For the second time in two days, President Barack Obama has said the US is facing stiff competition from India and cannot succeed if the country continues to produce more scientists and engineers than America.

Anand Sharma was tonight made the new Commerce and Industry Minister as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expanded his Council of Ministers inducting 59 more and giving portfolios of HRD to Kapil Sibal, Law to Veerappa Moily and Road Transport and Highways to Kamal Nath.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today expressed the hope that government would be able to present the budget in due time to avoid uncertainties.

Shortly after being entrusted with the External Affairs portfolio, S M Krishna today said Pakistan should take necessary steps to dismantle the terror infrastructure there which he said was a "stumbling block".

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and French President Nicolas Sarkozy today today congratulated Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on his assumption of office for the second term and conveyed their interest to push forward bilateral strategic ties.