NEW DELHI - The "vocabulary will be completely Indian" and based on Indian classical dances, says leading Bharatanatyam dancer Anusha Lall about the four-day Ignite Festival of Contemporary Dance that will see leading Indian contemporary dancers and repertories from across the world perform in the capital next week.

BHUBANESWAR - Oriya singer Bhikari Bal, who has sung hundreds of devotional songs, died at a government hospital in Orissa after a prolonged illness. He was 82, family sources said Wednesday.

NEW YORK - Rao S. Anumolu, India-born president and CEO of a technology services company, has been felicitated on winning this year's prestigious Ellis Island Medal of honour, the highest civilian award in the US for the immigrants.

KALAIKUNDA - The Indian Air Force (IAF) is upgrading its capabilities in the northeastern region of the country by revamping eight advance landing grounds and improving major airfields, Air Chief Marshal P.V. Naik said Tuesday.

NEW DELHI - Commending the Monetary Policy Review by the Reserve Bank of India, Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said on Tuesday that the changes announced by the RBI complement the Government's efforts to steer Indian economy to grow better and harness inflation.