INDIA: With many worrying about the threat of tough measures in the new government’s first budget next week, a Facebook post suggesting the finance minister might be pondering less earthly matters quickly roused anger.

India’s new government will use public and private investment to create jobs for the millions who enter the workforce every year and will make containing inflation its top priority, its president said yesterday.

India’s Parliament opened its winter session today and then quickly adjourned amid renewed protests by politicians angry about everything from corruption to soaring inflation.

A prominent anti-corruption activist has been detained by police just hours before he was set to embark on a public hunger strike which was certain to embarrass India’s scandal-plagued government.

Trains and planes were halted across India today by strikes in protest at fuel price rises.

A law giving Indian women a guaranteed third of all state and national parliament seats passed a key vote today.

The ruling Congress party swept to a resounding victory today in India’s mammoth national elections, defying expectations as it brushed aside the Hindu nationalist opposition and a legion of ambitious smaller parties.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has declared victory in India’s national elections, saying voters have given the Congress party-led coalition a “massive mandate”.

The first day of polling in India’s general election was disrupted by Maoist-led violence that left at least 17 people dead.

INDIA’S ruling Hindu nationalist party wrested control from the opposition in three of four state legislatures, according to election results yesterday.