4 killed in US drone attack in northwest Pakistan

 Fri, 08 February 2013
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23:42

China refutes Japan's allegations on radar targeting

China on Friday refuted Japan's allegations that Chinese warships targeted fire-control radars at Japanese vessels in the East China Sea.Recently, Japan has repeatedly spread false accusations that have distorted facts and defamed Chinese military's normal combat readiness training, according to...
23:02

Congress takes potshot at Trinamool on vandalism incident

In the wake of police lodging FIRs against party workers in West Bengal, Congress today took potshot at Mamata Banerjee-led state government saying vandalism is seen from different angles by the TMC as it feels that only other political parties resort to unruly scenes. What is the definition...
22:52

4 killed in US drone attack in northwest Pakistan

A US drone targeted a compound in the restive Waziristan tribal region of northwest Pakistan today, killing at least four suspected militants. The CIA-operated spy plane fired two missiles at the compound in Babar Ghar village located along the boundary between North and South...
22:42

South Africans called to arms over raped teenager

The chime sounds every four minutes on the radio station, reminding listeners that statistically yet another child or woman in South Africa is being raped. It's also a call to arms for citizens outraged over the gang-rape of a teenager who had her body carved open and was left for dead on a...
22:40

Guj Cong slams Modi for 'misguiding' people

Congress today said that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi was misguiding the country by giving false and far from the true data about the state. GPCC president Arjun Modhwadia, while addressing reporters here today, compared Gujarat with Haryana on 38 different parameters and claimed that the...
21:06

Pakistan: 12 killed in blast in DVD shop

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A powerful bomb went off in a shop selling DVDs and mobile phones in the restive Orakzai tribal region of northwest Pakistan today, killing at least 12 people and injuring over 20 others, officials said.          The bomb exploded in the shop in a market in...
20:52

Teacher arrested for alleged rape in Kadapa

A school teacher was today arrested on the charge of raping a 14-year-old girl student in Pullampeta village of Andhra Pradesh's Kadapa district, police said.      The accused, Nageshwar Rao, had been harassing the class-IX student of the government school for the past...
20:44

SP govt in UP failed to keep promises: Rahul

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi today accused the Samajwadi Party government in Uttar Pradesh of not fulfilling its poll promises and regretted that he was not able to do enough for the state as it did not have a Congress government.      The Samajwadi Party which came to...
20:35

Cauvery row: K'taka to file review petition before SC

Karnataka today decided to file a petition before the Supreme Court seeking a review of its order directing the state to release 2.44 tmc ft of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, citing depleted water storage level.     A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of floor leaders of...
20:33

PM defers visit to Nagaland, Tripura

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has deferred his visit to Nagaland and Tripura to campaign for the Congress in the assembly elections slated for February 23 and February 14 respectively.        Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee president S I Jamir told PTI that the...
19:49

When internet 'killed' Kader Khan!

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Kader Khan has become the latest celeb victim of an internet hoax as social networking sites were abuzz today with rumours about the actor's demise.          Rumours gained traction when a 'RIP Kader Khan' Facebook page was made, after which many took...
19:27

Owaisi brothers appear before court in 2005 case

Jailed Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen legislator Akbaruddin Owaisi, his elder brother Asaduddin and four other party MLAs appeared before a court in Sangareddy today in an eight-year-old case of 'preventing' government officials from doing their duties.        ...
19:24

Iraq: Blasts kill 36; Sunnis stage protest rallies

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AP: Car bombs struck two outdoor markets and a group of taxi vans in Shiite areas across Iraq today, killing at least 36 people and wounding nearly 100 in the bloodiest day in more than two months, as minority Sunnis staged mass anti-government protests in a sign of mounting sectarian tensions....
18:49

Uma: Don't take Togadia's comments in isolation

BJP leader Uma Bharti today came out in full defence of firebrand Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Praveen Togadia after the Maharashtra Police filed a First Information Report against him for his alleged hate speech made at a rally last month.  His comments should be considered. And his comment...
18:43

