Page 2624 - Politics
In first, Israeli anthem plays in Abu Dhabi after judo gold
Israel's national anthem was played at a judo tournament in Abu Dhabi on Sunday after one of its athletes won gold in what was thought to be a first in the Gulf emirate. The playing of the national anthem and Israeli Sports Minister Miri Regev's attendance at the tournament were the latest milestones in the country's bid for rapprochement with Arab states. Regev cried and sang along as the anthem played, according to footage broadcast on Israeli television. Her presence in the United Arab Emirates capital also marked the first time a minister from Israel attended a sports event in the Gulf, Israeli officials said. It was the first time an Israeli delegation participated there under its national flag, after the International Judo Federation warned UAE organisers they would cancel the competition unless all athletes were allowed to participate on an equal footing. Last year, tournament organisers in Abu Dhabi banned the flag and national anthem of Israel, which has no diplomatic ...
Turkey shells US-backed Kurdish militia positions in Syria: state media
Turkey's military on Sunday fired artillery shells at a Kurdish militia in Syria that is backed by the United States but deemed a terrorist group by Ankara, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported. The shelling targeted YPG positions on the eastern bank of the Euphrates River in northern Syria, Anadolu said. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly threatened to launch a new offensive in Syria east of the Euphrates, and on Friday said he was giving the YPG a "final warning". Anadolu reported that the strikes, which hit a hill near the Zur Maghar village across the Euphrates from the city of Jarablus in the Aleppo province, were in response to fire from the area. The shelling comes a day after Erdogan hosted a summit in Istanbul on the Syrian conflict with the leaders of Russia, France and Germany. The YPG, which holds swathes of northern and northeastern Syria, forms the backbone of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the Kurdish-Arab alliance that has received ...
Amit Shah insulted Supreme Court, incited violence: Opposition
A day after BJP President Amit Shah criticised the Supreme Court verdict allowing women of all ages to the Sabrimala temple, the opposition hit back saying his "frivolous and ignorant" comments not only insulted the apex court but also exposed who was behind the violence in the temple area.
Govt employees across Hry to go on 2-day strike from Oct 30: Union leaders
Government employees across Haryana will go on a two-day strike starting October 30 to express solidarity with Haryana Roadways employees and oppose the state's decision to run 700 private buses, leaders of various employees' unions said Sunday. Hundreds of state government employees had gone on mass casual leave on Friday to extend support to the Roadways employees on strike since October 16. On Sunday, the Sarv Karamchari Sangh's coordination committee, in a meeting here, announced that various employees' unions have lent their support to the protesting Roadways employees. "Government employees from various departments, boards, corporations, municipalties and panchayati raj institutions will go on a two-day strike on October 30," Subhash Lamba,general secretary of the Sarv Karamchari Sangh, Haryana, said. He alleged that the Haryana government was bent on privatising Roadways and asserted that the trade unions would not allow privatisation in any state government department. "The ...
J-K CS reviews 'Darbar Move' arrangements in Jammu, calls for foolproof security
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary B V R Subrahmanyam Sunday directed to provide foolproof security arrangements in and around the Civil Secretariat here, which is scheduled to reopen on November 5. The Civil Secretariat, the seat of the state government, the Raj Bhavan and other major offices closed in summer capital Srinagar on October 26. 'Darbar Move' is the the 146-year-old practice of bi-annual shifting of the state capital between Jammu and Srinagar. It was started by the then Maharaja Gulab Singh in 1872 to escape the extreme heat during summers in Jammu and biting cold of winters in Srinagar. The chief secretary visited the civil secretariat and inspected the arrangements in offices of various departments, including the governor's office, an official spokesman said. He directed the concerned to ensure foolproof security arrangements in and around the civil secretariat, he said.
Kejriwal wants Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana scrapped
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday attacked the Modi government for making the farmers "suffer" and demanded that the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) be scrapped.
Kamal Haasan says his party may contest in TN bypolls
Actor-politician Kamal Haasan has said his party MNM would take the call on contesting the byelections to 20 Tamil Nadu assembly seats, including the 18 which have fallen vacant following disqualification of MLAs elected from there, after the poll schedule was announced. Haasan, who has been touring the state as part of his "journey with the people" programme, indicated that a firm decision would be taken when the Election Commission announced the schedule for the polls. "Let us face it if that comes..let us see when that happens," the Makkal Needhi Maiam founder told reporters here Saturday when asked if his party would contest the bypolls. The Madras High Court last week upheld the disqualification of 18 ruling party MLAs, loyal to AMMK leader T T V Dhinakaran, and cleared the decks for the bypolls in the constituencies. Besides the 18, the Tiruvarur seat represented by late DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi and Tiruparankundram by AIADMK's AK Bose are vacant in view of ...
