Page 1697 - Politics
Dutch, Russia in talks about responsibility in MH17 downing
The Netherlands is in diplomatic discussions with Russia about the European country's assertion that Moscow bears legal responsibility for its role in the 2014 downing of a passenger jet over Ukraine, the Dutch foreign minister said. Foreign Minister Stef Blok Thursday said the initial diplomatic contacts were aimed at paving the way for formal talks and conducted in "a positive atmosphere." He said it was too early to say where and when formal talks might take place. "There are diplomatic contacts to see if we can begin formal talks about national responsibility for shooting down MH17," Blok told Dutch reporters. The Netherlands and Australia said last year they held Russia legally responsible for providing the missile that brought down Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over conflict-ravaged eastern Ukraine. All 298 passengers and crew members were killed. About two-thirds of the people killed when a Buk missile fired from territory held by pro-Russian rebels slammed into the Boeing 777 ...
Will eradicate divisive politics in UP: Priyanka Gandhi
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who has been recently announced as the general secretary of Uttar Pradesh-East, on Thursday assured people that she will eradicate divisive politics in the state and will work towards uniting people.During a meeting at the Congress headquarters on Thursday which was convened by party president Rahul Gandhi to discuss various strategies for the upcoming polls, Priyanka asserted that she will leave no stone unturned to ensure Congress party's victory in Uttar Pradesh.She said, "I have taken this charge a few days ago and am trying to understand a lot of things, however, I would like to assure you that I will leave no stone unturned to ensure that the party benefits in the state." Elaborating upon the details of the meeting, party spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala stated: "Priyanka has assured that she will eliminate divisive politics in Uttar Pradesh and will work towards bringing people together. Moreover, she has also said that she will not sit peacefully ...
South Africa President Ramaphosa confirms national elections scheduled on May 8
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, during his State of the Nation address here on Thursday (local time) announced that national elections in the country would be held on May 8 this year.During his speech, the President stated that South Africa has made tremendous improvement in the last one year, since he joined the Office in February 2018, and had begun to recover from "a period of uncertainty and a loss of confidence and trust" under the previous government headed by Jacob Zuma, Washington Post reported.Ramaphosa further told the parliament that in 2019 his government would focus on five key sectors, namely speeding up inclusive growth, improving the education system, improving the lives of his deprived citizens, fighting against corruption and strengthening the state.Ramaphosa was elected as the new President of South Africa last year after Zuma resigned before a no-confidence motion was to be passed, ending weeks-long power struggle in the ruling African National Congress ...
Ivanka Trump project seeks to help women in developing world
Ivanka Trump launched a White House effort aimed at helping 50 million women in the developing world get ahead economically over the next six years. The White House on Thursday unveiled the Women's Global Development and Prosperity Initiative, a government-wide project led by the senior adviser and daughter to President Donald Trump. The initiative will involve the State Department, the National Security Council and other agencies. It aims to coordinate current programs and develop new ones to assist women in areas such as job training, financial support, and legal or regulatory reforms. Calling it a "historic step," the president signed a national security memorandum to officially launch the effort, framing it as a way to promote stability around the world. He was joined in the Oval Office by Ivanka Trump, elected officials, Cabinet members, business leaders and women who have benefited from such programs. "Investing in women helps achieve greater peace and prosperity between ...
Trump says no Xi meeting expected before trade talks deadline
US President Donald Trump has said that he does not expect to meet his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping before a March 1 deadline in trade war negotiations between the two economic superpowers. "Not yet," Trump told reporters at the White House on Thursday when asked if a meeting had been arranged for within the next month. Asked if a meeting could happen before March 1, he said: "No." Trump has said that final resolution of the trade dispute would depend on him and Xi meeting "in the near future." There had been speculation that Trump might meet the Chinese leader after he flies to Vietnam in late February for a summit with North Korea's Kim Jong Un. The United States has threatened to more than double existing tariffs on Chinese goods at the start of March if there is no agreement on measures to reform China's trade practices, which Washington says are deeply unfair.
US Democrats unveil carbon-neutral 'Green New Deal'
Congressional Democrats have unveiled an unprecedented plan to reverse climate change and eliminate all US carbon emissions within 10 years, by taking drastic steps that would require transformational action across the economy. The "Green New Deal" introduced by liberal congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a rising Democratic star in the House, and Senator Ed Markey on Thursday is a dramatic, potentially unrealistic, statement of intent on a sustainable path forward. "This is our first step," Ocasio-Cortez told reporters. "Today is the day we choose to assert ourselves as a global leader in transitioning to 100 percent renewable energy and charting that path." The plan does not detail exactly how America will wean itself off of fossil fuels, or how much the ambitious transformation will cost. The Republican Party hammered the deal as a "socialist wish list" which could cost upwards of $2 trillion. The non-binding resolution is effectively a blueprint of dramatic action -- it ...
