Page 2502 - Politics
Lankan parliament votes against Prime Minister Rajapaksa
In a major setback to President Maithripala Sirisena, the Sri Lankan parliament on Wednesday voted against newly-appointed Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa's government. The parliament has approved a no-trust vote against Prime Minister Rajapaksa, speaker of parliament Karu Jayasuriya announced in the House. "According to the voice, I recognise that the government has no majority," Jayasuriya announced as Rajapaksa backers protested.
President Kovind, PM Modi remember Nehru on his birth anniversary
President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday paid their tributes to the first prime minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru, on his 129th birth anniversary.President Kovind took to his official Twitter handle and wrote, "Remembering Shri Jawaharlal Nehru, our first Prime Minister, on his birth anniversary #PresidentKovind."Prime Minister Modi, on the other hand, also remembered Nehru on his birth anniversary by recalling his contribution in India's freedom struggle."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 Minister," the Prime Minister, who is currently in Singapore to attend the 13th East Asia Summit(EAS), tweeted.Meanwhile, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu also paid homage to 'Chacha Nehru'."Tributes to the first Prime Minister of India and a visionary, Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru on his birth anniversary, today. The nation remembers the ...
PM Modi meets US Vice President Pence in Singapore
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met US Vice President Mike Pence in Singapore on Wednesday on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit and the two leaders are expected to discuss bilateral ties, including defence cooperation and the need for maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific. Modi began his two-day visit to the country where he will also attend the East Asia Summit, an ASEAN-India informal meet, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership summit. The two leaders are expected to discuss bilateral defence cooperation and a common vision for maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific, official sources said. Pence will be representing President Donald Trump at the ASEAN and East Asia Summit in Singapore. Prmie Minister Modi will also attend the 13th East Asia Summit (EAS) and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Summit hosted by Singapore as the current Chair of ASEAN grouping. As strategic partners, India and ASEAN enjoy close trade and economic relations. Trade between .
Italy defiant on budget plans, deficit
The Italian Economy Minister Giovanni Tria has informed the European Commission that his government will maintain the General Budget for 2019 despite an increased deficit of 2.4 per cent.
AFC warns Iran over government interference in football
The Asian Football Confederation has warned Iran they could face sanctions ahead of January's Asian Cup over government interference in their national football association. It follows the Iranian parliament passing a law barring the employment of retirees in government, state or public institutions which use state funds or facilities. Local media reported that the law applied to the current president of the Iranian Football Federation (FFIRI) Mahdi Taj and a number of other board members. The AFC said in a statement issued late Tuesday that they were "closely monitoring the current issues" and that the FFIRI stressed that it was a non-governmental organisation. "All Member Associations must fulfil their duties without any third party interference either from the Government or the Parliament," said the statement. "The AFC has a zero tolerance policy towards any third party interference in their Member Associations and hopes that, with less than two months to the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019,
Hariri blames Hezbollah for obstructing government formation
The Lebanese Prime Minister-designate on Tuesday blamed the Shiite group Hezbollah for hindering the formation of a new government in the Arab country which has been unable to produce a governing coalition since May.
Gaza Strip violence: Palestinian groups conditionally agree to ceasefire
Palestinian groups in violence-stricken Gaza Strip have agreed to a ceasefire mediated by Egypt with Israel on the condition that Israel respects it as well."Egypt's efforts have been able to achieve a ceasefire between the resistance and the Zionist enemy," a statement issued by the Palestinian groups read. "The resistance will respect this declaration as long as the Zionist enemy respects it," the statement highlighted, according to Al Jazeera.Celebrations ensued after the announcement in Gaza City, with Palestinians spilling out into the streets for the declaration of victory.The Hamas-led groups accepted the truce on Tuesday to "restart the situation that prevailed up until this latest military escalation." It was further reported that "the Israelis do not confirm or deny such things, but Israeli media are reporting, citing an unnamed official, that Palestinian factions tried through four separate mediators to request a ceasefire".Ismail Haniya, a senior Hamas official, had ...
