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New Delhi: A woman has been detained after she allegedly tried to throw a flower pot at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s convoy. She allegedly insisted that she wanted to meet the prime minister.
An advance team had barricaded the road where the prime minister was to pass when this woman allegedly started fighting with the police.
The woman, who had been waiting outside the building that has the PM’s office, has been taken for questioning.
(Agencies)
New Delhi: Former Lok Sabha speaker and Congress veteran Balram Jakhar died on Wednesday morning, his son Sunil Jakhar said. He was 92.
The cremation will be held at his native village Panchkosi in Punjab’s Abohar town at 11 a.m. on Thursday, said Sunil who is a former Punjab Congress Legislative Party leader.
Balram Jakhar had suffered a brain stroke a year ago. He is survived by two sons and two daughters.
Balram Jakhar served as the speaker of Lok Sabha from 1980 to 1989.
He was also the Madhya Pradesh governor from June 30, 2004 to May 30, 2009. He also served as the union agriculture minister during former prime minister P.V Narasimha Rao-led Congress government.
(Agencies)
Ludhiana: The Punjab Police is investigating a complaint from a British national who has alleged that she was sexually exploited by her fiance and Indian hockey team captain Sardar Singh, police said on Wednesday.
The complaint has been made by the woman who hails from Leeds in England and was the first Sikh player in the Britain under-19 women’s hockey team, said the police in Ludhiana. Investigation of the case has been marked to the Koom Kalan police station in Ludhiana district. Police station in-charge S. S. Nagra confirmed that the matter was being probed following a complaint.
The woman had complained to Ludhiana Police Commissioner P. S. Umranangal who marked the enquiry into it. The woman alleged that Sardar Singh had got engaged to her in 2014 and she became pregnant recently after both had a physical relationship. She said the hockey skipper forced her to go for abortion and after that he started avoiding her. The complainant said that she met Sardar in 2012 after becoming friends through a social networking site.
(Agencies)
Jammu: Ten soldiers, including an officer, went missing on Wednesday after an avalanche hit them in Siachin Glacier in Jammu and Kashmir’s Ladakh region.
“Ten soldiers, including a junior commissioned officer (JCO), are missing after an avalanche hit their patrol at 19,000 feet above the sea level in southern side of the Siachin Glacier early Wednesday,” Colonel S.D. Goswami, spokesman of army’s Udhampur headquartered northern command, told IANS here.
“A massive rescue operation has been started by the army and the Air Force to trace the missing personnel who are feared buried under the avalanche,” he added.
Siachin Glacier is the world’s highest battlefield which the brave hearts of the Indian Army guard despite extremely hostile climate.
The winter temperatures often drops to minus 50 degrees Celsius in the region.
(IANS)
Author shortlisted for the Man Booker prize in 2013 was an advocate of what he saw as Pakistan’s ancient traditions of pluralism and tolerance
Intizar Hussain was born on 7 December 1923 in India and migrated to the newly formed Pakistan in 1947.
Lahore: Pakistani author Intizar Hussain, widely recognised as one of the greatest Urdu writers in history, has died aged 92 following a period of illness, according to his doctor.
The prolific author, known for his novels, short stories, columns and poetry, belatedly saw worldwide recognition when he was shortlisted for the Man Booker international prize in 2013 and awarded France’s highly prestigious Ordre des Arts et des Lettres a year later.
Born on 7 December 1923 in India, he migrated to the newly formed Pakistan in 1947 – an experience he wrote about 50 years later in his short story The First Morning.
Hussain’s acclaimed novel Basti, published in 1979 and later translated into English, also addressed the history of Pakistan and the subcontinent.
Hussain, a regular literary columnist for Pakistan’s leading English-language daily Dawn, in later years became known as a voice of moderation and advocate of what he saw as the subcontinent’s ancient traditions of pluralism and tolerance.
Fellow Urdu writer Munnu Bhai said: “Intizar Hussain was a man of letters. His death has left a huge gap in the literary circle of the subcontinent that would be felt of the centuries to come.”
Hussain’s wife, Aliya Begum, died in 2004. The couple had no children.
(AFP)
An inter-religious conference on the theme ‘Prophet Muhammad – Pinnacle of Humanity’ was conducted on 30th January 2016 at Dr. Ambedkar Bhavan, Bangalore, from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm.
The program began with the recitation of the Quran followed by the welcome address given by Dr. Saad Mohammad Belgami, President JIH Bangalore Metro who welcomed all the delegates and participants.
