Politics

Heavy security deployed in Kashmir after shutdown call from separatists

Srinagar, June 23 (ANI): Life came to a standstill on Monday in Kashmir as curfew is imposed in some areas following a call for a strike by a separatist group to protest against the government. The curfew order followed a call by the chief of Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (a separatist group), Yasin Malik, to observe June 23 as 'Quit Kashmir Day' and observe a strike to register their protest against the government. All shops, business establishments, schools, colleges and government offices are closed and public transport are off the roads. Security personnel put up barbed wires to block the roads and patrolled the area. Kashmir region has witnessed numerous militant attacks, insurgency, and infiltration attempts from across the border in the last two decades.

Jun 23, 2014

'Humshakals' manages to earn Rs 25 crores in 2 days despite negative reviews!

New Delhi, June 23 (ANI): Sajid Khan`s latest offering 'Humshakals' may have received negative reviews from all quarters. But it seems that the director has nothing to worry about as the box office reports are quite pleasing. Tagged as "the comedy of ghastly errors" and "a two-and-a-half-hour show reel of plot less, witless, joyless offensiveness", the film has managed to collect over Rs 25 crores in two days. Writer Milap Zaveri, whose adult comedy Grand Masti was praised by critics last year, is also happy with the film's performance. "Humshakals is super steady on Saturday! No drop despite the unprecedented negativity against it! Brilliant! Audiences chose to go for it!" he tweeted. Saif Ali Khan, Riteish Deshmukh, Ram Kapoor, Tammannaah Bhatia, Esha Gupta and Bipasha Basu starrer Humshakals was made on a budget of 75 crores.

Jun 23, 2014

Indians return from conflict zone of Iraq, situation worsens

New Delhi, June 23 (ANI): Indians returned home from conflict zone of Iraq on Monday, as the fighters from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) advanced to capital Baghdad, according to authorities. Many people working in Basra city of Iraq heaved a sigh of relief when they returned home safely in New Delhi. Militants from ISIL, along with other Sunni rebels, are reported to have abducted dozens of foreigners, including Indian nationals, as they swept through towns in the Tigris valley north of Baghdad in recent days. Forty Indian nationals worked for a Baghdad-based construction company, Tariq Noor Al Huda, when they were abducted in Iraq's second largest city of Mosul after it fell to Sunni Muslim rebel. On Monday, Indian national who returned from Basra city, Dharmendra Kumar Yadav, said his company made all adequate arrangements for his safe return. Another Indian who returned from Basra, Lakhbir Singh, said the situation Iraq is still tense.

Jun 23, 2014

Will hike import duty on sugar to 40 per cent: Ram Vilas Paswan

New Delhi, June 23 (ANI): After a high delegation meeting called by the Food and Civil Supplies Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, he said that they will hike import duty on sugar to 40 per cent as against the present 15 per cent. The decision and other such decisions came in order to discuss ways to bail out the sugar industry that is unable to pay Rs 11,000 crore dues to sugarcane growers. He said that the ministry will extend sugar export subsidy of Rs 3,300 per tonne till September this year and will provide additional interest free loan of Rs. 4,400 crore to cash-strapped sugar mills to make payments to sugarcane farmers.

Jun 23, 2014

AISA stage protest outside HRD Ministry over FYUP

New Delhi, June 23 (ANI): As students and parents remained worried over the admission in the under graduate course in the Delhi University following a tussle between the university and the UGC, teachers and unions staged protest against the HRD Ministry. Admissions to the undergraduate courses in the university are to commence from Tuesday, which now comes under confusion due to ongoing DU- UGC tussle. Members of All India Students Association (AISA) protested over the four-year undergraduate programme (FYUP) and demanded to reinstate three year graduation course. Reacting on the ongoing confusion among the colleges of the University, DUTA President Nandita Narain said that the Vice Chancellor is acting in total arbitrary manner and violating the norms and acts of UGC.

Jun 23, 2014

Maharashtra CM Intervenes in Campa Cola Issue, Residents Allow BMC to Cut Water, Electricity, Gas

At last, residents of Campa Cola Compound in Mumbai's Worli area have agreed to allow Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to enter their compound and disconnect essential supplies like water, gas and power to their homes.

Jun 23, 2014

Gun battle between Indian security forces and militants rages in Kashmir

Sopore, June 23 (ANI): Indian security forces and militants engaged in fierce gun battle in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, as forces launched search operations to trace the rebels hiding in a house. Security personnel cordoned off the area in Sopore town after reports surfaced that at least two to three rebels were hiding in the house. The operation began after a search party was fired upon by the militants. The restive region has witnessed numerous militant attacks, insurgency, and infiltration attempts from across the border in the last two decades.

Jun 23, 2014

BMC officials reach Campa Cola Society to cut gas, water and power supply

Mumbai, June 23 (ANI): Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials on Monday reached the Campa Cola Housing Society to disconnect the gas, water and power supply from the illegal flats in the compound. BMC Assistant Commissioner Keshav Ubale said that four teams are employed for each function and that maximum flats will be tried to be covered. The residents decide to pipe down their protests after they met Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan.

Jun 23, 2014

Venkaiah Naidu takes a ride on airport express line

New Delhi, June 23 (ANI): Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu took a metro ride on the airport express line on Monday and said that the metro should be made more popular.

Jun 23, 2014

UGC directs DU to stick to 3-yr undergrad course, students react

New Delhi, June 23 (ANI): Students of the Delhi University as well as aspiring students have been facing a lot of difficulties due to ongoing tiff between the UGC and university over the Four Year Undergraduate Program (FYUP) and hope that things get sorted before the beginning of new session. Yesterday, the University Grants Commission (UGC) put up three separate notices for Delhi University, the colleges under it and students and parents, saying that the four-year undergraduate programme has been scrapped. It ordered colleges to admit students for the three-year course instead of the four-year undergraduate programme (FYUP) which had been introduced last year.

Jun 23, 2014

Egyptian President al-Sisi meets U.S. Secretary of State Kerry in Cairo

US to Support Egypt's al-Sisi Government Despite Country's Alleged Human Rights Abuses

The United States has hinted that it will support Egypt's new government and restore its aids irrespective of the alleged human rights violations in the country.

Jun 23, 2014

AAP, BJP Prepare for Delhi Polls, Kejriwal Apologizes to Delhi Citizens

Four months after dramatically stepping down from his post as Delhi's Chief Minister, Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday apologized to Delhi voters and promised to fulfill the full term if voted to power again.

Jun 23, 2014

Former UP governor BL Joshi gets guard of honour by army

Lucknow, June 23 (ANI): Former Uttar Pradesh governor BL Joshi was given guard of honour by the army in Lucknow on Monday. Uttar Pradesh governor BL Joshi resigned from his post on Tuesday, and had sent his resignation papers to the Union home ministry.

Jun 23, 2014

2014: FIFA World Cup: Algerian fans celebrate victory over South Korea

Algiers, June 23 (ANI): Algerians have been out celebrating their team's convincing 4-2 victory against South Korea. Fans gathered in La Grande Poste Place chanting and letting off fireworks. Algeria, who lost 2-1 to Belgium in their first match, tore the ramshackle Koreans apart, scoring the highest number of goals by an African team in a World Cup match.

Jun 23, 2014

Beas tragedy: Three more bodies found

Mandi, June 23 (ANI): Almost two weeks after 24 visiting students from an engineering college in Hyderabad and a tour operator were washed away in the Beas river, three more bodies were recovered, taking the total number of bodies retrieved to 16. College staff was present at the spot and identified the recovered bodies.

Jun 23, 2014