Politics

Ukrainian elderly people queue for food aid from Russia

Desperate elderly people in eastern Ukraine were queuing for food aid after going months without their pensions. Duration: 00:59

Sep 20, 2014

France begins strikes against jihadist target in Iraq

France carried out its first air strike against the Islamic State group in Iraq Friday, boosting US-led efforts to unite the world against the growing threat posed by the jihadists. Duration: 00:53

Sep 20, 2014

France's Sarkozy announces political comeback

Former president Nicolas Sarkozy announced his return to French politics Friday, taking to Facebook to offer disenchanted voters a "new political choice" amid a deep economic crisis. Duration: 01:51

Sep 20, 2014

Apple fans queue for hours in New York for new iPhone 6

Apple kicked off sales of its new large-screen iPhones in New York on Friday, amid record demand for the latest device from the trend-setting gadget maker. Duration: 01:01

Sep 20, 2014

Classical dance festival entices audiences in eastern India

Bhubaneswar, Sept.19 (ANI): The latest edition of classical Odissi dance Ashtapadi festival kicked off in India's eastern Bhubaneswar city, pays an ode to Sanskrit poet Jayadev from the 12th century. The Ashtapadi festival was inaugurated by Odisha Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik. The fourth edition of the festival includes some of the best known names in Odissi genre. Prior to the dance festival, a book 'Sampoorna Geeta Govinda', authored by noted scholar of Odisha's cultural heritage and musician Dr Subas Pani was released by the Chief Minister. The performing arts festival features Odisha's classical dance Odissi dance performances and vocal recitals of all twenty four songs of Jayadeva's Geetagovinda. Dr.Subas was hopeful that the colourful festival will provide a complete aesthetic experience to the audiences. The festival has been mounted by Sri Geeta Govinda Pratishtana of Puducherry, which has been making its presence felt across the country over the last few years with elaborate dance events dedicated to the 12th century epic of Jayadeva.

Sep 19, 2014

US Army holds Air Assault exercises in South Korea

The US Army holds a 10 day Air Assault exercises to train more than 200 soldiers in the Republic of Korea. Duration: 00:35

Sep 19, 2014

Iconic 'Easy Rider' chopper bike to go on auction block

The iconic Harley-Davidson motorbike ridden by Peter Fonda in the 1969 classic "Easy Rider" is to go under the hammer in California, and auctioneers predict it will make at least $1 million. Duration: 01:09

Sep 19, 2014

PM Modi meets senior ministers to discuss 'Clean India Mission'

New Delhi, Sep 19 (ANI): Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, on Friday met his senior ministers and bureaucrats to discuss his dream project 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan' or Clean India Mission. Clean India Mission will be launched on October 02, the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, to create a clean India by 2019 by eliminating the unhealthy practice of open defecation. Linking cleanliness to tourism and economy, earlier, Modi said that world-class levels of hygiene and cleanliness are required in the country's top fifty tourist destinations to bring about a paradigm shift in the global perception of India. Modi had said in his first Independence Day speech on August 15 that the poor needed self respect , which begins with cleanliness and had urged the nation to make the country a cleaner one by 2019.

Sep 19, 2014

Health Minister praises Kerala CM for reducing liquor availability

Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 19 (ANI): Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan praised Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Friday (September 19) for state government's decision to drastically reduce availability of liquor. Supreme Court of India on September 11 had asked the State government of Kerala to maintain status quo over banning liquor in the state. Vardhan was speaking at a function in Thiruvananthapuram city to declare the Regional Cancer Centre (RCC) as the State Cancer Institute. He said saving people from alcohol and tobacco is a priority. Vardhan further stressed upon his support for the decisions and policies like the one made by Chandy in terms of building a glorious and healthier India.

Sep 19, 2014

Reactions flow in as PM says Indian Muslims will live and die for the country

Lucknow/New Delhi, Sep 19 (ANI): Reactions flowed on Friday after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that Indian Muslims will live for India and die for India. He also said that no Indian Muslim will cause any harm to the nation. Commenting on Modi's statement SP leader Naresh Agarwal said that it's good that PM has understood this and now he should make his party leaders understand that Muslims carry pure intentions and should not be targeted. Jama Masjid Shahi Imam Syed Ahmad Bukhari, slamming Modi for his statement, said that Indian Muslims have always been loyal to the country and they do not require any certificate from anyone. However BJP leaders Sambit Patra and M J Akbar, praising the PM, said that all religions should be treated equally and that it was a very powerful assertion of PM's philosophy and faith.

