Page 2279 - Politics
John Kelly to leave his job at year end: Trump
US President Donald Trump has said the White House Chief of Staff John Kelly will leave his job at the end of the year.
French PM calls for 'dialogue' after fresh 'yellow vest' protests
French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe called Saturday for fresh dialogue with representatives of the "yellow vest" movement staging protests across France, promising the government would address concerns over rising living costs. "The dialogue has begun and it must continue," Philippe said in a televised statement. "The president will speak, and will propose measures that will feed this dialogue." Interior Minister Christophe Castaner added that 125,000 "yellow vest" protesters had turned out to demonstrate around France on Saturday. Police detained 1,385 of them.
Chief of Staff John Kelly to step down by year-end: Trump
US President Donald Trump on Saturday said his Chief of Staff John Kelly would be leaving the White House by the end of this year, the latest in the series of reshuffle in the Trump administration. A retired marine general, 68-year-old Kelly has been Trump's Chief of Staff since July 31, 2017. In the first seven months of the Trump administration, he was the secretary of Homeland Security. There were reports that the relationship between Trump and Kelly has deteriorated to such an extent that the two were no longer on speaking terms. "John Kelly will be leaving I don't know if I can say 'retiring'. But, he's a great guy. John Kelly will be leaving at the end of the year," Trump told reporters at the White House. Kelly, who was brought in by Trump after he fired Reince Priebus, has been instrumental in bringing in a sense of discipline inside the White House. No replacement of Kelly has been named yet. "We will be announcing who will be taking John's placeI shall be announcing that ...
Netanyahu, Putin agree to arrange security meeting
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed on Saturday to soon arrange a meeting between security delegations of the two countries.
Navy ship seizes arms from illegal fishing vessel off Somalia
Indian Naval Ship Sunayna, deployed on anti-piracy patrol in the Gulf of Aden, on Saturday seized arms and ammunition from an illegal fishing vessel off Somalia, officials said.
Israel says located second 'Hezbollah' tunnel from Lebanon
Israel's army said Saturday it had located another tunnel crossing into its territory from Lebanon, the second such find since launching an operation to expose and destroy alleged Hezbollah "attack tunnels". "The IDF has located an additional Hezbollah cross-border attack tunnel," spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus said, refusing to give details on its precise location or dimensions. "The tunnel crosses into Israel, like the first tunnel it is not yet operational and does not pose an imminent threat to Israeli communities," he said in a briefing with journalists. On Tuesday, the army launched an operation dubbed "Northern Shield" to destroy tunnels it said were dug under the border by the Shiite militant group Hezbollah, sharing images of one found near the Israeli town of Metula. Conricus said Saturday that the army had placed explosives in the newly exposed tunnel to prevent its use as a means to infiltrate Israel, but had not yet destroyed it. He said the Israeli ...
Yemen FM pushes Aden as main airport at UN talks
Yemen's foreign minister on Saturday said the government-controlled city of Aden could be home to the country's main airport, amid talks to reopen the rebel-held international airport in the capital Sanaa. "We are ready to reopen Sanaa international airport today... but we have a vision that Aden will be the sovereign airport of Yemen," Khaled al-Yamani told AFP. "If the other side accepts ... flights could land in Aden and leave to Sanaa, Hodeida, other airports." Yamani spoke on the sidelines of UN-brokered talks in the rural village of Rimbo, where warring Yemeni parties are gathered under the auspices of the UN. Government representatives, rebel spokesmen and UN Yemen envoy Martin Griffiths have all said the talks are not intended to reach a political solution to the conflict, which gained renewed attention in the uproar over the killing of Saudi Arabian journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The murder of Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul sparked international criticism over ...
Man attacks Ramdas Athawale in Maharashtra, detained
A youth pushed and allegedly assaulted Union Minister of State Ramdas Athawale after a function in Ambernath town, late on Saturday night, officials said.
Opposition supporters clash with security forces in Togo
A young child was killed as opposition supporters clashed with security forces in Togo's capital, Lome, on Saturday, the security minister said, after the government banned protests about upcoming elections. "A child was shot dead by individuals travelling in a 4x4 without a number plate. A search is under way to find the vehicle and its occupants," General Yark Damehane told AFP. Damehane added that the child was aged about eight, although on social networks the victim was said to be about 11. The minister said there had been reports of another death but there was no official confirmation. "A statement on the latest situation will be published this evening," he added. A coalition of 14 opposition political parties this week announced a series of 10 new protests in the run-up to parliamentary elections planned for December 20. The opposition is boycotting the polls because of alleged irregularities in its organisation but this week the government banned the marches on security ...
Socialists pick Dutchman Timmermans for tilt at top EU job
Europe's socialist parties on Saturday chose Dutch politician Frans Timmermans to lead them in May elections and to succeed his boss Jean-Claude Juncker as head of the European Commission. Delegates voted in Timmermans, currently first vice president of the EU's powerful executive arm, as the common candidate at the 11th congress for Europe's alliance of socialist parties in Lisbon. The former Dutch foreign minister, 57, has most notably been the commission's pointman in its confrontation with the right-wing Polish government over the rule of law. "I am aware of the burden on my shoulders, but how can I fail with a family like this behind me," Timmermans said during the congress attended by the socialist leaders of Spain, Portugal and Malta. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said it was an "honour" to have the socialist political family represented by Timmermans as "a man who defends all freedoms". The Dutchman stepped into the running after the withdrawal of Slovak diplomat Maros .
