Page 2619 - Politics
Jailed Myanmar Reuters reporters to file appeal
Two Myanmar Reuters journalists will file an appeal this week against a seven-year prison sentence linked to reporting on the Rohingya crisis, their defence lawyer said Monday. Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, were sentenced early September under a hardline state secrets act while investigating the massacre of 10 Rohingya Muslims during the military's bloody crackdown last year. Condemnation echoed around the world after what was widely regarded as a sham trial and an effort to silence media scrutiny of the army's campaign against the Rohingya. Defence lawyer Khin Maung Zaw told AFP that "everything is ready" for an appeal to be filed before the deadline on Saturday. Myanmar's civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi refused to intervene during the trial even though her government had the power to drop the charges. But Myanmar's president - a Suu Kyi proxy - could now pardon the pair. The appeal process should not affect the request for a presidential pardon, lawyer Khin Maung Zaw ...
Manoj Tiwari asks BJP-ruled MCDs to step in to tackle air pollution
Delhi BJP president Manoj Tiwari Monday asked the party-ruled municipal corporations to step in to tackle the rising air pollution in the city as the AAP government has "failed" to take effective measures. In his letter to mayors and commissioners of the South, North and the East Delhi Municipal Corporations, which are ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party, Tiwari requested them to ban all construction activities in Delhi with immediate effect. Delhi's air continued to remain in the "very poor" category with an overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of 348 on Monday. It is very unfortunate that the Delhi government only remains a "mute spectator" to this "serious health hazard" Delhi is facing, he alleged, adding that in the last four years, the AAP dispensation has "failed" to take any effective measure to curb air pollution. "Being administrative heads of Delhi's premier civic bodies, it is imperative upon you to step in to tackle air pollution. "In view of the worsening situation, which is .
Rahul attacks Modi over handling of Kashmir issue
Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Monday launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he hasd opened the doors on the terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir which has left the state burning.
Pakistani-origin radical preacher to go on anti-extremism course in UK
A Pakistani-origin radical Islamist preacher, who was recently freed from a UK jail after serving part of a sentence for inviting support to the ISIS, will now take part in a compulsory anti-extremism course, according to a media report. Anjem Choudary, 51, was released earlier this month under very strict licence conditions from the high-security Belmarsh prison in south London after serving less than half of his five-and-a-half-year sentence for reported "good behaviour". His early release prompted the UK government to move on closing a legal loophole that would not allow those convicted of inviting support for groups such as Islamic State (ISIS) to be eligible for early release in future. According to 'The Times', it has now emerged that Choudary has been ordered to attend the government's Desistance and Disengagement Programme (DDP) as part of his probation. The compulsory course requires him to receive mentoring and theological advice as part of the government's wider ...
Israeli delegation holds talks on setting up Centres of
: An Israeli delegation, led by Consul General of Israel to South India, Dana Kursh, Monday discussed setting up of the two proposed centres of excellence in Tamil Nadu, with state agriculture minister R Doraikkanu. During the brief interaction at the Secretariat, the officials held discussion on setting up these Centres at Krishnagiri and Dindigul and how assistance from Israel can benefit farmers in Tamil Nadu, an official release said. India has chosen Israel as a strategic partner in the field of agriculture. The partnership evolved into Indo-Israel Agricultural project, based on a MoU signed by the respective agricultural ministers of India and Israel in 2006. The partnership also envisages setting up Centres of Excellence in various States on crop diversity, increasing productivity and efficient water management. In Tamil Nadu, the proposed Centres for Excellence is expected to come up in Krishnagiri and Dindigul, respectively. It would be the first agro-technology .
Merkel to give up party leadership
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has announced she will give up leadership of her centre-right Christian Democrat Union (CDU) party after 18 years in the post, the media reported on Monday.
Haryana pays Rs 1.90 crore compensation to sewer personnel
The Haryana government has identified sewer personnel who lost their lives while cleaning sewer in different parts of the state since 1993 and given compensation of Rs 1.90 crore to the families of 19 such personnel.
