Page 1535 - Politics
Nigeria votes for a new president after delay
Nigerians vote for a new president on Saturday after a week-long delay that has raised political tempers, sparked conspiracy claims and stoked fears of violence. Some 120,000 polling stations were due to open at 0700 GMT, from megacity Lagos and the oil hub Port Harcourt in the south, to ancient Kano in the north and the country's rural heartlands. Results are expected from early next week, with the winner gaining control of Africa's most populous nation and leading oil producer for four years. In a crowded field of 73 presidential hopefuls, the two frontrunners -- incumbent Muhammadu Buhari, 76, and former vice president Atiku Abubakar, 72 -- are expected to vote in their home towns. Electors are also choosing 360 members of the House of Representatives and 109 senators from a choice of 6,500 candidates. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) last Saturday announced a one-week delay to the election, just hours before it was due to get under way. That angered voters who .
Trump nominates Kelly Kraft as Nikki Haley's successor at UN
President Donald Trump has nominated his envoy to Canada Kelly Knight Craft as the next US Ambassador to the UN to succeed Indian-American Nikki Haley. In October, Haley announced that she was leaving the post by the end of the year. The 46-year-old former South Carolina governor has served nearly two years in the post. She was the first Indian-American ever appointed to a Cabinet position in any US presidential administration. If confirmed by the Senate, Craft, 56, would replace Haley. "I am pleased to announce that Kelly Knight Craft, our current Ambassador to Canada, is being nominated to be United States Ambassador to the United Nations," Trump announced on Twitter Friday night. "Kelly has done an outstanding job representing our nation and I have no doubt that, under her leadership, our country will be represented at the highest level. Congratulations to Kelly and her entire family!" Trump said. Haley congratulated Craft shortly after the president's online announcement. "She's ..
Crackdown on Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir 'arbitrary': Mehbooba
PDP president Mehbooba Mufti Saturday questioned the legality of the crackdown on Jamaat-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir leaders, saying the "arbitrary" move will only "precipitate matters" in the state. The former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister was reacting to the government crackdown on separatists and Jamaat-e-Islami which began Friday night. JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik and over two dozen Jamaat leaders, including its chief Abdul Hamid Fayaz, have already been detained. "In the past 24 hours, Hurriyat leaders & workers of Jamaat organisation have been arrested. Fail to understand such an arbitrary move which will only precipitate matters in J&K," Mehbooba tweeted. "Under what legal grounds are their arrests justified? You can imprison a person but not his ideas," she said. The Centre has rushed 100 additional companies of paramilitary forces to Kashmir without assigning any reason for the heavy deployment.
Withdrawal of US troops from S Korea not under consideration, says Trump ahead of meeting with Kim
US President Donald Trump has ruled out the possibility of withdrawing American troops from South Korea as part of any deal with North Korea. President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un are scheduled to meet in Hanoi, Vietnam on February 27 and 28. Previously, they met in June last year in Singapore for the first summit. Asked if he was considering drawing down US troops from South Korea as part of any agreement with Kim, the President replied in the negative. "No, it's not. That is not a consideration. That is not one of the things on the table, he said on Friday. Trump described his first-ever historic meeting with Kim as "really fantastic" and said they had agreed to sign an unspecified document after their "very positive" summit, aimed at normalising ties and complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula. Trump said he has a great relationship with the North Korean leader. We have had such a great relationship. China has helped us a lot with North Korea and with ..
Pulwama terror attack: Scores of angry Indians protest in New York
More than a hundred US-based Indians protested outside the Pakistan consulate in New York on Friday against the terror attack which was carried out by Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) on February 14 in South Kashmir's Pulwama.Waving the tricolour, protesters raised slogans like "Pakistan Murdabad," "Global terror Pakistan, LeT Pakistan," "9/11 Pakistan," "26/11 Pakistan, Osama bin Laden Pakistan," amongst others. They also held placards which read "Pakistan - a terrorist nation" and "Pakistan Progress the country not Terrorism" at the demonstration. The Overseas Friends of BJP (OFBJP) US was among the groups that participated in the protest.Indian communities across the United States have been holding protest marches denouncing the role of Pakistan in the attack which claimed the lives of 40 CRPF personnel. Along with non-resident Indians, the global community has stood in solidarity with India against terrorism.The UN Security Council has also condemned in the ...
Trump picks US Ambassador to Canada for UN
US President Donald Trump announced that he will nominate Kelly Knight Craft, the country's incumbent Ambassador to Canada and a major Republican donor, to be Washington's Ambassador to the UN.
Microsoft workers ask Nadella to scrap US Army HoloLens contract
A group of Microsoft workers has written a letter to CEO Satya Nadella and President Brad Smith, asking them to cancel a controversial contract with the US Army.
