Afghan Ambassador to Pakistan Omar Zakhilwal expressed hope that border points between Pakistan and Afghanistan will partially reopen on Saturday.

According to Zakhilwal, Afghan authorities are hopeful that the travel routes will completely reopen in coming three or four days, Khaama Press reported.

He said elder men, patients and children would travel on Saturday and those in Pakistan would be able to return to Afghanistan.

He urged the Afghan people to travel with full documents including visas once the travel routes are fully reopened.

Pakistan closed the Torkham and Chaman crossing point with Afghanistan due to security concerns hours after the February 15 terror attack at the shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar in Sehwan town of Sindh province in which 88 persons died.

Pakistan blamed the attack on militants operating from Afghanistan. Pakistani Taliban's Jamaat-ul-Ahrar faction claimed responsibility for the attacks.

The wave of terror continued in Pakistan despite the routes remained closed for nearly ten days.

Online activity, messaging apps and cyber bullying is on the rise with increase in the number of social networking sites and activities. In this world of high tech, internet is great fun. But with great fun comes the threat. It is best for one to stay alert and be safe.

Here’s how to play safe online and why you should think twice before you post anything online:

Do not go Flaming: If you want to be on the safer side, do not enter into arguments online or go Flaming. Flames or abusive messages often lead to trading of insults. Flaming can get nasty. You could be removed from primary membership of whichever site you are on. For instance, according to a Verge report on February 24, a Twitter user Victoria Fierce had used some harsh words for the US Vice President Mike Pence over the administration's rollback of transgender protections. Following her tweet, she received a notification that Twitter had detected "potentially abusive activity" on her account. Fierce was in temporary timeout and for the next 12 hours, only followers could see her tweets.

Do not post compromising content: It is virtually impossible to delete or remove the post (s) once posted on the internet. Be smart and don’t post anything you would regret. Present your ideas clearly to avoid misunderstandings. Social media is a platform that can voice the less privileged and at the same time, can lead to mass reputation destruction. Remember, internet is anonymous, anyone can claim anything.

Think before you reply to online post: Thinking of replying to an online message or post? Pause, think of your message and the affect it will have. If in a lively conversation, contribute constructive ideas and make your post or idea a challenge to others. Offensive response should, however, be avoided always.

Don't spread rumours: Rumours and gossips spread like wild fire. Be cautious of what you post. Do not post any unconfirmed message on any social media sites. False news is always defamatory. Respect everyone’s dignity.

Five Maoists were arrested from a shopping complex here, police said on Saturday.

According to the police, the Tritiya Prastuti Committee (TPC) militants were arrested while buying clothes at a shopping complex in Sainik market here on Friday evening.

One AK 47, one AK 56 and other incriminating documents were recovered from them.

They were being interrogated by police.

Maoist guerrillas are active in 18 of Jharkhand's 24 districts.

Amidst rising opposition chorus demanding details of the Naga Peace Accord, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday assured the people of Manipur that nothing in the pact was against their interests.

Addressing a public rally in Imphal, Manipur ahead of assembly elections, Modi said the opposition parties were spreading lies against the Centre.

“I promise you that nothing in the Naga accord has anything that is detrimental to the people of Manipur. Opposition is lying. There’s not a single word against the interests of Manipuri people,” he said.

He also questioned the opposition’s intent behind raising the issue one and a half years after the pact was signed.

“Naga accord was signed one and half years ago. Was the Congress asleep that time? And, now those who have looted the state for 15 years are spreading lies,” said Modi.

In August 2015, the BJP government signed a framework agreement for the peace accord with NSCN(IM).
Modi further said that if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power in the state, there will be no more economic blockades.

“In the 15 years on Congress rule, Manipur has been ruined as Congress did no development. What Congress did not do in the last 15 years, I assure we will do it in 15 months. There won’t be any economic blockades when BJP comes to power, I assure you this,” he said.

“Those who cannot ensure peace in Manipur have no right to govern it,” he added.

The insurgent groups in Manipur had called for a shutdown in the state on Saturday ahead of Modi’s arrival in the state. However, a massive crowd turned up at the venue to listen to the PM.