Hyderabad HC permits protest at Dharna Chowk for 6 weeks
The Hyderabad High Court on Tuesday passed an order directing the Telangana government to allow protests to be held at Dharna Chowk near Indira Park here for a period of six weeks.Dharna Chowk, which was one of the major points of protest in the city, was closed down by the state government about a year and a half ago citing law and order as a reason.A division bench of the High Court passed the order after taking up suo motu a letter written by a former university professor, Congress leader V. Hanumantha Rao and CPI leader Chada Venkat Reddy.The court further said that it will hear the case after six weeks.After the court's verdict, Rao, while speaking to ANI, welcomed the court's verdict and accused the Kalvakuntla Chandrashekar Rao's (KCR) government of closing the Chowk just to silence the voice of the opposition parties.Telangana Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Krishna Sagar Rao also welcomed the move and said that the court's verdict is a slap on the KCR government's ..
MP: Cong files complaint against BJP over 'misleading' advertisement
The Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee has filed a complaint before the Chief Electoral Officer VL Kantharao against an advertisement published by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in newspapers on Tuesday.The Congress party has alleged that the advertisement published by the BJP depicts a misleading picture of an eight-lane road, which is nowhere in Madhya Pradesh.The party claimed that by publishing such pictures, the ruling party in the state is trying to influence the voters, which is a violation of Model Code of Conduct (MCC).Madhya Pradesh will go to polls on November 28 to elect members to 230 constituencies. Results will be declared on December 11.
PM Modi reaches Singapore for East Asia Summit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Singapore to attend the 13th East Asia Summit(EAS) on Wednesday morning.Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted, "Good morning Singapore! PM @narendramodi arrives in Singapore, his second visit to the Lion City this year, to attend 13th #EastAsiaSummit & associated meetings. This is PM's fifth engagement at #EastAsiaSummit."The Prime Minister was welcomed with a thunderous applause outside his hotel amid loud cheers of 'Vande Mataram' and 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai'.During the two-day visit, Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to attend the 16th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-India Breakfast Summit, and the 2nd Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Summit. He is also a keynote speaker at the Singapore FinTech Festival.Apart from these engagements, several bilateral meetings are on the Prime Minister's agenda, including a meeting with the United States Vice President Mike Pence.Prime Minister Modi ...
TPCC President faces flak for alleged 'dynasty politics'
A day after the Congress Party released their first list of 65 candidates for the forthcoming assembly polls in the state, the opposition parties have accused Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president N Uttam Kumar Reddy of practicing dynasty politics.The accusation was leveled after the Congress party announced that in the upcoming elections, N Uttam Kumar Reddy will contest from Huzurnagar constituency while his wife, N. Padmavathi Reddy, has been fielded from Kodad Constituency.Apart from this, two more tickets have been allotted to senior Congress leader Komatireddy Venkat Reddy's brothers from Nalgonda area.In the wake of the same, few Congress leaders are protesting at Telangana's Gandhi Bhavan for giving tickets to the members of the same family. The workers also criticised Uttam Kumar for allegedly ignoring the party workers who worked at the grassroots level for the state.Terming the Congress as a "dynastic party", Telangana Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ...
Jagan Reddy attack: YSRCP leaders meet President Kovind, seek impartial probe
A delegation of the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) met President Ram Nath Kovind and submitted a memorandum seeking his intervention for ordering a judicial inquiry or a central agency investigation into the attack on party president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy at the Visakhapatnam airport last month.The party leaders also accused the ruling government of Andhra Pradesh of trying to dilute the incident.After submitting the memorandum to the President at the Rashtrapati Bhavan here on Tuesday, the party leaders said that there are many reasons to believe that there is a conspiracy behind the attack."We have urged the President to intervene to institute a judicial probe or an inquiry by an independent agency as the accused person has a reason as to why he should try to eliminate the leader of our party. There is every reason to believe that there is a conspiracy behind the attack as there are many loopholes in the investigation," the party leader said.The leaders stated that ...
Fake news: Trump on secret North Korea bases
United States President Donald Trump labelled reports about North Korea's undeclared operating missile bases as "fake news" on Tuesday."The story in the New York Times concerning North Korea developing missile bases is inaccurate. We fully know about the sites being discussed, nothing new - and nothing happening out of the normal. Just more Fake News. I will be the first to let you know if things go bad!" Trump tweeted while referring to a New York Times article which based its information on a study published by the Beyond Parallel program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).The study claims to have located 13 out of 20 undeclared North Korean missile operating bases based on satellite images and interviews with North Korean defectors, along with government and intelligence officials internationally.The incidents come amidst stalled denuclearisation talks between North Korea and the US after a recent New York meeting between US Secretary of State Michael ...
