Page 188 - Politics
Karnataka cabinet expansion: R Shankar, H Nagesh take oath as state cabinet ministers
Amidst coalitions troubles and decimation of the ruling combine in elections, Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Friday expanded his Cabinet by inducting two JD(U) MLAs of his party.Governor Vajubhai Vala administered the oath of office and secrecy to R Shankar and H Nagesh at the Raj Bhavan where deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara and others were also present.BJP is the single largest party with 105 members in the 225 member assembly, while the ruling coalition of Congress and JD(U) has 117 members. 79 legislators belong to Congress, 37 from JD(S)and 1 from BSP.
Ashok Gehlot orders probe into death of tiger in Sariska reserve
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot ordered a high-level administrative inquiry into the death of a male tiger ST-16 in Sariska Tiger Reserve last week.Principal Secretary to the Rajasthan Government, Abhay Kumar, has been appointed as the inquiry officer.Gehlot ordered the probe to fix responsibility and for taking action against persons concerned.The inquiry officer is expected to suggest ways to assess security arrangements and proper management in Sariska.
China calls for 'dialogue' after Gulf of Oman tanker attacks
China on Friday called for dialogue after the United States accused Iran of being behind attacks on two tankers in the Gulf of Oman. "We hope that all the relevant sides can properly resolve their differences and resolve the conflict through dialogue and consultations," said foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang at a regular press briefing. "This conforms with the interests of regional countries, and also conforms with the interests of the international community," he added. The two tankers, one Norwegian- and one Japanese-owned, were set blaze in the Gulf of Oman off the coast of Iran on Thursday, escalating tensions across the region and sending world oil prices soaring. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said there was strong evidence of Iran's culpability and warned Washington would defend its forces and allies in the region. Iran's foreign ministry hit back on Friday, dismissing the accusations as "baseless". China was one of the eight global buyers allowed to import Iranian ...
Countries supporting terrorism should be held responsible: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday made a veiled attack on Pakistan and said that countries that support, encourage or provide finance to terrorism should be held responsible for their activities.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reviews ongoing, future projects of DRDO
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday reviewed the ongoing and future projects of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).The Defence Minister had, on June 12, witnessed the launch of Technology Demonstrator missile vehicle in Balasore conducted by premier defence research agency.Besides Rajnath, Secretary (Defence Production) Ajay Kumar was also present at the test firing range."The missile was launched successfully. Various sensors have been placed on the missile, through which a large number of data has been gathered for various missile subsystems. That data will be analyzed to validate the critical technologies for the purpose the said vehicle was launched," DRDO sources said.In the test, the technology demonstrated missile was launched in the air using an Agni-series vessel which lifted it off the ground and then separated from the main missile after reaching a higher altitude.
2 ministers inducted in Karnataka Cabinet
The year-old Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S)-Congress coalition government in Karnataka on Friday inducted two new ministers in the Cabinet, an official said.
Iran's Rouhani says US 'serious threat to global stability'
Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said Friday that US actions present a serious threat to global and regional stability, speaking at an international forum in Kyrgyzstan. "The US government over the last two years, violating all the international structures and rules and using its economic, financial and military resources, has taken an aggressive approach and presents a serious risk to stability in the region and the world," Rouhani said, in translated comments, at a meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, a Eurasian security alliance.
Kamal Nath hosting Congress CMs' meeting ahead of Niti Aayog meet
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath is hosting a dinner for his party counterparts in other statess and senior Congress leaders here Friday evening, ahead of the Niti Aayog meeting on Saturday.According to sources, Congress chief ministers Captain Amarinder Singh, Bhupesh Baghel, V Narayanasami and Ashok Gehlot have been invited. Other Senior leaders of the party are also expected to attend the dinner.Discussions on issues to be taken up before the Prime Minister at the NITI Ayog meeting could be held at the dinner, sources said."Agriculture distress in the country is one of the issues Niti Ayog meet is expected to discuss. The Congress party which has been implementing farm loan waivers in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan will have to raise its issues before the Niti Ayog," the sources said.