The key note address delivered by Moulana Syed Jalaluddin Umri (National President, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind). He said that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) had come with the same message with which the previous prophets had come and he (peace be upon him) invited people to worship only one God who is the only creator of this universe and He who made everyone equal, more honourable is the one who fears God most. Prophet Mohammad preached rights and duties of every relationship and demonstrated it through his own behaviour and conduct.
The programme was followed by a talk by Sri Sri Shivanubhava Shivarudra Swamiji from Belimatha Mahasamsthana, Bangalore. He urged the audience to face every problem with firmness and always remember that God is with us and He will help us in every difficulty.
Later, Justice M. N. Venkatachaliah (Former Chief Justice of India) said that the world is looking at India as to how we will conduct ourselves as one human family and in order to be successful in this task we need the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
Later, Nadoja Sri Hampa Nagarajaiah (Renowned Litterateur) also addressed the gathering. The programme was followed by a talk by Giani Baldev Singh (Head Priest, Gurudwara Ulsoor, Bangalore). He said that God fearing people would worry about humanity and if we forget the teachings of the messengers then we would be deteriorated in life.
The program concluded on a positive note with a final talk by Mohammed Kunhi (Manager, Shanti Prakashana, Mangalore). More than a thousand people participated in the conference.
Midway through Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF – 2016), the festival Director, Mukesh Sharma and the Brand Ambassador, Jackie Shroff met the press on Monday, 1st February, 2016 at the Media Centre in the Films Division Complex.
“I am delighted to see that large numbers of viewers are sitting in our halls and watching documentary, short & animation films from around the world,” began Sharma. “We faced several hurdles in organising MIFF 2016, but the energy that is floating around is highly encouraging. I assure you that the next (15th) MIFF will be an even more pleasurable experience, once the film hub, currently under construction in this very complex, is ready. Instead of multiple venues, currently, we will accommodate 2000 viewers under one roof.”
Jackie Shroff shared that he was delighted to be among ideators and film makers from all over the world. Having worked in mainstream commercial cinema for 33 years, he said he is entering a new phase in his life. “It made me feel so happy when students who are part of the workshops at MIFF greeted me this morning with ‘Happy Birthday to You’. Yes, it is my birthday today, and guess what new step I took on this day? I attended a workshop on animation screenplay writing (conducted by Luca Raffaeli of Italy and moderated by award winning India animator Dhvani Desai) Animation has always fascinated me, and I hope to make some animation films someday. ”
Confirming his enthusiasm, Sharma said besides performing his duties as brand ambassador, Jackie has been watching films too. To avoid over enthusiastic fans disrupting screenings, he sneaks in when the lights are off, sits right at the back and sneaks out again before the lights come on. Asked whether he has had much interaction with audiences, Jackie replied in the negative. “So many of them want photos, selfies & autographs, that leaves little time to talk.”
Replying to a question about what could be done to improve MIFF, he said, “That is for the administrators to decide. But I would be very happy to see it become an annual event, like every other film festival in the city. A biennial festival is just not the same thing. IFFI (International Film Festival of India) at Goa is exciting too, but to me, Mumbai & Goa are the same. The synergy is the same. Both are island cities, and I love them both. We should make India shine, whatever the venue. Let us become examples of hospitality to all the delegates of the world. Let us sketch success stories of oneness every year. Instead of finding faults, let us support those who work hard to make these events successful.”
Sharma then paid a compliment to Jackie, that, he insisted was richly deserved. “Jackie’s presence has boosted our morale tremendously. He added that ripple that became a wave of energy.” Asked if the festival could be extended by a few days, since there was so much happening, Sharma responded by saying that it was not likely with the present infrastructure, which was really strained to manage the present duration, “but the point is taken”, he assured.
A surprise lay in store for Jackie Shroff, as the MIFF 2016 organisers presented him with birthday cake, which he gladly cut, and even posed for photographs & selfies with media persons. MIFF 2016, began on 28th Jan, 2016 and will end on 03rd Feb, 2016.
Backed by Russian air strikes, government forces capture strategic towns north of Aleppo as talks resume in Switzerland.
![Aleppo offensive launched as discussions between Syrian opposition and government kicked off in Geneva [AP]](https://i0.wp.com/nasheman.in/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/Aleppo.jpg)
Aleppo offensive launched as discussions between Syrian opposition and government kicked off in Geneva [AP]
The Syrian government launched a major offensive from the north of Aleppo and captured several strategically important towns, as talks in Geneva on a ceasefire continued on Tuesday.
Monday’s advance opened the way for President Bashar al-Assad’s forces to retake Aleppo, Syria’s largest city, as troops marched through the towns of Hardatnein, Tal Jibbeen, and Deir Zaitoun.