Trump confirms he won't meet with China's Xi before March 1 trade deadline
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump confirmed on Thursday that he did not plan to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping before a March 1 deadline set by the two countries to achieve a trade deal.
France to continue defence cooperation with Cameroon
France aims to continue its defence cooperation with Cameroon "in which it acts according to current international norms", French Foreign Ministry's spokeswoman Agnes von der Muhll said on Thursday.
Senate panel approves Trump's attorney general nominee
The Senate Judiciary Committee approved William Barr's nomination for attorney general along party lines Thursday, with Republicans praising his credentials and Democrats questioning how transparent he'll be once special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation concludes. The vote now heads to the full Senate, where Barr is expected to be confirmed in a vote as soon as next week. Barr, who previously served as attorney general from 1991 to 1993, would succeed Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who was pushed out by Trump last year over the president's anger that he had recused from the Russia investigation. Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker is currently filling the position. "I appreciate what Mr. Whitaker has done, but I think it's time for new leadership at the department," Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican and committee chairman, said at the outset of Thursday's meeting. Democrats and many Republicans have said they believe Mueller's final report should be ..
'Sizeable distance' remains in China trade talks: White House adviser
Washington and Beijing are still a "sizeable distance" apart in the trade talks, and no date has been set for a meeting between the countries' leaders, a top White House adviser said Thursday. The remarks helped deepen losses on Wall Street, which opened lower on Thursday following downbeat economic forecasts for major European economies. President Donald Trump last week said he expected to meet with China's President Xi Jinping in person "in the near future" to seal a final trade deal. But top White House economist Larry Kudlow told Fox Business on Thursday that "No date has been set, no time, no place, no nothing at the moment." And while Trump was "optimistic" about prospects for a deal, there remains a "sizeable distance" separating the two sides, Kudlow said. The benchmark Dow Jones Industrial Average lost more than 300 points following Kudlow's remarks and shortly before 1730 GMT was down 1.3 per cent for the day at 25,075.31. Last week, Trump and Chinese officials had expressed
IS down to less than 1% of original 'caliphate': coalition
Recent gains by Kurdish-led forces in Syria have shrunk the Islamic State group's "caliphate" to less than one percent of its original size, the US-led coalition said on Thursday. Major General Christopher Ghika, the coalition's deputy commander, described the size of the last patch of land held by the jihadists as "now less than one percent of the original caliphate". The coalition and allied Kurdish forces have captured "approximately 99.5 per cent" of IS-controlled territory, he said in a statement. At its height, the jihadist proto-state proclaimed by IS in Syria and Iraq in June 2014 was roughly the size of Britain. But it has since lost most of that territory to various offensives. The jihadists are now clinging on to a small sliver of land near the village of Baghouz in eastern Syria and many residents are fleeing and turning themselves in ahead of a final offensive. Jihadists "are attempting to escape through intermixing with the innocent women and children attempting to flee .
Pak Prime Minister to visit UAE on Sunday
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan will be on a day-long visit to the United Arab Emirates on Sunday, Foreign Office said on Thursday. Khan will be visiting Dubai on February 10 on the invitation of the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and the ruler of the Emirate of Dubai Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum to participate in the 7th edition of the World Government Summit, it said. "Prime Minister Imran Khan will visit Dubai on February 10, 2019, on a day-long visit," the FO said. The annual gathering of heads of states, policy makers, business leaders and experts will provide an occasion to discuss current and future opportunities to improve governance through reform, innovation and technology, it said. Imran Khan's participation will underscore Pakistan's strong interest in the knowledge economy, artificial intelligence, green development and the importance of innovation for growth. In his key note address, the Prime Minister will highlight his vision for a strong and .
EC officials met law secretary on electoral reforms issue: CEC
The Election Commission has pitched for electoral reforms ahead of Lok Sabha elections due this summer. CEC Sunil Arora said Thursday that EC officials recently met top Law Ministry officials on the issue. Responding to a question on reforms during an event here, he said, "We (EC officials) had a meeting with the law secretary on reforms," adding, "they are trying to expedite it". The reforms being pushed by the poll panel include making filing of false declaration a ground for disqualification of candidates and putting a cap on expenditure by them in legislative council polls. While the Law Ministry is the administrative ministry for the EC, the Legislative Department is the nodal unit for issues related to the poll panel. In its report on electoral reforms submitted in March 2015, the Law Commission had proposed extending constitutional protection to the two election commissioners. The EC had been pushing to extend constitutional protection to the election commissioners. The event ..
