Page 2389 - Politics
UN Yemen envoy expected in Riyadh on peace push
The United Nations' Yemen envoy is expected in Riyadh on Monday as part of efforts to kick-start peace talks next month between Huthi rebels and the Saudi-backed government. Martin Griffiths's visit comes as a tenuous calm settles over Hodeida, a vital lifeline for imports and aid which had seen fierce clashes in a renewed offensive by a Saudi-led military coalition to seize the rebel-held port city. Under heavy international pressure, the Yemeni government and the coalition have largely suspended their five-month offensive against Hodeida. The UN said the envoy, who also visited the Red Sea city last week to assess the humanitarian situation, is due to hold talks with Yemen's internationally recognised government in Riyadh on Monday. Griffiths is scheduled to meet Yemeni President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi, Vice President Ali Mohsen al-Ahmar and Foreign Minister Khalid al-Yamani, a Saudi government source told AFP. Fighting in Hodeida intensified in early November as coalition-backed ...
Russia says acted 'strictly' within international law in Kerch Strait
Russia said Monday it had acted strictly within international law during a confrontation this weekend between Russian and Ukrainian navy ships in the Kerch Strait. "The Russian side acted strictly within both domestic and international law," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said during a daily press briefing. Russian navy vessels fired on, boarded and captured three Ukrainian naval ships on Sunday, accusing them of illegally entering Russian waters off the coast of Crimea in the Sea of Azov. Peskov said Moscow has opened a criminal case "in connection to the violation of Russia's borders" but gave no details on the fate of the Ukrainian sailors held by Moscow. "We are talking about the intrusion of foreign military ships into Russian territorial waters," he said. He said President Vladimir Putin was informed when the Ukrainian ships entered "neutral waters in front of Crimea" on Sunday afternoon and that he was briefed on an "ongoing basis". Peskov said Russia's actions were not "an ...
Will contest Andhra assembly polls next year: CBI's ex-Joint Director
The Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) former Joint Director VV Lakshminarayana claimed on Monday that he will contest the Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections scheduled next year. Lakshminarayana had investigated the alleged economic offences against YSR Congress Party leader YS Jaganmohan Reddy.Lakshminarayana, who had announced his entry into politics on October 6 at Tirupati, did not divulge any further details of his plans.Touching upon the issue of rampant corruption in the country, Lakshminarayana told media: "My fight is against corruption, not against individuals."Responding to a question whether he will join hands with any party such as Jana Sena Party of Pawan Kalyan and Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party of Jaganmohan Reddy, Lakshminarayana said: "Those who are willing to work for the people's manifesto designed by my team are welcome (to join me)."Lok Satta party founder Nagabhairava Jaya Prakash Narayana and former High Court judge and leader of Telangana Prajala ...
One rifle, ammunition recovered from terror hideout
The security forces on Monday busted a hideout of terrorists in the forests of Ganderbal area in Jammu and Kashmir and recovered a heavy quantity of arms and ammunition from the hideout.The security forces recovered one INSAS (Indian Small Arms System) rifle, 80 live cartridges of INSAS, 37 live cartridges of AK 47 and some other miscellaneous articles.On Sunday, a Pakistan-origin terrorist belonging to Jaish-e-Mohammad was neutralised in a brief exchange of fire with the security forces in Khrew area of Awantipora in South Kashmir's Pulwama district.The slain militant was identified as Waseem who is a Pakistani national. Earlier that day, six top commanders of two terrorist outfits Lashkar-e-Toiba and Hizbul Mujahideen were gunned down in Batagund area of Kapran in Shopian.Umer Ganai, whose Lal Chowk photo recently went viral, was among those killed in the encounter on Sunday. The terrorist had escaped from Batmaloo encounter in August and killed several people including cops since ..
Pompeo announces $5M bounty on 26/11 terrorists, asks Pakistan to act
Announcing a new $5-million bounty on the terrorists involved in the "barbaric" 2008 attack on Mumbai, US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo has demanded that Pakistan must act against the Lakshar-e-Taiba (LeT).
