Page 1821 - Politics
Protestors build border wall to act out potential Brexit unrest
Protestors shut down a border road between Ireland and Northern Ireland on Saturday, erecting a concrete wall with mock-military checkpoints to illustrate the violent unrest a hard Brexit could bring to the fragile region. Locals hauled towering concrete barriers into place and installed a customs hut defended by a watchtower manned by men dressed as armed British troops -- evoking haunting memories of the three decades of bloodshed known as "the Troubles". "It's actually to remind some of our younger generation exactly the way things were 25 years ago," said John McNamee, an activist with group Border Communities against Brexit. "This is what it was about and we certainly don't want it back," he said -- dressed as a customs agent which were once a common sight at the border. During the Troubles the area was militarised as republican and unionist paramilitaries and the British military vied for control. More than 3,600 were killed before the Good Friday Agreement of 1998 ended the ...
Sikkim Governor unfurls tricolour
Governor Ganga Prasad Aunfurled the tricolour and took the salute as Sikkim joined the rest of India in celebrating the nation's 70th Republic Day on Saturday.
Smriti hails Lance Naik Wani, says he believed in idea of India
Union Minister of Textiles Smriti Irani on Saturday hailed late Lance Naik Nazir Ahmad Wani, who received India's highest peacetime gallantry honour, Ashoka Chakra, on Saturdy.The family of Wani was a star attraction at this year's Republic Day 'At Home' reception hosted by President Ram Nath Kovind here on Saturday.Wani, who hailed from Kashmir and got martyred in an anti-terror operation in the Valley on November 25, last year, was conferred with Ashok Chakra, just before the start of the Republic Day parade at the historic Rajpath in New Delhi."Wani, who once raised arms against India, later decided to serve the nation. He fought for the pride of the country as he believed in the idea of India. It is very easy for the people like us to talk about belief while it is absolutely different when someone like Wani is laying his life for that belief," said the Union Minister while interacting with IIM Bangalore students.Irani further said that interesting thing about Wani's journey is ...
Pawar congratulates Pranab for Bharat Ratna honour
NCP president Sharad Pawar Saturday congratulated former president Pranab Mukherjee a day after his name was announced for the coveted Bharat Ratna award, saying the former president's contribution to India was monumental. "Congratulations to Shri Pranab Mukherjee (@CitiznMukherjee) on being conferred the #BharatRatna. His contribution to the socio-political canvas of India is monumental and significant," Pawar tweeted. Pawar and Mukherjee were Cabinet colleagues in UPA I and II, till the latter was elected as the president of the country in 2012. President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday announced Bharat Ratna to Mukherjee, RSS leader and social activist late Nanaji Deshmukh and late music maestro Bhupen Hazarika.
Pawan Kalyan meets KCR, KTR in Hyderabad
Popular Telugu actor and politician Pawan Kalyan on Saturday met Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao and his son and Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) Working President K.T. Rama Rao.
Priyanka's appointment shows lack of trust in Rahul: BJP leader
BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya on Saturday said Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's appointment as a Congress general secretary reflected the lack of confidence in Rahul Gandhi's leadership within the party. Equating Priyanka Gandhi Vadra with actors Kareena Kapoor and Salman Khan, the former Madhya Pradesh minister said the Congress wanted to field "chocolaty" faces in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls as it had a dearth of strong leaders. "A Congress leader demands that Kareena Kapoor should be fielded from the Bhopal Lok Sabha seat. Sometimes, others talk about fielding Salman Khan from Indore. Likewise, Priyanka was also brought into active politics. "The Congress does not have strong leaders to field in the Lok Sabha election. That is why it wants to fight the polls through these chocolaty faces," Vijayvargiya told reporters here. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader was responding to a question on the demand by a section in the Congress to field Kareena and Salman from Bhopal and Indore ...
Shivpal Yadav to contest LS poll from Firozabad
President of the Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (PSP) Shivpal Singh Yadav on Saturday said he would be contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha election from Firozabad against his nephew Akshay Yadav, the incumbent MP.
