Politics

Has Russell Brand split with Jemima Khan

New Delhi, Sep 22 (ANI): Rumours are rife that Russell Brand and Jemima Khan have split, after the couple recently unfollowed each other on Twitter. According to sources, the couple's relationship had simply run its course, a leading daily reported. Before Khan, Brand was married to pop star Katy Perry and has had flings with supermodel Kate Moss and Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, while Khan has two sons from her marriage to Pakistani cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan.

Sep 22, 2014

Maharashtra Assembly Polls: Congress, NCP claim seat sharing issue would be resolved soon

New Delhi, Sept 22 (ANI): Congress leader Rashid Alvi and NCP leader Majid Memon both on Monday claimed that the seat sharing impasse between the parties would be resolved soon, and also hoped that the ruling Congress-NCP government will once again be re-elected by the people of Maharashtra in the upcoming assembly elections in the state.

Sep 22, 2014

From Appeasing Indian Muslims to Putting 'Faith' in China, Modi Did it All in First Global Interview [EXCERPTS]

Modi touched on several sensitive issues in his recent, and first, global interview, from appeasing Indian Muslims to taking on China in terms of economic growth.

Sep 22, 2014

Reactions flow after India cancels media talks with China

New Delhi, Sep 22 (ANI): Politicos reacted on Monday after India amidst the Chinese incursions taking place in Ladakh decided to withdraw the clearances of Chinese editors who were supposed to arrive this week in India for a media exchange with Indian journalists. BJP leader Sambit Patra said that PM Narendra Modi had made it very clear to the Chinese President that any kind of relationship between the two countries can move forward only if the countries have amicable relations at the border. BJP leader Subramanian Swamy said that the cancelation in media talks between the countries is another bad signal for India and China.

Sep 22, 2014

Maharashtra seat sharing row: Politicos react over BJP-Shiv Sena tussle

New Delhi, Sept 22 (ANI): As the 25-year-old saffron alliance in Maharashtra is at the verge of a break up over seat sharing, ahead of the assembly elections to be held on 15 October, politicos from rival parties took a dig at the BJP and Shiv Sena. An aggressive Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday made a final offer of 119 seats while the state BJP leaders told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that they would rather go alone than accept this. Meanwhile, in a bid to salvage his party's alliance in Maharashtra, BJP president Amit Shah on Monday telephoned Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray to insist that the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance must continue.

Sep 22, 2014

Cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar's bat, tie and t-shirt auctioned for orphan children

Pune, Sep 22 (ANI): Indian cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar's bat, tie and t-shirt were auctioned for Rupees 15 million in bid to raise funds for orphan children in Pune. The money earned by the auction went to the NGO SOFOSH (Society of Friends of the Sassoon Hospitals) which runs an orphanage. Speaking at the event, Tendulkar said, everyone is gifted with a talent, which must be recognized and put in the right direction. The orphan children had made an audio-book on Sachin Tendulkar and it was presented to him. Moved by the gesture of the children, Tendulkar said the grit and determination of the kids to present him with an audio book was an unforgettable moment for him. Sachin Tendulkar became the first sportsperson to receive a, India's highest civilian honour.

Sep 22, 2014

Dalai Lama terms 21st century as age of peace and compassion

New Delhi, Sep 22 (ANI): Tibetan spiritual leader, his holiness the Dalai Lama shares a vision of peace, compassion and action at his public talk on inter-religious harmony in New Delhi, and says all spiritual leaders should come together to make the 21st century as the age of peace and tranquillity. Outlining a past century rife with war and violence, the Dalai Lama challenged future generation to turn the 21st century into "a peaceful century" through dialogue, respect, mindfulness and fostering oneness with humanity. The Dalai Lama said the need of the hour is to look beyond the key element of divide, political conflict, violence and self-cantered attitudes. Meanwhile, Minister of State for Home Affairs, Kiren Rijiju said that to curb religious clashes education by such spiritual leaders is a critical first step in nurturing those seeds of peace and tranquillity as well as achieve peace of mind.

Sep 22, 2014

Villagers wait for relief and help in flood-hit Kashmir

Pulwama, Sep 22 (ANI): People waited for relief and help as dozens of houses have collapsed in a village that was devastated by the worst flooding seen in more than a century in Jammu and Kashmir. 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 crores of rupees. Villagers in Pulwama district of the state said they have still not received any help from the government. Many houses have collapsed and the entire village presented a sad picture.

Sep 22, 2014

Alliance with Shiv Sena to continue, decides BJP core panel

New Delhi, Sep 22 (ANI): Core panel of ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, decided that alliance with Shiv Sena will persist in the upcoming assembly polls in Maharashtra. In-charge of BJP's Maharashtra wing, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, said that the 25-year-old coalition will continue in the upcoming assembly polls in the state. According to media reports, Shiv Sena chief, Uddhav Thackeray, on Sunday offered "the last formula" to its senior partner, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), giving it 119 seats in the Assembly elections in Maharashtra and leaving 18 seats to the allies. Thackeray has said the Shiv Sena would contest on 151 seats.

Sep 22, 2014

Navratri Festival empowers women in Gujarat

Vadodara /Surat, Sep 22 (ANI):'In a bid to empower women State government of Gujarat provided free stalls for sales of handmade items and goods at venues of Hindu festival of Navratri, the nine-day celebration honouring goddess Durga. District Magistrate of Vadodara city of Gujarat, Avantika Singh said the outlets are being provided to the women to sell their merchandise and earn their livelihood, and added that a similar exercise was conducted at the time of Hindu festival of Raksha Bandhan. The idea to empower the women and make them financially independent was a brain-child of the state's first woman Chief Minister Anandiben Patel, a strong advocate of the cause of women empowerment. Mayor of Surat city, Niranjan Zanzmera said that the earnings made by women will entirely go to them and the State government will not be charging any fee for the installation of stalls.

Sep 22, 2014

Elephants damage huts fields and fodder in Jharkhand

Lohardaga, Sep 22 (ANI): A herd of about sixteen elephants created havoc in a village of Lohardaga district in Jharkhand as they rampaged through huts and fields, forcing people to flee out of fright. A resident, Shadik Khan, said that the villagers, especially children are scared. The herd comes in the evening and people run out of their homes for their lives. The elephant menace is giving villagers sleepless nights, he added. Meanwhile, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Ashok Kumar Singh, said they would assess the damages done to get the villagers compensated by the government.

Sep 22, 2014