Page 859 - Politics
Saudi Arabia to host G20 summit in 2020
Saudi Arabia announced it will host the G20 summit in November next year in the capital Riyadh, Al Arabiya TV reported on Wednesday.
North Korea test-fires a new tactical guided weapon
North Korea announced that it has test-fired a new type of tactical guided weapon. The Korean Central News Agency says Chairman Kim Jong Un observed the firing of the weapon Wednesday by the Academy of Defense Science. The agency reports that Kim said "the development of the weapon system serves as an event of very weighty significance in increasing the combat power of the People's Army." The agency says Kim mounted an observation post to learn about the test-fire of the new-type tactical guided weapon and guide the test-fire. The announcement came after reports of new activity at a North Korean missile research center and long-range rocket site where the North is believed to build long-range missiles targeting the US mainland. The White House said it was aware of the report and had no comment. The Associated Press could not immediately and independently verify North Korea's claim.
BJP writes to EC; demands action against Dharmendra Pradhan
Biju Janata Dal (BJD) on Wednesday wrote to the state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) demanding action against Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for allegedly misbehaving with government officers on election duty.The party also alleged that Pradhan prevented the officials from checking his helicopter."Yesterday as telecasted by several television channels, it was seen that BJP leader Dharmendra Pradhan misbehaved and prevented government officers from checking his helicopter and a sealed suitcase, which was being done as part of normal election duty checking," the complaint stated."We also demand that the contents of the sealed suitcase, which was in his possession, is informed to the public, especially since apprehensions of him carrying cash in that sealed suitcase is being suspected at large," it stated.Five parliamentary constituencies of Odisha will go to polls on April 18. Counting of votes will be done on May 23.
Ivanka Trump says Africa would inspire her dad
On a trip to Africa to promote women's economic empowerment, Ivanka Trump said Wednesday the White House should be judged by its actions toward a continent that her father has privately disparaged. In an interview with The Associated Press, the president's daughter and senior adviser pointed to visits to the continent by herself, first lady Melania Trump and others, saying: "Our commitment to Africa is clear." She added that she hopes President Donald Trump will visit, saying: "I've been deeply, deeply inspired by my trip here. And I think he will be as well." Ivanka Trump spoke on the last day of her four-day trip to Ethiopia and Ivory Coast, which has featured a mix of carefully choreographed diplomacy and visits to local business ventures as she advances a White House programme to give an economic boost to women in the developing world. While the trip was viewed with some skepticism given the president's persistent efforts to cut foreign aid and his disparaging comments about ...
LS polls: Bengal sex workers may press NOTA button
In the midst of Lok Sabha elections, a body representing about 65,000 sex workers of West Bengal is pushing for recognising them as labourers, on the basis of which they will decide whom to vote.
US imposes sanctions on Venezuela's central bank
The United States on Wednesday announced sanctions against Venezuela's central bank in its latest effort to strangle President Nicolas Maduro's cash flow. In a hard-hitting speech in Miami largely devoted to Cuba, National Security Advisor John Bolton also unveiled measures against a third leftist government in Latin America, Nicaragua, with sanctions against President Daniel Ortega's son. The United States said it would forbid all Americans' dealings and block any US assets of the Central Bank of Venezuela as well as its director, Iliana Josefa Ruzza Teran, saying they were key conduits for funding Maduro's government. "Treasury is designating the Central Bank of Venezuela to prevent it from being used as a tool of the illegitimate Maduro regime, which continues to plunder Venezuelan assets and exploit government institutions to enrich corrupt insiders," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement that accompanied Bolton's speech. The Treasury Department said it had taken ..
Netanyahu formally named next Israeli PM
Israeli President Reuven Rivlin on Wednesday formally handed Benjamin Netanyahu his letter of appointment to start building a coalition government following last week's general election. In a televised ceremony, Rivlin told Netanyahu that in consultations with all parties elected to the incoming 120-seat parliament, "65 MPs recommended you." Rivlin had sounded out delegations from political parties on Monday and Tuesday. Only 45 members supported his main rivals from the Blue and White alliance led by ex-military chief Benny Gantz, with the 10 members of the Arab parties recommending nobody. "This is the fifth time I am taking on the task of putting together the government of Israel," Netanyahu said at Wednesday's ceremony. "There is no greater privilege in democratic life." British Prime Minister Theresa May welcomed Netanyahu's fifth term on her official Twitter account. "Congratulations to PM Netanyahu on being asked to form a new Israeli government," she wrote. "The UK's ...
