Page 506 - Politics
Polling begins in Karnataka's two Assembly seats
Polling began on Sunday in Karnataka's two assembly segments -- Chincholi and Kundgol, amid tight security, an official said.
Voting begins in all 13 Lok Sabha seats of Punjab, lone Chandigarh seat
Polling began Sunday morning in all 13 Lok Sabha constituencies in Punjab and the lone Chandigarh constituency in the seventh and final phase of general elections, with prominent faces including SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal and Union ministers Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Hardeep Puri in the fray. Polling began at 7 am and is scheduled to go on till 6 pm, officials said. Over 2.07 crore voters in Punjab are eligible to exercise their franchise in the election in which 278 candidates, including 24 women, are in the fray. Besides Sukhbir Badal, his wife and Union minister Harsimrat Badal is seeking re-election from Bathinda for the third time. Union minister and BJP candidate Puri is contesting from Amritsar seat. Actor-turned-politician Sunny Deol is making his electoral debut from Gurdaspur constituency against Congress candidate Sunil Jakhar. AAP's Bhagwant Mann is trying his luck from Sangrur seat. Among Congress' heavyweights, former Union minister Manish Tewari is contesting from ...
Voting starts in bypolls for 4 TN Assembly seats
Voting in the by-elections for four Tamil Nadu Assembly constituencies -- Aravakuruchi, Sulur, Thiruparankundram and Ottapidaram -- began on Sunday morning.
Punjab's 13 Lok Sabha seats go to polls
All the 13 Lok Sabha seats of Punjab and the lone seat of its capital Chandigarh went to the polls amid tight security on Sunday in the seventh and final phase of general elections.
LS polls: Last phase of polling begins in 59 seats across 7 states, 1 UT
Polling for the seventh and final phase of the Lok Sabha elections began on Sunday in 59 seats spread across seven states and one Union Territory.A total of 918 candidates, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, are in the fray in this last phase of ongoing polls. The Prime Minister is seeking re-election from Varanasi and is challenged by Ajay Rai of the Congress and SP's Shalini Yadav.In this phase of election, 13 seats each in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, nine in West Bengal, eight seats each in Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, all four constituencies in Himachal Pradesh, three in Jharkhand and one seat in the Union Territory of Chandigarh will witness polling.According to the Election Commission of India (ECI), over 10.01 lakh voters will decide the fates of 918 candidates. The counting of votes will take place on May 23.Other prominent political figures whose fate will be sealed in the electronic voting machines (EVMs) are Shatrughan Sinha (Congress) and Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad
Austrian Vice-Chancellor resigns, Prez calls for early polls
As a corruption scandal sweeps Austria, the country on Saturday called for early polls in order to "rebuild" people's trust in the government.This comes as the Vice Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache from the far-right Freedom Party (FPO) resigned from his post as allegations of corruption surfaced against him.On Friday, German news magazine Der Spiegel and the Suddeutsche Zeitung daily newspaper released a video shot in 2017 which showed Strache allegedly offering government contracts to a woman claiming to be a Russian investor, along with being the niece of an oligarch.The publications further reported that the "Russian woman" offered to buy a 50 per cent stake in Austria's Kronen Zeitung newspaper, ensuring to support Strache's Freedom Party with elections only a few months away, reports CNN."These are shameful images. Nobody should have to be ashamed of Austria," the President said, referring to the video."Austrians have the right to have a government they can trust, a government
ExxonMobil evacuates 30 foreign engineers from Iraqi oil field
