Page 1572 - Politics
U.S. seeking stable yuan pledge in China trade deal - Bloomberg TV
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States is seeking to secure a pledge from China it will not devalue its yuan as part of an agreement intended to end the countries' trade war, Bloomberg TV reported on Monday.
Saudi Crown Prince arrives in India, Modi receives him
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday broke protocol to personally receive Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is on his first state visit to India, at the Palam airport here.
JD(U) national executive meeting in Patna on March 4
Top leaders of the ruling JD(U) in Bihar will hold deliberations on the coming Lok Sabha polls and the party's prospects beyond the state's frontiers at its national executive meeting here on March 4, a party functionary said Tuesday. In the meeting, discussions would be held "on important issues and preparations for the upcoming general elections", JD(U) national general secretary and chief spokesman K C Tyagi said in a statement. "The party is serious to expand itself in other states too, so decision to contest elections outside Bihar can also be taken during the meeting," Tyagi added. The national executive meet has been scheduled a day after leaders of the NDA in Bihar would put up a united show of strength in a rally at the Gandhi Maidan here. The NDA in Bihar comprises the JD(U), BJP and the LJP. An invitation for the rally has also been extended to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A seat-sharing formula has already been finalised among the three NDA allies, with both the BJP and ..
Will consider Congress offer to contest from Bhopal: Babulal Gaur
Former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh and BJP leader Babulal Gaur on Tuesday said he is considering the Congress offer to contest the coming Lok Sabha polls on its ticket from Bhopal parliamentary constituency.
Mining crisis won't be resolved till Parrikar resigns: Cong
The Congress Tuesday demanded the resignation of Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar for failing to break the deadlock in the mining sector. State Congress chief Girish Chodankar said a solution to the crisis would emerge only after Parrikar quits. He was reacting to a statement by the chief minister at a state cabinet meeting that the BJP-led state government itself will have to work out a solution to the mining crisis as the Centre had failed to help. "The solution will come only when Parrikar who is also Mines Minister quits as CM," the Congress leader said. "It was Parrikar who proudly claimed in 2012 to have closed down the mining in Goa and since then he is talking about restarting mining without any results," Chodankar said. "Today, the people of Goa are convinced beyond doubt that BJP leaders lied to those dependent on mining over the last one year about the crisis they themselves created, and failed to persuade the Central government to find solutions," he ...
Stalin criticises PMK for alliance with AIADMK
DMK President M.K. Stalin on Tuesday criticised the PMK for signing an electoral alliance with Tamil Nadu's ruling AIADMK for the Lok Sabha elections.
White House pushed Saudi nuclear power plan, report says
Senior White House officials pushed a project to share nuclear power technology with Saudi Arabia despite the objections of ethics and national security officials, according to a new congressional report citing whistleblowers within the administration. Lawmakers from both parties have expressed concerns that Saudi Arabia could develop nuclear weapons if the US technology were transferred without proper safeguards. The Democratic-led House oversight committee opened an investigation Tuesday into the claims by several unnamed whistleblowers who said they witnessed "abnormal acts" in the White House regarding the proposal to build dozens of nuclear reactors across the Middle Eastern kingdom. The report raises concerns about whether some in a White House marked by "chaos, dysfunction, and backbiting" sought to circumvent established national security procedures regarding nuclear power technology. It also comes as Trump son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner is developing a Middle ...
WB to take multi-pronged steps for vector-borne diseases: CM
The West Bengal government is taking multi-pronged steps to control vector-borne diseases like dengue with the onset of summer, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Tuesday. Banerjee held a high-level meeting with departments like the PWD and Health, besides Mayors of Kolkata Municipal Corporation and Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation, on measures to combat such diseases. "The chief secretary will take up the issue with Metro Rail to prevent accumulation of water along project sites, while the civic authorities will keep a tab on construction spots and abandoned buildings," she said at the state secretariat 'Nabanna' after the meeting. The panchayats will be asked to undertake campaigns under the 100 days' work scheme, the CM said. "We have to involve clubs and NGOs in a big way all over the state in this drive," Banerjee said. She added that 'guppy fish' will be released in drains to eat mosquito larvae, and the PWD has been asked to ensure that roads dug up are ...
Cabinet clears ordinance to check unregulated deposit schemes
The Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved the promulgation of the Banning of Unregulated Deposit Schemes Ordinance, 2019 to prevent chit fund scams and protect small investors.
AAP campaign to tell people about BJP's 'injustice' on full statehood issue
In the run up to the Lok Sabha polls, the AAP Tuesday said it will hold a door-to-door campaign to tell people how the BJP had done "injustice" with them on the issue of full statehood to Delhi. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) also said it will distribute BJP manifestoes of previous elections, including that of the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, in which, it said, the saffron party had supported statehood. The BJP's Delhi unit, however, said the campaign was a "new drama" by the AAP and its chief Arvind Kejriwal. "The full statehood for Delhi has problems due to provisions in the Constitution which has been cleared by the court. But, AAP and Kejriwal are indulging in this new drama before elections to once again cheat the people," Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari said Recently, in a major setback to the AAP government in Delhi, two judges of the Supreme Court agreed that the Centre should have the final word on posting and transfer of bureaucrats in the national capital administration, but their ...
Pak FS meets French, German and Belgian diplomats
Pakistan's Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua on Tuesday met foreign diplomats, including French and German ambassadors, and briefed them about the regional situation following the Pulwama terror attack. "She briefed French Ambassador Marc Barety on the current situation", Foreign Office spokesman Mohammad Faisal said. Faisal said that Janjua also met Belgian ambassador Frdric Verheyden and German envoy Martin Kobler and apprised them about the overall security situation in the region. The briefing was part of efforts by Pakistan to highlight its position on Kashmir and ties with India after the Pulwama attack by Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed. Several such briefing have been held for resident ambassadors in Islamabad since the Pulwama attack on February 14.