Congress MLA calls PM Modi 'dengue mosquito'
In what could rake up a controversy, Congress Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Praniti Shinde has said a new breed of "dengue mosquito" by the name of "Modi" is causing illness among citizens. "There is a new dengue mosquito in our country, its name is 'Modi baba'. Everybody is being affected because of him. He had a disease of telling lies… brothers and sisters, I will bring down inflation, deposit Rs Lakhs in your accounts," she had said at a rally earlier in the week.Shinde made this comment while criticising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government over the increase in expenses under their dispensation. She also lambasted the Prime Minister for the increasing price of gas cylinders and said that the situation was much better under the Congress government.This is the second statement from a Congress leader that has drawn the ire of the BJP.Congress leader Shashi Tharoor is facing flak for calling the Prime Minister a "scorpion sitting on a Shivling."Tharoor, however, blamed .
Amit Shah accuses grand alliance of 'breaking India'
BJP President Amit Shah Sunday described the 'Mahagathbandhan' (grand alliance) of opposition parties as a 'dhakosla' (deception) and and accused it of "breaking India," while the Narendra Modi-led government was working for "making India." Addressing the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morch (BJYM) national convention here, Shah said on the one hand Prime Minister Modi was focussed on 'Making India', on the other the grand alliance leaders wanted to 'Break' India. "Modiji says remove poverty, unemployment, insecurity... but Mahagathbandhan leaders say remove Modi," he added. Criticising the grand alliance, the BJP leader said it "neither has a policy nor a leader nor any principles." The Congress, TDP, TJS and others are presently engaged in seat-sharing talks for the proposed "grand alliance". Taking a dig at Congress President Rahul Gandhi over his comments on the recent arrest of activists by the Maharashtra government over alleged links with Maoists, Shah said, "I want to tell
Ready to quit the moment party so wishes: Sukhbir Singh Badal
Amid a virtual revolt by a section of Taksali Akalis (old guard), Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal said Sunday the SAD was nobody's personal fiefdom and he was ready to quit his post the moment the party so wishes. "Let me tell you one thing. SAD has given me an opportunity to serve. If they will say you leave and let someone else take over, I am ready," Badal said. He said he was always duty-bound to do whatever the party asks him and if they demand his resignation he was ready for it. "Party is supreme, no individual is bigger than the party. I have said it on every stage that SAD is no one's personal fiefdom. Till the time party wants I will continue, the moment they want me to step down, I will do so," he told reporters in Amritsar when asked if his leadership was being challenged by a section of Taksali leaders from Majha region. Badal, in a bid to quell rebellious voices, said all veteran Akali leaders were his elders and he respects them. Showing respect to ...
2 Army personnel injured in landmine explosion in JK's Rajouri
Two Army personnel, including a lieutenant colonel, were injured in a landmine explosion along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district Sunday, officials said. The Army personnel were on patrol and received splinter injuries in the blast near the anti-infiltration obstacle system in Laam sector, the officials said. They said the blast was accidental and both the injured persons were taken to a hospital where their condition was stated as stable.
Ready to quit if party wants: Sukhbir Badal
With pressure mounting following a few resignations from party posts by senior leaders, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal said on Sunday that he was ready to quit as the party chief if the party wanted him to do so.
LJP, RLSP rebuff rumours of discontent among NDA in Bihar
Scotching rumours of discontent over seat sharing in Bihar, NDA allies, the LJP and the RLSP Sunday insisted that their only priority was to ensure another term for Narendra Modi as the country's prime minister. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Janata Dal (United), another ally of the NDA, had Friday declared that they will contest an equal number of seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections in Bihar. Hours later, Rashtriya Lok Samata Party (RLSP) chief Upendra Kushwaha met opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav, triggering speculation of discontent within NDA grouping in Bihar. It was reported that both the Lok Janshakti Party and the RLSP were keeping their options open. LJP parliamentary board chairman Chirag Paswan on Friday said that there was no reason to leave the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at the moment due to the "positive talks" that were currently underway. "I don't think that we should think of any other alternate alliance," said ...
