Page 2696 - Politics
Pakistan closes 2 border gates ahead of Afghan elections
Pakistan on Friday closed down two main border crossings with Afghanistan for two days on the request of Kabul to facilitate the smooth conduct of upcoming parliamentary elections in the war-torn country. The Foreign Office said that the Afghan government sent a request to keep the friendship gates on Pakistan-Afghanistan border crossing points at Chaman and Torkham closed on October 19 and 20. "The decision (to shut gates) has been taken to support Afghanistan in smooth conduct of upcoming Parliamentary elections in the country (on Saturday)," the FO said. It further said that both the crossing points will remain closed for all kinds of traffic except emergency cases. Thousands of people cross into the two neighbours every day for business, medical treatment and meet relatives.
British-Pakistani cleric released from jail
Radical preacher Anjem Choudary was released from prison on Friday after serving half of his sentence for urging support to the militant Islamic State group and pledging allegiance to it.
Rahul Gandhi calls on Sri Lankan PM
Congress party president Rahul Gandhi, on Friday, called on Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in New Delhi.Chairperson of the United Progressive Alliance, Sonia Gandhi, was also present in the meeting, along with former prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh and senior Congress party leader Anand Sharma.Wickremesinghe arrived in India on Thursday on a three-day official visit. He is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday.The visit of the Sri Lankan leader has come close on the heels of a media report that Maithripala Sirisena, the President of the island nation, accused India of hatching a plot to assassinate him.However, Sirisena categorically rejected the report on Wednesday and hours later had a telephonic conversation with Prime Minister Modi."He (President Sirisena) mentioned that the mischievous and mala fide reports were utterly baseless and false, and seemed intended to create misunderstanding between the two leaders as well as damage the cordial ...
PM Modi hands over keys to Awas Yojna beneficiaries
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday handed over keys to beneficiaries of the Prime Minister Awas Yojana- Grameen (PMAY-G) during a public event here.Prime Minister Modi also interacted with beneficiaries of 29 districts through video conferencing and later addressed a public rally.Emphasising on the significance of the PMAY-G scheme which is aimed at empowerment of poor, he said, "Own house makes life comfortable and gives greater conviction to fight poverty. When India will complete 75 years of Independence, every homeless poor citizen will get their own home. We are working with this target and in the last four years, we have taken strong steps in this regard."Prime Minister Modi also took a jibe at previous governments, saying that instead of empowering the poor by providing them with houses, their only aim was to promote one specific family."Earlier governments also tried to do it but unfortunately instead of empowering the poor by giving them home, their only aim was to ...
Afghanistan delays elections in Kandahar after Taliban attack
Afghanistan postponed legislative elections in Kandahar province on Friday, after a Taliban-claimed attack on a US-Afghan security meeting killed a powerful police chief and threatened stability across the south. Saturday's parliamentary ballot would be delayed by one week, a spokesman for President Ashraf Ghani said in a statement, following an extraordinary meeting of the National Security Council. The Independent Election Commission would announce the new date, he added. Preparations for the vote in Kandahar, the Taliban's birthplace, were thrown into turmoil on Thursday when a gunman wearing a security forces uniform opened fire on a gathering of US and Afghan officials. General Scott Miller, the top US and NATO commander in Afghanistan, escaped unhurt, but Kandahar police chief General Abdul Raziq was killed along with the head of the provincial intelligence unit and an Afghan journalist. Another 13 people were wounded in the assault inside the heavily fortified provincial ...
Mortal remains of Congress Veteran N D Tiwari to be brought to UP Saturday
The mortal remains of Congress veteran Narayan Dutt Tiwari will be brought here on Saturday for people to pay their last respects to the departed leader. Tiwari, 93, died at a private hospital in Delhi on Thursday after prolonged illness. The body of former Uttar Pradesh chief minister will arrive at the Lucknow airport Saturday afternoon and will be kept at the Vidhan Bhawan from 1 pm to 3 pm for people to pay their last respects, an official release issued here on Friday said. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and his ministerial colleagues will receive the mortal remains at the airport, it said. Tiwari, who was considered close to Indira Gandhi, had served as a Union minister in several Congress-led governments. He had the unique distinction of having served as the chief minister of two states, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, where his native place is located.
