Page 485 - Politics
Australian election results bode well for Adani's coal mine project
A surprise election victory for Australia's pro-coal ruling coalition may bode well for the Adani Group's long-delayed mega coal mine project, with the Group's country head saying the defeat of Labor Party in Queensland, where the project is based, is a clear message to get the project done. The opposition Labor Party leader Bill Shorten who took a firm stand against coal and mining has announced he is resigning after accepting defeat as his party fared poorly in Queensland, especially in mining communities in the north of the state. Adani Australia Chief Executive Officer Lucas Dow in a video message on the company's Twitter page said Queenslanders have sent a strong message and it is now time for the Queensland government to hear that message. "Queenslanders are proud of their coal mining industry. They know it is an economic powerhouse that creates jobs and sustains their regions and also provides billions of dollars each year for the benefit of the State," he said. Dow also added .
Lahore HC to hear disqualification petition against Imran Khan next week
The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday set the disqualification petition against Prime Minister Imran Khan for hearing next week.The petition had been filed by the Lawyers Foundation for Justice in November 2018, Dawn reports.LHC judge Justice Shahid Waheed heard a civil miscellaneous petition today requesting an early hearing of the disqualification petition against Khan.The petition had asserted that the matter was an important one and should be set for early hearing. It said that Khan had instigated people to take part in civil disobedience during the 2014 sit-in over claims of systematic election-rigging by the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) (PML-N) in the 2013 general election.He had also persuaded people not to pay their taxes or send money from abroad, the petition stated.The petition stated that the now-prime minister had taken steps against the country's integrity and had tried to ruin Pakistan's political system.At the same time, the petition argued that Khan is ineligible to
249 Turkish foreign ministry personnel to be arrest
Turkish prosecutors on Monday issued arrest warrants for 249 foreign ministry personnel over their suspected links to the Gulen Movement.
No merit in postal ballots fraud allegation: Police to Kerala HC
The Kerala police submitted in the high court on Monday that there was "no merit" in the allegations of fraud in the postal ballots of service personnel in the April 23 Lok Sabha polls held in the state. The Additional Director General of Police (Headquarters) made the submission in a counter to a petition filed by the Leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly, Ramesh Chennithala. In his PIL, Chennithala has alleged that "pro-government" Police Association office-bearers collected the postal ballots of the personnel on poll duty through intimidation and exercised their franchise by proxy against their wishes. "There is absolutely no merit in the allegations and the matter had been enquired and investigated as per the direction of the Chief Electoral Officer under the supervision of the state police chief," the counter said. It also contended that since the allegations were with respect to the election process, the petition was not maintainable. The public interest litigation ...
NDA leaders to meet on Tuesday
Top leaders of the BJP-led NDA will meet over dinner on Tuesday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah expected to be present, party sources said on Monday. Bihar Chief Minister and JD(U) president Nitish Kumar, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and Lok Janshakti Party head Ram Vilas Paswan are likely to attend the meeting, which will take place two days before the counting of votes for the Lok Sabha polls on May 23. A meeting of key BJP leaders, including Union Ministers, is also scheduled to be held in the party headquarters before the dinner meeting with allies. The BJP's decision to host the dinner comes following the exit polls which have been unanimous in projecting another term for Modi. Exit polls telecast by almost all major new channels have forecast that the BJP-led NDA will cross the majority mark of 272 in the 543-member Lok Sabha. Polls have been held for 542 seats as the Election Commission had deferred the election for Vellore seat due to ...
DRC must unite in Ebola fight amid 'high' risk of spread: WHO chief
The World Health Organization chief on Monday urged different political factions in the Democratic Republic of Congo to unite in the battle against Ebola, warning that the risk of spread "remains very high". "Ebola does not take sides. It is the enemy of everybody," WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told the opening of the organisation's annual assembly in Geneva. Nearly 1,200 people have died since last August, when the DRC declared a 10th outbreak of Ebola in the country in 40 years. Efforts to roll back the outbreak have been hampered by fighting in the affected regions and attacks on medical teams, as well as locals who view the international effort at prevention with suspicion. Tedros said he had met with the DRC's president and with opposition leaders "to urge a bipartisan approach to ending this outbreak." "Unless we unite to end this outbreak we run the risk it will become more widespread and more expansive and more aggressive," he said. The WHO chief hailed that
Chandrababu Naidu to continue efforts for non-BJP coalition
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Monday said he would continue his efforts to forge a non-BJP coalition till May 23, the day of counting of votes.
BJP delegation meets EC top brass, demands re-poll in Bengal
A BJP delegation on Monday met top Election Commission officials and demanded re-polling where violence had taken place during all phases of the Lok Sabha polls in West Bengal and requested deployment of central forces till the model code of conduct is in force.
