Why didn't Sonia, Modi campaign against each other? asks Kejriwal

Varanasi: Launching a direct attack on Sonia Gandhi and Narendra Modi, Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday accused the duo of having a tacit pre-poll understanding.

The Aam Aadmi Party chief asked why the Congress president and the BJP's prime ministerial candidate had refrained from campaigning in each other's constituencies.

While Sonia is contesting the 2014 Lok Sabha polls from Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh, Modi is fighting from two seats — Vadodara in Gujarat and Varanasi in UP. Kejriwal himself is a candidate from Varanasi.

Taking up the Robert Vadra controversy, Kejriwal asked why has the BJP failed to register an FIR against Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law despite levelling allegations against him...

Source: Latest Hindi News

From Zee News

Himachal has everything but right govt: Modi

(BJP) prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi on Tuesday asked people of Himachal Pradesh to make his party win by 300 seats, repeating the famous catchphrase also used by Kargil Martyr Vikram Batra "Ye dil maange more."

"Today, I ask you to make the lotus win with 300 seats because "Ye dil mange more" just like

Vikram Batra's, who gave his life for the country in the Kargil war using the same line," said Modi, while addressing a rally in Mandi.

"Today, if there is any terrorist activity in the country, be it a Maoist attack or a bomb blast, I can proudly claim that there must be at least one army man from Himachal, who would be there, fighting for the country," he said.

He also said that Himachal had everything but the right government...

Source: Latest News in Hindi

From BS News

Nokia names networks head Rajeev Suri as CEO

Nokia (NOK1V.HE) named the man who led a turnaround at its main telecoms network business as its new chief executive on Tuesday, boosting investors' confidence in the future of the company following the sale of its once dominant handset arm.

The Finnish firm, which completed the 5.6 billion euro ($7.8 billion) deal to sell its mobile handset business to Microsoft (MSFT.O) on Friday, said Rajeev Suri would become its CEO on May 1, replacing Stephen Elop who is moving to Microsoft.

It also announced forecast-beating quarterly results, driven by cost-cutting and software deals at its networks arm, formerly called NSN, and plans to return $3.1 billion to shareholders, helping to send its shares over 7 percent higher...

Source: News in Hindi

From reuters NEws

You are PM-aspirant, why do you indulge in childish behaviour? Priyanka's jibe at Modi

Priyanka Gandhi on Tuesday slammed BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi calling his behaviour 'childish'.

"Your aim is to become the Prime Minister of the country, so why do you indulge in childish attacks?" Priyanka said on Tuesday in Amethi referring to Modi's 'shahjada' and other barbs at Rahul Gandhi.

"You should understand the dignity of the position you are aiming for," Priyanka said without taking Modi's name.

Campaigning for Rahul, Priynaka invoked former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi to seek votes for her brother.

She also attacked BJP candidate Smriti Irani and said, "some leaders sit in closed rooms with reporters and pass value judgment on development in Amethi."

"These leaders are not interested in ensuring development," she said calling Smriti an 'armchair politician'...

Source: Hindi News

From TOI News

Tornadoes kill at least 18 as storms pummel Plains, Midwest, and South

At least 18 people were killed Sunday by three separate tornadoes spawned by a powerful storm system that moved through the central and southern United States.

The Arkansas Department of Emergency Management confirmed early Monday that at least sixteen people had died after a tornado tore through central Arkansas, while an Oklahoma county sheriff's dispatcher reported that one person had died in the town of Quapaw, near the state's borders with Kansas and Missouri. Fox News has also confirmed that one person died when a tornado hit Keokuk County, Iowa.

The Arkansas tornado touched down about 10 miles west of Little Rock at around 7 p.m. local time and moved northeastward for at least 30 miles, the National Weather Service reported. It missed the state capital but passed through or near several of its suburbs, causing widespread damage in the communities of Mayflower and Vilonia.

According to the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management, ten of the deaths occurred in Faulkner County, where Mayflower and Vilonia are located. Five more occurred in Pulaski County, and one occurred in White County...

Source: News in Hindi

From foxnews News

Barack Obama announces new US sanctions on Russia over Ukraine

US President Barack Obama announced new sanctions against some Russians on Monday to stop President Vladimir Putin from fomenting the rebellion in eastern Ukraine, but said he was holding broader measures against Russia's economy "in reserve".

On the ground, pro-Moscow rebels showed no sign of curbing their uprising, seizing public buildings in another town in the east. Interfax news agency reported that the mayor of a further major eastern city, Kharkiv, had been shot and was undergoing an operation. It gave no details of the shooting.

Germany demanded Russia act to help secure the release of seven unarmed European military monitors, including four Germans, who have been held by the rebels since Friday.

The new US sanctions, to be outlined in detail later on Monday, will add more people and firms to a list announced last month of figures whose assets are frozen and who are denied visas to travel to the United States.

The European Union is also expected to add targets to its Russia sanctions list on Monday. Ambassadors from the 28 EU states met in Brussels and an EU diplomat said they were expected to add around 15 new names.

Washington will also target some high tech exports, Obama said. But the measures do not yet include the wider sanctions, such as curbs on the Russian financial and energy sectors, that would do the most serious damage to Russia's economy...

Source:  Hindi News

From DNA News

Repolling at nine booths in Odisha today

Besides six booths of Niali Assembly segment under Jagatsinghpur Lok Sabha seat, repolling would also be held in two other booths of Keonjhar and one booth in Kendrapara Lok Sabha seat.

Polling in these booths was held on April 17. But following allegations of massive rigging and other irregularities like EVM damages, the Election Commission had ordered repolling in these nine booths.

Congress and BJP nominees had alleged that ruling BJD workers had vandalized the booths damaging the EVMs after an attempt to rig the polls.

   

Meanwhile, the Cuttack district administrations along with the district rural police have made elaborate arrangements to conduct the repolling in Niali without any further hiccups.

   

While all booths would be covered by web-cameras, arrangements have been made to video-record all developments outside the booths.

   

Micro-observers have been appointed for each booth in Niali, said the Returning Officer of the segment and Cuttack ADM Laxmidhar Mohanty.

   

"Each booth in Niali would be under the supervision of a DSP assisted by an Inspector. Besides, there would be forces in place to meet any eventuality," Cuttack (Rural) SP, Gurudas Kundu said.

(Agencies)

Source: Latest News

Bengal Number one in expenditure under 100-day scheme: Mamata

"West Bengal is now number one state in the country in terms of expenditure on employment generation under 100-days work scheme as reported on April 23, 2014 in the website of the Union Rural Development Ministry, Government of India," Banerjee said on Facebook.

She said that the state achieved expenditure of more than Rs 5,521 crore in 2013-14, which is highest in the country under the 100-days work programme.

The Chief Minister pointed out that out of that figure, Rs 1,815 crore was a liability and not received from the Government of India.

Banerjee claimed that the performance proved that Bengal had changed for the betterment of the people.

(Agencies)

Source: Latest News

Re-investigate mosque demolition case against Jindal firm: Court

The court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Bhilwara gave the direction while disposing of complaints lodged by two locals alleging that police investigation carried out in the case against Jindal Saw Limited had not been done properly.

According to the FIR lodged against Jindal Saw Limited, the company had allegedly paid Rs 65 lakh to Anjuman Committee of Pur in Bhilwara district to buy the mosque and demolished it on April 19, 2012 for mining purpose.

The court gave direction to Pratap Nagar police station to reinvestigate the case and submit a progress report before the court within a month.

