Page 1837 - Politics
Brexit: Queen urges for common ground
Queen Elizabeth II has urged Britons to find "common ground" and respect "different points of view" after MPs rejected the Brexit deal last week even as deadline of the UK leaving the European Union draws closer.
Canada's ambassador to China says he misspoke
Canada's ambassador to China has said he misspoke and regrets saying the extradition of a Chinese executive to the US "would not be a happy outcome." Ambassador John McCallum said earlier this week in a 40-minute news conference with Chinese media in the Toronto area that Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou has a strong case to avoid extradition, and he suggested the case is politically motivated. The remarks surprised many and fueled speculation that Canada might be trying to send a signal to China to reduce tensions. But McCallum walked back the comments on Thursday. "I regret that my comments with respect to the legal proceedings of Ms. Meng have created confusion. I misspoke," McCallum said in a statement. "These comments do not accurately represent my position on this issue. As the government has consistently made clear, there has been no political involvement in this process." Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau earlier dismissed calls to fire McCallum. Opposition Conservative ...
US Congressman praises India's developmental role in Afghanistan
An American lawmaker has praised India's developmental role in Afghanistan in particular the USD 3 billion in financial assistance it has given to this war-torn country. Congressman Eliot Engel, chairman of the powerful House Foreign Affairs Committee, said this during his meeting with the new Indian Ambassador to the US, Harsh V Shringla, at the Capitol on Thursday. "We discussed the historic nature of the US-India relationship, growing defense and security ties, economic relations, & our desire to continue to strengthen this vital partnership," Engel said after his meeting with top Indian diplomat. "I also thanked him for India's USD 3b contribution for development assistance to Afghanistan, which of course buys more than just a library," the powerful Democratic lawmaker said. He was referring to the mocking of India's activities in Afghanistan by President Donald Trump early this month. In fact, he tagged a BBC video that had the heading: 'Trump mocks India PM over Afghanistan .
Australian democracy activist 'detained' in Vietnam
A prominent Vietnamese-Australian pro-democracy activist has been detained by security services on his return to Ho Chi Minh city, colleagues in Australia told AFP on Friday. The detention of Chau Van Kham comes just days after an Australian blogger and author was arrested in China. The retired businessman was on a "fact-finding" mission to the country, entering via Cambodia, according to colleague Phong Nguyen. Both men are members of the Viet Tan, one of a number of anti-government groups that Hanoi considers terrorist organisations. Vietnamese authorities have accused the Viet Tan of "instigating violence", a charge the group rejects. Colleagues said they did not know where Chau was being held, or whether the Australian government had been granted consular access. It is believed he was detained on January 13. His wife and immediate family remain in Sydney. "At the moment we don't know where he is," said Phong Nguyen. "He was aware of the risk, but he was determined to go on this ...
Maduro closes embassy in US, Pompeo pledges aid to Venezuela
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Thursday directed his country's diplomats in the US to leave that country and ordered the embassy and consulates there closed, also reiterating that US diplomatic personnel must leave the South American nation within 72 hours.
Afghan Taliban co-founder to head peace talks with US
The Afghan Taliban has appointed its co-founder as the head of its political office in Qatar, which has been entrusted with the task of peace talks with the United States. Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, who was recently released by Pakistan from house arrest, has been appointed as the deputy of the leader in political affairs and the chief of the political office of the "Islamic Emirate", Taliban said, according to a copy made available here on Thursday. "This step has been taken to strengthen and properly handle the ongoing negotiations process with the United States," the Taliban said. The appointment of Baradar is seen as a positive signal from the Taliban for peace talks initiative initiated by Special US Envoy Zalmay Khalilzad. According to the statement, the Taliban also made other changes to the military and civilian departments of the "Islamic Emirate" so that the "ongoing Jihadi process and political efforts can develop positively". Baradar, according to analysts here, is ...
U.S. House Republican introduces bill to grant Trump more tariff power
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Republican U.S. representative on Thursday introduced White House-drafted legislation that would give President Donald Trump more power to levy tariffs on imported goods in an effort to pressure other countries to lower their duties and other trade barriers.
