Page 2448 - Politics
Polling underway for last phase of Chhattisgarh Assembly polls
Polling was underway on Tuesday in the second and concluding phase in 72 seats spread across 19 districts to elect a new Chhattisgarh Assembly, with nearly 13 per cent of the over 1.5 crore electorate casting their votes in the first two hours, officials said.
Indian peacekeeper injured in rebel attack in Congo
An Indian peacekeeper serving in the UN mission in Congo was injured in an attack by a rebel group. Stephane Dujarric, the spokesperson for the Secretary General, told reporters here Tuesday that according to the UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), suspected Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) elements launched an attack on Friday evening in the area of Boikene, close to Beni in North Kivu Province. One civilian was reportedly wounded, and two homes and a civilian vehicle were destroyed. "A member of the Indian Formed Police Unit stationed there was also lightly wounded," Dujarric said. Sources told PTI that the injured was a Border Security Force personnel and is "out of danger". The UN Mission and the Congolese armed forces (FARDC) have increased security measures in the Beni area, including around hotels occupied by UN personnel and humanitarian workers who are focused on the Ebola response, and they have also expanded their support of police ...
Trump dilemma: Preserve Saudi alliance or declare prince a murderer
The Saudi assassination of a US-based journalist has put President Donald Trump in an intractable bind. Does he preserve a close US ally and accept whatever Riyadh says about the murder? Or does he risk a rupture and embrace the conclusion of the Central Intelligence Agency that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the country's de facto leader, ordered the killing? The US president has refrained from attacking Prince Mohammed ever since Jamal Khashoggi, a veteran Saudi journalist who had been writing articles critical of Riyadh for The Washington Post, was killed and dismembered in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2. With Riyadh under international pressure, the Saudi prosecutor announced the arrest of 21 suspects and charges against 11, saying five will face the possible death penalty. At the same time, Washington announced sanctions on 17 Saudis allegedly involved, including two top aides of the prince. Neither side though named the mastermind of the operation. But, ...
Fiji leader sworn in for 4 more years after winning election
Fiji's leader was sworn in for four more years Tuesday after winning an election with a reduced majority, after earlier lashing out at his opponents. Voreqe Bainimarama was affirmed prime minister in a ceremony in the capital Suva after his FijiFirst Party won just over half the votes in last week's election, giving them 27 seats in Fiji's 51-seat parliament. Bainimarama first seized power in a military coup in 2006 and refashioned himself as a legitimate leader after winning an election in 2014. Many people in the nation of 920,000 seem appreciative of the economic gains they've made in recent years. Bainimarama said in a statement this week that people had "ganged up" against his party. "Despite the joint forces of opposition that started their campaign based on lies, hate and fear against us four years ago, we have triumphed," he said. He said his opponents "were willing to create economic chaos and undermine our economic future in their greed to win government." Bainimarama said ..
Expanding ties with Bhutan a priority for India: Foreign Secretary
Foreign Secretary Vijay Keshav Gokhale on Tuesday said that India attaches the highest priority to further expanding its unique ties of friendship and cooperation with Bhutan, based on the priorities of the Royal Government of Bhutan.Gokhale paid an official visit to Bhutan from November 18 to 20.During his visit, the Foreign Secretary met Ambassador Sonam Tshong and Foreign Secretary of Bhutan. He also called on the Prime Minister of Bhutan, Lyonchhen Dr. Lotay Tshering and Foreign Minister Lyonpo Dr. Tandi Dorji.The Foreign Secretary had an audience with His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the King of Bhutan and His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the Fourth King of Bhutan.Both India and Bhutan discussed all aspects of bilateral relations, including high-level exchanges, economic and development co-operation, hydro-power co-operation, people to people ties, and commemorative activities being jointly organized in the Golden Jubilee year. They also shared their views on ...