Gang rape: AIIMS doctors testify against five adult accused

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Two doctors from AIIMS, who had conducted the medical test of the five adult accused in the gang rape and murder of a 23-year-old girl in a moving bus in Delhi on December 16, today testified before the fast track court. Out of the four AIIMS doctors, who appeared before Additional Sessions Judge...
18:40

Geelani calls arrests over girl band superficial

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Hardline Hurriyat Conference leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani today alleged that the Jammu and Kashmir government was trying to establish superficial peace by arresting three youths on charges of posting hate messages to the all-girls rock band in the state. Geelani, in a statement issued here,...
18:35

Narendra Modis motivational message

Modi addressed 1,800 students but spoke to a wider middle-class mindset and may have connected with millions, writes Sandipan Deb. Read
18:04

BJP to protest outside PM's house for Shinde's 'saffron terror'

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BJP today declared that it will protest outside Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's residence on the eve of the forthcoming budget session of Parliament to press for its demand for an apology from Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde for his saffron terror remarks. It said Shinde's comments on saffron...
17:59

Anti-Modi protestors say they were molested

The Delhi Police is looking into complaints of students that they were molested and verbally abused by some people when they were protesting against the visit of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi recently. The students have complained that the people, who were trying to prevent their...
17:44

Kolkata Metro seeks to increase fares

Facing acute losses, the Metro Rail Kolkata has sought a hike in passenger fares to reach a no- profit-no-loss situation. Singing in tune with a Railway Board committee which has recommended that Metro rail fares should be increased, Metro Rail Kolkata General Manager Radhey Shyam said, There is...
17:31

Have no idea what people see in my performances: Gere

For the legions of Richard Gere fans: Gere has taken on his first film role in four years with Arbitrage. He explains why he thinks it's one of his best yet. Read
17:08

Kurien: Conscience clear, I WON'T step down

PJ Kurien, the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, said he has never asked for any appointment with Sonia Gandhi over the Suryanelli rape case, so there was no question of being refused a meeting. He further told news channels that his conscience was clear and that he had nothing to worry about....
16:56

TMC on Mamata's whipping remark: It's a small thing

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The Trinamool Congress today accused the media of unnecessarily hyping the incident of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee publicly abusing her security guards at the book fair here. Some motivated sections of the media have made a mountain of a molehill. This issue should not be the topic...
16:49

No, it's not time to say RIP Kader Khan

Actor, comedian, script and dialogue writer and director, Kader Khan, is alive and doing quite well, thank you. News that he has passed on is false. 
16:39

We know this year is bad, what about the next?

The Central Statistical Organization says India is facing a 5 per cent economic growth this fiscal year. This data, if correct, implies that the malaise of slowdown is far deeper than anticipated. Read
16:24

Expect France's first lady to shop really big in India

Valrie Trierweiler 'succumbs to Marie-Antoinette syndrome of life of luxury and has become the latest French first lady to succumb to frivolity and luxury as France toils, a leading magazine has claimed. ReadFrench President Francois Hollande and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh are set to meet for...
16:13

Statue controversy stymies Bangalore metro

In Bangalore, groups representing Dalits are opposed to plans to even temporarily shift a statue of their hero, BR Ambedkar, to allow for the construction of the underground metro railway. Read 
16:05

German envoy on meeting Modi: It's what India wants

German envoy Micheale Steiner today reacted to the European Union lifting its ban on Modi saying Germany always said it would take a fresh approach once the Gujarat polls were over. We respect the democratic resolutions and elections in India. We are in a new phase, this is what India expects of...
16:02

Army gets its first indigenously-made Rudra attack chopper

The first indigenously-developed weaponised helicopter 'Rudra' was today handed over to the Army which has successfully raised an attack chopper fleet on its own. This is the first of the 60 armed helicopters provided to the Army by the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) after the Defence...
15:50

Advertising on rotis at Kumbh: Lifebuoy se haath dhoya kya?