US Senate rejects 2 bills to reopen government
There seems to be no end in sight for the partial government shutdown in the US, with the Senate failing to pass two funding bills which would have reopened the government.The partial government shutdown has been in place from December 22 due to an impasse between the Congress and US President Donald Trump over funding for a wall on the US' border with Mexico.Around 800,000 federal workers have been without pay ever since the partial government shutdown started last year, leading to repeated calls by elected representatives to open the government.While one of the rejected bills included funding for the wall, the other one did not, reports Sputnik. Both of the bills, on Thursday, fell short of the 60 votes needed for passage.Trump has repeatedly called for the wall to be constructed, claiming that there cannot be safety and security without it. The Democrats, on the other hand, are against the wall being constructed, with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi calling it a wastage of money and an .
US orders non-emergency govt employees to leave Venezuela
The United States has ordered all of its non-emergency government employees to leave Venezuela, following Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's decision to sever diplomatic ties with the nation.The US had earlier dismissed Maduro's decision, citing that he did not have the legal authority to break diplomatic relations, after National Assembly President Juan Guaido, who enjoys US support, swore himself in as the President on Wednesday."US will conduct diplomatic relations with #Venezuela through the government of interim President Guaido. The US does not recognize the #Maduro regime. The US does not consider former president Maduro to have the legal authority to break diplomatic relations," Secretary of State Michael Pompeo had earlier tweeted on Wednesday, brushing off Maduro's decision to break diplomatic ties.Meanwhile, Maduro, going ahead with his decision, has directed the Venezuelan embassy and consulates in the USA to shut down, announcing that all of its diplomats would reach ..
Draupadi Vastraharan row: BJP seeks Rahul's apology
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) demanded an unconditional apology from Congress president Rahul Gandhi after his party used 'Draupadi Vastraharan' poster during the protest in Telangana.The Congress Election Commission Coordinate Committee was protesting against the alleged failure of the ECI in the recent Telangana Assembly elections. As part of the protest, the Congress party had put up the posters depicting 'Draupadi Vastraharan' in Telangana.The controversial poster depicts 'Draupadi Vastraharan' - a scene from Mahabharata. The poster displays voters as Draupadi who is being disrobed by the Election Commission of India (ECI), which is shown as Kauravas, while Telangana Chief Minister and TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao and AIMIM supremo Asaduddin Owaisi standing on one side as mute spectators.In the poster, the voters were titled as 'Democracy in Telangana'.After all this controversy, BJP state spokesperson Krishna Sagar Rao released a video demanding an unconditional apology from .
Venezuela's embassy, consulates to shut down in the USA
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has announced the closure of the South American nation's embassy and consulates in the US, adding that all diplomatic personnel would be returning to Venezuela on January 26.The recent development comes a day after the President announced the severance of ties with the US, giving American diplomats 72 hours to leave the country, reports Anadolu Agency.The decision by Maduro was made in retaliation of the US' recognition of Juan Guaido, the opposition leader and National Assembly President, as the interim President of the South American country on Wednesday.The US has since dismissed Maduro's move to cut diplomatic ties with the US, stating that he did not hold the legal authority to do so with Guaido as the US-recognised interim President.
US requests for UNSC meeting over Venezuela 'crisis'
The United States has requested for a United Nations Security Council meeting over the "ongoing crisis" in Venezuela on Saturday, January 26."The United States has officially requested an open meeting of the UN Security Council (UNSC) for Saturday at 9 am to discuss the ongoing crisis in Venezuela," the US Mission to the UN tweeted on Thursday.The request comes after protests, called by the National Assembly, gripped the South American nation on January 23. Protesters called for President Nicolas Maduro to step down, while National Assembly President and opposition leader Juan Guaido swore himself in as the President of Venezuela.The United States first recognised Guaido as the interim President, with countries like the UK following the suit. Meanwhile, countries like Turkey and Russia have shown support for Maduro's leadership. Russia further slammed the US for its interference in the South American nation.Maduro, in retaliation, cut off all diplomatic ties with the United States, ...
