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Croatia refuses to take in any more migrants even as Hungary extends 'crisis situation' to Croatian border

Croatia/ Hungary, Sep 18 (ANI): Croatia said it could not take in any more migrants, amid chaotic scenes of riot police trying to control thousands who have streamed into the European Union country from Serbia. Interior Minister Ranko Ostojic said Croatia would provide migrants with safe passage to reception centres around the capital, Zagreb, but that those not seeking asylum would be considered illegal immigrants. He said 6,500 migrants, mostly Syrian, had entered the country in the past 24 hours. Migrants began streaming into eastern Croatia on foot after Hungary closed the border and blocked their path north from Serbia into Hungary, and the European Union's passport-free Schengen area, on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said that Hungary has extended the crisis situation to territories neighbouring Croatia from counties on its Serbian border due to the streams of refugees and migrants. The ministry had summoned Croatia's ambassador to complain, Szijj

Vice President Ansari visits Angkor Wat temple in Cambodia

Cambodia, Sep 18 (ANI): Vice President Hamid Ansari visited the world's largest Hindu temple complex Angkor Wat in Cambodia, days after New Delhi allayed Phnom Penh's concerns over reports of building its replica in Bihar. The 12th century Hindu temple is visually, architecturally and artistically breathtaking. It is a huge three-tiered structure crowned by the five lotus-like flowers rising 65 metres from the ground level. In June, Cambodia protested with India over a private trust's plans to build an Angkor Wat replica in Bihar. On Wednesday, India and Cambodia signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to boost tourism between the two nations which would also enhance people-to-people contact. Ansari, accompanied by wife Salma, would also visit Laos.

Hamid Ansari says 'Look East' policy not sufficient, it has to be 'Act East' policy

Laos, Sep 18 (ANI): Vice President Hamid Ansari said that 'Look East' policy was not sufficient as it had to be an 'Act East' policy. Ansari was speaking after arriving in Laos to deepen bilateral ties especially trade links as part of New Delhi's 'Act East' policy. 'Look East' was introduced in the early 1990s when the opposition Congress party's PV Narasimha Rao was prime minister. It was also endorsed by former Prime Ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh. Last year in November, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address to the East Asia Summit in the Myanmarese capital Nay Pyi Taw, had said his government has turned the 'Look East' policy into 'Act East' policy. The Vice President's visit will focus on shoring up economic ties. During his two-day visit, Ansari will hold extensive talks with the Laotian leadership.

Chile President Bachelet tours city and meets earthquake victims

Chile, Sep 18 (ANI): Residents sifted through rubble in central Chile and saved what they could from homes after a magnitude 8.3 earthquake killed 11 people, forced one million from their homes and sent giant waves crashing into coastal areas. Aftershocks shook the South American country following Wednesday's quake, the strongest in the world this year and the biggest to hit Chile since 2010. Chilean President Michelle Bachelet toured quake-stricken areas where she met with victims and promised much-needed help was on the way while also calling on residents to pitch in as the clean-up process gets underway. Santiago declared a state of emergency for the Coquimbo region after Bachelet toured the area and met with residents and emergency planners in cities including Tongoy, Coquimbo and La Serena. Waves that slammed ashore in some areas were up to 4.5 metres (15 feet) high.

At least 23 killed after bomb blasts in central Baghdad

Baghdad, Sep 17 (ANI): At least ??23?? people were killed and 68 others wounded when three bombs went off in mainly Shi'ite neighborhoods in central Baghdad on Thursday, security and medical sources said. Two suicide bomb attacks in the central commercial district of Bab al-Sharji killed at least eight people and wounded 18 others. A third blast in the nearby Bab al-Muadham district killed four people and wounded nine, the sources said. The attack left several people requiring medical treatment in hospital. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attacks, but they took place in Shi'ite areas often targeted by Sunni insurgents from the Islamic State group. The government is trying to dislodge the insurgents from large swathes of the country's north and west, but advances have been slow, particularly in the western province of Anbar where Baghdad has been focusing its attention for months.

