Politics

Politicos react after NCP rejects Congress seat sharing proposal for Maharashtra

New Delhi, Sep 21 (ANI): Politicos reacted on Sunday after NCP rejected Congress’ proposal to contest in 124 seats in the upcoming Maharashtra by-polls. Congress leader Husain Dalwai said that their fight is not with NCP but with the communal forces and that Congress is capable of fighting the elections alone unlike NCP. NCP leader Majid Memon said that NCP is flexible in adjusting the seat sharing formula and the final decision will be taken by the national leaders of both the parties.

Sep 21, 2014

Four militants killed in gun battle with security forces in Kashmir

Udhampur, Sep 21 (ANI): Four militants were killed in a gun battle in Tangdhar area along the Line of Control by the army, in Kupwara district of Kashmir. Public Relation Officer (PRO) Defence of Northern Command, SD Goswami said that they also recovered huge ammunition from the militants. Goswami also said that in the recent past similar operations were carried out in Tangdhar area and had foiled similar infiltration bids by the militants.

Sep 21, 2014

Man arrested with 218 turtles at railway station in Kanpur

Kanpur, Sep 21 (ANI): A man was arrested with 218 turtles packed in two sack bags at Kanpur Railway station that were being smuggled to Kolkata. Government Railway Police (GRP) Inspector, Tripurari Pandey said that the man was trying to smuggle the turtles to Kolkata. The turtles recovered from the smuggler are estimated to be worth millions in the international market. Pandey also said that the turtles were primarily used for consumption or for making medicines. There is a huge demand of turtles in Southeast Asia and China. Apart from being consumed and making medicines, turtles are believed to have aphrodisiac properties as well. Kanpur is one of the crucial transit points for turtle smugglers looking to sneak them out of India via sea ports in Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata.

Sep 21, 2014

Al Qaeda is trying to enter Assam, says Tarun Gogoi

Guwahati, Sep 21 (ANI): Days after Al Qaeda threatened to carry out militant activities in India through a video, Chief Minister of Assam, Tarun Gogoi said intelligence sources revealed that the militant outfit was trying to enter the state and establish its base. The chief minister also said that Al Qaeda was trying to have some understandings with the Assamese separatist group United Liberation Force of Assam (ULFA) to gain access inside the state. Meanwhile, Gogoi also demanded share of the $20 billion investment committed by Chinese President Xi Jinping for the northeastern region.

Sep 21, 2014

NDRF launches advanced medical facilities to expedite rescue in flooded Kashmir

Srinagar, Sep 21 (ANI): The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team launched advanced medical services to expedite rescue and relief operations in flood-ravaged Jammu and Kashmir. An ambulance equipped with several advanced emergency medical facilities and vehicles were launched. These facilities will be used in inaccessible areas where patients are stuck and face difficulties in reaching out for health care. Meanwhile, a medical camp was set up in the summer capital of Srinagar where hundreds of flood victims received varied medical services. Men, women, children and the elderly stood in queues for check-ups and treatment besides receiving emergency medicines. Due to floodwater logging in various parts of the state, several water-borne diseases have started to crop up and the valley is on the threshold of an epidemic.

Sep 21, 2014

Police arrest suspected militant in West Bengal

Siliguri, Sep 21 (ANI): Police arrested a suspected militant belonging to an extremist group Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) in West Bengal. A team of Meghalaya police arrested the suspected GNLA’s regional commander from Panchanio area in Siliguri under Darjeeling district. The police also seized a laptop, several ATM cards, three cell phones and other documents from the accused. Inspector, special branch, Siliguri Metropolitan Police, Swapan Kumar Sarkar, said further probe into the case will reveal more information about the accused. The suspected militant has been identified as Solly Sangma, a resident of west Garo hills district of Meghalaya state. Police said Sangma was living with his family from the last six month in Siliguri and has been running a leather bag shop at Panchanio area. Pleading his innocence, Sangma, in his defence said he was not involved with any militant outfits.

