W Rorrkychand Singh

Pope Benedict XVI ushered in Christmas for the world's 1.3 billion Roman Catholics on Saturday, urging humanity to see through the superficial glitter and commercialism of the season and rediscover the real significance of the humble birth of Jesus.

An Australian teenage boy was sentenced to up to 13 years jail on Thursday for murdering an Indian student in 2010, an attack which ignited a diplomatic crisis and damaged the nation's international student sector, the third largest export earner.

The Hindi film industry struck gold in 2011, revving a lackluster box-office with some help from its leading men, wooing audiences after a dismal run last year.

Indo-Canadian adult star Sunny Leone, who entered the Indian reality TV show Bigg Boss as a contestant, has revealed her real identity.

After closed for 10 weeks in a house surrounded by 55 cameras 24 X7, Maheek Chahal, one of the favorite of the finals is evicted from the Bigg Boss-5 house.

Pakistani model and actress Veena Malik will participate in an Indian TV reality show where she will choose her husband. Swayamvar Season 4- Veena Ka Vivaah will be aired on Image TV.

Six directors of AMRI Hospital in south Kolkata, where a major fire killed nearly 90 people Friday, have been arrested.

The last rites of legendary Bollywood actor Dev Anand will be held in London's Putney Vale Crematorium, on Saturday around noon.

The Ministry of Women & Child Development has revealed that dowry cases, as defined under the Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961, are increasing in India.

While there are several reasons to celebrate 2011, the death of several prominent Indian celebrities, scholars and artists made it as tragic as it was a joyful year.

Food inflation in the country has eased, sharply, to 6.60 percent from 8.00 percent in the previous week, in the year to Nov. 26, according to government data released on Thursday.

India's carmakers may just break even in the fiscal year that ends in March, an industry body warned on Thursday and said it would cut its sales outlook for the year, as firms struggle with sluggish demand on rising input costs and high interest rates.

The rupee extended its drop to the third session Thursday, dragged by weak domestic equities amid investor concern over slowing growth and lackluster policymaking.

The last rite of legendary Bollywood actor Dev Anand will be held in London, on Saturday Morning.

A city court in Hyderabad has directed a local police station, at Nallakunta, to file a First Information Report (FIR) against Bollywood actress Vidya Balan, on charges of obscenity.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), between 2010 and 2011 (statistics correct up to Oct. 31, 2011), has registered 1,156 cases against employees of the central and state governments, as well as public sector undertakings.

According to information conveyed by Indian Defence Minister, A.K. Antony, to the Rajya Sabha, a total of 8 fighter aircrafts and 4 helicopters, belonging to country's armed forces, have crashed between the period Jan. 1, 2011 and Dec. 2, 2011.

South Korean automobile manufacturers, Hyundai Motor (005380.KS), will raise prices of its cars in India by about 1.5 to 2 percent from January, the firm said on Wednesday, as it combats high inflation, rising fuel costs and a weaker rupee.

During the recent visit of Hollywood actor Tom Cruise, junior artists were hired at Rs. 150 ($3) to play screaming fans of the actor when he came out of the airport, reports First Post.

An Indian state official reassured residents Tuesday that the recently-attacked 116-year-old Mullaperiyar dam is safe and will not become harmed by the latest surge of violence.

The chairperson of the Parliamentary panel on Lokpal Bill, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, has sought a week's extension for submitting the panel's draft of the bill.

The ongoing battle between the governments of south Indian states, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, over the Mullaperiyar Dam issue, could be resolved soon; a Supreme Court-appointed Empowered Committee began its first meeting with all concerned parties, in New Delhi on Monday.

In his one day visit to Manipur Prime Minister Manmohan Singh assured that UPA government at the Centre to make every possible effort for the rapid progress of Manipur and the other North Eastern States, reports Press Information Bureau.

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) MP Kanimozhi, who was granted bail by the Delhi High Court last Monday in the 2G scam case, arrived in Chennai Saturday.

A recent study, Impact of Targeted Interventions on Heterosexual Transmission of HIV in India, by the World Bank has found a significant decline in the prevalence of the HIV virus among female sex workers and young women (15-24 years) in the South Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's move, last week, to open India's protected retail sector to global supermarket giants surprised critics who had written him off as a policy ditherer. He was, however, probably motivated by expedience rather than any reformist zeal.

Sachin Tendulkar fell agonisingly short of his 100th international century again but off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin lifted India's spirits with his maiden ton as the hosts were all out for 482 in the final test against West Indies on Friday.

Pakistan's troubled foreign relationships scenarios have improved in recent months, said a top diplomat on Saturday, pointing to forthcoming trade talks with New Delhi and a broad agreement on regional security goals with Washington as evidence.

Opener Kraigg Brathwaite and veteran Shivnarine Chanderpaul hit unbeaten half-centuries to guide the West Indies to 159 for the loss of three wickets, at tea on the opening day of the first test against India.