American multinational oil and gas corporation ExxonMobil announced on Saturday that 30 of its foreign engineers have been evacuated from the West Qurna 1 oil field in Iraq's Basra.A statement issued by the company, however, said: "(There are) no indicators that companies operating the oil fields are facing any security threats."The evacuations began on Friday and continued until Saturday. While some of the engineers were moved to UAE's Dubai, the others were placed in the company's main headquarters in Basra.ExxonMobil has labelled the move as a "temporary precautionary measure", according to CNN. The company's work in the oil field has not been affected in the light of the operation.The evacuation comes when diplomatic tensions are high between neighbouring Iran and the United States. Washington refused to extend sanction waivers to eight countries importing oil from Iran, along with listing Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO).In
Saudi Arabia calls urgent Gulf, Arab League meetings over tensions
Saudi Arabia has called for urgent meetings of the regional Gulf Cooperation Council and the Arab League to discuss escalating tensions in the Gulf, the Saudi official news agency said on Saturday. The Saudi Press Agency said King Salman had invited Gulf leaders and Arab states to two emergency summits in Mecca on May 30 to discuss recent "aggressions and their consequences" in the region. Tensions have soared in the Gulf with the US deploying an aircraft carrier and bombers to the region over alleged threats from Iran. Four ships including two Saudi oil tankers were damaged in mysterious sabotage attacks Sunday off Fujairah, an emirate located at the crucial entrance to the Gulf. That incident was followed by drone strikes Tuesday by Yemen's Huthi rebels on a major Saudi oil pipeline, which provided an alternative export route if the Strait of Hormuz closed. Iran has repeatedly threatened to prevent shipping in Hormuz in case of a military confrontation with the United States, which .
Turkey says to produce S-500s with Russia after S-400 missile deal
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday said Turkey and Russia would jointly produce S-500 defence systems after Ankara's controversial purchase of the S-400 missile defence system from Moscow. Turkey's push to buy the S-400s has further strained already tense relations with the United States which has repeatedly warned Ankara of the risks including sanctions as a result of the purchase. "There is absolutely no question of (Turkey) taking a step back from the S-400s purchase. That is a done deal," Erdogan said in Istanbul. "There will be joint production of the S-500 after the S-400," Erdogan told an audience of young people asking questions. Ties between NATO allies Turkey and the US have frayed over multiple issues including American support for a Syrian Kurdish militia viewed as terrorists by Ankara and the US failure to extradite a Muslim preacher blamed for the 2016 coup attempt against Erdogan. Washington says the deal with Moscow is a threat to Western defence and in
There will be no war, says Iran Foreign Minister
Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has said he does not believe a war will break out in the region amid concerns over rising tensions with the US.
Austrian Chancellor Kurz calls for snap election
Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has asked for a snap election after his Vice-Chancellor, Heinz-Christian Strache, resigned over a corruption scandal.
Israel strikes southern Syria: monitor
Israel launched strikes on southern Syria late Saturday, a war monitor said, prompting air defences into action for the second night in a row. "Israeli aeroplanes fired at least three missiles from the occupied Golan," said Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Two of the strikes targeted a Syrian army brigade which supervises the country's Quneitra province, he told AFP, while the third missile was destroyed by Syrian defences. Syria's official SANA news agency reported "foreign objects coming from the occupied territories (Israel)" which Syrian air defences were "dealing with". The Israeli military did not comment on the reported strikes when approached by AFP. The strikes come a day after Syrian air defence systems intercepted projectiles coming from Israel, SANA reported. The "hostile targets" were fired late Friday towards Quneitra province which lies close to the Golan Heights, parts of which are annexed by Israel. Hundreds of strikes .
