Politics

Kites over Delhi mark independence

On Independence Day, Delhi's skies fill with colorful kites as locals head to their roofs to practice kite flying, a traditional pastime that for many symbolizes India's freedom from British rule. Duration: 02:10

Aug 17, 2014

Reactions flow in as Pakistan violates ceasefire in RS Pura

New Delhi/ Ghaziabad, Aug 17 (ANI): Reactions flowed in on Sunday as Pakistan violated yet another ceasefire along the Indo-Pak border. Pakistani troops carried out unprovoked firing at RS Pura sector of Jammu and Kashmir early on Sunday. The Pakistani soldiers began firing at two BSF posts Arania area of RS Pura from 3:00 am today till 5:00 am. There has been a series of ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops in the past two months. Speaking over this, NCP leader Majid Memon said that since the day PM took oath ceasefire violations are happening.

Aug 17, 2014

Pakistan violates ceasefire again, opens fire at RS Pura sector of JandK

Arnia, Aug 17 (ANI): The residents of Arnia area at RS Pura sector witnessed yet another ceasefire violation from the other side of the border, on Saturday night. There has been a series of ceasefire violations by Pakistani troops in the past two months.

Aug 17, 2014

Abundant yield of Dutch varieties encourages apple growers in Uttarakhand

Nainital, Aug 17 (ANI): Encouraged by the abundant yield of the Dutch varieties in their orchards in the very first year, apple growers in the Uttarakhand plan to expand the cultivation of the fruit. Indo-Dutch Horticulture Technologies based in Nainital city of Uttarakhand were experimenting with Dutch apple varieties in various apple belts of the state for the last seven years. Indo-Dutch Horticulture Technologies have come out with m-06, m-09 and m-111varieties of apple seeds, keeping in mind the climate and soil quality of Uttarakhand. Director of Indo-Dutch Horticulture Technologies, Sudhir Chaddha, said that the best thing about these seeds is that they yield fruit year after year.

Aug 17, 2014

Bangladesh PM alleges BNP founder involved in killing of father of the nation

Dhaka, Aug 17 (ANI): Bangladesh Prime Minister alleged that the founder of the opposition, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Ziaur Rahman was involved in the killing of the father of the nation, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman along with most of his family, 39 years ago. Mujibur, or Mujib as he was popularly called, was killed along with most of his family members on August 15, 1975 in a revolt by young army officers. One of his two surviving daughters, Sheikh Hasina, is now the country's prime minister. Addressing a gathering of the ruling Awami League party, Hasina said that the interview with Anthony Mascaren of British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has clearly stated facts about the assassination.

Aug 17, 2014

Floods and landslides grind normal life to a halt in northern India

West Bengal/ Uttarakhand, Aug 17 (ANI): Incessant rains leading to heavy floods and landslides across various cities of northern India disrupted routine lives of people and caused immense damage to life and property. Rescue operations are underway in Uttarakhand state as cloudburst isolated villages, washed away roads and bridges and turned normal life topsy turvy. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) dug out two people buried under debris due to landslides and floods in Pauri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand. The situation is no less dangerous in northern Haridwar city and Jalpaiguri city of West Bengal, where houses collapsed due to torrential rains and massive floods. The situation has become so bad that people are forced to swim through the flooded roads if they have to go anywhere.

Aug 17, 2014

Industries Minister meets fishermen delegation, hopes for concrete solutions

Chennai, Aug 17 (ANI): Minister of State for Heavy Industries, Pon Radhakrishnan, met a delegation of fishermen from his home state, Tamil Nadu who urged him to find a solution to a range of issues. One of the issues that came up in the meeting was the arrest of fishermen by Sri-Lankan authorities, which is just across a narrow straight from the province. The fishermen sought solution to this problem among several others. There are sections in favour of an agreement that would facilitate fishermen from both countries to fish in each others' waters. Radhakrishnan hoped at the end of the meeting that a permanent solution will come out of it.

Aug 17, 2014

Police arrest six Maoists in red corridor of Jharkhand

Chaibasa, Aug 17 (ANI): Police arrested six Maoists in India's red corridor of Chaibasa district in Jharkhand after acting on tip-off intelligence. Police have arrested the leading commander, two section commanders along with three hardcore Maoists of Jharkhand Regional Bhakpa (Maowadi), a communist party. DIG of Kolhan range, Mohammed Nehal, said that that they acted on exclusive intelligence information. The police recovered arms and explosives from the Maoists. Police has also come to know from this arrest that each Maoist works under at least nine to ten names which he keeps changing according to the area they are in.

Aug 17, 2014

Police arrests suspected Pakistan intelligence agent in Meerut

Meerut, Aug 17 (ANI): The Special Task Force arrested a suspected ISI agent (Inter-Services Intelligence of Pakistan) in Meerut city of Uttar Pradesh. Asif Ali, who was residing in the city is indicted of transferring primary information about the Indian Army to the ISI. Superintendent of STF of Meerut, Umesh Kumar, said that he engaged his team immediately to arrest the agent whose wife is in Pakistan. Kumar added that the STF has recovered Pakistan debit card and a bank chequebook from Ali.

Aug 17, 2014

Cultural festivals help to preserve tribal art and culture in Nagaland

Nagaland, Aug 17 (ANI): Dressed up in their traditional costumes, these are members of the Ao tribe of Nagaland. Every year, they gather in Dimapur city to celebrate Tsungmerong, a pre-harvest festival, to express gratitude and seek blessings of the Almighty. They sang traditional songs and showcased their daily chores through an act. The festival gives the message of unity and brotherhood in the state. Various cultural groups from different tribes such as Semma, Angami and Chakesang also took part in the festival. A major attraction of the event was a chicken dance performance by the artists.

Aug 17, 2014

Gaza's animals caught in the cross fire

The Al Bisan zoo in Gaza has been almost completely destroyed over the past month during the conflict with Israel. Many animals were killed, and those that remain are living in filth with the dead bodies of their former cage mates. Duration: 02:16

Aug 16, 2014

One month to Scottish independence vote, yes camp faces battle

With a month to go until Scotland votes on independence from Britain, polls suggest the plan will be defeated, leaving First Minister Alex Salmond facing a tough fight to turn the contest around and secure victory. Duration: 01:53

Aug 16, 2014

Bihar CM defends son embroiled in sexual escapade

Patna, Aug 16 (ANI): Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi on Saturday defended his son Pravin Manjhi who embarrassed his father by getting embroiled in a sexual escapade. After the news went viral the BJP also demanded for the Chief Minister's resignation. Manjhi said that this is merely a way of destroying his image by the Opposition and scrapped reports of his son involved in any kind of illegal act.

Aug 16, 2014

Relief operations stepped up in flood-affected districts in Odisha

Puri, Aug 16 (ANI): Relief operations were stepped up on Saturday as floods, triggered by heavy rain, in Odisha continued to wreak havoc, affecting 23 districts and marooning 130 villages. Disaster management officials said hundreds of boats had been deployed to take dry food rations, plastic sheets and other relief items to the cut-off villages located in 23 of Odisha's 30 districts.

Aug 16, 2014

Rajnath Singh welcomes new team of BJP president Amit Shah

Lucknow, Aug 16 (ANI): Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday thanked the BJP workers for its win in general elections in Uttar Pradesh and welcomed the new team of BJP president Amit Shah. During a function in Lucknow, Singh honoured the new team of Shah, comprising 11 vice-presidents and eight general secretaries. Dinesh Sharma was named party’s vice-president for Uttar Pradesh. Sharma, who is also the mayor of Lucknow, hoped to tread the path paved by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Singh.

Aug 16, 2014