(Agencies)

Source: Latest News

Arrest after Bali plane hijack alert in Indonesia

Virgin Australia said a passenger had been handcuffed by crew on the Boeing 737 after acting aggressively.

The flight from Brisbane was boarded by Indonesian troops on landing after reports that it had been hijacked.

Virgin blamed confusion around the incident on a "miscommunication" and said the passenger had been drunk.

The BBC's Karishma Vaswani in Indonesia said fears of a hijacking were caused after the pilot sent a distress signal to airport authorities.

"This is no hijacking, this is a miscommunication," Heru Sudjatmiko, a Virgin Australia official said.

"There was a drunk passenger, intoxicated and aggressively behaved. He was trying to enter the cockpit, banging the door but he did not enter the cockpit."

Crew members seized the passenger, who authorities identified as Matt Christopher, a 28-year-old from Australia...

Source: Latest News in Hindi

From BBC News

Palestinians criticise Israel’s decision to suspend peace talks

Palestinian leaders responded on Thursday to Israel’s decision to break off US-brokered peace talks, criticising the move.

Israel decided to pull out came after the two rival Palestinian groups Hamas and Fatah signed an accord on Wednesday agreeing to work together to create a coalition government. After seven years of division, the two factions say they now intend to hold elections later in the year and form a unity government for Gaza and the West Bank.

Gaza’s Hamas prime minister, Ismail Haniyeh, said Israel’s response was disappointing but no surprise:

“The Israeli position was expected. This is occupation, and absolutely they do not want the Palestinian people to be united and want the division to continue,” Haniyeh said.

Palestinian legislator, Mustafa Barghouti, who had helped broker a deal between the two Palestinian factions accused Israel of being inconsistent.

“The Israeli statement against this unity agreement is very strange, when we are divided Mr. Netanyahu claims that he can not find a Palestinian that can represent all Palestinians and thus he cannot make peace and when we are united he claims that he cannot make peace with a unified Palestinian front, “ said Barghouti...

Source: News in Hindi

From euronews News

Possible North Korea nuclear test looms over Obama's visit to South Korea

President Obama arrived in Seoul, South Korea, Friday to news that North Korea may be counting down to a nuclear weapons test.

Such moves out of Pyongyang are no surprise and are typical for the North's behavior, Obama told reporters while in Tokyo, his previous stop on his Asia trip.

The President said he is prepared to deliver a firm response, if a test is conducted during his visit.

North Korea's heightened activity at its nuclear test site was already known. But now the final step needed for an underground detonation has been taken, a South Korean government official said Thursday.

The North has closed off the entrance to the tunnel at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site, the official said.

That gives Pyongyang 11 days to either detonate a nuclear device or cancel the test. It would be the North's fourth test of a nuclear weapon...

Source: Latest News in Hindi

From CNN News

South Sudan president replaces army chief

South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has sacked his army chief, a military spokesman said, replacing him with a loyalist from his own ethnic group as the country’s four-month conflict shows signs of being increasingly fought along tribal lines.

Kiir also replaced his head of intelligence, days after government troops were routed from a major oil hub by rebels loyal to Kiir’s former deputy Riek Machar, and hundreds of civilians were massacred.

Army spokesman Philip Aguer said Gen. Paul Malong, a stalwart of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army, had replaced army chief Gen. James Hoth Mai.

The violence in the central African state, the size of France, has mainly pitted Kiir’s Dinka people against Machar’s Nuer. Thousands have been killed, and more than 1 million people uprooted from their homes.

“Malong is a Kiir loyalist and a Dinka hard-liner,” said one analyst, who did not wish to be identified.

Mai was the most prominent Nuer within the SPLA, a former guerrilla force that became the national army of the south after the end of the civil war with Sudan in 2005.

He had been seen as an emblem of Dinka-Nuer cooperation within the military, and his removal was unexpected, said Jonah Leff, an Africa analyst with Conflict Armament Research.

The SPLA has been riven by defections since fighting broke out in December. Many former Nuer militia fighters who were incorporated into the SPLA after independence from Sudan in 2011 have defected to join Machar’s ranks...

Source: News in Hindi 

From dailystar News 

India calls for cyber jurisprudence to ensure internet security

India on Thursday lamented the lack of truly representative and democratic nature of the existing systems of internet governance, including the management of critical internet resources, and called for cyber jurisprudence to ensure security of the cyberspace.

Vinay Kwatra, joint secretary at Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Indian representative, said this at the April 23-24 Global Multistakeholder Meeting on the Future of Internet Governance, also called the NETmundial, in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The proposal for a decentralised internet assumes significance in the wake of Edward Snowden's Wikileaks revelations of mass surveillance in recent months. India has been a vocal critic of the current structures that govern internet system and called for making it more broad-based with multi-stakeholder in the backdrop of Snowden revelations.

Representatives from nearly 180 countries are debating the future of the internet in Brazil. The South American nation has criticised the US after NSA snooped the cell phone of its president and critical internet systems. ..

Source: Hindi News

From indiatimes News

Over six lakh litres liquor, Rs 10 crore cash seized in poll-bound Punjab

Officials said the seizures were made till Wednesday and the figures will see an increase as there is still a week to go for the final polling date in the state.

  

The Election Commissioned has also created a maximum of 841 village level awareness groups in the state comprising citizens who have been brought on board to spread the message of clean and fair elections, a senior official said.

All 13 seats of Punjab will vote on April 30 with Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party alliance taking on Congress directly. The strong presence of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab this time around has spiced up the electoral battle in the Wheat Bowl of India.

(Agencies)

Source: Latest News

'Prohibitory orders paving way for AIADMK to give cash, gifts'

DMK Treasurer M K Stalin filed a complaint with the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Praveen Kumar, marked to Chief Election Commissioner V S Sampath, alleging that AIADMK candidates were involved in distributing cash and gifts through their agents and that despite complaints local Returning Officers were not taking any action.

"In fact, police officials are hand-in-glove in perpetuating the illegal activities by letting loose the offenders even when they nab them or intimate in advance about the complaint given by us," he said, alleging Rs 3,000 cash per voter was being distributed since yesterday," it said.

The party even accused policemen and other officials of transporting money in their vehicles and even if it was brought to the notice of higher authorities, no action was being taken and there was a 'complete breakdown of the enforcement by the Election Commission’.

"It is submitted never ever in the history of state of Tamil Nadu prohibitory orders under Sec 144 CrPC has been issued on the eve of elections. This has paved the way for the ruling AIADMK party to distribute money with the blessing of police officials.

"The entire administration is now virtually taken over by the police by way of abdication of powers of the Election Commission due to this prohibitory order," it alleged.

The move had sounded the 'death knell' to democracy, it charged, adding DMK men trying to prevent money distribution were targeted with the prohibitory orders.

"Hence the prohibitory orders have to be necessarily lifted for ensuring free and fair elections and to inspire confidence among all parties and the people," it said.

The party demanded that the prohibitory orders be lifted and EC prevent distribution of money and gifts.

Later, Stalin told reporters that AIADMK was allegedly involved in money distribution due to fear of losing.

When asked about allegations of his party men distributing money, he said that action must be initiated if there was proof.

(Agencies)

Source: Latest News

BJP urges EC to ensure free and fair poll in Arunachal

The party has also demanded proper surveillance and strict monitoring of all the strong rooms in the state.

"The Congress is making desperate attempt to forge and manipulate postal ballot votes in favour of its candidates and resorting to sabotage the counting process," the party alleged in a statement.

