Page 2512 - Politics
Israeli air strike destroys Hamas TV building in Gaza
An Israeli air strike destroyed Hamas's Al-Aqsa TV building in the Gaza Strip Tuesday after a series of warning shots, AFP journalists reported, drawing threats of a harsh response from Palestinian militants. The strike came as violence again flared between Israel and Palestinian militants in Gaza. Hamas confirmed that the building in Gaza City was destroyed, while Islamic Jihad vowed to respond to Israel's action. No injuries were immediately reported and workers were believed to have evacuated after the warning shots. The station began broadcasting again a short while after the strike from an undisclosed location. Israel's military acknowledged hitting the building, saying in a statement "it contributes to Hamas's military actions, including by providing operational messaging to militants, directing and explicitly calling for terror activities against Israel, and providing guidance on how to carry out such terror activities". It said the station is "owned and operated by ...
Morocco, India agree to strengthen anti-terror cooperation
Rabat, Nov 13 (IANS/MAP) India and Morocco signed on Monday an agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance to fight crimes and terrorism, the Moroccan official MAP news agency reported.
Trump slams Europe's unfair military relations with US
US President Donald Trump this Monday again criticized Europe's unfair military relations with his country and said its nations can either pay Washington for military protection or protect themselves.
Amnesty strips Aung San Suu Kyi of highest honour
Amnesty International on Monday stripped Aung San Suu Kyi of its highest honour over the de facto Myanmar leader's "indifference" to the atrocities committed by the country's military against Rohingya Muslims. The London-based global human rights organisation said it was revoking the Ambassador of Conscience Award it gave Suu Kyi in 2009 while she was still under house arrest. "Today, we are profoundly dismayed that you no longer represent a symbol of hope, courage, and the undying defence of human rights," Amnesty International chief Kumi Naidoo said in a letter to Suu Kyi released by the group. "Amnesty International cannot justify your continued status as a recipient of the Ambassador of Conscience award and so with great sadness we are hereby withdrawing it from you." The group said it informed Suu Kyi of the decision on Sunday. She has so far issued no public response. Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy (NLD) party swept to power in 2015 in a landslide victory ending ..
Cong criticises Modi govt over Pak firing
The Congress' Jammu and Kashmir unit Monday criticised the Narendra Modi government over firing by Pakistani troops and demanded more effective and meaningful steps to check such incidents. Two Army personnel and a porter lost their lives in separate incidents of sniping from across the Line of Control (LOC) in Rajouri and Jammu districts over the past three days. We are concerned over the increased number of ceasefire violations by Pakistan. 1,435 ceasefire violations have been recorded in the first seven months of this year, which is the highest in the last eight years. This is the worst atmosphere on the LOC and International Border (IB) in which our forces and civilians have suffered huge casualties, Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee chief spokesperson Ravinder Sharma said.
US analysts locate secret North Korean missile sites
US analysts said Monday they have located more than half of an estimated 20 secret North Korean missile development sites, highlighting the challenge the Trump administration faces in ensuring that North Korea complies with any eventual agreement to end its nuclear and missile programs. The findings, which were released amid signs the administration's negotiations with the North have stalled, draw on commercial satellite imagery and identify 13 secret facilities used to produce missiles and related technology. They suggest that Pyongyang is continuing its missile work, even though it has halted test launches in what President Donald Trump and his administration have claimed as a success since his historic June meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Singapore. Although the sites are not launch facilities and in some cases are rudimentary, the authors of the report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies say they are hidden and illustrate the scope of the ...