Sep 19, 2014

BSE closes points 21.79 down on September 19

New Delhi, Sept 19 (ANI): Trading at the Bombay Stock Exchange today closed 21.79 points down to stand at 27,090.42. At the National Stock Exchange the Nifty closed 6.70 points up to stand at 8,121.45. CRISIL and Bajaj Finance Limited were among the top gainers of Group A with an increase of 7.11% and 5.66% along with CONCOR and MUTHOOT FINANCE LTD. with an increase of 5.08% and 4.48% respectively, while the top losers of Group A include SUZLON and JINDAL STEEL and POWER LTD. with a decrease of 9.33% and 4.66% along with SHRIRAM CITY UNION FINANCE LTD. and JAIPRAKASH ASSOCIATES LTD. with a decrease of 4.50% and 4.40% at the close of the markets. The Auto sector is down 106.56 points at 18,114.93 while the banking sector is down 9.56 points at 18,479.21and the reality sector is down 19.56 points at 1,769.05. The Indian currency is up 0.05% at Rs 60.86 per dollar.

Sep 19, 2014

Will give new proposal to Shiv Sena, want alliance to remain: BJP

Mumbai, Sep 19 (ANI): The BJP has come out with a new proposal regarding seat sharing in Maharashtra’s upcoming Assembly Polls for Shiv Sena so that alliance continues to remain. BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar said that the BJP has sacrificed seats several times for Shiv Sena only to consider and sustain the alliance. He added that the BJP wants to discuss distribution of the seats which the Shiv Sena has never won so that they are not lost to Congress or NCP. Mungantiwar also said that BJP will present the new proposal to Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray with the hope that he will also take a wise decision with the aim of surviving the alliance.

Sep 19, 2014

India hails Indian American Richard Verma's nomination as new US envoy to India

New Delhi, Sept 19 (ANI): India, on Friday welcomed move by US President Barack Obama as he nominated former State Department official Richard Verma as US ambassador to India, just ahead of a visit to Washington by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Verma, an Indian-American, served as assistant secretary of state for legislative affairs at the State Department in the Obama administration from 2009 to 2011. He is currently a senior counselor at Steptoe and Johnson law firm and the Albright Stonebridge Group, a business advisory company, led by former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. NCP leader Majid Memon, hoped that the new envoy would take Indian interests into consideration. Meanwhile, a former diplomat, Rajeev Dogra, said that Obama's nomination is a move towards a positive outcome.

Sep 19, 2014

I&B Minister launches free AIR SMS service in different languages

New Delhi, Sep 19 (ANI): I&B Minister Prakash Javadekar on Friday launched the All India Radio’s free SMS service which will provide news in Hindi, Marathi, Sanskrit, Dogri and Nepali. During the launch of the service, Javadekar said that the SMS service will provide news to the people on their mobile phones. On the occasion, AIR Director General News Mohan Chandak said that efforts are being made to expand the SMS service in the regional languages of the various states. Javadekar also asked AIR to run a campaign through the newspapers and the Doordarshan news channel for creating awareness about the SMS service among the people.

Sep 19, 2014

Are Prince Harry and Cressida Bonas back together?

New Delhi, Sept 19 (ANI): Prince Harry and Cressida Bonas have reportedly reconciled after breaking up earlier in April. A source told a US magazine that the couple, who had dated for two years before parting ways, that the royal had spent 16th and 17th September nights with the 25-year-old socialite, and were back together, at least at present. Prince William’s younger brother was first spotted with Bonas at London’s Odeon Cinema where they had reportedly attended screening of ‘Sex Tape,’ and the next night had danced together at Harry’s 30th birthday party at Clarence House. Earlier, Bonas had also attended the opening and closing ceremonies of the Invictus Games, which was led by Prince Harry.

Sep 19, 2014