Page 1318 - Politics
Google reluctant to work with Pentagon, is partnering with China: US lawmakers told
Google is partnering with China, where the state-owned companies have a "direct pipeline" with the military, but the Internet search engine giant has shown a lack of willingness to work with the US Department of Defence, top Pentagon officials have told American lawmakers. Acting Defence Secretary Patrick Shanahan and General Joseph Dunford, chairman joint chiefs of staff, said this during a Congressional hearing as lawmakers expressed concern over increasing Chinese coerciveness with American companies. "Correct," Shanahan said when Senator Josh Hawley said Google is doing business in China in a way that benefits US's Chinese competitors. "The interesting thing and this is why China is this is such an important issue for our country. The fusion of commercial business with military is significant. USD 5 trillion of their economy is state-owned enterprises," he said. "So, the technology that is developed in the civil world transfers to the military world. It's a direct pipeline. Not .
US considering targeted measures against human rights violations in China
Describing the deteriorating human rights situation in parts of China as appalling wherein over a million religious minorities have reportedly been detained, the United States said it is considering taking targeted measures against those responsible for this. "We are committed to promoting accountability for those who are committing these violations and considering targeted measures as well," State Department deputy spokesperson Robert Palladino told reporters at his biweekly news conference. Dismissing the Chinese criticism of the US making statements on internal affairs of China, Palladino asserted that the United States will continue to raise the issue. "This is something that we're going to continue to speak out about. This really is an appalling situation that's ongoing and we're alarmed, frankly, that there's over a million people at least being detained: Uighurs, ethnic Kazakhs, other members of Muslim-minority groups in these internment camps," he said. According to multiple ..
US withdraws remaining diplomatic staff from Venezuela
The US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that all US diplomats remaining in Venezuela have departed the South American country.
US says it's displeased with comments of Afghan NSA
The United States said it is displeased with the remarks of the Afghan National Security Advisor in which he accused the Trump administration of bypassing the democratically elected government of Afghanistan in their direct talks with the Taliban. Over the past two days, Afghan NSA Hamdullah Mohib at various public forums during an appearance at a Washington DC-based think-tank and in an interaction with reporters described the US's talks with the Taliban as surrender discussion. He alleged that the Special US Representative on Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad is keeping the duly elected government of Afghanistan in dark over the talks and that in the latest round of talks in Doha they were humiliated by kept waiting in a hotel lobby. "We don't know what's going on. We don't have the kind of transparency that we should have," Mohib told reporters at a news conference on Thursday. He claimed the Afghan government is getting the information in bits and pieces. "The last people to find out
Trump sharply criticizes British leader's handling of Brexit
President Donald Trump sharply criticized Britain's handling of negotiations over leaving the European Union, saying the talks have been bungled and that the debate was dividing the country. "I'm surprised at how badly it's all gone from the standpoint of a negotiation," he said Thursday. Trump, who holds himself up as a master deal-maker, said he had given Prime Minister Theresa May his ideas on how she could negotiate a successful deal for leaving the 28-member group of nations. But "she didn't listen to that and that's fine. I mean she's got to do what she's got to do," he said at the White House as he welcomed Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar for an early St. Patrick's Day celebration. "I think it could have been negotiated in a different manner, frankly," Trump said. "I hate to see it being, everything being ripped apart right now." Trump spoke hours before British lawmakers voted to delay Brexit for at least three months. Britain's exit from the EU had been scheduled for March .
US, Kabul ties tense over Taliban talks
A close aide to Afghan President Ashraf Ghani sparked a diplomatic spat with the United States by offering tough criticism of Washington's talks with the Taliban. The advisor, Hamdullah Mohib, on Thursday took particular aim at US envoy Zalmay Khalilzad and his personal "ambitions" in Afghanistan. "We don't know what's going on. We don't have the kind of transparency that we should have," Mohib, Afghanistan's national security advisor, told some media during a visit to Washington. "The last people to find out are us." Mohib was "summoned" by the US undersecretary for political affairs, David Hale, who rejected the comments made by the Afghan official "criticizing the US approach to reconciliation," State Department spokesman Robert Palladino said. At issue are the direct talks between the US government and Taliban negotiators that began last summer in Doha. The latest round wrapped up Tuesday. After previous rounds of talks, Khalilzad typically travelled to Kabul to brief Afghan ...
