100% organic Sikkim shortlisted for FAO's Future Policy Award

United Nations (IANS): Sikkim's achievement in becoming the world's first totally organic agriculture state has gotten it a place on the shortlist of the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation's (FAO) Future Policy Award.

The FAO…

Express train derails in UP, 4 dead

Rae Bareli (IANS): Four persons died on Wednesday after five coaches and the engine of an express train heading to New Delhi from Malda town in West Bengal derailed here in Uttar Pradesh, a railway official said.

The senior Railway Ministry…

Pension schemes for elderly, widows, disabled not working: SC

New Delhi (IANS): The Supreme Court on Tuesday said that pension schemes under the National Social Assistance Programme suffered from "huge" implementation gaps, observing that the beneficiaries who were assured of a monthly sum of Rs 200…

Nine killed in SAIL factory blast

Bhilai (Chhattisgarh) (IANS): At least nine people were killed and several others injured on Tuesday in a blast at a gas supply pipeline in Bhilai Steel Plant, the flagship of Indias largest steel maker in public sector.

"It was a major…

Pollution alert over north India: Anti-stubble burning moves go up in smoke in Punjab, Haryana

Chandigarh (IANS): When Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh flew over Punjab and Haryana last week, he admitted he saw agriculture fields emitting plumes of smoke at several places -- meaning that stubble-burning of the harvested paddy crop was…

Railwaymen likely to get 78-day bonus before Puja

New Delhi (IANS): Ahead of the festive season, railway employees are likely to get 78-day wages as bonus this year, the same as in the last six years.

The Railway Board has proposed 78-day wages as productivity-linked bonus (PLB) for its employees…

Scientist held on spying charge in Maharashtra

Nagpur (IANS): A scientist working at the BrahMos Missile Research Centre (BMRC) here was arrested on Monday on charge of spying for Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI and other countries, informed sources said.

Nishant Agrawal has been…

IMD issues cyclone alert for Odisha

Bhubaneswar (IANS): The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday said a depression over the Bay of Bengal is likely to concentrate into a cyclonic storm during the next 48 hours.

Under its impact, several parts of Odisha will receive…

J&K municipal polls: Voter queues in Jammu, valley wears deserted look

Jammu/Srinagar (IANS): The Municipal polls in Jammu and Kashmir that are taking place after a gap of 13 years, on Monday witnessed long queues in Jammu, Rajouri and Poonch districts while people barely arrived in the valley booths that wore a deserted…

Fire at Bengal's fireworks factory leaves 13 injured

Kolkata (IANS): At least 13 persons were injured on Sunday in a fire at a fireworks factory in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas district, police said.

There were repeated blasts as stored explosives caught fire. "I heard loud noises…