Cong releases first list of 65 candidates for Dec 7 Telangana Assembly polls
The Congress Monday night released its first list of 65 candidates for the December 7 Telangana Assembly polls, with state party chief N Uttam Kumar Reddy to contest from the Huzurnagar constituency. The list was released after a marathon meeting of the party's Central Election Committee (CEC) chaired by party president Rahul Gandhi. All state Congress leaders were present at the meeting. The Congress is seeking to upstage K Chandrashekar Rao-led Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) in the southern state. The list was released late at night by CEC General Secretary Mukul Wasnik. The Congress is seeking to have an electoral understanding on various seats with Chandrababu Naidu's Telugu Desam Party (TDP), which was an ally of the ruling NDA, had walked out of the ruling alliance some time ago over the issue of the Centre not granting special status to Andhra Pradesh. Naidu is now meeting various opposition leaders and is seeking to be a part of a united front of various parties to defeat the
Israel, Hamas trade heavy fire after deadly incursion
Palestinian militants bombarded Israel with dozens of rockets and mortar shells Monday while Israeli warplanes struck targets throughout the Gaza Strip in what appeared to be the most intense exchange of fire since the 2014 war. Palestinian officials said at least three people, including two militants, were killed by Israeli fire and nine were wounded. In Israel, the national rescue service said at least seven people were wounded, including a 19-year-old man who was in critical condition. The fighting, which cast doubt over recent understandings brokered by Egypt and UN officials to reduce tensions, was triggered by a botched undercover Israeli military raid in Gaza the day before. The undercover troops, apparently on a reconnaissance mission, were discovered several kilometers (miles) inside Gaza, setting off a battle that left seven militants, including a Hamas commander, and an Israeli military officer dead. Around sundown on Monday, militants launched some 100 rockets in less than
Western Odisha lawyers to continue strike over HC bench demand
Demand for setting up of a high court bench in Western Odisha has grown louder with the Central Action Committee (CAC) of the All Western Odisha Bar Association deciding to continue the ongoing strike to 0press the demand for indefinite period. The decision was taken at a meeting of the CAC in Sambalpur on Monday. The lawyers have been on agitation over the demand of establishment of high court bench in the region and paralysing the functioning of the courts since September 5. The CAC on Monday also decided to bring functioning of all the state and central government offices across the region to a standstill from November 19 to 30 over the demand, a CAC leader said. A 48-hour 'maha bandh' would also be observed across the region on November 29 and 30. "If we get any positive response from the state government in this period, we will reconsider the decision to observe the maha bandh," CAC Convener Ashok Dash said.
Union Minister Ananth Kumar dead; state funeral on Tuesday
Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Ananth Kumar died on Monday at a private hospital here due to multiple organ failure, a BJP spokesman said. He was 59.
BSF-Rangers sector commander-level meeting held in J&K
A sector commander-level meeting between the BSF and the Pakistan Rangers Monday resolved to maintain peace along the International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said. The development comes amid heightened tension in the wake of a series of sniper attacks in which three soldiers and an Army porter have lost their lives since Friday. "A sector commander-level meeting was held between the Border Security Force and the Pakistan Rangers in the Suchetgarh area from 1100 hours to 1200 hours," a BSF spokesman said. He said the BSF delegation comprising 18 officers was led by Deputy Inspector General, Jammu sector, P S Dhiman and Sector Commander, Chenab Rangers, Sialkote Punjab, Brig. Amjad Mehmud headed the Pakistan delegation comprising 14 officers. It was the first sector commander-level meeting between the two border guarding forces after tensions escalated in September when the body of a missing BSF jawan was found in a mutilated condition following a ceasefire violation ..
IAEA confirms Iran keeping with JCPOA limitations
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Monday confirmed that Iran was following the terms and limitations issued by the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCOPA), also known as the Iran nuclear deal, with regards to the uranium stocks in the country.Sputnik reported that the international organisation affirmed that Iran was complying with the restrictions put over its nuclear programme and has also allowed access to the site.The IAEA reports were published within a few days after the United States imposed a fresh set of sanctions on the Islamic country, especially targeting the energy, banking and transportation sectors.Meanwhile, Sputnik cited a Reuters report, where an unnamed senior diplomat confirmed that Iran's stance on the nuclear issue hadn't changed since the US sanctions were re-imposed.The Iran nuclear deal was signed by Tehran, Washington, London, Berlin, Paris, Moscow, and Beijing in 2015 and stipulates Iran's agreement to curb its nuclear operations in ...
