Politics

Russia's only independent TV channel forced to work from a flat

Against a backdrop of flickering news images, bathed in cool white light, the anchor of Russia's only independent TV channel Dozhd works out of a flat. Duration: 00:57

Dec 24, 2014

Sanjay Dutt accused in Mumbai blast out on 14-day furlough

Mumbai, Dec 24 (ANI): Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt, who is serving sentence in the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts case, was released from the Yerwada Central Jail in Pune on Wednesday. Dutt was granted 14-day furlough by the prison authorities on Tuesday. After being released, the actor departed for his home in Mumbai in the afternoon. Dutt, who is serving a five-year sentence for illegal possession and destruction of an AK-56 rifle before the 1993 Mumbai blasts, had applied for leave in November this year to be able to spend Christmas and New Year with his family. Fourteen-day furlough can be extended for another two weeks and with strong reason, can even be stretched for 120 days. The initial two-week furlough, available annually, is counted as part of the prison term.

Dec 24, 2014

Separatist leader Yasin Malik sits on hunger strike, protests against atrocities

Srinagar, Dec 24 (ANI): Separatist leader Yasin Malik on Wednesday continued his hunger strike in Srinagar against what he alleged police highhandedness. Malik, chief of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF), has been demanding the release of several youth detained by police during state elections. While a record 65 percent voted in five-phase elections, many tried to boycott the polls by staging protests and hurling stones at security personnel, forcing the latter to make arrests. India has long struggled to bring Kashmiris into the democratic mainstream and elections in the past have been marred by violence and low turn-out. Political leaders in Kashmir blame the federal government for failing to find a political solution as violence ebbed in the past few years.

Dec 24, 2014

Politicos react as Govt bypasses upper house to push through Insurance bill

New Delhi/Kolkata, Dec 24 (ANI): Politicos reacted on Wednesday after Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said that the government has decided to recommend promulgation of insurance amendment laws to President Pranab Mukherjee. Congress leader Rashid Alvi said that it shows the government has no respect for the parliament. CPI (M) leader Sitaram Yechury said that he had written a letter to President Pranab Mukherjee appealing him not to let the ordinance pass. BSP leader Sudhindra Bhadauria said that this way of ordinance is not in favor of democracy. TMC leader Derek O' Brien also called it 'undemocratic'.

Dec 24, 2014

India gears up for Christmas celebration

Vadodara/ Coimbatore/ Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 24 (ANI): A day before Christmas, people across India are geared up to celebrate the festival with pomp and gaiety. Hundreds of people from different communities took part in a colourful parade in Vadodara. Wearing innovative Santa caps, carrying hand made greeting cards, posters and riding on the sledge, youngsters dressed as Santas were seen singing carols and making merry to celebrate the birth of Jesus. One of the organizers, Alexis, said the main aim of the parade was to solicit the participation of all communities. In Coimbatore city, students have organised colourful patterns to mark the occasion. They have made a giant representation of Santa and a Christmas tree using 100 kilograms of salt and different colours. A student, Hariprasad, said the art work will be on display till the 2nd of January next year.

Dec 24, 2014

Public sector units collaborate to revive shut fertiliser units

New Delhi, Dec 24 (ANI): Four major Public Sector Units (PSUs) signed joint venture agreements on Wednesday in an effort to increase urea output and revive closed fertilizer units. The four PSUs - GAIL (Gas Authority of India Limited), Coal India Limited (CIL), Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers (RCF) and Fertilizer Corporation of India (FCIL) - signed agreements in New Delhi to set up an Integrated Coal Gasification cum Fertilizer and Ammonium Nitrate complex at Talcher in Odisha. Coal Minister Piyush Goyal, who was also present for agreement singing, said that the deadline for starting the units was March 31, 2019. Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister, Ananth Kumar, hoped that the country would soon start exporting urea. India's fertiliser requirement is 32 million tonnes annually whereas the production is 22 million tonnes.

