Politics

Mann Ki Baat: Darkness, Destruction and Devastation are the 3Ds of drugs, says Modi Part -1

New Delhi, Dec 14 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday sought to warn the nation's youth against the menace of drugs, saying 'darkness, destruction and devastation' are the 3Ds of drugs. PM Modi was addressing his third 'Mann Ki Baat' on All India Radio. Urging the youth to give up this habit, he emphasized that drugs, not addicts, were the problem. The Prime Minister also had a word of advice for parents on how to save their children from the hazard of drugs. The Prime Minister also called for a "Drug Free India" Movement on the social media and stressed on the need to spread more awareness on the issue.

Dec 14, 2014

Poorva Express derails in WB, one injured

Howrah, Dec 14 (ANI): One person got injured after the New Delhi- bound Poorva Express derailed at Liluah shortly after leaving Howrah station on Sunday morning. According to reports, at least 11 bogies of the train got derailed. The 12381 UP Howrah-New Delhi Poorva Express was moving at a slow speed when it derailed, the officials said. The reason for the mishap was being examined. Train services on the route got affected after derailment. Officials added restoration work to resume train services on the route is going on.

Dec 14, 2014

J and K Assembly Polls: PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed casts his vote

Bijbehara, Dec 14 (ANI): PDP patron Mufti Mohammad Sayeed on Sunday casts his vote in Bijbehara, Anantnag as fourth phase of Assembly Polls is underway in the state. Despite severe cold, people were seen going towards the polling booths and long queues of voters were seen outside the polling stations to exercise their franchise. Sayeed is a candidate from Anantnag constituency in south Kashmir. Talking to mediapersons, he said that there will be no coalition government, people will give decisive mandate.

Dec 14, 2014

J and K Assembly Polls: Omar Abdullah casts his vote

Sonawar, Dec 14 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah cast his vote in Sonawar constituency of Jammu and Kashmir as fourth phase of Assembly Polls is underway. Abdullah said that people will reward the good works done by his government. He added that the voters are smart and will not be fooled by people who keep diverting attention from one issue to another.

Dec 14, 2014

Champions Trophy: Pak's obscene gesture after victory over India draws flak

New Delhi, Dec 14 (ANI): Pakistani players shamelessly hurled obscene gestures towards Indian fans and media after their win over India in the ongoing Champions Trophy in Bhubaneshwar. Reportedly, no action will be taken against them as their coach Shahnaz Sheikh has apologised to the FIH for the incident. Former Hockey Players Ashok Dhyan Chand and Vineet Kumar condemned this gesture and demanded strict action against players.

Dec 14, 2014

Assembly Elections: 61% Turnout in Jharkhand, 49% in J&K

After a disappointing turnout initially because of extremely low temperatures, voting picks up in Jammu and Kashmir in the fourth phase of assembly elections

Dec 14, 2014

Voters in J and K queue up outside polling booths, hope for a good government

Jammu and Kashmir, Dec 14 (ANI): Voters in Jammu and Kashmir queued up outside polling stations on Sunday as the fourth phase of polling began. Voters said that vote is a powerful weapon with the public to choose good government by exercising their democratic right. There was a lot of excitement among voters, many of whom have been waiting since early morning for the polling booths to open. Voting for 18 Assembly constituencies is underway for Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir. The final phase of elections will be held on December 20 in the state and results will be declared on December 23.

Dec 14, 2014

Body of Indian fisherman, who died in Pak jail, awaits legal formalities

Karachi, Dec 14 (ANI): The body of an Indian fisherman, who died under mysterious circumstances in District Jail, Malir in Karachi, awaited legal formalities, an official at mortuary where the body is kept said. According to reports, 30-year-old Dev was arrested by the Pakistan Maritime Security Agency in March for illegal fishing in Pakistani waters in the Arabian Sea and was found dead in his jail barracks a few days back. Jail authorities claimed that Dev had died from natural causes after complaining chest pain and no torture marks were found on his body, it was reported. Ghulam Hussain, in-charge of Edhi Morgue, said the body was handed over to the mortuary on December 11.