PM Modi's latest demonetisation barf is 'shell firms'
Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Monday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's latest demonetisation barf is "shell firms."Taking to Twitter, Gandhi said, "The PM's latest Demonetisation barf is, "Shell Firms". Ironically, the only "Shell" firms identified after the great Demonetisation tragedy are: JAY SHAH'S - Temple Enterprises, PIYUSH GOYAL's - Flashnet, ANIL AMBANI'S - Reliance Airports. It takes a thief to know a thief."Gandhi took to twitter to vent his anger after the Prime Minister on Monday lashed out at the Congress president and United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi while addressing a gathering at Bilaspur. Prime Minister Modi said, "Due to demonetisation, over three lakh shell companies were closed. It is the result of demonetisation that your company (National Herald) was caught and you had to seek bail.""The mother-son duo, who are out on bail, are giving me a certificate and asking from me the benefits of demonetisation. Those who are out on ...
BJP Rajasthan Minister denied ticket, resigns
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and minister in Rajasthan government, Surendra Goyal on Monday submitted his resignation from the party, a day after he was denied the ticket to contest the ensuing state assembly poll.The BJP released its first list of 131 candidates on Sunday, following a Central Election Committee meeting, wherein Goyal was confirmed to have been replaced by Avinash Gehlot for Jaitaran constituency.Goyal, a five-time MLA from the seat, submitted his resignation letter to the state unit party president Madanlal Saini. He was the state's Water Resources Minister.The BJP has fielded 25 new faces and 85 sitting MLAs for the ensuing assembly polls. Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje will contest from Jhalrapatan assembly constituency from where she has been contesting since 2003.The assembly polls in the state will take place on December 7 in a single phase for all 200 seats, which are at stake in the state. The counting of votes will take place on December 11. .
Chhath festival: Delhi govt declares public holiday on Tuesday; agencies set up over 1,000 ghats
The city is all set for Chhath puja celebrations with the Delhi government declaring a public holiday on Tuesday and the traffic police issuing an advisory on special arrangements and restrictions during festival days. With various Delhi government agencies stating that 'ghats' have been set up for the four-day festival at around 1,000 locations, the ruling AAP and BJP have engaged in blame game over preparations for the festival. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) meanwhile said necessary directives have been issued, like specific areas where people could take a dip in water. The devotees, mainly women offer 'arghya' to the setting sun and the rising sun in succession on Chhath. It is a major festival in eastern UP, Bihar and Jharkhand, although it is celebrated in other parts of the country as well where Purvnanchalis are settled in significant numbers. The festival is celebrated on the sixth day after Diwali. Chhath Puja relives the age-old tradition of paying obeisance to .
Nitish offers Sikkim guest house for Bodhgaya pilgrims
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday offered Sikkim Government to provide logistics for building a guest house for Sikkimese pilgrims in Bodhgaya, an official release said here. The offer was made when Sikkim Governor Ganga Prasad called on Kumar at his office in Patna. Prasad thanked the chief minister for the gesture towards Sikkim, saying this would help the people of both the states, the release said. Thousands of people from Sikkim come to Bodhgaya for an annual spiritual sojourn during December and January.
48 candidates file nominations on first day in Telangana
As many as 48 candidates filed their nominations on Monday for December 7 elections to the Telangana assembly.
HC to hear AJL's plea on Tuesday
The Delhi High Court will on Tuesday hear the plea of Associated Journals Limited (AJL), which publishes the National Herald newspaper, challenging the Centre's order asking AJL to vacate the premises at ITO in the Delhi.
BJP will run countrywide campaign to identify infiltrators if voted back to power in 2019: Shah
The BJP on Monday said it will run a countrywide campaign to implement the National Register of Citizens if the party is voted back to power in 2019, adding the party will identify and send back the infiltrators.
Rahul slams Modi over demonetisation, calls him a 'thief'
Taking a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his comment that demonetisation led to crackdown on shell firms, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Monday said it takes a "thief to know a thief".