Page 341 - Politics
Venezuelan economy shrinks 47.7% in 5 yrs, inflation topples 130,060% in 2018: Central Bank
Venezuelan economy has shrunk by 47.7 per cent since 2013, while the inflation reached 130,060 per cent last year, the country's central bank reported in the first update on economic indicators in more than three years.The report further said that the nation's oil export earnings stood at around USD 29.8 billion in 2018, which is 5.6 per cent less than the previous year, reports TASS news agency.Economists believe that Venezuela's fall through the years is the single largest economic collapse outside of the war in the past 45 years. A recent article in the New York Times suggests that the crumbling of Venezuela's economy has even outpaced Zimbabwe's collapse under Robert Mugabe, the fall of the Soviet Union, and Cuba's disastrous unravelling in the 1990s.The ongoing crisis has largely been compounded by the sanctions imposed by the Donald Trump administration, intended to force interim President Nicolas Maduro to transfer power to the nation's opposition leader and National Assembly ..
Delhi CM wishes speedy recovery, healthy life to ailing Jaitley
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal wished a speedy recovery and a healthy life to senior BJP leader Arun Jaitley, who on Wednesday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to excuse himself from being included in the new government at the Centre citing his illness. Kejriwal praised Jaitley for his affection and warmth while wishing him good health. "Wish @arunjaitley ji speedy recovery and a healthy life. I have known him since many years and despite political differences, I have always found him to be affectionate and warm," the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo said in a tweet. A day before the swearing-in ceremony of the new government, Jaitley urged Modi to be kept out of it, saying he did not want to be a minister in the new government due to health reasons. Ending days of speculation over his role in the new government owing to his ill health, Jaitley posted on Twitter the letter he wrote to Modi requesting recusal from being a part of the new government on health grounds. He said ...
Nepal PM to attend Modi's swearing-in ceremony
Nepal's Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli will attend the swearing-in ceremony of his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, on Thursday, his press advisor said Wednesday. India invited leaders of the BIMSTEC countries as well as Kyrgyz President Sooronbay Jeenbekov, the current chair of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) and Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth for the Modi's swearing-in. Besides India, BIMSTEC comprises Bangladesh, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Nepal and Bhutan. In the first back-to-back majority for a single party in over three decades, the Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party won 303 out of the total 542 Lok Sabha seats. "Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli will be paying an official visit to India to attend the swearing-in ceremony of India's Prime Minister-elect Narendra Modi," Press Advisor of Oil, Kundan Aryal told PTI. Oli, accompanied by his spouse and some high ranking officials, will leave Kathmandu for New Delhi on Thursday. During his visit, Oli will ..
Atmosphere in country rubbed off on Delhi: Kejriwal tells AAP volunteers
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday sent a letter to volunteers after his party fared poorly in the recent Lok Sabha elections.Zeroing in on "two major reasons" for the drubbing of the party, Kejriwal said, "People saw this 'big election' as between Modi and Rahul and voted accordingly. The other reason was that the atmosphere that prevailed in the country rubbed off on Delhi as well."Kejriwal also conceded that the party was not able to explain to the public as to why they should vote for the party.Listing the achievements and initiatives of the AAP government, Kejriwal said, "People have been assuring us that in assembly elections they will vote in the name of incredible work we have done in Delhi."BJP swept all the seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi while the ruling Aam Aadmi Party drew blank in the Lok Sabha elections.With Delhi slated to hold assembly elections early next year, Kejriwal also said he looks ...
Goa Governor wishes residents on Goa Statehood Day
Governor Mridula Sinha on Wednesday extended her heartfelt wishes to the people of the state on the occasion of Goa Statehood Day adding that achieving the status of a separate state was a dream of the state's residents."I extend my warm greetings and best wishes to the people of Goa. Thirtieth May is indeed a memorable day in the political history of Goa, for it was on this day in 1987 when Goa became the 25th State of the Indian Union. Achieving Statehood was a long and much-cherished dream of the people of Goa, which was rightfully fulfilled in a truly democratic manner," Sinha said in a statement.The Governor, who is also one of the ambassadors of the Swacch Bharat mission urged the people to practice cleanliness and make Goa the cleanest state in the country."As a brand ambassador of the Prime Minister for the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, I have been trying my best to see that this national mission becomes a great success. We have to continuously renew and accelerate our efforts to ...
Rahul firm on quitting, workers urge him to take back resignation
The uncertainty in the Congress continued to prevail on Wednesday with its chief Rahul Gandhi sticking to his offer to resign, even as some party workers sat on a hunger strike outside his house to convince him against quitting. The Congress workers were detained by the police and let off subsequently. Delhi Congress leader Vijay Jatan and some workers, who sat on a hunger strike outside Gandhi's Tughlaq Lane residence, said their demand was that the latter should take his resignation back because the party needed his leadership. The crisis in the Congress showed no signs of easing with Gandhi sticking to his decision to resign as party chief after its Lok Sabha poll debacle and staying away from meeting party leaders. On Tuesday, Gandhi had only met his mother and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, besides senior party leader K C Venugopal and the Congress's chief spokesperson, Randeep Surjewala. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and his deputy Sachin .
