Page 167 - Politics
US envoy hints Israeli-Palestinian peace plan delayed to November
US President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy hinted Sunday at a further delay until early November to the unveiling of a White House peace plan for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. "I think the logic would still dictate that if we wanted to wait until a new (Israeli) government is formed, we really do have to wait until potentially as late as November 6," Jason Greenblatt said in a Jerusalem Post interview. The Trump administration had already delayed its presentation of the plan until after Israel's April 9 elections, but those polls failed to yield a government and a new election is slated for September 17. A new government will potentially come into office in early November, following the selection of a potential premier and negotiations to form a coalition. "It's no secret that the Israeli elections have certainly put a new thought into our head," Greenblatt said, in a video of the New York interview published online. "Had the elections not been called again, perhaps we would ...
Harish Rawat refutes media report claiming Rahul was misled by Cong team during LS polls
Senior Congress leader Harish Rawat on Sunday refuted a media report, claiming that Congress president Rahul Gandhi was misled by his own team and was made to believe that the party would be securing seats somewhere between 164 and 184 in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections.Speaking to ANI over the report, which has mentioned his name, Rawat said: "We make an estimated data during the election, which we share with our leader. During the Lok Sabha elections, we did the same. Unfortunately, it was proved wrong this time.""However, only the BJP is happy after getting a thumping majority. People were seen as not happy with the BJP's victory. Only BJP supporters or workers were seen celebrating. Those BJP leaders who have won are still in a dilemma over their victory," he said.According to a report by Sunday Guardian Live, Rahul's team was the reason itself for the party's massive defeat in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections.The report has claimed that Gandhi decided to step
Trump launches attack against 'dishonest' newspapers
U.S. President Donald Trump lashed out at The New York Times and The Washington Post, as tensions between the White House and some of the nation's mainstream media continue to grow.
No meeting of opposition parties so far on floor strategy
Even as the government called an all-party meeting ahead of the Parliament session on Sunday and the BJP parliamentary party executive met, no meeting of opposition parties has been held so far to decide the floor strategy.
Gulf tanker attacks: Iran says UK's stance 'unacceptable'
The Iranian Foreign Ministry has summoned British Ambassador to Tehran Robert Macaire over the accusations by London against Tehran concerning the recent attacks on two oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman, Tehran Times daily reported.
Pompeo tries rallying foreign leaders in alleged oil attacks
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is reaching out to wary foreign leaders to frame alleged Iranian attacks in a Middle East oil shipping route as a problem for the world at large, especially for Asian countries vitally dependent on that oil. Pompeo, in a series of Sunday television interviews, emphasized the U.S. international outreach in the wake of what the US says were Iranian attacks Thursday on two oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz . "I made a bunch of phone calls yesterday. I'll make a whole bunch more calls today. The world needs to unite," Pompeo said. He did not say what kind of action the Trump administration envisioned. "We are going to work to build out a set of countries that have deep vested interest in keeping that strait open to help us do that," Pompeo said. That echoed comments from acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan this past week when he said the US goal is to "build international consensus to this international problem." Iran has denied being involved in ..
NDA will seek to fulfil 130 cr Indians' dreams: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that BJP will be at the forefront of pro-people governance in the spirit of "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas" and the NDA will look forward to fulfil the dreams of 130 crore Indians who have reposed their faith in it.
APCC suspends former minister for anti-party activities
The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee has decided to suspend former minister Gautam Roy and general secretary Ramen Borthakur for anti-party activities, an APCC source said. The decision was taken on Saturday night during a meeting of the extended executive committee of the APCC, the source said. Roy, a powerful leader from the Barak Valley, had reportedly celebrated BJP's victory in Silchar and Karimganj constituencies in the recent Lok Sabha polls by allegedly distributing sweets.
Minor girl among 3 injured in Pak shelling along LoC in J-K's Poonch
Three civilians, including an 11-year-old girl, were injured when the Pakistan Army shelled villages and forward posts during ceasefire violation along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district Sunday, officials said. "At about 1930 hours Sunday, Pakistan army initiated unprovoked ceasefire violation starting with firing of small arms followed by shelling with mortars along Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch Sector", a Defence spokesman said. The Indian Army is retaliating befittingly, he said. In the firing and shelling, Maryam Bi, the minor girl, was injured in Kanote forward village and Razia and porter Akbar were injured in Shahpur forward village, the officials said. All the three have been hospitalized, they said. Pakistan Rangers violated ceasefire on Tuesday, targeting border outposts at the International Border in Hiranagar sector of Kathua district, prompting the Border Security Force (BSF) to retaliate effectively. An army jawan was also killed and three others were ...
