Page 2636 - Politics
Swaraj to visit Qatar, Kuwait from October 28
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will travel to Qatar and Kuwait from October 28 to 31 in pursuit of India's objective of enhanced engagement with the Gulf region. She will have engagements in Qatar on October 28 and 29 and Kuwait on October 30 and 31, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement. During her visit to Qatar, Swaraj will interact with her counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister. She will also call on Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, Emir of Qatar. During her visit, she will also interact with the Indian community in Doha, the MEA said. India and Qatar share millennia old historic multi-dimensional, relations. The bilateral visit of the Emir of Qatar in March 2015 and Prime Minister of Qatar to India in December 2016 and that of the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Qatar in June 2016 have further boosted traditionally cordial and close ties between the two countries, the MEA said. Qatar hosts ...
Meeting with Tejashwi a coincidence: Upendra Kushwaha
Clearing the air over his meeting with Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav, Union Minister and Rashtriya Lok Samta Party (RLSP) chief Upendra Kushwaha said that the meeting was a "coincidence".Kushwaha on Friday held close door talks with Tejashwi at the circuit house in Arwal hours after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah met with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Delhi and announced that the BJP and the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) would contest 2019 Lok Sabha elections on equal number of seats in Bihar. Shah also said that a respectable share of seats would be given to other allies in 2019 Lok Sabha elections.Kushwaha and Tejashwi's meeting triggered speculation about former's possible exit from the ruling NDA.However, Kushwaha said ,"Nothing is final on seat sharing. Amit Shah ji also said that we will finalise it in a few days. Meeting with Tejashwi Yadav was just a coincidence."Reacting on the same, Tejashwi confirmed that the meeting took place but ...
US suspicious packages: Authorities continue to search post offices
The law enforcement authorities on Friday continued to search post offices after 11 potential explosive devices were mailed to eminent Democrats.The authorities also warned the public that the packages could still be at large, USA Today reported. "This has to be taken with the most seriousness," New York City Police Commissioner James P. O'Neill was quoted by USA Today as saying. "We are treating them as suspected explosive devices," the Commissioner added.The New York Police Department on Friday morning (local time) even closed intersection to traffic and pedestrians in Manhattan because of the possible explosive package found at the post office.The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) confirmed it was an eleventh package, "similar in appearance to the others," and had been addressed to Sen. Cory Booker, a Democratic from New Jersey.According to USA Today, none of the suspected packages have injured anyone.Officials were searching a mail distribution center in Florida on Thursday ...
7 MPs, 199 MLAs have not declared PAN details: Report
Seven sitting parliamentarians and 199 MLAs in the country have not declared their PAN details which is needed in filing nomination papers for elections, a report said Friday. The report prepared after analysis of permanent account number(PAN) details of 542 Lok Sabha MPs and 4,086 MLAs has been brought out by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and the National Election Watch (NEW). Details of PAN are to be furnished before returning officers by candidates contesting elections for parliament and state legislative bodies, in affidavits alongwith their nomination papers. "The highest number of MLAs (51) who have not declared PAN details are from Congress followed by 42 BJP MLAs, 25 CPI(M) MLAs. Statewise, the highest number (33) was from Kerala, followed by Mizoram (28) and Madhya Pradesh (19)," said a statement from ADR. Interestingly, Mizoram state Assembly has a strength of 40 MLAs out of which 28 did not give details of their PAN. In case of MPs, two each from Odisha (both
Cong discusses candidates for MP, Chhattisgarh state polls
The Congress Friday discussed names of candidates for Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh and second-phase of polling in Chhattisgarh, party sources said. The Congress Central Election Committee met under Rahul Gandhi late in the evening here and decided names of candidates for a number of seats for the two states but did not make them public. The assembly polls in Chhattisgarh will be held in two-phases on November 12 and 20 while Madhya Pradesh goes to polls on November 28.
Suspect arrested in connection with US serial bomb packages
US authorities have arrested at least one person in Florida in connection with the series of explosives-laden suspicious packages sent to several present and former high-ranking officials, including former US president Barack Obama, former vice president Joe Biden and former secretary of state Hillary Clinton. Multiple news outlets identified the suspect as Cesar Sayoc, 50, and a resident of Florida. The suspect is said to have a criminal history and ties to New York. President Donald Trump said at a White House event that law enforcement agencies have apprehended the suspect and taken him into custody. Since Monday, homemade bombs and other suspected explosive devices have been addressed to Obama, Clinton, Hollywood actor Robert De Niro and a slew of figures disliked by the president's supporters. "It's an incredible job by law enforcement. We've carried out a far-reaching federal, state and local investigation to find the person or persons responsible for these events. These ...
