Page 282 - Politics
Over 500 purged Turkish judges and prosecutors go to top rights court
Over 500 Turkish judges and prosecutors have applied to have cases heard at Europe's top rights court after they were caught up in the crackdown after the failed 2016 coup bid, the court said Monday. The Strasbourg-based European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) said it had notified Turkey of applications from 546 judges and prosecutors protesting their provisional detention orders. Those who applied were suspended, detained and then arrested in pre-trial detention on charges of being members of the group of US-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gulen. Gulen is accused by Turkey of leading a terror group behind the failed July 15, 2016 coup that aimed to unseat President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Gulen denies the charges. The legal professionals lodged unsuccessful appeals with the Turkish constitutional court and the criminal proceedings against them are still ongoing, the ECHR said. The plaintiffs have based their applications in particular on article 5 of the European Convention on Human ...
Boris Johnson launches campaign to become next British PM
Boris Johnson, the frontrunner to replace Theresa May as Britain's prime minister, launched his digital campaign to become the Conservative Party leader on Monday, coinciding with the visit of "friend" Donald Trump. The launch video follows Johnson on the campaign trail, promising voters that he will take Britain out of the European Union on October 31 "deal or no deal" if he becomes prime minister by being elected Tory leader. The former foreign secretary is popular among the grassroots Tory members, but they will only get a vote once the party's MPs have whittled down the ever-growing candidates list to a final two. He is less popular among his own MPs, due to his key role in campaigning for Brexit and for his gaffe-prone style, and failed to make the last two when he last ran for the job in 2016. US President Trump, who kicked off a state visit to Britain on Monday, gave Johnson his backing on Saturday. "I actually have studied it very hard," Trump told the Sun newspaper, earlier ..
Trump says top White House economist Kevin Hassett leaving
President Donald Trump says the White House's top economist is leaving soon. In a tweet Sunday night, Trump says the chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, Kevin Hassett, will be departing "shortly" and praises him as having "done such a great job for me and the Administration." Trump says he will name what he calls a "very talented replacement" as soon as he returns to the U.S. from his trip to Europe. The president adds: "I want to thank Kevin for all he has done - he is a true friend!" Hassett began serving in the Senate-confirmed post in September 2017.
Sudan: 5 killed as security forces open fire on protestors
Atleast five people were killed and several other suffered injuries as Sudan security forces opened fire at demostrators on Monday in an effort to end months-long sit-in outsite army headquaters.Al Jazzera quoted the death toll confirmed by Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors.Witnesses said that soldiers heavily armed used live ammunition against the protestors."We are being attacked by the Rapid Support Forces and the police," Mamadou Abozeid, a protester in Khartoum.Thousands of protesters have been holding a sit-in outside the army headquarters in the capital, Khartoum, for weeks, demanding the stepping down of Sudan's military leaders who seized power last month by overthrowing longtime ruler Omar al-Bashir.Some of them also expressed caution over the prospects for an agreement that would satisfy their demands.Sudan's military leaders last week announced a power-sharing agreement with the opposition alliance for a three-year transition period to a civilian administration.The ...
Delhi Congress to launch tree plantation drive on Rahul Gandhi's birthday
New Delhi (India), 3 June (ANI): Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee will launch a tree plantation drive to mark party president Rahul Gandhi's birthday on June 19, a senior functionary said on Monday.The drive, titled 'Meri Dilli Hari Bhari Dilli', is being undertaken as a step towards combating pollution in the national capital."Pollution rate has increased in the last five years and the Delhi government is totally responsible for this. Delhi Congress President Sheila Dikshit and its members have decided to launch a plantation drive on Rahul Gandhi's birthday," Rajesh Lilothia, working president of the DPCC told ANI.Lilothia added that such a tree plantation drive is necessary to fight the problem of pollution."In this program, we will request residents and spread awareness among people of Delhi to plant trees," he said.He further added that DPCC workers will visit every block to boost participation.The Congress party is reeling under the drubbing it faced in the recently-concluded Lok
Iran president rules out talks until US acts 'normal'
Iran's president on Monday ruled out negotiations with Washington until it acts "normal", after Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the US is ready to talk to Tehran without preconditions. "The party that has left the negotiating table, the party that has trampled the pact must return to a normal" behaviour, Hassan Rouhani said in a televised speech. "If the enemy truly realises that the path it took was wrong, that will be the day to sit at the negotiation table and fix any issue," the president added. Tensions have spiked in recent weeks between Tehran and Washington, which last year pulled out of a landmark Iran nuclear accord and imposed tough sanctions on the Islamic republic. But Washington's top diplomat appeared to soften the US stance on Sunday, saying "we are prepared to engage in a conversation with no preconditions." Washington is "certainly prepared to have (a) conversation when the Iranians will prove they are behaving as a normal nation," Pompeo said in Switzerland, ...
