News

Omar Abdullah thanks Vajpayee government for Katra- Udhampur rail link

Katra, July 04 (ANI): After the Katra- Udhampur train was flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday morning, Jammu Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah thanked the prior government of Atal Bihari Vajpayee for its invaluable contribution in the development of the rail link. He said that the state had waited a long time for this link to become functional as it would prove to be a boon for the locals. He hoped that the centre would extend support to rail networks in regions like Sonmarg as well.

Jul 4, 2014

At least 15 Maoist cadres surrender in Maharashtra

Gadchiroli/Nagpur, July 3 (ANI): At least 15 Maoist cadres laid down their arms in Maharashtra in the presence of state Home Minister Raosaheb Ramrao Patil. Patil felicitated the Maoists, gave them compensation package and promised to amend the surrender policy to ensure more people coming forward. Maoists, also known as Naxals, have killed police and politicians, and targeted government buildings and railway tracks in an insurgency that has killed thousands since 1960s.

Jul 4, 2014

Bridge collapse in World Cup host city of Brazil, protesters blame govt and FIFA

Brazil, July 4 (ANI): An overpass under construction collapsed in World Cup host city of Belo Horizonte, killing at least two people and trapping a commuter bus, two construction trucks and a car. Nineteen people are reported injured. Protesters blamed the government and FIFA for the collapse of the overpass which casted a shadow over a tournament that has suffered repeated construction accidents and delays. The bridge, located about 3 km from the Mineirao Stadium where World Cup games are being played, collapsed as vehicles were passing on a busy road underneath. Part of a passenger bus was crushed and another car was still trapped in the wreckage hours later.

Jul 4, 2014

PM Narendra Modi flags off special train to Vaishno Devi

Udhampur, July 04 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi flags off the first train to Katra, which is the base camp of Hindu pilgrimage of Vaishno Devi, from Udhampur district in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday. Security has been tightened, with 2300 officials having been deployed along the Srinagar-Uri route in order to avoid any untoward incidents. Authorities have also imposed curfew in old Srinagar city to avert protests or rallies by the separatists. Later, Modi will fly to Uri district to inaugurate a 240 megawatts hydro-power plant in border town of Uri. Meanwhile, Separatists have called for a shutdown in Kashmir over the PM_s visit.

Jul 4, 2014

Facebook COO meets PM Narendra Modi

New Delhi, June 04 (ANI): Facebook_s Chief Operating Officer (COO) Sheryl Sandberg, who is in India to promote the potential of Facebook as a tool for small businesses and economic expansion, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad. Sandberg is on five-day visit to India. The minister for Information and Technology said direct communication with people is critical for good governance. Sandberg was accompanied by Facebook_s Vice-President for Global Public Policy, Marne Levine and Head of Public Policy for Facebook India, Ankhi Das. Indian Prime Minister Modi had deployed an army of supporters over Twitter and Facebook during his successful election campaign.

Jul 4, 2014

Muslim Cleric oppose Govt_s plan to resettle Hindus in Kashmir

Jammu and Kashmir, June 04 (ANI): An influential Muslim cleric in Jammu and Kashmir, Grand Mufti Bashiruddin Ahmad opposed central government_s plan to resettle displaced Hindus in strife-torn valley in a separate area. More than 250,000 Kashmiri Hindus, known as _Pandits_, fled their burning homes when a revolt against Indian rule in Kashmir broke out in 1989. A group of prominent religious leaders cautioned the government against any move to create separate settlements for the community, terming it as a political conspiracy. While highlighting agendas of his new government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, listed bringing Kashmiri Pandits back to their homeland with full dignity and security.

Jul 4, 2014

Sushma Swaraj Promises to Take Steps for Release of 41 Jailed Workers in Makkah

Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has assured to take all possible steps for the release of 41 Indian labourers jailed in the prison of Saudi Arabia.

Jul 4, 2014

Second day of protest in east Jerusalem's Shuafat neighbourhood

In east Jerusalem, masked Palestinians hurl stones and fireworks at Israeli police and send burning car tyres rolling along streets in a second day of protest over the kidnap and murder of local 16-year-old Mohammed Abu Khder. Duration: 01:58

Jul 4, 2014

Singapore Foreign Minister meets chief ministers of Telangana and AP

Hyderabad, June 04 (ANI): Singapore_s Foreign Minister K Shanmugam met the Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, N Chandrababu Naidu and K Chandrasekhar Rao respectively, in Hyderabad. Shanmugam said both the states and Singapore can learn a lot from each other. The Singaporean Foreign Minister also said that Naidu, who is a long-standing friend of Singapore, has great plans for the development of his state and is looking at the Singapore model to do so effectively. Foreign Minister_s five-day state visit, which started Monday also includes tour to Chennai. He is scheduled to hold diplomatic talks with India_s Defence and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley as well.

Jul 4, 2014

Indian Army foils infiltration bid ahead of PM Modi_s visit to Kashmir

Jammu and Kashmir, June 04 (ANI): The Indian army foiled an infiltration attempt by militants along the Line of Control in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi_s maiden visit to the state. Commander of the White Knight Corps (16 Corps), Lieutenant General KH Singh said that ceasefire violations and infiltration bids are common before high profile visits to Jammu and Kashmir so that attention is brought to the Kashmir issue. Residents of the Poonch district said the firing began and that the villagers were in terror throughout. PM Modi is to visit the state to flag off a special train to Vaishno Devi. Meanwhile, tight security arrangements are made before his arrival.

Jul 4, 2014

South Asia Newsline - July 03, 2014

Jul 4, 2014

Work on Agartala-Akhaura railway link to begin next year

Agartala, July 04 (ANI): The proposed 15-km long railway link from Agartala to Akhaura will bring economic prosperity and strengthen people to people contact between India and Bangladesh. An eight-member delegation from Bangladesh recently met their Indian counterparts during the third meeting of the Agartala-Akhaurah railway Link Project Steering Committee in Agartala. They did a field inspection and visited Agartala railway station and Nischintapur, the bordering village from where the proposed rail line will enter Bangladesh. India will build a 15-km railway tracks, coasting Rs. 252 crores, to link Tripura_s capital Agartala with Bangladesh_s southeastern city of Akhaurah, an important railway junction connected to Chittagong port, resource-rich Sylhet and Dhaka.

Jul 4, 2014

Farmers in Gujarat fear drought like situation

Rajkot, July 04 (ANI): Farmers in Gujarat await rains after slow start to Monsoon as they fear drought like situation in the coming days. Farmers of Rajkot region have been experiencing difficult times and have yet to begin planting because there is no scope of rainfall. In the current situation, farmers are upset due to scanty rains. Farmers said the seeds have been sown but fear that germination might not take place as the rains are almost one month late. The four-month-long monsoon season started on a weak note as the annual rains arrived over southern coast about five days behind the average date of June 01.

Jul 4, 2014

Activists claims that 6,300 new recruits have joined Islamic State since US Airstrikes began

Indian Nurses Forced to Leave Tikrit Hospital, Likely to Join 39 Abducted Indians in Mosul

The lives of 46 Indian nurses,+ who were trapped in a Tikrit hospital in Iraq, fell in danger after the ISIS militants forcibly shifted them to Mosul, where 39 abducted Indians are already being held hostage.

Jul 4, 2014