Page 2651 - Politics

'Fiercest' shellfire yet around Syria truce zone: Monitor

Rebels and jihadists traded fire with government forces in northern Syria overnight, their "fiercest" exchanges since a buffer zone deal was announced for the area last month, a monitor said Thursday. A 15- to 20-kilometre (nine to 12-mile) wide "de-militarised zone" was announced by rebel backer Turkey and government ally Moscow on September 17 to separate government troops from rebel fighters in their last major bastion in Idlib province and adjacent areas. Shelling has continued intermittently, however, and escalated dramatically late Wednesday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. "It was the fiercest bombing yet since September 17," said Rami Abdel Rahman, who heads the Britain-based monitoring group. "Syrian government rocket and artillery fire killed one girl in Kafr Hamra," an Aleppo province town inside the declared buffer zone. Rebel shelling from inside the zone killed three civilians in government-held territory earlier this week. Late on Wednesday, rocket fire by

Cong accuses govt of 'snooping' on CBI director to 'cover-up' Rafale

The Congress Thursday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government of resorting to "snooping" on CBI Director Alok Verma to "cover-up" the Rafale 'scam'. Four men were found "loitering" outside Verma's official residence and were being questioned by police, sources claimed Thursday. Deputy Commissioner of Police Madhur Verma, however, denied detaining four men and questioning them. Suffering from "Rafale-o-phobia", Prime Minister Narendra Modi is indulging in "snooping, surveillance and spying" of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Leader of Congress in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjuna Kharge and senior leader Abhishek Singhvi said at a press conference. There was no immediate reaction from the Prime Minister's Office on the allegations. Kharge has also written to the prime minister raising objections over the removal of Verma. Kharge and Singhvi alleged that the Intelligence Bureau was "snooping" on an "officer who was about to unravel the murky dealings in the Rafale ...

Tamil Nadu CM hails HC's verdict on AIADMK MLAs disqualification

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Thursday hailed the Madras High Court's verdict upholding the validity of the Speaker's order disqualifying 18 Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) belonging to the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) party."This is a very good verdict which has come today. We are already prepared for contest in the two constituencies which had fallen vacant earlier. Now, these 18 constituencies have also fallen vacant. AIADMK will contest bye-elections in all vacant seats. The Election Commission of India has to now only decide further on the issue. As far as AIADMK is concerned, we will contest all and ensure our victory," Palaniswami told media here.The 18 MLAs had earlier pledged support to rebel party leader TTV Dhinakaran, who later went on to form his own faction Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK).Following the court verdict, Dhinakaran said that the order was "not a setback". Dhinakaran said, "This is an experience. We will

Rahul questions PM's silence over UP MLA accused of rape

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's silence over the rape allegations levelled against Uttar Pradesh Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Kuldeep Singh Sengar.Sengar is accused of raping a 19-year-old girl.The Congress president further said that the Prime Minister gave the slogan of 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao', but when it came to delivering justice he did not utter a word, nor was the MLA ousted from the party."An Uttar Pradesh MLA raped a woman, but the Prime Minister remained silent. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister did not say a word. Prime Minister gave a good slogan in support of women, but when the time came to walk the talk, he did nothing," the Congress chief said.He also took the occasion to underline that Congress party supports the upliftment of women and intends to increase its contribution in this direction.Reiterating his earlier claim, Rahul said that the central government forcibly sent Central Bureau of Investigation ...

Jagan injured in attack at Vizag airport

YSR Congress Party President Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy sustained a minor injury in a knife attack by a youth at Visakhapatnam airport on Thursday, police said.

Modi government indulging in snooping: Congress

The Congress on Thursday accused the Narendra Modi government of indulging in "snooping and spying" hours after four Intelligence Bureau (IB) officials were nabbed outside the residence of CBI Director Alok Verma saying that it was a "blatant and brazen" use of agencies.