Powerful earthquake hits off Chile's coast, evacuation ordered

Chile, Sep 17 (ANI): A magnitude 8.3 earthquake hit off the coast of Chile shaking buildings in the capital city of Santiago and generating a tsunami warning for Chile, Peru and French Polynesia. Chile's government urged residents to evacuate the coastline. The mayor of Illapel, which is near the epicentre, said on a radio broadcast that a 26-year-old woman had been killed by a collapsing wall, and 15 others were reported injured. The quake hit just 46 km (28 miles) from Illapel, leaving the city 210 km (130 miles) north of Santiago without electricity or drinking water. People fled their damaged homes and poured into the streets, the mayor said. Witnesses said the quake was felt as far away as the Argentine capital, Buenos Aires, on the eastern seaboard of South America. Waves triggered by the earthquake began hitting Chile's coastline, with reports of flooding of streets near the ocean.

Pakistan, China military ties to grow to "unprecedented heights", says Raheel Sharif

Attock, Sep 16 (ANI): Pakistan's army chief General Raheel Sharif said military ties between Pakistan and China have "transformed" and the relationship will "grow to unprecedented heights." Sharif's statements came during the closing ceremony of joint exercises being carried out between the special forces of Pakistan and China. According to a statement from the military's media wing ISPR, Sharif visited Bahadur Ranges in Attock and witnessed the concluding session of the Pak-China Joint Field Exercise Warrior-III. Special Forces of Pakistan Army and the Peoples' Liberation Army (PLA) conducted the seven-week long Exercise with focus on counter-terrorism operations. During the closing ceremony, the PLA was represented by a senior level Chinese military delegation under General Li Fayi, the ISPR statement said. Addressing the troops, Sharif congratulated all participants of the exercise for displaying high level professional skills. Sharif said both China and Pakistan will continue to

Vice President addresses Indian diaspora in Cambodia

Cambodia, Sep 16 (ANI): Vice President Hamid Ansari attended the reception hosted by Ambassador Naveen Srivastava at hotel Inter Continental in Phnom Penh. A large number of people from Indian community and local guests attended the reception. There are about 15,000 Indian nationals working in various sectors in Cambodia. Most of them are based in the capital city. There are some Indians working as advisors in some of the Cambodian Ministries.

Japan exhibits green technology and robots at Malaysia expo

Kuala Lumpur, Sep 15 (ANI): An annual exhibition and conference for promoting green technology and eco-products, or IGEM, the International Green tech and Eco Products Exhibition and Conference Malaysia was recently held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. It is one of the biggest exhibitions in the field of the environment and energy efficiency in South East Asia. The event aims to help pursuit the rapid adoption of green technology. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government hosted the Tokyo Pavilion booth at the exhibition. Tokyo Metropolitan Government is continuously working to support exhibitors including small and medium enterprises in Tokyo, which are motivated to expand into the Asian market. For the second consecutive year Tokyo has earned interest from the Malaysian administration and industries.

Malcolm Turnbull is sworn in as Australia's 29th Prime Minister

Canberra, Sept 15 (ANI): Malcolm Turnbull, an urban former investment banker who supports marriage equality and action on climate change, was sworn in as Australia's 29th prime minister on Tuesday, a day after ousting longtime rival Tony Abbott in a party room coup. Turnbull, a Rhodes Scholar who previously led the Australian Republican Movement, was sworn in by Cosgrove, the representative of Britain's Queen Elizabeth, Australia's head of state. The Liberal Party voted in a secret ballot late on Monday and ousted Abbott as the leader of the senior party in a ruling conservative coalition in favour of Turnbull, a multi-millionaire former tech entrepreneur who is popular with the electorate.

