CAR STRIKES PEDESTRIANS IN ST. PETERSBURG
One person was killed and four others injured after a car plowed into pedestrians on Promyshlennaya street in Saint Petersburg Saturday night, traffic police confirmed on Sunday, adding that a woman, 37, died at the scene. Two women, 47 and 18, and a man, 20, sustained heavy injuries. Another victim, a man, 27, is said to be in moderate condition. According to preliminary information, the driver lost control of his Volkswagen Polo and hit an adjacent building, ramming into pedestrians. “The driver of a Volkswagen Polo due to an as yet unknown cause lost control of the vehicle and hit pedestrians,” police told local media. The man, reportedly unharmed in the incident, has been detained by local police. RT news
FINLAND : MINUTE OF SILENCE
People throughout Finland held a minute of silence on Sunday morning to commemorate the victims of a stabbing spree on Friday in the city of Turku.
An 18-year-old Moroccan national killed two people and injured eight others in what Finland considers the first terrorist attack in the country’s modern history.
President Sauli Niinisto laid flowers at the scene of the attack, the Turku market square. City and police officials and local religious leaders joined in the ceremony
CATALONIA POLICE HUNT YOUNES ABOUYAAQOUB
Police in Catalonia are still looking for a 22-year-old Moroccan suspect in the Barcelona attacks, who may have fled north into France.
The suspect, Younes Abouyaaqoub, is the only person unaccounted for in the case of an extremist cell of 12 people identified by Spanish police, force spokesman Albert Oliva told a local radio station on Sunday. Oliva added that the identification process of the 14 victims in Barcelona is progressing, but will require more time for DNA testing and necessary formalities. He said the families of some of the individuals killed have been notified.
Catalan police have put up scores of roadblocks across the province in a manhunt for Abouyaaquoub, but the suspect has so far eluded law enforcement. The investigation is also focusing on imam Abdelbaki Es Satty, who is suspected of radicalizing the group behind the Barcelona attack. He is believed to have died in an explosion in a house in the town of Alcanar.Oliva refrained from confirming the number of people killed in the blast, saying it could be “one, two or three.”
Catalonia Police Chief Josep Lluis Trapero later on Sunday confirmed that the remains of two people were indentified in the Alcanar house. The official also said that only one person was inside the van used to attack pedestrians in Barcelona, but it was not necessarily Abouyaaquoub, whose credit card was used to rent the vehicle.
Abouyaaquoub, Trapero added, may have eluded the manhunt in Spain and crossed into France.
On Thursday, a man plowed a van into a crowd of people in a popular tourist street in Barcelona, killing 13 people and injuring more than 100. Hours later, terrorists launched a second attack in the seaside town of Cambrils, injuring seven people, one of whom later died
Catalonian terrorist cell, responsible for the twin attacks in Barcelona and Cambrils, originally planned to carry out a major bombing campaign with explosive-laden vans. Antoni Gaudi’s unfinished cathedral masterpiece was reportedly their main target.
Wednesday’s apparent accidental explosion at their Alcanar hideout forced the terrorists to adjust their sinister plans. The group of jihadists plotted to construct a number of bombs to blow up at least three targets in Barcelona, the Spanish online portal El Espanol reported Saturday.
. Media agencies
FM : SPEEDY RESOLUTION OF BAD LOANS
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has assured balance-sheet stressed firms that the key objective of NPA resolution is not liquidation of their businesses but to save them. He said, the objective is to make sure that these valuable assets are preserved.
Addressing an insolvency summit organised by Confederation of Indian Industry in Mumbai yesterday, the Minister said, the new insolvency law has significantly reversed defaulting debtor-creditor relationship. Explaining the rationale for the new insolvency and bankruptcy code,IBC, he said, this was necessitated by the failure of debt recovery tribunals to effectively perform their duty after the initial success.
Mr Jaitley added that the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act had succeeded in getting down NPAs drastically in the initial two-three years. Calling for speedy and time-bound resolution of the bad loans issue, the Finance Minister expressed hope that the mandated timelines will be adhered to for effective implementation of the Act.
Speaking on the occassion, RBI Governor Urjit Patel called for recapitalisation of state-run banks to help them resolve the NPAs issue in a time-bond manner. He said, bad loans at 9.6 per cent of the system is not acceptable. The government and the RBI are working together to comprehensively address the issue through a multi-pronged approach, he added.
IRAQ : FORCES TO TAKE BACK TAL AFAR FROM IS
Iraq, security forces today launched an offensive to take back the city of Tal Afar. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said, this is their next objective in the US-backed campaign to defeat the Islamic State terror group. In a televised speech, he advised the terrorists either to surrender or be prepared to die.
