Page 2424 - Politics
Sri Lanka state banks to borrow up to $1 billion abroad before end of 2018
COLOMBO (Reuters) - Sri Lanka's three state banks will borrow up to $1 billion from foreign sources before the end of 2018 and use the money to pay off maturing foreign loans, Finance Ministry Secretary S.R. Attygalle said on Thursday.
Scotland minister to lead delegation to India
Scotland's Deputy First Minister, John Swinney, will begin a week-long visit to India on Friday to strengthen bilateral ties with a focus on trade and investment and to boost cooperation in technology and life sciences, the UK Foreign Office said Thursday. Swinney, the deputy head of the devolved Scottish government, will be joined by a delegation of senior leaders from Scotland's higher education sector during the visit from November 23 to 29. The deputy first minister is set to hold a series of meetings in Delhi and Bangalore with business and industry leaders, as well as representatives from the Indian government. "India is an important international partner to Scotland and we have successfully collaborated on hundreds of different projects in recent years from the Ganga River Health Project to delivering cost effective precision medicine solutions for diabetes," Swinney said, on the eve of his India visit. The visit will focus on technology and life sciences, promote trade and ...
When in alliance with PDP and NC, BJP didn't question credentials: Mehbooba
Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti Thursday hit out at the BJP for alleging that regional parties were working at Pakistan's behest, saying credentials of the NC and the PDP were not questioned when they were in alliance with the saffron party. Mufti's remark came after BJP general secretary Ram Madhav alleged that the PDP and the NC had boycotted local body polls in the state earlier because of instructions from Pakistan. The BJP leader, however, withdrew his words following a dare by NC leader Omar Abdullah to prove his charge. Shocked to see baseless allegations against mainstream parties in JK following dictates from Pakistan levelled by @rammadhavbjp ji, PDP chief Mufti said in a series of tweets. On Wednesday, PDP with the support of the National Conference (NC) and the Congress staked claim for forming government, but their efforts were cut short as Malik decided to dissolve the assembly, which was in suspended animation since June 19. Questioning the BJP ...
Sovan Chatterjee resigns from post of Kolkata Mayor
All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Sovan Chatterjee on Thursday resigned from the post of Kolkata Mayor following an argument with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.Sovan had resigned as West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services and Housing minister on November 20, following which State Urban Development and Municipal Affairs minister Firhad Hakim took charge of both departments.Allegedly, Chatterjee was spending more time with a woman with whom he is alleged to have an affair, and the happenings in his personal life did not seem to go down well with the party.If sources are to be believed, the problems had emerged in the party from quite some time. However, the final trigger was pulled on Tuesday, resulting in the minister tendering his resignation.
EU, UK agree draft on 'ambitious' post-Brexit ties
The European Union and Britain agreed Thursday a draft declaration on their post-Brexit relations that sets out an "ambitious, broad, deep and flexible partnership," officials said. The two sides have also agreed a draft deal extending the transition period by one or two years beyond the end of 2020, a final sticking point of the divorce deal. European Council President Donald Tusk said the EU executive, the European Commission, informed him it has agreed the political declaration on the future ties with Britain. "I have just sent to EU27 a draft Political Declaration on the Future Relationship between EU and UK," said Tusk, who represents the 27 remaining EU member countries. "The Commission President (Jean-Claude Juncker) has informed me that it has been agreed at negotiators' level and agreed in principle at political level," Tusk tweeted. He said EU leaders still have to endorse the draft declaration, which is due to accompany a draft of agreed terms for Britain's withdrawal from .
EU, Britain agree draft deal on post-Brexit ties, await summit approval
BRUSSELS/LONDON (Reuters) - Britain and the European Union have agreed a draft text setting out a close post-Brexit economic relationship, paving the way for a summit of EU leaders to endorse the deal, European Council President Donald Tusk said on Thursday.
