Page 2814 - Politics
S. Arabia not to be made part of CPEC: Pakistan
Pakistan has announced that Saudi Arabia will not be made part of the $50 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) framework and the kingdom's proposed investments would fall under a separate bilateral arrangement, days after Islamabad said Riyadh will be the third "strategic partner" of the project.
Saradha scam probe: SIT member appears before CBI
Pallab Kanti Ghosh, a member of the Special Investigation Team formed by the West Bengal government to probe the 2013 Saradha money laundering scam, appeared before the CBI Wednesday. Ghosh, a retired IPS officer, arrived at the CBI office at Salt Lake for interrogation. The central agency wrote a letter to the West Bengal director general of police on August 18 for a meeting with the SIT members between August 21 and 25. "We want to proceed with (investigation into) the Saradha scam for which the CBI sought a meeting with the members of the SIT," an agency spokesperson said. He said the purpose of the meeting is to plug gaps hampering the investigation. The West Bengal government had formed the SIT in 2013 with officers drawn from the state's CID and Kolkata Police. The Supreme Court ordered a probe into the multi-crore-rupee Saradha scam and transferred the case to CBI in 2014. Thousands of investors were left in the lurch by the scam and it led to the arrest of many leaders and ...
Mamata congratulates new CJI
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday congratulated Justice Ranjan Gogoi who was sworn in as the 46th Chief Justice of India earlier in the day.
'Russia-India joint military drill from Nov 18 in Uttar Pradesh'
India and Russia will hold a joint military exercise from November 18 to 28 in Uttar Pradesh, Russian authorities said Wednesday, ahead of President Vladimir Putin's visit to New Delhi. The exercise -- Indra-2018 -- will see participation of about 250 servicemen of motorised infantry units of Russia's Eastern Military District (EMD), according to a statement by the EMD. President Putin will be on a two-day visit to India beginning October 4 to hold the annual India-Russia summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with a focus on further boosting bilateral ties, specially defence cooperation. "The final conference on preparations for the joint Russian-Indian exercise, Indra-2018, has taken place in India," the statement said. "The sides agreed that the exercise will be held at a training ground near the town of Babina in the state of Uttar Pradesh of the Republic of India, from November 18 to November 28, 2018," it said. "The Russian side plans to send about 250 servicemen of motorised
BJP to go it alone in Mizoram poll: Ram Madhav
Bharatiya Janata Party general secretary Ram Madhav said on Wednesday that the party would fight alone in the Mizoram assembly election, but might forge an alliance with like-minded parties. Addressing a press conference here, Madhav, who is in charge of the Northeast, said the BJP would field candidates in all the 40 assembly seats if possible. On the Opposition calling Mizo National Front (MNF) "proxy" of the BJP, the general secretary termed it "ridiculous". The party would contest against the MNF and the National People's Party in the polls, though they are constituents of North-East Democratic Alliance (NEDA). NEDA is a political coalition formed in 2016 by the BJP, along with regional political parties of the northeast like Naga People's Front, Sikkim Democratic Front, People's Party of Arunachal, Asom Gana Parishad and Bodoland People's Front. He asserted that the BJP "respected" the food habits, distinct cultural and customs of the Mizos and their religion. Madhav accused the .
Buying Rafale jets a bold move by Govt: Air Force Chief
Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa on Wednesday praised the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government for their "bold step" of buying 36 off-the-shelf Rafale fighter jets from France.Interacting with media, the Air Force chief said, "The Government took a bold step and bought 36 Rafale aircraft. A high performance, high-tech aircraft has been given to the air force to offset the capability of the adversary."When asked whether the Indian Air Force (IAF) was informed before the procurement of the 36 fighter jets worth Rs 58,000 crore, Air Chief Marshal Dhanoa revealed that the air force was consulted at an appropriate level.He averred that the government was given some options by the IAF and it was the prerogative of the government to choose among those. He also added that Rafale would be a game changer for the Indian defence system.The Air Chief further underlined that there were differences between the Dassault Aviation and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). "We had reached
16.97 lakh electors eligible to vote in 4-phased J&K local body polls
Around 17 lakh electors are eligible to vote in the four-phased local body and municipal polls in Jammu and Kashmir from October 8, an election department official said. Two major regional players National Conference (NC) and People's Democratic Party (PDP) - have boycotted the urban local body (ULB) and panchayat polls in the state. "As many as 16,97,291 electors are eligible to exercise their franchise in 1,145 wards across the state of J&K in four phases from October 8," a senior election department officer told PTI. Out of the total 1,145 wards of municipality and local bodies, 90 wards have been reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC) and 38 for Scheduled Tribes (ST), which include 31 and 13 wards reserved for SC and ST women, respectively, he said. In addition to this, 322 wards have been reserved for women belonging to open category, the officer said. The Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) has the highest number of 6,63,775 electors with 74 wards followed by the Jammu ...