"It is shocking and surprising that a Congress worker, from Hapoli Assembly constituency, who was subsequently arrested, in Lower Subansiri district had collected postal ballot papers by producing forged identity card and submitted in favour of the party candidate from the constituency" the statement said.

Many more such incidents of malpractice have been reported from entire state, it claimed.

(Agencies)

Source: Latest News

Modi, Rahul to address rallies in tribal areas of Gujarat

Modi, who is contesting from Vadodara as well as Varanasi constituencies, will address a rally here tomorrow and at Pavijetpur, which falls under Chhota Udepur reserved constituency, on Saturday.
   
Rahul will be addressing two public meetings at Devgadh Bariya under Dahod (ST) constituency and at Dediapada under Bharuch parliamentary constituency on the same day, sources said.
   
While Dahod is currently represented by Congress MP Prabha Taviyad, Chhota Udepur and Bharuch seats by tribal leaders Ramsinh Rathwa and Mansukh Vasava, both belong to BJP, respectively.
   
Ahmed Patel, the political secretary to Congress president Sonia Gandhi, has been camping in the region as Congress is pulling all stops to wrest Chhota Udepur and Bharuch from BJP.
   
Patel himself had represented Bharuch seat for three terms in the past. However, since 1989 BJP has been winning the seat on a trot. Interestingly, even though Bharuch is a general seat, it has been won by Vasava, a tribal leader.
   
Congress has fielded Jayesh Patel from this seat against Vasava.

(Agencies)

Source: Latest News

West Bengal voters have ‘Mamata’ for Modi wave, BJP gains momentum amid TMC-CPM fight

In several seats of Greater Kolkata, the TMC seems to be taking the BJP head-on. No one can overlook this conclusion that the swell in vote share is going to reap dividends for the saffron party.

According to a BJP supporter at Dumdum area in the city, the increase in tally may turn the tables for Rajnath Singh-led party and it may not have to depend on Mamata’s support to form the government in Delhi. However, Mamata may have to bank on the BJP to keep her ship steady at Writers’ Building.

Mamata may be well-aware of this fact and though on one hand she is taking digs at Modi, on the other she is also charging the BJP, Congress and CPI-M of ‘working together’.

The basis of this confidence among the common people is that the BJP will eat into the vote shares of Congress and TMC. This may lead to a situation which could compel the TMC to join hands with the saffron party.

Due to this changed equation, the party’s national leadership has suddenly started expecting big from West Bengal. In spite of BJP wave in 1999, the party could garner only two seats. However, it was successful in getting TMC’s support back then.

Though the BJP’s hold in eastern regions of the country is weak, its performance in West Bengal has been most disappointing. Taking this very fact into account, BJP maintained silence over Mamata’s repeated attacks on the party.

In spite of a number of allegations leveled by the TMC chief, the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi only said that Delhi needs a ‘strict headmaster’ to ensure that the Bengal government functions in a proper manner.

Besides, in a cautious move of not to upset Mamata, the party also did not include the demand of Gorkhas in its manifesto even when it bagged 2.5 lakh votes from the region in the 2009 general elections.

The air however changed in a few days and taking a note of it, Modi has trained his guns on Mamata. He made a public criticism of Saradha chit fund scam for the first time. He further escalated the fight by saying that Mamata’s government in the state is a fake ‘poriborton’ (change).

By grasping the mood of states’ voters, Modi has started giving it back to Mamata and the ground realities of West Bengal lends strength to these claims.

Prashant Mishra/JPN

Source: Latest News

Naxal arrested after encounter in Chhattisgarh

Bastar Superintendent of Police Ajay Yadav said that the Ultra was arrested following the gun-battle between rebels and the joint squad of Special Task Force (STF) and district force in Chandameta forests under Darbha police station limits.

After the April 12 attack on an ambulance in Darbha region killing five CRPF personnel and two ambulance staff, the team of security forces was on a combing operation in the region to nab the attackers, he said.

On their way back to their fold on Tuesday, Naxals triggered a landmine blast in Chandameta forest, located around 28 kms away from Darbha police station limits, and opened indiscriminate firing on the security forces, he added.

The exchange of fire continued for around an hour after which the Naxals fled to the forest.

"No injuries or causalities were reported in the incident," the SP informed.

A combing operation was launched after the firing ceased and an ultra was nabbed, Yadav said, adding that the Naxal was being interrogated.

(Agencies)

Source: Latest News

Poll panel unfair, prejudiced against Samajwadi Party: Mulayam

Yadav said in case the Election Commission did not withdraw the order banning Azam Khan from holding election campaigns, millions of his party workers would "become Azam Khan".

He was speaking during election rallies in Shahabad and Rampur cities on Monday.

“The EC is after us, Azam Khan has been banned from addressing public meetings and I have been issued a notice," Yadav told a gathering while explaining that he has the highest regard for women and has been gone to jail for taking up their issues.

He said the right to speech and expression could not be banned in the country.

The Election Commission had on April 11 banned Khan from campaigning in Uttar Pradesh and had asked authorities to initiate criminal proceedings against him for his alleged hate speeches.

On Monday, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav defended Khan, saying the poll body has taken action against the senior Samajwadi Party leader without going through his explanation.

“Azam was served notice by EC...He has replied to it. The EC, however, did not go through his reply and had taken action against him", Akhilesh said while addressing an election rally in Badaun in support of his cousin brother Dharmendra Yadav.

The Chief Minister’s remarks came a day after Khan accused the Election Commission of working at the behest of the Centre.

JPN/Agencies

Source: Latest News

JD (U) candidate from Kisanganj withdraws in Congress favour

"I have decided to withdraw myself from election in favour of sitting Congress candidate to check split of minority votes,” JD(U) candidate Akhtarul Iman said.

Congress candidate Maulana Asrarul Haque is seeking re-election from the minority dominated Kisanganj Lok Sabha seat.
   
Iman had recently crossed over to JD (U) from RJD and had resigned as an MLA of Lalu Prasad Yadav’s party from Kochadhaman in Kisanganj district. He was among 13 RJD MLAs to rebel against the party and seek separate status.
   
He was rewarded by Nitish and given the Lok Sabha ticket from Kisanganj.
   
With the withdrawal of Iman, Kisanganj will witness a direct contest between Asrarul Haque (Congress) and D K Jaiswal (BJP). Voting for this Lok Sabha seat will take place on April 24.

Iman said he tried to contact the Chief Minister to acquaint him with his decision to withdraw from the race but could not get through him. "I have acquainted JD (U) leaders in Kisanganj about the decision," he said.
   
"My purpose to enter the field was to defeat communal forces represented by Narendra Modi...I decided to withdraw from the race to strengthen the secular forces, " he said.

Iman, ho

wever, said he would remain in JD (U).

Sources in Kisanganj attributed the withdrawal to lack of support he was getting from the Chief Minister.

The JD (U) cannot put a replacement for Iman as last date for filing nomination ended on April 9.

The bad news from Kisanganj came to Nitish Kumar close on the heels of another party candidate Shabir Ali pulling out of the race from Sheohar Lok Sabha seat.

JD (U), however, was able to field state minister Shahid Ali Khan from Sheohar Parliamentary seat.

Shabir Ali later left JD (U) for BJP but he was out of the saffron party soon because of strong resistance from BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi.

(Agencies)

Source: Latest News

'Provocative' Russian jet buzzes US ship in Black Sea: Pentagon

A Russian fighter aircraft made repeated low-altitude, close-range passes near a US ship in the Black Sea over the weekend, the Pentagon said on Monday, condemning the action at a time of heightened US-Russian tensions over Ukraine.