Sitting MPs, few MLAs, kin in race for Cong LS tickets from Punjab
Sitting MPs, at least five MLAs, a minister, a former Union Minister and some of their kin are in race after they staked claim for the party ticket to contest from various parliamentary constituencies in Punjab, a party official said. According to Sandeep Sandhu, Office Secretary, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, the number of aspirants who are seeking party tickets for the Lok Sabha seats from Punjab had crossed 130 on Thursday. Among the MLAs who have staked their claim to fight the upcoming LS polls include Raj Kumar Chhabewal, Kulbir Zira, Randeep Nabha and Sushil Rinku. Sports Minister Rana Gurmeet Singh Sodhi too has thrown his hat in the ring as aspirant from Ferozepur. Sandhu said that all the four sitting MPs of the Congress from Jalandhar, Gurdaspur, Amritsar and Ludhiana have also staked claim for party ticket. Former Union Minister Preneet Kaur, who is also former MP from Patiala, too has staked her claim from that parliamentary constituency, Sandhu said. Some of the kin
Goa assembly won't complete its term: Chavan
Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan claimed Thursday that the Goa Legislative Assembly would be dissolved prematurely. Chavan was addressing a gathering after felicitating Congress leader and former state chief minister Pratapsinh Rane on his 80th birthday here. Chavan said collapse of the BJP-led Goa government was imminent. "The people of the constituency have shown immense love for Rane, otherwise it is difficult to get elected to the Assembly eleven times," he said. "I am sure he will complete 50 years as MLA, if the current assembly is not dissolved. There is also a suggestion that you should contest Lok Sabha election," Chavan added. "I am sure the (Goa) government will collapse and current Assembly would be dissolved. He (Rane) will have to fight yet another Assembly election to create history by completing 50 years as MLA," the former Maharashtra CM said. Chavan lauded Rane for showing the right way when he was Goa chief minister. "Had Goa not got .
A grand alliance govt can work, contends Gowda citing his experience
Former prime minister H D Deve Gowda on Thursday rejected claims of BJP leaders that a "grand alliance government" will create chaos, and said the multi-party dispensation led by him had proved it can work. Speaking in Lok Sabha during a debate on motion of thanks to President's address, the 85-year-old JD(S) leader, who was visibly emotional, said he spent 57 years in public life in state and national politics and this was his last speech. Recalling his days as the prime minister, Gowda, who led a coalition government for 10 months between 1996-97, said he was not keen to occupy the chair since the issues involved in running a multi-party dispensation. He said his name came only after then prime minister V P Singh and CPI(M) leader and then West Bengal chief minister Jyoti Basu declined to accept the position. Listing out measures undertaken by his government in several areas, Gowda said after the World Bank declined to extend monetary assistance, he had decided to use the blackmoney
Rahul forms election committee, campaign committee for J&K
Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday formed the coordination committee, the pradesh election committee and the campaign committee for the party's Jammu and Kashmir unit, it said. Ambika Soni was named chairperson of the coordination committee, while Ghulam Ahmad Mir was named chairperson of the election committee and the campaign committee. Gandhi also formed the media coordination committee and the publicity committee in the state. He appointed Ram Kumar Walia as the vice chairman of the Kisan Congress. He appointed 31 district Congress committee presidents in Telangana.
Over 28 lakh new voters added in Maharashtra
Over 28 lakh new voters have been added to the voter list in Maharashtra as part of the summary revision of electoral rolls. As per the revised list published on January 31, 35,68,352 voters have been added while 7,29,335 names have been deleted. Thus net addition in the voter list is 28,39,017. An official in the state election office saidthis takes the total number of eligible voters for Lok Sabha elections in the state is 8,73,30,384. The total number of voters in 2014 Lok Sabha elections was 8.07 crore. Out of the 28.39 lakh new voters, around 11.9 lakh are in the age group of 18 to 19 years, the official informed.
Cong to lead Oppn alliance in Jharkhand for LS polls: JMM sources
The Congress will lead the opposition alliance in Jharkhand for the Lok Sabha polls and contest more seats than any other partner in the state, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha sources said Thursday. The JMM will lead the opposition alliance, that has the Congress, Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM), and the Rashtriya Janata Dal as its part, in the assembly polls also slated for this year, they said. The understanding was given concrete shape as JMM leader and former Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren met Congress chief Rahul Gandhi here. Congress' state unit chief Ajoy Kumar and All India Congress Committee general secretary in-charge of the state R P N Singh were also present during the meeting. "Met former Chief Minister of Jharkhand and Executive President of JMM, Shri Hemant Soren ji at my residence today. We are together in this fight for saving democracy," Gandhi tweeted after the meeting.
Trump lashes out as Democrats open probes into his taxes, Russia ties
President Donald Trump blasted Democrats on Thursday as they prepared to launch a barrage of investigations into his Russia ties, real estate business and long-hidden taxes. Empowered by their election takeover of the House of Representatives, Democrats were to hold two hearings Thursday focused on Trump's tax returns and his controversial policy to separate immigrant children from their parents at the US-Mexico border. Trump's acting attorney general Matthew Whitaker is scheduled to appear before the House Judiciary Committee on Friday. The committee is threatening a subpoena if he refuses to testify and hand over communications with the president related to Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian election meddling. And House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff is staffing up to expand their probe into Trump's political and business ties to Russia, with Trump's former personal lawyer Michael Cohen scheduled to testify in late February. "The Dems and their .