Dec 24, 2014

Christians gather in Bethlehem ahead of Christmas mass

Christians gather in Bethlehem ahead of a Christmas midnight mass at the end of a year that saw tensions between Israelis and Palestinians soar in the occupied West Bank. Duration: 00:50

Dec 24, 2014

Cambodia jails homeless man for killing Dutch woman, daughter

A Cambodian court sentences a homeless man to 13 years in jail for stabbing to death a Dutch woman who worked for the UN and her two-year-old daughter during an attempted robbery at their Phnom Penh home. Duration: 00:36

Dec 24, 2014

A Christmas Controversy - Inane Express - 04

Off late, Modi’s ministers and allies are in the news much for controversy than for performance. Congress have only one Rahul Gandhi, while BJP… so many! This shows one thing. It’s not only the leader that matters, but also his pupils. PM Modi to warn them not to cross the Lakshman Rekha. But whose line is it anyway?

Dec 24, 2014

Top 5 Smartphones launched in India in 2014

New Delhi, Dec 23 (ANI): The year 2014 can be named as the year of smartphones. And, there is no doubt that smartphones are getting bigger and better with time.So, here is a list of top five smartphones launched in the year 2014.Apple iPhone 6, the much talked about smartphone of the year finally marked its presence in the big smartphone league in 2014, and that too with a bang. The 4.7-in iPhone 6 combine three of Apple's favorite things: light, thin and aluminum. Next in line was Samsung's Galaxy Note 4, device embraces it's extraordinary 5.7- inch Quad HD Super AMOLED display along with S Pen with a superior viewing experience that provides users with a unique and powerful mobile experience.Motorola Moto G (Second generation) this Android Lollipop device is probably the best budget smartphone of the year which offers all required features and is not very heavy on users pocket.Although this year Sony Xperia Z3 sales got suppressed because of other competitive smartphones but it marked its presence and made some shoppers go wow with its exceptional features.Lastly we talk about the smartphone that entered the Indian market and brought a revolution in the online sale scenario as Xiomi Mi3 was available exclusively through Flipkart and every time the sale started all smartphones

Dec 24, 2014

First Look of movie 'Hawaizaada'

Mumbai, Dec 24 (ANI): The cast and crew of upcoming Bollywood biopic 'Hawaizaada' launched its trailer in India's entertainment capital Mumbai on Tuesday. 'Hawaizaada' is based on the life of Indian scientist Shivkar Bapuji Talpade who has been credited to have constructed India's first airplane. The film has been set in Mumbai, 1895. The film also stars Mithun Chakraborty and actress Pallavi Sharda. Pallavi, an Indian-Australian actress, said she was honoured to be in the historical movie at this stage in her career. The film has been directed by Bollywood writer-director Vibhu Puri and is slated for release on 30th January, 2015.

Dec 24, 2014

BSE closes points 297.85 down on Dec 24

New Delhi, Dec 24 (ANI): Trading at the Bombay Stock Exchange today closed 297.85 points down to stand at 27,208.61. At the National Stock Exchange the Nifty closed 92.90 points down to stand at 8,174.10. JAIPRAKASH ASSOCIATES LTD and UNITECH were among the top gainers of Group A with an increase of 8.96% and 4.87% along with ORIENTAL BANK OF COMMERCE and MAHINDRA & MAHINDRA FINANCIAL SERVICES LTD. with an increase of 4.80% and 4.33% respectively, while the top losers of Group A include PMCFIN and RASOYA PROTEINS LTD. with a decrease of 9.78% and 4.88% along with JETAIRWAYS and PAGE INDUSTRIES LTD with a decrease of 3.30% and 3.28% at the close of the markets. The Auto sector is down 123.14 points at 18,462.55 while the banking sector is down 80.66 points at 21,226.64 and the reality sector is up 17.12 points at 1,519.85. The Indian currency is up 0.35% at Rs 63.50 per dollar.

Dec 24, 2014

Politicos condemn Bodo militant attack, call for strict action against culprits

New Delhi, Dec 24 (ANI): Politicos on Wednesday condemned the attack by Bodo militants in Kokrajhar and Sonitpur districts of Assam in which atleast 40 innocent people were killed. They also called for strict action against the culprits. An indefinite curfew has been imposed in five police station areas of Sonitpur district.

Dec 24, 2014

BJP leaders hail Bharat Ratna for Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Madan Mohan Malaviya

New Delhi, Dec 24 (ANI): Former prime minister and BJP veteran Atal Bihari Vajpayee and freedom fighter Madan Mohan Malaviya will be honoured with the country's highest civilian award the "Bharat Ratna", the government announced on Wednesday. Senior BJP leaders hailed the decision and said that it is a proud moment for them. They said that it was a fitting recognition of the services of the "illustrious stalwarts" to the nation.

Dec 24, 2014