Politics

Blaze ferry towed back to Italy

The burnt-out wreck of the Norman Atlantic ferry is on its way back to Italy, for an inspection aimed at establishing the full scale of the disaster.

Jan 2, 2015

Egyptian homosexuals fear crackdown under al-Sisi

Since the night police stormed into a Cairo bathhouse and dragged out a group of near-naked men, Hassan Sherif fears a widening police crackdown on homosexuals in Egypt.

Jan 2, 2015

Complaint filed against Aamir Khan s PK in Jaipur

Jaipur/ Varanasi, Jan 2 (ANI): Trouble continued for Bollywood actor Aamir Khan's comedy-drama film 'PK' as a First Information Report (FIR) was filed against the movie in Jaipur on Friday for allegedly hurting religious sentiments. Various Hindu organizations have been protesting in different parts of the country for many days against the comedy-drama movie, alleging the movie made fun of Hindu gods and godmen, a charge denied by film director and actors. The protesters tore down posters of the movie and shouted slogans. In some places, effigies of Khan were also burnt. Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police, Mewa Ram, said the investigation in underway.

Jan 2, 2015

Indian army ready to deal with challenges of infiltration

Anantnag, Jan 02 (ANI): Indian army said on Friday that it is ready to deal with the challenges of infiltration.General Officer Commanding (GOC) of Kashmir-based 15 Corps of the Indian army, Lieutenant General Subrata Saha, said irrespective of the number of infiltrators across the border, the army is prepared to fail any infiltration attempts from Pakistan's side. Saha also said that all necessary steps have been taken to be prepared for any disaster in the coming days when it is expected to snow heavily in Kashmir.

Jan 2, 2015

Delhi Police to stress on providing self defence to women

New Delhi, Jan 02 (ANI): Delhi Police Commissioner, BS Bassi, on Friday stressed on women safety and imparting self defence training to them, while addressing an annual news conference in the national capital. Bassi said efforts will be taken to train maximum number of women for self defence. He also invited suggestions from public on how to fight violence against women.

Jan 2, 2015

Saradha scam: Madan Mitra's judicial custody extended

Kolkata, Jan 02 (ANI): A city court on Friday extended the judicial custody of West Bengal Transport Minister and TMC leader Madan Mitra, arrested in the Saradha scam, till Jan 16 while rejecting his bail plea.

Jan 2, 2015

Jailed Australian journalist asks to be deported from Egypt

Jailed Australian journalist Peter Greste has applied to be deported from Egypt, his family says, describing it as the "best option" after a court ordered a retrial of the Al-Jazeera reporter and two colleagues.

Jan 2, 2015

Indonesia vows all out effort to locate AirAsia bodies

Indonesian searchers promised an "all-out effort" Thursday to locate bodies from AirAsia Flight QZ8501 as international investigators joined the hunt for the ill-fated plane.

Jan 2, 2015

Bad weather hampers search for AirAsia plane

A frustrated relative of one of the passengers aboard the AirAsia Flight says they aren't receiving any information from the Indonesian authorities.

Jan 2, 2015

Brazil's Rousseff promises to tackle graft, target growth

Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff embarks on a second term vowing to tackle corruption and revamp the economy without dismantling the social welfare programs that secured her poll triumph.

Jan 2, 2015

Haitians protest on Independence Day

On Haitian Independence Day protesters march through the streets of Port-au-Prince calling for the resignation of the president Michel Martelly.

Jan 2, 2015

Suspicious Pakistan boat blows itself up after Indian Coast Guard chase

New Delhi, Jan 2 (ANI): A suspicious boat carrying explosives was intercepted by Indian Coast Guard in the Arabian Sea near Indo-Pak maritime boundary but it sank after the crew on board set it on fire. The boat was reportedly carrying four suspected terrorists and had begun its journey from Karachi in Pakistan.

Jan 2, 2015

Opposition targets BJP govt over increased ceasefire violations by Pakistan

New Delhi, Jan 2 (ANI): Opposition parties on Friday targeted the BJP government over the increasing number of ceasefire violations by Pakistan at the border. The Home Minister had yesterday reportedly said that whosoever dares to cast an evil eye on India, security forces will give a fitting response. Earlier the Union Defence Minister had also condemned the unprovoked firing by the Pakistan Rangers. The latest ceasefire violation came a day after Islamabad reportedly summoned India's Deputy High Commissioner to the country to register its protest over the alleged killing of four Pakistani Rangers by the BSF in the border areas of Jammu and Kashmir's Samba Sector.

Jan 2, 2015

Temperatures to dip further: IMD

New Delhi, Jan 02 (ANI): India Meteorological Department has forecast more snowfall in the hills as incessant rains lashed parts of northern regions on Friday. The weather office official M Duraiswamy attributed the fresh rains to easterly winds and western disturbances causing moisture in the atmosphere. He also said that the temperatures are likely to fall further after three days and the cold wave will grip northern India once again. The uncertain weather has affected the road movement with long traffic jams reported from several areas in capital New Delhi. Train and air services have also been hit.

Jan 2, 2015

Excise duties on petrol and diesel raised, politicos react

New Delhi, Jan 02 (ANI): The government on Thursday raised excise duty on petrol and diesel by Rs 2 per litre each but retail pump rates will not be increased. Political reactions flowed in on Friday over the government's decision. The third excise duty hike by the government since November will help raise additional revenue of Rs 6,000 crore during the remaining three months of the current 2014-15 financial year as the government took advantage of a slump in global oil prices, to a five-year low, to shore up revenue without stoking inflation.

Jan 2, 2015