A longtime stronghold of hardline Sunni insurgents, Tal Afar, 80 kilometers west of Mosul, was cut off from the rest of the Islamic State-held territory in June.
According to US and Iraqi Military commanders, about 2,000 terrorists remain in the city. The Islamic State’s self-proclaimed caliphate collapsed last month, when US-backed Iraqi forces completed the takeover of Mosul, after a nine-month campaign.
A longtime stronghold of hardline Sunni insurgents, Tal Afar, 80 kilometers west of Mosul, was cut off from the rest of the Islamic State-held territory in June.
According to US and Iraqi Military commanders, about 2,000 terrorists remain in the city. The Islamic State’s self-proclaimed caliphate collapsed last month, when US-backed Iraqi forces completed the takeover of Mosul, after a nine-month campaign.
INDIAN ARMS DEALER’S SWISS ACCOUNTS UNDER SCRUTINY
PM MODI, AMIT SHAH TO MEET SAFFRON CM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah will meet chief ministers and deputy chief ministers of all party ruled states tomorrow to take stock of development and social welfare work being done.
Our corresponden quoting party sources reports, besides 13 chief ministers and six deputy chief ministers, a few cabinet ministers are also likely to attend the meeting. This will be Mr Modi’s third meeting with the chief ministers’ after the BJP swept to power in 2014.
UTKAL EXPRESS DERAILMENT IN UP
Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu today directed Chairman, Railway Board, to fix responsibility on prima facie evidence by today only into the derailment of the Utkal Express in Uttar Pradesh.
The railway ministry said 21 people were killed and 97 injured, 26 of them grievously, in the accident near Khatauli in western Uttar Pradesh.
“Prime facie, it seems maintenance work was being carried out on the tracks. An investigation will reveal what caused the accident,” Mohammed Jamshed, Member (Traffic), Railway Board, told reporters in Delhi.
Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu directed the chairman of the Railway Board to fix responsibility on “prima facie evidence by the end of day” for the derailment. He had ordered an inquiry into the accident.
Media reports 23 people died and 156 were injured after 14 coaches of the Utkal Express derailed near Muzaffarnagar in western Uttar Pradesh yesterday evening.
In a tweet, Mr Prabhu said that he is monitoring the situation closely and restoration of tracks is his top priority. The minister directed senior officials and medical personnel to provide assistance to injured passengers and all possible help to relatives of affected passengers.
Mr Prabhu had ordered an inquiry into the derailment yesterday. He said he was personally monitoring the situation and strict action will be taken in case of any lapse.
Mr Prabhu had ordered an inquiry into the derailment yesterday. He said he was personally monitoring the situation and strict action will be taken in case of any lapse.
Affected rail route is expected to be cleared and traffic is likely to be restored by 7 this evening. Meanwhile, all the trains on the Ambala-Meerut- Saharanpur line will be cancelled or diverted. About 12 passenger trains have been diverted and three trains have been cancelled following the accident. Of 23 causalities 11 have been identified. Of them five were from Gwalior and Muraina districts of Madhya Pradesh and six were from Saharanpur, Agra and Muzaffarnagar districts of Uttar Pradesh. A total 156 injured are admitted in different hospitals of Muzaffarnagar and Meerut. State Government has released the list of injured.
Our correspondent reports that NDRF, ATS and PAC have completed search and rescue operations at the accident site. Railway authorities have started restoration works. Rerailing device and a full scale ART have reached at the site. In view of any suspect terror module behind the derailment a team of ATS of state police has been put for investigation.
The minister also announced 3.5 rupees lakh ex-gratia compensation for those who lost their lives, 50,000 for the seriously injured and 25,000 for those who received minor injuries.
UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has also announced financial assistance of two lakh rupees each for the kin those killed and 50,000 for the injured.
Muzaffarnagar administration has opened a helpline and the numbers are 0131-243-6918, 0131-243-6103 and 0131-243-6564. Haridwar railway station has also set up a helpline number. The number is 9760-534-054. Meerut Police Helpline numbers are 945-440-1587, 945-441-7431 and 0121-264-8623.
President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have expressed sadness over the incident. In a tweet, Mr Kovind said, his thoughts are with the deceased and their families. Mr Modi said, the Railway Ministry and the UP government are doing everything and providing all assistance required.
Congress President Sonia Gandhi has also expressed pain at the derailment. She called upon Pradesh Congress and party workers to provide assistance to the affected families.
