Politics

Hundreds march in New Delhi for gay pride

New Delhi, Dec 01 (ANI): Hundreds of people danced, sang and cheered in a gay pride parade in New Delhi, the first since the Supreme Court reinstated a ban on gay sex in the country. Participants chanting "Azaadi" (freedom) and shouting slogans such as "I'm gay, that's OK" carried banners and placards demanding their right to love. Some participants said that they had little faith that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government would revoke Section 377. A poster at the parade depicted PM Modi's face filled in with the colours of the rainbow along with the caption "I love Amit Shah".

Dec 1, 2014

One dead as supporters of TMC and BJP clash in West Bengal

Birbhum, Dec 01 (ANI): A clash broke out between supporters of Trinamool Congress (TMC) party and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in West Bengal, killing one and injuring two others. The clash started over the issue of water supply in a paddy field in Baruipara village in Birbhum district. Police rushed to the area and started patrolling to check people from further conflicting. Earlier this month, TMC supporters had clashed with workers of BJP's youth wing in Jalpaiguri district after the BJP had called a 12-hour strike to support demands of tea garden employees for raising wages.

Dec 1, 2014

India-China-Bangladesh-Myanmar corridor to boost trade, says Bangladesh PM's energy advisor

Palatana, Dec 1 (ANI): Prime Minister's energy affairs adviser Tawfiq-E-Elahi Chowdhury said that India-China-Bangladesh-Myanmar economic corridor was planned to boost trade and economic co-operation in the region. Chowdhury said it was discussed at South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit in Nepal last week. Chowdhury said India and Bangladesh would further come closer under the leadership of two prime ministers in the fields of connectivity, energy, trade and business sectors.

Dec 1, 2014

Manohar Parrikar says soldiers more important than weapons

Panaji, Dec 1 (ANI): Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said that the soldiers are more important than the weapons they carry, while addressing a news briefing in Goa. Meanwhile, Parrikar also vouched for better support to soldiers by providing them with proper family accommodation, which can solve the problem of isolation. However, Parrikar further stated that they cannot intervene in inter-personal relationships at every point, but can have a setup that can look into the matter.

Dec 1, 2014

Social activists demand apology from America for Bhopal gas tragedy

Bhopal, Dec 1 (ANI): Social activists demanded immediate scientific assessment of environmental pollution caused by the Bhopal gas tragedy three decades back. Social activist Satinath Sarangi said that a scientific assessment of air, water and ground quality should be done to address the situation. Sarangi added that the waste should be removed and disposed of away from the area, and feel that authorities, who now own the site, have fumbled on taking action. Sarangi even demanded an apology from the government of America and extradition of John Macdonald, secretary of Union Carbide.

Dec 1, 2014

Tensions soar after night of clashes in Hong Kong

Police unleash pepper spray and baton charges at students who tried to storm Hong Kong's government headquarters, as tensions soar in the third month of pro-democracy protests. Duration: 01:22

Dec 1, 2014

New Delhi gay pride marches on after shock ruling

Hundreds of gays, lesbians and supporters of gay rights marched through the streets of New Delhi in the first such parade in the capital since the Supreme Court reinstated a colonial-era ban on gay sex. Duration: 02:27

Dec 1, 2014

Ecological funerals in Belgium

Cardboard coffins, organic cotton and wicker urns are just a few of the eco-friendly products on offer at the Alveus funeral cooperative in Brussels which lures customers with it's alternative approach to funerals and cheap prices. Duration: 01:36

Nov 30, 2014

Ukraine rebels lay down law in illegal state

Russian Eduard Yakubovsky is trying to become the new face of justice in east Ukraine. As "Supreme Court" president in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, he's now attempting to set up a legal system in this illegal state. Duration: 00:47

Nov 30, 2014

MOSE system protects Venice against floods

A project designed to protect Venice from flooding was tested as part of the Experimental Electromechanical Module (Mose). Rows of barriers can isolate Venice's lagoon from the Adriatic sea when tide reaches above about a meter. Duration: 00:33

Nov 30, 2014

Pope, Orthodox Patriarch pledge to support Mideast Christians

Pope Francis and Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I on Sunday made a joint pledge to support Christians in the Middle East, saying they could not let Christianity be driven out of the region. Duration: 00:47

Nov 30, 2014

How Hosni Mubarak's Release is Symbolic of Egypt's Political Turbulence

Hosni Mubarak's release from charges of corruption and murder is symbolically and literally a result of the African country's return to military dictatorship

Nov 30, 2014

Students raise awareness in Chennai on eve of World AIDS Day

Chennai, Nov 30 (ANI): Students held posters and raised awareness on the eve of World AIDS Day at a railway platform in Chennai city on Sunday. December 01 is celebrated as World AIDS Day and on this occasion a non-governmental organisation, 'Indian Development Foundation', organised an awareness programme at Chennai Egmore railway station. Manager of the NGO, Sreeram said that such programmes help in creating awareness on the disease and assists infected persons to lead a normal life. He also thanked the government for helping the NGO in various ways by providing support for such events. Meanwhile, scout guide Dhanusree Sadi said that such events were required to create general awareness among the public.

Nov 30, 2014

Petrol price cut by 91 paise and Diesel by 84 paise per litre with effect from midnight

New Delhi, Nov 30 (ANI): Petrol and Diesel prices are to be cut by 91 paise and 84 paise a litre respectively effective from Sunday midnight. Indian Oil Corp announced the reduction in the oil rates on Sunday. In Delhi, petrol price will cost Rs 63.33 a litre as compared to Rs 64.24 per litre previously while in Mumbai the reduction will be 96 paise to Rs 70.95 per litre. Diesel will cost Rs 52.51 a litre in Delhi from Monday as against Rs 53.35 currently while in Mumbai the price will be cut by 93 paise to Rs 60.11 per litre. Rates differ from state to state due to differential local sales tax or VAT rates. This is the seventh consecutive reduction in petrol prices since August and third in diesel rates since October. Meanwhile, the consumers credited the cut in prices to the Narendra Modi government.

Nov 30, 2014

Smriti Irani seeks EU collaboration for open online courses, digital library

New Delhi, Nov 30 (ANI): Education Minister Smriti Irani on Sunday sought collaboration with the European Union in terms of massive open on-line courses system where the country's best institutions will provide undergraduate, graduate and post graduate courses free of cost to all citizens. While addressing a gathering after inaugurating the European Higher Education Fair in New Delhi on Sunday, Irani said her ministry launched the 'Study Webs of Active-Learning for Young Aspiring Minds' (SWAYAM), a web portal where Massive Open On-line Courses (MOOCs) will be available on all kinds of subjects. On this platform, all the IITs, IIMs, central universities and selected best colleges and institutions of India will provide undergraduate, graduate and post graduate courses free of cost to all citizens of our country, said Irani. Meanwhile, Irani said education will be made instrumental in India so that it carves out a niche in the world economy. She added that collaborative knowledge network is the demand of the 21st century.

Nov 30, 2014