Page 2566 - Politics
U.S. targets Iran with fresh round of oil, economic sanctions
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States re-imposed and strengthened economic sanctions on Iran's oil, banking and transportation sectors on Monday after the Trump administration withdrew from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, and vowed further action to pressure Tehran.
AAP's decision to suspend me, Khaira 'unconstitutional': Sandhu
The Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) dissident leader Kanwar Sandhu on Monday termed the party's decision to suspend him and rebel-faction leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira as "unconstitutional". The two were suspended on Saturday for allegedly indulging in "anti-party" activities. The decision was taken by the core committee of the AAP's Punjab unit, chaired by MLA Budh Ram in Chandigarh. "Whatever they have done is illegal and unconstitutional," Sandhu told reporters here. He claimed the decision was a violation of the AAP's constitution and that the party did not give them a chance to explain. "It is in the party's constitution that before taking any disciplinary action against a member, MLA or MP, one should be given an opportunity to explain his position. But we were not given any notice and the party sought no explanation from us," Sandhu said. He claimed that the party constitution mandates the formation of a disciplinary committee before taking action against any member and a Lokayukta ...
BSF arrests Pakistani national near Punjab border, weapons recovered
A Pakistani national was Monday arrested by the BSF near the Border Out Post (BOP) in Ramkot near here and recovered an automatic weapon from his possession. Confirming the arrest, a Border Security Force (BSF) official said that during a routine search, the Pakistani national was apprehended and a US-made automatic gun, 24 cartridges and three mobile phones with Pakistani SIM cards were recovered from him. In a separate incident, BSF sleuths seized three kilograms of heroin at a village near the International border. According to an official, the BSF patrolling party observed some suspicious moments along the border in village Ranian and upon close inspection found that some people from Pakistan were approaching the India side. The troops ordered them to stop but as the persons kept advancing, the jawans opened fire forcing them to the return, the official said. Upon searching the site, the troopers discovered the heroin, the official added.
Farmers protest after arrest warrants served for non-payment
: Protests by farmers against a private bank erupted in many parts of Karnataka Monday after arrest warrants were served on some of them for non-repayment of loans, prompting Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy to direct the officials concerned to resolve the issue at the earliest. The protests broke out after reports emerged that severalfarmers in Belagavi district were served arrest warrants by a court for non-repayment of loans. The bank's move came despite the Kumaraswamy led Congress-JDS coalition government announcing about Rs 45,000 crore farm loan waiver recently. The chief minister's office said in a statement that the BelagaviDistrict Deputy Commissioner and senior police officials, acting on a directive by Kumaraswamy, have convened a meeting between bank officials and farmers on November 7 to resolve the issue. "The Chief Minister has asked the districtadministration to discuss farmers' issues with the bankofficials at the meeting and in a friendly atmosphere ...
Mizoram polls: Congress announces fresh candidates
Few weeks ahead of Mizoram Assembly elections, the Congress party on Monday announced fresh candidates for two constituencies after its previous contenders resigned from the party.Kali Kumar Tongchangya has replaced Amit Kumar Chakma as Congress candidate from Tuichawng constituency, where as KT Rokhaw has been announced as the candidate from Palak constituency, from where Hipehi was to contest.Congress leader Hiphei who had resigned as Speaker of Mizoram Legislative Assembly, joined Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) earlier today.A total of 40 seats will go to polls in Mizoram on November 28. Results will be declared on December 11.Mizoram is the only state in the North-East where the Congress party is currently in power.
Iran vows to defy 'bullying' as U.S. triggers more sanctions
WASHINGTON/DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran said it would defy tough sanctions reimposed by Washington on Monday, dismissing as "economic war" the U.S. drive to curb Tehran's missile and nuclear programs and diminish its influence in the Middle East.
India completes N-triad; Modi warns 'N-blackmailers'
With nuclear-capable submarine INS Arihant successfully returning from deterrence patrol, India on Monday completed its nuclear triad achieving strike capabilities in air, land and sea, a feat Prime Minister Narendra Modi said is a "fitting response to those who indulge in nuclear blackmail".
