Page 2642 - Politics

China, Japan stress need to protect Free Trade: Chinese Premier

China and Japan deem it necessary to actively protect free trade in a climate of uncertainty and instability on the international stage, Chinese Premier of the State Council Li Keqiang said at a joint press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday.Abe arrived in Beijing on Thursday for the first formal summit between the two countries' leaders since 2011."There are a lot of factors of uncertainty and instability in the current international environment. The sides believe that they should actively defend free trade as the two important and influential countries in the world and the region," Li said after the meeting with Abe.The premier also stressed that China was ready to speed up the talks on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).The RCEP negotiations were launched in November 2012 by leaders from 10 ASEAN member states and six ASEAN partner countries, namely Australia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, and New Zealand. They are aimed at ...

Rahul Gandhi, leading protest over CBI row, detained in Delhi

Congress president Rahul Gandhi and other party leaders, protesting in front of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) headquarters, were arrested, party spokesperson Randeep Surjewala informed on Twitter."Congress President, Rahul Gandhi & other leaders arrested," Surjewala tweeted.Rahul, along with party leaders and a massive crowd, was protesting against what they termed as the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government's interference in the investigating agency's functioning.The government recently sent the CBI chief Alok Verma and his deputy Rakesh Asthana on leave after both trade bribery charges against each other.The Congress party chief, in a tweet, said that "CBI Chief Alok Verma was collecting documents relating to the Rafale scam. He was forcibly sent on leave".Several party workers, during the Friday's protest, marched with their president on a road to CBI headquarters in central Delhi's Lodhi Road area. Protestors raised slogans and placards as their party ...

Congress misguiding public: Rajnath on CBI row

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said that Congress is unnecessarily raising its voice against the Centre over the false assumption that the government is tinkering with the institution such as Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).Speaking to media, the Union Minister said, "Congress has no issues of public interest to discuss and that is why they are misguiding people."Commenting on the ongoing CBI case in the Supreme Court, Singh added that an authority is investigating the matter involving Alok Verma, CBI Director and Rakesh Asthana, CBI Special Director. The Congress must wait for the investigation report."Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday linked the central government's action of sending Alok Verma on leave with a probe into the alleged Rafale scam, which, he claimed, was about to be conducted. He said that the Prime Minister panicked anticipating an investigation.Terming the temporary removal of CBI Director from his official post as illegal, he said, ...

Rahul leads opposition protest outside CBI HQ, courts arrest

Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Friday hit the streets in the capital along with leaders of his party and its allies on the Rafale issue demanding "reinstatement" of CBI Director Alok Verma and courted arrest after dubbing Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a "chor" (thief).

Mumbai Congress protests outside CBI office

Thousands of Congress activists on Friday staged a noisy protest outside the CBI office in Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) here, shouting anti-government slogans following the move to strip CBI Director Alok Verma of his powers.

BKU activists block DM office in Muzaffarnagar

Demanding Uttar Pradesh government to declare minimum support price of sugarcane before the start of crushing season by mills, Bhartiya Kisan Union activists Friday blocked the collectorate office here with tractor-trolleys loaded with sugarcanes. They are also demanding clearing of dues by sugar mills, allowing plying of old tractors, implementation of recommendations of the M S Swaminathan Committee report. The protest will continue till their demands are not met, said BKU district unit chief Raju Ahalawat.

Police action against Ayyappa devotees 'unethical': NSS

Nair Service Society, an outfit of Kerala's influential Nair community, Friday termed as "unethical and anti-democratic" the police action against devotees who protested the entry of women of all age groups into the Lord Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala. NSS General Secretary G Sukumaran Nair also accused Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and some of his ministers of "hurting sentiments of crores of Ayyappa devotees" by "humiliating" Panthalam palace (Lord Ayyappa's palace) and Tantris (chief priests of Sabarimala) using "cheap language." "The police action against the devotees is unethical and anti-democratic. The government is taking action against devotees by creating an emergency kind of situation in the state," Nair said in a statement here. He said the NSS stands by the devotees on the issue. The outfit, which has filed a plea in the Supreme Court seeking a review in the case, said it will organise peaceful protests, chanting Ayyappa mantra across the state on October ...

