Page 2797 - Politics
Senior extremist leader gunned down in Pakistan
A senior leader of a banned Sunni extremist group was gunned down along with his body guard by unidentified men here on Thursday, according to media reports. Ismail Derwish and his body guard were travelling in a Khyber car when the attackers opened fire at them in Peshawar's Chairman Daftar area, the Express Tribune reported. Derwish was a well known Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan leader which is now known as Ahle-Sunnat-Wal-Jamat (ASWJ) after the outfit was banned by the Musharaf government, the newspaper quoted a police official as saying. According to the police, the guard was killed on the spot while Derwish succumbed to his injuries later in a hospital. "The gunman was killed on the spot while he (Derwish) was critically wounded, and later succumbed to his injuries at Lady Reading Hospital," said the official, adding that it was clearly a target killing incident. Derwish is also the former regional head of Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan, an anti-Shiite party. Derwish, who was also reportedly .
J-K: Two NC workers killed in terror attack
Two National Conference (NC) workers were killed and one was injured in a terror attack which took place in Srinagar's Karfalli Mohalla on Friday.Confirming the same, Senior Superintendent of Police Imtiaz Ismail Parray said further investigation in the matter is underway.In the wake of the attack, National Conference (NC) leader Omar Abdullah, while condemning the incident, expressed condolences to the families of the deceased workers and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured worker."I cannot condemn strongly enough the murderous terrorist attack against three of my party workers. Nazir Ahmed Bhat (working in the office of MLA Shamima Firdous) & Mushtaq Ahmed Wani have been killed. Allah Jannat naseeb karey," he tweeted."Shakeel Ahmad Zangoo has been injured & is in hospital. I pray for his complete & speedy recovery. May the families of Nazir, Mushtaq & Shakeel find strength in this most difficult time," another tweet read.Former Jammu and Kashmir chief ...
Government has gone to war with its own people: Rahul
Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Central Government saying, "The Indian Government has gone to war with its own people because it wants to impose one imagination on 1.3 billion of us."Speaking at the HT Leadership Summit, the Gandhi scion asserted, "It wants to impose one singular, suffocating memory on 1.3 billion memories."Giving his speech a political flavour, Rahul Gandhi accused the government of not allowing fresh thinking in the country. "Gauri Lankesh is shot dead because of what she wrote. Fresh thinking is unwelcome. In fact, forget about fresh thinking, they hate thinkers: Raghuram Rajan, Amartya Sen, the list goes on," he said."Institutions are being destroyed. Supreme Court judges are compelled to go public because they feel intimidated. In the same breath that they spoke of their fears, they spoke of Judge Loya. The sole qualification of Vice Chancellor after Vice Chancellor chosen to lead India's top universities is ...
2 NC men killed as militants open fire in Srinagar
Two party workers of the National Conference (NC) were killed and another critically injured on Friday as militants opened fire in the old city area here, police said.
Modi government doesn't believe in conversation: Rahul
Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Friday said the Narendra Modi government has a sense of "monopoly" over everything it deals with and does not believe in having any form of conversation.
Going extra lengths to find substitute for Iranian oil for countries like India: WH
The US is going extra lengths to find substitute for Iranian oil for countries like India and Iraq, the White House has said, as the Trump administration prepares to impose sanctions on nations defying its directive to bring their oil imports from the Gulf nation to zero by November 4. US National Security Advisor John Bolton who last month met his Indian counterpart Ajit K Doval here, a week after the 2+2 dialogue in New Delhi, said the Trump Administration has made its views clear to the Indian side on oil imports from Iran. The White House said Thursday as it reiterated its warning to all purchasers of Iranian oil to bring it down to zero by November 4 or face imminent sanctions from the United States. President Donald Trump pulled the US out of the 2015 nuclear accord, saying it had "failed to achieve the fundamental objective of blocking all paths to an Iranian nuclear bomb" and did not deal with Tehran's "malign activities, including its ballistic missile programme and its ...
India's circumspection has paid off in Maldives (Comment)
Not surprisingly, India was the first country to congratulate Maldives on the results of the September 23 presidential election. A statement by the Ministry of External Affairs welcoming the result was issued immediately after the outcome became known unofficially. This was followed by a telephone call by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to President-elect Ibrahim Mohamed Solih congratulating him on his victory. They agreed to work closely to further strengthen bilateral relations. Solih invited Modi to his swearing-in ceremony on November 17.
