LONDON: Ahead of next month's Commonwealth Summit in Colombo, UK's parliamentary committee on Thursday accused the British government of pursuing a timid and inconsistent policy towards Sri Lanka despite continuing human rights violations there.

NEW DELHI: The CBI, which is carrying out Supreme Court-monitored probe into the Coalgate scam, may book some more private companies soon which were allegedly awarded blocks in violation of norms.

NEW DELHI: Opposition BJP on Thursday claimed that the trail of the coal scam went all the way to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh since he was the final signatory for all allocations and sought to know how coal secretary P C Parakh was being held responsible but not the minister who held the portfolio.

NEW DELHI: No "tailing" of each other's patrols, a hotline between top generals and additional border personnel meeting (BPM) points along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) are some of the new CBMs outlined in the Border Defence Cooperation Agreement (BDCA) to be inked with China next week.

KOLKATA: Less than 18 months after quitting as Australia's bowling coach, Craig John McDermott has once again been entrusted with the task of preparing the country's premier fast bowlers ahead of the return Ashes series against England.

NEW DELHI: The itinerary of India's troubled tour to South Africa may hinge on the SA board bowing to BCCI pressure and keeping newly-appointed chief executive Haroon Lorgat away from all dealings with the Indian board in future.

Sachin Tendulkar's farewell series is still a good three weeks away. The hype, however, has already begun. Fans have started making plans to be in Kolkata and Mumbai and many have started saving up to buy that elusive ticket to bid their hero a final farewell.

WASHINGTON: Washington's risky game of political brinkmanship neared crisis point on Tuesday, with no deal yet nailed down to avoid a catastrophic US debt default, just 36 hours before a crucial deadline.

TOKYO: A powerful typhoon triggered landslides and caused at least 13 deaths on a Japanese island, before sweeping up the country's east coast, grounding hundreds of flights and paralyzing public transportation in Tokyo during Wednesday morning's rush hour.

SKOPJE (MACEDONIA): Indian peacekeepers have made a name for themselves. They did it again, but this time with a difference. The once volatile region of the Balkans, which saw war and sectarian strife through its violent history, carving and re-carving itself, is now spearheading an inspirational campaign for peace.