Page 1818 - Politics
Venezuela slams US defence attache's decision to defect as 'treason'
Venezuela on Sunday slammed its defence attache to Washington's decision to recognise opposition leader Juan Guaido as President, labelling his move as "treason"."To surrender to international interests is an act of treason and cowardice towards the homeland inherited from our liberator Simon Bolivar, so we reject the statements of Colonel Jose Luis Silva, who had served as military attache to the United States," Sputnik quoted the Venezuelan Defence Ministry as stating."As the Venezuelan defence attache in the United States, I do not recognize Mr Nicolas Maduro as president of Venezuela…," Silva had announced at the Venezuelan embassy in the United States. He also urged other Venezuelan defence personnel to support Guaido as the President.The South American nation's dismissal of Silva's move comes amidst political turmoil in the nation.On January 23, Guaido, the opposition leader and National Assembly President, proclaimed himself as President of Venezuela to crowds of cheering ...
Iran says Arab separatists have killed 2 police
Iran says Arab separatists have killed two policemen who were on patrol in the country's oil-rich south. The semi-official Fars news agency quoted police official Ali Ghasempour on Sunday as saying the Arab Struggle Movement for the Liberation of Ahvaz, a "terrorist and separatist group," was behind the killings. The two policemen were shot dead early Saturday in the southern Khuzestan province. Arab separatists claimed responsibility for an attack on a military parade in September that killed at least 24 people. The Islamic State group also claimed that attack. The separatists, who have also struck oil pipelines, accuse Iran's Persian-dominated government of discriminating against its ethnic Arab minority. Khuzestan province also has seen recent protests over Iran's nationwide drought, as well as economic protests.
After Sidhu's wife, Manish Tewari stakes claim to Cong ticket from Chandigarh
Former Union minister Manish Tewari Sunday formally staked claim to the Congress ticket from Chandigarh in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, two days after Punjab Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu's wife sought to fight for the party from the seat. In a letter to Pradeep Chhabra, president, Chandigarh Territorial Congress Committee (CTCC), Tewari said,"I am interested in contesting the Lok Sabha elections from Chandigarh." Sidhu's wife and former MLA Navjot Kaur Sidhu on Friday staked claim to the Congress ticket from Chandigarh, which is currently being represented by BJP MP Kirron Kher. "I am informed that the Chandigarh Territorial Congress Committee has invited applications from all those desirous of contesting the Lok Sabha elections from Chandigarh Lok Sabha seat in the 2019 general elections...," Tewari said "Kindly consider my candidature at the level of CTCC and the Pradesh Election Committee and also forward it to the AICC/screening Committee/Central Election Committee and the ...
As Jind gets ready to vote, parties keep fingers crossed on outcome
As the electorate in Haryana's Jind Assembly constituency gets ready to vote on Monday in a crucial by-election, they will not only be electing their legislator but also giving an indication about the coming Lok Sabha and assembly elections in the state.
Conservatives say Trump caved, but confident he'll get wall
No retreat, no surrender is how President Donald Trump frames his decision to temporarily reopen the government while still pursuing a border wall deal. Some of his conservative backers have a different take: "pathetic" and "wimp." Other Trump supporters seem willing to give Trump the benefit of the doubt, yet they insist that any ultimate government funding deal the president signs must include money for a wall. Trump defended himself Saturday from the conservative backlash to his decision to end the 35-day-old partial government shutdown the longest in U.S. history without money for his promised border wall. He said if he didn't get a fair deal from Congress, the government would shut down again on February 15 or he would use his executive authority to address what he has termed "the humanitarian and security crisis" on the southern U.S. border. After he announced his decision, a New York newspaper headline dubbed him "CAVE MAN." Conservative commentator Ann Coulter, a big wall ...
Train 18 named Vande Bharat Express: Piyush Goyal
Acknowledging its made-in-India status, the Indian Railways has named the indigenously manufactured Train 18 as Vande Bharat Express, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal said Sunday. The train is set to run between Delhi and Varanasi at a maximum speed of 160kmph. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to flag off the train soon. The 16-coach train, built in 18 months at a cost of Rs 97 crore by the Integral Coach Factory, Chennai, is regarded as a successor to the 30-year-old Shatabdi Express. It's also the first locomotive-less train in the country. "Train 18 will now be known as Vande Bharat Express. It's a train built completely in India by Indian engineers, in a span of 18 months. It'll ply from Delhi to Varanasi. It is an example that it's possible to make world-class trains under Make in India," Goyal said. The fully air-conditioned train will stop at Kanpur and Allahabad and will have two executive chair cars. "It is completely made in India and various names were suggested by the ..
