Page 1017 - Politics
Asylum seekers look like UFC fighters: Trump
US President Donald Trump has claimed that asylum seekers look like Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighters, the media reported.
Maldives ruling party celebrates landslide win in parliamentary polls
The ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) on Sunday celebrated a historic victory as preliminary results showed its candidates securing a landslide victory in the parliamentary polls deemed crucial for the island nation.
Guaido says he'll host world leaders in Venezuela
Self-proclaimed interim president Juan Guaido, here on Saturday, announced an upcoming gathering of world leaders in Venezuela to address what the opposition calls a humanitarian emergency in the oil-rich nation.
Tunisian President rules out second term, says will 'open door to youth'
Tunisia's 92-year-old President Beji Caid Essebsi said on Saturday (local time) that he was not keen on standing for re-election in the presidential polls slated to be held later this year, underlining that it was time to "open the door to the youth"."In all honesty, I don't think I will put myself forward. It is time to open the door to the youth," Essebsi told the Nidaa Tounes party, which he founded in 2012, Voice of America reported.Essebsi's remarks came after there were calls from within his party to run for a second term in the upcoming presidential elections.Essebsi is Tunisia's first democratically elected President, who won the polls in 2014.The 92-year-old leader urged his party to end the bitter feud with Tunisia's Prime Minister Youssef Chahed, who split from the government and formed his own party, Tahia Tounes.Presidential polls are set to be held on November 17. However, none of the main political parties have announced their candidates so far.Tunisia was one of the ...
Venezuela's health system collapsing due to 'corrupt' Maduro's 'disastrous' policies, says Pompeo
US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo on Saturday (local time) hit out at Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, saying that the country's health system is collapsing due to the "disastrous" policies under his "corrupt" regime.Lauding interim Venezuelan President Juan Guaido's steps in improving the health system, Pompeo tweeted: "Venezuela's health system is collapsing due to the disastrous policies of a corrupt and brutal former Maduro regime. But the interim government under @JGuaido is responding to the people's needs with health & hygiene fairs throughout."Venezuela is currently in the throes of a political crisis, which is worsened by hyperinflation, blackouts, and an acute shortage of water and medicines.In January, Guaido had proclaimed himself as the President of Venezuela, as protests calling for Maduro's ouster shook the Latin American nation. The US immediately supported Guaido, asking other nations to back the self-proclaimed President.Several countries called for ...
'Decision on movement of security convoys taken to ensure safe passage'
Jammu Divisional Commissioner Sanjeev Verma on Saturday said that the decision to allow movement of convoys of security forces only two days of every week was taken to ensure the safe passage of troops passing through vulnerable areas near Jammu-Srinagar National Highway."Civilian traffic on Jammu-Srinagar highway will be restricted on Sundays and Wednesdays of every week. Medical emergency vehicles will be exempted from this order. The main purpose is to ensure that the security forces are given safe passage so that their movement is faster and secure. District magistrates, SHOs, SDMs, and tehsildars have been deployed so that people can approach them if they require assistance," Verma told ANI.Asked on people using the highway during the affected days in times of emergency, Verma informed that passes would be issued subject to verification and establishment of the credential of purpose."To avoid incidents like Pulwama and Banihal, the highway has been sanitised to ensure safe and ...
I did expect a ticket, but happy that my brother got it: Mriganka Singh on Kairana LS seat
BJP leader Mriganka Singh, who has been replaced by the party with Pradeep Chaudhary from Kairana Lok Sabha seat for the impending elections, said although she expected a ticket, she is happy that her brother got a chance to contest polls.Mriganka statement comes after reports suggested that her supporters were unhappy with the BJP's decision to field Pradeep from Kairana and had threatened to boycott polls."Pradeep Chaudhary is also my brother. The sister also expected a ticket, but now when my brother has got the ticket, I am campaigning for him. Being a member of the party, I am trying my best to make my brother reach the Parliament. My supporters were angry for some time, but now everything is stable. We are all trying our best to make Pradeep ji an MP," Mriganka told ANI.Mriganka, daughter of late BJP leader Hukum Singh, lost to RLD's Tabassum Hasan in the Kairana by-election in 2018. However, the party, this time, has fielded Pradeep Chaudhary."Mriganka is with us. We are ...
Netanyahu to annex West Bank settlements if re-elected
Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu has said he will annex Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank if he is re-elected.
