Page 2694 - Politics
Five DR Congo reporters 'abducted' by police: Editor
Five journalists at a newspaper in the Democratic Republic of Congo were "abducted" on Friday, their managing editor said, after the publication of articles on the misappropriation of rations for police cadets. The detentions come after a series of prosecutions of journalists in the troubled nation, which is just two months away from tense elections to replace President Joseph Kabila. "The police proceeded early this morning to abduct five journalists from AfricaNews. Octave Mukendi, Bruce Landu, Roddy Bosakwa, Dan Luyila and Laurent Omba were taken to an unknown destination," AfricaNews managing editor Achille Kadima said in a statement. The journalists had worked at the office of the tri-weekly newspaper overnight to finish the latest edition and were arrested on the premises. The officers who took them did not show any documents, Kadima told AFP, adding that he had gone into hiding. Earlier, he had written a letter to the national police chief complaining that police had conducted .
Manmohan Singh, Rahul meet visiting Lankan PM
Former prime minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi met Sri Lankan prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe here on Friday and they are learnt to have discussed issues of cooperation between the two countries. Former Union minister Anand Sharma and some Sri Lankan officials were also present during the meeting. After the meeting with Wickremesinghe, Rahul Gandhi said India and Sri Lanka are closer both historically and culturally. "The meeting with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe of Sri Lanka was good," the Congress president wrote on Facebook. Wickremesinghe arrived here Thursday on a three-day visit with an aim to boost ties in a range of areas including trade and investment and maritime security. Wickremesinghe and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold wide-ranging talks on Saturday.
India a reliable partner, whatever turn Brexit takes: Indian envoy
India's outgoing High Commissioner Y K Sinha has said the UK will find India a reliable partner whatever turn its exit negotiations with the European Union (EU) may take. Speaking at one of many farewell events being organised here to mark his retirement from the Indian Foreign Service at the end of this month, the diplomat described his UK posting as the "crowning glory" of his 37-year career because he leaves at a time when UK-India relations are poised to "reap the dividends across the board". "We are very hopeful that after Brexit, whatever turn it takes, the UK will find India as a very reliable partner," Sinha said while addressing a Conservative Friends of India (CFIN) event. "Within the Commonwealth, India is the largest member-state in terms of population and the fastest growing economy. And, in the not-too-distant future, we will be the number one economy in the Commonwealth. So, we will be the engine that drives the Commonwealth and the global economy," he noted. The CFIN, .
No change of leadership in Goa, says state BJP chief
The BJP's Goa unit on Friday said there would be no change of leadership in the coastal state. Addressing a press conference here, Goa BJP unit chief Vinay Tendulkar ruled out the possibility of the party replacing ailing chief minister Manohar Parrikar. His comments come a day after Vijay Desai, president of Goa Forward Party, a BJP ally in the state, claimed that the saffron party was "looking at who will succeed Parrikar". The coalition partners in the state had met BJP president Amit Shah in Delhi on Thursday to discuss the current political situation. "The party wants this government to continue for the next three-and-half years and complete its tenure under the leadership of Manohar Parrikar," Tendulkar said. When asked whether the BJP had lost its majority since three of its MLAs are ailing, Tendulkar said, "The Assembly will not be called tomorrow itself. There is time for the Assembly to be summoned." He said the Parrikar government had the support of 23 MLAs and the ailing ..
Why not triple talaq line to Sabarimala, Yechury asks Centre
CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury Friday demanded to know why the Centre was not applying the yardstick of equal treatment of women it used on the triple talaq issue to the Sabarimala row and blamed the BJP for whipping up communal passions for electoral gains. The top Marxist party leader said roughing up of women journalists and the stir led by groups wearing saffron head bands at Sabarimala indicated a pattern seen during the demoliton of Babri masjid (1992) and blamed the RSS for it. Women journalists forming part of television crew were roughed up and "it is exactly the pattern, which is also very similar at the time of Babri masjid demoliton...you have the heads of volunteers wearing saffron bands (leading protests)," Yechury said. Such scenarios unfolded during the Babri protests and a "similar thing is done here; it is an organised thing that the RSS is doing and that will be fought," he said. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) would "lose the ...
I'm not sure he's alive: Missing Interpol ex-chief's wife
The wife of former Interpol chief Meng Hongwei, who vanished into police custody after returning to China in September, has said that she isn't sure her husband is still alive.
