Politics

K Sankaranarayanan confirms resignation as Maharashtra governor, says never played politics

Mumbai, Aug 24 (ANI): Maharashtra Governor K Sankaranarayanan on Sunday confirmed his resignation from the post. He said that he had never played politics in his tenure. Sankaranarayanan was being transferred to Mizoram by the NDA government and he refused the same saying it was not possible for him to go to Mizoram. He also expressed happiness on being a free citizen from now on and for being a free citizen and free from duties of a governor.

Aug 24, 2014

India-Bangladesh business meet focuses on enhancing bilateral trade

Dhaka, Aug 24 (ANI): A business conclave centering on the bilateral relations between India and its neighbour Bangladesh was held in Dhaka city on Sunday. Both Indian and Bangladeshi delegates shared uniformed thoughts on various ways and means to improve business and economic ties with each other at the India-Bangladesh Business Conclave. The Indian delegation was led by Minister for Development of Northeastern Region, General (Retired), VK Singh. Meanwhile, Advisor to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Masihur Rahman, said he is looking forward to friendly ties that help boosting the investors and entrepreneurs of both the countries.

Aug 24, 2014

Sudarsan Patnaik appeals for release of Irom Sharmila through art

Puri, Aug 24 (ANI): India_s renowned sand artist Sudarsan Patnaik on Sunday (August 24) created a sand sculpture of the fasting activist, Irom Sharmila with a message _Free the Iron Lady from the Iron grill_ at Puri beach of Odisha. Patnaik appealed through his art to release Irom Sharmila. He created a five feet high sand sculpture by showing the face of Sharmila with Iron grills and Pattnaik has used about 4 tonne of sand in it. Human Rights activist, Irom Sharmila, who has been on a hunger strike for the last 14 years, was rearrested by northeastern Manipuri police on Friday.

Aug 24, 2014

Maharashtra Governor Sankaranarayanan refuses to take charge after being shifted to Mizoram

New Delhi, Aug 24 (ANI): Maharashtra governor K Sankaranarayanan, who was transferred to Mizoram by the NDA government late on Saturday night, has tendered his resignation, refusing to take charge. This move comes after former Mizoram Governor Kamla Beniwal was recently relieved of her duties due to allegations of corruption. President Pranab Mukherjee announced that Sankaranarayanan had been transferred to Mizoram for the remainder of his term. According to sources, Sankaranarayanan has said that he would no longer wish to be a Governor bearing the _disgrace of being transferred._

Aug 24, 2014

Will not allow unprovoked firing by Pak, will retaliate every time & heavily: BSF

Jammu, Aug 24 (ANI): Talking about the continuous ceasefire violations by Pakistan on Indian borders, BSF Inspector General Rakesh Kumar Sharma said that the force will not allow unprovoked firing by Pakistan. He said that the BSF will retaliate every time and much heavily than the firing done by the neighbouring nation. Sharma said that India has lodged complained against the ___illegal firing___ to Pakistan but they have refused to take responsibility and has sometimes totally ignored the complaint too. Sharma also assured that the forces are fully equipped and ready to retaliate any time if firing occurs.

Aug 24, 2014

Young artistes in fields of music, dance and drama conferred in Agartala

Agartala, Aug 24 (ANI): National academy for music, dance and drama - Sangeet Natak Akademi ___ honoured young artistes for showing conspicuous talent in the fields of performing arts. The Akademi conferred awards to artistes belonging to music, dance, theatre, traditional, folk, tribal dance and mime and puppetry in Agartala city of Tripura. Tripura___s Governor, Padmanabha Balakrishna Acharya, and Sangeet Natak Akademi Chairperson, Leela Samson, presented the ___Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar 2012 to 32 young artists from across the country. During the awards ceremony the artistes were given rupees 25,000 cash prize and a citation. Also, to find skillful artists and to support them in numerous ways, the Akademi has set up centres in northeastern regions of Manipur and Assam too. The Akademi has been awarding Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar since 2006. So far, 192 awards have been given to young artists from across the country. A vocal music awardee, Gayatri Girish, said this is the most prestigious national award any artist could get.

Aug 24, 2014

Rani Mukerji inaugurates self defence workshop for school girls in Mumbai

Mumbai, Aug 24 (ANI): Promoting her recently released film ___Mardaani___, Bollywood actress Rani Mukerji inaugurated a self-defence course for girls of all municipal schools in Mumbai. Mukerji plays the role of a tough police officer out to bust a child-trafficking ring, in the flick. It was launched by the State Commission for Women of Maharashtra, where a digital copy of a book called ___Know Your Rights___ was also launched. Commissioner of Mumbai Police, Rakesh Maria and other dignitaries also attended the programme that was held in Kavale Math Municipal School at Malabar Hill area in the city. The training of the self-defence skills will be a part of the school syllabus. It will be taught to girls twice a week. After south Mumbai, the programme will be followed across the state.

