Page 2717 - Politics
Pompeo discusses Khashoggi's disappearance issue with Saudi Arabia
United States Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo on Tuesday met Saudi King Salman and Foreign Minister al-Jubeir in Riyadh. During the meetings the two sides discussed the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and it was agreed that there is a need for a thorough, transparent, and timely investigation in the case."Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo met today with Saudi King Salman in Riyadh. The Secretary thanked the King for Saudi Arabia's strong partnership with the United States. The Secretary and the King discussed a number of regional and bilateral issues. The Secretary also thanked the King for his commitment to supporting a thorough, transparent, and timely investigation of Jamal Khashoggi's disappearance," Spokesperson Heather Nauert said.In a separate press statement, US State Department said that during his meeting with Saudi Foreign Minister al-Jubeir, Pompeo reiterated US concerns over Khashoggi's disappearance."The Secretary thanked the Foreign Minister for his .
Nepal, India border security meeting concluded
The Nepal-India border security meeting concluded at Araria of India.The meeting focused on the minimisation of problems in regard with peace and security issues, combating of criminal activities and the transport sector.The meeting agreed to take measures to minimize a pressure of containers at the Indian bordering market Jogbani, to operate ICT and take actions to control the cross-border crimes, according to Morang Chief District Officer Ramesh KC.The meeting held Monday was attended by CDO KC, Superintendent of Police Manoj KC and Biratnagar Customs Office chief Nimans Adhikari on behalf of Nepal while Araria's District Magistrate Himanshu Sharma, the police chief, border security police chief and the customs chief represented the Indian side.
Member of Goa Assembly staff suspended for leaking resignation
The resignation letters of two MLAs of the Congress in Goa were allegedly "leaked" on social media by a member of the watch and ward staff of the Legislative Assembly who has been suspended by the Speaker, a statement said Tuesday. MLAs Subhash Shirodkar and Dayanand Sopte, who went to Delhi late last night, faxed their resignation letters to Speaker Pramod Sawant and are set to join the BJP. "The speaker today suspended one Rishab Subhedar who is working as watch and ward (staff) of the Goa Assembly for leaking the official documents from the Legislature Secretariat on whatsapp," as per the statement issued by the office of the Speaker. Sopte, 54, represented the Mandrem Assembly constituency in North Goa district, while Shirodkar, 66, was elected from the Shiroda in South Goa district. "This is the first of its kind incident wherein exemplary punishment has been ordered to maintain sanctity and discipline of the Assembly," the statement added. Sources in the Speaker's .
MP govt busy marketing itself as kids die of malnutrition: Rahul
Congress chief Rahul Gandhi Tuesday hit out at the Madhya Pradesh government, accusing it of doing nothing but only marketing itself at a time when children are dying of malnutrition in the state. On a campaign trail in Madhya Pradesh where the assembly polls will be held on November 28, Gandhi said the problems of malnutrition, farmers' distress and youth unemployment are plaguing the state. The Shivraj Singh Chouhan government has "done nothing" to resolve these issues, he claimed. Addressing a public meeting in Sheopur city, he said, "Here children are dying of malnourishment, but the BJP government is not doing anything worthwhile to check it. Rather, it is busy in marketing itself and advertising the chief minister with photographs." "When children die, the chief minister doesn't do anything," the Congress leader alleged. The state BJP government during its 15 years rule has not done anything for farmers and for the unemployed youths, the Amethi MP said. "I will not give you ...
EC team to visit poll-bound Telangana on October 22
: An Election Commission team would visit Telangana on October 22 for the first time after the election schedule for the state was announced, to review the poll preparedness of the state. They would meet various political parties, besides senior officials of the state government and the police department, an official release said. The team would meet the Director General of the Income Tax Department and other senior officials before leaving for the national capital on October 24, it added. This is the first visit of the EC after the election schedule for Telangana was announced. The Election Commission (EC) had on October 6 announced the election schedule for five states, including Telangana, which will go to thepollson December 7. The assembly polls in Telangana were originally scheduled to be held simultaneously with the Lok Sabha elections next year, but the Assembly was dissolved on September 6 as per a recommendation by the state cabinet.
Rahul's Kolkata visit during Durga puja called off due to
Congress president Rahul Gandhis visit to the city during Durga Puja has been called off due to his preoccupation with the campaign for the elections in the five states, a senior state Congress leader said Tuesday. The AICC chief, who had asked the party's Bengal unit to stengthen the organisation ahead of the crucial 2019 elections, was proposed to pay a visit to Kolkata on Ashtami (eight) day of Durga puja on Wednesday. It was a tentative visit his schedule was not finalized. But now elections for five states have been announced and he is too preoccupied with the campaign in those states. So his visit to Kolkata has been called off for the time being, state Congress president Somen Mitra said. Rahul Gandhi, had asked the party's newly appointed West Bengal unit to strengthen the organisation in view of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.It was during this meeting last month that the proposal for Gandhi's visit to Bengal during Durga Puja - the biggest festival of Bengal, came
Two Cong MLAs join BJP in Goa
In a setback to the Congress in Goa, two of its MLAs Tuesday joined the BJP, giving a boost to the saffron party's government in the state. Subhash Shirodkar and Dayanand Sopte met BJP president Amit Shah, and Union minister Piyush Goyal later announced the decision of their joining the BJP at a press conference. Earlier in Goa, Assembly Speaker Pramod Sawant said Shirodkar and Sopte had sent their resignations by fax as members of the assembly to his office. In the 40-member Goa Assembly, the Parrikar government has the support of 23 MLAs. These comprise 14 BJP MLAs, three each from the Goa Forward Party and the Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party as well as three Independents. The strength of the Congress, which has so far been the single largest party with 16 MLAs, will now come down to 14.