Indian Air Force to acquire 15 HAROP killer drones from Israel
New Delhi (India) Jan 27 (ANI) In a bid to enhance its unmanned warfare capability, the Indian Air Force is planning to acquire around 15 more HAROP attack drones which can crash into high-value enemy military targets to destroy them completely.The Air Force already has an inventory of these drones which are equipped with electro-optical sensors to loiter over high-value military targets such as surveillance bases and radar stations before exploding them."A proposal to acquire these attack drones is expected to be discussed by the Defence Ministry at a high-level meeting in the coming week to strengthen the fleet of such drones in the Air Force," Defence sources told ANI.Once approved, the Indian Air Force would be exercising the option clause in the previous deal signed a few years ago with Israel which is the main supplier of all types of drones to the Indian Air Force including the surveillance machines including the Searcher and the Heron.India is also discussing the Project ...
Anti-national forces working towards destroying peace of India: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat
Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat again brewed a controversy by claiming that anti-national forces are nefariously working towards destroying peace and virtues in India.While addressing the public on the occasion of 70th Republic Day in Uttar Pradesh'a Kanpur, Bhagwat stated: "It is been 70 years, that our country got independence. We are moving forward, but there are certain forces who are making efforts to demolish the peace and virtues. These kind of forces are also residing in our country ."The RSS chief also stated that only India has the capacity to counter and defeat these "anti-national" forces. "The whole world knows about it and is suffering from it, but only India has the capacity to defeat such forces," he added.In his concluding remark, the RSS chief stated that there is a dire need for the country to raise the standard of living in order to become the "Vishwa-Guru".
I used 'chocolaty' face remark for Bollywood actors, not for any political leader: BJP leader Vijayvargiya
After triggering a major political controversy by making 'chocolaty face' remark, senior BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya on Sunday chose to offer a clarification that his much-hyped comment was directed towards Bollywood actors, and not against any political leader."I would like to tell my friends in media that if there is such a statement, then they should cross check it. I used the term 'chocolaty' face for Bollywood actors. I did not use it for any political leader," he said.Taking a dig at the Congress party for appointing Priyanka Gandhi as a General Secretary and in-charge for the party affairs for eastern Uttar Pradesh for the coming Lok Sabha elections, Vijayvargiya on Saturday had said: "This shows the dearth of self-confidence in them.""They don't have any leader. That is why they want to contest the coming elections by banking on chocolaty faces. Somebody takes Kareena Kapoor's name while others ask for Salman Khan. Now they have brought in Priyanka Gandhi," he ...
Venezuela allows US diplomats to stay, defusing showdown
Venezuela defused a potential showdown with the United States, suspending a demand that U.S. diplomats leave the country as Washington called on the world to "pick a side" in the South American nation's fast-moving crisis. Socialist President Nicolas Maduro broke relations with the United States on Wednesday after the Trump administration and many other nations in the region recognized opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela's interim president, a move that Maduro called a coup attempt. Maduro gave US diplomats three days to leave the country, but the Trump administration said it wouldn't obey, arguing that Maduro is no longer Venezuela's legitimate president. That set the stage for a showdown at the hilltop US Embassy compound Saturday night, when the deadline was to expire. But as the sun set on Venezuela's capital, the Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying Maduro's government was suspending the expulsion to provide a 30-day window for negotiating with US officials about ...
Centre's aims to make TN defence, aerospace hub: PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday said the Centre's aim is to make Tamil Nadu a preferred hub for aerospace and defence industries in the country. Tamil Nadu was among the country's most progressive industrial states and also one of the pioneering states for the Defence Industrial Corridor and leading player in the Centre's Make In India initiative, he said. "Our aim is to make Tamil Nadu the preferred hub for aerospace and defence industries in India. "This could be the in the areas of engineering, design, manufacture and allied activities. The Defence Industrial Corridor shall be a generator of employment generation as well," the Prime Minister said addressing a BJP rally here. The corridor was launched by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman last week. As part of the Centre's port-led development initiative, Modi said the first container mainline vessel was flagged off recently from Tuticorin port, an icon and engine for the economic growth of the state. Given its ...
PM vows to fight corruption, says those who looted country
Asserting his government's resolve against corruption and nepotism, Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday assured 'justice' against the country's economic offenders and said his 'stir' against graft has prompted a grand alliance of opposition parties. "Any person who has cheated or looted the country shall be brought to justice. This is regardless of whether he is in India or abroad," he said at a BJP rally here. The Prime Minister was apparently referring to economic offenders -- Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi who are wanted in connection with defaulting on huge bank loans. All of them are now abroad. The union government was taking effective steps to rid the country of corruption and nepotism, he told the well-attended gathering. "Any person who has cheated or looted the country shall be brought to justice. This is regardless of whether he is in India or abroad," he said. The union government's effort against corruption has created a 'stir' from Chennai to ...
