At EMS centenary, CPI-M is downcast

September 16th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor has left for a six-day visit to the West African states of Liberia and Ghana, officials said here Wednesday. Tharoor, who left New Delhi Tuesday night, will first reach Liberia.

September 15th, 2009 CHENNAI - The grand success of the DMK in the 1967 Tamil Nadu state election is because its founder leader C.N. Annadurai based his political philosophy on the needs and aspirations of the downtrodden, said Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee Tuesday.

September 13th, 2009 AGARTALA - The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) will observe the birth centenary of two legendary communist leaders E.M.S. Namboodiripad and Nripen Chakraborty in an attempt to revitalize leftist ideology among the new generation.

August 31st, 2009 MUMBAI - Buoyed by the victory in the recent Lok Sabha elections, the ruling Congress-Nationalist Congress Party alliance in Maharashtra is confident of taking on the Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party (SS-BJP) combine in the Oct 13 assembly elections. In sharp contrast, discontent prevails in the SS-BJP camp as poll dates were announced Monday.

August 23rd, 2009 KOTTAYAM - Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee Sunday released a set of commemorative coins to mark the birth centenary of the first Indian woman Catholic Saint Alphonsa, who was canonized in Vatican last October. The function took place at the St Mary's Church in Bharananganam in Kottayam district, where the tomb of Saint Alphonsa is located.

July 31st, 2009 KOLKATA - The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) Friday alleged that all imperialist forces had teamed up against the communists and were launching concerted attacks on the leftists in India. "I have seen that many anti-communist groups have ganged up against us and they are launching concerted attacks on the CPI-M led government in West Bengal as well as in other parts of the country," CPI-M general secretary Prakash Karat told a seminar on the occasion of commemorating the birth centenary of late communist leader E.M.S Namboodiripad here.

June 17th, 2009 THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The factional feud in the Kerala unit of the Communist Party of India Marxist (CPI-M) will be one of the points to be discussed in the party politburo meeting to be held in Delhi Friday, party sources said Wednesday. The factional fight between the party boss, state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan, and the chief minister, V.S.

June 11th, 2009 MUMBAI - The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) will never merge with the Congress and will continue to maintain its independent identity, a top party office-bearer said here Wednesday. Setting at rest all speculation, NCP Maharashtra unit chief R.R.

May 31st, 2009 Thousands march, celebrate Israel at NYC paradeNEW YORK — Tens of thousands of supporters of Israel crowded New York's Fifth Avenue on Sunday as part of the annual parade celebrating the birth of the Jewish state in 1948. This year's parade also commemorated the centenary of the city of Tel Aviv.

May 7th, 2009 BANGALORE - President Pratibha Patil arrived in the Karnataka capital Thursday evening on a two-day visit during which she will attend the concluding function of the centenary celebrations of the prestigious Indian Institute of Science here. President Patil will unveil a plaque at the IISc to mark the end of the celebrations here Friday.

April 5th, 2009 PANAJI - The Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry has said growing political instability and a 15 percent drop in the tourism sector have led to nearly 100,000 people in the state losing their jobs. Alongside, according to chamber president Nitin Kunkolienkar, 'rising civic unrest' was proving to be a deterrent for setting up new industries in this picturesque Goa.

February 25th, 2009 BANGALORE - Did Homi Bhabha, father of the Indian atomic energy programme, make a mistake by showing off India's nuclear achievements to Chinese prime minister Zhou Enlai during his 1960 visit to Trombay? Homi Sethna, a former chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) thinks so, suggesting Bhabha's act might have unwittingly provoked China to accelerate its nuclear weapons programme. 'When Zhou Enlai visited us, Dr.

February 25th, 2009 BANGALORE - Did Homi Bhabha, father of Indian atomic energy programme, make a mistake by showing off India's nuclear achievements to Chinese prime minister Zhou Enlai during his visit to Trombay in 1960? Homi Sethna, a former chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) thinks so, suggesting Bhabha's act might have unwittingly provoked China to accelerate its nuclear weapons programme. 'When Zhou Enlai visited us, Dr.

January 29th, 2009 PERTH - South Africa batting legend Barry Richards received a commemorative cap here Friday to mark his induction into International Cricket Council's (ICC) Cricket Hall of Fame. Richards said he will cherish 'the ultimate accolade' after receiving the honour from ICC president David Morgan and Cricket Australia chairman Jack Clarke in front of a sold-out WACA Ground crowd before the start of the ODI between Australia and South Africa.

January 5th, 2009 CHANDIGARH - A day-long function organised last year by the Punjab government to mark the birth centenary of one of India's best known freedom martyr, Bhagat Singh, cost the taxpayers a whopping Rs.30 million (Rs.3 crore), a Right to Information (RTI) Act query has revealed. The main function was organised at the martyr's village, Khatkar Kalan, 80 km from here near Nawanshahr town, Sep 27, 2008.