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Back to Today's Headlines Season's First Snowfall: Revellers Flock to Shimla
SHIMLA: India's most favoured hill resort of Shimla experienced its first snowfall of the winter on the eve of the New Year on Tuesday. Hundreds of tourists and people from the plains had flocked to the premier hill resort in Himachal Pradesh ahead of the new year to enjoy snowfall. The revellers from different parts of the country who thronged this cool and picturesque town, famous for its apples and scenic beauty, came out of their lodges, hotels and guest houses to enjoy the snowfall. Besides Shimla, tourists thronged nearby Kufri skiing slopes, Narkanda and Naldhera. While the locals preferred to stay indoors, tourists had a great time out in the snow. For Vicky, a tourist from New Delhi who had planned to go back, the experience was scintillating. "I am very happy as I have come here to celebrate new year. Though we were planning to go back today but when we got up in the morning we saw snowfall. It is a miracle, it's amazing," Vicky said. Tourists, mainly children, had their share of fun, throwing snowballs on each other. Nearby tourist resorts of Narkanda, Khadapattar, Naldehra, Wild Flower Hall and ski slops of Kufri in this district also experienced intense snowfall. The entire State is in the grip of an intense cold wave with temperature dipping to minus 10 to 15 degree Celsius in several parts of the State. The snowfall has led to road blockades at several places. The tourism department has made elaborate arrangements to clear snow on highways as tourism is a major contributor to the State's economy. Nearly four million tourists visit Shimla every year and the figure has been increasing by about 15 per cent. Attack on Iraq Now Will Be Unjustified: UN Chief (Go To Top) JERUSALEM: There is no justification yet for a military strike against Iraq since Baghdad has not hampered UN weapons inspectors operating in that country, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan told Israel's Army Radio here on Tuesday. In his view, the US must wait for a report from the inspectors before launching any offensive, reports news24.com. "Obviously they (inspectors) are carrying out their work and in the meantime Iraq is cooperating and they are able to do their work in an unimpeded manner," Annan added while speaking during the interview. "Therefore I don't see an argument for a military action now." Meanwhile, the UN Security Council has approved a resolution expanding the list of civilian goods that Iraq cannot import without prior approval. The United States has been calling for the resolution, which enlarges an already existing list of goods that can have military use. The list is part of a deal that allows Iraq to sell oil in return for food and humanitarian supplies. New Army Chief Takes Over (Go To Top) NEW DELHI: General S Padmanathan, Chief of Army Staff, who handed over charge to Lieutenant General NC Vij on Tuesday, said the decision to mobilise troops after the December 13 terrorist attack on Parliament was the "proudest moment" for the army during his tenure. An unprecedented attack by a group of heavily armed Islamic militants provoked India into mobilising its troops, which was later pulled back in October after a ten-month standoff with nuclear rival Pakistan. Lt.Gen. Vij, was the Director-General of Military Operations during the skirmishes in Kargil heights in 1999 when India launched action to evict Pakistani intruders. He took over as the Vice Chief of Army Staff last year and has 40 years of operational experience. Widespread Violence Marks Patna Bandh (Go To Top) PATNA: Patna bandh called to protest against the killing of three students in an alleged police encounter turned violent when mobs went on the rampage on Tuesday. The agitators opened fire at the police, hurled crude bombs and set ablaze several police and private vehicles and shops during the day-long bandh. The police resorted to bursting of teargas shells and lathicharge as bandh supporters attacked them. The bandh evoked angry reaction in Ashiana Nagar locality, where the alleged encounter took place last Saturday. Angry residents brandishing iron rods and lathis took to the streets since early morning and set afire a few shops at Sammelan market, the scene of the alleged encounter, said an eye witness. Ashiana Nagar observed a complete bandh as shops and business establishments downed their shutters and vehicular traffic went off the roads. Banks and Government offices in the locality too were closed as bandh supporters forced people to remain indoors. The bandh supporters also sought immediate arrest of the policemen allegedly involved in the encounter and an ex gratia of Rs 10 lakh for the bereaved families of each of the deceased. 250 Chhattisgarh Christians Embrace Hinduism Again (Go To Top) MAHASAMUND (Chhattisgarh): Two hundred and fifty tribals, who embraced Christianity earlier, converted back to Hinduism at a function organised in Chhattisgarh on Monday. The function was organised by BJP activists and other hardline Hindu groups in the presence of Hindu seers in Mahasamund district of the State. Dilip Singh Judev, vice-president of Chhattisgarh unit of the BJP, said the conclave was organised to bring back those Hindus who embraced Christianity due to Western influence. "Today's programme is to bring Hindus together, to take teachings from the Hindu seers. And to bring back those who had converted into other religion seeing the glitz of Western culture. We want to bring those people who wish to embrace Hinduism back," Judev said. Australian World Cup Team Has Surprise Elements (Go To Top) SYDNEY: Test skipper Steve Waugh is, as anticipated, not in the Australian World Cup squad but Andrew Symonds and left-arm wrist spinner Brad Hogg are the surprise selections. Moreover, Queenslander Jimmy Maher is also in the final team as an extra batsman. He shut out players like Justin Langer and Ryan Campbell. (Details) -ANI |
