Page 2701 - Politics
After Jerusalem embassy move, US changes status of consulate
The United States says it is placing its main diplomatic mission to the Palestinians under the authority of its embassy to Israel. The State Department said Thursday that merging the Jerusalem Consulate with the newly opened Jerusalem Embassy will achieve "significant efficiencies." But the move also has symbolic significance, by in effect downgrading the standing of the consulate. For years, the consulate has served as a de facto embassy to the Palestinians, reporting straight to the State Department in Washington. Placing it under the authority of the embassy could be seen as suggesting American recognition of Israeli control over east Jerusalem and the West Bank. The Palestinians cut ties with the US after President Donald Trump recognised Jerusalem as Israel's capital last year and moved the American embassy to Jerusalem.
Indian SMEs showcase products at European Congress in Poland
A delegation of 32 small and medium enterprises from India is participating in the 8th European Congress on SMEs to showcase their products and services in poland. "In order to fructify the opportunities for Indian SMEs, the Congress will be an opportunity to make direct business relations between European and Indian SMEs," an official statement said. Small and Medium Enterprises from around 50 countries are participating in the three-day event, which concludes on October 19. Joint Secretary in the MSME Ministry Alka Arora, who is leading the Indian SME delegation, said the country is home to over 60 million MSMEs, which have the ability and capability to access international markets and work as ancillaries to larger international firms. She observed that given the impact of MSMEs in India, it is imperative to integrate them now into the global value chain by establishing possible linkages with international partners.
Maharashtra BJP against simultaneous polls, say some leaders
The Maharashtra BJP is understood to be against simultaneous polls to the Lok Sabha and the Assembly next year, according to some state party leaders. The issue was discussed at a recent meeting between BJP chief Amit Shah and Maharashtra leaders where the view of the state party unit was put forth, said the leaders who requested anonymity. A leader claimed that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis too is opposed to simultaneous elections and has conveyed this to Shah. "If Lok Sabha and Assembly elections are held together, there may be a compounded backlash from unhappy voters. If Lok Sabha elections are held first, we can do some damage control before the Assembly elections (later) next year," he said. "If Lok Sabha and Assembly elections are held separately, we can learn lessons from Lok Sabha's verdict and can plan accordingly for the Assembly polls," he added. The Lok Sabha polls are to be held by May next year while the tenure of the Maharashtra Assembly is till October
Police stops Delhi Congress's 'Ravana Dahan'
Police Thursday prevented Delhi Congressmen from torching a specially-designed effigy having 16 heads, two of them in the centre representing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, on Dussehra. The Congress unit wanted to torch the 50-foot effigy to register their protest over the sealing of illegal commercial establishments in Delhi. The 16 heads of the effigy represented the seven BJP members of Parliament from Delhi, Kejriwal's Cabinet colleagues and the prime minister and the chief minister. Delhi Congress chief Ajay Maken termed the police action "suppression and strangulation" of their democratic right to protest. "Whether PM or CM, if they work like Ravana, their effigies would be torched," Maken told reporters. A large number of police personnel were deployed near Shyamlal College in Shahdara area, where Delhi Congress members had organised the 'Ravan Dahan' event. "The policemen objected that effigy of the prime minister and chief ministers can not ..
NDA's re-negotiated Rafale deal has put pilots' lives at risk: Rahul Gandhi
Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday attacked the Modi government over the Rafale issue alleging that Indian pilots were at risk flying the "ancient" Jaguars due to the NDA renegotiating the Rafale aircraft deal that did not allow transfer of technology to the country. In a Facebook post, Gandhi alleged the NDA renegotiated the UPA deal to benefit crony capitalists and reduced India's prestige globally. India could not get transfer of technology as negotiated during the UPA rule and it was shameful that Indian pilots have to put their lives at risk flying the ancient Jaguar aircraft as the new technology did not come into the country, he said. He cited a media report to allege that instead of getting 126 Rafale aircraft together with transfer of technology that would have transformed the Indian Air Force, the NDA government renegotiated the deal to get only 36 aircraft made in France. "Since 2014, instead of taking to closure deals that had been negotiated by the UPA ...
Trump threatens to use military to close US-Mexico border
US President Donald Trump threatened on Thursday to use the military to close the border with Mexico if a caravan of thousands of Honduran migrants bound for the US continues its journey.