Trump is 'divider-in-chief', says Biden as he formally launches 2020 presidential bid
Accusing President Donald Trump of being "divider-in-chief" by fomenting racism, hatred and bitterness among fellow citizens, former US Vice President Joe Biden on Saturday formally launched his 2020 bid for the White House and asserted that his campaign is all about restoring the soul of the nation, rebuilding the middle class, and unifying the country. Giving a clarion call "Defeat Trump" amidst chanting We want Joe by several thousands of his die-hard supporters, 76-year-old Biden formally launched his 2020 presidential bid from Philadelphia, the birthplace of American democracy. "So why do we begin this journey in this place Philadelphia? Because this was the birthplace of our democracy. It was here that two of the most important documents in the world's history were written," Biden said. The city of Philadelphia played an instrumental role in the American Revolution. The city is where the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution were signed. Accusing Trump of stroking
Independent candidate in north Kerala attacked, injured
An independent candidate contesting for Vatakara Lok Sabha constituency in northern Kerala was attacked with a sharp object and injured Saturday evening, police said. C O T Naseer, a former municipal councillor, was attacked by unidentified people around 7.30 pm and has been admitted to a private hospital in Kozhikode with injuries. "He has been taken to a private hospital at Kozhikode. An investigation is on. We are yet to identify the culprits," the investigating officer told PTI. Naseer, a former municipal councillor, had left the Communist Party of India (Marxist) after differences with the party leadership. The Congress blamed the Left party for the attack. "We condemn the attack on Naseer. This proves that the CPI(M) was not ready to shed it policy of violent politics. They are following the Stalinist ideology of suppressing opposition voices in any manner they please," opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala said in a statement. The Congress has fielded senior Congress leader K ...
Case filed against MP Congress leaders for violating model code of conduct
A case of violation of the model code of conduct has been filed against Congress candidate from Ratlam-Jhabua constituency Kantilal Bhuria and Madhya Pradesh minister Surendra Baghel along with nine others for campaigning past the time limit in the final phase of polling in the general election.
Crucial bypolls in 2 Karnataka Assembly seats on Sunday
An estimated 3.83-lakh electorate are enrolled to vote in Karnataka's two Assembly segments in a crucial by-election on Sunday, a poll official said on Saturday.
Australia PM Morrison wins come-from-behind poll victory
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison secured a stunning victory against the odds in Saturday's general election taking his Liberal National coalition to a third term in office.
Austria's Kurz announces new elections over corruption scandal
Austria's Chancellor Sebastian Kurz has announced fresh elections after explosive revelations from a hidden camera sting forced his deputy, far-right leader Heinz-Christian Strache, to resign, bringing an end to his coalition. "I have suggested to the president of the republic that new elections be carried out, at the earliest possible date," said Kurz. Media reports emerged on Friday alleging that Strache promised public contracts in return for campaign help from a fake Russian backer he met on the island of Ibiza a few months before 2017's parliamentary elections in Austria.
Odisha Cabinet recommends dissolution of legislative assembly
The Odisha Cabinet on Saturday recommended dissolution of the 15th Legislative Assembly, amid the ongoing restoration work after cyclone Fani ravaged the coastal regions of the state. The recommendation was made at the cabinet meeting here chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. The state assembly is to complete its five years term on June 11, 2019. "According to the constitutional provision, the state cabinet will pass a resolution to dissolve the assembly after the declaration of election results, and hand over resignation of the cabinet and chief minister to the Governor to make way for the constitution of the new assembly. "The assembly stands dissolved only after approval and notification of the Governor," Chief Secretary A P Padhi told reporters. He also said that the cabinet approved proposals for release of financial assistance for the post-cyclone relief and restoration work.
Jauhar matter of pride: Gehlot
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said Saturday the past practice Jauhar, or self-immolation by women facing capture by invaders, was a matter of pride. "Jauhar has been all about sacrifice and pride in our history," he told reporters here, while lashing out at the BJP for tampering with historical facts. He also called Maharana Pratap an epitome of sacrifice and courage. Gehlot's remarks come amid a controversy over changes in school textbooks after the Congress came to power in Rajasthan. The changes include deletion of content introduced during the previous BJP government. A picture in Class 8 English textbooks, suggesting self-immolation, has been replaced with a picture of a hill fort. State School Education Minister Govind Singh Dotasara has said it was not clear from the picture whether it suggested Jauhar or Sati, under which women committed self-immolation on the death of their husbands. The prefix "Veer" has also been dropped from Vinayak Damodar Savarkar's name in Class