Page 1594 - Politics

IMG Reliance pulls out of PSL agreement post Pulwama attack

In the wake of the Pulwama terror attack, IMG Reliance, the official production company of Pakistan Super league (PSL), has withdrawn its agreement with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to live-produce the ongoing tournament.PCB released a statement saying, "We have been informed by IMG Reliance that they will be unable to partner with us for the remaining HBL PSL 2019 and PCB has reserved all its rights. The PCB always had a contingency plan in place, and we are confident we will be in a position to announce the new partner on Monday after the completion of the formalities." Following the development, PCB managing director Wasim Khan said that they are "extremely disappointed" with the "recent turn of events" and asserted that sports and politics should be kept separate."The PCB has also noted the recent turn of events and expresses its extreme disappointment as we have always believed and emphasised that sports and politics should be kept separate," Wasim said."History tells us that

European lawmakers invited by Venezuela's Guaido barred from entering

Venezuela's government on Saturday blocked five European lawmakers from entering the country, triggering an angry response by opposition leader Juan Guaido who had invited the delegation. "We are being expelled from Venezuela, our passports have been seized, they have not informed us of the reason for the expulsion," said Spanish Member of European Parliament (MEP) Esteban Gonzalez Pons, who led the group. The other lawmakers were his compatriots Jose Ignacio Salafranca and Gabriel Mato Adrover, as well as Esther de Lange of the Netherlands and Paulo Rangel of Portugal. All are members of the conservative European People's Party (PPE). Writing on Twitter, Guaido slammed the decision and said the group was "deported by an isolated and increasingly irrational regime." "The usurper is the one who is increasing the price of what is already a fact: the transition," he added, referring to embattled President Nicolas Maduro. Guaido is seeking to enlist a million volunteers within a week to ..

J-K: Encounter between security forces and terrorists

Security forces and terrorists engaged in a gunfight in the Pinglan area here of Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday morning.According to latest information, two to three terrorists are trapped in the area.This exchange comes merely days after over 40 CRPF personnel lost their lives in a deadly terror attack in Pulwama.More details awaited.

EU must make more efforts to save nuclear deal, says Iran

Iran on Sunday called on the European Union (EU) to do more to keep the nuclear deal afloat and take a stronger stance against diplomatic pressure and trade sanctions by the US.Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif at the annual Munich Security Conference of global leaders said that a recent announcement by EU's major powers to initiate an alternative payments channel called INSTEX was not enough."INSTEX falls short of the commitments by EU 3 (Germany, France and the UK) to save the nuclear deal. Europe needs to be willing to get wet if it wants to swim against the dangerous tide of U.S. unilateralism," Zarif was quoted by Anadolu News Agency as saying.The EU 3 countries announced INSTEX last month to safeguard trade with Iran, in a move to defy the US sanctions.His comments came barely a day after US Vice President Mike Pence called on the EU to leave the Iran nuclear deal and join Washington in its diplomatic and economic pressure campaign against Tehran."The time has come from our .

9 dead in Boko Haram attack in Nigeria

At least nine people died after Boko Haram militants launched a major attack on a Nigerian military base in northeastern Buni Yadi town, officials said on Sunday.The terrorists were attempting to overrun the position of Nigerian Army troops in the town, said military spokesperson Sagir Musa."Though the terrorists appeared prepared for the attack as they approached the military location with four gun trucks, a mine resistant ambush protection and assorted arms and ammunition, they, however, suffered heavy losses as five of them were effectively killed," Musa was quoted by Anadolu News Agency.He informed that four troops died in the attack, while five soldiers sustained injuries and are undergoing treatment.The military personnel also seized heavy weapons and a motorcycle used by the Boko Haram militants.The latest attack comes barely a day after 11 people, including three suicide bombers, belonging to the group, were killed near a mosque in Maiduguri city, the capital of Borno ...

Trump will 'protect' his national emergency declaration: White House advisor

US President Donald Trump will veto any effort by the Congress to annul his declaration of national emergency and will defend his announcement, said senior White House adviser Stephen Miller on Sunday.In an interview to 'Fox News Sunday', Miller said that "substantial portions" of Trump's barricade along the US-Mexico border will be completed by September 2020, just two months before the presidential elections."You're going to see probably a couple hundred miles (of wall) in time, I would say, by the end of the next appropriation cycle. All together in terms of what we already have underway, what's underway right now, and then what we're going to complete," he said.A senior administration official said that the White House is mulling to move USD 8 billion in currently appropriated or available funds towards the construction of the wall. Out of the proposed amount, around USD 3 billion could be diverted help from the emergency declaration, according to Fox News.On Friday, a defiant ...

