Page 1115 - Politics
N Korea calls Madrid embassy raid a 'grave terrorist attack'
North Korea on Sunday described the February raid on its embassy in Madrid by a dissident group as a "grave terrorist attack" and urged an investigation into the perpetrators. A group of armed men burst into Pyongyang's Spanish embassy last month and roughed up employees before fleeing with documents and computers. The incident came just days before a high-stakes nuclear summit in Hanoi between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump that ultimately failed to reach an accord. In its first official comment on the raid, North Korea suggested the possible involvement of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation and called on Spanish authorities to bring the "terrorists and their wire-pullers to justice". "A grave terrorist attack occurred on February 22, where an armed group assaulted the DPRK Embassy in Spain," a spokesman for the foreign ministry said in a statement carried by the official KCNA news agency, using the acronym for the North's official name. "We are ...
India's Pakistan policy has global support (Comment: Spy's Eye)
Pakistan unsurprisingly occupies a predominant place on our foreign policy turf for the reason that our approach to this hostile neighbour is impacted not only by India's strategic partnership with the US but also by the state of our bilateral relations with Russia and China and the consistent stand India had taken against terror in spite of the uncertainties that had lately cropped up around the 'war on terror'. In the context of the political narrative that the opposition in India has generated in the aftermath of India's recent air strike on the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) camp at Balakot in Pakistan -- wherein the virtues of talking to a 'neighbour' are invoked -- our policy makers need to make it clear that India's problem is with the deep state of Pakistan, not with the people of that country.
LS polls: EC, Railways collaborate, vinyl wrap on trains urge voters to cast votes
As part of the voter awareness campaign for ensuing Lok Sabha election, the Election Commission of India (ECI) and Indian Railways have come together to utilise four long-distance trains to urge voters to cast their votes on the polls days.The ECI has collaborated with the Indian railways for a vinyl wrap of trains with messages from icons urging people to participate in the general elections."We are appealing voters to cast their votes on April 11," Vijayawada District Collector MA A Intiyaz told ANI while flagging off train no 12626 from New Delhi to Trivandrum Kerala Express at Vijayawada railway station on Saturday.The trains which have been selected on the longest North-South route and East-West route and covers 19 States in all are - Kerala Express, Himsagar Express, Howrah Express and Guwahati Express.The trains display important contact numbers including the voter helpline number and the National Voters' Services Portal besides a series of motivational messages urging voters ..
US cutting aid to El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras
The US is cutting off aid to El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, the State Department told CNN, a day after President Donald Trump said the three Central American countries had "set up" migrant caravans for entry into the America.
5 Gaza rockets fall into Israel
Israeli Army on Sunday said that five rockets were fired at Israel from Gaza Strip early Sunday, reports The Times of Israel.There were no reports of injuries or damage from the rocket fire, said military officials."Five rockets were fired at Israel from Gaza after sirens sounded in the Eshkol region adjacent to the southern Gaza Strip at about 12:40 a.m.," said Israel Defense Forces.This attack ends the small period of stillness across both side of the border-Israel- after days of escalation.Israel and Gaza are at loggerheads since the latter's rocket fell in Tel Aviv last week.Retaliating immediately, Israeli Air Force struck Hamas target throughout Gaza. Despite Hamas repeated clarifications that the rocket fell accidentally, Isreal launched multiple strikes towards Gaza. Furthermore, Egypt also tried to broker a ceasefire between Israel and Gaza. However, the talks failed and Israel continued to attack.Israel President Benjamin Netanhayu, who just returned from his state visit to .
Venezuela: Political blame game continues over blackout
Thousands of politically divided Venezuelans took to the streets of Caracas to protest the power outages, with the opposition accusing the government for the blackouts and the Chavistas blaming imperialism and opposition leaders.
Five rockets fired at Israel from Gaza Strip, Israeli tanks respond: army
Five rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip into Israel Saturday night, causing Israeli tanks to target Hamas military posts in response, the army said. There were no casualties, the army said in a statement. The rocket fire and Israeli retaliation came just hours after the end of a mass demonstration on the border between Israel and the Gaza Strip.
