Page 2698 - Politics
UN seeks immediate action to avoid another war in Gaza
The United Nations envoy for the Middle East, Nickolay Mladenov, has demanded that Palestine and Israel take immediate action to reduce current tensions in the area and avoid another armed conflict in Gaza.
Yemen's new PM sworn in, vows to ease sufferings of Yemenis
Yemen's newly appointed Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik was sworn in on Thursday to lead the internationally-backed government in the war-torn Arab country.
US should stay in Afghanistan until peace achieved: Pak
Pakistan on Thursday said that the US should stay in Afghanistan until peace was achieved in the war-torn country. Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Mohammad Faisal said that withdrawal of US troops could result in chaos seen after Soviet troops' pullout in the late 1980s. "Pakistan has been reiterating that the US forces should stay in Afghanistan till the achievement of complete peace and stability. I would like to draw your attention to the chaos in the aftermath of the withdrawal of USSR in the late 1980s. The region cannot afford anything similar, at this time," he said. To a question about the reported meeting of US officials with Taliban leaders in Qatar, the spokesman said it showed that there was no military solution to the conflict in Afghanistan. "We are pleased that other important actors are also arriving at the same conclusion (that there is no military solution) and are exploring possibilities of initiating a peace and reconciliation process," he said. He said Pakistan .
Tejashwi Yadav disapproves of posters depicting him as Ram and Nitish as Ravan
RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav Thursday disapproved of the posters put up outside his residence and the party office a day ago, depicting him as Lord Ram and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar as demon king Ravana. Former Deputy Chief Minister Yadav, however, urged the chief minister to introspect as to why "there is so much public anger against him and which are the promises he did not keep". Sharing a news report about the posters put up by a junior party functionary, the RJD heir apparent said in a Tweet that he did not endorse this. "But Nitish too should spare a thought as to why the people are so angry with him. He must pay heed to his 'inner voice' and introspect as to which are the promises he has not kept. He must ponder over the public outrage," said Yadav, the leader of the Opposition in the state assembly. Yadav's "inner voice" remark was an apparent dig at the chief minister's stance of resigning last year after corruption cases had surfaced against the RJD leader, triggering .
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.
Pompeo asks Trump to give Saudi more time for Khashoggi investigation
United States Secretary of State Michael R Pompeo has asked US President Donald Trump to give Saudi Arabia a few more days to investigate the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.Pompeo met Trump after he returned from an official trip to Saudi Arabia and Turkey. He met with Saudi King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as well as other officials during his visit."We made clear to them that we take this matter in respect to Khashoggi very seriously. They assured me that they will conduct a thorough and detailed investigation in the case," he said.Pompeo addressed the media and asserted that Saudi and the US have a history of strategic partnership and Riyadh's investment in Washington.Khashoggi, a columnist for The Washington Post, went missing in Turkey on October 2. According to the journalist's fiancee, he was invited to the Saudi consulate in Istanbul but never left the consulate building.According to media reports, Turkish investigators believe the journalist
Uddhav Thackeray to visit Ayodhya on Nov 25
Upset with the delay in the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Thursday announced that he would visit the city in Uttar Pradesh on November 25."We warn everyone who thinks that Hindutva has died. We are still alive. We are saddened that Ram Temple has not been constructed yet. I will visit Ayodhya on November 25," Thackeray said while addressing party workers here.His statement comes weeks after Shiv Sena intensified its attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the construction of Ram Temple in Ayodhya, and warned the Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government that it would be thrown out of power if it fails to build the temple, as promised.The Shiv Sena, in an editorial published in their mouthpiece Saamana, had opined that the temple issue has been reduced to a mere poll promise and ,therefore, has become a topic for ridiculing Hindutva. "Ram Mandir banao, nahi toh Ram naam satya hai," read the headline of the edit piece.Meanwhile, ...
