Politics

China Earthquake: Rescue operations underway as death toll reaches 589

China, Aug 7 (ANI): Rescuers have been making all-out efforts to search for missing people and clear roads after landslides in and around Longtoushan Town, the epicenter of a 6.5-magnitude earthquake that rocked China's Yunnan Province. According to rescuers, at least 55 people were buried and 49 went missing in a landslide in Ganjia Village on Wednesday morning. About 170 firefighters and soldiers searched the area and found six bodies. The death toll in China's earthquake rose to 589 as search and rescue teams worked to clear debris from isolated mountain communities struck by the disaster. The collapsed parts of the road are 300 meters long and 12 meters deep, blocking access to five villages and one town. A total of 10,000 emergency lights for tents will arrive in quake-hit areas on Thursday in addition to 55,000 blankets, 22,800 sets of clothes, 2500 T-shirts, 24,000 flashlights and 2,000 raincoats.

Aug 7, 2014

Rani Mukerji promotes 'Mardaani' in a school

Mumbai, August 7 (ANI): Bollywood actress Rani Mukerji visited a school in India's showbiz capital Mumbai to promote her upcoming film 'Mardaani'. 'Mardaani', which means manly, revolves around a senior police inspector, played by Mukerji, who unearths human trafficking racket. Interacting with the audience and the media present at the Priyadarshini Vidya Mandir School, Mukerji stressed upon the need to make women strong not only physically but also mentally and said women should not depend on men for safety and security. Mukerji, who plays the protagonist called Shivani Shivaji Rao, as a police officer takes stringent action against the atrocity of human trafficking happening in the country. Reportedly, some real incidents have been portrayed in this film. She visited the School to lend her support to 'Support My School Campaign' by a beverage brand as a part of the promotion of her movie. Rani also presented Medal of Bravery to five girls of the school who have shown courage and achieved success by overcoming odds. The film has been produced by Aditya Chopra and is slated for release on August 22.

Aug 7, 2014

Efforts on to rescue BSF jawan swept away in River Chenab to Pakistan

Firozabad, Aug 7 (ANI): Efforts are on to bring back a BSF jawan who entered Pakistan after being swept away in the Chenab River in Jammu district. Satyasheel Yadav was deployed along the India-Pakistan border as part of a water patrol party in Akhnoor area when he was swept away on Wednesday. The Border Security Force (BSF), immediately after the incident, sought a flag meeting with their counterparts Pakistan Rangers for getting the jawan back. According to the BSF, Pakistan Rangers have confirmed that the trooper is in their custody. Meanwhile, his family grieved on the loss and waited for any development in the case.

Aug 7, 2014

Jailed SP leader Amarmani's son booked for abduction and extorting money

Lucknow/ New Delhi, Aug 7 (ANI): A case has been registered against Samajwadi Party leader Amarmani Tripathi's son Amanmani for abduction and extorting money from a former aide Rishi Kumar Pandey. Pandey was heading towards AIIMS in his car in Delhi when the incident took place. Amanmani's father Amarmani Tripathi is serving life term in the Madhumita murder case.

Aug 7, 2014

Third batch of Indians stranded in Libya arrive home

New Delhi, Aug 07 (ANI): Third batch of Indian nurses and workers, who were stranded in Libya following an escalation in violence, arrived home in New Delhi on Thursday. Annie Elizabeth, a nurse who was among those stranded in Libya, said the situation was tense, which forced them to return to their homes. Meanwhile, another nurse Cynthia Varghese said they were driven from their homes by continuous bombing.

Aug 7, 2014

Pakistani Rangers and BSF lower their respective country flags during daily parade in Pakistan India joint check post in Wagah border

Captured BSF Soldier will Be Returned to India, Says Pak

Pakistan has said that it will return the captured Border Security Force (BSF) soldier to India as soon as the formalities were completed.

Aug 7, 2014

Meerut gang rape case: Mayawati says SP should hand over case to CBI

New Delhi, Aug 7 (ANI): BSP chief, Mayawati on Thursday said that Samajwadi party should hand over the Meerut gang rape case to CBI if it thinks that the case is a media creation. Earlier, SP leader Naresh Agarwal had said that there is a conspiracy to defame the Uttar Pradesh government, initiated by the central government and carried out by the BJP.