Sep 21, 2014

India gets its first transgender TV news presenter

Coimbatore, Sep 21 (ANI): A television news station recruited the country's first transgender news anchor, five months after the court ruled that transgender people be recognised as a legal third gender. Padmini Prakash, 31, who works at Lotus News in Tamil Nadu, said that she had faced a lot of discrimination throughout her life, including being disowned by her family. She worked as a dancer and then acted in Tamil soap operas before joining the news channel. Confident of making it big, Prakash said that her becoming a broadcaster could help her bring about a positive change in the Indian society. Recognizing her talent, Lotus News Channel Chairman GK Selvakumar said that Prakash’s fluency and clarity of words makes her eligible for the job. Prakash became so popular with viewers after joining the station last month that she was quickly promoted to become the face of the News Channel's daily 7 pm special bulletin.

Sep 21, 2014

Police arrest seven hardcore Maoists in Jharkhand

Jharkhand, Sep 21 (ANI): Police arrested seven hardcore Maoists of the People's Liberation Front (PLFI) group near the Porahat forest area in Jharkhand. Maoist organisation, PLFI had camped in the Singhbhum district area, which is considered hub of the insurgent groups. Superintendent of Police, Narendra Kumar Singh, said the arrest was a major breakthrough as they recovered ammunition as well as further leads. Singh added that a couple of days back, Special Police Officer was killed by the PLFI.

Sep 21, 2014

Manipuri artisan awarded for her contribution towards handloom

Imphal, Sep 21 (ANI): L Subadini Devi, a resident of Wangkhei Tokpam Leikai in Imphal East district, is the proud recipient of Sant Kabir Award for her contribution towards the handloom sector. She received the prestigious award from the President in July this year. Born to a traditional weaver’s family, Subadini has been engaged in the craft for more than 50 years. She has participated in a number of exhibitions and has received numerous awards for excellence in handloom, including a national award for textile designing. Subadini started Nongdon Lairembi Wool Knitting Cum Embroidery Centre in 1984 and produces Sarees, kwang phanek, bed cover, marriage sets and a cotton sheet called Ningtham Samjin. Presently, she employs six artisans at the Centre and several other weavers work from different places under her guidance.

Sep 21, 2014

Rise of Islamic schools causes alarm in secular Turkey

As parents take their children to first day of school, one father is particularly concerned: a new examination that assigned thousands of students into religious high schools has caught many parents in Turkey off guard. Duration: 02:43

Sep 21, 2014

Dalai Lama slams killings in the name of religion

The Dalai Lama condemns mindless violence in the name of religion, saying jihad is being misused and misinterpreted by Islamist extremists, at a meeting of spiritual leaders convened in Delhi. Duration: 01:05

Sep 20, 2014

Climate change rally held in India ahead of UN summit

Some 125 world leaders are expected to commit to action on climate change at a UN summit Tuesday called to inject momentum in struggling efforts to tackle global warming. Duration: 00:41

Sep 20, 2014

Scotland's 'Yes' voters skeptical of power promises

Disappointed 'Yes' voters in Glasgow said Saturday they were skeptical of promises made by Gordon Brown and the three main British political parties to devolve more powers to the Scottish parliament in Edinburgh. Duration: 01:07

Sep 20, 2014

People in New York react to the Scottish referedum

Britain's press heaves a sigh of relief over Scotland's decision to stay in the United Kingdom, but any thoughts of triumphalism were extinguished by concerns about the upcoming constitutional battle triggered by the campaign. Duration: 01:24

Sep 20, 2014

Sports minister confident of good performance in 17th Asian Games as India bags 2 medals on Day-1

New Delhi, Sep 20 (ANI): Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Saturday said that the Indian contingent will perform well in 17th Asian Games at Incheon, basking in the glory of two medals won on Day-1. A total of 439 gold medals in 36 sports are up for grabs over 15 days of competition. Meanwhile, former shooter and Olympic silver medallist, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore congratulated Jitu Rai on his gold medal. Some 10,000 athletes from 45 countries are competing at the Asian Games, the world's second-biggest multi-sport event after the summer Olympics.

Sep 20, 2014