Page 1282 - Politics
Soldier killed in Pakistan firing on LoC in Rajouri
An Indian soldier was killed on Monday in Pakistan firing on the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district, defence sources said.
Gun law reform within 10 days: New Zealand PM
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Monday vowed to unveil reforms to the country's existing gun laws in the wake of the March 15 Christchurch mosques shootings that claimed the lives of 50 people.
Kawade criticises Ambedkar for mentioning candidates' castes
People's Republican Party chief Jogendra Kawade on Monday criticised Dalit leader Prakash Ambedkar for mentioning castes of the Lok Sabha poll candidates of his Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA). Kawade said this was like betraying Dr B R Ambedkar, the architect of the Constitution, who always fought against the caste system. Prakash Ambedkar, the grandson of B R Ambedkar, last Friday released a list of 37 Lok Sabha candidates who will contest the upcoming polls under the banner of VBA. The VBA, a social coalition of Dalits and Muslims jointly formed by Prakash Ambedkar and Asaduddin Owaisi-led All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM), mentioned the castes of all the candidates who figure in the list. "Prakash Ambedkar earlier demanded removal of the column to mention castes in school certificates, but he has now advertised the castes of all candidates of VBA and betrayed his grandfather," Kawade told PTI in Maharashtra's Ahmednagar district. He said his party, a ...
NZ cabinet agrees tougher gun laws in 'principle'
New Zealand's cabinet agreed measures to tighten gun control laws "in principle" Monday, just days after a deadly mass shooting killed more than 50 people. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said details of the measures would be rolled out before a cabinet meeting next Monday, saying "the time to act is now". Ardern also announced an inquiry into Friday's twin mosque attack in Christchurch, which raised questions about how the suspected gunman -- a white supremacist -- was not picked up by intelligence agencies. Although details have yet to be hashed out, the speed of New Zealand's move has resonated around the world -- particularly in the United States, where reforms have spluttered for decades, and similar debates are re-run after each new mass shooting. It took us 72 hours, Ardern said. "We have made a decision as a cabinet, we are unified," she added, flanked by her coalition partner and deputy prime minister, Winston Peters. Peters, whose New Zealand First party has previously opposed
People throng Panaji streets to pay last respect to Parrikar
Thousands of people thronged the streets of the state capital Monday to catch a final glimpse of Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar, who died of a pancreatic ailment, as his mortal remains was brought to the BJP office here for party workers to pay their last respect. His remains would be taken to Kala Academy, around three km from the BJP office, later on Monday, to allow the public pay their tribute to him. A pall of gloom descended on the BJP office and hundreds of Parrikar supporters turned emotional when his mortal remains, wrapped in the tricolour, was brought there. The truck carrying the 63-year-old chief minister's body travelled 5 km from his private residence in Dona Paula to Panaji, as people tried to catch sight of the popular leader, who rose from the small coastal state to become the country's defence minister. The area around the BJP office in the heart of the capital city was packed with people who arrived there to pay tributes to Parrikar before his final ...
Be fearless, all will be good: Indira told Priyanka
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who is in Uttar Pradesh campaigning for the party, is drawing inspiration from her grandmother and former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, who taught her to be fearless.
US general refutes report over troops in Syria
A top US general has refuted a media report that the American military was developing plans to keep up to 1,000 troops in Syria, calling it "factually incorrect".
US considers keeping 1,000 soldiers in Syria
The US military is considering keeping up to 1,000 troops in Syria, further drifting away from President Donald Trump's original plan of a total withdrawal, a media reported.
'Parrikar's funeral paramount over coalition talks'
Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar's final rites were more important than a government formation, the coastal state's BJP unit said on Monday, even as ongoing negotiations between allies and BJP leaders, including Nitin Gadkari and the party's National Secretary B.L. Santosh, have appeared to hit a roadblock.
