Manmohan Singh, the Oxford-educated economist who crafted India’s economic liberalisation policies, was sworn in as prime minister today, placing the Congress party back in control of the nation after eight years on the sidelines.

Political uncertainty and financial panic swept India today as the stock market was shut down after it worst-ever plunge and two powerful communist parties refused to join a new government alliance under Congress party leader Sonia Gandhi.

Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s ruling coalition said it was “confident” it would secure a majority in Parliament when final election results are counted tomorrow, though exit polls indicated a hung legislature was likely.

Monsoon floods battering parts of Bangladesh claimed 45 lives in the past four days, washing away many houses and displacing thousands of villagers, relief officials said today.

A MISSILE scientist who advocates nuclear weapons as a war deterrent was elected India's president yesterday.

Abdul Kalam, a missile scientist who advocates nuclear weapons as a deterrent to war, was elected today as India’s ceremonial president, a local news agency said.

Indian leaders began voting for a new figurehead president today, with the father of the country’s missile programme almost certain to win.