Priyanka slams BJP over its 'selective' patriotism, says party should respect Indira, Rajiv Gandhi
Congress general secretary in charge of eastern Uttar Pradesh Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for being "selectively patriotic", and said the party should pay respects to former Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi."Whenever there is a big announcement, they add 'patriotism' to it. Is there any person in this country who is not a patriot? Everybody is a patriot," Priyanka said while addressing a public gathering here."If these BJP leaders, who make tall claims, were big patriots, then they should have respected all martyrs, whether that martyr was a Hindu, Muslim or father of Opposition party leader... You can't select amongst them and then pay respect. If you are a patriot then respect all the martyrs. Respect Rajiv Gandhi and Indira Gandhi too," she added.Further criticizing the NDA government, Priyanka said, "During demonetisation, you were told to stand in queues and submit your money as it is about showing patriotism because
Indian shooter Shreyasi Singh campaigns for mother in Banka, expresses dismay over BJP's 'present standpoint'
Banka (Bihar) [India], Apr 7 (ANI): Ace Indian shooter Shreyasi Singh, whose mother Putul Singh was earlier expelled by the BJP for six years for filing her nomination as an Independent from Banka Lok Sabha constituency against NDA's official candidate, said they are against the "present standpoint" of the BJP and not the party as a whole."We are against the present standpoint of the party and not the party as a whole," Shreyasi told ANI while campaigning for her mother against JD(U) candidate Girdhari Yadav.Shreyasi is taking up the job with confidence. "Campaigning is not tough for me as I belong to a political family. I have grown up in a political environment and I have known the people of Banka since my childhood," she said.Talking about herself, the Commonwealth Gold medalist said her focus is on the Olympics and she is not thinking about contesting in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.Banka Lok Sabha constituency is currently held by RJD's Jai Prakash Narayan Yadav, who defeated ...
Algeria's Parliament to elect interim president on Apr 9
Algerian lawmakers will meet at the Parliament on April 9 to elect an interim President, days after Abdelaziz Bouteflika stepped down from the post owing to widespread protests which forced the ailing 82-year-old leader to concede power."It was decided to hold a meeting of the two chambers of parliament on Tuesday (April 9) at 9:00 am (08:00 GMT)," the upper house of Algeria's Parliament said in a statement on Saturday, Al Jazeera reported quoting local media.According to the country's constitution, the speaker of the Parliament's upper house should take the reins as the interim president. The speaker should hold the post for about 90 days, during which a presidential election should be held.Currently, 77-year-old Abdelkader Bensalah serves as the speaker of the upper house of Algerian Parliament.On April 2, Bouteflika resigned as Algeria's president before his mandate was to end on April 28, after remaining in power for about 20 years.This came after a press statement issued by ...
May admits she can't pass Brexit deal without Labour
British Prime Minister Theresa May has admitted that the only way of passing her Brexit deal is with support from the opposition Labour Party, in comments that are likely to deepen the tensions on her own side of the political divide in the Britain.
Iran's top leader urges US forces exit from Iraq
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday said that Iraq should consider the withdrawal of the US forces from the country, Financial Tribune daily reported.
Tej Pratap takes jibe at brother Tejashwi, makes veiled comparison with 'Duryodhan'
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad's son Tej Pratap Yadav, who has floated a new outfit called 'Lalu Rabri Morcha' stating he would contest as an Independent candidate in upcoming Lok Sabha election, on Saturday took a veiled jibe at his brother Tejashwi Yadav and likened him to the mythological character, Duryodhan, without naming his sibling.In another post on Twitter, Tejashwi said that whosoever comes between him and his family will be destroyed.The Lok Sabha polls in Bihar are scheduled to take place in all seven phases from April 11 to May 19. The results will be declared on May 23.Tej Pratap will begin campaigning for the party from Bihar's Maner in Pataliputra constituency from April 8.In an earlier tweet, he had clarified that he would remain in RJD now and in the future. He had also said that he has not joined any other political party.In the ensuing polls, Lalu's daughter Misa Bharti will contest from Pataliputra, the seat she lost to Ram Kripal Yadav of Bharatiya
Netanyahu vows to annex West Bank settlements if re-elected
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged Saturday to annex Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank if re-elected, a dramatic policy shift apparently aimed at rallying his nationalist base in the final stretch of the tight race. Netanyahu has promoted Jewish settlement expansion in his four terms as prime minister, but until now refrained from presenting a detailed vision for the West Bank, seen by the Palestinians as the heartland of a future state. An Israeli annexation of large parts of the West Bank is bound to snuff out any last flicker of hope for an Israeli-Palestinian deal on the terms of a Palestinian state on lands Israel captured in 1967. A so-called two-state solution has long been the preferred option of most of the international community. However, intermittent US mediation between Israelis and Palestinians ran aground after President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital early in his term. The Palestinians, who seek Israeli-annexed east ...
