Politics

Beating Retreat Ceremony held in New Delhi

New Delhi, Jan 29 (ANI): New tunes composed by Indian musicians featured prominently at the 'Beating Retreat' ceremony on Thursday, which marks the culmination of the four-day-long Republic Day celebrations. Fifteen military bands and 18 pipes and drums bands from regimental centres and battalions participated in the ceremony. Besides, Indian Navy and Indian Air Force, too, had a band each performing at the event. Meanwhile, Delhi Metro services have been curtailed at two stations today as part of security arrangements for the 'Beating Retreat' ceremony. Beating Retreat owes its origins to an ancient custom when warring armies would call a halt at sundown, case colours and standards and lower flags to attend to the wounded, eat and rest. The present ceremony dates to the early 1950s when Major Roberts of the Indian Army developed this unique display by the massed bands.

Jan 29, 2015

Malaysia declares disappearance of Flight MH370 an accident

Malaysia, Jan 29 (ANI): Malaysia declared on Thursday (January 29) that all passengers on board the missing Malaysia Airlines MH370 had lost their lives in an accident, opening the way for the compensation process to begin. International investigators are looking into why the Boeing jet veered thousands of miles off course from its scheduled route before eventually plunging into the Indian Ocean. The Beijing-bound Boeing 777 aircraft disappeared on March 8 last year with its 239 passengers and crew shortly after taking off from the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur. Months of searches have failed to turn up any trace. Malaysia declares the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 an accident that killed all 239 people on board, saying it will now start the compensation process.

Jan 29, 2015

Unruly lawyers vandalise court premises for a high court bench in Moradabad

Moradabad, Jan 29 (ANI): Lawyers went on a rampage in Moradabad on Thursday demanding a high court bench, a long-pending demand. The unruly lawyers vandalised court premises, forced traders to shut down their shops and removed several billboards. The lawyers have been demanding establishment of a high court bench of the Uttar Pradesh in Moradabad. A member of Bar Union, Amirul Hasan Zafari, accused the Central government of not doing anything to pay heed to their demand. The lawyers later held a sit-in at the court premises shouting slogans against the government. The lawyers said they have chalked out a strategy to step up their agitation till a separate bench of high court was established.

Jan 29, 2015

Karachi city shuts over killing of political worker

Karachi, Jan 29 (ANI): Pakistan's city Karachi came to a standstill on Thursday after a political party called for a day of mourning following a body recovered from Karachi was identified as of its activist. Sohail Ahmed, a worker of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), was found missing in December. His bullet-riddled body was found dumped in the area of Mochko police station. MQM says Ahmed's murder was not the first case of extrajudicial killing and that more than 35 of MQM's activists have been killed in recent times. On Thursday, most businesses were shut and the public transport remained off the road in Karachi and other parts of Sindh. Private schools were also shut in Karachi. The MQM had announced a peaceful shutter down strike in Karachi and mourning day in the whole country.

Jan 29, 2015

Jitendra Singh chairs meeting with BJP leaders in J and K

New Delhi, Jan 29 (ANI): Minister of State in prime Minister's Office (PMO), Dr Jitendra Singh, on Thursday chaired a meeting with BJP leaders in Jammu and Kashmir. Singh said that it was a regular practice of the party to keep holding meetings with the leaders of all states and it had nothing to do with the government formation in Jammu and Kashmir. He added that the democratic process will be followed in forming government.

Jan 29, 2015

Philippines mourns police killed in anti-terror bloodbath

A long, slow procession of coffins draped in the Philippine flag pour out of military transport planes in Manila, as the country mourns dozens of policemen killed in a botched anti-terror operation. Duration: 00:37

Jan 29, 2015

Angry mourners gather at wake of Argentine prosecutor

Dozens gather before the funeral to mourn Argentine prosecutor Alberto Nisman, who was found dead ahead of giving what was expected to be explosive testimony against President Cristina Kirchner. Duration: 01:00

Jan 29, 2015

Rahul Gandhi targets BJP, AAP during rally in Delhis Seelampur Area - Part - 2

New Delhi, Jan 29 (ANI): Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday attacked the BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party during his rally in Delhi’s Seelampur area. Gandhi said the BJP has failed to fulfill its promises on black money, corruption and inflation made before the general elections last year. He also said that the main motive of the Aam Aadmi Party is to stop Congress from coming to power.

Jan 29, 2015

Rahul Gandhi targets BJP, AAP during rally in Delhi's Seelampur Area - Part - 1

New Delhi, Jan 29 (ANI): Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday attacked the BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party during his rally in Delhi's Seelampur area. Gandhi said the BJP has failed to fulfill its promises on black money, corruption and inflation made before the general elections last year. He also said that the main motive of the Aam Aadmi Party is to stop Congress from coming to power.

Jan 29, 2015

Pak wants strong neighbourhood and good relations with India: Abdul Basit

Wagah Border, Jan 29 (ANI): Pakistan High Commissioner to India Abdul Basit on Thursday said that Pakistan wants a strong neighbourhood and good relations with India. He added that Pakistan is the victim of terrorism so no other country than us would be more interested in eradicating terrorism.

Jan 29, 2015

Delhi Polls: BJP's five questions to Kejriwal are stale, shows that BJP is nervous, says AAP

New Delhi, Jan 29 (ANI): While speaking on the five questions that BJP has put forward for AAP Chief Arvind Kejriwal, AAP leader Yogendra Yadav on Thursday said that all the five questions are stale and that BJP should make an effort to come up with some new questions. Yadav further said the questions show that BJP is nervous and scared of AAP. He added that BJP may ask 50 questions, but it should ask the questions in front of the public. AAP leader Somnath Bharti expressed similar sentiments.

Jan 29, 2015

'Co-pilot at controls' when AirAsia plane crashed

The co-pilot of an AirAsia flight that crashed into the Java Sea last month was at the controls when it went down, killing all 162 people on board, according to investigators. Duration: 01:03

Jan 29, 2015

Japan to redouble efforts to secure hostage release: Abe

Japanese PM Shinzo Abe says his government is redoubling efforts to analyse a new recording issued by the Islamic State group and secure the release of hostage Kenji Goto. Duration: 01:07

Jan 29, 2015

BJP to raise five questions to Kejriwal daily till Delhi polls

New Delhi, Jan 29 (ANI): The BJP has decided to raise five questions to AAP Chief Arvind Kejriwal till polls in Delhi and expect him to reply to each question. BJP Spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy said that the people of Delhi deserve to know what kind of a leader wants to govern their city. The five questions which BJP raised today were- 1. Why did Arvind Kejriwal take support of Congress despite having promised not to take support earlier? 2. Why didn't Arvind Kejriwal fulfill his promise of ordering probe against Sheila Dikshit? 3. Why did he accept Z+ security when he was CM? 4. He went to take oath travelling in metro, then why use SUVs for work? 5. Had said that travelling in private jet was against his principles, then why did he travel in a private jet?

Jan 29, 2015

London's last gaslamp lighters keep capital's history alight

First introduced to the capital in 1814, bringing light to dark and dangerous streets, now a small team of 'Londons last lamplighters' wind the mechanisms and polish the glass to make sure the remaining 1,500 gas lamps glow on.

Jan 29, 2015