Page 2745 - Politics
Pakistan's new ISI chief a 'Hafiz-e-Quran'
Apart from his years of experience in intelligence, Pakistan's newly appointed Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Chief Lt Gen Asim Munir is a 'Hafiz-e-Quran' who memorised the Quran during his posting in Saudi Arabia as Lt Colonel.Pakistani army's media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on October 10 announced Lt Gen Munir as the successor of incumbent ISI Chief Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar. The announcement of Lt Gen Munir came two weeks after being promoted to the post of Lieutenant General.Lt Gen Munir will be assuming office on October 25 after the retirement of Lt Gen Mukhtar.The Nation reported that Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan appointed Lt Gen Munir after a meeting with Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and the Lt Gen Mukhtar on September 28, rather than taking the traditional route of appointing an ISI chief from a pool of three names nominated by the Army chief.The appointment of the new ISI chief is the first major military-related appointment undertaken by ...
Prince Alois of Liechtenstein calls on President
Prince Alois of Liechtenstein called on President Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Friday.
Saudi delegation in Turkey for talks on missing writer
Turkey's state-run news agency says a delegation from Saudi Arabia has arrived in Turkey as part of an investigation into missing Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi. Anadolu Agency said Friday that the delegation would hold talks with Turkish officials over the weekend. It did not provide further details. On Thursday, Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said Turkey and Saudi Arabia would form a "joint working group" to look into Khashoggi's disappearance. The journalist vanished last week after entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. Turkish officials have said The Washington Post contributor may have been killed inside the consulate, but they haven't offered any evidence. Saudi Arabia has denied the allegation as "baseless.
58.12 lakh voters to choose 35,096 panchayat members in J&K rural bodies polls
The stage is set for the nine-phased rural bodies polls in Jammu and Kashmir from November 17, in which over 58.12 lakh voters will choose 35,096 panchayat members in 316 blocks of the state. According to the state election department, Jammu district has the highest 6,21,566 voters, who will choose 2,568 panchayat members in 322 halqa panchayats and 20 blocks, followed by Baramulla with 5,19,814 electorate who will choose 3,330 rural bodies members. While Srinagar district has the lowest 32,337 electorate who would choose 170 panchayat members, Leh has 69,735 voters and Kargil has 77,038 electorate who would elect 687 and 750 panchayat members respectively. The notification for the first phase of the panchayat polls would be issued on October 23, an official of the state election department said, adding the notification for the ninth phase of the polls, to be held on December 11, would be issued on November 14. The poll process will be completed on December 17. The panchayat polls ...
Abhay Chautala plays down family rift, but says anyone violating discipline will face action
Senior INLD leader Abhay Singh Chautala played down an apparent rift within the Chautala family Friday, saying his nephews Dushyant and Digvijay are "our children", but asserted that anyone violating the party discipline will face action. The rift within the Chautala family came to the fore Thursday, when INLD president Om Prakash Chautala dissolved the party's student and youth wings headed by Dushyant and Digvijay respectively. Abhay Singh Chautala is the younger son of Om Prakash Chautala. Dushyant and Digvijay are sons of Ajay Singh Chautala, Abhay's elder brother. "There are no differences with Dushyant (and Digvijay), they are our children," Abhay Singh Chautala said. However, he added, "discipline is our party's biggest strength. If any person violates that, party will take action." At a press conference at his home in Chandigarh to address questions on the apparent rift, he said he had no knowledge whether Dushyant Chautala, INLD lawmaker from Hisar Lok Sabha seat, had been ..
Rahul a serial liar: Goyal on Rafale charges
Railway Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday accused Congress President Rahul Gandhi and his party of repeatedly "spreading falsehood and lies" over the Rafale deal and called him a "serial liar".
