World War I ‘sacred soil’ ceremony honours Indian soldiers
4 12 2013|
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The
sacrifice made by thousands of Indian soldiers fighting for the British
Army during World War I has been recognised as part of a ceremony in
London.
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“Sacred soil” from 70 WWI battlefields in Belgium, which arrived by
warship to the UK, was laid at a memorial garden marking the 100th
anniversary of the war in 2014 in memory of soldiers from around the
world who laid their lives during the Great War.
The soil, collected by British and Belgian schoolchildren and put into 70 sandbags, arrived on the Belgian Navy frigate Louisa Marie and went on a ceremonial procession through London yesterday before reaching its last resting place at Wellington Barracks. More than 1,000 schoolchildren were involved in collecting 70 bags of soil from the battlefields earlier this year. The soil was blessed in a ceremony at the Guards’ Chapel before eight-year-old schoolboy Patrick Casey was given the honour of pouring a crucible of soil taken from all the battlefields into the heart of the garden. Queen Elizabeth II’s husband Prince Philip, 92, was presented with the soil in a ceremony in the Belgian town of Ypres earlier this month, as a mark of remembrance for the tens ofthousands of Commonwealth soldiers who died in the 1914-18 war. Among them were around 1.2 million soldiers from undivided India who fought for the British Empire, of which 74,000 died. British junior defence minister John Astor, who attended the ceremony, said: “They were killed for our freedom, they paid a very high price for that, and we are enjoying the freedom now.” The Guards Museum, which funded the project with help from public donations and corporate sponsors, including a contribution from the government of Flanders, described the 700,000 project as “unprecedented” and “historic”. Designed by Belgian architect Piet Blanckaert,the “Flanders Fields1914-2014″ Memorial Garden is intended as “a symbol of hope and a better future for all”. |
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Sujatha Singh meets Bangladesh PM Hasina
4 12 2013|
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Foreign
Secretary Sujatha Singh on Wednesday met Bangladesh Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina and other top leaders and discussed bilateral relations
amid political turmoil in the country over the January 5 general
elections.
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During
the meeting Hasina termed poverty as the common enemy of the region and
underscored the need for working together to eradicate the menace, the
prime minister’s press secretary Abul Kalam Azad told reporters.
Singh later called on the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party’s chief and former prime minister Khaleda Zia.
Earlier, she held a meeting with Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali. After the meeting with Ali, Singh told reporters that she had a very good discussion. The visit comes amid political turmoil in Bangladesh with former president and Jaitya Party chief Hussain Muhammad Ershad ruling out contesting January 5 elections. This is Singh’s first visit to Bangladesh after becoming Foreign Secretary in August. Her visit comes in the backdrop of Indian government facing stiff opposition in Parliament to introduction of Indo-Bangla Land Boundary Agreement (LBA), an emotive domestic issue for Bangladesh. The LBA envisages transfer of 111 enclaves with a total area of 17,160.63 acres to that country while there will be transfer of 51 enclaves with an area of 7,110.02 acres to India. Singh’s visit will be two days before UN Assistant Secretary Oscar Fernandez-Taranco begins his Bangladesh tour amid a standoff between the Awami League and the BNP over the polls. Violence linked to political unrest since October has claimed over 50 lives. The BNP-led 18 party alliance has organised a series of blockades and strikes to push their demand for postponing the polls. |
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4
12
2013
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‘HFA Football Festival 2013’ Kicks-off Today
Talents from Best Youth Academies to Show their Skills
Delhi, 4th December 2013: Hindustan Football Academy, a youth wing of Delhi’s leading football club – Hindustan F.C., kicked-off ‘HFA Football Festival 2013’ for sub-junior boys from 4th to 7th December at Thyagraj Sports Complex in Delhi.
Regional Development Officer at FIFA, Mr. Shaji Prabhakaran inaugurated the under-13 inter-academy tournament, where the best talents in Delhi NCR will show their footballing skills.
Mr. Prabhakaran
said that young footballers should get opportunities like this to show
their skills. “These kinds of competitions exhibit young players’ skills
and here they can also show what they have learnt at their respective
academies. These festivals also test coaches and help them to analyse
their wards. It is beneficial for young players, coaches, academies and
whole football fraternity,” he stated.