12 killed as security forces storm Sudan sit-in
At least 12 Sudanese protesters were reportedly killed and dozens injured on Monday after security forces attempted to disperse a sit-in outside the military headquarters in the African nation's capital Khartoum.
Twitter apologises for suspending accounts critical of China
Twitter has apologised for taking down accounts critical of the Chinese government just days ahead of the 30th anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests.
9 dead as Sudan military rulers try to break up sit-in
Sudan's military rulers moved Monday to break up a weeks-long sit-in outside Khartoum's army headquarters, leaving at least nine protesters dead, a doctors' committee said as gunfire was heard echoing from the site. Heavily armed security forces in pick-up trucks mounted with machine guns were deployed in large numbers all around the capital, while gunfire was heard from the protest site by an AFP journalist. The United States and Britain called for an end to the crackdown on demonstrators, who want the generals behind the overthrow of veteran president Omar al-Bashir to hand over to civilian rule. The death toll "from the massacre today has risen to nine martyrs," the Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors, which is close to the protesters, wrote on Facebook. It also reported a "large number of critical casualties" and called for "urgent support" from the International Committee of the Red Cross and other humanitarian organisations to help the wounded. The military council has denied .
India-US ties made "unparalleled progress" in last few years: Shringla
India has close strategic partnership with the US and the bilateral ties have made an "unparalleled progress" in the last few years with collaboration in areas like counter terrorism, defence and energy, India's envoy to Washington has said. Indian Ambassador to the United States Harsh Vardhan Shringla recently visited Texas, one of the largest American states with a GDP of USD 1.6 trillion. The state has a significant concentration of Indian-Americans. Texas is an important state as 10 per cent of the total IndiaUS trade is from oil-rich Texas. He said that India is set to emerge as a USD 5 trillion economy in the next five years and USD 10 trillion economy in the next 10 years. India's success relies in ensuring that there is a greater interest and involvement of American industries and businesses in the country, he said. "We have close strategic partnership, close synergy on issues of security, counter terrorism, defence, but the underpinnings of the relationship are based on ...
Cong can't afford to let Rahul quit post, difficult to replace him: Khurshid
Senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid Monday said the party cannot afford to let Rahul Gandhi quit the president's post as it is difficult to replace him. Gandhi had offered to quit as Congress chief in the May 25 meeting of the party's working committee after the poll debacle. Asked if Gandhi continuing in his post is the only option forward for the Congress, the former external affairs minister said, "I certainly think so." The Congress cannot afford to let Rahul who is reportedly firm on not reconsidering his decision quit the post though he had said he is going to be around to "fight the battle", Khurshid said. "I think there is a lot more to the structure of the party, let us call it inherent and historical, that his presence in control is imperative, it is very difficult, if not impossible, to replace (him)," he told PTI. The Congress leader added that he respects what Gandhi feels. "I just equally hope that he will respect how all the workers and followers (who want him ..
Centre revises draft education policy amid swelling protest in south over 'Hindi imposition'
Under attack from parties in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, the Centre on Monday revised its new Draft National Education Policy, which recommended Hindi learning mandatory in schools of non-Hindi speaking states, and suggested a three-language formula without naming Hindi.The changes in the draft education policy, prepared by Kasturirangan Committee, come amid the swelling protest against what was termed as "imposition of Hindi" on non-Hindi speaking states."In keeping with the principle of flexibility, students who wish to change one or more of the three languages they are studying may do so in Grade 6 or Grade 7, so long as they are able to still demonstrate proficiency in three languages (one language at the literature level) in their modular Board Examinations sometime during secondary school," read the tweaked version of the draft policy.Without mentioning Hindi, the revised draft policy said, "Since the modular Board Examinations for language proficiency will indeed test only for ..
Saudi, UAE slam Doha for 'backtracking' on Mecca talks
Saudi Arabia criticised Qatar on Monday for rejecting the outcome of recent Mecca talks on regional tensions with Iran, while the UAE accused Doha of "backtracking" on the summits' conclusions. Doha, which attended the three meetings in the holy city, said on Sunday it rejected the outcomes as it had not been properly consulted. Saudi Arabia's minister of state for foreign affairs, Adel al-Jubeir, fired back. "Countries... during summits announce their positions and reservations in the meetings according to customs and not after the meetings," he said on Twitter. Saudi Arabia hosted the three summits over the weekend critical of Iran after King Salman warned that "terrorist" attacks in the Gulf region could imperil global energy supplies. Riyadh convened the crisis meetings after recent attacks on oil infrastructure and regional shipping, incidents which Tehran has denied any involvement in. Qatar's foreign minister said Sunday that the concluding statements of the summits "were ...