Saudi prosecutor to visit Istanbul over Khashoggi murder: Erdogan

Saudi Arabia's chief prosecutor will visit Istanbul on Sunday for talks with Turkish authorities as part of the investigation into the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Turkey's president said Friday. "They (the Saudis) are sending the chief prosecutor on Sunday to Turkey," President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, adding that Ankara had more evidence on the killing.

CBI row: Recent developments extremely positive, says Jaitley

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Friday asserted that the decisions related to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) controversy were positive. He underlined that the central government is not biased against anyone, and it will ensure the intelligence agency's professionalism and institutional integrity is maintained.He said, "The current CBI controversy is an extremely positive development. The government has no interest for or against any individual. The government is interested in maintaining professionalism, image and constitutional integrity of CBI."Jaitley added, "Recent developments have eroded the credibility of the CBI. The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) in the interests of fairness had passed an order that till investigations or inquiries are pending against two top officers of CBI, they must step aside and recuse themselves from CBI functioning till it's over. This was in the larger interest of fairness because you can't be heading an investigation or agency which ..

No electoral alliance with BJP in upcoming Mizoram polls: MNF

The Mizo National Front (MNF), a constituent of the BJP-led North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), Friday reiterated it would not form an alliance with the BJP for the upcoming election to the 40-member Mizoram Assembly scheduled to be held on November 28. MNF secretary for information and publicity Lalthanzuala Hnamte cited a Tripurainfo online news report to say that there were claims in the local media that the BJP and the MNF have reached an agreement to forge an alliance. The news report said Tripura BJP general secretary Pratima Bhowmik has indicated that in a fractured post-poll scenario the opposition MNF may form a coalition with the BJP to form a government. Bhowmik was also quoted as saying that the MNF could not have a pre-poll alliance because of a genuine fear of backlash from the majority Mizo voters but when the question of government formation will come up there will be no difficulty in forming a post-poll alliance or coalition. "Distorting the statement of the ...

Govt treating human rights organisations like criminal enterprises: Amnesty

The focus of ED's questioning was the relationship between two entities Amnesty International India Pvt Ltd and Amnesty International India Foundation

Pak PM to visit China in November

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan will embark on his maiden visit to China on November 2. He will stay there till November 5 at the invitation of the Chinese leadership.This will be Khan's first official visit to China after assuming office in August. He will be accompanied by a high-level delegation including Minister of Foreign Affairs Shah Mehmood Qureshi, a statement from Pakistan's foreign ministry read.During the visit, Khan is slated to hold meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang in Beijing. The two sides will review the entire range of bilateral relations, including the multi-billion dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project and are expected to sign several agreements of cooperation in diverse fields.After his visit to Beijing, Khan will visit Shanghai to participate in the First China International Import Expo, where Pakistan is exhibiting a wide range of export products. The cricketer-turned-politician will be a keynote speaker at the

Caitlyn Jenner slams Trump for neglecting transgender community

Caitlyn Jenner, who voted for the United States President Trump in the 2016 elections, has slammed him for 'relentless attacks' on the transgender community.In an op-ed for The Washington Post, the American television personality said that she was hopeful that Trump will support the community. "Following Trump's election as president, I saw fertile ground for change within the Republican Party on LGBTQ issues." she wrote."Trump was the first Republican presidential candidate to claim to support of this valuable, vulnerable community, and I was encouraged by the applause he received when he said at the Republican National Convention in July 2016 that he would stand up for the LGBTQ community," she added.Jenner further wrote that she has changed her perception about his approach towards transgender. "The leader of our nation has shown no regard for an already marginalized and struggling community," the op-ed read.Claiming that Trump has been compromising with the community to aid the ...

