Page 1223 - Politics
Trump removes additional North Korea sanctions
US President Donald Trump removed additional "large-scale" US Treasury sanctions on North Korea on Friday (local time)."It was announced today by the US Treasury that additional large scale Sanctions would be added to those already existing Sanctions on North Korea. I have today ordered the withdrawal of those additional Sanctions!" Trump tweeted.This move is largely being viewed as Trump's bid to keep denuclearisation talks with North Korea on track after the Hanoi summit ended abruptly last month without any agreement.The White House refused to comment on Trump's move, according to CNN, but added that the President took the step because he "likes" North Korean leader Kim Jong-un."President Trump likes Chairman Kim and he doesn't think these sanctions will be necessary," White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said, without revealing the exact sanctions which have been removed.While it is still unclear as to which sanctions were stopped, the US Treasury Department had recently ...
USA sanctions Venezuela's development bank following arrest of Guaido's aide
The United States on Friday (local time) sanctioned Venezuela's state-owned Bandes bank as a retaliatory measure after the Nicolas Maduro-led regime arrested one of Juan Guaido's closest aides."BANDES bank is to Venezuela's financial sector what PDVSA is to its oil sector. This action will severely affect any attempted currency movements by Maduro and his cronies moving forward. Do not test the resolve of this Administration," US National Security Advisor John Bolton tweeted.The bank's four additional subsidiaries have also been designated. All properties owned by the bank and its entities in the United States have been blocked, an official notification by the US Treasury Department noted."The willingness of Maduro's inner-circle to exploit Venezuela's institutions knows no bounds. Regime insiders have transformed BANDES and its subsidiaries into vehicles to move funds abroad in an attempt to prop up Maduro. Maduro and his enablers have distorted the original purpose of the bank, ...
Ahead of LS polls, over 6 litres of liquor, Rs 37 crore cash seized in UP
Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Uttar Pradesh Chief Election Commissioner L Venkateshwar Lu said that over Rs 37 crore worth of cash and 6,92,519 litres of liquor has been seized in the state by the district administration.Besides this, over four lakh licensed weapons from across the state have been submitted on the orders of the Election Commission.The administration has also taken action against 22,28,602 wall writings, posters and banners since the Model Code of Conduct is in force.The dates of polling in Uttar Pradesh are April 11, 18, 23, 29 and May 6, 12 and 19. The counting of votes will take place on May 23.There are 80 Lok Sabha seats at stake in Uttar Pradesh.
Mueller submits report on Russia investigation
US special counsel Robert Mueller has submitted a confidential report to Attorney General William Barr, marking the end of his nearly two-year investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, media reported.
'Golan Heights will always remain Arab Syrian territory'
A Syrian envoy on Friday said that the Syrian Golan will always remain an Arab Syrian territory, reacting to US President Donald Trump's surprise tweet that the US would recognise Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights.
LS polls: Rape convict Rajballabh Yadav's wife gets RJD ticket from Nawada
The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has fielded Vibha Devi, wife of Rajballabh Yadav, who was convicted for raping a minor and subsequently disqualified from contesting polls, from Nawada Lok Sabha seat in the impending elections.A Patna Court had in December last year convicted Yadav and four others in connection with the rape of a minor in 2016. He was convicted under Section 376 of Indian Penal Code and 4, 8, 17 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.The RJD-Congress alliance on Friday announced their seat-sharing arrangement in Bihar for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. The two parties are in alliance in the state under the "Mahagathbandhan" umbrella along with some other parties.RJD will contest on 20, Congress on 9, HAM-3, RLSP on 5, VIP on 3 and CPI-1 in Bihar under the alliance arrangement.The dates of polling in Bihar are April 11, 18, 23, 29 and May 6, 12 and 19. The counting of votes will take place on May 23.In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the RJD ..
'Voting for YSRCP is like writing one's own death warrant'
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday urged people to not vote for the YSR Congress Party in the impending elections, stating that backing them would be like "writing your own death warrant."Addressing an election campaign in here Narsipatnam, Naidu said, "Voting for TDP will be the victory of people, but voting for YSRCP is like writing your own death warrant. These (Lok Sabha) elections decide the future of the state. People should vote for TDP for better future and better development of the state."Naidu further accused YSRCP chief Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy of "looting" lakh and crores of money by misusing his father, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy's power when the latter was the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh."Jagan's paternal uncle was killed in his own house, but they tried to make people believe that it was due to a heart attack. They tampered evidence, altered scene of offence," Naidu said."I am like an elder son in every family. I gave financial support to 98 ...
