Nelson Mandela laid to rest
The world's anti-apartheid icon and South Africa's first non-white president Nelson Mandela was Sunday laid to rest at his ancestral home in Qunu village in Eastern Cape province at a state funeral. Mandela's body was placed in his final resting place, alongside his other family members at the Mandela family farm in rural Qunu, South Africa's government news agency SA News reported. Traditional rituals were performed to ensure Mandela is received by his...

Pass Lokpal bill in din if needed, says Anna Hazare
Activist Anna Hazare today said the government should pass the Lokpal Bill in din if needed. He also said the session should be extended if needed to pass the proposed legislation. "I would say if some parties are creating ruckus, pass the bill in din... so many bills are passed in din," he said. "If needed, government can also extend the session," he said. Asked about Aam Aadmi Party convenor Arvind Kejriwal's comment that he may not be aware of the...

‘We will take Mandela’s legacy forward’ – Zuma
Zuma said Mandela had made tremendous strides in gender equality, giving it prominence and seriousness under his presidency. “[This led] to an increase in the number of women in public office, especially Parliament and Cabinet,” Zuma said. “We dare not reverse your achievements in this regard. “As your journey ends today, ours must continue in earnest. One thing we can assure you of today Tata is, as you take your final steps, is that South Africa will...

Government's Lokpal bill not strong: AAP
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Sunday rejected the Lokpal bill under consideration in parliament, saying it was weak and would not prevent corruption, but work instead to "protect the corrupt". "This Lokpal bill does not provide for formation of Lokayuktas, there is no provision for whistle blower protection, and it is not free of the government," said AAP member Prashant Bhushan. "What is the point of passing this Lokpal bill, it will not stop corruption at...

Fans disappointed at Sussanne-Hrithik Roshan split
The news of Hrithik Roshan's split with wife Sussanne after a relationship of 17 years didn't go down well with the actor's fans. To some, the end of their "fairytale romance" was a disappointment, while several hoped that they would reconcile for their children's sake. Several people took to social networking sites to share their sentiments following Hrithik's announcement that Sussanne had decided to call off their 13-year-old marriage. The two had...

CPM criticises Sandhya
CPM has criticized Sandhya, the housewife who lashed at CPM protesters who had blocked roads while demonstrating outside the Cliff House, and Kochouseph Chittilappalli, who announced a reward for her bravery. CPM's state secretariat member Baby John criticised both Sandhya and Chittillappalli by saying that their retaliation was out of place. He said this while inaugurating the strike today.

Invitation letter of "Vigathakumaran" was fake-Kunnukuzhi Mani
Kunnukuzhi Mani, who had procured the invitation letter of  the movie "Vigathakumaran",  has said that the letter was fake. As written in many articles by Chelangad, the exact date of Vigathakumaran's release was November 7, 1928. But, Kamal, in his biopic chose the wrong information, October 23,1930," said Mani. Mani, who had been the editor of the magazine 'Kalapremi', collected the letter from Daniel's daughter Lalitha Henry on...

Delhi Lt Governor to submit report to President
Delhi Lt Governor Najeeb Jung on Saturday said he will submit a "factual" report to President Pranab Mukherjee on government formation here following his meeting with the Aam Admi Party (AAP) leader Arvind Kejriwal. His statement came shortly after the meeting in a release issued by his office. The release also said that Kejriwal, referring to the Congress's letter offering support to AAP to form the government, told Jung that he would be in a position to form a...

Hrithik Roshan, wife Sussanne call it quits
Bollywood superstar Hrithik Roshan and Sussanne Roshan's marriage of 13 years, a subject of much discussion of late, is over. Roshan, 40, who is in the USA for a medical check-up, issued a statement on Friday saying his wife has decided to separate from him. "Sussanne has decided to separate from me and end our 17-year relationship. This is a very trying time for the entire family and I request the media and the people to grant us our privacy at this time.'' The actor's...

Hrithik Roshan, Suzanne part ways
Matrimonial relation between Bollywood actor Hrithik Roshan and his wife Suzanne has come to an end. This was confirmed by Hrithik in an official statement released on Friday. Roshan and Suzanne, who were childhood sweethearts, tied the knot in 2000 after a four-year relationship. The couple has two sons – Hrehaan, seven and Hridhaan, five. “Suzanne has decided to separate from me and end our 17 year relationship. This is a very trying time for the entire family and I...

