Page 1608 - Politics
Mexico wall: Trump defends his emergency move
US President Donald Trump has defended his move to impose a national emergency in the country, saying that "we have an invasion of drugs, gangs, people, and it's unacceptable".
Two States only just solution for Israel-Palestine conflict: UN chief
A "peaceful and just solution" to the longstanding Israel-Palestine conflict can only be achieved through creation of two States living side-by-side in peace and security, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said, asserting that there is no plan B. In his address to the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, which was established by the UN General Assembly in 1975, Guterres said on Friday that "based on relevant UN resolutions, long-held principles, previous agreements and international law", Jerusalem should be the capital of both States. "Unfortunately, over this past year, the situation has not moved in that direction", he rued, pointing to protests that began along the border fence with Gaza last year that left hundreds dead and thousands wounded by Israeli security forces. He also cited "security incidents and provocations by Hamas and other militants in Gaza", including the launching of rockets and incendiary kites that dangerously ..
Saudi Crown Prince Salman's first visit to Pak delayed by a day
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman's arrival in Pakistan on his first official visit to the country has been delayed by a day for "unknown reasons". He was scheduled to reach Islamabad on Saturday but due to a slight change, he will arrive on Sunday, according to the Foreign Office. However, the programmes of his stay in Pakistan will remain unchanged, it said. Prince Mohammad, who is also the deputy prime minister and minister of defence, will be conferred with Nishan-e-Pakistan the highest civilian award during his visit to the country, the Express Tribune reported. A top official said that the arrival has been delayed by a day for "unknown reasons". Preparations have been made to give an "unprecedented warm welcome" to the Saudi Prince who will be received personally by Prime Minister Imran Khan and his cabinet members at the Nur Khan Airbase, the report said. Abdul Razzak Dawood, Advisor to prime minister on trade, said investment deals worth USD 10-15 billion dollars would .
Pulwama attack: Mortal remains of bravehearts arrive amidst anti-Pak slogans
Amid slogans of "Pakistan Murdabaad", mortal remains of slain Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel draped in the Indian flag were brought to their respective native places on Saturday.Teary-eyed locals of Tofapur village in Varanasi received the mortal remains of CRPFjawanRameshYadav.The mortal remains of CRPF jawan Rohitash Lamba were brought to his native place in Govindpura, Jaipur.The daughter of deceased CRPF ASI Mohan Lal paid last tributes to her father. Massive anger has erupted across the nation over the ghastly attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama that claimed the lives of 40 CRPF jawans. While people paid tributes to the martyrs by holding candlelight vigils, demonstrations were held at many places against Pakistan with demands being put forth to take action against the neighbouring country for its "continuous support to terror groups."On Friday, agitators in Ahmedabad thrashed posters of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar during a protest against the ...
Nigerian presidential polls postponed to Feb. 23
In the wake of a massacre that claimed 66 lives on the eve of the country's presidential election on Saturday, the national polling body announced the poll have been postponed until February 23 as scheduled voting was not "feasible".
Top US lawmakers rally behind India; say Pulwama attack won't weaken resolve of Indians
Describing the Pulwama terrorist attack as a despicable act of violence, top US lawmakers have rallied behind India's effort to fight terrorism and said that such heinous crimes will not weaken the resolve of its people. So far, more than 70 American lawmakers including 15 Senators have condemned the attack. At least 40 CRPF personnel were killed and many injured on Thursday in one of the deadliest terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir when a Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) suicide bomber rammed a vehicle carrying over 100 kg of explosives into their bus in Pulwama district. The "terrorist attack against Indian paramilitary police is a despicable act of violence, however, I know it will not weaken the resolve of the Indian people," said Senator Thom Tillis, a member of the Senate India Caucus. "The American people and the American government stand fully behind our ally India and their fight to defend their democracy and end the threat of violent extremism," he said. As a member of the Armed ...