"This provocative and unprofessional Russian action is inconsistent with their national protocols and previous agreements on the professional interaction between our militaries," said Colonel Steve Warren, a Pentagon spokesman.

Colonel Warren said a Russian Su-24 aircraft, or Fencer, made 12 passes at low altitude near the USS Donald Cook, a destroyer that has been in the Black Sea since April 10. It appeared to be unarmed, he told reporters.


The incident lasted 90 minutes and took place on Saturday evening while the US ship was conducting a patrol in international waters in the western Black Sea, Colonel Warren said. The ship is now in a Romanian port.

The Russian plane, accompanied by another Fencer that did not fly close to the US ship, did not respond to multiple attempts by the Donald Cook to communicate with its pilot, he said.

Pentagon officials have not yet discussed the incident with the Russian government, Colonel Warren said.

Tensions have grown between Moscow and Washington in recent weeks over the situation in Ukraine, where pro-Russian separatists on Monday ignored an ultimatum to leave occupied government buildings and another group of rebels attacked a police headquarters. Colonel Warren said the US ship was not in danger during Saturday's incident. "I would have difficulty believing that two Russian pilots on their own would choose to take such an action," Warren said.

"We've seen the Russians conduct themselves unprofessionally and in violation of international norms in Ukraine now for several months," he said. "These continued acts of provocations and unprofessionalism do nothing to de-escalate the situation in Ukraine."

Source: Hindi News

From smh.com.au News

UPDATE 1-Nigeria pledges massive security for World Economic Forum event

Nigeria will mount a massive security operation to protect a World Economic Forum on Africa planned in Abuja next month, following the bomb attack by suspected Islamist militants on the capital's outskirts on Monday, the event's Nigerian hosts said.

"Our security planning for the World Economic Forum on Africa (scheduled for May 7-9) is already well under way and will be the largest security operation ever mounted in this country for an international summit," Nigerian Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said in a statement sent to forum participants and seen by Reuters.

Monday's rush hour bomb blast at a bus station at Nyanya, which killed 71 people and injured more than 100 others, was the deadliest ever attack on the capital of Africa's No. 1 oil producer and what is now the continent's largest economy.

With President Goodluck Jonathan pointing the finger of suspicion at Islamist group Boko Haram which is waging an anti-government insurgency in the northeast, the bombing has raised questions about the government's ability to protect the capital.

Referring to what it called Monday's "suspected act of terrorism", the statement said over six thousand security personnel, consisting of police and army, would be deployed to guard the WEF Africa event in Abuja, securing an area the size of 250 square kilometres.

Assuring participants that they would be safe, the statement expressed "our deep commitment that these tragic events will not stop us from delivering on our promise to host a world-class meeting next month". It was also signed by Nwanze Okidegbe, chief economic adviser to President Jonathan.

Source: Hindi News

From reuters News

UK prepared to 'make sacrifices' to help Ukraine - Hague

He told the BBC further sanctions were being planned, but there was no "fixed red line" to decide how far Moscow needs to go before they are imposed.

But Mr Hague said he thought Russia was encouraging separatist groups in eastern Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has rejected the accusation.

Tension has been steadily rising since Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula, formerly part of Ukraine, last month.

The move, condemned as illegal by Kiev and the West, followed the ousting of Ukraine's pro-Moscow President Viktor Yanukovych in February.

Pro-Russian rebels have seized buildings in about 10 towns and cities across parts of eastern Ukraine that form the heartland of the country's heavy industry.
'Rules'

Thousands of Russian troops are reported to be deployed along the border between Ukraine and Russia. Kiev fears any crackdown on pro-Russian groups could trigger an invasion.

The European Union has imposed sanctions, including travel bans and asset freezes, on some individual Russian and Ukrainian officials...

Source: News in Hindi

From BBC News

Missing flight MH370: Robotic sub first mission cut short

The Bluefin-21 was sent to search the sea floor for wreckage after signals believed to be consistent with "black box" flight recorders were detected.

But the drone exceeded its operating limit of 4,500m (15,000ft) and was brought back to the surface.

It was due to return later on Tuesday if weather conditions permitted.

"To account for inconsistencies with the sea floor, the search profile is being adjusted to extend the sonar search for as long as possible," an update from the US Navy - which operates the Bluefin-21 - said.

Flight MH370 went missing on 8 March with 239 people on board. It was flying from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing when it lost contact with air traffic controllers over the South China Sea.

Malaysian officials believe, based on satellite data, that it ended its flight thousands of kilometres off course, in seas west of the Australian city of Perth.
'Operating depth'

Amid a major international search, an Australian navy vessel last week detected four acoustic signals using a US Navy towed pinger locator. Officials believe these could come from the missing plane's flight recorders.

No signals have been detected since 8 April, however, leading to fears that the recorders' batteries - which last about a month - have run out.

On Monday, Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston, who heads the agency co-ordinating the search, said it was time to deploy the Bluefin-21 to begin its search of the sea floor. It set off on its first mission on Monday night.

"After completing around six hours of its mission, Bluefin-21 exceeded its operating depth limit of 4,500m and its built in safety feature returned it to the surface," the Joint Agency Co-ordination Centre said in a statement. 

Source: Latest News in Hindi

From BBC News

ATC sends Bhakkar cannibals on seven-day physical remand

The police also installed barbed wire outside the house of the cannibal brothers.

Police had arrested Arif, one of the two brothers, when the head of a toddler was recovered from their derelict home in Kahawar Kalan town near Darya Khan. Officials had conducted a raid when neighbours complained of a putrid stench emanating from the two-bedroom house.

Arif confessed to having cooked and eaten the rest of the body. Although he continuously changed statements, he admitted that the two have been eating human flesh since they were released.

His brother Farman had managed to flee, but was later arrested by police.

A new case under Article 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act; Article 16 of the Maintenance of Public Order as well as 201, 297 and 295-A was registered against the accused in which the police is complainant.

Background

The brothers had returned to the neighbourhood 10 months ago after being released from prison, where they had served a term for stealing and consuming the remains of a girl from the graveyard in 2011.

The trial continued for approximately two years, culminating in a year-long prison term and Rs200,000 fine each.  While the sentence ended in May 2013, the brothers were released two months later as they had been incarcerated during the length of the trial.

Last year, during his visit to the Mianwali prison where the brothers were held, then chief justice Iftikhar Chaudhry said that the inmates languishing in jails despite having served sentences should be released after the government arranges their fine. Arif and Farman were subsequently discharged.

Source: Hindi News

From tribune.com.pk News

Pilgrims descended on shaktipeeths

चैत्र माह के नौवें नवरात्र पर कांगड़ा के तीनों प्रसिद्ध शक्तिपीठों पर हजारों श्रद्धालुओं ने माथा टेका व मां का आशीर्वाद लिया।

श्री चामुंडा नंदिकेश्वर धाम में करीब दस हजार श्रद्धालुओं ने पूजा-अर्चना की। यहां नवरात्र मेले का समापन पूर्णाहुति के साथ हुआ।

उधर, श्री ज्वालामुखी मंदिर में हवन पूजा व कन्या पूजन के साथ सहायक मंदिर आयुक्त विनय कुमार ने नवरात्र मेले का समापन किया। यहां बीस हजार भक्तों ने मां के दर्शन किए। वहीं, श्री बज्रेश्वरी मंदिर कांगड़ा में करीब 15 हजार श्रद्धालुओं ने माथा टेका, लेकिन उन्हें प्रशासन की अव्यवस्था के चलते परेशानी झेलनी पड़ी। यहां सफाई कर्मचारियों ने श्रद्धालुओं के जूते व चप्पल को उठा कर कांगड़ा के कूड़े स्थल पर फेंक दिया, जिससे उन्हें भारी परेशानी हुई।

Source: Spiritual News & Panchang

More deep-sea signals heighten hopes of locating missing Malaysian airliner

After an Australian vessel again detected deep-sea signals consistent with those from an airplane’s black box, the official leading a multination search says he’s hopeful crews will find the wreckage of a missing Malaysian jet “within a matter of days.”