At Kumbh Mela, the largest congregation on earth where all big marketers are vying to sell their wares and boost their brands, one promotion that stands out is Hindustan Unilever's 'Roti Reminder' for its Lifebuoy soap brand. Read the Roti Reminder report on the Economic Times. 
15:45

Life Sentence Most Suitable for Rapists: Survey

Life imprisonment would be the most suitable' punishment for rapists, according to responds to a recent survey of Indians by Vuclip, a US-based mobile video company. Read
15:44

The tragedy of construction sites in India

Another construction site mishap and the resulting casualties has again put a spotlight on why bridges, metro lines and houses in India often collapse during the building phase, killing or injuring workers. Read
15:36

Manish Tewari attacks CAG for criticising govt on foreign soil

Slamming the CAG for criticising the government on foreign soil, Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari today said Constitutional authorities should circumscribe by Lakshman Rekha propriety. ...it is most unfortunate that C and AG rather than validating the integrity of his...
15:25

Suryanelli rape: Sonia unlikely to meet Kurien

Congress President Sonia Gandhi is unlikely to meet Deputy Rajya Sabha chairperson P J Kurien over the Suryanelli rape case.
15:23

All hail Robert Vadra...

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And some gossip...Robert Vadra, India's unofficial official son-in-law has been seen quite frequently during the day at a 7 star hotel in Delhi occupying a particular windowseat in a corner. Obviously, it's a spot no mango man can corner him.Vadra, says our source, looked trim, seemingly fresh...
15:05

Modi begins diplomatic ties, London visit in May

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi will head to London this May. After his maiden speech in Delhi at the Shri Ram College of Commerce yesterday, this will be Modi's first foreign visit to the United Kingdom since he became CM in December. Permission and clearances have to be given by the Prime...
14:47

Cong Core Committee to meet this evening

Later in the day the Congress Core Committee is expected to meet. Three major issues on the agenda:1. Home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde's comments on terrorists in BJPand RSS office2. Deputy Rajya Sabha chairperson P J Kurien's name cropping up in the Suryanelli gang-rape case and the protests...
14:25

The English Median

Dreams of jobs, social mobility and self-respect are all tied to knowing the language. For millions, not knowing it means being walled out. Ashok Malik on the line of control everyone wants to cross. Read
14:21

Sikar gang-rape victim being treated at AIIMS

The 11-year-old girl who was gang-raped in Sikar and has undergone treatment in Jaipur for over five months, which has included five major surgeries, was today referred to All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi for specialised treatment. The girl was sent to Delhi in an ambulance by...
14:19

China, Russia deny Japanese accusations

Japan's defense minister today accused two Russian fighter jets of intruding into Japanese air space, heightening regional tensions as Beijing denied Tokyo's claims that Chinese naval vessels had locked their weapons-targeting radar on to a Japanese destroyer last month. Tokyo said two Russian...
14:14
Need proof of witness' intimidation in Gujarat? Read Ashish Khetan's letter.
14:02

Bad intent makes a bad law

By cherry-picking parts of the Justice Verma Committee report, the Government has shown it is only interested in scoring brownie points. Read
13:57

Mrs Alfred Hitchcock: The Unsung Partner

Alma Reville was Hitchcock's wife, closest collaborator and the only person to whom he'd defer. She is played by Helen Mirren in a new film - which is finally giving her the credit she deserves. Read
13:53

Hitchcock's iconic horror film Psycho was supposed to be a comedy

Alfred Hitchcock's iconic horror film Psycho was supposed to be a comedy, a new collection of BBC interviews reveals. Read
13:39

FIR against Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary for attack on Murshidabad DM

West Bengal Police on Friday registered an FIR against Union Minister of State for Railways Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary for allegedly instigating his supporters to attack the house of Murshidabad District Magistrate Rajiv Kumar.  The police registered the case against the Congress leader ,...
13:33

The common man as activist

In Mumbai, people of the slums have formed a movment for equitable resettlement after slum demolition drives. Shunning politcal patronage, this group of men and women, have been demanding homes from the government. Last month, some 10,000 people marched to Mantralaya, the seat of Maharashtra's...
13:22

