Page 2663 - Politics

Trump, Xi to meet in Argentina next month: WH

US President Trump and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping will meet at the G-20 summit in Argentina next month, the White House announced Tuesday, amid an escalating trade war between the world's two largest economies. The G-20 Summit, comprising top 20 economies of the world including India, is scheduled to take place in Buenos Aires in Argentine on November 30 and December 1. Trump's top economic advisor Larry Kudlow told reporters at the White House that the two leaders are scheduled to meet on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit. "The two presidents will meet for a bit in Buenos Aires, Argentina at the G-20, other than that, nothing I can say," he said. He, however, gave no details of the meeting. The announcement came amidst high tensions between the US and China. Responding to questions, Kudlow reiterated the common American concerns with regard to China, including Beijing's unfair trade practices, cyber theft and Intellectual Property rights protection. "Our asks are on the table,

Congress MLAs, office-bearers seek appointment with Parrikar

The Congress in Goa Tuesday sought a formal appointment with ailing Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, who is currently recuperating at his private home near here. In a letter to Parrikar, the main opposition party said its MLAs and office-bearers would like to meet him personally or through video-conferencing at the earliest. Parrikar was admitted to the AIIMS in Delhi for a month for treatment of a pancreatic ailment and returned to Goa last week. Since his return, the 62-year-old BJP leader is recuperating at his private residence at Dona Paula. Congress MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco, in the letter to the CM, said, "As no daily medical reports on the condition of your health are being released, the Congress party MLAs and its office-bearers would like to meet you in person or via video conference at the earliest. Lourenco said Parrikar's long absence has adversely affected both administrative and legislative works in the state. "Your almost zero public appearance and ...

Developments in CBI seriously damaging Indian republic: CPI(M)

The CPI(M) on Tuesday said the current developments in the country's premier investigative agency Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) have seriously damaged the Indian republic and must be resisted. "The polit bureau considers these developments are seriously damaging the Indian Republic and must be resisted tooth and nail," the Left party said in a statement. It said the recent happenings in the CBI show the degree of damage that is being caused by the present government at the Centre to Constitutional authorities and institutions of parliamentary democracy in India. "The undermining of the parliament itself, interference in the judiciary, manipulation of institutions like the CBI are not due to poor 'governance' but due to malafide intentions to undermine the secular democratic foundations of the Indian Constitution," the CPI(M) statement said. The national secretariat of the Communist Party of India (CPI) also expressed concern about accusations and counter-accusations made by ...

Italy PM Conte says 2019 deficit/gdp goal "won't be touched at the moment"

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said on Tuesday his government's planned deficit hike in 2019 "won't be touched at the moment", even though the European Commission had rejected Italy's draft budget proposal.

No such rules even in Mughal era: BJP leader opposes SC's firecracker norms

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Chintamani Malviya on Tuesday strongly opposed the Supreme Court's verdict which allowed bursting of firecrackers between 8 pm - 10 pm by terming it "unacceptable".The BJP Member of Parliament (MP) further asserted that he will burst crackers only when he finishes his Diwali rituals and not during the time stipulated by the apex court. He further quipped that such restrictions did not exist even in Mughal times."Our religious traditions and festivals are followed by Hindu calendar. I will burst crackers only when I finish puja, we can't set time limits on festivals, such restrictions were not even in Mughal times. It's unacceptable," Malviya said.The reaction from Malviya came after the Supreme Court today refused to impose a blanket ban on the bursting of firecrackers but with certain conditions.The top court allowed the use of only green firecrackers with reduced emission and decibel levels during all religious festivals.The Court stated that ...

'Confident that BJP and Sena would remain together in future

Maharashtra Finance Minister and senior BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar Tuesday expressed confidence that his party and the Shiv Sena would stay united in future polls, against the backdrop of the Uddhav Thackeray-led party's stand to go solo. Speaking at the "Mumbai Manthan" conclave organised by news channel Aaj Tak, the minister sought to play down the criticism of the BJP government by the Sena, a constituent of the Central and Maharashtra governments and the oldest member of the NDA (National Democratic Alliance). "There was a fiercer criticism even between the Congress and the NCP during their rule. If one expects complete equilibrium then there wouldn't be two different parties," he said. "While we expect that there shouldn't be criticism everyday, the Sena is only doing its work. But we (the BJP) have decided among ourselves that we will refrain from such things in the interest of people," he said. Mungantiwar further said that both the parties are together now ...

