Politics

Hot September to give Bordeaux wine 'optimal maturity'

Grape harvesting opens in the Bordeaux wine region, amid hopes that an exceptionally hot September outweighed a rainy summer. Duration: 01:00

Oct 2, 2014

Ethiopians celebrate Meskel, the 'finding of the cross'

Meskel is a holiday celebrated 16 days after the Ethiopian New Year, and takes place at the end of September every year. Duration: 01:00

Oct 1, 2014

Peace conference in South Africa called off as Dalai Lama rejected for visa, says Nobel laureate

Dharamsala, Oct 01 (ANI): The World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates was called-off after the laureates protested against South Africa's refusal to grant Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, visa for the event. Nobel Peace laureates, Jody Williams and Shirin Ebadi, who had boycotted the summit arrived in Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday for 25th anniversary of conferment of the Nobel Peace Prize on the 14th Dalai Lama on October 2. Addressing a news briefing in Dharamsala, which is home to exiled Tibetans, Williams said the Nobel peace conference in Cape Town was cancelled. The event was scheduled to take place between October 13 and October 15. South Africa denied a visa to the Dalai Lama for the third time in five years, intensifying speculation about the extent of Beijing's sway over Pretoria.

Oct 1, 2014

Hindu devotees in Bangladesh mark Durga Puja with gaiety

Dhaka, Oct 01 (ANI): Devotees in Bangladesh marked religious festival of Durga Puja on Wednesday with pageantry by visiting temples and community pandals. Devotees thronged decorated pandals, temporary platforms, where idol of Hindu goddess Durga is installed and sought her blessings. Men were seen playing drums in front of the idol. In Hindu mythology, Durga symbolises power and the triumph of good over evil. Hindus believe that the goddess makes her annual visit to the world and the festivities are meant to welcome her. The festival culminates with the immersion of the Durga idols into water bodies.

Oct 1, 2014

PM Modi arrives in Delhi, celebrations fill BJP Headquarters

New Delhi, Oct 01 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday landed on Palam Technical Airport in New Delhi. After winding up his five-day maiden visit to the US and describing it "very successful and satisfactory", Modi returned to India and was welcomed by BJP leaders and Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan among others. Celebrations are seen all around as BJP supporters fired crackers in welcome of the PM while Modi waved to his supporters at the airport before heading to 7 RCR in his convoy. Meanwhile, celebrations are also on at the BJP Headquarters in welcome of the prime minister after his historic visit to US. Supporters and leaders shouted pro-Modi slogans, fired crackers even as festive mood engulfed the party headquarters.

Oct 1, 2014

Central Delhi under tight security for 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan' launch

New Delhi, Oct 01 (ANI): The national capital has been placed under strict security for 'Swachh Bharat Abhyan' campaign to be launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday. The cleanliness drive is proposed to be implemented over a period of five years starting from October 2, 2014 in all 4041 statutory towns. In his Independence Day speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had talked of the 'Swachh Bharat' campaign and called for India to be clean by October 2, 2019, Mahatma Gandhi's 150th birth anniversary.

Oct 1, 2014

Narendra Modi's ministers wields broom a day ahead of launch of 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan'

New Delhi, Oct 1 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ministers walked the talk as they swept their New Delhi offices with brooms on Wednesday, a day ahead of the formal launch of 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan'. Clean India Mission which will officially kick off on October 02, birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, aims to completely clean India by October 2019. Civil Aviation Minister, Ashok Gajapathi Raju picked up the broom and said that the nation had forgotten the importance of cleanliness.

