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'Make in India' tableau among others steals the show in Republic Day parade

New Delhi, Jan 26 (ANI): India celebrated its 66th Republic Day although rain threatened to dampen the excitement around US President Barack Obama's landmark visit to India, amid a vibrant display of its rich heritage and military prowess on Monday. Thousands of troops prepared on Monday for a dazzling military parade where Obama was the chief guest. However, the Make in India tableau stole the show at the parade. The float, which displayed a working model of the ' Make in India' lion, invited manufacturers and investors to participate in the initiative. Jan 26, 2015
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Maoists call shutdown in Jharkhand over Obama's visit

Latehar/Palamu, Jharkhand, Jan 26 (ANI): Maoists in Jharkhand called for a shutdown on Monday to protest US President Barack Obama's visit. All roads and market places were deserted as very few people dared to come out in open. Residents said they were scared of stepping out of their houses. In another Maoist stronghold Palamu district, there was a curfew-like situation with very few vehicles on roads. Transport services were hit in the district as people were stranded at railway and bus stations.The Maoists have also decided to observe January 26 as a Black Day in protest. The Maoists, also known as Naxals in India, are inspired by the political philosophy of China's late Chairman Mao Zedong. They say they are fighting for the rights of poor farmers and landless labourers. Jan 26, 2015
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Major Mukund Varadarajan, Naik Neeraj Kumar Singh posthumously awarded Ashok Chakra

New Delhi, Jan 26 (ANI): President Pranab Mukherjee presented the prestigious Ashok Chakra award to the families of Major Mukund Varadarajan and Naik Neeraj Kumar Singh on the 66th Republic Day here on Monday. The Republic Day celebrations started with the unfurling of the national flag by the President. Thereafter, the national anthem was played and President Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Barack Obama and Vice President Hamid Ansari and other dignitaries paid respect to the tri-coloured flag. The Ashok Chakra award, which was conferred to Major Mukund Varadarajan and Naik Neeraj Kumar Singh posthumously, is given for the 'most conspicuous bravery or some daring or pre-eminent valour or self-sacrifice' other than in the face of the enemy. Jan 26, 2015

Artist paints 30-feet long portrait of US President Barack Obama

Moradabad, Jan 26 (ANI): An artist in Uttar Pradesh painted a 30-feet long portrait of US President Barack Obama, who arrived in New Delhi for Republic Day celebrations. Obama is the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations on Monday in the capital, where tanks, troops and floats showcasing India's cultural diversity will pass along Rajpath. The artist, Narendra Singh painted portrait of Obama with Indian and United States flags at the backdrop with a message reading, 'All Indians salute you'. Obama will leave India slightly earlier than first scheduled to travel to Saudi Arabia following the death of King Abdullah, skipping a planned visit to the Taj Mahal. Jan 26, 2015
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First all women march by army, navy and air force personnel

New Delhi, Jan 26 (ANI): India witnessed the first march by women army, navy and air force personnel at the 66th Republic Day parade on Monday. Captain Divya Ajith Kumar of the Corps of Army Air Defence led the first all-women contingent of 154 women officers and cadets during the parade, where US President Barack Obama was present as the chief guest. Kumar was the first woman cadet in the history of the Army to have been awarded the prestigious 'Sword of Honour' at the passing out parade of the Officers Training Academy (OTA) in Chennai in 2010. Currently, the Indian Air Force has the highest number of women officers, followed by the army and navy. The Republic Day celebrations started with the unfurling of the national flag by the President. Jan 26, 2015

PM Modi, US President arrives for Republic Day celebrations at Rajpath, salutes to Indian flag

New Delhi, Jan 26 (ANI): Even as rain continues to try dampen the enthusiasm for the Republic Day parade, none seems to get on to the celebrations of the day on Monday. The day started with the arrival of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Rajpath where he met Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar. The Prime Minister later met Vice President Hamid Ansari and greeted him along with other union ministers present at the venue. Following the same, arrived the chief guest for the day US President Barack Obama who arrived at the venue amidst much cheer from the crowd. Obama was accompanied by elegant American first lady Michelle Obama. He is the first US president to be the chief guest at the Republic Day. PM Modi warmly greeted the guests and escorted the Obamas to the saluting base. The US President also met Vice President, Defence Minister among others. Jan 26, 2015
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PM Modi pays tribute to martyrs at 'Amar Jawan Jyoti' on Republic Day

