Month: January 2015

Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Congo enter Afcon quarters

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Equatorial Guinea and Republic of Congo have become the first teams to qualify for the knock out stage of the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) tournament here.

The hosts scored through Javier Angel Balboa’s second half penalty (55th minute) and another goal by substitute Ivan Edu Salvador to beat Gabon 2-0 at the Bata Stadium Sunday, reports Xinhua.

Coach Claude Le Roy’s team also humbled 2013 finalists Burkina Faso 2-1 in another Group A match.

AAP peeved at ignoring Kejriwal at R-Day celebrations

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Accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government of playing politics, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Monday askedy why its leader and former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal was not invited to the Republic Day celebrations.

The party also questioned BJP’s chief ministerial candidate Kiran Bedi being given a seat in the front row of the enclosure designated for parliamentarians.

“Kiran Bedi is invited/given front row. Arvind was not even extended invitation for Republic Day parade. Politics even this pious day? Shame,” AAP leader Ashutosh tweeted.

Obama attends ‘At Home’ at Rashtrapati Bhavan

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US President Barack Obama was the cynosure of all eyes at the ‘At Home’ hosted by President Pranab Mukherjee Monday at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Obama shook hands with and waved to the large number of invitees, which included many prominent faces like Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former prime minister Manmohan Singh and cabinet ministers and their spouses.

Obama had high tea sitting beside Modi, who was dressed in a red jacket and a cream-coloured shawl. Modi and Obama chatted with each other.

Easy moves to get a tight tummy

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In search of a foolproof method to tighten your abs? Learn the right moves.

Celebrity trainer Tracy Anderson has shared details of moves that can help one in getting a tight tummy, reports eonline.com:

* Lower ab leg tuck and split: Lie on your back with hands behind your head for support. Lift the shoulders up off the floor and curve the upper back into a crunch. Remember to engage your abs and keep your stomach flat. Extend your legs straight out on the floor with feet together.

YSRCP seeks disqualification of rebel MLAs

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The YSR Congress Party on Monday urged Telangana Assembly Speaker S Madhusudan Chary to disqualify Aswaraopet MLA Thati Venkateswarulu and Wyra MLA Madan Lal from their post as they have defected to the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi.

YSRCP leaders K Shiva Kumar and Y Kista Reddy called on the Assembly Speaker and requested him to take immediate action against the rebel MLAs under the Anti-Defection Law. The Speaker has assured to look into the petition. (INN)

Haryana: 12 killed as train rams into vehicle at unmanned crossing

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Twelve members of a family, including four children, were killed and three others injured when the vehicle they were travelling in was hit by Dhuri-Sirsa passenger train at an unmanned rail crossing in Sarsod village of Hisar today amid dense fog.

The driver of the transport vehicle was among those killed, SHO, Government Railway Police, Hisar, Bhim Sein said.

He said the train from Dhuri in Punjab was headed to Sirsa in Haryana when the accident occurred near village Sarsod, about 30 km from here.

Karnataka governor hails state welfare schemes on R-Day

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Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala Monday lauded the Congress-led state government for launching many welfare schemes and public services like Mobile One project across the state on the occasion of 66th Republic Day.

In a brief address on this special occasion, Governor Vala hoisted the national flag and said that the state government has made remarkable progress in many fields, especially in public services, welfare and development schemes.

Caution needs to be exercised on India’s NSG inclusion: China

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China today extended conditional support for India’s Nuclear Suppliers Group membership bid but said “prudence and caution” needs to be exercised on the issue, a day after US President Barack Obama backed India’s inclusion into the elite 48-member body.

“We believe that such (an) inclusion should be conducive to the integrity and effectiveness of the regime and decision should be made on consensus. We notice India’s commitment to relevant issues,” Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying said at a media briefing.

Modi-Obama Mann Ki Baat at 8 p.m. tomorrow

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The much awaited “special” episode of the ‘Mann ki Baat’ radio address which will have Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Barack Obama sharing their thoughts would be aired at 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Advertisements put out by the Information and Broadcasting Ministry in newspapers Monday said: “This month’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’ will be a special one where our Republic Day chief guest US President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will share thoughts together.”

“Be a part of this memorable Mann Ki Baat programme, illustrating a special bond between India and the US,” it said.

Blame game over rejection of Odisha tableau for R-day parade

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The Congress and the BJP Monday blamed the Odisha government over the rejection of the state tableau for this year’s Republic Day parade at New Delhi, while the ruling BJD termed the rejection as ‘unfortunate’.

Former Congress MP Pradeep Majhi said in a tweet: “Wondering why Odisha didn’t send a tableau, bcoz its so easy just put plaster of Paris Naveen (Patnaik) sleeping on a bed of notes.”

North Korea asks Cambodia to ban screening of ‘The Interview’

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North Korea has asked the Cambodian government to ban the screening of the US film “The Interview”, which caricatures North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, arguing that its distribution could harm bilateral relations, South Korean media reported Monday.

The North Korean embassy in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh sent a note to the Cambodian ministry of foreign affairs to take measures to prevent the distribution of the Sony Pictures Entertainment comedy film, according to public broadcaster KBS.

