Page 302 - Politics
PM Modi holds talks with Bhutanese counterpart Tshering
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with his Bhutanese counterpart Lotay Tshering Friday during which emphasis was on development partnership between the two countries and co-operation in the hydro-power sector. In the bilateral meeting, Prime Minister Tshering congratulated PM Modi for his re-assumption of office following an emphatic victory in the recently-concluded general elections in India, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement. He also conveyed the felicitations of the King of Bhutan and the goodwill and wishes of the people of Bhutan to the prime minister and the people of India. Tshering said that he looked forward to continue working closely with PM Modi and reiterated the invitation to him to visit Bhutan at the earliest. Prime Minister Modi conveyed that India deeply values its development partnership, including co-operation in the hydro-power sector with Bhutan, the MEA said. He reiterated India's firm commitment to partner Bhutan steadfastly in ..
Pakistan sentences 3 to 5-year in jail over terror financing
A Pakistani court has sentenced three militants to five years in prison after finding them guilty of collecting funds for an outlawed group that claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing that killed 40 Indian troops in Kashmir earlier this year. According to a statement released by a counter-terrorism department Friday, the three men have begun serving their sentences. It says the three unidentified men were local leaders of outlawed Jaish-e-Mohammed, which claimed responsibility for the Feb 14 suicide attack in Kashmir. The bombing at the time raised tensions between India and Pakistan and brought the two nuclear rivals to the brink of war.
Tripura Health Minister Roy Burman axed from ministry
Health and Family Welfare Minister in the 15-month-old BJP-IPFT government in Tripura Sudip Roy Burman was on late Friday night removed from the ministry, an official notification said.
Rescued migrants will not stay in Italy: Minister
Rome, June 1 (IANS/AKI) Around 100 migrants who were saved off Libya by an Italian navy ship will not remain in Italy, hardline Interior Minister Matteo Salvini vowed on Friday.
UN atomic watchdog raises questions of Iran's centrifuge use
The UN atomic watchdog said Friday that Iran continues to stay within the limitations set by the 2015 nuclear deal with major powers, but reported its stockpiles of low-enriched uranium and heavy water are growing and raised questions for the first time about Iran's adherence to a key provision intended to limit the country's use of advanced centrifuges. In a confidential quarterly report distributed to member states and seen by The Associated Press, the International Atomic Energy Agency said Iran has stayed within key limitations set in the so-called Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA, for uranium and heavy water stockpiles. But while in past reports the IAEA said Iran's research and development on enrichment "has been conducted using centrifuges within the limits defined in the JCPOA," the Friday report instead changed the wording to say it "has been conducted using centrifuges specified in the JCPOA." In a footnote, the agency said that "up to 33 IR-6 centrifuges have ...
CPI(M) didn't get section of traditional votes in LS polls in Kerala: Party report
The CPI(M) secretariat in a report in regard to its Lok Sabha poll debacle in Kerala said a section of its traditional voters did not cast their ballot in favour of its candidates. The report was submitted before its state committee on Friday and the discussion on it will end Saturday. "The report of the party secretariat was submitted before the state committee. The discussion on the report is going on. The discussion will continue tomorrow," a source said. Sources said though the report states that devotees in general were misled, it does not mention Sabarimala. The ruling-Left, faced a massive defeat while the Congress-led United Democratic Front bagged 19 of the 20 seats in the state. The reported mentions that the concentration of minority votes in favour of opposition parties also resulted in the losing the 19 seats. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had earlier categorically said that the Sabarimala agitation had not affected the election results in the state. Vijayan had said ...
Purported video of Trinamool RS MP asking not to allow Hindus to vote surfaces
A controversy erupted after a purported video of Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Subhasish Chakraborty urging his party activists to deter Hindus to cast their votes, recently surfaced in the social media.
