Page 2196 - Politics
Ex-military chief to be next Australia governor-general
A former chief of Australia's defence forces was Sunday appointed as the next governor-general, the representative of Britain's Queen, but will only assume the role after crucial state and federal elections next year. Retired general David Hurley, 65, will be the second ex-defence forces chief to assume the role, which is largely ceremonial in the constitutional monarchy but does hold the power to intervene in the government. Prime Minister Scott Morrison -- whose embattled conservative coalition could be turfed out in next year's national poll -- said he had chosen Hurley to ensure "stability, continuity, certainty". "I had only one choice, my first choice, and he is standing next to me," Morrison told reporters in Canberra. "I was looking for someone who could fill that constitutional role with great dignity, but with a levelness." Morrison's call for stability contrasts with the turbulent political climate in Canberra. Australia has had a revolving door of prime ministers in recent
Voting underway for Haryana municipal polls
Voting was underway on Sunday for five municipal corporations and committees in Haryana.
Rafale row: Centre has embarrassed SC, says Kapil Sibal
After the Centre filed an application before the Supreme Court seeking correction in its judgement on Rafale fighter jet deal, the Congress party has said that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government has brought an embarrassment to the apex court.A day after the Supreme Court delivered verdict in the Rafale deal case, the central government on Saturday filed an application before it, seeking a correction in the order to make it clear that the pricing aspect, examined by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), has not been looked into by Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC) as yet.Speaking to ANI, senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal said, "It's very unfortunate because what's now being stated by the government is really blaming the court for misinterpreting the points they had placed before the court in a sealed cover.""The fact of the matter is they should have said 'while pricing details have been shared with the CAG, the matter is not yet brought to PAC'. The ...
PM Modi to inaugurate development projects in UP today
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Uttar Pradesh on Sunday and inaugurate various development projects.The Prime Minister is scheduled to inspect the Modern Coach Factory at Rae Bareli. He will also flag off the 900th coach, and a Humsafar Rake of this factory at a public meeting and address the gathering.The Prime Minister will then proceed to Prayagraj where he will inaugurate a state-of-the-art Command and Control Centre for the Kumbh Mela. He will perform Ganga Pujan, and visit the Swachh Kumbh exhibition before visiting the "Akshayvat" in Prayagraj.Prime Minister Modi will also visit Andawa, where he will dedicate to the nation various development projects and address the gathering.He will then arrive at Bamrauli Airport in Prayagraj to inaugurate the new terminal building of the airport before returning to Delhi.
9th meeting of India-ROK Joint Commission to be held in Delhi
The ninth meeting of the India-Republic of Korea (ROK/ South Korea) Joint Commission will be held here during the South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha's official two-day from December 18 to 19 here.Kang will be co-chairing the meeting with her Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj during her two-day visit."They will review the progress in multifaceted cooperation under the Special Strategic Partnership between the two countries, including follow-up action on decisions taken during the visit of ROK President Moon Jae-in to India in July 2018, and will explore new areas of cooperation," a press release issued by the Ministry of External Affairs stated.The two leaders will also exchange views on regional and global issues of common interest during the meeting.Relations between India and South Korea have made great strides in recent years due to a significant convergence of interests, mutual goodwill and high-level exchanges. India has consistently supported the reunification of the ...
Maldives appoints new Ambassador to India
Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih appointed Aishath Mohamed Didi as the new Ambassador of Maldives to India at a ceremony held at the President's office on the evening of December 15.The new appointment came just a day before Solih's maiden three-day visit to India from December 16 to December 18, during which agreements are expected to be exchanged between India and Maldives.Didi will be replacing Ahmed Mohamed, who is also the non-resident Ambassador of Maldives to Afghanistan and Bhutan, as the new Maldivian Ambassador to India. It is not yet announced as to when Didi will be joining office.
Maldives President to arrive in India today
Maldives' newly-elected President, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih will arrive in India on Sunday on a three-day official visit from December 16 to December 18.This is the leader's maiden visit to India after assuming office on November 17, in a swearing-in ceremony attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.The leader will be accorded a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on December 17. He will then participate in the wreath-laying ceremony at Mahatma Gandhi's samadhi at Rajghat.He is also scheduled to meet with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, before holding delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Modi at the Hyderabad House. Exchange of agreements and press statements shall ensue after the meeting between Prime Minister Modi and Solih.The Maldives' President is also scheduled to hold separate meetings with President Ram Nath Kovind and Vice President Venkaiah Naidu at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on the same day.Solih will then emplane for the ...
Trump, criticised for skipping earlier visits, travels to cemetery
President Donald Trump, who was criticised last month for skipping a visit to a cemetery in France where US soldiers are buried, made an unscheduled visit to a military cemetery near Washington for a wreath-laying ceremony. His visit to nearby Arlington National Cemetery took place on a gray and rainy day -- not unlike the conditions at the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery east of Paris, which Trump was set to visit in early November before canceling. Trump, who was in France to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, said at the time that aides had insisted the weather made it unsafe to fly by helicopter to the cemetery. He was also criticised for failing, upon his return from France, to visit Arlington to mark Veterans Day. Trump later explained that he was "extremely busy on calls for the country" that day, but added, in an interview with Fox News, "I should have done that." Carrying a large black umbrella, the president took part in a brief ceremony in Arlington, part ..
