Page 2725 - Politics
Syria reopens 2 crossings with Jordan, Golan Heights
Syria opened two key border crossings on Monday after years of closure due to the ongoing civil war ravaging the country, re-establishing links with Jordan and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, officials said.
King steps in as Riyadh defends itself in Khashoggi case
Saudi King Salman has begun weighing in to try to defuse the growing crisis over missing journalist Jamal Khashoggi, as the kingdom goes on the offensive triggering a fierce online media campaign. In a phone call with US President Donald Trump on Monday, the king denied "any knowledge of whatever may have happened 'to our Saudi Arabian citizen'", the US leader said in a tweet. Trump added he was "immediately" sending Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to Riyadh "to meet with the king" for talks on the crisis. The disappearance of Khashoggi, last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2, has whipped up international concern, with new Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman increasingly the focus of sharp criticism. Turkish officials have said they believe Khashoggi -- a Washington Post contributor who was critical of Prince Mohammed's policies -- was killed inside the mission, and lurid claims have even been leaked that he was tortured and even dismembered. After an initial ...
Centre using I-T dept to threaten us, alleges AP CM
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu Monday accused the Centre of using Income Tax raids to threaten the state for demanding its rights and said it was not right to adopt a 'vengeful' attitude. In his weekly teleconference with top bureaucrats and public representatives on "Neeru-Pragati" (water and progress) where he shared his views on various issues, he also turned philosophical, saying only dharma, justice and good work would remain permanent. His charge against the Centre comes days after the Income Tax department conducted searches at the premises of ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) Rajya Sabha member CM Ramesh in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana on October 12. We are able to handle the Nature, but we are unable to handle politics. On one hand, the state is faced with problems caused by the bifurcation and on the other hand, natural calamities surrounded us. We have been overcoming them with a determination, he said referring to the devastation caused by .
Akbar should step down for sake of fair probe: Journalists
Expressing "deep disappointment" at Union Minister M.J. Akbar's threat of legal action against complainants alleging sexual harassment at his hands, journalist bodies on Monday said the Minister must step down for the sake of an impartial probe into the matter.
Amid criticism, stone laid for 'Museum of Prime Ministers' at Teen Murti Estate
Amid severe criticism from Congress leaders, foundation stone for the "Museum of Prime Ministers" was laid on Monday by Culture Minister Mahesh Sharma and Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri at the Teen Murti estate here.
BJP accuses Cong of uploading 'doctored' video on social media, tarnishing U'khand's image
The ruling BJP in Uttarakhand Monday accused the Congress of uploading a "doctored" video on social media to tarnish the state's image. The video went viral on social media recently in which Adani group chairman Gautam Adani was purportedly shown in conversation with Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat, speaking negatively about the state of infrastructure projects in Uttarakhand. "The video is doctored and uploaded with the intention of projecting a wrong picture of the state to discourage investors. The Congress cannot digest the huge success of the summit attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi," state BJP media head Devendra Bhasin said. Terming the video as part of a conspiracy hatched by the Congress to defame Uttarakhand and discourage investors from coming here, he said the plot stood exposed. "The Congress had been conspiring all along to disrupt the state's first ever investors summit. The doctored video which seeks to misrepresent things about the state is part of that ...
Bangladesh journalists protest propaganda law with human chain
Newspaper editors in Bangladesh gathered in the capital on Monday to demand an immediate amendment to the newly-enacted Digital Security Act, which they say hampers the freedom of the press and free speech.
Puri accuses Kejriwal govt of stalling ITO Skywalk project for one yr
Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri Monday accused the Arvind Kejriwal government of stalling the ITO Skywalk project for one year, claiming that several projects including the Metro Phase-IV are stuck due to non-clearance from the AAP dispensation. Puri, who inaugurated the skywalk and FOB at ITO, alleged that "false narrative" was being created and said some people who have nothing to do with the project are trying to take credit. The housing and urban affairs minister claimed that when the Delhi government, which was supposed to provide 20 per cent of the project cost, did not give its clearance, his ministry decided to execute the same on its own. The ITO Crossing and 'W' Point Junction are the two busiest crossing as far as the pedestrian traffic is concerned. There are over 25 major offices and other institutions located in this area. Approximately 30,000 pedestrian cross various roads around ITO Crossing and 'W' Point. The skywalk, which has been constructed with a cost of Rs 55 .
Turkey suspends over 250 local officials for 'terror links'
Turkey has suspended more than 250 senior local officials over alleged terror links and activities unrelated to their posts, the interior ministry said on Monday, in the latest purge of the country's bureaucracy. Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu removed 259 local neighbourhood heads -- known as "muhtar" in Turkish -- from their posts, his office said in a statement. It did not provide further detail on what terror organisations the officials were allegedly linked to. The muhtar is the elected chief of a village or a city neighbourhood, and responsible for day-to-day services for residents such as registration. Turkey has suspended or sacked over 140,000 public sector employees because of alleged links to the US-based Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen blamed for the July 2016 failed coup and Kurdish militants. Turkey claims Gulen ordered the coup but he denies the accusations. Last week, the ministry suspended 559 village guards -- locals employed to combat Kurdish militants -- accused ..
Saudi king orders Khashoggi probe, Trump sends Pompeo to discuss case
ANKARA/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's King Salman on Monday ordered an internal probe into the unexplained disappearance of prominent journalist Jamal Khashoggi as a joint Turkish-Saudi team was set to search the Saudi consulate in Istanbul where he was last seen on Oct. 2.