Chhattisgarh CM kick starts election campaign from Rajnandgaon
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh on Friday kick-started his election campaign from Motipur Village in his constituency, Rajnandgaon.While addressing the people of the village and asking for votes in the upcoming assembly elections, Singh said, "I have come here to assure you that in the coming five years, we will develop Rajnandgaon even more and try to make it a smart city as well. I will get this city's prosperity back. All eyes are here, everybody wants to know whether Rajnandgaon will elect me for the fourth time."On Wednesday, Singh filed his nomination after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announced the names of its candidates for 77 out of 90 seats in the state.The Chhattisgarh Assembly polls will take place in two phases. The first phase will commence on November 12 while the second phase will be held on November 20.The counting of votes will take place on December 11.
Defence Ministry spokesperson sent on leave after tweet against ex-Navy Chief
Defence Ministry spokesperson Swarnashree Rao Rajashekar was on Friday sent on leave after she posted a tweet attacking former Navy Chief Admiral Arun Prakash that triggered outrage among military personnel.
Together we'll fight till PM's corruption stopped: Rahul tells those who joined Cong's protests
Congress chief Rahul Gandhi Friday told those, who joined the protest against CBI Director Alok Verma being divested of his powers, that together "we will fight till the PM's corruption has been stopped". The Congress on Friday organised nationwide protest marches to CBI offices accusing the government of trying to 'cage the CBI', as Gandhi, along with several others, courted arrest here and alleged "every institution was being ruined" in the country. Later in the evening, Gandhi tweeted, "To the thousands of Indians who came out onto the streets today to say NO to corruption, NO to stopping the CBI from investigating Rafale and NO to injustice: everyday we will be joined by thousands more. Together we will fight till the PM's corruption has been stopped." "No matter how hard the government tries, it will not be able to cage the truth," Gandhi had tweeted earlier along with photographs of the protest march and him sitting at the Lodhi road police station. While the Congress has been ..
ECB's Draghi defends his independence amid attacks from Italy
BRUSSELS/ROME (Reuters) - The head of the European Central Bank, Mario Draghi, defended his independence on Friday as members of the Italian ruling coalition attacked him over "improper" remarks about the country's political situation.
Dreams of those who wanted to split AIADMK and capture power
The dreams of those who tried to split AIADMK and capture power have been shattered following the Madras High Court verdict upholding the disqualification of 18 MLAs, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami said Friday. Both party founder, late M G Ramachandran and former chief minister J Jayalalithaa had launched various welfare schemes for the benefit of the people of Tamil Nadu and worked for their uplift, Palaniswami said at a function in the city. In an apparent reference to Dhinakaran, Palaniswami alleged that after her death, "some betrayers" joined hands with the DMK to split the party and topple the government, by creating obstacles. However, with blessings of God and late Jayalalithaa, the "enemies" were given the right punishment for the betrayal and attempt to topple the government, he said. "We will work hard to protect the organisation which was nurtured by two great souls," Palaniswami said. Dhinakaran has denied that the verdict was a setback to his camp .
One arrested in connection with US serial bomb packages
US authorities have arrested at least one person in Florida in connection with the series of explosives-laden suspicious packages sent to several present and former high-ranking officials including former US president Barack Obama, former vice president Joe Biden and former secretary of state Hillary Clinton. "We can confirm one person is in custody," Justice Department spokesperson Sarah Isgur Flores said. The department of justice is scheduled to hold a news conference later. Since Monday, homemade bombs and other suspected explosive devices have been addressed to Obama, Clinton, Hollywood actor Robert De Niro and a slew of figures disliked by the president's supporters. At a White House event, Trump promised to prosecute those responsible to the fullest extent of the law. In his remarks, Trump expressed amazement that the arrest happened so quickly, as it was similar to finding "a needle in a haystack". Multiple news outlets identified the suspect as Cesar Sayoc, 50, and a resident
Wickremesinghe, Sirisena had drifted away, change not sudden: Lankan expert
While the unannounced swearing-in of Mahinda Rajapaksa as the new Prime Minister of Sri Lanka on Friday evening took everyone by surprise, the mood for change was building up for the last few days.People closely watching these developments in Colombo said that the change was a result of a situation developing for the last few months and was not sudden."It is not a sudden change. The situation has been developing for the last few months. President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe are from two different parties and differences between them had emerged within months of coming together after the general elections in 2015," Sugeeswara Senadhira, Director (Research and International Media), Presidential Secretariat in Colombo told ANI.On Friday, former President Rajapaksa was sworn in as the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka replacing Ranil Wickremesinghe.President Sirisena and Prime Minister Wickremesinghe had come together to form the Unity Government in August 2015 .
