Page 2782 - Politics

Pompeo seeks allied unity in dealing with NKorea

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo left Tokyo for Pyongyang on Sunday after pledging that the U.S. will coordinate with allies Japan and South Korea on efforts to persuade North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons. On the eve of his fourth visit to North Korea, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met Saturday with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The America's top diplomat is trying to unify the countries' positions as he looks to arrange a second summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and chart a path toward denuclearization. Japan has been wary of Trump's initiative, fearing it could affect its long-standing security relationship with the U.S. Pompeo said it was important to hear from the Japanese leader "so we have a fully coordinated and unified view".

Kavanaugh sworn in as Supreme Court Judge

Brett Kavanaugh, 53, was sworn in as a judge of the US Supreme Court, hours after he was confirmed by a bitterly divided Senate by 50-48 votes. Kavanaugh was officially sworn in early Saturday evening as the 114th Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States by Chief Justice John Roberts who administered the Constitutional Oath in the Justices' Conference Room. Retired Associate Justice Anthony M Kennedy administered the Judicial Oath. Wife Ashley Kavanaugh held the family Bible. Justice Kavanaugh's two daughters, Liza and Margaret, and his parents attended the ceremony. Kavanaugh replaces Kennedy, who had announced his resignation early this year. The swearing in of Kavanaugh as the Supreme Court judge brought to end weeks of bitterly fought battle between the ruling Republican and the opposition Democratic parties. Things took an ugly turn in the last few weeks, when at least three women came forward with allegations that Kavanaugh had sexually assaulted them. Millions of ...

Brett Kavanaugh confirmation: Victory for Trump in Supreme Court battle

US President Donald Trump's controversial nominee for the Supreme Court, Brett Kavanaugh, has been sworn in following weeks of rancorous debate.

PML-N pass resolution condemning Shehbaz Sharif's arrest

The Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) on Saturday passed a resolution in the Punjab Assembly, condemning party president Shehbaz Sharif's arrest in connection with his alleged involvement in the Ashiana Iqbal Housing Scheme case.The resolution noted that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led government is using the unfair ruse to salvage their failed governance, Geo News reported.The resolution also stated that nation-wide protests will be held if the current Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly is not released before the forthcoming by-elections.The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Friday arrested Shehbaz on Friday for his alleged involvement in the Rs 14 billion scam and produced him before accountability court judge Najmul Hasan.The NAB has been granted a 10-day physical remand of Shehbaz.He is accused of having provided contracts at high rates to unqualified companies of his friends.Shehbaz was arrested on charges of misusing authority and corruption in ..

Kavanaugh sworn-in as SC Justice

Judge Brett Kavanaugh was on Saturday was sworn-in as an associate justice in the Supreme Court of the United States, shortly after the Senate confirmed his nomination.The Supreme Court had earlier confirmed that Kavanaugh would be sworn-in on the same day as the final vote on his nomination, Sputnik reported citing local media.The final vote count was registered at 50-48 for Kavanaugh, coming as a major victory for President Donald Trump a month before the midterm elections.Taking to his Twitter handle, Trump hailed the Senate's decision to confirm Kavanaugh's nomination, saying, "I applaud and congratulate the U.S. Senate for confirming our GREAT NOMINEE, Judge Brett Kavanaugh, to the United States Supreme Court. Later today, I will sign his Commission of Appointment, and he will be officially sworn in. Very exciting!"The President also stated after the confirmation that he was "100 per cent" sure that Professor Christine Blasey Ford, who accused Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her

Khan promises to give Balochistan its due share in CPEC

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday said that his government is focusing on abolishing Balochistan's apprehensions regarding the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), promising to give the province its due share from the deal.The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led government is conducting the review of the muti-billion dollar deal to address Balochistan's doubts, Khan confirmed during a meeting with the province's cabinet members here."Centre will work with Balochistan as a partner. We will not make any such promise for which we may have to excuse later on," said the Prime Minister.He further bemoaned the damage caused to Pakistan by previous governments through the over-burdening loans they took, saying, "We hope that we will soon get rid of this difficulty."While stating that the country's progress was connected with the development of the south-western province, Khan said that an agricultural revolution will be witnessed in Balochistan following the completion of the .

N.Korea praises friendship with China on anniversary of ties

North Korea has spoken highly of its friendly relation with China on the 69th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

Brett Kavanaugh confirmed as US Supreme Court judge

Overcoming unprecedented opposition mounted by Democrats and a series of allegations of sexual assault, Judge Brett Kavanagh, 53, was confirmed by the Senate on the nine-member bench of the Supreme Court. Coming ahead of the crucial November 6 mid-term elections, the conformation of Kavanaugh as Supreme Court judge, albeit with a short majority, gives a major moral and political victory to President Donald Trump and his ruling Republican party. "I applaud and congratulate the U.S. Senate for confirming our great nominee, Judge Brett Kavanaugh, to the United States Supreme Court," President Donald Trump said in a tweet, after Kavanaugh was confirmed by the Senate 50-48 votes, mostly on party partisan lines. "Later Saturday, I will sign his Commission of Appointment, and he will be officially sworn in. Very exciting!" he said, as he was joined by the White House in applauding the Senate for confirmation of Kavanaugh. "The White House applauds the Senate for confirming President Trump's .