Saudi king, crown prince meet Khashoggi's kin

Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and crown prince Mohammed bin Salman met deceased journalist Jamal Khashoggi's son and his relative at the Al Yamamah palace in Riyadh on Tuesday.The kingdom's monarch and crown prince expressed their condolences to Salah Khashoggi, the senior scribe's son, and Sahl Ahmed Khashoggi, his relative, during the meeting, according to Al Arabiya.The Khashoggis thanked the monarchs for their sentiment, in what is the second on record communication between the deceased's family and the Saudi royal family. The Royals had earlier called Salah Khashoggi to extend their condolences on Monday after Saudi authorities confirmed The Washington Post's columnist's death.The meeting comes amidst the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's rejection of the Saudi explanation behind Khashoggi's death. Erdogan further called for the 18 detained Saudi nationals to be tried by an "impartial team" in Turkey while becoming the first officials to go on record ...

PM Modi influencing CBI investigation: Congress

Launching a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Congress Party on Tuesday alleged that the Prime Minister was influencing the ongoing investigation against senior officials of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).Addressing a press conference, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala alleged that the habitual misuse of the CBI by Prime Minister Modi and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Amit Shah for fixing political opponents and illegal intervention tampering with the fair investigation of serious criminal cases has rendered CBI in unfathomable mess eroding its independence and credibility."What instructions did the Prime Minister give to chiefs of CBI and Research and Analysis Wing (RAW)? Does it not tantamount to illegal and unconstitutional interference in ongoing pending investigation by the head of state, nonetheless the Prime Minister? Once upon a time, a law minister asked the CBI to show affidavit to be submitted in the Supreme Court. Finance Minister ..

Those who sing Vande Mataram are anti-India: Prakash Ambedkar

Prakash Ambedkar, the grandson of Dr B R Ambedkar and chief of Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh alleged that those who sing Vande Mataram are anti-India."If I sing Jana Gana Mana then I am anti-India and if I sing Vande Mataram then I am a true Indian? Who are you to give these certificates? I allege that those who sing Vande Mataram are anti-India," he claimed on Monday.Last month, Prakash Ambedkar had announced an alliance with Owaisi's All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) for the Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra.In August last year, Owaisi had termed the compulsion of singing Vande Mataram as 'unconstitutional' and accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government of spreading Hindutva and destroying secularism from the nation.

CPI seeks fair number of seats in Telanganga

The CPI, a constituent of the Congress-led "grand alliance" for the December 7 Telangana assembly elections, Tuesday said it sought a fair allocation of seats in districts where it has been traditionally strong. "We said unless six or seven seats are there compulsorily (for CPI), our votes will not transfer to the grand alliance. We have been winning in Karimnagar, Adilabad Nalgonda and Khammam districts since old days," CPI state secretary Chada venkat Reddy told reporters here. He said the party urged that it should have seats in such places. The "grand alliance" comprising Congress, TDP, CPI and TJS, formed to take on the ruling TRS, is currently engaged in talks on seat-sharing and preparing a common minimum programme for the polls.

EC expresses satisfaction over poll preparedness in Telangana

The Election Commission Tuesday expressed satisfaction over the preparedness for Telangana assembly polls to be held on December 7 after a 11-member team headed by the Chief Election Commissioner O P Rawat reviewed the arrangements with officials here. Detailed presentations on electoral rolls, testing of electronic voting machiens and law and order, monitoring of Mode Code of Conduct were made by the respective district collectors and Superintendents of Police to the team, an official release said here. While expressing satisfaction with the work done so far, the team advised the district collectors and police officers about the need to work extremely hard to ensure that the first general elections of the Telangana become a bench mark for conduct of free and fare elections, it said. The team emphasised the need for the entire management of election machinery to adhere strictly to the election guidelines and maintaining complete impartiality in all election related ...

Congress remains leaderless, directionless, says Javadekar

Union Minister Prakash Javadekar on Tuesday said the Congress leadership in Rajasthan as well as in Delhi is "leaderless and directionless" as it has been unable to decide its chief ministerial and prime ministerial candidates.

Modi govt's tenure 'best years' of Indian economy: EAC-PM member Bhalla

The Narendra Modi-led NDA government came to power in May 2014

Telangana Congress raises red flag over pink polling booths

The Telangana unit of Congress Tuesday requested the Election Commission not to introduce pink polling booths in Telangana as the colour represented the flag colour of the ruling TRS. In the Karnataka elections earlier this year, the EC had set up 450 pink booths known as "Sakhi", entirely managed by women, right from the returning officer to the security personnel. We have strong objections on pink colour as it represents TRS' colour. While we appreciate your intention of rising awareness about voting among women voters, we request you not use pink colour as it may influence the voting pattern in favour of TRS which will be determinantal to the free and fair election and the very spirit of democracy is destroyed, party spokesperson Sravan Dasoju said in a letter to the EC. He also said based on the objections raised by TRS, the state Election Commission had removed NOTA" during the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation elections as the key for the option was in pink