Mueller's 22-month long probe on Russian 'interference' in 2016 presidential polls ends
Special counsel Robert Mueller has ended his 22-month long probe into possible Russian collusion in the 2016 Presidential elections which saw Donald Trump come to power as the 45th President of the United States.Mueller wrapped up the investigation and submitted the report to Attorney General William Barr on Friday (local time), according to CNN.The investigation into possible Russian interference in Trump's 2016 Presidential run has seen charges being filed against 37 defendants, seven guilty pleas and one conviction.Barr may provide the US Congress with "the special counsel's principal conclusions as soon as this weekend."Meanwhile, a Justice Department official has labelled the report as "comprehensive"."The next steps are up to Attorney General Barr, and we look forward to the process taking its course. The White House has not received or been briefed on the Special Counsel's report," White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders tweeted.The incumbent US President has often decried ...
LS polls: Santosh Ahlawat to stay with BJP
BJP leader Santosh Ahlawat, who was replaced by Narendra Khinchal to contest from Jhunjhunu seat in the upcoming Lok Sabha election, said she will stay with the party and is not planning to take part in the election as an Independent candidate.The BJP had on Thursday released a list of 16 candidates in Rajasthan for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, in which all the current parliamentarians were named, except Ahlawat.However, while talking to media here on Friday, Ahlawat said she is not upset with the party and has no plans to join any other political outfit.On the other hand, Khinchal, who is BJP's legislator from Mandawa, said his priority is to work for the people and for the welfare of Jhunjhunu.Rajasthan will go to polls on April 29 and May 6, while counting of votes will take place on May 23.
Trump says he's bucking Treasury, reversing N Korea sanctions
President Donald Trump tweeted Friday that he has reversed his administration's decision to slap new sanctions on North Korea, with his press secretary explaining that he "likes" leader Kim Jong Un and doesn't think they're necessary. It's unclear, however, which sanctions the president was referencing in his tweet, which took Treasury officials by surprise. "It was announced today by the US Treasury that additional large scale Sanctions would be added to those already existing Sanctions on North Korea," Trump wrote from his private club in Palm Beach. "I have today ordered the withdrawal of those additional Sanctions!" The White House did not immediately respond to questions about which sanctions Trump was referring to. No new action against North Korea was announced by the Treasury Department on Friday, though Trump this week did threaten that new ones could be added. On Thursday, his administration did sanction two Chinese shipping companies suspected of helping North Korea evade ..
Congress will win at least 6-10 seats in Telangana: Konda Vishweshwar Reddy
KondaVishweshwarReddy, who will represent Congress from the ChevellaLokSabha seat in the upcomingLokSabha election, on Friday said that the party will win at least six to 10 seats out of the 17 seats at stake in Telangana."My campaigning for Lok Sabha election started on December 23 last year. Since last Christmas, I have been campaigning in my constituency. As part of campaigning, we have also sent cakes to celebrate Christmas to all churches in my constituency. In January, we have given pads to the students and also scholarships to the top tankers in my constituency. We are way ahead than the TRS party in campaigning," Reddy told ANI here."This is the reason Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao has changed the Chevella MP contestant for TRS four times. The cadre of the TRS party is very weak as the popularity of the party depends on one family. We are assured to get at least six to 10 seats in coming Lok Sabha elections. All the great performers in TRS party including ...
Syria asks UN council to uphold resolutions on Golan
Syria on Friday asked the UN Security Council to uphold resolutions declaring that Israel withdraw from the Golan Heights after President Donald Trump said the United States would recognize Israel's annexation of the territory. Syrian Ambassador Bashar Jaafari urged the council to "take practical measures to ensure that the council is fulfilling ... its mandate in the implementation of its resolutions" concerning the Golan, in a letter seen by AFP. The council is scheduled to discuss the Golan on Wednesday during a meeting on renewing the mandate of the UN peacekeeping force deployed between Israel and Syria in the Golan, known as UNDOF. Trump broke with decades of US Middle East policy when he posted a Tweet on Thursday that said it was time to recognize Israel's sovereignty over the Golan. In the letter, the Syrian ambassador also asked Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to reaffirm the UN position on Israel's occupation of the Golan, which it seized from Syria in the 1967 Six-Day ..
No idea about Mueller report timing: Trump
US President Donald Trump on Friday said he has "no idea" about when Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who's leading the Russia probe, will turn in his report.
