India, China discuss Afghan security

by

China and India have agreed that Afghanistan’s situation is an issue closely related to regional security and stability, the Chinese foreign ministry said Thursday.

It was for the first time that the two neighbours discussed the security scenario of Afghanistan here.

Luo Zhaohui, head of the Asian Affairs Department of the Chinese foreign ministry, and Y.K. Sinha, additional secretary of the Indian external affairs ministry, co-chaired the talks, Xinhua reported.

Spain to extradite Russian sex trafficker

by

Spain will extradite a Russian woman convicted of running a sex slavery ring, the Russian prosecutor general’s office said Thursday.

Lyudmila Nesterova was convicted by both Spanish and Russian courts for her part in a criminal gang involved in the sex trade.

Between 2006 and 2008, Nesterova recruited young women in central and southern Russia, promising them employment abroad as waitresses and dancers. But, in reality, forcing them into prostitution.

China confirms 87 bird flu cases; 17 dead

by

China Thursday confirmed the number of bird flu affected cases reached 87 in the country, with a total of 17 people already dead due to H7N9 avian influenza.

Five new cases of human H7N9 avian influenza — one in Shanghai, one in Jiangsu, two in Zhejiang and one in Henan, Xinhua reported.

The National Health and Family Planning Commission said in its daily update on H7N9 cases that a total of 87 H7N9 cases have been reported in China, including 17 that have ended in death.

Body search relaxation urged for Russian inmates

by

The Russian Justice Ministry has been urged to amend its regulations allowing manual body cavity searches of inmates, a lawmaker said Thursday.

The request has been made by A Just Russia party faction in the State Duma.

Valery Gartung, who is among some 40 lawmakers behind the initiative, told the Gazeta.Ru portal that he prepared the request while visiting a penal colony in the Urals city of Kopeisk, the site of a violent prison riot in November 2012.

Over 200 convicts participated in a protest demanding a milder regime and the release of several inmates from punitive confinement.

Russia worried about post-Assad Syria: US

by

Russia fears not only losing its “last bastion” of influence in the Middle East but also what would follow Syrian President Bashal al-Assad, US director of national intelligence James Clapper has said.

Clapper said it Thursday while explaning why Russia refused to join western calls for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step down.

Syria “represents their last bastion, I guess, in the Middle East where they have influence. It’s been a huge weapons’ client of theirs,” Clapper told a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on current and future threats to the US.

Jaden Smith, Kylie Jenner are best friends

by

Teen actor-rapper Jaden Smith says he is not dating TV star Kylie Jenner, they are just best friends.

The 14-year-old rapper’s relationship with the Jenner has been the centre of speculation ever since they were spotted holding hands at a Justin Bieber concert at The O2 in London last month and on other occasions.

“Jenner is one of my best friends. It’s pretty awesome,” femalefirst.co.uk quoted Smith as saying.

“I was in Los Angeles, we were all hanging out. Then I went to New York and she came too, then she came to London and surprised me, so that’s pretty baller,” he added.

FBI seeks people’s help in hunt for Boston bombers

by

Hunting for the Boston marathon bombers, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has released pictures and videos of two men with a direct appeal to the public to help them find the prime suspects.

The men were photographed walking down Boylston Street, one behind the other, near the marathon finish line where two near-simultaneous blasts went off at 2.50 p.m. Monday, killing three people and wounding about 180.

New law to protect domestic workers in UAE

by

The Unite Arab Emirates (UAE) will soon have a new law, ensuring protection of domestic workers from exploitation by human traffickers.

“The legislation process takes time, but very soon,” said Abdul Rahim Yousif Al Awadi, assistant foreign minister for legal affairs, was quoted by The National daily as saying Thursday.

He was speaking at the launch of a report revealing that of 35 trafficking victims in Dubai, all but four thought they were coming for work and 19 had been promised work as maids.

