Politics

Body of Indian worker arrives from Sharjah

Amritsar, July 18 (ANI): Body of an Indian worker, Shemshar Singh, who died while returning home from war-torn Iraq, has arrived in Punjab. Shemshar, 24, who belonged to Gurdaspur district of the state, was returning back from Iraq with 11 other colleagues on June 22, when he fell seriously ill and was admitted to Sharjah hospital in Dubai. Succha Singh, father of Shemshar, slammed the government for not taking adequate steps for early return of his son. The news came as a shock to the family members of Shemshar, who went to Iraq four months back, to earn money as they belong from a poor background. Shemshar___s father also urged the government to send teams to bring rest of the stranded workers back. About 10,000 Indians work in Iraq, mostly in areas unaffected by the fighting, but scores of them have returned to India since ISIL began its offensive. The Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and other Sunni Muslim militant groups have seized many towns and cities across Syria and Iraq.

Jul 18, 2014

Malaysian airlines MH17 black box sent to Russia for investigation

Hrabove, July 18 (ANI): The black box of the Malaysian airline MH17, which was shot down in the conflict area in Eastern Ukraine, has been sent to Moscow for investigation reportedly. The Malaysian plane had fallen from a height of 10,600 metres and all passengers on board, including the crew died in the tragedy. Parts of the aircraft, human remains, money, gadgets and passports were spread across the region of Grabovo and Rassypnaya in Eastern Ukaraine. Rebel militia found remains of more than 100 people in the intial few hours of the rescue operation. Russia and Ukraine have both denied involvement. All parties are investigating into the crash of MH17.

Jul 18, 2014

Altitude of Malaysian plane at time of incident would help identify missile used: Defence Analyst

New Delhi, July 18 (ANI): Talking about the Malaysian Airline which was brought down in Ukraine killing 295 people, Defence Analyst Uday Bhaskar said that the altitude of the plane at the time of incident can help in identifying the type of missile used and the country who can possess that missile. Terming the incident as tragic, Bhaskar said that that the probability of a shoulder fired missile being the cause of this crash is very low. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also tweeted, ___Our thoughts & prayers are with the families of those who lost their lives on board Flight MH17. We stand with them in this hour of grief.___

Jul 18, 2014

BSF says will retaliate if Pak continues to violate ceasefire

Jammu, July 18 (ANI): India___s paramilitary Border Security Force (BSF) said that it would retaliate to the latest ceasefire violation along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir if Pakistan Rangers violated the ceasefire again. On Wednesday, one Border Security Force (BSF) personnel was killed and three BSF personnel were injured in cross-border firing in Jammu and Kashmir. Following the incident, the Director General of BSF, DK Pathak, went to inspect the area along with his convoy and said the situation is presently under control.The BSF personnel reportedly died of a bullet injury to his shoulder. Attempts were made to rescue him, but the heavy firing prevented it, and three more got injured.

Jul 18, 2014

Pak accuses India of _unprovoked firing_ across border

Islamabad, July 18 (ANI): Pakistan Foreign Ministry accused Indian security forces of firing across the working boundary causing injuries to two Pakistani soldiers. On Thursday, a statement from the military said that _due to unprovoked Indian firing on working boundary this evening in Charwah sector near Sialkot, 2 soldiers were injured. Intermittent exchange of fire continues._ In 2013, over 200 cease-fire violations were recorded on the LoC, the highest in the last decade. Both New Delhi and Islamabad blame each other of resorting to unprovoked firings.

Jul 18, 2014

Pak PM Nawaz Sharif visits Army General Headquarters in Rawalpindi

Rawalpindi / North Waziristan/ Islamabad, July 18 (ANI): Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during a visit to the Army_s General Headquarters (GHQ) in the garrison city of Rawalpindi, gave full-fledged support to the ongoing military operation in North Waziristan. Sharif, who was accompanied by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Home Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and Adviser to the PM on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, was received by Army Chief General Raheel Sharif. According to Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), the PM visited the _Yadgare Shuhada_ (Martyrs_ Monument) and also offered prayers. Later, the Prime Minister was given a comprehensive briefing about the operation in North Waziristan by senior military commanders. The army chief informed Sharif that around 450 militants had been killed in the operation so far, whereas two captains and 26 soldiers of the Pakistan army were martyred during the operation.