Shankersinh Vaghela's son Mahendrasinh quits BJP
Mahendrasinh Vaghela, son of former Gujarat chief minister and ex-Congress leader Shankersinh Vaghela, resigned from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday.In a letter to state BJP president Jitubhai Vaghani, Mahendrasinh said that he was resigning from the party due to some "personal reasons."Mahendrasinh, who was a Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) of the Congress party, had joined the BJP in July, 2018 in presence of party president Amit Shah.He was elected to the Gujarat Assembly on a Congress ticket for two terms from Bayad in North Gujarat.In 2017, Mahendrasinh left the Congress party ahead of the state assembly elections.Mahendrasinh resignation comes barely few weeks after Shankersinh Vaghela urged anti-BJP parties to keep aside their personal interests to create a "united opposition" to defeat the BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
#MeToo: Maneka Gandhi to look into institutional mechanisms of media organizations
Following a request of the Indian Women's Press Corps (IWPC), Union Minister for Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi has decided to examine the institutional mechanisms of all the media organisations amid multiple allegations of sexual harassments by women at work place.On Wednesday, the IWPC penned a letter to Gandhi, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and the National Commission for Women (NCW) demanding an "impartial and fair inquiry" into the multiple sexual harassment allegations levelled against former Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs MJ Akbar.The IWPC had also urged them to implement the Prevention of Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act in media organisations.In reply to their letter, Gandhi said, "I am definitely going to look into the institutional mechanisms of each media organisation immediately. We will send you the findings. Regarding anything else, I am going to ask NCW to look into the matter."On behalf of NCW, Chairperson Rekha Sharma said, "The ...
Chhavindra Karma, another candidate file nomination papers
Two candidates filed nomination papers on Thursday, the third day of filing of nominations for the first phase of the Chhattisgarh Assembly polls on November 12. Chhavindra Karma, an independent, filed his papers for Dantewada seat and Samajwadi Party's nominee Santosh Punem filed papers for Bijapur constituency, a statement from the office of the state's Chief Electoral Officer said. While the process of filing of nomination papers started on October 16, no candidate filed papers in the first two days. October 23 is the last date for filing of nomination papers for the first phase. While the scrutiny of nomination papers will take place the next day, the last date for withdrawal is October 26. Chhavindra Karma, son of late Congress leader Mahendra Karma, is contesting the election as an independent candidate from Dantewada, where her mother Devti Karma, a sitting Congress MLA, has been renominated by the party. According to Congress sources, Chhavindra had sought ...
No 2014-like wave in the country now: Uddhav Thackeray
In an apparent dig at the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray said Thursday that there was no "wave" in the country like the one in 2014. In 2014, the BJP's success in Lok Sabha elections had been widely attributed to a "Modi wave". Thackeray was addressing party workers at the Sena's annual Dussehra rally at Shivaji Park here. "There is no wave as it was in 2014," he said, suggesting that the BJP would not be able to replicate its 2014 success in the Lok Sabha elections next year. In another dig at the BJP leadership, he said "Shani" (Saturn) and "Mangal" (Mars) have become problem-creators in the country's horoscope. "You know who am I talking about," he told the crowd, without elaborating further.
Three-day state mourning declared in Uttarakhand on Tiwari's death
The Uttarakhand government Thursday declared a three-day state mourning following the death of Congress veteran Narayan Dutt Tiwari with Governor Baby Rani Maurya, Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat and PCC president Pritam describing his demise as an "irreparable loss" to the country. The state government declared a three-day mourning during which the national flag will fly half mast at government buildings in the state till October 20. Tiwari died at a private hospital in Delhi Thursday after prolonged illness. He was 93. In a condolence message, Governor Maurya prayed for the departed soul and commiserated with the bereaved family. "Tiwari ji was a popular leader and an efficient administrator. Apart from helming the affairs of both Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand as a chief minister, he had successful stints at the Centre as a Union minister. "His death is an irreparable loss to the country and the society," she said. Chief Minister Rawat also remembered him as a man who made ...
DNT set to win Bhutan elections
Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa (DNT) is set to win National Assembly elections in Bhutan.The centre-left party's mandate was to have better relations with India before going to polls for the 47-member lower house of the Parliament.Provisional results show the DNT winning at least 30 seats, with royalist Druk Phuensum Tshogpa (DPT) leading on remaining 17.The tiny Himalayan nation went to polls earlier on Thursday.Both the DNT and DPT fielded 47 candidates each in the final round in a bid to lead the young democracy for the next five years.Bhutan transitioned from a century-old monarchy to democracy in 2008.According to the Buddhist country's constitution, only two parties with highest votes in the primary round qualify for the final round.The ruling People's Democratic Party of Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay faced a drubbing in the round held in September and got ousted from the contest.
