Politics

Sania Mirza and Shobhaa De participate in 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan'

Mumbai/ Hyderabad, Oct 16 (ANI): Taking Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan' forward, Tennis Player Sania Mirza and Renowned Author Shobhaa De wielded broom on Thursday. Mirza applauded the initiative by PM Modi. She further nominated Shahrukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Sajid Khan, PV Sindhu and Abhinav Bindra among others. Shobhaa De also appreciated the campaign and said termed it as an important national movement. She went on to nominate Rajdeep Sardesai among others.

Oct 16, 2014

Ten-year-old terminally ill Sadiq becomes Hyderabad Police Commisisoner for a day

Hyderabad, Oct 16 (ANI): Ten-year-old terminally ill Sadiq always wanted to catch thieves and uphold the rule of law and his dream came true when Hyderabad Police Commisisoner Mahender Reddy handed over his position to him for a day. Sadiq dreamt of sitting on the Police Commissioner’s chair at his desk, sign important files, and give instructions to the orderlies. Clad in a khadi colour uniform and a cap, Sadiq beamed up with joy. Sadiq, who hails from Karimnagar, is suffering from blood cancer and wanted to be police commissioner. His last wish was fulfilled by the help of an NGO, ‘Make a Wish Foundation’ that decided to fulfill Sadiq’s dream on humanitarian ground.

Oct 16, 2014

Delhi Police ACP brutally assaulted by unidentified men near Lodhi crematorium

New Delhi, Oct 16 (ANI): Delhi Police ACP Amit Singh on Thursday was brutally assaulted by a group of unidentified men near Lodhi Crematorium in South Delh. The ACP was on his way to the police headquarters and was in plain clothes when the incident took place. He has been taken to the trauma centre for All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) for treatment. Special Cell DCP c said that Singh has an injury on his head and is out of danger. He also said that it was a case of road rage and that actions are being undertaken.

Oct 16, 2014

Blast at cigarette factory in Murshidabad

Murshidabad, Oct 16 (ANI): A factory of hand-rolled cigarettes or beedi witnessed an explosion in West Bengal on Thursday (October 16). However, no loss of life was reported. The property owned by a leader of regional Trinamool Congress (TMC) party, Jagannath Choudhury, in Murshidabad district was given on rent to a local cigarette manufacturer. Meanwhile, son of Jagannath Choudhury, Dinesh Choudhury said they are shocked by the incident. The explosion came a fortnight after an accidental blast at a TMC leader's house in Burdwan town on October 02.

Oct 16, 2014

Vizag airport to operate flights from Friday

Visakhapatnam, Oct 16 (ANI): Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju conducted a survey of the airport in cyclone-hit Visakhapatnam on Thursday and confirmed operations to be resumed on Friday. Cyclone Hudhud has left a trail of destruction in Visakhapatnam and the residents are struggling to cope with the havoc as they are facing food, water and power shortages.Visakhapatnam's airport remained closed for commercial flights, after the roof of its main building was blown off by gusts of up to 195 kph. Gajapathi took stalk of the situation at the airport and said that Vizag being a key destination it’s important to make airport functional, therefore, Air India and other airlines will be resuming operations from Friday.

Oct 16, 2014

Pistorius sentence must 'fit crime', says Steenkamp cousin

A cousin of slain model Reeva Steenkamp made a tearful plea Thursday for Oscar Pistorius to receive "sufficient punishment" for his crime, as the prosecution sought to ensure the Paralympic athlete goes to jail.

Oct 16, 2014

1 dead, several students injured after wall collapses near school in Noida

Noida, Oct 16 (ANI): 1 student died and more than 15 got injured after the wall of an under construction building collapsed near a school in Noida. The students were rushed to a nearby hospital and were given immediate medication. Some teachers were also injured in the incident.