18 disqualified AIADMK MLAs to appeal against Madras HC order in SC

The 18 disqualified AIADMK legislators Friday decided to approach the Supreme Court against the Madras High Court order upholding their disqualification by Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker P Dhanapal last year. Thanga Tamilselvan, one of the disqualified MLAs and a staunch supporter of sidelined AIADMK leader TTV Dhinakaran, said the decision was "unanimous" and accepted with "joy" by all the 18 MLAs. The decision was taken after a discussion between the disqualified legislators and Dhinakaran here. "It has been decided that we will go in for an appeal to show to the world that what the Speaker has done is a mistake. We are going to appeal in the Supreme Court," he told reporters. The Madras High Court Thursday upheld the June 14 order of the then Chief Justice disqualifying 18 rebel AIADMK legislators, in a huge relief to the K Palaniswami government. The 18 disqualified MLAs are loyalists of Dhinakaran, who now heads the AMMK, and deposed AIADMK leader V K Sasikala.

Trump dismisses NYT report on intercepted calls

US President Donald Trump has dismissed the New York Times report about Chinese and Russian spies listening in on his cellphone calls as "fake" and "wrong".

India says China agrees to increase imports from country

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India's trade minister Suresh Prabhu said on Friday that China has agreed to increase its imports from the country.

Pluralist democracy can still be protected if Modi is 'stopped' in next polls: Shashi Tharoor (IANS Interview)

If Narendra Modi can be "stopped" in the next elections then India should still be able to protect its pluralist way of life and the longer he continues as Prime Minister, the greater the danger that the extent of India's "Modi-fication" will be irreversible, says Congress MP Shashi Tharoor.

Truth prevails in SC: Cong

The Congress Friday hailed the Supreme Court order on CBI Director Alok Verma, who has been divested of his powers and sent on leave, saying truth has prevailed. The Modi government's "sinister attempt" to capture the CBI through "lackeys" has fallen flat, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said after the apex court gave the CVC two weeks to complete an inquiry into allegations against Verma and barred interim director M Nageswar Rao from taking any major policy decision. "Truth prevails in Supreme Court. Modi Government's sinister attempt to capture CBI through lackeys falls flat. A slap in face of tyrants who wanted to pin the last nail in CBI's independence. CVC can't act as Modi Government's pawn but would be supervised by a SC judge to act fairly," Surjewala said on Twitter. The Central Vigilance Commission inquiry will be conducted under the supervision of a former Supreme Court judge, the apex court ordered. Hearing Verma's plea challenging the government's decision .

Congress protest affects traffic in some parts of Delhi

The Congress protest demanding reinstatement of ousted CBI Director Alok Verma, who has been divested of his powers and sent on leave, threw traffic on some roads of the national capital in a tizzy as commuters faced a tough time reaching their destination. The traffic was affected on Lodhi Road, CGO Complex, Bhishma Pitamah Marg, Sai Baba Chowk and near Dayal Singh College, traffic police said. "The traffic was affected but it was for a short period. Lodhi road and Bhishma Pitamah Marg road have now been opened", Alok Kumar, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) said. Congress workers led by their president Rahul Gandhi took to the streets on Friday against the move to divest CBI Director Alok Verma of his powers and send him on leave, and to demand an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Congress, which marched from Dayal Singh College on Lodhi Road to the CBI headquarters about a kilometre away, has termed the move against Verma "illegal and unconstitutional". Senior ...

Trump imposes sanctions on Hezbollah

US President Donald Trump has imposed new sanctions targeting Lebanese militant group Hezbollah to isolate it from the international financial system, as his administration continues its all-out economic squeeze on the Iranian regime that allegedly backs it. Trump signed the Hezballah International Financing Prevention Amendments Act (HIPAA) of 2018 into law on the 35th anniversary of Hezbollah's 1983 truck bombing of the barracks in Beirut, which killed 241 US service members and 58 French peacekeepers. The legislation ramps up reporting requirements and places further financial and economic sanctions on the group. "The attack was carried out by Hezbollah, which Iran was instrumental in founding earlier to advance its radical agenda and remains its main patron today. And we're doing a big number on Iran today, in case you haven't noticed," Trump said. "Hezbollah has kidnapped, tortured, and murdered American citizens, including in its brutal attack in 1983 on our Marine Barracks in .