Asian Lite News Archive

Category: INDIAN NEWS

  • Goa to have a new CM: Parrikar

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    Goa will have to wait until Saturday for a new chief minister, with Manohar Parrikar, who is tipped to be India’s defence minister, all set to quit. Parrikar said  that he would be putting in his papers Saturday. Speaking to reporters ahead of a crucial meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s legislative wing, Parrikar said:…

  • Shiv Sena cool with Modi’s offer

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      The Shiv Sena is cool with the offer of two central berths in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s proposed expansion of his ministry in the next couple of days. Confirming the developments, a senior Sena leader said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was merely implementing its promise to induct two more (Sena) nominees in the…

  • Modi discuses counter-terrorism with Peres

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      Prime Minister Narendra Modi  met former Israeli president Shimon Peres and discussed bilateral cooperation in various fields, including counter-terrorism, infrastructure, water, agriculture, health and science and technology. Modi lauded the immense contribution of Peres to the world polity and development of India-Israel relations, a Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) release said here. “The prime minister…

  • Obama greets Sikhs on Guru Nanak Jayanti

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      US President Barack Obama has greeted “Sikh friends” around the world on the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, saying the first Sikh guru promoted Sikhism’s core principles of equality, diversity, compassion, and tolerance. “The Sikh American community enriches the United States every day with its embodiment of these values, which are shared not just…

  • Keth Vaz is Labour MP of the Year 2014

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    Leicester East MP Keith Vaz named Labour MP of the Year 2014 Mr Keith Vaz, Britain’s the longest-serving Asian MP, has been named as the Labour MP of the Year 2014. Speaker John Bercow MP announced the Patchwork Foundation MPs of the Year 2014 at Speakers House for those MPs who have represented and work well with underrepresented,…

  • Modi likely to expand cabinet Sunday

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    The first expansion of the Narendra Modi government is likely to take place with Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar among the new faces expected to be inducted in the council of ministers. Informed sources said the expansion may also see greater representation among some allies and more balance in representation from states. Parrikar Thursday virtually…

  • Parrikar to be the next defence minister

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      Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar  virtually confirmed his elevation to the union cabinet even as the BJP legislators are expected to meet Friday to discuss his successor. While Parrikar is being tipped for the key defence ministry portfolio, one of the two held by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, the 58-year-old Parrikar said he had…

  • Modi for stronger ties with Israel

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    Prime Minister Narendra Modi  reiterated India’s desire to expand and strengthen cooperation with Israel in both traditional and new areas. During a meeting with former Israeli president Shimon Peres, Modi lauded the immense contribution of Peres to the world polity and development of India-Israel relations, in particular, an official release said here. The prime minister…

  • Sikh pilgrims reach Nankana Sahib

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    A contingent of over 1,500 Sikh pilgrims from India Wednesday reached the Sikh holy city of Nankana Sahib in Pakistan to mark the birth anniversary of Sikhism’s founder Guru Nanak Dev. The pilgrims left for Pakistan Tuesday, just two days after a massive suicide bomb attack Sunday left over 60 people dead at Wagah in…

  • Andhra faces another cyclone threat

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    The Andhra Pradesh coast is facing threat of another cyclone as the depression over central Bay of Bengal is likely to intensify into a cyclonic storm during the next 24 hours, the Met Office said . According to Visakhapatnam Cyclone Warning Centre, the depression lay centered about 560 km southeast of Visakhapatnam and will move…

  • B.K. Modi calls for ventures with NGO’s

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    Industrialist B.K. Modi, who launched the Global Citizen Forum initiative last year, is keen to do hold a separate event for NGOs in New Delhi in 2015 on the lines of the Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas. Modi, who heads Spice Global, said he has done many joint ventures in his life with “the aim of bringing…

  • Parrikar dismiss news reports

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      Goa Chief Minister  said he would comment on reports of his induction in the union cabinet after an “official announcement” is made. Parrikar was speaking to reporters at the Dabolim airport just after he returned from New Delhi. Parrikar, the state BJP president and the party’s organising secretary in Goa Wednesday met Prime Minister…