Dec 14, 2014

Norway to take up 'Clean India' campaign in Varanasi

Varanasi, Dec 14 (ANI): Norway's ambassador to India, Eivind S Homme, met mayor of Varanasi Ram Gopal Mohale to take forward Prime Minister Narendra Modi's cleanliness campaign in the temple town. He added that the river which flows through five states cannot be made filth-free unless the cleanliness drive is taken seriously in all of them. Meanwhile, Homme said it would be a learning experience for him.

Dec 14, 2014

Season's first snowfall in Shimla delights tourists

Kufri, Dec 14 (ANI): Tourists threw snowballs at each other and enjoyed winter season's first snowfall in hill town of Kufri. Snowfall in Kufri in Himachal Pradesh delighted tourists, who were earlier disappointed due to no snow. Every year, hundreds of domestic tourists throng Kufri to enjoy snowfall. Meanwhile, director of meteorological department of Himachal Pradesh, Manmohan Singh, said the town will witness snowfall till December 24. He added that other districts of the state including Naldehra, Fagu, Narkanda and Kinnaur will also witness snowfall. In higher altitudes, temperatures even drop to sub-zero level and some states witness lowest minimum temperatures.

Dec 14, 2014

Rajnath Singh says Pakistan providing safe havens to militants

Jammu, Dec 14 (ANI): Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, while addressing a rally in Jammu and Kashmir said that Pakistan was providing safe havens to militants, who attacked our country. Singh added that India wanted better relationship with Pakistan. The five-phase elections in 87-member Kashmir assembly began on November 25, with the third phase on December 09 recording 58 percent voting. In the first two phases the voter turnout was high - more than 70 percent each.

Dec 14, 2014

India's secret gardener reveals 18-year labour of love

On the eve of his 90th birthday, self-taught sculptor Nek Chand recalls spending years secretly building a fantasy rock garden of waterfalls, mosaics and sculptures in the north Indian city of Chandigarh. Duration: 02:35

Dec 14, 2014

Fourth Phase of Assembly Elections: Polling underway for 15 seats of Jharkhand

Jharkhand, Dec 14 (ANI): Polling began for 15 seats in Jharkhand on Sunday with former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi and three incumbent ministers testing their luck. A total of 43,48,709 voters are eligible to decide the fate of 217 candidates, including 16 women. Adequate security arrangements have been made under fourth phase in all the 15 constituencies with many being Maoist-hit. Polling will end at 5 PM in Dhanbad and Bokaro while the EVM will be sealed at 3 PM in the rest of the constituencies. Polling to 50 of the 81 seats has already been concluded in the previous three phases.

Dec 14, 2014

Fourth Phase of Assembly Elections: Polling underway for 18 seats in J and K

J and K, Dec 14 (ANI): Voting for 18 Assembly constituencies began under the fourth phase of Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday. In the penultimate round of the five-phased elections in J and K, the fate of 182 candidates including two chief ministerial aspirants and Speaker of the Assembly will be sealed. Over 14.73 lakh voters including 7.05 lakh females are eligible to exercise their franchise at 1,890 polling stations in four districts of the state Srinagar, Anantnag, Shopian (Kashmir Valley) and Samba (Jammu region). Security arrangements in all the four districts have been strengthened to ensure peaceful polling.

Dec 14, 2014

Kerala dons festive celebration of Christmas

Kochi, Dec 14 (ANI): Kerala, which has a sizeable population of Christians, is all decked up for the Christmas festival. Colourful stars, mistletoe wreaths, Santa Claus masks dot the markets. The markets in Kochi city have been drawing good crowds. Shopkeepers are witnessing a jump in the sales of delicate ribbon tassels, miniature statues of Santa Claus and other decorative pieces. The shopkeepers have imported dancing Santas, guitar-and-violin-playing Santas, hand-shaking Santas, 3D, inflatable, 360-degree-turning Santas, which are proving to be quite a hit among the customers. Christmas is celebrated with much pomp, gaiety and devotion across India. Celebrations of Christmas are marked by carols, cakes, candles, glittering Christmas trees and exchange of gifts.

Dec 14, 2014