Rajinikanth flags trappings of money, shares political vision

Top film star Rajinikanth, who is set to enter politics, Tuesday said he was committed to ushering in a change in the political horizon sans the trappings of money and lure of posts. Sharing his political vision with members of the Rajini Makkal Mandram, a precusor forum to his to-be launched party, he recalled his assertion last year that he will never allow those eyeing money and posts in his political innings and said it was not a mere rhetoric. "We are for ushering in a good change in politics. Why should I come to politics only to do politics like others..?" he asked in a communique to the forum members, a copy of which was made available to the media. "The objective of our coming to politics is very very important," he said adding it was imperative to refrain from those who harbour "wrong thoughts," and "protect ourselves," an apparent reference to those eyeing politics to achieve self-aggrandising goals. Rajinikanth also advised the forum members to take care of .

India, Indonesia decide to boost maritime cooperation

Months after India and Indonesia elevated their ties to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and her Indonesian counterpart Gen (Retd) Ryamizard Rycudu Tuesday held wide-ranging talks, exploring ways to deepen defence and security relations, with a focus on cooperation in maritime domain. Sitharaman and Rycudu, in their talks in Jakarta, also agreed to set up working groups to boost bilateral defence engagements in specific areas, officials said here without elaborating. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Indonesia in May during which both sides signed a pact on defence cooperation and elevated the ties to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Sitharaman arrived in Jakarta on Monday on a two-day visit. In the talks, the Indian side welcomed Indonesia's support for New Delhi's proposal to be part of the maritime patrol in the Malacca Straits. A number of ASEAN countries are part of the patrol, officials said. India is keen to be part of the patrol ..

'All concerned agencies in Delhi will implement SC order on bursting firecrackers on Diwali'

All concerned agencies in Delhi will implement an order of the Supreme Court verdict permitting the sale and manufacture of "green" firecrackers which have low emission, a government official said Tuesday. The apex court, besides imposing decibel limits on firecrackers that could be sold in the market across the country, in its verdict also fixed a two-hour time period from 8 pm to 10 pm for bursting them on Diwali and other festivals. "The SC's judgement is law of the land. Whatever duty of the Delhi government is there, concerned agencies will implement it," the official said. However, a senior officer said that it is difficult to categorise between "green" firecrackers and polluting firecrackers as there is no instrument to check the same. "As of now, several persons may have been issued licence in Delhi and they may have stored sufficient stock of firecrackers. In this situation, authorities will face some problems in identifying 'green' firecrackers," the officer said. To curb ..

G7 demands 'thorough, credible, transparent and prompt' investigation in Khashoggi's death

The powerful group of G-7 countries Tuesday called for a "thorough, credible, transparent, and prompt" investigation by Saudi Arabia, in full collaboration with Turkey, in the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, the US, and High Representative of the European Union in a strong statement said Saudi confirmation of Khashoggi's death is a first step toward full transparency and accountability. "However, the explanations offered leave many questions unanswered," the statement said. Khashoggi was killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey on October 2, where he had gone to collect papers for his marriage. Saudi Arabia has said that he died in a fist fight, while Turkey has asserted that it was pre-planned and Khashoggi was brutally murdered. "We reiterate our expectation for a thorough, credible, transparent, and prompt investigation by Saudi Arabia, in full collaboration with the Turkish authorities, and a ..

Iran's oil minister says U.S. sanctions cannot stop crude exports

LONDON (Reuters) - The United States cannot stop Iranian oil exports by imposing sanctions on Tehran, Iran's oil minister said on Tuesday, warning that such restrictions will ensure the market remains volatile.

Canada's Trudeau hedges on Saudi arms exports

Canada's prime minister said Tuesday he likely won't cancel a 2014 blockbuster sale of armored personnel carriers to Saudi Arabia as pressure mounts to hold Riyadh accountable for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. "There was a contract signed by the previous (Tory) government that makes it extremely difficult for us to withdraw from that contract without Canadians paying exorbitant penalties," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said. "We are looking at our options," he said. In an earlier CBC Radio interview Trudeau said that the break penalty could exceed Can$1 billion. London, Ontario-based manufacturer General Dynamic Land Systems Canada inked the deal in 2014 to supply 928 LAV 6 armored personnel carriers to Saudi Arabia. Worth Can$15 billion (US$11.5 billion), it was the largest arms deal in Canadian history. But the contract was scaled back earlier this year, amid protests, to 742, dropping heavy assault versions equipped with cannons that activists and opposition politicians