Page 1884 - Politics
KCR vows to make Telangana roads 'shine like mirror'
Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao on Saturday vowed to make Telangana roads "shine like a mirror".The chief minister in a review meeting held here at Pragathi Bhavan to discuss the current condition of state roads, directed concerned officers to complete the task in next two years.The Chief Minister made it very clear that after irrigation projects, the top priority will be accorded to roads and highways. He further instructed that including the newly formed village Panchayats, the entire 12,751 village Panchayats in the state should be provided with BT road facility.He also directed the R&B officials to assess the existing conditions of the roads in the state and prepare a plan accordingly. Following the assessment a budget will be allocated for the same.The Chief Minister in the meeting underlined that several roads and bridges in the state need to be repaired. He also asked his ministers to constantly monitor the progress of road repair work.In the meeting, the Chief ...
Suspected car bomb explodes in N. Ireland
A suspected car bomb exploded in the Northern Irish city of Londonderry on Saturday, police said, with leading politicians alleging the blast was terror-related. The Police Service of Northern Ireland tweeted a photograph of the scene outside a courthouse as it warned that evacuations were taking place due to a second suspect vehicle in the British province's second city. "Police are in attendance at the scene of an incident in Derry/Londonderry city centre," the PSNI tweeted. "We would ask for patience and co-operation of the public and the business community as we carry out our initial investigations." "Bishop Street closed. Stay away. Suspected car bomb," an earlier tweet said. The force added on Facebook: "As far as we know no one injured. There is another car we are not happy about. There are ongoing necessary evacuations," it posted. Politicians from all sides on the island of Ireland condemned the incident. Former Northern Irish first minister Arlene Foster, who heads the ...
Trump offers temporary relief for migrants in exchange for border wall funding
United States President Donald Trump on Saturday outlined his plans in a bid to end the nearly month-long partial government shutdown by offering temporary protections for undocumented migrants in exchange for the funding for his proposed border wall on the US-Mexico border.In a televised speech from the White House, Trump hinted at extending protections for roughly 700,000 'Dreamers', the children of illegal migrants brought into the US, under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) programme for three years.He floated a three-year extension of protections for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders in exchange for $5.7 billion funding for the wall, The Hill reported.The TPS is a system where people, whose families have been affected by war or disasters are allowed to live and work in the US. Interestingly, Trump has been vocal against the TPS and DACA programmes, asserting that non-Americans were "taking away" potential jobs from Americans."Both sides (Republicans and ...
Trump offers protection to immigrants for US-Mexico border wall funding
Seeking to end the federal government shutdown, President Donald Trump has offered temporary protection for people illegally brought to the US as children in exchange for USD 5.7 billion for constructing a wall on the Mexico border. The impasse between the Trump-led Republican Party and the Democratic Party led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi over the border wall led to the shutdown, which has rendered 800,000 federal government workers without work and crippled key departments. The shutdown-- the longest in US history-- entered its 29th day, as Trump Saturday made the announcement. The president has also proposed protection to other groups of immigrants facing deportation. Both sides in Washington must simply come together, Trump said in a White House speech, adding he is trying to break the logjam." Defending his plan for the US-Mexico border wall, he said, "Walls are not immoral, in fact they are the opposite of immoral because they will save many lives." Trump said he was offering a
Location for second meeting with Kim finalised: Trump
US President Donald Trump on Friday said that the venue for the second meeting between him and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has been finalised and the same will be announced in the coming days.The second North Korea-US summit is scheduled to be held near the end of February, after Trump on Friday met senior North Korean official Kim Yong Chol at the White House for fixing a meeting with the North Korean leader and to discuss the issue of denuclearisation."We had a very good meeting yesterday with North Korea. That was an incredible meeting," Trump was quoted by Yonhap News Agency as saying."It (The meeting) lasted almost two hours and we've agreed to meet sometime probably the end of February. We've picked the country but we'll be announcing it in the future," he added.Kim Yong Chol arrived in Washington DC on Thursday, which was only his second visit to the US in less than a year. He last visited the country in June last year.In his first visit that took place last June, the top ..
