Politics

Cold weather conditions disrupt normal life in northern India

Lucknow/ Shimla, Jan 16 (ANI): Northern India continues to reel under cold weather conditions. Normal life has been disrupted in many northern states due to thick fog and extreme cold. Dense fog has been reported in most of Northern India which directly affected several train and flight services. People were seen sitting near bonfires to keep themselves warm. The sudden dip in temperatures is said to have been caused by snowfall in upper regions of northern India and has adversely impacted the upper half of the country. Temperature in hill town of Shimla in Himachal Pradesh has dropped below zero degree due to the snowfall. Snowfall in states like Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh has a direct impact in other northern states like Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.

Jan 16, 2015

Security stepped up in Kashmir ahead of Obama's visit

Srinagar, Jan 16 (ANI): Security has been strengthened in Jammu and Kashmir in view of US President Barack Obama's visit later in January for Republic Day celebrations. Inspector General of paramilitary Central Police Reserve Force (CRPF), SK Bhandari, said that the force was leaving no stone unturned to ensure full-proof security. Bhandari said infiltration bids are likely to rise in the state ahead of the high-profile visit. Reportedly, the security forces on Friday captured a dreaded terrorist belonging to the Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) from Choora area in Jammu and Kashmir's Sopore district. The LeT militant, identified as Abu Mawya, was reportedly hiding inside the house of a Sarpanch in the Choora locality from where he was arrested by the Special Operation Group.

Jan 16, 2015

Court sends six men accused of raping a Japanese student to jail till Jan 30

Kolkata, Jan 16 (ANI): A court on Friday sent six men accused of gang raping a 23-year-old Japanese student to jail till January 30. The six accused, Mohammad Sabir, Washim Khan, Sahid Iqbal, Mohammad Wasim, Javed Khan and Sajid Khan, were produced before a court in Kolkata. Kolkata police busted a racket of tour guides, who duped Japanese students and tourists. Three tour guides lured a Japanese student and took her to Gaya city in Bihar, where they were joined by three more people, and then gang-raped her and looted her of rupees 25,000. The Japanese tourist alleged that she was raped on November 23, 2014 and a complaint was filed on November 26 in Kolkata.

Jan 16, 2015

Bhutan PM Tobgay visits Buddhist pilgrimage centre Sarnath in Uttar Pradesh

Sarnath, Jan 16 (ANI): Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay visited the Buddhist pilgrimage centre Sarnath in Uttar Pradesh on Friday. Tobgay visited Sarnath Archaeological Museum, which houses the findings and excavations at the archaeological site of Sarnath. The main attraction of the museum is Ashoka pillar which is the national emblem of India. Sarnath, located at about 10 km from Varanasi, is the place where Buddha chose to deliver his first sermon. Tobgay is on a nine-day official visit to India at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's invitation. He had also participated in 'Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors Summit' in Gandhinagar on Sunday. The visiting dignitary also held talks with Indian leaders before embarking on a visit to some historical places.

Jan 16, 2015

Moral Policing: Couple brutally thrashed by hooligans in Maharashtra

Latur, Jan 16 (ANI): In a shocking incident of moral policing, a young couple was beaten brutally by Ganimi Kawa organisation in a park after being spotted by the group in Latur district of Maharashtra. According to reports, the city police has taken the matter into consideration and registered a case against 4 people of the organisation including Balaji Godse, the head of the group. Ganimi Kawa is a rural-based organisation which involves in moral policing. Local police has registered a case against the accused. The assault was filmed by the gang on a phone and circulated on WhatsApp to shame the victim in her village.

Jan 16, 2015

Saradha scam: Madan Mitra's judicial custody extended till Jan 30

Kolkata, Jan 16 (ANI): A court on Friday extended the judicial custody of West Bengal Transport Minister Madan Mitra till January 30. Mitra was arrested in connection with the Saradha scam. After hearing both prosecution and the defence, the court rejected Mitra's bail plea and extended his custody by 14 days. He was presented in the court of additional chief judicial magistrate H. Mukherjee on the expiry of his earlier judicial remand.

Jan 16, 2015

Delhi Elections 2015: Ex-AAP Leader Shazia Ilmi Joins BJP

Ilmi however said that it was her decision to not to contest the upcoming Delhi Polls and she hoped the party would respect that.

Jan 16, 2015

Harishankar Brahma Takes Charge as Chief Election Commissioner

Harishankar Brahma assumed charge as the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) on Friday and said the first priority was to conduct the Delhi assembly polls in a "free and fair" manner.

Jan 16, 2015

Nigerian president visits Boko Haram heartland

Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday met survivors of what is thought to be Boko Haram's worst attack in its six-year insurgency, in a surprise visit to the troubled northeast. Duration: 01:00

Jan 16, 2015

Londoners queue for Charlie Hebdo and 'right to offend'

Londoners queued up from as early as 3.30 am to get their hands on a copy of French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo after the 'survivors edition' went on sale in the capital. Duration: 01:08

Jan 16, 2015

Pope demands Philippine leaders end inequalities

Pope Francis demands leaders in the Philippines end "scandalous social inequalities" and calls on them to show integrity and reject corruption. Duration: 00:59

Jan 16, 2015

Thousands join anti-government protest in Lima

Thousands of young men and women march through the streets of Lima to protest the government's new Youth Labor Law. Duration: 00:55

Jan 16, 2015

Hong Kong student leaders turn themselves in to police

Student protest leaders including the teenage face of the pro-democracy movement, Joshua Wong, turn themselves in to police as Hong Kong authorities target prominent figures who spearheaded mass rallies. Duration: 01:00

Jan 16, 2015

Former AAP leader Shazia Ilmi joins BJP, says it is an opportunity to serve people

New Delhi, Jan 16 (ANI): Former AAP leader Shazia Ilmi joined the Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday. The announcement of Shazia joining the BJP was made at a press conference in the national headquater, which was attended by Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhyay, Shazia Ilmi and other leaders. Speaking on the occasion, Shazia said that she is thankful to everyone for giving her this opportunity and that this is an opportunity to serve the nation and its people. Shazia further stated that she doesn't have the desire to fight polls.

Jan 16, 2015