Politics

Bangladesh PM alleges BNP founder involved in killing of father of the nation

Dhaka, Aug 17 (ANI): Bangladesh Prime Minister alleged that the founder of the opposition, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Ziaur Rahman was involved in the killing of the father of the nation, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman along with most of his family, 39 years ago. Mujibur, or Mujib as he was popularly called, was killed along with most of his family members on August 15, 1975 in a revolt by young army officers. One of his two surviving daughters, Sheikh Hasina, is now the country's prime minister. Addressing a gathering of the ruling Awami League party, Hasina said that the interview with Anthony Mascaren of British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has clearly stated facts about the assassination.

Aug 17, 2014

Floods and landslides grind normal life to a halt in northern India

West Bengal/ Uttarakhand, Aug 17 (ANI): Incessant rains leading to heavy floods and landslides across various cities of northern India disrupted routine lives of people and caused immense damage to life and property. Rescue operations are underway in Uttarakhand state as cloudburst isolated villages, washed away roads and bridges and turned normal life topsy turvy. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) dug out two people buried under debris due to landslides and floods in Pauri Garhwal district of Uttarakhand. The situation is no less dangerous in northern Haridwar city and Jalpaiguri city of West Bengal, where houses collapsed due to torrential rains and massive floods. The situation has become so bad that people are forced to swim through the flooded roads if they have to go anywhere.

Aug 17, 2014

Industries Minister meets fishermen delegation, hopes for concrete solutions

Chennai, Aug 17 (ANI): Minister of State for Heavy Industries, Pon Radhakrishnan, met a delegation of fishermen from his home state, Tamil Nadu who urged him to find a solution to a range of issues. One of the issues that came up in the meeting was the arrest of fishermen by Sri-Lankan authorities, which is just across a narrow straight from the province. The fishermen sought solution to this problem among several others. There are sections in favour of an agreement that would facilitate fishermen from both countries to fish in each others' waters. Radhakrishnan hoped at the end of the meeting that a permanent solution will come out of it.

Aug 17, 2014

Police arrest six Maoists in red corridor of Jharkhand

Chaibasa, Aug 17 (ANI): Police arrested six Maoists in India's red corridor of Chaibasa district in Jharkhand after acting on tip-off intelligence. Police have arrested the leading commander, two section commanders along with three hardcore Maoists of Jharkhand Regional Bhakpa (Maowadi), a communist party. DIG of Kolhan range, Mohammed Nehal, said that that they acted on exclusive intelligence information. The police recovered arms and explosives from the Maoists. Police has also come to know from this arrest that each Maoist works under at least nine to ten names which he keeps changing according to the area they are in.

Aug 17, 2014

Police arrests suspected Pakistan intelligence agent in Meerut

Meerut, Aug 17 (ANI): The Special Task Force arrested a suspected ISI agent (Inter-Services Intelligence of Pakistan) in Meerut city of Uttar Pradesh. Asif Ali, who was residing in the city is indicted of transferring primary information about the Indian Army to the ISI. Superintendent of STF of Meerut, Umesh Kumar, said that he engaged his team immediately to arrest the agent whose wife is in Pakistan. Kumar added that the STF has recovered Pakistan debit card and a bank chequebook from Ali.

Aug 17, 2014

Cultural festivals help to preserve tribal art and culture in Nagaland

Nagaland, Aug 17 (ANI): Dressed up in their traditional costumes, these are members of the Ao tribe of Nagaland. Every year, they gather in Dimapur city to celebrate Tsungmerong, a pre-harvest festival, to express gratitude and seek blessings of the Almighty. They sang traditional songs and showcased their daily chores through an act. The festival gives the message of unity and brotherhood in the state. Various cultural groups from different tribes such as Semma, Angami and Chakesang also took part in the festival. A major attraction of the event was a chicken dance performance by the artists.