Situation in Bengal shocking, Mamata Banerjee providing support to murderers: Mohan Bhagwat
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Sunday said the situation in West Bengal is shocking and accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of providing support to the murderers."What is happening today in Bengal can this happen on its own? The government and administration there are providing full support to the murderers, people of one group keep getting killed but nobody knows which group the perpetrators belong to," Bhagwat said at the closing ceremony of the third Sangh Shiksha Varg program here.This was Bhagwat's first public speech since Prime Minister Narendra Modi formed the government in the Center for the second successive term.Bhagwat targeted West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee by asking her to stop the violence in the state and added that this should not be allowed to happen in any other state in the country."Mamata Banerjee should stop the violence in Bengal, the elections are now over. This should not be allowed to happen in any other place in the ..
Fadnavis gives housing portfolio to Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday allocated housing portfolio to Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil while Employment Guarantee and Horticulture portfolio was given to Jaydutt Kshirsagar.Ashish Shelar got School Education, Sports, and Youth Welfare.Patil, who quit Congress recently, was sworn-in as a Cabinet minister at Raj Bhavan here. He was earlier the Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly.His son Sujay Vikhe Patil was elected during the recent Lok Sabha polls from Ahmednagar seat in the state on the BJP ticket.Jaidatta Kshirsagar and Tanaji Sawant of Shiv Sena, besides Aashish Shelar, Sanjay Kute, Suresh Bhau Khade, Anil Bonde and Ashok Uike of BJP also took oath as Cabinet ministers.BJP leaders Yogesh Sagar, Sanjay Bhegde, Parinay Fuke, and Atul Save, besides Avinash Mahtekar of the RPI, were sworn-in as Ministers of State.
Israel PM inaugurates Golan settlement honouring Trump
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday inaugurated a new settlement in the Golan Heights, named after the country's "great friend" US President Donald Trump. Netanyahu unveiled a "Trump Heights" sign, featuring an Israeli and a US flag, to mark the site of the new settlement. The ceremony comes after the US president in late March recognised Israeli sovereignty over the part of the strategic plateau it seized from Syria in the 1967 Six-Day War. Israel later annexed the area in a move never recognised by the international community. "The Golan is Israeli and will remain so always", Netanyahu declared. Trump is "a very great friend of Israel who has taken a decision that has never before been taken", he added. Surrounding a large table, Israel's cabinet met under a tent in the north of the Golan to name the planned settlement, in the presence of US ambassador to Israel David Friedman. Outside the tent, a sign bearing the name of the settlement was unveiled shortly after an
Brazil development bank chief quits, fueling political crisis
The head of Brazil's powerful state development bank quit Sunday a day after far-right President Jair Bolsonaro threatened to sack him, fueling a political crisis engulfing the government. BNDES president Joaquim Levy, a Chicago-educated economist and former finance minister in the left-wing government of ex-president Dilma Rousseff, submitted his resignation to Economy Minister Paulo Guedes after Bolsonaro said he had a "price on his head." Levy's sudden departure follows a tumultuous week for a government less than six months into its term, in which Bolsonaro fired his third minister, retired general Carlos Alberto dos Santos Cruz, who had clashed with Bolsonaro's sons, and then sacked the head of Brazil's postal service. Justice Minister Sergio Moro also has faced calls for his resignation after an investigative website published leaked documents showing he collaborated with anticorruption prosecutors to keep leftist icon Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva out of the 2018 presidential race,
Meeting of protesting Bengal doctors, CM likely on Monday
Agitating doctors in West Bengal softened their stand on Sunday, leaving it to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to decide the meeting venue with them, but insisted that it should be held in the presence of media and recorded. The chief minister is learnt to have agreed to a meeting on Monday at an auditorium adjacent to the state secretariat. "The chief minister has agreed for the meeting tomorrow. We have invited two representatives from each medical college and hospital," a state government source told PTI. Banerjee, however, is not "comfortable" with their proposal of media presence inside the meeting venue, he said. "The meeting could either be held at the auditorium or at the chief minister's office. We have passed on this message to the junior doctors," the source said. Banerjee had on Saturday invited the agitators for closed-door talks, but the offer was turned down by them. Talking to reporters after a two-and-half-hour-long meeting on Sunday of its governing body, a ...