S African army chief fires warning shots over budget cuts
The South African military said that budget cuts have hampered its defence capacity at home and its ability to participate in foreign peacekeeping operations. National army chief Lieutenant General Lindile Yam sharply criticised the government for the funding shortage, saying the army was even struggling to buy uniforms. "These budget cuts impacts negatively on our force operations efforts," Yam told journalists at the army headquarters in Pretoria. "There is a danger coming that seems no one is seeing here." Yam said the army's defence budget was 28 per cent of the GDP during apartheid, but has been whittled down to less than one percent of the GDP. "We have gone to less than one per cent and maybe we are going to zero, I don't know," said Yam, saying politicians were playing "dangerous games" with the budget. Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has previously said that funding problems have been caused by the post-apartheid government prioritising spending on previously ...
Manmohan, Rahul condole death of N D Tiwari
Former prime minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Rahul Gandhi Thursday condoled the death of Narayan Dutt Tiwari, describing him as a great leader who was respected and admired across party lines. Tiwari died at a private hospital in Delhi Thursday after prolonged illness. He was 93. Singh, in a letter to Tiwari's wife Ujjwala, conveyed his condolences on the bereavement. "I have learnt with profound sorrow about the sad demise of your beloved husband Narayan Dutt Tiwari. In his death, our country has lost a great leader and an efficient minister of the Union government. "His services to the nation as chief ministers of two states, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, Union minister of external affairs and finance minister and as governor of Andhra Pradesh will always be remembered for a long time to come," he said, in a letter to Tiwari's wife. Singh said his wife joins him to convey to her and other members of his family their heartfelt condolences on this loss. "I pray to God .
US to appoint Qatar ambassador amid Gulf row
The United States has said it would appoint an ambassador to Qatar, after a 16-month gap during which Doha has been at the centre of a regional diplomatic crisis. The White House announced on Wednesday that US President Donald Trump intends to nominate Mary Phee, who previously served as US ambassador to Sudan, after Dana Shell Smith resigned last year. Smith -- who has criticised Trump's handling of the State Department -- stepped down from her post just days after the diplomatic crisis erupted between Qatar and its neighbours. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt severed ties with Doha on June 5, 2017 over allegations it seeks closer ties with Saudi Arabia's arch-rival Iran and supports radical Islamist groups. Qatar denies the charges, accusing its neighbours of seeking regime change. The four countries continue an embargo of the small gas-rich Gulf state, which on Thursday marked 500 days. In the beginning, Trump appeared to back Saudi Arabia's diplomatic ...
Britain official pulls out of Saudi conference
Britain's Trade minister has pulled out of a Saudi investment conference over the kingdom's involvement in the disappearance and alleged slaying of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi. International Trade Secretary Liam Fox is the latest high-level Western official to drop out of attending next week's summit in Riyadh. French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire and Dutch Finance Minister Wopke Hoekstra have also cancelled, along with several senior business executives. Britain's Department for International Trade says Fox "has decided the time is not right for him to attend the Future Investment Initiative." Britain says it is "very concerned" about the disappearance of Khashoggi, who was last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul earlier this month. Turkish officials say he was killed and dismembered there.
Congress running sponsored 'Modi Hatao' campaign in Pakistan: BJP
The BJP on Thursday said the Congress was running a 'Modi Hatao' campaign in Pakistan and accused it of 'demeaning' and defaming the Hindu community in India.
Wanted HNLC leader surrenders in Meghalaya
A wanted militant of the banned militant organisation Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) on Thursday surrendered before authorities here, police said. Cheristerfield Thangkhiew, the self-styled general secretary of the organisation, surrendered before Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tynsong at the police headquarters in the presence of Director General of Police R P Agarwal, among others. A founding member of the Hynniewtrep Achik Liberation Council in 1987, Cheristerfield held the post of general secretary of the HNLC when it was re-christened in 1997. Welcoming the peaceful surrender of the militant leader, Tynsong said he was happy to welcome Cheristerfield who has given up arms and militant life to join the mainstream society. The wanted militant leader fled to Bangladesh in 2004 and resided in that country till his return today, Special Branch SP M Kharkrang told PTI. The surrender of the general secretary is seen as a major blow to the group which is ...
Use 'Parliament alternative' for Ram temple construction: UP minister
Claiming there is "no opposition" to the construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya now, a senior minister in the Yogi Adityanath government on Thursday advocated achieving the aim through Parliament. "Over 500 years ago, foreign invaders came to India and tried to ruin our cultural heritage. There should be a Ram temple in Ayodhya where Ramlala's idol is situated as it is a matter of faith of crores of Hindus. A lot of politics has been done over the issue," Uttar Pradesh government spokesperson and energy minister Shrikant Sharma told PTI. "Why should there be a delay in construction of the temple?" he asked. "The matter has already stretched for a long period. Now no politics should be done over it and the Parliament alternative should be seriously considered," he said. Sharma appeared to be suggesting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government should bring about a legislation for construction of the Ram temple. His comments came after Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan .
Maldives court frees ex-leader Gayoom
A Maldivian court overturned the 19-month jail term of Maumoon Abdul Gayoom on Thursday, a month after the former president's estranged half-brother and jailer suffered a shock election drubbing. Gayoom, 80, ruled the largely Muslim island nation for 30 straight years until he was defeated at the country's first multi-party elections in 2008. He was arrested in February and accused of participating in an alleged coup during a crackdown on rivals of strongman President Abdulla Yameen, in charges his family and observers said were politically-motivated. Gayoom was granted bail at the end of September, a week after Yameen lost national elections that had been skewed heavily in his favour. On Thursday a court in the capital Male quashed Gayoom's conviction for obstruction of justice -- a charge that arose when he refuse to hand over his mobile phone to police. Gayoom is one of many political opponents and dissidents who were jailed or forced into exile during Yameen's strongman ...
Italy's PM defiant on budget, denies coalition rift
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Italy's prime minister on Thursday denied any division between the two parties in his governing coalition, after reports of a spat over tax revenues, and insisted Rome will move ahead with planned expansionary budgetary measures.
UK trade minister Fox will not attend Riyadh summit -govt spokesman
LONDON (Reuters) - British trade minister Liam Fox has decided not to attend an investment summit in Riyadh, a government spokesman said on Thursday.
Army says transgressions down along LAC in Ladakh
Incidents of transgressions along the Sino-Indian border in Jammu and Kashmir's Ladakh region has come down this year and an effective mechanism has been put in place to tackle any situation, a top Army commander has said. The officer also said the security situation along the LoC and in hinterlands in Jammu and Kashmir is fragile but under control. "There has been a relative decline in the number of transgressions (along the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh) during the current year," Army's Northern Commander Lt Gen Ranbir Singh told PTI on Wednesday. He was replying to a question on ground situation along the LAC in Ladakh in wake of incursions and transgressions in the region. "We have been able to maintain peace and tranquility along LAC in J&K," he said. Singh, who was in this famous Himachal Pradesh adventure sport destination for the first inter-services paragliding competition, said the Army has a well established mechanism to take control of any situation that arises ...
BJP leadership looking at Goa leadership issue: GFP leader after meeting Shah
The BJP's central brass is "seriously looking at" the leadership issue in Goa to provide a stable government to people, state minister Vijai Sardesai claimed Thursday after meeting party chief Amit Shah in Delhi. Sardesai, whose Goa Forward Party (GFP) is a key constituent of the BJP-led coalition government, met BJP chief Amit Shah this afternoon to discuss the current political situation in the coastal state against the backdrop of the ill-health of Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar. "I explained to him (Shah) the aspirations of Goans in the current political scenario. The BJP's central leadership is seriously looking at the leadership issue and to give Goa a stable government. We discussed the political scenario including the aspirations of the Goan people," the town and country planning minister told PTI over the phone from Delhi. Shah had invited leaders of the key constituents of the Manohar Parrikar-led government to Delhi to meet him on Wednesday, but the meeting was rescheduled
Women should be treated equally everywhere: Javadekar
A day after MJ Akbar resigned from the government, Union Minister for Human Resource Development Prakash Javadekar on Thursday asserted that women should be treated equally everywhere in the society.Javadekar said, "We have always maintained that not only at the workplace but everywhere in the society, women should be seen as equals, should be treated with equality. That is what we always say. There is nothing else to comment."Akbar stepped down as Minister of State for External Affairs following a series of sexual harassment allegations against him. On Wednesday, President Ram Nath Kovind accepted Akbar's resignation.As many as 20 women, one after another, have come forward and alleged Akbar of sexually harassing them during his journalistic days. The storm around the 67-year-old gathered momentum after the #MeToo campaign raged in India.For the past few weeks, Akbar had been facing flak over the allegations, with opposition parties also mounting attack on the government and ...
BJP leaders back Bhagwat's call for law to build Ram temple
Several BJP leaders Thursday backed RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's push for a law to enable construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya, saying a legislation is constitutionally valid and is being seen as an option because of delay in the matter in courts. Supporting Bhagwat, BJP MP Subramanian Swamy said it is a constitutionally valid demand and the government should bring an ordinance for construction of the temple. Shrikant Sharma, a minister in the Uttar Pradesh government and its spokesperson, echoed the view, saying a legislation to construct the temple at Ayodhya will be in accordance with the Constitution, Sharma said there have always been two options for constructing a temple - one is to take the legal course and another to build a consensus. He added that an ordinance in this regard can be part of the legal route. He said the matter has long been delayed in courts. In his customary Dussehra address to the Sangh cadres at the RSS headquarters in Nagpur, Bhagwat said the government ...