Countries sponsoring terrorism must be held accountable: PM Modi at SCO
In a veiled attack on Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that countries sponsoring, aiding and funding terrorism must be held accountable as he called for a global conference to combat the menace. Addressing the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit here, Modi highlighted the spirit and ideals of the SCO to strengthen cooperation in the fight against terrorism. India stood for a terrorism-free society, he said. "During my visit to Sri Lanka last Sunday, I visited the St Anthony's church, where I witnessed the ugly face of terrorism which claims the lives of innocents anywhere," the Prime Minister said. To combat the menace of terrorism, countries will have to come out of their narrow purview to unite against it, Modi said in the presence of his Pakistani counterpart Imran Khan. "Countries sponsoring, aiding and funding terrorism must be held accountable," he said. Prime Minister Modi also called on the SCO member states to cooperate under the SCO Regional ..
Kamal Nath calls Congress CMs for dinner in Delhi
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath has called his Congress counterparts for a dinner in the national capital to appeal to party President Rahul Gandhi not to step down from his post, sources said on Friday.
Medicos in Northeast join protest against attack on doctors
As part of the nationwide programme by medicos, doctors and nurses of several Northeastern states extended support on Friday in solidarity to the striking doctors in Kolkata.
UAE says Gulf of Oman tanker attacks 'dangerous escalation'
The United Arab Emirates said Friday that twin attacks on tankers in the Sea of Oman just weeks after four ships were damaged off the UAE coast marked a dangerous escalation". "The attack against the tankers in the Gulf of Oman is a worrying development and a dangerous escalation," the UAE minister of state for foreign affairs, Anwar Gargash, tweeted after Thursday's blasts. Gargash also condemned a Yemeni rebel missile attack which wounded 26 civilians at an airport in southwestern Saudi Arabia on Wednesday. He said the "blatant attack on civilians" was only the latest in a spate of rebel assaults "undermining the UN's political work & sending a message of continuing violence & hostility". These developments "must spur the international community to act to maintain peace and security in the region", Gargash said. "The responsibility for avoiding an escalation is collective." The two tankers, one Norwegian- and one Japanese-owned, were set blaze in the Gulf of Oman off the ...
300 delegates to participate in Kimberley Process meet in Mumbai
About 300 delegates from India and other countries will participate in the five-day meeting of Kimberley Process (KP) in Mumbai, starting from June 17, the commerce ministry said in a statement. KP is a global initiative to remove conflict diamonds from the global supply chain. It is a joint initiative of different countries, industry and civil societies to control flow of conflict diamonds, which are used by rebel movements to finance wars against legitimate governments in the world. Besides meetings of different working groups and committees of the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS), two special forums regarding Diamond Terminology and Artisanal Mining Small Steps to Larger Outcomes, will be held during the inter-sessional meeting, it said. India is one of the founder members of the scheme and is the Chair of KP for 2019 with Russia as vice-chair. At present, KPCS has 55 members representing 82 countries including EU with 28 members. The Department of Commerce is the ...
White House press secretary Sarah Sanders resigns
White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders, who famously said that God "wanted Donald Trump to become president" has resigned, becoming the latest senior aide of the US president to exit his administration. President Trump made the surprise announcement on Twitter that Sanders will step down at the end of the month. "After 3 1/2 years, our wonderful Sarah Huckabee Sanders will be leaving the White House at the end of the month and going home to the Great State of Arkansas....," Trump said in a tweet on Thursday. "She is a very special person with extraordinary talents, who has done an incredible job! I hope she decides to run for Governor of Arkansas - she would be fantastic. Sarah, thank you for a job well done!" tweeted the US president. Sanders, 36, has been a loyal mouthpiece, famously saying that God "wanted Donald Trump to become president". Only the third woman to serve in the prestigious position, Sanders is the daughter of popular Republican politician and former Arkansas ...
