Page 224 - Politics

Hong Kong extradition bill near approval despite big protest

Hong Kong's leader signalled Monday that her government will go ahead with proposed amendments to its extradition laws despite a massive protest against them that underscored fears about China's broadening footprint in the semi-autonomous territory. Chief Executive Carrie Lam told reporters the legislation is important and will help Hong Kong uphold justice and fulfill its international obligations. Safeguards added in May will ensure that the legislation protects human rights, she said. In what appeared to be Hong Kong's largest protest in more than a decade, hundreds of thousands of people marched through central Hong Kong on Sunday, three days before the Legislative Council is slated to take up the bill. Hong Kong was guaranteed the right to retain its own social, legal and political systems for 50 years under an agreement reached before its 1997 return to China from British rule. But China's ruling Communist Party has been seen as increasingly reneging on that agreement by pushing

Modi, Xi to discuss Trump's trade war: China

The bilateral meet between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the SCO summit will be an "important" one where they will discuss the US turning up the heat on both the countries on trade, China's Vice Foreign Minister said here on Monday.

Andhra Pradesh CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy holds his first cabinet meeting

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy chaired the first meeting of his cabinet on Monday with all 25 ministers, including five deputy Chief Ministers.Earlier on Saturday, the twenty-five legislators were sworn-in as ministers in the cabinet of Chief Minister, nine days after Reddy took over as Andhra Pradesh CM.Andhra Pradesh governor ESL Narasimhan administered the oath of office and secrecy to the ministers at a simple function at the state secretariat in Velagapudi here.In the Andhra Pradesh Assembly election, Reddy's YSRCP got an absolute majority by winning 151 out of 175 seats.On May 30, the YSRCP chief took oath as the second chief minister of Andhra Pradesh since its bifurcation.

SCO not aimed at targeting any country: China

The SCO summit in Kyrgyztan this week would discuss security and economy related issues with a focus on counter terrorism, but it is not aimed at targeting any country, China said on Monday. The 19th summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) will be held the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek on June 13-14. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping would also attend the summit. The SCO is a China-led eight-member economic and security bloc. Its founding members include China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. India and Pakistan were admitted to the grouping in 2017. This week's SCO summit will be the first major international event being attended by Modi after his re-election. He would meet President Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the summit. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan will also take part in the meeting. The summit would review the past year's work of the SCO and draw up a plan for cooperation this ...

Karnataka declares holiday, 3-day mourning for Karnad

Karnataka has declared a holiday for schools, colleges and government offices in the state on Monday and a three-day mourning till Wednesday, as a mark of respect to Jnanpith awardee, multi-lingual actor and noted writer Girish Karnad, who died here earlier in the day, an official said.

Punjab minister Sidhu meets Rahul Gandhi, apprises him of 'situation'

Punjab minister and Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu Monday met party president Rahul Gandhi in Delhi and apprised him of the "situation" in the state, days after Chief Minister Amarinder Singh divested him of the crucial local government department. "Met the Congress President, handed him my letter, appraised him of the situation ! Sidhu tweeted. The cricketer-turned-politician also posted a picture in which he seen along with RahulGandhi, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and senior leader Ahmed Patel. Sidhu had made attempts to meet Rahul Gandhi last week after he was divested of the local government and tourism and cultural affairs departments in a cabinet rejig. He was given the power and new and renewable energy sources portfolios. The developments came after Sidhu, who moved from the BJP to the Congress just before 2017 assembly polls, had skipped a cabinet meeting and instead chose to address the media at his official residence on Thursday. Tension between ...

CRPF's bid to provide platform to talented youth in Kashmir

In order to provide a suitable platform to the talented youth in Kashmir, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) organized "Kaavish" a talent hunt program to identify, nourish and embellish the young generation in the field of arts.The program was kick-started in Srinagar, however, the CRPF plans to extend it to all districts across the state to increase its outreach.The CRPF will also strive to pitch these youngsters on national and international platforms giving them wider exposure to showcase their talent. It is of the view that such a program will help in busting stress among youngsters and provide a direction to their lives."Youths of Kashmir are very talented both in the field of sports and performing arts. This is the platform for Performing Arts. We have started it in Srinagar but we are planning to extend it all across the state in every district. Competitions will be organized, talents will be selected, appreciated and promoted. We will also organize grand finale and do ...

Hong Kong leader signals extradition bill will go forward

Hong Kong's leader signalled Monday that her government will go ahead with proposed amendments to its extradition laws despite a massive protest against them that underscored fears about China's broadening footprint in the semi-autonomous territory. Chief Executive Carrie Lam told reporters the legislation is important and will help Hong Kong uphold justice and fulfill its international obligations. Safeguards added in May will ensure that the legislation protects human rights, she said. In what appeared to be Hong Kong's largest protest in more than a decade, hundreds of thousands of people marched through central Hong Kong on Sunday, three days before the Legislative Council is slated to take up the bill. Hong Kong was guaranteed the right to retain its own social, legal and political systems for 50 years under an agreement reached before its 1997 return to China from British rule. But China's ruling Communist Party has been seen as increasingly reneging on that agreement by pushing

MHA advisory 'deep-rooted conspiracy' by BJP to 'grab' power in oppn-ruled states: TMC

The Trinamool Congress Monday in a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah alleged that the MHA advisory to the West Bengal government is a "deep-rooted conspiracy" and an "evil ploy to grab power" in opposition-ruled states. TMC secretary general and West Bengal minister Partha Chatterjee said in the letter that the Ministry of Home Affairs has drawn conclusions without verifying the ground reality or taking a report from the state government. "We, on behalf of the Trinamool Congress, lodge our strong objection to the advisory issued by the MHA and urge that the same be withdrawn forthwith," he said. In the advisory sent to the West Bengal government on Sunday, the MHA had expressed "deep concern" over the continuing post-poll violence in the state and asked it to maintain law and order. The advisory came a day after BJP and TMC workers clashed in Sandeshkhali area of North Parganas district. Criticising the advisory, Chatterjee said, "We have reason to believe that it is an evil ...