Trump says India looking at something 'very strong' after Pulwama attack
Asserting that there is a lot of problems between India and Pakistan, US President Donald Trump has said New Delhi is looking at something "very strong" in the wake of the Pulwama terror attack. Forty CRPF personnel were killed and five injured on February 14 in one of the deadliest terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir when a suicide bomber of Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) rammed a vehicle carrying a huge quantity of explosives into their bus in Pulwama district. India launched a major diplomatic offensive against Islamabad after the attack and highlighted Pakistan's role in using terrorism as an instrument of state policy. The international community led by the US pressed Pakistan to deny safe haven to terror groups operating form its soil and bring the perpetrators of the Pulwama attack to justice. Trump, after his meeting with a visiting Chinese trade delegation led by Vice Premier Liu He, told reporters in the Oval Office of the White House on Friday that "in ..
Who measured Narendra Modi's chest?: Digvijaya takes jibe at PM over Pulwama attack
Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had not taken the Pulwama terror attack "as seriously as he should have" and asked "who measured his chest" (a jibe at the Prime Minister's 56-inch chest comment). "I am unable to understand who measured his (Modi's) chest. The Prime Minister did not take this (terror attack) as seriously as he should have. When the news of the terror attack (Pulwama) came out, he (Modi) was in Jim Corbett shooting for a film. He should have immediately left everything and returned to Delhi as this was an emergency. He should have immediately declared national mourning and called for an emergency meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security," Singh told reporters here on Friday."Such a massive convoy was passing through. In every 10-15 kilometers, there is checking done. How was 3.5 quintal of explosives not detected? Centre hasn't been able to answer these questions yet," he added.Recently, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad ...
Candlelight vigil held in New Jersey in memory of Pulwama bravehearts
North American community of Indian Origin including a majority of organisations of the Indian diaspora came together at the Royal Alberts Palace here to hold a candlelight vigil in memory of the CRPF personnel who lost their lives last week in the Pulwama terror attack. The event, held on February 21, included a flower-filled memorial and brief remarks by the Indian Consulate New York HOC, Jaideep Chola, and the mayor of Woodbridge, John McCormac. The event was also attended by Councilwoman Nancy Drumm and Alok Kumar, the President of Federation of Indian Associations (FIA) NY NJ CT.The ceremony was concluded with a candle vigil with over 600 Indians in attendance.Major associations including Bihar Jharkhand Association of North America (BAJANA), Indian Cultural Association of NJ (ICS Union), Asian American Chamber of Commerce (AICC), Telangana American Telugu Association (TATA), amongst others supported the event.As many as 40 CRPF personnel were killed in the attack which was ...
India looking at something 'very strong' post Pulwama attack: Trump
US President Donald Trump said India is looking at "something very strong" after last week's Pulwama terror attack, the responsibility for which was claimed by Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM)."Right now between Pakistan and India, there is a very, very bad situation and it's a very dangerous situation. We would like to see it stop. A lot of people were just killed. We want to see it just stop. We are very much involved in that. India is looking at something very strong. India just lost almost 50 people in the attack. I can understand that also," Trump told reporters at the White House on Friday.He also outlined that there are currently a "lot of problems between India and Pakistan" due to the terrorist attack, saying, "We're talking. A lot of people are talking. It's going to be a very, very delicate balance. Right now there is a lot of problem between India and Pakistan because of what just happened in Kashmir."The incumbent US President also brought attention to .
Economic development options after complete denuclearisation: US to N Korea
Reaffirming their resolve for a "bright" future for the Korean Peninsula, the United States on Friday (local time) held on to their stand of "working to ensure" economic development options only when North Korea "follows through on its commitment to complete denuclearization.""The President has made clear that should North Korea follow through on its commitment to complete denuclearization, we will work to ensure there are economic development options," a statement issued by The White House on Friday (local time) outlines.This stand had earlier led to a stalemate between the USA and North Korea following the first US-North Korea summit held in Singapore last year.Pyongyang has repeatedly called for relief in sanctions in recognition of the steps the country has taken towards denuclearisation, while the United States has said that such a step would only be taken after North Korea's complete denuclearisation.The statement lauds US President Donald Trump's "bold new diplomacy," which has
Trump picks Kelly Knight Craft for UN ambassador
US President Donald Trump on Friday said he intends to nominate Kelly Knight Craft, the current US ambassador to Canada, to be the new US ambassador to the UN.
'4.2bn euros, 50k jobs lost if high-speed train link to France ditched'
Brussels, Feb 23 (IANS/AKI) A total 4.2 billion euros and 50,000 jobs will "go up in smoke" if Italy's populist government pulls a planned high-speed rail link to France, European Parliament president Antonio Tajani said on Friday.
