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Jairam Ramesh says Congress couldn't match Modi's aggressive campaigning, politicos react

New Delhi, May 25 (ANI): Politicos on Sunday took a potshot at Congress strategist Jairam Ramesh, who has admitted that Narendra Modi's aggressive campaigning delivered a knockout blow to his party. While the Congress leaders backed him saying that the party fought the elections based on principles, politicos from rival parties claimed that no one had stopped the Congress from running similar campaigning.

May 25, 2014

Modi's Swearing-In Ceremony: MDMK to Hold Protests against Rajapaksa's Presence, Shiv Sena Maintains Silence over Sharif Invitation

MDMK is set to hold protests in Delhi and Chennai against the presence of Mahinda Rajapaksa.

May 25, 2014

Nawaz Sharif's decision to attend Modi's swearing evokes mixed reaction in Pakistan

Islamabad/ Lahore, May 25 (ANI): Pakistan has accepted an invitation to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to attend the inauguration of Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi. The announcement has stirred up a mixed reaction in Pakistan, with most people hailing the decision and hoping the visit will prove to be an ice breaker between the hostile neighbours. Jan Achakzai, a spokesperson for Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F), a religious conservative political bloc led by Maulana Fzalur Rehman, said his party welcomed Sharif's decision but called upon the Pakistani leader to use the opportunity to iron out "irritants like the Mumbai debacle. The Jamaat-e-Islam (JI), the largest Islamist political party in Pakistan which has for decades supported Kashmiri separatist rebels fighting against Indian rule, called the visit "an empty visit" that could hurt the feelings of the Kashmiri people.

May 25, 2014

Pak to release 151 Indian fishermen as a goodwill gesture

New Delhi, May 25 (ANI): Pakistan is set to release 151 Indian fishermen on Sunday as part of its goodwill ahead of the swearing-in ceremony of prime minister-designate Narendra Modi led new government at the Centre on May 26. Congress leader Rashid Alvi said that this is a very good gesture from Pakistan and there are hopes of getting rid of all malice between both nations. As per reports an official at the Malir Jail in Karachi where Indian fishermen are lodged, has said that the prison authorities have received orders from Islamabad to release the fishermen who will be transported to Wagah border in Lahore. An estimate point that at present around 229 Indian fishermen and about 780 Indian boats are in Pakistan's custody.

May 25, 2014

Police arrest 10 Bangladesh nationals near Indo-Bangla border

South Dinajpur, May 25 (ANI): Police in West Bengal arrested 10 Bangladesh nationals near the Indo-Bangla border. The Bangladesh nationals who were travelling in a private bus were taken in custody by the South-Dinajpur police, under Kushmandi police station near the border in West Bengal. Acting on a tip off, the sub divisional police officers tracked the bus which was on its way to Balurghat and found 10 Bangladeshis travelling without proper documents. The arrested nationals belong to Mirjapur and Bogra district of Bangladesh. Meanwhile, within three months south Dinajpur police and paramilitary Border Security Force (BSF) jointly arrested 112 Bangladeshi infiltrators along the Indo-Bangladesh border.

May 25, 2014

Sarabjit Singh's family expresses displeasure over Nawaz Sharif's visit to India

Jalandhar, May 25 (ANI): Family of dead Indian prisoner, Sarabjit Singh, expressed displeasure over the move of inviting the Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to attend the swearing in ceremony of Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi. Modi had sent an invite to all SAARC member nations for his swearing-in ceremony on May 26. The members include Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. Pakistan premier Nawaz Sharif accepted the invitation on Saturday. Meanwhile, Sarabjit Singh's sister Dalbir Kaur said that Modi should have demanded justice for the Indian prisoners languishing in Pakistani jails first, rather than sending an invitation for his swearing-in ceremony. Echoing similar views, Sarabjit Singh's daughter, Swapandeep Kaur said the move was disheartening for the family as well as all those whose near ones are still held in Pakistan prisons for no fault of theirs.

