Page 123 - Politics
Need to make structural changes in NE Cong units: Faleiro
Admitting that the state Congress units in the northeast need to introspect and work on their strengths and weaknesses, senior leader Luihinzo Faleiro has called for structural changes in the party. Faleiro, who is the All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary in-charge of the northeast, said the party will come up with an action plan and a road map for the restructuring programme in about 6,000 villages of Meghalaya over the next 15 days. The nation was going through "disturbing times", with the incumbent BJP government doing nothing to improve the economic and employment scenario, he claimed. "The Congress is going through difficult times, we have to accept it. We are doing our introspection to find out and work on our strengths and weaknesses. "However, more than the Congress party, it is the nation which is going through disturbing times," Faleiro said on Friday during a meeting with Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) leaders, party MLAs and ...
US to evacuate Balad Air Base in Iraq over 'potential security threats'
The United States will be evacuating nearly 400 Lockheed Martin and Sallyport Global employees from the Balad Air Base here in a two-stage process due to "potential security threats."Quoting Iraqi military sources, Russia's state broadcaster RT reported that the step is being taken in the wake of continuing US-Iran tensions.The already strained relationship was further aggravated after Iran shot down a US military drone on Thursday. While Iran says that the "intruding American spy drone" was shot down as it was in Iranian airspace, Washington has labelled the incident as an "unprovoked attack" as the drone was flying over international waters.The latest evacuation comes after the US recalled hundreds of non-emergency diplomatic staff from its embassy in Baghdad last month.The US contractors in Balad assist the Iraqi military in maintaining its F-16 fleet along with providing security, training, and other basic operations.Quoting the sources further, RT also reported that militants had
BJP's vote share increased despite SP-BSP alliance: Rajnath in Lucknow
After getting re-elected to Parliament with a massive mandate in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday visited his constituency, Lucknow, where he said that BJP's thumping win in the elections was a "huge thing" as the party's vote share increased despite the SP-BSP alliance."After SP-BSP alliance in Uttar Pradesh, even senior leaders used to think, we (BJP) will only get 10-15 seats and not 72. But even after staying in power for five years, there was no anti-incumbency. On the contrary, there was pro-incumbency. BJP's vote share increased," Singh said while addressing an event here.The Defence Minister took the opportunity to praise the soldiers for enhancing the pride of the country."Our soldiers carried out a surgical strike and then conducted multiple air strikes in Balakot, which tells the world that India is a strong country, not a weak one," Singh said.Singh further talked about the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said
US urges India against purchasing Russian S-400s
Ahead of Secretary of State Michael Pompeo's visit to India, the United States on Friday urged the country against buying Russian S-400 systems which may trigger CAATSA sanctions."With respect to the S-400, we're urging all of our allies and partners, India included, to forgo transactions with Russia that risk triggering the CAATSA [Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act] sanctions...This is a time we will be encouraging India to look at alternatives," Sputnik quoted a senior US Department of State official as saying during a conference.Washington is already engaged in a row with NATO ally Turkey over the purchase of the Russian system.India had signed a USD 5.43 billion deal with Russia for the purchase of five S-400s during the 19th India-Russia Annual Bilateral Summit in New Delhi on October 5 last year. The decision was made despite the US threat of sanctions against countries for their defence purchases with Russia.Washington has previously sanctioned China's ...
Trump, MBS discuss Iran, oil over phone
US President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) held discussions over Iran over the phone on Friday, according to the White House.The call comes shortly after Iran downed a US military drone on Thursday.While Tehran claims that the "intruding American spy drone", RQ-4 Global Hawk, was downed after it violated Iranian airspace over the southern coastal province of Hormozgan, Washington has labelled it as an "unprovoked attack." The US claims that the drone was flying over international waters when attacked.To back its claim, the country released an image of the flight path, showing that the drone was flying over international waters, in response to which Tehran released a video showing the drone had entered the Iranian airspace. The two countries' respective proof is similar until the final moments before the unmanned aerial vehicle was shot down.The two leaders also discussed Saudi Arabia's "role in ensuring stability in the Middle East and the global oil ...