Biden, Harris friendship faces the test of a campaign
Nearly a year after Beau Biden died of brain cancer, Kamala Harris was still grieving. Speaking at the California Democratic Party's convention in 2016, Harris spoke of Biden's family as one that "truly represents our nation's highest ideals, a powerful belief in the nobility of public service." She then praised his father, Joe, saying the then-vice president "has given so much to our country and on top of everything he has accomplished, he gave to us my dear friend, Beau." Joe Biden later took the stage, calling Harris among the "great friends" he and Beau had in California. Harris and Beau Biden formed a close friendship during their time as state attorneys general Harris in California and Biden in Delaware. It was that relationship that drew Harris closer to Joe Biden and has come into focus now that they're both vying for the Democratic presidential nomination. Most of the two dozen White House hopefuls have pre-existing friendships from their time on Capitol Hill or other ...
Mamata "loses her mind" after LS polls defeat: WB BJP chief
The way in which West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is behaving nowadays either shows her reality or she has completely lost her mind, said BJP leader Dilip Ghosh on Friday."Yesterday's incident, where she got angry after hearing 'Jai Shri Ram' proves that Mamata Banerjee seems to have either lost her mind or it is her reality which has come out after the defeat in Lok Sabha polls," Ghosh said at a press conference here.Banerjee on Thursday reprimanded people chanting 'Jai Shri Ram' slogan in Kolkata saying, "they are BJP people and criminals from outside the state.""These are all outsiders and BJP people, they are criminals and were abusing me. They are not from Bengal," she said.The incident happened as Banerjee gets off her car and reprimanded people chanting 'Jai Shri Ram'. "We will take action," she added.Ghosh further added that Banerjee was not able to digest her defeat and is now trying to play divisive politics in the state."Mamata has lost her mind after the defeat, .
Sanders, Harris seek Hispanic votes at California forum
Bernie Sanders and Kamala Harris are dueling over Hispanic votes in California. The two prominent Democratic presidential candidates are scheduled to appear Friday at a forum organized by immigrant rights activists in Pasadena. There will be tough competition to win over Latino voters in the state, where Hispanics represent the largest ethnic group and favor Democrats in their politics. But candidates also can expect a skeptical look from many Latino voters who have heard promises for years about immigration reform that never arrived. Expected to join Sanders and Harris at the event are fellow Democratic contenders Julian Castro, a former Obama administration housing secretary, and Washington Gov. Jay Inslee. This weekend, 14 rivals seeking the 2020 nomination head to San Francisco for a state Democratic convention.
Ahead of taking charge of Defence Ministry, Rajnath to visit National War Memorial tomorrow
Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will visit National War Memorial on Saturday before taking charge of his ministry."Shall visit the National War Memorial tomorrow morning and pay tributes to our brave soldiers who sacrificed their lives in service to the nation. Later I shall be formally taking charge as the RM of this country," Rajnath said in a tweet."Look forward to further strengthen National Security and Defence," he added.Earlier, it was reported that three services -- Army, Air Force and Navy have prepared a presentation for the new Defence Minister about their plans for modernisation.Rajnath will take over from Nirmala Sitharaman who has been allotted the Finance ministry.During the first term of Modi government, Rajnath had handled the Home ministry.
Mamata accuses BJP of manipulating EVMs, proposes mass movement
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday held her party Trinamool Congress' core committee meeting where she accused the BJP of manipulating the EVMs in the Lok Sabha polls and asked her party members to initiate a mass movement against it, a Trinamool Congress source said.
Modi meets Bhutan PM
A day after Prime Minister of Bhutan Dr. Lotay Tshering attended the swearing-in ceremony of the his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi, the two holds a meeting on Friday.
Modi 2.0 govt: Several ministers take charge, outline plans
Several ministers of the Modi government Friday took charge of their ministries within hours of their portfolios being allocated, with some outlining their plans and speaking about challenges. Later, they got together at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) in South Block for the first meeting of the Narendra Modi Cabinet, that took some key decisions like announcing pension to farmers, traders and shopkeepers. The cabinet also decided to convene the first session of the 17th Lok Sabha from June 17 to July 26, with the regular budget to be presented on July 5. Prime Minister Modi also took charge of his office in the morning. Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman and her deputy Anurag Thakur, External Affairs minister S Jaishankar, Railway minister Piyush Goyal, Information and Broadcasting minister Prakash Javadekar, Minority Affairs minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Oil minister Dharmendra Pradhan were among the ministers who took charge Friday. Minister of the newly-formed 'Jal Shakti' ..