EC seeks report on I-T dept's seizure of 'bribe' cash in TN
Against the backdrop of the Income Tax department seizing cash allegedly meant to bribe voters in Tamil Nadu, the Election Commission Wednesday sought a detailed report from poll authorities there. "Once the report is received, we will take a considered view. A decision can even be taken on election day," an official said. The Income-Tax Department Wednesday seized Rs 1.48 crore cash stashed allegedly by supporters of TTV Dhinakaran's AMMK party to bribe voters in Tamil Nadu's Theni district, where an assembly bypoll is scheduled Thursday.
J-K admin to employees: Desist from associating with unlawful associations
The Jammu and Kashmir Governor's administration has directed government employees to desist from associating with "unlawful associations". The state general administration department issued a circular in this regard on Tuesday, days after the Centre declared the Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu & Kashmir (JeI-JK) and the JKLF (Yasin Malik faction) as "unlawful associations" under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. Employees have no right to associate with such organisations, Governor Satya Pal Malik said Wednesday. "I stand by this (order). Government employees have no right to associate themselves with forces disrupting the country by undertaking anti-national activities," he said on the sidelines of a function here. Heads of the departments, managing directors, deputy commissioners, and administrative secretaries have been notified about the circular . In a notification, the home department said action would be taken against employees found associated with the organisations ...
Modi "peeps" in homes of others as he has no family: Pawar
NCP chief Sharad Pawar has hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he is "peeping into the homes of others" as he has no family of his own. Addressisng a poll rally at Partur here Monday, Pawar said Indian Air Force pilot Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman was released by Pakistan under pressure from the world community and the Modi government had no role in it. "I have my wife, daughter, son-in-law and nephews. What Modi has?...no one," he said, attacking the PM over his remarks on feud in the Pawar family. "That is why Modi is peeping into the homes of others. How will he (Modi) know how to run a family, he has no one?" the former Union minister said. The Maratha strongman said Modi stooped low by making comments about his family, but he cannot behave in the same way. At an election rally in Wardha early this month, Modi had said a family war is going on in the NCP. The PM had also claimed that Pawar's nephew Ajit Pawar is slowing capturing the 1999-founded ...
BJP announces sops for poor after realising defeat: Patnaik
Known as a soft and suave kind of politician, BJD president and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Wednesday came down heavily on the BJP dubbing it "anti-poor" and cautioning the saffron party that its "jumla" will not work in Odisha. Patnaik said this at election meetings in Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj districts where polling to be held in third and fourth phase on April 23 and April 19 respectively. "BJP government is anti-poor. It suddenly realised that poor people need to be given cheap rations only three days ago. The realisation came after the BJP understood that it is facing defeat in the first phase of polls in Odisha," Patnaik claimed. Senior BJP leader and Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday said the party, if voted to power in the state, will provide 5 kg of rice, half a kg of pulse and half a kg of salt at Re 1 to the poor people. Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a public meeting in Sambalpur in Odisha Tuesday also referred to this promise. Seeking a .
Israel's president formally nominates Netanyahu as PM
Israel's president has formally nominated Benjamin Netanyahu for a fourth consecutive term as prime minister. In one of the president's few non-ceremonial roles, President Reuven Rivlin tasked Netanyahu on Wednesday with assembling a governing coalition within 42 days. The move was widely expected after Netanyahu's Likud party and its right-wing allies captured a majority of seats in parliamentary elections last week. Rivlin hosted post-election consultations with party leaders this week to hear their recommendations for who should serve as the next prime minister. Netanyahu's allies, who command a 65-55 majority in the 120-seat parliament, all lobbied for Netanyahu to continue as prime minister. In the coming weeks, Netanyahu will have to negotiate coalition deals with his partners, who will jockey for powerful and influential Cabinet posts.