  • Mega music to revive Goa’s faltering tourism

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    Known as a balm for the soul, music could just bail out Goa’s floundering tourist season this year. With tourism industry stakeholders fearing a drop in Russian charter tourists by as much as 30 percent this year – largely due to the troubles in Ukraine – music festivals that have already lined up their gigs…

  • Victoria Memorial to showcase Sikh paintings

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      In celebration of Guru Nanak Jayanti , the iconic Victoria Memorial Hall here has put on display a relatively modern miniature painting of the first Sikh guru and plans to hold an exhibition of old paintings centred on the community next year. The miniature by W. Kapoor Singh, a non-celebrity artist, shows Nanak flanked…

  • India to be power surplus by 2019: Goyal

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    The government is working towards making India a power surplus country by 2019, Minister of State for Power, Coal and Renewable Energy Piyush Goyal said . He said that ensuring the availability of power on a 24×7 basis was one of the most pressing challenges the Narendra Modi government faced. The minister was addressing a…

  • Tatas make a splash in London

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    The normally unstated Tata Group  hosted a spectacular reception, the first event of its kind, at London’s celebrated Science Museum. Over 700 heads of business, British members of parliament and Tata executives from across Europe came together to demonstrate the commitment and capabilities of Tata companies in Europe. It was a gentle and sophisticated reminder…

  • Modi makes into Forbes power list

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      Indian Prime Narendra Modi joined the world’s most powerful people ranking 15th on the Forbes list with Russian President Vladimir Putin once again beating US President Barack Obama to the top spot. “India’s newest rock star doesn’t hail from Bollywood. He is the newly elected prime minister who sailed into office in May with…

  • Kashmir valley tense

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    With Kashmir Valley remaining tense over the killing of two youths by the army personnel, highly-placed sources  said intelligence inputs that militants may use a white Maruti car for their activities could have misled soldiers. “There was an intelligence information that a white Maruti 800, and a blue Honda City have been stolen and may…

  • Lanka gives hope for sentenced fishermen

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     Sri Lanka held out hope for the five Indian fishermen sentenced to death, with visiting Sri Lankan Minister Sarath Amunugama saying there have been no executions in the island nation for the past decade and the issue will be resolved with India. In answer to a query, International Monetary Cooperation Minister Amunugama told journalists on…

  • ‘Playing It My Way’ released

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    In a glittering event at a posh hotel here , cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar released his much awaited autobiography “Playing It My Way” among other star cricketers. Emcee Harsha Bhogle took the packed hall through Tendulkar’s life and the evolution of Indian cricket with on-stage conversations with Sunil Gavaskar, Dilip Vengsarkar, Vasu Paranjpe, and the…

  • Jaguar looking for apprentices

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    Jaguar Land Rover, the UK’s largest automotive apprenticeship provider,  launches its 2015 apprenticeship recruitment campaign.  The company, which has been rated Top Employer for School and College Leavers 2014 – 2015 by ‘All About School Leavers’, is looking for up to 200 new recruits to join the 620-strong group currently undertaking the scheme across its…

  • Asian biz forum gears up for gala event

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    Institute of Asian Businesses (IAB)  annual dinner and awards in Birmingham attract new business sponsors and a television favourite A well-known face on local television is to compere the Institute of Asian Businesses (IAB) annual dinner and awards on 29 November at the International Convention Centre in Birmingham.  Suzanne Virdee, perhaps best known as the…

  • Parrikar next defence minister?

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      Media reports emanating from New Delhi suggesting Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar would be the country’s new defence minister have created ripples in the state. The summoning of Parrikar, state party president Vijay Tendulkar and organising secretary Satish Dhond to Delhi for a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party president Amit Shah…

  • India makes its point clear to Pakistan

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    Pakistan should draw a “red line” whether it wants to talk to the government of India or to those who want to break India, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley said here . Speaking at the India Economic Summit, Jaitley said India is ready to speak to Pakistan and is willing to normalise the relationship, but then…

  • Algorithms to hit UK screens

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    ‘Poetic … stirring … visually arresting.’ – The Hollywood Reporter, US This Indian, Grierson-nominated documentary, which follows the moving, fascinating and soulful story of three visually impaired chess players over a three-year period, is currently only available to watch in the UK through ourscreen at Picturehouse Cinemas. British filmmaker Ian McDonald’s feature-length debut follows in the footsteps of…