Tunisia, Russia call for Arab League to readmit Syria
Syria's "natural place" is within the Arab League, Tunisia's foreign minister said Saturday, ahead of the organisation's annual summit in Tunis in March. "Syria is an Arab state, and its natural place is within the Arab League," Khemaies Jhinaoui said during a news conference with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, who is on a tour of North African countries. The Arab League suspended Syria's membership in November 2011 as the death toll in the country's civil war mounted. "The question of Syria returning to the Arab League does not depend on Tunisia but on the Arab League," Jhinaoui said. "The foreign ministers (of member states) will decide on this subject," he added. "What interests us is Syria's stability and security." Persistent divisions between the Arab League's member states have worked against Syria's readmission. Russia's intervention in Syria's war since 2015 in favour of President Bashar al-Assad has turned the tide of the conflict in the regime's favour. The United ..
Bharat Ratna for Hazarika was long-pending demand: Sonowal
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal Saturday joined the nation in celebrating the 70th Republic Day by offering floral tribute at the martyrs column at Shradhanjali Kanan here. Sonowal also garlanded the portrait of Dr Bhupen Hazarika at the venue and urged the people to work with compassion for humanity at large. He pointed out that the 70th Republic Day was very significant for Assam as the Union government had decided to confer Bharat Ratna on Dr Bhupen Hazarika and thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for fulfilling a long standing demand of the people of the state. "The Centre's decision to confer the highest civilian award of the country to the maestro makes the people of Assam happy and proud," Sonowal added. The chief minister also congratulated Padma Shri recipients from the state - eminent physician Dr Illias Ali and grassroot innovator Uddhav Bharali, an official release said.
M777 howitzers, K-9 Vajra displayed for first time in R-Day parade
Artillery gun system the M777 Ultra Light Howitzers, procured from the US, and the K-9 Vajra were displayed for the first time during the 70th Republic Day parade on Rajpath, showcasing India's military prowess. Transport Satellite Terminal (TST), Surface Mine Clearing System (SMCS) and Troop Level Radar were also exhibited as part of the Army's mechanised columns on the ceremonial boulevard. The artillery gun system -- M777 American Ultra Light Howitzers -- recently acquired from the US, and K9 Vajra, a self-propelled artillery gun will be new additions this year, Maj Gen Rajpal Punia, Chief of Staff, HQ Delhi Area, had told reporters on Thursday. Vajra is a symbol of the prime minister's Make in India initiative, Punia said. The Army's procurement of M777 howitzers and K-9 Vajra, in the year gone by, were first major induction of artillery guns since Bofors guns were inducted in the mid 1980s. The M-777 A-2 ultra-light howitzers (ULH), having a maximum range of 30 km, are ...
Border personnel meetings held in Arunachal
As part of the ongoing confidence building measures between India and China and also to give a boost to the interactions between the two armies, a Border Personnel Meeting (BPM) was held on Saturday to celebrate the 70th Republic Day. The Indian delegation was led by Brigadier Robi Kapoor of Dao Division of the Army while the Chinese delegation was led by Senior Colonel Xu Hong Gang. The meeting was held at Kibithu on the Indian side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and the delegations comprised military officials from each side, a defence statement said. The Kibithu-Damai border meeting mechanism was started as a confidence building measure to resolve local boundary issues and has been instrumental in maintaining peace and tranquillity along the LAC since 2014. The Indian delegation, while welcoming the Chinese side, expressed hope that coming together of troops from both sides would facilitate development of mutual cooperation. The Indian Army also presented a ...
Rahul, Sonia arrive in Goa on 3-day private visit
Congress president Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi Saturday arrived in Goa on a private visit, a state party functionary said. Speaking to PTI on condition of anonymity, a senior police official further said the programme of the two Congress leaders is "under wraps" and they are expected to be in Goa for the "next three days". "They are living in a five star hotel in south Goa," the official said. Goa Congress spokesperson Sunil Kawathankar confirmed the visit and said the two leaders would not be meeting party functionaries during their stay here. "It is entirely a private visit," he said.
