Page 2211 - Politics
Venezuelan anti-Maduro daily forced to close
The print edition of the Venezuelan anti-government daily El Nacional will appear for the last time Friday, shutting down due to a mixture of political pressure and a crippling economic crisis that left it unable to source newsprint. The presses of the 75-year-old daily will fall silent after two decades of confrontation with the leftist governments of Hugo Chavez and his successor, President Nicolas Maduro, during which dozens of media outlets have been closed down. "They have managed to silence radio and television and have made the independent print media disappear," said Miguel Henrique Otero, the newspaper's chairman who in editorials regularly slammed Maduro as a dictator. The newspaper will continue its criticism of the socialist government via a website. "It was impossible to continue financing the paper," editor Argenis Martinez told AFP. El Nacional has faced serious problems since 2013, when the government created a company that monopolized the import and sale of ...
Chinese FM to visit India next week for first meeting of people-to-people mechanism
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit India next week to attend the first high-level meeting of Sino-India 'people-to-people mechanism' agreed between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Xi Jinping in June, officials announced here on Friday. During the visit from December 21-24, Wang will co-chair the meeting along with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a media briefing. The two countries decided to set up "people to people mechanism" during Prime Minister Modi's meeting with President Xi at Qingdao in June this year on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. The people-to-people mechanism is aimed at building on the momentum of the informal summit between Modi and Xi at Wuhan in April this year. Prime Minister Modi met President Xi in April in an unprecedented two-day heart-to-heart' summit in the central Chinese city of Wuhan to solidify the India-China relationship after the Doklam ...
'Magician' Gehlot makes the cut again (Profile)
If not a politician, he would have been a magician. The crafty low-profile Ashok Gehlot emerged the winner in the race for Chief Minister, apparently on the strength of his long experience in politics of Rajasthan which has put the Congress in the saddle of power without giving it a clear majority.
Tejashwi dares Modi to form JPC on Rafale
Bihar opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav on Friday dared Prime Minister Narendra Modi to form a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) to probe the purchase of 36 Rafale jet fighters in a ready-to-fly condition from France.
Senior Bangla opposition leader's motorcade attacked in Mirpur
A senior Bangladesh opposition leader's motorcade was attacked Friday after he visited a mausoleum in Mirpur to pay tributes to intellectuals killed in the 1971 independence war with Pakistan. Jatiya Oikyafront leader Kamal Hossain's motorcade came under attack near the Martyred Intellectuals Memorial as he and other alliance leaders were getting in their cars, said Latiful Bari Hamim, a staff of the Oikyafront's media wing. The Jatiya Oikyafront is an alliance of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), Hossain-led Jatiya Oikya Prokriya, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, and Nagorik Oikya. The Oikyafront was formed on October 13 with the demand of holding a national election under a neutral government after dissolution of parliament and release of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia from jail. At least 12 leaders and activists from the Oikya Front have been injured in the attack and about seven cars were vandalised, bdnews24.com reported. However, Hossain was unhurt in the attack. "We are here to pay .
Gehlot to be Rajasthan CM, Pilot his deputy: Cong
The Congress on Friday named Ashok Gehlot as Rajasthan's next chief minister and Sachin Pilot his deputy after party president Rahul Gandhi successfully brokered peace between the veteran leader and his younger colleague following several rounds of discussions. After Congress' observer to the state K C Venugopal made the announcement at a media briefing here, Gehlot thanked Gandhi for giving him an opportunity to serve the people of the state for the third time and promised that he and Pilot will give "good governance". Pilot exuded confidence that Congress' good electoral performance will continue, saying the party will get a big mandate in 2019 polls and form the government. "We will meet the governor today and will decide on the details of the oath-taking ceremony," Venugopal said.
