Politics

MEA highlights PM Modi's US visit schedule Part - 1

New Delhi, Sep 23 (ANI): Ministry of External Affairs on Tuesday highlighted the schedule of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the United States for enhancing bilateral relations. MEA Spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin stated that Prime Minister Modi will be meeting UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon before addressing United Nations' General Assembly Session. Akbaruddin said that Prime Minister will be meeting US President Barrack Obama and former President Bill Clinton during his visit. He also said that Modi will pay homage to the 9/11 memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Martin Luther King Memorial & Mahatma Gandhi's statue in Washington. He added that External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will also be joined by the Prime Minister after he reaches the US.

Sep 23, 2014

Hindus take holy dip in Ganges as they pay tribute to ancestors on new moon day in Kolkata

Kolkata, Sept 23 (ANI): Devout Hindus crowded river banks and priests guided them to perform rituals to pay tribute to their ancestors on Tuesday on the occasion of new moon day in Kolkata. The festive season of Navratri (Nine Nights) embarks from the very next day of this New Moon day in India, according to the Hindu calendar. Thousands of people took a holy dip in river Hooghly, traditionally called 'Ganga’ or Ganges. One of the devotees who flocked to the Hooghly, Dr S Pandey explained why people observe the holy dip on this particular day. Some devouts also tonsured their head as a mark of respect to their ancestors as they prayed for the peace of their souls after taking a dip in the river. On this day, making offerings to Hindu priests in the name of deceased loved ones holds a special significance.

Sep 23, 2014

After Kashmir, flood hits Assam disrupting normal life

Assam, Sept 23 (ANI): After creating havoc and claiming hundreds of lives in Kashmir, flash floods triggered by incessant rains hit Assam. Several districts of Assam, including Baksa, Goalpara and Kamrup are flooded with water, which has disrupted normal life and also brought the transportation system to a collapse. Besides entering into the domesticity, floodwaters also submerged the agricultural lands in these districts. Heavy rains in the neighbouring Garo Hills in Meghalaya have turned the situation serious for the Goalpara district, where around 50,000 people in 12 villages have been affected. Reportedly, a landslide in Goalpara also claimed a child’s life. Incessant rains have also halted the traffic on National Highway 31. Meanwhile, teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and paramilitary Border Security Force (BSF) evacuated over 5,000 flood-hit people to safer places in the district.

Sep 23, 2014

Former Italian defender Marco Materazzi unveils Chennaiyin FC logo

Chennai, Sep 23 (ANI): Former Italy defender and World Cup winner, Marco Materazzi, along with, co-owner Chennai football club, Vita Dani, unveiled the logo of Chennaiyin FC, the Chennai chapter of the Indian Super League (ISL). The logo depicts a ‘duradrishti’, a symbol common to most households in Tamil Nadu to ward off evil and maintain positivity in the environment. The yellow in the logo represents cheerfulness and fun, while blue symbolizes honesty and loyalty. Materazzi joined Chennai following the footsteps of former teammate, Alessandro Del Piero, who has taken charge of the Delhi chapter scheduled to run from October 12 to December 20. 41-year-old Materazzi will be player-manager of the team, co-owned by Bollywood actor, Abhishek Bachchan. Upbeat on his role to hunt the best talents from Tamil Nadu and train them in the sport, Materazzi said he looks forward to making India a football hub soon.

Sep 23, 2014

Indo-Bangladesh border trade increasing, says top official

Agartala, Sept 23 (ANI): The border trade between India and Bangladesh through Tripura is increasing at a fair speed, said a top official of the state industry. Director of Industries, department of Tripura, P L Agrawal, said that trade is continuously increasing between both the countries. Agrawal assured that by next month, one of the two border haats (market) in Tripura will be operating and will increase Indo-Bangladesh official trade. He also informed that Bangladesh has agreed to allow India to use its river and sea port. There have been talks on opening of the Chittagong and Ashuganj ports and both sides are positive.