Indian HC to Pak arrives in Delhi for consultations on Pulwama terror attack
Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan Ajay Bisaria arrived here on Saturday for consultations with senior officials and leadership over the Pulwama terror attack, sources said.The Indian envoy has been called for consultations at a time when the government is looking at options for giving a befitting reply to Pakistan over the dastardly terror attack in Pulwama which claimed the lives of 40 CRPF personnel.In the wake of the attack, the Centre on Friday announced its decision to withdraw the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status granted unilaterally to Pakistan while asserting that there is "incontrovertible evidence" about Islamabad's involvement in the gruesome terror attack."Most Favoured Nation status to Pakistan stands withdrawn," said Finance Minister Arun Jaitley after a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on Friday.India will also make all possible efforts to ensure "complete isolation" of Pakistan in the international community and work for early adoption of the ...
America supports India's right to self-defence: US NSA Bolton to Ajit Doval
In the wake of the Pulwama terror attack, US National Security Adviser John Bolton told his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval on Friday that America supports India's right to self-defence as both sides vowed to work together to ensure that Pakistan ceases to be a safe heaven for JeM and other terror groups. Doval and Bolton held a telephonic conversation on Friday evening during which they resolved to hold Pakistan to account for its obligations under the UN resolutions and remove all obstacles to designate Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) leader Masood Azhar as a global terrorist, the External Affairs Ministry (EAM) said in New Delhi. It said that Bolton supported India's right to self-defence against cross-border terrorism and offered all assistance to India to bring the perpetrators and backers of the attack promptly to justice. The call was initiated by the US side to express condolence and outrage over the Pulwama attack by Pakistan-based terrorist group JeM. At least 40 CRPF personnel were ...
China-U.S. trade talks 'making a final sprint' - state media
SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Chinese state media on Saturday expressed cautious optimism over trade talks between the United States and China, a day after President Xi Jinping said a week of discussions had produced "step-by-step" progress.
US asks Pak to freeze funds of designated terror groups, supports actions against JeM
The US Friday asked Pakistan to freeze without delay the funds and other financial assets of the UNSC-designated terrorist networks and their leaders. It also said it fully supports actions to prevent the outlawed Jaish-e-Mohammed from conducting future attacks. Pakistan-based JeM has claimed responsibility for the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on Thursday that left at least 40 CRPF soldiers dead and five others critically wounded. A State Department spokesperson told PTI, "Pakistan outlawed Jaish-e-Mohammed in 2002. However, the group still operates in Pakistan. The US designated JeM as a foreign terrorist organization in December 2001, and we fully support actions to prevent them from conducting future attacks." In addition, the UNSC designated JeM on its 1267 ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qa'ida Sanctions List in 2001, the official noted. "We expect Pakistan to uphold its responsibilities pursuant to UN Security Council resolutions to deny safe haven and support for
Theresa May prepares for fresh talks with EU leaders
British Prime Minister Theresa May is to return to Brussels within days to meet European Union (EU) officials in a bid to rescue her Brexit deal.
California to sue Trump administration over emergency declaration
California Governor Gavin Newsom has announced plans to sue the Donald Trump administration over the President's declaration of a national emergency to access funds for building a wall on the Mexican border.
Nigeria postpones presidential election for one week
Nigeria's electoral watchdog on Saturday postponed presidential and parliamentary elections for one week, just hours before polls were due to open. Polling had been due to start at nearly 120,000 polling units in Africa's most populous nation at 0700 GMT, with a record 73 candidates on the ballot. President Muhammadu Buhari is seeking a second term of office, but is facing a stiff challenge from the main opposition candidate, former vice-president Atiku Abubakar. But the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu, said after late night emergency talks that the timetable was "no longer feasible". "Consequently, the commission has decided to reschedule to Saturday February 23, 2019," he told reporters at INEC headquarters about five hours before scheduled polling. Parliamentary elections for 360 seats in the lower House of Representatives and 109 seats in the Senate will be held on the same day. Governorship and state assembly elections will be ...
Saudi Crown Prince's visit to Pakistan delayed
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman's visit to Pakistan has been delayed by a day. He is now scheduled to arrive in the country for a two-day visit starting from February 17 (Sunday), Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said on Friday.Earlier, the Saudi Crown Prince was slated to arrive in Islamabad on Saturday, but now the visit has been postponed by a day. The Pakistan foreign ministry did not divulge the reason behind the change in schedule, adding that the bilateral engagements "remains unchanged," The Dawn reported.The Saudi Crown Prince will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, including members of the royal family, ministers and businessmen.This will be the Saudi Crown Prince's maiden visit to Pakistan since becoming the heir to the throne in 2017. Security has been beefed up in the Pakistani capital ahead of his arrival.The sudden change in schedule comes after Saudi Arabia strongly condemned the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district that claimed the lives of .