Pema Khandu: Music and sports enthusiast, poll strategist
A sports and music enthusiast, Pema Khandu occupies a special place in Arunachal Pradesh politics as one of the major strategists in ensuring that the BJP's lotus blooms in the northeastern state. Ever since he assumed the office of the chief minister of the key state bordering China in July 2016, Khandu and his cabinet have changed their party twice -- from Congress to the People's Party of Arunachal (PPA) and then to the BJP -- all within a span of just five months. Son of former chief minister Dorjee Khandu, who died in a helicopter crash in 2011, Pema Khandu was inducted into his successor Nabam Tuki's government as the water resource development minister. Though Khandu joined the Congress in 2000, he was hardly known in political circles until his father's death despite having served as a secretary of the state Congress in 2005 and as the head of the Tawang unit of the party in 2010. He made his maiden entry into the assembly when he won the by-election from his father's ...
Nigerian President Buhari sworn in for second term
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari was sworn in for a second term in office on Wednesday, vowing once more to tackle crippling security threats and root out corruption in Africa's key economy. The 76-year old leader, in power since 2015 and re-elected in February, took the oath of office for a second four-year term in the capital Abuja. "I do solemnly swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to the Federal Republic of Nigeria," Buhari said, dressed in simple white robes and traditional embroidered cap. "I will preserve, protect and defend the constitution." Buhari took the oath of office at what officials called a "low-key" ceremony. It included red-carpet arrival flanked by bagpipers into a stadium packed with dignitaries and military guard of honour. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was also sworn into office. Buhari was re-elected with 56 percent of the vote in Africa's most-populous nation -- and top oil producer -- after a delayed poll that angered voters. His rival, ..
Talks in CLP meet to focus on developing roadmap for Karnataka: D Gundu Rao
Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Dinesh Gundu Rao on Wednesday said the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting today will focus on the progress of the state and added that the allocation of portfolios will not be the primary concern."Can't give details of the CLP meeting, but we have a road map for the future. We want programs of the government to fructify. Who will be a minister and who won't be is secondary. We want to change the image of Karnataka, we want it to be seen as a state that is on the road to progress," Rao told reporters here.He added that all MLAs would be taken into confidence and the presence of senior leader KC Venugopal would help in discussing the matters in the state.He asserted that many party workers from Karnataka are holding protests against Congress president Rahul Gandhi's decision to resign from his post and also personally requested Gandhi to continue on the post."Today most of our workers have protested and urged Gandhi to continue
Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa receives baton of Chairman, COSC from Admiral Sunil Lanba
Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa received the baton of Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (COSC) from outgoing Chairman COSC and Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Sunil Lanba here on Wednesday.A press note from PIB Defence Wing said, "Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa will be the Chairman COSC with effect from May 31, consequent to the relinquishment of charge by Admiral Sunil Lanba upon superannuation."The release further said, "Dhanoa, an alumnus of Rashtriya Indian Military College and the National Defence Academy, was commissioned in the Flying Branch of Indian Air Force in June 1978. He is an experienced fighter pilot and a qualified CAT 'A' Flying Instructor with over 3000 hours of flying experience to his credit...The Air Chief Marshal has mainly flown the MiG-21 aircraft with flying experience across the entire spectrum of fighter aircraft of the Indian Air Force.""During the Kargil war (1999), he was the Commanding Officer of a frontline ground attack fighter ...
Mamata goes back on her decision, not to attend Modi's swearing in ceremony
Going back on her initial decision, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday declined to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday objecting to the families of BJP workers, allegedly killed in political violence in the state, being invited to the function."The ceremony is an August occasion to celebrate democracy, not one that should be devalued by any political party which uses it as an opportunity to score political points. Please excuse me,"So I am sorry Narendra Modiji. This has compelled me not to attend the ceremony," she said on Twitter.Banerjee, who had yesterday said she would attend the swearing in function at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, said "Congratulations new Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji."It was my plan to accept the 'Constitutional Invitation' and attend the oath-taking ceremony. However in past one hour, I am seeing media reports that the BJP is claiming 54 people have been killed in political violence in Bengal...This ..
Satyajit Deshmukh denies speculations of joining BJP
Congress Maharashtra MLA Satyajit Deshmukh on Wednesday denied speculations of joining BJP.Calling the news ill-founded, Deshmukh while speaking to ANI in Mumbai said, " News is baseless, shocked such news being spread. I am with Congress and will be in Congress only, someone has intentionally spread this rumour to damage my reputation."This statement from the Congress Maharashtra MLA came after reports surfaced that Satyajit Deshmukh, and lawmaker Vishwajeet Kadam, are unhappy with the state party leadership and the BJP leaders are in touch with the two leaders.Satyajit is the son of former Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee president Shivajirao Deshmukh. Shivajirao passed away at the age of 84 in January after a prolonged illness.
