Politics

Tourism takes a back seat in flood-hit Kashmir

Gulmarg, Sep 21 (ANI): Floods mayhem in Jammu and Kashmir badly affected the tourism industry resulting in disrupting the livelihood of local businessmen. 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. A Gondola Cable Car Employee in Gulmarg hill station, Mohammad Ashraf, said on Sunday that the devastation due to floods in the entire valley has scared tourists. Meanwhile, an Office Manager at a resort in Gulmarg, Sajid, said that the hill station which is among the major tourist attractions in Kashmir, has no tourists at the moment.

Sep 21, 2014

Kerry says Iran could help 'take out' IS

United Nations, Sep 21 (ANI): US Secretary of State John Kerry has said that Iran could play a crucial role in defeating the Islamic State group. Even while the US refrained from inviting Iran from joining the US-led military coalition, Kerry said that Iran could help "take out" IS. Kerry said in a meeting of the United Nations Security Council that it was about taking out an entire network, decimating and discrediting a militant cult masquerading as a religious movement. He added that there is a role for nearly every country in the world to play, including Iran.

Sep 21, 2014

Congress ready to compromise, but NCP remains adamant: Manikrao Thakre

New Delhi, Sept 21 (ANI): Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) Chief Manikrao Thakre said in New Delhi on Sunday that the Congress is ready to consider suggestions of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) over the seat sharing issue but if they remain adamant on particular figures then things will not work out this way. Yesterday, NCP leader Praful Patel appeared to send an unmistakable signal to the Congress party that it should offer more seats to his party in the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly polls and asked the latter to take a decision within 24 hours. The Congress has reportedly offered only 125 seats to its ally keeping the rest of the seats with itself to contest in the upcoming state assembly polls. The stalemate between the Congress and NCP over seat sharing is brewing with the latter not willing to contest in less than 136 seats.

Sep 21, 2014

First-ever veterans' football tournament held in Guwahati

Guwahati, Sep 21 (ANI): The first ever 'Challenge Veteran Football’ began in Guwahati to refresh and rejuvenate soccer players past their prime. The two-day event which was inaugurated by eminent journalist and writer, Homen Borgohainon, on September 20 was organized with the aim to encourage young footballers and also pay respect to the ex-players who contributed to the game. United Brothers Club (UBC), the main organizer of the tournament, said that the event has given players a platform to sweat it out at 40 plus and a motivation to stay fit and healthy through playing this game. The tournament will be a prelude to the Indian Super League which is scheduled to begin in October. A player, Abdul Azim Lashkar said that playing at this age was a challenge but pleasure.

Sep 21, 2014

Indo-Pak talks must be handled delicately, says Majid Memon

New Delhi, Sep 21 (ANI): NCP leader Majid Memon on Sunday said the talks between New Delhi and Islamabad must be appreciated and added that this issue must be handled delicately in the best national interest of India. According to reports, senior officials from India and Pakistan have held two meetings between themselves and the first such meeting took place between National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit K Doval and Pakistan High Commissioner Abdul Basit while the second meeting took place between Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh and Basit.

Sep 21, 2014

Uddhav Thackeray declares last proposal, offers 119 seats to BJP

Mumbai, Sep 21 (ANI): Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday admitted that there is an ongoing ‘tug of war’ in alliance with the BJP and said that he is making his last efforts to save the alliance. Offering BJP the ‘last formula’ for seat sharing in the alliance, Thackeray said that Shiv Sena will contest on 151 seats, BJP will contest on 119 seats and the rest 18 seats would be given to the allies. Thackeray further said that Sena needs power to serve the people and they will get it. He also said that many faces have been unmasked during the election time and that he has taken a decision and will announce it when the right time comes.

Sep 21, 2014

Reactions flow as BJP-Shiv Sena seat sharing in Maharashtra remains undecided

New Delhi, Sep 21 (ANI): Politicos reacted on Sunday as BJP-Shiv Sena seat sharing remained undecided for the upcoming Maharashtra elections. BJP leader Satyapal Singh said that he is hopeful that BJP-Shiv Sena alliance will stay and that it would be beneficial for both the parties as well as for the people of Maharashtra. RJD leader Manoj Jha said that BJP seems to be emerging as a party which feels that it can manage the politics of the whole nation single-handedly and fails to realize the importance of an alliance.

