Page 2591 - Politics
Heather Nauert offered US ambassador to UN job
State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert has been offered the job of the US Ambassador to the United Nations (UN).President Donald Trump offered Nauert to replace the outbound Nikki Haley as the ambassador, a senior administration official confirmed to FOX News, adding that it is still not clear whether Nauert has accepted the role.A number of other officials, including the U.S. Ambassador to France - Jamie McCourt, have also been singled out as possible candidates. Trump held a meeting with Nauert to discuss the offer in the Oval Office on Monday.Earlier this month, Haley, a former governor of South Carolina, had announced her decision to quit the post at the end of the year.A former Fox News journalist, Nauert was appointed as the spokesperson for the State Department in April 2017. She has served under former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson as well as the incumbent Mike Pompeo.Nauert was also selected as the replacement for Steve Goldstein as the acting undersecretary for ...
Kejriwal writes to EC, alleges nearly 1 lakh names removed from Delhi voter list
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has written a letter to the Election Commission of India alleging that names of around one lakh people were removed from the voter list in Delhi.Addressing the media here, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Thursday said that voting is the foundation of any democracy and not letting a voter vote would kill the essence of the democracy.Blaming the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) behind the alleged discrepancies, Sisodia said, "Does the BJP wants to win elections by taking away voting rights from people? They know that they are losing the upcoming elections, so they are basically trying to manipulate the names in voters list from the areas they think the votes will go to their opposition party.""On one hand we are trying to give voting rights to the person who lives under the metro pillar while on the other hand name of voters are being randomly removed on basis of some survey. There are only two grounds of removing a name from the voter list. One .
South African president fires tax boss
South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday sacked the head of the country's tax collection agency, an ally of scandal-tainted former leader Jacob Zuma, said the presidency. The president dismissed Tom Moyane after a judiciary inquiry recommended his immediate removal "to forestall any further deterioration of our tax administration system," said a statement from his office. Ramaphosa suspended the tax chief in March just a month after taking over from Zuma and ordered the probe into the South African Revenue Authority (SARS). In a letter to Moyane, Ramaphosa said the investigation had painted "a deeply concerning picture of the current state of SARS and the reckless mismanagement which characterised your tenure". "Of further, and in many ways greater, concern is your refusal to meaningfully participate in the ... (investigation) in order to assist with identifying the root causes of the systemic failures at SARS and ways in which to arrest these," said Ramaphosa in the ...
Trump increases pressure on Venezuela with sanctions on gold
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump increased economic pressure on Venezuela's leftist President Nicolas Maduro on Thursday with new sanctions aimed at disrupting the South American country's gold exports.
Corruption, nepotism was at their peak in Jammu and Kashmir: Governor
Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik on Thursday alleged that assistance provided by the Centre was never utilised optimally by successive governments in the state, where corruption and nepotism were "at their peak". Addressing a lecture at Patna University, he also asserted that "Pakistan has no role to play in Kashmir" and made it clear that there shall be no talks with those who intend to make the neighbouring country a party -- an oblique reference to separatist groups. "The Centre has been generously doling out funds for the development of Jammu and Kashmir, which is essential to bring about peace in the state. But those at the helm of affairs in the state have never been up to the mark. The twin evils of corruption and nepotism are at their peak in Jammu and Kashmir," Malik said. He was earlier the Governor of Bihar before taking up the gubernatorial assignment in the restive northern state. "Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India. Pakistan has no role to play in ..
Yemeni government welcomes US call for peace
Yemen's internationally recognised government On Thursday welcomed a call from the US for peace in the conflict-torn country, state-run news agency Saba said.
Trump slaps 'tough' sanctions on Venezuela, targets gold sector: Bolton
The White House imposed "tough" new sanctions against Venezuela on Thursday, denouncing Caracas as being part of a "troika of tyranny" that also includes Cuba and Nicaragua. National Security Advisor John Bolton told an audience in Miami the sanctions would particularly target Venezuela's gold sector, which "has been used as a bastion to finance illicit activities, to fill its coffers and to support criminal groups." "The troika of tyranny in this hemisphere -- Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua -- has finally met its match," he added, according to prepared remarks. Bolton said the new sanctions came in the form of an executive order signed by President Donald Trump. He also announced that the State Department has added new sanctions on more than two dozen entities owned or controlled by the Cuban military and intelligence services. He called the leaders of Venezuela and Nicaragua "desperate" autocrats who had joined Cuban counterparts in the "same oppressive behavior of unjust ...