New Delhi, Jan 26 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday paid tribute at the 'Amar Jawan Jyoti', the memorial dedicated to martyrs on the 66th Republic Day in the national capital. Modi was accompanied by Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar who received him at the memorial. The prime minister also laid wreath at the Amar Jawan Jyoti and maintained two minutes of silence to pray for the martyrs. He was also accompanied by three heads of service, that is, Army Chief Dalbir Singh Suhag, Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha and Chief of Naval Staff Admiral R K Dhowan. PM Modi also signed the record book at the India Gate. Modi will now move on to Rajpath for the Republic Day celebrations with US President Barack Obama as the chief guest. Jan 26, 2015

Hundreds gather outside White House in support of Ukraine

Washington DC/ Ukraine, Jan 26 (ANI): Hundreds gathered in Washington DC outside the White House to urge the Obama administration to move on the Ukraine Freedom Support Act. While the bill was passed by both houses of Congress unanimously and signed into law by US President Barack Obama, many outside the White House say none of the measures have been implemented. In passing the measure, Obama authorized new sanctions on Russia over its activities in Ukraine and was to begin providing weapons to the Kiev government immediately. After pro-Moscow rebels, backed by what NATO says is the open participation of Russian troops, pressed on with their offensive on Sunday after restarting the war in eastern Ukraine with the first all-out assault since a truce five months ago, Obama said Washington was considering all options short of military action to isolate Russia. Jan 26, 2015
Tight security cover.

New Delhi under tight security cover on 66th Republic Day

New Delhi, Jan 26 (ANI): The national capital turned into a fortress as US President is all set to witness the 66th Republic Day parade on Monday. There is unprecedented security in New Delhi. A seven-layer security ring with 50,000 security personnel, including 500 US Secret Service Agents, are part of President Obama's security detail. Police personnel are keeping a tight vigil throughout the national capital and also around the area where the parade is to take place since last night. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also took to twitter to congratulate and give greetings to the nation on 66th Republic Day. The highlight of this year's parade will be the indigenously developed surface-to-air Akash medium range missiles and weapon locating radar. The long-range advanced MiG-29K fighter will be seen for the first time. Three all-women marching contingents of the Army, Navy and the Air Force will represent the theme of the parade, "Nari Shakti (woman power)". Jan 26, 2015
candles-and-flowers-in-kiev-mark-mariupol-attack

Candles and flowers in Kiev mark Mariupol attack

People light candles at Independence Square in Kiev on Sunday, during a rally for 30 people who died as a result of shelling in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol. US President Barack Obama vowed Sunday to ramp up pressure on Russia. Duration: 00:43 Jan 25, 2015
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Number of political and corporate leaders attend Dinner hosted by Pranab Mukherjee for US President

New Delhi, Jan 25 (ANI): A number of political and corporate leaders arrived at President's House to share table with US President Barack Obama in tonight's banquet. As the dinner hosted by President Pranab Mukherjee in honour of US President Barack Obama at the Rashtrapati Bhavan started, the chief guest for this year's Republic Day celebrations, Obama arrived at the venue with magnificent American First Lady Michelle Obama. Obama dressed in tuxedo while Michelle in elegant floral blue dress were greeted by President Mukherjee at the gate. Followed by the guest of honour, came other VVIPs which included Former President APJ Abdul Kalam, Union ministers Harsh Vardhan, Arun Jaitley, Venkaiah Naidu, Sushma Swaraj, Rajnath Singh among others. The US President will also be accompanied by Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, Vice President Hamid Ansari and others at the dinner. Jan 25, 2015
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US President Barack Obama meets Pranab Mukherjee

New Delhi, Jan 25 (ANI): After breaking a logjam on civil nuclear deal with India, US President Barack Obama on Sunday called on his Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee. Obama met Indian President Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Bhavan ahead of the dinner to be hosted by the later. Present at the venue were Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal, Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh and other Indian and US delegates. Obama held talks with his Indian counterpart before leaving for the dinner banquet. Jan 25, 2015