Sep 23, 2014

JandK govt announces 6 months of free ration for flood victims

Rajouri, Sept 23 (ANI): Government of Kashmir will give six months of free ration to the flood victims, said a senior official. Both the Indian and Pakistani sides of the disputed Himalayan region have seen extensive flooding this month, with Srinagar particularly hard hit. Hundreds of people have been killed and tens of thousands are homeless. Authorities say the cost of damage in Jammu and Kashmir may run into billions of dollars. People wait for relief and help as houses have been collapsed by the worst flooding seen in more than a century in the province. There are signs that the relief operation is gaining traction as authorities brought in heavy-duty pumps to evacuate water from low-lying residential areas, including two from Oil and Natural Gas Corporation.

Sep 23, 2014

At least three die in Peshawar blast

Peshawar, Sep 23 (ANI): A car laden with explosives blew up near a security forces’ convoy, killing at least three people and wounding at least thirteen others in the northwest Pakistani city of Peshawar on Tuesday (September 23), local media reported. The three confirmed dead were a Frontier Constabulary officer, one woman and a passer-by. The blast happened when a Frontier Constabulary (FC) vehicle was passing through an area where the Peshawar Press Club, a railway station and a paramilitary headquarters are located. Law enforcement agencies and rescue teams rushed to the scene of the blast. Security teams sealed off the area and started a search operation. The wounded were taken to Lady Reading Hospital for treatment.

Sep 23, 2014

BJP seeks CBI probe into medicine scam in Bihar

Patna, Sep 23 (ANI): India’s ruling BJP on Tuesday sought CBI probe into multi-million medicine scam in Bihar, alleging involvement of close aides of former chief minister Nitish Kumar. BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi said a person named Arvind Shah died due to administration of sub-standard medicines. He also alleged that the substandard medicines, as well as equipments were bought at much higher prices from black-listed companies. The state government has set up an inquiry committee under a bureaucrat, which BJP called as eyewash

Sep 23, 2014

Kashmiris at UN denounce Pakistan's illegal occupation of PoK

Geneva/Muzaffarabad, PoK, September 23, 2014: Speaking at the recently held event at the United Nations in Geneva, observers and activists focused on the deteriorating security situation and attacks on minorities in Pakistan. The event titled 'the Human Rights in South Asia' also raised the issue of human rights violations in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir or PoK and Gilgit Baltistan. Civil society activists, human rights defenders and academicians stressed on Pakistan's move of exploiting the remote region's rich natural resources, apart from curbing the political autonomy. Kashmiri leaders blamed Pakistan for allegedly controlling the region through a proxy government and its secret agencies which have a stranglehold over every aspect of both PoK and Gilgit Baltistan. Kashmiri also accused Pakistan's spy agencies for suppressing the national movement through enforced disappearances and targetted killings.

Sep 23, 2014

Ravi Shankar Prasad visions India to prospect vastly in e-commerce

New Delhi, Sep 23 (ANI): Communications and Information Technology (IT) Minister, Ravi Shankar Prasad visions India to prospect vastly in e-commerce. Prasad believes that the country is sitting on the cusp of a big digital revolution as National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN) will herald a digital connectivity even in the villages. The other big focus area is the Digital India project, aimed at providing citizen services online. The project includes the NOFN, which will connect 60,000 gram Panchayats this year. Prasad on Tuesday told business lobbyists of the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) in New Delhi that digital empowerment of citizens is a core motive. He also added that digital infrastructure as utility to every citizen is another key area of the new government.

Sep 23, 2014

Army distributes books and school furniture in Poonch

Poonch, Sept 23 (ANI): The 12th Battalion of the Jat Regiment distributed books and school furniture to two flood-affected schools in Poonch's Degwar Village on Tuesday. To help children resume their studies, the army unit provided them with school books, black boards, almirahs, and school desks. School staff and residents were extremely thankful for the kind step taken by the security forces.

Sep 23, 2014