Politics

Flights, trains delayed as thick fog envelops New Delhi

New Delhi, Jan 08 (ANI): Extreme cold weather conditions continue in New Delhi. Dense fog enveloped the national capital New Delhi on Thursday delaying trains and flights. In New Delhi, passengers were seen waiting at the airport for long hours as their flights were rescheduled due to heavy fog. Dense fog affected the train traffic as well. Railway stations swarmed with passengers waiting to board their trains. Due to extreme cold weather conditions, trains are running late from eight to 10, or even 20 hours.

Jan 8, 2015

Hunt goes on for Charlie Hebdo killers

French security forces launch a massive manhunt for two brothers suspected of killing 12 people in an Islamist attack on a satirical weekly in Paris. Duration:01:57

Jan 8, 2015

Sakshi Maharaj Has No Regrets For 'Hindu Women Comment'

BJP's Sakshi Maharaj had called on Hindu women to have at least four children to "protect" their religion.

Jan 8, 2015

Time for Shashi Tharoor to speak the truth: Swamy

New Delhi, Jan 08 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy on Thursday said it is now time for former union minister and Congress leader Shashi Tharoor to speak the truth in the case of her wife Sunanda Pushkar Tharoor's death. According to reports, Delhi Police had earlier on Wednesday issued a legal notice to Shashi Tharoor asking him to join the murder probe of his wife Sunanda Pushkar at the earliest. Delhi's Police Commissioner BS Bassi had said on Wednesday that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to carry forward the probe in the case. Bassi also said that the police is as of now is proceeding according to the action plan, and added that every aspect is being examined carefully.

Jan 8, 2015

Modi inaugurates 13th Pravasi Bhartiya Diwas in Gandhinagar

Gandhinagar, Jan 08 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the 13th edition of'Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas' in Gandhinagar on Thursday. About 4000 NRIs from 58 countries are in the city to attend the annual fest that brings together members of the Indian diaspora to engage and discuss investing in India. Earlier he launched the 'Dandi Kutir', a unique exhibition depicting various stages of Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi's life and work. The prime minister is likely to push the programs like 'Jan Dhan Yojana', 'Make-in-India', 'Swachh Bharat', 'Digital India' and 'Smart Cities' among the Indian Diaspora.

Jan 8, 2015

Police say no prisoners languishing in jails of Punjab after Punjab CM's letter demanding release

Chandigarh/Poonch, Jan 08 (ANI): Deputy General of Police in Punjab, Sumedh Singh Saini, denied claims that there are prisoners languishing in the state jails despite having completed their sentences. Earlier, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal caused a flutter by seeking early release of 13 militants, including the assassins of former Chief Minister of Punjab, Beant Singh. Badal's request comes after a resident of Punjab, Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa, went on a hunger strike in November 2014 demanding the release of six convicts, including the assassins of Beant Singh. Saini said not even a single person is languishing in Punjab prisons beyond their term. Khalsa claims that keeping prisoners in prison beyond their period of conviction is a violation of human rights. Meanwhile, various Sikh organisations held a march in Poonch district of northern state of Jammu and Kashmir in support of Khalsa's hunger strike. President of District Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee of Poonch, Narinder Singh, said they are hopeful the memorandum will be forwarded to Prime Minister's Office (PMO) at the earliest.

Jan 8, 2015

The place where I spoke was not a political stage, let bygone be bygone: Sakshi Maharaj on'4 kids' r

New Delhi, Jan 08 (ANI): BJP parliamentarian Sakshi Maharaj on Thursday said his remark that Hindu women should have at least four children to "protect" their religion, was not made on a political stage and therefore it should not be given so much of importance. He further asked to let bygone be bygone adding that he is a sincere follower of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP. Sakshi Maharaj's remark that Hindu women should have at least four children to protect the religion has come under attack not just by the Opposition but his own party.

Jan 8, 2015

Forest officials rescue tiger caught in fence in Maharashtra

Chandrapur, Jan 08 (ANI): Forest officials in a village in Chandrapur district rescued a tiger that was stuck in a fence bordering a nearby jungle. The tiger which got stuck in the fence at night was growling as he attempted to escape. The spot was very close to the Borda village in the district. Forest officials managed to tranquilise the tiger after a grueling five hours. A forest official, Chand Hande, said they would set him free in the forest. Tigers have long been bordering extinction as they face the dangers of poaching, killings and habitat loss despite government conservation efforts.

Jan 8, 2015

Passengers peeved by shortened route of India-Pak bus service

New Delhi, Jan 08 (ANI): Passengers of the Pakistan-India friendship bus service who arrived in New Delhi termed the shortened route of the bus service inconvenient. In an unprecedented move, Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation decided to restrict the entry of buses running under the Pakistan-India friendship service from Lahore to Delhi till Wagah border due to militant threats. Buses to Delhi will now start from Wagah border instead of Lahore. A passenger said this tweak in the route has put the passengers at risk. Another passenger said the passengers were caught unaware and they were not given any prior information about the change. Reportedly, Pakistan is not taking any chances with regards to security issues after recent incidents.

Jan 8, 2015

Holy Cow & Beef Politics

India is the largest exporter of beef and our export has seen a 16% rise after Modi led BJP government came in to power. The same BJP criticized the previous congress government on beef export, seeking a ban. Mean while in south India a section of people are disappointed and asking the supreme court to revoke and re consider its judgement on banning Jallikattu, a traditional sport sort of thing, that involves taming bulls under certain conditions.

Jan 8, 2015

Coal Minister says coal workers have called off their strike

New Delhi/ Dhanbad, Jan 08 (ANI): Union Coal Minister Piyush Goyal said the workers had called off their strike after the meeting with union leaders. State-owned Coal India Limited struggled to produce and ship less than half of its daily target on the first day of a five-day worker strike that began on Tuesday (January 06), hampering government efforts to reform the country's coal industry and ease its power crisis. Goyal assured the workers that Coal India wouldn't be privatised.

Jan 8, 2015

French envoy says Paris attack was to create sentiment of terror

New Delhi, Jan 08 (ANI): Ambassador of France to India, Francois Richier, said barbaric attack on Paris-based weekly satirical magazine was an attempt to create a sentiment of terror and destroy social fabric in the country. Hooded gunmen stormed the Charlie Hebdo offices known for lampooning radical Islam, killing at least 12 people, including two police officers in the worst militant attack on French soil in recent decades.

Jan 8, 2015

Indian Coast guard rescues injured Filipino off Goa coast

Goa, Jan 08 (ANI): Indian Coast Guard rescued an injured Philippines national on board a vessel in the Arabian Sea, ten miles off western coast of Goa. The coast guard jumped to action when its Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC) in business hub Mumbai received a message from an LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) vessel Mubaraz, which was on her way to UAE from Japan, saying that they had a patient, Alberto Sariano, in critical condition on board. The MRCC then directed the headquarters in Goa to carry out the rescue operation. The Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Indian Coast Guard, Goa region, Manoj Badkar said the coast guard sent out a helicopter to rescue Sariano after the vessel was made to alter its course towards Goa. Sariano was then brought to Vasco da Gama city where he was immediately admitted in a private hospital and given medical treatment. His condition is stable, said Badkar.

Jan 8, 2015

Coal Workers Call off Strike after Meeting with Piyush Goyal

The calling off of the strike midway will come as a welcome relief for the power sector.

Jan 8, 2015

Sri Lanka votes in tightest election in decades

Sri Lanka goes to the polls in its tightest election in decades, with its strongman president battling for survival after accusations of corruption and a failure to bring about national reconciliation. Duration: 00:37

Jan 8, 2015