Situation in Kashmir under control: Ahir
Union Minister of state for Home Affairs Hansraj Ahir Friday said the situation in Kashmir was under control and the security forces were capable of dealing with terrorists both within the valley and infiltrating from across the Line of Control. "There is no rise (in militancy). We have been foiling the infiltration attempts and we will continue to do so. The soldiers are fighting the infiltrators and terrorists," Ahir told reporters after taking part in Dussehra celebrations at BSF's Humhama camp here. The minister also took part in the 'Shastra (weapons) puja' as part of Dussehra celebrations. In response to a question, Ahir said the Centre does not trust the government of Pakistan or the terrorist groups. "We have doubts on sincerity of both what the Pakistan government and the terrorist outfits say. We don't trust either of them. Our charge against Pakistan government stands even today," he added. Asked about the low voter turnout in the municipal polls in Kashmir, the minister ...
NEDA convenor stretches Amit Shah's assertions to endear BJP with Christians in Mizoram
Expanding on Amit Shah's assertion that Mizoram will celebrate the next Christmas under a BJP government, senior party leader Himanta Biswa Sarma has said the saffron party has never been a danger to the Christian community and would never be so in future. Addressing party workers at the BJP office, Atal Bhawan, in Aizawl Thursday evening, Sarma, who is BJP's election in-charge of Mizoram, said all religious communities have peacefully co-existed in BJP-ruled states in the north-east region. "The saffron party has never been a danger to Christians and would never be so in future," said Sarma, Assam's finance minister and convener of North-East Democratic Alliance (NEDA). NEDA is a political coalition formed by the BJP and regional political parties of the northeastern states in 2016. Addressing a statewide booth-level workers meeting in Aizawl on Wednesday, Shah, pointing to a huge gathering, said, "After seeing so many of you here, I am reassured that the next Christmas Mizoram ...
US wants Pakistan to make 'smart choices'
According to the officials within the United States Department of State, US President Donald Trump's administration would continue to exert diplomatic pressure on Pakistan until it changes its policy towards regional peace and stability in neighbouring country Afghanistan, reported The Nation London.Henry S. Ensher, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Pakistan for the State Department, while addressing an event at the Wilson Centre here on Wednesday night, said that the US is prepared to be Pakistan's partner if it makes smart choices. "We can't be silent about the fact that externally focused groups enjoy sanctuary in Pakistan," he asserted.One of the major areas of policy divergence with Pakistan for the United States was the negotiations on Afghanistan, said Ensher."As long as that continues, we will continue to colour and take centre stage in (the) bilateral relationship. In reality, we have seen some action, but we have not seen the decisive steps from Pakistan that could ...
Swami Paripoornananda joins BJP
Swami Paripoornananda, a seer from Sree Peetham in Andhra Pradesh, on Friday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the presence of its President Amit Shah.
China's former internet tsar pleads guilty to accepting USD 4.6 million in bribes
China's former internet tsar Lu Wei on Friday pleaded guilty to accepting USD 4.6 million in bribes as the ruling Communist party initiated action against several officials for graft. Lu, who headed China's powerful internet regulator Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), was accused of taking advantage of his positions to seek profits for others on matters such as network management and promotions. He appeared in the Intermediate People's Court of Ningbo in eastern Zhejiang province and admitted to the charges of accepting USD 4.6 million in bribes, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported. The court heard Lu's crimes that spanned in his decades-long career at the state news agency Xinhua, the Beijing municipal party committee and government, the CAC and the party's Central Publicity Department. Lu pleaded guilty to the charges and "expressed repentance", the court said, without setting a date for the sentencing. As Lu pleaded guilty to the charges, the ruling ...
J-K: Counting of votes for civic body polls on Saturday
The stage is set for the final leg of urban local body elections in Jammu and Kashmir as the counting of votes for the 52 civic bodies, polling for which was held in four phases earlier this month, will be done on Saturday. "All the arrangements for counting of votes have been put in place at respective district headquarters. The counting of votes will begin at 9 am tomorrow (Saturday)," an official of the election department said. The fate of over 3,000 candidates will be decided by the end of the day. The elections are a direct contest between the BJP and the Congress. A large number of independents are also in the fray. The National Conference and the PDP did not participate in the polls. The urban local bodies polls in Jammu and Kashmir were held after a gap of 13 years, with the last elections being conducted in 2005. The polling was held amid tight security arrangements in four phases starting October 8 and ending on October 16. While moderate to heavy polling was witnessed in ..
Goa Congress dissolves Shiroda, Mandrem block committees
The Congress dissolved block committees of Shiroda and Mandrem assembly constituencies in Goa Friday, after the MLAs from the two seats quit the party to join the BJP. Subhash Shirodkar who represented Shiroda assembly constituency in South Goa and Dayanand Sopte who represented Mandrem in North Goa resigned as members of the state Assembly on October 16. Both joined the BJP the same day. State Congress spokesperson Amarnath Panjikar said in a statement Friday that Mandrem and Shiroda block Congress committees have been dissolved with immediate effect. Both block committees will be reconstituted after consulting local office-bearers of the party, Panjikar said.