HC orders CBI probe into graft charges against TN CM Palaniswami
The Madras High Court Friday ordered a CBI probe into allegations of corruption in award of road contracts by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami. Justice A D Jagadish Chandira gave the direction on a petition by the DMK, after perusing the report filed by Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC). The court said it was not satisfied with the report and the action taken by THE DVAC on THE complaint lodged by DMK organising secretary R S Bharathi. The judge then directed the vigilance agency to hand over all relevant documents to the CBI within a week. The central agency has to conclude the preliminary investigation within three months, he said, adding if prima facie case is made out it could proceed further. The DMK has alleged irregularities and corruption in award of road contracts. It has accused Palaniswami of abusing his power and allotting projects worth Rs 3,500 crore to his relatives and 'benamis'. Originally, the petitioner wanted the court to direct the ..
US reviewing India's decisions over import of Iran oil, Russia defence system: State Department
The US is reviewing "very carefully" India's decision to continue importing oil from Iran after November 4 and purchase of the S-400 air defence system from Russia, the State Department has said, describing them as "not helpful". The US is trying to cut off all oil imports from Iran following President Donald Trump's decision in May to pull out of the 2015 multilateral deal that eased global sanctions in exchange for curbs on Iran's suspect nuclear programmes and malign activities. It has given a November 4 deadline to its allies to bring down their import of Iranian oil to zero. Responding to questions on reports that India will continue to purchase oil from Iran after November 4, State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said this was not helpful. India's Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Monday said that two state refiners have placed orders for importing crude oil from Iran in November. "Overall with regard to those sanctions that will take effect on November 4th - and you're .
US praises Ukraine for peace pursuits with Russia
The United States of America lauded Ukraine for extending the law on special status for Russia-controlled areas of eastern Ukraine. Washington also came down sharply on Moscow for its 'continued failure to fulfill its Minsk commitments.'Praising the Ukrainian leadership and Parliament for extending the law which would have expired on October 10, the US said that it demonstrated Ukraine's continued commitment to a peaceful resolution of the conflict and implementation of the Minsk agreements.In a statement released by the White House, the US asked Russia to join Ukraine in the peaceful pursuits. "We call on Russia to join Ukraine in pursuing peace. Russia and the forces it arms, trains, leads, and fights alongside have yet to follow through on repeated commitments to cease hostilities, withdraw foreign fighters, exchange detainees, or disband the illegal armed formations," it added.The statement continued: "Moscow should institute a full and comprehensive ceasefire and cancel the ...
Fourth Industrial revolution driven by digital technology will help India to leap frog into the global supply chain: Suresh Prabhu
The Minister further said that the policy is in sync with the challenges and opportunities for India with the fourth industrial revolution technologies and will place the country firmly in the global supply and value chains.
Will move SC against HC order on GTB Hospital: Delhi government
After the Delhi High Court on Friday set aside its circular on preferential treatment to city residents at the GTB Hospital here, the Aam Aadmi Party government said it will move the Supreme Court to challenge the verdict.
'Delhi govt will challenge HC order on GTB Hospital pilot project'
The Delhi government will challenge the high court's Friday order quashing its circular on giving preferential treatment to city residents over non-residents at the GTB Hospital here, an official said Friday. Under the pilot project implemented early October, the residents of Delhi get preference at the registration counters, in-patient department, tests and medicine counter service, and identification is done on the basis of voter identity card at the Guru Teg Bahadur (GTB) Hospital. "It is the duty of any government to provide better facilities to the taxpayers," a Delhi government spokesperson said. "The Delhi government disagrees with the honourable Delhi High Court on the issue of providing facilities to Delhi residents at the GTB Hospital and it will challenge the court's order in the honourable Supreme Court," he added. The proposal to give preference to the residents of Delhi at the hospital in east Delhi's Dilshad Garden was approved in August by Chief Minister Arvind ...
Brexit: Theresa May faces backlash from within Cabinet
British Prime Minister Theresa May is facing fresh backlash Friday from within her Cabinet over what several ministers fear are concessions to the European Union (EU) in the ongoing Brexit negotiations. After a meeting on Thursday to update her so-called Brexit "war cabinet" of the latest plans for an agreement to exit the 28-member economic bloc, there is concern among some pro-Brexit ministers that the UK may be prepared to agree an indefinite customs backstop arrangement with the EU to maintain an open border with Ireland. According to UK media reports, international development minister Penny Mordaunt, work and pensions minister Esther McVey and Leader of the House of Commons Andrea Leadsom are among those extremely concerned and may even be toying with the idea of stepping down. To compound the British PM's troubles, the ruling party's Northern Irish allies Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) are threatening to pull out their support and effectively bring down the Tory government ..
