Politics

No progress in Venezuela meeting to end protests

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and opposition leaders traded barbs for six hours on national TV late Thursday over two months of nationwide anti-government protests but found no common ground.

Apr 11, 2014

Suu Kyi cautions Myanmar 'not yet a democracy'

Myanmar's opposition leader and Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi warned on Friday that her country, despite a spate of reforms hailed by the international community, "is not yet a democracy"

Apr 11, 2014

Ukraine leader promises more power to regions

Ukraine's embattled premier on Friday vowed to give more powers to the country's regions in an effort to stamp out a separatist insurgency as a new gas war with Russia threatened European supplies.

Apr 11, 2014

SC rejects plea questioning clean chit to Modi on role in 2002 Gujarat riots

New Delhi, April 11 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Friday has turned down a plea questioning the clean chit given to the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi in connection with the 2002 Gujarat riots. A bench comprising of Justices HL Dattu and SA Bobde also declined the plea for reconstituting the Special Investigation Team (SIT) involving retired judges of the apex court on the ground that this option was not good to raise it at this moment. It also turned down the inclusion of a person belonging from the minority community into the SIT. Soon after the remark, the advocate who had filed the petition, decided to withdraw it and it was allowed by the court.

Apr 11, 2014

Ayesha Takia says if father-in-law's statement on rape victims true, she is ashamed

New Delhi, April 11 (ANI): Actress and daughter-in-law of Samajwadi Party Maharashtra chief Abu Azmi, Ayesha Takia, on Friday said that if reports about his statement on rape victims were true, then she is deeply embarrassed and ashamed. In a tweet, Takia said: "If what I am reading about my father-in-law's statements are true, then me and Farhan are deeply embarrassed and ashamed. We surely do not share this mindset, it's disrespectful to women, and if these statements are true, then it's sad." After Mulayam Singh Yadav sparked controversy on Thursday by questioning the amended anti-rape law and the death sentence for rapists, Maharashtra Samajwadi Party chief Abu Azmi came up with another outrageous comment saying irrespective of consent any woman having sex with a man should be hanged. Restating his stand Azmi on Friday said that no one will like it if an unmarried couple is living together and having sex before marriage and they should be punished.

Apr 11, 2014

BJP warns Congress over petition with EC on Modi's nomination affidavit

Mumbai, April 11 (ANI): The BJP on Friday strongly reacted to the petition filed by Congress regarding Narendra Modi's marital status in the recent nomination affidavit where, the first time, he declared himself married. BJP leader Prakash Javadekar warned the Congress not to interfere in the personal matters of any leader otherwise the Congress will be asked questions for which they will have no answers to provide. He added that the political agenda should not be converted into a personal one.

Apr 11, 2014

New Bangladesh government faces set of challenges after elections

Dhaka, April 11 (ANI): Trustee of Bangladesh Liberation War Museum, Sarwar Ali, said on Friday that the new government is facing a set of fresh challenges and needs to toughen its stand against the religious fundamentalist forces which went on a rampage and posed a threat to the country's elections last year. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's Awami League ended with more than two-thirds of seats in a contest that was shunned by international observers as flawed and derided as a farce by the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). Talking to the reporter in Dhaka, Ali said that the government should take adequate steps to restore good governance to prove its success. Disagreement between the government and opposition led the BNP to boycott elections on January 05 2014, on the grounds that they would not be free and fair.

Apr 11, 2014

People in Maoist hotbeds of Bihar face threat during third phase of LS Polls

Gaya, April 11 (ANI): High voter turnout was recorded in most of the 91 seats that went to polls in the third phase of Lok Sabha elections, however Maoist hotbed in Bihar faced threat from the red rebels after security forces recovered two cane bombs from the area. Authorities said Maoists had planted bombs in order to inflict fear in the minds of people. A villager present for voting, Rajesh, said that although they have come out to vote but there should have been more arrangements for the security purposes. Meanwhile, many in Gaya district decided to boycott polls due to lack of development. Residents said none of the prominent political leaders had worked for their welfare and there was no sign of development in the village. Officials confirmed the boycott by villagers.

