India considering all options for banning Masood Azhar

New Delhi , Jan. 6 : With China remaining adamant on its stand to block India’s move to designate Jaish-e-Muhammad chief Maulana Masood Azhar as a terrorist by the United Nations, India is examining all options with other co-sponsors for the same. [NK India] According to sources, “India is examining all options and also consulting with the other co-sponsors in the matter.

Sahara bribery case: Congress seeks investigation, asks PM Modi to take accountability

New Delhi , Jan. 6 : Upping the ante against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Sahara bribery case, the Congress Party on Friday asked the former to take accountability of the matter and launch an investigation into the alleged charges of receiving money from the Sahara Group. [NK India] “PM Narendra Modi always promised -na khaunga na khane dunga” and claimed to be the ‘chowkidaar’ of country’s trust and treasure chest.

APM Terminals Mumbai Mulls DPD Service

APM Terminals Mumbai, India’s busiest container terminal, has embraced ‘Direct Port Delivery’ service initiated by the Indian government as part of its “Ease of Doing Business Program” to enhance India’s access to the global logistics chain. The streamlined Direct Port Delivery protocol can result in substantial savings of time and money for importers by reducing container dwell times after vessel discharge.

J&K: Al-Badr terrorist Muzzafar Ahmed killed in encounter

Al-Badr terrorist Muzaffar Ahmed was killed in an encounter with Army and the Police in Machu area of Budgam district in Jammu and Kashmir, in the early hours of Friday. The militant killed in the anti-terrorist operation was earlier known to be associated with the terrorist organisation Lashkar-e-taiba, as per the reports.

Ramdas Athawale wants at least 25% seats in BMC polls

A president Ramdas Athawale wants at least 60 of the 227 seats; he also claims many BSP leaders in Uttar Pradesh are ready to join his party before the polls there Ramdas Athawale says he wants a fair share in Mumbai and UP, otherwise his party will fight it out on its own. File pic Boasting of a huge influence among the city’s Dalit voters, BJP ally and union minister of state Ramdas Athawale has sought at least 60 of 227 seats from the party in a pre-poll pact for the BMC polls.

Experiment in suicide zone

New Delhi, Jan. 5: Depression levels and suicidal thoughts declined across rural households in 30 villages in Vidarbha, India’s epicentre for farm suicides, after a mental health experiment that its proponents say illustrates a new measure to curb suicides in rural communities. The experiment, called the Vidarbha Stress and Health Programme and implemented in Maharashtra’s Amravati district, appeared to pull down the prevalence of suicidal thoughts from 5.2 per cent to 2.5 per cent in 18 months, researchers said yesterday.

Women protest at RBI

New Delhi, Jan. 5: Shouting slogans against Narendra Modi, a group of women today protested in front of the RBI here over its decision not to accept old currency notes despite the Prime Minister’s promise to citizens. The activists, under the banner of All India Democratic Women Association , targeted Modi for the RBI’s policy, saying it had brought suffering to countless people who could not deposit their notes in banks before December 30. Today, the protesters shouted slogans like ” Modi sharam karo “.

Ex-soldiers back Congress

New Delhi, Jan. 5: The majority of ex-servicemen associations have extended support to the Congress ahead of the Assembly elections in five states, giving a fillip to the beleaguered party particularly in Punjab and Uttarakhand that have lakhs of families with serving and retired soldiers. Today, the Indian Ex-Servicemen Movement announced its support to the Congress, days after the Indian Ex-Servicemen League, a 4-lakh strong organisation recognized by an act of Parliament, and the Sanjha Morcha of Punjab did so.

JNU Chairs for four languages

New Delhi, Jan. 5: Jawaharlal Nehru University is set to introduce Chairs in four Indian languages to carry out research on comparative literature reflecting the social milieu. The Centre of Indian Languages under the School of Language Literature and Culture Studies of JNU will set up Chairs on Odia, Malayalam, Punjabi and Telugu.