The battle for Citgo: How Venezuela's opposition leaders seized control
(Reuters) - Asdrubal Chavez, chief executive of Houston-based Citgo Petroleum Corp, boarded the Venezuelan-owned firm's corporate jet in Caracas on Jan. 30, after meeting with top officials of the embattled administration of socialist President Nicolas Maduro about the latest U.S. oil sanctions.
Trump nominates Kelly Knight Craft as next UN envoy
US President Donald Trump named Kelly Knight Craft - the US' current Ambassador to Canada- as the next US Ambassador to the United Nations. "I am pleased to announce that Kelly Knight Craft, our current Ambassador to Canada, is being nominated to be United States Ambassador to the United Nations. Kelly has done an outstanding job representing our Nation and I have no doubt that, under her leadership, our Country will be represented at the highest level. Congratulations to Kelly and her entire family!" Trump tweeted on Friday (local time).The US President had earlier nominated Heather Nauert, the former US State Department Spokeswoman, for the post after former UN envoy Nikki Haley resigned in October last year."Congratulations to Kelly Craft. She's done a great job representing us as @USAmbCanada and we know she'll be a strong voice for America at the United Nations," Haley tweeted shortly after the news broke on Friday.An administration official told CNN that Nauert had employed a ...
Road to LS polls: 6 states participate in inter-state police coordination meeting
In a bid to ensure peaceful elections, an inter-state coordination meeting of senior police officials of six states was held in Bhubaneswar on Friday.DG and ADGs from Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Telangana, West Bengal, and Odisha attended the meeting, in addition to Odisha DGP RP Sharma, Additional Chief Secretary of Home Department - Government of Odisha, CRPF IGP (Odisha), BSF IGP (Odisha) and DIG intelligence (Odisha).Police officials of the six neighboring states discussed several law and order issues including the flow of illegal money, liquor, Maoist activities, security arrangements in affected areas and Intelligence sharing to develop more impact full inter-state cooperation to tackle the challenges and holding smooth upcoming general election 2019."We already have an institutionalized mechanism for inter-state coordination in Police, today we had special coordination meeting in view of the coming election, and focus was on to deploy joint forces for tackling Left
Mueller report not expected next week: US official
Special Counsel Robert Mueller would not be delivering his report on Russian interference in the 2016 Presidential election next week, an official from the US Justice Department said on Friday.The official further told CNN that time has always been a moving target in the case, which has been decried by US President Donald Trump - who won the 2016 Presidential elections - as a "witch hunt". "Highly respected Senator Richard Burr, head of Senate Intelligence, said, after interviewing over 200 witnesses and studying over 2 million pages of documents, "WE HAVE FOUND NO COLLUSION BETWEEN THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN AND RUSSIA." The Witch Hunt, so bad for our Country, must end!" Trump had tweeted earlier on Friday (local time), amid speculations regarding the filing of Mueller's report.Mueller's findings have so far indicted close Trump aides for their activities during the 2016 elections.Roger Stone, a long time friend and advisor of Trump's is one of the most recent indictments, where Mueller's ...
Canada engineering giant in legal, political throes posts big losses
SNC-Lavalin, the engineering and construction giant at the center of a legal and political storm that has rocked Canada's Liberal government, posted a Canadian Dollar 1.6 billion quarterly loss Friday. The Montreal-based firm wrote down significant oil and gas assets and warned that its business prospects in Saudi Arabia, where it has major engineering contracts, were worsening because of a diplomatic row between Ottawa and Riyadh. The kingdom expelled Canada's ambassador and severed trade and investment ties with Ottawa in August over its rights criticisms of Saudi Arabia. More recently, SNC-Lavalin has become the focus of allegations that undue pressure was put on a former attorney general by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's office to try to settle criminal charges against the company. For its fourth quarter, the firm reported a 12 percent decline in revenues to Canadian Dollar 2.56 billion, down from Canadian Dollar 2.92 billion the same quarter last year. Its losses follow a profit
Trump rules out reducing US troops from South Korea
President Donald Trump on Friday ruled out reducing US forces from South Korea as part of a deal in his upcoming summit with North Korea. "No, it's not. That is not one of the things on the table," Trump said when asked if he would consider pulling some of the 28,500 troops from South Korea. Trump, answering questions as he met at the White House with a senior Chinese official, said he would not reveal his bargaining cards ahead of next week's summit in Hanoi. Pressed on what he would offer, Trump quipped, "Everything is on the table. Trump again hailed his relations with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, whom he met in June in Singapore in the first-ever summit between the two adversaries. The US leader will face pressure to produce more concrete results when they meet over two days at their second summit. The businessman turned president has long mused about withdrawing US troops from allies, seeing them as an expense shouldered by the United States by countries that are often ...