Mike Pompeo likely to visit India
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is likely to visit India in the third week of June to lay the ground for a meeting between US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Japan.
Venugopal to meet party leaders, MLAs in K'taka amid reports of rift between JD(S), Cong
Amid reports that a cabinet expansion or reshuffle is on the cards in a bid to save the Congress-JD(S) coalition government in Karnataka, AICC general secretary K C Venugopal will hold a series of meetings with party leaders and legislators in the city on Wednesday. Venugopal, who reached here late Tuesday night, will meet Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, CLP leader and Coordination Committee chief Siddaramaiah, Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara and Pradesh Congress chief Dinesh Gundu Rao, sources said. Buoyed by the landslide win in the Lok Sabha polls in the state, the BJP, which is the single-largest party in the 224-member Karnataka Assembly with 105 MLAs, is eyeing to capture power amid reports of rift between the coalition partners -- the JD(S) and Congress. The ruling coalition has 117 members -- 78 of the Congress, 37 of the JD(S), one of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and one Independent. Also, the BJP won the bypoll to Chincholi Assembly segment and the Congress won Kundgol
Will plead to Rahul Gandhi to not resign: Sheila Dikshit
Senior Congress leader and former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit on Wednesday said that she, along with Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) leaders, will demonstrate near Congress president Rahul Gandhi's residence, urging him to not resign from his post.Speaking to ANI here, Dikshit said, "We are going near the residence of Rahul Gandhi to demonstrate there and convey our feelings that he should not resign. We are absolutely against it as the party will suffer a very huge loss and we do not want that to happen.""We are going there to plead and tell him please don't do it," she added.Dikshit, who lost to sitting BJP MP Manoj Tiwari in the Lok Sabha elections from North East Delhi parliamentary constituency, further said, "The country and the Congress party both need Rahul Gandhi."Gandhi has offered to resign from the party's president post after suffering a humiliating defeat in the Lok Sabha elections. His resignation was rejected 'unanimously' by the party members who ...
DMK member sworn in as MLA in Pondy
A DMK member, who won the recently held bypoll to Thattanchavady constituency, was sworn in as member of the Puducherry assembly, at a function here Wednesday. Officiating Speaker V P Sivakolundhu administered the oath of office to K Venkatesan. Among those who witnessed the ceremony included the AICC Secretary Sanjay Dutt, Chief Minister V Narayanasamy, leaders of the Congress, the DMK and other alliance parties. Venkatesan defeated the AINRC candidate P Neduncheziane in the by-poll. The by-election was necessitated after the sitting MLA Ashok Anand (AINRC) was disqualified following his conviction by a local CBI court in the disproportionate assets case in October last year.
Nepal marks 1st Everest summit amid debate over permits
Nepal has commemorated the anniversary of the first ascent of Mount Everest amid a climbing season marred by the highest death toll in four years and a debate on whether the government should limit permits to prevent dangerous overcrowding on the world's highest peak. Government officials said Wednesday at an event celebrating New Zealand mountaineer Edmund Hillary's successful summit that there are no plans to cap permits. A record number were issued this year. Mountaineers described traffic jams caused by exhausted rookies slowing down a climb where delays can be deadly. Government minister Gokul Prasad Baskota denied there was mismanagement of climbing on Everest. He said there could be an issue of inadequate training for the endeavour. Eleven people have died on Everest this year, likely due to altitude sickness.
Over 100 NRIs to attend PM Modi's oath-taking ceremony
New Delhi [India], May 29 (ANI): More than 100 NRIs will fly to Delhi tomorrow to attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi's oath-taking ceremony. "Close to 100 plus NRIs are coming to attend the swearing-in again on their own expense just to show their support and affection for Prime Minister Modi," said Vijay Chauthaiwale, in-charge of BJP's foreign affairs wing.He further informed that as many as 1000 NRIs were involved in the electioneering of the Prime Minister. "1000s of NRIs were involved in the campaigning one way or other. Many of them worked hard in their own countries. Around 600-700 NRIs actually came here and stayed for 2-4 weeks for doing campaigns at the grass root level. Their contribution is well recognised.""The stature of India has gone up significantly on the global stage, therefore, the stature of our diaspora has also gone up significantly. No wonder people are looking forward to the second term of Prime Minister Modi very enthusiastically and with very lot of ...
R'than Cong executive committee meet begins
The Rajasthan Congress' executive committee meeting began at the party office here on Wednesday. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, Deputy Chief Minister and state Congress president Sachin Pilot, Congress general secretary in charge of Rajasthan Avinash Pande and other leaders are present in the meeting. The agenda of the meeting is to endorse a resolution passed by the Congress working committee, which refused to accept the resignation of the party president Rahul Gandhi, a senior leader said. It is the first meeting of the ruling party here after it failed to win even a single out of total 25 seats in the Lok Sabha election.
J.P. Nadda to succeed Amit Shah as BJP President
With BJP organisational architect Amit Shah set to join the Cabinet, the decks are being cleared for the baton to be handed over to Health Minister J.P. Nadda as the new President.