Tinsukia killings make it clear CM failed to maintain law and order: Rawat
Congress General Secretary Harish Rawat Monday said the recent killing of five persons in Assam's Tinsukia district made it clear that Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal failed to maintain law and order in the state. He charged the BJP-led state government with failing to act on the warning signalled by the Congress, including former chief minister Tarun Gogoi, for long that its "divisive policy" would lead to further deterioration of law and order. "The killing makes it clear that the state government has been negligent of maintaining law and order and this has been further compounded by the fact that the killers are yet to be traced and apprehended," the party's in-charge for Assam told reporters. Further, the chief minister has not assured the people that this will not happen again, Rawat alleged. Five people, including three members of a family, were gunned down by suspected ULFA (Independent) cadres in Tinsukia district last Friday. ''Just giving Rs 5 lakh to the victim's ...
Palestinian tries to stab Israelis in West Bank, is shot: army
A Palestinian man tried to stab Israeli civilians and a soldier in the occupied West Bank on Monday before being shot by a soldier, the army said. The soldier "thwarted this attack after he identified a terrorist attempting to stab civilians and an IDF (Israel Defence Forces) officer," the army said of the incident at Elias junction near Hebron and the settlement of Kiryat Arba. In response, the soldier fired towards the terrorist and neutralised him. He was then evacuated to receive medical treatment. No injuries to Israeli civilians or IDF soldiers were reported," the statement said. A military spokeswoman told AFP the alleged assailant was a Palestinian, who appeared to be slightly wounded in video footage taken after the incident. A wave of mainly lone-wolf Palestinian attacks against Israelis broke out in 2015. The number of attacks has decreased since, but there are fears of another upsurge in violence. On October 22, a Palestinian was shot dead when attempting to stab soldiers .
Malaysian ex-state chief charged as graft crackdown widens
The former leader of a resource-rich eastern Malaysian state was charged Monday with allegedly receiving bribes for the award of timber concessions amid a widening crackdown on abuse by former officials. Musa Aman, who was chief minister of Sabah state on Borneo island from 2003 until the ouster of scandal-tainted Prime Minister Najib Razak's government in May's general election, is the latest high-ranking official to be prosecuted. Musa, 67, was detained Monday by the anti-graft agency before being taken to court. He pleaded not guilty to 35 counts of corruption for allegedly receiving a total of USD 63.3 million in Hong Kong and Singapore through proxies between 2004 and 2008 in exchange for timber contracts. He was released on bail and faces up to 20 years in jail for each offense. Musa told reporters later that these were old cases and that he had been cleared by the previous government. "I don't know whether this is politically motivated ... I will fight this case to clear my ...
PTV live-broadcasts Imran Khan's speech from 'Begging'
Pakistan's state-run news channel PTV ran "Begging" dateline instead of "Beijing" on screen during the live broadcast of Prime Minister Imran Khan's speech in China and became a target of trolling by netizens.
Iran condemns Bahrain dissident life sentence
Iran has condemned Bahrain over the jailing for life of a Shiite opposition leader, accusing Manama of wanting to "intensify its suppression" of dissent. Bahraini Sheikh Ali Salman and two of his aides were sentenced on Sunday for "acts of hostility" against Bahrain and spying for rival Gulf state Qatar. The ruling against Salman, who headed the now-banned Al-Wefaq movement, has been called a travesty by rights groups. Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi said the verdict "leaves no doubt for the international community that the government of Bahrain... intends to intensify its suppression." He called on Bahraini officials to "put aside their police state methods and use real and serious dialogue with the opposition and critics," in a statement published late Sunday. Ghasemi also said Manama should refrain from issuing "inhumane verdicts against its people". Salman and the two aides had been acquitted by the high criminal court in June, a verdict the public prosecution ...