Rajya Sabha hails Tendulkar's Bharat Ratna
The Rajya Sabha Friday congratulated cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar for being honoured with Bharat Ratna, the country's highest honour. It was Tendulkar's first day in the winter session of the house, to which he was nominated in April last year. As he walked in with other members, several MPs warmly greeted him. After paying homage to those killed in the 2001 terror attack on parliament, Rajya Sabha Chairman M Hamid Ansari congratulated Tendulkar and described him as...

Police find SIM card owners
The police have found the owners of the SIM cards which were allegedly used by the TP murder accused in the Kozhikode district jail. The intelligence wing of the police have found that the card owners have close connection with the accused. All the connections are in the name of persons from Kannur and Kozhikdoe districts. The police had recovered more than 20 SIM cards and nine phones which were used by the accused in the district jail. Detailed investigation will be made...

Kerala facing economic problems: Mani
Finance Minister K M Mani said that even though there is no financial crisis in Kerala, the state is facing some economic problems. The expense has already exceeded from what was earmarked in last year's budget, said Mani. Mani said the majority are in favour of increasing the retirement age of the government employees in the state, but those people are forgetting about the educated youngsters who are waiting for employments.

Fayas is just a common friend -Mythili
Mythili, who was rumoured to have received a notice from the CBI, to report before them for further queries about Fayas and his gold smuggling, has slammed all those reports. She said that she has not received any notice from the CBI yet, and she is not aware of anything. She said that she knows Fayas from the past six years and he is just a common friend. Fayas, who is the accused for gold smuggling case, is in jail curently. The investigation surrounding him led to his many close relation...

Rs 75 crore aid for KSRTC
Wednesday’s cabinet meeting has decided to accord Rs 75 crore as an immediate financial relief to Kerala State Road Transport Corporation ( KSRTC), which is going through a financial crunch. A decision was also taken to appoint former DGP, Prisons, Alexander Jacob as Institute of Management in Government (IMG) director.   The meeting will also give its approval to the 13 Finance commission, which will be visiting Kerala on December 18.

Kerala to make efforts to reclaim land lost to Karnataka
After revenue authorities found out that the Karnataka forest department had encroached into the state along the border in Kannur, the government has started measures to reclaim the land. The Karnataka forest department is believed to have encroached into about 10 kms of revenue land at Makuttam forest area in Kannur. They are also reported to have created new barricades in this land after removing existing one. The extent of encroachment is between five to 10 meters over a 10-Km...

Congress rout will have no impact on Kerala-Oommen Chandy
The Congress rout in four northern states will have no impact on Kerala, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said Wednesday. The Congress defeat in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Delhi won't affect the party's prospects in Kerala, Chandy told the media. Chandy also criticised the Left, saying all it ever did was protest. "Since June they have stayed with the 'solar scam'. We have announced a judicial probe but they are not interested in offering any...

The Aam Aadmi Party won't prop up the BJP in power
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) won't prop up the BJP in power in Delhi's hung assembly, its founder leader Arvind Kejriwal said Tuesday. Speaking a day after senior colleague Prashant Bhushan suggested giving issue-based support to the BJP, Kejriwal said: "Neither we will take support nor give support (to form a government). There is no question." Kejriwal instead advised the Bharatiya Janata Party, which with 31 seats is the single largest group in the 70-member...

BJP favours fresh elections in Delhi
The BJP Tuesday said it was not in a position to form a government in Delhi where it emerged the single largest party and was ready for fresh elections to the 70-member assembly. "Considering the present situation, we are not in a position to form the government. We are ready for re-poll," the party's chief ministerial candidate Harsh Vardhan told reporters here. A party source told IANS: "Even the possibility of forming a minority government seems bleak. We have...

VS urges scrapping pentavalent vaccine
Administration of pentavalent vaccine in the state should be stopped immediately, leader of opposition V.S.Achuthanandan demanded Tuesday. This vaccine provides protection to children from five life threatening diseases - diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, hepatitis B and haemophilus influenza type b (HiB). The former Kerala chief minister said here that ever since the statewide campaign to administer this vaccine started in December 2011, 18 infant deaths have been reported till...