US slaps sanctions on Venezuelan bank
The United States on Friday slapped sanctions on a key Venezuelan bank, BANDES and four affiliates over their support for President Nicolas Maduro. The US move came just hours after Maduro's regime defied the United States and arrested a top aide of opposition leader Juan Guaido, whom Washington recognizes as the crisis-hit country's interim leader. Venezuelan Interior Minister Nestor Reverol accused the aide, Roberto Marrero, a 49-year-old lawyer who serves as Guaido's chief of staff, of leading a "terrorist cell" bent on attacking the government's leadership. The companies sanctioned are BANDES, a state-controlled bank; Banco Bandes Uruguay; Banco Bicentenario del Pueblos; Banco Universal SA Banco de Venezuela; and Banco Prodem SA, of Bolivia. "All property and interests in property of these entities, and of any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by this entity, that are in the United States or in the possession or control of US persons are blocked ..
Congress declares 34 more Lok Sabha candidates
The Congress on Friday night declared 34 more candidates for the Lok Sabha fielding Renuka Choudhary from Khammam, Manickam Tagore from Virudhunagar in Tamil Nadu, Vikramadiya Singh from Udhampur and Raman Bhalla from Jammu.
Trump cancels new North Korea sanctions
US President Donald Trump says he has ordered the withdrawal of recently imposed sanctions against North Korea.
LS polls: K Kavitha files nomination
Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) MP and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's daughter Kalvakuntla Kavitha filed nomination papers to contest from Nizamabad Lok Sabha constituency on Friday.Along with Kavitha, as many as 40 farmers from Nizamabad also filed their nomination citing the alleged failure of the TRS in providing minimum support price for turmeric and red jowar (sorghum) producers.A farmer who came to file nomination said, "Kavitha was our representative but nothing was done for the farmers in the state. That's why we have decided to file nomination against her. Around 1000 farmers will file nomination in the coming days. Farmers are facing a lot of problems in the state. Nobody from the state or central government came to help us. Even the regional political parties aren't paying attention to our issues.""The basic price for turmeric is too less. We have requested the central government several times to help us, but no one paid any attention," added another farmer.However, ..
LS polls: Cong fields Raj Babbar from Fatehpur Sikri, Renuka Chowdhury from Khammam
The Congress party on Friday released its seventh list of 35 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, including four from Chhattisgarh, two from Jammu and Kashmir, one from Pudducherry, five from Maharashtra, two from Odisha, eight from Telangana, two from Tripura, and six from Uttar Pradesh.Renuka Chowdhury has been fielded from Khammam (Telangana) and Raj Babbar from Uttar Pradesh's Fatehpur Sikri.Babbar was earlier supposed to contest from Moradabad. However, he had requested a change of seat, following which he was assigned Fatehpur Sikri while Imran Pratapgarhi was assigned Moradabad.Besides them, Preeta Harit has been pitched from Agra, Naseemuddin Siddiqui from Bijnor, and Praveen Aron from Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh.Earlier, the Congress had chosen Indira Bhatti as its candidate from Bijnor Lok Sabha seat.In Puducherry, the party has decided to field V Vaithilingam. He had resigned as Puducherry Assembly Speaker to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.Meanwhile, ...
LS polls: BJP, Congress to rope in star campaigners for Telangana
Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections in Telangana, the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) are all set to rope in star campaigners and senior party leaders for its election campaign in the state.According to Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) spokesperson Gudur Narayan Reddy, the Congress has planned at least three public meetings to be addressed by party chief Rahul Gandhi and has urged the party to send AICC general secretary Priyanka Gandhi for the campaign in the state.Reddy further said the list of star campaigners would be released after candidates are finalised for all constituencies in the state. "Roadshows and public meetings would be held as part of the campaign," he added.Meanwhile, BJP Member of Legislative Council (MLC) Ramchandra Rao said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah have agreed to address four and six public meetings, respectively, in Telangana. Union Ministers Piyush Goyal and Nirmala Sitaraman will visit Telangana in the ...
Andhra Pradesh IT minister Nara Lokesh files nomination
Andhra Pradesh IT minister and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's son Nara Lokesh on Friday filed nomination to contest from Mangalagiri constituency in Amaravati in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.Lokesh, who is the general secretary of Telugu Desam Party (TDP), will be contesting for the first time. He filed nomination papers at the Mangalagiri Mandal Revenue Officer (MRO) in the presence of his mother Bhuvaneswari, wife Brahmani and son Devansh.After filing the nomination, Lokesh cast his vote in the Member of Legislative Council (MLC) elections at a polling booth in Polakampadu Mandal Parishat elementary school.Andhra Pradesh, which has 25 Lok Sabha seats and 175 Assembly seats at stake, will go for simultaneous polling on April 11.