Bill and Hillary Clinton attend concert after bomb threat
After receiving a bomb threat with a "suspicious" package, former United States President Bill Clinton and wife Hillary Clinton hit up at Bruce Springsteen's Broadway show.TMZ spotted the Clintons looking unconcerned while leaving the Walter Kerr Theatre on Thursday night (local time) where Springsteen is the hottest ticket in town.A "suspicious" package believed to be containing an explosive device was found in the vicinity of Clinton residence in Chappaqua in New York on Wednesday morning (local time).Several packages were delivered to the country's leaders and influential people including former US President Barack Obama.Packages addressed to former Vice-President Joe Biden and actor Robert De Niro were also intercepted on Thursday by the postal facilities.
No truck with BJP, asserts MNF; Mizo CM claims the two parties will join hands
The Mizo National Front (MNF) Friday asserted that it would not form an alliance with the BJP in the event of a fractured verdict in the November 28 assembly elections even as Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla alleged that the two parties are working together for the polls. Addressing party workers here, Lal Thanhawla, who is also Congress president in Mizoram, said the MNF is a constituent of the BJP-led North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) and it been working for the interest of the saffron party. His reaction came in response to MNF reiterating during the day that it would not form an alliance with the BJP even after the polls. MNF secretary for information and publicity Lalthanzuala Hnamte had clarified his party stand vis-a-vis BJP in the wake of a news report that the BJP and the MNF have reached an agreement to forge an alliance. According to an online news report, Tripura BJP general secretary Pratima Bhowmik has indicated that in a fractured post-poll scenario the opposition MNF .
FBI arrests man suspected of sending suspicious packages
The FBI on Friday arrested a man suspected of sending packages containing suspected explosives in recent days to major Democratic Party figures and critics of President Donald Trump, the Justice Department said.
Kushwaha meets Tejashwi as Shah presents NDA's LS polls seat-sharing formula in Bihar
Union minister and RLSP president Upendra Kushwaha met RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav Friday, triggering speculation of discontent within NDA grouping in Bihar, hours after BJP chief Amit Shah announced a seat-sharing formula in the state for Lok Sabha elections. A picture from the meeting, that took place in Arwal district, of the two leaders was shared by the RJD on its WhatsApp group, prompting many to believe the RLSP chief was not happy within the BJP-led NDA, though his party downplayed it as a "courtesy call". "Public figures do meet each other often even if they do not happen to be allies," an RSLP functionary told PTI after the meeting. Kushwaha's RLSP is a part of the BJP-led NDA in Bihar whose other constituents are Nitish Kumar's JD(U) and Ramvilas Paswan's LJP. Kushwaha declined to comment on what transpired during the meeting. His meeting with the top leader of the NDA's rival party assumes significance as it came on a day Shah talked about a seat-sharing formula for the ...
BJP-JD-U to contest equal number of LS seats
The BJP and JD-U will contest an equal number of seats in the Lok Sabha elections in Bihar next year under a seat-sharing formula between the two sides, BJP President Amit Shah and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar announced after talks between them on Friday.
Israel PM pays historic visit to Oman
Israel's Prime Minister paid a historic visit to Oman, where he met the Sultan of the Gulf country which is yet to establish formal diplomatic ties with Israel, official sources said on Friday.
Cong dharna before CBI office in Shillong
The Opposition Congress in Meghalaya on Friday staged a dharna outside the CBI office to demand reinstatement of CBI Director Alok Verma, who has been divested of his powers and sent on leave. As part of the party's nationwide protest, Leader of the Opposition Mukul Sangma led the demonstrators and accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of attempting to manipulate the administration of justice in the country. "It was a disgraceful attempt by Modiji to prevent an investigation into the Rafale scam," Mukul told mediapersons. The Centre had on Wednesday divested Verma and special director Rakesh Asthana of their powers and sent the two warring officials on leave. The Leader of Opposition also attacked the ruling National People's Party for allegedly attempting to use government officers as "henchmen" by transferring them at their will. Mukul said, "It (transfer) is something which is more or less comparable to what Modiji is doing to the premiere investigating agency like the