Hooda's remarks his individual perception, says Army chief
Reacting to Lt. General (retd) D.S. Hooda's remarks who said too much hype had been created around surgical strikes, Army chief General Bipin Rawat on Saturday said it was his (Hooda's) "individual perception".
Amit Shah calls national office bearers' meet on Dec 13
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Amit Shah has called a meeting on December 13 of national office bearers to discuss the outcome of assembly poll results of five states and strategy for the upcoming 2019 Lok Sabha elections.The meeting will take place at 2 pm in the national capital. On Saturday, a meeting took place between Shah and BJP's general secretaries, which discussed among other things the exit-polls of just concluded assembly elections, which the saffron party losing many key states.The results of five states-Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana and Mizoram legislative assembly elections-will be announced on December 11. "The meeting on December 13 will deliberate upon the assembly polls results in view of which the party leaders will also discuss possible strategies for the coming Lok Sabha polls," said the BJP sources.
Centre fooling people by ignoring real issues, fighting for Ram: Farooq Abdullah
National Conference (NC) chairman Farooq Abdullah on Saturday said that the Central government is allegedly fooling the people of the country by ignoring real issues of farmers, unemployment, and Dalits, and is fighting for the Ram temple.Speaking at an event here, Abdullah said, "Today, India is not fighting for the matters that matter to India, farmers, unemployed, the downtrodden, Dalits. They (the government) are fighting for Ram! They are fooling the people, and are destroying Kashmir.""The intentions of Delhi were not a plebiscite, but to occupy the territory slowly. So they got puppets. They thought this movement will die. So how would they divide? By saying that Jammu is deprived, Ladakh is deprived and Kashmir has taken everything. Get Jammu and Ladakh together and to this day, the propaganda continues," the former J-K chief minister said.The NC chief further stated that the core problem for the issues between Kashmir and the rest of India was the fact that there was a lack ..
Modi govt trying to remote control all independent institutions: Sibal
Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal Saturday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi government is running all independent institutions through remote control, whose battery is almost dead now. Accusing the BJP-led government of appointing RSS affiliated people at the top post of independent institutions in the country, he said it is a dangerous trend and not healthy for the democracy. However, there was no immediate reaction from the BJP. "Modi government is trying to run every independent institution in the country through a remote control. But the remote control's battery is now almost dead," Sibal said while speaking at the Jagran forum organised by the Dainik Jagran group. Underlining that change is important, Sibal said the country does not want development that leaves behind a trail of destruction. "The development that leaves behind a trail of destruction, we do not want that change. Modi promised maximum governance and minimum government, but what we got," Sibal ...
Evolve consensus on code of conduct: Naidu to political parties
Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday advised political parties to evolve a consensus on the code of conduct for their members to maintain people's faith in the political processes.
Trump opposes European military, asks NATO allies to pay 'fair' share
US President Donald Trump on Saturday again opposed the idea of a united European military force and asked NATO allies to pay their "fair" share for their defence. "The idea of a European military didn't work out too well in WW I or 2. But the US was there for you, and always will be," Trump said in a tweet. His comments came amid moves by certain European countries to have a combined European military so as to reduce their dependence on US forces in the region. "All we ask is that you pay your fair share of NATO. Germany is paying 1 per cent while the US pays 4.3 per cent of a much larger GDP - to protect Europe. Fairness!" Trump said. Ever since coming to power, Trump has been demanding that European NATO allies increase their contribution to NATO to two per cent of their GDP. However, several of his followers on Twitter were quick to point out that there was no joint European military during World War I or II.
Diaspora should act as India's ambassadors: Rijiju
Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju on Saturday told a visiting group of 40 Indian Diaspora youths to act as ambassadors of India's growth story and spread the good word about their experience in this country on their return.
Modi misusing investigative agencies against opposition: Congress
Stepping up its attack on the Modi government over the searches at the premises of people linked to Congress President Rahul Gandhi's brother-in-law Robert Vadra, the Congress on Saturday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of misusing the investigating agencies.
ED defends searches on persons linked to Vadra
The Enforcement Directorate on Saturday denied that it searched the prermises of persons linked to Congress President Rahul Gandhi's brother-in-law Robert Vadra without an FIR or search warrant, saying its action was within "prescribed procedure".
Will win at least 140 seats in Madhya Pradesh: BJP
The BJP will win 140 to 165 seats in Madhya Pradesh and form the government for a fourth straight time under the leadership of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, the party's state vice president Sudershan Gupta said on Saturday. Voting for the 230-member Madhya Pradesh assembly was held on November 28. Counting will take place on December 11 for the state along with four others taking part in this round of assembly elections. "We have received feedback that the BJP will win between 140 and 165 seats and form the government under the leadership of Chouhan for the fourth straight time," Gupta told reporters here after a party meeting here. The meeting, which reviewed the BJP's poll prospects, was attended by Chouhan and the party's top brass. It was a prelude to Chouhan's interaction, scheduled for Sunday, with the BJP's 230 candidates, party functionaries said. They said he would talk about counting day precautions with the candidates. On Thursday, state Congress chief Kamal Nath ...