Bangladesh SC stays execution of Jamaat-e-Islami leader
The Supreme Court of Bangladesh late Tuesday halted the execution of Abdul Quader Molla hours before the convicted war criminal was to be hanged, a leading Bangladesh daily reported. The decision to halt the execution came after a petition by the counsels for the condemned Jamaat-e-Islami leader. The chamber judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, issued the order. Mollah’s counsel Shishir Manir said that Justice Hossain did not consult Chief Justice Md...

Details of the use of mobile phones by those active on Facebook would come out - Thiruvanchoor
A police team is actively working to get to the bottom of how three undertrial prisoners lodged in Kozhikode jail became very active on social networking site (Facebook), said Kerala Home Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan Tuesday. Speaking to the media here, Radhakrishnan said, "You please wait a little more when the entire details of the use of mobile phones by those active on Facebook would come out. Nothing will be left to chance as the team will come out with what has...

8 more cellphones were recovered from the jail
A week after some accused in a murder case lodged in the district jail here made Facebook postings using sophisticated mobile phones, eight more cellphones were recovered from the jail on Tuesday, police said. Police recovered seven cellphones when the septic tank in the jail was opened as part of searching this evening, a top police official told PTI. Earlier, in the morning, jail staff found a base model cellphone from near the garden in the jail complex. On December 7, a mobile phone...

New plans for Sabarimala renovation
New plans are in the pipeline for the improvement of security and facilities for pilgrims visiting Sabarimala. The Travancore Devaswom Board Technical Committee has submitted recommendations in this regard before the Higher Authority Council formed for executing Sabarimala master plan. It is also mentioned in the report that these plans are to be implemented before next pilgrimage season starts. The report contains 24 suggestions, recommending extensive developments from Pampa till...

Expert Committee on Kasturirangan to submit report soon: CM
The Expert Committee set up by the Kerala government to look into the Kasturirangan panel report on Western Ghats preservation would submit its report in two or three days, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said today. "The Expert Committee has completed its hearing and evidence taking... they will submit the report in two to three days time, he said. Chandy was speaking at the Mass contact programme here. The Committee, headed by Oommen V Oommen, Chairman of State Biodiversity...

Jayalalithaa drops minister, reshuffles cabinet
In yet another minor reshuffle of her ministry, Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa on Monday dropped a minister, re-inducted a former minister and effected changes in the portfolios of three cabinet colleagues. In the ministry re-cast exercise that came a day after the ruling AIADMK's impressive victory in the Yercaud bypoll, Jayalalithaa axed K V Ramalingam, minister for sports and youth welfare and inducted R B Udhaya Kumar, MLA from Sattur assembly segment, whom she had...

Cliff House Siege by LDF from Today
The Left Democratic Front (LDF) will begin its 140-day siege of the Cliff House, the official residence of Chief Minister Oommen Chandy here, on Monday. Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan will inaugurate the siege which marks the Front’s second phase of agitations on the solar panel scam. The LDF state committee said around 5,000 LDF workers would participate in the protest on the inaugural day. LDF workers from 140 Assembly constituencies will attend the...

AAP says it will play role of constructive opposition
A day after creating history in Delhi's election, Aam Aadmi Party today maintained that it will not stake claim to form government and will play the role of a constructive opposition. The party also said that it was the responsibility of the BJP, which is the single largest party, to form the government. After a meeting of top party leaders at party chief Arvind Kejriwal's residence here, AAP leader Yogendra Yadav said, even if Lt Governor Najeeb Jung invites the party to...

Mizoram election results: Congress set to retain power
The ruling Congress seems set to retain power for the second consecutive term in Mizoram on Monday. By 1 pm, the party won ten seats and was surging ahead in nine constituencies in the vote count for the 40-member assembly. According to Election Department officials, Congress candidates have either won or were leading in 20 seats while the opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) won one seat and was leading two other seats. The MNF is heading the three-party Mizoram Democratic Alliance (MDA) in...

Sheila Dikshit resigns as Delhi Chief Minister
As Congress suffered a huge setback in Delhi in the assembly elections, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Sunday sent her resignation to the Lieutenant Governor. Sheila Dikshit, who has been the Delhi CM for the past 15 years was also trailing behind Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal in her constituency New Delhi by a huge margin. The Congress has been decimated in the Delhi Assembly elections 2013 and managed to take leads in less than 10 seats by 12 noon. The BJP is emerging as the...