Page 293 - Video Gallery

Four seriously hurt in British theme park ride accident

Staffordshire, June 3 (ANI): Rescue workers said four teenagers were seriously hurt when two carriages collided on a rollercoaster ride at Alton Towers, one of Britain's biggest theme parks. Air ambulances were called to the scene after the accident on the "Smiler" ride at the theme park run by Merlin Entertainments Plc in Staffordshire, central England. One car was empty, the other contained 16 people. The Smiler, the latest new ride at Alton Towers, opened in May 2013 and is the world's first 14-loop rollercoaster, according to the attraction's website. It can reach speeds up to 52 miles (85 km) per hour.

President Pranab Mukherjee's meeting with business leaders in Sweden to boost economic ties: MEA

Stockholm, June 3 (ANI): The Ministry of External Affairs has stated that President Pranab Mukherjee's meeting with business leaders in Stockholm on Tuesday would boost economic ties between the two nations. President Mukherjee held two roundtable conferences with the Chief Executive Officers (CEO) of Swedish companies, some of them with their set-ups in India on Tuesday. India hopes to seek Sweden's assistance in building smart cities, renewable energy and skill development which are flagship schemes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government. The President has now arrived in Belarus capital Minsk on a two-day visit to enhance bilateral relations.

Sharif says 'enemies' trying to sabotage Pakistan's progress

Quetta, June 3 (ANI): Hinting towards India, Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has alleged that Pakistan's 'enemies' were trying to sabotage its development projects by destabilizing it. Sharif was in Quetta on Tuesday to review the overall law and order situation in Balochistan, in the backdrop of a recent bus attack in Mastung in which 22 passengers were taken out of buses and killed. In his opening remarks, Sharif said Pakistan's enemies were not happy with the country's progress and development and wanted to weaken it through incidents such as the Mastung bus attack. Referring to Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's statement that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi "very strongly" raised the issue regarding China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) during his recent visit to Beijing, and termed the project "unacceptable", Sharif said it has clearly exposed the Indian designs of hegemony.

President Pranab Mukherjee in Belarus on bilateral visit

Minsk, Belarus, June 03 (ANI): President Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday arrived in Belarus capital Minsk on a two-day visit to enhance bilateral relations. Mukherjee, who returned from a bilateral visit to Sweden, is the first Indian state of head to visit Belarus. In Minsk, the President will address a joint business conference along with his counterpart Alexander Lukashenko. As per reports, Mukherjee's visit comes at a time when Delhi and Minsk are in the process of finalizing a joint roadmap to expanding cooperation in sectors including industry, information technology, education and culture.India and Belarus share cordial relations. India was one of the first countries to recognize the European nation as an independent country in 1991 following which diplomatic relations between the two were established. Belarus has been supportive of India's candidature for a permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and at the Nuclear Suppliers' Group (NSG). Meanwhile India supp

Life in Gilgit continues to shamble due to growing corruption

Gilgit Baltistan, June 02: With corrupt practices going rampant in government offices in Gilgit Baltistan, the people are forced to live a miserable life. Pakistan has failed to rein in the corrupt officials. We have a report.

India and Sweden sign six agreements to deepen ties

Stockholm, June 02 (ANI): India and Sweden signed six agreements to boost trade, improve investment, cooperation in the field of scientific research and sustainable urban development during President Pranab Mukherjee's visit to Stockholm. Mukherjee and Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven held delegation-level talks to discuss bilateral and multilateral issues. Later, both of them witnessed signing of agreements between the two countries for cooperation in the field of micro, small and medium enterprises, besides an agreement on visa exemption for diplomatic passport holders. Sweden also supported India's desire to become member of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR). Mukherjee also went to Swedish Parliament where he was received by Speaker Urban Ahlin. Later, he wrote in the visitors' book, "Parliamentarians represent the voice of the people and Parliamentary exchanges are the best way to furthering people-to-people contacts". Mukherjee, who began his visit on May 31 would b

