1. US President Barack Obama has declared an end to the country's financial crisis. In his annual State of the Union address to Congress, he said that the US had turned a page after the worst recession since the Depression.
2. UN Security Council has called for lasting ceasefire and dialogue to end the political and security crisis in Yemen. At its emergency meeting last night, the 15 nation council expressed its support for President Mansour Hadi as the Houthi rebels seized the Presidential palace in the capital Sanaa.
3. In Bangladesh, violence continues unabated as the indefinite countrywide blockade enters the16th day today. The BNP-led opposition is also enforcing a 48-hour shutdown in Dhaka, Khulna and Syhlet divisions, beginning today. Police arrested 5 activists of the students' wing of Jamaat-e-Islami with 130 hand-made bombs in the capital, along with huge bomb-making material early this morning.
3. In Southern France, police arrested five Chechens on suspicion of preparing an attack, nearly two weeks after Islamist militants killed 17 people during three days of violence in the French capital. A police source said that four of them were arrested in Montpellier or nearby areas and a fifth in Beziers.
4. A Malian-born Muslim employee who hid customers from an Islamist gunman at a Paris kosher supermarket this month has been granted French nationality. Lassana Bathily, 24, was in a stockroom when gunman burst in, killing four people. At a ceremony attended by top French Ministers, Mr Bathily said he is proud and moved to become a citizen.
5. The Islamic State group threatened in a video yesterday to kill two Japanese hostages within 72 hours unless it receives a 200 million US dollar ransom, but Tokyo vowed it would not bow to terrorism. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, in Jerusalem on the latest leg of a Middle East tour, demanded the militants immediately free the two hostages unharmed.
6. The Ukrainian military has accused Russia of attacking its forces as fighting in eastern Ukraine spreads towards the Russian border. Military spokesman Andriy Lysenko said, regular Russian units have attacked in the Luhansk region, much of which is under pro-Russian rebel control. Heavy fighting is under way near the town of Slovyanoserbsk
7. Top Ugandan rebel commander, Dominic Ongwen is being flown to The Hague to stand trial on war crimes charges. Mr Ongwen, a feared commander of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), was taken into US custody in the Central African Republic earlier this month. Uganda agreed that he should be tried by the International Criminal Court, despite being a fierce critic of The Hague-based court.
8. In Nepal, the indigenous Tamang communities across the nation are celebrating Sonam Lhosar with zest and fervour today. The festival is being observed throughout the country by organising various programmes. Sonam Lhosar is the New Year of the Tamang communities and is celebrated on the first day of new moon.
9. In Yemen, the leader of Shia rebels known as Houthi, has said that the country is at a critical and defining moment. Abdul Male al-Houthi accused President Abd Mansour Hadi and the country's leaders for putting their interests ahead of the Yemeni people.
10. Centre mulling amending SABLA scheme, says Maneka Gandhi
11. The Centre is planning to amend the SABLA scheme, introduced by the UPA government for empowerment of adolescent girls, with the consent of state governments,
Union Minister Maneka Gandhi said.
12 .Centre asks states to achieve objectives of Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana
13. Union Minister Thaawar Chand Gehlot asked state governments to make all-out efforts to achieve the objectives of Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY) in the country.
14. Sunanda was taking 'fistful of medicines', claims a friend
In a new twist to the Sunanda Pushkar mysterious death case, one of her close friends claimed that she was taking "fistful of medicines" and had fainted twice weeks before her death when he had hosted her and Shashi Tharoor at his Goa home.
15. PM Modi likely to address four election rallies in Delhi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to address four election rallies in Delhi ahead of the upcoming polls even as BJP has decided to unleash 40 star campaigners to woo voters here.
16. Avinash Chander was appointed DRDO chief in 'strange manner', says Defence Minister
Defending his decision to terminate the contract of DRDO chief, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday said Avinash Chander was appointed in a "strange manner" and he feels that at the age of 64, a person probably thinks in more of a cautious way.
17. 71 high rise buildings to be shut down for R-Day parade
Security agencies will partly or completely shut down 71 high rise buildings in the vicinity of Rajpath for this year's Republic Day celebrations where US President Barack Obama will be the Chief Guest, much higher then earlier occasions when only around 45 establishments were closed.
18. BJP enrolls four crore members, Modi hails workers
BJP's membership strength on Wednesday crossed the four crore mark, an achievement lauded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
19. PM Modi to launch 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' campaign from Haryana
Government's ambitious 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' campaign to save and empower girl child will be launched on Thursday by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Panipat in Haryana, the state with the lowest sex ratio.
20. 'Extra precaution' being taken at borders ahead of Obama's visit, says Parrikar
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday said "extra precaution" is being taken at the borders ahead of US President Barack Obama's visit not just as a security measure for him but also to prevent incidents which might be undertaken to divert attention.
