Page 1153 - Politics
Democrat tables resolution to investigate Trump's impeachment
A Democrat presented a resolution on Wednesday (local time) to initiate an investigation to find out whether President Donald Trump has committed any impeachable offences.US Representative for Michigan's 13, Rashida Tlaib introduced her resolution despite receiving a cool reception from fellow Democrats, reported The Hill."Doing nothing when we are seeing blatant disregard of the United States Constitution, to our ethical norms, is dangerous. No one, including the president of the United States, is above the law," she said.This comes days after Attorney General William Barr on Sunday submitted his principal conclusions from Mueller's 22-month long investigation. He announced that Trump and his associate did not conspire with Russians, he has not completely exonerated the US President.Tlaib made headlines, during her first day in office in January, she was heard saying "impeach the motherf***r" in a reference to Trump.Only Democrats who supported Tlaib was another Democrats Al ...
Indore: Case filed against Congress workers for pasting 'chowkidar chor hai' posters on train
A case was registered against few Congress workers for putting up posters purportedly reading "chowkidar chor hai" on a train in Madhya Pradesh's Indore.Senior PRO of Western Railways Jitendra Kumar Jayant told ANI that posters were found pasted on Shanti Express which was parked in the yard."Some objectionable posters were pasted on Shanti Express which plies from Ahmedabad to Indore. The train was parked in the yard. When we got to know about the incident, we immediately removed all the posters. We have registered a case under Railways Act against accused involved in it," he said.Meanwhile, the Congress party workers admitted pasting the posters.The posters featured Congress President Rahul Gandhi and party General Secretary of Uttar Pradesh East Priyanka Gandhi Vadra along with the photograph of a party worker claimed to be Madhya Pradesh Congress Secretary Vivek Khandelwal.Khandelwal while talking to ANI said, "We want to reach out to people and make them aware what our party ...
Syria repels Israeli air 'aggression' in Aleppo province: report
The United States said Wednesday the UN peacekeeping force on the Golan Heights has "a vital role to play in preserving stability between Israel and Syria," an assurance that the Trump administration's recognition of Israeli sovereignty over the strategic plateau won't affect its operation. Acting US Ambassador Jonathan Cohen told an emergency meeting of the Security Council the force's mandate to ensure that the area of separation between Syria and Israel "is a buffer zone free from any military presence or activities" is of "critical strategic and security importance" to Israel, and "can contribute to the stability of the entire Middle East." Israel captured the Golan Heights from Syria in the 1967 Mideast war and annexed the strategic plateau in 1981. President Donald Trump's proclamation that the US recognizes that the Golan Heights are part of Israel on Monday raised questions about the future of the peacekeeping force, known as UNDOF, after its mandate expires on June 30. Cohen .
To revive Congress in UP, Priyanka asks party workers to start preparations for 2022 state polls
Congress General Secretary of Uttar Pradesh East, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra urged her party workers in the state to commence preparations for Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections scheduled to take place in 2022.Priyanka, who has been rigorously campaigning in Uttar Pradesh since her formal induction in the party last month, on Wednesday met workers in her brother and Congress President Rahul Gandhi's parliamentary constituency - Amethi.Encouraging party workers to ensure Congress' victory in the state, Priyanka, said, "You (workers) need to work hard for elections. Are you preparing for elections? Not for this (general elections), for 2022 (UP Assembly elections)? Are you doing? You have to work."Priyanka is on a two-day trip to Amethi and Rae Bareli. She has been given the task of reviving the party in Uttar Pradesh.Priyanka made the statement while attending a program organised by local party workers here.Interestingly, the workers had arranged a weighing scale decorated with flowers to ...