Mayawati sets tone for break up with SP, will contest by-elections
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) President Mayawati on Monday set the tone for the break up of her partys alliance with the Samajwadi Party.
Vaithilingam quits Speaker's post, V P Sivakolundhu takes over
Deputy Speaker of Puducherry Assembly V P Sivakolundhu was Monday elected unopposed to the post of Speaker of the territorial Assembly. V Vaithilingam who was hitherto the Speaker has quit since he has been elected to the Lok Sabha from lone seat here in the poll held on April 18. The House had the special session to carry out election of the Speaker and adjourned sine die after the election. As soon as the House commenced its business the Government whip R K R Anandaraman announced election of Sivakolundhu as Speaker unopposed. Sivakolundhu was conducted to the chair of Speaker by Chief Minister V Narayanasamy and his cabinet colleagues. Among those who felicitated him after he assumed office included the Chief Minister, his cabinet colleagues, the DMK legislature wing leader R Siva and the Independent member from Mahe region Ramachandran. All the 14 members belonging to the opposition AINRC (seven) AIADMK (four) and the Bharatiya Janata party (three nominated members) .
Doval to stay NSA, gets Cabinet rank
Ajit Doval has been given extension as National Security Advisor (NSA) for five more years in recognition of his contribution in the security domain and he has also got the rank of Cabinet Minister in the new Modi government.
Nitish can change his way anytime: RJD
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Vice President Raghuvansh Prasad Singh on Monday said that Bihar Chief Minister and Janta Dal (United)(JDU) leader Nitish Kumar can change his way anytime and no one should be surprised."You know Nitish ji. He can change his course anytime and no one can predict when or what he will do," while further adding "this is not happening for the first time. Hence, it will not be surprising," he told ANI.The statement of the RJD leader comes amidst reports of differences between JDU with its coalition partner, BJP on the number of ministerial berths at the Centre. Kumar expanded the state Council of Ministers after the JDU on May 30 decided to not be a part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's new Cabinet, saying it would not accept the BJP's offer of only one ministerial berth.Hours after Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expanded his Council of Ministers on Sunday, BJP and JDU leaders had skipped the 'iftar' party hosted by each other.However, while negating the .
Noida's 'No Helmet, No Petrol' rule: Violators continue to get fuel
Several two-wheeler riders managed to get fuel at filling stations here on Monday in violation of the administration's 'No Helmet, No Petrol' rule, with officials saying they were awaiting details from the Transport Department on such cases. The Gautam Buddh Nagar administration had in April announced that riders without helmet would not be given fuel at filling stations in Noida and Greater Noida from June 1, in a major move aimed at improving road safety. Eye-witnesses told PTI how some riders violating the helmet rule still got fuel and alleged no action on part of filling stations staff. "I was at the petrol pump in queue this morning when at least four bikers got petrol ahead of me. They were not carrying any helmets with them and the staff also did not say anything to them. It appeared business as usual because several riders coming in also did not have helmet, Amit Gupta, a city resident, claimed. Gupta said he later approached the manager of the station, along the Vishwakarma .
Ex-MLA axed from Congress in Kerala for praising Modi
The Congress in Kerala on Monday expelled senior party leader A.P. Abdullakutty after he praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi following BJP's stunning victory in the Lok Sabha polls.
Ajit Doval to continue as NSA, gets Cabinet rank
National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, a close confidant of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was on Monday reappointed to the post for five more years and given Cabinet rank in the second term of the NDA government.The Government of India on Monday reappointed Doval as NSA and upgraded his position from Minister of State (MoS) rank to a Cabinet in recognition of his contribution over the last five years in the security of the country.The order issued by Appointments Committee of Cabinet dated June 2 said, "The Appointments Committee of Cabinet has approved the appointment of Ajit Doval IPS (Retd) as National Security Advisor with effect from 31.05.219. His appointment will co-terminus with the term of the Prime Minister or until further orders, whichever is earlier. During the term of his office, he will be assigned the rank of Cabinet Minister in the Table of Precedence."Doval's appointment will be for five years, they added.In 2014, Doval, who was appointed as India's fifth NSA, ..