Page 276 - Politics
Italian PM says will resign if coalition squabbles persist
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on Monday said he was ready to resign unless the two parties in the governing populist coalition -- the League and the Five Star Movement -- stopped squabbling. "I am asking both these political forces to make a choice and tell me if they still want to honour the government's obligations," he said. If not, "I will simply end my mandate." Relations between the League and M5S soured during the campaign for European parliamentary elections on May 26. "I want a clear, unequivocal and speedy response," Conte said, calling for a "loyal collaboration" from all ministers. Conte is seeking a clear mandate to continue a dialogue with the European Union over Italy's public debt. Italy's far-right Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, who is from the League, said last Tuesday that he expected Brussels to sanction his country for its deteriorating deficit and huge debt by imposing a fine of three billion euros (USD 3.3 billion). The League and the M5S have ...
'Six EU states to take in migrants rescued off Libya'
Rome, June 3 (IANS/AKI) Portugal, Ireland, Romania, France, Germany and Luxembourg have all vowed to take a share of 100 migrants who arrived in Italy's northwestern port of Genoa after they were saved off Libya last week, sources at the Italian Interior Ministry said on Monday.
Kejriwal hosts Iftar, BJP MLAs attend party
Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly Vijender Gupta and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday shared a friendly evening at an Iftar party hosted by the city government, unlike their usual relationship inside the House.
Media only questioned Oppn during LS polls: Ex-CEC Quraishi
Former chief election commissioner S Y Quraishi Monday took a critical view of the media's role during the recently held Lok Sabha elections, alleging that instead of "asking tough questions to leaders of the day", it was "only questioning" the opposition parties. He was responding to a question during a panel discussion organised at the India International Centre here, after the release of a report on poll expenditure, by a city-based think tank. "Normally, the role of media is to question the government, what they are doing, what they are not doing... but they (media) were only questioning the Opposition... 'Why they (opposition parties) didn't do something 50 years ago?' Is that what the media should be doing?" Quraishi asked. "But it was all sugar and honey talking to leaders of the day. Instead of asking tough questions, they were expressing thanks that they were given time (by leaders)," he said without naming anyone. The Lok Sabha polls were held in seven phases from April 11 .
Delhi Ministers to go among people to monitor projects, seek feedback
Days after losing the Lok Sabha polls in Delhi, the ruling Aam Aadmi Party has decided to send the Ministers among people to monitor progress of projects and take feedback from people.
US condemns 'brutal' Sudan crackdown, urges civilian-led government
The United States on Monday condemned Sudanese military leaders' "brutal" crackdown on protesters and said that better relations with Washington would be contingent on moving toward a civilian-led government. "This was a brutal and coordinated attack, led by the Rapid Support Forces militia, that mirrors some of the worst offenses of the Bashir regime," tweeted Tibor Nagy, the assistant secretary of state for Africa, referring to toppled strongman Omar al-Bashir.
Prez compliments I&B Ministry for excellent coverage of PM Modi's swearing-in ceremony
President Ram Nath Kovind complimented the Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry on Monday for the excellent coverage of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony on May 30, which was held at the Rashtrapati Bhawan here. A delegation led by Amit Khare, Secretary, I&B Ministry, met the president on Monday and apprised him of the elaborate steps taken by various media units to ensure a comprehensive and world-class coverage of the ceremony across all mainstream and social media platforms, covering almost the entire globe, the ministry said in an official statement. Khare told the president that for the benefit of the hearing-impaired viewers, DD Bharati provided commentary in sign language, besides commentaries in Hindi and English in other channels of Doordarshan. The delegation included Sitanshu Kar, Principal Director General of the Press Information Bureau (PIB), Supriya Sahu, DG, Doordarshan, F Shehriyar, DG, All India Radio (AIR), Ira Joshi, Principal DG, ..
Bring back paper ballot to save democracy: Mamata
Accusing the BJP of winning the Lok Sabha polls by using muscle, money and government power, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday called for bringing back the system of paper ballots to save democracy.
Copyright Rules to be amended for better compliance with digital platforms
In order to ensure compliance of Copyright Act with digital platforms gaining popularity, the Central government on Monday proposed the Copyright Amendment Rules, 2019 and released a draft for comments.
I will try to serve Andhra Pradesh better than my father: Chief Minister Jaganmohan Reddy
Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy on Monday said that he would try to serve the state better than his father YS Rajasekhar Reddy."I will try to serve the state better than my father YS Rajasekhar Reddy," he said, while wishing Muslims of the state 'Eid Mubarak' in advance at an 'Iftar' organised here at the police parade ground.Chief Minister Reddy, whose father was two-time Chief Minister of the state, said: "I am very happy to attend this Iftar. God writes wonderful scripts. I will give you an example of that.""During the 2014 elections, 67 MLAs won on the YSRCP ticket. TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu purchased 23 of them in the past five years. Similarly, he bought three of our nine YSRCP MPs," he said.Referring to the results of recently held Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in the state, he said: "Now in 2019 elections, the results were declared on May 23 in the holy month of Ramzan. TDP led by Chandrababu Naidu could win only 23 Assembly seats and three seats of Lok Sabha. ...
