Read the full transcript of President Obama's State of the Union address on Wednesday at the US Capitol in Washington.

Expressing happiness over the growth of the banking sector in the last 10 years, Finance Minister P Chidambaram today described it as a great achievement of the United Progressive Alliance rule.

Athletic Bilbao checked promoted Villarreal's impressive early-season run when they beat the team with the distinctive canary-yellow strip 2-0 at their new San Mames stadium in La Liga on Monday.

Filmmaker Sourav Sarangi about his film, Char: The No Man's Island.

Real Madrid survived an early red card for Sergio Ramos to see off city rivals Rayo Vallecano 2-0 at the Bernabeu on Sunday, matching the wins of La Liga leaders Barcelona and Atletico Madrid over the weekend.

That Lieutenant Colonel Brahmanand Avasthy deserved a gallantry medal for his conspicuous bravery is unarguable, but his valour went unrecognised. M P Anil Kumar salutes an Indian hero on the 50th anniversary of his martyrdom.

Ohio legislator Jay Goyal, who was elected to the state House of Representatives at age 25 -- the youngest to win a seat to state office in at least three decades since current US Senator Sherrod Brown won his seat from the same district -- has decided to not run for re-election for a fourth term.

Yuvraj Singh, recovering after his treatment in a US hospital for a rare germ cell cancer, got a morale-boosting visit by his idol Sachin Tendulkar.

Yuvraj Singh on Sunday was discharged from hospital after completing the third and final cycle of chemotherapy to recover from a rare germ cell cancer in Boston, USA.

Cristiano Ronaldo took his league tally for the season to 30 as leaders Real Madrid swept aside Espanyol 5-0 at the Bernabeu to restore their 10-point advantage over Barcelona in La Liga on Sunday.

Manchester City humbled their neighbours United by beating them 6-1 and Levante still lead in Spain where European champions Barcelona were held to a 0-0 draw by Sevilla.

In an hour-long chat on rediff.com on Thursday, financial planning expert Sailesh Multani offered some valuable tips.

As India and England prepare to square off in the first Test of the four-match series at Lord's, Rajneesh Gupta presents the many landmarks on the road to the 2000th match of cricket's longest version.

On July 17, Sportscraft will conduct its 22nd edition of the event and, needless to say, some of the best riders will be seen in action.

England batsman Kevin Pietersen was booked for speeding in a Lamborghini arranged by his friend Shane Warne while driving back from a beach resort near Melbourne on Thursday, local police said.

Alpha and Omega, whose key animation was done at Crest Animated Studio in Mumbai has found a place in the just announced 15 films Oscar eligibility list.

JV formed for Saudi infra projects, focus on contracts from other countries as well.

World champion Viswanathan Anand went down tamely in 30 moves to Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria in the first game of the World Chess Championship in Sofia on Saturday. The 12-game World Championship match kicked-off with Anand, playing black. According to chessbase.com, it was one of the shortest, most decisive opening games in World Championship history.

Akhil Mathew, an 18-year-old resident of Madison, New Jersey, Tuesday night won the third place in the Intel Science Talent Search

Frank Lampard scored from the penalty spot as Chelsea restored their three-point lead in the English Premier League with an unconvincing 2-1 home win against bottom club Portsmouth at Stamford Bridge in London, on Wednesday. Champions Manchester United had pulled level on points after beating a weakened Wolverhampton Wanderers 3-0 on Tuesday in manager Alex Ferguson's 900th league game in charge.

Rohit Sharma held the Mumbai innings together with an unbeaten 94, as the defending champions took a vital 61-run lead after scoring 248 for eight in their first essay, on the second day of their Ranji Trophy Super League Group A match against Railways in Delhi on Wednesday.

Sri Lanka's promising all-rounder Angelo Mathews produced a career best six for 20 to subject India to a humiliating 139 run defeat in the third Tri-series match on Saturday. Sanath Jayasuriya (98) and Thilina Kandamby (91 not out) took Sri Lanka to 307 for six then India succumbed for 168 from 37.2 overs.

The Miss Universe 2009 pageant is fast approaching on August 23. In a countdown to D-Day, we'll be introducing you to all 84 contestants from around the world.

A brilliant 81 by captain Brendon McCullum and an equally well-compiled 71 not out by Brad Hodge enabled Kolkata Knight Riders beat Chennai Super Kings by seven wickets in their Indian Premier League match at SuperSport Park, Centurion, on Monday.

Being one of the most ecologically modernized state in the world, Japan heads to Copenhagen with its ambition of green leadership in the post Kyoto regime. Japan has nurtured this ambition through smart diplomatic endeavors, ecological restructuring of policies and technological innovations.

Railway Minister Lalu Prasad on Friday presented a populist interim Railway Budget in Parliament on Friday. Following is the entire speech of the railway minister:

The real fear then is of an unstable Pakistan sinking into chaos and anarchy and vast amounts of territory, weapons and perhaps nuclear materials falling under the control of Islamic extremists linked to al-Qaeda. This would without a doubt be the United States and India's worst nightmare. Indeed it might turn out to be the last act before decisive foreign military operations to neutralise Pakistan began in earnest.

Mohammad Ajmal Amir Qasab, 21, is a resident of Faridkot, Tehsil, Dipalpur Dist -Ukada, State -Suba Punjab, Pakistan, is a labour by occupation, according to his confession statement.

The fifth excerpt from Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish, the story of 25 IIM Ahmedabad graduates who chose the rough road of entrepreneurship.

The second excerpt from Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish, the story of 25 IIM Ahmedabad graduates who chose the rough road of entrepreneurship.

The full text of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's speech at the Governors Conference in New Delhi on Wednesday

US Republican presidential candidate Senator John McCain's speech delivered at the Republican National Convention in St Paul, Minnesota, on Thursday at 10 pm was preceded by a video displaying footage of him being shot down in Vietnam and his survival and torture in what was called the 'Hanoi Hilton' and his refusal to get out early even though he was offered such a release.

Gambhir and Jaffer scored battling half-centuries in the three-day match against Sri Lanka 'A' at Leicester on Sunday.

Sri Lanka A finished day two against India on 112 for 1, stretching their overall lead to 140 runs.

India were 25 for 1 at close, in reply to the Sri Lankans' 226 on Day 1 of the three-day match.

The 12th One World Fellowship Scheme, run in collaboration with the British Council, is currently open to applications to join the 2007 programme.

India captain Mithali Raj believes her team can carry forward its winning momentum from last year's Asia Cup into the upcoming quadrangular series.

The popular Gulf Oil Corporation-sponsored event will be run on Sunday, February 4, from Mumbai to Khandala.

Franchising is one way to give your entrepreneurial self a chance. The challenge is huge, but the rules are simple. Grab the opportunity.