Page 2474 - Politics
Congress pits Jaswant's son against Raje in Rajasthan
The Congress on Saturday released its second list of candidates for the Rajasthan Assembly polls, pitting Manvendra Singh, the son of late BJP veteran and former Union Minister Jaswant Singh, against Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje in her traditional Jhalrapatan seat.
30,549 complaints resolved by grievance cell in J-K
The grievance cell of the Jammu and Kashmir administration has resolved over 30,500 out of 31,469 complaints registered by it, officials said Saturday. Since the imposition of the governor's rule in the state on June 20 till date, the grievance cell has received 31,469 complaints, of which 30,549 have been dealt with and forwarded to the quarters concerned for timely redressal. According to the officials, 544 complaints are under process. All the advisors to the governor have been regularly meeting and hearing the grievances of delegations, deputations and individuals. The advisors to the governor have attended and heard 2,180 delegations and 1,982 individuals from July 17 this year till date, the officials said. All the grievances received by the advisors have been dealt with and forwarded to the field officers and departments concerned for their immediate redressal and disposal, they added.
One day US President will be of Indian-origin: Diplomat
The US might one day have an Indian-origin President, a former Ambassador, Surendra Kumar, has said here.
Russia warns against protectionism at APEC summit
PORT MORESBY (Reuters) - Russian Prime Minister Dimitry Medvedev warned against growing protectionism and argued for clear cut and transparent rules on trade.
CIA believes Saudi Crown prince ordered murder of Khashoggi: Report
The CIA has concluded that Saudi Arabia's powerful Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman ordered the murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul, contradicting the Saudi government's assertions that he was not involved, according to a media report. The death of Khashoggi, a onetime insider turned critic of the crown prince and a resident of the US, has spurred a wave of international anger against Saudi Arabia and its ruler. Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist, was last seen entering the kingdom's consulate on October 2 to obtain paperwork for his marriage. Saudi Arabia had offered a series of contradictory explanations for Khashoggi's death. After repeated denials, Saudi Arabia finally admitted Khashoggi had been murdered at the compound but blamed it on a "rogue" operation. American officials have expressed high confidence in the agency's assessment, which is the most definitive to date, allegedly linking Saudi Arabia's crown prince to the killing, according to The ...
Om Prakash Rajbhar a 'necessary evil', should not be taken seriously: UP BJP chief
In an unusual attack on his party's ally Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party, Uttar Pradesh BJP president Mahendra Nath Pandey said Saturday its chief Om Prakash Rajbhar was a "necessary evil" and comments made by him "should not be taken seriously". Rajbhar, a state minister, has often been critical of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and policies of its governments at the Centre and in the state. "The region where Om Prakash Rajbhar's party is having presence, we are having good relationship with its supporters, workers and office-bearers. But, 'bolchaal' (attitude) of Rajbhar is not appropriate," Pandey told PTI in an interview. The BJP leader referred to an eastern UP folklore to target the SBSP leader. In the folklore, a woman used to head towards her paternal home after frequent tiff with her husband, while her in-laws and others used to placate her. Later, the village decided that no one will try to placate her. After she moved out of the village, she caught hold of a goat and ...
All you need to know about Sri Lanka's escalating political turmoil
Sri Lanka has been reeling from a turbulent political crisis for almost a month, when President Maithripala Sirisena on October 26 abruptly sacked then-Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and installed the now-ousted Mahinda Rajapaksa, the country's former President, as the new premier.The power struggle has left the Sri Lankan democratic system in tatters, with massive protests being held by the United National Party (UNP), where its members and supporters of Wickremesinghe have repeatedly called President Sirisena's move as "unconstitutional".Even Wickremesinghe voiced his views, asserting that he was legally still the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka. He and his supporters have accused Sirisena of staging an "undemocratic coup".Sirisena further suspended the country's Parliamentary proceedings until November 16. Amid rising demands by legislators to end the political crisis in the South Asian island nation, the Sri Lankan President preponed the date to reconvene the Parliament on ...
