Bengaluru, Feb 11 (PTI) Cracking the whip, the Congress Monday sought disqualification of four rebel MLAs under the Anti-Defection law after they repeatedly remained defiant, skipping the assembly session and legislature party meetings.

The Congress petitioned the Assembly speaker Ramesh Kumar, seeking action against lawmakers Ramesh Jarkiholi, Umesh Jadhav, Mahesh Kumathali and B Nagendra weeks after giving them warnings to mend their ways and fall in line.

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.

New Delhi, Feb 11; PTI/GANASHAKTI: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's daylong fast demanding special status for his state on Monday became a rallying point for various opposition leaders who visited the protest venue to back him and attack the Central government.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi, National Congress chairperson Farooq Abdullah, NCP's Majeed Memon, Trinamool Congress' Derek O' Brien, DMK's Tiruchi Siva and Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav were among those who met the TDP chief to express their support.

ISLAMABAD, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Finance Minister Asad Umar on Monday stressed the need to enhance trade ties with neighboring countries to boost the country's economy, local reports said.

Addressing a ceremony at the Peshawar Chamber of Commerce, Umar said that "Pakistan needs to improve relations and boost trade with countries in both the west and east of the region we live in."

New Delhi, Feb 11 (PTI) The AAP has invited Congress President Rahul Gandhi to attend its mega "Tanashahi Hatao, Loktantra Bachao" rally in the national capital on Wednesday to corner the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre, a senior party leader said.

Aam Aadmi Party leader Sanjay Singh told PTI that the Congress president is one of the invitees of the 'Tanashahi Hatao Loktantra Bachao' rally to be held on February 13 here.

Sambalpur (Odisha), Feb 11 (PTI) A police official and a 22-year-old man were arrested on Monday for allegedly raping a 15-year-old girl in Odisha's Bargarh district, police said.

Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) in Sohela Banmali Kuanr and a youth -- Kaibalya alias Rinku Nag (22) -- were arrested on charge of raping the minor girl three days ago, Bargarh Superintendent of Police, Mukesh Kumar Bhamo said.

While the ASI was placed under suspension, both the accused have been booked under relevant sections of POCSO Act, the SP said.

KANPUR: An Intermediate student committed suicide by hanging herself to death on Tuesday morning. A suicide note was also found in her book which police took into its possession. The investigation is in progress.

New Delhi, Feb 11 (PTI) A four-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a 35-year-old sanitation worker at a public toilet in west Delhi's Naraina area, police said Monday.

The incident took place on February 6 and the Naraina police station were informed regarding the incident on Monday, they added.

The victim was taken for a medical examination. A case was registered and the accused has been arrested, Deputy Commissioner of Police (west) Monika Bhardwaj said.

The minor's condition is now stable, she said.

Sikar (Rajasthan), Feb 11 (PTI) A POCSO court here on Monday awarded life imprisonment to a man for raping a four-year-old girl in the district about two weeks ago.

Twenty-eight-year-old Kalia alias Karan had abducted and raped the girl on January 30 night at a cremation ground near their huts in the Khatushyamji police station area.

Muzaffarnagar, Feb 11 (PTI) A 26-year-old woman was allegedly abducted and raped by two men in Kotwali Police Station area here, police said Monday.

SHO Anil Kumar said the accused abducted her from a road on Friday and raped her

A case was lodged against the two men who were on the run, Kumar said.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — A truck driver accused of killing 11 people and wounding seven during an attack on a Pittsburgh synagogue in October is expected to appear Monday morning in a federal courtroom to be arraigned on additional charges.

The hearing in Robert Bowers’ case is expected to be short and involves giving him formal notice of the criminal charges issued in a new indictment.

Caracas, February 9; GANASHAKTI: The Economic Debates Unit of the Latin American Geopolitical Strategic Center (CELAG) released a report on "the economic consequences of the boycott against Venezuela," on Friday, in which it is proved that the "international financial blockade to Venezuela since 2013 is the main responsible for the economic crisis."