End of 'Love locks' from Pont des Arts bridge in Paris

Paris, June 2 (ANI): Workmen in Paris began pulling off hundreds of thousands of padlocks attached by lovers to the "Pont des Arts" bridge, afraid the sheer weight of the romantic tokens was putting the 19th century structure at risk. A statement from the city government said the padlocks spoil the aesthetics of the bridge and underline the potential risk for additional railing collapses into the Seine river below. Loved-up visitors from around the world have for years written their names on padlocks to symbolise their passion, then tossed the key into the River Seine so that nothing could ever break the bond. Australian tourist Wang Xu said he was shocked that the padlocks were thrown away and that he hoped they could be put in a museum instead. A couple from Washington DC turned up unaware of the padlock ban, and said they were disappointed.

Bengaluru police charge sheet man behind pro-IS twitter posts

China, June 2 (ANI): The Hubei provincial authorities in central China said they have mobilized over 3,000 people and more than 150 ships to join in the rescue of the capsized ship that was carrying 458 people when it sank in China's Yangtze River on Monday. Twenty people have been rescued as of Tuesday morning. The ship, which departed from the eastern Chinese city Nanjing and was bound for Chongqing Municipality in southwest China, sank "within one or two minutes" after being caught in a cyclone, according to the ship's captain and chief engineer. More than 30 boats have been dispatched for the rescue. Maritime authorities said most of the passengers are elderly people who signed up on a travel tour in Shanghai. There were 406 passengers, five travel agency tour guides and 47 crew members aboard, according to the administration. All passenger boarded from Nanjing.

Indian Diaspora has made us proud, lauds president in Sweden

Stockholm, June 01 (ANI): President Pranab Mukherjee lauded the people of Indian origin settled worldwide for their accomplishments and spirit of accommodation to the country in which they had settled. Addressing the members of Indian diaspora in Sweden, Mukherjee said that Indians have made the country proud because of their capacity to adapt to a nation that is alien to them. Mukherjee also recounted the remarkable success in Sweden where Indians have contributed. President Mukherjee arrived in Sweden's capital Stockholm on Sunday on the first leg of his five-day official visit to Sweden and Belarus. The visit to both the European nations is the first by any head of the Indian state to discuss bilateral and multilateral issues. Mukherjee will wind up his Sweden visit on June 02 and will head for a two-day visit to Belarus.

Sweden King welcomes President Mukherjee to Royal Palace

Stockholm, June 01 (ANI): Sweden monarch King Carl Gustaf XVI welcomed President Pranab Mukherjee at the Royal Palace, during the Indian dignitary's three-day official visit to the Scandinavian country. Also present at the occasion were Queen Sylvia, Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel. Earlier on Sunday, President Mukherjee arrived in Stockholm and was welcomed by Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel. Swedish fighter planes escorted the Presidential flight from the time it entered Swedish air space till its landing. The President was also accorded a guard of honour. Mukherjee also received a ceremonial welcome in Stockholm. President Mukherjee will be in Sweden till June 2 and will then travel to Belarus. This is the first visit by an Indian president to the Scandinavian country.

WHO praises Beijing as it sets to implement China's toughest smoking ban from June 1

Beijing, May 31 (ANI): As world observed World No Tobacco Day on Sunday, the WHO praised Beijing city of China for banning smoking in public places from June 01, hoping that the award will encourage rest of China to follow suit. Beijing will implement China's toughest smoking ban starting from tomorrow, prohibiting smoking in all indoor public places, workplaces, and on public transportation. According to the ban, operators of businesses should discourage their customers from smoking, and ask those who refuse to leave or report them to the related authorities. Some operators say it will be hard to totally prohibit smoking as many customers would like to smoke in their separately reserved rooms, and forcibly discouraging them will cause loss of business. The ban states that violators will face fines of up to 200 yuan, a twenty-fold increase from the current 10 yuan penalty. Operators of business who fail to fulfill their responsibilities will be fined up to 10,000 yuan.

