4.8-magnitude quake hits Sicily

A 4.8-magnitude earthquake on Wednesday hit Sicily around Europe’s most active volcano Mount Etna, injuring at least two people, Italian media reported. The earthquake struck at 3.19 a.m. near Viagrande, the BBC reported. The residents panicked and many ran out onto the streets as the fresh tremors were felt just two days after Mount Etna […]

Centre committed to Odisha’s development: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said his government is fully committed to Odisha’s development as he dedicated a slew of projects worth thousands of crores to the public here. “Starting from infrastructure to development of the Odisha people — all steps are being taken. I assure you that this work will continue,” said the […]

Nawaz Sharif gets 7-year jail term for corruption

 An accountability court on Monday sentenced former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to seven years in prison in a fresh corruption conviction. The Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) leader was arrested from the courtroom for having investments beyond his declared assets in Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption reference. The court acquitted Sharif in the the Flagship Investments case. […]

Sabarimala protesters win again, police take back women devotees

After waiting for hours barely one kilometre from the Sabarimala temple, two Kerala women devotees were escorted down the hill, as thousands of Ayyappa devotees on Monday put up a massive protest causing one of the woman to faint. Bindu from Malappuram and Kanaka Durga from Kannur, both from the hitherto banned age group, were […]

GST may have single standard rate between 12-18%: Jaitley

 Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Monday hinted that the country may eventually have a single standard rate of GST adding that the 28 per cent slab will soon be phased out, except on luxury and “sin goods”. He noted that the standard rate could be between the 12 and 18 per cent. “A future roadmap […]

Indonesian tsunami toll rises to 281 amid fresh warnings issued

Indonesian authorities have confirmed the death of at least 281 people in the devastating tsunami that hit the Sunda Strait in the western part of the archipelago on Saturday night, which also left 1,016 injured. Emergency teams on Monday resumed rescue efforts. According to the the latest figures released by the National Agency for Disaster […]

India-Pakistan trade heavy fire on LoC, schools closed in Rajouri

The Indian and Pakistani armies on Monday traded heavy fire on the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir prompting authorities to shut down schools in the vicinity. The Pakistan Army were using automatics and mortars to target Indian military and civilian facilities, defence sources said. “Unprovoked firing and shelling from […]

Mumbai man freed from Pakistani jail, heads home’

A Mumbai man, who spent around three years in a Pakistan jail, has been released and will return home on Tuesday, an activist said here. “Yes it’s really a great news. Hamid Nehal Ansari has been released from jail and will be handed over to India at the Wagah Border later this afternoon,” Pakistan-India Peoples […]

We don’t deny shelter to the needy: Mamata on Bengal

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said her government is equally considerate towards all minorities and the state never denies shelter to anyone. On the issue of migration, she said: “Today is International Migrants Day. It is our humanitarian obligation to give refuge to migrants. “In Bangla we will take care of anyone […]