Page 240 - Politics
PM Modi to reinforce 'neighbourhood first' policy with visits to Maldives and Sri Lanka
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a two-day visit to the Maldives. It will be his first diplomatic overseas visit after coming to power for the second term.After Maldives, Prime Minister Modi will stopover in Sri Lanka. Through these visits, The Prime Minister aims to underline his government's continued commitment towards its 'Neighbourhood First' policy.According to a release issued by the Ministry of External Affairs, the Prime Minister is expected to arrive in Male at 3:05 pm (local time).Modi will be given a ceremonial welcome at Republic Square here. He will then commence his historic bilateral visit by holding delegation-level talks with President Ibrahim Solih at 4 p.m. (local time).During the Prime Minister's visit, India and Maldives are further expected to exchange several agreements related to customs cooperation, capacity building, defence and connectivity issues.They will also jointly inaugurate a couple of projects, including the crucial coastal surveillance ..
Pompeo to deliver major policy speech on India and US in Indo-Pacific
US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo will deliver a major policy speech next week on how India and the US lay a economic foundation for a free and open Indo-Pacific region, an official announcement has said. Pompeo will deliver the keynote address on "The US and India: An Economic Foundation for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific" at the US-India Business Council's India Ideas Summit on Wednesday, June 12, the State Department said Friday. This will be Pompeo's major foreign policy speech on India. US Commerce Secretary, Wilbur Ross is also scheduled to address US-India Business Council's (USIBC) India Ideas Summit on June 12 and June 13. Among other speakers at the conference are Matthew Bevin, Governor of Kentucky; Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister of Maharashtra; Ramesh Abhishek, Secretary, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion; Deepak Bagla, CEO, Invest India; James Taiclet, CEO, American Tower Corporation and Milind Pant, CEO, Amway. Indian-origin Sundar Pichai, CEO, Google; ...
Vietnam elected to Asian seat on UN Security Council
Vietnam has been elected unopposed to the Security Council on behalf of the Asian countries in an election that could reshuffle the dynamics of the UN's highest body that is already paralyzed on many important issues like Syria, Yemen and Venezuela.
Jagan Reddy occupies CM Office in State Secretariat
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Saturday occupied his office in the State Secretariat here.
Venezuela to open borders with Colombia
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro announced that he plans to reopen the country's borders with Colombia on Saturday (local time)."In full exercise of our sovereignty, I have ordered the opening of the border crossings with Colombia in the state of Tachira, starting this Saturday #8Jun," the embattled president tweeted."We are a peaceful people who firmly defend our independence and self-determination," Maduro added.The announcement came months after Maduro severed diplomatic relations with Colombia and other countries. Venezuela had closed its border with Colombia in February which led Opposition leader Juan Guaido, recognised as the legitimate interim president by more than 50 Western allies, to allow trucks laden with unauthorised humanitarian aid enter into the South American country, CNN reported.Maduro has repeatedly denied reports that a humanitarian crisis existed in Venezuela and suggested that aid efforts were part of a coup orchestrated by the United States.Last month, the
Mnuchin at G20: US-Mexico deal 'very, very significant'
Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Saturday hailed a deal between the US and Mexico on tariffs and immigration as "very, very significant" with a "very important outcome". Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the G20 finance ministers and central bank governors, Mnuchin said: "We couldn't be more pleased with the agreement that we reached. It is very, very significant and we very much appreciate the commitments that Mexico has made to help us on those important immigration issues." Late Friday, Washington and Mexico City reached an 11th-hour deal to crack down on migration from Central America, with President Donald Trump relenting on threats to slap potentially devastating tariffs on the neighbouring country. With Trump ready to impose five percent tariffs on all Mexican goods starting Monday, senior officials hammered out an agreement after three days of intense negotiations at the State Department. "As a result of (the deal), the President agreed that we will not be moving ..
Rahul meets delegations at MPs Facilitation Centre
Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday met delegations at the MPs Facilitation Centre at Wayanad Collectorate Office.Rahul, who is on a three-day visit to his Lok Sabha constituency, arrived in Wayanad on Friday.Earlier, Rahul shared details about his visit on Twitter."I will be in Wayanad, Kerala starting this afternoon and till Sunday to meet citizens and Congress Party workers. It's a packed schedule with over 15 public receptions planned over the next 3 days," he tweeted.Gandhi, who netted 7,05,034 votes in Wayanad, won by 4,31,063 votes against his nearest rival Left Democratic Front (LDF)'s PP Suneer in the constituency. However, the Congress President lost his family stronghold Amethi parliamentary constituency to BJP leader Smriti Irani.