Brett Kavanaugh confirmed as US Supreme Court judge

Overcoming unprecedented opposition mounted by Democrats and a series of allegations of sexual assault, Judge Brett Kavanagh, 53, was confirmed by the Senate on the nine-member bench of the Supreme Court. Coming ahead of the crucial November 6 mid-term elections, the conformation of Kavanaugh as Supreme Court judge, albeit with a short majority, gives a major moral and political victory to President Donald Trump and his ruling Republican party. "I applaud and congratulate the U.S. Senate for confirming our great nominee, Judge Brett Kavanaugh, to the United States Supreme Court," President Donald Trump said in a tweet, after Kavanaugh was confirmed by the Senate 50-48 votes, mostly on party partisan lines. "Later Saturday, I will sign his Commission of Appointment, and he will be officially sworn in. Very exciting!" he said, as he was joined by the White House in applauding the Senate for confirmation of Kavanaugh. "The White House applauds the Senate for confirming President Trump's .

Senate confirms Kavanaugh's SC nomination

Judge Brett Kavanaugh's nomination to the Supreme Court of the United States was on Saturday confirmed by the Senate, ending months of biased quarrelling over the nominee's alleged history of sexual assault.The final vote count was registered at 50-48 for Kavanaugh, coming as a major victory for President Donald Trump a month before the midterm elections, CNN reported. Trump will now be able to take credit for the appointment of two conservative Supreme Court Justices during his nearly two-year tenure.Speaking ahead of the voting process, Trump heaped words of praise for his nominee, saying that he will be a "great justice of the Supreme Court.""He's just an extraordinary person, and I think he's going to make us all very proud," Trump added.Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (Kentucky) also acclaimed Kavanaugh, saying, "The President nominated a jurist who has been described by legal peers of all political stripes as a superstar. Judge Brett Kavanaugh is among the very best our ..

ABVP sweeps University of Hyderabad student union polls

After a gap of eight years, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) swept the student union elections at the University of Hyderabad, winning all six posts of office-bearers.ABVP fought the student polls in an alliance with Other Backward Classes Federation (OBCF) and SVD (Sevalal Vidhyarthi Dal). This time, the contest was three-cornered with SFI and United Democratic Alliance contesting separately.ABVP candidate Aarti Nagal has been elected as the President of the UoH student union. The posts of Vice President, General Secretary, Joint Secretary, Cultural Secretary, and Sports Secretary were grabbed by Amit Kumar, Dheeraj Sangoji, Praveen Chowhan, Arvind Kartha and Nikhil Raj respectively, all belonging to the ABVP alliance.According to ABVP leader Susheel, it is after eight years that the Vidyarthi Parishad has won the elections at the University of Hyderabad.Last month, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad won three posts including that of President at Delhi University Student ...

Telangana CEC lays rules as part of MCC

Following the announcement of the poll schedule, the Telangana Chief Electoral Officer Rajat Kumar on Saturday laid down rules to be followed after Model Code of Conduct (MCC) comes into force.Kumar said, "Political posters, banners, and advertisements on all government properties have to be removed in next 24 years. Similar material from public places also has to be cleared within 48 hours. Even for private properties, which lack official permission or have objections from people have to be cleared of political posters and banners with the next three days. Further, within 72 hours all the district election officers will give me a list of such works which have been grounded so that in future if there is a complaint that new works have been taken up we will use this list as the basis. "He also asserted that use of official vehicles will be completely banned for political parties and election candidates."We are asking that there will be a total ban of the use of official vehicles by ...

US should not view ties with Pak through 'Indian lens': Qureshi

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi Saturday said the US should not view its relations with the country only through the perspective of the ties with India or the Afghan issue. He also said it would be wrong to expect that all differences between the US and Pakistan could be resolved in one day, the Dawn reported. Qureshi said regional situations evolve and requirements change, but Pakistan's contribution for peace and stability in the region should be acknowledged. "It will not be appropriate to view our (US-Pak) relations going as far back as seven decades from the Afghan perspective or the Indian lens," he told reporters in Multan after returning from his 10-day visit to the US. The foreign minister said he had tried to make his American counterparts realise this. Qureshi, who had met US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo and National Security Adviser John Bolton in Washington, said the Foreign Office will continue its efforts to represent Pakistan effectively on ...