“I believe we’re searching in the right area,” Retired Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston said at a press conference in Perth.

Since Saturday, the Ocean Shield — equipped with a U.S. Navy black box detection system — has picked up four separate transmissions, the two most recent of which came on Tuesday. The newest signals are significant, because the increased data could allow searchers to more accurately predict where on the Indian Ocean floor the sounds are coming from.

In earlier weeks the hunt for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 involved more than 100 ships and aircraft, searching much of the world’s largest continent and third-largest ocean. But the operation has now narrowed, with the help of satellite analysis and the deep-sea signals, into something officials say is finally manageable.

A search area once the size of the contiguous United States is now about the size of South Carolina. Though 15 aircraft and 14 ships are still scouring the Indian Ocean, search officials say the best lead is being pursued only by the Ocean Shield. If other ships joined that area, Houston said, they’d create noise pollution and interfere with any sounds coming from the three-mile depths. ..

Source: Latest News in Hindi

From washingtonpost News

Polls close and count begins in Indonesia

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Voting has ended in Indonesia’s crucial legislative elections, with the Indonesian Democratic-Struggle Party (PDI-P) of presidential frontrunner Joko Widodo expected to come out on top.

Having risen from obscurity since being elected as Jakarta governor in 2012, Mr Widodo’s nomination by the PDI-P in March has propelled the opposition party into first place in opinion polls as Indonesia faces a crucial transition of power.

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“I’m very confident my party will do well,” Mr Widodo, who is known by his nickname Jokowi, told reporters on Wednesday morning after voting. “We will have a big majority.”

Polling stations in the world’s third-biggest democracy closed at 1pm local time, with vote counting starting immediately afterwards.

Although it will take one month to collate the official results in this nation of 186m voters and thousands of islands, survey agencies are planning to release “quick counts” by 3pm based on a sample of the country’s 550,000 polling stations.

In previous elections these quick counts, which differ from exit polls because they are based on votes cast rather than surveys of who people backed, have proven accurate at predicting the final outcome.

Party officials say the horse-trading over possible coalitions will begin not long after these initial results are released, although nothing can be confirmed until the election commission releases the final tally in May.

With President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono stepping down in October after reaching the legal two-term limit, Indonesians are choosing a new House of Representatives (DPR) and leader.

The election for Indonesia’s 560-member DPR takes place every five years and determines which parties can nominate candidates for July’s presidential election. To do so, parties must meet a threshold of 25 per cent of the vote or 20 per cent of the seats.

Although he has said little about his policy plans, Mr Widodo, 52, has won the admiration of many because of his results-orientated approach and his humble background, which contrasts with his main presidential rivals, former general Prabowo Subianto and tycoon Aburizal Bakrie...

Source: Hindi News

From ft News

Blast at Market in Pakistani Capital Kills at Least 20

A powerful explosion ripped through a crowded wholesale fruit market in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, on Wednesday morning, killing at least 20 people and injuring at least 50 more, according to hospital and police officials. The death toll is expected to rise.

There was no claim of responsibility, and the Pakistani Taliban, who have announced a cease-fire until Thursday as they hold peace talks with the government, denied any involvement.

The explosion occurred at 8:05 a.m. in a busy wholesale fruit and vegetable market on the outskirts of Islamabad. The powerful blast was heard for miles and caused panic in the city as word of it spread during the morning rush hour.

The market is in a vast open area where vendors and buyers gather early in the morning to buy produce in bulk. Security is ordinarily lax, and most of the trucks and crates of fruits and vegetables are delivered to the market without undergoing any inspections.

Police officials said that an initial investigation determined that the explosives were placed in cartons of guava and were detonated by a remote-controlled device.

The explosion left charred debris and pools of blood around the market. Nine people were listed in critical condition at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, according to Dr. Ayesha Isani, the hospital spokeswoman. Several other victims were taken to hospitals in neighboring Rawalpindi.

Taliban officials condemned the attack.

“Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan strongly condemns Sibi Railway Station and fruit market blasts,” Shahidullah Shahid, the Taliban spokesman, said in a statement released to the news media, referring to both Wednesday’s blast and an explosion at a railway station in southwestern Pakistan that killed at least 17 people on Tuesday. “Attacks on public places and targeting innocent people is regrettable and un-Islamic.”

The civilian government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif is engaged in a peace dialogue with the Taliban. But the government’s strategy to deal with militants has been met with criticism, and the powerful military and opposition political parties have objected to the government’s negotiating strategy, which they say is fueling perceptions that the government is ceding too much ground to the militants...

Source: News in Hindi

From nytimes News

As Jaya Bachchan turns 66, we take a look at her 10 best films till date

Jaya Bhaduri is a well known icon in the Hindi film industry and now in politics. Born on the 10th of April 1948, Jaya was a bright, vivacious child. Her Jabalpur based, Hindu Bengali parents persistent on getting their daughter convent educated,  enrolled her in St. Joseph Convent schools, Bhopal. The young girl soon found her calling in the glittery world of films and theatre. She debuted with Satyajit Ray's Mahanagar at the age of 15. Inspired by this experience, Jaya decided to study acting in the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune.

Jaya Bhaduri's foray into Bollywood was with quite a brilliant performance. She starred in the 1971 film, Guddi. The Hrishikesh Mukherji film earned her a lot of appreciation and this led to her working with the famed director in a lot of future endeavors. Guddi created for Jaya a niche, that would go on to define her journey in this industry.

Jaya, desperately wanting to change her demure onscreen image, decided to take up a glamorous role in the 1972 flick, Jawani Deewani. Bhaduri also went on to feature in Anamika. She played a negative character of a woman faking amnesia in this film. She was also instrumental in popularizing Midlle cinema with films like Uphaar(1971), Parichay( 1972), Koshish (1972) and Bawarchi (1972). In the few years of her journey in Bollywood, Jaya Bhaduri had established herself as a strong and versatile actor.

As her career flourished, there was something happening on the personal front too. The shy and reticent actress met Amitabh Bachchan on the sets of her first feature film, Guddi. The tall, brooding magnificent persona floored the woman. She was in love. Rajesh Khanna, a good friend of Bhaduri's, counseled her against Amitabh. He would even snub Bachchan when he would come to visit her on the sets of Bawarchi (1972).

Jaya was successful over night, where as for Amitabh it was slow.

The love blossomed when they were filming the movie Ek Nazar. Amitabh professed his love and they were married by 1973. Zanjeer, Amitabh Bachchan's cult film was a huge box office success and to celebrate this, the couple decided to go on a vacation to London. However, Harivanshrai Bachchan, Amitabh's  father refused to let them go without formalizing their relationship.

