Rediff India News and Top Stories

The government has given the Yadavs opposing the Women's Reservation Bill a face saver by which they can withdraw their agitation in the Lok Sabha and allow the House to function, and in return, the government has promised them nothing more than a dialogue and time to discuss the bill with Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee, not even promising them an all party meeting.

Ace cricketer Sachin Tendulkar was Thursday named a Goodwill Ambassador by the United Nations Environment Programme.

Congratulating batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar for becoming the first person to hit a double hundred in one day internationals, West Indies cricket great Brian Lara on Thursday night said that he would be happy if the Indian went on to surpass his score of unbeaten 400 in Test cricket.

The world has 1,011 billionaires, up from 793 a year ago. And that was despite the global economic slowdown, according to the Forbes annual list of the world's richest people. Among the top 10 richest persons across the world, there are two Indians.

Designer Puneet Nanda showcased yet another mesmerising array of sparkling saris, elegant lehengas and chic cocktail numbers from his label Satya Paul to mark the close of Day Four of the Lakme Fashion Week in Mumbai.

Zakia Jaffery, wife of slain ex-MP Ehsan Jaffery, on Thursday welcomed the special investigation team's move to summon Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi for questioning with regard to a post-Godhra riots case.

While Germany, the defending champions, stayed on course for a historic hat-trick of World Cup crowns with a 4-1 victory over England in the first semi-final, the Aussies, who lost to the Germans in the last two editions of hockey's showpiece event, got the better of The Netherlands 2-1 in a closely-contested match later.

Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim has emerged as the richest person in the world with $53.5 billion in assets in the US magazine Forbes annual list of world's top billionaires.

The recently-concluded Lakme Fashion Week offered a great insight into the trends for 2010 and must-have garments. So here are the chief styles, along with professional advice from a couple of prominent designers.

Reacting to the SIT's summons in connection with Ehsan Jaffery murder case in 2002 riots, the Gujarat government on Thursday said the chief minister will cooperate with the process of law.

India's two big car manufacturers, Maruti and Tata, hinted that they plan to manufacture hybrids in the coming future.

The Madras high court will on Thursday hear a report of the advisory board, which has called for the premature release of former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi's assassin, Nalini Sreeharan.