Rahul Gandhi to visit Telangana tomorrow
: Congress President Rahul Gandhi will address two public meetings in Telangana on Saturday in the run-up to the December 7 assembly elections, party sources said Friday. According to Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee official spokesperson Shravan Dasoju, Rahul Gandhi would address a public meeting at Bhainsa town of Adilabad district and another one in Kamareddy. "He will be coming to Bhainsa from from Nanded in Maharashtra. After the public meetings, he will be reaching Hyderabad and hoist the Congress flag near Charminar here and address the gathering on the occasion of Rajiv Gandhi Sadbhavana Yatra commemoration day," he said. Former Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh K Rosaiah will be conferred the Rajiv Gandhi Sadbhavana Yatra commemoration award, the party had earlier announced. This is the Congress president's first visit after the Election Commission announced the schedule for the Assembly polls in the state. The Election Commission (EC) had on ...
DMDK appoints party leader's wife as Treasurer
The DMDK on Friday appointed party leader actor-turned-politician A. Vijayakant's wife Premalatha as its Treasurer.
Koreas near end of border demining operations
The two Koreas were wrapping up their demining operations in part of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) to carry out their plan to disarm the Joint Security Area (JSA) in the buffer zone separating them, a government official said here on Friday.
White House blames Democrats after officials' immigration row
The White House has blamed the Democrats for a heated row between Chief of Staff John Kelly and National Security Advisor John Bolton over immigration.
Rajnath celebrates Dussehra with BSF jawans, performs 'shastra puja'
Home Minister Rajnath Singh Friday celebrated Dussehra and performed 'shastra puja' in this forward post of the BSF along the highly sensitive Indo-Pak border, officials said. This was for the first time that a senior minister of the central government 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 for the victory of Lord Ram over Ravana. During the two-day visit, the home minister interacted with the family members of the BSF personnel, attended a feast with the jawans and addressed the security personnel, another official said. Singh also reviewed the situation on the border and assessed the progress in various infrastructure projects. The 3,323-km-long Indo-Pak ...
Taiwan blames 'arrogant' China over Interpol snub
Taiwan said Friday that Interpol had rejected its request to attend next month's general assembly meeting in Dubai as an observer, blaming Chinese pressure in the latest snub from an international forum. China sees self-governing democratic Taiwan as part of its territory awaiting reunification and has used its clout to diminish the island's presence on the world stage since Beijing-sceptic President Tsai Ing-wen took power in May 2016. The government confirmed Friday that it had received official notification from Interpol that its request to attend the meeting as an observer had been denied. "Interpol's rejection of Taiwan is unreasonable but we know the important reason behind it is China's suppression of Taiwan," Taiwan's premier William Lai told reporters. He described China's behaviour towards Taiwan as "arrogant and high handed." Taiwan first requested to attend the meeting in 2016, when it was also denied. It did not apply in 2017 because the annual meeting was held in ...
VP Venkaiah Naidu meets Greek PM
Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu held a meeting with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras at the European Union headquarters on the sidelines of the 12th Asia-Europe meeting (ASEM) summit on Friday.During the meeting, the two leaders expressed satisfaction with the regular high-level contacts between the two countries and agreed to further strengthen the bilateral ties through greater economic cooperation and people to people exchanges.Prime Minister Tsipras recalled President Ram Nath Kovind's successful visit to Greece in June 2018.He then informed Vice President Naidu about the economic conditions of Greece and the efforts taken by the government to restore the stability of the financial system. Prime Minister Tsipras also commended the growth of the Indian economy over the last few years and asserted that it had a positive influence on the global economic situation.The Greek Prime Minister also encouraged Indian companies to consider investing in Greece, particularly in the port ...
