News

Hong Kong tycoon, former official guilty of corruption

Hong Kong property tycoon Thomas Kwok and the government's former deputy leader Rafael Hui are found guilty of corruption in a blockbuster trial that shocked a city known for clean governance.

Dec 19, 2014

Peshawar prays for victims of Taliban school attack

A grief-stricken city remembers in Friday prayers the 149 victims killed by the Taliban in an attack on a school.

Dec 19, 2014

Tanzania's Rwanda genocide court set to close after twenty years

After two decades the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda will close its doors. Having indicted 93 people, the court - which has attracted much criticism over the years - must carve out its legacy.

Dec 19, 2014

French PM Valls visits Rennes after vandalism attack

French Prime Minister Manuel Valls visited Rennes Friday, hours after a city official building was vandalised by people protesting against police violence.

Dec 19, 2014

Govt tables GST Bill in Lok Sabha, Jaitley says bill may increase taxation

New Delhi, Dec 19 (ANI): The Central government on Friday tabled the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill in Lok Sabha. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said that the government aims to bring the tax into effect from April 1, 2016. Government will compensate its state governments for revenue losses due to the new nationwide Goods and Service Tax. He added GST will also add to country's gross domestic product (GDP). The bill introduced by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley needs the support of two thirds of members of parliament as well as ratification by state legislatures which is expected to happen by the next session of parliament.

Dec 19, 2014

Rajasthan govt's Bhamashah Yojana to empower women financially

New Delhi, Dec 19 (ANI): Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje says that the influence of women is increasing day by day in all fields of society. Her government has launched the Bhamashah Yojana for the financial empowerment of women and it will benefit nearly 1.5 crore women in the entire country. The program is effectively co-ordinated with the 'Jan-Dhan Yojana' initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Recently in an award ceremony organized by 'The Sunday Standard', Raje, who was the Chief Guest, presented awards to the Sunday Standard Devis. Twenty women were honoured for their exceptional contribution in the fields of law, art, health, business, fashion, adventure, hospitality, policing, architecture and music among others. Raje said that Rajasthan is no longer a state of women wearing long veils and occupied with household chores all day, instead they are representing the society individually. Apart from easy loans for poor women, Raje has also introduced scholarships for girl children and pension for the benefit of old women.

Dec 19, 2014

Saradha scam case: Madan Mitra sent to judicial custody

Kolkata, Dec 19 (ANI): TMC leader and West Bengal Transport and Sports Minister Madan Mitra arrested in the Saradha scam was on Friday yet again denied bail and sent to judicial custody till Jan 2 by a court in Kolkata.

Dec 19, 2014

Kota BJP MLA accused of threatening CMHO on phone suspended, Politicos react

New Delhi/Jaipur, Dec 19 (ANI): Politicos reacted on Friday after BJP MLA Prahlad Gunjal who had allegedly threatened chief medical and health officer (CMHO) Dr RN Yadav with dire consequences was suspended from the party. BJP leader Nalin Kohli said that the Rajasthan government took the right step. National Commission for SC Chairman PL Punia welcomed the suspension of MP. However, Congress leader Pratap Singh Khachariyawas said that BJP had to suspend the MLA because of public pressure and that the BJP leaders have always used abusive language. Leaders from other political parties also expressed similar sentiments.

Dec 19, 2014

Visiting Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid meets Modi

New Delhi, Dec 19 (ANI): Bangladesh President, Abdul Hamid, met Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, on Friday. Hamid is on a six-day visit to India to strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries. He is visiting India on an invitation by Indian President Pranab Mukherjee, who visited Bangladesh in March 2013. President Hamid is scheduled to meet Indian leadership including Mukherjee and Vice President Hamid Ansari. Earlier in the day he also met External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.Hamid's visit to India is the first by a ceremonial head of state of Bangladesh since 1972. He will also be visiting places of historical and cultural importance both in and outside Delhi.

Dec 19, 2014

Students express their angst against Peshawar massacre through painting

Moradabad, Dec 19 (ANI): Students in Moradabad took to paintings to express their anger to a terror attack on Pakistan's Peshawar city early this week, in which 132 children were killed. The paintings depict terror, death and blood and sketches are mainly in black and red. The Taliban, waging war against Pakistan in order to topple the government and set up an Islamic state, immediately claimed responsibility. After the attack, the Taliban declared that all of those children deserved to die because they were part of the military establishment. So far the Taliban have targeted mainly security forces, military bases and airports, but attacks on civilian targets with no logistical significance are relatively rare.

Dec 19, 2014