Page 2501 - Politics
Pence says Myanmar's handling of Rohingya 'without excuse'
Myanmar's leader Aung San Suu Kyi has rebuffed criticism over her government's treatment of its ethnic Rohingya Muslims. US Vice President Mike Pence told Suu Kyi on Wednesday that the violence, which led more than 700,000 of the country's Rohingya minority to flee for Bangladesh since August 2017, was "without excuse." Pence also said Myanmar's arrests and convictions of two Reuters journalists was "deeply troubling" to millions of Americans. Pence and Suu Kyi met on the sidelines of the annual summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Singapore. Pence said the meeting was at Suu Kyi's request. Suu Kyi said only Myanmar was in a position to explain what happened and how it saw things, just as Americans could best understand what is happening there.
AIADMK unveils new statue of Jaya at party HQ in Chennai
The ruling AIADMK unveiled a new statue of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa at its headquarters here Wednesday, months after the earlier one was criticised for not resembling the former party supremo. According to a party release, AIADMK coordinator O Panneerselvam and Joint Coordinator K Palaniswami paid floral tributes to the 'refurbished' statue of Jayalalithaa, in the presence of senior leaders, including MPs and state ministers. Palaniswami is the chief minister of Tamil Nadu and Panneerselvam is his deputy. The two leaders also felicitated sculptor Rajkumar Udayar who designed the statue, it said. A life-size statue of the leader was unveiled by the two leaders on February 24, coinciding with Jayalalithaa's 70th birth anniversary. However, it drew criticism from various quarters that it bore little resemblance to Jayalalithaa following which the party decided to go in for a new one. Accordingly, the new statue was unveiled Wednesday, and is placed near that of party founder .
In a first, Trump invites Indian envoy to share podium at White House Diwali event
US President Donald Trump created history of sorts when he invited Indian Ambassador Navtej Singh Sarna to share the podium with him at the White House Diwali event. In fact, Trump's body language, his remarks and the atmospherics inside the Roosevelt Room of the White House where he lit the ceremonial 'Diya' to celebrate his second annual Diwali on Tuesday, reflected the significance he attaches to the India-US relationship. "We're very close. I think closer maybe than ever before," Trump said at the White House Diwali event as he praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and described him as his "great friend". "We love your country," the president told the Indian Ambassador. "I have great, great respect for, as you know, Prime Minister Modi -- tremendous respect. So just please give my warmest regards," he said, adding that he would soon be talking to Modi. "It was a great honour to participate in the Diwali function," Sarna told PTI after the event where he was seen standing alongside .
Social media users express ire against Basanth Rath's transfer
Social media users in Kashmir expressed their anger against the transfer of IGP Traffic Basant Kumar Rath and blamed Mayor of Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) Junaid Mattu for government's decision to remove the highly popular IPS officer. Rath, who is credited with streamlining the traffic system in Jammu and Kashmir in less than one year of being appointed as IGP Traffic, was shunted out Tuesday. The government's decision came just four days after a Twitter spat between the IPS officer of 2000 batch and SMC mayor Junaid Mattu, leading to an outcry that he used his clout with the governor's administration to have him removed. A Twitter user ran an online poll asking people to vote in favour of the person they support in this spat. "They say, elected leader is more powerful than IAS/IPS. Let Kashmiris vote. Given a chance, who would they vote for?" Amit Tyagi, a frequent traveller to Kashmir, wrote in his post along with the poll. Many users voted in favour of Rath. Another user, .
INLD chief expels son Ajay Chautala
Taking a strong stance on the growing family feud within the INLD, party supremo Om Prakash Chautala expelled his elder son Ajay Singh Chautala from the primary membership of the party for "anti-party activities".
BJP welcomes Uddhav's decision to visit Ayodhya: Danve
Maharashtra BJP president Raosaheb Danve Wednesday said his party welcomed Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray's decision to visit Ayodhya later this month. He was talking to reporters here as part of his tour of Thane, Kalyan and Bhiwandi to take stock of the party's preparedness for the Lok Sabha elections next year. Replying to a query whether the Sena has hijacked the Ram temple issue from the BJP, Danve said, "Nobody can hijack issues. They do their party's work and we do ours...We welcome Uddhav Thackeray's decision to visit Ayodhya." Thackeray had announced in his party's Vijayadashmi rally in Mumbai that he would visit Ayodhya on November 25 and "question" Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the temple construction issue. Replying to a query related to BJP MLA Anil Gote, who has announced his resignation as member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly as well as from the BJP, alleging that "criminals" were being inducted into the party, Danve said such things ...
