Page 172 - Politics
Indian Navy benefits from strategic logistics pacts with US, France
New Delhi [India], Jun 16 (ANI): The Indian Navy is benefitting from strategic logistics agreements signed by the NDA government with the US and France as its warships operating in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean Region are frequently getting fuel and other support for these countries' naval bases and warships in the area."Our warships operate as per our mission-based deployments in the Indian Ocean Region, Gulf of Aden and the Persian Gulf are far away from our shores. The strategic logistics agreements with the US and France are helping them get fuel and other support from them," senior Naval sources told ANI.The recent example is the help provided to Indian warships deployed for anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden where the pacts have enhanced their ease of operations."Earlier, the warships in Gulf of Aden used to go to the nearby ports for replenishing their fuel and other stocks on regular intervals. But after the agreement with the US, the warships take fuel from the ...
Kashmiri separatist leaders received funds from abroad, utilised them for personal gains: NIA
The NIA has alleged that its probe into terror financing in Jammu and Kashmir has revealed that hardline separatist leaders received funds from abroad and utilised them for personal gains -- from amassing properties to paying for foreign education of their kin. The agency has interrogated several top leaders of Hurriyat Conference and other organisations and claimed that they had confessed to receiving funds from Pakistan to fuel separatist sentiments among the people of Kashmir Valley. In a statement issued Sunday, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) said the firebrand leader of Duktaran-e-Milat, Asiya Andrabi, was grilled by it about the educational expenses of her son in Malaysia incurred by Zahoor Watali, who was arrested in a terror funding case. "During interrogation, Asiya Andrabi admitted that she had been collecting funds and donations from foreign sources and Duktaran-e-Milat had been organising protests by Muslim women in the valley," it claimed. The NIA has already ...
Damaged Japanese tanker arrives at UAE anchorage
A Japanese tanker, attacked in the Gulf in an incident that sparked a new standoff between Washington and Tehran, "arrived safely" Sunday at an anchorage off the UAE, its management said. The Kokuka Courageous was carrying highly flammable methanol through the Gulf of Oman on Thursday when it and the Norwegian-operated Front Altair were rocked by explosions. The US and Saudi Arabia have accused Iran of responsibility. "Kokuka Courageous has arrived safely at the designated anchorage at Sharjah", an emirate neighbouring Dubai, the vessel's Singapore-based BSM Ship Management said in a statement Sunday. The crew, who remained on board, were "safe and well", it said, adding that a damage assessment and preparations for transferring the ship's cargo would start "once the port authorities have completed their standard security checks and formalities." BSM Ship Management had said earlier Kokuka Courageous was heading towards an anchorage on the eastern coast of the United Arab Emirates, ...
All-party meet: Opposition demands debate on unemployment, farm distress
A day before the budget session, an all-party meeting convened by the government was held Sunday in which the opposition demanded that issues such as farm distress, unemployment and drought should be debated upon in Parliament. Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the meeting, attended by representatives of all parties, including Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah and TMC leader Derek O'Brien. The Prime Minister has called a meeting of chiefs of all parties having representatives in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on June 19 to discuss "one nation, one election" issue, celebration of 75 years of India's Independence in 2022, 150 years of Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary this year and issues of "aspirational districts", Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahlad Joshi said after the meeting. He said the PM has also called a meeting of MPs to discuss the issues on June 20. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Azad said that all ..
Fadnavis reshuffles Cabinet, drops 6 Ministers, inducts 13
With an eye on the upcoming Assembly elections in four months, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday reshuffled his cabinet by dropping six Ministers and inducting 13 others.
Maharashtra Cabinet rejig: 13 ministers take oath, 6 dropped
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expanded his Council of Ministers on Sunday with 13 new ministers, including 8 of Cabinet rank, taking the oath of office.He dropped six ministers including Prakash Mehta who held the Housing portfolio.Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, who quit Congress recently, was sworn-in as a Cabinet minister at Raj Bhavan here. He was earlier the Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly. His son Sujay Vikhe Patil was elected during the recent Lok Sabha polls from the Ahmednagar seat in the state on a BJP ticket.Jaidatta Kshirsagar and Tanaji Sawant of Shiv Sena, besides Aashish Shelar, Sanjay Kute, Suresh Bhau Khade, Anil Bonde and Ashok Uike of BJP also took oath as Cabinet ministers.BJP leaders Yogesh Sagar, Sanjay Bhegde, Parinay Fuke and Atul Save, besides Avinash Mahtekar of RPI were sworn-in as ministers of state.An official in the Chief Minister's Office said that Prakash Mehta and five other ministers quit their posts. The other ministers who ...
Opposition raises farmers' issues at all-party meeting
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday attended an all-party meeting ahead of Parliament session, which begins on Monday.