Republican senators supporting border emergency 'uniformly praised': Trump
US President Donald Trump on Sunday said that Republican senators who backed his emergency declaration to build a border are being "uniformly praised" in their home states."Those Republican Senators who voted in favor of Strong Border Security (and the Wall) are being uniformly praised as they return to their States. They know there is a National Emergency at the Southern Border, and they had the courage to ACT. Great job!" he tweeted.According to reports, Congressmen are in their respective home states for district work period for the next two weeks.On March 14, the Republican-controlled Senate voted to disapprove the emergency declaration by 59 votes to 41, in what was a sharp rebuke to Trump. The resolution was already passed in the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives by 245 votes to 182 last month, with 13 Republicans supporting the Democrats.Minutes after the vote, Trump tweeted in capitals, "VETO!", an indication that he would reject the resolution.Subsequently, the US .
Chinese national held for flying drone over Eastern Command of Indian Army
A 34-yr-old Chinese national Li Zhiwei was arrested on Saturday for flying a drone over Eastern Command of Indian Army, police said.The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) spotted him flying a drone around 1.5 km from Fort William, which is the headquarters of the eastern command of the army.When the CISF personnel learned about the suspicious activity, they apprehended him and handed him over to Hastings police station.Lee, who was produced before the court on Sunday, has been sent to Police custody till March 25.So far four Pakistani drones have been shot at by the Indian security forces since the Indian Air Force carried out air strike at the Jaish-e-Mohammad terror camp in Balakot in Pakistan on February 26.On March 4, the second drone was shot down in the Bikaner sector of Rajasthan, while the first drone was shot down on the morning of February 26 after it intruded Indian air space in Kutch district of Gujarat.
MGP's Sudin Dhavalikar wants Goa CM post, BJP won't agree Deputy Speaker Michael Lobo
Union Minister and senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari, who landed in Panaji late on Sunday night, following the death of Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, met with leaders of alliance partners of the state's coalition government but failed to reach a consensus on the leadership issue.Goa Chief Minister passed away on Sunday in Panaji at the age of 63 after a prolonged battle with cancer.BJP MLA and Goa Deputy speaker Michael Lobo early on Monday disclosed that leader of BJP ally Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) Sudin Dhavalikar wants to be the Chief Minister due to which the discussions have come to a standstill."During a meeting with Nitin Gadkari, Dhavalikar expressed his willingness to become the chief minister of Goa. He said he has sacrificed many times by supporting the BJP, he has put his demand but the BJP will not agree to that," Lobo told media persons after the meeting the stretched through the entire night."Sudin wants to be the chief minister but the BJP wants the CM .
Saudi Crown Prince launched 'secret campaign' to silence dissenters prior to Khashoggi killing: Report
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman authorised a "secret campaign" to silence dissenters more than a year before the killing of Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the New York Times reported on Sunday.The campaign included surveillance, kidnapping, detention and torture of Saudi citizens, according to American officials with knowledge of classified reports.Officials said that the members of the group, who were a part of what they called the "Saudi Rapid Intervention Group", were involved in at least a dozen operations starting in 2017, according to New York Times.The group carried out missions including forcibly repatriating Saudi Arabian dissidents from other Arab countries and detaining and abusing them.The American officials did not reveal their identities for fear of repercussions from disclosing classified information or infuriating the Saudi government.Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Saudi Embassy in Washington said that Riyadh "takes any allegations of ...
Israeli top court bans far-right candidate
Israel's Supreme Court has disqualified the leader of the far-right Jewish Power party, Michael Ben-Ari, from next month's elections.
French govt admits security 'flaws' in violent Paris riots
The French government has admitted its security measures had been "insufficient" to stem an arson and looting rampage by black-clad anarchists during a "yellow vest" protest along the famous Champs-Elysees in Paris. Police had appeared overwhelmed on Saturday as demonstrators ran amok on the avenue, with retailers there saying some 80 shops and businesses were vandalised. Prime Minister Edouard Philippe acknowledged Sunday there had been security "flaws" which needed to be rectified. "Analysis of yesterday's events highlights that the measures taken were insufficient to contain the violence and prevent wrongdoing" by the rioters, the premier's office said, adding that Philippe was due to meet President Emmanuel Macron on Monday morning. Already under political pressure, Macron -- who cut short a skiing trip to rush back to the capital for a crisis meeting late Saturday -- has vowed "strong" action. Retailers have expressed dismay over the 18th consecutive weekend of potent ...