Trump's trade war looms over divided U.S. farm belt ahead of vote
(Reuters) - Chuck Wirtz voted for Donald Trump in the 2016 election, inspired by the then-political outsider, but the veteran Iowa hog farmer now has buyer's remorse as the U.S. Republican president's trade policy exacts a heavy toll on his business.
Trump talks with Xi Jinping amid trade tensions
Amid the brewing trade war between Washington and Beijing, United States President Donald Trump on Thursday had a "long and very good" discussion with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on trade.Taking to his Twitter handle, Trump said that discussions "moving along nicely" and would continue at the G-20 summit in Argentina, adding that he and Xi also discussed North Korea."Just had a long and very good conversation with President Xi Jinping of China. We talked about many subjects, with a heavy emphasis on Trade. Those discussions are moving along nicely with meetings being scheduled at the G-20 in Argentina. Also had a good discussion on North Korea!" Trump wrote on the micro-blogging site.Both China and the US have been locked in an increasingly bitter trade war in the past few months, with both the nations slapping tariffs on each other's imports, leading to the straining of ties between the world's two largest economies.The Trump administration has been imposing tariffs on various
BJP govt in C'garh took no action against chit fund companies: Cong
The Congress on Thursday alleged that the BJP government in Chhattisgarh, which goes to polls later this month, did not act against chit fund companies which duped investors to the tune of Rs 5,000 crore in the last nine years. Around one crore people lost their hard-earned money in these scams, the opposition party alleged. As many as 161 chit fund companies in the state are accused of cheating investors of a total of Rs 5,000 crore, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said at a press conference here. He alleged that the dubious firms were shielded by the BJP government. As many as 310 FIRs were registered against chit fund companies in the state but no action was taken in any of these cases and no victim ever got back a single rupee, Surjewala claimed. Even the banned chit fund companies were allowed to operate in Chhattisgarh, he alleged. Offices of some of the chit fund companies were sealed when people complained, but these firms soon resumed operations, thanks to the ...
Curfew imposed in J-K's Kishtwar as tense mounts after BJP leader's killing
Curfew was imposed in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district Thursday night after a senior state BJP leader and his brother were shot dead by suspected militants, triggering protests by residents, officials said. An order for imposition of the curfew was issued by Kishtwar District Magistrate A S Rana late in the night, they said. State secretary of BJP Anil Parihar and his brother Ajeet were returning from their shop in Kishtwar when they were fired upon from close range at a dark, narrow lane leading to their house in Parihar Mohalla, the officials said. The assailants were apparently waiting for the brothers to return home and used pistols to target them, they said. Tension mounted in the town as residents staged protests and manhandled policemen, including senior officials, prompting the authorities to clamp prhibitory orders under CrPC Section 144. BJP general secretary Ashok Koul condemned the attack and called for punishment to the culprits involved in it. CPI(M) MLA M Y ...