  • Delhi assembly dissolved

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      The Delhi assembly has been dissolved, it was announced , and the Election Commission cancelled by-elections in three assembly constituencies in the capital. The Election Commission had Oct 25 announced that Mehrauli, Tughlakabad and Krishna Nagar would go to the polls Nov 25. BJP legislators from the three places were elected to the Lok…

  • Varanasi desperately seeking a makeover

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    By Karishma Saurabh Kalita  You would be forgiven if you thought that Varanasi, one of the oldest cities known to man, which is now Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s parliamentary constituency, would be a sight for sore eyes. Sadly for me, what lies in “the city of Shiva” only managed to make the soreness worse.…

  • Felt the Mumbai attack to the bone: KP

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    Former England cricket captain Kevin Pietersen has revealed that when his side was touring India and the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack took place, they “felt it to the bone”. England were playing a One-Day International (ODI) against India in Cuttack Nov 26, the day the attacks started. The last two of the seven match ODI…

  • Britain to digitally repatriate Indian flora records

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    Records of India’s diverse flora that exist in museum archives in India and London are all set to get digitised and made available electronically in a unique knowledge repatriation venture. In a collaborative exercise between the Indian Museum, Botanical Survey of India (BSI) and the University of Sussex in Britain, officials are exploring the possibility…

  • Rajnath calls for joined efforts to tackle terrorism

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      Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh  called on governments across the world to collectively address the issue of safe havens for organised criminal and terrorist groups. “Governments across the world have to collectively address the issue of safe havens for organised criminal and terrorist groups and their tainted money,” said Rajnath Singh at an Interpol…

  • India assures death row fishermen freedom

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    India’s High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Yash Sinha  met the five Indian fishermen sentenced to death at Colombo’s Welikada prison and assured them of every effort to secure their early release, even as in Chennai the MDMK accused the government of “playing with the lives of Indian fishermen”. Sinha met the five Indians – Emerson,…

  • Indians will build the next Whatsapp: Neeraj Arora

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    Indians have it in their DNA to build the next WhatsApp for the world, a top company official said here. “While Indians, thanks to their propensity for hard work and great ideas, have this DNA in them naturally, what is missing is the ecosystem to leverage it,” said Neeraj Arora, vice president for business development…

  • India welcomes Pentagon report on Pakistan

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     India welcomed a Pentagon report that points fingers at Pakistan for allowing Afghan- and Indian-focused militants to continue to operate from its soil “to the detriment of Afghan and regional stability”. External affairs ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said the Pentagon report “manifests a growing acknowledgement in the international community of the extent of Pakistan’s involvement…

  • Jaguar Bags Best British Luxury Brand Award

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    India-based TATA owns Jaguar has been named the Best British Luxury Brand at the prestigious Walpole British Luxury Awards in London. The awards are run by Walpole – a unique alliance of 160 British luxury brands that work together to promote British quality, design, craftsmanship, innovation and service around the world. Jaguar Land Rover was…

  • Xendpay offers ‘Pay what you want’

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    WORLD’S FIRST ‘PAY WHAT YOU WANT’ MONEY TRANSFER BUSINESS LAUNCHED IN LONDON Rajesh Agrawal, an Indian-origin entrepreneur, has set down a challenge to the multi-billion pound global remittance industry after launching the world’s first money transfer service to rely on voluntary customer tips. Xendpay aims to save developing nations’ customers £60m over next five years.…

  • Indian envoy visits Reading

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    Indian Deputy High Commissioner Dr Virander Paul visits Reading, constituency of Alok Sharma MP Alok Sharma, the Member of Parliament for Reading West, hosted a meeting for local businesses and individuals with the Indian Deputy High Commissioner to the UK, His Excellency Dr Virander Paul. More than 40 people attended the Reading meeting, during which the…

  • A vanishing tribe of Karnataka

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    By Fakir Balaji  Living far from the madding crowd and on the fringes of the deep forests in the bio-diverse Western Ghats off coastal Karnataka are the Halakki Vokkaligaru, a vanishing tribe, whose younger generation is a victim of modern lifestyle. Having survived over the centuries carrying the hoary tradition of their ancestors, the aboriginal…