Apr 11, 2014

An upcoming indie-rock band in Nagaland gains popularity

Dimapur, April 11 (ANI): Music is an art form that comes naturally to the Nagas. Alobo Naga and Band, Purple Fusion and Clueless attention of Nagaland are few names that have made their presence felt internationally and inspired many upcoming rock bands. Dimapur's "We the Giants" is one such indie rock band. The band members include Kevi Pucho, vocalist; Lima Mongro, guitarist; Yangkum Jinger drummer and Ayim Jamir and Meyasunep Imchen on the bass guitar. We the Giants was born when various band members teamed up in 2013 before the Hornbill Festival.The band has gained popularity in a short span of time. It clinched the 1st runners up title at the Hornbill rock contest at Kohima.

Apr 11, 2014

JD (S) releases manifesto, focuses on farmers and promises more jobs

Bangalore, April 11 (ANI): Janata Dal (Secular) Chief HD Deve Gowda, promised to provide more jobs and fight against inflation and give a boost to country's slowing economy in his party manifesto. Gowda released the manifesto in the presence of party members in Bangalore on Friday. The JD (S) unveiled a slew of farmer-friendly proposals, besides promising waiver of all loans of farmers, weavers, fishermen and artisans. It has also proposed development of industrial corridors, strengthening the industrial sector, which will enhance growth and development of the economy.

Apr 11, 2014

Prosecution claims Pistorius tailored evidence

The prosecution angrily accused Oscar Pistorius of tailoring evidence and overplaying his deep fear of crime Friday to justify shooting dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

Apr 11, 2014

Voting in Mizoram under progress amidst security

Mizoram, April 11 (ANI): The polling stations in Mizoram witnessed a large number of voter turnout as voting commenced early on Friday morning after the polls scheduled for Wednesday were postponed. Women’s participation was noticeable and they said that they have come early to exercise their franchise so that they can go to work after casting their vote. A teacher, Kaphming Thangi, who had come with her child expressed that she wants a good and corruption- free government.All security arrangements are in place for Friday's election. Along with the state police, central security forces personnels were also deployed in polling centres.

Apr 11, 2014

Himachal Pradesh EC appoints first ever voter as its brand ambassador

Kinnaur, April 11 (ANI): The State Election Commission in Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh appointed the 97-year- old first ever voter of the free Indian democracy, Shyam Saran Negi, as its brand ambassador for the poll campaign in the tribal region. Assistant Electoral Officer, Prashant Deshta, said that the State Election Commission has appointed Saran as its brand ambassador in order to sensitize voters in the area. Shyam Saran, who is 97 years of age, views the new changes and developments in the country as a positive mark and feels bad about the environmental degradation, deforestation and corruption in the country.

Apr 11, 2014

BJP hits at Rahul Gandhi for raking up marital status of Modi

Varanasi, April 11 (ANI): BJP on Friday hit out at Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi, for raking up the marital issue of BJP prime ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi. Gandhi targeted Modi after he admitted for the first time that he was married. BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad threatened a tit for tat response. Modi, in an affidavit submitted along with his nomination papers for parliamentary polls, admitted that his wife's name is Jashodaben. The BJP PM nominee, who has contested four assembly polls, used to leave the married status column blank in his nomination papers. Prasad also slammed Congress party for using BJP leader and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to criticise Modi.

Apr 11, 2014

Kapil Sibal files petition with EC over Modis nomination affidavit

New Delhi, April 11 (ANI): Congress leader Kapil Sibal on Friday filed a petition with the Election Commission regarding Narendra Modi’s nomination affidavit from Vadodara in which he stated himself as married. Sibal said that Modi has committed a crime by giving false information to the country in his previous election affidavits and thus is liable under various sections of the Indian Penal Code. Sibal also stated that Election Commission has assured him of carrying out necessary examination.

Apr 11, 2014