Page 2484 - Politics
Argentina detains 12 in bomb attacks ahead of G20
Argentine officials say they've arrested 12 presumed anarchists in connection with two homemade bomb attacks two weeks before world leaders gather in Buenos Aires for the Group of 20 summit. One bomb exploded Wednesday night near the mausoleum of a police chief assassinated by anarchists a century ago. A woman suspected of involvement was injured. In a second attack, a bag of explosives was thrown at the home of a judge. Those devices didn't go off until a controlled detonation by police. Security Minister Patricia Bullrich blames both on people with "an anarchist orientation." Officials haven't said if the attacks are aimed at the Nov. 30 summit, but Justice Minister German Garavano said security would be redoubled and a G20 summit coordinator said security was at maximum alert.
Rajasthan polls: Cong releases 1st list of 152 candidates
The Congress late Thursday night released its first list of 152 candidates for the December 7 Rajasthan Assembly elections, fielding former chief minister Ashok Gehlot from Sardarpura and state party president Sachin Pilot from Tonk seat. Gehlot and Pilot had on Wednesday made their intentions clear that they would contest the assembly polls along with senior state leaders. Former National Commission for Women chief Girija Vyas will contest from Udaipur, while senior party leader C P Joshi will be party nominee from the Nathdwara assembly seat. The Leader of Opposition in the Rajasthan Assembly, Rameshwar Lal Dudi, is the Congress's candidate from the Nokha assembly seat. AICC Secretary Harish Chaudhary will contest the polls from the Baytoo seat. Former BJP MP Harish Meena, who had switched over to the Congress on Wednesday, has been fielded from Deoli Uniara. The party's central election committee General Secretary Mukul Wasnik released the list after hectic deliberations with ...
UK PM May faces no confidence threat, Indian-origin minister quits in fresh Brexit jolt
Embattled British Prime Minister Theresa May on Thursday faced a possible "coup" after Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab, Indian-origin minister Shailesh Vara and two other ministers resigned from her divided Cabinet over UK's "half-baked" divorce deal with the EU even as she defended the draft despite a barrage of criticism. At a press conference in Downing Street, May said: "As far as I'm concerned, there will not be a second referendum". "I believe with every fibre of my being that the course I have set out is the right one for my country." she said. Amidst a spate of resignations, prominent Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg directly challenged 62-year-old May in the House of Commons. He later submitted a letter of no confidence in her leadership of the Conservative Party. Minutes after Vara stepped down as Northern Ireland minister, May was hit by a bigger blow as her Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab resigned from the Cabinet saying he "cannot in good conscience" support the draft of the ...
BMW says preparing for no-deal Brexit given political uncertainty
LONDON (Reuters) - Carmaker BMW said it was continuing to prepare for a no-deal Brexit, given uncertainty around Prime Minister Theresa May's deal after several of her ministers resigned in protest.
Morocco unveils Africa's first ever high speed train line
French President Emmanuel Macron and Morocco's King Mohammed VI have inaugurated Morocco's first high-speed rail line, the first ever such line in Africa. Known as the LGV, it will connect the economic hubs of Tangier and Casablanca in 2 hours 10 minutes at a speed of up to 320 kph (199 mph) instead of almost 5 hours on a regular train. The Moroccan and French leaders boarded the train in Tangier after they were handed tickets by Director General of the National Railway Office Mohamed Rabie Khlie, according to State agency MAP. They were expected to reach the country's capital, Rabat, 1 hour and 15 minutes later. The $2 billion project was launched in September 2011 by the king and Nicolas Sarkozy, then president of France. France financed 51 percent of the project, Morocco 28 percent and the remaining 21 percent was provided by Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. Macron's office said the Moroccan line is an international showcase for the French-made high-speed train. ..
Militant or poet? US sanctions Hezbollah leader's son
The son of Lebanon's Hezbollah leader designated by the U.S. State Department this week as a "global terrorist" is a poet and music lover who moves around without security and whose role within the group is shrouded in secrecy. Jawad Nasrallah, the 37-year-old father of four, is the second eldest son of Hassan Nasrallah who has been at the helm of the Iran-backed Shiite group since 1992. In its designation on Tuesday, the State Department described him as "the rising star of Hezbollah," saying he has recruited people to carry out terrorist attacks against Israel in the West Bank, and in January 2016 tried to activate a suicide bombing and shooting cell based there. The sanctions freeze any assets that those designated may have under U.S. jurisdiction and prohibit Americans from doing business with them.