Dueling plans to end US shutdown fail in Senate, talks resume
The US Senate on Thursday blocked dueling plans to reopen shuttered federal agencies, a fresh setback in efforts to end a month-long government shutdown, but President Donald Trump signalled he could back a new proposal if it includes border security. The legislative deadlock left Congress and the president red-faced and adrift as thousands of federal workers, some reliant on food banks to make ends meet, are about to miss a second paycheck. But shortly after the votes, a possible way out of the deepening crisis began to take shape, when Senate leaders huddled in private to discuss a proposal to fund lapsed federal agencies for three weeks, to allow for negotiations over border security. Asked if he would support the plan, discussed in private by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer, Trump was noncommittal, saying he would still want funding for his wall. "If they come to a reasonable agreement, I would support it," he said, but added: "We have .
US orders non-emergency embassy staff to leave Venezuela
The United States on Thursday ordered non-emergency embassy staff to leave Venezuela but stopped short of complying with a full expulsion demanded by Nicolas Maduro, who Washington says is no longer president. The State Department in a notice said it had "ordered non-emergency US government employees to depart Venezuela". "The US government has limited ability to provide emergency services to US citizens in Venezuela," it said. Amid deadly political clashes in the crisis-torn country, the State Department said that US citizens "should strongly consider departing Venezuela". Maduro on Wednesday gave US diplomats 72 hours to leave the country after President Donald Trump, backed by major Latin American nations, said the leftist firebrand was no longer Venezuela's legitimate president. The United States said it was ignoring the order as it did not believe Maduro was still president and instead recognised as interim leader Juan Guaido, the opposition head of the National Assembly. But ...
Trump backed bill to fund border wall fails in Senate
A bill backed by US President Donald Trump that will fund a border wall failed to pass the Senate on Thursday.
US ready to provide $20 million aid to Venezuela
The United States is ready to provide more than USD 20 million in initial humanitarian assistance to Venezuela for the South American country to cope with the severe food, medicine shortages and "other dire impacts of their country's political and economic crisis" caused by the "illegitimate" Nicolas Maduro regime.Venezuela's National Assembly, whose President Juan Guaido has been recognised as the interim President of Venezuela by the United States, had stressed the need for immediate international humanitarian assistance."In response, the United States is ready to provide emergency aid throughout Venezuela to help meet the increasingly urgent humanitarian needs of Venezuelans affected by this crisis," a note issued by the US Department of State mentioned."The United States also continues to provide robust support for response efforts throughout the region as the growing impacts of beleaguered President Maduro's crisis spill into neighbouring countries," the statement ...
U.S. Treasury's Mnuchin sees China trade progress, currency talks
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Steven Mnuchin said on Thursday he thought the United States and China were "making a lot of progress" in trade talks, with currency issues also on the agenda.
Maduro announces closure of Venezuela embassy in United States
President Nicolas Maduro announced on Thursday the closure of Venezuela's embassy and consulates in the United States having broken off diplomatic ties with President Donald Trump's government the day before. Maduro made the call during a special session at the Supreme Court in which he accused the US of pushing opposition leader Juan Guaido, who declared himself Venezuela's acting president on Wednesday, into attempting a coup d'etat.
Trump-backed measure to end shutdown fails in US Senate
The latest proposal backed by President Donald Trump to end the government shutdown -- which would reopen federal agencies and provide USD 5.7 billion for a border wall -- failed Thursday in the US Senate. The measure did not get the 60 votes needed in the 100-member upper chamber of Congress to advance. A Democratic proposal, up for a vote later on, was also expected to fail. The shutdown is now in its 34th day, with hundreds of thousands of federal workers left unpaid across the country and in US installations abroad -- and the knock-on effects affecting millions more.
Venezuelan defence minister says coup attempt under way
Venezuela's defence minister on Thursday, a day after the speaker of the opposition-led unicameral legislature proclaimed himself acting head of state, said that an attempted coup was under way.