Ashok Chavan slams BJP for playing with sentiments of Maha people
Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president and former state Chief Minister Ashok Chavan on Thursday came down heavily on the BJP-led state government as well as the central government and made a series of allegations against them.Addressing the media, he said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government played with the sentiments of the poor people of Maharashtra.While challenging the saffron party, Chavan said if the BJP has done anything for the welfare of the state, then they should show it to the people.He added that the BJP did nothing except cheating the people by making all the false and tall promises.Attacking state Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, he said, "The present government in the state has played with the sentiments of lakhs of farmers in the name of loan waving scheme which has been unearthed today. So far more than 16,000 distressed farmers have committed suicide."On declaring drought situation in 151 districts across the states, he said, "While
CEC Rawat revives poll preparations in Chhattisgarh
Chief Election Commissioner OPRawatThursday reviewed the ongoing preparations for the Chhattisgarh assembly polls scheduled to be held in two phases on November 12 and 20. In a series of meetings, the CEC, accompanied by senior officials, also reviewed the law and order situation specially in the naxal-affected areas that will go to polls on November 12. "The state election officials have been directed to ensure strict compliance of the Model Code of Conduct and to carry out impartial action against any complaint regarding its violation," Rawat said in a press conference this evening. The commission is committed to conduct a free, fair and transparent election, he said. During his visit to the state, meetings were held with representatives of different political parties. Besides, district-wise preparations were reviewed during meetings with collectors and superintendents of police and officials engaged in electioneering, he said. State election machinery has been directed
Trump signs sanctions order targeting Venezuela's gold exports
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Washington ratcheted up pressure on Venezuela's leftist President Nicolas Maduro on Thursday with new measures aimed at disrupting the South American country's gold exports, U.S. national security adviser John Bolton said.
Follow Patel on banning RSS, Rajeev Shukla tells BJP
Congress spokesperson Rajeev Shukla on Thursday asked BJP to follow Sardar Patel's "suggestion" of banning the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).
Centre destroying institutions like RBI: AAP
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Thursday alleged that the Modi government was "destroying" various institutions, amid reports that Reserve Bank was being forced to resolve differences with the Centre which has cited powers that were never used before. AAP spokesperson Sanjay Singh also claimed the Centre has "invoked" a rare provision under section 7 of the RBI Act to "pressurise" the apex bank in its bid to benefit some businessmen, who he said are close to Modi government. "The government is destroying various institutions. Invoking section 7 of RBI Act would end the 83-year-old autonomy of the RBI. Through this step, the Centre will direct the RBI to release funds to the banks so that they could compensate the deficit created due to huge loans given to big businessmen who are close to Modi government. This will push the country towards recession and bankruptcy," Singh alleged. Questions are being raised over autonomy of the RBI, with the RBI Deputy Governor Viral Acharya ..
Chandrababu Naidu meets Mulayam
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and TDP leader N Chandrababu Naidu Thursday met Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav, a day after Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav urged him to bring non-BJP parties on a single platform ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha election. Naidu reached Mulayam Singh Yadav's official residence here in the evening and spent some time with him. Akhilesh Yadav, who reached the national capital Thursday evening, also met Naidu, SP leaders said. "They are in town, so they have to meet," one of them said. Naidu, who met several opposition leaders in the national capital Saturday and Thursday, said he would play the role of a "facilitator" in helping evolve a credible alternative to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) dispensation. Akhilesh Yadav had spoken with Naidu earlier this week and had supported his move to unite the opposition.
India continues to engage with US on Iran oil imports
India remains engaged with the United States regarding oil imports from Iran, after Washington imposed fresh sanctions on the Islamic nation over its nuclear programme, a senior official said here on Thursday.
Naidu meets Rahul, Pawar, Akhilesh to push opposition unity (Roundup)
Efforts to forge a broad unity among opposition parties to defeat the BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections received a boost on Thursday with TDP leader N. Chandrababu Naidu meeting Congress President Rahul Gandhi and the two leaders stating that opposition forces will work together to "defend India, our institutions and democracy."
Bangla PM Hasina holds crucial talks with opposition front leaders
Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today held crucial talks with the newly-formed opposition National Unity Front (NUF), which includes the BNP of jailed former prime minister Khaleda Zia, ahead of the parliamentary elections scheduled for December. The talks with the 21-member delegation of Jatiya Oikya Front, led by Kamal Hossain, chief of the new political alliance, are expected to ease political tensions between the Hasina-led administration and the opposition groups. The ruling Awami League's decision to hold talks with the NUF at Ganobhaban (PM's official residence) was a dramatic development as the party had earlier rejected scopes for such talks exclusively with BNP, but responded quickly to the NUF's proposal for the dialogue four days ago. The NUF emerged earlier this month as an opposition platform and floated a seven-point demand that includes dissolution of parliament to pave way for a poll-time interim government for holding a credible election. The BNP stayed away .