Politics

We're Stronger Because We're Democracies: Obama

Attributes NATO's Strength to Democracy, Obama pledged that NATO would defend its Baltic members in times of crisis.

Sep 4, 2014

Govt might have thought of utilizing my experience as Kerala governor, nothing personal: P Sathasiva

Coimbatore, Sep 04 (ANI): Former Chief Justice of India P Sathasivam on Thursday said that there is no controversy in his appointment as the governor of Kerala and that the government might have thought of utilizing his experience by the appointment. He said that there is nothing personal in the appointment as nobody knew that this would happen at the time of hearing of BJP President Amit Shah and that the appointment came four months after his retirement as the Chief Justice of India. Sathasivam also said that he would discharge his duties effectively and would try to establish better relations between state and the center.

Sep 4, 2014

Teaching is way of life and a teacher never retires: Narendra Modi

New Delhi, Sep 04 (ANI): Stressing on the importance of teachers in a society on the eve of Teachers' Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called teaching a way of life. Modi was speaking on Thursday while interacting with 350 national awardee teachers who will be felicitated by President Pranab Mukherjee on Teachers' Day. Teachers' Day is celebrated on September 05 every year, as it is the birth anniversary of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, a teacher and an academic philosopher. During the interaction, Modi said a teacher never retires and always continues to inspire the new generation. Modi also said that for a society to progress, teachers must always be two steps ahead of time. He said the teachers need to understand changes happening across the world, and prepare the new generation accordingly by arousing curiosity in them. Meanwhile, Modi would also deliver a speech on the occasion of Teachers' Day, which will be telecast live and it is mandatory for students to attend it in schools. The speech will be telecasted from 3pm to 5pm

Sep 4, 2014

UP bypolls: HC issues notice to Centre, state govt on Yogi Adityanath, Kalraj Mishra

New Delhi, Sept 04 (ANI): The Allahabad High Court on Thursday issued notices to the Central and Uttar Pradesh governments, as well as the Election Commission while hearing a petition on poll campaigning by BJP MP Yogi Adityanath and Union minister Kalraj Mishra. The plea seeks a ban on campaigning by Yogi Adityanath and Kalraj Mishra in the upcoming bypolls in Uttar Pradesh. The duo have been accused of fanning communal tensions and raking up the 'love jihad' issue ahead of the upcoming bypolls.

Sep 4, 2014

Vijay Mallya says will pursue all legal remedies as UBI declares him 'willful defaulter'

Bangalore, Sep 04 (ANI): Business Tycoon Vijay Mallya on Thursday said that he will pursue all legal remedies available to him even as state-run United Bank of India's (UBI) declares him 'willful defaulter'. This could be a blow to the former liquor baron who has been fending off banks from recovering money they once lent to his now defunct Kingfisher Airlines. A two judge bench of the top court on Tuesday summarily waived off Kingfisher's objections that its chairman Mallya was declared a "willful defaulter" by the United Bank of India's Grievance Redressal Committee without his lawyer being heard during the proceedings. Mallya also slammed state's decision to ban beverage/ alcohol and said that there is no reason to exclude alcohol industry from Goods and Services Tax. He said thar government must take steps to include beverage/ alcohol into the GST.

Sep 4, 2014

Children face 'education emergency' in north Iraq

School buildings in Iraq are frequently the only ones large enough to shelter the influx of families fleeing the advance of the Islamic State. Duration: 02:04

Sep 4, 2014

BJP Chief Amit Shah arrives at Mumbai airport

Mumbai, Sep 04, (ANI): With less than two months to go for the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly elections, BJP President Amit Shah arrived at Mumbai airport on Thursday for a meeting of the party's state core committee. Shah, who visited the city for the first time after taking over as BJP Chief, received a grand welcome at the airport. Apart from attending the meeting at the residence of Vinod Tawde, Shah will also address party workers at the Shanmukhananda Hall in the evening. Shah is unlikely to meet ally Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray though he has Ganesh Pandal visits on the cards.

Sep 4, 2014

Australian PM arrives in Mumbai, launches scholarship programme for students

Mumbai, Sep 04, (ANI): Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott arrived in Mumbai on Thursday and launched scholarship programme for students named New Colombo Plan in the city's university. Under the scheme, thousands of young Australians could live, study and work in Southeast Asian region and build people to people contacts. Abbott regretted that there were only few Australian students studying in India. The Australian prime minister added in coming years, the number of Australian students will increase manifold and experience richness of culture.