Brexit: British Parliament rejects all 8 alternatives
Even after hours of debate, the British Parliament on Thursday failed to give an outright majority to any of the eight alternative Brexit options including no deal and Labour's alternative deal.According to the CNN, calling for a second referendum received the highest numbers of votes.Along with that, an instrument was also passed with 441 votes in favour to change the date of Brexit from March 29 to May 22, or if possible, April 12.Earlier today, UK PM Theresa May told that she will step down as the prime minister if her deal gets passed.The further course of actions is uncertain. Some MPs are proposing another round of indicative votes. However, several claiming that another round would be a sheer waste of time.While Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay said tonight's results prove that lawmakers should back Prime Minister Theresa May's deal as it was "in the national interest.""The results of the process this House has gone through today strengthens our view that the deal the ...
NYAY scheme will not be able to cater all needy families: Ex Niti Ayog VC
Former vice chairman of Niti Aayog Arvind Panagariya has asserted that Congress President Rahul Gandhi's proposed minimum income guarantee initiative NYAY scheme (Nyuntam Aay Yojana) will not be able to provide RS 12000 per month to all needy families.Taking to Twitter, Panagariya said, "Going by 2011-12 expenditure survey, even assuming that incomes of poorest households rose as fast as national average, 40% rural and 10% urban families remained below Rs. 12,000 per month in 2018-19. So NYAY will not bring all families above 12000."However, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday said that the party had consulted eminent economists including former RBI governor Raghuram Rajan before it came up with the minimum guaranteed income scheme, which ensures that nobody in the country remains below the benchmark of Rs 12,000 per month.The Congress clarified that its minimum income guarantee initiative, NYAY (Nyuntam Aay Yojana), is not a "top-up scheme" but assures Rs 72,000 to 20 per cent
Trump to consider all options to make Russia leave Venezuela
The US will consider "all options" in order to make Russian troops leave Venezuela said, President Donald Trump on Wednesday.According to TASS, Trump made these remarks during the meeting with the Venezuelan self-proclaimed interim President Juan Guaido's wife at the White House."Russia has to get out," Trump stated. In response to a question about how Washington aims to accomplish this, the US leader said: "We'll see. All options are open."Trump made these comment after foreign media reported that two Russian military jets with 100 soldiers on board reached Caracas.Last week, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said that Russia would send medicine "next week" to Venezuela, amid reports of strengthening ties between Caracas and Moscow.According to Al Jazeera, the Maduro regime in February had blocked a convoy carrying humanitarian aid from entering into Venezuela via the border with Colombia. He also ordered the closure of Venezuela's border with Brazil "until further notice" amid a ..
British MPs vote to change Brexit date
British lawmakers have overwhelmingly voted to change original Brexit departure date in law to April 12 or May 22 as British Prime Minister Theresa May was in an 11-hour appeal to Tory MPs to back her Withdrawal Agreement.
No Brexit alternative gets Parliament majority
British lawmakers have voted on eight different possible Brexit options, but none received the majority support that would clarify the UK's course. Parliament is trying to find an alternative to Prime Minister Theresa May's twice-rejected EU divorce deal. Lawmakers voted Wednesday on options that included leaving the European Union without a deal, staying in the bloc's customs union and single market, putting any EU divorce deal to a public referendum, and canceling Brexit if the prospect of a no-deal departure gets close. The strongest support was for a plan to stay in a customs union with the bloc after Brexit, which was defeated by eight votes: 272-264. Lawmakers plan to narrow the list of options down and hold more votes on Monday. Britain has until April 12 to find a new plan or crash out of the EU without a deal.
Twitter war erupts between US, Afghanistan and Pak following Imran Khan's Afghan comment
Despite Pakistan efforts to cool down diplomatic tensions in the region after Prime Minister Imran Khan remarks on Afghanistan's politics, Islamabad on Wednesday found itself entrapped in a twitter spat with Washington and Kabul.This all started with, US ambassador to Afghanistan John R. Bass tweet in which he took a jibe at Imran Khan asking him to not meddle with Afghanistan peace process and its internal affairs.He wrote: "Some aspects of #cricket apply well in diplomacy, some do not. @ImranKhanPTI, important to resist the temptation to ball-tamper with the #Afghanistan peace process and its internal affairs. #AfgPeace".