Key Dhinakaran aide quits AMMK, joins DMK
In what could be perceived as a setback to AMMK founder TTV Dhinakaran, one of his key aides quit the party and joined the MK Stalin-led DMK Friday. Dhinakaran, however, put up a brave face, wishing his former aide V Senthil Balaji, one of the 18 disqualified AIADMK MLAs, all the best in his new stint. Balaji joined the DMK in the presence of its president Stalin at the party headquarters Anna Arivalayam here, and trained guns at the ruling AIADMK. The Karur strongman called AIADMK a 'sinking ship' but avoided any strong criticism of Dhinakaran. In September 2017, Cumbum MLA S T K Jakkaiyan had quit the Dhinakaran faction and extended support to Chief Minister K Palaniswami. Balaji's defection assumes significance as it comes amid reports that Dhinakaran is finding it hard to keep his flock together in the backdrop of the October 25 Madras High Court verdict upholding Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker P Dhanapal's order disqualifying 18 AIADMK MLAs. Dhanapal disqualified them last year for
Indian Navy ship makes second arms seizure off Somalia coast in six days
An Indian Navy ship deployed for anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden, made a second arms seizure in six days from a fishing vessel off the coast of Somalia, a defence official said here on Friday.
Gehlot to be Rajasthan CM, Pilot Deputy CM
The Congress on Friday declared that Ashok Gehlot will be the Rajasthan Chief Minister while state Congress chief Sachin Pilot will be his deputy, bringing an end to the three day impasse on the question of leadership in the state.
Pondy assembly passes resolution against Centre's nod for DPR
The Puducherry Assembly Friday unanimously adopted a resolution condemning the move of the Karnataka government to construct a dam across Cauvery river at Mekedatu. The resolution also took strong exception to the permission given by the Central Water Commission through a 'No Objection certificate' to Karnataka to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) on the dam project. This comes a week after the Tamil Nadu assembly adopted a resolution unanimously urging the Centre to withdraw the permission given to Karnataka for the DPR for its proposed dam across river Cauvery at Mekedattu. Tabling the resolution, Chief Minister V Narayanasamy said the construction of a dam would be "detrimental" to the interests of the ryots in Karaikal region of the Union Territory, which is among the lower riparian states depending on Cauvery river water. He said the proposal to construct the reservoir was also in violation of the final order of the Cauvery Water Disputes ...
Nepal govt bans use of Indian currency notes above Rs 100
The Nepal government has banned the use of Indian currency notes of Rs 2,000, Rs 500 and Rs 200 denominations, a move that could affect Indian tourists visiting the Himalayan nation where Indian currency is widely used. Indian currency is extensively used by Nepalese people and businesses for their savings and transactions. The government has asked the people to refrain from keeping or carrying Indian bank notes higher than Rs 100 denomination as it has not legalised them, Nepal's Minister for Information and Communications Gokul Prasad Baskota said. "The government has decided not to use, carry and keep the Indian bills of 200, 500 and 2000 denominations. The government will soon issue a formal notice in this matter," he said. The decision will adversely affect Nepalese labourers working in India as well as Indian tourists visiting Nepal. India is Nepal's largest trade partner and supplies the majority of its consumer goods. The Indian government introduced new banknotes of Rs 2,000,
SC's Rafale order slap for those alleging corruption, Rahul should apologise: Shah
Buoyed by the Supreme Court dismissing petitions seeking a probe into the Rafale deal, BJP president Amit Shah Friday described the order as a "victory of truth" and demanded an apology from Congress chief Rahul Gandhi. The Supreme Court's decision is slap on the face of those who had alleged corruption, Shah said at a press conference. There is no occasion to doubt the decision-making process in the procurement of 36 Rafale jets from France, a Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said on Friday. It is not the job of the court to deal with the comparative details of the pricing, it stated. Shah challenged the opposition party for a debate on the Rs 58,000 crore deal in Parliament and said the BJP will agree to as much time as it wants for a discussion after it reiterated its demand for a JPC probe into the matter. Accusing Gandhi of misleading people and endangering national security by raising questions on the Rafale deal at every meeting, Shah asked him to ...
US Tibet bill 'grossly interferes' in China affairs: Beijing
China on Friday rebuked the US Congress over legislation seeking greater access to Tibet, saying American lawmakers "grossly interfered" in Beijing's domestic affairs. The bill, which passed this week with bipartisan support, demands access to the region for US diplomats, journalists and tourists, threatening to bar Chinese officials responsible for the policy from the US if barriers remain for foreigners in Tibet. Foreign visitors are generally required to obtain a special permit, with the region completely closed off to outsiders at certain times of the year. "The relevant bill... has disregarded the facts, grossly interfered in China's internal affairs, and violated the basic norms of international relations," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said at a regular press briefing. "China is firmly opposed to this and has already made solemn representations to the US." He added that some 40,000 Americans have visited Tibet since 2015, including politicians. "We strongly urge ..