Jagan Reddy appoints uncle Y V Subba Reddy as Chairman of TTD Board
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy on Friday appointed his uncle and senior YSRCP leader Y V Subba Reddy as Chairman of Tirumala Tirupati Devastanam (TTD) Board, an official statement read.Special Chief Secretary Manmohan Singh issued the government order, appointing him as chairman of the TTD board.Subba Reddy, who is also YSRCP general secretary, will take charge as TTD chairman on June 22.The other members of the TTD Board would be appointed soon, informed Singh.TTD chairman is a nominated post with cabinet rank and is considered a prestigious post.
FATF tells Pak to curb terror financing by October or face consequences
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) on Friday told Pakistan to "swiftly" complete its action plan to curb terror financing by October or face consequences.The warning was made in a statement issued by the financial watchdog following a plenary meeting in Orlando here.Pakistan is currently on the "grey list" of countries that have been inadequate in curbing money laundering and terror financing. The country has already missed two prior deadlines -- in January and May 2019 -- to complete their action plan."Pakistan should continue to work on implementing its action plan to address its strategic deficiencies. FATF expresses concern that not only did Pakistan fail to complete its action plan items with January deadlines, it also failed to complete its action plan items due May 2019," a statement issued by FATF outlined."The FATF strongly urges Pakistan to swiftly complete its action plan by October 2019 when the last set of action plan items are set to expire. Otherwise, the FATF will .
Stopped retaliatory attack on Iran 10 minutes before the strike: Trump
After Iran shot down a US military drone, US President Donald Trump claimed that he stopped retaliatory action by his forces against Iran just "10 minutes before the strike"."On Monday they shot down an unmanned drone flying in International Waters. We were cocked and loaded to retaliate last night on 3 different sights when I asked, how many will die. 150 people, sir, was the answer from a General. 10 minutes before the strike I stopped it, not proportionate to shooting down an unmanned drone," the President tweeted on Friday."I am in no hurry, our Military is rebuilt, new, and ready to go, by far the best in the world. Sanctions are biting & more added last night. Iran can NEVER have Nuclear Weapons, not against the USA, and not against the WORLD!" he added.According to US media reports, the US President had initially approved attacks on a handful of Iranian targets, like radar and missile batteries. The decision was taken after an intense discussion at the White House among ..
Smriti Irani, Pramod Sawant to visit villages adopted by Parrikar in Amethi
Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani along with Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant will on Saturday visit the villages in Amethi that were adopted by late former Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar.Parrikar had adopted these villages under the National Democratic Alliance government's 'village adoption programme'.They will also meet the family of Surendra Singh, the former village head of Barauli and a close aide of Irani, who was shot dead last month while he was asleep at his residence.The Amethi MP, who was visibly distraught on seeing Singh's body, had also lent a shoulder to his mortal remains during the last rites.Some of the deceased's relatives had indicated that his murder could be a fallout of a political rivalry, including the recently concluded general elections in which Irani trounced Congress president Rahul Gandhi.
US blacklists 5 Chinese groups working in supercomputing
The United States is blacklisting five Chinese organisations involved in supercomputing with military-related applications, citing national security as justification for denying its Asian geopolitical rival access to critical US technology. The move Friday by the US Commerce Department could complicate talks next week between President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, aimed at de-escalating a trade dispute between the world's two biggest economies. The five blacklisted organisations placed on the so-called Entity List includes supercomputer maker Sugon, which is heavily dependent on US suppliers including chipmakers Intel, Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices. The other four are the Wuxi Jiangnan Institute of Computing Technology and three Sugon affiliates. The Commerce Department called their activities "contrary to the national security and foreign policy interests of the United States." Sugon and the Wuxi Jiangnan Institute, which the US said is owned by a Chinese
Trump nominates Mark Esper as Secretary of Defense: White House
Donald Trump has nominated Mark Esper to be the US Secretary of Defense, the White House said late Friday, hours after the president revealed he had come close to authorising a strike on Iran. Esper, who is Secretary of the Army, was named acting Pentagon chief after Patrick Shanahan withdrew his name from consideration for the role this week, citing family concerns.