Chiranjeevi to campaign for Congress in Odisha

by

Union Tourism Minister and filmstar K Chiranjeevi today said he would campaign for Congress candidates in Odisha during the next elections. Chiranjeevi, who also belonged to Congress, said this at the felicitation function organised by the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC). “I will campaign for the party as per the request of the OPCC. I have a large number of fans in the state,” he said. Earlier, OPCC president Niranjan Patnaik had requested Chiranjeevi, a popular South Indian filmstar to campaign for the party in the next elections.

New policy for safety of foreign tourists: Chiranjeevi

by

In a bid to make the stay of foreign tourists safe and memorable in India, the Centre is contemplating the formulation of a new policy, Union Tourism minister K Chiranjeevi said. “We will convene a meeting of state Tourism ministers to chalk out a policy to ensure complete safety and security of foreign tourists,” Chiranjeevi told reporters after inaugurating the new campus of the Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management (IITTM) here.

Two detained for questioning in Bangalore blast case

by

Two persons were today detained for questioning in connection with the bomb blast in Bangalore, police sources said. The sources declined to share further details, including identity of those detained. However, police said the investigation is in progress and the National Investigation Agency was coordinating with the state police. The blast opposite the BJP office at Bangalore yesterday left 16 persons, including 11 police personnel, injured. Police have traced the registeration number of the motorcycle which was used for the blast to Tamil Nadu. PTI

If I take rumour seriously, I’d be in mental asylum: Kalki

by

Rumours can’t be taken seriously or they would drive a person crazy, feels Kalki Koechlin.

She rubbished reports that she stayed out of “Ek Thi Daayan” promotional activity because of her co-star Huma Qureshi, who was allegdly having an affair with her filmmaker husband Anurag Kashyap.

“I don’t understand these rumours. I have been shooting for my film. I had an intense schedule, so I couldn’t join them (‘Ek Thi Daayan’ team) for the promotions. For the last 12 days, I have been promoting non-stop for the film with Huma and Emraan Hashmi,” Kalki told IANS.

Homeguard, two others arrested for murder

by

A homeguard and two others were arrested today in connection with the murder of a vegetable seller in Binauli area near here, police said. Abdul Latif (30) was allegedly shot dead by homeguard, Gagan, and two others — Sonu and Anuj — on February 13 for not selling his vegetables on credit, a police official said. The three accused were arrested from Darkawada road by the Binauli police, he said, adding, Latif’s mobile was recovered from them. PTI

Three men kidnap, kill six-year-old girl in Mahabubnagar

by

A six-year-old girl who was kidnapped for ransom was found murdered on Thursday night on the outskirts of Mahabubnagar district of Andhra Pradesh, the police said.

The girl was abducted in an autorickshaw by three miscreants from near her house in Mahabubnagar Town on Wednesday, after which a ranson call was made demanding Rs 10 lakh, the police said.

Need to bridge gap between rural, urban, says APJ Abdul Kalam

by

The gap between urban and rural should be bridged for overall development of the country, former President and ‘Missile Man of India’ APJ Abdul Kalam said on Thursday.

Addressing engineering students of Chandigarh University during a convocation ceremony at Landran near here, Kalam said development of rural areas was the need of the hour as the real power of the country lies in its villages.

Sharing his vision of making India a world power till 2020, Kalam said there was a need to bridge the gap between urban and the rural areas for the country’s all round development.

Man commits suicide after wife’s ‘rapist’ goes free

by

Unable to bear the ignominy of seeing the youth who had allegedly raped his wife go free, a man in West Bengal’s Hooghly district committed suicide, his family said. Police maintained there was no evidence against the accused.

“Despite our complaint, the police released him (alleged rapist) the very same day he was arrested. He used to threaten us with dire consequences after we filed the complaint. My husband could not bear this and committed suicide,” said the victim who was allegedly raped April 12.

Boston Marathon blasts: Indian-American surgeon emerges as hero

by

An Indian-American orthopaedic surgeon, who participated the ill-fated Boston Marathon, emerged as a ‘hero’ by providing first aid to victims after the twin bombings ripped through a cheering crowd, killed three people and injured over 180 others.