After transferred by EC for favouring TDP, Andhra officials dub allegations as 'false'
A day after being transferred, Superintendent of Police Venkata Ratnam and Rahul Dev Sharma cried foul and said allegations of "favouring the ruling TDP" leveled by the YSR Congress party against them are false.Giving clarification the two police officials wrote to Andhra Pradesh Chief Election Officer (CEO).Calling for justice, Ratnam in his letter said, "It has been brought to my notice that V Vijaysai Reddy, National General Secretary, YSR Congress party made a complaint to EC on 25 March. I state that the allegations are false. On March 18, I was in my office throughout the day. I called for a crime meeting with all officers before lunch and post-lunch; we had a review meeting on Left Wing Extremist affected areas with officers working in those areas. Thus, I did not go out of my office the whole day. On March 18, I did not receive any phone call/information from anybody on this incident.""I request you to cause whatever enquiry you deem fit and either punish me if I'm found ...
Theresa May to resign as UK PM
Bowing down to pressure, British Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday (local time) announced that she will resign as the prime minister before the next phase of Brexit talks, reports Washington Post.This development came hours before the British Parliament is set to vote on the type of Brexit Britain will opt.British MPs on Monday defied Prime Minister Theresa May's government and voted in the favour of an amendment that gives them the power to control the country's Parliament.As many as 30 Conservative MPs have voted against Theresa May. Letwin Amendment has allowed the lawmakers to make a series of indicative votes on various alternative options-including Norway-style deal with the EU and no Brexit.Last week, at least one million people protested against May's handling of the Brexit process, demanding for a second referendum to be held.In 2016, over 50 per cent of the UK electorate voted to leave the EU, following which the British government triggered Article 50 of the Lisbon ..
Deepak Prabhu Pauskar sworn-in as Goa cabinet minister
Sanvordem MLA, Prabhu Pauskar was inducted into the Council of Ministers at a ceremony held at Durbar Hall Donapaula here today.Pauskar, took oath as a Goa cabinet minister in the presence of state Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Governor Mridula Sinha.Governor Sinha administered the oath of office and secrecy to Pauskar. Chief Secretary Parimal Rai read out the order of appointment.Pauskar took oath in Konkani language.Pauskar after taking oath as Goa cabinet minister told ANI, "I feel good to be a part of the BJP. Modi ji should become the Prime Minister again. We will put in all the efforts to make our two MPs from Goa win Lok Sabha elections and send them to Delhi."The swearing-in ceremony was attended by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Minister for Tourism Manohar Azgaonkar, Minister for Art and Culture Govind Gaude, Minister for Power Nilesh Cabral and others.The support of the MGP was crucial for the stability of BJP-led dispensation in Goa. The merger of the two-member ...
Goa: Several ministers give Pawaskar's swearing-in ceremony a miss
Several ministers, including those from the BJP, in Goa did not attend the swearing-in ceremony of Dipak Pawaskar, who was inducted into the state cabinet within hours of he quitting the MGP and joining the saffron party Wednesday. Pawaskar and another Maharahstrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) MLA, Manohar Ajgaonkar, quit the regional party and joined the BJP in the early hours of Wednesday. Goa Governor Mridula Sinha administered the oath of office and secrecy to Pawaskar at a ceremony held at the Raj Bhavan here around 11.35 pm. Pawaskar was sworn-in after Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who was present at the Raj Bhawan function, dropped Deputy Chief Minister and lone MGP MLA Sudin Dhavalikar from the Cabinet earlier in the day. Except for ministers Nilesh Cabral, Govind Gawade and Ajgaonkar, nobody else from the Goa Cabinet was present at the swearing-in ceremony of Pawaskar. Gawade an Independent legislator is culture minister, while BJP leader Cabral holds the law portfolio. Ajgaonkar .
