NCP leader Agatha Sangma, Union Minister of State for Rurul Development, addressing a party convention in Guwahati on Thursday. – UB Photo

Mamata's Rail Budget promises growth with human face
NEW DELHI, Feb 25 (IANS) - With highest ever allocation of Rs.57,630 crore ($13 billion), Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee Friday presented the Rail Budget for 2011-12, promising to move fast to build a stronger railroad infrastructure while addressi ...

It's common man's Budget, says PM
NEW DELHI, Feb 25 (IANS) - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Friday praised the rail budget presented by Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee as a "common man's Budget”. ...

Survey gung-ho on growth, but predicts higher inflation
NEW DELHI, Feb 25 (IANS) - India's Economic Survey for 2010-11 has predicted 8.6 percent growth for the current fiscal and gross domestic product (GDP) touching the 9 percent mark in 2011-12. It has also sounded concern over inflation and the fall in ...

Jail custody of three ULFA leaders extended
GUWAHATI, Feb 25 (PTI) - Three senior ULFA leaders, handed over to India by Bangladesh early this month, were today produced in a court here which extended their judicial custody by 14 days. ...

Bhupen Hazarika's condition improves
GUWAHATI, Feb 25 (PTI) - The condition of Dadasaheb Phalke awardee Bhupen Hazarika, who was admitted to a private hospital here with respiratory problems, today showed improvement. ...

India rated 'extreme risk' economy for investors
NEW YORK, Feb 25 (IANS) - India - along with Russia, Indonesia, Nigeria and the Philippines - has been rated a 'high risk' growth economy for investors. ...

Tripura, Mizoram on bird flu alert
AIZAWL/AGARTALA, Feb 25 (IANS) - Mizoram Friday sounded a bird flu alert following the outbreak of the avian influenza in neighbouring Tripura and also in Myanmar and Bangladesh, which border the state. ...

Govt panel stresses need to augment water use
GUWAHATI, Feb 24 – Though the Government of China has been claiming that it has no plans to divert the course of the river Brahmaputra, the inter-ministerial committee of the Government of India, headed by the Cabinet Secretary, has decided not to ac ...

ONGC, OIL to evacuate Libya staff
NEW DELHI, Feb 24 – State-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) and Oil India are moving staff out of Libya, fearing more violence in the North African nation that is facing a rebellion. ...

2 shot dead by PSO in city
GUWAHATI, Feb 24 – Two persons were shot dead by the personal security officer (PSO) of one Hariprasanna Hazarika, a businessman, around 1:30 am today in the city’s Mathuranagar area under mysterious circumstances. ...

PM hails peace process with ULFA
NEW DELHI, Feb 24 – Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on Thursday disclosed that four years ago he had almost succeeded in engaging ULFA in peace talks but the outfit backed out. ...

AGP, BJP have ULFA links: CM
GUWAHATI, Feb 24 – Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today alleged that opposition parties like Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and BJP had links with the Paresh Barua faction of the ULFA and would take their help in coming assembly polls in the state, reports PTI ...

NE States fail to submit UCs on allotted funds
NEW DELHI, Feb 24 – The north-eastern States might be clamouring for release of additional funds, but have fallen short of submitting utilisation certificates (UCs) of allotted funds. ...

30-member JPC formed to probe 2G scam
NEW DELHI, Feb 24 – Giving in to the opposition’s relentless demand for a joint parliamentary committee (JPC), the government on Thursday formed a 30-member panel to probe alleged irregularities in the 2G spectrum allocation and to also look into the ...

AIUDF hints at post-poll tie-up with Cong
NEW DELHI, Feb 24 – All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) chief Badruddin Ajmal does not like Assam Congress, but he doesn’t want to rule out the possibility of supporting the party after the elections. ...

Fare hike unlikely in Rail Budget
NEW DELHI, Feb 24 – Railways are unlikely to carry out any major changes in passenger fares in the Rail Budget for the eighth year in succession, even as more than 100 new trains could be announced, including a dozen non-stop Durontos, reports PTI. ...