India yet to work out payment mechanism for Iran oil imports, government official tells CNBC TV18
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India has not yet worked out a payment mechanism for continued purchase of Iranian oil, a finance ministry official told CNBC TV18 news channel.
Shift the Goa Assembly to AIIMS: Shiv Seva
The Shiv Sena on Friday said that not just the state cabinet but the entire Goa Assembly should be shifted to the AIIMS in New Delhi where ailing Chief Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has been hospitalised.
SC seeks affidavit on funds granted to Durga Puja committees
The Supreme Court on Friday refused to stay the West Bengal government's order of granting Rs 10,000 each to various Durga Puja committees for celebrations.A two-judge bench of the top court, headed by Justice Madan Bhinmrao Lokur and comprising Justice Deepak Gupta issued a notice to the West Bengal government and sought a detailed affidavit within six weeks.West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had last month announced a grant of Rs 28 crore to 28,000 puja committees across the state for the Durga Puja festival.The Chief Minister said that her government will provide Rs 10,000 each to the Puja Committees under the "community development programme."A total of 3000 Durga Puja committees are in Kolkata and another 25000 across the state.The Chief Minister also announced that the puja communities will not have to pay a fee to the fire department to obtain a licence.Durga Puja, which is one of the prominent festivals of West Bengal, will begin on October 15.
Modi to visit Japan for bilateral summit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be on an official visit to Japan on October 28 and 29 to hold an annual bilateral summit with his counterpart Shinzo Abe, it was announced here on Friday.
Central Railway holds 1-day meet on e-marketplace
Central Railway held a one-day meeting on the national mission on government e-marketplace (GeM) to get more sellers and buyers on board, an official said Friday. The Government e-Marketplace (GeM) is a paperless, cashless and system driven platform that enables procurement of goods and services by ministries, departments, PSUs and autonomous bodies etc. D K Sharma, Central Railway general manager inaugurated the meet Thursday and said GeM was a powerful platform that has various advantages for buyers and sellers. He added that the cost of procurement of materials will drastically come down with the increased use of GeM, which in turn will reduce the railways' operating expenditure. V R Mishra, Principal Chief Materials Manager CR, also praised the GeM system. Over 425 officials from Central, Western and Konkan Railways attended the meet with officials claiming that it was among the highest for such a meet involving government departments. A CR press release said GeM has
Treat women with respect and dignity, Rahul Gandhi on #MeToo
As women's fight against sexual misconduct gains momentum in India and #MeToo tales go viral, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday hailed women's courage for sharing their ordeal.The 48-year-old opposition leader said that the truth needs to be told loud and clear in order to bring about the change.Appealing people to treat women with respect and dignity, Gandhi tweeted, "It's about time everyone learns to treat women with respect and dignity. I'm glad the space for those who don't, is closing. The truth needs to be told loud and clear in order to bring about change. #MeToo"The reaction from the Congress chief came close on the heels of sexual harassment allegations by at least five women journalists against their former boss, MJ Akbar, who is now Minister of State for External Affairs.Gandhi's party is mounting pressure on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government to shunt out Akbar in the wake of serious allegations against him. Akbar, who is travelling abroad, so far, ...
Swaraj urges SCO members to fight terrorism, address climate change and promote connectivity
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Friday urged the SCO member countries to join hands to address global challenges and highlighted the need to fight terrorism, address climate change and promote connectivity and regional peace. Swaraj, who is here to attend a two-day conclave of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO)'s Council of Heads of Government (CHG), called on Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon along with the heads of delegation from other SCO countries. Swaraj, speaking at the Restricted Format Meeting of the SCO Heads of Government Council here, highlighted the need to join hands to fight terrorism, address climate change, promote connectivity and regional peace, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said in a tweet. The conclave, also attended by Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, will focus on boosting cooperation in fighting terrorism, besides deliberating on pressing regional and global issues. The CHG meeting is also likely .