Uk Parliament votes to seek Article 50 extension
The UK Parliament voted 413-202 to instruct Prime Minister Theresa May to ask the EU for a delay that would give the UK's fractious political class time to forge a plan for an orderly Brexit, raising the prospect that Britain will remain part of the bloc beyond March 29 deadline.
Trump tweets 'VETO!' after Senate rejects his border emergency declaration
The US Senate on Thursday voted to reject President Donald Trump's declaration of an emergency on the US Mexico border, prompting a swift response from the 72-year-old leader who tweeted 'veto', an indication that he would reject the resolution.The Republican-controlled Senate voted to disapprove the emergency declaration by 59 votes to 41, in what was a sharp rebuke to Trump, who will be forced to use his veto powers for the first time in his presidency, The Hill reported.The resolution was already passed in the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives by 245 votes to 182 last month, with 13 Republicans supporting the Democrats. It will now head towards Trump, who has threatened to veto the measure if it came to him.Minutes after the vote, Trump tweeted in capitals, "VETO!"Interestingly, twelve Republicans broke ranks to side with the Democrats to pass the resolution, with many of them saying that the emergency declaration is a violating of the American Constitution.Trump said ...
UK Parliament votes to delay Brexit, rejects second referendum
The British Parliament on Thursday voted in favour of delaying the Brexit process beyond the scheduled date of March 29 and overwhelmingly rejected a call for a second referendum, plunging the country into political chaos.The vote to delay the UK's exit from the European Union was passed by 412 votes to 202 in the House of Commons, which means the British parliamentarians acknowledged that more time is required to break the deadlock, amid the uncertainty surrounding the country's status in leaving the European bloc.The motion now instructs British Prime Minister Theresa May to seek an extension to Article 50, the legal process under which the UK is leaving the European Union. Unanimous approval is needed from the remaining 27 EU member countries if there is a delay beyond March 29, CNN reported.May is likely to seek the extension at a European Council summit in Brussels on March 21, after her controversial deal was rejected by the House of Commons for the second time on Tuesday.Apart .
Gujarat: Jamnagar Rural by-election on April 23, counting on April 23
The by-election to the Jamnagar Rural Assembly constituency will be held on April 23, while the counting of votes will take place on May 23.The by-poll will be held simultaneously with the third phase of the Lok Sabha election in Gujarat.Congress MLA from Jamnagar Rural seat Vallabh Dharaaviya on Monday tendered his resignation as a member of the legislative assembly to Speaker Rajendra Trivedi.He was the third Congress MLA to leave the party after Parsotam Sabariya and Jawahar Chavda.
11th Tripartite talk held on district creation issue in Manipur
Pertaining to the issue of the creation of seven new districts in Manipur, 11th round of Tripartite talk was held between the Manipur government, the United Naga Council (UNC) and the Centre at Senapati district headquarter recently.During the talk, the Manipur government said that they will present the concrete proposal over the district creation issue in July this year, as per demanded by the UNC.However, the UNC had shown disagreements after the state government failed to come up with a concrete proposal within the stipulated time period.The meeting was presided over by the Centre and was headed by Satyendra Garg, Joint Secretary (NE), Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), United Naga Council headed by President S. Kho John General secretary, S. Milan and others.Satyendra Garg, the Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs said, "The Government of Manipur stated that they were to bring the concrete proposal for discussion today but they mentioned that they were facing some problems like .
Senate rejects Trump border emergency as Republicans defect
The Republican-run Senate firmly rejected President Donald Trump's declaration of a national emergency at the southwest border, setting up a veto fight and dealing him a conspicuous rebuke as he tested how boldly he could ignore Congress in pursuit of his highest-profile goal. The Senate voted 59-41 to cancel Trump's February proclamation of a border emergency, which he invoked to spend USD 3.6 billion more for border barriers than Congress had approved. Twelve Republicans joined Democrats in defying Trump in a showdown many GOP senators had hoped to avoid because he commands die-hard loyalty from millions of conservative voters who could punish defecting lawmakers in next year's elections. With the Democratic-controlled House's approval of the same resolution last month, Senate passage sends it to Trump. He has shown no reluctance to casting his first veto to advance his campaign exhortation, "Build the Wall," which has prompted roars at countless Trump rallies. Approval votes in ...