Elections for the 60-seat assembly in the state will be held in two phases on March 4 and 8.
 

At least 35 persons were killed and many more injured in several suicide attacks in Syria's Homs city, a local source said.

Two suicide bombers blew themselves up outside Syrian military facilities in Homs, RT News reported.

"One blew himself up at the local headquarters of the Syrian state security service and another at the military intelligence building," the source familiar with the matter said.

Tripura has initiated organic farming in the state and would take lessons from Sikkim on this, Agriculture Minister Aghore Debbarma said here on Saturday.

"To expand the organic farming of vegetables in Tripura we would take help and knowledge from Sikkim," the minister told IANS.

He said that the agriculture department has earmarked 2,000 hectares of land for organic farming of vegetables this year in Tripura and based on the success and demand gradually the area would be extended.

"When the production would start, for marketing of the organic vegetables, one counter would be set up in each district and sub-divisions across the state," said Debbarma, also a veteran tribal leader.

Debbarma said currently the department in association with the farmers' club are encouraging organic farming in a big way. 

Last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared Sikkim as India's first organic state where farmers started out by using animal manures instead of chemical fertilisers and pesticides back in 2003.

Following Sikkim's step, some other states — Kerala, Rajasthan and Arunachal Pradesh — have also diverted all their efforts towards reaching the goal of becoming fully organic.

The agriculture minister also said that due to the multi-faceted schemes and steps, the number of tribal "Jhumias" (shifting cultivators) in Tripura decreased by 70.27 per cent.

Tribals, who constitute 27 per cent of 45.58 million people in the northeastern states, traditionally practice 'Jhum' or slash-and-burn method of cultivation.

Market rallied for the fifth straight week, over five-months highs, as the benchmark Sensex gaining 424.22 points to to close 28,892.97, while the broader Nifty ended above the psychological 8,900-level.

Stocks specific action drove the stock momentum during the holiday-truncated week as traders executed buying spree on sanguine reports of coporate shares buy-back, merger and acquisition news as well as Index heavy-weights Reliance Jio stealing the limelights turning the investors bullish.

Investors opting for long positions, and covering-up of short positions due to February month's derivatives expiry week and globally, odds over US Federal Reserve hiking interest rates in its March policy meet also spurred the stock momentum.

IT counters rallied after bellwether TCS announced a whopping Rs.16,000-crore share buyback programme in its board- meeting on February 20.

Telecom shares zoomed following reports of Vodafone India and Aditya Birla Group firm Idea Cellular are likely to finalise their merger within a month, creating India's largest telecom firm. while, Bharti Airtel surged on news of its acquisition of Telenor India for an undisclosed sum.

The market did see selling pressure in telecom space on ruthless competition after RIL Chairman Mukesh Ambani unveiled Reliance Jio's new voice and data offers, including 20 per cent more data than any rival from April 1, however speculator got together the act after the announcement that the Jio will begin charging for data services from April.

Metal stocks jumped after the government extended anti-dumping duty on import of certain steel products from China for five years.

The Markets were closed on Friday, on account of 'Mahashivratri'.

The Sensex resumed higher at 28,481.91 and zoomed to 29,065.31 and a low of 28,419.27 before closing at 28,892.97, showing gain of 424.22 points or 1.49 per cent.

It gained 1,858.47 points four weeks.

The NSE 50-share Nifty also surged by 117.80 points or 1.34 per cent to 8,939.50 after moving in a range of 8,982.15 and 8,809.80.

Barring Power sector, buying was led by Oil&Gas, Metals, Consumer Durables, IPOs, Banking, Realty, IT, Teck, PSUs, Auto, Capital Goods, HealthCare and FMCG.

Substantial gains were also seen in secondline shares of midcap and smallcap companies shares.

In view of the prevailing low prices of potato in the state, the Punjab government has directed the Punjab Agro and Markfed to effectively intervene in the market on 'no profit, no loss' basis to bail out the potato growers from the current crisis besides realising better prices for them.