President tempers position on note ban

New Delhi, Jan. 5: President Pranab Mukherjee today seemed to be cautiously amending his position on the note recall, acknowledging a possible economic slowdown and miseries for the poor as some of its “temporary” outcomes. “Demonetisation, while immobilising black money and fighting corruption, may lead to a temporary slowdown of the economy.

New Delhi: 239 Train Accidents in Last 12 Years: Why is Derailment Happening so Often?

A month and a half after more than 140 passengers died in a train mishap near Kanpur, the Ajmer-Sealdah Express derailed in the same district on Wednesday morning, causing injuries to over 60 passengers. From 2003 to 2015, 239 accidents have happened on the network of the Indian Railways and 208 of these — or 80% of all accidents — have happened because of derailments, says the parliamentary standing committee report presented last month.

Trump Organization cancels business talks in 3 countries

The Trump Organization has cancelled talks over possible projects in Brazil, Argentina and India as the president-elect pulls back from deal-making less than three weeks before taking office. Trump lawyer Alan Garten said Wednesday that the company has cancelled a “memorandum of understanding” to continue discussions with local partners over possible office towers in Rio de Janeiro.

Turkey detains 5 IS suspects linked to nightclub attack

A man with a Turkish flag walks past a Turkish police officer guarding the scene, during a memorial outside the Reina club following the New Year’s day attack, in Istanbul, Turkey, Tuesday. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack killing 39 people saying a “soldier of the caliphate” had carried out the mass shooting to avenge Turkish military operations against IS in northern Syria.

Bollywood producer Abis Rizvi’s mortal remains brought back to Mumbai

Bandra wears a sombre look as film producer’s body arrives from Istabul at his Meena Mahal residence early on Wednesday morning. Rizvi’s father was there at the gate to receive it An eerie silence took over the otherwise chirpy 7th Road near Bandra’s Andrew College, where around 7.45 am, film producer Abis Rizvi’s body was brought home, Meena Mahal, from the airport.

When Twinkle Khanna and Akshay Kumar stalked ‘Menstrual Man’

India’s sanitary-pad-man Padma Shri Arunachalam Muruganantham tells hitlist how he was chased, coerced by Twinkle Khanna and Akshay Kumar into lending his story for Bollywood big screen adaptation After hounding Menstrual Man Padma Shri Arunachalam Muruganantham for months and finally convincing him to allow them to translate it for the big screen, Twinkle Khanna, Akshay Kumar and R Balki are all set to showcase ‘Padman’ to the world. Back in 1998, Muruganantham had sparked off a revolution when he developed, after much derision and social censure, a low-cost sanitary napkin machine.

Indian police investigate New Year sex attacks

Indian police have filed a case after finding “credible” evidence that groups of men sexually assaulted women at a New Year’s eve celebration, an incident that has sparked widespread outrage. Praveen Sood, the police commissioner of Bangalore city, said an inquiry had been set up into allegations women attending the Saturday night celebrations were chased, groped, molested and robbed.

Cane shortage brings down sugar rush

Sugar mills have been able to produce higher volume of the sweetener in the first quarter of the season due to better yield of sugarcane in Uttar Pradesh, but the euphoria of beating a lower output estimate may soon be over with factories in Maharashtra closing down one after another, earlier than the regular schedule. As much as 25 mills in the top sugar-producing state of Maharashtra have closed factories due to a severe shortage of sugarcane.

Donald Trump will not tolerate dual role from India’s neighbours: Transition team member1 hour ago

New Delhi, Jan. 03 : In an apparent reference to Pakistan, a member of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team has said that the incoming President will not tolerate dual role from India’s neighbour. “The President-elect has made that policy very very clear that he is not going to tolerate dual role from India’s neighbours,” transition team member Shalab Kumar told ANI.

