Page 2177 - Politics
Arunachal Congress executive committee meeting from Friday
The Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) will hold a two-day executive meeting to draw up a roadmap and an action plan for the next 100-days, a senior party leader has said. Addressing reporters here on Monday, APCC vice-president Bosiram Siram said the executive committee meeting and a social media awareness programme under the banner of 'Sangharh Sammelan' will be held here on December 19. AICC general secretary in-charge Arunachal Pradesh Luizinho Faleiro, AICC secretary in-charge Arunachal Pradesh Zenith Sangma, will also be taking part in the meeting and in the social media awareness programme. All members of the APCCs frontal organizations, senior former leaders, party members and office bearers at the block and district level, will be taking part in the event, informed Siram. The meeting will come up with a roadmap and an action plan for next 100-days after holding detailed discussions on both party and state-related issues. The inputs gathered will be ...
No one can 'dictate' to China what it should, shouldn't do: Xi
President Xi Jinping vowed Tuesday to push ahead with China's "reform and opening up" but warned that no one can "dictate" what it does, as the Communist Party celebrated the policy's 40th anniversary. "No one is in a position to dictate to the Chinese people what should or should not be done," Xi said as China faces a stern challenge from the United States over trade and diplomacy.
Sri Lanka: PM Wickremesinghe to form a new democratic front
The reinstated Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Ranil Wickremesinghe, here on Monday said that a democratic front would be created to secure the constitution and stabilise peace and reconciliation in the country.Colombo Page cited the Prime Minister addressing a rally, titled 'Fight for Justice', organised by his United National Party (UNP) in the Sri Lankan capital, informing the crowd that he plans to register a new 'National Democratic Front' (NDF) which would also help him fight elections and devise a government with massive power.The Prime Minister also said that he expected the political crisis in the country, which began after President Maithripala Sirisena ousted Wickremesinghe from his Prime Ministerial post on October 26 and replaced him with former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, to end quickly but it rather lasted for 51 days."We thought that our campaign to protect democracy would end in a week. I would like to say that 'Thachchiya' (frying pan) is what's on fire. We faced the .
Afghanistan welcomes US exempting India from Iran sanctions over Chabahar
Afghanistan has welcomed the exemption from the Iran sanctions given by the US for the India-developed Chabahar Port project.
New Zealand to hold referendum on recreational marijuana use
New Zealand will hold a referendum in 2020 to decide on the legalisation of recreational marijuana, Justice Minister Andrew Little announced on Tuesday, a week after Parliament gave the green light to its use for medicinal purposes.
UN condemns North Korea rights violations and nuke spending
The UN General Assembly on Monday condemned North Korea's "systematic, widespread and gross violations of human rights" and its diversion of resources into pursing nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles over the welfare of its people. It noted "with concern" that over 10 million North Koreans are estimated to be undernourished and that there is "an unacceptably high prevalence of chronic and acute malnutrition" in the reclusive northeast Asian nation. The resolution, sponsored by Japan and the European Union, was adopted by consensus, though countries including Russia, China, Cuba and Venezuela disassociated themselves from it. Many expressed opposition to assembly resolutions singling out specific countries and said the Geneva-based Human Rights Council should deal with rights issues. North Korea's UN ambassador, Kim Song, said his country "categorically rejects" the resolution, calling it "a product of (a) political plot and hostile forces." He accused Japan of "provoking ...
Ex-FBI Director slams 'shameful' Republicans
Former FBI Director James Comey has slammed the Republicans for not speaking out against President Donald Trump's attacks on the probe agency, following his second round of questioning at a closed-door congressional interview.
New Zealand to hold 'reeferendum' on legal pot
New Zealand will hold a referendum on legalising recreational marijuana when the South Pacific nation votes in its next general election in 2020, the government announced Tuesday. The ballot was among the demands the Green Party made during talks to join Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's progressive coalition government after the 2017 election. Justice Minister Andrew Little said the government had agreed to the timetable, and the result of the referendum would be binding. "It will be held at the 2020 general election," he told reporters, adding "there is a bit of detail still to work through." Ardern's government has already moved to legalise medicinal cannabis, with legislation on the issue working its way through parliament. An opinion poll last year found 65 per cent of New Zealanders also supported legalising the drug for recreational use. Pro-reform campaign group New Zealand Drug Foundation welcomed the vote, with its chief Ross Bell saying the current approach to regulating ...
