Moscow - Russia concluded its first weapons deal with Israel, purchasing unmanned spy planes valued at around 49 million dollars, a spokesman for the Russia Defence Ministry in Moscow told daily Izvestiya on Monday. According to a military export cited by the paper the purchase was in reaction to the August 2008 war in the south Caucasus - where Georgia successfully employed such drones against Russia.

Moscow made the deal despite objections from Israel's political adversaries Iran and Syria, which are also customers of Russia military hardware.

Indian Markets closed higher on back on strong global cues and positive reports from

Kochi (Kerala), Apr 13: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad on Monday called Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh a `night watchman' who was making way for the next PM.

"Manmohan Singh is acting as a night watchman paving way for the member of Nehru-Gandhi family to the Prime Minister seat. He will have to vacate once the Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi gets prepared himself for the post of PM," Prasad told reporters here.

Prasad blamed the Prime Minister for price rise and unemployment problem.

Brussels - The European Union on Monday expressed "great concern" at the situation in Thailand and called for a peaceful resolution to the conflict between the country's government and opposition. The EU presidency urged anti-government demonstrators in Thailand to refrain from violence on the streets, saying this could lead to further tension and harm Thailand's stability and reputation.

The EU said it hoped the political divide could be overcome through dialogue and democratic means, within the framework of the constitution.

Silchar (Assam), Apr 13: Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Monday criticized the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) prime ministerial candidate Lal Krishna Advani for releasing the terrorists during Kandahar hijack episode in 1999-2000.

"Even the Parliament was attacked during Advani's tenure as Union Home Minister. The BJP and other communal parties who alleged that Congress encourages division should remember that Congress has never allowed secessionist forces to thrive and will never allow it in future," Sonia Gandhi said while addressing an election rally here.

Shillong, Apr 13: Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Monday said the country needed a strong and stable government to protect and promote secular values and communal harmony.

"The country needs a government that is strong and stable and will protect and promote secular values and communal harmony. Only Congress can give such a government," Sonia Gandhi said while addressing an election rally here.

Gandhi reiterated that the Indo-US nuclear deal would reap the benefit in the long run.