Radar failure at Delhi airport delays flights

CNN IBN: Radar screens go blank at IGI airport, New Delhi, delaying several flights. Radar failure was reported last year and in 2010 as well, leading to concerns over airspace security. Details awaited. 
13:14

Sri Lanka Prez arrives at Bodh Gaya for pilgrimage

Sri Lankan President Mahindha Rajpaksa, accompanied by his wife Shiranthi Rajpaksa and a 70-member delegation, today arrived at the Mahabodhi temple in Bodh Gaya for pilgrimage. Rajpaksa was received at the Gaya International Airport by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Meanwhile, in Tamil Nadu, DMK...
13:00

What really went wrong with the Dreamliner

Dreamliner tests 'failed to spot battery flaw'. US safety investigators are examining battery of a Japan Airlines' 787 that caught fire in Boston last month. Read
12:57

Boo on reading, her best authors and Jeet Thayil

Poet Jeet Thayil's first novel, Narcopolis, about the drug-hazed Bombay of the 1980s, was a happy diversion, says author Katherine Boo on the New York Times. Read. Boo is the author of Behind the Beautiful Forevers, a narrative on Mumbai
12:46

European Union ENDS Narendra Modi boycott

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Exactly a month ago, on January 7, about noon, a white Ambassador rolled into the Chanakyapuri residence of Michael Steiner, Germany's envoy to India. Inside was Narendra Modi, who had a fortnight earlier become chief minister of Gujarat for the fourth straight time.Modi spent the next two hours...
12:43
A video of a driver in Italy attempting to park a car in a tight space has gone viral after being posted on YouTube.Watch
12:37

The tale of the unexpected decline of Roald Dahl

Roald Dahl's dark humour and wacky characters enchanted generations, so why are modern children now leaving Charlie, Matilda and Mr Fox on the shelf? Read
12:35

Principal blinds boy who couldn't pay fees

Even before he is old enough to understand life, eight-year-old Jaideep has been taught a lesson by his school he will remember until he dies. Now lying in a bed, struggling to come to terms with the fact that he has lost his left eye, the class one student is unable to understand why he was...
12:32

Norah Jones to pay tribute to father Ravi Shankar at Delhi

It's a bittersweet feeling for jazz singer Norah Jones as she gears up to perform her first show in the Capital. She had been excited about fulfiling her late father Pandit Ravi Shankar's wish of performing here with him in the audience, but is very sad he is no longer around to watch her....
12:25

India developing Agni-VI ballistic missile

India today said it is developing a long-range nuclear-capable Agni-VI ballistic missile that would carry multiple warheads allowing one weapon system to take out several targets at a time. Agni-V is major strategic defence weapon. Now we want to make Agni-VI which would be a force multiplier,...
12:04

Suryanelli rape: Kurien's fate to be decided at 5pm

The fate of PJ Kurien, deputy chairman Rajya Sabha, will be decided today at the Congress Core Committee meeting at 5 pm at 7 Racecourse Road. Kurien was named by the Suryanelli gang-rape victim.The mother of the victim in Kerala has written to United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi...
11:55

Google pays tribute to Jagjit Singh on 72nd birth anniversary

The latest Google Doodle commemorative logo pays tribute to ghazal king Jagjit Singh on his 72nd birthday today. A drawing of Singh dressed in kurta-pajama sitting down with his harmonium is placed in the middle of the Google logo. The legendary singer passed away in October 2011 due to brain...
11:54

Karzai swaps Kabul austerity for London luxury

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Hamid Karzai swaps Kabul fortress for Claridge's finery on day he issued decree back home to curtail government expenses. Claridges is one of the most luxurious hotels in the world. Read
11:48

Poor Indian women forced into prostitution in the Gulf

Unscrupulous agents promise well-paid work abroad, but poor Indian women are then sold as sex workers in the middle east. ReadAlso read: I was sold to a sheikh
11:43

