News

50,000 in Moscow protest Crimea intervention

Around 50,000 people rallied in central Moscow Saturday in protest at Russia's intervention in Ukraine, a day before the Crimean peninsula votes on switching to Kremlin rule. Duration: 00:48

Mar 16, 2014

Malaysia says jet's diversion 'deliberate'

A missing Malaysian airliner was apparently deliberately diverted and flown for hours after vanishing from radar, according to Prime Minister Najib Razak who stopped short of confirming a hijack. Duration: 01:30

Mar 16, 2014

South Asia Newsline - Mar 14, 2014

Mar 15, 2014

It happens: Spring Festival

Bhubaneswar, March 14 (ANI): The Santhal community in Bhubaneswar city of India's eastern Odisha province celebrated the onset of spring season by performing traditional rituals and colorful dances at the ongoing 'Baha Bonga' festival. The festivities are hosted at Jaher (shrine), at the foot of a Sal tree and go on for three to four days. Jaher is the centre of performing rituals and socio-cultural activities for the Santhal tribe. On the occasion, the tribal god, Maarang Buru, and goddess, Jaher Ayo, are worshipped with other deities at the Jaher. As a part of rituals, the deities are offered newly blossomed flowers and fruits of Sal and Mahua trees. The tribal community believes that the spirits of the god and goddess take away diseases, evils and sufferings of humans from the Earth. The spirits of the gods descend into the body of a tribesperson, who then grants their wishes. The festival starts with the local priest distributing Sal and Mahua flowers to both men and women, symbolizing that from that day onwards they are permitted to use forest products. Men tuck them behind their ears while women embellish their hair with them.

Mar 15, 2014

It happens: Kashmir Snowfall

Srinagar, March 14 (ANI): A fresh coat of snow brought a new ray of hope to the sagging tourist business in Srinagar of northern Indian Kashmir after heavy rains lashed the valley and other parts of the country. Enhancing the beauty of the picturesque valley, Srinagar received a fresh spell of snowfall recently. The snow clad mountains and trees have always provided a visual treat to the locals as well as tourists.

Mar 15, 2014

It happens: Rare Bird

West Bengal, March 14 (ANI): A rare bird sighted at Sanbandha village on the outskirts of Bankura town in India's eastern West Bengal amazed curious onlookers and bird lovers. The bird was huge, typically 110-120 centimetres tall with a 210 centimetre wingspan and a body weight of around 5 kilograms. Approximately 3000 birds of this species are still in world. Only 40 birds of this particular species are on official record in West Bengal. The region in and around Bankura is regarded as a haven for the Lesser Adjutant Stork, which is a rare species of the stork family.

Mar 15, 2014

Some sections of media biased and against AAP: Shazia Ilmi

New Delhi, Mar 15 (ANI): Aam Aadmi Party leader Shazia Ilmi on Saturday strongly defended party chief Arvind Kejriwal, saying that there is a bias against the party, and added that Kejriwal was not talking about the whole media, but a certain section of it. At a fund-raising event in Nagpur on Thursday, Kejriwal had hit out at the media saying they have been paid heavily to promote BJP’s Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi. He also lashed out at the media for focusing on his security deployment, and alleged that media is sold and part of the political conspiracy against him. He further added that if his government comes to power, he will set up an inquiry into this political conspiracy, and along with the media people, everyone involved will be sent to prison.

Mar 15, 2014

Nirbhaya case: SC stays execution of convicts Mukesh and Pawan till March 31

New Delhi, Mar 15 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Saturday stayed the execution of two convicts, Pawan and Mukesh, in the Delhi gangrape case, till March 31. Earlier in the day, the two convicts had moved the court challenging their conviction and death sentence.

Mar 15, 2014

Sharad Yadav releases list of candidates for 2014 general elections

New Delhi, Mar 15 (ANI): JD (U) Chief, Sharad Yadav on Saturday released the party’s first list of candidates for the upcoming 2014 general elections in New Delhi. JD (U) is fielding a former bureaucrat K P Ramaiah from Sasaram against Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar.

Mar 15, 2014

Will contest only from Amritsar and nowhere else: Navjot Singh Sidhu

New Delhi, March 15 (ANI): BJP MP Navjot Singh Sidhu on Saturday rejected the options to contest from West Delhi, Kurukshetra or Chandigarh, as offered by the BJP and said that he would contest from Amritsar Lok Sabha constituency and nowhere else. The BJP top leadership has decided to field senior party leader Arun Jaitley from Amritsar.

Mar 15, 2014

A Raja slams Jayalalithaa, says she herself is tainted

Coimbatore, Mar 15 (ANI): Taking a dig at Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, former Telecom Minister A Raja on Saturday said that she herself has been tainted for 18 years and she is accusing him. Jayalalithaa had earlier lambasted DMK for fielding A Raja accused in 2G case.

Mar 15, 2014

Arvind Kejriwal holds road show in Bangalore

Bangalore, Mar 15 (ANI): Aam Aadmi Party Chief Arvind Kejriwal held a road show in India’s IT hub Bangalore on Saturday to woo voters ahead of the upcoming general elections. Addressing the residents of Bangalore, Kejriwal said AAP was confident of getting maximum number of votes and make a mark in the parliamentary elections 2014. Kejriwal also accused media on being paid heavily to promote Narendra Modi and demanded probe and severe punishment for those involved in 'yellow journalism'. He also questioned the credibility of the media in reporting the truth behind Modi.

Mar 15, 2014

Indian widows 'break chains of social norms' revel in colours of Holi

Vrindavan, Mar 15 (ANI): Shunned by their families and abhorred by society, thousands of India's widows devoting their lives to the worship of God Krishna broke the taboo on Friday (March 14) and participated in Holi celebrations at an ashram in Vrindavan in Uttar Pradesh. In a jovial mood, they sprinkled flower petals and powdered colours on each other dancing to religious hymns during the celebrations. The organizers ensured that all the widows enjoyed the festivities. Holi, the festival of colours, will be celebrated in India on March 17.

Mar 15, 2014

Akhilesh Yadav completes two years in office

Lucknow, Mar 15 (ANI): UP Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party's President Akhilesh Yadav's government has completed two years in office on Saturday. Akhilesh on the occasion addressed a press conference in which he stated the developments in the state.

Mar 15, 2014

Experts fear disaster in drought-hit Pakistan

As the death toll from the latest outbreak of poverty-driven diseases in Pakistan's Thar desert nears 100 children, experts warn that corruption and a dysfunctional political system make a repeat of the disaster almost inevitable. Duration: 01:26

Mar 15, 2014