No crisis in govt after resignation mayor-minister: Mamata
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday ruled out any crisis in the government following the resignation of cabinet minister and Kolkata mayor Sovan Chatterjee. Chatterjee, a senior Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader, resigned from the post of Kolkata mayor as directed by Banerjee. He had quit as the housing and the fire services ministers on Tuesday. "There is no crisis at all. One can always resign and there are provisions. There is no misunderstanding either. Someone can have personal problems," Banerjee said while speaking during the discussion on Kolkata Municipal Corporation (Second Amendment) Bill 2018. Banerjee was replying to a question by BJP MLA Dilip Ghosh on the necessity of bringing in the amendment bill. The amendment would enable a person, who is not an elected councillor, to be made the mayor of a corporation, but he or she would have to be elected within six months to continue in the post. "Even in your party M J Akbar had resigned (from the
Pak rejects India's allegation of its involvement in Punjab blast
Pakistan on Thursday rejected allegations of its involvement in the Amritsar terror attack in which three people were killed amidst Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh's accusation that the grenade used was similar to the ones being manufactured by the Pakistan Army. Singh said that the grenade attack, in which three people were killed and over 20 injured, seemed to carry Pakistan's signature. Initial investigations indicated that the "grenade used was similar to the ones being manufactured by the Pakistani Army Ordinance factory," he said. Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesman Mohammad Faisal rejected Singh's allegations in his weekly press briefing. "Pakistan categorically rejects these allegations. India is a serial alleger and it has become its second nature to blame Pakistan for any negative development without blinking an eye," Faisal said. The purpose of "such severe and unfounded allegations" by the Indian authorities was to cover up their won failures and drag Pakistan in ...
Amarinder welcomes Centre's move to build Kartarpur corridor
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh welcomed Thursday the Centre's decision to build and develop a corridor to facilitate Sikh pilgrims from India to visit holy Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur in Pakistan. Kartarpur Sahib, located just across the International Border, is the final resting place of Guru Nanak Dev and one of the holiest shrines of Sikhs. "The move will facilitate lakhs of pilgrims desirous of visiting the Kartarpur gurdwara," Singh said in a statement here. He hoped that the Pakistan government would also supplement the effort by opening the corridor on its side of the boundary. The centre Thursday said it will build and develop corridor from Dera Baba Nanak in Punjab's Gurdaspur district to the International Border to facilitate Sikh pilgrims from India to visit holy Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Kartarpur,which is on the banks of the Ravi river. Singh also hailed the Centre's move to celebrate the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev on a grand scale, globally, and ...
VHP, Shiv Sena to launch '1990-like movement' to accelerate Ram Temple construction
In a bid to revive the Ram Temple movement, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Shiv Sena have once again decided to come together to accelerate the construction of the temple.The VHP and Shiv Sena had, in 1990, launched a similar movement which eventually led to the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992. The movement was led by Bal Thackrey (Shiv Sena) and Ashok Singhal (VHP).The two organisations are all set to begin separate events in various states to pressure the central government to kick-start the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh.Shiv Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday visited the birthplace of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj to collect the soil, which he plans to carry to Uttar Pradesh on his visit to Ayodhya. The Shiv Sena supremo, at the Vijayadashami meet of his party last month, had announced that he will visit Ayodhya and urge the Narendra Modi government build the Ram Temple.The VHP, on the other hand, will be holding three major rallies- in ..
Madhav withdraws charge that NC acted at Pak behest in J&K
NC leader Omar Abdullah's dare to BJP general secretary Ram Madhav Thursday to prove his charge that the alliance to form government in Jammu and Kashmir was at Pakistan's behest has prompted the saffron party leader to withdraw his words. The BJP and National Conference (NC) leaders exchanged sharp words on Twitter, a day after the state's governor dissolved the assembly, with Madhav asking Abdullah to fight the next polls together with the PDP if "genuine love" between the two parties promoted a "failed government" formation attempt. PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti had Wednesday written to Governor Satya Pal Malik that she will stake claim to form government with the support of the Congress and the NC. It was followed by another bid from the two-member People's Conference which claimed the support of the BJP and 18 legislators from other parties. As Malik dissolved the assembly, Madhav, who is his party's points man for the state, alleged that "fresh instructions" were given to the two ...