  • India-Pak face off at UN

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    India and Pakistan faced off  at the UN as Islamabad brought up Kashmir in its renewed campaign to internationalise the issue. Diyar Khan, a counsellor at Pakistan’s UN Mission, said his country regretted that the people of Jammu and Kashmir had been deprived of their right to self-determination. Self-determination did not lapse with the passage…

  • India warns of nuclear terrorism threat

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    Warning that nuclear terrorism threats were a pressing challenge to the global community, India has called for stronger national and international action to prevent terrorists getting hold of nuclear material. “The threat of nuclear terrorism is one of the pressing challenges facing the international community,” Abhishek Singh, a first secretary in India’s UN Mission, told…

  • Modi to finalise WTO stand

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    Top commerce ministry officials  met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to finalise India’s position on the impasse over signing an agreement to ease global customs rules at the World Trade Organisation (WTO), an official source said here. India has asked for a permanent solution to the issue of public stockholding for food security purposes and not…

  • Google launch voice search in Hindi

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      Google announced the creation of the Indian Language Internet Alliance (ILIA), a partnership with leading Indian technology and content companies, in a bid to promote the growth of Indian language content on the web. Google said it hopes to bring 300 million Indian language speakers to the web by 2017 through the effort. Google…

  • India condemn Wagah attack

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    The terror bombing at Wagah in Pakistan that claimed 60 lives drew wide condemnation in India, with the government calling for “the firmest and most comprehensive action” against all terror groups while politicians called for united efforts to deal with terrorism. In a statement, the government said it “strongly condemns the dastardly terrorist attack” and…

  • Pakistan makes U-turn at Attari-Wagah

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    Making a U-turn on its earlier request to the BSF not to hold the full-fledged Retreat ceremony for three days following the Wagah blast, Pakistan Rangers Monday went back on their own word and held a symbolic ceremony for the lowering of national flags at the Attari-Wagah joint check post. The Pakistan Rangers held the…

  • Congress splits in Tamil Nadu

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    Barely six months after it was routed in the Lok Sabha election, the Congress in Tamil Nadu split Monday with senior leader G.K. Vasan announcing his decision to float a new party. “The people are looking for an alternative. We want to give an alternative in Tamil Nadu,” Vasan told the media, ending his long…

  • Goa on date with its colonial past

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    By Mayabhushan Nagvenkar   Over food, songs and films, Goa will engage with the culture of its colonial past in the sixth edition of the Semana da Cultura Indo-Portuguesa, an Indo-Portuguese cultural fest stretching over four months, kicking off on. The festival will see a celebration of Indian and Portuguese culture including art, cinema, music, cuisine,…

  • India lacks innovation skills

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    By Amit Kapoor  Entrepreneurship and innovation are intrinsically linked with growth and development of any economy. Newer ways of competing define not just innovation but are also intrinsic to the very idea of capitalism. India of late is realizing this paradigm of innovation. How real is it? There are several organizations (the likes of ISRO,…

  • BJP wants to get fresh in Delhi

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     The BJP has decided it will not form a government in Delhi and fresh polls should be held, party sources said . BJP sources said Delhi BJP President Satish Upadhyay met Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung. Upadhyay, according to sources, conveyed BJP’s point of view in the meeting. The LG’s office, however, refused to comment. Jung…

  • Sonia meets Vadra at home

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    Congress president Sonia Gandhi  visited daughter Priyanka and son-in-law Robert Vadra’s residence here, a day after Vadra snapped at a TV crew after being questioned over land deals. As the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) denounced Vadra and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) accused the Gandhi family of “arrogance”, the Congress came to the defence of…

  • Saeed Naqvi on Owaisi Brothers

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    Saeed Naqvi asks: Do the Owaisi brothers have a pan India potential?     The two successes of the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) of Hyderabad in assembly elections in Maharashtra may not affect government formation in Mumbai but reverberations will be felt in the nation’s politics for a long time. Victories in Aurangabad and Byculla were awesome, of…

  • Happy Birth Day Mr Khan: Didi

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    Mamata wishes Shah Rukh Khan on birthday West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday wished Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan on his birthday. “Today (Sunday) is the birthday of our very dear Shah Rukh Khan. We wish him best of happiness, prosperity, good health and success. Our best wishes also to all members of…