SP, BSP will fight together for social justice: Akhilesh
The Samajwadi Party will fight for social justice together with the Bahujan Samaj Party, said SP chief Akhilesh Yadav Monday, hours after BSP supremo Mayawati expressed dissatisfaction over the poll performance of the alliance between the two parties. "We and Bahujan Samaj Party will fight for social justice together," said Yadav, addressing a public meeting here during his first visit to the constituency after declaration of the Lok Sabha poll results. BSP chief Mayawati earlier told her party workers in New Delhi that the Lok Sabha poll drubbing in Uttar Pradesh was due to the "poor performance" of the alliance with the SP. She also asked her party leaders and workers to prepare to contest the assembly by-elections on their own, raising questions over the future of the 'gathbandhan'. Addressing the public meeting in Azamgarh, Akhilesh Yadav, however, defended the poll performance of the alliance, saying that the Lok Sabha poll battle this time was of a different kind, which he could
India, China discuss disarmament, non-proliferation
India and China on Monday held a key dialogue on non-proliferation and disarmament with the two sides exchanging views on a variety of issues of mutual interest related to arms control, an official statement said.
Mamata slams Modi on unemployment, cooking gas prices
Slamming the Modi-led Central government for high unemployment hike in cooking gas price, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said her party would hit the streets opposing the move.
Video shows Mamata breaking open a 'BJP office'
A video of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee breaking open a "BJP office" in North 24 Parganas district's Naihati area and painting her party's name and symbol in black has gone viral, drawing her flak from netizens.
Russia blocks UN criticism of attacks in northwest Syria
Russia on Monday blocked a UN Security Council statement criticising Syria's military campaign in the Idlib region that Western powers fear will lead to a humanitarian catastrophe. Russia said in a note seen by AFP that the proposed statement was "unbalanced" because it did not mention the towns of Hajin or Baguz, where civilians have suffered during US-backed fighting against the Islamic State group. Belgium, Germany and Kuwait had put forward the proposed text following two emergency meetings of the council on the worsening violence in the jihadist-held region. Russia last month blocked a separate statement also warning of a humanitarian catastrophe from an all-out assault on Idlib region, home to three million people. Council statements require unanimous support by all 15 members. Syria and its Russian ally have stepped up air strikes and shelling in Idlib since late April, forcing over 270,000 people to flee their homes. Russian Deputy Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy said Moscow ...
Gambhir bats for Shah, slams Mehbooba Mufti
BJP's newly elected parliamentarian Gautam Gambhir on Monday took to Twitter to criticise former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti for attacking Home Minister Amit Shah.
Funds released for Tgana govts farmers support scheme
The Telangana government Monday released Rs 6,900 crore for implementation of its investment support scheme for farmers. "Budget Release Order issued for an amount of Rs 6900,00,00,000 towards meeting the expenditure for Investment Support Scheme. Administrative Sanction accorded," according to a Government Order (GO). The financial assistance to farmers under the scheme has been enhanced from Rs 4,000 to Rs 5,000 per acre per season this year, according to a GO issued earlier.
Bonhomie between Kejriwal and Vijender Gupta at Delhi govt-hosted iftar
An iftar, hosted by the AAP government, Monday witnessed a bonhomie between Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Opposition Leader in the Assembly Vijender Gupta with the latter offering a morsel of food to the former as a friendly gesture. Later talking to the media, Gupta, flanked by Kejrwal, advised the chief minister to avoid the path of confrontation for the welfare of Delhi. Several Delh cabinet ministers, including Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, AAP MP Sanjay Singh, BJP MLA Om Prakash Sharma and Aam Aadmi Party leaders attended the iftar party. No senior leaders from the Congress attended the iftar. After the call for iftar was given, Kejriwal and others got down from the stage and sat in a table for food. At the table, Gupta, who is critical of Kejrwal and his government, fed a morsel of food to him as a friendly gesture following requests by photo journalists. "Since the beginning, I have been asking Kejrwal ji to avoid the path of confrontation for the welfare of Delhi.
Pompeo says US hopes for China over 30 years after Tiananmen
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Monday that the United States has lost hope for human rights progress in China in the 30 years since the Tiananmen Square crackdown, as he urged the release of political prisoners. In a statement on the anniversary of the June 4 assault on pro-democracy protesters, Pompeo said: "Over the decades that followed, the United States hoped that China's integration into the international system would lead to a more open, tolerant society. Those hopes have been dashed.
TMC designates six MPs for speaking to media
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) issued a statement here on Monday listing five of its Lok Sabha MPs and Derek O'Brien, the party's Rajya Sabha member and national spokesperson, as the designated persons to speak to the media, saying news channels had been speaking to people calling them "TMC supporters or sympathisers". Besides O'Brien, the Mamata Banerjee-led party has approved the names of Sudip Bandyopadhyay (TMC Parliamentary Party Leader in the Lok Sabha), MPs Saugata Roy, Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, Mahua Moitra and Dinesh Trivedi as its national spokespersons. The decision will come into effect from June 20. "We have noticed that some channels are inviting guests on shows and referring to them as Trinamool supporters, Trinamool sympathisers etc. We do not subscribe to this. Only the six persons mentioned above are authorised to speak on behalf of the party to the national media. "If you still choose to invite any person on the show other than an approved spokesperson, please do not ...