Page 1924 - Politics
No-deal Brexit risks creating London-Dover traffic jam - freight company DSV
COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - A no-deal Brexit could lead to tailbacks stretching the 80 miles (130 km) from London to the port of Dover as lorries face extra customs checks, the head of Danish freight company DSV said on Wednesday.
BJP creating nuisance, crisis to fizzle out soon: Kumaraswamy
Amid a political turmoil in Karnataka, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy Wednesday accused the Opposition BJP of creating "nuisance" to destablise the government, but expressed confidence that the current crisis would fizzle out soon. Kumaraswamy, who is preoccupied with pre-budget consultation meetings in Bengaluru, also dismissed reports of meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the likely resignation of four Congress ministers from the state cabinet. He stressed that the Congress-JD(S) ties were "strong" and the parties would together fight the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. On Tuesday, two independent MLAs withdrew their support to the coalition government in a significant turn to the political war that erupted in the state, with both sides venting their fears of poaching. "There is no plan to meet Modi. No Congress ministers are resigning. No MLAs from Congress or JD(S) will resign and shift to BJP. It is not going to happen. This nuisance has been created by the BJP," Kumaraswamy told
China expanding access to strategic foreign ports: Pentagon
China is expanding its access to strategic foreign ports like Pakistan's Gwadar and Sri Lanka's Hambantota to pre-position the logistic framework necessary to support the growing presence of its military in the Indian Ocean and beyond, the Pentagon said. The People's Liberation Army's efforts to obtain access to commercial ports in Africa, the Middle-East and South Asia would align with its future overseas logistic needs and meet its evolving naval requirements, said the Congressionally-mandated report on the increasing Chinese military power which was released by the US Department of Defence Tuesday. China in 2015 announced its intention to build military facilities in Djibouti, citing reasons "to help the Navy and Army further participate in UN peacekeeping operations, carry out escort missions in the waters near Somalia and the Gulf of Aden and provide humanitarian assistance". "China is expanding its access to foreign ports, such as in Gwadar, Pakistan, to pre-position the ...
Odisha Congress Working President quits party to join BJD
In a major setback for the Congress ahead of elections in Odisha, state Working President Naba Kisore Das on Wednesday resigned from the party to join the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD).
CPJ writes to J&K Governor seeking release of Kashmiri journalist
The Committee for Protection of Journalists (CPJ) on Wednesday wrote to Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik seeking release of a Kashmiri journalist who was arrested in August last year.
Cong-JD(S) govt in Karnataka stable and strong; BJP trying to destabilise it: Kharge
The Congress-JD(S) government in Karnataka is "stable and strong", Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said Wednesday and accused the BJP of trying to destabilise it. At a press conference here, he said there was no crisis for the government in Karnataka. The Congress-JD(S) government in Karnataka is stable and strong and will continue to be so, he said. The BJP is trying to destabilise the government, Kharge alleged. Two MLAs on Tuesday withdrew support to the seven-month-old government led by H D Kumaraswamy amid charges of horse trading levelled against each other by the ruling coalition and the BJP.
South Korea seizes North Korean paintings due to sanctions
South Korean officials said Wednesday they have stopped businessmen from bringing North Korean paintings into the country that a report said were purchased at an art studio under UN sanctions. Observers say similar incidents could occur frequently as South Korea's liberal government pushes for deeper exchanges with North Korea. The Korea Customs Service said it has nine North Korean paintings that an unidentified number of businessmen tried to bring into the country after a trip to Pyongyang, North Korea's capital, last November. It said the businessmen did not have the required South Korean government permission to bring in North Korean products. South Korea's largest newspaper, Chosun Ilbo, reported Wednesday that the paintings were purchased from Pyongyang's Mansudae art studio, which is on a U.N. sanctions blacklist. The studio is subject to an asset freeze and travel ban because of its dispatch of artists and other workers abroad to do projects to generate revenue for the North ..
Congress' candidate list for Kerala Lok Sabha polls to be finalized by Feb 20
A list of 16 Congress candidates for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in Kerala will be ready by February 20, said a top party leader on Wednesday.
Over three lakh new voters in J-K
Over three lakh new voters were added during the ongoing special summary revision (SSR) in Jammu and Kashmir, election authorities said Wednesday. "During the ongoing SSR of photo electoral rolls, with respect to January 1 as the qualifying date, 3,07,984 new voters were added, which is highest as compared to the last four years additions," the officials said. Besides, they said, 1,25,931 voters were deleted from the roll and 94,659 corrections and modifications were made in the particulars of electors. In addition, as many as 9,23,654 demographically similar entries were also removed from the rolls and 1,687 logical errors were corrected in the ongoing SSR-2019, the officials said. To maintain the correctness of the rolls, they said, the multiple entries, duplicates, dead and permanently shifted entries were also removed from the roll. Lauding the performance of district election officers (DEOs) for updation of electoral rolls during the SSR, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Shailendra .
Sheila Dikshit takes charge as Delhi Congress chief in presence of Tytler
Former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Wednesday took charge as the Delhi Congress chief. The event was marked by the presence of former minister Jagdish Tytler among other leaders that caused a flutter.
Putin ready for 'serious conversation' with US on INF Treaty
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that he is ready for a "serious conversation" with the US on the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty issue despite Washington's declared intention to withdraw from the pact.
US Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand to run for President
US Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a Democrat from the state of New York, has announced running for President in 2020 and said that her campaign would lean heavily on gender issues and imagery.
BJP gone berserk after losing in 3 states: MP Min on horsetrading reports
Madhya Pradesh minister PC Sharma on Wednesday said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has gone "berserk" after losing in three states in the Assembly elections, and hence, is trying to poach Congress' MLAs.Sharma, the state's Law and Legislative Affairs Minister, told ANI, "They (BJP) have gone berserk after losing 3 states. Lok Sabha elections are coming up. If they lose, they will stay out for a long time. They are trying horse trading even in Madhya Pradesh. All those with Congress are standing with them, be it SP, BSP or independent."Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh were held in a single phase on November 28, while results were declared on December 11.With 114 Congress candidates elected to power, the party fell two seats short of a total majority. However, they later roped in support from the elected legislators of the BSP (2), SP (1) and four independent candidates.The BJP had finished with 109 out of the total 230.
Taiwan part of China's internal affairs: Beijing
China, on Tuesday, reinforced that Taiwan is an internal issue of the nation and warned that the Chinese military would "safeguard national reunification" if somebody tried to split Taiwan from China.Quoting General Li Zuocheng, the chief of China's Central Military Commission Joint Staff Department, NHK World further said that Beijing would not tolerate any external interference in its national issue.The General's comments come after he held a meeting with the US' Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral John Richardson, here on Tuesday, where the two sides decided to strengthen communications and control risks.The Chinese military official's comments echo Chinese President Xi Jinping's words, where he had voiced similar sentiments with regard to Taiwan.The Republic of China, or Taiwan, has always maintained that it is a free country with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen stating that China would have to "face the reality of the existence of the Republic of China" in her New Year's address.
New jolt to AAP: Punjab MLA quits party
In a fresh jolt to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab, yet another MLA, this time Baldev Singh, resigned from the party's primary membership on Wednesday, citing "autocratic functioning", "double standards" and disregard for its basic ideology and principles.
Telangana assembly meets from January 17-20
The newly-elected Telangana Legislative Assembly would meet from Thursday for the members to take oath, to elect the Speaker and also take up the Governor's address to the joint session of legislature. The Governor ESL Narasimhan had issued a notification on January 7 summoning the assembly to meet for its session at 11.30 AM on January 17. Senior AIMIM MLA from Charminar assembly constituency Mumtaz Ahmed Khan has been appointed as the pro tem Speaker, before whom the newly-elected members would take oath. The assembly proceedings would be held for four days from January 17 to 20, a press release from the Chief Minister's office said. The newly-elected MLAs would take oath after the House meets at 11.30 AM Thursday. In the afternoon of January 17, an official lunch would be hosted for the MLAs on the lawns of Legislative Council Hall, the release said. The schedule for the Speaker's election would be announced on January 17 and the nomination process would commence, it .
RLD leader Jayant Chaudhary meets Akhilesh on poll alliance
Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) vice president Jayant Chaudhary met Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday, amidst his party's interest to associate with the SP-BSP alliance.Speaking to reporters here after the meeting, Chaudhary said: "It was a good meeting with Akhilesh ji. We held lengthy discussions on seat sharing and alliance. I feel that we will be successful in our effort."On January 12, the SP and BSP had announced that they would jointly contest the Lok Sabha polls from 38 seats each in Uttar Pradesh.BSP chief Mayawati had announced that two seats had been kept aside for smaller parties, while no candidates would be fielded against Congress President Rahul Gandhi in Amethi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi in Rae Bareli.The state which has 80 Lok Sabha seats at stake out of 543 seats plays a crucial role in the government formation at the Centre.A day ahead of the announcement, RLD president Ajit Singh had said his party will side with the SP-BSP alliance for the ..
BJP targeting over 50% vote share in UP: Nadda
The SP, BSP coming together in Uttar Pradesh is a reflection of BJP's strength and the party is striving to win over 50 per cent votes in the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls to meet the combined challenge, BJP's Uttar Pradesh in-charge for the general elections, J.P. Nadda, said on Wednesday
Congress protest outside hotel where Karnataka BJP MLAs are put up
Congress workers on Wednesday protested outside the hotel where about 90 BJP MLAs from Karnataka have been put up amidst political developments back home where the Congress-JD(S) government was jolted by two Independent MLAs withdrawing support to it.
No Pak delegation coming for Gujarat Vibrant Summit: Rupani
Chief Minister Vijay Rupani Wednesday said no delegation from Pakistan would be attending the upcoming Vibrant Gujarat Summit. Gujarat will host the ninth edition of the annual industry summit 'Vibrant Gujarat' from January 18 to 20 in Gandhinagar. Earlier, a controversy had erupted when the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), while inviting several global trade bodies for the investors' meet, also extended invitation to the Karachi Chamber of Commerce. India and Pakistan's diplomatic relations have been strained in recent times over the issue of terrorism. On Wednesday, Rupani said, "No delegation from Pakistan was coming for the Vibrant Gujarat Summit." "There were discussions about it, but it is not true," he told reporters here, but did not elaborate further. Gujarat Chief Secretary J N Singh had last week said there was nothing wrong in inviting Pakistan's trade body for the summit. The GCCI had decided to invite global trade bodies during the Gujarat ...