WB govt cancel job fair
The government Monday cancelled the proposed job fair of the West Bengal technical education and training and skill development department scheduled to be held at the Netaji Indoor stadium citing the ongoing winter session at the adjoining assembly building, an official said. A tender of around Rs 50 lakh for the fair had been floated by the state government recently. "The police also informed that they will not be able to provide adequate police personnel to man the fair which led to the cancellation of the fair," the official told PTI. State technical education and training and skill development principal secretary, Roshni Sen confirming the postponement of the job fair due to the ongoing Assembly session in the adjoining venue said that the new dates for holding it would be announced later. She said that the fair was meant for only for candidates trained and certified by the department of technical education and training and skill development under 'Utkarsh Bangla' ...
Delhi Assembly's special session extended by a day
The special session of the Delhi Assembly that began Monday was extended by a day as scheduled business of the House could not be completed. Deputy Speaker Rakhi Birla extended the session by a day following consent from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislators. The one-day special session, which was scheduled to conclude on Monday itself, has been convened to discuss the recent attack on Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and the alleged mass deletion of names in voter list across the city. The session on Monday saw a detailed discussion on chilli powder attack on the chief minister outside his office last week. The House also adopted a resolution seeking amendments in the Constitution to bring the Delhi Police under the control of Delhi government. On Tuesday, legislators are expected to discuss the issue of alleged mass deletion of voters in the Assembly.
Nobody can divide India as long as we are united: Farooq
Marking a minute of silence in the memory of those killed during the 26/11 terror attack in Mumbai 10 years ago, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farroq Abdullah said on Monday that nobody can divide India as long as the people remain united.
JNU teachers observe hunger strike against compulsory attendance
The Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers Association (JNUTA) on Monday observed a day-long hunger strike against the university administration's decision making it mandatory for them to mark their attendance every day.
BJP only alternative to people in polls: Narasimha Rao
BJP MP G V L Narasimha Rao Monday alleged that the ruling TRS, Congress and the TDP were corrupt and claimed that his party was the real alternative to people in the Telangana Assembly polls. He also alleged that the Telangana Rashtra Samithi and the "grand alliance", comprising the Congress, Telugu Desam Party, CPI and Telangana Jana Samiti, were engaged in a "friendly contest." "The ruling party and the so-called grand alliance are actually in a friendly contest. So, people of Telangana, we appeal to them to see the real face of these parties," he told reporters here. "Do not fall for their projection that they are fighting each other. On the contrary, they are helping each other and they are trying to dupe and deceive people of Telangana," he said. The Bharatiya Janata Party was the only alternative in the election, he claimed. "The only party which has credibility and will never ally with any of these parties is the BJP," he said. He attacked the TDP over the ...
Migrant Kashmiri Hindus demand Kartarpur Sahib-like corridor to Sarda Temple in PoK
A prominent Kashmiri Hindus' body Monday demanded a corridor to the "world-famous" Sharda Devi Temple in Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir on the lines of one proposed to Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara in Narowal district in Pakistan. All Party Migrant Coordination Committee (APMCC) of displaced KashmiriHindus raised the demand on the day Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu along with Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh laid the foundation stone at Dera Baba Nanak in Punjab's Gurdaspur district for the corridor to the Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara. APMCC chief Vinood Pandita and its members have been batting for reopening of the temple for the past ten years and have even sat on fast unto death for it -- once in Jammu and for a second time at Porbonder in Gujarat. The two fasts had lasted 10 to 15 days each. They had earlier also undertaken a yatra to the temple and had marched up to the last point Sharda Teon on Indian side of the Line of Control en route the temple. "We welcome the government's decision
AAP MLAs don party caps inside Assembly on foundation day
To celebrate the sixth Foundation Day of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), its MLAs on Monday donned the party caps inside the Delhi Assembly. The BJP demanded strict action against the MLAs.
