New Delhi, Feb 12 : President Pratibha Patil today said that the UPA Government has kept all its promises spelt out in the National Common Minimum Programme
(NCMP).

Lauding the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA), the Bharat Nirman and the Debt waiver schemes, President said several other schemes for upliftment of minorities were also launched. This included new 15-point programme, creation of minority affairs ministry and scholarships for students of minority communities.

New Delhi, Feb 12 : If Congress goes into the forthcoming Lo

New Delhi, Feb 12: In her address to the joint sitting of Parliament, President Pratibha Patil today said the country witnessed terrorist attacks in several cities with growing levels of sophistication and assistance from outside the country.

Calling the attacks in Mumbai as a deliberate plan to retard the country''s economic progress, Patil said terrorists from Pakistan have continued to attack India despite solemn commitments given by Islamabad at the highest level that it will not allow its territory to be used against India in any manner.

New Delhi, Feb 12 : External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee today called for comprehensive strategy to effectively deal with the menace of terrorism.

Inaugurating a conference on security governance and global economic crisis here, Mukherjee said terrorism sponsored from across the border will be eliminated with all the means at India''s command and no effort will be spared in this regard.

"The government is aware that security is not only of paramount importance in the life of the nation but also deeply intertwined with the running of the business and that is why terrorist from Pakistan chose targets that included centres of Business and global corporate visitors in Mumbai," he added.

New Delhi, Feb 12 : Archaeologists have found a 2,600-year-old mummy in Sakkara, Egypt, which is encased in a limestone sarcophagus.

This sarcophagus was found inside a burial chamber 11 meters below the ground, which contained another 30 mummies, wooden coffins, and limestone sarcophagi.

According to the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA), the sarcophagus dates back to 600 B. C.

The 2,600-year-old mummy was found "in the most beautiful condition" in the sarcophagus when it was opened, said SCA Secretary General Zahi Hawwas.

Hawwas believes that inside the mummy, there could be some 100 amulets, most of them in gold.

New Delhi, Feb 12 : The Budget Session of Parliament will commence from today.

President Pratibha Patil will address a joint session of both Houses of Parliament at 11:00 a. m. today.

The Interim Railway Budget for 2009-10 will be presented in the Lok Sabha on Friday. The Interim General Budget for 2009-10 will be presented on February 16.

The session will provide ten sittings spread over a period of 15 days.