Envoy: Germany opposed to death penalty

German Ambassador Michael Steiner said on Friday that his country is opposed to death penalty but parried a question on whether his country has sought clemency for Khalistani terrorist Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar who is on the death row. Germany has a “principled position” on death penalty and it does not amount to interference in […]

IMF team to visit Pakistan in June

An IMF team is planning to visit Pakistan next month to hold discussions with the post-election new government on financial aid and how to bail out the country from its impending economic crisis. “A staff team is planning to visit Islamabad in late June to continue the policy discussions on mitigating economic vulnerabilities in Pakistan,” […]

Fifteen killed in Pak violence ahead of polls

Violence continued unabated a day ahead of Pakistan’s landmark general election, with 15 people killed in a bombing and an attack by pro-Taliban militants in the country’s restive northwest on Friday. Bomb blasts also targeted political workers and offices in Peshawar, Quetta and several other places in Balochistan province. Three persons were killed and 12 […]

Pakistan polls to decide fate of over 23,000 candidates

The fate of 23,079 candidates in the race for Pakistan’s National Assembly and provincial assembly seats will be decided on Saturday. Chief Election Commissioner Fakhruddin G. Ebrahim said Friday that the Election Commission of Pakistan has completed all arrangements to hold free, fair and transparent elections, reported news agencies. “The power of vote can change […]

1993 Mumbai blasts: SC dismisses Sanjay Dutt’s review plea

Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt’s hope of getting relief in 1993 Mumbai blasts case was on Friday dashed with the Supreme Court dismissing his plea seeking review of its judgment on his conviction and five-year jail term. A bench of justices P Sathasivam and BS Chauhan, which had delivered on 21st March verdict, refused to review […]

State Cong legislature party elects Siddaramaiah as new CM of Karnataka

The Congress central leadership choose Siddaramaiah as the new Chief Minister of Karnataka. A four-member team of AICC observers, comprising senior minister AK Antony, Congress General Secretary in-charge of the state Madhusudan Mistri, Luizinho Faleiro, who was Karnataka’s screening committee chairman, and Union Minister Jitender Singh met the MLAs at the party office. Both Siddaramaiah […]

Railway Minister Pawankumar Bansal Quits on bribery charges

Railway Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal has resigned from his post on Friday as it comes in the wake of a meeting between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. Significantly, Bansal skipped a meeting of the Union Cabinet last evening, that added grist to the mill that he could be on his way […]

Rail Minister Pawankumar Bansal Likely to Quit Today

US slaps sanctions against 4 Iranian nuclear supply companies

The United States has slapped sanctions against four Iranian nuclear supply companies and one individual for procuring and attempting to procure goods for Iran’s nuclear programme. These companies are Aluminat, Pars Amayesh Sanaat Kish, Pishro Systems Research Company, and Taghtiran Kashan Company. The State Department said, foreign financial institutions that facilitate significant transactions to or […]

SC to consider Sanjay Dutt’s review plea

The Supreme Court on Friday will take up Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt’s plea seeking review of its March 21 judgement upholding his conviction under the Arms Act and sentencing him to five years in jail in 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case. A bench of P Sathasivam and B S Chauhan, which had delivered 21st March […]