Politics

Remembering Nirbhaya: Politicos call for strict action in crimes against women

New Delhi, Dec 16 (ANI): As the nation observes the 2nd anniversary of December 16 gang rape case, politicians cutting across party lines on Tuesday paid an emotional tribute to the physiotherapy student who was brutally gang-raped in New Delhi. They said that although there have been some positive changes in the law since the incident that shook the nation two years ago, incidents of sexual violence against women have still not gone down. On December 16, 2012, a 23-year-old physiotherapy student was brutally gang raped and by six men, including a juvenile, in a bus. The woman later succumbed to grave intestinal injuries at a Singapore hospital, where she had been airlifted for specialised treatment. The four adults accused in the case were awarded them death penalty on September 13, 2013, with the Delhi High Court upholding the death penalty in March 2014. The case is currently with the Supreme Court after the convicts appealed against the judgement.

Dec 16, 2014

4 killed, 4 injured in train-SUV collision in Nawada

New Delhi, Dec 16 (ANI): Four people were killed on Tuesday in a train-SUV collision in Nawada district of Bihar. The incident happened when a Bolero vehicle carrying eight people was crossing an unmanned railway gate and rammed into the Howrah-Gaya Express train. Four others in the car were seriously injured. The injured persons have been admitted to the district hospital for treatment.

Dec 16, 2014

Coal scam: Court rejects Hindalco case closure by CBI, asks to record Manmohan Singh's statement

New Delhi, Dec 16 (ANI): A special court on Tuesday rejected the CBI's closure report involving Hindalco in the coal blocks allocation scam case saying the matter needs more investigation. The court has sought statement of Manmohan Singh, who held charge of coal ministry at the time of allocation.

Dec 16, 2014

Geminids meteor shower lights up skies in China

The Geminids meteor shower lights up the skies over the Changbai Mountains in northeast China.

Dec 16, 2014

Thai sea gypsies embrace modern life after tsunami

The sea gypsies of southern Thailand survived the tsunami ten years ago because of knowledge passed down through the generations.

Dec 16, 2014

Two years post Delhi gang rape case, Delhi police have taken many steps for women safety: BS Bassi

New Delhi, Dec 16 (ANI): Two years post Delhi gang rape case, Police commissioner BS Bassi said that the police have bee taking many steps and new measures for safety of women in the national capital. He said that lots of changes have occurred and steps have been taken so that grievances of the women who come to police are heard effectively and actions are taken in fast pace. Bassi also talked about self defence training and urged that compulsory self defence training for girls be introduced in schools right from the age of seven years. He also said that police department is conducting gender sensitization programmes with the help of NGOs and women activists which has helped a lot.

Dec 16, 2014

BJP Parliamentary meet ends, PM asks ministers to maintain 'good governance'

New Delhi, Dec 16 (ANI): After BJP Parliamentary meet ended on Tuesday, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said that the party discussed on 'good governance day' among many other issues. Naqvi said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Finance Minister Arun Jaitely, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and other senior leaders were present at the event. He went on to say that the party discussed on five way programme to be carried on for 'good governance day' on December 25. Naqvi also said that the PM has asked the ministers to maintain good governance. The prime minister also saluted the martyred army personnel on 'Vijay Diwas'. Meanwhile, talking about the Navodaya Vidyalaya, he said that the schools will remain closed on Christmas day and the essay competition is voluntary.

Dec 16, 2014

Conversion row: Opposition demands PM Modi's statement

New Delhi, Dec 16 (ANI): The opposition on Tuesday continued its demand for a statement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the conversion row and a controversial statement made by BJP MP Yogi Adityanath on the Ayodhya issue.

Dec 16, 2014

At least 57 militants surrender in Imphal

Imphal, Dec 16 (ANI): At least 57 rebels belonging to different outfits surrendered along with their weapons before Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh. Huge cache of arms and ammunitions surrendered by the militants were displayed to the media persons in capital city of Imphal. Principal Secretary, Suresh Babu, said that rebels have taken the right decision to change their lives and tread on to the path of peace.

