Page 2518 - Politics
Turkey: search launched for 10 migrants after boats sinks
Turkey's state-run news agency says the country's coast guard has launched a search-and-rescue mission to locate 10 migrants who are reported missing after their boat sank in the Aegean Sea. Anadolu Agency says the boat went down on Monday off the coast of Dikili, in Izmir province, close to the Greek island of Lesbos. It said authorities launched the rescue operation after two of the migrants managed to swim to shore to seek help. There was no immediate detail on the nationalities of the migrants. Although their numbers have decreased in recent years, migrants still try to cross into Greece from nearby Turkey in the hopes of making their way to other European countries.
Singapore, Malaysia renew ties as historic rival surfaces
Singapore's leader vowed Monday to strengthen ties with Malaysia, which is now led by a historic rival following a game-changing election. Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said during a visit by his Malaysian counterpart, Mahathir Mohamad, that the countries had a "special bond" and were each other's second-biggest trading partners. Singapore is also Malaysia's second-largest foreign investor. "Singapore and Malaysia will always have a good place for each other in our hearts, and because of our proximity and interdependence, we will always have an interest in each other's development and success," Lee said, adding that he looked forward to working with Mahathir. Mahathir led Malaysia for 22 years before stepping down in 2003. During his term there were frequent sharp exchanges with neighboring Singapore and Lee's father, its first prime minister, Lee Kuan Yew. In May, an electoral upset that toppled former Prime Minister Najib Razak brought Mahathir into power again. Mahathir .
Politicians condole 'irreparable loss' of Ananth Kumar
Condolences poured in for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Union Minister Ananth Kumar, who passed away on Monday morning at around 2 am in a Bengaluru hospital. He was suffering from pancreatic cancer and had been under treatment for some time. He was 59.Several BJP and National Democratic Alliance (NDA) leaders expressed sorrow over the sudden demise of Kumar and extended their heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. Veteran BJP leader L K Advani termed Kumar's death as "an irreparable loss" to the nation. "I extremely shocked and saddened by the untimely demise of Union Minister Shri Ananth Kumar. Such an early age demise is even a bigger and irreparable loss to all of us and the country," said Advani in a statement."Ananth Kumar was a very popular, dynamic leader of the poor and downtrodden. He was a remarkable leader, who entered public life at a young age and had tremendous will-power and had carved a special niche for himself in politics. He was a distinguished
B'desh general elections deferred for a week, to be held on Dec 30
The 11th General Elections in Bangladesh, which were scheduled to be held on December 23, has been deferred for a week to December 30, 2018.Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda said that the decision was taken after several political parties had requested the top electoral body to defer the General Elections for a month as they were undecided about their participation in the polls, Daily Star Bangladesh reported.On November 8, the Bangladesh Election Commission had announced the schedule of the 11th General Elections.The opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party and its alliances demanded the elections should be deferred by a month as they had yet to decide whether they should participate in the elections or not.They added that if the polls were postponed, it would still be possible to hold the voting process within a 90-day timeframe, as proposed by the ruling Bangladesh Awami League. With this, candidates are expected to get more time to file their nomination papers. The Election
Congress sees revolution in firearms, claims Amit Shah
Launching a scathing attack at the Congress Party, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah on Monday said the Congress sees a revolution in the usage of firearms."Congress sees a revolution in firearms, while we (BJP) see a revolution in granting additional remuneration to poor farmers. We see a revolution if there are smoke-free homes and children are vaccinated," he said while addressing the nation via video conferencing."By following the principle of Antodaya or upliftment of those on the margins, we are trying our level best to take each and every poor from the clutches of poverty and enable them to join the rest in the society," he added.Furthermore, Shah asked Congress president Rahul Gandhi to clarify if his party will extend support to the central government in weeding out infiltrators from the country."I want to ask the Congress party and their president to clarify whether they are with us in weeding out infiltrators from the country," he asked.The BJP president also
Congress' priority is to serve Gandhi family: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in an apparent reference to the Gandhi family said on Monday that the priority of the Congress party was to serve one family."For the Congress, the welfare of Chhattisgarh is not a priority. Their priority is to serve one family," Prime Minister Modi said at a rally here.Further training guns at the opposition parties, the Prime Minister said, "Politics on the grounds of caste, creed and gender is unacceptable." "It is necessary to focus on all-round development to take India to newer heights of glory," he said."Our opposition still doesn't know how to fight the BJP. We are focused on development. We went beyond the caste divisions. You can witness development wherever you go in Chhattisgarh," the Prime Minister Modi said.He further said, "Recently, the Congress party released its 36-point manifesto for Chhattisgarh. At the release of the manifesto, 'Naamdaar' was referred to as 'Sir' 150 times. It means for them the importance of Chhattisgarh is lesser ...