Cong says Sardesai agreed to drop Palyekar from govt; he

The Congress claimed Saturday that Goa Forward Party leader Vijay Sardesai had offered to remove his party colleague Vinod Palyekar from the Goa cabinet in return for more portfolios for himself. Sardesai, who is the Agriculture Minister in Manohar Parrikar-led cabinet, denied this, calling it another attempt to destabilise the government. Congress's Goa spokesperson Amarnath Panjikar claimed in a press conference that during a recent meeting with Parrikar in Delhi, Sardesai said his party would accept dropping of Palyekar if Sardesai was given more departments. Parrikar is being treated for a pancreatic ailment at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Delhi. Sardesai dismissed the claim. "With their senior leaders like Luizinho Faleiro being busy elsewhere, these kids, whom the operation to destabilise the government has been outsourced, are exposing the Congress's intellectual level," Sardesai said. Palyekar too issued a statement, condemning Panjikar's claim ..

BJP confident of victory in state polls: Ravi Shankar Prasad

Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Saturday said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is confident of electoral victory in the states of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Mizoram and Telangana, for which the poll dates have been announced by the Election Commission (EC) today."We welcome decision of the EC to hold the elections. The BJP will contest elections in a very conclusive and decisive manner and we shall repeat our victory in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan very convincingly," Prasad said."People will give their blessings to us, we are very sure about it and we will also do very well in Telangana and Mizoram. We need not forget that these states were 'bimaru' states but the governance of BJP rescued them, also in Telangana and Mizoram we will win," he added.The Election Commission of India on Saturday announced the election schedule for the Assembly Elections of five states- Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram and Telangana.Chief Election ...

JNUTA raises voice against varsity's plans to place teachers under Conduct of Central Services Rules

A day after the Jawaharlal Nehru University academic council discussed about placing teachers under the Conduct of Central Services Rules, the varsity's teachers' association said the "very role that academics are supposed to play in the classroom and in civil society has become criminalised". The Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers' Association (JNUTA) alleged the current administration has decided to impose Conduct of Central Services Rules on JNU teachers, which restricts them from expressing dissent. The JNUTA said the rules apply to government servants and prohibit them from being "a member of, or be otherwise associated with, any political party or any organisation which takes part in politics". Some other rules prohibit government servant from resorting to strike or coercion, canvassing in election and there are other similar rules. Under these rules, economics professors can be punished for discussing economic policy, political scientists can be punished for discussing ...

Dharmendra Pradhan calls Odisha govt insensitive

Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday criticised the Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik-led Odisha government and called it "insensitive.""Odisha government is an insensitive (samvedanheen) government. I want to tell them that whether they give relief to the poor people or not, but at least they should not abuse them. Showing his sensitivity, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken steps looking at today's challenging times. If Naveen Patnaik's government is answerable to the people, then they should also show some sensitivity," Pradhan said here.Pradhan's statement apparently comes in the wake of Odisha Government's decision to not cut the VAT rate on fuel prices even after the Centre slashed the prices of petrol and diesel by Rs. 2.50 each.Earlier on Friday, Odisha BJP unit held a massive rally in the state seeking an immediate cut in state's VAT rate on fuel prices.

Will crush those acting against Constitution: Fadnavis

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday said he is acting against the people who are against the Constitution, irrespective of their political or ideological leanings.

'Steps being taken to promote indigenization in cybersecurity'

The Union government was taking various measures to promote indigenization in cyber security, the defence sector and related areas, a senior official said here Saturday. "The main point I want to say is, one of the best ways of dealing with cyber security is to have your own products. As long as we continue to have dependence on outside and given the level at which the testing technologies are far behind the abilities of people to insert malware, hardware intruders, the safest and the best way is to have your own products," Ajay Kumar, Secretary, Defence Production, said. He was speaking at the 'Technical Meet Aerospace Luminary Lecture Series', organised by the Aeronautical Society of India, Hyderabad branch Saturday night. The government, he said, is formulating a policy to try to create a road map for indigenization of products in the defence and aerospace sectors. This would create a clear framework under which indigenization can be taken up by the Defence Research ...

Kejriwal writes to various CMs, raises concern over amendments to Electricity Act

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday wrote to Chief Ministers of several states raising concern over the Centre's proposal to pass amendments to the Electricity Act 2003."I have written to Chief Ministers of different states on the dangers of the proposed amendment and how it will break the back of the common man. I have urged them to stand against the proposed amendments," said Kejriwal.He will also be travelling to different states from next week to meet respective Chief Ministers and convince them to stand together to stall the bill in the Rajya Sabha so that it is not passed before the 2019 general elections."I will be meeting Chief Ministers like Mamata Banerjee (West Bengal), N Chandra Babu Naidu (Andhra Pradesh), Pinarayi Vijayan (Kerala), HD Kumaraswamy (Karnataka) and several others for consensus against the proposed amendments to the electricity act. Will request them to vote against the amendments in the Rajya Sabha," he said.If the Centre passes the electricity