Mr. Dilip Kumar Bose, Administrator of Hindustan Football Academy
said that this is the first inter-academy tournament in the Capital.
“We organised the famous Hind Kishor inter-school tournament for a
decade. We recently discontinued the tournament and started this
inter-academy tournament as there were no competitive tournaments for
academies,” he added.
Total
six youth academies along with two teams from host Hindustan Football
Academy are participating in this football festival and compete against
each other in a round-robin tournament, divided in two groups.
Group
A consist of Pride Sports Academy (Dwarka), Punjab Heroes Academy (East
Delhi), Perfect Sports Academy (Gurgaon) and Hindustan Academy-Green
(C.R. Park), whereas Group B has Hindustan Academy-Blue (C.R. Park),
Punjab Sports Academy (Faridabad), St. Paul Academy (Hauz Khas) and
Indian Youth Academy (Vasant Vihar).
On
the opening day today, first match of Group A was played at 2:00 pm
between Pride Sports Academy, Dwarka and Hindustan Academy-Green, C.R.
Park where the later overcame the host 5-0. In the Group B match, Indian
Youth Academy, Vasant Vihar beat St. Paul Academy, Hauz Khas 3-0.
Tomorrow,
Pride Sports Academy will face Perfect Sports Academy at 4:10 pm and
Punjab Sports Academy will play against Indian Youth Academy at 3:30
pm, whereas Hindustan Academy-Blue will face-off St. Paul Academy at 4:10 pm. Semi-Finals will be played on Saturday, 7th December at 4:45 pm.
On the same day, Final match will be played at 5:45 pm, followed by a prize distribution ceremony.
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Delhi assembly poll has record turnout
4 12 2013
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Triangular fight in Delhi made 68 per cent Delhiites voted with young voters taking interest on Wednesday in the fiercely fought assembly polls, considered the litmus test for Congress ahead of the next year’s Lok Sabha elections, as arch rival BJP and debutant Aam Aadmi Party made it an interesting contest.
The high-pitched battle that saw BJP aggressively campaigning to stop Congress from getting a fourth consecutive term and greenhorn AAP, trying to corner both traditional political parties on corruption issue, culminated with nearly 80 lakh out of the 1.19 crore voters deciding the fate of 810 candidates.
Congress was seeking another term under Sheila Dikshit, BJP and AAP were led by their chief ministerial candidates Harsh Vardhan and bureaucrat-turned-politician Arvind Kejriwal respectively for the 70-member assembly.
“The turnout has been around 68 per cent. The election was incident free,” Delhi’s Chief Electoral officer Vijay Dev said addressing a press conference in the evening. Nearly 70,000 people were standing in queue around 6 PM, he said.
Today’s turnout was a record in all elections in Delhi including assembly and Lok Sabha polls in last two decades. In 2008 assembly polls, the overall voting percentage was 57.58 while in 2003, it was 53.42 per cent.
Vice President Hamid Ansari, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Dikshit, Kejriwal and Vardhan were among the early voters.
Facing the toughest battle of her political career, Dikshit said she has kept her “fingers crossed” on the outcome of the election. Price rise and anti-incumbency are seen as major issues that may trouble Congress which is in power in the city for the past 15 years.
After casting her vote, Sonia exuded confidence of her party’s fourth straight victory in the Delhi polls. “We will win,” she said with a smile after casting her vote at Nirman Bhavan polling booth.
Vice President Hamid Ansari, Aam Admi Party Chief Arvind Kejriwal and Delhi’s Chief Electoral Officer Vijay Dev were among the first few to cast their votes in the Delhi Assembly election today.
Ansari reached New Delhi constituency’s polling booth no 8586 at Nirman Bhavan at around 8:10 AM in He was among the first few citizens to vote at the booth, where other high-profile voters like Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit are to also cast their ballot.
Dikshit, Kejriwal and former city BJP chief Vijendra Gupta are among candidates in fray from the New Delhi constituency.
