Indian Sub-continent

New Delhi, Feb 12 (PTI) At least 17 people were killed as a massive fire swept through a hotel in central Delhi's Karol Bagh area early Tuesday, police said.

The fire broke out at Arpit Palace Hotel located on Gurudwara Road in Karol Bagh.

A call about the fire was received at 4.35 am and 24 fire tenders were rushed to the spot, a senior officer from the Delhi Fire Service said.

A senior Delhi Police official said 17 people were killed in the fire.

KANPUR: A little dispute led to firing in the JK Colony II of Chakeri area on Monday afternoon. Police seized the licensed gun of the retired Daroga and began an initial investigation. Neighbours were also contacted for further information in regard to the dispute.

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The Pentagon’s top official made an unannounced visit to Afghanistan on Monday to meet with U.S. commanders and Afghan leaders amid a push for peace with the Taliban.

Pat Shanahan, the recently installed acting secretary of defense, said he has no orders to reduce the U.S. troop presence, although officials say that is at the top of the Taliban’s list of demands in exploratory peace negotiations.

11 Feb 2019; AFP: Skiers descend in long, rhythmic swoops down pristine white slopes in northern Pakistan, braking in a spray of snow as soldiers carrying semi-automatic weapons watch impassively.

Dozens of athletes took part at a rare international competition in the South Asian country, which boasts some of the world's highest mountains but remains off-piste for most winter sports enthusiasts after years of conflict and a lack of infrastructure.

Shillong, Feb 11 : Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar and former Trinamool Congress MP Kunal Ghosh on Monday appeared before the CBI here for questioning in connection with investigations in chit fund cases.

This is the third day of grilling for Kumar and the second for Ghosh.

Ghosh arrived at the CBI office here shortly after 10 am while Kumar reached an hour later, an official told PTI.

On Sunday, the probe agency questioned Kumar separately and also along with Ghosh. The marathon questioning of the two lasted over eight hours, he said.

Kohima, Feb 11; PTI/GANASHAKTI: Normal life was affected in Nagaland on Monday during a 10-hour bandh called by civil society organisations in protest against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016.

Schools and markets remained closed, vehicles were off the roads and people stayed indoors during the bandh which began at 6 AM.

The BJP is a constituent of the National Democratic Peoples Party-led Peoples Democratic Alliance (PDA) government in the state.

Srinagar, Feb 10: Five Kashmiri seperatists were killed on Sunday in an encounter with Indian security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam district, an Indian Army official said.

He said five seperatist were killed in a gunbattle with Indian security forces. The identity and group affiliation of the seperatist are being ascertained.

Weapons and war-like stores have been recovered from the battle site, the official added.

He said the law enforcing agencies were trying to restore order in the area.

Kolkata (WB), Feb 10; PTI/GANASHAKTI: The killing of Trinamool Congress MLA Satyajit Biswas drew sharp reactions from the ruling party and opposition BJP as a police complaint named saffron party leader Mukul Roy alleging his involvement in the incident.

Roy, a former TMC general secretary who joined the BJP last year following differences with party supremo Mamata Banerjee, denied the allegation, claiming that Biswas was a "victim" of the TMC's internal feud.

New Delhi, Feb 11 (PTI) The Supreme Court Monday refused to monitor the ongoing CBI investigation into the Saradha chit fund scam in West Bengal.

A two-judge bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Sanjiv Khanna did not allow the application filed by some investors that despite the apex court's 2013 order directing the CBI to probe the chit fund scam, the investigation has not attained finality.

"We are not inclined to set up a monitoring committee to monitor the chit fund scam probe," the bench said.

Allahabad, Feb 10 (PTI) An exhibition by the Ministry of Environment, which among other things displays a double coconut palm seed weighing a whopping 30 kg, is attracting eyeballs at the Kumbh Mela, the largest congregation in the world.

A Botanical Survey of India (BSI) scientist has claimed that the seed is the world's largest.