Chairing an emergent meeting to take stock of the prevailing situation here at the Chief Minister's residence, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal decided to reduce the market fee and rural development fee (RDF) on potatoes from two per cent each to 0.25 per cent. In addition, Badal also decided to slash the rates of commission charged by the commission agents from five per cent to one per cent with immediate effect.

Badal also asked the Punjab Agro and Markfed to explore the feasibility of export potential of potatoes to Russia, Dubai, Iran, Sri Lanka and other countries for which the state government would subsidise the freight. Apart from this Agriculture department had also been directed to undertake distant marketing of potatoes in the other parts of the country to ensure better prices to the growers.

The CM also asked the Agriculture Department to ensure rational utilisation of storing capacity of cold stores across the state to curb the malpractices of hoarding in cold storage space.

It was also decided in the meeting to issue an advisory to the department of education and jails beside for other government institutions for optimum utilisation of potato in the mid day meal scheme and for the consumption of jail inmates for rich nourishment, which would also boost the sale of potato in the state.

In view of the prevailing low prices of potato in the state, the Punjab government has directed the Punjab Agro and Markfed to effectively intervene in the market on 'no profit, no loss' basis to bail out the potato growers from the current crisis besides realising better prices for them.

Chairing an emergent meeting to take stock of the prevailing situation here at the Chief Minister's residence, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal decided to reduce the market fee and rural development fee (RDF) on potatoes from two per cent each to 0.25 per cent. In addition, Badal also decided to slash the rates of commission charged by the commission agents from five per cent to one per cent with immediate effect.

Badal also asked the Punjab Agro and Markfed to explore the feasibility of export potential of potatoes to Russia, Dubai, Iran, Sri Lanka and other countries for which the state government would subsidise the freight. Apart from this Agriculture department had also been directed to undertake distant marketing of potatoes in the other parts of the country to ensure better prices to the growers.

The CM also asked the Agriculture Department to ensure rational utilisation of storing capacity of cold stores across the state to curb the malpractices of hoarding in cold storage space.

It was also decided in the meeting to issue an advisory to the department of education and jails beside for other government institutions for optimum utilisation of potato in the mid day meal scheme and for the consumption of jail inmates for rich nourishment, which would also boost the sale of potato in the state.

South African AB de Villiers passed the 9,000-run milestone in one-day internationals in the third ODI against New Zealand in Wellington on Saturday.

De Villiers is the 18th player and second South African behind Jacques Kallis to reach the 9,000 mark but has the highest average of 53.86 and is the only one of the leading scorers to have a strike-rate better than 100.

India's Sachin Tendulkar has the most ODI runs with 18,426 but averaged 44.83 with a strike rate of 86.23. De Villiers' highest ODI score is an unbeaten 162 against the West Indies two years ago. 

South African AB de Villiers passed the 9,000-run milestone in one-day internationals in the third ODI against New Zealand in Wellington on Saturday.

De Villiers is the 18th player and second South African behind Jacques Kallis to reach the 9,000 mark but has the highest average of 53.86 and is the only one of the leading scorers to have a strike-rate better than 100.

India's Sachin Tendulkar has the most ODI runs with 18,426 but averaged 44.83 with a strike rate of 86.23. De Villiers' highest ODI score is an unbeaten 162 against the West Indies two years ago. 

Actress Priyanka Chopra is all set to be a part of the 89th annual Academy Awards.

The 34-year-old star confirmed the news on social media by posting a selfie of herself along with English rock band The Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger.

"Oscars here we come… @mickjagger LA LA land…," she captioned the Instagram picture taking inside the airport terminal.

The Quantico star made her stunning debut at the Oscars last year, where she presented an Academy award for best film editing with actor Liev Schriber.

She opted for a white embellished gown by Lebanese designer Zuhair Murad.

The actress is currently awaiting the release of her Hollywood debut film Baywatch with Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron. The film, in which she plays the villain, will release in May 2017.

Actress Priyanka Chopra is all set to be a part of the 89th annual Academy Awards.

The 34-year-old star confirmed the news on social media by posting a selfie of herself along with English rock band The Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger.

"Oscars here we come… @mickjagger LA LA land…," she captioned the Instagram picture taking inside the airport terminal.

