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It Happens: Devotees throng temples as month-long Hindu festival nears end

New Delhi, August 8 (ANI): Devotees carrying religious offerings, thronged Hindu temples on last Monday of auspicious month- long Shravan (monsoon) festival.Thousands of devout Hindus thronged temples dedicated to Lord Shiva on Monday to offer special prayers. According to the Hindu calendar, Shravan is the fifth holy month which ends on ‘Shravan purnima’, or full moon day. Devotees seek blessings of Lord Shiva for peace and prosperity and also take holy baths. Devotees gathered to offer milk, curd, ghee, honey and holy water to Shiva Lingam, a representation of Hindu Lord Shiva. A priest, Ramesh Yadav, in Madhya Pradesh wished peace for devotees and the nation. The saffron-clad devotees also known as ‘kanwarias’ undertake journey of foot to Hindu pilgrimage places of Haridwar, Gaumukh and Gangotri in Uttarakhand to fetch holy waters of Ganges River. A devotee, Vinod Shankar Patel, said that on this occasion Lord Shiva and goddess Parvati had met. The auspicious Shravan festival started on July 14 and will conclude on August 10.

Aug 8, 2014

US Defence Secretary Visit: Hagel Meets Modi, Discusses Iraq, Defence Ties

The meet comes two days after the Union Cabinet cleared proposal for 49 percent FDI in the defence sector.

Aug 8, 2014

It Happens: Artists enchant audience at cultural festival in Kashmir

Srinagar, August 8 (ANI): A five-day cultural festival, organised jointly by Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, and the North Zone Cultural Centre (NZCC), Patiala, started in Jammu and Kashmir. The event will take place at different parts of the valley. The festival consists of musical programmes and poetic symposium featuring renowned artistes from Kashmir and neighbouring states. Artists performing on stage also seemed delighted with the response.

Aug 8, 2014

Chief Engineer in Kashmir resigns after senior minister abuses him

Srinagar, Aug 8 (ANI): Senior officer of Public Health Engineering (PHE) department in Jammu and Kashmir, Muzaffar Lankar, resigned from service and said he was allegedly abused by a senior minister of the state. Lankar submitted his resignation to the state government after he accused Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Minister, Choudhary Mohammad Ramzan, of using abusive language against him during a meeting at Civil Secretariat in Srinagar, which was presided over by PHE Minister Sham Lal Sharma to take stock of the works undertaken by the department in one of the assembly constituencies. Lankar said Choudhary used un-parliamentary language against him. Moreover, Lankar added there was no discussion on rupees 50 million needed to implement on schemes and instead, from the beginning of the meeting, he called engineers as thieves and liars.

Aug 8, 2014

Tarun Tahiliani raises the curtain of IBFW14

New Delhi, August 8 (ANI): : Renowned fashion designer Tarun Tahiliani with his opulent Mughal-themed wedding collection raised the curtain on the four-day long ‘BMW India Bridal Fashion Week 2014’ in India’s fashion capital, New Delhi recently. Aptly titled `Modern Mughals`, the line was a mélange of Indian craftsmanship perfected over generations with the fit, finish and functionality of western dressing. He broke convention by opening the show with his black bridal ensemble. At the event, he gave styling tips for all the would-be brides. Well….it was a great start to this much-talked fashion week!!!

Aug 8, 2014

India goes on alert for Ebola with thousands of nationals in West Africa

New Delhi, Aug 08 (ANI): Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Friday said that the authorities were on alert for the Ebola virus suggesting there was a risk that the deadly virus could be imported into country if the large population of Indians working in the four affected West African nations return. The government has directed the concerned authorities to examine the people coming from Ebola affected countries as a precautionary measure. There is no vaccine or cure for Ebola - a hemorrhagic fever with a fatality rate of up to 90 percent that causes symptoms ranging from flu-like pains to internal and external bleeding caused by kidney and liver failure. Its suspected origin is forest bats and it can be transmitted between humans by touching victims or through bodily fluids. Vardhan advised against all non-essential travel to the four countries, adding that authorities will screen travellers who originate from or transit through affected nations, and track them after their arrival in India. He added that the government also planned to spread public awareness about the disease through newspapers, radio and television. Information about the virus will be posted on the health ministry's website.