PM Nawaz Sharif inaugurates Pak-China friendship tunnel

Pakistan, Sept 15 (ANI): Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif inaugurated the Pakistan-China Friendship Tunnels, which have been constructed over Attabad Lake in Gilgit-Baltistan. The tunnels have been constructed by the National Highway Authority (NHA) in collaboration with the China Road and Bridge Corporation to restore part of the road which had become submerged under the Attabad lake waters. The seven-km-long five tunnels are part of the 24-km portion of the Karakoram Highway (KKH) which was damaged in 2010 due to land sliding at Attabad area in Hunza valley. Two major bridges and 78 small bridges have also been constructed on the rebuilt section of the highway, reported Radio Pakistan. The project has been completed in a span of three years and two months. NHA officials briefed the Prime Minister on the details of the project and status of up-gradation of other parts of KKH.

Blast kills at least 10 people in Pakistan's Multan

Pakistan, Sep 14 (ANI): At least ten people were killed and 43 wounded when an explosion occurred after a motorbike hit a rickshaw in the Punjab city of Multan in Pakistan. Police said it appeared that the motorbike had been rigged with explosives. The powerful blast destroyed the rickshaw and other vehicles parked nearby. Buildings close to the incident were also damaged. The people wounded by the blast were rushed in ambulances to the nearby Nishtar hospital. According to local media reports, a hospital spokesperson confirmed that 43 wounded people had been brought to hospital. Some of the dead had been burnt beyond recognition, he added. Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif expressed grief over the loss of life and directed authorities to provide special medical care to those injured, according to statements released by his office.

At least nine killed in bomb attacks in north Cameroon

Cameroon, Sep 14 (ANI): At least nine people were killed in two bomb attacks in the northern Cameroon town of Kolofata, according to local officials, in what appeared to be the latest attack by the Boko Haram Islamist militant group from nearby Nigeria. Regional prefect Babila Akaou said the two attacks took place close to the Latin neighbourhood of the town. Army spokesman Colonel Didier Badjeck, who confirmed the death toll, said an investigation was underway amid diverging reports about whether the attacks were carried out by two teenage boys or two young women. A man in the village said the attacks had been carried out by "two children". Kolofata lies close to the border with northeast Nigeria and has repeatedly been the target of attacks by Boko Haram.

Bilawal Bhutto slams Nawaz Sharif-led government's policies

Lahore, Sep 13 (ANI): Chairman of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), Bilawal Zardari Bhutto severely criticised Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his brother Shahbaz Sharif, Chief Minister of Punjab, for their style of government and their anti-people policies. Bilawal, addressing a gathering of PPP workers in Lahore, came down hard on the government for their failure to overcome the energy crises and to end corruption and nepotism across the country. Recalling his mother Benazir Bhutto's tenure he said that the latter was always available for the poor farmers and others. Making a jibe at the powerful Chief Minister of Punjab, Shahbaz Sharif, who is the brother of the Premier and who calls himself 'Khadim-e-Ala' (The Great Servant), Bilawal said the younger Sharif should get a new name for himself because he had failed to live up to his current title. Bilawal, who was accompanied by his sister Bakhtawar, was addressing a packed hall of around 4000 party activists, his first address to a

Saudi king visits site of Mecca crane collapse, assures investigation

Mecca, Sep 13 (ANI): Saudi Arabia's King Salman visited the scene of the crane collapse at the Grand Mosque, one of Islam's holiest shrines, in Mecca which killed 107 people. He also visited victims in the Al-Noor specialist hospital in Mecca, where he was reassured of the health of the injured who had come from several countries, including Iran, Turkey and Afghanistan. Saudi Arabia said on Saturday that stormy winds knocked over the crane. Much of the city centre is undergoing construction work and many high cranes crowd the skyline. The Grand Mosque itself is undergoing an expansion and renovation. The king's visit came even as an engineer for the Saudi Binladin Group said that the crane had been installed in 'an extremely professional way' and that there had been no technical problem. He went on to claim that 'it was an act of God'.