Dec 16, 2014

Manohar Parrikar & service chiefs pay tribute to martyrs on 'Vijay Diwas'

New Delhi, Dec 16 (ANI): As the nation remembers the martyrs today on Vijay Diwas, who laid down their lives during 1971 India-Pakistan war, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar along with of Army Chief General Dalbir Singh Suhag, Navy Chief RK Dhowan and Air Chief Arup Raha paid tributes at Amar Jawan Jyoti. On this day, the chief of the Pakistani forces, General Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi, along with 93,000 troops, had surrendered unconditionally to the allied forces consisting of Indian Army and Mukti Bahini, led by General Jagjit Singh Aurora in Dhaka after their defeat in the war. Special programmes have been organised at the headquarters of the Eastern Command at the Fort William in Kolkata to celebrate the day.

Dec 16, 2014

Nothing changed other than increase in rape cases: Delhi gang rape victim's parents

New Delhi, Dec 16 (ANI): Two years after a 23-year-old girl was gang raped in Delhi, the victim's mother says number of rape cases and complaints lodged by victims has gone up but the change is yet to be seen. The victim, a physiotherapist student, was repeatedly raped and tortured in a moving bus in New Delhi by five men and a teenager and then thrown off the bus bleeding onto the street. She later died of injuries. The day, December 16 marks the second anniversary of the fatal incident. Meanwhile, Delhi gang rape victim's father said the government should take strict action against the culprits and punish them at the earliest.

Dec 16, 2014

Family of Indian hostage relieved as Sydney siege ends

Guntur/New Delhi, Dec 16 (ANI): Family members of Indian hostage took a sigh of relief after the news came of safe exit of their son in Sydney cafe siege. Infosys employee, Viswakanth Ankireddy was among the several hostages who were safely evacuated from the cafe after being held there at a gunpoint. He is a resident of Guntur district in Andhra Pradesh. Family members were elated to see Ankireddy coming out of the cafe on television, a dramatic end to a standoff that had dragged on for more than 16 hours. Meanwhile, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin congratulated the Australian authority for handling the grave situation. Australian security forces opened fire as they stormed the Sydney cafe where several hostages were being held. Media said that two people, including the gunman, had been killed.

Dec 16, 2014

Petrol & Diesel prices cut by Rs 2 per litre each

New Delhi/ Mumbai, Dec 16 (ANI): Petrol and diesel prices were on Tuesday cut by Rs 2 per litre each as international oil prices slumped to five-year low. This is the eighth straight reduction in petrol prices since August, and fourth in diesel since October. New rates were effective from midnight, Indian Oil Corp, the nation's largest fuel retailer had announced. In Delhi, petrol now cost Rs 61.33 a litre, the lowest in 44 months, as compared to previous price of Rs 63.33. The price has been cut by Rs 2.09 a litre in Mumbai to Rs 68.86. Diesel now cost Rs 50.51 a litre in Delhi, the lowest since July 2013, as against Rs 52.51 previously. In Mumbai, it costs Rs 57.91 per litre as compared to earlier Rs 60.11. Meanwhile, consumers in both Mumbai and the national capital were elated by the cut in prices and credited Modi government for the same.

Dec 16, 2014

One killed in an explosion in Imphal

Imphal, Dec1 6 (ANI): One person was killed and several others injured when a bomb exploded in Imphal. The explosion occurred in a busy market place in the city. Nobody has claimed responsibility for the blast. Manipur Deputy Chief Minister G Gaikhangam visited the hospital to enquire about the injured. Police have combed the area and launched investigation.

Dec 16, 2014

Police get details of pro-ISIS twitter account for clues

Bengaluru, Dec 16 (ANI): A popular pro-Islamic State Twitter account traced to an Indian engineer was back up on Monday (December 15) as police combed through tens of thousands of followers to identify sympathisers of the militant group. Mehdi Masoor Biswas, who police said was behind the @ShamiWitness Twitter handle, has cooperated with investigators since he was picked up from his one-room apartment in Bengaluru city on December 13, the government said. Mehdi's account was disabled at that time and it was not clear how it became active again. Police said the account was part of their investigation but not under their control. Security officials said @ShamiWitness had been reactivated to determine if Mehdi was a cheerleader or an online recruiter for Islamic State.

Dec 16, 2014