Qureshi condoles loss of lives in Kandahar attack
Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Friday condoled the death of three senior Afghan officials in a terror attack in Kandahar and assured Islamabad's full support to the democratic process in the war-torn country. Kandahar's powerful provincial police chief Abdul Razik and the province's intelligence chief, Abdul Mohmin, had died in the Taliban attack Thursday, while provincial governor Zalmay Wesa died later of his injuries at a hospital. According to the Foreign Office, Qureshi offered prayers for the deceased and sent his condolences for the victims' families. "We would continue to work with Afghanistan for achieving long term peace and stability in the region, for which ending the conflict in Afghanistan was an essential step," Qureshi told his Afghan counterpart Salahuddin Rabbani over phone. He said that peace and economic development in Pakistan was linked with restoration of complete peace and stability in neighbouring Afghanistan. The foreign minister ...
Swami Paripoornananda joins BJP
Swami Paripoornananda, founder of Hindu Vahini, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party Friday, with BJP president Amit Shah expressing confidence that the addition will boost his party's prospects in the Telangana assembly election. Shah said Paripoornananda has made a big contribution in the fields of social service and religious activities in south India and his presence in the party will strengthen it a lot, especially in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. "His joining the BJP will infuse new energy into the party and boost its election prospects in Telangana," Shah, flanked by Paripoornananda and party general secretary Ram Madhav, told reporters. Paripoornananda said he would work as a 'sevak' of the BJP with zero expectation and spread its message to southern parts of the country. He was recently externed from Hyderabad by the city police for allegedly making provocative speeches but got a stay on the order from a court. A Hindutva leader and strong votary of building Ram temple in ...
Rahul, Sonia meet Sri Lankan PM
Congress President Rahul Gandhi and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday held talks with Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe here.
Rajnath celebrates Dussehra with BSF jawans; performs 'shastra puja'
Home Minister RajnathSingh Friday celebrated Dussehra with BSF jawans and performed 'shastra puja' in this forward post along the highly sensitive Indo-Pak border, officials said. This was for the first time that a senior Union minister conducted the 'shastra puja' or worship of weapons on the occasion of Vijaya Dashami along India's border with Pakistan. The home minister, who arrived at the frontier headquarters of the Border Security Force (BSF) here last evening, celebrated Dussehra festival with the jawans, an official said. 'Shastra puja' is part of the Dussehra festival which is celebrated to mark the victory of Lord Ram over demon king Ravana. Addressing the BSF personnel, the home minister praised the multi-dimensional role of the BSF in guarding the Indo-Pak and Indo-Bangladesh borders, maintaining law and order in internal disturbances and tackling the Left Wing Extremism. Referring to the regular firing from across the border in Jammu and Kashmir, Singh said Pakistan, ...
SSM will not field candidate against Mulayam: Shivpal
Samajwadi Secular Morcha (SSM) leader Shivpal Singh Yadav on Friday said his party will not field its candidate on the seat from which Samajwadi Party (SP) founder and his elder brother Mulayam Singh Yadav will contest the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. In August this year, Shivpal Singh Yadav had announced that his party will contest all 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh. He said he has also invited the SP patriarch to contest the elections on a ticket from his front. The SSM will support Mulayam Singh Yadav if he chooses to contest the elections from any other party, Shivpal Singh Yadav told reporters after inaugurating his party's office here. The SSM will not field its candidate on the seat from where 'Netaji' (Mulayam Singh Yadav) will contest, but it will contest all the other seats in the state, he said. Shivpal Singh Yadav quit the SP and launched his party on August 29 after a feud with SP president and his nephew Akhilesh Yadav. The SSM leader said he floated his party with his
Chhattisgarh polls: Ajit Jogi not to contest
Former chief minister Ajit Jogi will not contest the next month's Assembly elections in Chhattisgarh and instead focus on campaigning, his party said Friday. Jogi is the chief ministerial candidate of the 'grand alliance' between his Janata Congress Chhattisgarh (J) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Communist Party of India (CPI). He had earlier announced that he will stand against Chief Minister Raman Singh from Rajanandgaon. JCC(J) general secretary Abdul Hamid Hayat said that Jogi will not contest the election himself. Senior leaders of JCC (J), BSP and CPI held a discussion Friday and decided that Jogi will need to concentrate on campaigning across the 90 Assembly seats, especially the 12 seats in Bastar division which will go to the polls in the first phase on November 12, he said. Jogi, who heads the JCC(J), will campaign in Bastar region between October 20 and 24, addressing rallies in Konta and Dantewada on October 23, he said. The party did not reveal who will replace ...
Anti-money-laundering body gives Iran until February to complete reforms
PARIS (Reuters) - The international group that monitors money laundering worldwide said on Friday Iran had until February to complete reforms that would bring it into line with global norms or face consequences.