PM Modi reaches Guruvayur to offer prayers at Lord Krishna temple
Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached here Saturday morning to offer prayers at the famed Lord Krishna temple. Modi left Kochi at 9.20 a.m and his helicopter landed at Sree Krishna College ground near here at 9.50 am. The prime minister reached here in a special naval helicopter from the Kochi naval airport. After an hour-long 'darshan' at the temple, the prime minister will address a party meeting Abhinandan Sabha being organised by the BJP Kerala State committee. This will be Modi's first public meeting after assuming the chair of the prime minister for a second consecutive term. He arrived in Kochi late Friday night and was received at the naval airport by Kerala Governor P Sathasivam, Union Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan and state Devaswam Minister Kadakampally Surendran. He stayed at the Government Guest House in Kochi.
EAM calls on Bhutanese King, highlights India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy during 1st foreign trip
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and said the special bilateral friendship has always benefited from the enlightened guidance of the head of state of the Himalayan nation. Jaishankar, who assumed charge on May 30, arrived for a day-long visit to Bhutan on Friday during his first overseas trip to the country after assuming charge of the ministry. "Honoured to have had an audience with His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. The special friendship between India and Bhutan has always benefited from the enlightened guidance of the Druk Gyalpos (the head of state of Bhutan)," Jaishankar tweeted Friday. "It was a privilege to also meet Her Majesty the ever gracious Gyaltsuen, and especially delightful to interact with the Druk Gyalsey!," he tweeted. On Friday, Jaishankar also met Bhutan's Prime Minister Lotay Tshering and discussed important elements of the bilateral ties. He also held talks with his Bhutanese counterpart Tandi ...
Andhra: Jagan Reddy assumes charge of his office
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy on Saturday assumed charge of his office at state secretariat post his resounding victory in the state elections.Reddy occupied his office at state secretariat at 8.39 am.Employees of various departments in secretariat stood in queues and welcomed Jagan with garlands and bouquets.Reddy's Cabinet ministers are expected to take oath at 11.49 am. Some of those ministers and YSRCP leaders greeted him at his new office.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.
US State Secy Pompeo to address this year's India Ideas Summit on Wednesday
The US State Department on late Friday said Secretary of State Michael R Pompeo will address the India Ideas Summit here at the US Chamber of Commerce on June 12."Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo will deliver the keynote address on 'The U.S. and India: An Economic Foundation for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific' at the US-India Business Council's India Ideas Summit on Wednesday, June 12, at 4:00 p.m. at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, DC," the Department said."The Secretary's remarks will be followed by a fireside chat with President and CEO of Tellurian, Inc. Meg Gentle," it added.Organised by US India Business Council (USIBC), the two-day "India Ideas Summit 2019" beginning on June 12 is a platform to convene scholars, practitioners, diplomats, and think tanks for high-level dialogue on key issues related to India.The India Ideas Summit will be marking its 44th annual meeting next week.The State Department also said that the event will be live streamed on the website of .
A new look Modi cabinet (Column: Political Calculus)
The evening crept up slowly. Different colours of light over the presidential palace. After sitting in front of a historical architecture, the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Damodardas Modi, started his second innings. After he took oath, other ministers took oath one by one.
After Bihar, JD(U) becomes a recognized state party in
The Janata Dal (United), headed by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, has become a recognised state party in Arunachal Pradesh, the Election Commission has said. The JD(U) won seven seats in the 60-memner assembly of the north eastern state, next only to the ruling BJP which bagged 41 seats and secured a majority. "The Janata Dal (United) is now a recognised state party in the states of Arunachal Pradesh and Bihar," an EC statement said Friday. The party will also be able to use its symbol, arrow, in Arunachal Pradesh, the statement said. The JD(U) shares power with the BJP and Ram Vilas Paswan's Lok Janshakti Party in Bihar. After its success in Arunachal Pradesh, JD(U) national general secretary K C Tyagi had said, "The tally entitles us to the status of the main opposition party. But we will offer full support to the BJP government" in that state. "Even if we get the opposition party status, we will be a friendly opposition," Tyagi had made it clear.
