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Samajwadi Party protests over service tax hike

Kanpur, Feb 28 (ANI): Samajwadi Party (SP) on Saturday (February 28) protested in Kanpur, as Finance minister Arun Jaitley enhanced service tax without providing any direct relief to middle class. On Saturday, Jaitley announced a budget aimed at high growth, saying the pace of cutting the fiscal deficit would slow as he sought to boost investment and ensured that ordinary people benefit. The SP, which governs in Uttar Pradesh, organised a mock death procession of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to express its ire. The budget was a test of the nationalist premier's willingness to reform the economy with a bloated public sector and weak private investment.

Feb 28, 2015

First India Nepal friendship motor rally flagged off

Bhubaneswar, Feb 28 (ANI): The first India-Nepal friendship motor rally was flagged off from Bhubaneswar city on Saturday. The rally, which will cover 3060 kilometres across India and Nepal over a period of 10 days, was flagged off by Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. As many as 30 teams are participating in the event set to conclude in New Delhi on March 08. Rally Director, Praveen Bhanjdeo, said that the rally sought to forge a religious connect with the neighbouring country of Nepal. Both Puri in India and Pashupati in Nepal hold immense religious importance. Puri is regarded as the holy land of lord Jagannath while Pashupati houses the Pashupathinath Temple, a very popular pilgrimage site. The rally will trace the journey of Lord Buddha, passing through cities of Bodh Gaya, Rajgir, Nalanda, Patna in India and Lumbini- the birth place of Buddha – in Nepal.

Feb 28, 2015

'One rank one pension' to be implemented soon, trying to exhort middle class to save: Jaitley

New Delhi, Feb 28 (ANI): Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday briefed the media after presenting the General Budget for 2015-16 in Lok Sabha earlier. Jaitley said that there was a particular set of circumstances both favourable and challenging at the same time. Jaitley said that 'one rank one pension' will soon be implemented. He added that the world was looking up at India enthusiastically. He said that the public spending on infrastructure has been increased notwithstanding the squeezing of fiscal space. Jaitley further said that the government is trying to exhort middle class from tax so that they can save. Talking about special status to Bihar and West Bengal, Jaitley said that same benefits will be enjoyed by Arunachal Pradesh.

Feb 28, 2015

Business leaders welcome Modi government's Union Budget

New Delhi, Feb 28 (ANI): Business leaders on Saturday (February 28) lauded the Central government's 2015-16 annual budget calling it progressive, all-inclusive and investor friendly. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced a budget aimed at high growth, saying the pace of cutting the fiscal deficit would slow as he seeks to boost investment and ensure that ordinary people benefit. Business leaders congratulated Jaitley and said the target could be achieved. Business leaders said the focus on infrastructure will also help create jobs.

Feb 28, 2015

Operation underway to catch Nemtsov killer: Moscow

A Russian opposition leader and fierce critic of President Vladmir Putin, Boris Nemtsov, was shot dead in central Moscow late Friday ahead of a major opposition rally this weekend, police said. Duration: 00:50

Feb 28, 2015

IOC approves Tokyo 2020 venue changes

The International Olympic Committee executive board on Friday gave the greenlight to organizers of the Tokyo 2020 Games to move three competition venues as part of a plan to trim more than $1 billion from the budget. Duration: 00:52

Feb 28, 2015

Ukip leader Nigel Farage: Rumours of my demise have been greatly exaggerated

Farage went on the offensive against the Tories and revealed his delight at current polls.

Feb 28, 2015

TMC removes Mukul Roy from All India General Secretary Post

New Delhi, Feb 28 (ANI): In a major party reshuffle, Trinamool Congress leader Mukul Roy was on Saturday removed from the post of all India general secretary of TMC. Roy said that it is the prerogative of party to constitute and reconstitute and that the power lies with the Chairperson. However, Roy declined the reports of him joining the BJP. Reportedly, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had called for an urgent meeting at her residence after reports of Roy's meeting with the Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had surfaced. Roy was not present at the party meeting. Thereafter, Roy was stripped from the post of All India General Secretary.

Feb 28, 2015

PM Modi congratulates Jaitley for 'farmer and poor friendly budget'

New Delhi, Feb 28 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday congratulated Finance Minister Arun Jaitley for union budget that is 'farmer and poor friendly'. Modi said that the budget addresses issues of farmers and senior citizens and also has provisions on pensions among other things. Jaitley today presented the annual budget 2015-16 in Lok Sabha where he also said that NDA is a 'round the clock, round-the-year government'.

Feb 28, 2015

Security forces kill two militants in Tral

Tral, Feb 28 (ANI): Security forces killed two militants in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir. A huge cache of arms and ammunition was recovered from them. One of the militants has been identified as Shabir Ahmed Mir of the Hizbul Mujahedeen outfit and a resident of Kashmir's Tral district. Reportedly, a search operation was launched by the army and local police of Kashmir's Tral district following specific intelligence inputs. Earlier this week, security forces had gunned down three militants in a similar encounter in Kashmir's Shopian district. Two soldiers and one officer were injured in the gun battle.

Feb 28, 2015

Star Trek fans react to Nimoy 'Spock' death

Veteran actor Leonard Nimoy, who delighted sci-fi fans worldwide with his iconic turn as the pointy-eared half-human, half-Vulcan Mr Spock in the "Star Trek" television series and films, dies aged 83.

Feb 28, 2015

Prince William meets well-wishers in Tokyo

Prince William meets well-wishers at a bookstore bestrewn with Union Jacks in west Tokyo. Duration: 01:00

Feb 28, 2015

Bengaluru: Health of Kerala Speaker G Karthikeyan Improves

Kerala Speaker G Karthikeyan is reportedly still on ventilator support system, but is positively responding to the treatment.

Feb 28, 2015

Budget will provide social security, eliminate poverty: Amit Shah

New Delhi, Feb 28 (ANI): BJP President Amit Shah on Saturday lauded the Union Budget 2015-16 and said that it would provide both social security and eliminate poverty. Congratulating Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Shah said that the budget is 'lower class friendly' budget and that it contains 'Jan Dhan Yojana' for the poorest of the poor. The BJP president also welcomed the announcement of strict law enforcement on black money saying that it will help in identifying black money stashed abroad.

Feb 28, 2015

Science, technology expo in Vishakhapatnam to mark National Science Day

Visakhapatnam, Feb 28 (ANI): India's Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL) put out its best machinery at display in an exhibition to celebrate National Science Day in Visakhapatnam. NSTL, a premier underwater systems laboratory of country's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), organised a two-day open house-cum-exhibition themed 'Science for Nation Building' to commemorate Nobel laureate CV Raman's birth anniversary. Director of Naval Science and Technological Laboratory (NSTL), CD Malleswar, said the objective of expo is to generate interest among students. The visitors had a walk around advanced scientific test facilities such as high-speed towing tank, cavitation tunnel, wind tunnel, sea-keeping and manoeuvring basin, shock, noise and vibration test, shock tank, anechoic room, vibration exciters, CNC machine centre, and Radar Cross Section measuring instrumentation. A film depicting various advances in technologies was also screened at the auditorium.

Feb 28, 2015