Balakot airstrike was a major achievement: Northern Army commander
Northern Army commander Lt Gen Ranbir Singh Monday termed the IAF's Balakot airstrike on a terrorist camp in Pakistan as a "major achievement". He also confirmed that the first surgical strike was carried out by India in September 2016 while quoting an RTI reply by Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) and the Indian Army. "The action by the Indian Air Force on the February 26 for carrying out air strikes on Balakot terrorist infrastructure was indeed laudable," Lt Gen Singh told reporters here. "It was a major achievement wherein our aircrafts went deep into enemy territory and struck terror launchpads and camps," he added. Lt Gen Singh said the Pakistanis carried out their air operations very close to the Line of Control the following day but were given a "befitting reply". "I wish to assure you, the Indian armed forces have the capability, the resolve and operational plans absolutely geared up to take on any challenge from Pakistan whenever it arises," he added. Asked if ..
AAP seeks additional security at strong room in Delhi, writes to CEC Arora
Fearing manipulation, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Monday wrote to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sunil Arora, seeking deployment of additional observer and security forces at the strong rooms.AAP has alleged the opposition parties have "planned attempts to gerrymander with EVMs a day or two ahead of the actual counting on May 23.""I have strong reasons to believe our political adversaries will attempt to open strong rooms housing EVMs and manipulate or replace the machines as a handful of such incidents in the past have been witnessed," AAP's south Delhi candidate Raghav Chadha stated in the letter to Arora on Monday."Alarming as it may be, this would not be the first time such an attack on the electoral process would take place," Chadha, also a national spokesperson of AAP, has further stated in the letter."You may recall the municipal elections of 2017, at which time, specifically in a ward falling within South Delhi parliamentary constituency, strong rooms were violated and ...
Kim Jong-un wanted to remove only one or two of its five nuclear sites: Trump
United States President Donald Trump said he failed to reach a deal with Kim Jong-un during the February Vietnam Summit due to the North Korean leader's reluctance to eliminate all five nuclear sites in the communist country.In an interview to Fox News on Sunday, Trump said, "When I left Vietnam where we had the summit, I told Chairman Kim that he was not ready for a deal, because he wanted to get rid of one or two sites. He has five sites. What about the other three?"The second summit between the two leaders was deemed a failure after the two sides were unable to reach an agreement over the scope of denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula and Washington's sanction relief.In the same interview, the US President also brought up the topic of Iran and while reiterating his reluctance to go to war with the country, said that he will never allow Tehran to develop nuclear weapons."I will not let Iran have nuclear weapons," said Trump. "I don't want to fight. But you do have situations like
Powerful liquor lobby influencing CM Adityanath, alleges sacked UP Minister
Infuriated over his sacking, controversial Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister Om Prakash Rajbhar on Monday alleged that Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath succumbed to the powerful liquor lobby and did not implement prohibition in the state.
NDA attacks Tejashwi for failing to vote
The NDA on Monday taunted senior RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav over his failure to cast his vote here on Sunday though other members of his family like mother Rabri Devi, sister Misa Bharti, who is contesting from Pataliputra and brother Tej Pratap Yadav exercised their franchise. BJP spokesman Nikhil Anand scoffed the RJD heir apparent saying he stayed away from voting since no member of family was in the race for the Prime Ministers post and claimed he does not actually accept the leadership of Congress president Rahul Gandhi. JD(U) MLC and spokesman Neeraj Kumar wondered why Yadav kept touring Bihar urging the people to vote in the name of his jailed father Lalu Prasad but himself failed to do the same. RJD national vice-president Shivanand Tiwary said as per my information, a wrong photograph had been printed against Tejashwis name in the voters list which may have prevented him from voting. Election Commission sources said while the mismatch would be corrected, it ...
At UP BJP office, leaders go beyond exit polls, predict over 74 seats in state
Discussions over tea on exit polls and prospective post-election alliances were rife at the BJP headquarters here on Monday, as leaders predicted over 74 seats for the saffron party in Uttar Pradesh. Though most exit polls Sunday forecast another term for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, they remained divided in their prediction for the politically crucial state of Uttar Pradesh with some like ABP-Nielsen saying that the BJP's tally may fall to 22 from 71 while a few others like New 18-Ipsos and News 24-Chanakya tipping its tally over 60 seats. Pointing to electoral maps of the state, detailing parliamentary and assembly constituencies, BJP leaders and functionaries from various districts indicated places from where SP-BSP alliance candidates would loose and claimed the "gathbandhan" will break after Lok Sabha results are announced. "The BJP will accomplish its target of 74-plus seats in UP (which sends 80 members to Lok Sabha) and the SP-BSP alliance will perform very poorly," state BJP
Pak continuing with its anti-India activities along LoC: Army
Asserting that the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir is "under control", the Army said Monday Pakistan is continuing with its anti-India activities along the Line of Control (LoC) by trying to infiltrate militants into the Valley and promoting drug trade. General Officer Commanding in Chief (GoC-In-C), Northern Command, Lt Gen Ranbir Singh said 86 terrorists were killed this year in the state and vowed that operations against the ultras will continue. "The security situation in Jammu and Kashmir in under control," Lt Gen Singh told PTI in reply to a question here. He said the terror infrastructure across the border was intact and Pakistan is continuing with its anti-Indian activities. "Pakistan has been continuing with its activities which are mainly anti-India, whether it is violating ceasefire, promoting cross-border infiltration, drug trafficking, narcotics, circulation of fake Indian currency," he said. He said the neighbouring country wants to continue with its proxy war ...
