Press Trust of India

Press Trust of India (PTI) is India’s premier news agency, having a reach as vast as the Indian Railways. It employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.

Modi asks states to work in tandem with Centre

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Emphasising on the need to empower the states, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday called upon states to forge a model of “cooperative federalism” to resolve differences even as he flagged poverty as India’s biggest challenge.

Chairing the first meeting of the governing council of NITI Aayog, he said India cannot advance without all its states advancing in tandem, according to an official release here.

Modi added that he envisioned different states competing with each other in promoting governance initiatives in a spirit of “cooperative, competitive federalism”.

‘Mastana Shammi’ to celebrate Shammi Kapoor’s zest for life

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To relive the golden era of Bollywood and to showcase legendary actor Shammi Kapoor’s zest for acting, a four-day film festival titled “Mastana Shammi” will be telecast starting Monday.

The initiative by Hindi movie channel Zee Classic is to entertain viewers by showing four of Shammi Kapoor’s classic hits — “Andaz”, “Brahmachari”, “Prince” and “Professor”.

The star, often referred to as the Indian Elvis Presley by fans, died Aug 14, 2011 due to chronic renal failure.

Kejriwal, colleagues enjoy Hindi movie

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A day after exit polls predicted a win for his party, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal Sunday viewed a movie here along with a large number of his party colleagues.

A relaxed Kejriwal went to the Wave cinema at Kaushambhi, about a kilometre from his Girnar Tower apartments, party sources told IANS. “Yes, he saw the film,” police officer Anant Deo told IANS.

While one Aam Aadmi Party leader had said earlier that Kejriwal would view “Baby”, another said he was on his way to see “Shamitabh”.

Dhaka-Kolkata train attacked in Bangladesh

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Petrol bombs were hurled Sunday at the Dhaka-Kolkata Maitree Express train in Bangladesh amid a violent BNP-sponsored countrywide blockade.

No casualty was reported in the incident near the Iswardi railway station in Pabna of Rajshahi division, BdNews24 reported citing police.

Railway official Humayun Kabir said three bombs were lobbed at the Dhaka- bound train as soon as it reached a loco shed after leaving the Iswardi station.

The attack caused minor damage as the bombs exploded under the wheels of the train’s engine, he said.

Parents of IS’s American hostage hope she is alive

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The parents of the female US aid worker kidnapped by the Islamic State (IS) refused to believe that she has been killed in Jordanian airstrikes as claimed by her captors, media reported Saturday.

Kayla Jean Mueller, 26, was believed to have been an aid worker with the Spanish Doctors Without Borders.

She was captured by the IS, along with her Syrian boyfriend, in the Syrian city of Aleppo in August 2013 and taken to the de facto IS capital of Raqqa, also in Syria.

Ranji: Mumbai maintain advantage over Karnataka

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Mumbai maintained their ascendancy over Karnataka, with the hosts leading by 261 runs at the end of the second day of a Ranji Trophy cricket match here Saturday.

Karnataka, in reply to the home team’s first innings score of 436, reached 175 for two at the Wankhede stadium.

Mumbai, buoyed by maiden centuries from Siddhesh Lad and Nikhil Patil (both scoring 106), added 94 runs to their score before losing the remaining five wickets.

Mystery ash covers parts of Washington, Oregon states

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A substance described as “white stuff” and “milky rain” covered parts of Washington and Oregon states in the US but its origin is a mystery, media reported Saturday.

“We have received reports of ‘white stuff’ on vehicles. The ash is more than likely from the Volcano Shiveluch,” Washington state’s Walla Walla County Emergency officials said in a statement, CNN reported.

Chinese man invents ‘green firecracker’ to fight smog

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Chinese revellers may have the hard choice of deciding between protecting the environment or protecting tradition as they prepare fireworks displays for the upcoming Spring Festival, which falls Feb 19 this year. But a man from central China’s Henan Province has devised a non-polluting firecracker that could allow them to do both.

Wang Xinming, an oil company employee, created the firecracker to help people protect the environment and enjoy the festive atmosphere at the same time.