BJP candidate served notice in Tripura for overspending
The Tripura election department Wednesday served notice to a BJP Lok Sabha candidate for allegedly spending elections funds beyond the approved limit. Rebati Kumar Tripura, the BJP nominee for the East Tripura (ST) constituency, exceeded the approved limit of election expenditure of candidates of Rs 70 lakh. "A notice was served to the BJP candidate of East Tripura seat for spending election funds exceeding the approved limit. He is expected to reply to the notice within the next 2-3 days," Returning Officer Vikash Singh said. Tripura said he did not receive any notice and has asked his election agent to collect it. When contacted, state BJP spokesperson Nabendu Bhattacharya said "Tripura (the candidate) is well within the limit approved by the returning officer concerned. It would not be a problem." The Election Commission had on Tuesday announced postponement of polling in the East Tripura seat to the third phase on April 23 from April 18, saying the prevailing law and
Sadhvi Pragya Thakur to contest on BJP ticket; Congress' Digvijay Singh welcomes her to 'peaceful' Bhopal
Malegaon blast case accused Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur on Wednesday formally joined the BJP and will contest the Lok Sabha elections from Bhopal. She is set to face former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Digvijaya Singh who has been fielded by Congress from the parliamentary constituency."Hum tayar hain, ab ussi karya mein lag gayi hun (I am ready and have begun working towards it," Sadhvi Pragya told ANI after the announcement on her candidature.She also promised national security will be the main focus if voted to power."National security will be the main issue. We will strengthen as well as develop the nation and get Hindutva its due respect," Sadhvi said.Terming her candidature as a warning to those "who speak out against the nation", Sadhvi said, "The Congress has associated 'Hindutva' with terrorism. This will cost them very dearly in the elections."To the question of NIA's ongoing investigation against her, Sadhvi said, "I have been given a clean chit by the court. All ...
US to allow lawsuits against businesses operating on seized property during Cuban revolution
United States Secretary of States Mike Pompeo announced on Wednesday (local time) that the US will allow citizens to file lawsuit against foreign businesses that operate on property seized during the 1959 Cuban revolution.The decision will come into effect on May 2. U.S. officials said no exceptions will be made for any companies."Those citizens' opportunities for justice have been put out of reach for more than two decades," The Hill quoted Pompeo, as saying. "Any person or company doing business in Cuba should heed this announcement," he added.The past US presidents waived that section of the law due to concern that a flurry of lawsuits could spark tensions with allies and discourage Havana from adopting democratic reforms.The move has come as a part of US president Donald Trump's efforts to crack down on Cuba for its support of Nicolas Maduro's government in Venezuela.The decision will also escalate pressure on the communist island nation to draw foreign investment to the nation.
US-N Korea talks could resume during Trump's Japan visits
US President Donald Trump's upcoming visits to Japan in the next two months could lead to the resumption of negotiations between the US and North Korea on Pyongyang's denuclearisation process, said a special adviser to South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Wednesday."Maybe when Trump visits Japan in May and June, he will also visit South Korea, and if so, I think, talks between the US and North Korea will be also possible," Yonhap News Agency quoted Moon Chung-in, a special presidential adviser for unification, foreign and security affairs, as saying during an event on inter-Korean ties here.Trump is scheduled to pay a visit to Japan next month. He is also slated to visit the East Asian nation for the G-20 summit in Osaka in June.Stressing that he remained optimistic of resumption of nuclear talks between Pyongyang and Washington despite the deadlock, Moon Chung-in said, "It is true that uncertainties are looming after the Hanoi summit and that we are in a difficult situation with ...
No elections in Vellore: Madras HC upholds EC's decision
The Madras High Court on Wednesday upheld the decision of the Election Commission of India (EC) to cancel the polling in Vellore Lok Sabha constituency.The high court order came on two petitions filed by AIADMK candidate AC Shanmugam and independent candidate K Sugumar, challenging the decision of the EC.Voting in Vellore parliamentary constituency in Tamil Nadu was rescinded by President Ram Nath Kovind on the recommendation of the Election Commission (EC) on Tuesday after a large amount of unaccounted cash was allegedly seized from a warehouse belonging to a DMK candidate last month.Vellore was scheduled to go to polls on Thursday, along with 38 other seats of Tamil Nadu as part of the second phase of general elections.Last month, the Income Tax department and Election Commission officials had raided DMK treasurer Durai Murugan's residence in Vellore, and reportedly seized a large amount of unaccounted cash.
No alliance talks with AAP in Haryana: Azad (Lead, correcting last para)
Amid suggestions by the Aam Aadmi Party for an alliance in Haryana, Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said on Wednesday that there had been no seat sharing talks in the state.
Tax raids rattle JD-Congress in poll-bound Karnataka
A series of raids by sleuths of the Income-Tax department on those close to the ruling Janata Dal-Secular-Congress allies have rattled their ministers and leaders, leading to protests and even demand for transfer of its top official.
BJP names 4 more LS candidates from Madhya Pradesh
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday announced four candidates for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls from Madhya Pradesh including Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, an accused in the 2008 Malegaon blasts.