Unani doctors hold protest in Mumbai in support of demands
Unani doctors Thursday held a protest here demanding reservation in government jobs in Maharashtra and parity with ayurvedic physicians. The protest was organised at the Azad Maidan in South Mumbai by the Integrated Medicine Practitioners Association (IMPA). IMPA General secretaryZubair Shaikh saida 2014 Government Resolution (GR) had assured jobs to Unani doctors in state-run primary health centres (PHCs). However, the decision has not been implemented yet, he said. "We only want respect and parity (with ayurvedic doctors). BUMS (Bachelor of Unani Medicine and Surgery) practitioners, too, play a major role in the society," he said. Shaikh,who is also vice-presidentof the Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM), said in India there are 1.5 lakh Unani doctors of which around 9,000 are from Maharashtra. "The Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH) needs to establish a post of deputy director for Unani medicine," he said. Shaikh .
BJP must apologise for alleging Pak hand in formation of PDP-NC-Cong alliance: Cong
Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee president G A Mir Thursday asked the BJP to either apologise or make public the evidence on its allegations that the PDP-Congress-NC alliance was formed at the behest of Pakistan. "You (the BJP) are in the government, you have all the institutions, the CBI, the NIA, the IB, the Governor and the RAW. Prove (the allegations) before the country if you have any proof or else you have to apologise, Mir told reporters here. The JKPCC president said the BJP was in the habit of making false allegations and labelling others, who do not support them, as anti-nationals. This has become the BJP's habit that those who support it are nationalists and those who do not support its wrong principles and policies are dubbed as anti-nationals and pro-Pakistani. Who has given you this right? Mir asked. The Congress leader also questioned the BJP's central leaders about their association with the separatist-turned-mainstream leader, Sajjad Gani Lone. Mir said he
Following are the top stories at 1700 hours
Following are the top stories at 1700 hours: FGN14 US-PASSPORTS-SINGH India to open 'Passport Seva Kendras' in each 543 parliamentary constituencies: V K Singh New York: The Indian government plans to open a 'Passport Seva Kendra' in each of the 543 parliamentary constituencies across the country by March next year to ensure convenient passport services to its people, Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh said here. By Yoshita Singh FGN17 PAK-INDIA-KARTARPUR Pak conveys to India decision to open Kartarpura Corridor for Sikhs: Foreign Minister Qureshi Islamabad: Pakistan has conveyed to India its decision to open Kartarpura Corridor for Guru Nanak's 550th birth anniversary, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Thursday, even as the Foreign Office here said it cannot do much unless New Delhi responds. By Sajjad Hussain FGN10 PREZ-AUS-GANDHI President unveils Mahatma Gandhi's bronze statue in Australia Melbourne:President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday unveiled a bronze ...
Denmark suspends arms sales to Saudi over Khashoggi murder
Denmark on Thursday suspended arms sales to Saudi Arabia over the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the second country to do so after Germany. "The foreign ministry is suspending all sales of weapons and military equipment to Saudi Arabia," Foreign Minister Anders Samuelsen said. "I hope that the Danish decision can create additional momentum," he added. A foreign ministry spokesman said Copenhagen was not considering other sanctions for the moment. On Monday, Germany decided to bar 18 Saudis from entering its territory and Europe's Schengen passport-free zone over their alleged links to the murder. In October, Berlin called for EU countries to follow its lead and suspend arms sales to Saudi Araiba for the time being, prompting a dismissive response from French President Emmanuel Macron. Khashoggi, a US resident who wrote for The Washington Post and had been critical of Prince Mohammed, was lured to the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2, killed and reportedly ...