Gulf nations reject Shia group’s takeover in Yemen

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The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Saturday rejected the Shia Houthis’ takeover in Yemen and warned of steps to protect its members’ interests, media reported.

In a meeting in Riyadh, the GCC said the Gulf nations would continue to stand with the Yemenis and criticised the Shia Houthi group’s latest move denouncing it as a coup that would end the peaceful political process in Yemen, Xinhua news agency reported.

The GCC comprises Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

‘Religion a catalyst for sustainable development’

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Describing faith as a “catalyst”, religious leaders Saturday said it could inspire people to change their perspective on environment and prioritize sustainable development.

“The greatest catalyst for change in thought and behaviour is our faith… the drive toward sustainable development and mitigating climate change needs to be not only top-down, it also needs to be bottom-up,” Divine Shakti Foundation president Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati said at the valedictory session of the 15th Delhi Sustainable Development Summit (DSDS), organised by The Energy and Resource Institute (TERI) here.

Mauritian ex-PM Navin Ramgoolam arrested, gets bail

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Former Mauritius prime minister Navin Ramgoolam, who was arrested for involvement in cases of conspiracy and money laundering, was set to be released on bail later Saturday following a decision of the court after a bail motion was heard the same day.

The magistrate of the Bail and Remand Court in capital Port Louis gave a ruling granting bail to Ramgoolam, a person of Indian origin, for a surety of some 5,000 euros (around $5,660), Xinhua news agency reported.

Modi discusses Bihar, Delhi with BJP leaders

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi Saturday met BJP leaders to review the Delhi assembly polls as well as the political situation in Bihar in view of Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi’s recommendation to dissolve the assembly.

Bharatiya Janata Party sources said those who attended the meeting included party president Amit Shah, union ministers Arun Jaitley, Rajnath Singh, Sushma Swaraj and Nitin Gadkari and party general secretary (organisation) Ram Lal.

The meeting is learnt to have discussed the BJP’s prospects, as well as the voting pattern in Saturday’s polls in the national capital.

Kohli key to India’s chances: Amarnath, Kirsten

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Former cricket greats Mohinder Amarnath and Gary Kirsten Saturday singled out batsman Virat Kohli to be the key behind India’s bid to defend their World Cup title under the testing Australian conditions.

While Amarnath said Kohli’s aggressive style of batting was similar to Australian batting great Ricky Ponting, Kirsten who coached India to World Cup victory in 2011, hailed him along with South African Hashim Amla to be the best one day batters in the world currently.

Saradha scam: Matang Sinh sent to CBI custody

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Former union minister Matang Sinh, arrested by the CBI for his alleged complicity in the multi-crore-rupee Saradha chit fund scam, was Saturday sent to five days CBI custody by a court here.

Arrested Jan 31, Sinh was subsequently admitted to a hospital. Following his failure to appear before the court owing to illness, he was Feb 1 sent to judicial custody.

Destination wedding gets glamorous, thanks to Anjallee, Arjun Kapoor

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If you are planning a destination wedding, than Anjallee and Arjun Kapoor’s creations will surely add more glamour and fun to your trousseau. The designer duo showcased a range of collections for the various wedding functions at day three of Gionee India Beach Fashion Week 2015.

Presenting an assortment of looks with their “Persian Fantasy” collection for the various wedding functions, right from ‘sangeet’ to cocktail to reception, the designer duo had represented clothes for every occasion.

Highest turnout in northeast Delhi, lowest in New Delhi: EC

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Delhi’s north-east district witnessed the highest turnout of voters at 69.89 percent in the assembly polls Saturday while the New Delhi district registered the lowest at 64.01 percent, the Election Commission said.

“The highest voter turnout was in northeast district and lowest was in New Delhi,” the poll panel said in a statement.

Delhi’s North East district saw the highest turnout of voters at 69.89 percent in the assembly polls Saturday while the New Delhi district registered the lowest at 64.01 percent, the Election Commission said.

North Korea tests anti-ship rocket

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North Korea leader Kim Jong-un recently watched the test firing of a “newly developed anti-ship rocket,” media reported Saturday.