Pakistan expresses grief over 107 deaths in crane crash at Grand Mosque in Mecca

Karachi, Sep 13 (ANI): Pakistan expressed deep grief and sorrow over the incident of crane crash at Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia that killed 107 people on previous day, saying all out efforts were underway to help Pakistani nationals there. At least 107 people were killed when a crane toppled over at Mecca's Grand Mosque on Friday (September 12), Saudi Arabia's Civil Defence authority said, less than two weeks before Islam's annual Hajj pilgrimage. At least 238 people were wounded, Saudi Arabia's Civil Defence body said. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has expressed his deep condolences on the sad demise of the pilgrims due to the collapse of crane, a message from his office said. President Mamnoon Hussain has also expressed his deep grief and sorrow over the loss of lives in crane crash. Saudi Arabia said on Saturday that stormy winds knocked over the crane which collapsed onto one of Islam's holiest shrines in Mecca and killed 107 people on Friday.

At least 87 killed as crane crashes into Mecca's Grand Mosque

Mecca, Sept 12 (ANI): At least 87 pilgrims were killed on Friday night and 183 injured when a construction crane crashed through the roof of the Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia's holy city of Mecca. Al Arabiya television earlier said the crane had fallen because of strong storms - western Saudi Arabia has been hit by strong sand storms in the last few days. The crane appeared to have snapped and smashed through the ceiling on the eastern side of the largest mosque in the world following high winds and heavy rain.The Masjid al-Haram, or Grand Mosque, was particularly busy at the time, as Muslims from around the world converge on the site ahead of the Hajj pilgrimage at the end of the month. Saudi authorities go to great lengths to prepare for the millions of Muslim who converge on Mecca to perform the sacred pilgrimage. Last year, it reduced the numbers permitted to perform haj for safety reasons because of construction work to enlarge the Grand Mosque.

Mecca crane collapse: PM Modi express grievance over loss of lives

New Delhi, Sept 12 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday expressed grievance at the loss of lives in the crane crash that occurred yesterday in Mecca. "My thoughts and prayers are with families of those who lost their lives in crane crash in Mecca. I wish quick recovery for injured," Prime Minister Modi said in a tweet. At least 107 pilgrims, including two Indians were killed and more than 230 injured when a crane crashed into the grand mosque of Saudi Arabia in Mecca Friday night. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup said Indian consulate in Jeddah is monitoring situation in Mecca. He said, "so far, injuries of 15 Indian pilgrims have been reported." The incident happened when a huge crane crashed into a part of the grand mosque that was filled with worshippers at the time.

Wasim Akram, Ramiz Raja sign contract with Pakistan Super League

Lahore, Sep 11 (ANI): Pakistan legend cricketers Ramiz Raja and Wasim Akram singed a three year contract with Pakistan Cricket Borad (PCB) as ambassadors for the upcoming Pakistan Super League (PSL), a PCB official said. According to media reports, Wasim Akram and Ramiz Raja agreed to step down from Master League. Holding a news conference with Najam Sethi, Head of PCB Executive Committee, Wasim Akram said the experience gained by the league will eventually benefit Pakistani cricketers. Ramiz Raja said Pakistani cricketers had always looked for such a league. Najam Sethi, Head of PCB Executive Committee told media that venue for PSL has been finalized and the first edition of Pakistan Super League will be played at Qatar's capital Doha from 4th February in which players from all international teams are expected to take part in. Sethi said the preparations were on in full swing.

Zero tolerance for terrorism and sectarianism: Pak interior minister

Islamabad, Sep 11 (ANI): Pakistan's Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said it has been decided to speed up and intensify the National Action Plan (NAP) to improve the overall security situation in the country, and to rein in elements spreading mischief in the name of Islam. Khan was addressing the media after a high-level meeting in Islamabad which was chaired by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, and attended by Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Raheel Sharif, heads of all intelligence agencies, all four provincial chief ministers, chief secretaries and the leadership of Gilgit-Baltistan and Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir and central ministers. The meeting had been called to discuss progress on the implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP) to counter terrorism and extremism in the country. Khan said among the 15 drafts presented to the meeting was a policy to streamline the registration of local 'madrasas' (religious seminaries) and the issuance of visas to foreign