Politics

Ukraine peace efforts stall despite lull in fighting

Ukrainian peace efforts stalled Wednesday after pro-Russian insurgents called their own elections in defiance of a deal under which they and the Ukrainian army began withdrawing heavy weapons after five months of war. Duration: 00:31

Sep 24, 2014

Baghdad car bomb kills at least 14

Iraqis clear up after a car bomb exploded near a market in the Shiite neighbourhood of Sadr City in Baghdad on Tuesday, killing at least 14 people. Duration: 00:26

Sep 24, 2014

At least 23 killed in Bilaspur bus accident

Dharamshala, Sept 24 (ANI): At least 23 people were killed and many injured when an overloaded private bus fell into Bhakra Nangal Dam's Gobind Sagar Reservoir in Bilaspur district of Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday. While injured passengers have been taken to Bilaspur hospital, police are suspecting the toll to rise after the rescue operation is over. The bus had passengers beyond its capacity and many people were also seated on the roof.

Sep 24, 2014

Trying our best to overcome all challenges: Mukul Sangama on flood situation in Meghalaya

New Delhi, Sept 24 (ANI): Responding to the flood situation in Meghalaya, state chief minister Mukul Sangama on Wednesday stated that the state government is trying to overcome the challenges in the flood affected state. He also added that he is getting support from many NGOs and disaster management groups within the state.

Sep 24, 2014

Can't think of contesting Maharashtra polls without our small but strong alliance partners: BJP

Mumbai, Sept 24 (ANI): BJP leader Rajiv Pratap Rudy on Wednesday said that it cannot think of contesting Maharashtra elections without their small but strong alliance partners. He added that negotiations regarding this are going on with the Shiv Sena.

Sep 24, 2014

Trucks carrying flood relief material halted near border check post in Kashmir

Kathua, Sept 24 (ANI): Government authorities in Jammu and Kashmir stopped nearly 45 trucks loaded with relief material for flood victims from entering inside the valley at the border. Trucks carrying food items, utensils, blankets, medicines and more were stopped at Lakhanpur in Kathua district – the gateway to Jammu and Kashmir – by the Toll Posts of Excise Department and the Sales Tax Department due to incomplete formalities. The trucks belonged to Shri Amarnath Sewa Mandal of Patiala, an organization that works to help the poor, old and unprivileged people and is also devoted to help people undertaking the pilgrimage to sacred shrine of Amarnath. President of the organization, Mohan Deep Sharma, said their trucks have been halted for two days.

Sep 24, 2014

Modi, Obama popular tattoo faces in Navaratri ahead of PMs US visit

Surat /Gorakhpur, Sept 24 (ANI): Ahead of the Hindu festival of Navaratri, enthusiastic Indians got themselves tattooed with the faces of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Barrack Obama as mark of support for the former’s US visit. The festival spans Modi's first trip to the United States since he took office as PM. Millions of Hindus fast, pray and dance to please the mother goddess during Navratri. Some restrict their diet to fruit and vegetables while spurning meat, onions and garlic. Meanwhile, preparations are going on in full swing in Gorakhpur city of Uttar Pradesh. Artisans from Kolkata arrived in Gorakhpur to craft the idols of the goddess.

Sep 24, 2014

Congratulations pour in for Mangalyaan team from all over

New Delhi, Sept 24 (ANI): Congratulations poured in on Wednesday for the Mangalyaan team of ISRO after the Mars Orbiter Mission successfully entered the orbit of the red planet. With this India became the first nation in the world to be successful in reaching Mars in its very maiden attempt. US space agency National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) sent in a congratulatory tweet saying, "We congratulate @ISRO for its Mars arrival! @MarsOrbiter joins the missions studying the Red Planet. #JourneyToMars." India's political fraternity was also quick to send greetings at ISRO's grand success. Vice President Hamid Ansari, Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Vice-President Rahul Gandhi, BJP leader Subramanian Swamy and Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal extended greetings to ISRO scientists and all others concerned with the Mangalyaan mission.

Sep 24, 2014

Politicos react after SC cancels 214 coal block allocation

New Delhi, Sept 24 (ANI): Politicos reacted on Wednesday after the Supreme Court cancelled allocations of 214 coal blocks out of 218 which were allotted to various companies since 1993 and gave them a time period of six months to wind up the business. BJP leader Subramanian Swamy said that SC has taken a very major step towards eliminating corruption in the country. CPI leader D Raja said that the SC has taken a strong view considering the huge loss of the country. CPI (M) leader Brinda Karat while welcoming the SC’s judgment said that the national wealth cannot be handed over for private profits to the private companies.

Sep 24, 2014

India's engaging foreign policy displeases China: BJP

New Delhi, Sept 24 (ANI): BJP Leader in Ladakh, Thupstan Chhewang, said on Wednesday that the country's engaging foreign policy, primarily with its neighbouring countries, vexed China. Military officials in New Delhi and Kashmir said on Tuesday (September 23) that Chinese troops set up a camp about 3 km (2 miles) into territory claimed by India in the Chumar region of the Ladakh plateau more than a week ago. Indian soldiers have set up their own base nearby and have been told not to back down, the officials said. On Wednesday, Chhewang said China was trying to pressurise India as the latter was trying to enhance ties with neighbouring countries like Nepal and Bhutan. Meanwhile, Chhewang said the border standoff should be resolved through negotiations and dialogue.

Sep 24, 2014

Mangalyaan success marks new era for India, says former ISRO chief

Thiruvananthapuram /Varanasi, Allahabad / Bangalore, Sept 24 (ANI): Former chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), G Madhavan Nair, said on Wednesday that the Mars mission would mark a new era in country’s space research as India became the first country to enter the red planet's orbit in its maiden attempt. Nair said India has broken all records of travel by reaching to the farthest point. Director of Jawahar Planetarium in Allahabad, Pramod Pandey, said the achievement will be marked in golden words. Meanwhile, astrologer Acharya Rishi Dviwedi in Varanasi also said the mission would be a great success.

Sep 24, 2014

Politicos hail SCs verdict on coal blocks

New Delhi, Sept 24 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Wednesday cancelled all the coal block allocations which it had earlier declared illegal leaving 4 which entirely belong to the Central government. The court, which examined the allocation of 218 blocks in pre-auction era till 2010, had held that they were done in an illegal manner by an “ad-hoc and casual” approach “without application of mind”. Leaders from various political parties, including the BJP, have hailed the SC’s decision.

Sep 24, 2014

Barack Obama thanks Arab partners to fight against Islamic militant threats

New Delhi, Sept 24 (ANI): US President Barack Obama met with leaders from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Bahrain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in New York City to continue building support for the coalition fighting Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria. Obama vowed to continue the fight against Islamic State fighters following the first US-led airstrikes targeting the militant group in Syria, and pledged to build even more international support for the effort.

Sep 24, 2014

Joy for India as Mars mission enters orbit

India becomes the first nation to reach Mars on its maiden attempt when its low-cost Mangalyaan spacecraft successfully entered orbit around the Red Planet after a 10-month journey. Duration: 00:29

Sep 24, 2014