Monday 26 January 2015

US, EU threaten new Russia sanctions over Ukraine

26 01 2015
Jan 26
US President Barack Obama and European leaders are threatening new sanctions on Russia after pro-Russian rebels launched a deadly rocket attack on the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol.
On a state visit to India yesterday, Obama said he would ratchet up pressure on Moscow in the wake of Saturday’s attack that killed at least 30 people and injured more than 80 others when the rockets slammed into a market and apartment buildings.
Obama said, they are deeply concerned about the latest break in the Ukrainian ceasefire. Some European leaders have recently talked of easing economic sanctions against Moscow but European Union president Donald Tusk said that appeasement encourages the aggressor to greater acts of violence. He said, it is the time to step up their policy based on cold facts, not illusions.




India celebrates 66th Republic Day

26 01 2015
  Nation showcases its military might at 66th Republic Day; Obama becomes first US Prez to be chief Guest
In presence of Chief Guest Barack Obama, First lady of US Michelle Obama the meticulous planned Republic Day parade one of India’s prestigious pageant showcasing the multiple culture and discipline army bests actions. Chief Guest Barack Obama signaled thumps-up when he saw the Poster, “WE LOVE OBAMA”  at tableau and in crowd thus Thanks giving by people of India showed exemplary love to the leader.
India produced global best exhibition of its military prowess & cultural diversity showcased on Rajpath to mark Republic Day celebrations. However West Bengal was missing from today’s Republic Day parade.
Reports say that the central government rejected Bengal’s tableau theme, ‘Kanyashree’, which is a pet project of chief minister Mamata Banerjee.
The rejection did not go down well with the Trinamool Congress as Mamata Banerjee’s ‘Kanyashree’ program is being projected as a major achievement of the Bengal government.
Trinamool Congress leader Derek O Brien tweeted: ‘Bengal Tableaux for Republic Day depicting path-breaking Kanyashree initiative was not allowed.’
India celebrates its 66th Republic Day today with gaiety and enthusiasm. President Pranab Mukherjee unfurled the national flag at Rajpath in the presence of Chief Guest Barack Obama, First lady of US Michelle Obama, Vice President Hamid Ansari and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
After unfurling the tricolour, the National Anthem was played with 21-gun salute. The Republic Day ceremony commenced at Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate where Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the nation in paying homage to the martyrs by laying a wreath. Before commencement of parade President Pranab Mukherjee conferred the highest peacetime gallantry Award Ashok Chakra posthumously to Naik Neeraj Kumar Singh and Major Mukund Varadarajan who laid their life during anti-terrorist operations in Jammu and Kashmir .The award was received by the wives of the martyrs.Chief Guest of this year’s Republic day function US president Barack Obama arrived at Rajpath along with his wife Michelle Obama.
President Obama was received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi amidst thunderous applause. The inclement weather conditions failed to dampen the spirits of Delhites, who turned out in unprecedented numbers, to be part of the 66th Republic Day celebrations.
Obama is the first US president to be chief guest at the Republic Day and the first US president to visit India twice while in office.
This was followed by the President’s Bodyguards escorting President Pranab Mukherjee’s cavalcade down Raisina Hill marking the beginning of the 66th Republic Day Celebration.
Rajpath reverberated with the tunes of ” swagatam shubha swagatam,” as President’s cavalcade arrived escorted by the President’s Guards.
At sharp 10.10am, the Republic Day parade began from Vijay Chowk marching towards the saluting base on Rajpath, towards India Gate.
The parade was commanded by Lt. General Subroto Mitra, General Officer Commanding, Delhi Area while Major General Abhay Krishna, Chief of Staff, Delhi Area was Second-in-Command.
India showed its military might on Rajpath. Surface-to-air missile system, weapon locating radar among DRDO equipment rolled down Rajpath.
The Brigade of the Guards, the Grenadiers, the Jat Regiment, the Sikh Regiment, the Kumaon Regiment, the Jammu & Kashmir Rifles, 14 Gorkha Training Centre and the Territorial Army (Punjab) were the other marching contingents that took part in the Republic Day parade.
The grand finale of the parade was a spectacular flypast by the Indian Air Force.
With women’s Empowerment being the theme of this year’s parade, for the first time all-women’s contingent of the armed forces marched down the Rajpath. The parade displayed indigenously developed medium-range surface-to-air missile ‘Akash’, multi barrel rocket launcher ‘Pinaka’, laser-guided missile capable T-90 Bheeshma tank, infantry combat vehicle BMP-II Sarath and T-72 with Trawl. The indigenously built stealth destroyer INS Kolkata was also displayed which was inducted in the Indian Navy in July last year.
The main attraction of the parade was sparkling show of air power, fascinating tableaux depicting the diverse culture and dance by colorfully dressed school children. 24 children who have been awarded with the National Bravery Award also participated in the parade.
A total of 25 tableaux participated in the parade,with 16 of them belonging to states and the union territories. A giant mechanised lion symbolic of Make in India policy, huge mock-up of Karnataka’s famed wooden toys, scale model of Sardar Patel’s Statue of Unity, bullet train and safety and education of girl child were some of the attractions.
Furthermore Reports of Republic Day celebrations are pouring in from different States and Union Territories across the country. Governors and Chief Ministers unfurled the national flag. The Governors also took salute at the march past by contingents of police and armed forces. Various cultural programmes and tableaux were presented to mark the celebrations.
In Jammu and Kashmir, the main function of Republic Day celebrations was held in the winter capital city of Jammu today. The function was organised at M.A. Stadium where the State Governor N.N.Vohra hoisted the Tricolour. In the Kashmir Valley, the Republic Day was also celebrated amidst unprecedented security arrangements. The function was held at Bakshi stadium, where Kashmir Divisional Commissioner unfurled the national flag. For the first time since 2005, the mobile phone and mobile Internet services were not disrupted in Kashmir Valley as part of the security drill for Republic Day celebrations.
In Leh in Jammu & Kashmir, the Chief Executive Councillor of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council, Leh, Mr Rigzin Spalbar hoisted the national flag.
In Assam, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi unfurled the tricolor at Khanapara in Guwahati. Referring to the massacre of 23rd of last month in his speech, the Chief Minister said that violence will not solve any problem. Gogoi said that the government is committed to take strict action against the terrorists. He also appealed all militant groups to shun violence.
In Chhatisgarh, Governor Balramji Das Tandon unfurled the national flag and took the salute at the Republic Day parade held in state capital Raipur. AIR Correspondent has reported that Chief Minister Raman Singh hoisted the tri-colour at Maoist affected Bastar divisional headquarter Jagdalpur.
In Andhra Pradesh, Governor E.S.L Narasimhan paid tributes to Pingali Venkaiah, who had designed the national flag.
There are similar reports of Republic Day celebrations from Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Karnataka, Maharashtra and several other states.
Major Mukund Varadarajan and Naik Neeraj Kumar Singh, the two army personnel who laid down their lives combating militants in Kashmir Valley, were today awarded posthumously the highest peacetime military honour, the Ashok Chakra, by President Pranab Mukherjee.
The awards were received by their wives at the 66th Republic Day celebrations. Both the army men laid down their lives while battling groups of militants in separate operations in Shopian and Kupwara districts of Kashmir.
Major Varadarajan, who was an officer in the Rajput Regiment of the Indian Army, killed three terrorists in an encounter in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir in April last while Naik Neeraj Singh leading a search operation in general area Gurdaji of Kupwara district in August came under heavy fire from terrorists.
Media agencies