Oct 16, 2014

Anti-abortion seminar in Coimbatore

Coimbatore, Oct 16 (ANI): A German organization conducted a seminar under its anti-abortion campaign in Coimbatore. The organization ‘Life for All’ aims to spread anti-abortion awareness among the Indian citizens and advocate against the practice of abortion and its legality. The chairman of Life for All, Johana Simon, said people consider the fetus inside the womb to be a mere tissue and abortion actually amounts to murdering a life. India has unequal child sex ratios that rights campaigners describe as alarming. Due mainly to selective abortions of female fetuses, the number of girls under six years old has fallen for the past 50 years. The 2011 census recorded 919 girls to every 1,000 boys, compared to 976 in 1961.

Oct 16, 2014

Modi govt replaces Economic Affairs Secretary Arvind Mayaram with Rajiv Mehrishi

New Delhi, Oct 16 (ANI): In a major bureaucratic reshuffle, the central government has Transferred Economic Affairs Secretary Arvind Mayaram to the tourism department and appointed Rajasthan Chief Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi. Mehrishi will join as Economic Affairs Secretary from November 01. Mayaram, who had twin roles as both finance and economic affairs secretary and was appointed by the previous UPA government, has been shifted to the tourism ministry. Expenditure Secretary Ratan P Watal is likely to be the new Finance Secretary as he is the senior most among all the five secretaries in the Finance Ministry. Another significant transfer is of water resources secretary Alok Rawat. He has been moved to administrative reforms.

Oct 16, 2014

Former global beauties visit Dharamsala to seek Dalai Lama's blessings on 'Women Empowerment'

Dharamsala, Oct 16 (ANI): Dharamsala witnessed a congregation of beauties from across the globe as they came to meet His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, to seek his blessings before they take forward their fight for 'Women Empowerment'. They also met the 17th Karmapa, Ugyen Trinley Dorjee. The former beauties said they support the cause of Tibet. Diana said that after she was crowned Miss Bikini, she felt her voice would reach the masses. A beauty queen from Venezuela, Carmine, said women's empowerment is an issue that needs to be addressed across the globe. Experts say gender equality makes economic sense and improving the status of women and girls can enhance productivity, improve development outcomes and make key institutions more representative.

Oct 16, 2014

North-eastern youths beaten up by local goons in Gurgaon

Sikandarpur/ Gurgaon, Oct 16 (ANI): Three north-eastern youths were allegedly beaten up by local goons in Sikandarpur village of Gurgaon. The goons tried to force the youth into drinking alcohol after refusing which they were badly beaten up. An FIR has been lodged in the case and investigations are going on.

Oct 16, 2014

Strike brings life to a halt in Manipur

Imphal, Oct 16 (ANI): Life came to a halt in Manipur on Thursday in the wake of an 18- hour general strike called by separatists. The strike was called by separatist factions to protest the Manipur Merger Agreement which paved the way for the merger of Manipur with the Indian Union. This agreement was signed on September 21, 1949 between the then king of Manipur, Bodhachandra Singh and the Indian dominion after independence from British rule. All roads in Imphal including national and state highways as well as public places like markets wore a deserted look. Home Minister of Manipur, G Gaikhangam said that such strikes only meant loss for the already poor state. Schools, colleges, movie theatres, petrol pumps and other private institutions remained shut while attendance in government offices was poor. Residents majorly stayed indoors. However, emergency services and flights remained unaffected and no untoward incidents were reported.

Oct 16, 2014

Blast in Kashmir injures two soldiers

Baramulla, Oct 16 (ANI): Two soldiers were injured, on Thursday after militants triggered off a blast in Baramulla district in Jammu and Kashmir. Militants detonated an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), which was targeted towards an army convoy passing through Baramulla's Rafiabad area. The soldiers were rushed to an army hospital and the area was cordoned-off. A search operation has been launched in this regard.

Oct 16, 2014

HK leader reopens talks offer after police brutality video

Hong Kong's embattled leader reopens his offer of talks with student leaders a week after the government abruptly pulled out of discussions aimed at ending weeks of mass democracy rallies.

Oct 16, 2014

Comet set for rare close shave with Mars

A fast-moving comet is about to shave by Mars for a once-in-a-million-years encounter that a flurry of spacecraft around the Red Planet hope to capture and photograph, NASA said.

Oct 16, 2014