Erdogan: Investigators found consulate materials painted over
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday said investigators searching a Saudi consulate building in Istanbul where journalist Jamal Khashoggi went missing earlier this month found materials that had been painted over.
Cong led grand alliance in Telangana stuck on seat sharing: CPI Gen Sec Sudhakar Reddy
The proposed Congress led grand alliance in Telangana to counter the ruling TRS in the upcoming assembly election in the state has been stuck around issues relating to seat sharing, CPI General Secretary S Sudhakar Reddy has said. Congress, TDP (Telugu Desam Party) and CPI (Communist Party of India) announced the formation of a pre poll grand alliance with Congress last month. Later, the Telangana Jana Samithi (TJS) led by M Kodandram and other smaller parties expressed their interest in joining forces with the alliance which is yet to be formalised. India's newest state, having 119 seats, will go to polls on December 7 this year. "Talks on seat sharing issue are still on. We are yet to have a consensus on seat sharing. I think the Congress wants to contest in 75 per cent or more of the total seats. If the alliance materialises then it will give a tough fight to TRS (Telangana Rashtra Samithi)", Reddy told PTI. Reddy said that CPI wants to contest in 12 constituencies. "In nine ...
BJP trying to poach Cong MLAs by using money power: Chodankar
On a day two of its MLAs in Goa resigned as members of the Legislative Assembly and are set to join the BJP, the opposition Congress has accused the ruling party of "poaching" the legislators by using "money power and threats". Goa Pradesh Congress Committee President Girish Chodankar also said the BJP has engineered a split in the Congress in a bid to "manufacture" majority in the House. The Congress had last month demanded a floor test while claiming that the BJP-led alliance government is in disarray in view of the ill health of chief minister Manohar Parrikar. In a setback to the Congress Tuesday, two of its MLAs--Dayanand Sopte and Subhash Shirodkar---resigned as the members of the House and also from primary membership of the party. Both of them are set to join the BJP. The development has brought down the strength of the Congress from 16 to 14 and that of the House to 38 from 40. The Congress now ceases to be the largest opposition party in the coastal ...
Jaswant Singh's son Manvendra to join Congress
Veteran BJP leader Jaswant Singh's son and MLA Manvendra Singh will join the Congress on Wednesday, ahead of the assembly polls in Rajasthan in December. Singh (54), who won Barmer's Sheo constituency as the BJP candidate in 2013 assembly elections, had announced at a rally last month that he is leaving the Bharatiya Janata Party. Kamal ka Phool Badi Bhool', he had said then, claiming that going with the BJP's election symbol, the lotus, was a big mistake. Congress leaders claimed his move will help bring Rajput votes to the party-fold while the BJP said the MLA's politically wrong decision will have no impact on the ruling party. Manvendra Singh will join the Congress tomorrow in Delhi in the presence of party president Rahul Gandhi, Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee president Sachin Pilot told PTI Tuesday. There is a long list of leaders quitting the BJP and the party should introspect why this is happening, he said. We are welcoming Manvendra Singh and this will strengthen the ..
Ethiopian PM hands half of cabinet to women
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Tuesday unveiled a downsized cabinet where, in a first, half the members are women, a top official said. Women occupy key positions in the 20-member cabinet that includes a newly created Ministry of Peace to oversee the federal police and intelligence agencies, Abiy's Chief of Staff Fitsum Arega said. "Women are assigned to run key ministerial portfolios including ministries of Peace, Trade and Industry, and Defence," he tweeted. The new Minister of National Defence, Aisha Mohammed, is the first woman to hold the post. Minister of Peace Muferiat Kamil is the former speaker of parliament. The previous cabinet had 28 ministers, of which only five were women. The shakeup is the latest in a series of dramatic reforms implemented by Abiy since he took office in April after more than two years of anti-government unrest that contributed to his predecessor's sudden resignation. The prime minister's measures have included ending two decades of conflict ...
Saudis agree 'thorough' probe needed into journalist's disappearance: US
Saudi Arabia agreed Tuesday on the need for a "thorough" investigation into the disappearance of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a US spokeswoman said. Heather Nauert made the statement following a meeting between US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir to discuss the case of the missing Saudi journalist, who was last seen on October 2 entering his country's consulate in Istanbul.