India says Pakistan's links with Pulwama attack clear for all to see
India has rejected Pakistan Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua's claims denying her country's links to the Pulwama terror attack, saying that JeM, which claimed responsibility for the attack on Thursday, is based in Pakistan, and the "links are clear and evident and for all to see".
European elections 'to change EU': Salvini
Rome, Feb 16 (IANS/AKI) The European Parliament elections in May will "change" the European Union, Italy's Interior Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini has said.
US supplies aid to Venezuela migrants in Colombia
The US military on Friday (local time) delivered relief supplies to Venezuelan migrants in Colombia.The aid, comprising food, medical supplies and hygiene kits, comes as the Donald Trump administration continues to put pressure on embattled Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to step down from his post, The Hill reported."The United States remains deeply concerned about the crisis in Venezuela that has consequences for the entire region. A whole of government approach is needed to respond to the humanitarian impacts of this political and economic crisis," said Pentagon spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Jamie Davis.He added that the request for relief came from Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido, who has been recognised by scores of countries, including the US as the country's interim President."In response to Interim President Juan Guaido's request for international aid, the United States has pre-positioned relief supplies - including food, hygiene kits, and medical supplies - in ...
Top US general unhappy with Trump's decision of withdrawing troops from Syria, says IS far from defeated
A top US general in the Middle East on Friday disagreed with President Donald Trump's last December decision of withdrawing around 2,000 troops, warning that the Islamic State (IS) was "far from defeated", contradicting the President's opinion that the terror outfit was "fully defeated."General Joseph Votel, who has been leading the campaign against IS, said that the US-backed military forces in Syria were not ready to handle the looming threat of IS on their own."It would not have been my military advice at that particular time ... I would not have made that suggestion, frankly. (The caliphate) still has leaders, still has fighters, it still has facilitators, it still has resources, so our continued military pressure is necessary to continue to go after that network," CNN quoted Votel as saying while referring to the terror group.Furthermore, Votel asserted that Trump would have made the decision only if he was sure that the IS no longer posed a threat."When I say, 'we have defeated .
Maduro blasts US for 'stealing' billions and offering 'crumbs'
Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro hit out at the United States on Friday for "stealing" billions of dollars and offering "crumbs" in return as humanitarian aid. Tons of US aid is piling up in Colombia close to the border with Venezuela as opposition leader Juan Guaido has vowed to defy Maduro's efforts to block the supplies from entering the country. "It's a booby trap, they're putting on a show with rotten and contaminated food," said Maduro, speaking at an event in the southeastern town of Ciudad Bolivar. "They've stolen $30 billion and are offering four crumbs of rotten food," added the beleaguered socialist leader, referring to the United States. Venezuela is in the midst of an economic crisis that has left millions in poverty and facing shortages of basic necessities such as food and medicine. Guaido, who is recognized by 50 countries as the interim president, accuses Maduro of causing economic hardship through mismanagement. Among those countries is Costa Rica, whose foreign ...
Trump announces national emergency
A defiant US President Donald Trump on Friday (local time) declared a national emergency to bypass Congress and fulfill his long-pending demand of building a wall along the border with Mexico.Defending his move, Trump asserted that he had "no choice" but to use his emergency powers to stop illegal immigrants spreading crime and drugs."I am going to be signing a national emergency. It's a great thing to do because we have an invasion of drugs, invasion of gangs, invasion of people," The Hill quoted Trump as saying at a press conference in Rose Garden.Acknowledging that his move could be challenged legally, Trump remarked that his decision would eventually prevail. He said that he could wait for a "long time" to build his long-called barrier, but added that he wanted to move "faster" in this regard."I could do the wall over a long period of time. I didn't need to do this, but I'd rather do it much faster," he said.As expected, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader ...