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Modi writes to Malaysian PM, condoles the loss of lives on board MH17

New Delhi, July 20 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi has written to the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato Sri Mohammad Najib bin Tun Abdul Razak, expressing his condolences on the loss of lives on board MH17. The Prime Minister said there is "justifiable outrage across the world and India fully supports efforts for an investigation that can help establish the exact circumstances" in which the incident took place. The Prime Minister also referred to the tragedy that befell Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 some months ago, mentioning that there is "still no closure" on that incident. A Malaysian airliner enroute to Kuala Lumpur from Amsterdam carrying 295 people on board was reportedly shot down in Ukraine near the Russian border.

Jul 20, 2014

Farmers fear drought- like situation due to poor monsoon

Faizabad, July 20 (ANI): Poor monsoon and scanty rains have caused distress among farmers of Faizabad in Uttar Pradesh as they fear a drought- like situation. Delayed monsoon has raised the concerns of Indian farmers who are facing difficulty with the plantation of crops. A leader of State's Farmers' Union, Dev Narayan Singh, fretted over the scanty monsoon this year, adding, the prime time of farming is passing away.

Jul 20, 2014

Tea workers in Tripura get skill development training to enhance production

Tripura, July 19 (ANI): The northeast region is one of the main producers of tea in the country. In order to give a boost to the tea industry in Tripura, a training scheme for skill development of the tea workers was launched recently. Implemented by the National Skill Development Corporation through its various training partners, it aims to provide scientific knowledge to the traditional tea growers as well as to those interested in joining this sector. The one-month long training programme imparts skills on various aspects of growing tea, including the preparation of nurseries, choosing saplings, use of fertilizers and maximizing the yield. Upon completing the training, the trainees will be awarded with a certificate from the government and National Skill Development Corporation, along with a monetary reward. The scheme is a part of Standard Training Assessment and Rewards (STAR) and was launched by the government last year to encourage people to acquire skills for different job roles. The programme is expected to benefit over 10000 small tea growers of the state.

Jul 19, 2014

Parents' delegation meets Bangalore Commissioner regarding safety in school

Bangalore, July 19 (ANI): A delegation of parents on Saturday went to meet the Bangalore Commissioner regarding safety of students in schools after a six year old was allegedly raped in school premises. One of the parents said that the Commissioner assured them of improved safety measures for all students in schools.

Jul 19, 2014

Residents demand screening of Bollywood film on boxer Mary Kom in Manipur

Imphal, July 19 (ANI): The residents of Manipur demanded the screening of woman boxer, Mary Kom's biopic in her home state. The biopic of MC Mary Kom, five-time women's world boxing champion and Olympic bronze medalist, won't be screened due to a ban on Bollywood films in the state. Bollywood films were banned in the state over a decade ago by separatist organizations that felt the movies undermined Manipur's culture. However, people in Imphal said the movie should be screened as Kom hailed from Manipur and the film will be an inspiration to many.

Jul 19, 2014

London's heritage art gallery pays homage to World War I Sikh soldiers

London, July 19 (ANI): The UK Punjab Heritage Association (UKPHA) paid homage to World War I Sikh soldiers through an art exhibition organized in London commemorating their remarkable but largely forgotten contribution. The story of Sikh soldiers volunteered in World War I (WWI) is being showcased through original artefacts that include unpublished photographs, drawings, newspapers, comics, postcards, stunning works of art, uniforms, gallantry medals, and folk songs sung by the wives left at home. The exhibition titled “Empire, Faith and War: The Sikhs and World War One” is being held at the Brunei Gallery in London. Project Historian of the UK Punjab Heritage Association, Parmjit Singh, said the exhibition puts together the tales of Sikhs soldiers who fought in Great War and the stories of families they left behind.

Jul 19, 2014

AAP part of RSS, Kejriwal doing vote bank politics: Congress

New Delhi, July 19 (ANI): DPCC Chief Arvinder Singh Lovely on Saturday severely slammed the Aam Aadmi Party and its chief Arvind Kejriwal saying that the AAP is a part of RSS. Lovely added that Kejriwal is trying to do vote bank politics in order to help BJP gain power and deviate people's attention from Congress.

