Page 2527 - Politics
Book recalls stories of Indians who fought the First World War
What did it really mean to be an Indian soldier of the World War of 1914-18?" It could be said that it was a life of honour, duty and valour with the British providing the curries, clothing and medical care respectful of the Hindu, Muslim and Sikh religions, while the Indian ranks stoically suffered the rain and mud, cruelly catapulted by the fates into a war far from home that was never their own yet winning their fair share of Victoria Crosses, says a new book. In "The Indian Empire At War: From Jihad to Victory, The Untold Story of the Indian Army in the First World War", British historian George Morton-Jack re-traces the Indian soldiers' footsteps across the continents, their dangerous missions as secret agents, their discoveries of foreign cultures and their heart-breaking ordeals as prisoners of war. He also explores how they came home with fresh hopes for their families and their country, playing their part in the story of Indian Independence. According to Morton-Jack, the ...
Andhra CM inducts 2 ministers in cabinet
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday expanded his cabinet with the induction of two ministers.
Pakistan must do some soul searching on India's legitimate concerns: Omar Abdullah
Prime Minister Imran Khan-led Pakistan government must to do some soul searching on India's legitimate concerns to make way for a process of engagement on Kashmir, National Conference leader Omar Abdullah has said. The senior Kashmiri politician said that while a one-off summit-based approach is not the answer, any hopes of a proper dialogue on the issue, "insulated from forces that are inimical to a dialogue on both sides of the border", would have to wait to be realised at the end of India's general election cycle in May 2019. "While we are going through our election process, I think Pakistan needs to do a bit of soul searching in terms of addressing legitimate concerns that India has," he said. The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister, who was in London to participate in an event organised by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) around changing the narratives within the India-Pakistan bilateral context, said the Pakistan government's decisions such as letting
Mizoram polls: Political parties flay ex-chief electoral officer
Several political parties in Mizoram have accused former Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) S B Shashank of being anti-Mizo and "puncturing" the state's enviable record of holding peaceful polls for decades. This the first time political parties have openly criticised the ex-CEO, who was at the centre of a row over allegedly trying to facilitate Bru voters in Tripura relief camps to vote in the November 28 Mizoram Assembly elections from that state. The Election Commission of India (ECI) Saturday announced its decision to replace Shashank following massive protests by civil society groups here, demanding his ouster over his alleged pro-Bru stance. The All NGO (Coordination Committee), an umbrella body of major civil society groups and students' bodies, has been demanding that the Bru people, who fled Mizoram in 1997 following ethnic clashes and are residing in relief camps in Tripura, be allowed to cast their votes only in Mizoram. Several major political parties in Mizoram have suggested .
UN chief expresses concern over Sri Lankan President's decision to dissolve Parliament
UN chief Antonio Guterres has expressed concern over Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena's decision to dissolve the nation's Parliament, underlining the "utmost importance" of respecting democratic processes and resolving differences in accordance with the rule of law. Sri Lanka's political crisis deepened Friday as President Sirisena dissolved the Parliament and announced snap polls on January 5 after it became evident that he did not have enough support in the House for Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa, who was appointed by him under controversial circumstances. The Secretary-General "learned with concern" Sirisena's decision to dissolve Sri Lanka's parliament and move to new parliamentary elections, a statement issued on Saturday by Secretary-General Guterres' Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq said. Guterres underlined the "utmost importance of respecting democratic processes and institutions and resolving differences in accordance with the rule of law and due process." He renewed .
RLD activists burn sugar cane crops; demand MSP, clearing of dues
Farmers led by local RLD leader Rajan Chawla reportedly burnt sugar cane crops in Dangrol village here in protest against the Uttar Pradesh government's "inability" to declare minimum support price of these crops and clear the dues of the farmers. The protestors staged the demonstration Saturday evening, Chawla said. The RLD leader said the BJP government in the state had failed to declare the minimum support price (MSP) of sugar cane crops despite the start of the crushing season. He also alleged that sugar mills had not yet cleared the dues of the farmers.