Priyanka Gandhi accompanied by her husband Robert Vadra and Delhi’s Chief Electoral Officer Vijay Dev were also among the early voters. When asked about the prospects of Congress, Sonia said with a smile, “We will win”.
Sonia came with Dikshit and stood in the queue for a little while before being escorted inside the poll booth at the Nirman Bhavan. Clad in a while kurta-pyjama and a half-jacket, Rahul queued up for around 32 minutes before his turn came at booth number 88 at Aurangazeb Lane in New Delhi constituency from where the Chief Minister is contesting.
Exuding confidence over Congress’ victory, Rahul said that Dikshit has “done a lot of good work in Delhi. I think she will do well.” Dikshit struck a cautious note when asked about the possible poll outcome, saying she has kept her “fingers crossed”. “I will keep my fingers crossed,” she said.
There were some reports of malfunctioning of electronic voting machines (EVM) in some parts of the city but they were rectified, election officials said. The EVM at polling booth in Aurangazeb Lane, where Rahul cast his vote, malfunctioned when polling began.
In Jungpura, Badli and Krishna Nagar constituencies, some voters complained that their names have been struck from the electoral rolls and they could not vote.
Triangular fight in Delhi made 68 per cent Delhiites voted with young voters taking interest on Wednesday in the fiercely fought assembly polls, considered the litmus test for Congress ahead of the next year’s Lok Sabha elections, as arch rival BJP and debutant Aam Aadmi Party made it an interesting contest.
The high-pitched battle that saw BJP aggressively campaigning to stop Congress from getting a fourth consecutive term and greenhorn AAP, trying to corner both traditional political parties on corruption issue, culminated with nearly 80 lakh out of the 1.19 crore voters deciding the fate of 810 candidates.
Congress was seeking another term under Sheila Dikshit, BJP and AAP were led by their chief ministerial candidates Harsh Vardhan and bureaucrat-turned-politician Arvind Kejriwal respectively for the 70-member assembly.
“The turnout has been around 68 per cent. The election was incident free,” Delhi’s Chief Electoral officer Vijay Dev said addressing a press conference in the evening. Nearly 70,000 people were standing in queue around 6 PM, he said.
Today’s turnout was a record in all elections in Delhi including assembly and Lok Sabha polls in last two decades. In 2008 assembly polls, the overall voting percentage was 57.58 while in 2003, it was 53.42 per cent.
Vice President Hamid Ansari, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Dikshit, Kejriwal and Vardhan were among the early voters.
Facing the toughest battle of her political career, Dikshit said she has kept her “fingers crossed” on the outcome of the election. Price rise and anti-incumbency are seen as major issues that may trouble Congress which is in power in the city for the past 15 years.
After casting her vote, Sonia exuded confidence of her party’s fourth straight victory in the Delhi polls. “We will win,” she said with a smile after casting her vote at Nirman Bhavan polling booth.
Vice President Hamid Ansari, Aam Admi Party Chief Arvind Kejriwal and Delhi’s Chief Electoral Officer Vijay Dev were among the first few to cast their votes in the Delhi Assembly election today.
Ansari reached New Delhi constituency’s polling booth no 8586 at Nirman Bhavan at around 8:10 AM in He was among the first few citizens to vote at the booth, where other high-profile voters like Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit are to also cast their ballot.
Dikshit, Kejriwal and former city BJP chief Vijendra Gupta are among candidates in fray from the New Delhi constituency.
Priyanka Gandhi accompanied by her husband Robert Vadra and Delhi’s Chief Electoral Officer Vijay Dev were also among the early voters. When asked about the prospects of Congress, Sonia said with a smile, “We will win”.
Sonia came with Dikshit and stood in the queue for a little while before being escorted inside the poll booth at the Nirman Bhavan. Clad in a while kurta-pyjama and a half-jacket, Rahul queued up for around 32 minutes before his turn came at booth number 88 at Aurangazeb Lane in New Delhi constituency from where the Chief Minister is contesting.
Exuding confidence over Congress’ victory, Rahul said that Dikshit has “done a lot of good work in Delhi. I think she will do well.” Dikshit struck a cautious note when asked about the possible poll outcome, saying she has kept her “fingers crossed”. “I will keep my fingers crossed,” she said.