Oct 1, 2014

Mary Kom once again makes India proud as she bags gold in 2014 Asian Games

Imphal/ Hyderabad/ New Delhi, Oct 01 (ANI): India cheers MC Mary Kom as she gave the country's battered boxing team something to celebrate when she won the women's flyweight gold medal at the Asian Games on Wednesday. Kom's mother, Akham Kom cheered for her daughter while enjoying the match on TV back home. Kom, a five-time world champion and Olympic bronze medallist, had to dig deep to beat Shekerbekova, who held her own in the opening round but was unable to hold off the Indian after that. Vice President, Indian Olympic Association, Tarlochan Singh said the medal is a big boost for the Indian contingent in general but boxing in particular. Meanwhile, Sports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal also congratulated Kom and said that she is an inspiration for all women.

Oct 1, 2014

Politicos react after Amit Shah shares stage with DP Yadav

New Delhi/Noida/Lucknow/Bhopal, Oct 1 (ANI): Politicos reacted on Wednesday after BJP President Amit Shah shared stage with DP Yadav during an election rally in Haryana. Political leaders condemning Amit Shah for sharing stage with DP Yadav said that the words and actions of BJP fails to match. However, BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi defending Shah said that DP Yadav was not invited and that he came up on the stage and media focused it. He added that DP Yadav will never be part of BJP.

Oct 1, 2014

Congress releases its election manifesto in Haryana

Panchkula, Oct 1 (ANI): Congress on Wednesday released its election manifesto in Haryana for the October 15 polls and attempted to woo farmers, even as Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda promised to put the state on higher growth trajectory. The 23-page manifesto laid thrust on the sectors of agriculture and horticulture, irrigation, energy, industry, trade, commerce, FDI, health, employment, women empowerment, urban and rural development and education. The document even mentioned about construction of a separate High Court for Haryana in Chandigarh and also about resuming mining once approval is given from Environment Department. The manifesto was released at Panchkula jointly by Hooda and other Congress dignitaries.

Oct 1, 2014

Delhi HC to hear plea of Sonia and Rahul in National Herald Case on Nov 03

New Delhi, Oct 01 (ANI): The Delhi High Court on Wednesday posted the plea of Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Vice-President Rahul Gandhi and other party leaders in the National Herald daily for final hearing on November 3. Congress leaders, including party treasurer Motilal Vora, general secretary Oscar Fernandes and Suman Dubey, had filed a petition in the high court on August 1, challenging a summons order that was issued to them by a trial court on a complaint by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy. Swamy said that he is confident that the case will be finalized and a verdict will surface in next one or two hearings.

Oct 1, 2014

Britain's Cameron unveils plan to win 2015 election

Prime Minister David Cameron detailed his plan for winning the 2015 general election Wednesday with a raft of measures designed to help struggling Britons and shut down support for the UK Independence Party. Duration: 01:00

Oct 1, 2014

Kejriwal invites people to take part in 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan'

Ghaziabad, Oct 01 (ANI): AAP Chief Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday invited people to come out and take part in PM Narendra Modi's 'Swachh Bharat Abhiyan' which starts October 02, birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. Kejriwal appealed the people to work as helpers to the cleaners and later have food with them too. He asked people to get to know the grievances of the cleaners and maintain the cleanliness work afterwards too. Kejriwal further said that AAP MLAs will participate in the drive in their respective constituencies and he too will do the same in his constituency. Earlier, the AAP chief had said that the central government had invited him and his party for the mission too.

Oct 1, 2014

Rajnath Singh reviews situation in flood affected Northeastern states, releases funds from centre

Guwahati/ Tura, Oct 01 (ANI): Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday took aerial survey of flood affected states of Assam, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh. He also held a meeting with Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and later with Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma over the situation in the states. Singh further announced funds released by the central government to the state governments. He said that according to the information received, in Assam 40 people have died, in Meghalaya 55 and in Arunachal Pradesh 56. He assured of all possible help to the states by the government of India. Further, Singh appealed all the political parties to come together to help the people in these areas.

Oct 1, 2014

HK protest leader pledges to step up mass action

Student leaders vow to step up Hong Kong's huge pro-democracy protests -- including a possible occupation of government offices -- unless the city's leader steps down within a day, as support for the movement grows around the world. Duration: 01:23

Oct 1, 2014