The Congress on Wednesday scoffed at the Opposition's attempts to link Italy's refusal to send back its two marines to face investigations here with India's failure in getting the extradition of Bofors scam accused Ottavio Quattrocchi in the past saying both are different cases.

Ganesh Natarajan answered many IT-related questions during an hour-long rediff chat on Tuesday.

The government on Sunday said Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde had not apologised for his controversial remarks but only expressed regret, which was accepted by the BJP. "Well, it is regret. That is the word that has been used. I cannot change the language once it is used," Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath said.

'Special police told me that if I speak according to their wishes they will not harm my family and also gave me false assurance that they will make my case weak so that after sometime I will get released...'

"As part of the President's ongoing commitment to consult with Congress on national security matters, the President directed the Department of Justice to provide the Congressional Intelligence committees access to classified Office of Legal Counsel advice related to the subject of the Department of Justice White Paper," an official said on condition of anonymity as he is not authorised to speak on such sensitive matters.

United States Senator John F Kerry -- President Barack Obama's nominee to be the next Secretary of State -- has asserted that he would be strongly opposed to any cuts in America's considerable aid to Islamabad.

The way the system works here, it is difficult to think Akbaruddin Owaisi will be ever be punished for uttering those hateful words, laments Tarun Vijay

In 2003, the United States Congressional Research Service asserted that there is a danger that India may develop a bio weapons programme. It claimed that 'India is believed to have an active biological defence research program as well as the necessary infrastructure to develop a variety of biological agents'. However, there is no evidence in the public domain of India ever having pursued an offensive bio weapons programme.

In a written reply to the House, Railways Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal said the recommendations are presently under examination by the ministry.

Thrown into disarray by a provisional suspension, the Indian Boxing Federation has been offered a glimmer of hope by its parent body AIBA, which has asked it to hold a re-election and amend its constitution to get the ban revoked.

GMR was misled by the (predecessor) Nasheed administration to signing a legally unsustainable agreement, says Maldives president, Mohamed Waheed.

The Irish government has said it will make a decision before the year-end about the country's tough abortion laws, weeks after Indian dentist Savita Halappanavar died after she was refused termination of her pregnancy despite miscarrying.

Just one week after United States President Barack Obama's convincing re-election, his faithful Vice President Joseph Biden led the White House celebration of Diwali, reflecting on the significance of festival of lights, and also acknowledging the presence of Tulsi Gabbard, the first Hindu American elected to the US Congress, and also Ambassador Nirupama Rao, who like Gabbard, seemed to have that gravitational pull in terms of the guests wanting to pose for pictures with them

Democrat Tulsi Gabbard who won the race for Hawaii's 2nd Congressional District said that she hoped to play some small role in increasing people's respect, understanding, and love for one another despite differences. Aziz Haniffa reports

Is it that the entire Opposition is misleading the people with falsehoods, and the only repository of patriotism, truth and national interest is the Congress party, asks Tarun Vijay

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly discusses the impact of Twenty20 cricket on the Test format, the future of spin in India and why Sachin Tendulkar should continue to play for another few years.

"Take prompt notice of every piece of intelligence as it is received, develop capacities for addressing the threats posed by terrorism, share experiences and create an overall milieu of collaboration wherein there should be no distinction between central agencies and state police forces," Shinde told DGPs/IGPs conference.

Republican White House hopeful Mitt Romney has chosen Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan, a strong critic of the Obama administration's economic policies, as his running mate for the forthcoming presidential polls in United States.

Call it by whatever name, the economic system of modern times favors indiscipline of individuals, societies and governments.

Has Sharad Pawar really offered to quit the UPA government, or is he shadow-boxing? Political commentator Dilliwalla was in conversation with Rediff.com's Abhishek Mande on Friday, June 20 on ZaraBol.

