Page 1802 - Politics
Rahul Gandhi condoles demise of Fernandes
Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday condoled the demise of former defence minister George Fernandes. "I'm sorry to hear about the passing away of former Parliamentarian & Union Minister, George Fernandes Ji. My condolences to his family and friends in this time of grief," Gandhi said in a Facebook post. Fernandes was suffering from Alzheimer's disease. Recently, he contracted swine flu, family sources said. Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala also condoled the demise of the former minister "My condolences on the passing away of former Union Minister, Sh George Fernandes. May his soul rest in peace," he tweeted. Fernandes was the defence minister in the NDA government headed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
PM Modi condoles demise of Fernandes
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Tuesday condoled the demise of former union minister and socialist leader George Fernandes, saying he was frank and fearless and never deviated from his ideology. In a series of tweets, he said, "George Sahab" represented the best of India's political leadership. "Frank and fearless, forthright and farsighted, he made a valuable contribution to our country. He was among the most effective voices for the rights of the poor and marginalised," he said. The 88-year-old former defence minister died here after suffering from a prolonged illness. Modi said, "When we think ofFernandes, we remember most notably the fiery trade union leader who fought for justice, the leader who could humble the mightiest of politicians at the hustings". "A visionary railway minister and a great defence minister who made India safe and strong. During his long years in public life, George Sahab never deviated from his political ideology. He resisted the Emergency tooth and nail. His .
After 1MDB, Malaysia launches anti-graft plan to clean stables
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia on Tuesday unveiled an ambitious five-year plan to clamp down on corruption in government, months after a multi-billion-dollar graft scandal brought down the previous administration.
US sanctions Venezuela' state oil company
The US has announced sanctions against Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA as part of its process of exerting pressure on Caracas after recognising Juan Guaido as the country's Interim President over Nicolas Maduro, the elected head of state.
PM says BJP will always protect interests of Assam
As the BJP faces heat over the Citizenship Bill in the northeast, Prime Minister Narendra ModiTuesday said his party will always protect the interests of Assam. Taking to Twitter, he also thanked the people of the state for supporting the Bharatiya Janata Party in elections to three tribal autonomous councils. "Gratitude to my sisters and brothers of Assam for the strong support to @BJP4Assam in polls to three Tribal Autonomous Councils in the state. The @BJP4India is fully committed towards the development and prosperity of Assam," he said. The BJP has won several seats in the autonomous council polls. Modi said the governmentwill "always protect the interests of the state. " "Several initiatives of the central and Assam government have contributed towards transforming lives of the citizens of Assam," he wrote. Several BJP allies in the northeast will meet in Guwahati Tuesday against the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019.
'Total shock': PDVSA workers take stock of U.S. sanctions' impact
CARACAS (Reuters) - Shock and fear swept through the headquarters of Venezuela's state-owned oil firm, PDVSA, on Monday, employees said, after the United States imposed sanctions aimed at limiting President Nicolas Maduro's access to oil revenues.
U.S. sanctions Venezuelan state oil firm, escalating pressure on Maduro
WASHINGTON/CARACAS (Reuters) - The Trump administration on Monday imposed sweeping sanctions on Venezuelan state-owned oil firm PDVSA, aimed at severely curbing the OPEC member's crude exports to the United States and at pressuring socialist President Nicolas Maduro to step down.
U.S. charges China's Huawei with conspiring to violate Iran sanctions
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Monday announced criminal charges against China's Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, escalating a fight with the world's biggest telecommunications equipment maker and coming days before trade talks between Washington and Beijing.
Fair and reciprocal trade with China will boost long term economic growth: White House
Fair and reciprocal trade with China will boost the long-term economic growth not only of the United States, but also globally, the White House said announcing President Donald Trump will welcome an official delegation from China for a series of meetings later this week to discuss the trade relationship between the two countries. The meetings inside the White House complex would take place on January 30 and 31. Under President Trump's leadership, the United States economy is growing at record levels, putting the president in a strong position to fix long standing trade concerns with China. On Thursday, the president will meet with the (Chinese) vice premier who is here this week for continued talks, the White House Press Secretary Sarah sanders told reporters on Monday. Trump is committed to achieving greater market access for US exports and better treatment for US farmers, ranchers, and businesses. Fair and reciprocal trade with China will boost long-term economic growth not only of .
Syria and Iran sign 'strategic' economic agreement
Syria and Iran signed 11 agreements and memoranda of understanding late Monday, including a "long-term strategic economic cooperation" deal aimed at strengthening cooperation between Damascus and one of its key allies in the civil war that has torn the country apart. The agreements covered a range of fields including economy, culture, education, infrastructure, investment and housing, the official Sana news agency reported. They were signed during a visit to Damascus by Iran's First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri. Syrian Prime Minister Imad Khamis said it was "a message to the world on the reality of Syrian-Iranian cooperation", citing "legal and administrative facilities" to benefit Iranian companies wishing to invest in Syria and contribute "effectively to reconstruction". The agreements included two memos of understanding between the railway authorities of the two countries as well as between their respective investment promotion authorities. In relation to infrastructure, there ...