National Herald Case: Court adjourns matter for cross-examination of Swamy
A Delhi court on Saturday adjourned hearing in the National Herald case to January 8, for cross-examination of complainant Subramanian Swamy.The court also deferred the pronouncement of order on an application moved by Congress leader Motilal Vora, seeking directions to restrain Swamy from posting derogatory tweets regarding the case.The court had set November 17 as the date for recording Swamy's statement.On October 20, the court had reserved its order on an application moved by Vora, who is one of the accused in the case and had moved the application on July 21.In his petition, Vora said freedom of speech was not absolute, adding that Swamy should be restrained from posting anything on social media, in the interest of the administration of justice.Swamy had also recorded a statement on August 25 before a Delhi court in connection with the case.He had filed the case against Congress president Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia Gandhi in 2012. While addressing the reporters here, Swamy
Chidambaram responds to Modi's challenge, lists non-Gandhi Congress Presidents
A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi challenged the Congress to appoint a non-Gandhi as party president for five years, former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram on Saturday listed out the names of Congress presidents from outside the Gandhi family.
EC orders removal of Chhattisgarh public relations dept chief
The Election Commission Saturday asked the Chhattisgarh government to transfer one of its senior officials who was allegedly caught on tape offering money for sting operation against opposition Congress leaders in the poll-bound state. The commission has directed that S Rajesh Toppo, secretary and commissioner of public relations in the state government, be transferred from his present post "in context of alleged statements made by him", a spokesperson said. "The commission observed that such statements indicate partisan behaviour apart from use of uncivilised language unbecoming of a senior civil servant," the spokesperson said. Toppo was allegedly caught on tape asking a journalist to film a video of Congress members abusing one of their senior leaders. The official is purportedly heard saying that he is willing to spend some money for the sting video. The second phase polling in 72 assembly constituencies in Chhattisgarh will be held on November 20. The first phase polling in 18 ...
Parrikar should hand over charge, administration paralysed: BJP ally
Ailing Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar should hand over charge since the state administration under his leadership has been paralysed for eight months, a BJP ally said here on Saturday.
Sabarimala row: TDB to move SC on Monday
The Travancore Devaswom Board, which manages the Sabarimala shrine, would move the Supreme Court on Monday seeking more time to implement its order allowing women of menstrual age to offer prayers at the Lord Ayyappa temple. The TDB's move comes a day after the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government, at an all-party meeting, took a firm stand that it was bound to implement the top court order and rejected suggestions by opposition parties that it seek time from the court. "We will move the Supreme court on Monday through Advocate Chandra Uday Singh" TDB President A Padmakumar, told PTI. The board had Friday said it would move the apex court either Saturday or Monday seeking more time to implement the September 28 verdict of the top court allowing women of all age groups to offer prayers at the Sabarimala shrine as it wanted the devotees to have peaceful 'darshan'. The temple and surrounding areas have come under unprecedented security for the season which draws lakhs of devotees .
'If Acosta misbehaves, he'll be thrown out from pressers'
Reacting to a federal court's ruling which ordered the White House to reinstate CNN reporter Jim Acosta's press credentials, President Donald Trump on Friday warned the scribe that he could be thrown out if he "misbehaved" at future press conferences."Yeah, it's fine. I mean, it's not a big deal," Trump said in an interview with Fox News.US District Judge Timothy Kelly, in his ruling, ordered the White House to reinstate the scribe's press pass, thereby allowing him to cover events and pressers at the White House."What they said though is that we have to create rules and regulations for conduct, etc., etc. We're doing that, were going to write them up right now. It's not a big deal. And if he misbehaves, we'll throw him out or we'll stop the news conference," the US President was quoted by The Hill as saying.Recalling the verbal spat with Acosta, who is CNN's chief White House correspondent, Trump said, "We had a lot of reporters in that room, many, many reporters in that room and ...
NTR's grand-daughter receives family support for Telangana Assembly bid
TDP founder N.T. Rama Rao's grand-daughter N. Suhasini, who is contesting the next month's elections to Telangana Assembly, on Saturday received support from her brothers and popular Telugu actors Junior NTR and Kalyan Ram and uncle and veteran actor N. Balakrishna.
BJP releases fourth list of candidates for Telangana polls
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has released the fourth list of candidates for the upcoming Assembly Elections in Telangana.The decision was announced by Union Health Minister and Secretary of BJP's Central Election Commission, Jagat Prakash Nadda.With the announcement of the fourth list, the party has, so far, announced the names of 93 candidates out of 119 seats in poll-bound Telangana.On October 20, the BJP had announced its first list for Telangana polls and released the names of candidates for 38 constituencies. The second list comprising 28 candidates was released on November 3, while the third list containing names of 20 candidates was released on November 15.The Telangana Legislative Assembly Elections are scheduled to be held on December 7 to elect members from 119 constituencies. The counting of votes will take place on December 11.