Sep 4, 2014

Kalyan Singh takes oath as Governor of Rajasthan

Jaipur, Sep 04 (ANI): Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Kalyan Singh on Tuesday took oath as Governor of Rajasthan at Governor's house in Jaipur. He was sworn-in by Chief Justice of the Rajasthan High Court Sunil Ambwani in the presence of state chief minister Vasundhara Raje. Interestingly, supporters present during the event shouted slogans like 'Jai Shri Ram' after Singh signed the official papers. Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik was holding the additional charge of Rajasthan before the appointment of Kalyan Singh.

Sep 4, 2014

Politicos question appointment of P Sathasivam as governor of Kerala

Erode /Lucknow/New Delhi, Sep 04 (ANI): Politicians, on Thursday questioned central government's move to appoint former Chief Justice of India (CJI) P Sathasivam as governor of Kerala, which has sparked controversy in political and legal fraternity of the country. Sathasivam was appointed as new governor of Kerala after Sheila Dikshit resigned last week. He has served as chief justice of India for eight months between August and April this year. NCP leader Tariq Anwar said this move of the government will only fade people’s faith in law and judiciary.

Sep 4, 2014

Amit Shah will meet Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray today: Vinod Tawde

Mumbai, Sep 04 (ANI): After receiving BJP President Amit Shah at his residence for a party core committee meet, senior party leader Vinod Tawde on Thursday announced that Shah will meet Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray today. There had been speculations since yesterday that Shah is unlikely to meet Thackeray. Tawde said that the BJP president will meet the Shiv Sena chief and later visit the Ganesha Pandals.

Sep 4, 2014

Haj pilgrims undergo vaccination drive in Kashmir

Srinagar, Sep 04 (ANI): The Jammu and Kashmir government organized a vaccination program along with Haj committee for aspiring pilgrims. The number of Haj pilgrims has increased in last few years and for safety of every pilgrim going to Saudi, the Saudi Kingdom had announced that without vaccination no pilgrim will be allowed to perform Haj. Executive Officer of Jammu and Kashmir Haj committee, Fayaz Ahmed Lone, said that every Haj pilgrim was expected to have a health and training card, which they have to show when they land in Saudi Arabia. He said that normally the vaccination costs a lot but during this drive it was being provided free of cost by the health department. The vaccination facility is available in all districts of Kashmir valley, including Haj house in Srinagar where doctors and authorities of Haj committee have opened special counters.

Sep 4, 2014

Outgoing Governor Sheila Dikshit receives farewell by Kerala govt

Trivandrum, Sep 04 (ANI): Kerala outgoing Governor Sheila Dikshit on Thursday received farewell by the state government after her resignation was accepted by President Pranab Mukherjee earlier. The farewell ceremony was held at the Technical area of Indian Air force Station in Trivandrum. Chief Minister Ommen Chandy, Planning and Rural Development Minister KC Joseph, Speaker of state Legislative Assembly G Karthikeyan and other high officials of the state were present at the event. Dikshit also received guard of honour during the ceremony. Dikshit had tendered her resignation on 26 August, a day after she met President Pranab Mukherjee and Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

Sep 4, 2014

Indian intelligence agencies should take steps to counter Al Qaeda move: Security Expert

New Delhi, Sep 04 (ANI): Security Expert Alok Bansal on Thursday called for strict action by intelligence agencies in the wake of a video released by Al Qaeda. In a 55-minute video posted online, Al Qaeda leader Ayman al Zawahri, also renewed a longstanding vow of loyalty to Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Omar, in an apparent snub to the Islamic State armed group challenging al Qaeda for leadership of transnational Islamist militancy. Zawahri described the formation of "Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent" as a glad tidings for Muslims "in Burma, Bangladesh, Assam, Gujarat, Ahmedabad, and Kashmir" and said the new wing would rescue Muslims there from injustice and oppression.

Sep 4, 2014

Artists create mirror image of historic Taj Mahal using gold

Bhopal, Sep 04 (ANI): A team of 35 craftsmen developed a model of historic Taj Mahal, using 400 kilograms of silver, 10 kilograms of gold and diamonds in Madhya Pradesh. The artists attempted world record as they created mirror image of the 17th century's marble mausoleum in Bhopal. A businessman, Syed Hanif, who conceptualised the idea of the intricate model, said that he has visited Taj Mahal several times in last 30 years and was completely awed by its magnificence. Meanwhile, an artisan, Syed Farukh, said the team was not educated and still they developed the model, which is one-hundredth the size of the original structure.The historical monument Taj Mahal was built by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan as a mausoleum for his wife Mumtaz Mahal.

Sep 4, 2014