Queen Elizabeth II, celebrating the diamond jubilee of her reign, on Tuesday scripted history when she attended a cabinet meeting in 10 Downing Street, becoming the first British monarch since 1781 to do so.

A day after winning Parliament's approval to the decision of allowing FDI in retail, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday said the move will benefitfarmers and consumers and help introduce new technologies in agri marketing.

Press Council of India Chairman Markandey Katju on Tuesday credited the country's progress to its secular and diversified system which unified people of different religions, languages and cultures.

D Subbarao reiterated concerns over rising gold imports and its pressure on current account deficit.

Making a passionate plea to lawmakers to avoid disruption of Parliament and state assemblies, President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday called for "collective thinking" by political parties on the issue. He also asked them to ponder whether there was any need to amend existing rules to ensure smooth functioning of the House.

A school in Uttar Pradesh's Kanpur city has made wearing of veils and scarves mandatory, other than banning mobile phones by students, leaving the National Commission on Women fuming over this diktat.

We bring you a breakdown of the Duchess' wardrobe during her recent Diamond Jubilee Tour of the Far East.

After days of furore, a French court on Tuesday blocked the future publication of topless photos of Prince William's wife Kate Middleton and asked Closer magazine to hand over the original pictures to the royal couple within 24 hours.The court injunction came after William and Kate, both 30, took legal action against the French glossy magazine for selling and distributing the images.

Voicing dismay over Indian educational institutions not finding a place among the world's top universities, President Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday sought revitalisation of efforts to inculcate scientific temperament among students and providing them with facilities to achieve this.

The future Queen is facing embarrassment after the revealing pictures of her and hubby Prince William enjoying a private sunshine holiday this month were printed.

Describing media as the "conscience-keeper" of the nation, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday asked it to keep away from sensationalism though it was "tempting" some times.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday said that the recent violence in Assam and its reverberations in other parts have brought out "worrying faultlines" which implies social peace and harmony cannot be taken for granted.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday said the recent violence in Assam and its reverberations in other parts have brought out 'worrying faultlines' which implies social peace and harmony cannot be taken for granted.

Some 800 athletes rode atop 21 floats past many of the landmarks that made up the backdrop to the London Games, a day after the Paralympic closing ceremony brought an end to the 45-day festival of sport.

The AIFF has honoured living members of the 1962 Asian Games gold medal winning squad during its Platinum Jubilee function in New Delhi, which also saw the unveiling of technical director Rob Baan's master plan.

Star striker Sunil Chhetri was named captain of the Indian team for the Nehru Cup international football tournament starting at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium from Wednesday.

Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh was the chief guest at the Golden Jubilee Convocation at the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay at Powai. This is how he inspired the students of the prestigious institute.

India today needs "national leaders" from the fields of science and engineering, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said in Mumbai on Saturday.

A petition was filed on Thursday in the Supreme Court seeking contempt action against the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her remarks that judgements are delivered for money.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday came under attack from political parties and eminent lawyers for alleging there were instances when court judgments have been delivered for money.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday suggested that black money stashed away abroad be brought back to the country for state funding of elections.

Air Chief NAK Browne on Saturday said the IAF has identified a "design flaw" with the Russian-made supersonic fighter aircraft Sukhoi-30 though nothing is wrong with its "airworthiness".

Britain greeted the world Friday with an extravagant celebration that included Bond, the Bard and a Beatle and a formal welcome from no less a figure than its jubilee queen.

The Queen arrived at the opening ceremony of the Olympics in spectacular style on Friday, greeted by a huge roar from the crowd as she appeared in the stadium to help officially open the London Games.

Rediff.com's Harish Kotian is at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, armed with a camera. Here are some pictures he's posted on Rediff ZaraBol! Post yours too!

As Pranab Mukherjee was sworn in as the 13th President, a band of his friends in a corner of Bengal on Wednesday recalled with nostalgia the days spent with him.

To understand Khanna's maniacal craze, one needed to be have been born in the 1960s. What you see today in television re-runs is a mere rewind into shredded fading memories. It was sheer madness, says Sanjay Jha.

After the presidential poll, Sangma may well realise that 'miracles' and 'conscience' do not really exist, especially in Indian politics, they have long become extinct, says Anirban Ganguly.

Former Sri Lankan army chief General Sarath Fonseka has said that he will lead an Arab Spring-style uprising in his country to force the government from office. Fonseka, who was jailed for running as an opposition candidate, launched a bitter attack on President Mahinda Rajapaksa, whom he accused of persecuting his family and terrorising opponents, and pledged a new campaign to topple his government.

United Progressive Alliance nominee Pranab Mukherjee on Monday met ruling Congress MPs, MLAs and MLCs as part of his campaign for the July 19 Presidential election.

Indian football legend Chuni Goswami slammed the AITA for not acting firm against Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna in the Olympics doubles team selection row and said some action should be taken against them.

Wim Koevermans is the new coach of India's senior football team. The Dutchman, whose last assignment was with the Republic of Ireland as High Performance Director, was unveiled by Kushal Das, general-secretary of the All India Football Federation, at the AIFF headquarters, Football House, in Delhi on Friday.

The Indo-Tibetan Border Police, which guards India's frontiers with China, has begun an over 7,000 km commemorative patrol covering border areas on the eastern frontier to mark the golden jubilee of its raising.

The presence of an Indian origin man on the royal barge with Queen Elizabeth during Sunday's pageant on River Thames has raised a storm after it was revealed that he had been previously convicted and jailed for sex offences.

In signs of growing dissent within the Bharatiya Janata Party, hoardings supporting party leader Sanjay Joshi have came up at various places in the city, targeting Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi ahead of the state elections scheduled in December this year.

The celebration of the 60-year reign of Queen Elizabeth II rocked Britain, quite literally. Here's a look

Queen Elizabeth II today provided a temporary lift to Britain's economic gloom by leading a unique spectacle of a 1000-strong flotilla to celebrate 60 years of her reign but heavy rains played spoilsport to the finale of the diamond jubilee pageant.

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and senior BJP leader Sanjay Joshi may not be seeing eye to eye now, but at one time they were friends and had in fact started their political careers together in Gujarat.

Bharatiya Janata Party leader Sanjay Joshi, bete noire of Narendra Modi, on Thursday resigned ahead of the party's National Executive meeting beginning in Mumbai, a move seen as an effort by the party president to buy peace with the Gujarat chief minister."Joshi, who was invitee member of the National Executive, has in a letter to party president Nitin Gadkari said that he is relinquishing his post in the larger interest of the party," BJP sources said.

The anti-talks faction of the United Liberation Front of Assam has called for 12-hout Assam bandh on May 26 to protest the visit of the united Progressive Alliance chairman and Congress President Sonia Gandhi to Guwahati on that day.