21. Centre to build two crore houses under 'Housing for All' programme
Pursuing the goal of 'Housing for All' by 2022, the government proposes to build more than two crore houses across the country, including for slum-dwellers, under a massive programme to which final shape was given at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Updated by PRASAD and SARITHA
2. UN Security Council has called for lasting ceasefire and dialogue to end the political and security crisis in Yemen. At its emergency meeting last night, the 15 nation council expressed its support for President Mansour Hadi as the Houthi rebels seized the Presidential palace in the capital Sanaa.
3. In Bangladesh, violence continues unabated as the indefinite countrywide blockade enters the16th day today. The BNP-led opposition is also enforcing a 48-hour shutdown in Dhaka, Khulna and Syhlet divisions, beginning today. Police arrested 5 activists of the students' wing of Jamaat-e-Islami with 130 hand-made bombs in the capital, along with huge bomb-making material early this morning.
3. In Southern France, police arrested five Chechens on suspicion of preparing an attack, nearly two weeks after Islamist militants killed 17 people during three days of violence in the French capital. A police source said that four of them were arrested in Montpellier or nearby areas and a fifth in Beziers.
4. A Malian-born Muslim employee who hid customers from an Islamist gunman at a Paris kosher supermarket this month has been granted French nationality. Lassana Bathily, 24, was in a stockroom when gunman burst in, killing four people. At a ceremony attended by top French Ministers, Mr Bathily said he is proud and moved to become a citizen.
5. The Islamic State group threatened in a video yesterday to kill two Japanese hostages within 72 hours unless it receives a 200 million US dollar ransom, but Tokyo vowed it would not bow to terrorism. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, in Jerusalem on the latest leg of a Middle East tour, demanded the militants immediately free the two hostages unharmed.
6. The Ukrainian military has accused Russia of attacking its forces as fighting in eastern Ukraine spreads towards the Russian border. Military spokesman Andriy Lysenko said, regular Russian units have attacked in the Luhansk region, much of which is under pro-Russian rebel control. Heavy fighting is under way near the town of Slovyanoserbsk
7. Top Ugandan rebel commander, Dominic Ongwen is being flown to The Hague to stand trial on war crimes charges. Mr Ongwen, a feared commander of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), was taken into US custody in the Central African Republic earlier this month. Uganda agreed that he should be tried by the International Criminal Court, despite being a fierce critic of The Hague-based court.
8. In Nepal, the indigenous Tamang communities across the nation are celebrating Sonam Lhosar with zest and fervour today. The festival is being observed throughout the country by organising various programmes. Sonam Lhosar is the New Year of the Tamang communities and is celebrated on the first day of new moon.
9. In Yemen, the leader of Shia rebels known as Houthi, has said that the country is at a critical and defining moment. Abdul Male al-Houthi accused President Abd Mansour Hadi and the country's leaders for putting their interests ahead of the Yemeni people.
10. Centre mulling amending SABLA scheme, says Maneka Gandhi
11. The Centre is planning to amend the SABLA scheme, introduced by the UPA government for empowerment of adolescent girls, with the consent of state governments,
Union Minister Maneka Gandhi said.
12 .Centre asks states to achieve objectives of Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana
13. Union Minister Thaawar Chand Gehlot asked state governments to make all-out efforts to achieve the objectives of Pradhan Mantri Adarsh Gram Yojana (PMAGY) in the country.
14. Sunanda was taking 'fistful of medicines', claims a friend
In a new twist to the Sunanda Pushkar mysterious death case, one of her close friends claimed that she was taking "fistful of medicines" and had fainted twice weeks before her death when he had hosted her and Shashi Tharoor at his Goa home.
15. PM Modi likely to address four election rallies in Delhi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to address four election rallies in Delhi ahead of the upcoming polls even as BJP has decided to unleash 40 star campaigners to woo voters here.
16. Avinash Chander was appointed DRDO chief in 'strange manner', says Defence Minister
Defending his decision to terminate the contract of DRDO chief, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday said Avinash Chander was appointed in a "strange manner" and he feels that at the age of 64, a person probably thinks in more of a cautious way.
17. 71 high rise buildings to be shut down for R-Day parade
Security agencies will partly or completely shut down 71 high rise buildings in the vicinity of Rajpath for this year's Republic Day celebrations where US President Barack Obama will be the Chief Guest, much higher then earlier occasions when only around 45 establishments were closed.
18. BJP enrolls four crore members, Modi hails workers
BJP's membership strength on Wednesday crossed the four crore mark, an achievement lauded by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
19. PM Modi to launch 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' campaign from Haryana
Government's ambitious 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' campaign to save and empower girl child will be launched on Thursday by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Panipat in Haryana, the state with the lowest sex ratio.
20. 'Extra precaution' being taken at borders ahead of Obama's visit, says Parrikar
Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Wednesday said "extra precaution" is being taken at the borders ahead of US President Barack Obama's visit not just as a security measure for him but also to prevent incidents which might be undertaken to divert attention.
21. Centre to build two crore houses under 'Housing for All' programme
Pursuing the goal of 'Housing for All' by 2022, the government proposes to build more than two crore houses across the country, including for slum-dwellers, under a massive programme to which final shape was given at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Updated by PRASAD and SARITHA
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