India urges Pak to build corridor to Kartarpur Sahib
India Thursday urged the Pakistan government to build a corridor to Kartarpur Sahib to facilitate easy movement of Indian pilgrims to the shrine -- the final resting place of Sikh faith's founder Guru Nanak Dev. Kartarpur Sahib is situated in Narowal district of Pakistan's Punjab province and there have been demands to build a corridor linking it with Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district of Punjab. External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said India has approached Pakistan government to recognise the sentiments of the Sikh community and build the corridor, in keeping with the resolution adopted by the Cabinet Thursday to commemorate the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev next year. "... We have approached and urged the Pakistan government to recognise the sentiments of Sikh community and build a corridor with suitable facilities in their territory to facilitate easy and smooth visits of pilgrims from India to Kartarpur Sahib throughout the year," he said. The MEA .
Guv dissolves J-K assembly in haste: Tarigami
The decision of Governor Satya Pal Malik to dissolve Jammu and Kashmir assembly was taken in haste and not keeping in mind the constitutional spirit, CPI(M) leader M Y Tarigami said here on Thursday. The governor abruptly dissolved the state assembly Wednesday night, hours after the PDP staked claim to form a government with the backing of rival NC and the Congress. This was followed by another bid from the two-member People's Conference which claimed the support of the BJP and 18 legislators from other parties. "The decision was taken in haste and not keeping in mind the constitutional spirit. Why was not the Assembly dissolved when the previous coalition government fell in June?" Tarigami told reporters. The MLA from Kulgam said the aim of keeping the assembly in suspended animation was probably to find possibilities to form a new alliance. "But no party came forward for forming the government till yesterday and the Assembly continued to remain in suspended animation. When major ...
India's largest construction equipment exhibition begins in Kathmandu
The largest infrastructure sector exhibition organised by the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) in Nepal kicked off Thursday, showcasing the equipment needed by the construction industry. Around 100 Indian companies are participating in the the three-day exhibition ConMac 2018 organised at Sallaghari Open Ground in Bhaktapur district in Kathmandu. The exhibition organised by CII in collaboration with the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu has opened up vast opportunities to Nepalese construction entrepreneurs at a time when Nepal is engaged in rebuilding the country damaged by the massive earthquake three years ago, Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Raghubir Mahaseth, the chief guest at the inauguration event, said. The Nepal government has prioritised railway, road transport and waterway connectivity and "we are hopeful of receiving necessary support and assistance from both the neighbours, India and China", Mahaseth said. Indian Ambassador to Nepal Majeev Singh .
Ker CM flays J&K Guv's action
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan Thursday described as "undemocratic and anti-people" the action of the Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik in dissolving the state assembly. The governor had a constitutional obligation to allow an opportunity for the PDP to prove its claims of majority, Vijayan said in a Facebook Post. However, it was not examined, he said. It is clear that the decision to dissolve the legislature, which had two more years left in its tenure, was taken when it became evident that a non-BJP government was going to be formed, Vijayan said. This whole affair can be only be viewed as a "political game orchestrated by the central government using governors as pawns," he alleged. "The Jammur & Kashmir policy of the central government is quite malevolent. The centre is using the problems of Kashmir as a means for communal polarisation. These measures will only help alienate the people there," Vijayan said.
Sidhu, Badal laud Centre for its decision on Kartarpur Sahib corridor
Moments after Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a Note Verbale to the Pakistan government urging it to develop a corridor with suitable facilities in its territory from the International Border to Gurudwara Kartarpur Sahib, the Punjab Government's Culture Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu urged Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan to take reciprocal steps for opening the sanctum.Sidhu tweeted, "I thank the Govt. of India from the core of my heart and take a bow! I request the Hon'ble PM of Pakistan @ImranKhanPTI Sahib to take reciprocal steps for opening the Kartarpur Sahib corridor and spread Baba Nanak's message of universal brotherhood and peace across the Globe".Describing the sentiments of people on the opening of Gurudwara Kartapur Sahib for Indians, the 55-year-old Congress leader further tweeted, "I welcome this auspicious step by the Union Cabinet, it will be a cup of joy for 12 Crore 'Nanak Naam Laivas.' It will build bridges, burn animosity and will act like a soothing balm