France threatens sanctions on Saudi Arabia over Khashoggi's death

France on Wednesday threatened to impose sanctions and other punitive measures against Saudi Arabia if their role in the killing of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi was proven.France has been following the developments of Khashoggi's death very closely, the country's government spokesperson Benjamin Griveaux was quoted by Anadolu News Agency as saying.Giving a stern warning to Saudi Arabia, Griveaux underlined that if Riyadh's role in the senior scribe's killing was confirmed by the French intelligence, then Paris will restrict arms sales and slap sanctions on the Middle East country.French President Emmanuel Macron spoke to Saudi King Salman over the phone, where the former expressed grave concerns over Khashoggi's killing.Last week, the French Foreign Ministry "strongly" condemned the killing and cancelled a planned trip of the country's Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire, who was slated to attend an economic conference in Riyadh.After initially rejecting Khashoggi's death, Saudi ..

AIADMK ready to face bypolls: Palaniswami

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami on Thursday said the AIADMK party is ready to face the bypolls for 20 assembly constituencies if they are to be held.

Ethiopia appoints first female president

Ethiopia on Thursday appointed a woman to the largely ceremonial position of president for the first time. In a unanimous vote, Ethiopian lawmakers picked career diplomat Sahle-Work Zewde to replace Mulatu Teshome who resigned. Sahle-Work, who is in her late 60s, has been Ethiopia's ambassador to France, Djibouti, Senegal and the regional bloc, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD). Just prior to her appointment as president she was the UN's top official at the African Union. She is fluent in English and French as well as Amharic. As president she is expected to serve two six-year terms. Political power in Ethiopia is wielded by the prime minister with the president's role is restricted to attending ceremonies and functions. Ethiopia's reformist Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed last week appointed a slimline 20-person cabinet in which half the posts are held by women. They include defence minister Aisha Mohammed and Muferiat Kamil who leads the newly-created Ministry of ...

Japan's Abe makes rare China visit as relations thaw

Japan's Shinzo Abe arrived in China Thursday, the first visit to the Asian giant by a Japanese prime minister since relations between the two countries soured six years ago over a territorial row. Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to discuss how to improve economic cooperation as the world's second and third largest economies prepare to weather a US onslaught of trade measures. Japanese business is eager for increased access to China's massive market, while Beijing is interested in Japanese technology and corporate know-how. The visit is the first by a Japanese premier since 2011 and is part of a years-long process of repairing relations in the wake of a disastrous falling-out in 2012, when Tokyo "nationalised" disputed islands claimed by Beijing. The incident prompted anti-Japanese riots in China, and kicked off a frosty spell that has only recently begun to thaw. Since an awkward 2014 encounter between Abe and Xi on the sidelines of a summit, there have been ...

NATO's biggest peacetime drill kicks off, angering Moscow

NATO's biggest military maneuvers since the Cold War have started in Norway in a hypothetical scenario that involves restoring the Scandinavian country's sovereignty after an attack by a "fictitious aggressor." Russia, which shares a border with Norway, was briefed by NATO on the Trident Juncture 2018 drill and invited to monitor it, but Moscow is still angered by the exercise. Russia's defence minister had warned that Moscow could be forced to respond to increased NATO activity near its western border. The wargames launched Thursday bring together around 50,000 personnel from all 29 NATO allies, plus partners Finland and Sweden. Around 65 vessels, 150 aircraft and 10,000 vehicles will participate. The drill, scheduled to end November 7, takes place in central and eastern Norway, the North Atlantic and the Baltic Sea.

US hunter angers Scotland with trophy photo of wild goat

A US hunter attracted fierce criticism in Scotland for posing with a dead wild goat killed on Islay in the Inner Hebrides.

Freed Japanese journalist says Syria kidnap ordeal was 'hell'

A Japanese journalist who was held in Syria for more than three years before being freed this week has described his lengthy captivity as "hell." Jumpei Yasuda was freed earlier this week and taken to Turkey, where Japanese government officials confirmed his identity before announcing Wednesday that he was free. He boarded a plane bound for Tokyo on Thursday, speaking briefly to journalists in an interview broadcast by Japanese media. "It was hell," he said, sporting a long beard peppered with grey hair. "Not only physically, but mentally as well. The thought each day that 'I'm not being released today either' left me losing control over myself bit by bit." Yasuda, who is expected to arrive in Tokyo on Thursday evening, spoke calmly, but appeared slightly overwhelmed and tired, if otherwise healthy. "For about 40 months, I have not spoken a word of Japanese. Words don't come to my mind easily," he said. "I am happy that I am returning to Japan. At the same time, I have no idea what ..