UN Security Council meets on Gaza violence
The UN Security Council met behind closed doors Tuesday to discuss the escalation of violence in the Gaza Strip but there was no agreement on how to address the crisis, diplomats said. Kuwait, which represents Arab countries at the council, and Bolivia requested the meeting following the worst flareup in Gaza since the 2014 war between Hamas and Israel. Addressing reporters after the 50-minute meeting, Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour said the council was "paralyzed" and had "failed to shoulder its responsibility" to take action to end the violence. "There is one country that is not allowing discussion at the council," Mansour told reporters, in a reference to the United States, which has taken a pro-Israeli stance under President Donald Trump. There was no statement from the council on the crisis. Such statements are agreed by consensus by all 15 council members. Kuwait's Ambassador Mansour al-Otaibi said the majority of council members were of the view that the top UN body ...
UK announces draft agreement with EU on Brexit
Negotiatiors from the United Kingdom and the European Union have formulated a draft Brexit agreement, the office of Prime Minister Theresa May said Tuesday.
Has great respect for PM Modi: Trump at WH Diwali celebrations
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he has great respect for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and would be talking to him very soon. Trump and Modi are slated to attend the G-20 Summit in Argentina on November 30 and December 1, where there is a likelihood of a meeting between the two. The White House has not made any announcement in this regard so far. "I'll be talking to him soon.Thank you," Trump told Indian Ambassador to the US, Navtej Singh Sarna, during the Diwali celebrations at the White House. "He looks forward to seeing you, Sarna replied. Trump told the top Indian diplomat, who was a special invitee to the White House Diwali celebrations, that he loves India. We love your country. I have great, great respect for, as you know, Prime Minister Modi -- tremendous respect. So just please give my warmest regards, said the US President. Trump and Modi enjoy a strong personal friendship. During his presidential campaign, Trump had praised Modi for the economic and bureaucratic .
Neomi Rao to replace Kavanaugh on DC Circuit: Trump
US President Donald Trump Tuesday said he has nominated Indian-American Neomi Rao to replace Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh on the DC Circuit Court of Appeals. "She is going to be fantastic. Great person," he said. The powerful US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit is considered next to the US Supreme Court . A formal announcement in this regard is expected to be made by the White House on Wednesday. "I just nominated Naomi to be on the DC circuit court of appeals, the seat of justice Brett Kavanaugh. That could be a big story," Trump announced during the White House Diwali celebrations Tuesday. Rao thanks the president for the "confidence" he has shown in her by nominating her to the powerful US court. If confirmed by the Senate, Rao, 45, would be the second Indian American judge after Sree Srinivasan on the DC Circuit, which has jurisdiction over important regulatory, national security, and separation of powers questions. Rao is currently the administrator of the Office of ..
Russia slams US official's remarks on Afghanistan
The Russian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday denounced a senior US official's claim about Russia's interference in negotiations over the Afghan issue as Washington's attempts to shift the blame for its own policy failures in the country.
India a tough trade negotiator says Trump at WH Diwali celebrations
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday described India as "very good negotiators" as he celebrated Diwali in the White House along with top Indian-Americans and said he is "grateful" for his friendship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "The United States has deep ties to the nation of India and I am grateful for my friendship with Prime Minister Modi," Trump said before lighting the ceremonial Diya in the historic Roosevelt Room of the White House. It is the second consecutive year that Trump has celebrated the largest festival of India and Indian Americans in the White House. "We're trying very hard to make better trade deals with India. But, they're very good traders. They're very good negotiators. You would say right. The best. So we're working. And it's moving along," Trump said referring to the India-US trade deal negotiations that have started between the two largest democracies of the world. Along with nearly two dozen top Indian American officials of his Administration, ...
'Nehru's legacy being undermined by those ruling India today'
In a veiled attack at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday said the precious legacy of independent India's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, was being undermined on a regular basis by those ruling the country presently.Furthermore, Gandhi appealed to the people of India to fight with determination to safeguard the country's democracy against those undermining it.Addressing a gathering at the launch of Congress MP Shashi Tharoor's new edition of his 2003 book 'Nehru: The Invention of India', Gandhi said Nehru's core values of democratic institution building, secularism, socialist economics and foreign policy of non-alignment were being challenged by the ruling dispensation."Precious legacy of Nehru is being undermined daily by those who rule us today. They express disdain for Nehru for all that he did to build India that they are bent upon changing for worse. Today we must honour him by fighting with determination