The marriage was a private affair with only a few close people in attendance. The couple went on to work in a string of iconic films after Zanjeer. Abhimaan (1973), Chupke Chupke(1973), Sholay (1975), Silsila(1981) etc were films that were great success at the box office, thus making the two a reel life star couple as well. The pair was extra ordinary. They were both highly superficial artists and constantly did well at their work. Their love blossomed with time too. However three years into their marriage, Jaya faced her biggest set back. Rumors of her husband's link up to the Southern actress Rekha started surfacing. Amitabh was filming for his movie 'Do Anjaane' in the year 1976, when he fell for the sultry actress. Their romance blossomed, constantly hampering his relationship with his wife. The sordid affair left Jaya emotionally drained. However hard the couple tried to evade the issue, they constantly got embroiled in it...

Source: Bollywood News & Box Office Report

From DNA News

Watch: Heart rendering 'Chandaniya' from '2 states'

The much talked about chemistry between Arjun Kapoor and Alia Bhatt in the upcoming movie, `2 States`, is just one side of the coin. The romantic comedy also has a heart rendering sad number `Chandaniya` that was released on the official YouTube channel of Dharma Productions.

Chandaniya has been sung by K Mohan, the lead singer of the Indie band `Agnee` and Yashita Sharma and composed by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy. The lyrics are by Amitabh Bhattacharya. ..

Source: Bollywood Gossip News & Box Office Report 2014

From zeenews News

Sun Pharma up as brokers welcome Ranbaxy purchase

Shares in Sun Pharmaceutical Industries (SUN.NS) gain as much as 7.95 percent, adding to their 2.9 percent rise on Monday, as brokers upgrade the stock after Sun agreed to buy Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd (RANB.NS) for $3.2 billion.

Sun Pharma is heading for its biggest single-day percentage gain since May 2009. UBS upgraded Sun Pharma to "buy" from "neutral" and raised its target to 720 rupees for 660 rupees on Wednesday, citing the expected contribution to earnings from Ranbaxy.

"We believe the deal makes sense given limited overlap for Sun and Ranbaxy in India and Sun's limited presence in ROW (rest of world) markets, UBS said in a report dated Tuesday, adding Sun would be able to cut administrative and research and development costs.

On Monday, Bank of America Merrill Lynch also upgraded Sun Pharma to "buy" from "neutral", citing a higher price-to-earnings multiple after Ranbaxy's acquisition.

Ranbaxy shares gained 2.2 ercent.

Source: Latest Business Hindi News

From reuters News

Telangana: Master gambler KCR contests in both Assembly and LS polls

The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) chief K Chandrashekhararao is gambling once again. Popularly known as KCR, who has attained a cult figure status after his long, spirited fight for Telangana state yielded desired result is now sailing on two boats at the same time.

KCR is contesting in the Assembly elections from Gajwel in Medak district and in the Lok Sabha elections from Medak seat. KCR said that he had decided to teach a lesson to the Congress by contesting from Medak in the Lok Sabha elections.

The TRS MP from Medak and a one time super star of Telugu cinema Vijayashanthi defected to the Congress in the last February and it has made KCR angry. The Congress has denied ticket Vijayashanthi from Medak.

Medak is KCR's native place and his nephew Harish Rao is seeking a re-election from Siddipet Assembly seat in Medak LS constituency this time. KCR won 5 consecutive elections from Siddipet assembly seat between 1985 - 2001.

KCR's son K T Ramarao is seeking re-election from Sircilla assembly seat in Karimnagar district. KCR's daughter K Kavitha is making her electoral debut from Nizamabad Lok Sabha seat, this time.

KCR is facing criticism for fielding 3 members from his family in the current Assembly and Lok Sabha election. But, he dismisses such remarks saying that all of them got tickets for their fight for Telangana state and he is not favouring them.

Political analysts in Hyderabad argue that KCR is contesting in both Lok Sabha and Assembly elections to keep all his options open post poll results. They feel that KCR will join any alliance that comes to power at the Centre after the elections and will become a Central minister, if his party fails to come to power in Telangana. If the TRS comes to power in Telangana, he will opt for the chief minister's post and resign from the Lok Sabha...

Source: Lok Sabha Elections 2014

From ibnlive News

Pinaki Mishra richest Lok Sabha nominee in Odisha

While Pinaki Mishra, a Supreme Court lawyer, tops the list of rich candidates with property worth Rs 137 crore, Ama Odisha Party nominee Sunjoy Hans comes second with assets of Rs 57 crore followed by BJD's Balasore aspirant Rabinda Jena with property worth Rs 57 crore and sitting M  Baijayant Panda of Kendrapara with Rs 31 crore, OEW state Coordinator Ranjan Mohanty same.

  

Sabyasachi Mahapatra of CPI(ML)-Red Star of Cuttack constituency has assets worth just Rs 600 and identified as the poorest candidate in this phase of polls.

  

Subas Chandra Mallick of SUCI (C) from Jajpur constituency whose assets amount to Rs 6,000 and Debendra Kumar Mallik of BSP from Jajpur constituency has property worth only Rs 10,000, the report said.

   

There are six candidates who have declared assets worth less than Rs one lakh.

   

The report also revealed that there are five candidates who have declared annual income of more than Rs 1 crore. Rabindra Kumar Jena has declared the highest income of Rs 6.64 crore followed by Pinaki Misra (Rs 3.92 crore). Baijyanta Panda of BJD comes third with income of Rs 3.57 crore.

  

The party-wise list of crorepatis candidates shows 9 out of 11 candidates of Congress, 8 out of 11 of BJD, 4 out of 11 of BJP, 3 out of 10 of AAP and 1 of the 2 candidates of Trinamool Congress have declared assets more than Rs one crore.

  

From among 97 candidates in 10 Lok Sabha seats in the first phase poll on April 10, 26 were crorepatis with BJD's Kandhamal candidate Hemendra Singh being the richest with asset value of Rs 50 crore followed by Congress candidate Harihar Karan with Rs 9 crore asset.

(Agencies)

Source: Online Current News

Party hasn't given me copy of manifesto: Congress candidate

Naik said he has not been able to read the manifesto because he has not been given the document yet.

"I have not read the manifesto yet because I haven't been given the copy of it, by the party yet," Naik said while addressing a press conference.

The election manifesto has been released by the state Congress last week, a few days after the Congress released its national manifesto.

Naik, who has been linked to Goa's drug mafia in a legislative committee report, also said that he was unaware of the election promise made by the Congress state unit in the manifesto to appoint a central agency to probe Goa's narcotics market.

“What is that? I am not very sure. I told you, I have not read the manifesto yet!” Naik said.

Reacting to Naik's claim that he has not been given a copy of the manifesto, state Congress president John Fernandes said the former’s erroneous answer was because of nervousness and exhaustion caused due to constant campaigning.

"I am sure, if he logs on to our website, he can access the manifesto. He is exhausted and tired of campaigning and must have wrongly said that he hasn't read the manifesto," Fernandes said.

(Agencies)

Source: Latest News

Women candidates from diverse background contesting in Rajasthan LS polls

Of the 17 women contesting in 20 constituencies in the first phase, three sitting MPs, including two Congress Union ministers Chandresh Kumari Katoch and Girija Vyas hope to cash in on their work to secure victory at the hustings.

A total of 239 candidates are fighting in the first phase on April 17. Rajasthan, which has a total 25 constituencies, will witness the second phase of polls for five seats on April 24 for which the nomination process is on.

Union minister and Congress' Katoch, who has assets worth over Rs 10 crore, is fighting to retain her Jodhpur seat. She bagged the seat in 2009 after defeating the then BJP sitting MP Jaswant Singh Bishnoi by over 98,000 votes.