Bolivia's Morales ignores unconstitutional accusations in reelection bid
Bolivian President Evo Morales is forging on in his bid to win a fourth term in next year's elections, despite mounting opposition against a move branded unconstitutional. Morales has been in power since 2006, winning three elections already despite Bolivia's 2009 constitution, which he himself promulgated, limiting presidents to two consecutive terms in office. However, the country's constitutional court, filled with government loyalists and having already ruled in Morales's favor by allowing him to stand for re-election in 2014, has rejected 11 appeals against his seeking a fourth term. Strikes and protest marches led by opposition groups have failed to deter Morales, the country's first ever indigenous president. He tried to change the constitution in 2016 to allow him to seek unlimited terms in office but narrowly lost a referendum on the subject. However, his government rejected the results and the constitutional court backed him, saying that it was his human right to seek ...
US eager to work with restored Sri Lanka PM
The United States on Tuesday praised the restoration of Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe -- controversially replaced by a former strongman in October -- and voiced eagerness to work with him. "We are pleased that the leadership in Sri Lanka has resolved the political crisis of the past several weeks in accordance with constitutional norms and the rule of law," State Department spokesman Robert Palladino said. "Sri Lanka is a valued partner in the Indo-Pacific, and we look forward to engaging with Prime Minister Wickremesinghe and his cabinet to advance cooperation on bilateral and regional issues of common interest," he said. President Maithripala Sirisena in October abruptly sacked his onetime ally Wickremesinghe and replaced him with Mahinda Rajapaksa, a former strongman who had defiantly refused international calls for accountability over the bloody end of the decades-old Tamil Tiger insurgency. Wickremesinghe's dismissal sparked an outcry at home and abroad, with his
UN passes resolution condemning N Korea's human rights violations
The United Nations (UN) has condemned the "gross violation of human rights" in North Korea in a resolution that was passed by the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on Monday (local time).The North Korean envoy to the UN, Kim Song, strongly refuted all allegations and labelled them as "most despicable false words" that have been spread by criminal defectors, according to Yonhap News Agency.North Korea targeted Japan, one of the writers of the resolution while saying, "My delegation expresses deep concern and surprise to the fact that criminal state Japan, which committed A-class crimes against humanity, such as kidnapping and forced drafting under sexual slavery in the past, is talking about human rights issue in the DPRK instead of liquidation of its dirty human rights record and official apology and compensation to victims."Meanwhile, the passed resolution "encourages" the UN Security Council to "take appropriate action to ensure accountability" from the nation, while calling for sanctions
Embattled Australia PM eyes tax cuts before election
Flagging in the polls and facing a rout in the May general election, Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison looked to shore up support Tuesday, teasing AUD 9 billion worth of tax cuts. "We support lower taxes," said treasurer and deputy prime minister Josh Frydenberg, touting "important" tax decisions ahead. A mid-year budget released Monday showed the government running a smaller deficit than expected and possible surplus next year. That amounts to a much-needed AUD 9.25 billion (USD 6.7 billion) election war chest for Morrison. His conservative coalition is ten points back in the polls and facing a thumping loss to centre-left Labor, according to a recent Newspoll survey. Hoping for a little Christmas cheer to improve his sagging fortunes, Morrison looks almost certain to dole out the goodies to sceptical voters. The government did not spell out what the tax cuts could be, but they were budgeted for in the fine print of the plan under "decisions taken but not yet announced." "This .
Brexit: Opposition leader tables no-confidence motion against May
Jeremy Corbyn, the Leader of the Opposition in the British Parliament has tabled a motion of no-confidence in British Prime Minister Theresa May for pushing back the date of the parliamentary vote on the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement.His announcement came just after May set forth a new date for the vote, January 14 next year, after halting the vote from taking place on December 11 in the House of Commons."It is unacceptable for the country to wait another month before Parliament has the chance to vote on Theresa May's botched deal. Therefore I have tabled a motion of no confidence in the PM this evening, so Parliament can take back control. #NoConfidence," Corbyn tweeted.May had halted the vote in order to discuss the concerns put forth by the House of Commons regarding the agreement with her European counterparts. She further defended the postponement by noting that she would lose the vote "by a significant margin", while announcing her decision to halt the vote on December 10.However,
Hamid Ansari's family en route to Wagah to reunite with their son after 6 years
Indian national Hamid Nehal Ansari's parents' long struggle for being reunited with their son, who was arrested by the Pakistan Intelligence agencies and local police from Kohat district in 2012, may bear fruit today.The Pakistan Foreign Ministry on Monday announced to repatriate Hamid on the completion of a three-year sentence handed over to him by a Pakistani military court in 2015."The Pakistan High Commission has told us that the Pakistan authorities will hand over Hamid to the Indian Embassy there today, following which he will cross the border and be reunited with us," Fauzia Ansari, Hamid's mother told ANI.The family, however, has not been apprised of the exact time when Hamid will reach India. "I would like to thank the Indian government for understanding our pain and extending complete help to us in bringing our son back. Even the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi helped us out and were responsive to our ordeal," Ansari opined.Hamid's mother further appealed to the ...