Cong conspired with Pak to defeat PM Modi: Uma Bharti
Ahead of the Madhya Pradesh elections, Union Minister for Drinking Water and Sanitation Uma Bharti on Monday said launched a scathing attack on the Congress party and said that their leaders have joined hands with Pakistan in order to defeat Prime Minister Narendra Modi."When India and Pakistan fought for Bangladesh, at that time being the leader of Opposition, Atal Bihari Vajpayee said in the Parliament that the Jana Sangh stands with (then Prime Minister) Indira Gandhi, Indian armed forces and the government because we have to defeat Pakistan (Jab Bangladesh ko lekar India-Pakistan war hua uss samay Atal Bihari Vajpayee ne vipaksh ke neta ki haisiyat se Parliament mein kaha ab Jana Sangh Indira Gandhi ke saath,Bharat ki senaon aur sarkar ke saath khada rahega kyunki hamein Pakistan ko harana hai)," Bharti said here."But when India carried surgical strike, Congress leaders called our Army Chief 'gunda'. Congress leader went to Pakistan and said there that they have to defeat Prime ...
Two killed, several injured in explosion in Pulgaon Army Depot
At least two people were killed and several others got injured following an explosion in Pulgaon Army Depot of Maharashtra's Wardha on Tuesday morning.The incident took place in a military firing range area of Wardha.According to media reports, the explosion occurred while disposing of explosives. Officials are yet to ascertain the cause.Further details are awaited..
Ivanka Trump used personal mail for government business
Ivanka Trump, US President Donald Trump's daughter, sent hundreds of emails last year to White House aides, Cabinet officials and her assistants using a personal account, many of them in violation of federal records rules, the media reported.
Chhattisgarh polls: PM asks voters to exercise their franchise
As Chhattisgarh goes to vote Tuesday in the second phase of assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people to come out in large numbers to exercise their franchise. In a tweet, he requested voters of the state to participate in large numbers in "the festival of democracy". On election days, the Prime Minister often takes to Twitter urging people to vote in large numbers. In the first phase of Chhattisgarh polling on November 12, voting was held in 18 out of 90 seats. In phase 2 on Tuesday, polling will be held in 72 seats. A total of 1079 candidates are contesting in the 72 constituencies of 19 districts in the state with an electorate of 1,54,00,596.
Xi visits Philippines as China, US wrangle for supremacy
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in the Philippines Tuesday for his first state visit to the country, a traditional US ally that is a key prize as Beijing and Washington jostle for supremacy in the Pacific. China won a windfall partner with the 2016 election of President Rodrigo Duterte, who has rattled the Philippines' century-old bond with the US while courting trade and investment from the rising American rival. Manila has said it hopes the two-day stopover, the first from a Chinese president in 13 years, will finally net signed deals for investment in major infrastructure projects promised by Beijing when Duterte visited two years ago. China has dispersed tens of billions of dollars in loans since 2013 as it expands its political influence globally, countering the American hegemony that characterised the post-World War II order, especially in Asia. However, even before Xi's expected arrival Tuesday afternoon, hundreds of protestors descended on the Chinese embassy to voice ...
Despite massive protests French Government to hike fuel tax
French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe on Tuesday informed that the French government, regardless of protests across the country last weekend, will stay strong on its decision to raise the tax on diesel and carbon fuels.According to Sputnik, Prime Minister Philippe told the France 2 broadcaster "The carbon tax will be kept in place. We will stick to the line that we have set"He further added that the government understands citizens growing weary of increasing tax burden and pledged to decrease the price by the end of French President Emmanuel Macron's term.According to Sputnik, French Interior Minister Cristophe Castaner on Sunday informed that over 400 people suffered injuries in protests held throughout France against the hiking fuel prices. During the protests, the agitators wearing high-visibility yellow vests blocked the main transport highways, petrol stations as well as suburban supermarkets in some places.The country has seen over 40 percent hike in diesel prices since 2017 ...
Over 3,500 file nominations for Telangana polls
Over 3,500 candidates have filed their nominations for the December 7 Telangana Assembly elections, officials said.
Second phase of panchayat polls underway in J-K
Voting for the second phase of the Jammu and Kashmir panchayat polls is underway at over 2,100 polling stations in the state. The nine-phased elections, being conducted on the non-party basis, began Saturday. The National Conference, PDP and the CPI(M) have announced to stay away from the electoral exercise due to the legal challenge to Article 35A of the Constitution in the Supreme Court. Polling is underway at 2,179 polling stations across the state, including 828 in Kashmir division and 1,351 in Jammu division, officials said. They said 4,014 candidates are in the fray for 281 sarpanch and 1,286 panch seats in the second phase. The officials said 90 sarpanch and 1,069 panch have been elected unopposed in this phase. In Kashmir, 490 polling stations have been categorised as hypersensitive and in the Jammu division 111, they said, adding that there are 3,29,818 electors for sarpanch seats and 2,07,796 for panch constituencies. The officials said all arrangements, including those ...