J&K Panchayat polls: People vote for peace and development
Despite calls for boycott and terror threats, the people of Jammu and Kashmir have come out to exercise their electoral franchise in support of development in the ongoing first phase of the Panchayat elections on Saturday.People standing in serpentine queues outside the polling booths, especially in Balhama, Uri, Udhampur, Ganderbal, Manjakote and Panjgrain blocks, said that braving all obstacles are worth for the 'vote for development'.Speaking to ANI, Pervaiz Iqbal, a voter from Manjakote Block said that the people are casting their votes in order to strengthen democracy and bring peace in the region. "People living near the border areas want peace and development in the region. From the past couple of years, we are reeling under violence due to Pakistan's firing across the LoC. This time people want Sarpanches to exercise all their rights and work for the welfare of the people."Another voter named Azir Mohamad was of the view that Panchayat polls are imperative for strengthening ...
Pence says US to partner in Papua New Guinea military base
The United States said Saturday it will join forces with Australia in the development of a new naval base in Papua New Guinea, a project seen as a move to curb China's influence in the Pacific. Australia, which has long-standing military ties with the US, has already announced plans to redevelop PNG's Lombrum Naval Base on Manus island. Vice President Mike Pence said Saturday on a visit to Papua New Guinea, which is hosting the APEC regional summit. that the US would join forces in the project. "The United States will partner with Papua New Guinea and Australia on their joint initiative at Lombrum Naval Base," he said. "We will work with these two nations to protect sovereignty and maritime rights in the Pacific Islands." China has been showering billions of dollars in infrastructure loans on island nations in the Pacific, a region that is vital to international shipping and provides a stepping stone to project military and economic power. Australia has been critical of Beijing's ...
Pence slams China's 'opaque' chequebook diplomacy, trade practices
US Vice President Mike Pence pilloried China's "opaque" chequebook diplomacy in a combative speech Saturday, taking aim at Beijing's business practices and warning trade tariffs would remain in place. US-China trade tensions are likely to take centre stage at the APEC regional summit, with experts warning the spat could be catastrophic for the global economy, as the world's top two powers go head to head. In a wide-ranging swipe at Beijing that covered everything from China's massive "Belt and Road" infrastructure initiative to allegations of unfair trade practices, Pence encouraged Pacific nations to embrace the United States. Washington's diplomacy wouldn't involve a "constricting belt or a one-way road", he pointedly told CEOs from around the region. He also put China on notice that it would need to make concessions in the confrontation over trade. "We've put tariffs on USD 250 billion in Chinese goods and that number could more than double," he said. "We hope for better, but the ..
May appoints new Brexit secretary
UK Prime Minister Theresa May has appointed Stephen Barclay, a junior health minister, as the new Brexit Secretary.The development comes after Dominic Raab resigned from the post over the Brexit draft deal.May's spokesperson confirmed the news while adding that Barclay would primarily work on getting the British Parliament's approval for the draft Brexit agreement, while May would take care of negotiations with the European Union.Similarly, Amber Rudd was appointed as the work and pensions minister in place of Esther McVey who had also tendered in her resignation due to the draft Brexit deal recently agreed on by the UK and the EU.May has strongly defended her draft deal amid calls for no-confidence and a flurry of resignations."This is a deal that delivers on the priorities of the British people," May told reporters at a press conference held after she presented the draft agreement to the British Parliament where Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg launched a tirade against May while ...
US to accuse Iran of violating chemical weapons treaty
The Trump administration is poised to accuse Iran of violating an international treaty that bans chemical weapons, two US officials said Friday. The officials said the administration plans to announce next week that Iran is not complying with the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention, which outlaws the production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons. The non-compliance finding does not allege that Iran has used chemical weapons but rather that it has maintained facilities and equipment to produce them. The finding is based on recent intelligence, according to the officials who were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. The determination does not carry immediate US penalties but could be used to file a complaint against Iran at the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, The Hague-based 193-member body that oversees the treaty. Lawmakers were notified of the impending determination on Friday and an announcement is expected as ...