Politics

Calls for Japanese government to secure release of IS hostage

Crowds gather in Tokyo to call on the Japanese government to secure the release of Kenji Goto, held hostage by the Islamic State group.

Jan 29, 2015

Writer on trial in Italy pleads freedom of expression

An Italian writer sent to trial for saying an environmentally controversial train link should be "sabotaged" plans to make freedom of expression the centre of his defence.

Jan 29, 2015

First of 3000 child soldiers freed in South Sudan

A South Sudanese militia has freed 280 child soldiers as part of a wider deal to release about 3,000 underage fighters, according to UNICEF. Duration: 01:09

Jan 28, 2015

German businesses adapt to new minimum wage

Launched at the start of this year, Germany's national minimum wage of 8 euros 50 should mean an initial boost in income for almost 4 million people. Duration: 02:46

Jan 28, 2015

Obama meets new Saudi king to shore up ties

US President Barack Obama led a heavyweight delegation to Saudi Arabia to meet new King Salman and discussed the two countries' ongoing fight against the Islamic State group. Duration: 00:38

Jan 28, 2015

Swine flu claims 27 lives in Rajasthan

Jaipur/Ludhiana, Jan 28 (ANI): The Rajasthan government is making necessary arrangements after 27 swine flu deaths were reported from the state. Additional director of health department, Doctor KC Meena, said that 113 cases of swine flu were reported from 22 districts. Meena said that symptoms of swine flu were very much similar to ordinary viral or cold due to which people tend to adopt a lax approach towards the disease, which leads to delay in treatment causing deaths. Meanwhile, health minister of Rajasthan, Rajendra Rathore, said the state has adequate arrangements to deal with the flu. Meanwhile, Ludhiana city in Punjab has also recorded two cases of swine flu.

Jan 28, 2015

Modi pitches for women empowerment during culmination parade of this year's NCC Republic Day camp

New Delhi, Jan 28 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi, once again pitched for women empowerment in the country on Wednesday, during the culmination parade of this year's National Cadet Corps (NCC) Republic Day camp in New Delhi. Modi, who is a former NCC cadet, lauded the increased participation of women in this year's Republic Day parade, held at Rajpath in the national capital, on January 26. As Modi inspected the guard of honour accorded by the cadets, he recalled his days as a young NCC cadet. Modi said India was blessed to be a youthful nation.

Jan 28, 2015

Bangladesh pro liberation forces protest against political violence

Dhaka, Jan 28 (ANI): Members of Gonojagoron Moncho, a resurgent platform, held protests against the ongoing political violence in Bangladesh by certain political groups and its leaders. Hundreds of distinguished cultural and intellectual personalities, organisations came together to participate in the protest in Dhaka, condemning countrywide blockade called by opposition parties under former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia. Slogan-shouting protesters carried out demonstrations in the capital city, holding banners reading anti-terrorism messages. The protesters also exhorted to eliminate Jamaat-e-Islami, an organisation of war criminals, demanding immediate trial and punishment to the war criminals. The activists said they need to be ensured that the spirit of liberation war triumphed over anti-liberation forces which were going all-out to disrupt the country's march towards progress.

Jan 28, 2015

Kejriwal addresses public meeting in Shakurpur Basti in Delhi

New Delhi, Jan 28 (ANI): AAP Chief Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday addressed a public meeting in Shakurpur Basti constituency of Delhi. Kejriwal attacked Kiran Bedi who is portrayed as the Chief Ministerial candidate for BJP. He said that Kiran Bedi is unable to understand the conspiracy of BJP behind presenting her as the CM face and added if Bedi wanted to join politics she should have joined an honest party like AAP not a corrupt party like BJP. Further, Kejriwal said that BJP is scared of polls and also clarified the reason for his resignation as Delhi CM, apologizing for the same.

Jan 28, 2015

Congress on US President Barack Obama's visit

New Delhi, Jan 28 (ANI): Taking a potshot at the BJP led NDA Government, the Congress on Wednesday said the Congress leaders are happy as US president Barrack Obama called upon young Indians to follow two essential fundamentals of India's constitutional ethos which are right to freedom of religion besides calling upon to fight against sectarian forces. Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala said that he hopes the Prime Minister and the Indian government has listened to Obama and would do the necessary course correction.

Jan 28, 2015

India wants to resolve border dispute with China, says Rajnath

Allahabad, Jan 28 (ANI): Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday (January 28) said that the government aims to resolve the long pending border dispute with China. Singh raised Sino-Indian sensitive issue after inaugurating a battalion camp of border guarding force Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force (ITBP) in Allahabad. Singh said India never had any territorial ambitions and his government wants resolution of perceptional differences on this frontier. Meanwhile, Singh without naming neighbouring rivals China and Pakistan said that with U.S. President Barack Obama's visit, relations between Indian and the U.S. have been strengthened but some nations are not happy with it.

Jan 28, 2015

Congress reacts after Shiv Sena says Hindus will lead India, no place for secularism

New Delhi, Jan 28 (ANI): Congress leader Manish Tewari reacted on Wednesday after Shiv Sena's response to the Republic Day advertisement by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry in which the word 'Secularism' was deleted from Preamble. Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said that India is a Hindu nation and only Hindus can lead it even though other religions are free to exist. He added that there is no need for secularism in the Constitution. Reacting to it Congress leader Manish Tewari said that if the country is left to BJP and its allies completely they will make communalism their way of governance.

Jan 28, 2015