White House Correspondents' group joins CNN lawsuit against White House
The White House Correspondents Association filed a petition in a US district court in support of the lawsuit filed by the CNN against the White House. CNN has sued the White House for the latter's suspension of the White House press pass of its top correspondent Jim Acosta. More than a dozen top American media organisations have come out in support of the CNN, which includes some of its rival cable news networks like Fox News. On Wednesday, the Department of Justice argued that President Donald Trump has unbridled authority to pick and choose for any reason those journalists who might cover him. "The brief highlights the danger posed to all journalists, and to the American public, if the President's claim is permitted to stand," said Olivier Knox, WHCA president. CNN is seeking a temporary restraint on the White House decision to revoke the hard pass of its reporter. Judge Timothy J Kelly, who had an oral argument about CNN on Wednesday, has rescheduled the next hearing for ...
US slaps sanctions on 17 Saudis for involvement in Khashoggi killing
The US on Thursday imposed sanctions on 17 individuals of Saudi Arabia for serious human rights abuse resulting from their roles in the "abhorrent" killing of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi at the kingdom's Consulate in Istanbul on October 2. The US designated Saud al-Qahtani, his subordinate Maher Mutreb, Saudi Consul General Mohammed Alotaibi, and 14 other members of an operations team for having a role in the killing of Khashoggi, a Washington Police columnist. "This action was taken under the authority of Executive Order 13818, which implements and builds upon the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act," US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Thursday. The Global Magnitsky Act empowers the US to take significant steps to protect and promote human rights and combat corruption around the world. As a result, all of these individuals' assets within the US jurisdiction are blocked, and US persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them. "At the .
US envoys calls on NC leader to discuss matters of "common interest"
A two-member team of Delhi-based US embassy Thursday called on National Conference provincial president Devender Singh Rana here to discuss matters of mutual and bilateral interest, a party spokesman said. Minister Counselor for Political Affairs in the United States embassy in New Delhi, Lesslie Viguerie, accompanied by Senior Political Advisor A Sukesh met Rana at the latter's residence, the spokesman said. During their interaction, Rana spoke on the National Conference's role in strengthening democracy in Jammu and Kashmir, bringing in land reforms, measures for female literacy, decentralisation of power, and involving people at the grass roots level in decision making processes, the spokesman said. "The spirit of inclusiveness is being promoted and sustained by NC president Farooq Abdullah and his son Omar Abdullah to transform Jammu and Kashmir into a vibrant state," the NC leader said.
Amnesty India alleges govt making attempt to tarnish its reputation
Amnesty India Thursday alleged that a deliberate attempt has been made to tarnish its reputation by leaking a dossier, supposedly made by investigating agencies, to the media without giving it access to any such information. Amnesty India's claim, made through a press statement and also posted on its website, follows reports in a section of media about proceedings launched by investigative agencies including the Enforcement Directorate against the rights body for alleged violations of rules pertaining to overseas donations. There was no reaction from the ED or any other agency. In its statement, Amnesty India called for an immediate end to this "smear campaign and an independent inquiry into the selective leaks of information that are fuelling this smear campaign". "The latest leak of a dossier on Amnesty India by the Enforcement Directorate based on its ongoing investigations, indicates a deliberate attempt by the government to tarnish Amnesty India's reputation," the statement ...
Pak PM Imran's party snatches 2 Parliamentary seats from Sharif's PML-N in by-polls
Prime Minister Imran Khan's ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party bagged two more Senate seats in the by-polls held in Punjab province Thursday, improving its tally in the upper house to 14. Both seats had fallen vacant following disqualification of two Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senators - Haroon Akhtar and Sadia Abbasi by the Supreme Court for holding dual nationalities. Abbasi is the wife of former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. After losing two seats in the Senate, the strength of the PML-N led by deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif has reduced to 17.
BJP releases 3rd list of candidates for Telangana polls
The BJP Thursday released its third list of candidates for the Telangana assembly polls. The party, which is going it alone in the December 7 elections to the 119-member assembly, had earlier released two lists of 66 candidates. Party chief Amit Shah had kicked off the party's campaign for the Telangana polls on September 15 at Mahabubnagar and had addressed another rally at Karimnagar last month. The BJP had five MLAs in the recently dissolved state assembly and all of them have been renominated.