Everyone knows BSP supremo Mayawati 'sells tickets': Shivpal Singh Yadav
Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party (Lohia) (PSPL) President Shivpal Singh Yadav has claimed that everybody was aware that Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati gives candidates tickets in exchange for money during elections.In response to a related question, Shivpal said, "Everyone is aware that she (Mayawati) sells tickets and buy voters. People should understand that they should not vote for the candidate who has bought tickets by money. "Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav's cousin and PSPL candidate Shivpal filed his nomination from Firozabad Lok Sabha seat on Saturday. Shivpal is fighting against Mulayam's cousin Ram Gopal Yadav's son Akshay Yadav.Echoing the similar sentiments, Union Minister of State for Tourism and Culture Mahesh Sharma has accused the Bahujan Samaj Party of "selling tickets by bidding."In a video that is now viral on social media, Sharma can be heard asking BJP cadre in Bulandshahr how a party which sells tickets to candidates for Rs 20 crore can run
ECI appoints Kumar Vishwajeet as new Intelligence ADG for Andhra Pradesh
A 1994 batch India Police Service (IPS) officer, Kumar Vishwajeet has been appointed as the Intelligence Additional Director General (ADG) for Andhra Pradesh.The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued orders to the state government for the same.Currently, Vishwajeet is serving as the Chairman of the State Level Police Recruitment Board and has been directed by the ECI to join duty immediately as ADG, Intelligence, Andhra Pradesh."The Commission has considered the panel of officers forwarded by you and has directed that Kumar Vishwjeet, IPS (RR: 1994), Chairman State Level Police Recruitment Board may be appointed as Addl. Director General, Intelligence, Andhra Pradesh. The above-mentioned officer may be relieved of the present post and directed to join his duty immediately as ADG, Intelligence, Andhra Pradesh," the letter dated March 30 by the ECI to Chief Secretary of Andhra Pradesh reads.This came after the ECI recently transferred Andhra Pradesh Intelligence Director General
Thailand king revokes former PM's royal decoration
Thailand's King Maha Vajiralongkorn on Saturday (local time) revoked royal decorations awarded to toppled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra after he was convicted for corruption."King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun issued a royal command to revoke royal decorations, because Thaksin Shinawatra was sentenced to jail by the Supreme Court's Criminal Division for Political Office Holders, in addition to many other accusations, and he fled the kingdom, which is a highly inappropriate behavior," a statement from the Royal office read.The development came less than a week later Thailand conducted its first election since the 2014 military coup.Thaksin has fled the country in 2008 and since then is living in exile to avoid conviction in corruption cases.He was convicted in absentia and was awarded two years of jail.The King's order could be considered as a severe blow to pro-Thaksin parties as Pheu Thai party is struggling with the ruling military-backed Phalang Pracharat ..
US discontinues aid to El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras
The United States on Saturday (local time) announced that it is discontinuing aid to three Central America countries- El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras- for "setting up" migrants caravans for entry into the US."At the Secretary's instruction, we are carrying out the President's direction and ending FY 2017 and FY 2018 foreign assistance programs for the Northern Triangle," a State Department spokesperson said. "We will be engaging Congress as part of this process."This comes a day after US President Donald Trump remarked, "We were paying them tremendous amounts of money. And we are not paying them anymore. Because they haven't done a thing for us. They set up these caravans."However, experts have claimed that cutting off aid will have the opposite impact and will instead increase migration as people will have no other option than to leave.The exact amount allocated to these three countries is unknown. However, entire Central America has received $1.3 billion with the vast majority .
Rahul Gandhi to address poll rallies in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka today
Congress President Rahul Gandhi will on Sunday sound the poll bugle by addressing two election rallies in Andhra Pradesh and one in Karnataka.Gandhi is scheduled to first address a rally at a stadium in Vijayawada and then move to address another rally at Mudigal Bypass Road Ground in Kalyandurg.All Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) leaders said they personally observed arrangements to welcome the Congress scion to the state.Senior Congress leader MM Pallam Raju told ANI, "Rahul will speak on the promises made by the Congress party on special category status to Andhra Pradesh and NYAY schemes. All our leaders will be present at the meeting. About 40,000 public is likely to come for the rally."After addressing gathering in Andhra Pradesh, the Congress Chief will take a flight for Bengaluru to address another rally at Nelamangala in Karnataka.The election to 175-member Andhra Pradesh Assembly is scheduled to be held on April 11 simultaneously with the Lok Sabha polls. The ...