Saudi Arabia secures protection to energy supplies in Gulf region after ship attack
Saudi Arabia has called for a rapid response to secure energy supplies in the Gulf region after tensions soared following an attack on two oil tankers in a vital oil shipping route last week.Al Jazeera quoted Saudi Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih, on Saturday, as saying, "There must be a rapid and decisive response to the threat to energy supplies, market stability and consumer confidence after the attacks in the Gulf area."The US military released a video on Friday, saying it showed Iran's Revolutionary Guards were removing an unexploded mine from one of the tankers, Kokuka Courageous, hours after the suspected attacks."Iran did do it and you know they did it because you saw the boat," US President Donald Trump told Fox News on Friday."I guess one of the mines didn't explode and it's probably got essentially Iran written all over it," he added.However, Tehran has denied any role in the incidents and called the accusations "ridiculous" and "dangerous"."The international community must
Rifts in Hurriyat over fund collection, says NIA
There are rifts within the separatist Hurriyat Conference in the Kashmir Valley over collection and use of funds raised abroad, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) said on Sunday.
Trinamool worker killed in Bengal, 3 held
Three persons have been held for interrogation in connection with the killing of a local Trinamool Congress leader in West Bengal's Hooghly district, police said on Sunday.
Saudi crown prince says kingdom isn't seeking war in region
Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said in remarks published Sunday that the kingdom is not seeking war in the region, but warned it will not hesitate to confront threats to its security. His comments came just days after the US blamed Iran for suspected attacks on two oil tankers near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, denouncing what it called a campaign of "escalating tensions" in a region crucial to global energy supplies. The US alleges Iran used limpet mines to target the tankers, pointing to black-and-white footage it captured that American officials describe as Iranian Revolutionary Guard troops removing an unexploded mine from the Kokuka Courageous. Iran has rejected the US claim that it was responsible for Thursday's attacks, saying it stands ready to play an active and constructive role in ensuring the security of strategic maritime passages. Iran has also been accused of being behind the May 12 attacks on four oil tankers off the coast of the United Arab ...
How India evacuated nearly 2,300 citizens during Israel-Lebanon war 2006!
India had carried out one of its best evacuation operations from a war-like zone in 2006, when it brought back home around 2,300 people, including some from Sri Lanka and Nepal, who were caught in the Israel-Lebanon conflict, says a new book. In Challenges of Governance: An Insider's View, former Cabinet Secretary B K Chaturvedi recalls his experiences as a top bureaucrat on issues of governance, coalition politics and handling emergencies, like the evacuation of Indian citizens from the simmering war zone 13 years ago. It was a rescue operation designed to provide support to those persons, mostly Indian citizens, who were caught in the war-like zone of Lebanon-Israel, he says, noting that 12,000 Indians were living in Lebanon at the time. Chaturvedi, who was overseeing the developments from New Delhi, recalls that tension was escalating in the region and travelling by road was becoming increasingly dangerous so the government opted for sea route to bring them to a port in Cyprus from
British envoy denies Iran summons over tanker attacks claim
Britain's ambassador to Iran on Sunday denied he was summoned by the Iranian foreign ministry after London accused Tehran of "almost certainly" being responsible for tanker attacks in the Gulf. "Interesting. And news to me," ambassador Rob Macaire said in a tweet a day after the Iranian foreign ministry said in a statement that it had summoned the envoy over his government's accusations. "I asked for an urgent meeting with the Foreign Ministry yesterday and it was granted. No 'summons'. Of course if formally summoned I would always respond, as would all Ambassadors," Macaire wrote. Iran's foreign ministry said the head of its European affairs Mahmoud Barimani met Macaire on Saturday and "strongly protested against the unacceptable and anti-Iranian positions of the British government". On Friday, British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said London had concluded Iran was "almost certainly" responsible for Thursday's tanker attacks. He was echoing remarks by US President Donald Trump who ..