Aug 7, 2014

Centre to amend selection rules for Lokpal, politicos react

New Delhi, Aug 7 (ANI): Politicos on Thursday reacted over a committee which has been formed under the chairmanship of the Attorney General (AG) by the Centre to look into the amendments in Lokpal search panel rules, which were notified by the last UPA government. The government will go ahead with the appointment of chairperson and members of Lokpal only after the amendments are carried out in the rules.

Aug 7, 2014

Condemning reactions flow after textbook in WB terms freedom fighters as terrorists

New Delhi, Aug 07 (ANI): Uproar was raised among historians and politicians as a textbook in West Bengal that termed freedom fighters as terrorists came to light. A history chapter titled _revolutionary terrorism_ describes the activities of freedom fighters like Shahid Khudiram Bose, Jatindranath Mukherjee and Prafulla Chaki as _extremism and terrorism_. Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said that it should be noticed that who wrote the book and strict action must be taken. SP leader Naresh Agarwal said that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee must intervene and ban such books which spread incorrect knowledge. Meanwhile, historian S Irfan Habib said that calling freedom fighters as terrorists is incorrect and one should understand their cause of fight and look for alternate and suitable terms which do not insult our freedom fighters.

Aug 7, 2014

Social activists on Cabinet clearing amendment to Juvenile Justice Act

Jaipur/ Mumbai/ New Delhi, Aug 7 (ANI): Social activists on Thursday reacted over Union cabinet approving amendment in the Juvenile Justice Act, which proposes to treat juvenile older than 16 years as adults if involved in heinous crimes such as rape and murder. The amended bill has the provisions that juvenile convicted for heinous crimes may face a jail term but will not be awarded life sentence or death penalty The Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) will decide whether cases where a juvenile is involved in a heinous crime, would be tried under the provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act or normal trial court. At present, if an accused person is found to be a juvenile or under 18 years, he is tried by the Juvenile Justice Board and if convicted, is sent to a juvenile reform home for a maximum period of three years.

Aug 7, 2014

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Netanyahu 'Justifies' Gaza Civilian Deaths; Israel Offers to Extend Ceasefire

Israel has offered to extend the three-day ceasefire as PM Netanyahu calls the civilian deaths in Gaza as "justified" and "proportionate".

Aug 7, 2014

Politicos react as Cabinet clears amendment to Juvenile Justice Act

New Delhi, Aug 7 (ANI): Politicos on Thursday reacted over Union cabinet approving amendment in the Juvenile Justice Act, which proposes to treat juvenile older than 16 years as adults if involved in heinous crimes such as rape and murder. The amended bill has the provisions that juvenile convicted for heinous crimes may face a jail term but will not be awarded life sentence or death penalty The Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) will decide whether cases where a juvenile is involved in a heinous crime, would be tried under the provisions of the Juvenile Justice Act or normal trial court. At present, if an accused person is found to be a juvenile or under 18 years, he is tried by the Juvenile Justice Board and if convicted, is sent to a juvenile reform home for a maximum period of three years.

Aug 7, 2014

BJP on Manjhi_s remark that Nitish will be CM if JD (U)-RJD alliance comes in power

New Delhi, Aug 07 (ANI): Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi has said that Nitish Kumar will be the CM candidate if JD (U)-RJD alliance comes in power in 2015 assembly polls. Reacting to Manjhi_s statement, BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain said that however hard JD (U) and RJD try, the next Chief Minister of Bihar will be a BJP candidate.

Aug 7, 2014

Sachin_s poor attendance in Rajya Sabha criticized by politicos

New Delhi, Aug 07 (ANI): Political leaders on Thursday criticized Cricket legend and Rajya Sabha MP Sachin Tendulkar for his poor attendance in the house. Tendulkar and Bollywood actress Rekha_s poor attendance was strongly pointed out by politicos who said that celebrities should understand their responsibilities.

Aug 7, 2014

Cabinet clears 100% FDI in Railways and 49% in defence, opposition parties oppose

New Delhi, Aug 07 (ANI): The Left and other opposition parties have strongly opposed the 100 per cent foreign investment in railway infrastructure projects and 49 per cent in defence. The Cabinet cleared the long-delayed proposal for raising FDI limit in defence to 49 percent and fully opened up the railway infrastructure segment, like high-speed trains, for foreign investment. The decisions taken at the Cabinet meeting headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi came barely two weeks after the one to raise the cap of FDI in insurance sector from 26 percent to 49 percent.

Aug 7, 2014