US pushes Pakistan for effective campaign against terrorists
The US has told Pakistan that it is important for it to renew an effective campaign against terrorists, a top Trump administration official has said. The Trump administration officials in their meetings with Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi this week also talked about the suspension of the US security assistance since early this year, the White House said. The Trump administration had announced in January that it would suspend nearly all security aid to Pakistan over its failure to crack down on terrorist networks. Trump had accused Pakistan of giving nothing to the US but "lies and deceit" and providing "safe haven" to terrorists in return for USD 33 billion aid over the last 15 years. Qureshi, who was in the US to attend the UN General Assembly session, met National Security Advisor John Bolton and the Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Washington on October 2. At a White House news conference, Bolton described the meetings as productive. When asked if they talked ...
Modi, Putin meet for annual summit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin met here Friday for the 19th India-Russia annual bilateral summit during which they will deliberate on a host of bilateral, regional and global issues. The summit began at Hyderabad House here this morning. "A relationship radiating warmth and affection! PM @narendramodi welcomed @KremlinRussia_E Vladimir Putin for the 19th India-Russia Annual Bilateral Summit continuing the series of fruitful engagements this year!" Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted along with a picture of the two leaders at Hyderabad House. A number of agreements, including the crucial USD 5 billion S-400 air missile defence system deal, are expected to be signed later in the day. Putin had a one-on-one meeting with the prime minister after his arrival here Thursday evening. Modi had hosted a private dinner for the visiting dignitary. The Russian president, who leaves Friday evening, is accompanied by a high-level ...
PM Modi, Putin arrive at Delhi's Hyderabad House
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived at the Hyderabad House here on Friday to attend the 19th India-Russia bilateral annual summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.The two leaders are slated to discuss a number of key global and regional issues, including the United States sanctions on Iranian oil. Prime Minister Modi and Putin are likely to sign a deal for Russia's S-400 Triumf air defence system.A number of crucial energy deals are also slated to be signed by the two countries during the bilateral summit. India's state-owned ONGC Videsh Limited (OVL) may also sign a pact with Gazprom, industry sources told Sputnik. OVL already has stakes in three operational projects in Russia.After the meeting, Putin is scheduled to arrive at the ITC Maurya Hotel at 3:30 pm, where the Indo-Russian Business Summit is scheduled to take place. He will also interact with a group of children later in the day.He will then head towards the Rashtrapati Bhawan to meet his Indian counterpart President ..
BSP-Congress alliance for 2019 possible: Rahul
Notwithstanding BSP supremo Mayawati's ruling out any alliance with the Congress in the upcoming state assembly polls, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Friday exuded confidence that the two parties will get together for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
Modi, Putin hold restricted meeting
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a restricted meeting here on Friday ahead of delegation-level talks of the annual bilateral summit.
Trump's counter terrorism strategy identifies LeT, TTP as potential threat to US
Pakistan-based terrorist outfit s -- the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) -- are among radical Islamist groups identified as a potential threat to the US in the Trump administration's new counterterrorism strategy. In addition to the ISIS and al-Qaeda, dozens of other radical Islamist terrorist groups are working to advance more locally focused insurgent or terrorist campaigns, while still posing a threat to United States persons and interests overseas, said the National Strategy for Counter-terrorism released by the White House on Thursday. "These groups, including Boko Haram, Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan and the Lashkar-e Taiba, employ a range of political and terrorist tactics to undermine local governments and conduct attacks," it said. The LeT is responsible for carrying out the 2008 Mumbai attack that killed 166 people. It has been declared as a foreign terrorist organisation by the US in June 2014. According to the strategy, these organisations will ...
2 female Arizona Senate candidates on a Kavanaugh tightrope
In a small office full of Democratic women steamed over Brett Kavanaugh, Senate candidate Kyrsten Sinema carefully avoided telling reporters whether she thought sexual assault allegations against President Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee were true. "The Senate can wait for the thorough investigation and then make a decision based on the conclusion of that investigation," Sinema said. A few days later, Sinema's Republican opponent, Rep. Martha McSally, who has talked about being sexually abused in high school, chided Trump for mocking psychologist Christine Blasey Ford, Kavanaugh's initial accuser, during a campaign rally. Minutes later, McSally added that she hoped the president can come to Arizona to campaign for her. "We are in a consequential race for the balance of the Senate," McSally said. "We do need Republican voters who are less engaged to wake up." Arizona's Senate race pits Sinema, a congresswoman and careful politician running as a centrist in a Republican-leaning ...