Israel PM convenes military brass after apparent rocket fire
Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip fired two rockets toward Tel Aviv late Thursday, the Israeli military said, marking a significant escalation that raised the likelihood of a harsh Israeli reprisal. The rocket barrage triggered air raid sirens throughout the city, Israel's densely populated commercial and cultural capital. No damage or injuries were reported. But it marked the first time that Tel Aviv, some 80 kilometres north of Gaza, has been targeted by rocket fire since a 2014 war with Gaza militants. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rushed to the military headquarters in Tel Aviv and was conferring with senior army officials to discuss a response. In Gaza, there was no immediate claim of responsibility. Brig. Gen. Ronen Manelis, the Israeli army's chief spokesman, said officials had no prior warning of the attack and were trying to determine who had fired the rockets. Israel holds Gaza's Hamas rulers responsible for all fire out of the territory. Tel Aviv Mayor Ron
US Senate votes to overturn Trump's emergency declaration
The US Senate has voted 59-41 in favour of blocking President Donald Trump's declaration of a national emergency at the southern border.
Amit Shah thanks Sheila Dikshit for her comments on Manmohan
BJP President Amit Shah on Thursday thanked former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit for her comments that former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was not tough on terrorism.
Congress plans Priyanka's boat ride to Varanasi
In a unique initiative to connect with voters for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will travel from Prayagraj to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's parliamentary constituency Varanasi from March 18 to 20.
TDP releases first list of candidates for Andhra Pradesh Assembly election
The ruling Telugu Desam Party in Andhra Pradesh on Thursday night released its first list of 126 candidates for the April 11 assembly election, amid unprecedented protests and rebellion in the party. Name of Chief Minister and TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu and his son Nara Lokesh figured in the list announced by Naidu himself at a late-night press conference. He called it "Mission 150 Plus", as the party aimed to win at least 150 out of the total 175 seats in the assembly. He said the first list of candidates for the Lok Sabha election, scheduled simultaneously, would be announced Friday. The TDP chief, who released an audio song for the campaign, said he would kick start the campaign from Srikakulam district on March 16 after worshipping Lord Venkateswara atop the Tirumala Hills. "We have balanced various equations and selected the candidates. It is now up to the people to bless these candidates as I take the responsibility of their future in my hands," Naidu said. Despite strong
TMC's four-time MLA Arjun Singh joins BJP ahead of polls
Trinamool Congress' four-time legislator Arjun Singh Thursday joined the BJP, giving a boost to the party's prospects in the state ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Singh joined the BJP in presence of party general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya and senior state BJP leader Mukul Roy in the national capital. However, the TMC refused to give much importance to Singh's switch-over and challenged him to seek a re-election from his Assembly seat Bhatpara in North 24 Parganas district on a BJP ticket. Addressing the media at the BJP office in Delhi, Singh said he was shocked at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's comments on the Pulwama terror attack. "I gave 30 years to Mamata Banerjee. I was shocked at her comments on the Pulwama terror attack. Her statement has shaken the country. "When the Indian Air Force carried out the strike, she demanded the body count of terrorists. If a leader does not have national interest in her mind then she cannot do any good to her voters," Singh ..
People to decide who is opportunist: Dinesh Trivedi
Taunting West Bengal legislator Arjun Singh who joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Trinamool Congress MP Dinesh Trivedi on Thursday said people will decide "who is opportunist".
UK MPs back Brexit delay
The UK Parliament on Thursday voted in favour of delaying Brexit beyond March 29 as the chaotic process of the UK's divorce from the European Union plunged the country into a political deadlock. The motion for delaying the Brexit Day was passed in the House of Commons by 412 votes to 202. However, the delay in the Brexit process would now require the unanimous approval of all 27 remaining EU member states, which in effects gives the 28-member bloc the power to dictate the terms of an extension. Meanwhile, the EU officials have indicated that are not interested to provide more time for political tussles in the UK and would approve an extension only if there were a specific reason for one. EU Council chief Donald Tusk on Thursday said the bloc could approve a long postponement "if the UK finds it necessary to rethink its Brexit strategy and build consensus around it", indicating the possibility of a softer Brexit only if May abandons her stand, especially her opposition to being in a ...