Aug 24, 2014

Will avenge insult with power of votes: Haryana CM on Booing incident

Panipat, Aug 24 (ANI): Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who was booed at an event he attended with Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this week, on Sunday vowed to avenge the insult with the power of votes. Addressing a rally in Panipat while launching his poll campaign, he said that Haryana never tolerates insult and his insult was an insult to Haryana. Hooda was booed by a crowd at a function he attended with Modi in Kaithal on Wednesday.

Aug 24, 2014

Akhilesh takes a dig at BJP over ___love jihad___

Lucknow, Aug 24 (ANI): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday took a dig at BJP on the issue of ___love jihad___ by recalling a romantic song of party MP Hema Malini. When told that BJP___s leaders have organized a convention in Mathura and raised the issue of love jihad, Akhilesh asked who is the Member of Parliament from the constituency.

Aug 24, 2014

Sunil Shetty promotes Desi Katta in Jaipur

Jaipur, Aug 24 (ANI): Bollywood actor Sunil Shetty promoted his upcoming thriller ‘Desi Katta’ in Pink city of Jaipur. The film revolves around the protagonist who trains two ordinary country-made gun maker boys to become professional sports shooters. Shetty, best known for his action roles, got candid while talking about his upcoming flick. Director Anand Kumar, reiterated that the film is about how two talented boys, find an avenue for proper utilisation of their talents and their journey of turning into sportspersons. The film is shot extensively in India’s Hindi heartlands. Besides Shetty, the film features Akhil Kapur, Jay Bhanushali, Sasheh Aagha, Tia Bajpai and Murli Sharma.

Aug 24, 2014

PM Modi's First Routine Checkup at AIIMS Troubles Patients

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spent 90 minutes in the hospital for his first routine eye and heart checkup.

Aug 24, 2014

Gaza: Israel Air Strike Razes 13-Storey Building to Ground

Israel launched air strikes in Gaza City on Sunday, destroying a 13-storey apartment tower, following a warning to the residents to evacuate.

Aug 24, 2014

More bodies recovered after boat carrying migrants sinks near Libya

Tripoli, Aug 24 (ANI): The Libyan coast guard recovered more bodies after a wooden boat carrying up to 200 migrants sunk just one kilometer off the Libyan coast, with most passengers feared drowned. The local coast guard said it had no boats of its own and had to commandeer fishing vessels in a rescue attempt after fishermen raised the alarm on Saturday morning. The small boat crammed with between 150-200 migrants sank late on Friday near Qarabouli, east of Tripoli. Local fishermen raised the alarm at dawn on Saturday morning and the coast guard managed to rescue 16 migrants who were still alive in the water.

Aug 24, 2014

Israeli air strikes kill many in Gaza even as Egypt calls for peace talks

Gaza, Aug 24 (ANI): An Israeli air strike destroyed a 13-storey residential tower block in the centre of Gaza City which injured 17 people, Gaza health officials said. An Israeli military spokeswoman said the building had been used as a command centre by Hamas militants. Egypt called on Israel and the Palestinians on Saturday to halt fire and resume peace talks, but violence continued unabated with Israeli air strikes in the Gaza Strip and Hamas militants firing rockets at the Jewish state. Meanwhile, a Palestinian was also killed in an Israeli air strike late on Saturday when the attack hit his car. Five other people, including two children, were also killed in an Israeli strike on a house in central Gaza, while six more Palestinians were killed in other strikes.

Aug 24, 2014

Pakistan anti-government protesters vow to continue after talks deadlock

Islamabad, Aug 24 (ANI): Supporters of opposition leader Imran Khan said on Sunday that they will continue their protest in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, after the government rejected a proposal by Khan's party for the prime minister to step down for one month. Pakistan Tehreek Insaf (PTI) said Nawaz Sharif should resign temporarily while a judicial commission investigates whether or not the 2013 general elections had been rigged. Some leaders of PTI said that the party was not willing to show flexibility in its demand for the prime minister's resignation. Khan demanded that fresh elections should be held if rigging is proved by the judicial commission. Khan's supporters are hopeful their demonstration will eventually push the government to agree to their leader's demand. Some of the supporters said they had come from abroad to join the demonstrations and vowed to carry on.

Aug 24, 2014