Deputy Mayor of Bengaluru passes away at 44
Deputy Mayor of Bengaluru, Ramila Umashankar passed away on Friday due to a cardiac arrest. She was 44.Umashankar, a leader of Janata Dal (Secular) was also a corporator from Kaveripura ward of Karnataka.She was elected as the Deputy Mayor of Bengaluru on September 28, 2018.Karnataka Chief Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy expressed shock over Umashankar's demise.The Chief Minister remembered Umashankar as a "dedicated social worker and committed party worker.""It is shocking to learn that she is no more with us," he said in a statement.
Pence attacks China on predatory trade, military aggression
US Vice President Mike Pence launched a broad attack against China, accusing the country of "predatory" economic practices, military aggression against Washington and of trying to undermine President Donald Trump and harm his chances of getting re-elected.
Afghanistan against privatisation of war on terror
Afghanistan has objected the proposed privatising of the war on terror in the country through the introduction of private contractors instead of foreign troops.In this regard, the Afghan Office of the National Security Council (NSC) said on Thursday that the country will take into consideration all legal options against anyone attempting to privatise the war in the country.This comes after the founder and former CEO of Blackwater security, Erik Prince's campaign, promoted the idea of privatisation of the war by introducing contracted troops."In no manner does the government of Afghanistan condone this destructive and divisive debate," a statement from the NSC said, adding that it would "add new foreign and unaccountable elements to our fight.""This idea violates the principle that Afghans determine their own future. Afghan security and defence forces, under the framework of all applicable laws of the country, have the primary responsibility and authority for safeguarding the noble ...
Pence berates China for trade, military tactics, election sabotage
United States Vice President Mike Pence on Thursday launched a scathing attack on China, accusing them of using "predatory" economic practices and military aggression against the US and trying to cripple President Donald Trump's chances of winning re-election.Speaking on the tariffs levied on USD 250 billion worth of imported Chinese goods, Pence fired warning shots towards Beijing by threatening to "levy even more, with the possibility of substantially more than doubling that number," reported CNN."The American people deserve to know that, in response to the strong stand that President Trump has taken, Beijing is pursuing a comprehensive and coordinated campaign to undermine support for the President," Pence said.The Vice President supported his claims by citing data from US Intelligence agencies, although, he did not provide any proof for the same."To put it bluntly, President Trump's leadership is working. China wants a different American President," Pence said.He also accused ...
Pak approves Saudi investment in Gwadar
Pakistan's federal cabinet on Thursday gave its approval to Saudi Arabia for establishing an oil refinery in the port city of Gwadar."The cabinet has approved the draft of memorandum of understanding (MoU) Pakistan and Saudi Arabia expected to sign soon for the establishment of refinery," The Express Tribune quoted Petroleum Minister Ghulam Sarwar Khan as saying while addressing a presser."China has no reservations over Saudi investment in Pakistan," Khan added.This marks the first major investment made in Pakistan by Saudi during the tenure of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government.The Petroleum Minister said that a Saudi delegation, headed by the Advisor on Energy Ahmad Hamed Al-Ghamdi, had recently agreed to sign a government to government contract for the refinery in Gwadar following an inspection of the proposed site.The city was found to be viable in every aspect by the delegation, who relayed their eagerness to immediately invest in the country's refinery sector, Khan ...
Syrian Army thwart terror attack near Hama city
The Syrian Arab army on Thursday countered a terror attack on strategic military locations in the outskirts of the city of Hama.A group of terrorists, linked to the Kataeb Al-Ezza outfit and trying to enter the military locations surrounding the city, were targeted by the Syrian Army, the Syrian Arab News Agency reported.With the support of ally forces, the Syrian Arab army continued their hunt for the remaining factions of the Islamic State (ISIS) in the eastern Badiya of the city of Sweida, regaining control over Qa'a al-Banat in the northwestern part of the heavily fortified area of al-Safa following weeks of confrontation with ISIS forces.The army has also freed several areas west and southwest of the town of Qaber al-sheikh Maskin.