CIA Director to brief Trump on Khashoggi

CIA Director Gina Haspel will on Thursday brief President Donald Trump on the investigation into the death of Saudi Arabian journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Parrikar being pressured to continue as CM, alleges Velingkar

Former Goa unit RSS chief Subhash Velingkar has alleged that the BJP high command is pressuring Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar to continue in the post despite his ill health, to retain power in the state. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), however, rubbished his charge, saying Parrikar was not being forced to continue as the chief minister and that his health condition was improving. Velingkar demanded that the state government give an update on the chief minister's health. "They (government) are fooling people. Parrikar needs proper rest. Unfortunately, theBJP high command in Delhi wants to retain power in Goa, that is why they are not allowing him to rest. They are power hungry," he alleged. He was talking to reporters Wednesday evening after addressing a meeting of his supporters in Mandrem Assembly constituency, where a bypoll is due after Dayanand Sopte, who had won from there last year, resigned and joined the BJP. Velingkar was ousted from the post of the Goa ...

SC to hear Maharashtra's plea on activists probe on Oct 29

The Supreme Court will hear on Monday a Maharashtra government's plea against a High Court order disallowing more probe time to the state police to investigate five activists accused of being linked to banned Maoist outfit.

BJP MLA withdraws resignation in Assam

BJP MLA Terash Gowalla Thursday withdrew his resignation from the Assembly, two days after he submitted it to the Chief Minister Sarbanand Sonowal on some issues. Gowalla, however, had not submitted his resignation to the Assembly Speaker. "The chief minister called me for a meeting last night to discuss the issue. He explained the complexities regarding appointments as different communities and regions have to be accommodated," the first time MLA told PTI. "The CM appreciated my concerns and assured that these will be addressed in future. As he personally requested me to withdraw the resignation, so I have decided accordingly. I sent a mail to him this morning and withdrew the resignation," Gowalla said. On October 23, the BJP legislator had alleged that he was neglected in recent appointment in the Assam Gas Company Ltd (AGCL). "That is one reason. AGCL is in Duliajan and people have made me their representative. They have some expectations from me. Without any ...

All corrupt leaders in Pak will go to jail: PM Khan

Promising that all corrupt leaders will go to jail, Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that no politicians and officials who have put Pakistan into the debt trap through their corrupt practices will get protection from any legislation like the defunct National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO). The controversial NRO was promulgated in October 2007 by the government of then president Gen Pervez Musharraf. Under the ordinance, cases against politicians were removed, paving the way for many of them to return to country. It was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court of Pakistan in December 2009. Addressing the nation on Wednesday to share the details of his efforts to bring cash-strapped Pakistan out of financial difficulties, Prime Minister Khan lashed out at the previous governments for raising Pakistan's debt to Rs 30,00,000 crore. In a reference to the PPP and PML-N, Khan said the opposition parties that are accusing his government of incompetence are doing so because they fear ..

Trump calls for unity after suspicious packages sent to Democrats

US President Donald Trump has called for unity against the "threat of political violence" after suspicious packages were sent to his predecessor Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and CNN, days ahead of the the crucial mid-term elections. Trump's remarks came after a series of explosive devices discovered throughout the day on Wednesday. The devices, which included pipe bombs, were sent to prominent Democrats and across the country and to CNN's New York office. Obama and Clinton, who was Trump's opponent in the 2016 presidential election, received threats. Packages were also sent to Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz, liberal philanthropist George Soros and California Democratic Congresswoman Maxine Waters. The president condemned the explosive devices sent to these leaders, declaring that such threats are "an attack on our democracy itself." "Any acts or threats of political violence are an attack on our democracy itself...We want all sides to come together in peace and harmony," ...

Disqualification of 18 TN MLA's valid: HC

The Supreme Court appointed third judge, Justice M. Sathyanarayanan of the Madras High Court, on Thursday upheld the Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker's decision disqualifying 18 AIADMK legislators in 2017.