The situation in West Bengal’s Lalgarh area, where security forces are fighting to clear a Maoist siege, is “sensitive” and “tense”, Home Minister P Chidambaram said on Sunday while asking political leaders to avoid going to the conflict zones.
“The situation in Lalgarh is sensitive and continues to be tense,” he said while also making a reference to a call for a two-day bandh from Monday given by the CPI-Maoist in five naxal-affected states of Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa and West Bengal..
“I appeal to all citizens especially political leaders, NGOs and others …

European defence ministers are meeting in Spain on Monday ahead of the start of Indian trials for a new generation of fighter aircraft in a multi-billion-pound deal eyed by major manufacturers across the world.
Although the summit in Seville is expected to focus on the fate of the European A400M military transport aircraft, there is reported to be mounting interest in the Indian competition that is set to begin next month and expected to last a year.
Six fighter aircraft are taking part in the competition, hoping to land a deal that …

Two young NRIs, who came from London and Texas, were admitted to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in New Delhi with suspected H1N1 flu symptoms and have been kept under observation in the isolation ward.
While the 35-year-old London-based NRI was brought to hospital directly from the Indira Gandhi International Airport this morning, the 25-year-old who came from Texas got himself admitted to the RML last evening.
“Both of them are under observation in isolation ward. We have done all tests and samples have been sent to National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD),” …

He calls them his extended family, shares his day-to-day life with them and is now looking forward to see the faces of those who regularly visit his blog. Superstar Amitabh Bachchan, who completed a year of blogging April 17, doesn’t want to tag his online friends who enrich his life as “faceless”.
” ‘Faceless’ is a harsh term. I refer to them as my ‘extended family’. They confide in me. They show affection and concern. They get upset at times and reprimand me… they miss me when I am not there …

NGO protests Shah Rukh smoking at IPL -
he National Organization for Tobacco Eradication (NOTE), has protested against filmstar Shah Rukh Khan who was shown on the TV screen
smoking during an IPL match on April 21 in South Africa.
NOTE has asked the South African National Council Against Smoking (NCAS) to consider the issue seriously and stop smoking in
the stadium during Indian Premier League matches.
“I chatted with them and sent details and motivation to the supersport. They are the broadcasters. I am soliciting an agreement that they will not show anyone smoking,” …