Greece’s – snap general election

25 01 2015
A legislative election  take place in Greece on 25 January 2015 to elect all 300 members to the Hellenic Parliament in accordance with the constitution. The election are held as per scheduled due to the failure of the Greek parliament to elect a new president on 29 December 2014.
Greece voting on an election likely to bring in a government led by the left-wing Syriza party, which has promised to take on international lenders and roll back painful austerity measures imposed during years of economic crisis.The victory for Syriza, led opinion polls for months, would produce the first government in the eurozone openly committed to cancelling the austerity terms of its EU and IMF-backed bailout programme.
Greece has endured tough budget cuts in return for its bailout, negotiated with the European Union, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and European Central Bank (ECB).
The economy has shrunk drastically since the 2008 global financial crisis, and increasing unemployment has thrown many Greeks into poverty.
A Syriza win is turning point for Europe after last week’s announcement by the European Central Bank of a massive injection of cash into the bloc’s flagging economy after years of trying to clamp down on budgets and pushing countries to pass structural reforms.
Polls are due to close at 1700GMT with the first exit poll expected immediately after voting ends.
Greeks 9.8 millions are registered to vote in the election.




Indo-US Nuclear-Deal Okay Dokey,

25 01 2015

Indo-US Nuclear -Deal Okay Dokey

US withdraws tracking clause

Obama at Hyderabad House lawns

"LIVE:
PM’s Top Ministers Break for Lunch at Famous Dhaba
Hungry Kya? PM's Top Ministers Break for Lunch at Famous Dhaba http://goo.gl/GHHz4S
Hungry Kya? PM's Top Ministers Break for Lunch at Famous Dhaba http://goo.gl/GHHz4S
Hungry Kya? PM's Top Ministers Break for Lunch at Famous Dhaba http://goo.gl/GHHz4S
President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are now holding expanded delegation level talks. Earlier, both the leaders held restricted talks over lunch at Hyderabad house.
The US President was given a guard of honour with a 21 gun salute at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhawan soon after his arrival. Mr Obama was introduced to Indian cabinet Ministers and Senior Leaders there. Barack Obama said, he is grateful for the extraordinary hospitality which is a great honour for him. Accompanied by the First Lady Michelle Obama, Mr Obama arrived in New Delhi on a three-day visit this morning. Breaking normal protocol, Prime Minister Narendra Modi warmly received the United States President and the First Lady. President Obama’s National Security Council in a tweet said, Jai Hind. It said, Mr Obama is honored to be back in India to celebrate Republic Day and begin a new chapter in the US-India partnership.
Mr. Obama also visited Rajghat and laid wreath at the Samadhi of Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi and planted a sapling there.