Algerian army holds emergency meeting as tensions mount
Algeria's army chief summoned top military brass for an emergency meeting Sunday as he pushes for declaring President Abdelaziz Bouteflika unfit for office. Military chief of staff Ahmed Gaid Salah claimed that unnamed figures were plotting against the military, as tensions mount in Algeria's political crisis. In a statement and remarks carried on Algerian television, Salah defended his proposal to launch a constitutional process to have Bouteflika declared too ill to serve. The president of this gas-rich North African country has largely been out of public sight since a 2013 stroke. Protesters have been demanding Bouteflika's resignation, but many reject Salah's proposed constitutional process because they fear it would leave the shadowy political elite in place. Instead, protesters want a new slate of leaders untainted by allegations of corruption and responsive to problems of struggling youth. Salah reiterated his proposal to activate Article 102 of the Algerian Constitution, under
Bashir's ruling party postpones Sudan convention
Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir's party decided Sunday to indefinitely postpone its general convention which was to elect a new chief after the veteran leader handed the party's leadership to his deputy. The general convention of the National Congress Party (NCP), held once in four years, was scheduled for next month but the exact dates had not been announced. "The party's shura council ... decided to indefinitely suspend the holding of the general convention because of the current situation in the country," Mohamed el-Hassan el-Amien, an NCP leader, told reporters. Bashir, who normally attends meetings like the one held Saturday, was not present. Sudan has been rocked by deadly protests since December, with demonstrators calling for an end to Bashir's rule of three decades. Bashir has remained defiant, and on February 22 imposed a nationwide state of emergency after an initial crackdown failed to quell the protests. But on March 1 he handed his powers as head of NCP to his deputy,
Russia warns US not to threaten Venezuela
The Russian Foreign Ministry has warned the US against further interfering in Venezuela's domestic affairs and stirring up speculations about Russia conducting military operations in the South American country.
In UP, Smriti Irani accuses Rahul Gandhi of stealing land from Gauriganj farmers
Union Minister Smriti Irani on Saturday accused Congress president Rahul Gandhi of encroaching upon the land of the farmers in Gauriganj in his Lok Sabha constituency Amethi."In the 1980s, farmers in Gauriganj gave their land to Congress-led government after they asked for the same to set up a factory. The farmers trusted the Gandhi family and gave up their land.The Congress party then gave the land to its friend and asked him to run a factory. Their friend ran the factory and soon closed it. The Congress then said that we will buy the land," Irani said while addressing a rally here."Rahul Gandhi should give an answer today. He himself encroached the land of farmers in Gauriganj, which falls in his Lok Sabha constituency... The people of Amethi have decided to not vote for Rahul Gandhi this time," she added.Speaking at the rally, Irani also took a jibe at the SP-BSP alliance in the state.She said, "When an elephant sits on cycle, then the cycle will definitely get punctured. Who wants
Kia set up plant in Andhra despite Modi's threats: Naidu
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday said Kia Motors set up its plant in the state despite threats by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Brazil court overturns bar on '64 coup commemoration
An appeals court judge in Brazil on Saturday overturned another judge's decision to bar commemorations, sought by President Jair Bolsonaro, of a 1964 military coup. Bolsonaro, a right-wing former paratrooper, on Monday ordered the military to observe the 55th anniversary of the coup "appropriately" in the nation's military barracks. On Friday, Judge Ivani Silva da Luz in Brasilia declared that such a commemoration was "not compatible with the process of democratic reconstruction" promoted by the 1988 constitution. But the ruling was overturned on Saturday by an appellate judge, Maria do Carmo Cardoso, who said a government legal filing -- emphasizing that Brazilian democracy was strong enough to support "a pluralism of ideas" -- was admissible. "I see no violation of human rights, particularly as similar demonstrations took place in the barracks in preceding years, with no negative consequences," she wrote. Troops in some barracks had gone ahead during the past week to mark the 1964 .
ABVP starts campaign against NOTA
The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad on Saturday started a massive campaign in West Bengal to create awareness among the voters not to press the NOTA button in the electronic voting machines during the coming Lok Sabha polls.
Stop interfering in Venezuela, Russia warns US
Russia on Saturday warned Washington to stop interfering in the stand-off between Venezuela's government and the opposition movement, and once again defended its decision to send personnel to the country. "We recommend that the United States stop threatening Venezuela, smothering its economy and pushing it towards civil war in open violation of international law," foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement. On Friday, a statement from the US National Security Advisor John Bolton warned "actors external to the Western Hemisphere against deploying military assets to Venezuela". But Zakharova, in her statement Saturday, said Russia had made it clear it was not sending a military contingent to Venezuela. Two Russian military planes landed a week ago at the main airport outside Caracas and offloaded equipment and troops, ratcheting up international tensions. Russian officials insist the troops came to Venezuela as part of a long-standing agreement on military and ...