CM to meet officials, partymen after 2-day rest: Goa BJP chief
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar will rest for two days and then meet party functionaries and government officials, Goa BJP president Vinay Tendulkar said Monday. Speaking to reporters after attending a meeting of the BJP legislature party here Monday afternoon, Tendulkar reiterated that the coastal state would not see a change in leadership. Parrikar, who has been suffering from a pancreatic aliment, returned to Goa Sunday post hospitalisation at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi. "The chief minister is recovering now. He will take rest for two days, before meeting party office-bearers and government officials," Tendulkar said. Tendulkar, along with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state general secretary Sadanand Tanavade, met Parrikar Monday at the latter's residence. Queried about a change of leadership in the state, Tendulkar shot back, asking, "Why do you need a leadership change? The CM is for five years." Speaking about the BJP legislature party ...
After skywalk, AAP Ministers ignored for flyover opening
The rift between the Centre and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government continued to widen as the latter was yet again ignored in the invitation for the inauguration of newly constructed Rani Jhansi flyover scheduled for Tuesday.
M J Akbar has given his stand: Union Minister J P Nadda
Union Minister M J Akbar has "given his stand" on the sexual harassment allegations against him, Union Health Minister J P Nadda said Monday. "MJ Akbar has spoken yesterday itself. He has given his stand and he is going for a legal course of action", he said responding to questions on the issue at a press conference here. Akbar, Minister of State of External Affairs, had Sunday rejected the allegations as "false, fabricated and deeply distressing" and said he was taking appropriate legal action against the accusers after charges were levelled against him as part of the #MeToo movement. Nada said that as far as the women empowerment was concerned, it was the NDA government that had a Defence Minister and External Affairs Minister, who are women. "This is the example (of) how we look at the role of women in the governance. That's how Prime Minister Narendra Modi looks towards the governance issue as far as women empowerment is concerned," he added.
Culprits of Bargari sacrilege won't be spared: Punjab CM
Lashing out at vested political interests seeking to politicise a sensitive issue, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Monday said there is no question of backing out of his promise to bring to book the culprits of the Bargari sacrilege case and the subsequent incidents of firing at Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura towns.
Coast Guard commander calls on TN CM
: Coast Guard Commander (east) inspector-general Paramesh Sivamani, who recently assumed office, called on Tamil Nadu chief minister K Palaniswami at the Secretariat here Monday. It was a courtesy call, a defence press release said here. During the meeting, the release said, Paramesh apprised the chief minister of the recent developments in the coast guard in the state and assured the latter of continuing the rescue and relief operation for fishermen stranded in sea.
PTI's woman candidate defeats son in Punjab assembly by-polls
A woman candidate of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf party defeated her son, who ran elections as an independent candidate against her, in a tough contest in the Punjab assembly by-polls, a media report said Monday. Zehra Batool defeated her son and three-time lawmaker Haroon Sultan in the Punjab Province-272 by-poll Sunday, Express News reported. Her husband Abdullah Shah Bukhari is a former National Assembly member and their elder son, Basit Sultan Bukhari, had won from the seat in the July 2018 general elections. Basit had also won from the NA-185 constituency and decided to vacate the provincial seat, opening it up for a by-election. Batool secured 24,019 votes against Haroon's 17,072 votes. Haroon has been a member of the National Assembly three times and a provincial minister twice. Elections were held Sunday in nine National Assembly constituencies in Punjab and one each in Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and 24 provincial assemblies seats, including 11 in Punjab, nine in Khyber ...
State, Centre playing politics over CUHP campus at Dharamshala: Sudhir Sharma
Former state minister and Congress national secretary Sudhir Sharma alleged Monday that the state government and the Centre are playing politics over setting up a campus of the Central University Himachal Pradesh (CUHP )in Dharamsala. Sharma, the former state Urban Development minister who was also the MLA from Dharamsala, said the Congress wanted to establish the varsity campus here during its tenure but the present central government led by the BJP did "nothing" in this regard. "The BJP governments in the state and at the Centre do not want to set up the C U campus at Jadarangal in Dharmashala. Therefore, the state government has decided to provideless land for CU for campus of Dharamsala," he said. Selection of land for establishment of the university campus in nearby Jadrangal was taken up when the Congress was in power in the state, the former minister said. "The BJP did nothing in this regard after coming to power government in the state was formed in the state and it did ...
Saudi king orders probe in Khashoggi case, Turkey to search consulate
ANKARA/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's King Salman on Monday ordered an internal probe into the unexplained disappearance of prominent journalist Jamal Khashoggi as a joint Turkish-Saudi team was set to search the Saudi consulate in Istanbul where he was last seen on Oct. 2.
Unfriend: Thai junta leader receives social media pummelling
An onslaught of negative feedback flooded the official Facebook page of Thailand's premier Prayut Chan-O-Cha a day after it was launched over the weekend, backfiring on the junta leader's attempts to get "suggestions" on the social media platform. As Thailand counts down to much-anticipated elections following four years of military rule, former general Prayut has started portraying a softer side to the public. The gruff former general has incited intense speculation over his political aspirations through his frequent public appearances and photo opportunities -- despite insisting he has no interest in standing in the election next year. On Sunday, the premier's man-of-the-people persona was displayed on his newly launched Facebook page in a post asking for "suggestions" from his followers on his government's policies. The reaction was swift, garnering more than 9,000 comments in less than 24 hours, with the majority of them negative. "You are a burden for this country. You are a ...
Brexit deal more likely in November or December: Irish PM
Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar on Monday played down expectations of a Brexit deal being reached at an EU summit this week, saying an agreement was more likely in November or December. "I know some people are optimistic about an agreement on the withdrawal agreement protocol this week. I have to say I always thought that was unlikely. I figure November, December is probably the best opportunity for a deal but this is a dynamic situation," he told reporters.