North Korea: Unbelievable tourist photos of Pyongyang

Tourist Bjrn Bergman battled for two years to get a visa, then spent nine days with hostile guards capturing life in Pyongyang. See
11:40

Indian sail ship on six-month voyage

The Sudarshini, a 177-foot long sail ship in the Indian Navy, is on a six-month, nine-nation voyage tracing an ancient route taken by Indian sailors. In pictures on the Wall Street Journal. See
11:30

Beef lasagne ready meal was up to 100 per cent horse meat

Ready meals sold as beef products by some of Britain's biggest supermarkets contained up to 100 per cent horse meat. Read. Neigh, it's true!
11:11

Bhopal: Parents of raped, murdered girl forced to live in loo

The parents and siblings of the eight-year-old girl who was brutally raped and killed at a desolate spot near the Bhopal mela ground last Sunday night, have been moved into the attendant's room of a public lavatory as part of the government's witness protection programme. More on this horror...
11:07

Letter from Suryanelli victim's mother puts Sonia in a spot

The letter written by the mother of the Suryanelli rape case victim to the Congress president Sonia Gandhi seeking action against Deputy Rajya Sabha Chairman P. J. Kurien seems to have put the party high command in a tight spot. Read
11:04

Dark side of the moon

The CIA's extraordinary rendition programme, detailed in a recent report, helped the spread of terrorism rather than contain it, writes Seema Sirohi for the Hindu. Also read Amrit Singh's report on the CIA's rendition programme.
10:57

At Harvard lecture, CAG attacks government

CAG Vinod Rai rebutted criticism that the official auditor was exceeding its mandate, saying it was treading a new path in the belief that the final stakeholder is the public at large.In a lecture at the Harvard Kennedy School, he referred to the CAG exceeding its mandate to say that since the...
10:55

Monster blizzard threatens NE US, over 2,600 flights cancelled

A blizzard of potentially historic proportions threatened to strike the northeast with a vengeance on Friday, with up to 2 feet (0.6 meters) of snow forecast along the densely populated corridor from the New York City area to Boston and beyond. Read 
10:53

3 cops to protect each VIP, just 1 policeman for 761 citizens

India's police personnel to population ratio is 1: 761, but there are as many as 47,557 cops protecting 14,842 VIPs across the country or three police personnel to one protectee even as rising crime poses a serious threat to the security of the common citizen. More
10:49

Air chief looks beyond Israel's Iron Dome to David

Israel's Iron Dome missile defence system that is being advertised at the Aero India show with much fanfare is unsuitable for the needs of the Indian military but there are other systems that are being looked into, Air Chief Marshal NAK Browne said yesterday.  More on the Telegraph.
10:42

It's haunted, cries Abu Jundal now in Kasab's cell

Ajmal Kasab has been hanged, but his handler is feeling haunted'. Actually it's his cell in Arthur Road Jail that's giving Abu Jundal the creeps. The cell is the same one where Kasab was held in solitary confinement before his execution in November last year.He was upset about being placed in the...
10:37

Fresh cases of swine flu emerge in Delhi, govt. sounds alert

Fresh cases of epidemic swine flue emerged in New Delhi, killing three and hospitalising many others. The number of patients admitted with swine flu is on the rise and hundreds of people are rushing to the general hospitals.Talking to mediapersons, Medical Superintendent, H K Kar gave the...
10:29

Congress Core Committee to discuss Telangana

The Congress Core Committee is likely to meet on Friday evening to continue discussion on the Telangana issue.The party is yet to take a final decision on the formation of a new state by bifurcating Andhra Pradesh.
10:15

P J Kurien wants to meet Sonia

Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman P J Kurien has sought an appointment with party chief Sonia Gandhi later today.Kurien has been in the like of fire after the victim named him as one of the accused in the horrific Suryanelli rape case.
10:13

Coal scam: CBI questions Shibu Soren

Jharkhand Mukti Morcha chief Shibu Soren was questioned on Friday morning by the CBI in connection with the coal block allocation scam.Soren was the Union coal minister in 2006.
09:00