Trump cancels visit to WW1 military cemetery because of poor weather
United States President Donald Trump on the last minute canceled plans to attend the commemoration ceremony of the soldiers killed in World War 1 (WW1).Quoting sources, Washington Post reported that the incessant rain in the French capital made it difficult to arrange transport for the US President.Meanwhile, the last minute cancellation of the plan by the Trumps, especially amid the presence of other dignitaries at the memorial site, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron, prompted different speculations and criticisms from some foreign policy analysts that the US President might not be up for it.The US President was scheduled to visit the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery in Belleau, located about 85 kilometers (50 miles) east of Paris, with his wife Melania, Washington Post reported.The cemetery has a total number of 2,288 gravesites honouring those who died in the WW1, including many Americans soldiers ...
MP polls: FIR against BJP candidate for organising rally without permission
An FIR has been lodged against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate from Gadarwara constituency for organising rally without permission from the administration.BJP's Gautam Patel and his associates organised the rally in the constituency without permission on November 8.Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), 1973, which prohibits an assembly of more than four persons in an area, was imposed in the constituency from October 6.The state is slated to go to polls on November 28. The strength of the Madhya Pradesh assembly is 230 and counting of votes for the assembly elections will be conducted on December 11.The election in the state is seen as a direct political battle between the BJP and the Congress. While Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan is attempting to secure a fourth consecutive term, the Congress will fight for regaining power after 2003.
Anti-BJP parties likely to meet in Delhi on Nov 22
All the non-BJP parties are likely to meet on November 22 to decide on future course of action under a slogan of save democracy and save the nation.As part of the anti-BJP campaign, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday met Congress party national general secretary and former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot at his residence and discussed the future course of action.Naidu said that efforts are on to bring together all non-BJP parties and that he had met Congress president Rahul Gandhi to discuss measures on protecting democracy.Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Naidu said that the former is responsible for the present state of affairs in Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Reserve Bank of India (RBI)."The country's economy is in doldrums with the interfering of the central government on regulating authorities like CBI and RBI. RBI is a regulating authority and independently regulate the economy," he said while adding that the BJP ...
Florida orders recount in Senate, governor races
Florida will have a machine recount of votes for state governor and the United States Senate seats amid allegations of fraud from the candidates.Florida Secretary Ken Detzner informed that the 67 counties of the state would submit unofficial totals by Saturday evening, while the results would be declared by Thursday, reported Aljazeera.The recount was initiated after unofficial results in both the seats races fell within a margin of 0.5 per cent, which triggered a recount, according to the state's law.In the race for Florida's Senate seat, unofficial results revealed a gap of just 0.15% between the votes for Democrat Bill Nelson and Republican Rick Scott.Former US Representative Ron DeSantis led his Democrat rival and Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum by a margin of 0.41 per cent for the race of the governor.
VP Naidu meets French, US Presidents
Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu met United States President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron at a banquet hosted by the latter in honour of Heads of States who are attending a ceremony in Paris to commemorate the Armistice of First World War.Earlier in the day, Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel marked the centenary of the end of the First World War at an event at Compiegne, in the woods north of Paris, CBC reported.The leaders of the two nations unveiled a commemorative plaque at the site of the railway carriage where military leaders signed a ceasefire on November 11, 1918.Meanwhile, Vice President Naidu inaugurated the Indian War Memorial at Villers Guislain in France on Saturday.Speaking during the inaugural function, the Vice President spoke about the importance of the memorial, terming it as a tribute to the Indian soldiers who sacrificed their lives fighting selflessly during the World War I.He had also opined that the World War I "not only changed the
Saudi king hosts Abu Dhabi crown prince amid Yemen offensive
Saudi King Salman hosted Abu Dhabi's crown prince, state media said Sunday, as a military coalition led by the two Gulf allies pushes an offensive to seize the strategic Yemeni port city of Hodeida. Abu Dhabi's Prince Mohammed bin Zayed led a "top-level delegation" to Riyadh, the official Saudi press agency said in a brief statement, after the US halted a controversial refuelling arrangement for coalition air craft engaged in Yemen. The two leaders reviewed "current developments in the region and challenges and crises facing it", the UAE's state news agency WAM said, without elaborating. The Saudi and UAE-led war in Yemen has caused growing international unease after high-profile coalition air strikes that have killed scores of civilians, many of them children. Saudi Arabia in particular faces increased scrutiny following international outrage over journalist Jamal Khashoggi's murder last month in its consulate in Istanbul. Saudi rulers have sought to rally support from Arab allies ...