S. Korea, US in discord over North's nuclear policy: Report

The relations between South Korea and the United States are not in good shape, a North Korean state media said on Sunday, criticising Washington for unveiling a "unilateral" and "gangster-like" attitude towards North Korea's nuclear policy.Yonhap news agency cited North Korea's Meari, a propaganda website, as saying that the US is responsible for the discord as it has been "pressuring South Korean authorities to adjust the pace" of the inter-Korean reconciliation process along with the progress in denuclearisation talks."The US and South Korean authorities are trumpeting 'a stronger than ever US-Korea alliance,' but if we look inside, their relationship doesn't seem all that comfortable," the website said.The state media further noted that Washington is "bluntly ignoring" South Korea's opinion and stressed that the US has no right to interfere with internal issues of other nations."After all, the fundamental cause of the conflict and friction between the US and South Korea, which came

Trump defends Mexico deal as criticism continues

With his threatened Mexican tariffs now on the backburner, President Donald Trump was looking to claim victory even as some of his Democratic challengers for the White House criticised him for overselling a deal that mostly ramps up existing efforts. Trump defended the agreement reached by US and Mexican negotiators to head off the 5 per cent tax on all Mexican goods that Trump had threatened to impose Monday as he tried to pressure the country to do more to stem the flow of Central American migrants across the US southern border. But he also dangled the prospect Sunday of renewing his threat if the US ally doesn't cooperate to his liking. "There is now going to be great cooperation between Mexico & the USA, something that didn't exist for decades," Trump tweeted before spending a second day at his Virginia golf course. "However," he added, "if for some unknown reason" that doesn't happen, "we can always go back to our previous, very profitable, position of Tariffs." Business ...

Defiant Sidhu calls on Rahul, Priyanka

Punjab Cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, who is at loggerheads with Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and was allocated a new portfolio last week, met party President Rahul Gandhi here. He is yet to assume at the new ministry.

Man on a mediation mission: Japan's Abe heads to Iran

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe heads to Iran this week on a rare diplomatic mission, hoping to ease tensions between the Islamic Republic and Tokyo's key ally Washington. Tehran is locked in a bitter standoff with the US after president Donald Trump withdrew from a landmark nuclear deal last year. Washington has now reimposed sanctions and shifted troops to the region, putting military and economic pressure on Iran, including by forcing US allies like Japan to stop purchasing Iranian oil. Japanese government officials say Abe will not present Tehran with a list of demands, or deliver a message from Washington, and instead want to position Japan as a neutral intermediary. That could prove useful, said Michael Bosack, special adviser for government relations at the Yokosuka Council on Asia-Pacific Studies. "Japan carries none of the historical or religious baggage of other potential mediators... (and) has demonstrated its willingness to go its own way on Middle East policy," he told .

DMK leader and former Puducherry CM R.V. Janakiraman dies

DMK leader and former chief minister of Puducherry R V Janakiraman passed away in Puducherry on Monday at the age of 79.Janakiraman was undergoing treatment at a private hospital for age-related ailments. However, his condition continued to remain critical, according to sources.Senior party leaders, including Member of Parliament Kanimozhi, visited him while he was at the hospital..

Don't target Pakistan at SCO summit: China

China on Monday said Pakistan should not be targeted on terrorism at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit this week where Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to raise the issue of Islamabad harbouring terrorists.

Hong Kong government will not withdraw extradition bill: leader

Hong Kong's pro-Beijing leader said Monday she had no plans to withdraw a controversial plan to allow extraditions to the Chinese mainland, a day after huge crowds came out to oppose the proposal. "This is a very important piece of legislation that will help to uphold justice and also ensure that Hong Kong will fulfil her international obligations in terms of cross-boundary and transnational crimes," chief executive Carrie Lam told reporters.

Bring back banned conservatives, Trump yells at Twitter

In yet another attack on Twitter, US President Donald Trump has once again tweeted his support for conservative voices banned from the micro-blogging platform.

Rahul Gandhi won in Wayanad due to 40% Muslim population: Owaisi

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi has claimed that Congress President Rahul Gandhi won in Wayanad due to 40 per cent population being Muslims.The Hyderabad MP said that he is still hopeful of getting Muslim's place in the country as the community does not want to survive on anyone's alms."On 15 August 1947, our elders thought that this will be a new India. That India will be of Azad, Gandhi, Nehru, Ambedkar and of crores of their followers. I am still hopeful of getting our place in the country. We don't want alms, we don't want to survive on your alms," Owaisi said while addressing a public gathering here on Sunday."You don't want to leave Congress and other secular parties. But remember they don't have strength, thinking, they don't work hard...Where did BJP lose? In Punjab. Who's there? Sikhs. Why did BJP lose anywhere else in India? Due to regional parties there and not Congress. The Congress leader himself lost in Amethi and received ...

Pakistan to issue five-year visas to Americans

Pakistan has decided to issue five-year, multiple-entry visas to US nationals, even though the American government has changed its policy of issuing five-year visas to Pakistanis, the media reported on Monday.

Law and order under control in Bengal: Mamata govt

Iterating that the law and order situation was "under control", West Bengal's Mamata Banerjee government has told the centre that "firm and appropriate actions" were initiated in case of a few "stray post-poll clashes" in the state.