Politics

English marks won't be included in merit: Centre on UPSC row

New Delhi, Aug 4 (ANI): Minister of state in the PMO, Jitendra Singh on Monday informed the Lok Sabha that marks of English would not be included for gradation or merit in UPSC exam. The Minister further informed the lawmakers that candidates who appeared in Civil Services exams in 2011 would be given one more attempt in 2015.

Aug 4, 2014

Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes before truce

Ten Palestinians were killed in Israeli strikes throughout the Gaza Strip early Monday, as Israel confirms it has begun withdrawing some troops from the war-torn enclave. Duration: 01:04

Aug 4, 2014

Indian PM visits Nepal temple

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits a temple in Kathmandu during a two-day visit to Nepal aimed at securing energy deals. Duration: 00:33

Aug 4, 2014

Lebanon army buries soldiers after clashes near Syria border

Lebanese troops battled militants near the Syrian border Sunday in a second day of clashes that the army chief said left 10 soldiers dead and 13 missing, possibly held hostage. Duration: 00:37

Aug 4, 2014

Vijay, Suriya Attend Protest over Controversial Article on Jayalalithaa

Several members of the Tamil film industry gathered on Monday to protest against the derogatory remarks about Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa published on Sri Lankan defence ministry's website.

Aug 4, 2014

AP, Telangana Demand Irrigation Water as Water Level at Srisailam Dam Goes up

As water level starts to increase in the Srisailam dam, both Andhra Pradesh (AP) and Telangana have demanded the release of water for irrigation.

Aug 4, 2014

'I will never abandon' Down's baby says Thai surrogate

The Thai surrogate mother of a baby born with Down Syndrome vows to "never abandon" him after the Australian parents reportedly refused to care for him, sparking a moral debate and a cascade of donations for the boy's medical care. Duration: 01:25

Aug 4, 2014

Katie Price to go into _sex toys_ business

New Delhi, Aug 4 (ANI): Katie Price is reportedly planning to launch her own line _ sex toys._ A source told a UK publication that the 36-year-old model, who_s a mum-of-four and is expecting her fifth child, would be going ahead with her new business plan later this year, after the birth of her baby girl, a leading daily reported.Katie, who has been married three times and is estranged from her current husband Kieran Hayler, recently revealed on a radio show that her kids know that Hayler is a sex addict.

Aug 4, 2014

I don_t feel ashamed getting nude for movie roles: Megan Fox

New Delhi, Aug 4 (ANI): Megan Fox has said that nude scenes are just part of being an actress in Hollywood and she doesn_t feel _ashamed_ baring her body for movie roles. Speaking at the _Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles_ press conference in LA, she said that she did not mind doing that stuff, as that had been a part of being an actress in Hollywood since the beginning, a leading daily reported. Megan added that she could not be taken seriously while also wearing a tank top and if one did not take her seriously when she was wearing a tank top because that was others f***ing problem.

Aug 4, 2014

Protest erupts in Kanpur over Aamir Khan_s _PK poster_

Kanpur, Aug 04 (ANI): Protest erupted in Kanpur city of Uttar Pradesh over the obscene poster of Bollywood Actor Aamir Khan for his upcoming flick _PK_. The film_s poster show Khan standing nude on a railway track with a strategically placed vintage boombox. Protesters marched holding placards and shouting slogans against Khan alleging that the Bollywood actor has shamed the _civilized Indian society_ with his poster. Meanwhile, the agitated protesters also burnt the movie poster showing anger and showed disappointment on such actions by Khan. Earlier, a case under Section 292 of the IPC has been filed against Khan for the same.

Aug 4, 2014

PM Narendra Modi meets leaders of political party in Nepal

Kathmandu, Aug 04 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday met Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPM-UML) Chairman KP Oli while on his two day visit to the neighbouring nation. Modi also met Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal as his visit in Nepal ends today. As his last few meetings, Modi also met leaders of Madhesi parties in Nepal and had conversations with them. Modi had earlier in the day offered prayers at Pashupatinath Temple and later tweeted saying, _Felt extremely blessed on offering prayers at the Pashupatinath Temple this morning_. The Indian prime minister is scheduled to fly back to the national capital this evening.

Aug 4, 2014

Bagalkot Boy falls into borewell, rescue operation underway

Karnataka, Aug 04 (ANI): Rescue workers are still struggling to take out six-year-old Timmanna Hanamant Hatti, who fell into a 300-ft borewell in his father_s sugarcane farm at Sulikeri village, 18 km from Bagalkot, Karnataka on Sunday. The borewell was reportedly dug by the boy_s parents, who left it open after no water was found in it. The incident occurred at around 2 pm, when the boy had visited the field. The Bagalkot district administration swung into action to rescue the child. The officials are also supervising the movement of the boy by inserting a camera into it. Meanwhile, Karnataka Home Minister KJ George said that the state government would take action against those companies who dig such deep borewells and leave it open then.

Aug 4, 2014

Sindhi nationalists decry the influx of IDPs from N. Waziristan

Karachi, Aug 04: The influx of internally displaced persons (IDPs) from volatile North Waziristan into Sindh worries nationalist parties in the province. Sindh Bachao Committee (Save Sindh Committee) in association with a dozen of other Sindhi nationalist parties recently observed a complete shutter down strike across Sindh, including Karachi. Their major concern is the possible invasion of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan militants in the region since after Pakistan Army launched 'Zarh-e-Azb' operation against terrorist groups based in North Waziristan. There are fears about a rise in sectarian violence and other terrorist activities in Sindh. The growth of fundamentalist groups, many with links to armed factions, has been alarmingly rapid in Sindh and has brought violence in its wake.

Aug 4, 2014

Political leaders laud PM Modi's maiden visit to Nepal

New Delhi, Aug 4 (ANI): Politicians on Monday hailed the first bilateral visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Nepal, which aimed to scale the ties between the two nations to greater heights. Modi is on a two-day visit to Kathmandu to help speed up negotiations on a power trade pact that is at the centre of his new diplomatic drive. Lauding Modi's Nepal visit, BJP Vice-President Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said it would have a greater impact on the relations between the two countries. Earlier on Sunday, Modi offered Nepal $1 billion in concessional loans to help build power plants and roads during his address in Nepal assembly, aimed at shoring up support in a region where China is making inroads. Meanwhile, BJD leader Jay Panda said Modi's visit would rule out allegations of big brotherly attitude levelled by neighbouring countries. Shiv Sena Spokesprson Sanjay Raut said Modi's visit to Nepal would prove fruitful for both the nations. Congress leader Manish Tewari said Modi should re-negotiate the 1950 treaty.

Aug 4, 2014

US restaurant offers 15 percent off for praying before meal

New Delhi, August 4 (ANI): A North Carolina restaurant offers a 15 percent off to customers that display gratitude for their meal with a prayer. According to a leading news agency, Mary's Gourmet Diner in Winston-Salem has been giving this discount for the past four years. The restaurant owner, Mary Haglund asserted that the discount was "not a policy", but a gift given to those who took the time to appreciate their food and was seen having a moment. One customer, who visited the restaurant during a business trip, asserted that she and her colleagues prayed over their meal and the waitress came over at the end of the meal to inform them about the 15 percent discount they got for praying.

Aug 4, 2014