Maoists' patrons were Sonia Gandhi's advisors: RS Prasad
Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar on Monday launched a blistering attack on the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government and said that 10 years of Manmohan Singh government took no effective action against Maoists as their patrons were part of the UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi's advisory committee.Prasad said, "We have a clear view that everyone has a right to criticise the government but no one has a right to wish ill for the country. Everyone knows that how many of these urban-Maoists are related to Congress. During the 10 years of Manmohan Singh government, no effective action was taken against Maoists because their patrons were in the advisory committee of Sonia Gandhi."He also credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party government for effectively tackling the Naxal problem.He said, "Our government has played a pivotal role in decreasing the Naxal problem on the national level. Previously 150 districts of the country were Naxal affected but now the numbers of
PM Modi responsible for killing of jawans in J-K: Rahul
Launching a scathing attack at Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led central government, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Monday held the Centre responsible for the killing of army personnel in Jammu and Kashmir."The soldiers dying in Jammu and Kashmir is due to Prime Minister Modi. What has he done for armed forces? He has left the state of Jammu and Kashmir in a burning state and has opened the doors to terrorists," said the Gandhi scion while addressing a rally in Ujjain. Stepping up his attack against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government, the Congress chief said the party practices the religion of corruption.Gandhi further said that the party's claim of implementing One Rank One Pension (OROP) for the ex-servicemen is a "blatant lie". "The claim of BJP government about bringing the OROP into effect is false. The Congress government will definitely implement OROP, if voted to power," Gandhi stated.Raking up the issue of Rafale deal, the Congress president said, "The Congress ...
India and Qatar to establish joint commission to review bilateral matters
India and Qatar on Monday decided to establish a joint commission to regularly review all the bilateral matters, as well as regional and global issues of mutual interest. A joint declaration to establish the joint commission between the two nations was released during the ongoing first visit of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to Qatar. The inter-ministerial High Level Joint Committee will be tasked to strengthen the relations between the two countries particularly in the economic, commercial, cultural, scientific, technological, information technology and educational fields, the ministry of External Affairs said in a statement. The commission will be responsible for following up the implementation of the agreements concluded between the two countries and finding suitable solutions for the resulting problems of the implementation thereof. "Facilitating the exchange of information and expertise and encouraging bilateral consultation in service of cooperation between the two ...
Delhi's Dialogue and Development Commission gets new head
The Delhi Dialogue and Development Commission (DDC), an advisory body of the AAP government, on Monday got a head in Jasmine Shah, an alumnus of IIT Madras and Columbia University, after being headless for months.
Israeli minister in unprecedented visit to UAE mosque
Israeli minister Miri Regev on Monday shared a video on Facebook of her touring a famed mosque in the United Arab Emirates, in an unprecedented visit by a cabinet member. The culture and sport minister, known for controversial comments about Arabs, was dressed in a red abaya with a white scarf covering her hair at Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque. "I toured the site," Regev told the camera, in Hebrew, surrounded by a group of people in traditional Emirati dress. "This is the first time that an Israeli minister is here on a visit." Regev, a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party, visited the mosque on Sunday, according to her spokesman. Her country does not have diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates. Israeli officials publicly toured landmark sites in the UAE at the weekend, the first such visit, days after Netanyahu travelled to the neighbouring Gulf state of Oman. The delegation, which includes the country's communications minister, ...
Punjab text row: State women's panel to take matter up with CM
Punjab women's commission chairperson Manisha Gulati said Monday she would take up with the chief minister the matter of a minister allegedly sending an "inappropriate" text to a woman government officer. However, she refused to take cognisance of the matter, saying the commission has not received a complaint. Opposition parties in Punjab have been demanding that minister resign and a proper probe be conducted into the matter. "I will meet Chief Minister Amarinder Singh after he returns from his foreign visit and will raise this matter with him," the Punjab State Commission for Women chief said.Singh is on a visit to Israel. The minister had allegedly sent an inappropriate message to a woman official some weeks back, triggering opposition demand to sack him from his post. The minister had sent a couple of messages to the officer earlier and stopped for a while after she warned him. She lodged a complaint against him after he messaged her again over a month ago, according to a media ...
What Sri Lankan Constitution says on president's power to sack PM
Following is an explainer on what Sri Lanka's Constitution says on the president's power to sack the prime minister, a move that has triggered a constitutional crisis in the country. The political developments unfolded after President Maithripala Sirisena's broader political front United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) withdrew from the unity government with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's United National Party (UNP). Sirisena and Wickremesinghe joined hands to form a government of national unity in 2015 to bring in constitutional and governance reforms including a new Constitution to address the long-standing issues of the Tamil minority. President Sirisena on Friday night sacked Prime Minister Wickremesinghe and appointed former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa in his place. Sirisena also suspended parliament till November 16 after Wickremesinghe sought an emergency session of the House to prove his majority. Under the 19th Amendment of the Constitution adopted in 2015, the ...