No consensus yet on next Goa CM: BJP MLA
The BJP-led alliance in Goa did not reach a consensus over the next chief minister on Monday, a move necessitated by the demise of Manohar Parrikar. Parrikar (63) died on Sunday evening at his residence near here after battling pancreatic cancer for over a year. Union minister and senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari, who arrived here in the early hours of the day, could not secure a consensus between the saffron party and its alliance partners in the state, party MLA Michael Lobo said. While Gadkari was not available for comments, BJP MLA Lobo said Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) MLA Sudin Dhavalikar wanted to be the chief minister due to which the discussions came to a halt. "Sudin Dhavalikar wants himself to be the CM, while the BJP wants that the leader of the alliance should be from their camp. We could not reach to any decision," Lobo told reporters outside a hotel after a night-long meeting. He said a solution to the crisis is expected to be found later in the day. Lobo said ...
Bolton says N Korea 'unwilling' to reach denuclearisation deal with US
US' National Security Advisor (NSA) John Bolton on Sunday hit out at North Korea, asserting that they were "unfortunately not willing" to take steps to finalise a deal with the US aimed at Pyongyang's denuclearisation."The North Koreans were unfortunately not willing to do what they needed to do. Just last night they issued an unhelpful statement that they're thinking of going back to nuclear and ballistic missile testing, which would not be a good idea on their part," The Hill quoted Bolton as saying while speaking at a radio host show here."President Trump wants this threat resolved through negotiations. He wants North Korea to be free of nuclear weapons, that's for sure," he added.Bolton's remarks came two days after North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui slammed at the US over its "gangster-like" demands on denuclearisation, threatening to suspend talks with Washington and resume missile launches and nuclear tests."We have no intention to yield to the US demands (put ...
BJP, allies meet in Panaji discuss Govt formation
Union Minister and senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari, who arrived in Panaji late Sunday night following the death of Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, met with leaders of alliance partners of the state's coalition government to discuss leadership issue."We discussed on the broad contours of the alliance government in the future. We are in the process of finalising and nothing has been confirmed yet. We have given our options and asked them to revert," said Goa Forward Party chief and state minister Vijai Sardesai after meeting with Gadkari."We have also discussed who should be delegated what and how to work with the alliance in future," Sardesai who earlier on Sunday said his party had lent support to Parrikar and not the BJP, adding that now "options are open" for them.Meanwhile, Sudin Dhavalikar of the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) said after the meeting: "They will decide in one hour after discussions with MLAs. I'm going to the executive committee of my party. I will ask ..
India deploys CRPF elite squad to guard embassy in Iraq
India has deployed an elite contingent of its commando-trained armed CRPF personnel to guard the Indian embassy and its diplomats in Iraq's capital city Baghdad.The deployment was initiated two months ago and more than 40-member squad is performing its task.The multi-skilled CRPF troops have taken charge of the embassy complex located in the Al Mansour area of the Iraqi capital.This comes as there is a slow return to normalcy in Iraq after the defeat of terrorists of the dreaded Islamic State (IS) outfit in the war-torn country.In December last year, Iraq declared victory over the IS, which had seized control of nearly a third of the country and neighbouring Syria in 2014, establishing a self-styled caliphate.The Iraqi government has also executed scores of people for their alleged involvement with the dreaded terror group.
21 soldiers dead as gunmen storm Mali army camp
Suspected jihadists have killed 21 Malian soldiers in a raid on an army camp in central Mali, military sources said, after a dawn attack that the armed forces believe was led by a deserter. Driving cars and motorbikes, the attackers stormed Dioura army camp in the Mopti region on Sunday, in the latest assault on the military as the country grapples with the spread of extremist groups and instability. "The provisional toll is 21 bodies discovered," said a military source, in figures also confirmed by a local legislator. The attack was carried out "by terrorist groups under the command of Ba Ag Moussa, a deserter army colonel", according to the Malian armed forces. A second military source said there was "a lot of damage". "Our men responded. I saw at least four bodies on the ground," he said. President Ibrahim Boubakar Keita, on Twitter, said the Malian people were "united against terrible acts", without giving any death toll. Once a beacon of democracy and stability in Africa, Mali in