Page 2475 - Politics
Trade war will have no winners: Xi
China's President Xi Jinping said here on Saturday that the world needs common rules of global governance that do not respond to "selfish agendas" and warned that a trade war will have no winners.
Polling begins in Jammu and Kashmir panchayat election
Polling for the first phase of panchayat election in Jammu and Kashmir began Saturday amidst stringent security arrangements. Voting began at 8 AM at 3,296 polling stations -- 1,303 in Kashmir and 1,993 in Jammu -- and would end at 2 PM, officials said. They said 687 polling stations have been categorized as "hypersensitive", including 491 in Kashmir division and 196 in Jammu division. The officials said that in the first phase polling, 85 sarpanch and 1,676 panch have been elected unopposed while voting is taking place on the remaining 420 sarpanch and 1,845 panch seats, for which 5,585 candidates are in the fray. They said there are 4,45,059 electors for sarpanch seats and 2,72,792 for panch constituencies. All necessary arrangements are in place for the smooth conduct of the polls, the officials said, adding massive security arrangements, including deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), have been made to ensure peaceful election. The government has declared holiday on ...
J-K Panchayat Elections: Voting begins for first phase
Voting has begun in as many as 47 blocks in Jammu and Kashmir as part of the first phase of Panchayat elections in the state.Out of the 47 blocks, 21 are in the Jammu region, 16 in Kashmir valley and 10 blocks in Ladakh region.In order to ensure smooth polling, heavy security arrangements have been made with scores of security personnel deployed at every polling booth.A total of 58.54 lakh voters spread across 316 blocks will be casting their votes between today and December 17.Dr R.K. Manahas, Returning Officer said, "There is enthusiasm amongst the voters. We are fully prepared, we are hopeful that voting will be conducted peacefully."Polling is being conducted amidst boycott calls given by the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and the National Conference NC) on account of disagreements with the Centre over Article 35 A.Article 35(A) article of the Indian Constitution gives the State Legislature of Jammu and Kashmir the power to define the 'Permanent Residents' of the State. The State
Baloch students protest in Islamabad, Karachi; demand immediate release of missing persons
Baloch students in Islamabad and Karachi have carried out protests in solidarity with the families of Baloch missing persons.Supporting Baloch family members who are on hunger strike outside the Quetta Press Club for the past two weeks, the students demanded an immediate release of thousands of Baloch and Pashtun activists, who, they claim, have been kidnapped and tortured by Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and the army.In Islamabad, the protestors marched through various streets chanting slogans against the judiciary and government for failing to take notice of the "alarming situation".The protestors said that their protest was in solidarity with women and children who have been protesting in the cold weather of Quetta for their loved ones.Strongly criticising the role of Balochistan's provincial government, the protestors said that the government has been "totally indifferent to the grave issue of missing persons".Separately, Baloch students also protested in front of Karachi ...
Saudi Crown Prince ordered Khashoggi's killing: CIA
The CIA has concluded that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman personally ordered the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, despite the Saudi government's denials that the de facto ruler was involved, according to a senior US official.
PM Modi to attend Ibrahim Solih's swearing-in at Maldives today
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend Maldives' President-elect Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's swearing-in ceremony today in the island-nation.Just a day before his scheduled visit, Prime Minister Modi had written a post on Facebook, saying "I am delighted to visit Male, the capital of the Republic of Maldives, our close and friendly neighbour, to attend the historic Inauguration Ceremony of President-elect H.E. Ibrahim Mohamed Solih."He further congratulated Solih and added that the recent elections in the island nation "represents the collective aspirations of the people of the Republic of Maldives for democracy, rule of law and a prosperous future"."India and Maldives share a strong partnership rooted in history, strong bonds between our peoples, and their shared aspiration for peace and prosperity. My Government's vision of inclusive development 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikaas' extends to all our neighbours too. We in India strongly desire to see a democratic, prosperous and peaceful ...
Khashoggi's killing ordered by Saudi Crown Prince, says CIA
The United States' Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has inferred that Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the killing of senior journalist Jamal Khashoggi.Quoting anonymous sources, The Washington Post reported that the intelligence agency came to the conclusion after examining various evidence, including a phone call between the Saudi Crown Prince's brother Khalid bin Salman and Khashoggi, during which Khalid, the Saudi Ambassador to the US, urged the journalist to visit the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to collect his paperwork, assuring him of utmost safety.Sources close to the investigation claim that the call by Khalid was made under Mohammed's direction.Both the Crown Prince and King of Saudi Arabia, Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, met the deceased journalist's son Salah Khashoggi at the Al Yamamah Palace in Riyadh to condole his death on October 23. The Crown Prince has also previously condoled Khashoggi's death and had said that Saudi Arabia was carrying out ..
'PM Modi, CM Shivraj are like double engines of a train'
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president Amit Shah has said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan are like "double engines of a train.""Prime Minister Modi and Chief Minister Shivraj are like double engines of a train. Earlier, Chouhan was pulling the development cart alone. Now, Prime Minister Modi's engine is pulling his cart on road to development," Shah said while addressing a rally in Tikamgarh district on Friday.Taking a jibe at the Congress, Shah said that if anybody wants to learn the art of dreaming, they should learn it from the Congress party."The Congress is dreaming that they will form a government in Madhya Pradesh. If anybody wants to learn the art of dreaming, they should learn that from the Congress party. I cannot understand how can they even imagine that they will change the government in Madhya Pradesh," he said.The BJP chief held poll meetings in Tikamgarh, Sagar and Damoh district asking people to vote for his party ...