President Kovind, PM Modi extend Dussehra greetings
President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended greetings to the nation on the occasion of Dussehra and Vijayadashmi on Friday."On the occasion of Durga Puja and Vijayadashmi, Dussehra greetings and Shubho Bijoya to fellow citizens. This is a celebration of the victory of good over evil. May the day bring happiness to our families and our shared society," President Kovind tweeted.Prime Minister Modi tweeted: "Vijayadashami greetings to everyone."Vijayadashami is majorly celebrated in eastern states of India, marking the end of Durga Puja. Similarly, Dussehra is widely celebrated in northern India when effigies of Ravana, Kumbhkaran and Meghnad are burnt with fireworks marking the destruction of evil.
Rajnath performs 'Shastra Puja' at BSF sector HQ in Bikaner on Dussehra
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh performed 'Shastra Puja' at Border Security Force (BSF) Sector Headquarters in Rajasthan's Bikaner city along the highly sensitive India-Pakistan border, on the occasion of Dussehra on Friday.Reiterating Prime Minister Narendra Modi government's resolve to maintain peace in the Kashmir Valley, he said, "We want that peace be maintained in Kashmir and we are making a lot of efforts to achieving it. We have allocated maximum possible funds for development of Kashmir. As far as terrorism is concerned, all terrorists coming there are from Pakistan."Singh is on a two-day visit to the city to celebrate the festival of Dussehra with the BSF jawans.'Shastra Puja' or worship of weapons is part of the Dussehra festival which is celebrated to mark the victory of Lord Ram over Ravana.Last year, the Home Minister had attended Dussehra celebrations at Joshimath in Uttarakhand along the Sino-India border.
Trump praises congressman for assaulting reporter
US President Donald Trump has praised Montana Republican Representative Greg Gianforte for assaulting a reporter during his campaign last May and called him "my guy".
Previous governments were not serious about poverty alleviation: PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday targeted the previous Congress-led governments, saying they were "not serious" about poverty alleviation and their sole objective was to promote the "name of a particular family". Addressing a gathering here after launching several public welfare works, Modi sought to highlight the difference between his government and the previous governments and said the current dispensation was "working faster" on development and welfare projects. Noting that Maharashtra has produced several reformers who ensured social harmony, Modi also called for defeating forces which divide communities for their political interests. "In the last four years, the government has made serious efforts to provide proper houses to the poor living in shanties. "Efforts were made in the past too. But unfortunately, their sole objective was to promote the name of a particular family, instead of empowering the poor by giving them shelter. Their aim was to create a vote-bank," he ...
Italy defends budget as EU warns of "unprecedented" rules breach
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Italy's Prime Minister defended its free-spending budget on Thursday, brushing off criticism from Brussels as the European Commission stepped up pressure over a draft it labelled an unprecedented breach of EU fiscal rules.
Trump says "certainly looks" Khashoggi is dead, Pompeo denies hearing audio tape
US President Donald Trump has said it "certainly looks" like Jamal Khashoggi is dead and threatened "very severe" consequences if Saudi Arabia is found to have murdered him, toughening his response to the disappearance of the dissident journalist that has sparked global outrage. Trump's remarks came after he was briefed on the investigation by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo who returned from trips to Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Khashoggi, 60, who has not been seen since October 2 when he entered Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul, is feared to have been killed inside the mission. The incident has resulted in global outrage, more so in the US where he lived as a legal permanent resident and worked for 'The Washington Post'. "It certainly looks that way to me. It's very sad. Certainly, looks that way," Trump told reporters at Joint Air Force base Andrews on Thursday before leaving for Montana for a campaign rally. Turkish investigators have told local as well as US media that Khashoggi ..
Baramulla encounter: 3 terrorists gunned down
At least three terrorists were killed during an encounter with the security forces in the Boniyar town Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district on Friday.According to officials, four AK-47 rifles and four haversacks were recovered from the slain terrorists. The operation is currently underway.The latest attack comes amidst rising incidents terror strikes in Jammu and Kashmir even as the government strives to ensure peace, and foils cross-border terrorism that disturbs normalcy in the region.Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said that the government is making all efforts to ensure peace in the Valley, adding that the maximum possible funds have been allocated for the development of Kashmir."We want that peace to be maintained in Kashmir and we are making a lot of efforts for that. We've allocated maximum possible fund for development of Kashmir. As far as terrorism is concerned, all terrorists coming there are from Pakistan", Singh told reporters in Bikaner.General Officer Commanding in .