India news
Burning of church in Delhi an attack on minorities say Indian Americans

Washington: The Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC - www.iamc.com), an advocacy group dedicated to safeguarding India's pluralist and tolerant ethos, has condemned the burning of St. Sebastian Catholic Church in Delhi on December 1, 2015 as an attack on India's religious minorities. Early foren
Don't Come to Us on 'Fishing Expedition', Switzerland Tells India Over Black Money
Mumbai: As India continues its pursuit of black money allegedly stashed abroad, Switzerland has said it would not entertain any 'fishing expedition' and authorities cannot ask for names of all Indian account holders in Swiss banks without doing their own independent investigations. Switzerland's
India's Communication Satellite GSAT-16 Launched Successfully

BENGALURU: After its launch was deferred twice due to bad weather, India's latest communication satellite GSAT-16 was placed in orbit by Ariane 5 rocket in the early hours today from the space port of Kourou in French Guiana. The European launcher blasted off at 2.10 AM (IST) and hurled the GSAT
Poverty Amongst Urban Muslims is 13% Higher than India's National Average

While increased social exclusion and religious polarisation are pushing Muslims to urban areas, poverty amongst urban Muslims is 13-16% higher than the national average. In the western and northern states in particular, communalised state machineries and politics act as barriers to the economic and
60 patients lose vision after operation at eye camp in Punjab

AMRITSAR: At least 60 persons have lost their eyesight after an operation at an eye camp organised by an NGO in Gurdaspur district, civil and medical authorities said on Thursday. While 16 persons belonged to villages of Amritsar the rest were from Gurdaspur district. All of them were admitted in
Centre does not back BJP chief

The Modi government contradicted Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah’s statement that the Saradha scam money was routed to Bangladesh terror groups. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State for Personnel, in a written reply in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday said: "The investigation has so far
A.R. Antulay passes away

Former Chief Minister of Maharashtra and a veteran Congressman, Abdul Rahman Antulay, widely known as A. R. Antulay, passed away on Tuesday morning. He was 85. He also served as the Union Minister for Minority Affairs in the UPA-I government. The funeral will take place at his native Ambet villag
300 Fall Ill After Tanker Dumps Hazardous Waste Into Drain in Thane

MUMBAI: At least 300 people fell ill in Ulhasnagar near Mumbai on Saturday after a tankers dumped hazardous discharge into a drain. The trouble began at 09:00 am when residents who live alongside the drain started complaining of nausea and irritation. Most of these people live in the hutments
France to issue visa to Indians in 48 hours

Indian citizens planning to travel to France for tourism and business purpose can now get their visa in just 48 hours from December 1, with the French government easing the norms in view of a significant rise in the number of tourists travelling to the country from India. The French government h
Battle for Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand Begins

SRINAGAR/RANCHI: Voting has begun for the first of the five-phase assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir and Jharkhand today. The BJP, which swept the Lok Sabha elections in May and recently added Maharashtra and Haryana to its kitty, is hoping to win big in both states, where regional parties are
'Purdah' system an evil tradition, says Mulayam Singh Yadav
Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav on Monday kicked up a controversy by dubbing the practice of "purdah" (veil) as an "evil tradition", saying it should be scrapped as it hindered progress of women. "This system did not exist in the distant past. Did Sita or Draupadi ever don a veil? Som
Jet Airways starts direct flight from Goa to Abu Dhabi
PANAJI: Private carrier Jet Airways has started a new daily direct flight linking Goa with Abu Dhabi. The guests travelling from Goa will now be able to seamlessly connect toAbu Dhabi and to multiple international destinations in Europe, North America, Africa, Middle-East and the Gulf, the company s
India urges higher pay for millions of Gulf workers

NEW DELHI/DUBAI/RIYADH: India is pressing rich countries in the Gulf to raise the wages of millions of Indians working there, in a drive that could secure it billions of dollars in fresh income but risks pricing some of its citizens out of the market. Over 5 million nationals are believed to be e
Repatriation of black money kept abroad is a priority: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today unequivocally said that repatriation of black money kept abroad is a "priority" for his government, as he sought close global coordination to achieve this objective. Raising the black money issue at an informal meeting of leaders of the five-nation BRICS bloc, M
Kashmir killings: India jails 7 soldiers for life

NEW DELHI: An Indian military court has sentenced seven soldiers to life in prison for killing three Kashmiri youths in a rare ruling against the army, the tense region’s top official said Thursday. Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the soldiers shot dead the youths in 2010 after staging
21 new ministers join PM Modi's government, Sena boycotts oath ceremony

NEW DELHI: Former Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar and three others were on Sunday inducted into the Union Cabinet as Prime Minister Narendra Modi expanded his council of ministers, bringing in 21 new ministers as Shiv Sena kept away from the exercise. Suresh Prabhu, a former Shiv Sainik and p
Laxmikant Parsekar takes oath as Goa CM

PANAJI: Laxmikant Parsekar was on Saturday sworn in as the chief minister of Goa. Parsekar was administered the oath of office and secrecy by state governor Mridula Sinha. Earlier, Laxmikant Parsekar was unanimously elected the leader of the BJP legislature party in Goa. Announcing the deci
Spicejet Plane Crashes Into Buffalo at Surat Airport, Two Inquiries Ordered

SURAT: Seconds before take-off from Surat in Gujarat on Thursday evening, a SpiceJet flight with 140 passengers on board thudded to a stop; it had hit a buffalo that had strolled on to the runway through a gap in the airport's boundary wall. The collision killed the buffalo and caused potentiall