China calls for open world economy but work remains on landmark trade pact
SINGAPORE/MANILA (Reuters) - China will further open its economy in the face of rising protectionism, Premier Li Keqiang said as he arrived in Singapore on Monday for meetings with Asia-Pacific leaders that will focus on speeding up work on a major new trade pact.
Raj polls: BJP announces first list of 131 candidates
Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, Speaker Kailash Meghwal, state ministers and senior party leaders have been included in the BJP's first list of 131 out of the total 200 candidates for the December 7 Assembly polls. The list was announced Sunday night. The party has retained 85 sitting MLAs and dropped 26 MLAs, including two ministers and one of two Muslim MLAs, while there is no change in the constituencies of 85 MLAs who have been retained. Ministers Rajendra Rathore, Gulab Chand Kataria, Vasudev Devnani, Srichand Kriplani, Kiran Maheshwari Anita Bhadel, Ajay Singh, Krishnendra Kaur, Gajendra Singh and Prabhu Lal Saini have made it to the list. The saffron party has also given tickets to family members of a few sitting MLAs and other leaders. These include Poonam Kanwar, daughter-in-law of former BJP MLA Devi Singh Bhati (Kolayat seat); Atul Bhansali, relative of Jodhpur MLA Kailash Bhansali (Jodhpur seat); Hemant Meena, son of Tribal Affairs Minister Nandlal Meena ...
Sri Lankan parties file petitions against Parliament dissolution
Sri Lanka's main political parties filed petitions in the Supreme Court on Monday challenging President Maithripala Sirisena's dissolution of Parliament and Speaker Karu Jayasuriya called on public servants to refuse to execute any "illegal" orders they may receive in the midst of an ongoing political crisis.
BMC hands over possession of land for Thackeray memorial
Two years after the plan to build a memorial to Shiv Sena patriarch Bal Thackeray was announced, the Mumbai civic body has handed over the possession of the land earmarked for it to the trust which will construct the structure. The land selected for the proposed memorial, announced in November 2016, currently houses the bungalow of Mumbai mayor located near Shivaji Park in Dadar, central Mumbai. According to a civic official, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) handed over the possession of the land to the Balasaheb Thackeray Memorial Public Trust Tuesday last. "Built in 1928 in an area spread over four acres, the possession of mayor's bungalow has been officially handed over to the trust," said Parag Masurkar, assistant municipal commissioner (estate department), BMC. "Now physical possession will start as and when the current mayor vacates his official residence and we get further instructions," he said. "The plot, ad measuring 11,500 sq metre, has been ...
Kabul: Protests erupt against govt over security issues
Hundreds of people took over the streets of Kabul on Sunday to protest against the Afghan government for neglecting the security of Ghazni and Uruzgan provinces.The protestors marched through the night from the western parts of Kabul to the city center, near the presidential palace. They held placards and raised slogans demanding President Ashraf Ghani and Chief Executive of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Abdullah Abdullah to secure the two central provinces."Demonstrators are violating the law as they had not informed police of their planned action ahead of time," Tolo News reported Kabul Police Chief Sayed Mohammad Roshandil as saying.The demonstrators also requested the National Unity Government (NUG) to clear Khas Uruzgan, Jaghori and Malistan districts in Ghazni and Uruzgan provinces of Taliban and send emergency humanitarian aid to displaced residents, along with extra, permanent troops to the areas and to establish a military corps in the region.The protest comes after ...
EPG member Nilambar Acharya referred as next envoy to India
Nilambar Acharya, a member of the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) formed by India and Nepal, has been nominated as next ambassador to India."The ministers have agreed to nominate Nilambar Acharya as next envoy to India. The position of the ambassador to India has remained vacant for long. The procedure for his approval as ambassador will start soon," a source inside Nepal's Prime Minister Office said.Acharya, who is a senior advocate and political analyst, also served as a minister in the interim government in the 1990s."The parliamentary hearing for his appointment will start soon. There is less chance that he will be rejected as his name has been placed in the cabinet after consultations," said another source in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.On July 16, the Nepal government had endorsed former Chief Election Commissioner Neelkantha Upereti as the envoy to India. However, he was rejected for the post as the Constitution barred him from taking over the post.The newly-adopted ...