3 French ministers bow out of Cabinet, eying elected posts
French President Emmanuel Macron says three Cabinet ministers have resigned, including the European Affairs minister who plans to lead the campaign by Macron's party for European Parliament seats. The president said in a statement Wednesday that government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux and Digital Affairs minister Mounir Mahjoubi are leaving along with European Affairs minister Nathalie Loiseau. Griveaux and Mahjoubi have said in interviews they want to run in next year's mayoral race in Paris. The current mayor is Anne Hidalgo. A government reshuffle is expected in the coming days. Loiseau, a career diplomat, joined Macron's government in June 2017 and was involved in France's Brexit preparations. She will head the president's pro- European Union party in the May EU parliament elections. Griveaux has been government spokesman since November 2017. Mahjoubi became digital affairs minister in May 2017.
Trump tells Russian troops to leave Venezuela
US President Donald Trump said that Russia should pull back its presence in Venezuela, a day after Russia defended its position on the issue.
Mystery deepens over raid at North Korea's embassy in Madrid
The mystery over a commando-style assault on North Korea's embassy in Madrid, allegedly led by man who had an Uber account in the name of "Oswaldo Trump", deepened Wednesday after a shadowy group committed to overthrowing North Korean leader Kim Jong Un claimed responsibility. A dissident organisation known as the Cheollima Civil Defense (CCD) said it had orchestrated the raid carried out on February 22 to end illicit activities rampant in North Korea's foreign missions. It denied using any violence, saying in a statement on its website that its members were invited into the embassy "and contrary to reports, no one was gagged or beaten." But the statement contradicts a Spanish National Court report published a day earlier, which said a group of people had roughed up employees of the embassy and robbed computers before fleeing. The alleged leader of the group, Adrian Hong Chang, a 35-year-old Mexican who had an Uber account in the name of Oswaldo Trump, contacted "the FBI in New York ..
Gadkari claims Congress workers in Nagpur support him
Union minister and BJP candidate from the Nagpur Lok Sabha seat Nitin Gadkari Wednesday claimed that he is getting phone calls from Congress workers pledging support to him. The BJP stalwart kick-started his campaigning and said he will seek votes on the basis of development work done by him in the constituency, which will vote on April 11. Gadkari said he is getting best wishes from non-BJP parties, including the opposition Congress. "I have worked for all irrespective of their caste, religion, language and party affiliation. A huge number of Congress workers and office-bearers phone me and tell me not to worry," claimed Gadkari. "They say though we are physically there (in the Congress), our hearts are with you (Gadkari) and hence I have support from all," he added. He asked the BJP workers to reach out to the people with confidence and advised them to be humble in their conduct. He also told them to understand the difference between confidence and arrogance. "One should have ...
US working with India to provide alternative to Russian missiles: Pentagon
The US is working with India to provide potential alternatives to S-400 air defence systems that New Delhi has decided to purchase from Russians, a top Pentagon official said on Wednesday. India inked an agreement with Russia in October last year to procure a batch of the missile systems at a cost of Rs 40,000 crore. India went ahead to seal the deal notwithstanding the US' warnings against it. There were apprehensions about the payment mechanism for the deal in the wake of the US sanctions against Russia. "We are very keen to see them (India) make an alternative choice. We're working with them to provide potential alternatives (to S-400)," Randall Schriver, Assistant Defence Secretary for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs told lawmakers during a Congressional hearing. Responding to questions on the potential sanctions on India for making such a purchase from the Russians, Schriver said, "it would be an unfortunate decision" if New Delhi chose to pursue S-400 from Russia. "Of course, we ..
Pauskar made Goa minister, Ajgaonkar Deputy CM
Newly-inducted BJP MLA Deepak Pauskar, one of the two MGP legislators who joined the ruling party earlier on Wednesday, was inducted into Chief Minister Pramod Sawant's cabinet while the other, Tourism Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar, elevated as Deputy Chief Minister