Regulators tightening scrutiny of Iran over terror financing
A multinational task force said Friday it is keeping Iran on a financial blacklist for failing to take action to head off funds flowing to terrorists. The 38-nation Financial Action Task Force (FATF) said it will require more onerous financial oversight if Tehran fails to meet an October deadline for improving its controls. "The FATF expects Iran to proceed swiftly in the reform path to ensure that it addresses all of the remaining items," according to the statement, while welcoming "high-level political commitment" to repair the deficiencies. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin in a speech Friday called out Iran's "willful failure to address its systemic money laundering and terrorist financing deficiencies." The country has faced a growing series of US economic sanctions over the past year, as Treasury has blacklisted numerous firms and officials to choke off their access to funds following President Donald Trump's decision to abandon the 2015 nuclear deal negotiated by his ...
Pompeo urged to raises almond tariff issue with Modi next week
Ahead of his visit to India next week, an influential American lawmaker Friday urged Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to take up the issue of increased tariff on almonds during his meeting with Prime Minster Narendra Modi. India has announced a hike in customs duties on as many as 28 US products, including almond, apple, pulses and walnut, in response to higher tariffs imposed by Washington on Indian products like steel and aluminium. The commerce ministry last week made public India's intention to go ahead with imposition of duty on American products, a move New Delhi had previously deferred in the hope of striking a trade deal. Congressman Josh Harder in a letter asked Pompeo to address new retaliatory tariffs on almonds with Modi during his meeting in New Delhi next week. Harder's district is one of the largest producers of almonds in the country, and India is the top export destination for the product. "Our top diplomat is meeting with India's Prime Minister his job is to advance ..
Cong seeks probe into cut money allegations
The leader of the opposition in the state assembly and senior Congress leader Abdul Mannan demanded that the West Bengal government forms an inquiry commission to probe the "cut money scam" by a section of TMC representatives in parts of the state. "We demand that there should be a inquiry commission into this cut money scam. The people who have been looted will have a outlet to vent out their grievances and the commission will have the right to identify those who have sought money from the common man. What is going on is creating chaos across the state," Mannan said. His demand comes in the backdrop of the statewide protests outside residences of a number of TMC leaders by people, who sought the return of cut money taken by them. Mostly, elected representatives at municipal and panchayat levels faced the public ire in the districts of Birbhum, Coochbehar, Jalpaiguri, Burdwan, Malda, Purulia, Nadia, West Midnapore and Bankura. At a recent meeting with TMC councillors, TMC supremo and .
16 held, people defy prohibitory orders and throw stones at cops in Bhatpara
Defying prohibitory orders, locals and BJP leaders walked in a rally on Friday with the bodies of two persons killed in firing during a clash of two groups of miscreants at Bhatpara area of North 24 Parganas district. The situation remained tense with prohibitory orders in force and huge police deployment in the area while 16 people were arrested in connection with the clashes, an official said. Two people were killed and 11 injured on Thursday after clashes broke out between two groups suspected to be affiliated to the TMC and the BJP. Accompanying the bodies while they were being taken to their residences, the rallyists also held a demonstration against the huge police deployment in the area. A police officer said, during the rally, the locals along with the BJP workers got involved into a tussle with policemen and pelted stones at them, following which the force restored to lathicharge. Expressing concern, Governor K N Tripathi told PTI, "Not only in Bhatpara but in the entire ...
