Politics

It Happens: Sand Art

Odisha, Sept.11, (ANI): To commemorate the 13th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, India's renowned sand artist, Sudarsan Pattnaik, sculpted the twin towers of World Trade Centre on the beaches of Puri in eastern Odisha, with the message 'No Terror, but Peace.' Pattnaik created a five feet high sand replica of the twin towers in the middle of the number nine so as to represent the number eleven. The sculpture was made using five tonnes of sand and took about seven hours to complete. It also carried the message, 'No Terror, But Peace'. So far, winner of Padma Shri, a civilian honour, Sudarsan has participated in more than 50 international sand sculpture championships and festivals around the world and won many prizes for the country.

Sep 12, 2014

It Happens: Bull jumps into swimming pool

Mandsaur, Sept. 11 (ANI): Children practicing for the annual state level swimming competition in Mandsaur district of central Indian Madhya Pradesh received a surprise as a bull suddenly jumped into the pool to join the fun and frolic. Interestingly, instead of being scared, the children were overjoyed to see the bull sharing the pool and swimming with them. According to swimming coach, Vijeta Singh, the children helped the authorities in pulling the bull out of the pool. It took nearly an hour of high drama after the reluctant animal was finally pulled out of the pool, leaving authorities speculating at the source from where the animal entered the premises of the competition.The state level sports meet was being organized by the state education department.More than 450 children from across eight divisions had gathered in the venue to practice for the finals.

Sep 12, 2014

Campaigners make final push ahead of Scottish vote

'Better Together' campaigners hit the streets of Edinburgh ahead of Scotland's referendum vote, keen to persuade any undecided voters to vote against independence. Duration: 01:23

Sep 12, 2014

Kashmir residents pick up the pieces after deadly floods

Pakistani authorities move to protect two major cities from raging floodwaters, readying explosives to divert swollen rivers, in a crisis which has hit nearly two million people. Duration: 00:51

Sep 12, 2014

Pistorius guilty of culpable homicide

Celebrity athlete Oscar Pistorius was found guilty on Friday of culpable homicide in shooting dead his glamorous girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp, a conviction that could result in a lengthy jail term. Duration: 01:15

Sep 12, 2014

Maharashtra, Haryana to Go to Polls on 15 October; J&K Elections Still Uncertain

All eyes will be on the battle between the confident BJP and the incumbent Congress in the two states

Sep 12, 2014

Trade Minister meets US deputy national security adviser

New Delhi, Sep 12 (ANI): Union Trade Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, on Friday (September 12), met US Deputy National Security Adviser for International Economics, Caroline Atkinson, to prepare ground for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Washington. Modi accepted an invitation to meet US President Barrack Obama after he won the general elections in May 2014, as Washington seeks to court India's new government and revive strained relations between the two countries. Modi is set to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York and address an audience on September 28.

Sep 12, 2014

Oscar Pistorius found guilty of culpable homicide in girlfriend's murder

South Africa, Sept 12 (ANI): Paralympic runner Oscar Pistorius has been found guilty of culpable homicide, after being cleared of murdering Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine's Day last year. Reading from her written judgment, the judge told the court that there was not enough evidence to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the athlete was guilty of premeditated murder or murder. He was also found guilty on one firearms charge, but acquitted on two others. Pistorius could face up to 15 years in jail on the culpable homicide charge.

Sep 12, 2014

Al Qaeda-backed group releases video of kidnapped UN peacekeepers

New Delhi, Sep 12 (ANI): An al Qaeda-backed militant group that seized 45 UN peacekeepers two weeks ago on the Golan Heights has posted a video in which the hostages, from the South Pacific nation of Fiji, say they expect to be released soon. The video, which was posted on the Nusra Front's Twitter and YouTube accounts on Wednesday but was apparently recorded a day earlier, appears to show the troops in a good condition, at points smiling and waving at the camera. On Wednesday, the head of Fiji's army said the Islamist militant group had dropped all of its demands to free the hostages, but at least slightly back-pedalled later in the day as the situation appeared to deteriorate.

Sep 12, 2014

Haryana Govt Sends Relief Materials To Flood Hit JandK

Srinagar/ New Delhi, Sep 12 (ANI): Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Friday sent relief materials to flood hit Jammu and Kashmir on behalf of the state government. Hooda said that the situation in the valley is gruesome and all states should come forward to help the flooded state. Earlier, a Sikh delegation from New Delhi visited flood-hit areas of the state and distributed cooked food to affected people. President of Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee, Manjit Singh, said that they had boats and were providing relief materials to victims.

Sep 12, 2014

Sushma Swaraj calls on Tajikistan President ahead of SCO meet

Dushanbe, Sep 12 (ANI): Union Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj called on Tajikistan President Emomalii Rahmon in the capital city of Dushanbe on Friday (September 12) ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meet. Rahmon also met key advisor of Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Sartaz Aziz. The SCO, held between September 11and 12, aims to boost cooperation in three major fields of economy, security and people-to-people exchanges. India, Iran, Pakistan and Mongolia are due to become full participating members of the summit, thereby upgrading their observer member status. This is the 14th annual meeting of the SCO, which will have leaders from its six full-member countries.

Sep 12, 2014

Japanese whisky makers in high spirits as accolades pour in

Japan has long been celebrated for its Sake but little by little whisky is making headway in the land of the rising sun with Japanese distilleries winning international recognition at the expense of their Scottish rivals. Duration: 02:07

Sep 12, 2014

Assam gets first women only university

Jorhat, Sep 12 (ANI): Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, inaugurated first women only university which will include under-graduate as well as post graduate courses. Addressing a function in Jorhat district, Gogoi said the university will help women in gaining expertise in different fields. Professor Doctor KM Bujarbaruah, who is the vice-chancellor of Assam Agricultural University (AAU), would mentor the women university. Till now 19 faculty members have been recruited and 55 students have taken admission. The classes started from September 1 in a temporary building. The University will also have a hostel, which will accommodate students coming from far flung areas of the region.

Sep 12, 2014

Al Qaeda CD being examined for authenticity, no need to fear: Rajnath

New Delhi, Sept 12 (ANI): Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said that there is no need to fear from terror group al-Qaeda's announcement of forming its wing in India and launching attacks. Talking to mediapersons in New Delhi, he said that nothing could be said about the authenticity of the video which is still under examination by various expert agencies.Al-Qaeda commander Ayman al-Zawahari had announced the formation of a new wing of the feared terrorist group dedicated to waging jihad in the Indian subcontinent. In the videotape - the first released by the al-Qaeda chief since August 2013 - al-Zawaheri promises that al-Qaeda will now expand its operations throughout the region.

Sep 12, 2014

Home Ministry briefs 100 days achievement Part - 2

New Delhi, Sep 12 (ANI): Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday briefed about the Ministry’s achievement in past 100 days of government. Singh said that Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed worst flooding in the last many years and said that more than 1 lakh 30 thousand people have been rescued till now. He further lauded the defense and NDRF personnel for their rescue efforts in the flood-hit state. He also laid stress upon women security in police stations and said that more women shall be deployed as officers. He also said that Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir has been asked by the ministry for some land in order to rehabilitate the Kashmiri migrants.

Sep 12, 2014