Iraq restarts some Kirkuk oil exports after year-long halt
LONDON/BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq on Friday restarted exports of Kirkuk oil, halted a year ago due to a standoff between the central government and Kurdistan's semi-autonomous region, after a new government in Baghdad agreed a tentative deal with Erbil.
Hamas chief warns Israel not to wage offensive on Gaza
Chief of Islamic Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip, Yehia Sinwar on Friday warned Israel not to wage any future military offensive on the enclave that his movement has been ruling since 2007, media reported.
Thousands rally in Slovakia in support of protest organizers
Thousands are rallying across Slovakia to condemn police questioning of people who organized recent massive anti-government protests. Slovaks have repeatedly taken to the streets in great numbers in protests triggered by the slaying of an investigative reporter and his fiancee earlier this year. The protests led to the collapse of a coalition government led by Prime Minister Robert Fico. Police say they had to act after receiving an anonymous criminal complaint. Protest organizers say the complaint accused them of attempting to stage a coup and corruption. It also suggested they were paid by US philanthropist George Soros, something that Fico repeatedly alleged. Organizer Karolina Farska told a crowd of more than 10,000 protesters in Bratislava on Friday that, "We won't give up.
Iran remains confident it can sidestep sanctions: Deputy FM
Iran's deputy foreign minister for political affairs has expressed confidence that the Persian nation can find a way around the US' sanctions regime and thereby prevent the nuclear deal from collapsing.
US appreciates DPRK's release of American citizen: Pompeo
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday said that the US appreciates the release of an American citizen by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).
Northern Irish businesses put pressure on DUP by backing Brexit deal
BELFAST (Reuters) - Northern Irish business groups lined up to back Prime Minister Theresa May's draft Brexit agreement on Friday and put pressure on her allies from the British province to drop their staunch opposition to the plan.
MP: Unhappy with ticket distribution, BJP legislator joins Congress
Disgruntled over not being selected to contest the upcoming Madhya Pradesh assembly elections, Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Pramila Singh has quit the party and joined the Congress.Pramila, who was a BJP MLA from Jaisingh Nagar constituency in Shahdol district, was inducted into the Congress in the presence of senior party leader Ajay Singh.Speaking to ANI, the newly-inducted Congress leader claimed that although the BJP boasted of women empowerment, it did not grant her a ticket to contest the polls even though she served the people and the party for five years."The government talks about empowering women, but they have not given a ticket to a woman who served people and the Bharatiya Janata Party for five years. I have joined the Congress now. I don't want to do politics but work for the welfare of people," she said.Madhya Pradesh will go to polls on November 28 to elect 230 members of the legislative assembly. The results will be declared on ...
May names Steve Barclay as new Brexit Secretary
UK's Prime Minister Theresa May on Friday chose a replacement Brexit secretary a day after the previous incumbent quit over the Conservative Party leader's provisional deal on the UK's withdrawal from the European Union.
USA, UK meet industry leaders to reinforce sanctions on N Korea
Amid reports of North Korea's successful testing of a new high-tech tactical weapon, representatives from the United States and the United Kingdom met with industry leaders in London to discuss steps that the private sector can take to prevent North Korea's sanction evasion activities which fuel its UN-prohibited nuclear and missile programs."The presentations focused on topics such as North Korean sanctions evasion tactics, public-private sector cooperation, and enhanced due diligence approaches for the maritime insurance industry," a media note released by the US Department of State said.The meeting featured presentations by representatives from the U.S. Department of State, the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office, the UN Panel of Experts on North Korea, international research institutions, and the maritime insurance industry. "As part of the event, participants discussed mechanisms to enhance cooperation between the private sector, governments, and the UN to detect and disrupt ...
Trump seeks 'decorum' from reporters in White House
US President Donald Trump on Friday sought "decorum" from White House reporters and asserted that he wants total freedom of press. His statement came after a federal US court ordered the White House to immediately reinstate the press credentials of CNN's correspondent Jim Acosta in a ruling seen as a major victory for mediapersons. Trump said: "Just people have to behave and they have to do -- we're writing up rules and regulations to make our position". The press pass of Acosta, CNN's White House Correspondent, was suspended last week after an altercation he had with President Donald Trump during a news conference. The White House had accused him of placing his hand on an intern. Acosta and the CNN has denied the allegations. White House temporarily reinstated Acosta's press pass. Soonafter, the CNN correspondent was back on the White House grounds for his daily reporting. Trump warned that reporters if they don't listen to the rules and regulations, "we'll end up back in court" and .
White House agrees to temporarily return Acosta's press pass
The US White House has said it will "temporarily reinstate" CNN reporter Jim Acosta's press pass in response to Federal Judge Timothy Kelly's order, while insisting that "there must be decorum at the White House."
Defence attaches expressed 'satisfaction' over situation in Ladakh: Army
Northern Army commander Lt Gen Ranbir Singh Friday said defence and military attaches who visited forward areas along the Sino-India border in Ladakh in October as part of a "familiarisation tour" had expressed satisfaction about the situation there. The General Officer Commanding in Chief (GoC-In-C), Northern Command, said the armies of India and China will undertake a military exercise in December in China which was a regular annual feature. "They (defence and military attaches) have been able to come and see the situation in Ladakh. Therefore, they were satisfied about the situation and the activities of the government of the state and security forces," Singh said here. He was replying to a question posed by PTI about the tour which was held for defence and military attaches from 22 countries to Leh and surrounding areas close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China to "familiarise them" with the situation in the forward areas. "This is part of an outreach program at the ...