US nuclear envoy arrives in S Korea for denuclearisation talks
United States Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun arrived in Seoul on Sunday to hold talks with South Korea on cooperation over North Korea's dismantling of the nuclear weapons programme.Biegun was accompanied by a delegation of high-level officials comprising Allison Hooker, a National Security Council official specialising in Korean affairs, and Kevin Kim, a senior advisor at the US Department of State.On October 29, the American nuclear envoy is scheduled to meet South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and his counterpart Lee Do-hoon separately over various issues, including Washington's push for high-level and working-level talks on denuclearisation with North Korean officials, Yonhap News Agency reported.According to observers, Biegun's visit to South Korea could further intensify US' approach to pursuing North Korea's final and fully verified denuclearisation that is expected to gain momentum after the US' midterm elections scheduled on November 6.After ...
Sabarimala row: BJP to observe 1 day fast
Kerala Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Chief PS Sreedharan Pillai on Sunday while extending his support to Sabarimala devotees announced that the BJP will observe a day-long fast on October 30 in front of the Deputy General of Police's office in the state capital and will march to Superintendent of Police's office in other districts.Talking to ANI, Pillai said that a 6-day Rath Yatra from Kasargod to Sabarimala will be organised from November 8."Over 4000 innocent people were illegally arrested or detained. So BJP will observe 1-day fast in front of DGP office in Trivandrum and march to SP office in other districts on October 30. November 8th, there will be 6-days Rath Yatra from Kasargod to Sabarimala," he added.Taking a jibe at Communist Party-led Kerala government, Pillai said that the party leaders are atheists and have taken it on themselves to destroy the temple."BJP has decided to continue agitation by supporting devotees of Sabarimala with various types of programmes on October ..
RS Prasad making issue out of 6-year-old quote: Tharoor
Soon after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ravi Shankar Prasad lambasted Congress Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor for his earlier comment on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the latter on Sunday claimed that the Union Minister was making an issue out of a six-year-old quote. "This comment (not by me) has been in the public domain for six years. RS Prasad making an issue of a six-year-old quote shows how little new the BJP has to offer the nation. As for media subserving the BJP's desire for "controversy", when will this "profession" develop any self-respect?" Tharoor tweeted.He also tweeted the article that carried the comment as an excerpt, and said, "In view of the unseemly demonisation of an out of context remark today involving a scorpion metaphor, my book #TheParadoxicalPrimeMinister cites & footnotes this article - please see the last paragraph of this article."Earlier in the day, Tharoor, while addressing a gathering, had raked up controversy by comparing Prime ...
Iraqi PM calls for tighter security measures on border with Syria
Newly sworn-in Iraqi Prime Minister Adil Abdul-Mahdi on Sunday advocated the need for advanced and tighter security measures along its border with war-torn Syria.During his visit to the headquarters of the Joint Operations Command in Baghdad where he was briefed on the current situation on the Iraq-Syria border, Abdul-Mahdi underlined that tightening security will help maintain stability in Iraq, Anadolu News Agency reported.The Iraqi premier also called for massive efforts to track and destroy terrorist camps in the country.In December last year, Iraq declared victory over the Islamic State (IS), which had seized control of nearly a third of the country in 2014.The country's government has also executed scores of people for their alleged involvement with the dreaded terror group.However, in some parts of Iraq, the IS maintains a network of "sleeper cells". The Iraqi government has been conducting several airstrikes to clear out the terror camps, particularly in the northern parts of .
Probe surrender of HNLC militant leader: Meghalaya opposition leader
Meghalaya opposition leader Mukul Sangma on Sunday asked the ruling National People's Party government and investigating agencies to probe the surrender of the most wanted Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) leader, Cheristarfield Thangkhiew, to Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong.
Former Delhi CM Khurana cremated
Former Delhi Chief Minister and BJP leader Madan Lal Khurana, who passed away on Saturday here at his residence at age 82, was on Sunday cremated here on Sunday.
Wickremesinghe's arrogance led to his sacking, says Sirisena as political crisis deepens in Lanka
In a relief to Sri Lanka's embattled leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, parliament's Speaker refused to endorse his sacking as the prime minister, even as President Maithripala Sirisena on Sunday asserted that the appointment of Mahinda Rajapaksa as his successor was in strict accordance with the Constitution. In a letter to Sirisena, Speaker Karu Jayasuriya backed the ousted prime minister's request to retain his privileges and security until another candidate could prove a majority, saying it was "democratic and fair." He also questioned the president's decision to suspend parliament till November 16, saying it will have "serious and undesirable" consequences on the country. Sirisena on Friday night sacked Wickremesinghe and appointed former strongman Rajapaksa as the new prime minister. Next day, Sirisena suspended parliament till November 16 after Wickremesinghe, who had termed his sacking as illegal and unconstitutional, sought an emergency session to prove his majority. The president .