There were some reports of malfunctioning of electronic voting machines (EVM) in some parts of the city but they were rectified, election officials said. The EVM at polling booth in Aurangazeb Lane, where Rahul cast his vote, malfunctioned when polling began.
In Jungpura, Badli and Krishna Nagar constituencies, some voters complained that their names have been struck from the electoral rolls and they could not vote.
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RAVI AND SARGUN’S EMOTIONAL MOMENT
4 12 2013
RAQESH PAINTS DOWN SHILPA!
Dancing is not the only talent the contestants of Star Plus Nach Baliye
seem to posses. While everyone has an artist in himself, first time on
television Raqesh showcased his other talent on Nach Baliye. The budding
dancer and who is also a brilliant painter canvased a beautiful
painting for the stunning actress Shilpa Shetty Kundra.
Shilpa Shetty was totally awestruck when Raqesh unveiled a larger than life portrait which he had painted especially for her.
“I
was shocked that after such hectic rehearsals Raqesh took out time for
this surprise and he only took 5 hours to make it. It was a very sweet
gesture and something that has really touched me. I really liked the
painting, it’s something that I will always keep with me” said
an overwhelmed Shilpa. Raqesh later also expressed that his intention
was originally to paint a picture of her with her baby but since he
couldn’t get a clear image he couldn’t paint it. The actress was so
touched with Raqesh’s gesture that she admitted that had he painted her
picture with Viaan, she would have broken down. This came in right after
the couple’s remarkable performance that left the judges awed at the
new found confidence displayed by Raqesh.
Apart from great dancing, catch Raqesh showcase his painting talent on Nach Baliye Season 6 at 9.00 pm only on STAR Plus!
BRUNA THE NEW DHAK-DHAK GIRL!
If
you hear some bells ringing it’s not X’Mas celebrations as yet! We are
talking about the mercury levels rising on the latest season of STAR Plus’s Nach Baliye. After their breathtaking underwater act which was a first on Indian Television, catch Bruna-Omar sizzle onscreen once more with their latest unapologetic performance of love.
Jokingly
accused by Sajid on getting too bold for television the couple seems to
be undeterred and giving it all to prove their dancing prowess and
chemistry. This week, Bruna donned a completely different Indian avataar and danced to Madhuri’s famous ‘Dhak Dhak Karne Laga’ with the perfect matkaas and jatkaas! Beyond doubt this set the temperature soaring, leaving everyone spellbound for more!
Impressing
the judges yet again, the Brazilian beauty with her Indian beau has
taken the standards to an all new level. Their steaming acts and bold
concepts seems to be really the talk of the town… all we say is bring it
on Bruna!
Catch Bruna and Omar on Nach Baliye – 6 this weekend at 9 pm only on STAR Plus!
RAVI AND SARGUN’S EMOTIONAL MOMENT
It was a nostalgic moment for Ravi and Sargun when they returned on Nach Baliye. The couple didn’t just come to perform but share an invite to their extended and most beloved Nach Parivaar for their wedding that takes place this weekend at Chandigarh.
The
couple had an emotional outburst when they stepped on to the dance
floor before they tied the knot. They performed on the romantic number Mere Haath Mein
and tried to re-live the moment that was created last year when Ravi
proposed marriage to his longtime girlfriend Sargun. The couple was in
for a complete surprise when the Dholwallas stepped in and on Nach Baliye turned into a mini baraat celebration for them. This is not all the hosts Karan and Gautam made Ravi wear a sehra and Shilpa performed the auspicious aarti of the couple before they get into wedlock. The judges also gifted them an idol of Radh and Krishna for good luck.
Ravi who was speechless after this surprise said, “We
both are extremely close to Nach Baliye. When we participated last year
it was almost like being at home, we would just come to shoot and have
fun. I am very happy to be on this stage and invite everyone who was
part of that moment when we decided to take the step of culminating our
relationship to the marriage. This place has made it happen for us and
it’s always special to be here.”
Catch the soon to be married couple – Ravi and Sargun on Nach Baliye-6 at 9 pm this weekend on STAR Plus!
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