UP Polls: Congress divided on tying up with Samajwadi Party under Akhilesh Yadav 51 mins ago

Lucknow, Jan 3: Amid the ongoing crisis in Samajwadi Party, Congress’ stand seem divided on forming an alliance with the party under the leadership of Akhilesh Yadav in the crucial Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections this year. While the senior leadership of Congress compared the family feud in the Samajwadi Party to a 1990s soap opera and evaded questions of pre-poll alliance, majority of the party MLAs in Uttar Pradesh spoke in favour of tie-up with Samajwadi Party under the Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.

Supreme Court to hear petition challenging CBI interim director…

New Delhi , Jan. 3 : The Supreme Court will on Tuesday hear a plea challenging the appointment of interim Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation Rakesh Asthana, a 1984 Gujarat cadre Indian Police Service officer. The Public Interest Litigation filed by Prashant Bhushan on behalf of Common Cause, an NGO, sought the quashing of Asthana’s appointment in accordance with the Vineet Narain case.

Posters mocking Devendra Fadnavis evoke BJP ire

Ahead of the crucial BMC elections due next month, posters in Mumbai about Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’ comments on city’s development have prompted BJP to react sharply. “On the other hand, a person from Mumbai will ensure that Maharashtra is kept united, along with Mumbai,” the poster added.

Sasikala must take charge as CM: Thambidurai

Two days after former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa’s aide V K Sasikala assumed charge as general secretary of the ruling AIADMK, senior party leader and Lok Sabha deputy speaker M Thambidurai on Monday urged her to take charge as the chief minister. CHENNAI: Two days after former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa’s aide V K Sasikala assumed charge as general secretary of the ruling AIADMK, senior party leader and Lok Sabha deputy speaker M Thambidurai on Monday urged her to take charge as the chief minister.

Why target cricket, asks Niranjan Shah

Rajkot:: With the Supreme Court expected to come up with their verdict in the Justice RM Lodha committee’s recommendations to the Board of Control for Cricket in India case today, the Board’s most experienced active administrator, Niranjan Shah asked, “Why single out cricket?” “You can’t just single out cricket. You should make rules and regulations for any sphere in life, not only for cricket.

Ranji Trophy: Shardul Thakur helps Mumbai take escape route, but not safe

Rajkot: Defending champions Mumbai kicked off the New Year with a fighting performance on the opening day of their Ranji Trophy semi-final against Tamil Nadu at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Khandheri yesterday. Tamil Nadu ended the day with 261 for six, but they could have been in a better position had it not been for Mumbai pacer Shardul Thakur.

Can’t give information if FM, CEA were consulted before demonetisation: RBI

New Delhi: Were views of the Chief Economic Advisor and the Finance Minister taken before the sudden announcement of demonetisation of high-value currency notes by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 8? The Reserve Bank of India feels this query cannot be answered under the Right to Information Act as it does not come under the definition of information under the transparency law. The applicant wanted to know whether the “views of Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley were taken before announcement was made.”

Air Marshal Anil Khosla takes over as AOC-IN-C Eastern Air Command, IAF

Kolkata, Jan 1 : Air Marshal Anil Khosla AVSM VM took over as Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Air Command on Jan 1,2017, officials said. The Air Marshal is an alumni of the National Defence Academy, was commissioned in the fighter stream of Indian Air Force in Dec 79. Air officer has to his credit over 4000 hours of accident free flying mainly on different variants of Jaguar, Mig-21 and Kiran aircraft.

Bihar

City parks and major hotspots brimmed with revellers on Sunday as people ventured out with family members, friends and relatives to soak in the festive spirit and usher in… Police claimed to have busted a biker gang, including its kingpin Manish Malik, following the arrest of five people from the Patna College area on Sunday. Several… The stage is all set for the 34th Kalchakra puja to begin with the Dalai Lama conducting ritual preparations at Kalchakra ground on Monday.

Dropouts’ college gift

Daspur, Jan. 1: Two jewellers in Andhra Pradesh, who decades ago dropped out of school in West Midnapore, have purchased land and donated it for a private BEd College back in their home village. Mohan and Kartik, also members of the trust, have donated Rs 10 lakh more to start the construction of the college.