Politics

Somnath Chatterjee defends Justice AK Ganguly

New Delhi, Dec 17 (ANI): Former Lok Sabha speaker, Somnath Chatterjee has defended former Supreme Court Justice AK Ganguly, accused of sexual harassment by a law intern. Chatterjee said that Ganguly couldn’t be forced to quit as chief of West Bengal Human Rights Commission because nothing had been proved against him.

Dec 17, 2013

Madhya Pradesh: Woman delivers 10 stillborn babies

Rewa, Dec 17 (ANI): In an extremely rare case, a woman hailing from Satna village in Madhya Pradesh delivered dectuplets but all stillborn. The woman, Anju Kushwaha was being taken to the Sanjay Gandhi Memorial hospital, 125 km away in neighbouring Rewa district, after she went into labour but she delivered nine stillborn babies on the way and one in the hospital. The doctor attending her case, earlier said that on first examination of the patient the pregnancy appeared as eight months old. However, later it was found out that Kushwaha was undergoing treatment for infertility. Earlier in October, Kushwaha suffered a miscarriage, doctor said.

Dec 17, 2013

Cabinet approved Anti Communal Violence Bill: Shinde

New Delhi, Dec 17 (ANI): The Cabinet has cleared the Anti Communal Violence Bill and is likely to be tabled in the current session of the Parliament. Titled 'Communal Violence (Prevention and Control) Act, 2013', has been opposed by several states and the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), sees it as an attempt to infringe on the constitutional rights of a state. However, Janata Dal-United JD (U) backed the bill, calling it in favour of humanity.

Dec 17, 2013

Abdul Quader Mollah's execution sparks protests in Pak

Pakistan, Dec 17 (ANI): As Pakistan Islamists rallied to condemn the execution of Bangladeshi Islamist leader Abdul Quader Mollah, country’s Interior Minister expressed grief and concern over the execution of war criminal and leader of Jamaat-e-Islami. Bangladesh executed Mollah on December 13 for war crimes he committed during the 1971 war of independence from Pakistan. About two hundred activists and supporters of Islamist group Jamaat-ud-Dawa and major Islamic party Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) staged protest outside press club in Pakistan’s commercial capital Karachi. The protests were also held in the garrison city of Rawalpindi and Lahore. The demonstrators held banners and placards. The protest leaders while addressing crowd said that Mollah was hanged because of his loyalty and solidarity with Pakistan in 1971. Pakistan’s Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan expressed grief and concern over the execution of Mollah.

Dec 17, 2013

the-indian-parliament-building-credit-reuters

Lokpal Bill Likely to be Passed in Rajya Sabha Without SP Consent

The anti-graft Jan Lokpal Bill is likely to be passed in the Upper House of the Parliament with parliamentarians, except those belonging to the Samajwadi Party (SP), gearing to debate on the issue.

Dec 17, 2013

Renault, China's Dongfeng sign $1.3 bn joint venture deal

French carmaker Renault signs a $1.3 billion joint venture agreement with China's Dongfeng, finally ending a decade without a manufacturing presence in the world's biggest car market. Duration: 00:27

Dec 17, 2013

UN appeals for record $6.5bn for Syria crisis in 2014

The United Nations appealed Monday for a record $6.5 billion to help ever-growing numbers of victims of Syria's spiralling conflict next year, when refugee numbers are set to nearly double. Duration: 01:16

Dec 17, 2013

African migrants march to Jerusalem after fleeing center

Hundreds of African illegal immigrants on Monday began a protest march to Jerusalem after fleeing a detention centre in the south where they were being held. Duration: 00:38

Dec 17, 2013

Gaza struggles to recover after brutal winter storm

In the Gaza Strip, Palestinian farmers lament the loss of crops due to a brutal winter storm that flooded fields. Electricity was also affected by the torrential rains in the already energy-starved enclave ruled by Hamas. Duration: 00:48

Dec 17, 2013

France, Algeria focus on growing economic cooperation

French Prime Minister, Jean Marc Ayrault, met with his counterpart Algerian counterpart, Abdelmalek Sellal, on Monday after laying a wreath at the Memorial for the Martyrs, a monument commemorating the Algerian War of Independence. Duration: 00:55

Dec 16, 2013

Washington's National Zoo all decked out for Christmas

Washington's National Zoo is transformed into a winter wonderland with lit animal silhouettes and musical light displays. Duration: 01:01

Dec 16, 2013

US offers new support for Vietnam maritime security

Secretary of State John Kerry said Monday the United States would help Vietnam better police its seas amid an ongoing territorial squabble with China, as he met with the communist country's top leaders in Hanoi. Duration: 01:33

Dec 16, 2013

South Sudan hit by fighting, president says coup defeated

The president of South Sudan said Monday he had defeated a coup attempt following a night of fierce fighting in the capital of the newly-independent nation. Duration: 01:26

Dec 16, 2013

Vasundhara Raje visits Delhi, meets Manmohan Singh and AB Vajpayee

New Delhi, Dec 16 (ANI): After registering victory with a thumping majority, Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, who stormed back to power in Rajasthan after five years, met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday. This was her first visit to the national capital after winning the state assembly polls. The meeting was described as a courtesy call. She also met former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, party president Rajnath Singh and senior leader Lal Krishna Advani, during the visit. Fighting on the plank of corruption, poverty, price rise, poor governance and a break down in law and order, Raje came back to power with 162 seats leaving Congress with just 21 seats and Others with 16 in the recent Assembly polls.

Dec 16, 2013

BJP condemns Modi's comparison to Asaram by Jairam Ramesh

New Delhi, Dec 16 (ANI): BJP leader Prakash Javadekar on Monday condemned Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh's dirty remark on BJP's PM candidate Narendra Modi. Reportedly, Ramesh said that Modi did not appoint Lokayukta for 10 years. Now he is giving advice on it, which is like Asaram talking about virginity.

Dec 16, 2013