Blizzard heads towards New York City, Boston

A blizzard of record size may be heading towards the area spanning from Boston to New York City.Residents of these areas have stocked up on food and other necessities. Authorities have decided to shut all local schools on Friday.Read the full story here
08:56

Neither Modi nor Gandhi should lead India in 2014

Neither an authoritarian man like Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi nor a reluctant leader like Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi should lead the nation. Eminent historian Ramchandra Guha explains why.Read the article
03:52

US continues to remain at war with Al Qaeda: US official

A White House official has said that despite substantial progress been made in eliminating the top al Qaeda leadership, the US continues to be at war with the terror outfit. White House counter terrorism official John Brennan, President Barak Obama's nominee for the post of CIA director, told the...
03:51

Indian-American receives prestigious business award

An Indian-American businessman has been selected for a corporate award by given by a prestigious US journal. Based out of Dallas in Texas, Ashok Mago, the chairman of USINDIA Forum, was felicitated with the 'Minority Business Leader Award' by the Dallas Business Journal yesterday for his...
03:50

Strong 6.6 quake hits Solomon Islands

A strong 6.6-magnitude tremor struck the Solomon Islands today, the latest in a series of aftershocks from a powerful earthquake that triggered a tsunami which killed at least six people, seismologists said. The quake hit 36 kilometres (23 miles) south-southwest of Lata, the main town on the...
02:43

US asks Iran to release journalists

The United States today asked Iran to release the journalists as it said is deeply troubled by the arrest of more than a dozen media persons on charges of having contacts with foreign news organisations. We are deeply troubled by the Iranian regime's arrest of more than a dozen journalists...
02:42

Iran wants closer ties with Egypt

After decades of mistrust, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Thursday his country wanted closer relations with Egypt.He spoke at a news conference in Cairo of forging comprehensive and unfettered ties, something that if realized could mean a new and powerful alliance that could reshape...
01:50

Iran wants closer ties with Egypt

After decades of mistrust, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Thursday his country wanted closer relations with Egypt.He spoke at a news conference in Cairo of forging comprehensive and unfettered ties, something that if realized could mean a new and powerful alliance that could reshape...
01:07

Tunisia ruling party rejects new government plan

The Islamist party dominating Tunisia's ruling coalition on Thursday rejected its own prime minister's decision to replace the government, signaling that the crisis brought on by the assassination of a prominent opposition politician is far from over. With a large turnout expected Friday for...
00:32

China accuses Japan of smear campaign

China has accused Japan of trying to smear Beijing's image, after Tokyo alleged a Chinese warship locked its weapons-targeting radar on a Japanese vessel near disputed islands.Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said Thursday the issue is not China displaying its strength, but...
00:31

Japan scrambles fighters after Russian jets approach island

Japan's military scrambled fighters Thursday after two Russian SU-27 jets entered Japanese airspace off Rishiri Island near the tip of Japan's northernmost Hokkaido Island, according to the country's Defense Ministry.The Russian jets left Japanese airspace without incident after a little more...
00:22

Stop meddling in domestic affairs: Turkey to US envoy

Turkey bluntly told the US ambassador today to stop meddling in its domestic affairs after he fired off a strident attack on the country's justice system, in a row between the NATO allies. Ambassadors should mind their own business. They should stay away from assessments that mean interference in...
00:21

Cong worker suspended for Sonia, Rahul posters

Embarrassed by posters depicting Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi as 'Rani Laxmi Bai' and 'Lord Shankar' respectively, the city unit of the Congress has suspended a senior party worker here, charging him with violating party norms which rejected the idea of involving religion for political...
00:19

Top headlines in the past 24 hours

Suryanelli rape issue rocks Kerala assembly againAt Kumbh, RSS chief describes Modi as friendPM's daughter Amrit blows the whistle on CIA detention opsWith 12 new faces, Akhilesh expands UP cabinet to 59To hell and back: TN fishermen return from Iranian jailCase filed against VHP leader Togadia...