US charges Chinese tech giant Huawei with stealing secrets, violating Iran sanctions
The Trump Administration has accused Chinese telecom giant Huawei of stealing trade secrets and violating US sanctions on Iran, just days before its crucial trade negotiations with the country later this week. However, the White House Monday denied that there was any link between the two. The US Department of Justice in its 13-count indictment charged Huawei and its chief financial officer (CFO) Meng Wanzhou with financial fraud. Meng, the daughter of the company's founder, is currently out on bail in Canada. Her case has sparked a major crisis between Ottawa and Beijing, with Washington in the middle. The indictment also accuses Huawei, its CFO, and other employees to deceive numerous global financial institutions and the US government regarding Huawei's business activities in Iran. "Today we are announcing that we are bringing criminal charges against telecommunications giant Huawei and its associates for nearly two dozen alleged crimes Acting Attorney General Matthew G Whitaker ...
Trump agrees to deliver State of the Union on Feb 5
US President Donald Trump has accepted an invitation from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to deliver the State of the Union address on February 5.
'Probe on Russian meddling close to completion'
Acting Attorney General Matthew G. Whitaker on Monday revealed that special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into the alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 Presidential Elections is close to completion.Whitaker's comments are the first official indication that the probe may soon be concluded, The Washington Post reported. In response to questions about the critical comments he had earlier made on the probe while working as a television pundit before his time at the Justice Department, Whitaker said those remarks were made while he was a private citizen."I have been fully briefed on the investigation and I look forward to Director Mueller delivering the final report. I am comfortable that the decisions that were made are going to be reviewed. Right now, you know, the investigation is, I think, close to being completed," he explained.Whitaker's comments are the most extensive on the Russia probe made by a senior law enforcement official recently. They come days after Mueller's ...
Trump to deliver State of the Union Address on Feb 5: Pelosi
US President Donald Trump will deliver the State of the Union Address on February 5, as per the agreement reached between the White House and Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the US House of Representatives. The traditional annual speech by President Trump was initially scheduled for this Tuesday but had to be postponed because of the largest government shutdown due to differences between the White House and opposition Democrats on the issue of US-Mexico border wall. "When I wrote to you on January 23rd, I stated that we should work together to find a mutually agreeable date when government has reopened to schedule this year's State of the Union address, Pelosi said in a fresh letter to Trump dated January 28. "In our conversation today, we agreed on February 5th. Therefore, I invite you to deliver your State of the Union address before a Joint Session of Congress on February 5, 2019 in the House Chamber, she added. In response, Trump said in a letter to Pelosi that he has accepted the new ...
Mueller's Trump-Russia probe close to completion: official
Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into possible collusion between Donald Trump's campaign and Russia in the 2016 presidential election is close to being wrapped up, Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker said. "The Mueller investigation is close to being completed," Whitaker told journalists on Monday. "I've been fully briefed on the investigation and I look forward to Director Mueller delivering the final report," he said. "I hope we can get the report from Director Mueller as soon as possible." Mueller will submit his report to Whitaker unless he has been replaced as attorney general by then by Bill Barr, who has been nominated to the post but not yet confirmed by the Senate. Without elaborating, Whitaker said: "I am comfortable that the decisions that were made are going to be reviewed." Mueller, a former FBI director, was named by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein in May 2017 to look into Russian meddling in the 2016 election. Mueller's team has indicted a ...
Bahrain Shiite opposition leader loses appeal against life term
A Bahraini court on Monday upheld a life sentence for opposition leader Sheikh Ali Salman for spying for Gulf rival Qatar, a ruling his party slammed as "political revenge". Salman, who headed Al-Wefaq, a now-banned Shiite movement, was convicted by an appeals court in November in a decision rights groups called a travesty. The supreme court confirmed the verdict against Salman and two of his aides for "spying for a foreign state in order to... overthrow the government", according to a statement released by public prosecutor Osama al-Awfi. Bahrain in 2017 cut all ties with Qatar as part of a Saudi-led boycott in response to what Riyadh and its allies say are Doha's policies on Iran and Islamist groups. The kingdom -- a tiny archipelago, allied with the US and located between regional rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran -- has been hit by waves of unrest since 2011, when security forces crushed Shiite-led protests demanding an elected prime minister. Hundreds of activists have since been ...
U.S.' Mnuchin expects progress in 'complicated' China trade talks
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on Monday the United States expects significant progress this week in trade talks with Chinese Vice Premier Liu He, but the two sides will be tackling "complicated issues", including how to enforce any deal.
Venezuela's Guaido aims at control of PDVSA, Citgo as U.S. imposes sanctions
(Reuters) - Venezuelan opposition leader and self-proclaimed president Juan Guaido ordered congress on Monday to appoint new boards of directors to state oil company PDVSA and U.S. subsidiary Citgo, shortly before the United States imposed sanctions on the firm.
Pelosi invites Trump to address Congress on Feb 5
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has invited United States President Donald Trump to address the Joint Session of Congress on February 5.The invite from Pelosi came after Trump cancelled his State of Union address which was scheduled for Tuesday (local time)."When I wrote to you on January 23rd, I stated that we should work together to find a mutually agreeable date when government has reopened to schedule this year's State of the Union address. In our conversation today, we agreed on February 5th. Therefore, I invite you to deliver your State of the Union address before a Joint Session of Congress on February 5, 2019 in the House Chamber," read a statement posted on Pelosi's Twitter account..
U.S. charges China's Huawei with bank fraud, stealing trade secrets
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Monday charged China's Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, its chief financial officer and two affiliates with bank and wire fraud to violate sanctions against Iran in a case that has escalated tensions with Beijing.