New Delhi, July 24 : Terming the decision of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) to expel Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee as unfortunate, party General Secretary Prakash Karat today said that it had no other option but to take disciplinary action against the veteran Marxist.

Chatterjee’s refusal to quit the post after a party directive prompted it to take such action, said Karat.

Addressing a press conference here, Karat said it was not a “happy thing” to do.

New Delhi, July 24 : An 800-year-old footprint has been unearthed at one of Canada’s top archaeological sites in the western Manitoba Province.

New Delhi, July 24 : Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh met Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee at his residence early this morning.

The meeting held a day after the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) expelled him from the party for refusing to follow the party''s advice regarding resignation from the Speaker''s post.

The discussion between the two is still unknown.

Jayanti Natarajan, a Congress spokesperson said that Chatterjee''s expulsion would have no bearing on his continuation as Speaker.

New Delhi, July 23 : Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta today reviewed the progress of the enquiry and action being taken in regard to the large scale purchase of land along the international border areas of Rajasthan.

This was a follow up meeting on the decisions taken and directions given in the Union Home Secretary’s earlier meeting held in February 2008.

Media and others reported large-scale land transactions in the border areas of Rajasthan. Senior state government, security and enforcement agencies officials attended today’s meeting.

New Delhi, July 23 : External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee today said that next step on the Indo-US civil nuclear deal will be taken after IAEA Board of Governors approves of the India-specific safeguards agreement.

“There is no question of fast-tracking or slow-tracking (the nuclear deal). It is a process which is on,” Mukherjee told reporters here.

“I understand that the IAEA Board (of Governors) is meeting on August one,” he added.

The IAEA Board is meeting to consider approval of the India-specific safeguards agreement, which has been handed over to it recently.

New Delhi, July 23 : In a major drive to modernise the armed forces and expand its aviation wing, the Defence Ministry will issue a request for proposal (RFP) to procure 197 helicopters on Thursday.

The armed forces will modernise their helicopter fleet by 2010 by replacing the age-old Cheetah and Chetak, which have been in service for last 40 years.

The Defence Ministry will issue the RFP for procurement of 197 helicopters on Thursday and it is expected that the public sector Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will develop the remaining 115 helicopters. The proposed procurement is worth Rs. 3000 crore.