Is the United States actually serious to proceed against the Haqqanis this time or is it yet another ploy on the part of the Obama administration to pressurise one of the most influential power players in Afghanistan to join hands with the international community to hold future negotiations with the Taliban? Amir Mir tries to find out.

Is the United States actually serious to proceed against the Haqqanis this time or is it yet another ploy on the part of the Obama administration to pressurise one of the most influential power players in Afghanistan to join hands with the international community to hold future negotiations with the Taliban? Amir Mir tries to find out.

The Tower of London, used by British monarchs for over 600 years to hoard crowns and jewels, took delivery of its newest treasure on Monday when 4,700 gold, silver and bronze Olympic medals were handed over for safe-keeping.

The unanimous vote by the Senate Appropriations Committee on the amendment moved by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham is reflective of the changing mode in the US and growing frustration among US lawmakers on Pakistan.

In the fifth part of the series on Indian Americans who won the Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships, Arthur J Pais profiles Rina Thomas, daughter of Indian immigrant doctors settled in New Orleans.

As the United States has clearly linked an invitation to Pakistan to attend the upcoming Chicago summit on Afghanistan's future to the resumption of the NATO supply line, the Pakistani military leadership seems willing to reopen the supply routes which could perhaps win Islamabad a seat at the Chicago meet, scheduled for May 21-22.

An Indian-origin student who was found guilty of bias intimidation for spying on his gay roommate's sexual encounter has asked a judge to grant him probation instead of a prison sentence, even as letters of support from his friends and family were submitted in court.

The Gujarat genocide in 2002, resulting in the killing of nearly 1500 innocent citizens, mostly from India's major minority community, and the subsequent pervasive subversion of governmental machinery to sabotage justice delivery to riot victims, has to be understood as a man-made disaster, writes R B Sreekumar

Even as he flirts with the idea of running for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, Chopra has indicated that he will now campaign feverishly for the election of his former boss Kaine.

The differences between the Congress and the BJP are too obvious and it seems, as expected, this Parliament is a divided house on the issue of fighting corruption.

The Constitutional (116 amendment) bill, which will have to be passed by a two-thirds majority of Parliament, is the enabling bill that would enable the law-makers to grant the Lokpal constitutional status. If that is not passed, it will also mean the end of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas bill. Sheela Bhatt reports.

The Constitutional (116 amendment) bill, which will have to be passed by a two-thirds majority of Parliament, is the enabling bill that would enable the law-makers to grant the Lokpal constitutional status. If that is not passed, it will also mean the end of the Lokpal and Lokayuktas bill. Sheela Bhatt reports.

While the opposition continues to demand a rollback, the government is not inclined to give a categorical assurance to that effect. Renu Mittal reports.

In a surprise move that comes in the midst of an inquiry into the phone hacking scandal, James Murdoch, the son of media baron Rupert Murdoch, resigned on Wednesday as director of the United Kingdom-based companies that run prestigious titles like The Sunday Times, The Sun and The Times.

The new batch of Rhodes scholars includes South Asians. The prestigious international scholarship is awarded to high academic achievers who are also active in sports and community work.

It's high time to completely rethink the United States relationship with Pakistan because of Islamabad's continuing perfidy of sponsoring terror groups like the Haqqani network and Lakshar-e-Tayiba that targets American troops and kills innocent civilians like the LeT did during the 26/11 attacks, said US Congressman Gary Ackerman, top democrat in the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on South Asia.

Former Indian Cricket captain Sourav Ganguly is keen to play the four-day and 50-over Ranji Trophy matches for home side Bengal.

The World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) has effected changes to its International Standard for Testing (IST) for improving its annual reporting of anti-doping statistics in the future.

Iowa's influential Indian American State Senator Swati A Dandekar, a Democrat, who represented the state's district 18, has resigned from the legislature to take up a major position as one of three directors of the powerful Iowa Utilities Board.

The India-United States civil nuclear deal inked during Bush Administration has not been handled as well it should have been by the US, a key Republican lawmaker has said.