7 parties, including CPI(M), to fight Raj polls under one banner
Seven political parties, including the CPI(M), will contest the upcoming Rajasthan assembly elections under the banner of 'Rajasthan Loktantrik Morcha' (RLM), a leader of the Left party said Tuesday. Election in the state is due on December 7. Besides the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the Janta Dal, the Janta Dal (Secular), the Samajwadi Party, the CPI, the CPI (ML) and the Rashtriya Lokdal will be part of the RLM. The parties have come together to defeat anti-people political powers, including the BJP and the Congress, CPIM leader Ravindra Shukla said. Both the national parties have not worked for the welfare of farmers, labourers, Dalits and minorities during their tenures, he alleged. The CPI(M) has decided to fight the elections on 29 of the 200 assembly seats in Rajasthan, Shukla said. He said the morcha will hold its meeting within a week to discuss on partnering on seats and other formalities. The CPI(M) will run a nation-wide campaign from October 22 to 28 against the ...
NGT fines Delhi govt Rs 50 crore for inaction against illegal steel units
The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Tuesday imposed a fine of Rs 50 crore on the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government for failing to stop steel pickling industries from working in the residential areas. The industries fall under the prohibited list of industrial activity as per the Delhi Master Plan (DMP), 2021.Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court while hearing a matter related to air pollution today, directed the Delhi government to frame guidelines on burning of effigies of Ravana and use of firecrackers during Dusshera. The guidelines can be implemented from the next year.On the steel pickling industries, the NGT which had passed the orders to close down the industries in 2016, pulled up the state government for not closing the industrial units despite its specific directions.Earlier, an NGO had approached the NGT seeking execution of its order. Following this, the tribunal directed the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) to take action against the industries.Meanwhile, the NGT ..
4.2% voter turnout in final phase of J-K municipal polls
The voter turnout at the end of the fourth and final phase of the municipal elections in Jammu and Kashmir was recorded at 4.2 per cent till 4 pm on Tuesday.In the fourth phase, Central Kashmir's Ganderbal district witnessed a voter turnout of 11.3 per cent, Srinagar district recorded a mere 4.0 per cent.At the end of all four phases, the state recorded an aggregate voter turnout of 35.1 per cent.Among the four polling phases, maximum voter turnout of 56.7 per cent was recorded in the first phase in the state while least voter turnout was registered in the fourth phase touching 4.2 per cent only.The counting will take place on October 20.The fight is between the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as the state's two major parties - National Conference (NC) and the People's Democratic Alliance (PDP) - have boycotted the elections over lack of clarity in the Centre's stand on Articles 35A which disallows outsiders from residing in the state, buying or owning immovable property
Punjab CM confident of greater cooperation from Israel
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh is expecting that his visit next week to Israel would open new vistas of growth and cooperation with the Jewish nation in key areas, particularly the agriculture, horticulture and dairy sectors. The chief minister, accompanied by a high-level delegation, is scheduled to leave for his five-day visit to Israel on October 21, according to an official spokesperson. At a meeting with Charge de' Affairs of Israeli Embassy, Maya Kadosh, who called on him this morning, the chief minister also hoped to share Israel's expertise in the field of internal security to further strengthen the state's defence preparedness. Seeking to position Punjab as the most favoured investment destination among foreign investors, the chief minister said his government was keen to tap the technological advancements on offer by Israel. India and Israel share glorious historical ties which should be fully harnessed through mutual cooperation to ensure overall growth and ...
China's Communist party expels 2 former generals
China's ruling Communist Party expelled two top former Generals, including one who committed suicide following allegations of corruption, and referred the graft case of the second general who served as the People's Liberation Army chief to a military court for trial, state media reported Tuesday. General Fang Fenghui, 67, headed the 2-million-strong People's Liberation Army (PLA) till last year. He was also the former chief of the Central Military Commission (CMC), which is now headed by President Xi Jinping. The CMC is the overall high command of the Chinese armed forces. The former general has been expelled from the party and his case has been transferred to a military court to answer graft allegations, state-run China Daily quoted the military statement as saying on Tuesday. Also General Zhang Yang, the former head of the Central Military Commission's Political Work Department who committed suicide in November last, was expelled from the Communist Party of China and assets related .
No differences, all support Vasundhara in Rajasthan: Javadekar
Asserting that there were no differences among the leaders in poll-bound Rajasthan, the party's election in-charge for the state Prakash Javadekar on Tuesday said there was only a "communication gap" which has been bridged and the entire unit was behind chief minister Vasundhara Raje. The senior Union minister also asserted that the combination of Prime Minster Narendra Modi's charisma and BJP chief Amit Shah's political strategy is the party's biggest strength in the upcoming assembly polls. Rajasthan is scheduled to go to the polls in a single phase on December 7. The counting of votes for all 200 constituencies will take place on December 11. Asked about Congress' criticism that there are differences within the BJP's state unit, Javadekar told PTI in an interview that "all is well". "There were no differences as such. There was only a communication gap and now everything has been sorted out. The entire state unit is working overtime to ensure BJP's victory and is unitedly behind ...
German diplomat says Washington shouldn't interfere in European energy policy
BERLIN (Reuters) - The United States must not determine European energy policy or decide whether Germany buys Russian gas, a top German diplomat said on Tuesday.