Modi to address NDA rally in Patna on March 3
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address an NDA rally in Patna on March 3, an official announced here on Sunday.
UK firms plan mass exodus over no-deal Brexit
In order to cope with a no-deal Brexit, thousands of British companies are gearing up to move operations abroad if the UK crashes out of the European Union, the media reported.
Bihar's 'Bahubali' legislator joins Congress road show
Independent legislator and criminal-turned-politician Anant Singh, popularly known as Bahubali, on Sunday joined the Congress road show here in support of party President Rahul Gandhi's rally in February.
Now is time for resolution of Kashmir issue: Shah Faesal
Former IAS officer Shah Faesal Sunday said now was the time for resolution of the Kashmir issue as attempting "military solutions to political problems would lead to nothing but graveyards". Faesal, who has launched a crowdfunding campaign for his political foray was commenting on the killing of 27 persons and injuries to 38 others in Kupwara town on this day in 1994. "Attempting military solutions to political problems will lead to nothing but graveyards on this side and graveyards on that side," Faesal said in a tweet. "Today, on the 25th anniversary of Kupwara Massacre, my solidarities are with the people of Kashmir and their sacrifices," he added. "Time for resolution is now," Faesal said. Faesal had resigned as an IAS officer on January 9.
Goa govt knows how to survive 'by hook or by crook': Sardesai
A day after Congress claimed that it will form a government in Goa after Mandrem and Shiroda Assembly bypolls, Goa Forward Party chief Vijai Sardesai Sunday said the current dispensation knew how to survive "by hook or by crook". Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of a new complex of the Export Inspection Agency at Margao in south Goa, Sardesai said the Manohar Parrikar government is working for the people of Goa. "And if people of Goa want this government to survive, we know how to do it by hook or by crook," he said. On Saturday, Goa Congress chief Girish Chodankar had claimed that his party would form the government in the state after the bypolls. Speaking at the function Sunday, Sardesai, the state Agriculture minister, slammed the Congress for "scaring" people by raking up the issue of formalin in fish, adding that the new laboratory complex would lay to rest these fears. He announced that the state would hold its biggest fish festival in Fatorda in April or May.
Pak delegation visiting India to inspect Pakal Dul, Lower Kalnai hydel power projects
A three-member delegation, headed by Pakistan's Commissioner for Indus Waters Syed Mehr Ali Shah, will be visiting India on Sunday to inspect the Pakal Dul dam and Lower Kalnai hydel power projects in Jammu and Kashmir, a media report said. After the bilateral talks on the Indus Waters Treaty in August last year in Lahore, India rejected Pakistan's objections on the construction of the 1,000MW Pakal Dul dam and 48MW Lower Kalnai hydropower projects on the Chenab river and invited Pakistani experts to visit the sites to address their concern. "We are going to India on Sunday (today) via Wahga border," Shah was quoted as saying in the Dawn. The Pakistani delegation's visit came after India's Commissioner for Indus Waters Pradeep Kumar Saxena gave a nod for inspection of Indian hydro-power projects on Chenab basin from January 28 to January 31, earlier this month, it said. India had scheduled inspection of the projects by Pakistani experts first in September and then in October. But, the
Suspicion on 10% quota unfortunate, people must stay vigilant: PM Modi
Asserting that 10 per cent reservation in jobs and education for the economically weaker section of general category is testimony of Union government's commitment for welfare of all sections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday urged people to remain vigilant against negativity being spread around it.Addressing a public rally here, PM Modi said: "Union government is committed to providing employment opportunities and education to all segments of our society. It was with this spirit that recently we decided to provide 10 per cent reservation in education and government employment to the poor among the general category. This decision has been taken in such a way that it does not impact the Dalit, tribals and OBCs who are already availing the benefits of reservation".Cautioning people against alleged negativity being spread around it, he further added, "It is unfortunate that an atmosphere of suspicion and mistrust is being created by a few people in Tamil Nadu to serve their own ...
Venezuela's US defence attache breaks with Maduro
In a jolt to the Nicolas Maduro-led Venezuelan government, the South American nation's military attache to the United States broke with the regime and asked other armed forces members to recognise Juan Guaidó as the legitimate interim president."As the Venezuelan defence attache in the United States, I do not recognize Mr Nicolas Maduro as president of Venezuela…," Colonel Jose Luis Silva announced, extending his support to Guaido, who is also recognised as interim President by the US and most of its allied countries.In an appeal to members of the Venezuelan armed forces to support Guaido, Silva said: "My message to all armed forces members, to everyone who carries a gun, is to please let's not attack the people. We are also part of the people, and we've had enough of supporting a government that has betrayed the most basic principles and sold itself to other countries." He was speaking at the Venezuelan embassy in the United States.This came after US Secretary of State, Michael ...