BJP will break Congress's record of ruling country for longest duration: Ram Madhav
BJP's national general secretary Ram Madhav on Friday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will break the Congress's record of ruling the country for the longest period and the BJP will remain in power when the nation would celebrate its 100 years of independence."A strong government is formed under Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the second time at the centre. Now, this government will run for a longer duration," said Madhav."If there is any party which has been in power for the longest duration it is Congress, it was Congress which ruled the country after Independence from 1950 to 1977. I assure you that Modi ji is going to break that record. There will be BJP in power till the time we enter 100th year of independence in 2047," said Ram Madhav while speaking at a rally in Agartala on Friday.Hundreds of BJP supporters and leaders took part in a rally that was held in Agartala as they celebrated the victory of the BJP candidates in both the parliamentary constituencies of the ...
Maduro orders reopening of border crossings with Colombia
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has announced the reopening of his country's border crossings with Colombia.
382 officers join Indian Army
As many as 382 officers joined the Indian Army on Saturday after a passing out parade was organised at the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun.Lieutenant General Cherish Mathson, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, South Western Command, took the salute as a reviewing officer parade.In total, 459 officers took part in the parade including 77 foreign cadets from friendly nations.IMA now holds the record for giving 61,536 officers.
Three Pakistani army officers, soldier killed in blast
A roadside bomb attack in Pakistan's North Waziristan tribal district on Friday killed three army officers and a soldier, the military said.
UK court quashes case against Boris Johnson over Brexit claims
A UK court on Friday dismissed a case against former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson over allegations that he lied to the public during the 2016 Brexit referendum campaign.The judges of the High Court quashed the case which was filed by Marcus Bell, an anti-Brexit campaigner who crowdfunded more than 350,000 pounds to bring his claim to the courts, Euronews reported.Johnson, who is running for the prime ministerial post, is accused of falsely claiming that the UK's membership of the European Union cost 350 million pounds a week.The claim was even plastered on the side of a bus that had toured around the country during the referendum in which 52 per cent of the electorate had voted in favour of the UK leaving the European bloc.Johnson's lawyers have rejected the claims that an offence was committed by him while serving in public office, saying that such allegations were repeatedly challenged during the 2016 campaigning.Ball's counsel Jason Coppel said that the decision could allow ...
Imran Khan writes to Modi, offers to hold talks
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan wrote a letter to his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, saying Islamabad wants dialogue with New Delhi to resolve all outstanding issues between the two countries, Pakistani media reported.The letter came a day after New Delhi ruled out the possibility of a bilateral meeting between Khan and Modi on the sidelines of the SCO summit slated to be held later this month in Bishkek.Congratulating Modi for assuming office for a second term, Khan said that Pakistan wanted talks to resolve all disputes, including Kashmir and other issues like poverty, Geo News reported.The cricketer-turned-politician reiterated his wish for peace and stability in the South Asian region and underlined that it was important for the two countries to jointly work together for regional development.India on Thursday ruled out any meeting between Khan and Modi on the sidelines of the upcoming SCO summit. "To the best of my knowledge no meeting has been planned between PM Modi and ..
Nationalism is in BJP's DNA, says Ram Madhav
"Nationalism is in the DNA of BJP," the party's national general secretary Ram Madhav said while predicting that in 2047 when India celebrates the centenary of independence, the country will stand as a "vishwa guru"."Nationalism is in the DNA of BJP, it is BJP's identity. Whether elections are going on or not, BJP means nationalism, nationalism means BJP," Madhav said while addressing a gathering here on Friday.He went on to say that BJP led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who recently took oath for a second term in power, is the present and the future of India."Modi ji's BJP is the present of this country, the future will also be Modi ji's BJP. In 2022, we will make a new India where there will be no homelessness, joblessness will end. In 2047 on the centenary of independence, India will stand as a 'vishwa guru'" Madhav said.Hundreds of BJP supporters and leaders took part in a rally that was held in Agartala as they celebrated the victory of the BJP candidates in both the ...