US Vice President Joe Biden's son Beau Biden dies of brain cancer

Washington DC, May 31 (ANI): Beau Biden, the 46-year-old son of US Vice President Joe Biden, has died after battling brain cancer, the vice president said on Saturday. "The entire Biden family is saddened beyond words. We know that Beau's spirit will live on in all of us, especially through his brave wife, Hallie, and two remarkable children, Natalie and Hunter," said a statement released by the White House. Biden was former Delaware attorney general. He had been hospitalized this month for treatment at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center outside Washington. After eight years as attorney general, Beau Biden joined the investor law firm Grant and Eisenhofer in 2015. President Barack Obama paid warm tribute to Beau Biden, saying he took after his father. "He studied the law, like his dad, even choosing the same law school. He chased a life of public service, like his dad, serving in Iraq and as Delaware's Attorney General," Obama said in a statement."Like his dad, Beau was a good, big-he

Solar Impulse plane embarks on Pacific flight to Hawaii

London, May 31 (ANI): The world's largest solar-powered airplane, Solar Impulse 2, took off from China's Nanjing on Sunday over the Pacific Ocean to continue its round-the-world voyage. The zero-fuel Solar Impulse 2 - which weighs little more than a car - is attempting to become the first aircraft to fly around the world on solar power alone. Swiss pilot Andre Borschberg is likely to take five to six days of continuous flight to reach his central Pacific destination in the Solar Impulse aeroplane, which has a wingspan bigger than a jumbo but weighs little more than a large car. The purpose of the Solar Impulse project is not really to showcase a particular kind of future for aviation, but rather to demonstrate the potential of clean technologies more generally. Powered by more than 17,000 solar cells installed on its wings, Solar Impulse 2 is circumnavigating the globe on a 35,000-kilometer, five-month journey to promote green energy.

India shows its mettle again, two Indian-Americans declared co-champions in 2015 National Spelling Bee contest

United States, May 29 (ANI): Two Indian-American kids maintained their complete dominance in the annual Scripps National Spelling Bee contest by winning the prestigious competition for the 8th year in a row. Eighth-graders Vanya Shivashankar and Gokul Venkatachalam were declared co-champions in the contest. Gokul ended a tense standoff by correctly spelling "nunatak," an Inuit word for an exposed ridge in a glacier. Shivashankar had previously spelled scherenschnitte, a word that originated in German that means the art of cutting paper into decorative designs. In 2014, Sriram Hathwar and Ansun Sujoe were declared the joint winners. Indian-American Cole Shafer-Ray from Oklahoma bagged the third spot. This is for the eight successive year that Indian Americans won the prestigious competition and 13th in the last 16 years. The national spelling bee began in 1925 and is open to students through grade 8.

Remote Japanese volcano erupts and prompts evacuation

Japan, May 29 (ANI): A volcano on the remote southern Japanese island of Kuchinoerabujima (Ku-chee-noh-eh-rah-boo-jee-mah) erupted on Friday morning, blasting plumes of black smoke high into the sky. The eruption prompted authorities to order the evacuation of the island's residents and forcing airlines to divert some flights. Japan Meterological Agency's live camera showed the volcano erupting around 9:59 am. There were no immediate reports of injuries to the island's roughly 140 residents, whose only access to the outside world is by boat. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters in Tokyo they will do everything they can to make sure the islanders are safe. The chief government spokesman in Tokyo said they were sending a coast guard vessel to evacuate the island and the national government had set up a disaster management office.