KCR retains key portfolios including Finance
Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao Tuesday retained key portfolios such as finance, information technology and industries with him while allotting others to the newly appointed Cabinet ministers. After a gap of over two months, Rao expanded his cabinet by inducting 10 members taking the total size of the cabinet to 12. According to a government order (GO), G Jagadish Reddy who looked after power in the previous government, has been allotted education this time. Indrakaran Reddy has been given forests and environment while T Srinivas Yadav allotted the portfolio of animal husbandry and cinematography. E Rajendar, former finance minister, has been given health and family welfare while Niranjan Reddy agriculture. Koppula Eshwar was allotted social welfare department including SC development and tribal welfare, the GO said. Dayakar Rao gets the portfolio of Panchayati Raj, while Srinivas Goud prohibition and excise, Prashanth Reddy transport and Mala Reddy labour ...
Sushil Modi officially enters Tejashwi's bungalow, calls it better than PM's residence
Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar, Sushil Kumar Modi on Tuesday officially entered the government bungalow, which was earlier allotted to RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav and said that it is more furnished than the Prime Minister's residence."It feels like I have entered a seven-star hotel. Everything inside that house is special and nothing is ordinary. Even the Prime Minister's residence would not have been well furnished this much. The person (Tejashwi) who used to live here earlier must have thought of staying here forever. Crores of money has been spent on this bungalow," Sushil Modi told ANI here.Earlier this month, the Supreme Court had dismissed Tejashwi Yadav's petition challenging the Bihar government's order to vacate the bungalow at Desh Ratna Marg allotted to him while he was the deputy chief minister of the state.The apex court bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi also slapped a fine of Rs 50,000 on the RJD leader.The bungalow was allotted to Tejashwi in 2015 after his ...
Nothing for Pakistan to show: Sitharaman over Pulwama terror attack
Union Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday snubbed Pakistan over the Pulwama terror attack and said that they don't have anything to show in order to defend themselves."Since the Mumbai attack, not just this government but earlier government too sent dossiers after dossiers and evidence. What action has Pakistan taken on them? In India, following due process of law, courts have been approached and Mumbai attackers have been given due process and been punished too. In Pakistan, not even the first court is doing its job. There is nothing for Pakistan to show," Sitharaman said while addressing a press conference at Aero India.Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan earlier today promised "action" if "actionable intelligence" is provided by India about links to Pulwama attack in his country but warned of retaliation, without even thinking, if any kind of military action is launched by India.When asked about the same, Sitharaman said: "I would not want to say how our government is ...
MTN faces more problems in Uganda as authorities query its sales figures
KAMPALA (Reuters) - Uganda accused the country's biggest telecoms operator, MTN Uganda, on Tuesday of underdeclaring its sales and causing public revenue losses, in a further souring of relations with the South African-owned company.
Parrikar must go for revival of mining in Goa: Congress
If Goa is to find a lasting solution to the mining crisis, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has to go, state Congress president Girish Chodankar said here on Tuesday, blaming him for mismanagement of the mining sector, leading to ban.
PM Modi receives Saudi Crown Prince at airport
In a special gesture, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday received at the airport here Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, signifying importance India attaches to the visit by the leader of the powerful Gulf nation. The Crown Prince arrived here on a less than 30-hour visit, a day after concluding his high-profile tour of Pakistan where he said dialogue was the only way to resolve "outstanding issues" between India and Pakistan. In a tweet, Modi said India is "delighted to welcome" the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. After Salman's arrival, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted, "A new chapter in bilateral relations. Breaking protocol, PM @narendramodi personally recieves HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia as he arrives on his first bilateral visit to India!" The Saudi leader had returned to Riyadh from Pakistan. He and Modi will hold extensive talks on Wednesday during which India is likely to ...
Union Cabinet nod for proposal for promulgation of IMC (Amendment) Second Ordinance
The Union Cabinet Tuesday approved proposal for promulgation of the Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Second Ordinance, 2019 to allow the Board of Governors (BOG) to run the scam-tainted apex body for regulating medical education. The Medical Council of India (MCI) was superseded in September 2018 through an ordinance. But, the ordinance could not be approved by Parliament, and was shortly going to lapse, a senior health ministry official said. With this approval, now a fresh ordinance will be promulgated to ensure that the BOG can continue to function in lieu of the MCI, he said. The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved these two proposals -- promulgation of an ordinance, namely, the Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Second Ordinance, 2019, and bringing in necessary official amendments in the Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill, 2018, pending in Parliament for replacing the said ordinance, the government said. "The proposal will enable the Board of
Indian armed forces ready for counter-attack: Sitharaman
The Indian armed forces are ready for counter-attack as their morale is high despite the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on February 14, said Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday.
Pawar slams Modi for skipping all-party meet on Pulwama
NCP president Sharad Pawar Tuesday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for skipping the all-party meeting called by the NDAgovernment in the wake of the Pulwama terror attack. Instead of attending the meeting over such a serious issue, Modi chose to address rallies elsewhere, the former Union minister said. "An all-party meeting was called on Saturday...In fact we were told that PM Modi would chair the meeting. Presuming that Modi would attend the meeting, we all went to Delhi as it (the terror attack in South Kashmir) was an attack on the nation," Pawar told reporters here. "Upon reaching there, we came to know that PM was not there....when 40 CRPF jawans got martyred and there was a serious situation, the PM should have been present at the meeting, but he chose to address public rallies in Dhule and Yavatmal (in Maharashtra), where he criticised us (opposition parties)," he said. Pawar was speaking to reporters after unveiling a statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji on ...