Rafale hearing in SC: Prashant Bhushan challenges secrecy argument
Supreme Court of India on Wednesday morning began the crucial hearing of the Rafale deal row. A three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi, Justice S K Kaul and K M Joseph are hearing a bunch of petitions pertaining to the Central government's Rafale deal with French aviation company Dassault.One of the petitioners, Advocate ML Sharma asserted that reports filed by the government in the court revealed "serious fraud" in the decision making process after May 2015. He also urged that the matter should be heard by a five-judge bench.Later, the counsel appearing for Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sanjay Singh told to the apex court that pricing of the Rafale deal were revealed in the Parliament twice, hence, the submission of government that the details cannot be made public was not acceptable. Thereafter Senior Supreme Court lawyer, Prashant Bhushan, argued that there are various anomalies in the deal.Bhushan, appearing for former Union minister and one of the ..
Trump names Indian-American woman to prestigious judgeship
US President Donald Trump has announced that he is nominating an Indian-American woman, Neomi Rao, to the senior judgeship that was vacated by Brett Kavanaugh when he was elevated to the Supreme Court.
US, India can be a "bulwark" for freedom, prosperity and peace, says Trump as he celebrates Diwali
President Donald Trump on Tuesday said US' relationship with India can act as a "bulwark" for freedom, prosperity and peace as he celebrated Diwali in the White House along with eminent Indian-Americans. It is the second consecutive year that President Trump has celebrated the largest festival of India and Indian Americans in the White House. Trump said he was thrilled to celebrate Diwali at the White House. "I'm honoured to host this beautiful ceremony at the White House. Very, very special people. We're gathered today to celebrate a very special holiday observed by Buddhist, Sikhs and Jains throughout the United States and around the world. "This ceremony signifies the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil. It is a jubilant occasion that brings loved ones, neighbours, and communities closer together," Trump said before lighting the ceremonial diya in the historic Roosevelt Room of the White House. He said the shining lights remind people to "seek wisdom, to give thanks, .
Kovind, Modi, Sonia pay tributes to Nehru
President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi were among others who along with UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday paid tributes to the nation's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru on his birth anniversary.
BJP's Dausa MP Harish Chandra Meena joins Congress
In a setback to the BJP in Rajasthan, the party's MP from Dausa Harish Chandra Meena joined the Congress on Wednesday. Meena joined the Congress in the presence of former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot, Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee chief Sachin Pilot and AICC's state in-charge Avinash Pande. "I am happy that Harish Meena has decided to join the Congress in such times. I welcome him in the Congress fold," Gehlot said at a press conference. Pilot and Gehlot said both of them will contest December 7 polls along with other senior leaders of the state. "We are all united. It is BJP's conspiracy to spread false news that the Congress is divided," Gehlot said. In his remarks, Pilot attacked Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, saying she had betrayed the trust of the people of the state. Pilot said the tension was evident in the BJP camp with many senior leaders sidelined and not given tickets, showing that "all is not well".
Coup-plagued Fiji goes to the polls
Fiji's second election since a 2006 military takeover -- pitting one coup leader against another -- passed off peacefully Wednesday, although heavy rain dampened voter turnout in the Pacific island nation. The ballot sees Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, the former military chief who led a bloodless takeover of the government 12 years ago, face off against another coup leader, Sitiveni Rabuka of the SODELPA Party. Bainimarama's FijiFirst Party, which secured a landslide 59 percent in the last election four years ago, is favourite to retain office against a fractured opposition. Bainimarama, 64, has promised stability and an end to the "coup culture" that saw four governments toppled between 1987 and 2006. Rabuka, who staged two coups in 1987 and led the country from 1992-99, was only cleared to run in the election on Monday after defeating corruption charges that government critics said were politically motivated. Torrential rain forced the closure of 23 polling stations and affected
UN to lift sanctions on Eritrea
The UN Security Council will on Wednesday vote to lift sanctions on Eritrea following a landmark peace deal with Ethiopia and a thaw with Djibouti that have buoyed hopes for positive change in the Horn of Africa. Diplomats say they expect the council to unanimously adopt a British-drafted resolution that would lift the arms embargo and all travel bans, asset freezes and targeted sanctions on Eritrea. The council slapped sanctions on Eritrea in 2009 for its alleged support of Al-Shabaab insurgents in Somalia, a claim Asmara has long denied. The draft resolution acknowledges that UN monitors have "not found conclusive evidence that Eritrea supports Al-Shabaab" and declares that the sanctions and arms embargo will end on the day of the adoption of the measure. Eritrea and Ethiopia signed a peace deal in July that ended two decades of hostility and led to friendlier relations with Djibouti, shoring up prospects for stability in the Horn of Africa. The draft resolution calls on Eritrea and
Trump nominates new ambassador to Saudi Arabia
United States President Donald Trump on Tuesday nominated retired Army General John P. Abizaid of Nevada as Washington's ambassador to Riyadh.A White House Press Release stated that the new ambassador was a four-star general and the longest serving commander of United States Central Command. He also served as the Director of Strategic Plans and Policy on the Joint Staff and the Director of the Joint Staff.General Abizaid has also received the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Army Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, and the Bronze Star.The United States has not had an ambassador to Saudi Arabia since Trump took office in January 2017.The appointment comes two days after State Secretary Michael R Pompeo spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and said that the US would hold people involved in the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi accountable.The United States has strategic and important partnership with Saudi Arabia but following the killing of ...