Pak says taking steps to safeguard its interests against external threats after Manohar Parrikar's statement

Islamabad, May 29 (ANI): Referring to the Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar's controversial statement on 'fighting terror with terrorists' last week, Pakistan said that it was taking all possible measures to safeguard its interests against such external threats. Vowing to take 'proactive' measures to prevent another Mumbai 2008 attack from being hatched on foreign soil, Parrikar had hinted towards a new proxy war, saying they had to "neutralise terrorists through terrorists only". Pakistan Foreign Ministry spokesperson Qazi Khalilullah, while responding to questions during weekly news briefing, said Pakistan was deeply concerned over the statements issued by Indian defence and interior ministers. He said the statement of the Indian defence minister should be a matter of concern for international community. In a statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz had said earlier that Parrikar's

Pakistan Rangers foil bid to carry out terrorist attacks in Karachi

Karachi, May 27 (ANI): Pakistan paramilitary seized huge cache of arms and explosives foiling bid to carry out terrorist attacks in Karachi while seven suspected terrorists were killed in two raids, a Rangers official said. Addressing a news conference at the Rangers Headquarters in the Karachi, Rangers spokesperson Brig Mohammad Khurram said the raids were conducted upon credible information and specific security threats. Khurram said that in the first raid, the militants attacked Rangers with hand grenades and opened fire as they tried to escape. But later the three militants blew themselves up and one injured man was caught. In a second raid, three suspected terrorists were killed, one wearing suicide vest blew himself up while a Rangers soldier was injured in the exchange of gunfire. Khurram said the Rangers retrieved a young boy, Fahad Mirza who had been kidnapped by the militants on May 6. They had demanded a ransom for his release.

Taliban claim attack on Kabul guesthouse after overnight siege ends

Kabul, May 27 (ANI): The Taliban claimed responsibility for an overnight attack on a guest-house in the diplomatic enclave of the Afghan capital that ended on Wednesday morning after a stand-off with Afghan government forces. The Afghan Interior Ministry said the militants had been armed with a rocket-propelled grenade launcher and other weapons. All four attackers were killed and no other casualties were reported. One resident described what he heard during the night. The heavily armed insurgents stormed the guest-house late on Tuesday night. The attack targeted a guest-house owned by a prominent Afghan political family, Kabul's police chief said, declining to provide details about the occupants. Over a dozen explosions that sounded like rockets were counted during the attack and gunfire continued after midnight. Several of the more powerful blasts heard could have been caused by suicide bombers detonating their vests, an Afghan security source said.

Load Shedding problem in Gilgit Baltistan

Gilgit Baltistan, May 26, 2015: The problem of availability of basic amenities seems imperishable in Gilgit Baltistan. The major one being electricity crisis has been making life of the region suffer thoroughly. People of Gilgit Baltistan lead a miserable life. Basic amenities like shelter, food and even job opportunities are like perishing for the population here. However nowadays what has been torturing the citizens of Gilgit is the electricity crisis. With passage of time the problem of load shedding has been rising, leading to no resolution taking place in future. And negligence of authority regarding the issue has increased the rage of the citizens residing in Gilgit Baltistan. Gilgit Baltistan is one of the most neglected and backward regions under Pakistan's command. More than three-fourth population of the region lives below the poverty line. And due to the corrupt administrative system, the people here do not get any financial help and basic facilities. The allocation of funds

Hundreds rally in'Azad Kashmir'against India for seeking UN sanctions against Syed Salahuddin

Muzaffarabad, May 25 (ANI): Hundreds of Kashmiris in Muzaffarabad, capital of Azad (Pakistani) Kashmir took to the streets to protest against India seeking UN sanctions against Syed Salahuddin, Supreme Commander of Kashmiri militant organisation Hizbul Mujahideen. According to media reports, India has approached the United Nations Security Council to obtain UN sanctions against the Hizbul Mujahedeen chief, who is based in Pakistani Kashmir, in order to declare him an international terrorist under UN Security Council Resolution 1267 of the Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee. India is also seeking a travel ban and a freeze on his assets. If Syed Salahuddin is declared a terrorist under Resolution 1267, his access to assets and movements would in theory be limited. Chanting, "Syed Salahuddin step forward. We are with you," the protesters from various religious, militant and political organizations, marched through the streets of the city. Maulana Abdul Aziz Alvi, Chief of Jamaat-Ud Dawah (Azad