CS for investing consistently in human capital to improve service delivery in J-K
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary B V R Subrahmanyam Monday called for comprehensive measures, including investment in human resource management and development, to bring up a motivated workforce in the state government departments to attain the desired levels of service delivery. "We have to ensure consistent and sustained investment in the development of human capital in government, which in turn will lead to building motivation, responsibility and leadership," the chief secretary said. He said this during a meeting of the nodal officers designated in the administrative departments to make recommendations for effective personnel management in their respective departments. He said the government's strategy on human resource development involves career progression, capacity building and promoting professionalism which in turn would ensure better results from the employees to ensure speedy movement forward on the Governor administration's mission on delivering good governance.
SC dismisses TN govt plea seeking review of its order to send Sterlite plant matter to NGT
The Supreme Court has dismissed a plea by Tamil Nadu government seeking review of its September 10 order by which it has asked National Green Tribunal (NGT) to decide on merits and maintainability of the issue raised by the TN on Vedanta's petition challenging closure of its Sterlite plant at Tuticorin. A bench of Justices R F Nariman and Indu Malhotra dismissed the review plea of the state government on November 20. However, the order was uploaded on the apex court website Monday. "Having carefully gone through the review petition, the order under challenge and the papers annexed therewith, we are satisfied that there is no error apparent on the face of the record, warranting reconsideration of the order impugned. The review petition is, accordingly, dismissed," the bench said. On September 10, the apex court had asked the NGT to decide on the merits and maintainability of the issue raised by the Tamil Nadu government on Vedanta's plea challenging the closure of its Sterlite plant ..
PM ramps up poll pressure over 26/11, questions Cong patriotism for questioning surgical strikes
Ratcheting up poll pressure on the 10th anniversary of India's worst terror strike, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday took a broad swipe at the Congress for being in power during the Mumbai attack and for questioning his government's surgical strike in Pakistan. On an emotive day of remembrance for the families and colleagues of those killed, the prime minister stepped up the tempo as he referred to then Congress president and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi as "madam" who ruled the country at the time. "Delhi was ruled by madam... the world was shaken but the Congress was playing how-to-win-the-election game," Modi said referring to Sonia Gandhi, who was widely believed to be the power behind then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. "I remember the slightest criticism over the attacks used to rile the then ruling party," Modi said while hitting out at the Congress over its handling of terrorism and Naxalism. He was addressing an election rally here on the anniversary of the 60-hour ...
Leaders pay tribute to renowned epigraphist
Chief Minister K. Palaniswami and other leaders in Tamil Nadu condoled the death of renowned epigraphist Iravatham Mahadevan who died on Monday after a brief illness. He was 88.
New CPI-M state Secretary in Tripura
CPI-M Central Committee member Gautam Das has been elected the Tripura state Secretary as the two-day 22nd Tripura state conference of the party ended here on Monday.
Fourth phase of J&K panchayat polls on Tuesday
Polling for the fourth phase of panchayat election will be held on Tuesday at 2,618 polling stations across Jammu and Kashmir, state chief electoral officer Shaleen Kabra said. Voting will begin at 8 am and end at 2 pm in 639 polling stations in Kashmir and 1,979 in Jammu division, Kabra said. According to the CEO, 777 polling stations have been categorised as hypersensitive in fourth phase including 571 in Kashmir and 206 in Jammu. He said 5470 candidates were in the fray for 339 Sarpanch and 1749 Panch seats in Phase-IV, while 99 Sarpanchs and 969 Panchs have been elected unopposed in this Phase. In the areas going to polls in fourth Phase, electorate of 4,72,160 will be voting for Sarpanch constituencies, while 3,32,502 will be voting for Panch constituencies. Kabra said in the first phase of Panchayat Polls held on November 17, 74.1 per cent polling was recorded across the state including 64.5 per cent in Kashmir and 79.4 per cent in Jammu. In the second phase held on November 20,
AGP not to end alliance with BJP, but will fight Citizenship Bill
A day after the ruling BJP in Assam slammed its ally Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) for opposing the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016, the AGP on Monday said it was not ending the alliance but will keep opposing the controversial bill.
Scams in Jan Dhan, Ujjwala schemes will be unearthed in future: Mamata
Claiming that the scandals in the BJP-led NDA government have come out in the open due to disputes within the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Reserve Bank of India, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said more wrongdoings by the Centre will be unearthed in the future.