Politics

Operation starts to refloat ill-fated Costa Concordia

A mammoth operation to refloat the shipwrecked Costa Concordia began Monday in Italy, with salvage workers attempting to raise the rusty liner from its watery grave on the shores of a rugged Tuscan island. Duration: 00:39

Jul 14, 2014

BSE closes points 17.37 down on July 14

New Delhi, July 14 (ANI): Trading at the Bombay Stock Exchange today closed 17.37 points down to stand at 25,006.98. At the National Stock Exchange the Nifty closed 5.45 points down to stand at 7,454.15. Oriental Bank and Hindustan Zinc were among the top gainers of Group A with an increase of 5.64% and 5.34% along with Power Finance and Hindalco Inds with an increase of 5.14% and 4.54% respectively, while the top losers of Group A include Mcleod Russel and Pipavav Defence with a decrease of 5.54% and 4.97% along with CRISIL and Gitanjali Gems with a decrease of 4.89% and 4.62% at the close of the markets. The Auto sector is up 165.41 points at 15,319.91 while the banking sector is up 66.37 points at 16,612.58 and the realty sector is down 14.87 points at 1,891.16. The Indian currency is 0.33% up at Rs 60.13 per dollar.

Jul 14, 2014

Politicos on Vaidik-Hafiz Saeed meet

New Delhi, July 14 (ANI): Political leaders on Monday reacted over Ramdev's close aide and senior journalist Ved Pratap Vaidak's meeting with 26/11 terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed. BJP leader and Union Broadcast and Information Minister Prakash Javadekar said that Vaidak's meeting with Hafiz Saeed has nothing to do with the government, and added that the whole issue was a politicization of terrorism. NCP leader Tariq Anwar said that a journalist has to meet a lot of people in his profession, and that there should not be any controversy over Vaidak's meeting with Saeed. Meanwhile, Congress said that the government should give clarification over the issue. Meanwhile, the opposition Congress Party created an uproar in the Rajya Sabha over the issue. Though the government clarified that it had nothing to do with it, Congress members, including Anand Sharma continued to insist on the statement saying the matter is related to the security concerns of the country. Amidst noisy scenes, Chairman Mohammad Hamid Ansari adjourned the house first for 15 minutes and then till noon.

Jul 14, 2014

TMC supported TRAI Amendment Bill after opposing, Congress reacts

New Delhi, July 14 (ANI): TMC supported the TRAI Amendment Bill in Lok Sabha on Monday after opposing the bill earlier. Reacting on the same, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said that TMC did a U turn. The Bill seeks to remove a legal hurdle in appointment of former chairman of telecom regulatory body Nripendra Misra as principal secretary to the Prime Minister.

Jul 14, 2014

Kim Kardashian looking for new house in NYC

New Delhi, July 14 (ANI): Kim Kardashian has revealed that she is looking for a new home in New York City after she reportedly revealed that she's hoping to sell her 11 million dollars Bel Air home very soon. She wrote on her blog that she went apartment hunting in NYC with Simon Huck and her mom Kris Jenner and sister Kendall came too, media reported. She added that it was crazy to see the difference between Los Angeles real estate and NYC real-estate.

Jul 14, 2014

Gay and lesbian couples have happier children: Study

New Delhi, July 14 (ANI): A new study has found that kids who have two moms or dads are happier than the ones who have a mom and dad as parents. University of Melbourne researchers surveyed 315 same-sex parents, with a total of 500 kids, and found that children of such parents beat the general population by 6 percent in terms of health and family cohesion, a leading daily reported. Lead researcher Simon Crouch, who himself is parent to two children with his male partner, said the study was a measure that analysed how well the families got along, and it seemed that same-sex-parent families and their kids did really well, which had positive impacts on child health.

Jul 14, 2014

Beyonce, Jay-Z attend couple therapy online post cheating rumors

New Delhi, July 14 (ANI): Beyonce and Jay-Z are allegedly having online marriage counseling, while being on their 'On the Run' tour together, after cheating rumors. The duo was having online and Skype sessions with a therapist, in order to maintain a strong relationship and their bordering-on-pornographic PDA on stage recently showed that it might be working for them, a leading publication reported. A source said that the couple have known their therapist for a long time and were trying to have weekly sessions just to keep communication open and make sure there were no misunderstandings. It's about maintenance rather than trying to fix anything hugely wrong, therefore they both were happy and their daughter, Blue Ivy, remains their absolute priority.