Australia to exempt sanitary products from sales tax
Australia's Treasurers on Wednesday agreed to exempt women's sanitary products from General Sales Tax (GST) following years of campaigning by female groups.
BJP to win Rajasthan Assembly elections: Madan Lal Saini
The BJP exuded confidence Wednesday it would retain power in Rajasthan where the party has set a target of achieving more than 180 seats in the Assembly elections due later this year. The president of party's state unit, Madan Lal Saini, said in a press conference the organisational tours of BJP chief Amit Shah to the state have infused a new energy among the party workers. He said they were geared up and prepared to work with full force to achieve the target of '180 Plus'. The state has 200 assembly seats. He said the party will consider new faces, youths and women in ticket distribution "We will come again in the power. Our workers are fully prepared and we work for the nation and not for any individual," Saini said. "New faces should come (in politics). The party would give adequate representation to youths and women in tickets," he said. Saini also said the party has so far not received resignation of any district president of the party. It has been decided by the party that those
Congress MLA resigns from party and Assembly
Congress MLA Lalrinliana Sailo today said he quit the party and Mizoram Assembly for "refusal" of the Congress government to create a separate district comprising his home turf. The former minister's resignation was accepted by Speaker Hiphei, Assembly secretariat sources said. He later submitted his resignation to state PCC chief Lal Thanhawla from the Congress party. He told reporters that he resigned as MLA and from the ruling party due to "refusal" of the Congress government to fulfil the promise of creating a separate Khawzawl district comprising his home turf - Tuchang Assembly seat. Sailo said that he would join the opposition Mizo National Front (MNF). He had been elected to the Assembly for three consecutive terms since 2003 and was a cabinet minister keeping portfolios like health and trade and commerce.
PM Modi to hold public rally in Ajmer on Saturday
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address a public rally in Ajmer on Saturday on the completion of Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje's 'Gaurav Yatra' which she had begun in August, a party functionary said Wednesday. The prime minister will also visit the Brahma temple in Pushkar, the party's state chief Madan Lal Saini said. "Nearly three lakh party workers will attend the historic rally in Ajmer," Saini said at a press conference here. He said Modi will guide the party workers with regards to the upcoming Assembly polls in the state. Saini said Raje's yatra which began from the Charbhujanath temple in Rajsamand district under Udaipur division has received a good response. As the chief minister was not able to cover Bharatpur division during her yatra, she will later hold public dialogues there, he said. BJP president Amit Shah will address 'Shakti Kendra Sammelan' in Sikar and 'SC Sammelan' in Bikaner on Thursday.
Mamata congratulates the new CJI
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Wednesday congratulated Justice Ranjan Gogoi on being sworn in as the 46th chief justice of India. "My humble congratulations and best wishes to the 46th Chief Justice of India, Hon'ble Justice Ranjan Gogoi, on assuming office. We are all very proud of you," Banerjee wrote on her Twitter handle today. Justice Gogoi, who took the oath in English in the name of god, will have a tenure of a little over 13 months and will retire on November 17, 2019. He succeeds Justice Dipak Misra who retired Tuesday on attaining 65 years of age.
US must lift 'humanitarian' sanctions on Iran: UN court
The UN's top court Wednesday ordered the United States to lift sanctions on "humanitarian" goods to Iran that President Donald Trump reimposed after pulling out of Tehran's nuclear deal. The International Court of Justice unanimously ruled that Washington "shall remove by means of its choosing any impediments arising from the measures announced on May 8 to the free exportation to Iran of medicines and medical devices, food and agricultural commodities" as well as airplane parts, said judge Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf.
