Chronicles
Stampede kills seven at Indian religious festival
KOLKATA — Seven Hindu pilgrims were killed Thursday in a stampede at a religious festival on the river Ganges in the eastern Indian state of West Bengal, a senior police official said.
Major fire at Indian oil depot, 6 killed, 150 injured
New Delhi - A huge fire engulfed an oil depot in India's north-western state of Rajasthan Friday, leaving six people dead and nearly 150 injured, while authorities evacuated an estimated 500,000 people from the area, media reports said.
More than 100 feared dead in India chimney collapse
RAIPUR, India — Rescuers on Thursday were searching desperately for survivors in rubble left by the collapse of a giant chimney in central India, with a top union official saying more than 100 workers were feared dead.
Afghan Envoy Calls for More Troops as U.S. Prepares Options
Afghanistan’s ambassador to Washington said his country needs “more boots on the ground,” as the U.S. general commanding NATO-led forces in the war prepares to submit a request with a range of troop options.
Pakistan army kill 8 militants, arrest 33 in operations
Pakistan's security forces killed eight Taliban militants and arrested another 33 in the search and clearance operations in northwest Pakistan's Swat and Malakand districts during the last 24 hours, the army said Thursday.
US signals major policy shift towards Burma
The US government is to embark on a major policy shift towards Burma after concluding that its long-term policy of sanctions had failed to sway the junta.
Powerful Indian politician killed in chopper crash
HYDERABAD, India — Rescuers retrieved the bodies Thursday of a powerful Indian politician and four others whose helicopter crashed in dense jungle in southern India during a pounding rainstorm.
Ethnic tension flares over syringe attacks in Chinese city of Urumqi
Thousands of angry protesters marched in China’s only Muslim-majority region today to demand government action over a series of hit-and-run syringe attacks blamed on the ethnic Uighur group.
Pakistani minister shot and wounded - police
Unidentified gunmen shot and wounded Pakistan's religious affairs minister, Hamid Saeed Kazmi, in a brazen attack in the capital on Wednesday that killed his driver, officials said.
Dalai Lama says ready to negotiate with China
The Dalai Lama, the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader branded by Beijing as a separatist, said on Thursday he was ready to negotiate with China on issues concerning his homeland but wanted to see a "green light."
Next Japanese leader reassures US on alliance
TOKYO — Japan's incoming Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama reassured U.S. leaders Thursday that their security alliance remains the foundation of its foreign policy, despite pre-election promises that Tokyo would seek a more independent path.
China denies U.S. reporters were seized in China
China rejected on Thursday claims by two U.S. journalists that they were seized on Chinese territory before being dragged into North Korea and jailed there for illegal entry into the reclusive state.
India celebrating 63rd Independence Day
SRINAGAR, India — Troops killed four Muslim rebels in Indian Kashmir as a separatist strike paralysed the restive region Saturday in protest against celebrations marking India's 1947 independence, police said.
Police fire on Kashmiri demonstrators
At least six people were injured, two of them critically, when security forces fired at demonstrators protesting against the alleged rape and murder of two young women at Sofanaman in south Kashmir’s Shopian district on Monday.
Dozens hurt in clashes in Indian Kashmir
SRINAGAR, India (AFP) — Indian police Friday used teargas and batons to disperse hundreds of rock-throwing Kashmiris protesting against the holding of national elections in the revolt-hit region.
Death toll mounts to 63 in devastating bus fire
Agra (IANS): The toll in Tuesday's bus accident in Firozabad district of Uttar Pradesh has risen to 63 with the recovery of more bodies of those who were burnt to death when the vehicle went up in flames, police said on Wednesday.
Hero hotel worker 'took bullets' shielding Indian doctor and family from gunfire in Mumbai attack
An Indian doctor who was inside one of Mumbai hotels attacked by Islamist militants described today how a member of staff shielded his family and other guests from gunfire in an attempt to protect them.
We thought it was the end: Stolt Valor captain
Recounting the near death experiences undergone by the crew of merchant ship, Stolt Valor, during the two months of captivity after the vessel was hijacked by Somalian pirates, its captain Prabhat Goyal said despite the incident the spirit to sail...
Union Minister assaults Kingfisher Airlines manager
New Delhi: Union Minister and Rashtriya Janata Dal MP, Akhilesh Prasad Singh allegedly beat up the station manager of Kingfisher Airlines at Patna Airport on Monday after he was not allowed to board Patna-Kolkata flight as he reported late at the ...
India explosions death toll rises to over 70
The death toll in a series of bomb explosions in India's north-eastern state of Assam has risen to over 70, the state's health minister says. Himanta Biswa Sarma said 10 people who were injured in Thursday's blasts died in hospitals during the night.