PDP expels senior leader Altaf Bukhari for 'anti-party activities'
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Saturday expelled senior party leader Altaf Bukhari alleging that he "inspired and led dissent in the party at its most crucial stage" which caused "serious damage to party's efforts at implementing the agenda of the government."The statement issued by the PDP on Saturday stated: "For anti-party activities, Altaf Bukhari has been expelled from PDP. Party has been watching his activities for quite some time. Ever since the passing away of our founder Mufti Mohammad Sayeed he has been perusing his personal political ambition at the cost of the Party and state interest."Bukhari, who served as the Finance Minister in Jammu and Kashmir before the PDP-BJP coalition fell apart in June 2018, represents Srinagar's Amira Kadal constituency and has also served as Education Minister in the former state chief minister Mehboohab Mufti cabinet.The party said: "Bukhari inspired and led dissent in the Party at its most crucial stage which resulted in serious damage to
66 refugees apprehended in Turkey
As many as 66 illegal migrants were apprehended across Turkey, said security sources on Saturday.Security forces in the northwestern province of Kirklareli acted on a tip-off and arrested three groups of illegal refugees, who were trying to illegally cross Bulgaria, Anadolu News Agency quoted a security source as saying.About 23 migrants, of whom they are Iraqi and Afghan nationals were apprehended in Demirkoy near the Derekoy border gate, a security source said.Furthermore, 43 refugees were arrested by the Turkish Coast Guard off the coast of Ayvacik in the northwestern Canakkale province in a separate operation.The migrants, who were of Afghan-origin, were reportedly attempting to cross to Greece, when they were apprehended and have been referred to provincial migration directorates, as per the report.Turkish security forces have been engaged in an operation to detain the undocumented migrants who attempt to reach Europe by sea illegally by crossing Turkish waters.Turkey has seen a .
Venue for second US-N.Korea summit picked: Trump
US President Donald Trump said the location for his second meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has been picked and will be announced "in the future".
Israel's Netanyahu blasts media, political foes over legal woes
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Saturday released a video accusing the media and left-wing opponents of pressuring the attorney general to indict him, ahead of April polls. Police have recommended Netanyahu's indictment in three separate corruption investigations and the attorney general is expected to announce his decision on whether to charge the prime minister in the weeks or months ahead. "For three years the Left and the media have been pushing the attorney general to file charges at any price," read a message at the start of a short video posted on Twitter by Netanyahu. The video then showed footage of protesters brandishing placards calling for Netanyahu to be jailed during demonstrations outside the home of Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit. "Will they succeed?" a closing message said. The video sparked criticism from political opponents. The justice ministry insisted to the Israeli media that the attorney general would not be influenced in his decision. Polls ..
US peace envoy: Washington wants to see peace in Afghanistan
US peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad says Washington is ready to "address legitimate concerns" of all Afghan sides in order to restore peace in Afghanistan. Khalilzad took to Twitter on Saturday saying: "I see that many are concerned that the United States is willing to both talk and fight. Let me be clear: the US wants #peace." He said it was urgent that fighting ends in Afghanistan but "pursuing peace still means we fight as needed." Khalilzad is currently on a visit to Islamabad and has met with Pakistan's political and military leadership as part of efforts aimed at finding a peaceful solution to the 17-year-old bloody war in Afghanistan. Pakistan says it will do whatever is possible to end the conflict.
Congress expels former Union Minister Srikant Jena, ex-MLA Sagaria
Former Union Minister Srikant Jena and former MLA Krushna Chandra Sagaria have been expelled from Congress for alleged anti-party activities in Odisha, a senior party leader said.
Trump salutes remains of 4 Americans killed in Syria attack
A solemn procession. A long salute. A chaplain's prayer. President Donald Trump traveled to Delaware's Dover Air Force Base on Saturday to pay his respects to the returning remains of four Americans who were killed this week in a suicide bomb attack in Syria. The bombing, which was the deadliest assault on US troops in Syria since American forces moved into the country in 2015, came as Trump prepares to pull US troops out of Syria. The president stood solemnly and saluted the remains of civilian Scott A Wirtz of St Louis, Missouri, as his body was carried from a C-17 military aircraft into a waiting van. Wirtz and the three other Americans were killed in a suicide bombing Wednesday in the northern Syrian town of Manbij. He had been assigned to the Defense Intelligence Agency as an operations support specialist. The three other transfers were to be conducted privately, with the president observing. He also spent time with the families of those killed. Trump told reporters as he left ...