Jul 19, 2014

Hindu priests' apex body terms Shankaracharya Swaroopanand's anti-Saint remark as baseless

Shirdi, July 19 (ANI): A delegation of Hindu priests' apex body after visiting the revered Saint Sai Baba temple at Shirdi termed the recent controversial remark made by top Indian seer Shankaracharya Swaroopanand Saraswati as baseless. Condemning Swaroopanand's remark, the delegation said they monitored all the Hindu rituals being performed in the Sai Baba's temple very closely and did not find anything anti-ancient Hindu tradition. Taking a dig at Swami Swaroopanand, Swami Acharya Pramod Krishnam, one of the senior Hindu priests said the traditional rituals and routine followed by the temple do not violate norms of ancient Hindu customs.

Jul 19, 2014

Vice President says lawmaking serious for proper governance

New Delhi, July 19 (ANI): Indian Vice President Hamid Ansari called lawmaking a serious exercise for proper governance as he addressed orientation programme for newly elected members of upper house of the parliament on Saturday. Ansari acquainted the first time members of the upper house with roles, responsibilities and functioning of the parliament.

Jul 19, 2014

Uttarakhand witnesses flood like situation due to incessant rains

Uttarakhand, July 19 (ANI): Incessant rainfall in Uttarakhand flooded roads on Saturday and interrupted Hindu pilgrimage of Badrinath. Weather office has issued a warning for heavy rainfall in the state for next three days, while the official machinery has been put on high alert. The state has been receiving intermittent rains since monsoon has hit the region. Meanwhile, director of disaster management in Uttarakhand, Piyush Rautela, said devotees were stuck at various places but necessary arrangements were made for them.

Jul 19, 2014

Bangladeshi Prime Minister joins Iftar party with journalists

Dhaka, July 19 (ANI): Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina recently joined an Iftar party with journalists and other guests during the holy month of Ramadan in capital Dhaka. Hasina wished a safe and happy life for the citizens and hoped to make Bangladesh a developed country by 2021.

Jul 19, 2014

Fireman died due to negligence in Mumbai inferno, says wife

Mumbai, July 19 (ANI): Wife of fireman Nitin Ivalekar, who lost his life in a fire that broke out in a multi-storied building in Mumbai, alleged on Saturday that he died due to negligence by senior officials. Shubhangi, wife of deceased Ivalekar, claimed that senior officials violated fire safety norms and pushed the junior officials to douse the fire.

Jul 19, 2014

Bangalore Police Commissioner condemns rape of school girl, assures justice

Bangalore, July 19 (ANI): The Police Commissioner of Bangalore, Raghavendra Auradkar, on Saturday assured complete and speedy justice to scores of parents and other protesters enraged over the sexual assault on a six-year-old girl in her school premises. Public anger erupted after two staff members of the school raped the girl within the school premises. The crime took place on July 02 during school hours and the child, a student of first grade is receiving treatment in a hospital. Urging people to be patient, Auradkar said it is a condemnable offence and police officials are working on it. He also added that the accused will soon be behind bars.

Jul 19, 2014

Cross-firing hits normal life along Indo-Pak border, say villagers

Jammu, July 19 (ANI): The residents living along Indo-Pak Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir said that they have been facing hardships due to cross border shelling. Firing started on July 16 when Pakistani side targeted an Indian post in the Arnia area of RS Pura sector in which an Indian soldier died and three others were injured.

Jul 19, 2014

Will defend Sikh community from Congress attack over SGPC: Sukhbir Badal

Chandigarh, July 19 (ANI): Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on Saturday said that Congress party has tried to make a severe attack on Sikh Community in terms of a separate SGPC for Haryana. Badal added that the SGPC will defend the Sikh Community from this attack by Congress with an aim to create hatred among Sikhs. Meanwhile, Education Minister of Punjab, Daljit Singh Cheema, said that under law formation of a separate SGPC is not allowed.

Jul 19, 2014