Mizoram CM writes to PM, seeks chief electoral officer's
Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla on Monday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking the immediate removal of state Chief Electoral Officer S B Shashank as "people have lost faith in him". Shashank's removal is the only solution for smooth conduct of the November 28 Assembly elections, the chief minister said in his letter. He said people of Mizoram have lost faith in the CEO after he complained to the Election Commission (EC) that principal secretary (home) Lalnunmawia Chuaungo was interfering in the poll process. Chuaungo, a 1987-batch Gujarat-cadre IAS officer, has been relieved of his responsibilities in the state. The EC has instructed him to report before the Ministry of Home Affairs in Delhi. "The only solution for smooth conduct of Assembly elections 2018 now would be removal of CEO S B Shashank from office forthwith," the chief minister wrote in the letter, a copy of which is available with PTI. He also suggested that Shashank be replaced by an additional chief ...
AAP demands Manoj Tiwari's arrest, Home Minister's intervention on Signature Bridge clash
A day after a ruckus at the inauguration of Signature Bridge, the AAP on Monday called the incident a "pre-planned conspiracy" and demanded intervention of Home Minister Rajnath Singh.
Iranians feeling US sanctions 'in their bones'
The latest round of US sanctions on Iran's vital oil industry may have just started on Monday but some Iranians say they have already become a basic fact of life. "I don't need the news to tell me that sanctions have started, I am feeling them in my bones," said Farzad, a 65-year-old pensioner. "Anyone who goes to the market to acquire their basic needs will feel the sanctions straight away," he told AFP as headed to the Tajrish bazaar in northern Tehran for his weekly shop. The last tranche of sanctions hit Iran on Monday, targeting its oil and financial sectors, following President Donald Trump's decision in May to pull out of the 2015 nuclear deal. Hit by months of economic turmoil since that decision, in part due to US pressure but also to long-standing problems in the domestic economy and banking sector, many Iranians were left nonplussed when the final sanctions hit. "There have been sanctions forever, almost 40 years now, there is nothing new about that," said Sogand, a retired
Odisha announces addl 2 per cent DA for PSU staff
Odisha government Monday announced an additional two per cent hike in dearness allowance (DA) of employees of the state public sector undertakings (SPSU). The DA of the SPSU employees, who have been receiving their revised salary from 2017, has been increased to 9 per cent from 7 per cent, a release issued by the Chief Ministers Office (CMO) said. The employees will receive the revised DA with effect from July 1, 2018. They will be entitled to the revised DA if the PSU concerned has adhered to the terms and conditions of the state government. The state government had in March announced that it will implement recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission with effect from January 1, 2016.
BJP issues second list, drops 5 sitting MLAs in MP
The BJP on Monday released second list of 17 candidates for Madhya Pradesh with the party deciding to drop five sitting MLAs and to pitch one Memmber of Parliament to contest the November 28 Assembly polls.
Sri Lanka's Speaker: Compelled to recognize earlier government till Parliament majority proven
Sri Lankan Parliament Speaker Karu Jayasuriya on Monday said that in the midst of the political crisis prevailing in the island nation, he was compelled to accept the status of the earlier government till the new political alliance proves its majority in Parliament.
Will not recognise Rajapaksa as Lanka PM unless he proves majority in Parliament: Speaker
Sri Lankan Speaker Karu Jayasuriya Monday slammed President Maithripala Sirisena's "unconstitutional and undemocratic" actions to sack Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and suspend Parliament, saying he will not recognise Mahinda Rajapaksa as the new premier unless he wins a floor test. The tough statement from Jayasuriya came after Sirisena announced on Sunday that parliament would reconvene on November 14, a week later than he had promised. The Speaker said Sirisena had gone back on previous commitments to recall parliament on November 7. In the statement released on Monday, Jayasuriya said 116 Members of Parliament have submitted a petition to him stating that the changes made in Parliament recently by President Sirisena are "unconstitutional and undemocratic." Their call for Parliament to be summoned immediately was also "extremely reasonable", he said. "In the name of justice and fair play I have to declare my position to the world that when a majority has pointed out that ...
As U.S. starts oil sanctions against Iran, major buyers get waivers
SEOUL/TOKYO (Reuters) - The United States reintroduced sanctions against Iranian oil on Monday while giving some of Washington's closest allies exemptions that allow Tehran's biggest customers, mostly in Asia, to keep buying crude for now.