The Quantico star made her stunning debut at the Oscars last year, where she presented an Academy award for best film editing with actor Liev Schriber.

She opted for a white embellished gown by Lebanese designer Zuhair Murad.

The actress is currently awaiting the release of her Hollywood debut film Baywatch with Dwayne Johnson and Zac Efron. The film, in which she plays the villain, will release in May 2017.

A high alert has been sounded and security has been beefed up in Manipur as Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits the state to launch election campaign on Saturday amid a shutdown call.

The state is set for its 60-member Assembly election in two phases on March 4 and 8, and Modi is expected to hold a massive rally in the state capital.

Tight security cordon has been thrown in and around the city, especially at the Langjing Achouba ground, the venue of Modi’s campaign.

A statewide ‘shutdown’ call has been given by a group of militant outfits protesting against Modi's visit.

The rebel group, which calls itself ‘Coordination Committee’ or CorCom comprises major rebel outfits, has given the ‘shutdown’ call from 6 am till Modi's departure.

A high alert in the state has been sounded in view of security inputs about likely attempts by NSCN (I-M) cadres and others to disrupt Modi’s public address.

Meanwhile, a total of 280 companies of central paramilitary forces will be deployed for election duty in the state, which has been under three-month-long economic blockade imposed by the United Naga Council along the state highways.

The Centre will deploy an additional 30 companies of Central paramilitary forces in the state for the smooth conduct of the state assembly election, according to Manipur Chief Secretary O Nabakishore.

A high alert has been sounded and security has been beefed up in Manipur as Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits the state to launch election campaign on Saturday amid a shutdown call.

The state is set for its 60-member Assembly election in two phases on March 4 and 8, and Modi is expected to hold a massive rally in the state capital.

Tight security cordon has been thrown in and around the city, especially at the Langjing Achouba ground, the venue of Modi’s campaign.

A statewide ‘shutdown’ call has been given by a group of militant outfits protesting against Modi's visit.

The rebel group, which calls itself ‘Coordination Committee’ or CorCom comprises major rebel outfits, has given the ‘shutdown’ call from 6 am till Modi's departure.

A high alert in the state has been sounded in view of security inputs about likely attempts by NSCN (I-M) cadres and others to disrupt Modi’s public address.

Meanwhile, a total of 280 companies of central paramilitary forces will be deployed for election duty in the state, which has been under three-month-long economic blockade imposed by the United Naga Council along the state highways.

The Centre will deploy an additional 30 companies of Central paramilitary forces in the state for the smooth conduct of the state assembly election, according to Manipur Chief Secretary O Nabakishore.

Despite a statewide shutdown call by militant outfits, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday began his election campaign in Manipur.

“PM Modi has reached Imphal,’ reports stated. Many groups of militant outfits were protesting against the prime minister’s visit in the state.

Meanwhile, taking the militant outfits’ threat seriously, tight security cordon has been thrown in and around the city and high alert has been sounded.

The Special Protection Group (SPG) responsible for the Prime Minister's security on Friday carried out a combing operation of the meeting venue ahead of Modi’s visit, according to reports.  

PM Modi will be travelling in a bullet-proof vehicle and his address will be made from a podium secured by bullet-proof glass, sources said. 

Polling for the 60-member Manipur assembly will take place on March 4 and March 8 and results will be declared on March 11.

Despite a statewide shutdown call by militant outfits, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday began his election campaign in Manipur.

“PM Modi has reached Imphal,’ reports stated. Many groups of militant outfits were protesting against the prime minister’s visit in the state.

Meanwhile, taking the militant outfits’ threat seriously, tight security cordon has been thrown in and around the city and high alert has been sounded.

The Special Protection Group (SPG) responsible for the Prime Minister's security on Friday carried out a combing operation of the meeting venue ahead of Modi’s visit, according to reports.  

PM Modi will be travelling in a bullet-proof vehicle and his address will be made from a podium secured by bullet-proof glass, sources said. 

Polling for the 60-member Manipur assembly will take place on March 4 and March 8 and results will be declared on March 11.