-The Hindustan Times A 45-year-old cotton grower tried to end his life by consuming pesticide at the election meeting of the chief minister Prithviraj Chavan at Dhamangaon in Amravati district, some 200 kms from here in western part of Vidarbha, on Sunday. According to reports reaching here this evening, the incident occurred when the chief minister was addressing an election meeting for the ensuing municipality elections at Dhamangaon on Sunday afternoon.  The...

-PTI   Karnataka Government has decided to spend Rs 17,000 crore funds in the next seven years to complete all irrigation projects in the Krishna river valley in order to utilise its share of waters.  This was informed at an all party meeting convened by the Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda to discuss the progress of works in Krishna river basin being implemented by the government.  Minister for Water Resources Basavaraj Bommai told...

-The Hindu   Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Monday confirmed to a section of the Opposition that the Union government had decided to put on hold the move to allow foreign equity in the multi-brand retail sector, pending further consultations. The issue has stalled Parliament since November 25. However, it is not immediately clear whether this is enough to break the deadlock. On Monday, Mr. Mukherjee called up BJP leaders L.K. Advani and...

-PTI   Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Amarinder Singh on Sunday said that Foreign Direct Investment in retail would boost agricultural-based economy of the state.  "Organised multi-brand retail stores are in the interest of both the producers as well as the retailers and consumers," he said.  He pointed out if the farmers have the option of selling directly to retailers, the produce will reach the consumers at a lesser price.  While potatoes sell at an...

-The Times of India   Tension is brewing once again between the government and internet and social media companies over the telecom and IT ministry's demands to screen user content and remove offensive material before it is uploaded. Sources said over the last three months the government has been in talks with these firms to put in place a monitoring mechanism. On Monday, telecom & IT minister Kapil Sibal met executives from the...