The Jodhpur constituency, which had sent Ashok Gehlot to Parliament five times, is also being eyed by Independent candidates Mehmooda Begum and Jayda, who is an illiterate.

In Jhunjhunu, the five women in fray are BJP's Santosh Ahlawat, Congress' Raj Bala Ola, BSP's Rahisa Bano, Megh Desham Party's Urmila and Independent candidate Rajbala.

Minister of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation Girija Vyas, also from Congress, is fighting to retain her position from Chittorgarh where two other women CPI's Radha Devi and

Rajasthan Vikas Party's Vijaya Ray has thrown in hats.

Congress' Jyoti Mirdha, who holds an MBBS degree and is the richest woman in the first phase of polls from the state, is the sitting MP from Nagaur that lies about midway between Jodhpur and Bikaner.

Women constitute about 50 percent of total 4.2 crore voters expected to exercise franchise from the border state.

(Agencies)

Source: Latest News

LS polls: Ajay Maken eyeing hat-trick from New Delhi constituency

Earlier represented by the likes of Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Lal Krishna Advani, the constituency is considered crucial due to its symbolic importance as it houses the country's power centers and Maken, Lekhi and Khaitan are putting up an engrossing fight to grab the seat.
   
"The entire nation's eyes are always fixed on New Delhi seat as it reflects the social characteristic of the country. The party which wins in New Delhi, wins in the country also," says senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley.
   
In the first two Lok Sabhas, the seat was represented by freedom fighter Sucheta Kripalani.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was defeated by BJP's Jagmohan in a tight fight in the constituency in the 1999 Lok Sabha polls.
   
In the December 4 Assembly polls, the AAP had won seven out of 10 Assembly seats under the constituency but Maken feels people will vote differently in the Lok Sabha election and AAP's support base has eroded significantly after it quit power in February.
   
In the Assembly polls, Arvind Kejriwal had handed a shock defeat to then Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit in the New Delhi assembly constituency trouncing her by over 25,000 votes.
   
"I have done lot of development work in the area and I am very confident of winning the seat for the third time," says 50-year-old Maken.
   
In 2004, Maken had defeated BJP's Jagmohan while in 2009 he came out victorious against Vijay Goel, also from BJP by nearly two lakh votes.

(Agencies)

Source: Latest News

Gross Bhaye friendly yoga diligently on Grhwar

योग लगन ग्रहवार तिथि सकल भये अनुकूल चर अरु अचर हर्ष युत राम जनम सुख मूल। राम जन्म का प्रसंग निरूपित करती रामचरितमानस की यह पंक्ति राम जन्मोत्सव की पूर्व संध्या पर साकार प्रतीत हो रही है। नगरी की परिधि में लाखों-लाख श्रद्धालु दाखिल हो चुके हैं और सबके चेहरे पर राम जन्मोत्सव की शुभ घड़ी की प्रतीक्षा का उल्लास झलक रहा है।

भिंड के रामबरन दंडौतिया को यद्यपि अपनी पूर्ण विकलांगता की वजह से चलने-फिरने में काफी दिक्कत होती है पर लकड़ी के हत्थे पर अपना भार उठाकर आगे बढ़ते दंडौतिया पूरे जोश में होते हैं और कनकबिहारी सरकार के दर्शन का संतोष उनके चेहरे से साफ पढ़ा जा सकता है। हालांकि दंडौतिया जैसा जोश तो बिरलों में होता है पर उन वृद्धों, बच्चों, युवाओं, महिलाओं आदि के उत्साह को अनदेखा नहीं किया जा सकता जो भीड़ के दबाव और पदयात्र की थकान को बौना कर मंदिर-मंदिर आराध्य के दर्शन की ललक बयां करते हैं। बजरंगबली की प्रधानतम पीठ हनुमान गढ़ी के अर्चक रमेशदास के अनुसार यह अध्यात्म की गंगा है और यहां मानसिक एवं आत्मिक सुख के आगे सारे सुख फींके हैं। हनुमानगढ़ी एवं कनकभवन से लेकर नगरी के पूर्वी मुहाने पर भी श्रद्धालुओं का सैलाब प्रवाहित नजर आता है। इसी क्षेत्र में स्थित निष्काम सेवा ट्रस्ट के व्यवस्थापक महंत रामचंद्र दास यद्यपि ज्योतिष के आचार्य हैं पर आस्था के महाकुंभ में वे भक्ति की भाषा बोलते हैं और कहते हैं कि सच्ची भक्ति घटित होने पर राहुकाल भी शुभ मुहूर्त सिद्ध हो जाता है और यहां तो राम जन्म की पूर्व बेला के साथ अभीप्सित भक्ति की धार बह रही है।

रामनवमी मेले में श्रद्धालुओं के सैलाब ने प्रशासन के अनुमान को तोड़ दिया। सुरक्षा व प्रशासनिक तंत्र चुनाव व खेती को देखते हुए इसबार श्रद्धालुओं के कम आने की संभावना व्यक्त कर रहा था, लेकिन रविवार की रात से लगातार बढ़ रहे श्रद्धालुओं की आमद प्रशासन और पुलिस दोनों के सांस फुलाने वाली साबित हो रही है।

आज ही पांच लाख श्रद्धालुओं ने सरयू में डुबकी लगाई। मंदिरों में भी ढाई लाख लोगों के रुके होने की संभावना सुरक्षा तंत्र व्यक्त कर रहा है। श्रीरामजन्मोत्सव के उल्लास में डूबी अयोध्या में श्रद्धालुओं की संख्या बढ़ने लगी है। रविवार की रात से ही श्रद्धालुओं की भीड़ जुटना शुरू होने से पूरी रात प्रशासनिक व पुलिस अधिकारियों को गश्त करनी पड़ी। रामनगरी में भीड़ बढ़ने से सुरक्षा व्यवस्था को सतर्क कर दिया गया है। सोमवार की सुबह सरयू स्नान के लिए घाट ऐतिहासिक भीड़ देखने को मिली। सुरक्षा तंत्र का मानना है कि करीब पांच लाख श्रद्धालुओं ने सरयू स्नान किया। सुरक्षा के दृष्टिगत मंदिरों एवं घाटों के पास अतिरिक्त फोर्स तैनात करनी पड़ी। जिलाधिकारी इंद्रवीर सिंह, एसएसपी केबी सिंह, एसपी सिटी आरएस गौतम व एडीएम सिटी ने पैरामिलिट्री फोर्स के साथ पूरे मेला क्षेत्र में रूटमार्च किया। एसपी सिटी ने बताया 8 अप्रैल को मुख्य पर्व होगा। इस दिन करीब 15 से 16 लाख श्रद्धालुओं के शामिल होने की संभावना है। सुरक्षा के पुख्ता इंतजाम हैं।

शुरू हुआ यातायात डायवर्जन- मेले के मद्देनजर यातायात पाबंदिया रविवार की देर शाम से लागू कर दी गईं। अयोध्यानगर की सीमा में वाहनों का प्रवेश पूरी तरह वर्जित कर दिया गया है। पाबंदियों के चलते अयोध्या में निवास करने वाले नागरिकों को आवागमन में काफी समस्या उठानी पड़ रही है। मंगलवार को पाबंदियां और बढ़ने की उम्मीद है।

काम आया सीसी कैमरा- घाट व मंदिरों पर लगाए गए सीसी कैमरे पुलिस के लिए काफी मददगार साबित हुए। सोमवार को स्नान व मंदिर में दर्जन के दौरान मेला क्षेत्र से दर्जन भर जेबकतरों को गिरफ्तार किया गया। सीसी कैमरे में इनके फुटेज को देख पुलिस टीम ने सफलता हासिल की। एसपी सिटी ने कहा कि पकड़े गए सभी जेबकतरों को जेल भेजा जाएगा।

Source: Spiritual News in Hindi & Panchang

Ukraine accuses Russia of orchestrating separatist moves

Police detained 70 people occupying a regional administration building in eastern Ukraine overnight, but pro-Moscow protesters held out in a standoff in two other cities in what Kiev called a Russian-led plan to dismember the country.