Dr Vivek Shah, who works at New England Baptist Hospital in Boston, was about to cross the finish line when he was put to the ultimate test. Shah and his running mates heard a loud boom, but weren’t sure what had happened. So they continued toward the finish line. Then came the second blast.

Iran might deters US, Israel only blustering

by

Iran’s top commander has dismissed as “bluster” the Israeli war threats against Iran, adding that the US will not attack Iran either for fear of the Islamic Republic’s military prowess.

“Considering the might of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Armed Forces, the US will not enter into war with Iran,” Iran’s Armed Forces Chief of Staff Major General Hassan Firouzabadi said on the sidelines of the country’s Army Day parade in the capital city of Tehran on Thursday.

‘Bomb attack kills 27, injures 50 in Iraq’

by

At least 27 have been killed and more than 50 others injured in a bombing at a coffee shop in western Baghdad, security and medical officials say.

The explosion occurred at 10:00 p.m. local time (1900 GMT) on Thursday at a small shopping mall in the capital’s Amiriyah neighborhood, AFP reported, citing unnamed officials.

Three children were among those killed, according to the officials.

No group claimed the responsibility for the attack.

We will find you: Obama tells Boston marathon bombers

by

US President Barack Obama on Thursday condoled the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings here in an emotional inter-faith service, vowing to find those responsible for this “senseless” act as he stressed that a “bomb cannot beat us” and the nation will “finish the race.”

“Yes, we will find you and yes you will face the justice. We will hold you accountable,” said Obama, who arrived here to lead the inter-faith service for the blasts that killed three persons and injured over 180 on Monday.

Japan woman, 77, got USD 4 mn from man for sex and love

by

A 77-year-old woman who received USD 4 million from a 79-year-old man in exchange for sexual and romantic favours has been ordered to repay the cash by a court in Japan, a report said today.

The woman succeeded in getting around 400 million yen out of the man over a seven-year period, in what he said he thought were loans, which she used to buy luxury cars and a condominium, the Sports Nippon newspaper said.

“She had no ability nor any intention to repay the debts,” said the court in Shizuoka, central Japan, according to the paper.

P. Chidambaram, Aamir Khan in Time’s 100 most influential global list

by

Finance Minister P. Chidambaram and actor Aamir Khan have been named by Time magazine among the 100 most influential people in the world in its annual list of global achievers that also includes teenaged Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai and US President Barack Obama.

Describing Indian politicians as typically being “warm and fuzzy, chronically late and terribly imprecise”, Time says Chidambaram, 67, is “detail-oriented, works from 8 to 8 and has a reputation for getting a lot done.”

Blast killed 17 innocent people, I’m the 18th, weeping Himayat Baig tells court

by

Himayat Baig broke down in court as he told the judge that he had nothing to do with the bombing, and that the judgment had punished an innocent man. Soon after he was given the death sentence, Baig fainted while being escorted to the custody room.

“Judge sahab, mera iss case se kucch lena dena nahi hai,” Baig, who the Maharashtra ATS says is the Lashkar commander in the state, told Additional Sessions Judge N P Dhote after the judge gave him time to have his say before announcing the punishment.

Minor girl raped by neighbour in Delhi

by

A five-year-old girl was raped several times by her neighbour who abducted and kept her hostage inside his flat here for two days, said police Thursday.

The accused, in his 30s, lived on ground floor of the building in east Delhi’s Gandhi Nagar in which the victim also stayed, police said, refusing to give any more details about him.

The girl was abducted from outside her house April 15 and raped repeatedly, police said.

The girl was rescued when her family members said they heard her screams emanating from the accused’s flat Wednesday evening, police said.

JPC gives clean chit to PM, says Raja had ‘misled’ him

by

The JPC has given a clean chit to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on 2G spectrum allocation, saying he was “misled” by the then Telecom Minister A Raja whose assurances stood “belied”. The draft report of the JPC also rubbishes the loss figure of Rs 1.76 lakh crore estimated by CAG, saying it was “ill-conceived”.
The report, which was circulated among members today before its adoption on April 25, also accuses Raja of forging the press note of January 7, 2008 after it was seen by the then Solicitor General G E Vahanvati.