Deals worth USD 21.2 bn signed at China's air show
China's just-concluded air show in Zhuhai city, where it displayed a host of its latest weaponry, witnessed the signing of deals worth over USD 21.2 billion, official media reported on Monday. The six-day 12th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition (Airshow China) concluded in the southern Guangdong province's Zhuhai city on Sunday. China displayed a host of its latest tactical weapons including a new intelligence radar, anti-ship missile as well as an unmanned missile boat at the air show. During the exhibition, in which deals worth over USD 21.2 billion were signed, 239 aircraft were traded, state-run Xinhua news agency quoted organisers as saying. A total of 770 firms, including Boeing and Airbus, from 43 countries and regions participated in the event. The audience number reached about 450,000 including about 150,000 professional audience members, the report said. The event had an indoor and outdoor exhibition area in which 146 aircraft from home and abroad were ...
Kabul: 10 killed in suicide bombing attack
A suicide bomber detonated his explosives near a police checkpoint here on Monday killing at least 10 people, confirmed Ministry of Interior.According to Tolo News, the explosion happened close to Pashtunistan Square in Kabul City Centre which is not far from where hundreds of demonstrators have been protesting against the government over neglecting the security of Ghazni and Uruzgan provinces.The demonstrators were urging the National Unity Government (NUG) to clear Khas Uruzgan, Jaghori and Malistan districts in Ghazni and Uruzgan provinces of Taliban and to send in emergency humanitarian aid to displaced residents, along with extra, permanent, troops to the areas and to establish a military corps in the region.The protest comes after Taliban last week launched group attacks from different directions on Jaghori district.Reportedly, despite the government sending reinforcement troops, the security in the central provinces has deteriorated. In the past few days, security forces have ..
Union Minister Kushwaha meets Sharad Yadav amidst speculation
Miffed at being "ignored" for the seat-sharing talks in the NDA in Bihar, Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) chief and Union Minister Upendra Kushwaha on Monday gave signals that he may part ways with the BJP-led alliance.
Canada's Trudeau says he discussed steel tariffs with Trump in Paris
PARIS (Reuters) - Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Monday he had discussed U.S. steel and aluminium tariffs with President Donald Trump over the weekend and that he hoped to reach a resolution on the matter by the G20 summit in Argentina.
Councillor among several social activists join BJP in Jammu
Several persons, including a recently elected independent councillor, joined the BJP here Monday and pledged to work for strengthening the party at the grass-roots level, a party spokesman said. Independent councillor from Ward number nine of Bishnah Municipal Committee, Rajan Sharma was welcomed into the party fold by BJP MP Jugal Kishore, he said. Prominent social activist Rita Chalotra, retired government officer Madan Choudhary from Raipur Domana, Tarsem Singh, Manmohan Lal, Yashpal, Amit Choudhary, Vikram Chanotra, Naveen Singh, Khajan Devi and Rajkumar also joined the party. Sharma, the Lok Sabha MP, said the strong and decisive policies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi had succeeded in winning the hearts of the people and many were joining the party in good numbers.
Israel boosts security measures in Gaza amid tensions
The Israeli authorities on Monday tightened security measures around the Gaza Strip following clashes that killed an Army official and wounded another, according to the Israeli military.
Lotus will bloom again in desert state: Union minister
Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat Monday dismissed speculations about the BJP facing anti-incumbency in Rajasthan, asserting that there is an undercurrent in favour of the saffron party and the lotus will bloom again in the desert state. "I don't believe there is any anti-incumbency factor against the BJP anywhere in Rajasthan. There is an undercurrent in favour of the party and it will definitely win the upcoming assembly elections, said Shekhawat, replying to a query on reports that the BJP was likely to deny tickets to over 80 sitting MLAs to tackle anti-incumbency factor. The BJP had Sunday released its first list of 131 BJP candidates, which has repeated 85 sitting MLAs and has 25 new faces, including family members of prominent state leaders. Shekhawat asserted that the BJP has worked in all 200 assembly segments rising above the caste and religion and without any discrimination. The party has worked for bringing about a change in the life of common man, he added. On ...
BJP rules out support to TRS if it falls short of numbers
The BJP on Monday asserted that it would not join hands with the TRS if the latter falls short of numbers to form government post-December 7 assembly elections, even as it rejected the Congress charge that two parties were hand-in-glove. The Telangana BJP spokesperson Krishna Saagar Rao also challenged the Congress to give a similar "guarantee." The Congress has in recent times repeatedly alleged that the caretaker Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao was a "stooge" of the BJP and the two parties have a "tacit undertanding" in the upcoming Assembly poll. "There is 100 per cent tactical understanding between the TRS and BJP", the AICC in-charge of Telangana affairs, R C Khuntia told PTI. In his counter, Krishna Saagar Rao said, "I have a challenge for (TPCC President) Uttam Kumar Reddy and (Congress President) Rahul Gandhi. Will you guarantee the people of Telangana that if KCR (as Chandrasekhar Rao is referred to by many) falls short of winning that you ...