Ariel Sharon’s health deteriorating

Former Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon’s condition is worsening and his family is by his side, CNN reported Thursday. “In the last few hours there has been a deterioration in Ariel Sharon’s medical condition,” said Michael Schwartz, a spokesperson for the Sheba Medical Center, where the comatose former Israeli prime minister is being treated, in […]

Overtaking Vadra’s convoy, man fined for rash driving

A 28-year-old employee of an advertising firm was fined for rash driving after he overtook the convoy of Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s son-in-law Robert Vadra, police said Thursday. Saurabh Rastogi’s car overtook Vadra’s convoy in south Delhi’s Amar Colony area. “Vadra’s security officers signalled to the traffic policemen deployed on the road about the suspicious […]

Devyani Khobragade on way back home

Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade was given a G1 visa with full diplomatic immunity Jan 8 and is on her way back to India. The external affairs ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin tweeted: “Devyani Khobragade was given G1 visa with full diplomatic immunity on 8 Jan, 2014. Airborne on way back to India.”

38 terrorists killed in Nigeria, says military

Nigeria’s troops in northeast state of Borno said Thursday that 38 Boko Haram suspects were killed after it successfully repelled an attack on Damboa community in by suspected Boko Haram fighters. Spokesperson for the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army Muhammad Dole announced the development in a statement in Maiduguri, the restive state capital city, […]

Old city’s bawarchis keep alive Mughlai culinary magic

Mohd Asim Khan When we talk of the food at an upscale restaurant we invariably talk of the chef behind it. But despite most of us finding the array of food available in Delhi’s old quarters lip-smacking, few of us remember the ‘bawarchis’, or the traditional cooks, behind the culinary magic. Purani Dilli, as the area is known, […]

India asks its diaspora to support infrastructure development

New Delhi India has urged its nearly 25 million strong diaspora across the world to play a constructive role in bolstering the economy, especially in infrastructure development and expanding manufacturing capacity. Addressing the 12th edition of the annual diaspora meet – Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) – in the national capital, Commerce and Industry Minister Anand […]

Court orders Musharraf to appear Jan 16

A special court in Pakistan Thursday heard the high treason case against former president Pervez Musharraf for abrogation of the constitution and ordered him to appear Jan 16 after reviewing his medical report. The court said Musharraf’s medical report did not mention that he had a heart attack. It also did not say that he […]

Man arrested for cancelling ministers’ air tickets

A travel agency’s owner in Tripura has been arrested for hacking into the network of another travel agency and cancelling air tickets of ministers and police officers, police said Thursday. The 30-year-old was arrested Wednesday night, police official Milan Datta told reporters. The man is being interrogated, Datta said, adding that this was the first […]

End arbitrary arrests in Bangladesh: rights group

Bangladesh authorities should immediately end arbitrary arrests of opposition party members and others, Human Rights Watch said Thursday. Arrests have continued even after the ruling Awami League party and its allies won the largely uncontested elections held Jan 5, it said. The US, the European Union and others refused to send observers to Bangladesh’s divisive […]

Are Delhi colleges only for locals? Not all agree

The new Delhi government’s proposal to reserve 90 percent seats in Delhi University (DU) colleges for locals has undoubtedly cheered city students, but has not found favour with others from across India, including students from the northeast who flock to Delhi for quality education. “The proposed reservation does not keep up with the spirit of […]