Aug 8, 2014

Phoolan Devi murder case: Delhi court convicts Sher Singh Rana

New Delhi, Aug 08 (ANI): In the 2001 murder case of dacoit-turned-MP Phoolan Devi, the Delhi-based Patiala House Court on Friday found main accused Sher Singh Rana guilty of committing the crime. Meanwhile, the court let off the ten other in the case. The sentencing will take place on 12 August. Rana was convicted by Delhi court for murder, attempt to murder and common intention under the IPC. Eleven people, including prime accused Sher Singh Rana, were accused in the case.

Aug 8, 2014

Gujarat CM meets Oil Minister over state issues, ties rakhi to him

New Delhi, Aug 08 (ANI): Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel on Friday met Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Dharmendra Pradhan and discussed about pending issues of the state regarding oil and natural gas. Patel also tied rakhi to Pradhan and said that the meeting was positive. The new chief minister also said that she will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and will tie rakhi to him as well.

Aug 8, 2014

Politicos welcome Modi's guidelines for bureaucrats

New Delhi, Aug 08 (ANI): Political leaders on Friday welcomed the 19-point guideline by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bureaucrats. Modi made amendments in All India Service (Conduct) Rules, 1968 and added 19 points, according to which bureaucrats will have to maintain political neutrality. BJP spokesperson Siddharth Nath Singh, said the step would bring in more accountability and transparency. The new set of rules also directs bureaucrats to take decisions solely in public interest, and make recommendations on merit alone. NCP leader Tariq Anwar, called it a positive sign.

Aug 8, 2014

19 more Indian nurses arrive home from Libya

Kochi, Aug 08 (ANI): Nineteen more Indian nurses, who were stranded in strife-torn Libya, arrived home in Kerala on Friday. Alby Mathew, a nurse who was among the stranded, applauded government for arrangements. Fighting in Tripoli and the eastern city of Benghazi is the worst since the 2011 civil war that ended four decades of Muammar Gaddafi's rule, increasing international worries that Libya is becoming a failed state.

Aug 8, 2014

HC refuses to lift ban on E-Rickshaws, next hearing on Monday

New Delhi, Aug 08 (ANI): The Delhi High Court on Friday refused to lift ban on E-Rickshaws in the national capital. The lawyer in the case, Pinky Anand said that many guidelines were submitted by them and also the court and the final take on the same will be decided after the next hearing. The next hearing in the case is deferred to Monday.

Aug 8, 2014

Delhi Lt Governor Najeeb Jung addresses people ahead of Independence Day

New Delhi, Aug 08 (ANI): Delhi Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung on Friday addressed the people ahead of the Independence Day on 15th August and appealed the people to get engrossed in the occasion. He said that there will be a number of programmes held in the national capital starting from tomorrow and invited people of Delhi to take part in the same. He also advocated for a clean Delhi and appealed to keep the city clean and green during the festivity.

Aug 8, 2014

Jaswant Singh very critical after head injury, put on life support system

New Delhi, Aug 08 (ANI): Former Defence Minister Jaswant Singh has been put on life support system at the Army Research and Referral Hospital, where he was admitted after reportedly slipping at home and grievously injuring his head. A Defence Ministry statement said that, "At present the condition is very critical. He is on life support systems and under constant monitoring by a team of neurosurgeons and critical care providers." Examination at the hospital showed him to be in coma, with signs of 'raised intracranial tension and a haematoma scalp'. Meanwhile, Home Minister Rajnath Singh arrived at the hospital to enquire about the former BJP leader’s health. Other BJP leaders like Shahnawaz Hussain and Rajiv Pratap Rudy also visited the hospital to inquire about Singh.

Aug 8, 2014

As the Sunni insurgents ISIS are making their advance towards the capital Baghdad US President Barack Obama has said that his administration is still evaluating military options.

ISIS Tactical Advances towards Erbil Forced Obama to Order US Airstrikes?

Erbil is strategically important to US as the country maintains a large consulate, including a CIA station office and a military Joint Operations Command Centre in the region.

Aug 8, 2014