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has announced ex-gratia of five lakh rupees each to the next of the kin of Odia passengers killed in the derailment. A statement from the Chief Minister’s office said, Mr Patnaik also announced 50,000 rupees for those injured. The Chief Minister spoke to Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu and sought his assistance for the rescue of the passengers. He also asked the state’s commerce and transport department to work in coordination with the railways and Uttar Pradesh government to provide help to the injured persons and the kin of the deceased.
WORLD PHOTOGRAPHY DAY
19-20th August, 2017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
IIP Ignites the Passion for Photography this World Photography Day at NOIDA!
IIP Academy Noida joyously celebrated WORLD PHOTOGRAPHY DAY, this 19th of
August.
A successful and eye catching exhibition was displayed by IIP Academy at DLF Mall of India, Noida, India’s biggest mall, to recognize the craft that immortalizes memories and events. Impactful photographs taken by the passionate and aspiring photographers of the IIP Academy were displayed on attractive easels, becoming an instant crowd puller. Our wish is to engage and impact the lives of people through these images and also fuel the passion for photography by inspiring the youth towards a path of creativity and storytelling.
To commemorate the glorious craft and the world of lights and shadows, banners were also put up from 19th to 25th August covering the area between Sector 15 to Sector 18 metro station Noida, showcasing the work of 50 of our students for IIP. Our aim was to spread awareness about the art of vision by engaging the residents of Noida through its vibrancy and dynamic nature, to pull them towards a life of creativity and happiness.
SSP CHAWRASIA NOMINATED FOR ARJUNA AWARD
New Delhi, August 20, 2017: Olympian SSP Chawrasia, a winner of six international titles including four on the European Tour, has been nominated for the prestigious Arjuna Award.
A selection panel appointed by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India, had recommended SSP’s name along with 16 other sportspersons for the nation’s second highest sporting honour, about two weeks back.
Chawrasia’s nomination was finally confirmed when he received an email from the Sports Ministry on Friday night informing him about the same. The Kolkata-based professional, currently ranked second on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, will receive the award from the President of India in a ceremony to be conducted at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on 29th August, 2017.
Chawrasia is now set to become the 19th Indian golfer and the 10th Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) member to be conferred with the Arjuna Award.
PGTI members who have won the Arjuna Award in the past include Ali Sher (1991), Amit Luthra (1996), Harmeet Kahlon (1997), Jeev Milkha Singh (1999), Shiv Kapur (2002), Jyoti Randhawa (2004), Arjun Atwal (2007), Gaganjeet Bhullar (2013) and Anirban Lahiri (2014).
SSP, the Indian Open champion for the last two years running, joins the illustrious list of Arjuna Awardees thanks to his extraordinary performances at the international level over the last decade.
Chawrasia, the only Indian after Jeev Milkha Singh, to have won four events on the European Tour, has also had the honour of representing India in international team events such as the Rio Olympics 2016 and the World Cup of Golf 2016. He was also part of Team Asia at the EurAsia Cup 2016.
The 39-year-old, who turned professional back in 1997, achieved a major milestone in his career when he secured his maiden overseas win in Philippines towards the end of last year.
SSP had enjoyed a career-best third place finish on the Asian Tour in 2011. He will be looking to improve upon that record in the 2017 season as he is currently placed second on the money list in Asia.
Reacting to his nomination, an elated SSP said, “I had dreamt of winning the Arjuna since childhood even before I started playing golf. My inspiration to win the award was famous Kolkata golfer Mr. SK Jamshed who won the Arjuna back in 1975. I still have a picture of his with the award at my home.
“Finally my dream has come true. The Arjuna Award is something that every Indian sportsperson craves for. It’s a true recognition of my achievements.
“This award will give me a lot of confidence for the battles ahead. I am in a happy space right now, so I am confident of doing well.”
SSP will be participating in the European Tour’s Made in Denmark event in Aalborg, Denmark, next week. He will then rush back to Delhi for the Arjuna Awards ceremony on August 29, a day when the nation also celebrates its National Sports Day.
Congratulating SSP on his Arjuna Award nomination, Mr. Uttam Singh Mundy, CEO, PGTI, said, “We at the PGTI extend our heartiest congratulations to SSP Chawrasia for being conferred the prestigious Arjuna Award. SSP’s path-breaking achievements exemplify what one can accomplish with hard work and determination. His talent and fighting spirit have helped him emerge as one of the leading professionals in Asia over the last decade. The award is a true recognition of his feats. We wish SSP the very best for the future and hope he continues to make India proud on the international stage in the years to come.”
SNAP SHOTS: SAGAR MEDIA INC