Jaishankar's son attracts eyeballs with his tweet-reply
While his father Subrahmanyam Jaishankar was just appointed as the Foreign Minister in new Modi government, Dhruva Jaishankar attracted eyeballs with his reply on a tweet seeking help with a passport or visa.
PM Modi meets Governors of several states
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday met governors of several states in the capital after taking charge of the office.Among those who called on Prime Minister included Governor of Andhra Pradesh-- ESL Narasimhan, Governor of Kerela -- P Sathasivam, Governor of Odisha -- Professor Ganeshi Lal, Governor of Jharkhand -- Droupadi Murmu, Lieutenant Governor of Andaman and Nicobar Islands - Admiral (retd.) D K Joshi, and Governor of Maharashtra -- Chennamaneni Vidyasagar Rao.PMO in a series of tweets posted the pictures of Prime Minister with these Governors.Prime Minister was administered the oath by President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday evening. All the Chief Ministers and Governors of the states were invited for the swearing-in ceremony.Interestingly, Governor ESL Narasimhan administered the oath of the office to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jaganmohan Reddy on Thursday afternoon.
People first, people always, says PM Modi after first cabinet meeting
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said great decisions which will benefit the farmers, traders and small retailers were taken by the Cabinet on its first meet in the second tenure."People first, people always. Glad that path-breaking decisions were taken in the Cabinet, the first in this tenure. Hardworking farmers and industrious traders will benefit greatly due to these decisions. The decisions will enhance the dignity and empowerment of several Indians," the tweet by PM Modi reads.A photo shared along with the tweet also indicated that the Modi government 2.0 has fulfilled the promises it made during the campaign phase of the 2019 elections.It mentions that the benefits of PM KISAN Yojana have now been extended to all 14.5 crore farmers of the country.The revised Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme will cover around two crores more farmers who were earlier left out, thus increasing the total number of beneficiaries to 14.5 crores from earlier 12.5 crores. A ...
'Quad' nations bat for ASEAN-led architecture mechanism for Indo-Pacific region
Senior officials from the US, Australia, India, and Japan met here on Friday for consultations on their collective efforts to advance a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region. They welcomed ASEAN's efforts to develop an Indo-Pacific outlook."The four countries further affirmed their strong support for ASEAN centrality and ASEAN-led regional architecture, as well as their support for other regional institutions, including the Indian Ocean Rim Association and Pacific Islands Forum," the statement said.Their consultations were a part of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad), an informal strategic grouping consisting of four pro-democratic countries - US, India, Japan, and Australia. The grouping is seen by many as a counter to China's increasing economic and military might.During the meeting, the four nations reaffirmed their shared commitment to preserving and promoting the rules-based order in the region.They underscored their intent to continue close coordination and ...
K'taka BJP told by central leaders not to destablise JDS-Cong
Allaying fears that the BJP was trying to weaken the JD(S)-Congress government in Karnataka, the saffron party's state president B S Yeddyurappa Friday said central leaders have asked the state unit not to indulge in any activity to "destabilise" the H D Kumaraswamy ministry. Yeddyurappa also asked the coalition partners to concentrate on the development of the state and made it clear that his party will not make any attempts to engineer the fall of the government. The JD(S)-Congress coalition dispensation has been trying to avert a potential existential crisis after the drubbing in the Lok Sabha polls. I want to tell you one thing. I'm coming from Delhi. Our Delhi leaders have told us not to indulge in any activity to destabilise this government, Yeddyurappa told reporters here. He alleged Congress Legislature Party leader Siddaramaiah was behind the ongoing political circus in the state for self gains. We will remain silent for now. Anything may happen because of their infighting, ..
Defence Secretary gets three-month extension
The government on Friday approved the extension of service of Defence Secretary Sanjay Mitra by three months.