Jul 18, 2014

Arun Jaitley to present Delhi_s budget

New Delhi, July 18 (ANI): Finance Minister Arun Jaitley will present the Delhi_s budget in parliament on Friday as the city assembly has been kept under suspended animation and the President Rule is in force. Ahead of presentation of Delhi_s budget by Jaitley, the city unit of BJP urged him to provide power subsidy to consumers. Delhi BJP President Satish Upadhyay urged Jaitley to grant Rs 800 crore as power subsidy saying people are burdened with very heavy electricity bills. The Sheila Dikshit government had provided subsidy of Rs 1 per unit for consumption between 0-200 units and 200-400 units for several years. In the union budget, Jaitley had allocated Rs 700 crore to Delhi to help overcome the problem of power transmission and water distribution system. Jaitley had proposed Rs 500 crore for reform in the water sector while Rs 200 crore has been set aside for reform in the power sector.

Jul 18, 2014

Bill Clinton interacts with UP village taken by Clinton Foundation

Lucknow, July 18 (ANI): Former US President Bill Clinton visited a village near Lucknow city during which he interacted with school students and women availing the benefits of the Clinton Foundation. Clinton visited the sleepy Jabrauli village, 30 kiliometers off Lucknow and took part in a Clinton Foundation Health Initiative programme, involving children and their mothers. Clinton told women they can empower themselves through self help groups and overcome their poverty. Legislator of Uttar Pradesh Assembly, Chandra Rawat, hoped that the village would prosper as it was adopted by the Clinton Foundation. Elaborate security arrangements were made for Clinton_s visit. Earlier, Clinton also visited the pink city of Jaipur in Rajasthan. He is scheduled to travel to Vietnam, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and Australia to take stock of the work of the Clinton Foundation.

Jul 18, 2014

Absence of bridge force tribals in Maoist hotbed to remain cut-off from all amenities during monsoon

Latehar, July 18 (ANI): Swelling of river waters and absence of bridge force tribals in Maoist hot bed of Latehar district in Jharkhand to remain cut-off from all amenities for over three months during monsoon season. Chorha and Lai are two of the 14 villages in Chorha Panchayat that lie between the two rivers- Koel and Chaupath. Demand for a bridge to the mainland by these villagers has been going on unheard for over a decade, as they get cut off from all amenities for more than three months. A school girl Ankita Kumari said that students face hardship as they miss regular classes due to absence of bridge on the river.

Jul 18, 2014

Israel launches ground invasion of Gaza

Bengaluru/ Gaza, July 18 (ANI): Gaza city was rocked by a sequence of blasts in the early hours of Friday, as Israel launched a Gaza ground campaign after 10 days of bombardments from the air and sea failed to stop militants_ rocket attacks, stepping up an offensive that already has taken a heavy toll on civilian lives. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement late on Thursday that he had given orders to destroy tunnels that militants use to infiltrate Israel and carry out attacks. Meanwhile, back in India, Urging the central government and the United Nations to take a call on the ongoing Gaza crisis, locals in Bengaluru city of Karnataka took to streets to show solidarity for the victims. International calls for a ceasefire have grown as the death toll has mounted in the worst flare-up of Israeli-Palestinian violence for almost two years, sparked by the murder of three Israeli teenagers and revenge killing of a Palestinian youth.

Jul 18, 2014

Malaysia Airlines crash in Ukraine killing 295 aboard

Hrabove, Ukraine, July 18 (ANI): A Malaysian airliner was brought down over eastern Ukraine killing all 295 people aboard and sharply raising the stakes in a conflict between Kiev and pro-Moscow rebels. The plane was enroute to Kuala Lumpur from Amsterdam, and it is being said that it was shot down. Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said on Friday that _Russian-backed rebels_ were apparently behind the shooting down of a Malaysia Airlines passenger jetliner. Ukraine_s state security chief has accused Russian military intelligence officers of involvement with pro-Russian rebels in the downing of the airliner on Thursday, but Western leaders have until now been less quick to assign blame. Russian President Vladimir Putin also expressed sorrow for the loss and blamed the region_s military conflict in general. Meanwhile, US President Barack Obama also offered his condolences.

Jul 18, 2014