Odisha CM announces Rs 10 cr for building Odiya Cultural Centre in Surat
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has announced financial aid of Rs 10 crore for establishment of Odiya Cultural Centre in Gujarat's Surat for their social celebrations.Speaking at Odisha Mahotsav organised by Odiya Pravasi Samaj residing in Surat on Monday, Patnaik said the Odisha government will request the Centre to start a direct flight between Surat and Odisha.A few days back, Patnaik had written a letter to Minister of Civil Aviation Suresh Prabhu and Railways Minister Piyush Goyal demanding the introduction of a direct flight service between Bhubaneswar and Surat and two new daily trains between Berhampur and Surat.Patnaik also requested Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani to allot a land for the establishment of a community centre in Surat to meet the requirements of Odia community for their social celebrations. According to state government, more than seven lakh people from Odisha are residing in Surat.
BJD to protest in Delhi demanding hike in paddy MSP on Jan 8
The Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal (BJD) will stage a protest in Delhi on January 8 demanding hike in the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of paddy and implementation of MS Swaminathan Committee recommendations.Targeting the Centre for "failing to fulfill the promises made to farmers", senior BJD leader and Rajya Sabha MP Prasanna Acharya during a presser in Bhubaneswar yesterday, said, "The Centre is insensitive towards the farmers. The Central Government is not keeping its promise of increasing paddy's MSP made during last 2014 general elections."He also criticised the Centre for not implementing MS Swaminathan Committee reports.Cornering Prime Minister Narendra Modi for allegedly "betraying farmers" , Acharya said, "Odisha Assembly also passed the resolution on paddy farmers MSP issue but Prime Minister Modi has no time to hold a meeting to discuss farmers issue with the Odisha Assembly House Committee."The BJD demanded that the MSP of paddy should be hiked to .
Clashes erupt in Yemen's Hodeida in truce violation: official
Clashes erupted Tuesday morning in Yemen just minutes after a ceasefire deal took effect in the country's flashpoint port city of Hodeida, a pro-government official said. The official told AFP that sporadic clashes in the east of the Red Sea city -- whose port serves as a crucial gateway for humanitarian aid -- are ongoing despite a truce deal that was to be implemented at midnight local time (2100 GMT). The United Nations said on Monday that the deal was to be implemented at midnight, even though the agreement reached in Sweden was announced on Thursday between Yemen's Saudi-backed government and the Huthi rebels and included an "immediate ceasefire" in Hodeida and its surroundings. Shortly before the agreement was to take effect on Monday, Yemen's internationally-recognised government called on its forces to "cease fire in Hodeida province and Hodeida city", according to a copy of a statement received by AFP. The Huthi rebels also said would commit to the agreement. Impoverished ...
Facing opposition, UK's May will bring Brexit deal back to parliament
LONDON (Reuters) - Prime Minister Theresa May said on Monday she would bring her Brexit deal back to parliament for a mid-January vote, pledging to get assurances from the European Union before then to break a deadlock over Britain's fraught efforts to quit the bloc.
KTR takes charge as TRS working president
KT Rama Rao has taken charge as the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) working president in the presence of party leaders, MLAs and MLCs.The Telangana Bhavan at Jubilee Hills was all decked up to welcome the newly-appointed working president of the TRS. The road adjacent to the Bhavan saw thousands of party supporters chanting the name of Rao, commonly known as KTR.KTR who served as the minister for IT, Industries and Municipal Administration in the previous government was elected from the Sircilla constituency in the December 7 Assembly elections.Earlier this week, TRS chief and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao appointed him as the party's working president. In the recently-held polls, KTR played a crucial role in the victory of the TRS and was also one of the star campaigners.Before taking charge, KTR participated in a mammoth rally from Indo-American Hospital to Telangana Bhavan in Jubilee Hills. He garlanded Telangana Talli statue and the statue of Telangana idealogue ...
India welcomes Zambia to International Solar Alliance
India has welcomed Zambia as a member of the International Solar Alliance, with Vice President Venkaiah Naidu expressing hope for an early ratification of the Framework Agreement by Zambia.During a meeting with a Parliamentary delegation from Zambia here on Monday, led by Patrick Matibini, the Speaker of Zambia's National Assembly, Vice President Naidu also welcomed frequent exchanges between the two parliaments and said that such interactions would be beneficial in sharing experience and learning from each other's best practices.He further mentioned that the Indian Parliament would be happy to associate with the Zambian Parliament in any specific area, including training of its officials in the institutional or technical human resource development, according to an official press release."India-Zambia share warm & friendly relations based on common values such as commitment to democracy, liberty, equality and rule of law," the Vice President tweeted.Vice President Naidu also ...