'70th Republic Day celebrated with pomp and gaiety across Jammu'
The 70th Republic day was celebrated with traditional fervour and gaiety across Jammu region with Governor Satya Pal Malik unfurling the tricolour at the main function here. Before attending the state-level function, the governor went to the Balidan Stambh and paid tribute to the brave security personnel who laid down their lives in the line of duty to the country. The function at the Balidan Stambh in the heart of the city was organised by Army as part of the Republic Day celebrations. Malik later hoisted the tricolour at the main official function at the Jammu University's sports stadium. He inspected the parade and took the salute at an impressive march past which was commanded by Col Baskar Singh of the first battalion J&K Light Infantry. A group of enthusiastic youths, carrying tricolor, took out a bike rally from Parade ground in the heart of the city, while leaders of different political parties also unfurled the national flag at their party headquarters. State Congress ...
BAE chairman: UK should be 'critical friend' to Riyadh - Sky News
The killing of Jamal Khashoggi and Yemen's war have hurt Saudi Arabia's reputation, the chairman of BAE Systems told Sky News, adding Britain as a "critical friend" could help Riyadh refocus on the development push it was making before those crises emerged.
Sisodia inaugurates development works in 11 unauthorised colonies in Burari
Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia Saturday inaugurated the development works in 11 unauthorised colonies in north Delhi's Burari. According to the Delhi government, roads and drains will be constructed in these colonies under the project at a cost of Rs 98.32 crore. Sisodia said work on roads, drains, sewer lines, water pipelines have been carried out in 4,000 streets of Burari in the last four years by the Delhi government. The deputy chief minister also hit out at the BJP and the Congress, accusing it of doing politics over regularisation of unauthorised colonies. The inauguration event was also attended by Delhi Irrigation and Flood Control Minister Satyendar Jain and local MLA Sanjiv Jha.
Black flag demo against Modi, and not to oppose AIIMS: Vaiko
MDMK chief Vaiko Saturday said his party would stage a black flag demonstration against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, scheduled to visit Madurai tomorrow to lay the foundation for AIIMS facility, for 'ignoring' Tamil Nadu's interests. The party workers will wave black flags at Modi, the MDMK general secretary told reporters here. The demonstration was not against the AIIMS, but Modi and his government, which was neglecting and functioning against the interests of Tamil Nadu, he said. The prime minister is visiting Madurai on Sunday to lay the foundation for All India Institute of Medical Sciences facility in the district. The centre giving permission to projects like neutrino, hydrocarbon, Mullaperiyar and Mekedatu will help develop economy, but lead to the destruction of Tamil Nadu, he claimed.
Former CEC launches book on elections at JLF, bats for increasing women MPs
Former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Navin Chawla launched his new book, "Every Vote Counts: The Story Of Elections in India," at the Jaipur Literature Festival on Saturday.
Campaigning ends for Jind bypoll
Campaigning for the Jind assembly constituency by-election ended on Saturday evening.
BSF shoots intruder on international border along J&K
The BSF shot dead an intruder who crossed the International Border in Jammu and Kashmir's Samba district on Saturday after he ignored repeated warnings.
Venezuelan showdown moves to UN as dueling presidents dig in
Venezuela's political showdown moved to the United Nations Saturday where a Security Council meeting called by the United States pit backers of President Nicolas Maduro against the Trump administration and supporters of the country's self-declared interim leader Juan Guaido. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo addressed the meeting ahead of Venezuelan Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza and other council members, which include supporters of both duelling presidents. The session focusing on Venezuela's crisis comes a day after Guaido vowed to remain on the streets until his country has a transitional government, while Maduro dug in and accused his opponents of orchestrating a coup. "They can cut a flower, but they will never keep spring from coming," Guaido told supporters Friday, alluding to a similar phrase from the Chilean poet Pablo Neruda. In rival press conferences, Guaido urged his followers to stage another mass protest next week, while Maduro pushed his call for dialogue. Each man ...