Page 1705 - Politics
Images suggest Iran launched satellite despite US criticism
Iran appears to have attempted a second satellite launch despite US criticism that its space program helps the country develop ballistic missiles, satellite images released Thursday suggest. Iran did not immediately acknowledge conducting such a launch. Images released by the Colorado-based company DigitalGlobe show a rocket at the Imam Khomeini Space Center in Iran's Semnan province on Tuesday. Images from Wednesday show the rocket was gone with what appears to be burn marks on its launch pad. It wasn't immediately clear if the satellite, if launched, made it into orbit. In the images, words written in Farsi in large characters on the launch pad appeared to say in part "40 years" and "Iranian made," in different sections. That is likely in reference to the 40th anniversary of Iran's Islamic Revolution, which authorities have been celebrating this month. Iranian state media did not immediately report on the rocket launch, though such delays have happened in previous launches. Iran has
US House panel to probe Trump's finances, Russia
A US House panel has announced that it would conduct a broad investigation into President Donald Trump's finances and Russia.
Mexico, Uruguay propose four-stage mechanism for peace in Venezuela
Mexico and Uruguay on Wednesday in this capital proposed the so-called "Montevideo Mechanism," a four-stage process consisting of immediate dialogue, negotiation, commitments and implementation to achieve peace in Venezuela.
ISIS-held territory may be fully liberated next week: Trump
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said that by next week he may be able to formally confirm that the Islamic State terror organization has lost all the territory it once controlled.
US to lift sanctions on Venezuela Army Officers shifting to Guaido regime
The United States on Wednesday proposed to end sanctions on senior Venezuela Army officers who switch their allegiance to National Assembly leader Juan Guaido, whom the Trump-led US government recognises as the legitimate President of Venezuela.US National Security Advisor John Bolton took to Twitter saying, "The U.S. will consider sanctions off-ramps for any Venezuelan senior military officer that stands for democracy and recognises the constitutional government of President Juan Guaido. If not, the international financial circle will be closed off completely. Make the right choice!"President Trump last week had stated that military action in the South American nation "was an option", because of the "horrible things that were happening in that country."On Tuesday, in a stern warning against Trump's remarks, embattled Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said that Trump risks "staining his hands with blood" if he attempts to pursue military action in his strife-torn South American ...
Trump back to combative self after appeal for compromise
President Donald Trump needed barely a day after a soaring State of the Union speech to revert to his usual combative self, branding an opponent a "hack" and investigations into his allegedly suspicious dealings with Russia "harassment." Trump's address to Congress on Tuesday made repeated appeals to optimism and the spirit of cooperation. Although he goaded opposition Democrats by lashing out against "socialism" and insisting, as ever, on his controversial US-Mexico wall project, he spent much of the speech in unusually compromising mode. At least, until around lunchtime Wednesday. Asked by reporters about the Democrat-led intelligence committee in the House of Representatives expanding a probe into his Russia connections, Trump reverted to his habit of name calling. He labelled Adam Schiff, the chairman of the committee, "a political hack who's trying to build a name for himself." Schiff has been a frequent target of Trump, who has referred to him on Twitter as "Schitt" and "Little .
White House expects to take action on 5G, artificial intelligence soon
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House will take "executive action" in the coming weeks to make sure the United States keeps its research and development advantage in artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, quantum computing and next generation wireless networks, known as 5G, a White House official said on Wednesday.
US approves sale of 777 Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures to India
The US State Department on Wednesday approved the sale of two 777 Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM) Self-Protection Suites (SPS) for an estimated cost of USD 190 million to India. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency of the US Department of Defense, in a press statement said: "The Government of India has requested to buy two Self-Protection Suites (SPS) consisting of AN/AAQ 24(V)N Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures (LAIRCM), ALQ-211(V)8 Advanced Integrated Defensive Electronic Warfare Suite (AIDEWS), and AN/ALE-47 Counter-Measures Dispensing System (CMDS) to protect two Boeing-777 Head-of-State aircraft.""This potential sale would include twelve Guardian Laser Transmitter Assemblies AN/AAQ-24 (V)N (6 installed and 6 spares); eight LAIRCM System Processor Replacements (LSPR) AN/AAQ-24 (V)N (2 installed and 6 spares); 23 Missile Warning Sensors (MWS) for AN/AAQ-24 (V)N (12 installed and 11 spares); five AN/ALE-47 Counter-Measures Dispensing System (CMDS) (2 ...
At least four pharma CEOs to testify at Senate drug pricing hearing
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Drugmakers Pfizer Inc, Bristol-Myers Squibb Co and Sanofi SA said on Wednesday that their chief executives plan to testify at a Senate hearing on rising prescription drug prices later this month.