Tharoor tears into BJP over Sabrimala, says it practices politics of polarization
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Thursday accused Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of indulging in politics of polarisation. He also claimed that the BJP will be fighting the 2019 general elections on communal lines."BJP has got a nationwide strategy of polarisation. They are going to fight the next elections on communal lines. On Sabarimala, they could have easily found a solution through the national parliament or an ordinance or whatever but they want trouble on street. The Congress is trying to walk a middle course, we are with the believers but we want to follow legal course", Tharoor told ANI.He also lambasted BJP while replying to a question on his 'chaiwala' remark, which he made yesterday.During a speech made on the occasion of birth anniversary of India's first Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru, he credited the institutional structure created by Nehru for enabling a tea-seller to become country's prime minister."Prime Minister Modi has always talked of his humble background, and
Denied ticket, Cong Telangana leader protests outside Rahul's house
Former Hyderabad Mayor and Congress leader Banda Karthika Reddy, along with her husband Chandra Reddy, on Thursday sat in protest outside party chief Raul Gandhi's residence after she was denied a ticket to contest the forthcoming Telangana assembly elections.Speaking to ANI, Reddy said, "The both of us work for the party, my husband and me. We have done a lot of work for the party's progress in the Secunderabad constituency. My husband used to work in the NSUI Youth Congress, following which I entered the local bodies after my division reservation. The Congress gave me a chance and I became the Mayor."She further stated that the party denied her a chance to contest the 2014 elections as only sitting Members of Legislative Assembly (MLA) were being given tickets, adding that they also did not uphold their promise of giving her a Member of Legislative Council (MLC) ticket."Now that the elections are around again, they said they will conduct a survey (for selecting candidates), to which
PM Modi's visit to Nepal cancelled
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Nepal which was scheduled for next month has been cancelled, an Indian Mission source in Nepal told ANI."Less than a month is remaining for his expected visit to Nepal but we haven't received any internal memos and directives as of before which is very unusual and now we have been informed that his visit has been cancelled," the source from Indian Embassy in Kathmandu informed.As per the source, Prime Minister Modi's visit to Nepal was cancelled due to his busy schedule and increasing election fever in India for next year's general election."There used to be briefing and allotment of the embassy staffs to field for preparations and set out all the events on the place before a month of visit. This time there was no such events and we had suspected of high-level visit cancellation which is confirmed today (Thursday) only," the source added.Prime Minister Narendra Modi was expected to visit the Himalayan Nation on the occasion of Bibah ...
No Muslim among 162 BJP candidates in Rajasthan: Is party back to Hindutva?
Of the 162 BJP candidates, announced so far in two instalments for the 200-member Rajasthan Assembly polling for which is due on December 7, one absence the observers have marked is of any Muslim candidate, strengthening the perception that the party is playing the Hindutva card.
BJP Lok Sabha member from Ladakh quits party
Thupstan Chhewang, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Lok Sabha member from Ladakh constituency, resigned from the party on Thursday.
Quad discusses cooperation in Indo-Pacific, regional issues
Officials of the quad, revived last year comprising India, the US, Japan, and Australia that seeks to work for peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region, met in Singapore on Thursday on the sidelines of this year's East Asia Summit.
NITI Aayog constitutes Himalayan State Regional Council
Government think tank NITI Aayog said Thursday it has constituted the Himalayan State Regional Council' to ensure sustainable development of the Himalayan region. The Council has been constituted to review and implement identified action points based on the Reports of five Working Groups, which were established along thematic areas to prepare a roadmap for action, a NITI statement said. The Himalayan State Regional Council will be chaired by the Dr VK Saraswat, Member, NITI Aayog and will consist of the Chief Secretaries of the Himalayan States as well as the Secretaries of key Central Ministries, senior officers of NITI Aayog as well as special invitees.
BJP expels 53 leaders for indiscipline, anti-party activities
The BJP on Thursday expelled 53 rebel party leaders, including former Union minisrter Sartaj Singh, ex-minister Ramkrishna Kusmaria, for anti-party activities and indiscipline.