Page 1332 - Politics
India, US agree to build six nuclear power plants in India
India and the US said they have agreed to build six American nuclear power plants in India, in a boost to bilateral civil nuclear energy cooperation. The two countries said this in a joint statement issued at the conclusion of the 9th round of India-US Strategic Security Dialogue, co-chaired by Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale and Andrea Thompson, the US under secretary of state for arms control and international security, on Wednesday. "They committed to strengthen bilateral security and civil nuclear cooperation, including the establishment of six U.S. nuclear power plants in India," the joint statement said. India and the US signed a historic agreement to cooperate in civil nuclear energy sector in October 2008. The deal gave a fillip to bilateral ties, which have been on an upswing since. A major aspect of the deal was the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), that gave a special waiver to India enabling it to sign cooperation agreements with a dozen countries. Post-waiver, India signed ..
UK Parliament rejects no-deal Brexit
The British Parliament on Wednesday voted to reject a no-deal Brexit, which allows the United Kingdom to leave the European Union without any agreement.Amid uncertainty over the UK's status of leaving the EU, British lawmakers voted to rule out a no-deal Brexit by 321 to 278.A vote is slated to take place on Thursday evening on whether to delay the withdrawal process beyond the March 29 deadline, British Prime Minister Theresa May confirmed.The British parliamentarians also rejected an amendment which sought to delay Brexit until May 22 for further preparations to take place with an aim to alleviate the impact of a possible no-deal Brexit if no agreement was reached, CNN reported.May warned that if the British Parliament cannot reach an agreement, the prospects of UK leaving the EU will be longer and urged the lawmakers to support a deal "in the coming days," so that her government can allow the withdrawal process to delay for a short period of time."Such an extension would ...
Defying Trump, Senate votes to end US support for Yemen war
The US Senate dealt a stinging bipartisan rebuke of Donald Trump's foreign policy and his alliance with Riyadh, voting to end support for the bloody Saudi-led war effort in Yemen. By a 54 to 46 tally, lawmakers in the Republican-controlled chamber approved on Wednesday a historic curtailment of presidential war powers, citing congressional authority under the decades-old War Powers Resolution to direct Trump "to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities in or affecting the Republic of Yemen." The text now heads to the Democrat-led House of Representatives, which approved a similar measure that stalled earlier this year, and which is likely to pass the latest effort. The White House has threatened a veto.
Mayawati, Akhilesh hold meeting in Lucknow
BSP chief Mayawati and Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav met on Wednesday to discuss the poll strategy for the upcoming elections, according to a source.The meeting which lasted for about an hour and a half might have witnessed talks about seat share and other relevant strategies for elections.On Tuesday the BSP supremo had said, "BSP-SP alliance is working with respect and is considered as 'first and perfect' in UP, Uttarakhand and Madhya Pradesh. This alliance is capable of defeating BJP and bringing about societal changes which are needed for national interest." Incidentally, the meeting of the BSP and SP leaders came after Priyanka Gandhi Vadra paid a visit to Bhim army chief Chandrashekhar Azad in a Lucknow hospital earlier on Wednesday. Azad was hospitalised after he complained of high blood pressure and fell unconscious while he and his supporters were being taken into police custody for allegedly violating the Model Code of Conduct.Earlier, SP and BSP, while announcing
UK Parliament rejects no-deal Brexit
The UK Parliament voted to dismiss a no-deal Brexit, which led to a second government defeat in less than an hour.
Congress slams China for blocking Azhar's listing as global terrorist
Congress on Wednesday said that China blocking designation of Masood Azhar as a global terrorist was a sad day in the global fight against terrorism and slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his foreign policy.
UK MPs vote against leaving EU without a deal, set to delay Brexit day
British MPs have voted to reject the possibility of the UK leaving the European Union without a withdrawal agreement in place, a move set to delay the March 29 Brexit deadline. British Prime Minister Theresa May had tabled a government motion against a no-deal Brexit within the March 29 deadline, which was passed by the House of Commons with a majority of 43 votes as 321 MPs backed it and 278 opposed it on Wednesday. This would now require the Commons to pass a new vote, expected on Thursday, which will authorise May to go back to the EU and seek an extension to Article 50 the legal mechanism for Britain's exit from the union. May said there was a "clear majority" against a no-deal Brexit but the "legal default" was that the UK would leave without a deal on March 29 if no deal is reached unless that is legally changed with another vote and EU ratification. "The legal default in UK and EU law remains that the UK will leave the EU without a deal unless something else is agreed. The ...
Defying global stance against terror, China vetoes sanctions on JeM chief (Third Lead)
Defying global opposition to terrorism, China has vetoed sanctions against Masood Azhar, the chief of the terrorist organisation Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), extending cover to him and Pakistan that protects him.
Congress terms Irani's allegations against Rahul, Priyanka baseless
The Congress on Wednesday termed as "baseless" BJPs allegations against party chief Rahul Gandhi over alleged corruption in a Haryana land deal and also attacked the ruling party for dragging Priyanka Gandhi Vadras name, saying it was being done to divert attention from real issues concerning people.
