Italy has urged swift action at the UN to tackle the Libyan conflict, highlighting the risk that the country's warring militias may side with Islamic State militants.

A senior leader of the BJP`s Assam unit and national executive member has quit the party, blaming Prime Minister Narendra Modi, party president Amit Shah and several other reasons for his "disillusionment".

Four more days of imprisonment wouldbe added to actor Sanjay Dutt's prison term, as he spent extradays out jail when his furlough period ended and a decision on extension of his furlough was pending, Maharashtra Minister of State for Home Ram Shinde said here today.   

Swine flu claimed 12 more lives in Gujarat today, taking the toll to 167 since January this year.        

Explosives, including gelatine sticks, were seized from a Coimbatore-bound passenger bus at Masinagudi near the on Tamil Nadu-Kerala border and one person was detained for interrogation, police said. 

The Israeli State Comptroller released a report condemning the Netanyahus for "excessive spending" at both the prime minister's official residence at 2 Balfour Street in Jerusalem and the couple's private beachfront villa in Caesarea.Want to know how much the Netanyahus billed the Israeli taxpayer for take-out food in 2011? It was 92,781 shekels, or about $24,000 (Rs 15 lakh). 

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the probe in the attack on veteran communist leader Govind Pansare was on the right track and sketches of the attackers were being prepared. Pansare and his wife were shot at by unidentified persons in Kolhapur and are currently undergoing treatment.

Two people have died and another six have been injured after an explosion ripped through a mosque in Pakistan's Rawalpindi area. According to initial reports, the attack was a suicide blast. The guard of the imambargah is said to have sacrificed his life while attempting to stop the bomber from entering the premises. Police have cordoned off the area and rescue efforts are underway. The deceased have been identified as Ghulam Hussain and Abdul Shakoor.

One of Britain's most prolific columnists has resigned as the chief political commentator for The Daily Telegraph, alleging that the newspaper buckled under management pressure to block coverage of the HSBC tax scandal. 

Just in: A show cause notice has been served to  Deputy Inspector General of the Coast Guard BK Loshali. According to an Indian Express report, Loshali said Monday that it was the Coast Guard which blew up the Pakistani boat on the night of December 31, 2014. And that he was the one who ordered: "Blow the boat off. We don't want to serve them biryani''

The government was left red-faced on Wednesday after Loshali negated its claim that the crew on an intruding Pakistani boat had set it ablaze but Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar stood his ground and hinted at disciplinary action against him.

The fear for visitors to the US such as Sureshbhai Patel is that even where legal remedies for damages exist, there is far less to protect them from the actual acts of violence. Read

In what is a huge indictment of the Modi government, top industry leader Deepak Parekh has said that impatience has begun creeping in among businessmen as nothing has changed on ground in first nine months of the Narendra Modi government.

He said the industry is still optimistic about the changes it expects from the Modi government, but optimism is not translating into revenues and there has been little improvement on 'ease of doing business' front so far. Parekh, who is known as a guiding voice of the Indian industry and has been on a number of key government panels on various policy and reform matters, further said that 'Make in India' can't succeed unless it is made easier for people to do business here and the decisions are fast-tracked.

He was among the first industry leaders to openly criticise the previous UPA Government for "policy paralysis" after a spate of scams led to decisions getting delayed within the government and business began getting hurt.

"The thing is that our Prime Minister had a lucky period in these nine months. The world commodity prices are at all-time low which help India the most," Parekh said.

Stating that India is again at a position when everyone is looking at it with high hopes, he said, "I don't see ease of doing business changing so far." Parekh cited the example of delay faced by his own group's HDFC Bank, the country's top private sector lender, with regard to approvals required for raising of funds, including from overseas.

AAP's Fateh Singh to be the speaker of Delhi Assembly. Singh, a former BJP MLA, was the deputy speaker of the Delhi Assembly and joined the Aam Aadmi Party in December 2014. 

Saradha case: CBI files supplementary charge sheet against Srinjoy Bose, Kunal Ghosh, Madan Mitra, Naresh Balodia for alleged cheating, forgery.

Delhi Health Minister SK Jain meets the chemists and distributors federation, drug controller of Delhi and medicine suppliers to take stock of Tamiflu medicines and expand the supply of medicines across hospitals in Delhi.