TS Govt working in most transparent manner: Narasimhan

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Governor ESL Narasimhan has stated that the Telangana Government has been working in the most transparent manner.

Addressing the official Republic Day function at Parade Grounds in Secunderabad on Monday, the Governor said that the benefits of government welfare schemes should reach everyone. He said that the government was taking all steps to ensure that no deserving beneficiary is deprived of the benefits of welfare schemes. He assured that the Telangana Government would ensure a corruption free society and measures would be taken to eradicate political corruption.

Water Board celebrates 66th Republic Day

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The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply & Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) celebrated the 66th Indian Republic Day here on Monday with zeal and nationalistic fervour.

HMWSSB Managing Director M Jagadeeshwar unfurled the national tri-colour at Head Office of Metro Water Board in Khairatabad amidst huge gathering of Officers, Staff members and union representatives. Patriotic songs were rendered on the occasion.

Andhra govt’s vision to eliminate poverty, socio-economic disparities: Guv

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Andhra Pradesh Governor ESL Narasimhan Monday said the state government’s vision is to eliminate poverty and reduce socio-economic disparities for a healthy, technologically advanced and knowledgeable society.

“My government’s guiding principle is to strive till the last man in the last mile of development paradigm is healthy, happy, peaceful and prosperous,” the Governor said on the occasion of the 66th Republic Day celebrations here.

Twelve killed as train rams into vehicle at unmanned crossing in Hisar

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Twelve members of a family, including four children, were killed and three others injured when the vehicle they were travelling in was hit by Dhuri-Sirsa passenger train at an unmanned rail crossing in Sarsod village of Hisar today amid dense fog.

The driver of the transport vehicle was among those killed, SHO, Government Railway Police, Hisar, Bhim Sein said.

He said the train from Dhuri in Punjab was headed to Sirsa in Haryana when the accident occurred near village Sarsod, about 30 km from here.

Whopping 10 million-pound open air swimming pool to be built in middle of Thames

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London architects are preparing to build a 10 million-pound open air swimming pool in the middle of the Thames.

According to Mirror, the huge sum is needed to create the 25-metre pool, filtration system and poolside decking and the architects behind it are calling on those who live in the capital to dig deep.

The deadline for the construction of the proposed swimming pool has been set for next year.

The pool will be created on the Victoria Embankment, provided the plan gets permission for the same.

Jennifer Aniston wants ‘Friends’ co-stars to reunite, but as ‘oldies’

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Jennifer Aniston has confessed that she does want a ‘ Friends’ reunion to happen, but when they are all senior citizens .

While talking to E! Online, the 45-year-old actress joked that it would be more interesting to put them “up there when they are really really old, for then there would be more questions about what happened in their lives.

Aniston, whose recent performance in ‘Cake’ is much appreciated, added that she felt special to be a part of the show as it was so loved and that it was the greatest time in her life. (ANI)

Assam to set up Women, Child Development Agency: CM Tarun Gogoi

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A Women and Child Development agency will be created to make focused efforts in order to improve the overall condition of women and children
File Photo
While hoisting the National Flag on occasion of the 66th Republic Day celebrations in Guwahati, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said a Women and Child Development Agency will be set up in the state for improving overall condition of the women and children.

Mobile, Internet services not disrupted in Kashmir on Republic Day

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Mobile phones and Internet services on mobile devices were not snapped when the Republic Day parade began at Kashmir’s main venue Bakshi Stadium and other district headquarters.

It is for the first time since 2005 that mobile phone and Internet services have not been snapped as part of the security drill in Kashmir. The security agencies added this step to the security drill after militants triggered a blast outside the Bakshi Stadium during the Independence Day parade in 2005

Bihar moving on the path of growth with justice, says CM Jitan Ram Manjhi

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The state plan which was Rs 34,000 crore in 2013-14 was enhanced to Rs 57,000 crore for 2014-15 fiscal says Manjhi
File Photo
Accepting the guard of honour on the occasion of the 66th Republic Day, on Monday Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi asserted that the state was moving fast on the avowed path of “growth with justice.”

Manjhi presided over the parade at the historic Gandhi Maidan instead of Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi, also the West Bengal Governor, with the latter unfurling the tricolour in Kolkata.

Vow to protect our democratic and secular identity, says Uttarakhand CM Harish Rawat

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Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat on Monday unfurled the tricolour at the Bijapur Guest House to mark the 66th Republic Day and said it was an occasion to remember the contribution of the country’s Constitution makers who laid the foundation of a democratic and secular India.

“This is the day when we should remember our Constitution makers and take a vow to protect our identity as a democratic and secular country,” he said.

Obama meets Congress party delegation

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US President Barack Obama met a Congress party delegation Monday afternoon after witnessing the 66th Republic Day parade at Rajpath in the morning, sources here said.

The Congress delegation, including former prime minister Manmohan Singh, party president Sonia Gandhi and several other senior leaders, called on the visiting US president at the ITC Maurya hotel where the visiting dignitary is staying, the sources added.

The meeting was understood to be a courtesy call.

Singh was prime minister when President Obama visited India for the first time in November, 2010.