China continues to protect JeM chief Azhar; vetoes sanctions yet again
China kept chief Masood Azhar, the chief of the terrorist organisation Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), under its protective wings, vetoing a fourth attempt to declare him a global terrorist and sanction him.
UK Parliament rejects no-deal Brexit
The UK Parliament on Wednesday rejected a chaotic no-deal Brexit by a narrow margin, preventing Britain from crashing out of the European Union without any transition phase. The House of Commons voted against the deal by 312 votes to 308. British MPs will now vote on Thursday on whether to ask for delaying Britain's departure beyond March 29 by extending Article 50 - the legal mechanism that takes the UK out of the 28-member economic bloc. This would have to be ratified by the EU and the length of extension will become the next focus on both sides. However, how the EU will react to an extension request remains unclear at this stage, given that it is preparing for its own EU elections towards the end of May. Brussels has already made it clear that it will not renegotiate the deal thrashed out with the UK over two years of prolonged talks. Unless agreed otherwise, Britain leaving the EU by March 29 remains the default Brexit option by law. "Today we are in the hands of the British ...
Modi's foreign policy a series of 'diplomatic disasters': Cong on Masood Azhar issue
The Congress on Wednesday attacked the BJP government after China blocked a bid at the UN to designate Pakistan-based terror group JeM chief Masood Azhar as a "global terrorist", saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi's foreign policy has been a series of "diplomatic disasters". The opposition party also slammed China for blocking the move. In yet another setback to India's bid to designate the Jaish-e-Mohammed's chief as a global terrorist, China Wednesday put a technical hold on the proposal in the UN Security Council to ban him following the Pulwama terror attack. The proposal to designate Azhar under the 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council was moved by France, the UK and the US on February 27, days after a suicide bomber of the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) killed 40 CRPF soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama, leading to a flare-up in tensions between India and Pakistan. Reacting to the development, Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said it was a sad .
No changes to migration accord with Libya: Italy
Rome, March 14 (IANS/AKI) The Italian government has no plans to revise a 2017 agreement with Libya aimed at halting the influx of boat migrants from the lawless North African country, Interior Minister and Deputy Premier Matteo Salvini told lawmakers on Wednesday.
China blocks move against Azhar, India disappointed
The UN Sanctions Committee on Wednesday did not come to a decision on naming JeM chief Mohammed Masood Azhar a global terrorist due to China putting the proposal on hold. India expressed its disappointment at the outcome.
US Senate confirms Indian-American Neomi Rao for powerful federal judgeship
US Senate on Wednesday confirmed Indian-American Neomi Rao, who was under scrutiny for her past writings on sexual assault, as a judge on the DC Circuit Court of Appeals, one of the most powerful benches in the country. Rao, 45, will replace controversial Brett Kavanaugh who endured a bitter confirmation battle last year after US President Donald Trump named him to the US Supreme Court. Her confirmation came amidst stiff resistance from the opposition Democratic lawmakers and a nationwide campaign against her by rights groups for her previous position on sexual assault and minorities. Rao was confirmed by 53-46 votes in the US Senate, which was basically on party lines. The Republicans enjoy majority in the 100-member US Senate. After being sworn in, she would be the second Indian-American on this court, which is considered only next to the US Supreme Court. Meanwhile, opposition Democratic party said Rao did not deserve to be confirmed. "A vote for Neomi Rao is a vote for a judge who
EC to hold all-party meeting in Kolkata on Friday
Amidst opposition parties' skepticism over free and fair polls in West Bengal, the Election Commission will hold an all-party meeting here on Friday, an official said here on Wednesday.
Goa BJP chief slams former CM Laxmikant Parsekar
Coming down heavily on Goa's former BJP Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar, state BJP President Vinay Tendulkar on Wednesday said the 62-year-old politician is aging and behaving like the flame of a lamp which is about to extinguish.
Union min asks BJP leaders to create awareness about govt schemes
Union minister Jitendra Singh Wednesday appealed to BJP leaders to spend more time in their respective areas to connect with the voters and make them aware about various welfare schemes launched by the central government. Addressing BJP activists here, he said Prime Minister Narendra Modi works 18 hours a day without taking a single day leave to fulfil his poll promises of making India corruption free, end dynastic rule and provide good governance. He was speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony of a party office in Udhampur-Kathua-Doda parliamentary constituency. The union minister said it was indeed a matter of pride for him to serve as a Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). "Numerous new projects have been sanctioned and most of them completed in Udhampur-Kathua-Doda parliamentary constituency during my five years term," he said. "Even on March 8, the last working day before imposition of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), approval for eight mobile towers on the ...
Raj Babbar, Shinde in Congress's second LS list
The Congress on Wednesday released its second list of Lok Sabha candidates, fielding its Uttar Pradesh unit chief Raj Babbar from Moradabad and former Union Ministers Sushil Kumar Shinde from Maharashtra's Solapur and Sriprakash Jaiswal from Kanpur.
Double hurdles in Congress-LF talks in Bengal
The Purulia and Basirhat Lok Sabha seats have now emerged as bones of contention in seat-adjustment talks between the Left Front and the Congress for the upcoming polls in West Bengal, though a senior Congress leader on Wednesday hoped the LF major CPI-M would not be averse to his party fighting from the two constituencies.