Kosovo parliament to vote to form new army, angering Serbia
Kosovo's parliament is convening to approve the formation of an army, a move that has angered Serbia which says it would threaten peace in the war-scarred region. The 120-seat parliament on Friday will vote on three laws to turn the existing 4,000-member Kosovo Security Force into a regular, lightly armed army. Ethnic Serb lawmakers are expected to boycott the vote. Serbia fears the move's main purpose is to ethnically cleanse Kosovo's Serbian-dominated north, something strongly denied by Pristina. In a sign of defiance, Serbs in the north displayed Serbian flags on streets and balconies while NATO-led peacekeepers deployed on a bridge in the ethnically divided northern town of Mitrovica. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic also is to visit Serbian troops on the border with Kosovo in an apparent saber-rattling move. The US Ambassador in Pristina, Philip S. Kosnett met on Thursday with the KSF commander "to underscore the US Government's commitment to the KSF's evolution as a defensive .
SC Rafale order: Maha CM asks Rahul to apologise to nation, PM
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis Friday hailed the Supreme Court verdict on the procurement of Rafale fighter jets and demanded that Congress president Rahul Gandhi apologise to the nation and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In its verdict Friday, a Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi said there is no occasion to doubt the decision-making process in the procurement of 36 Rafale jets from France. Dismissing all the petitions seeking an investigation into alleged irregularities in the Rs 58,000 crore deal, the SC said there was no substantial evidence of commercial favouritism to any private entity. Hitting out at the Congress chief, Fadnavis accused Gandhi of "compromising" the security of the country and "defaming" the country among the international community. "TRUTH is like the Sun! Hon Supreme Court dismisses any probe into the #RafaleDeal & our stand is vindicated," Fadnavis tweeted Friday. "Rahul Gandhi and Congress must apologise .
Parrikar tweets 'Satyamev Jayate' after Rafale verdict
Ailing Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Friday tweeted "Satyamev Jayate" after a Supreme Court bench ruled there was no wrongdoing in the Rafale fighter jet purchase deal.
Gehlot CM picked in Rajasthan, Pilot to be his deputy
Veteran Congress leader Ashok Gehlot was on Friday picked as Congress choice for Chief Minister of Rajasthan and his rival in the race Sachin Pilot could be the Deputy Chief Minister.
Chinese Foreign Minister to visit India next week
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will be on a four-day India visit from December 21 to attend the first people-to-people exchange agreed between Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at their icebreaking meet in Wuhan earlier this year.
After SC verdict, Cong challenges Modi, govt for JPC probe into Rafale deal
The Congress claimed Friday the Supreme Court has vindicated its stand that the issue of "corruption" in the Rafale fighter jet agreement cannot be decided by it and challenged the Centre to constitute a JPC to probe the deal. Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said his party had said the apex court cannot decide the Rafale issue and the alleged corruption in the defence contract can be brought out only by a Joint Parliamentary Committee. He said the only forum that can probe the deal after examining the pricing process and sovereign guarantee is the JPC. His statements have come after the Supreme Court earlier Friday said there's no occasion for it to doubt the decision-making process in the procurement of 36 Rafale jets from France. Dismissing all petitions seeking an investigation into alleged irregularities in the Rs 58,000-crore deal, the court said it is not its job to deal with the comparative details of the pricing in the contract. Following the judgment, BJP chief .
SC's Rafale deal verdict 'slap' on Rahul's face: UP min
The Supreme Court judgment dismissing petitions for a probe into the Rafale jet deal is a "slap" on face of Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and his "lies" stand exposed, a senior UP minister Friday. The top court in its ruling said there was no substantial evidence of commercial favouritism to any private entity, and added that there was no occasion to doubt the decision-making process in the procurement of 36 Rafale jets from France. "The SC verdict is a slap on Rahul Gandhi's face. The lies of Rahul and his party stand exposed. This is also a lesson to a section of media houses, which did not go into depth of the issue and became tool of the Congress president," senior BJP leader and UP cabinet minister Shrikant Sharma said. His remarks came hours after the apex court passed the verdict, saying it is not the job of the court to deal with the comparative details of the pricing of the Rafale fighters. Reacting to the ruling, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said in Delhi that