New poll shows Trump trailing Biden and four other Democrats
A nationwide Fox News poll released Sunday shows President Donald Trump trailing former vice president Joe Biden and no fewer than four other Democratic contenders as early campaigning for the 2020 election begins to gain steam. A separate survey of battleground states, by CBS, shows Democrats strongly favour Biden as the candidate most likely to beat Trump in next year's elections. The Fox poll showed Biden leading Trump by 49 percent to 39 percent among all registered voters nationwide, while Senator Bernie Sanders held nearly the same advantage over the president, at 49 per cent to 40 per cent. Holding edges of 1 or 2 points over Trump -- albeit within the poll's 3-point margin of error -- were Senators Elizabeth Warren and Kamala Harris, as well as Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Indiana. The polling comes more than 500 days before the November 3, 2020 election, an eternity in the political world. One widely viewed tweet this week shows five presidential candidates in recent ..
BJP's journey from 2014 to 2019 was from hope to trust: Jitendra
Union minister Jitendra Singh Sunday said the BJP's journey from 2014 to 2019 was the "journey from hope to trust". Addressing a meeting of the Jammu and Kashmir working committee, Singh said these elections were contested by the masses who had reposed their trust in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's works. He said the BJP's journey from 2014 to 2019 was the "journey from hope to trust" and it formed the crux of BJP's political resolution which was adopted on Sunday. Singh said the government's second term reflects the success and popularity of BJP's welfare schemes and policies among the masses. He attacked the opposition over its negative campaigns and praised the youth for successfully highlighting the party's policies and schemes on social media without any self-interest. He claimed that there had been more development in the last few years than had been in 70 years and cited a number of examples. The BJP Sunday held detailed deliberations on organisational and policy matters on the .
NDA family shall fulfill regional aspirations, work untiringly for national progress: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday assured that the 130 crore Indians, who have reposed unparalleled faith in BJP-led NDA alliance, will fulfill regional aspirations and work untiringly for national progress."We, the NDA family look forward to fulfilling the dreams of 130 crore Indians, who have reposed unparalleled faith in our alliance. We shall fulfill regional aspirations and work untiringly for national progress. Here are glimpses from the NDA meet in New Delhi," he tweeted.Prime Minister Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari along with other leaders were present at the NDA meeting that took place today evening.The meeting comes a day ahead of the first session of the 17th Lok Sabha which will be convened from June 17 to July 26 during which the Union Budget will be presented by the new government on July 5.On the first two days, new MPs will take the oath. The election for the Speaker of the ...
Former diplomats advise caution over Pakistani intelligence inputs on terror attack
Pakistan sharing intelligence inputs about a major terror strike in Kashmir is a good development but there is a need to be circumspect, former diplomats have said, noting that Islamabad is facing pressure from the US and organisations such as FATF to take concrete action against terror groups.
Hong Kong's Joshua Wong to be released from prison Monday: party
Joshua Wong, the student leader who became the face of Hong Kong's "Umbrella Movement" democracy protests nearly five years ago, will be released from prison on Monday, his party said late Sunday. In a statement, Demosisto -- the party he co-founded -- said the 22-year-old activist would be released from Lai Chi Kok Correctional Institute at 10.30am (0230 GMT). Wong was sent back to prison in May after he lost an attempt to quash a jail sentence over his leadership of the huge democracy protests he helped lead in 2014. His release comes as Hong Kong is rocked by another outbreak of huge protests, this time sparked by mass public opposition to a plan to allow extraditions to China. Organisers said some two million people turned out on Sunday for the mammoth rally which was still going on as the announcement was made that Wong would be released. Wong, who was 17 when the 2014 protests began, was jailed for three months in January 2018 on a contempt charge after pleading guilty to ...
Pompeo vows US will guarantee passage through Strait of Hormuz
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo vowed Sunday that the US will guarantee free passage through the vital Strait of Hormuz, as he accused Iran of recent attacks on oil tankers and the downing of a US drone. Pompeo confirmed in an interview with CBS that a US MQ-9 "Reaper" drone was shot down June 6 with a missile fired from Yemen "that we assess had Iranian assistance." Pompeo would not be drawn on what options the US is considering to protect shipping -- or to punish Iran -- in the wake of Thursday's attacks on two tankers in the Gulf of Oman, but reiterated that President Donald Trump is not seeking war with Iran. "What you should assume is we are going to guarantee freedom of navigation throughout the strait," he said in an interview on "Fox News Sunday." Iran has denied the US charges as "baseless" and said they were made without "a shred of factual or circumstantial evidence." A third of the world's seaborne oil supply passes through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow channel bordered to