Pak condemns terrorist attack in Afghanistan
Pakistan on Thursday strongly condemned a terrorist attack in Afghanistan that killed at least three senior government officials, including a powerful Afghan police chief. "Pakistan strongly condemns the terrorist attack reportedly resulting in the sad demise of senior Kandahar security officials and causing injuries to many others," the Foreign Office said in a statement. Pakistan stands with the Afghan government and people and reiterates its support for the Afghan democratic process, it added. "We hope that the Parliamentary elections due to take place the day after tomorrow would be held peacefully. Strengthening of democracy is key to long term peace and security in Afghanistan," it said. At least three people, including a powerful Afghan police chief, were killed in the Taliban attack Thursday in the southern city of andahar .
JD(U) differs on Bhagwats statement on Ayodhya temple
Reacting to RSS chief Mohan Bhagwats advocacy of a law to facilitate construction of Ram temple at Ayodhya, the ruling JD(U) in Bihar on Thursday said it stood by its original stand that the issue must be settled through a consensus between the affected communities or a court order. The party, headed by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar which shares power with the BJP, also pointed out that the NDA had been formed with an understanding among all allies that the three contentious issues of Ayodhya, Article 370 relating to Jammu and Kashmir and uniform civil code will be kept on the backburner. The JD(U) sticks to its original stand that the matter should be settled by the court or through mutual consent. This is in line with the basic premise on which the NDA had been formed that the three contentious issues will not be stirred, JD(U) spokesman Rajiv Ranjan Prasad said. Ranjan was reacting to a query on the statement made by Bhagwat at the RSS headquarters in Nagpur earlier ..
Analysis: U.S. midterms a mere blip on equity options traders' radar
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Less than a month before the U.S. congressional elections, data suggests equity options traders do not view the election as a big catalyst for setting the direction of U.S. stock market in the immediate aftermath of the vote results.
Shankersinh Vaghela's son Mahendrasinh quits BJP
Less than four months after joining the BJP, Mahendrasinh Vaghela, the son of former Gujarat Chief Minister Shankersinh Vaghela, on Thursday quit the saffron party on personal grounds.
Chhattisgarh polls: Congress releases list of 12 candidates
The Congress on Thursday released its first list of 12 candidates for the Chhattisgarh assembly elections.
Chhattisgarh polls: BSP releases first list of six candidates
Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) Thursday released its first list of six candidates for the first phase of Chhattisgarh assembly polls scheduled to be held on November 12. The BSP ally Janta Congress Chhattisgarh (J) of former chief minister Ajit Jogi has released another list of seven candidates. The JCC (J) has forged an alliance with the BSP and the Communist Party of India (CPI). The JCC (J) has so far announced 46 candidates, including the latest list, out of total 55 seats it would be contesting, a party leader said. The BSP is contesting total 33 seats while the CPI two seats--Sukma and Dantewada. Ajit Jogi has been nominated as the chief ministerial candidate of the coalition. As per the latest list, JCC (J) has allotted tickets to Trilochan Nayak from Basna seat, Sanjay Chelak from Aarang (SC), Rohit Sahu from Rajim, Tankeshwar Bhardawaj from Chitrakot (ST), Naval Rathia from Dharamjaigarh (ST), Phulsingh Rathia from Rampur (ST) and Munna Toppo from ...
US treasury secy opts out of Saudi investment summit over Khashoggi affair
US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Thursday said he has decided against attending a Saudi investment summit later this month following global outrage over the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. With this he has joined a long list of top US and global leaders, corporate executives and International Monetary Fund and World Bank officials in opting out of the Future Investment Initiative summit in Saudi Arabia. In a tweet, Mnuchin said he met President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at the White House. "We have decided, I will not be participating in the Future Investment Initiative summit in Saudi Arabia," he said. The decision by Mnuchin comes in the wake of mounting pressure on the Trump administration in the aftermath of the missing Saudi dissident journalist who is feared killed inside Saudi consulate in Istanbul in Turkey early this month. Saudi Arabia has denied allegations that its officials planned Khashoggi's murder. It has assured the US ..