Aug 17, 2014

Gaza's animals caught in the cross fire

The Al Bisan zoo in Gaza has been almost completely destroyed over the past month during the conflict with Israel. Many animals were killed, and those that remain are living in filth with the dead bodies of their former cage mates. Duration: 02:16

Aug 16, 2014

One month to Scottish independence vote, yes camp faces battle

With a month to go until Scotland votes on independence from Britain, polls suggest the plan will be defeated, leaving First Minister Alex Salmond facing a tough fight to turn the contest around and secure victory. Duration: 01:53

Aug 16, 2014

Bihar CM defends son embroiled in sexual escapade

Patna, Aug 16 (ANI): Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi on Saturday defended his son Pravin Manjhi who embarrassed his father by getting embroiled in a sexual escapade. After the news went viral the BJP also demanded for the Chief Minister's resignation. Manjhi said that this is merely a way of destroying his image by the Opposition and scrapped reports of his son involved in any kind of illegal act.

Aug 16, 2014

Relief operations stepped up in flood-affected districts in Odisha

Puri, Aug 16 (ANI): Relief operations were stepped up on Saturday as floods, triggered by heavy rain, in Odisha continued to wreak havoc, affecting 23 districts and marooning 130 villages. Disaster management officials said hundreds of boats had been deployed to take dry food rations, plastic sheets and other relief items to the cut-off villages located in 23 of Odisha's 30 districts.

Aug 16, 2014

Rajnath Singh welcomes new team of BJP president Amit Shah

Lucknow, Aug 16 (ANI): Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday thanked the BJP workers for its win in general elections in Uttar Pradesh and welcomed the new team of BJP president Amit Shah. During a function in Lucknow, Singh honoured the new team of Shah, comprising 11 vice-presidents and eight general secretaries. Dinesh Sharma was named party’s vice-president for Uttar Pradesh. Sharma, who is also the mayor of Lucknow, hoped to tread the path paved by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Singh.

Aug 16, 2014

Politicos point fingers over Congress's poll debacle review report

New Delhi, Aug 16 (ANI): Indian political leaders have condemned the Congress's poll debacle review report submitted by the A K Antony panel to the Congress president Sonia Gandhi. The AK Antony panel submitted review report of its poll debacle to party chief, Sonia Gandhi, following its worst ever defeat in the general elections. The much talked about report was submitted on Thursday (August 14) by former defence minister, AK Antony and his team after a meeting with 500 Congress members, including members of its various wings. Meanwhile, a Congress leader, Rashid Alvi refused to comment on the matter saying, the party will think upon the report.

Aug 16, 2014

Two BSF jawans killed, four hurt in terror attack at Pulwama

Pulwama, Aug 16 (ANI): Just a day after India celebrated its Independence Day, militants opened fire at a vehicle of Border Security Force (BSF) and killed two para-military personnel in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday. According to reports, the militants opened fired at vehicle just outside the Awantipora IAF airfield in Pulwama district. Para-military personnel confirmed the news.

Aug 16, 2014

Clashes break out between Panther Party workers and police in Udhampur

Udhampur, Aug 16 (ANI): Clashes broke out between the police and workers of the Panther Party in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur district on Saturday during the party's Rail Roko agitation. High drama unfolded in the district when police and the party workers came to blows during the agitation. The party workers pelted stones at the police personnel, who in turn lathi-charged the mob. Tear gas was also used to foil the agitation.

Aug 16, 2014

AAP's Ashutosh says he's not surprised about extortion-tainted Shah heading new BJP team

New Delhi, Aug 16 (ANI): Aam Aadmi Party leader Ashutosh today criticized Amit Shah and his new team, saying that the BJP president himself has charges of extortion against him. Earlier, Shah announced the names of his new team, which consists of eleven vice-presidents and eight general secretaries. The new BJP vice-presidents are Bandaru Dattatreya, B.S. Yeddyurappa, Satpal Malik, M.A. Naqvi, P. Ruppala, Prabhat Jha, Raghuvar Das, Kiran Maheswari, Renu Devi and Dinesh Sharma. The general secretaries are J.P. Nadda, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, Muralidhar Rao, Ram Madhav, Saroj Pandey, Bhupendra Yadav, R S Kateria and Ram Lal. Anurag Thakur will continue to be Bhartiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) chief and the BJP Mahila Morcha chief will be Vijaya Rahatkar. Abdul Rashid Ansari will be the BJP's Minority Morcha chief.

Aug 16, 2014