Sep 21, 2014

US attorney office confirms White House intruder had a knife

Washington, Sep 21 (ANI): According to US attorney’s office, Omar Gonzalez, the man arrested after climbing the fence at the White House was armed with a knife. Previously, the US Secret Service had said Gonzalez was unarmed. Gonzalez made his way into the executive mansion, though President Barack Obama and his family were not there. Gonzalez was charged with unlawfully entering a restricted building or grounds while carrying a “deadly or dangerous weapon”, according to an affidavit released by the US attorney’s office. Armed Secret Service officers raced through the West Wing area of the White House during the intrusion and ordered journalists and staff members to evacuate.

Sep 21, 2014

AAP Member Files FIR against Binny for Posting 'Fake' Video on FB

AAP leader Alka Lamba has filed an FIR against MLA Vinod Kumar Binny alleging he posted a fake video on YouTube showing she ran sex racket.

Sep 21, 2014

In Lebanon, jihadist threat breeds fear and farce

Advances by the Islamic State jihadist group, and their brutal beheading of two Lebanese soldiers, have sown fear in Lebanon but also bred a strain of dark humour mocking the group. Duration: 01:53

Sep 21, 2014

Maharashtra will be robbed if BJP comes to power: Atul Anjan

New Delhi, Sept 21 (ANI): Communist Party of India (CPI) leader Atul Anjan said here on Sunday that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will rob the people of Maharashtra if they came to power in the state. Yesterday, BJP leader Vinod Tawde had claimed that its ally Shiv Sena has offered his party 126 seats in the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly polls. The Shiv Sena and the BJP have been bickering over the sharing of seats for the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections.

Sep 21, 2014

Vinod Binny booked for making false allegations against AAP leader

New Delhi, Sep 21 (ANI): Former AAP leader Vinod Kumar Binny has been booked for allegedly levelling false charges at Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Alka Lamba. In her complaint, Lamba has alleged that Binny, the Lakshmi Nagar MLA, had falsely alleged on social media that she was running a sex racket at her house. Based on her allegations, Cyber Cell has registered an FIR against Binny under Section 66A of IT ACT and Sections 354D (stalking) and 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of IPC. Meanwhile, on Sunday AAP Women's Wing protested against Binny in New Delhi.

Sep 21, 2014

Crocodile killed in Gujarat after it leaves one dead

Vadodara, Sep 221 (ANI): Residents in Vadodara killed a crocodile after it attacked and left one man dead. The crocodile was killed at Shihor village in Vadodara district after it fatally attacked a 55-year-old man, who was grazing cattle on the banks of the Vishwamitri River. As reported, on learning about the man’s death, the villagers rushed to the spot and attacked the crocodile with sticks. Founder of Gujarat Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (GSPCA), Snehal Bhatt said that killing an animal is wrong people should have informed the forest guards who could have captured it. Reportedly, earlier this month, as water levels receded in Vishwamitri River, three crocodiles were captured in Vadodara. The forest officials rushed to the spot to rescue the reptiles and release them in safe areas.

Sep 21, 2014

Binny refutes allegations by AAPs Alka Lamba, says FB page may be made by AAP

New Delhi, Sep 21 (ANI): Former AAP leader Vinod Kumar Binny on Sturday refuted allegations by AAP’s Alka Lamba. Lamba had filed a complaint against Binny and alleged that Binney had falsely alleged on social media that she was running a sex racket at her house. Binny said that the Facebook page was not created by him but by somebody else on his name against whom he had already filed a complaint with the police and high authorities. He also alleged that the page may have been created by AAP to malign him and to create tensions in the country. Based on Lamba’s allegations, Cyber Cell has registered an FIR against Binny under Section 66A (sending offensive messages through communication service) of IT ACT and Sections 354D (stalking) and 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of IPC.

Sep 21, 2014

Jitu Rai leads India to team bronze in 10m Air Pistol at Asian Games 2014

New Delhi, Sep 21 (ANI): Continuing their good show in the 17th Asian Games on Sunday, Indian men settled for a bronze medal after narrowly missing the silver in the 10m air pistol event at the Ongnyeon shooting range. Shooting star Jitu Rai entered the eight-man final as the second best qualifier but could not stand on the podium after finishing fifth, a day after clinching the 50m gold. Jitu Rai clinched a historic gold in the 50m Pistol event on the opening day of the Asian Games at the Ongnyeon International Shooting Range in Incheon on Saturday.

Sep 21, 2014