Politics

Cabinet clears 100% FDI in Railways and 49% in defence, opposition parties oppose

New Delhi, Aug 07 (ANI): The Left and other opposition parties have strongly opposed the 100 per cent foreign investment in railway infrastructure projects and 49 per cent in defence. The Cabinet cleared the long-delayed proposal for raising FDI limit in defence to 49 percent and fully opened up the railway infrastructure segment, like high-speed trains, for foreign investment. The decisions taken at the Cabinet meeting headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi came barely two weeks after the one to raise the cap of FDI in insurance sector from 26 percent to 49 percent.

Aug 7, 2014

Cabinet clears amendment to Juvenile Justice Act

New Delhi, Aug 07 (ANI): The Union cabinet has approved amendment in the Juvenile Justice Act, which proposes to treat juvenile older than 16 years as adults if involved in heinous crimes such as rape and murder. The amended bill has the provisions that juvenile convicted for heinous crimes may face a jail term but will not be awarded life sentence or death penalty.

Aug 7, 2014

Russia's President Vladimir Putin chairs a session of the State Council Presidium in Voronezh, August 5, 2014. Putin has ordered his government to prepare retaliatory measures against the latest round of Western sanctions, Russian news agencies reported o

Russia Has Amassed 20,000 Troops; Could Invade Eastern Ukraine Anytime, Says NATO

Some 20,000 Russia troops have gathered near the eastern Ukrainian border and they could invade anytime, NATO says.

Aug 7, 2014

Prime Minister Narendra Modi vs Governor Kamla Beniwal

Kamla Beniwal Sacked as Mizoram Governor; Did Modi Push for it?

Reasons for Beniwal's sudden sacking oscillate between her tumultuous relations with Modi in Gujarat and her alleged involvement in a land scam in Rajasthan.

Aug 7, 2014

Kamla Beniwal removed before completing tenure, Mixed reactions flow

New Delhi/ Kanpur, Aug 07 (ANI): Mixed political reactions flowed on Thursday after Governor of Mizoram Kamla Beniwal was sacked by the Government 2 months before her tenure could be completed. Congress leader Manish Tewari said that the government should answer as to why Beniwal was removed just 2 months before her tenure was about to end. JD (U) leader Ali Anwar said that Narendra Modi has done so to defame Beniwal as he had differences with her. Meanwhile, BJP_s UP Unit President Laxmikant Bajpai said that the governors who do not follow the tradition of resigning on the formation of new government are dealt like this. Kamla Beniwal was the Governor of Gujarat and later transferred to Mizoram as she had differences with Modi and stood against him on various issues.

Aug 7, 2014

River Ganges overflows menacingly towards nearby villages in UP

Gonda, Aug 07 (ANI): The holy river Ganges overflowed menacingly towards the nearby villages of Gonda city in Uttar Pradesh after submerging the fields and a wooden bridge and creating panic of a flood- like situation among people living in the vicinity. The bridge helps people to commute from Patpadganj and Nawabganj districts to Tulsipur, Mazharath, Arjunpurva, Durgaganj and Jaitpur villages and vice versa. Incessant rainfall has caused floods in the district, thereby drowning nearby villages. In July, Moradabad district experienced rainfall for hours, when around 25 villages were submerged in the flood waters.

Aug 7, 2014

Japanese Encephalitis takes 3 more lives in West Bengal

Siliguri, Aug 07 (ANI): Japanese Encephalitis claimed three more lives in Siliguri district of West Bengal, taking the death toll to 102. Despite State government_s assurance that the disease is under control and no more patients were either admitted or diagnosed of it, three people died at the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital (NBMCH) in the district. Outbreaks of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome and Japanese Encephalitis are common every year in India, especially during the monsoon season, and claim hundreds of lives.

Aug 7, 2014

State Assembly in HP first to use high technology during assembly session

Shimla, Aug 07 (ANI): State assembly of Himachal Pradesh became the first in the county to use high technology (E-Vidhan) project during its assembly session. The first session without papers began on Wednesday in Shimla city. Highly equipped advance technology, the e-Vidhan Sabha project was inaugurated by the Chief Minister, Virbhadra Singh. Speaker of Himachal Pradesh state assembly, Brij Behari Lal Butail said that e-Vidhan Sabha project holds a lot of significance as no paper work process will be used and they completed the project within ten months.

Aug 7, 2014

South Asia Newsline - Aug 06, 2014

Aug 7, 2014

Love in the time of tourism: courtship changes in remote Vietnam

Dating is always difficult but finding the perfect partner when you live in a tiny, remote village in the Vietnamese mountains is nigh on impossible. The solution? A love market. Duration: 02:19

Aug 7, 2014

Insufficient rainfall affects paddy farming in Siliguri

Siliguri, Aug 07 (ANI): Inadequate rainfall and weak monsoon in West Bengal has affected the farming of and left the farmers worried in its Pasidewa block in Darjeeling district. Every year, by this time, the state witnesses good rainfall but many districts are still reeling under weak monsoon, making it difficult for the paddy cultivation. However, due to less rainfall this year, farmers are uncertain of their agricultural fields and scared that their state might head towards drought-like situation.

Aug 7, 2014

Sacred 'Modi threads' flood markets ahead of 'Raksha Bandhan'

Rajkot/Jaipur, Aug 07 (ANI):With 'Raksha Bandhan' around the corner, markets are flooded with sacred threads, or 'rakhis', displaying miniature pictures of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi among other variants. 'Rakhi' is a symbolic holy thread, which a sister ties on her brother's wrist as a mark of bonding between them on 'Raksha Bandhan'.

Aug 7, 2014