Lungu wins Zambia presidential election

25 01 2015
Defence and Justice Minister Edgar Lungu of the Patriotic Front won by a 48.3%, as per latest update released by Electoral Commission of Zambia Chairperson Justice Ireen Mambilima at 23 Hours using 111 consolidated constituency results, PF’s Edgar Lungu is still reducing with 670,397 representing 48.87 percent of the vote.
Hakainde Hichilema of the UPND is close in second place with 641,343 representing 46.75 percent of the vote.
Edith Nawakwi of the FDD has leapfrogged Dr Nevers Mumba of the MMD to occupy third position with 11,260 representing 0.82 percent of the vote.
Media agencies




Across Globe

25 01 2015

Thousands of Yemenis protest against Houthi rebels

About 20,000 mostly Sunni Yemenis marched through capital Sanaa in protest against the Shia Houthi rebels, who have controlled the capital of the Middle Eastern country since September last year. As well as chanting anti-Houthi slogans, the crowd denounced their alleged backers – Iran and Al Qaeda. The demonstrators converged outside the house of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi, who was forced to resign earlier this week, after being placed under virtual house arrest by the rebels.

Ukrainian Court prolongs arrest of anti-Maidan protesters in Odessa fire case

A court in Odessa, southern Ukraine, has prolonged the arrests of 21 people probed in anti-Maidan protests in the city last May by two months. The detained are accused of instigating mass clashes between the supporters of new authorities in Kiev and their opponents. According to the Court, the suspects could affect the investigation if released. Ten of them are being kept in prison and eleven more are being held under house arrest.

Spanish police arrest 4 suspected

Spain’s police have arrested four people in Ceuta, in the Spanish area in Northern Africa bordering with Morrocco, who are suspected of belonging to a militant Islamist group capable of plotting an attack in the country. According to Interior Minister Jorge Fernandez Diaz, they are two pairs of brothers, highly radicalized and highly trained. El Pais newspaper reports one of them posted a video online urging others to wage jihad. Spain stepped up its security after the terror attacks in Paris. Earlier, the national police and Moroccan police arrested seven people in a joint operation to prevent recruitment of people to join militants in Syria.

Obama departs India early to visit mourning Saudi Arabia

President Barack Obama will cut short a formal visit on Tuesday to India and head to Riyadh to pay respects following the death of King Abdullah, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said in a statement. Obama, together with the First Lady, will meet the new King Salman. Vice President Joe Biden, previously scheduled to make the trip to Saudi Arabia, “will remain in Washington” the statement said. The Saudi king’s funeral was held early Friday in accordance with Islamic tradition, and the kingdom will remain in mourning for three days. The sudden change of plans means Obama will miss a visit to the Taj Mahal, Pradeep Bhatnagar, a leading state official based in the city of Agra, where the Taj Mahal is located, told The Associated Press.

Indonesian search fuselage of crashed AirAsia flight

Four more bodies were recovered and an operation was begun to raise the fuselage of the AirAsia Flight 8501 wreckage from the bottom of the Java Sea on Saturday. The start of the operation comes a day after recovery crews were able to enter the main section of the plane, which crashed on December 28. Bad weather prevented them from entering it earlier in January when it was first spotted. “We have begun the operation today to lift the main body and we hope we can float it today,” one official with the rescue agency told AFP. The authorities blame bad weather on the crash, which took place on a short flight from Surabaya, Indonesia, to Singapore. It has also been established this week that shortly before the plunge, the plane had started a climb at an abnormally high speed. The tragedy claimed 162 lives.




Modi-Obama’s Joint Radio Address special with MyGov

25 01 2015
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Let us make PM Narendra Modi and President
Obama’s Joint Radio Address special with MyGov
This month’s Mann Ki Baat Radio Programme will be a memorable one as our Republic Day Guest President Barack Obama will join Prime Minister Narendra Modi and share their thoughts together.
MyGov gives you the unique opportunity to share your questions for the radio programme which will be aired on 27th January.
Post your questions to the Open Forum on MyGov by 25th January and be a part of this momentous address. Click here


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