Unfolding political crisis in Sri Lanka and role of key players
Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena sacked Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and appointed former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa as the new premier. Sirisena's move has triggered a constitutional crisis in the country. Here are some points about the unfolding crisis and the role of key players: Government - Sri Lanka has a semi-presidential system of government in which a president exists alongside a prime minister and a cabinet. The prime minister is responsible to the legislature of the country. Major players - Maithripala Sirisena, the current president whose broader political front United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) withdrew from the unity government. Ranil Wickremesinghe, the senior leader of the United National Party (UNP), who was sacked as the prime minister by the president last week. Mahinda Rajapaksa, the former two-time president, who was appointed as the new prime minister by the incumbent president in a dramatic move. Political background - Sirisena secured a ...
Delhi Cabinet approves proposal to reserve five pc seats for sportspersons in gov dept
The Delhi Cabinet approved Monday a proposal to reserve five per cent seats for eminent sportspersons in all government departments, PSUs and autonomous bodies, an official statement said. The cabinet said the comprehensive rules or provisions for the appointment of sportspersons in the Delhi government shall be framed and approved by the Directorate of Education within one month. According to an official statement, "The Delhi government will endorse the Department of Personnel & Training order and reserve five per cent of the total number of vacancies for meritorious sportspersons in all departments, PSUs and autonomous bodies". "Out of five per cent reserved vacancies for meritorious sportspersons, at least three per cent of posts in group C may be reserved for sportspersons who have won medals, participated in specified international sporting events," the statement said. For balance two per cent posts, Group A and Group B ex-cadre posts in the Delhi government will be earmarked
India, Japan to start 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue
India and Japan will start a 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue involving their respective foreign and defence ministers to work for peace and stability in the world, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Narendra Modi said on Monday.
Pawar kin flays Uddhav Thackeray as war of words escalates
The verbal duel between Shiv Sena and NCP, sparked by Sena president Uddhav Thackeray's Ram temple construction pitch, has intensified with a close relative of NCP chief Sharad Pawar assailing the Sena leader. Rohit Pawar, son of Sharad Pawar's nephew Rajendra, hit back at Thackeray over his criticism of former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar over the temple issue. Addressing a rally in Jalna last week, Ajit Pawar, nephew of the NCP chief, said Uddhav Thackeray had failed to construct a memorial in the name of his father, Bal Thackeray, but was "harping" on construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya. The Sena had hit back, with an editorial in party mouthpiece Saamana calling Ajit Pawar a "gutter insect" of Pune politics who lives off his uncle Sharad Pawars fortune as he was left with no importance in Maharashtra politics. In a counter attack, Rohit, in a Facebook post Sunday, said, "During his last day, Balasaheb had appealed people to look after Uddhav. ...
Ousted Lankan PM says he still commands majority
Sri Lanka's ousted prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said on Monday that he still commands the majority in parliament as the Speaker feared that there could be "bloodshed" on the streets amid the current political crisis. The political developments unfolded after President Maithripala Sirisena's broader political front United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) withdrew from the unity government with Wickremesinghe's United National Party (UNP). Sirisena on Friday night sacked Wickremesinghe and appointed former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa as the new prime minister. Sirisena also suspended parliament till November 16 after Wickremesinghe sought an emergency session to prove his majority. Addressing the foreign journalists association, Wickremesinghe said, "The Speaker has the powers to summon parliament and he will decide tomorrow. Wickremesinghe said he commands majority in the House and it could be proved when parliament is reconvened. "We have majority in the House and now told the .
Former BJP leader floats new party ahead of Rajasthan election
Former BJP leader Hanuman Beniwal on Monday launched Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) here and claimed that the outfit in alliance with other "like-minded" parties will emerge as an alternative to the BJP and the Congress in the December 7 Assembly election in Rajasthan. Bharat Vahini Party (BVP) president and former BJP leader Ghanshyam Tiwari extended support to the RLP at a rally here to announce the formation of the new party where national vice president of Rashtriya Lokdal (RLD) Jayant Chaudhary and member of national executive of Samajwadi Party Sanjay Lathar were also present. "We would associate with like-minded people in the state which are unhappy with the Congress and BJP governments. Both the parties have been involved in corruption. Welfare of poor, farmer and, youths were not their focus. It is a fight to change the system and not for any chair," Beniwal, who is an independent legislator from Khinvsar Assembly seat, said while addressing the 'Kisan Hunkar Rally'. He ...