Politics

Pakistan says unregistered Afghan refugees being "exploited" by terrorists

Islamabad/ Peshawar, Feb 07 (ANI): Pakistan said it wanted the Afghan government and the United Nation's refugee agency UNHCR to encourage Afghan refugees still living in Pakistan to return to their homeland as soon as possible. According to UNHCR country profile for 2015, Pakistan still hosts almost 1.5 million registered Afghan refugees, the largest protracted refugee population globally, that have fled decades of conflict in neighboring Afghanistan. Since 2002, UNHCR has facilitated the return of 3.8 million registered Afghans from Pakistan. Pakistan Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Tasnim Aslam said the main group of 'people of concern' was the unregistered refugees who, because of their illegal status, could easily fall prey to terrorists.

Feb 7, 2015

Venkaiah Naidu extends support to transform Mumbai into a global financial hub

Mumbai, Feb 07 (ANI): Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu extended federal government's support to transform Mumbai into a global financial hub. The government of Maharashtra organised a 'Mumbai Next Summit' where industry titans like Tata Sons Ltd Chairman Cyrus Mistry and Reliance Industries Ltd Chairman Mukesh Ambani, along with Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha and legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan among others discussed Mumbai's future. 'Mumbai Next', is an initiative of state government to transform the country's financial capital into a global financial and entertainment centre. Naidu asked Maharashtra state government to focus on basics amenities to start with.

Feb 7, 2015

Uma Bharati bats for better flood management in northeast

Guwahati, Feb 07 (ANI): Water Resources Minister Uma Bharati said that better flood management system would be brought into place in Assam which suffers huge losses due to floods every year. Assam, comprising of the Brahmaputra Valley and the Barack river valleys, is prone to natural disasters with annual floods and frequent mild earthquakes. Speaking at the third Assam Water Resource Conference in Guwahati, Bharati called for judicial usage of available water resources for the development of the state. The two-day conference was inaugurated by Bharati along with Minister of State in Prime Minister's Office (PMO), Dr Jitendra and Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi. Bharati, who has been championing the cause of cleaning river Ganges, said that the state's hydrological potential was not being used to the fullest.

Feb 7, 2015

Delhi Polls 2015: Kiran Bedi casts her vote

New Delhi, Feb 7 (ANI): BJP's CM candidate Kiran Bedi on Saturday cast her vote at a polling booth in Neeti Bagh area of South Delhi. She came out flashing a victory sign. Earlier, in the day Bedi urged people of Delhi to come out in large numbers to vote for a clean, literate and safe Delhi. Voting began across Delhi for the 70 members Assembly Election 2015 on Friday. Over 1.33 crore voters will seal the fate of 673 candidates in the fray for the Delhi Assembly elections.

Feb 7, 2015

Delhi Elections: Polling underway for 70 assembly seats

New Delhi, Feb 07 (ANI): Voting for 70 Assembly seats began on Saturday morning in the national capital. Over 1.33 crore voters will seal the fate of 673 candidates in the fray for the Delhi Assembly elections. Polling is taking place at 12,177 polling stations, of which 714 have been identified as "critical" and 191 have been identified as "highly critical". The number of women candidates has lowered to 63 in this election as against 71 in 2013 elections. 16,000 control and units 20,000 ballot units are being used for polling. As for security inside polling booths, 1,200 micro observers are keeping an eye over the entire procedure. Seventy 'strong rooms' have been set up in 14 locations in the national capital to store the electronic voting machines after the polling is over.

Feb 7, 2015

Delhi Polls: President Pranab Mukherjee visits polling booth at the President s Estate

New Delhi, Feb 07 (ANI): President Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday visited a model polling booth in a school inside the President's Estate as voting for 70 Assembly seats was about to began in the National capital. Reportedly, the booth set up at Rajendra Prasad Sarvodaya Vidyalaya has some additional facilities. Over 1.33 crore voters will seal the fate of 673 candidates in the fray for the Delhi Assembly elections. The results of the assembly elections will be declared on February 10.

Feb 7, 2015

South Asia Newsline - Feb 06, 2015

India hits hard on Pakistan on 'Kashmir Day' rally. After cancelling threat Bollywood brings out best of Bachchan's tone in Shamithabh!

Feb 7, 2015

Delhi Elections 2015: 67% Voter Turnout Recorded; AAP Ahead of BJP in Exit Polls

Aam Aadmi Party ahead in four of the exit polls held till 3 pm.

Feb 7, 2015

Yemen's Houthis dissolve parliament, assume power

Fireworks over Yemen's capital Sanaa... ...after the dominant Houthi movement dissolves parliament and vows to form a new interim assembly and government. Yemen has been in political limbo since the

Feb 7, 2015

Science expo in Panaji displays country's military, technological might

Panaji, Feb 07 (ANI): A science expo in Goa is drawing huge audiences with displays from various Indian scientific and military organisations, aiming not only to attract investors and buyers, but also to educate students. The Fourth Bharatiya Vigyan Sammelan and Expo, an initiative of the Goa government, Goa University and the largest people's science campaign in India, Vijnana Bharti, aims at bringing people together who have had achievements in the field of science and technology and disseminate their achievements to the masses. The theme for this year is 'Innovation in science and technology in service of mankind'. The Expo will see workshops and seminars on various topics along with exhibitions of various technologies under one roof. Goa governor, Mridula Sinha, who inaugurated the event, said the Expo was a display of India's technological might to the world.

Feb 7, 2015

Kerala hosts first edition of World Ocean Science Congress, focuses on threats to coastal life

Kochi, Feb 07 (ANI): The first edition of World Ocean Science Congress (WOSC) is being held in Kerala with an aim to discuss ways and means to use ocean resources without disrupting the environment. The event, which will also be attended by oceanographers and environmentalists, will address issues like "Protect Oceans for Posterity" and "Blue Economy". The first edition of the event, taking place at Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium in Kochi, was inaugurated by Governor of Kerala, P Sathasivam, who while addressing the gathering of experts, expressed concern over the increasing commercialisation of oceans. Meanwhile, Director of National Institute of Oceanography, Goa, Dr Syed Wajih Ahmad Naqvi, said oceans were already responding to climate change, but their management, particularly of Indian Ocean is challenging.

Feb 7, 2015