This year, swine flu deaths have more than doubled compared to the previous year taking the toll to 624. A total of 9,311 people got infected, government data show. In February alone over 300 died across the country. In 2014, 218 swine flu deaths were reported from a total of 937 cases, pan-India.

Tavleen Singh tweets: The  DIG of the coast guard should resign for speaking out of turn and shaming the government. He cannot deny what he said.

Swiss police today searched HSBC offices here as part of its probe into "suspected money laundering" by the global banking giant, which has been in news for a leaked list of its account holders that included 1,195 Indian names.

The banking major has come under the scanner after a global expose earlier this month by a grouping of investigative journalists disclosed details of over one lakh account holders in HSBC Geneva branch. This included 1,195 Indian names, including those of big corporates and political leaders.

The government today informed the Delhi High Court that nothing has been found against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in its probe regarding allegations that it had received offshore funds in violation of FCRA provisions.

The court, however, directed the government to file a fresh status report in a sealed cover regarding its findings in the matter. The court reserved the verdict on the plea seeking CBI probe into the past and present foreign funding of AAP in alleged violation of FCRA provisions.

Ramanaidu was the founder of Suresh Productions and holds the Guinness Book of World Records for the most films produced by an individual, having produced more than 150 films in 13 Indian languages.

Ramanaidu served as Member of Parliament from Telugu Desam Party from 1999 to 2004.  

In 2012, Ramanaidu was conferred with the third highest civilian award in the Republic of India, the Padma Bhushan, in recognition for his contribution to Telugu cinema.

In 2009 he received the Dada Saheb Phalke Award for Lifetime Achievement in the film industry for his outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian cinema, Ramanaidu had contributed a substantial part of his earnings to numerous philanthropic purposes including the Ramanaidu Charitable Trust that was founded in 1991.

Multilingual Indian film producer Daggubati Ramanaidu (D Rama Naidu) passed away today in Hyderabad after a long battle with cancer. Soon after the news of his sudden demise broke out, many of his fans took to their Twitter pages and offered prayers to his departed soul and expressed condolences to his family.

If you are headed to the hill station of Lonaval near Mumbai, heads up. Reports coming in of a bandh at Lonavala to protest the murder of a 7-year-old girl at a popular resort. Incidents of stone throwing have also been reported.  

BJP accepts Leader of Opposition role in Delhi Assembly. "We accept the challenge, will play a role of a constructive Opposition," Vijendra Gupta, Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly.

Gupta, one of the three successful BJP candidates in Delhi Assembly, was on Wednesday named by the party as the Leader of Opposition.

"We have chosen Vijender Gupta as the leader of opposition," BJP leader Prabhat Jha announced.Gupta, a member of the BJP's National Executive, was elected from West Delhi's Rohini constituency and has also been the president of the BJP's Delhi branch.

The BJP suffered a rout in the recently held Delhi Assembly polls, with only three of its candidates securing a seat in the elections.

The Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party won 67 out of the 70 seats on offer in the Delhi polls, becoming the first non-Congress and non-BJP party to rule the city.

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has ordered the customs to release the stock of the 30th anniversary issue of India's 'Frontline' magazine that was seized for alleged breach of national security.

The magazine's anniversary edition dated February 6 had been held by the customs as it carried a 1987 interview of slain LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran.

The Prime Minister had issued the directive after determining that the contents of the magazine did not pose a threat to national security. He also advised the customs officials to be in touch with the Ministry of Media in order to arrive at such decisions in future.

The civil war in Sri Lanka came to an end in 2009 when the LTTE was finally crushed by the armed forces and the groups's leader Prabhakaran was killed.

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar says the ministry stands by its statement on the Pakistani vessel issue. "It is a case of indiscipline. We will inquire and take action," Parrikar said on alleged remarks of Coast Guard DIG B K Loshali.

The defence ministry was put in a tight spot over claims made by a senior Coast Guard official about the explosion and sinking of a mysterious Pakistani boat in the Arabian Sea a few weeks ago. However, the official retracted from his stand on Wednesday morning.

Coast Guard Deputy Inspector General B K Loshali, who is also the force's Chief of Staff (North West Region) Gandhinagar, set off the alarm bells after he was quoted by a national daily as saying that it was he who ordered the Pakistani boat to be blown up on the night of December 31, 2014. "Let me tell you. I hope you remember 31st December night we blew off that Pakistan We have blown them off I was there at Gandhinagar and I told at night, blow the boat off. We don't want to serve them biryani..." he reportedly said, while punching a hole through the government stand that the mysterious boat had blown itself up 365 miles off Porbandar after an hour-long chase.