Jul 14, 2014

Israeli air strikes continue in Gaza, India stage protest over ongoing killings

Gaza/ Srinagar, July 14 (ANI): Residents inspected heavy damage to several buildings and a mosque in the Gaza Strip on Monday and residents took refuge in UNRWA-run schools after Israeli air strikes on the coastal territory continues. Israel appeared to hold off on a threatened escalation of its week-old Gaza Strip barrage despite having balked at Western calls for a ceasefire with an equally defiant Hamas. A U.N. aid agency said around a quarter of Beit Lahiya's 70,000 residents fled, fearing Israeli attacks which, according to Gaza officials, have killed more than 166 people, most of them non-combatants, since the cross-border shelling war began.

Jul 14, 2014

Paid News Case: Ashok Chavan Gets EC Notice; Questions Indian Media Ethics

Election Commission served show-cause notice to former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan.

Jul 14, 2014

Modi to Reach Brazil Today; BRICS Summit to Begin Tomorrow

Important points about Modi's Brazil visit for the BRICS Summit

Jul 14, 2014

Lok Sabha passes TRAI Amendment Bill even as Congress stages walkout

New Delhi, July 14 (ANI): The TRAI Amendment Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha on Monday even as the Congress staged a walkout protesting against it. The Bill seeks to remove a legal hurdle in appointment of former chairman of telecom regulatory body Nripendra Misra as principal secretary to the Prime Minister. The BJP defended the amendment saying it is based on merits while the Congress criticised the government for showing undue haste in bringing a person specific law. The TMC, NCP and the BSP supported the amendment.

Jul 14, 2014

Gadkari says will use global technologies in transport and reduce import

New Delhi, July 14 (ANI): Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari on Monday said that planning is going on to use global technologies in transport and reduce fuel import in India. He added that economy needs to be stabilized and said that soon India will be using technology of international standards.

Jul 14, 2014

Soccer fans in India celebrate Germany_s World Cup win

Kolkata/ Thiruvananthapuram/ Panaji/ New Delhi, July 14 (ANI): Indian soccer lovers broke into impromptu street dance to celebrate Germany_s victory over Argentina in a pulsating FIFA World Cup final where they became the first European nation to lift the trophy in the South American continent. Germany fans across India rejoiced on Monday as they watched their team crowned world champions after a world class Mario Goetze volley in extra time fired Germany to a fourth World Cup crown with a 1-0 victory over Argentina leaving the South Americans and their captain Lionel Messi heartbroken. After watching the trophy ceremony, Germany fans across India emerged ready to party into the night. Soccer fans in Kolkata celebrated Germany_s triumph by bursting crackers and dancing on the streets.

Jul 14, 2014

Devotees throng temples on first Shravan Monday

Haridwar /Gorakhpur / New Delhi, July 14 (ANI): Thousands of devout Hindu thronged the temples of Hindu lord Shiva across the country and offered special prayers to mark the first auspicious Monday of month long 'Shravan' festival. The devotees gathered in large numbers offering milk, curd, ghee, honey and holy water to Lord Shiva in wee hours of morning. Long queues of people were waiting with assortment of religious offerings such as incense sticks, red vermilion and flowers. Pathak Sharma, a priest of the temple in Haridwar said on Monday that during the auspicious Shravan month pilgrims have to offer different forms of liquids to Lord Shiva for their wish-fulfilment.

Jul 14, 2014

Sushmita Sen inaugurates Senco Gold and Diamonds 1st store in Mumbai

Mumbai, July 14 (ANI): Bollywood actor and former beauty queen Sushmita Sen was recently spotted inaugurating Senco Gold and Diamonds store in Mumbai along with Bengali actor and their brand ambassador Proshenjit Chatterjee. On the occasion Sushmita said she is always proud to be associated with anything related to Sen's. Senco Gold Jewelers is one of the oldest jewelry brands in India that was started in 1938. With a heritage of 76 years in Eastern India, Senco Gold is now planning to expand all over India.

Jul 14, 2014