Iran FM Zarif says Trump's 'genocidal taunts won't end Iran'
Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Monday the "genocidal taunts" of US President Donald Trump will not "end Iran", amid a spike in tensions between the two countries. "Iranians have stood tall for millennia while aggressors all gone. Economic terrorism and genocidal taunts won't 'end Iran'," Zarif wrote on Twitter. "Never threaten an Iranian. Try respect -- it works!" he added. The comments by Iran's top diplomat follow an ominous warning by Trump, who on Sunday suggested the Islamic republic would be destroyed if it attacked US interests. "If Iran wants to fight, that will be the official end of Iran. Never threaten the United States again," Trump tweeted. Relations between Washington and Tehran plummeted a year ago when Trump pulled out of a landmark 2015 nuclear deal with Iran and imposed tough sanctions. Tensions have risen further this month with Washington announcing further economic measures against Tehran, before deploying a carrier group and B-52 bombers to the
BJP gears for May 23, begins prepping up for big day
Buoyed by exit poll predictions, the BJP has started preparation to celebrate Lok Sabha election results on May 23 in a big way at the party headquarters here. Most exit polls Sunday forecast another term for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with some of them projecting that BJP-led NDA will get more than 300 seats to comfortably cross the majority mark of 272 in the Lok Sabha. Party workers at the BJP headquarters Monday were enthused and confident of the massive victory right from the beginning of the polls. While several workers had been given offs on Monday because they had been slogging tirelessly during the seven-phase general election, preparations were in full swing for May 23, when the results will be announced, a BJP worker said. The party workers were busy overseeing the preparations for the D-Day and said the exit polls had underlined what they were always confident about. "Our entire focus had shifted to elections and the leaves of everyone were cancelled. We were working ...
Voters no longer willing to trust 'coalition of rivals' : Jaitley
Buoyed by the exit poll predictions, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Monday said that voters are no longer willing to trust a 'coalition of rivals' and do nol elect a hung Parliament where ugly and untenable coalitions have a role to play.Commenting on the exit polls that have good tidings for his party, he said in his blog that the results of the Exit Polls and final results on the May 23 are in the same direction." If the Exit Polls are read along with the 2014 election results, it would be clear that there is a huge maturing of Indian democracy taking place. The electorate keeps national interest paramount before exercising a choice on whom to vote for. When well-meaning people with similar ideas vote in the same direction, it leads to the making of a wave," Jaitley wrote in his Blog." Dynastic parties, caste parties and the Obstructionists Left received a setback in 2014. This will be reiterated, loud and clear, in 2019. A coalition of Rivals' are untenable alliances and ..
BJP writes to MP Governor; requests immediate convening of Assembly session
The Leader of Opposition in Madhya Pradesh Gopal Bhargava has urged state Governor to convene an assembly session soon to discuss pressing issues like drinking water, law and order and non-payment of farmers' dues."There are various problems that have emerged in the past six months. The state is witnessing an acute shortage of drinking water, law and order is under duress and farmers are facing non-payment issue for the wheat and gram crops," he said in a letter to the Governor."Farmers are aggrieved on the unclear loan waiver proposal of the government and people are finding it tough to get benefits from the schemes of the former BJP government," he added.Based on these issues,Bhargava has sought immediate convening of an assembly session.The 231-member MP assembly has 113 Congress members and 109 BJP members. The ruling coalition is led by the Congress party, supported by 1 MLA of SP, 2 MLAs of BSP and 4 Independent MLAs.
Akhilesh in a huddle with SP leaders after exit poll results
Forecast of good showing for the BJP in Uttar Pradesh by the Lok Sabha exit polls had its impact on the Samajwadi Party, with its headquarters Monday bereft of any enthusiasm and the party supremo Akhilesh Yadav going into a huddle with senior party leaders. A day after curtains came down on polling, there was silence in the opposition party's office, with Yadav closeted with SP leaders to discuss future strategy after May 23 results of the lower house of Parliament. The SP office here, which is generally abuzz with activities of party workers, was less crowded in the morning with some party supporters seen discussing the future prospects of the party and outcome of its alliance with the BSP and the RLD to keep the saffron party at bay. "The exit polls show us in good light. Some of the polls even give us over 50 seats. We are enthused with the exit polls, but are keeping our fingers crossed till the results are out on May 23," said Ajay Pratap Singh, a party leader from Sitapur, ...