The test firing of the “ultra-precision anti-ship rocket,” which was designed to precisely hit enemy warships, proved that “the powers of the rocket boat and the anti-ship rocket’s hit rate reached the level of designed tactical and engineering data”, Xinhua news agency reported citing North Korea’s official KCNA news agency.

Three Indian-origin men charged in Singapore

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Three Singaporean men of Indian origin were charged Saturday for offences during a Tamil Thaipusam religious festival procession earlier this month, Channel NewsAsia reported.

Ramachandra Chandramohan, 32, was charged on seven counts, the most among the three accused, including disorderly conduct and voluntarily hurting a police officer. He was asked to surrender his passport.

Vaiko seeks Kerala’s support against neutrino project

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MDMK general secretary Vaiko Saturday met Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and urged him to oppose the Rs.1,500 crore neutrino project in Tamil Nadu.

In a statement issued here by MDMK, Vaiko submitted a petition to Chandy and urged him to oppose the India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO) project as it would impact Kerala’s Idukki district.

Vaiko told Chandy that the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board has not given its consent to the project that would endanger the Western Ghats and several dams and check dams in Kerala.

Delhi records 67 percent polling

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The fiercely fought Delhi assembly elections Saturday saw a record voter turnout of 67.08 percent.

“We are happy to announce this election has been unprecedented in terms of voter turnout. The poll percentage has crossed 67.08 percent,” Chief Electoral Officer Chandra Bhushan Kumar said.

The fiercely fought Delhi assembly election Saturday saw a record voter turnout of 67.08 percent.

“We are happy to announce this election has been unprecedented in terms of voter turnout. The poll percentage has crossed 67.08 percent,” Chief Electoral Officer Chandra Bhushan Kumar said.

Hindus in Malaysia slam cleric’s views on garlanding PM

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Ethnic Indian Hindus in Malaysia have strongly criticised a Muslim cleric’s suggestions that Prime Minister Najib Razak should not have donned a “Hindu” attire, nor should he have been garlanded at a “Hindu” ceremony, media reported Saturday.

Malaysian Prime Minister Razak donned the kurta and was garlanded at the Tamil Thaipusam celebrations in Batu Caves near Kuala Lumpur Tuesday, to which the mufti of the Malaysian state of Perlis, Mohammad Asri Zainul Abidin, took umbrage, the Malaysian Insider reported.

Thank you Delhiites, says Kejriwal

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After exit polls predicted an AAP victory in Delhi, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal Saturday thanked the people of the city for voting for his party in large numbers.

“My gratitude 2 Delhiites for their support,” he tweeted. “(You are) so amazing. (You) rejected politics of caste and religion. Hope final results (are) as per exit polls.”

He also congratulated all “selfless volunteers of the AAP who worked round the clock for their country. AAP is bcoz of u.”

(IANS)

Eight killed in Afghanistan clash

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A clash between security forces and Taliban militants in the eastern Nangarhar province left six insurgents and two police personnel dead, media reported Saturday.

“The armed insurgents attacked a police checkpoint in Ghani Khil district late Friday night, killing two policemen, but the police retaliated, killing six insurgents on the spot,” Xinhua news agency quoted provincial government spokesman Ahmad Zia Abdulzai as telling reporters.

Jordan continues to bomb IS targets

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Jordan launched new rounds of airstrikes against the Islamic State (IS) militants for the third straight day after its pilot was burned alive by the terrorist group, the Jordan Armed Forces said Saturday.

Fighter jets bombed several IS locations and returned safely, Xinhua news agency reported citing an army statement posted on its website.

On Friday, Jordanian fighter jets also took part in striking the IS militants in Iraq.

Earlier in the week, the IS posted a video clip online, which purportedly showed a captured Jordanian pilot being burned to death.

Vote first, wedding later for Delhi groom

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Wedding and voting, both happened to be Saturday, but groom Akshay decided to be a good citizen first and went with his ‘band, baaja and baaraat’ to the poll booth first.

Attired in his wedding finery of gold embroidered sherwani and with matching colourful headgear, Akshay first went to cast his vote at a polling booth in Chattarpur before heading for his wedding ceremony.

The groom took along his family to the polling booth for casting his ballot in the Delhi assembly election.