Mann Ki Baat: Every life lost in Kashmir is a loss to our nation, says PM Narendra Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday once again reiterated his government’s stand on the on-going violence in Kashmir, saying those responsible for the loss of lives will be answerable to people. He was speaking during his monthly address to the nation – Mann Ki Baat. “Every single life that is lost in Kashmir, be that of a youth or of […]
US aid to Pakistan shrinks amid mounting frustration over militants
WASHINGTON: Pakistan’s continued support for resurgent militant groups hostile to the United States, coupled with warming US military and business relations with India, is sharply diminishing Islamabad’s strategic importance+ as an ally to Washington, US military, diplomatic, and intelligence officials and outside experts said. The United States has cut both military and economic aid+ to Pakistan sharply in recent […]
Among 171 countries, India ranked 77 in disaster risk index of the world
While Bangladesh is among the top five countries at risk of disaster, India ranks 77th on the World Risk Index — marginally better positioned than Pakistan which is placed 72. The index is part of the World Risk Report 2016 released on Thursday by the United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS) […]
NSA used malware to spy on Pakistani civilian, military leadership: report
The United States’ clandestine National Security Agency (NSA) allegedly spied on top civil-military leadership in Pakistan using malware, The Intercept reported. Malware SECONDDATE allegedly built by the NSA was used by agency hackers to breach “targets in Pakistan’s National Telecommunications Corporation’s (NTC) VIP Division”, which contained documents pertaining to “the backbone of Pakistan’s Green Line communications network” […]
One killed, 88 injured as violence continues in Valley
Clashes and the action by security forces left 88 civilians injured in north and south Kashmir on Sunday as civilian unrest entered the 44th day. Violence erupted at Rafiabad and Sopore in Baramulla district where 70 people sustained injuries in clashes. A major clash followed a clampdown on a pro-freedom rally at Behrampora. Eyewitnesses told The […]
Bihar flood situation grim as Ganga level rises
With the water level in the Ganga rising, the flood situation in Bihar was grim on Sunday. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed apprehension that the situation could worsen by Monday in view of the release of water from Bansagar dam. Mr. Kumar, who held a high-level meeting to assess the situation, later went on […]
41 Indian cities have bad air quality, CPCB survey finds
Is India’s pollution spiraling out of control? In 2015, 41 Indian cities with a million-plus population faced bad air quality in nearly 60% of the total days monitored, said a latest analysis released by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). As per CPCB’s data, which is India’s nodal pollution watchdog, Coimbatore and Rajkot had highest […]
PM Modi, Amit Shah lay foundation stone for new BJP headquarters in New Delhi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accompanied by other Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) leaders, laid the foundation for the ruling party’s new headquarters in Delhi on Thursday. BJP national president Amit Shah was also present at the event, as the PM laid the foundation stone for the 70-room building on Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg in the national capital. The […]
IIT Hyderabad students say no to graduation gowns, wear Pochampalli capes
Instead of the regular black graduation gowns, students of IIT Hyderabad (IITH) at their recent convocation paid tributes to local weavers by wearing Pochampalli ‘capes’ made by them. Prof Deepak Mathew, head of the department of design at the institute, had, a few months ago, made the proposal that black graduation gowns be discarded for […]
Pramukh Swami, head of Swaminarayan sect, dies at 95
AHMEDABAD: The head of the Bochasanvasi Akshar Purushottam Sansthan (BAPS) of the Swaminarayan sect, Pramukh Swami, died on Saturday at his ashram located at Sarangpur village in Botad district of Gujarat. He was aged 95. Pramukh Swami Maharaj is believed by the followers of BAPS to be the fifth spiritual successor in Bhagwan Swaminarayan’s succession of […]
Soldier who died fighting intruders in Kashmir gets Ashok Chakra
A soldier who died in May while killing four suspected armed intruders in north Kashmir won India’s top peace-time army award as the government announced gallantry medals for more than 1,000 personnel on the eve of Independence Day. Army Havildar Hangpan Dada – a resident of Arunachal Pradesh — was posthumously honoured with the Ashok […]
On I-Day eve, President Mukherjee warns against rise of divisive forces
On the eve of India’s 70th Independence Day, President Pranab Mukherjee warned against the rise of divisive and intolerant forces, in what can be seen as a message for the parties in power. Mukherjee also asked for firm measures to deal with attacks on weaker sections amid allegations of increasing victimisation of Dalits and minorities, […]
Chetan Bhagat, the Feminist, is ready for the trolls
By the time I reached Chetan Bhagat’s office, a nice, cozy suite of rooms, which he had recently acquired in the Dunhill Building in Bandra, Mumbai, he had already done one interview. “A radio interview. That one got over, and now we have you.” It was only 11am. Contrary to the perception circulating in the […]
Gujarat: Vijay Rupani to be sworn in as Chief Minister
Vijay Rupani will be sworn in as the Chief Minister of Gujarat on Sunday, the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where BJP is grappling with unrest due to the Patel quota stir and attacks on Dalits ahead of the high-stake Assembly elections scheduled next year. Rupani met Governor O P Kohli on Saturday and staked claim […]
12 Killed, Many Injured After Terrorists Open Fire In Assam’s Kokrajhar
KOKRAJHAR: A dozen people were killed and many injured after two terrorists in army uniform opened fire at a crowded market near Assam’s Kokrajhar town. The terrorists came in an auto-rickshaw and started firing at a weekly market at Balajan Tiniali, around 220 km from Guwahati. One of the attackers also threw a grenade, setting […]
Heavy rain brings Mumbai to a standstill; flights, trains delayed
MUMBAI: Heavy rains lashed Mumbai and its suburbs on Friday throwing the city out of gear. Heavy traffic snarls have been reported from several places across the city. All flights arriving to and departing from Mumbai have been delayed. Also, all trains moving from Thane station to CST have been delayed. Waterlogging was reported from […]
US expresses concern over violence in Kashmir
Washington: The US has expressed concern over the violence in Kashmir and called on “all sides” to make efforts to find a peaceful solution to the issue as it wants to see the tensions de-escalated. “We encourage all sides to make efforts to find a peaceful solution to this,” state department spokesman John Kirby told reporters […]
Study first, pay later: IIT-Kharagpur’s new way to raise funds
Faced with budgetary cuts from the central government, IIT Kharagpur has found a new way to raise funds through a “Learn-Earn-Return Fund” scheme, where students will get a fee waiver if they pledge to donate money after getting a job. Launched from this new academic session, the scheme will help students to learn without burden […]
Navjot Sidhu likely to join AAP on I-Day eve, campaign for Punjab poll
Former Bharatiya Janata Party lawmaker Navjot Singh Sidhu is likely to join the Aam Aadmi Party on August 14 and plunge into the campaign for the Punjab assembly elections from the next day, party sources said on Thursday. The cricketer-turned-politician, who stunned his party on July 19 by suddenly resigning from Rajya Sabha to which […]
GST bill: Cabinet clears key amendments to push reform through Parliament
NEW DELHI: The Union cabinet on Wednesday approved key changes to the constitution amendment bill for goods and services tax (GST), doing away with a 1% additional levy on supply of goods, and proposing full compensation to states for five years for revenue loss arising from transition to GST. The changes pave the way for the […]