If citizenship bill passed, Assam's youth will start 'armed revolution': ULFA pro-talk faction
The pro-talk faction of the ULFA has cautioned the central and the Assam governments against "playing with the sentiments" of indigenous people over the citizenship bill, saying any attempt for its passage will compel the state's youths to join an "armed revolution". The top leadership of the faction also slammed the Sarbananda Sonowal-led government for blaming the group for the recent killing of five Bengali-speaking persons in Assam's Tinsukia district and, therefore, "portraying" the group in negative light. The pro-talk United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) claimed that following the Tinsukia killings, the arrest of its senior leaders Jiten Dutta and Mrinal Hazarika "without any proof" will further create divide and disturbance in the society. There have been several protests in the state over the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2016, which seeks to grant citizenship to people from minority communities -- Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians -- from Afghanistan,
Sri Lanka: No-confidence motion against PM Rajapaksa passed
The Sri Lankan Parliament on Wednesday passed a no-confidence motion against the government of the newly-sworn Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa.The motion was handed over to the Parliament speaker Karu Jayasuriya by Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) party.Daily Mirror quoted Speaker Karu Jayasuriya as saying, "Government has no majority in the parliament."Jayasuriya also announced that the no-confidence motion against Mahinda Rajapaksa's government has been passed in the Parliament.This comes a day after The Supreme Court of Sri Lanka issued an interim order staying the proclamation issued by President Maithripala Sirisena to dissolve the country's Parliament.The South-Asian island country has been in a state of political and constitutional turmoil since President Sirisena sacked Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and replaced him with the former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
President Kovind, PM Modi, Sonia pay tributes to Nehru on birth anniversary
President Ram Nath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday paid tributes to India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru on his 129th birth anniversary. Nehru was born to Motilal Nehru and Swaroop Rani on November 14, 1889, in Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh and his birthday is celebrated as Children's Day. He remained in office until his death in 1964. Former president Pranab Mukherjee, former vice president Hamid Ansari, former prime minister Manmohan Singh and Gandhi paid their respects to Nehru at Shantivan. "Remembering Shri Jawaharlal Nehru, our first Prime Minister, on his birth anniversary," read a post on the official Twitter handle of the President Kovind . Modi recalled Nehru's contribution in India's freedom struggle and during his tenure as prime minister. "Remembering our first Prime Minister, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on his birth anniversary. We recall his contribution to our freedom struggle and during his tenure as Prime ...
India votes against UNGA draft resolution on use of death penalty
India has voted against a UN General Assembly draft resolution on the use of death penalty, saying it goes against the statutory law of the country where an execution is carried out in the "rarest of rare" cases. The draft resolution, taken up in the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian, Cultural) of the General Assembly Tuesday, was approved with a recorded vote of 123 in favour, 36 against and 30 abstentions. India was among the countries that voted against the resolution, which would have the Assembly call on all States to respect international standards on the rights of those facing death penalty and ensure that it is not applied on the basis of discriminatory laws or as a result of discriminatory or arbitrary application of the law. First Secretary in India's Permanent Mission to the UN Paulomi Tripathi, giving the country's explanation of vote, said the resolution sought to promote a moratorium on executions with the aim of abolishing death penalty. "My delegation has voted ...
Spotify launches in the Middle East and North Africa
DUBAI (Reuters) - Spotify, the world's most popular paid music streaming service, officially launched in the Middle East and North Africa on Tuesday.
Telangana polls: 'Pink fight' over ballot paper colour
Pink colour which largely represents women in certain categories has become a subject of controversy in the run-up to Telangana elections as the Election commission decided to continue to use the colour for ballot papers on EVMs in the December 7 Assembly polls. The colour 'gives jitters' to the Congress as K Chandrasekhar Rao-led Telangana Rashtra Samiti uses pink as the party's official colour scheme for all its promotional material. Leaders including KCR always wear pink scarf around their neck during party functions. There were representations to the EC from Congress not to use the colour as they feel it may influence voters towards the TRS party. Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) chief spokesperson Dasoju Sravan sarcastically said, "the Commission seems to have infected with some pink disease." Sravan alleged thatEC represented by the Deputy Chief Electoral Officer issued orders for printing 90 lakh ballot papers in 'pink' colour. "We openly raised red ...