Immense opportunities for Czech technology, manufacturing in India: Kovind
Czech Republic Prime Minister Andrej Babis on Saturday called on President Ram Nath Kovind, who said there are immense opportunities for Czech technology and manufacturing in India.
Kerala to revise list of women who prayed at Sabarimala
Stung by widespread criticism over the numerous errors in the list of women who prayed at the Sabrimala temple, the Kerala government has decided to re-prepare the list.
Opposition's prime ministerial candidate still remains a question mark
The issue of who would be the prime ministerial candidate of the anti-BJP political parties continued to remain a big question mark despite the approaching Lok Sabha elections, though 23 of the outfits came together at a mega rally here on Saturday, giving a call to defeat Centre's ruling Narendra Modi-led BJP.
Russian court extends detention of Belarussian model
A Belarusian model who claimed she had proof of Russian collusion with the Trump election campaign, had her detention in Moscow extended by three days by a Russian court on Saturday. Anastasia Vashukevich, also known as Nastya Rybka, has been held for questioning since Thursday after she was deported from Thailand as part of a group convicted of participating in a "sex training course". "The court has decided to extend her detention by 72 hours," judge Natalya Borissenkova was cited as stating by the Ria Novosti news agency. She denied the accusation of prostitution, telling the court that "I am not guilty of what I am accused," Interfax reported. In a case that veered between salacious and bizarre, Vashukevich has said she had travelled to Thailand after becoming embroiled in a political scandal with Russian aluminium tycoon Oleg Deripaska -- a one-time associate of US President Trump's disgraced former campaign director Paul Manafort. She then set tongues wagging by promising to ...
Thousands protest in Berlin against industrialised agriculture
Thousands of protesters, backed by a procession of farm tractors, marched in Berlin Saturday for environmental protection and against the industrial agriculture lobby. Police put the number of demonstrators at over 12,000, while organisers said 35,000 turned out. While the "Grune Woche" international agricultural fair was taking place in the German capital, the protesters took aim at government policy which prioritised large-scale farming, deemed damaging to health and the environment, to the detriment of small farmers and bio-growers. "This protest... shows that the desire for a different agricultural policy is now undeniable," said Green party co-leader Robert Habeck, who took part in Saturday's demonstration. Conservative Agriculture Minister Julia Kloeckner has received "an unequivocal message" from the street, said Saskia Richartz, spokeswoman for the protest organisers. "We can't feed the whole world if we reduce industrial agricultural production," the agriculture minister ...
Cong expels fmr union min Srikant Jena, fmr MLA Sagaria
The Congress on Saturday expelled former Union Minister Srikant Jena and former MLA Krushna Chandra Sagaria for alleged anti-party activities, a senior leader said. The announcement was made late at night by Odisha Congress' disciplinary committee convener Ananta Prasad Sethi. "Both Jena and Sagaria have been expelled from the party as per the approval of the All India Congress Committee," Sethi said in a statement. They issued anti-party statements to the media causing damage to the Congress and were expelled from the primary membership of the party, Sethi added. "They also issued remarks against OPCC (Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee) functionaries," the Congress leader alleged. While Jena was a former Union Minister in the previous UPA government, Dalit leader Sagaria represented Koraput in the state assembly. Sagaria had in November resigned from the membership of the Odisha assembly, as he was allegedly upset over failing to ensure justice for a rape and murder victim and her ...
Mainstream media lost its credibility: Trump
US President Donald Trump on Saturday alleged that the mainstream media has lost its credibility, a day after an investigative anti-Trump story published by a major online American publication turned out be wrong. A report published by online portal BuzzFeed had reported that Trump directed Michael Cohen, who was his attorney, to lie to Congress about a Moscow real estate project and that Cohen told special counsel Robert Mueller that the US president personally instructed him to lie about the timing of the project. "It hurts me to say it. But mainstream media has truly lost its credibility," Trump told reporters at the White House a day after BuzzFeed's story on his Russian connections and 2016 US presidential elections turned out to be false. "It was a total phony story, and I appreciate the special counsel coming out with a statement," Trump said as he praised Muller for issuing a clarification on the story. Muller, a former FBI director is currently investigating the allegations ..
Safeguarding Sikkim's special status top priority: SDF MP
Amid concerns about the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, Lok Sabha MP of Sikkim Democratic Front's (SDF) P.D. Rai on Saturday asserted that safeguarding the special status of the state is the "top priority".