Rajya Sabha passes bill to extend maternity leave
New Delhi, Aug 11 (IANS) The Rajya Sabha on Thursday passed a bill to increase the maternity leave to 26 weeks from the present 12 weeks. The bill provides for maternity leave of 26 weeks…
Law
Why previous all-party Kashmir meetings have failed
Dear politicians, I hope you will read this before you huddle on Friday to discuss the deadly situation in the Kashmir Valley. I am writing to you as a Kashmiri, not a Kashmir expert. Every…
Australian state considers proposal to decriminalise abortion
Sydney, Aug 11 (IANS) Australia’s state parliament of New South Wales (NSW) is considering a proposal which will decriminalise abortion, local media reported on Thursday. Greens MP Mehreen Faruqi has introduced a bill to NSW…
LGBT rights under ‘unprecedented attack’ in Indonesia
Jakarta, Aug 11 (IANS) The LGBT community in Indonesia has come under “unprecedented attack” since the beginning of the year owing to discriminatory laws, homophobic speeches and repression in the country, Human Rights Watch said…
Julian Assange to be questioned in Ecuadorian embassy
London, Aug 11 (IANS) Wikileaks founder Julian Assange will be questioned by Swedish prosecutors inside the Ecuadorian embassy in London, a media report said on Thursday. The Ecuadorian attorney general delivered a document agreeing to…
Manjula Chellur named new Bombay High Court Chief Justice
Kolkata, Aug 11 (IANS) The first woman Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court, Manjula Chellur, has been named the new Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court. The transfer of Chellur, who will be…
SC refuses interim bail to Asaram Bapu
New Delhi, Aug 11 (IANS) In a set-back to self-styled godman Asaram Bapu, who is accused of rape and murder, the Supreme Court on Thursday refused to grant him interim bail on medical grounds. The…
Centre tables bill on extended maternity leave
New Delhi, Aug 11 (IANS) Union Minister of Labour and Employment Bandaru Dattatreya on Thursday introduced in the Rajya Sabha the Maternity Benefit (Amendment) Bill, 2016, that seeks to increase maternity leave benefit for women…
Red Cross Society to shelter Sharmila
Imphal, Aug 11 (IANS) The Indian Red Cross Society will provide shelter to Irom Sharmila, who is being shunned by many in Manipur after she ended her 16-year-long fast against a draconian legislation. The Manipur…
Jharkhand police official suspended for torturing minor maid
Ranchi, Aug 11 (IANS) A Jharkhand Police official was suspended for torturing a 13-year-old tribal girl working as a maid in his house, authorities said on Thursday. Police Inspector Umesh Thakur posted in Ranchi Crime…
Australia accuses immigrants of lying for asylum
Canberra, Aug 11 (IANS) Australian Immigration Minister Peter Dutton on Thursday claimed that immigrants in detention centres in Nauru and Papua New Guinea often lodge false complaints to secure asylum in the country. Dutton’s comments…
BJP legislator being probed over Bihar communal tension
Patna, Aug 11 (IANS) The Bihar Police have launched a probe into the alleged involvement of a BJP legislator over the communal tension in Saran district, a police official on Thursday said. Saran Superintendent of…
Halal meat subsidized in China
Beijing, Aug 11 (IANS) Several provincial and local governments throughout China have subsidized Muslims’ purchases of halal meat this year. According to the State Ethnic Affairs Commission, the policy has sparked controversy over whether the…
Racist graffiti, swastika symbols appear in Australia beach
Sydney, Aug 11 (IANS) Racist graffiti and swastika symbols been scrawled along a main street in Australia’s iconic Bondi beach in New South Wales (NSW) state, reports said on Thursday. Police found about 15 swastika…
Myanmar’s lower house adopts anti-corruption proposal
Nay Pyi Taw, Aug 11 (IANS) Myanmar’s House of Representatives (the Lower House) has adopted an anti-corruption proposal where measures will be introduced in accordance with the directives of the government, parliament sources said on…
Hearing on extradition of French terrorist suspect held
Sofia, Aug 11 (IANS) A court hearing on the extradition of Mourad Hamyd, a French terrorist suspect, was held in Sofia, capital of Bulgaria, on Wednesday. The court denied Hamyd’s request for a closed-door hearing,…
Assam’s rhino horn verification process starts at Golaghat: Panel
Guwahati, Aug 10 (IANS) The Assam government will formally start the verification of rhino horns, stored in various treasuries of Assam since 1980, from Thursday. Assam government instituted a committee recently to verify the genuineness…
Maharashtra kidney racket: Medicos in police custody till Saturday
Mumbai, Aug 10 (IANS) In a major breakthrough, the Mumbai Police arrested five medicos, including the CEO and Medical Director of the reputed L.H. Hiranandani Hospital in Powai, in connection with a racket in illegal…
Lok Sabha passes Factories
New Delhi, Aug 10 (IANS) Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed The Factories (Amendment) Bill, 2016 that seeks to increase the working overtime hours up to 100 per quarter. The existing law permits the state governments…
Cabinet approves increase in maternity benefit
New Delhi, Aug 10 (IANS) The Cabinet on Wednesday approved increase of maternity benefit from 12 to 26 weeks for two surviving children and 12 weeks for more than two children. The Union Cabinet, chaired…