Kiev says the seizure of public buildings in eastern Ukraine's mainly Russian-speaking industrial heartland on Sunday night is a replay of events in Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula Moscow annexed last month.

Ukrainian authorities gave few details of the "anti-terrorist" operation that cleared the building in the town of Kharkiv but said two police had been wounded by a grenade that was thrown. Russia has denied Ukrainian charges of involvement but warned Kiev against any use of force against Russian-speakers.

Ukrainian special forces in combat gear, helmets and balaclavas and carrying kalashnikovs and machine guns stood guard early on Tuesday outside the building whose outside windows were broken.

A partly destroyed sign near the main door read: "Avakov - to jail", a reference to Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov.

The pro-Russian protesters who also took over official buildings in Luhansk and Donetsk demanded that referendums be held on whether to join Russia like the one that preceded Moscow's annexation of Crimea.

"An anti-Ukrainian plan is being put into operation ... under which foreign troops will cross the border and seize the territory of the country," Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk said in public remarks to his cabinet. "We will not allow this."

Interior Minister Avakov said on Tuesday about 70 "separatists" had been detained in Kharkiv.

"An anti-terrorist operation has been launched. The city centre is blocked along with metro stations. Do not worry. Once we finish, we will open them again," he wrote on his Facebook page.

Ukraine's Interior Ministry was quoted by Interfax-Ukraine news agency as saying those detained were suspected of "illegal activity related to separatism, the organisation of mass disorder, damage to human health" and breaking other laws.

Russia's Itar-Tass news agency quoted Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Vitaly Yarema as saying there would be no storming of Donetsk's regional authority building on Tuesday.

He said the decision was made after talks in Donetsk with the protesters involving influential and wealthy businessman Rinat Akhmetov, who is from the city...

Source: New in Hindi

From reuters News

Oscar Pistorius apologises for killing Reeva Steenkamp

In a trembling voice, he said he was "trying to protect" her and said he could not imagine the family's pain.

Mr Pistorius said he suffered "terrible nightmares" and often woke up smelling Ms Steenkamp's blood.

Prosecutors say he killed her in February 2013 after an argument. He says he mistook her for an intruder.

The athlete told Ms Steenkamp's relatives that there "hasn't been a moment since this tragedy happened that I haven't thought about your family".

"I wake up every morning and you're the first people I think of, the first people I pray for. I can't imagine the pain and the sorrow and the emptiness that I've caused you and your family.

"I was simply trying to protect Reeva. I can promise that when she went to bed that night she felt loved. ..

Source: Latest News in Hindi

From BBC News

I relate to the emotions of Krish: Arjun Kapoor on '2 States'

Actor Arjun Kapoor says he relates to the emotions that his character Krish goes through in "2 States".

"I relate a lot to the emotions of Krish and that is what mattered when I decided to do the film," he said.

"He is a very family-oriented, very righteous person by nature and he has taken his mother's side and tried to fill that void that is there because of certain conflicts between the father, son and the mother," the 28-year-old said here Monday at the launch of the new cover of the book "2 States."

"Every family has issues that subconsciously exist in our day-to-day lives. They come out only when something big like a marriage or taking up a job happens. The conflict arises at that moment. So '2 States' deals with that very interestingly," he added.

The film "2 States" is based on the popular novel by author Chetan Bhagat by the same name.

Arjun said that Ronit Roy and Amrita Singh, who play his parents in the film, made it very easy for him to pull off the kind of emotions the character required.

"Where Ronit and Amrita are concerned, they both are fantastic actors and they made it very easy for me to work with them and pull off a very difficult layer of the film," said Arjun.

"I know it appears as a broad family and romantic film but there is an emotional layer that comes in this journey of the boy when he is trying to convince everyone that two people who love each other deserve to be together," he added.

"2 States" also features Alia Bhatt, who will be seen romancing the actor in the film that hits theatres April 18.

Source: Bollywood Gossip and News

From DNA News

Bhansali’s Ram-Leela, Ranveer-Deepika are now Bajirao-Mastani

Bollywood actor couple Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone sizzled the big screen with their crackling chemistry in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Goliyon Ki Rasleela – Ram-Leela’.

And now, Ranveer and Deepika are all set to don the historical garb of Maratha general Bajirao and his beautiful wife Mastani. The film will be directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali.

While earlier there were speculations that actresses Katrina Kaif or Priyanka Chopra would bag the role of Mastani, source close to Sanjay Leela Bhansali say that Deepika Padukone has given dates to her ‘Ram-Leela’ director. Actors Shah Rukh Khan and Ajay Devgn were the strongest contenders for the role of Bajirao.

There were also speculations that Ranveer and Deepika were to star in Karan Johar’s ‘Shuddhi’ after Hrithik Roshan and Kareena Kapoor walked out of the film. But Karan Johar refuted the rumours saying that he has not signed either of the actors for the adaptation of ‘Immortals of Meluha’.

Currently, Sanjay Leela Bhansali is shooting for Mary Kom with Priyanka Chopra and is producing ‘Gabbar’ starring Akshay Kumar, Shruti Haasan and Kareena Kapoor Khan.

Ranveer Singh, who was last seen in ‘Gunday’, is busy Shaad Ali’s ‘Kill Dill’. Deepika Padukone is busy shooting for Farah Khan’s ‘Happy New Year’ which also stars Shah Rukh Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Sonu Sood, Boman Irani and Vivaan Shah.

Source: Bollywood Gossip News

From indianexpress News

BJP gets traders on its side after promise to block FDI

The Confederation of All India Traders’ Association was waiting for the BJP’s manifesto to know about the party’s stand on Foreign Direct Investment in this segment.

“The traders’ community welcomes the BJP’s stand on FDI. We are hopeful that when the party comes to power, it will scrap the FDI in retail launched by the UPA government. The party has also included various demands of the traders’ community in their manifesto,” association secretary general Praveen Khandelwal said.

There is a majority of traders in Chandni Chowk parliamentary constituency and in parts of New Delhi and South Delhi constituencies. The union’s decision will help BJP candidates in all these areas.

“The steps taken by the BJP will go miles ahead in liberating retail trade from the clutches of not only MNCs but even from the vicious net of big corporates that were considering the retail trade as a profit centre by entering into partnership with MNCs,” association national president B C Bhartia said.

“This unhealthy circle encouraged and promoted by the UPA government will certainly come to an end,” Bhartia said.

The traders’ community is always considered as a traditional voter of BJP, but after implementation of FDI in multi-brand retail, the community decided to wait for every party’s manifesto before supporting anyone.

“We sent our demands to every national and regional party and prepared a chart of their manifestos. Some have included parts of our demands and some have totally ignored us. Now BJP has completely supported our cause and the party tops the chart. We have asked the entire fraternity to support BJP,” he added.

Source: Latest Business News Headlines

From deccanherald News