Pompeo to build US ties with Hungary's right-wing leaders
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will visit Hungary next week, the White House said, as the United States seeks to build ties with nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orban following rifts. US national security adviser John Bolton said he met at the White House with Hungary's Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto and discussed "defense cooperation, energy diversity, confronting Russian malign influence and maintaining our ironclad commitment to NATO." "A great preview of our 2019 goals and Secretary Pompeo's trip next week," Bolton tweeted. Orban, who extolls Christian values and has fought European Union leaders on welcoming refugees, is one of the few Western leaders who has enthusiastically praised US President Donald Trump. Pompeo is visiting as Orban faces a wave of street protests that began with a controversial reform of workers' overtime hours which the opposition has called a "slave law." The Trump administration has shown a willingness to work with Orban, who received a cold shoulder
Israel says tank fires on Hamas after projectile fired
The Israeli army has said that it had directed tank fire at a Hamas position in the Gaza Strip in response to a projectile fired from the Palestinian enclave into Israel. A Hamas position was hit but nobody was wounded, security sources in Gaza said on Wednesday. A projectile fired from Gaza had triggered alarms in southern Israel but did not cause any damage or injury, the army said in a statement. Security sources in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip said two projectiles were fired towards Israel, without elaborating. Palestinians have for nearly a year gathered at least weekly in various spots along the Gaza border for often violent protests. They want to be able to return to the homes their families fled from in the war surrounding Israel's creation in 1948, and they are calling for an end to the Jewish state's blockade of Gaza. At least 247 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in Gaza since March 30, the majority during border protests but also by tank fire and air strikes. Two ..
Vajpayee's portrait in Central Hall of Parliament on Feb 12
A life-size portrait of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee will be installed in the Central Hall of Parliament on February 12.
Trump expects '100 per cent' of IS caliphate defeated in week
US President Donald Trump, who has declared victory over the Islamic State group, has said that he expected the extremists to lose all their remaining territory in Syria in around a week. "The United States military, our coalition partners and the Syrian Democratic Forces have liberated virtually all of the territory previously held by ISIS in Syria and Iraq," Trump told an international conference about the fight taking place at the State Department on Wednesday. "It should be formally announced sometime next week that we will have 100 percent of the caliphate," he said.
U.S.'s Mnuchin to visit China next week for trade talks - CNBC interview
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Wednesday that he and other U.S. officials will travel to Beijing next week for trade talks, aiming to clinch a deal to avert a March 2 increase in U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods.
Hezbollah leader says in event of war, Iran won't be alone
The leader of Lebanon's militant Hezbollah movement says Iran won't be fighting alone in the event the United States launches a war against it. Hassan Nasrallah says the Islamic Republic is the strongest state in the region, and the so-called axis of resistance led by Iran is the strongest it has ever been. The axis groups the Syrian government of President Bashar Assad, Shiite militias in Iraq, and Hezbollah. Nasrallah spoke Wednesday at a rally marking the 40th anniversary of the Iranian revolution. "If America launches war on Iran, it will not be alone in the confrontation," he says. Speaking to supporters via a large screen, Nasrallah said America is set to retreat from the region and has no real option to squeeze Iran except with sanctions.
House Democrats examine ways to reduce gun violence
Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee said Wednesday they will push for "sensible" gun safety laws that the public is demanding after a series of mass shootings in recent years. Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., the panel's chairman, said he was disappointed that President Donald Trump did not mention gun violence in his State of the Union address, but said Democrats would focus on ways to reduce gun violence. "For far too long, Republicans in Congress have offered moments of silence instead of action in the wake of gun tragedies. That era is over," Nadler said as the Judiciary panel convened the first pro-gun control hearing in the House in at least eight years. "It is evident from the energy and the crowd in this room, as well as the millions of people across the country fighting for sensible gun safety laws, that the public is demanding national legislation," Nadler said. Democrats have promised action on a range of measures to address gun violence, including expanded background ...
French Senate rejects tougher telecoms controls despite U.S. Huawei warning
PARIS (Reuters) - The French Senate rejected on Wednesday proposed legislation aimed at toughening checks on telecoms equipment, following a U.S. warning about Chinese telecoms giant Huawei.
CBI officers named in Verma-Asthana clash shunted out
Two days after new CBI Director Rishi Kumar Shukla took charge, the government on Wednesday shunted out two Deputy Inspector General (DIG) rank officials from the agency, including one whose name surfaced during controversy between former Director Alok Verma and his then deputy Rakesh Asthana.
Have not received any letter from Union Home Ministry: Mamata
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said the state government has not received any notice from the Union Home Ministry for taking disciplinary action against Kolkata Police Commissioner Rajeev Kumar for allegedly violating service conduct rules.
TMC to hold two-day 'save democracy' sit-in protests in WB districts
The Trinamool Congress has said it will organise sit-in protests in districts across West Bengal on Thursday and Friday to "save democracy" and "defeat the attempts" of Narendra Modi government to "trample" Constitution. While sit-ins will take place from 10 am to 6 pm in every district headquarter on Thursday, similar protests will be held on Friday in every sub-division, TMC Secretary General and state minister Parthas Chatterjee told a press meet here Wednesday. Asked if the protesters will carry party flags at the sit-ins, he said, "That will be decided by the respective TMC leadership in the area. We, however, would welcome those from outside the party fold to join the protests in the districts." To a question, Chatterjee described the BJP heavyweights attending public meetings across the state as "migratory birds having no base". West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee called off her sit-in protest Tuesday evening after the Supreme Court forbid the CBI from taking coercive ...