May 25, 2014

Pope urges respect for religious freedom in Mideast

Pope Francis urged respect for religious freedom in the Middle East on Saturday and an end to persecution of Christians, saying they were "full citizens" with a right to be in the region. Duration: 01:08

May 25, 2014

Brazil hit by new pre-World Cup strikes, protests

Brazil faces renewed protests and strikes as bus drivers continue their walkout in Sao Paulo's suburbs and Rio de Janeiro braces for demonstrations 20 days from the World Cup. Duration: 01:25

May 25, 2014

Zuma sworn in for second term as South Africa president

South African President Jacob Zuma vowed to spearhead a "radical social economic transformation" as he was sworn in for a second term before dignitaries and a cheering crowd of thousands on Saturday. Duration: 00:55

May 25, 2014

Narendra Modi has mango named after him

Malihabad, May 24 (ANI): Veteran mango cultivator Padma Haji Kalimullah Khan has dedicated a new variety of mango to Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi, naming it "NaMo Aam" A celebrated expert in mango cultivation, Khan dedicated the variety of mango developed by him in Malihabad city of Uttar Pradesh to Modi, and said it is a gift that would be remembered by the name of Modi. Khan also hoped to meet country's next prime minister to present the new variety of the fruit as a mark of honour.

May 24, 2014

Student in Coimbatore invents foot mouse for differently-abled people

Coimbatore, May 24 (ANI): An engineering student in Coimbatore has invented a device called foot mouse to help physically disabled people use computers. Lakshmi Devi has invented the device by which differently-abled persons, specifically those with arm or hand disorders, can use their feet to operate computers without the help of a third person. The foot mouse is low-cost and it would help the differently-abled people get a new lease of life by giving them opportunities to explore in education and jobs online. This new invention would also help the differently-abled to indulge in social media activities.

May 24, 2014

Sonia Gandhi elected as CPP President, Congress reacts

New Delhi, May 24 (ANI): Congress President Sonia Gandhi has been elected again as the party President at a meeting of the Congress Members of Parliament from both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha held on Saturday. Congress leaders addressed media and appreciated this decision taken after majority supported it. Abhishek Manu Singhvi said that the only agenda of the meeting was to elect the chairperson and Sonia Gandhi was chosen unanimously. Shashi Tharoor said that the authority should remain with one person suggesting that Sonia Gandhi should lead in the Parliament so that there is no difference. Ambika Soni stated that the party has taken the decision collectively and any necessary changes will be accepted.

May 24, 2014

Congress leaders want Rahul to represent Opposition

New Delhi, May 24 (ANI): After the election of Sonia Gandhi as the Congress President again in the CPP meeting on Saturday, Congress leaders suggested that Vice President Rahul Gandhi should be elected to represent the Opposition in the Parliament. Veerappa Mopily expressed that Rahul Gandhi is capable enough to take party decisions as the Opposition in the Parliament. Capt Amarinder Singh said that he is also in favour of including Priyanka Gandhi as party leader as she acts complimentary to Rahul Gandhi and both would be of great help to party President.

May 24, 2014

Politicos react as Shazia Ilmi quits AAP

New Delhi, May 24 (ANI): Politicos on Saturday reacted over Shazia Ilmi’s resignation from the Aam Aadmi party. Ilmi highlighting various reasons which caused her to quit had said that she is sad about this decision but had no other option after realizing various flaws in the party. Her brother and BJP leader Aijaz Ilmi said that it is not surprising as AAP is an anarchist party. Congress leader Meem Afzal termed Ilmi's resignation as the right step.

May 24, 2014

Gopinath quits AAP, Yogendra Yadav says doesn't know when Gopinath joined party

New Delhi, May 24 (ANI): Captain Gopinath on Saturday announced that he is quitting the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). He said that he was having some differences with the AAP leadership, and added that though he had a lot of admiration for party founder Arvind Kejriwal, he could not reconcile with Kejriwal's decision to court arrest and deny payment of bond in connection with a defamation case filed against him by BJP leader Nitin Gadkari. Reacting over this AAP leader Yogendra Yadav said that he doesn't know when Gopinath joined the party.

May 24, 2014