Odisha: CPI, CPM, JMM, Cong alliance for polls

A grand alliance of Congress, Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha in Odisha is expected to counter the BJP and the ruling BJD in the coming 2019 elections, according to CPI leader D Raja.The parties are reportedly in talks and are likely to finalise seat sharing issue soon."In Odisha we are in the middle of discussions for forming an alliance with Congress, CPM and JMM. Also for the coming elections, it is more likely that Congress, CPI, CPM and JMM fight will fight collectively in Odisha," said D Raja."Desh Bachao Modi hatao has become a slogan for all in the country because all institutions are under threat, there is a feeling of fear among the people," Raja added.Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) President Niranjan Patnaik said "Although talks are in the process, nothing has finalised yet on seat sharing.

Iran summons Pak envoy over suicide attack

Iran on Sunday summoned Pakistan's ambassador after Tehran accused Islamabad of harbouring the terror outfit responsible for the deadly terror attack on its security forces.Iran lodged an official protest with Pakistan's envoy over the suicide attack in Sistan-Baluchestan province that claimed the lives of 27 paramilitary forces.Iran Foreign Ministry spokesperson Bahram Ghasemi said he "explicitly conveyed" to Pakistani Ambassador Rafat Masoud that Tehran expected Islamabad "to make a serious and decisive action" against the Jaish al-Adl outfit operating in Pakistani. The terror outfit claimed responsibility for the Wednesday's attack, Al Jazeera reported.The Iranian government urged Pakistan to take "immediate and necessary measures" to identify and arrest the terrorists of the group, Ghasemi said.In response, Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Sunday that a special delegation will be sent to Tehran to discuss the suicide attack. He promised Pakistan's ...

2 Youth Cong workers hacked to death in Kerala; UDF calls for hartal today

Two Youth Congress workers were hacked to death in Kasargod in Kerala on Sunday, police said. The duo Kripesh and Sarath Lal were attacked by unidentified assailants while they were on a motorcycle.The United Democratic Front (UDF) has called for a hartal in the Kasargod district on Monday.The Congress alleged that CPM activists were behind the attack that took place in Peria."The CPM government is attempting to destroy Congress using party goons. The young Congress activists 24-year-old Sarath Lal and 19- year-old Kripesh were attacked without any provocation in the Peria region," Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala told reporters here. "They were not involved in criminal activities. It is part of a tradition of killing in Kasargod and Kannur zilla areas. The government should identify the culprits and arrest them as soon as possible," he saidMeanwhile, the NSUI also took to twitter and said, "We condemn the cowardly attack on two @IYC activists by CPM in Kasargod, Kerala while ...

India, Morocco to sign MoU on counter-terrorism cooperation: Sushma Swaraj

Just days after the deadly Pulwama terror attack, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj who arrived in Morocco on Sunday said India will seek to consolidate its partnership with the North African country in several areas including counter-terrorism.Swaraj, on her maiden visit to the country, said an MoU on counter-terrorism cooperation will be signed between India and Morocco."Morocco has been a leader in counter-terrorism efforts and is a pioneer in fighting radicalisation. We are signing an MoU in this field to further deepen our bilateral cooperation," Swaraj said in her address to the Indian community in Rabat.Referring to the deadly terror attack in Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 40 CRPF personnel, Swaraj said she had wanted to cancel her visit, but was persuaded not to do so by Prime Minister Narendra Modi."It's my first visit to Morocco. When I tour, I do so happily but I have come here with a heavy heart. I left on (February) 16th morning and on ...

Saudi Arabia ink agreements worth $20 bn with Pak

Saudi Arabia on Sunday signed eight agreements amounting up to USD 20 billion agreement to invest in cash-starved Pakistan.The agreements were signed in the presence of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, widely known as 'MBS', who is on a two-day visit to the country.Following the signing of the agreements, Khan said that it was a "great day for Pakistanis", adding that Saudi Arabia "has always been a friend to Pakistan, whenever it needed support," The News International reported.The cricketer-turned-politician urged the Saudi leadership to consider relaxation for Pakistani pilgrims who go to Haj pilgrimage every year.Last month, Saudi Arabia had agreed to provide USD 3 billion to Pakistan as a balance of payment support to stabilise its ailing economy besides providing oil on deferred payment for three years.Thanking the Pakistani leadership for its hospitality, the Saudi Crown Prince remarked that his country will make investments to ...

Assad says Syrian constitution not for bargaining

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said on Sunday the Syrian constitution is not for bargaining.

Saudi Crown Prince signs deals to invest $20 bn in cash-strapped Pakistan

This will be his first official visit to Pakistan since his elevation to the position of crown prince in April 2017

Indian community in UAE unites against Pulwama terror attack, warns against rumours

The Indian community in the UAE gathered in large numbers at the embassy in Abu Dhabi and the consulate in Dubai to express sympathy and solidarity with the families of CRPF men killed in the terrorist strike in Pulwama on February 14. They paid candlelight homage to the jawans martyred in Pulwama and vowed to remain united in the face of terror. Speaking at the condolence meeting in Abu Dhabi, Ambassador Navdeep Suri said, "Our Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) spoke for all of us when he said that the nation's blood is boiling; the terror outfits and their masters have made a big mistake and will pay a heavy price." He said the international community has expressed strong support for India, and the UAE was among the first countries to express solidarity with India on February 14 itself. "The US has specifically named Jaish-e-Mohammed and asked Pakistan to end its support to terrorist safe havens inside the country," he said. Forty Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were ...

