The first phase of the Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh will be a gruelling test for eight Congress MPs and the performance of the Congress in this phase will be reflective of the performance of these MPs.

The tough measures of the Election Commission appear to have taken away the usual din and bustle associated with elections.

After having backed the BSP strongly in 2007, Barabanki appears to hint at a clear anti-incumbency undercurrent against the ruling party in Uttar Pradesh. The people on the ground indicate that Barabanki is set up for a tough triangular contest but at the same time suggest that they would have local factors in the mind while casting their votes.

Egypt began three days of mourning on Thursday after 74 people were killed in an eruption of violence at a football match that sparked new anger against the military rulers for failing to ensure security.

In a reprieve for Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, Gujarat high court on Wednesday rejected a petition for summoning him to the Nanavati Commission for questioning in connection with the 2002 post-Godhra riots, observing there was no substance in the plea.

The battle for Uttar Pradesh has begun.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi addressed her first election meeting in Gonda on Wednesday and blamed the non-Congress parties for destroying Uttar Pradesh in the past 22 years.

The United States military and Nato has said in a secret report that the Taliban, backed by Pakistan, are set to retake control of Afghanistan after Nato-led forces withdraw, raising the prospect of a major failure of Western policy.

CBI on Wednesday filed its chargesheet against seven persons, including Andhra Pradesh home secretary and senior IAS officer B.P. Acharya, and five companies in the case relating to alleged irregularities in land transfer and sale of villas and apartments in an upscale township in Hyderabad.

In a significant development, the Union home ministry has banned the Garo National Liberation Army, a terrorist outfit of Garo Hills in Meghalaya, and declared it a terrorist outfit. The formal notification, which was sent to the state government on Wednesday, said that the Central government believes that the GNLA is involved in terrorism, therefore, exercising the powers conferred under the Section 35 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, the Central government has declared its formations and frontal organisation as terrorist organisation. The GNLA is the 36th separatist outfit in the country which has been banned by the home ministry.

With the dark shadows of the infamous fodder scam surrounding RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and other politicians facing charges moving fast through judicial condensation, they have been asked to appear in a Ranchi court to record their statements from February 13.