Delhi Assembly polls: BJP plans multiple surveys, aims to retain 55 per cent vote share
The BJP is planning to conduct multiple surveys for better selection of political issues and candidates for the Delhi Assembly polls due early next year, in the wake of its massive victory in the Lok Sabha election, senior leaders of the saffron party said on Sunday. The ruling party was working on various fronts to ensure that it retained the whopping 55 per cent vote share it got in the national capital in the recent parliamentary election for a "comfortable" victory in the Assembly polls next year, a senior Delhi BJP leader said. At a recent meeting of Delhi BJP leaders, the party's general secretary (organisation) Siddharthan said efforts should be made to retain the 55 per cent vote share in Delhi, he added. Regular meetings of the party are being held in view of the speculation that the Delhi Assembly polls may be pre-poned to coincide with the state elections in Maharashtra, Haryana and Jharkhand in October-November. "In view of the upcoming Assembly polls, three-phased surveys
no long-term plan to prevent drinking water crisis: AIADMK
: AIADMK in Puducherry Sunday charged the Congress government with lacking a long-term plan to protect the Union Territory against the drinking water crisis. The party's legislature wing leader A Anbalagan told reporters here that though funds were procured from the European Union to desilt and rejuvenate lakes and water bodies, nothing had been done to ensure storage of rainwater. He also alleged that the rainwater harvesting scheme was not implemented properly, resulting in Puducherry facing a water crisis He said he was 'perplexed' to note that Chief Minister V Narayansamy,during his meeting with the Prime Minister in New Delhi Saturday, present a memorandum on the 'hackneyed' subjects of statehood for the UT,waiver of loans to the Centre and inclusion of Puducherry in the Central Finance Commission. Several serious issues like steps to ensure water availability, reopening of defunct mills like AFT, Swadeshi and Bharathi Mills were hanging in the balance, which the CM
Cong MLA in T'gana Rajagopal Reddy hints at joining BJP
Faced with a crisis of sorts after the merger of 12 of its MLAs with the ruling TRS, the Congress in Telangana might suffer a fresh setback with another party MLA hinting that he might switch over to BJP. Congress MLA from Munugode near Nalgonda, Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy, expressed disappointment with the party affairs, alleging it was not able to effectively take on TRS. "The Congress is in a difficult position,notonly in Telangana, but the whole of India. The country will progress under BJP. The youth are with BJP. The party is the alternative to counter KCR (Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao),"he told PTI. The country's interests should also be kept in mind, he said. Reddy said Congress does not have an effective leadership and the party was not able to take "right and timely decisions" though people like him are fighting against TRS. The MLA said he was not after any post. He blamed state Congress president N Uttam Kumar Reddy and AICC in charge of party affairs in
No one can stop Modi-led govt from building Ram temple, says Uddhav Thackeray
Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday said that under the strong leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, no one will ever be able to stop Ram temple from being constructed in Ayodhya."We strongly believe that the temple will be constructed at the earliest. If the incumbent government, under the strong leadership of PM Modi, takes the decision to build it, no one will be able to stop them," Shiv Sena chief told media persons here.Thackeray further said that his party has requested the Central government to bring an ordinance for the purpose of construction of the temple. "The matter is stuck in court since so many years. We request them to make a law and build the temple," he added.On being asked if his party workers will help in the construction of the temple the same way they helped demolish the Babri Masjid in 1992, he said: "If need be, it will be done.""Both Shiv Sena and BJP are adherents of Hindutva. BJP must respect the feelings of the people who made them victorious ..
Saudi Crown Prince accuses Iran of attacking tankers in Gulf of Oman
Echoing the stance taken by the United States and Britain, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Sunday accused Iran of carrying out the attack on two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman earlier this week.The targetted tankers were carrying "Japan-related cargo", and the incident had occurred at a time when Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was on an official visit to Iran, reported Sputnik."The Iranian regime did not respect the Japanese Prime Minister's visit to Tehran and while he was there replied to his efforts by attacking two tankers, one of which was Japanese," Salman said during an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper.Shortly after the incident, the US had pinned the blame of the attack on the Islamic Republic. To back its claim, the country had even released a blurry video, which, it believed, showed the boat crew of IRGC removing an exploded mine from one of the tankers shortly after the attack."The attack on two oil tankers on June 13 was one in a list of Iranian and .
Corruption tainted Guatemala set to elect new president
Corruption-weary Guatemalans are set to elect a new president Sunday after a tumultuous campaign that saw two leading candidates barred from taking part and the top electoral crimes prosecutor forced to flee the country, fearing for his life. Gang violence, poverty and streams of US-bound migrants have dominated campaigning in Central America's most populous country, where a crowded field of 19 candidates is vying to succeed outgoing president Jimmy Morales. The country's top anti-corruption campaigner, former attorney general Thelma Aldana, is not among them. She was expected to poll strongly, but was barred from running last month over allegations of irregularities dating from when she was a barnstorming public prosecutor. Sandra Torres, a 63-year-old businesswoman and former First Lady, heads into the election as favourite, having built a clear opinion poll lead over second placed Alejandro Giammattei, also 63. Torres -- candidate for the center-left Unity of Hope (UNE) -- has over
Ahead of Budget session, all-party meet begins
An all-party meeting began at the Parliament on Sunday, ahead of the first Parliament session of the 17th Lok Sabha on June 17 (Monday).Among those who arrived for the meeting were Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Prahlad Joshi and leader of BJP in Rajya Sabha Thawar Chand Gehlot.Other leaders cutting across party lines such as -- V Vijayasai Reddy of YSRCP, Derek O'Brien of TMC, Farooq Abdullah of National Conference, NCP's Supriya Sule, Anupriya Patel of Apna Dal (Sonelal), AAP's Sanjay Singh and Jayadev Galla of TDP, arrived for the meeting convened by the government.After the all-party meet, a meeting of National Democratic Alliance (NDA) leaders will take place in the Parliament later in the evening to discuss strategies for the upcoming session.BJP parliamentary party executive committee meeting is also scheduled to be held today evening.On Friday, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had held a pre-budget consultation ..