The disclosure was reportedly made by Loshali at a function to launch interceptor boat ICGS C-421, and in the presence of senior Coast Guard officials.

Defence Ministry stands by its statement on Pakistani vessel issue, says Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar. It is a case of indiscipline. We will inquire and take action: Parrikar on alleged remarks of Coast Guard DIG B K Loshali.Will investigate why DIG comment was made

DG Vanzara, one of Gujarat's most controversial police officers, was given a hero's welcome as he left the Sabarmati jail in Ahmedabad, by crowds of supporters who raised slogans in his praise and jostled to get a photograph of him on their mobile phones.  

Vanzara travelled the short distance to where he is holding a press conference in an open jeep. He stood in it and waved like the winning candidate in an election, many garlands around his neck and flower petals showered upon him.

BJP national executive member and former IT cell national convenor Prodyut Bora on Wednesday quit the party after complaining against the style of functioning of its leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and president Amit Shah. Modi, he alleged, had damaged the democratic tradition of the party, while Shah was arrogant and his style of functioning highly individulised and centralized. Read more

Statesmen and politicians around the world tend to make fashion statements through their attire knowingly or unknowingly. Some win approbation for their originality and appropriateness, while others attract criticism for extravagance or for lack of taste or imagination. Read more

A whopping Rs 1.11 crore has been bid by a Gujrati NRI in an auction today for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's controversial pinstripe monogrammed bandhgala suit that he wore during US President Barack Obama's visit to India last month.

Viral Chowksi, the NRI made the offer at the three-day auction which commenced today. Another businessman Suresh Aggarwal made an offer of Rs one crore for the suit.

"I have offered Rs.one crore. This is work of charity and when the Prime Minister is doing for a gret cause like cleaning of Ganga, I decided to go ahead and buy the suit," he said.

Another bidder Raju Aggarwal offered Rs 51 lakh for the suit, saying it was for a noble cause.

The suit that created waves and kicked up a political storm will be auctioned along with 455 items that Modi had received as gifts during his nearly nine-month long tenure to generate funds for the Prime Minister's ambitious 'Clean Ganga RPT Ganga Mission'.

DG Vanzara, accused in Sohrabuddin Sheikh's and Ishrat Jahan's encounter case leaves Ahmedabad Central Jail.

After being granted bail by the court in Ishrat Jahan case, Vanzara steps out of the jail after eight long years.

His supporters are planning a big celebration once he is out of the jail. Vanzara was granted bail in Ishrat Jahan case about 10 days ago.

Just in: Delhi HC reserves order on plea seeking CBI probe into AAP's offshore funds.

Suresh Agarwal from Surat who made a bid for Rs 1 crore. 

Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena offered prayers at the famous hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara at nearby Tirumala early today.

Sirisena, accompanied by his wife Jayanthi Pushpa Kumari, arrived at the hills on a 12-hour pilgrimage last night.

After an overnight halt in a TTD Guest House, the Sri Lankan President took part in the daily sacred "suprabhatha" recitation ritual conducted inside the sanctum sanctorum of the temple by priests in the wee hours today.

Later, he offered worship to the presiding deity of Lord Venkateswara, he said, adding that before leaving the shrine the Lankan President was presented with a sacred silk cloth, a holy photo and prasadams while the priests, amid chanting vedic hymns, blessed him.

Tight security arrangements were put in place all along the 35 km route leading to the airport from the hill temple. Sirisena is on a four-day visit to India, his first overseas trip after assuming office following his victory in the recent presidential elections.

Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan has called a meeting of leaders of political parties on February 22 to ensure smooth run of the Budget Session during which the government will also seek to convert six recent ordinances into legislations.

Parliament sources said Mahajan has convened a meeting of leaders of political parties over dinner on February 22, the eve of the Session, to ensure a smooth session.

The session, which will begin on February 23 and conclude on May 8, will see presentation of the first full-fledged budget of the Narendra Modi government which came to power in May last year.

During the session, government will push for passage of Bills on six ordinances promulgated recently. The ordinances include those on coal, mines and minerals, e-rickshaws, amendment to Citizenship Act, Land Acquisition and the one on FDI in insurance sector.