WB govt denies permission for BJP's Rath Yatra
The West Bengal government has denied permission to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to hold Rath Yatra in the state.In a letter to West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh, the Mamata Banerjee-led state government said that the areas proposed to be covered during the Yatra are turning into "communally sensitive pockets"."The areas proposed to be covered by the Yatra are, because of publicity and propaganda gradually turning into communally sensitive pockets. Intelligence reports indicate that public perception is that the religious overtones of the Yatra will be turned into propaganda," the letter read.The state government, citing intelligence reports also claimed that the Yatra may trigger communal violence in several districts due to the participation of the RSS, Bajrang Dal and the VHP."Intelligence reports further indicate that in several districts, organisations with overtly communal agenda like the RSS, Bajrang Dal and the VHP would actively join the Yatra. This is grave ...
Odisha CM demands for direct flights, trains to Surat
Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has 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.He also requested Goyal to consider the introduction of two new daily trains between Berhampur and Surat.In a letter to Prabhu, the Chief Minister said, "Odisha people living in Surat face a lot of difficulties in reaching Odisha at the time of urgent necessity. Air connectivity between Bhubaneswar and Surat will not only cater to the requirement of the people from Odisha residing in Surat but would also increase the tourist inflow to both the places. Hence kindly introduce direct flights between Bhubaneswar and Surat at the earliest.""There is no direct train service between Berhampur and Surat. I once again request you to kindly look into the genuine demand of the people of south Odisha residing in Surat and consider the introduction of two new daily trains between .
Chhattisgarh CM candidate to be announced on Sunday
Chhattisgarh Congress State in-charge, PL Punia on Saturday told the media that the Chief Minister's name for the state will be announced after a meeting on Sunday."A meeting will be held at 12 pm tomorrow. Then we will inform (Chief Minister Candidate for Chhattisgarh). The opinion of all MLAs will be considered. Governor has given us the time of 4:30 pm on December 17 for the oath ceremony. So what's the hurry?" Punia said.Earlier today, Congress leader TS Singh Deo said there is more than one eligible name for the post of Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and that is why the process is taking time.As suspense looms over who would be the next chief minister of the state, Deo, one of the top contenders of the chief ministerial post told ANI, "We have more than one eligible name that is why process is taking time, in any case, final result came late on 11th so it has just been four days today. BJP which took more than seven to eight days to appoint its recent Chief Ministers should not ...
Austrians protest rightwing coalition tough on migrants
Thousands of protesters in Vienna braved snow and icy temperatures to protest Austria's ruling coalition between the conservatives and the far-right a year after they came to power. Some 17,000 people took to the streets of the capital despite the bad weather, according to police estimates, while organisers put turnout at 50,000. Many were waving banners reading "Fascists out of the government", "Racism gets on my nerves", and "More love, courage, togetherness", as they made their way through Vienna before gathering outside the Hofburg imperial palace. The rally was held on the eve of the first anniversary since Chancellor Sebastian Kurz's People's Party (OeVP) and its far-right Freedom Party (FPOe) partner took office on December 18, 2017. Under their leadership, Austria -- which also holds the EU presidency until the end of December -- has introduced a series of tough anti-immigration measures over the past year. In the latest move, the government last month finalised the details of
Mamata govt rejects BJP's application for holding rallies
The West Bengal government on Saturday rejected the BJP's application for holding "Rath Yatra and/or Ganatantra Bachao yatra" in the state saying there was a "grave apprehension of major breach of peace and communal violence during and in the aftermath" of the programme.
Iran's missile program non-negotiable: Foreign Minister
Iran's missile program is for defensive purposes and the Islamic republic will never negotiate over it, Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said.
France's 'yellow vest' protests lose momentum on decisive weekend
Groups of defiant "yellow vest" demonstrators faced off with tens of thousands of police around France on Saturday, but the protest movement appeared to have lost momentum on a fifth and decisive weekend. President Emmanuel Macron, facing the biggest crisis of his presidency, announced a series of concessions on Monday to defuse the explosive "yellow vest" crisis, which swelled up from rural and small-town France last month. The package of tax and minimum wage measures for low-income workers, coupled with bitter winter weather this weekend, appeared to have helped bring calm to the country after more than a month of clashes and disruption. France was also hit by a fresh deadly terror attack on Tuesday night when a gunman opened fire at a Christmas market in Strasbourg, leading the government to urge people to stay at home to spare the stretched security forces. "It's a bit of a failure because the state is stopping us from being able to demonstrate properly," Marie, a 35-year-old ...
TDP will become irrelevant after 2019 polls: KTR
Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) working President K.T. Rama Rao on Saturday predicted that the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) will become irrelevant and inconsequentional, both in Andhra Pradesh and national politics after 2019 elections.
RLSP legislators rebel, say they are still with NDA
Five days after the RLSP quit the BJP-led NDA, all three of its legislators in Bihar Assembly on Saturday formally announced that they are still with the NDA and would continue with the alliance.
BJP, Congress skip Delhi Assembly silver jubilee celebration
The silver jubilee celebration of the Delhi Assembly on Saturday remained an all-AAP MLA event, with both Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress boycotting the event.
Saudi Arabia pledges Tunisia financial aid of about $830 million
TUNIS (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia has pledged financial aid to Tunisia worth about $830 million, Tunisian Prime Minister Youssef Chahed told reporters on Saturday after a visit to Saudi Arabia.
Pak to complete fencing of 2,600-km-long Afghan border by Dec 2019
The Pakistan Army on Saturday said the fencing of a substantial portion of the over 2,600-km-long Afghan border has been completed and the rest will be finished by the end of next year. Pakistan has spent billions of rupees for putting fence on the porous border. The Imran Khan-led government has recently released Rs 20 billion for the speedy completion of the border fencing. Army spokesman Major General Asif Ghafoor tweeted that of the total 2,611 km, fencing of 802 km has been completed. The army is aiming at achieving total completion of the fencing by December 2019, he said.