Nations backing terrorism must be held accountable: PM Modi
In a veiled attack on Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said countries that support and finance terrorism must be held accountable, while the world should come together to combat the menace.He also called for stopping the spread of radicalisation among youth."To tackle the danger of terrorism, all humanitarian powers should come forward together. Countries that provide encouragement, support, and finances to terrorism must be held accountable," he said while addressing the plenary session of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit held in Kyrgyzstan's capital Bishkek."Literature and culture provide our societies with positive engagements and help stop the spread of radicalisation among the youth. During my visit to Sri Lanka, I visited the St. Anthony's shrine, where I witnessed the ugly face of terrorism that takes the lives of innocents," he added.Modi's speech focused on a range of issues, particularly on the Afghan-led peace process, and India's positive .
Kumaraswamy expands cabinet by inducting 2 ministers
Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy Friday expanded his cabinet by inducting two Independent MLAs into the ministry in an apparent move to give stability to his 13-month-old wobbly government. In the much-awaited expansion, R Shankar and H Nagesh were sworn in as cabinet-rank ministers by Governor Vajubhai Vala who administered them the oath of office and secrecy at a ceremony at the Raj Bhavan. Shankar had served as minister during the initial days of the Kumaraswamy government but was dropped from the cabinet during the rejig in December last year. He and Nagesh had sided with the BJP and written to the governor withdrawing support to the government. As the BJP failed in its alleged attempts to topple the coalition government, the two lawmakers made a u-turn and moved closer to the coalition. The two were inducted from the JD(S) and Congress' share in the ministry, in an attempt to block chances of their switching over to the BJP whom the ruling coalition has accused of trying .
2 new ministers inducted to Karnataka Cabinet
The year-old Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S)-Congress coalition government in Karnataka on Friday inducted two new ministers in the Cabinet, an official said.
US says Iran removed unexploded mine from oil tanker
The US military on Friday released a video it said showed Iran's Revolutionary Guard removing an unexploded limpet mine from one of the oil tankers targeted near the Strait of Hormuz, suggesting the Islamic Republic sought to remove evidence of its involvement from the scene. The US Navy rushed to assist the stricken vessels in the Gulf of Oman off the coast of Iran, including one that was set ablaze Thursday by an explosion. The ships' operators offered no immediate explanation on who or what caused the damage against the Norwegian-owned MT Front Altair and the Japanese-owned Kokuka Courageous. Each was loaded with petroleum products, and the Front Altair burned for hours, sending up a column of thick, black smoke. Iran has denied being involved in the attack, calling it an "unfounded claim" in the US' "Iranophobic campaign." However, Iran previously used mines against oil tankers in 1987 and 1988 in the "Tanker War," when the U.S. Navy escorted ships through the region. The ...
J-K terror funding: Delhi court sends 3 sepratist leader to judicial custody till July 12
The Patiala House Court on Friday sent separatist leader Shabbir Shah, Masrat Alam and Asiya Andrabi to judicial custody till July 12 in connection with the Jammu and Kashmir terror funding case involving 26/11 Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed.Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Anil Antil sent the three accused to judicial custody till July 12 after the National Investigation Agency did not seek their custody.During the course of hearing, Andrabi requested the court to produce him through video conferencing in future hearings citing health reasons. Court asked his counsel to approach concern court after vacations.NIA investigation has established that Aasiya Andrabi is heading Dukhtaran-E-Millat as its Chief and has used social media and other platforms to abet waging of war against the Indian government. She is spreading seditious and insurrectionary imputations against Government of IndiaDukhtaran-e-Milat, a banned outfit under the First Schedule to the Unlawful Activities ...
Twitter deletes almost 5,000 accounts linked to Iran
In its bid to stop the spread of misinformation and hoaxes, Twitter has pulled down almost 5,000 accounts suspected of being directly run or linked to the Iranian government.