Netanyahu to meet Putin to improve coordination on Syria

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday said he will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow to strengthen the coordination of both countries' armies in Syria.

Saudi signs deals to invest USD 20 bn in cash-strapped Pakistan

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia on Sunday signed a slew of investment agreements worth USD 20 billion which will provide a welcome relief to the teetering economy of the cash-strapped South Asian country. At a ceremony in the Prime Minister House, Pakistan and Saudi officials signed MoUs for bilateral cooperation in a number of areas a process overseen by Pakistan premier Imran Khan and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, who arrived here late evening on a two-day visit. "Today we signed MoUs. The amount of that kind of investment is USD 20 billion. It is big for phase one and definitely it (Saudi investment in Pakistan) will grow every month, every year in bigger numbers and it will be beneficial for both the countries," the crown prince said. "Pakistan is going to be very, very important country in the future and we want to be sure we are part of that," he added. Seven agreements, including MoUs in power, petrochemical and mining sectors, were inked as Prince Salman launched his ...

Iran launches 'cruise missile capable' submarine

Iran on Sunday launched a new locally-made submarine capable of firing cruise missiles, state TV said, in the country's latest show of military might at a time of heightened tensions with the US. The launch ceremony, led by President Hassan Rouhani, took place in the southern port city of Bandar Abbas. "Today, the Islamic Republic of Iran is fully self-reliant on land, air and sea," Rouhani said. "Our defensive power is meant to defend our interests and we have never sought to attack any country," he added. Named the Fateh (Farsi for 'Conqueror'), Fars news agency said the new submarine is Iran's first in the semi-heavy category, filling a gap between the light Ghadir class and the heavy Kilo class submarines that the country possesses. Fars said the near 600-tonne underwater vessel is equipped with torpedoes and naval mines in addition to cruise missiles, and can operate more than 200 metres below sea level for up to 35 days. The US withdrew from a 2015 multilateral nuclear deal with

Trump asks Europe take back jihadists, as IS in last stand in Syria

US President Donald Trump Sunday called on his European allies to take back alleged jihadists captured in Syria, as Islamic State group fighters defended the last scrap of their "caliphate". IS declared a proto-state across parts of Syria and neighbouring Iraq in 2014, but has since lost all of it except a tiny patch of less than half a kilometre square near the Iraqi border. After years of fighting IS, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) hold hundreds of foreigners accused of fighting for the group, and well as related women and children. Syria's Kurds have repeatedly called for their countries of origin to take them back, but these nations have been reluctant. The issue has taken on greater urgency, however, amid fears of a security vacuum since Trump's shock announcement in December that US troops would withdraw. "The United States is asking Britain, France, Germany and other European allies to take back over 800 ISIS fighters that we captured in Syria and put them on ...

Polish PM nixes trip to Israel after Netanyahu Holocaust 'comment': Govt

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has cancelled a visit to Israel for a high-level summit, a government spokesperson told AFP on Sunday, after uproar in Poland over reported comments by Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu about the Poles and the Holocaust. Netanyahu -- who was initially quoted in Haaretz newspaper as saying that "The Poles collaborated with the Nazis" -- has been condemned in Poland for appearing to accuse all Polish people of cooperating with Germany during World War II. Warsaw has long been at pains to point out that Poland, which was occupied by Nazi Germany, could not have and did not collaborate in the Holocaust although individual Poles may have done so. The Israeli prime minister's office has said Netanyahu did not implicate all Poles in the Holocaust. It insisted that Netanyahu was "misquoted" in Haaretz and other publications that reported different versions of the quote. "Netanyahu spoke of Poles and not the Polish people or the country of Poland," a ...

Venezuela's Guaido calls for 'million volunteers' in aid standoff

Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido set a goal Sunday of enlisting a million volunteers within a week to confront a government blockade that has kept tons of humanitarian aid, most of it from the United States, from flowing into the country. Guaido has given February 23 -- one month to the day after he proclaimed himself acting president -- as the date for a showdown over the aid with the government of President Nicolas Maduro. Food supplies, hygiene kits and nutritional supplements have been stockpiled near the Venezuelan border in Cucuta, Colombia. Additional storage centers are supposed to open this week in Brazil and Curacao, a Dutch island off Venezuela's northern Caribbean coast. "Our principal task is to reach a million volunteers by February 23," Guaido said in a message to the 600,000 supporters who have signed up so far for the push to bring aid in. He said the volunteers would gather at designated points, or participate on social media, but has kept to himself how he ..