Beijing, Jan 26 (IANS) A former lawmaker from northeast China's Heilongjiang province has been arrested following a rape accusation from a female journalist, authorities said. An investigation by the disciplinary watchdog showed that Sun Dejiang had embezzled public money, defrauded pension funds and maintained "improper relationships" with several women, reported Xinhua citing a statement issued Friday by the publicity department of the city of Shuangcheng. Sun was initially exposed Nov 23 in a microblog post written by Wang Dechun, a journalist who claimed that Sun had forced her into maintaining an adulterous relationship with him
For all of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Arun Jaitley's claim that his party has a "galaxy" of leaders, it has had to fall back on an old and controversial warhorse, Rajnath Singh, for the second time to be the party chief. What this means is that, in actuality, the BJP's cupboard is bare so far as members of leadership potential are concerned
Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 26 (IANS) Kerala should embrace modern technology in agriculture, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said Saturday. "While several Asian countries are progressing rapidly in this sector, we have not been able to do," the chief minister said in his Republic Day address here
Patna, Jan 26 (IANS) Ignoring a dense fog and icy winds, hundreds of thousands across Bihar celebrated India's 64th Republic Day Saturday. Governor Devanand Kunwar hoisted the tricolour at an impressive march past at the historic Gandhi Maidan here. The governor lauded the state government for high growth rate, initiating several steps to develop Bihar and for combating corruption and crime
Patna, Jan 26 (IANS) Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa will visit Bodh Gaya in Bihar Feb 8 to pray at the site where Lord Buddha attained enlightenment, an official said Saturday. The president will also meet Chief Minister Nitish Kumar
Mumbai, Jan 26 (IANS) Maharashtra celebrated India's Republic Day with patriotic fervour Saturday, with politicians and citizens unfurling scores of national flags across the state. Schools, colleges, institutions and housing societies hoisted the tricolour in the morning
New Delhi, Jan 26 (IANS) India's 64th Republic Day celebrations began Saturday with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh paying homage to the unknown soldier at the India Gate war memorial in the heart of the capital. With the three service chiefs in attendance, Manmohan Singh was greeted on arrival at the World War I monument by Defence Minister A.K. Antony.
Raipur, Jan 26 (IANS) Chhattisgarh's tribal population in the Maoist bastion Bastar Saturday defied Maoist dictates and celebrated Republic Day although the rebels blocked dozens of roads in forested interiors. Reports from Dantewada, Sukma, Bijapur, Narayanpur, Kanaker, Bastar and Kondagaon districts which together form the Bastar region said tribals came out in large numbers to attend Republic Day celebrations. Inspector General of Police Himanshu Gupta, who presides over the Bastar region, said the guerrillas laid heavy wooden logs in key forest roads to force people to stay indoors
Washington, Jan 26 (IANS/EFE) US President Barack Obama Friday named Denis McDonough, who had been serving as deputy national security advisor, as his new chief of staff. "Denis has played a key role in every major national security decision during my presidency," Obama said at a ceremony in the White House's East Room, adding that he is one of his closest friends and advisors. In the famous May 2011 photograph in the White House's Situation Room that shows Obama monitoring the mission that led to the killing of Osama bin Laden, McDonough, 43, is seated just two chairs away from the president
Panaji, Jan 26 (IANS) As India celebrates Republic Day, a group of greens has put up an exhibition of paintings and photographs to glorify the evergreen trees along one of Panaji's most cherished quarters. The trees, gnarled and almost like a canopy, pre-date India's Republic day by several dozen years and have been saved twice by residents when a 'road widening' project threatened to fell them all. "The trees, in addition to protecting the city from the vagaries of nature, also provide a charming umbrella to walk under," Nicole Suares, a photographer and one of the key persons behind the exhibition, says.
