now, Chidambaram would have been in jail," Hazare, who earlier branded the Union Home Minister as a "mischievous person", said. Chidambaram would have to "go home" in the 2G scam, Hazare said at his village Ralegan Siddhi in Ahmednagar district. 

In India, using fasts to make- or score -points

In India, it seems the only way to get heard is to go hungry. But would-be fasters better get in line: anyone with an ax to grind or a cause to promote appears ready to starve to get their way.

It started this spring with social activist Anna Hazare's fast, which swept hundreds of thousands of Indians into his anti-corruption crusade. He moved the government to heed to his demands for a Lokpal, or ombudsman.

Rajasthan minister to be investigated for rape, murder

Jaipur:  A court in Rajasthan has ordered the police to investigate a cabinet minister for the rape and murder of a midwife who was allegedly having an affair with him.

The midwife, Bhanwari Devi, went missing nearly 20 days ago amid reports that she has a CD which shows her in a compromising position with Mahipal Maderna, the Health and Water Resources minister.

Court wants bigger inquiry into Janardhana's mines

Hyderabad:  It was his mine in Andhra Pradesh that delivered him to jail. Now, Janardhana Reddy is in new trouble over another mine he owns in Karnataka. The Supreme Court says early investigations suggest that the Associated Mining Company (AMC) in Bellary is guilty of illegal mining including encroachment into forest areas. These allegations will be studied by the CBI.

Now, ropeway for pilgrims to Vaishno Devi shrine

Jammu:  The shrine board of Vaishno Devi, one of the most revered Hindu temples situated in Jammu and Kashmir, on Friday approved a ropeway project connecting base camp Katra to the shrine nestled in the Himalayan foothills.

Three killed in Gangtok house collapse

Gangtok:  A seven-storied residential apartment in this Sikkim capital caved in on Friday, killing three people and injuring 50.

The apartment had 75 occupants, a police official said. It was raining heavily in the Sikkim capital. Details are not known.

Pranab likely to meet Prime Minister in New York on Sunday

Washington:  Amid the raging controversy over the note on P Chidambaram vis-a-vis 2G spectrum auction, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee is expected to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New York on Sunday to sort out the issue.

2G note: Why can't PM fire Chidambaram, asks BJP

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New Delhi:  Hours after the Prime Minister said that he has full confidence in P Chidambaram, the BJP wants to know why. In fact, the opposition party argues, Mr Chidambaram should be sacked as minister because of a note that questions his actions when the telecom scam was playing out in 2008. And has asked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh if he is shielding his minister to stop the shadow of the 2G scam from reaching his own office. 

Congress veteran Vasant Sathe dies; body to be donated to AIIMS

Gurgaon:  Congress veteran and former Union Minister Vasant Sathe died in Gurgaon tonight after suffering a heart attack. He was 86.

Sathe complained of chest pain late in the evening and was rushed to a private hospital where doctors declared him dead.

Jagjit Singh undergoes emergency neurosurgery: Sources

Mumbai:  Renowned Ghazal singer Jagjit Singh has been admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Mumbai's Lilavati Hospital, reportedly due to a brain hemorrhage.

Hospital sources have told NDTV that Mr Singh has undergone an emergency neurosurgery.

Toll plaza attendant shot dead in Gurgaon, search on for killers

Gurgaon:  For Umesh Kumar Pandey, it was another night spent at work. He was seated in booth number 11 at the toll plaza in Kheri Daula at 12.30 am, when a car pulled up. 

Soon, an argument broke out between him and the occupants of the car. Moments later, the 22-year-old toll attendant was dead. He had been shot at close range with the bullet piercing his neck.  The shocking murder was captured by the CCTV camera which showed Mr Pandey grabbing his neck and then collapsing to the ground. 

Telangana stir: 48-hour 'rail roko' disrupts train services

Hyderabad:  A 48-hour 'rail roko' agitation called by Telangana Joint Action Committee (JAC) has crippled rail services across the Telangana region of Andhra Pradesh. The blockade is part of the indefinite 'people's strike' called by activists demanding separate statehood for Telangana. The stir has entered its 12th day today.

Parliamentary committees demand copy of Pranab's 2G note

New Delhi:  The controversial note that questions whether P Chidambaram did enough to prevent the telecom scam held onto its political bombshell title today. The opposition referred to it to demand a CBI inquiry against Mr Chidambaram. The Congress said once again that it supports the minister unequivocally. And two parliamentary committees investigating the scandal asked for a copy of the document immediately.

Jagjit Singh undergoes emergency neurosurgery

Mumbai:  Famous Ghazal singer Jagjit Singh underwent an emergency neurosurgery earlier this evening at the Leelavati Hospital in Mumbai.