Pompeo's India visit is to broaden, deepen India-US relationship: official
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's visit to India next week is to deepen and broaden the bilateral relationship and to kick-start a dialogue towards the resolution of some of the key issues in trade ties, the Trump administration said Friday. Pompeo will be visiting India from June 25 to June 27. His visit comes ahead of a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Osaka, Japan on June 28-29. "The purpose of the trip for the Secretary (of State) is to broaden and deepen our relationship," a senior State Department official told reporters in a conference call. The official was giving a preview of Pompeo's India visit which is the first highest level visit from a Trump administration official after Prime Minister Modi was sworn in for his second term last month. During his visit, Pompeo will meet Prime Minister Modi and his new Indian counterpart External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, whom the official described as .
Govt to hold collectors' meet at Praja Vedika
Andhra Pradesh government said it will organise collectors' conference at Praja Vedika, which is located adjacent to the residence of former CM N Chandrababu Naidu, on Monday.Initially, the state government had planned to hold the conference at the state secretariat, but, changed the plan on Friday evening.The development is seen as a signal that the government is in no mood to allocate the building to Naidu, now the leader of Opposition.Praja Vedika was constructed next to the residence of Naidu by the previous TDP government. It was being used for both government and party activities.After TDP's defeat in recent Assembly elections, Chandrababu Naidu wrote a letter to the new Chief Minister Jaganmohan Reddy on June 5, urging him to allocate the building to him in the capacity of leader of Opposition.YSR Congress had also written a letter to the Chief Secretary L V Subrahmanyam to allocate the building to it. The government, however, has not taken any official stand on the ...
NSG urges North Korea to abondon nuke weapons
Nuclear Supplier Group (NSG) on Friday urged North Korea to immediately abandon all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs in a "complete, verifiable and irreversible manner."The decision was announced from Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, where 48-nation grouping held its 2019 plenary meeting."Participating Governments supported the ongoing diplomatic processes and efforts to achieve the complete denuclearization of, and lasting peace on, the Korean Peninsula, and reconfirmed their commitment to full and comprehensive implementation of the United Nations Security Council resolutions 2371(2017), 2375(2017), 2397(2017) and previous relevant UNSC resolutions," read a statement."Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) shall immediately abandon all nuclear weapons and existing nuclear programs in a complete, verifiable and irreversible manner. Within the framework of the NSG's mandate, the Participating Governments noted that the supply of all NSG controlled items to the DPRK is ...
4 TDP MPs merge in BJP in Rajya Sabha
Four Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MPs have been merged with BJP Parliamentary Party by Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said on Friday.With the dissident MPs joining BJP camp, the BJP's tally has reached to 75 in the upper House of Parliament."The whole process has been completed today and the Rajya Sabha Chairman's office has informed us that these four names have been added to BJP list and they will be recognised as BJP members in the Rajya Sabha," Javadekar said here.The minister's claim was supported by the Rajya Sabha official website which shows BJP's numbers at 75, while TDP's tally is reduced from six to two in the House.Rajya Sabha MPs -- YS Chowdary, C M Ramesh, T G Venkatesh, all from Andhra Pradesh, and G Mohan Rao who hails from Telangana, had on Thursday claimed to have merged themselves with the BJP. They later joined the BJP in presence of its Woking President J P Nadda.The development comes hours after a delegation of five TDP ...
Mamata's to party leaders: Stop taking 'cut money' or face jail
Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee Friday warned party leaders that those involved in taking "cut money" from government schemes and other corrupt practices would be put behind bars. The warning from the West Bengal chief minister came at an organisational meeting of Nadia district, where the TMC lost one of the two Lok Sabha seats to the BJP. "Our party supremo has warned us against getting involved in corruption and told us to return cut money, if we had taken any from people. She has told us if anyone is found seeking cut money to provide benefits from government schemes, he or she will be arrested," a senior TMC leader from Nadia district said. Banerjee's instructions to party leaders came in the wake of statewide protests outside residences of a number of TMC leaders by people, who sought the return of cut money taken by them in the area. Mostly, elected representatives at the municipal and panchayat levels faced the public ire in the districts of Birbhum, ...