New Delhi, Sept 20: Armed with a permit for global nuclear trade, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh will leave next week for the United States and France hoping to seal atomic energy deals and discuss cooperation in defence and counter-terrorism.

Dr. Singh will fly out on Monday for what will be India''s first top-level diplomatic engagement since a global nuclear cartel allowed it access to nuclear fuel and technology, overturning a 34-year-long ban for testing nuclear devices.

New Delhi, Sept 20 : Delhi Police on Saturday reportedly claimed that Mohammad Saif, who was arrested on Friday during an encounter in Jamia Nagar, has confessed to his role in the September 13 Delhi serial blasts that claimed about 30 lives and maimed close to 100.

According to reports, Saif revealed during interrogation that Atif alias Abu Bashar, who was killed in the encounter with Delhi Police’s Special Cell, was the head of the Indian Mujhaideen and masterminded the serial blasts and not Abdul Subhan alias Tauqeer as suspected earlier.

New Delhi, Sept 20: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has accused the Congress-led Central Government of not acting tough on terrorism.

"Four-year term of Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi has not only encouraged terrorism, but also allowed the terrorists from the other side of the border to execute their plans in India. In the name of Indian Mujahideen and SIMI, has given birth to such terrorists in India, the biggest crime is of this government," said senior party leader LK Advani in a public rally in Karol Bagh, a blast site of September 13 attacks, which left at least 23 dead.

New Delhi, Sep 20 : The funeral of Delhi Police Special Cell inspector Mohan Chand Sharma, who succumbed last evening to bullet injuries received during an encounter in Jamia Nagar, will take place here today.

Sharma led the team that killed two terrorists, who were suspected to be behind the Delhi blasts, and arrested another in the encounter on Friday.

New Delhi, Sept 20 : A two-day national executive meeting of the Communist Party of India will begin here from today to finalise strategy for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Besides taking stock of the political developments, the meeting is expected to pass resolutions expressing the party’s view on the recent Delhi bomb blasts, Bihar floods, attacks on minorities in various parts of the country, and the deepening global financial crisis.

New Delhi, Sep 19 : Delhi Police Special Cell inspector Mohan Chand Sharma, who lead the team that killed two terrorists and arrested another in an encounter in Jamia Nagar here on Friday morning, succumbed to bullet injuries received during the encounter.

The 43-year-old and seven-gallantry award winner officer received several bullet injuries during the encounter.

He was operated upon at the Holy Family Hospital to remove bullets from his body but succumbed to his injuries later in the evening.