Hundreds of families were reportedly fleeing their homes because of heavy Russian air strikes on the area assisting the Syrian government’s advance.
Opposition leaders in Switzerland condemned the offensive, saying that it shows the government is not committed to finding a peaceful resolution to the civil war.
John Kerry, the US secretary of state, also warned on Tuesday that “the situation on the ground for the Syrian people is unfathomable”.
“We haven’t seen a catastrophe like this since World War II, and it’s unfolding before our eyes,” Kerry said at a conference in Rome on countering the advances of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group.
Talks in Geneva continued on Tuesday as the UN special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, was to meet representatives of Assad’s government.
Meanwhile, Syrian opposition leaders were meeting a Russian deputy foreign minister.
Discussions are meant to develop a “road map” to end the nearly five-year conflict that has resulted in more than 250,000 Syrians being killed.
IOC confident the mosquito-borne virus won’t affect the Games, even as Brazilian officials and WHO ramp up warnings.
![WHO estimates there could be up to four million cases of Zika in the Americas in the next year [Mariana Bazo/Reuters]](https://i0.wp.com/nasheman.in/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/WHO.jpg)
WHO estimates there could be up to four million cases of Zika in the Americas in the next year [Mariana Bazo/Reuters]
The Olympics in Rio de Janeiro will not be cancelled and the mosquito-borne virus will not affect the Games, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has said.
Speaking in Los Angeles on Monday, IOC President Thomas Bach expressed confidence that there will be good conditions for athletes and spectators at the Rio Games in August, despite the explosive spread of the Zika virus across the Americas.
But President Dilma Rousseff’s chief of staff, Jaques Wagner, has urged pregnant women to not travel to Brazil for the Olympics because of the risk posed by the virus.
“The risk, which I would say is serious, is for pregnant women. It is clearly not advisable for you to travel to the games because you don’t want to take that risk,” he said.
The unprecedented warning, issued just over six months from the opening ceremony in Rio de Janeiro, came after the World Health Organization declared an emergency over the virus, suspected of causing microcephaly, or abnormally small heads, in babies.
No vaccine or treatment currently exists for the virus.
Outbreak worse than believed
The World Health Organization (WHO) announced that the explosive spread of the Zika virus in the Americas is an “extraordinary event” that merits being declared an international emergency.
The agency convened an emergency meeting of independent experts on Monday to assess the outbreak, after noting a link between Zika’s arrival in Brazil last year and a surge in the number of babies born with abnormally small heads.
Al Jazeera’s Lucia Newman, reporting from Rio de Janeiro, said the increased scientific and financial help from the international community could not come fast enough.
“Many of the most impacted counties, like Brazil and Venezuela, are in the middle of an acute economic crisis,” she said.
“And as [the virus] spreads towards the United States, and perhaps beyond, the race to find a permanent solution is just beginning.”
WHO estimates there could be up to four million cases of Zika in the Americas in the next year.
Emergency declarations are meant as an international SOS signal and usually trigger increased money and efforts to stop the outbreak, as well as prompting research into possible treatments and vaccines.
Infections have been reported in 13 countries in the Americas, according to WHO, as well as in Asia, and in Africa, from where it originated.
Panama, which has reported 50 Zika infections, borders Colombia, which has so far reported more than 20,000 cases of Zika, including 2,100 in pregnant women. Colombia is forecasting that it will see more than 650,000 infections.
New Delhi: Sex determination tests, which are banned in India, should be made compulsory to check the killing of female babies, Union Minister Maneka Gandhi has said.
“It is better that we change the policy. As soon as the woman is pregnant, it becomes compulsory for her to tell if it is a boy or a girl and she has to register. If she registers in the initial stages, you will be able to monitor whether the birth took place or not,” said Ms Gandhi, the Women and Child Development Minister on Monday.
“I am just putting out this idea. It is being discussed though there is no conclusion yet,” the minister clarified at the All India Regional Editors Conference.
She called it a different way to look at the problem of female foeticide. “We cannot keep catching people doing (illegal) ultrasound,” she said.
Sex determination tests were banned in India in 1994 in an attempt to check foeticide or the killing of female fetuses in parts of the country where the birth of a boy is considered a boon.
India is among the countries with the worst child sex ratios in the world. The 2011 Census showed that there are 914 girls to 1,000 boys in India.
Reacting to Ms Gandhi’s bold suggestion, some activists have said that allowing sex determination tests may be a disaster in less developed societies where women are given little choice.
(Agencies)