French interior minister quits, PM in charge of security
French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe has assumed responsibility for France's domestic security after the interior minister resigned in an apparent act of defiance toward President Emmanuel Macron. In a cold handover ceremony Wednesday, Philippe said his main focus would be to ensure "the highest security level" in the country. Philippe is in charge until Gerard Collomb's successor is appointed. Macron accepted Collomb's resignation late Tuesday, after initially refusing it the previous day. Collomb insisted he wanted to leave to be able to run for mayor of the city of Lyon in 2020. Collomb, 71, was one of Macron's closest political allies. His decision comes amid a string of bad news events for the French president, who has reached record low popularity in polls since his election in May 2017.
AIADMK announces Rs 2 Lakh solatium to party worker
AIADMK Wednesday announced a solatium of Rs 2 lakh to the family of a Coimbatore-based party worker who died of heart attack. M A Yousuf, suffered a cardiac arrest while returning home after participating in the valedictory of late Chief Minister M G Ramachandran's centenary celebrations here on September 30, a party release said. The party worker died without responding to treatment at a hospital, the party said condoling his death. "His family will be provided Rs 2 lakh," a statement by party coordinator and co-coordinator O Panneerselvam and K Palaniswami respectively said.
BJP wants police, MCD to take care of cows not security or cleanliness: Kejriwal
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said the Bharatiya Janata Party wants the police and the MCD to take care of cows and ignore people's security and cleanliness.
16.97 lakh electors to vote in 4-phased J&K local body polls
Amid "lukewarm" campaigning across Jammu and Kashmir, over 16.97 lakh electors will be exercising their franchise in the four-phased local body and municipal polls in the state from October 8. Two major regional players National Conference (NC) and People's Democratic Party (PDP) - have boycotted the urban local body (ULB) and panchayat polls in the state. "As many as 16,97,291 electors will vote in 1,145 wards across the state of J&K in four phases from October 8," a senior election department officer told PTI. Out of the total 1,145 wards of municipality and local bodies, 90 wards have been reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC) and 38 for Scheduled Tribes (ST), which include 31 and 13 wards reserved for SC and ST women, respectively, he said. In addition to this, 322 wards have been reserved for women belonging to open category, the officer said. The Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) has the highest number of 6,63,775 electors with 74 wards followed by the Jammu Municipal ...
Rafale will be game-changer for subcontinent: Air chief
Amid the raging row over the Rafale fighter jet, Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa Wednesday said the deal was a "good package" and the aircraft will be a "game-changer" for the subcontinent. Dassault Aviation selected the offset partner and the government and Indian Air Force had no role in it, he told reporters. "Rafale is a good aircraft. It will be game-changer when it comes to the subcontinent," he said at a press conference. "We have got a good package, got a lot of advantages in Rafale deal," the air chief said. The opposition led by the Congress has been accusing the government of benefitting Anil Ambani's Reliance Defence Ltd from the Rafale deal. The BJP has dismissed all the allegations as false. The Rafale controversy took a new turn last month after Francois Hollande, who was French president when the Rs 58,000 crore deal was announced, was quoted as saying by French publication Mediapart that France was given "no choice" on selection of the Indian ...
J&K civic polls: No candidates in 177 municipal wards
Not a single candidate has filed nomination papers for 177 municipal wards out of a total 624 in the Kashmir Valley, while 215 wards will return their representative unopposed.
After years of debate Australia scraps 'tampon tax'
After almost two decades of political wrangling Australia on Wednesday finally agreed to scrap its so-called "tampon tax". When Australia introduced a Goods and Services Tax (GST) in 2000, health products such as condoms and sunscreen were exempt from the 10 percent charge, along with most foods. But tampons and other women's hygiene products were not. Since then, the "tampon tax" has drawn widespread fire, branded as "sexist" by campaigners, and a regular source of bickering between Canberra, and state and territory governments, which receive revenues from the GST. Australia's health minister in 2000 Michael Wooldridge set a dark trajectory for the tax when he suggested tampons should not be exempt as they did not "prevent illness". "As a bloke, I'd like shaving cream exempt, but I'm not expecting it to be," he told national broadcaster ABC, sparking a sharp public backlash. Years of outcry followed, with "stop taxing my period!" campaigns and staunch activism from groups like the ...