The police officer in Alabama accused of slamming a 59-year-old visitor from India to the ground, causing partial paralysis to the man, entered a not guilty plea in court Tuesday.

Eric Parker, 26, has been charged with third degree assault, a Class A misdemeanor.

Sureshbhai Patel needed spinal fusion surgery to repair damage to his back after Parker forced him to the ground. Video from the dash cameras of two police cars recorded the encounter, which took place the morning of February 6.

Parker was also fired from his job for his use of force against a man who committed no crime, did not speak English and could not understand the police commands. 

The community was in disbelief that an elderly man who had done no crime other than walking on the sidewalk, would be brutalised savagely, paralysing him with fused vertebrae.

Community organizations have condemned the inhuman attack pointing out that the officer lacked common sense or racial bias might have played a role in the attack.

Large federations have considerable variance among their component states. The southern states of the United States of America were largely poor, many people were deprived of the essentials of life; there were extremely poor white people but they could look down on black people; racial discrimination made the latter legally inferior. That has changed and migration from the north to the now prosperous southern states has increased. Read more

Rajubhai Agarwal from Surat, man who bid Rs 51 Lakh for the Modi suit. The auction proceeds will go to the Namaami Gange Trust Fund.

Derek O'Brien tweets: We hear the famous suit will now be auctioned for a good cause... DCPR... Damage Control PR :)

Update on the PM's suit auction: Suresh Agarwal from Surat makes a bid for Rs 1 Crore, proceeds from this auction will go to Namaami Gange Trust Fund.

Former J-K CM Omar Abdullah tweets on the suit auction: "If you have so much money why not just quietly donate it to charity without buying a suit you know you can't wear????"

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "name-striped" suit is the star attraction at an auction in Gujarat today.

The opening bid for it is Rs 51 lakh, put in by one Rajubhai Agarwal.

The suit is being auctioned in Surat along with other articles the prime minister has received as gifts. Interested buyers can put in bids till Friday.

The pin-striped suit, which spelt the prime minister's full name - Narendra Damodardas Modi - over and over, drew much attention when he wore it during US President Barack Obama's visit last month.

 It was tailored by Jade Blue in Ahmedabad, the clothing chain that handles the Prime Minister's wardrobe. A statue of PM Modi wearing the famous suit as it is displayed at the Science Centre at Surat along with some 450 other articles.

 The three-day auction is unlike the usual bidding process. Senior Surat official Rajendra Kumar said buyers can put in offer letters till 5 pm Friday, when the winning bid will be revealed. -- NDTV

US-headquartered news portal, Mashable today announced its foray into the Indian market in partnership with Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd's JV firm India.com. 

Patients undergoing treatment for swine flu in New Delhi have complained of inadequate medical facilities in government hospitals.

Top American diplomats including US Ambassador to India Richard Rahul Verma are participating in the Aero India show beginning today in Bengaluru, as part of their efforts to promote bilateral defense ties. 

CBS News has obtained a photo of the man who would become the leader of theIslamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) while he served time at a U.S. military prison in Iraq in 2004. 

The trade in antiquities is one of Islamic State's main sources of funding, along with oil and kidnapping. For this reason the UN Security Council last week banned all trade in artefacts from Syria, accusing IS militants of looting cultural heritage to strengthen its ability "to organise and carry out terrorist attacks".

Directly contradicting the government's position, a Deputy Inspector General of the Coast Guard said Monday that it was the Coast Guard which blew up the Pakistani boat on the night of December 31, 2014. And that he was the one who ordered: "Blow the boat off'We don't want to serve them biryani''

The head of a UN inquiry into rights violations in North Korea said today that Pyongyang's actions, while constituting a crime against humanity, fell short of genocide. 

The Maharashtra government will spend Rs 100 crore, obtained as assistance from Bloomberg Philanthropies, a non-profit founded by top American magnate and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, to augment road safety in Mumbai. 

One of the brothers who committed January's massacre at the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo texted the man who would later kill hostages at a Paris kosher supermarket a little more than an hour before the first attack, French newspaper Le Monde reported.

France is tracking hundreds of people believed to belong to possible sleeper cells for terror organisations like Al Qaeda or the Islamic State group, the country's top security official said.

Five more Ukrainian service members have been killed in the past 24 hours, Ukraine's Defense Ministry said Tuesday -- another sign that the truce between the government and pro-Russian separatists is falling apart.