Death toll by US-led strikes in Syria rises to 41
The death toll of the recent US-led airstrikes on areas in eastern Syria has risen to 41 as the Syrian Foreign Ministry renewed calls for an international investigation into the coalition's "crimes".
4 suspects under investigation for planning attacks against Macron
Four men who had planned to attack French President Emmanuel Macron were placed under formal investigation on Saturday, media reported.
US key swing state Florida to recount votes in 3 races
Ken Detzner, the secretary of state of Florida, a key swing US state, on Saturday ordered machine recounts for three razor-thin races for governor, US senator and the state's agriculture commissioner.
Macron, Trump in show of unity after row over Europe's defence
US President Donald Trump and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron sought Saturday to ease tensions caused by a defence row that risked clouding World War I centenary commemorations in Paris. Trump was one of dozens of world leaders taking part in events to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of the war. On Saturday, he and his wife Melania cancelled a trip to Belleau Wood battlefield and cemetery in northern France, citing "scheduling and logistical difficulties" caused by the rainy weather. Coming on the eve of Veteran's Day in the United States, the decision drew criticism on social media, where many noted that the rain had not stopped Macron, Germany's Angela Merkel or Canada's Justin Trudeau from paying their respects to the dead. "They died with their face to the foe and that pathetic inadequate @realDonaldTrump couldn't even defy the weather to pay his respects to The Fallen," Nicholas Soames, a British Conservative member of parliament and grandson of Winston Churchill ...
Elvis, Babe Ruth, Scalia to receive US Presidential Medal of Freedom
Music legend Elvis Presley, baseball great Babe Ruth and late Supreme Court justice Antonin Scalia are among seven people who will be honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the White House said Saturday. The award is the country's highest civilian honor, and recognizes "meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors," the White House said in a statement. Three of this year's recipients will receive the award posthumously -- Presley, Ruth and Scalia. The other honorees are; longtime Republican Senator Orrin Hatch; philanthropist and heavyweight political donor Miriam Adelson, the wife of billionaire casino mogul Sheldon Adelson; and two NFL Hall of Famers: quarterback Roger Staubach and defensive tackle Alan Page, who went on to serve as a state supreme court justice in Minnesota. The medals will be handed out in a ceremony at the White House on November 16.
Telangana CM afraid of PM Modi: JP Nadda
Union Minister JP Nadda on Saturday said that Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao went for early polls in the state as he was afraid of Prime Minister Narendra Modi."KC Rao is afraid of Prime Minister Modi and went for early polls. But I have a belief that Telangana public will teach him a lesson in December," he said."KC Rao is not bothered about the people of Telangana. He never cares about the development of the state. He just thinks about the development of his family. He has forgotten the sacrifices made by the people for the formation of Telangana state," he added.Nadda further said Rao has not even allowed the funds provided by the central government for the welfare of poor people."If Telangana people want to see development in the state as Prime Minister Modi is developing in the Centre, the Bharatiya Janata Party should form a government in Telangana," he added.
PM Modi meets Pranab Mukherjee, extends Diwali greetings
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday met former president Pranab Mukherjee in the national capital and extended Diwali greetings.Prime Minister Modi took to Twitter and posted a couple of pictures of the meeting. "Always a delight to meet Pranab Da. Went to his residence, exchanged Diwali greetings and wishes for the festive season," he said in a tweet.Earlier, Prime Minister Modi had written a letter to Mukherjee on latter's last day in office in which he had described the veteran leader as his "father figure" and a mentor.
BJP should bring ordinance for Ram Temple: Amar Singh
Rajya Sabha member Amar Singh said Saturday that the BJP has enough numbers in Parliament and it should bring an ordinance to facilitate the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya. The BJP has a majority and the government should bring an ordinance for the construction of Ram Temple if the court does not deliver a verdict in time, he told reporters at a programme in Udaipur. Singh also said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should not respond to allegations and statements made by Congress president Rahul Gandhi. He praised the RSS, saying the organisation has worked for the betterment of the mankind.