Trump sees tight race between 'two good people' for Israel PM
US President Donald Trump struck a cautious tone Saturday about the outcome of Israel's parliamentary vote, saying there is a "close" race for the premiership between "two good people." "How is the race going by the way? How is it, who's going to win the race? Tell me, I don't know," Trump asked the Republican Jewish Coalition in Las Vegas. "Well, it's going to be close -- I think it's going to be close. Two good people," he said, referring to incumbent Benjamin Netanyahu and rival Benny Gantz. Trump, who was speaking to American Jews, went on to refer to Netanyahu as "your prime minister." "I stood with your prime minister at the White House to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights," he said. This recognition at the end of March during a ceremony at the White House was seen as a boost by Trump for Netanyahu, who has been in power for a decade. The latest polls place Netanyahu and ex-military chief Gantz neck and neck, but give the former the advantage. In his Las Vegas
Maldives parliamentary polls: MDP headed for landslide win, interim results show
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) is on course for a landslide victory in the country's third parliamentary elections, according to interim results.With more than half of the ballot boxes counted, the MDP is projected to win 59 seats in the 87-seat Parliament, Maldives Independent reported.Final results are expected to be announced on Sunday morning, the country's Election Commission said.Hundreds of MDP supporters celebrated as the party as provisional results tilted in favour of the party.As the vote counting was underway, a jubilant Solih thanked the electorate for voting for MDP, while vowing to act tough on corruption."You have shown that you don't want to return to theft and corruption. There will be no space for theft in this government. Anyone with that intention should step away," Solih told a gathering of MDP supporters.Solih expressed hope that the Parliament will approve a law to grant investigative powers to presidential commissions formed
Sitharaman denies US magazine's report on Pak F-16, slams Congress 'bhajan mandali' for doubting defence forces
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday denied Foreign Policy magazine's claims of India not having downed a Pakistani F-16 plane last month and criticised leaders of the Congress for "doubting and raising questions on what the defence forces are saying.""Indian Air Force gave proof on it with electronic signature of F-16. Whoever has written it, it's baseless and source-based. The part of AM-RAAM missile, which is used only with F-16, how was it found in India?" Sitharaman told reporters here.She added, "The article that came in 'Foreign Policy', many people are calling it baseless. Someone showed me on social media that US officials are also saying that they didn't conduct any such investigation. There are a lot of people who are spreading misinformation. But it is sad that in our own country, we have a lot of people in Congress party's 'Bhajan Mandali' who are doubting and raising questions on what the defence forces are saying. It suits them."In the article, Foreign ...
Trump hits out at Mueller over Russia probe report, calls it a 'made-up fraud'
US President Donald Trump on Saturday (local time) hit out at special counsel Robert Mueller over his report on alleged Russian collusion in the 2016 presidential election, terming it a "made-up fraud".In a series of tweets, Trump reiterated that he did not read the report while asserting that he has "every right to do so". He once again denied any collusion and termed the move by the Democrats a "total waste of time"."I have not read the Mueller Report yet, even though I have every right to do so. Only know the conclusions, and on the big one, No Collusion. Likewise, recommendations made to our great A.G. who found No Obstruction. 13 Angry Trump hating Dems (later brought to 18) given two years and $30 million, and they found No Collusion, No Obstruction. But the Democrats, no matter what we give them, will NEVER be satisfied. A total waste of time," he wrote on the micro-blogging site.In a veiled jibe at Mueller, Trump said that such a thing should not happen with other US ...
Iran threatens to blacklist US Army as 'terror group'
After the US announced its move of labelling Iran's Revolutionary Guards as a terror group, Iran on Saturday (local time) threatened to retaliate by blacklisting the US Army "alongside the dreaded Islamic State" if Washington went ahead with its decision.Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh, head of Iranian Parliament's influential national security and foreign policy commission tweeted: "If the Revolutionary Guards are placed on America's list of terrorist groups, we will put that country's military on the terror blacklist next to Daesh (Islamic State)."CNN had earlier reported that the US' decision is a part of the White House's increasingly aggressive strategy towards Iran. The move that was formally under the State Department's purview earlier marks the first time when Washington has designated any foreign country's military as a terror group.Ties between Iran and the US soured after Washington slapped a multitude of sanctions on Tehran, citing the latter's support to state-sponsored ...