Report: Ivanka Trump used personal email for government work
Ivanka Trump, the president's daughter and a top White House adviser, sent hundreds of emails about government business from a personal email account last year, The Washington Post reported Monday. The emails were sent to White House aides, Cabinet members and Ivanka Trump's assistants, many in violation of public records rules, the paper said. President Donald Trump mercilessly criticised his 2016 Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, for using a private email server during her time as secretary of state, labelling her "Crooked Hillary" and saying she belonged in jail. The White House did not immediately respond to questions about the email use, but a spokesman for Ivanka Trump's lawyer, Abbe Lowell, didn't dispute the report. "While transitioning into government... Ms Trump sometimes used her private account, almost always for logistics and scheduling concerning her family," said the spokesman, Peter Mirijanian. Mirijanian stressed that no classified information was transmitted in the .
2nd phase of J&K Panchayat polls begin
Voting started for the second phase of Panchayat polls in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday amid tight security as voters started trickling out to exercise their franchise.
J-K: Second phase of Panchayat polls underway
Polling began on a brisk note in 40 Blocks of Jammu and Kashmir as a part of the second phase of the Panchayat bodies elections on Tuesday.The polling in 17 blocks in Jammu, 12 in Kashmir and 11 in Ladakh region commenced at 8 am today morning and will conclude at 2 pm. The Counting of votes will take place immediately after the voting ends.As per the Election Commission of India, after withdrawal and scrutiny, as many as 1038 candidates are in the fray for Sarpanch Halqas and 4,165 candidates for 3610 Panch wards in this phase.Security has been beefed up across the state so that the elections can be conducted in a peaceful manner. Majority of the candidates have been provided with security in the region.The overall turnout for the first phase of Panchayat body elections which concluded peacefully on November 17 was 74 percent. These elections are being held in nine phases. Last Panchayat polls in the state took place in 2011These elections were announced last month, but two major ...
Polling begins for last phase of Chhattisgarh Assembly elections
Amid tight security, polling began at 8 a.m for the second and concluding phase on Tuesday for 72 seats spread across 19 districts to elect a new Chhattisgarh Assembly, officials said.
Final phase of polling begins in Chhattisgarh
Voting for the second and final phase of Chhattisgarh Assembly elections began on Tuesday amid high security. A total of 1079 candidates are contesting in the 72 constituencies of 19 districts in the state with an electorate of 1,54,00,596. This is the last of the two-phase polls to the 90-member Assembly where the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been in power for the last 15 years. "Voting begun at 7 am in two polling booths of Bindranavagarh constituency (Gariaband district), while in the remaining 72 booths, polling started at 8 am," an election official said. The time of polling in 72 constituencies is from 8 am to 5 pm except in two polling booths- Amamora (booth no. 72) and Modh (no.76) in Bindranavgarh where polling is being held from 7 am to 3 pm due to the threat posed by Naxals, he said. Around 1.50 lakh security personnel have been deployed across the state to ensure peaceful polling, he said. In the second phase, districts like Gariaband, Dhamtari, Mahasamund, Kabirdham, .
UN Security Council to consider draft resolution on Yemen
A draft resolution on Yemen was circulated among all Security Council members on Monday for their consideration, diplomats said.
President Kovind to address National Assembly in Vietnam
President Ramnath Kovind, who is on a three-day trip to Vietnam, will address the National Assembly here on Tuesday.On the last day of his Vietnam trip, President Kovind is scheduled to participate in the wreath-laying ceremony at the Monument of National Heroes and at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum. He will also attend the Welcoming Ceremony at President Palace.President Kovind will meet his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Phu Trong and hold delegation level talks followed by a meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc at the Office of Government.He will also attend the State Banquet at International Convention Center in the evening.President Kovind who arrived in Vietnam on Sunday interacted with leaders of Da Nang People's Committee led by Truong Quang Nghia, Party Secretary of Da Nang.The President along with First lady Savita Kovind visited the Museum of Cham sculpture in the city of Da Nang on the second day of his three-day visit to Vietnam.During the course of his trip .