Page 1925 - Politics
N Korea's lead negotiator to visit USA this week
Kim Yong Chol, North Korea's lead negotiator in nuclear talks with the USA, is expected to visit the United States on Thursday.He will be spending Thursday night in Washington, following which he is slated to meet the US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo and US special representative to North Korea Steve Biegun on Friday, CNN reported while quoting sources.The exact details and dates pertaining to the North Korean negotiator's visit have not been officially confirmed yet.The dates and venue of the second US-North Korea summit may be discussed during Yong Chol's expected visit to the United States."A lot of positive things are happening. He (US President Donald Trump) and Chairman Kim (Jong-un) have established a good relationship, and conversations between the United States and North Korea continue," a White House official told CNN."We are working to make progress on our goal of achieving the final, fully verified denuclearization of North Korea, and the President looks forward to ...
Syria Kurds reject 'security zone' under Turkish control
Syria's Kurds on Wednesday rejected a US proposal for a "security zone" under Turkish control along the Syrian side of the two countries' border. Senior political leader Aldar Khalil said the Kurds would accept the deployment of UN forces along the separation line between Kurdish fighters and Turkish troops to ward off a threatened offensive. "Other choices are unacceptable as they infringe on the sovereignty of Syria and the sovereignty of our autonomous region," Khalil told AFP. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Tuesday that Ankara would set up a "security zone" in northern Syria suggested by US President Donald Trump. Erdogan's comments came a day after he had a telephone conversation with Trump to ease tensions after the US leader threatened to "devastate" the Turkish economy if Ankara attacks Kurdish forces in Syria. Turkey has welcomed Washington's planned withdrawal of some 2,000 US troops from Syria but the future of US-backed Kurdish militia forces labelled ...
Cong attacks BJP for 'brazen attempt' to destabilise Karnataka govt
The Congress Wednesday slammed the BJP for its "brazen attempt" to destabilise the party's coalition government with JDS in Karnataka. A political crisis is brewing in the state, where two Independent MLAs Tuesday withdrew support to the seven-month-old ministry amid trading of poaching charges by the ruling coalition and BJP. The BJP's Karnataka MLAs have been camping at a resort in Haryana in an "effort to thwart any poaching attempt" by the ruling JDS-Congress coalition. "The entire confusion has been created by the BJP. Was that really required? They did it brazenly throwing morality and ethics to the wind. It is shameful and disgusting," Karnataka Congress President Dinesh Gundu Rao told PTI. Blaming prime minister Narendra Modi and BJP national president Amit Shah for the current political crisis is Karnataka, Rao said the party under their aegis has become "anti-constitutional." "The topic for discussion should not be the stability of our government but what BJP has ...
Russia ready to work with US to 'save' INF arms treaty: Lavrov
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Wednesday that Moscow was ready to work with Washington to save a key arms control treaty, after fresh talks to salvage the accord went nowhere. "We are still ready to work to save the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty," Lavrov told reporters, calling on Europe to help in the negotiations.
Democracy is our greatest strength, we must defend it at any cost: Rahul
Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said democracy is India's greatest strength and must be defended at any cost, as he cited an incident when an Afghan lawmaker had told him that arguments that take place in Indian Parliament, are carried out with guns in that country. Narrating the incident in a Facebook post, Gandhi recalled that one day in Parliament, he saw a group of MPs from Afghanistan sitting in the visitors' gallery. "And, I was thinking, 'these MPs have come from abroad and look what we are doing: we are shouting and screaming and yelling. At least when they are here why can't this place be in order?" Gandhi said. The Congress president said later the Afghan MPs visited him in his office and he told them that he was sorry that they were sitting in the visitors' gallery and the lawmakers were not having a nice debate and sort of arguing. "And, then, one of the MPs started crying! I was a bit surprised. I asked her 'what happened?'. You know, Mr. Gandhi,' she said, .
BJP will win 74 Lok Sabha seats in UP: JP Nadda
Union minister and BJP Lok Sabha election in-charge for Uttar Pradesh JP Nadda exuded confidence Wednesday that the saffron party will win 74 Lok Sabha seats out of 80 in the state and downplayed the new alliance between the SP and the BSP for the general elections. On his first visit to the state capital after being appointed as the party's election in-charge for UP, Nadda held a meeting with senior party office bearers. "We shall increase our tally of Lok Saba seats from the state by winning 74 seats, one more than last time," he told reporters. The BJP had won 71 seats and two others went to its ally - Apna Dal. "The BJP will register a handsome win in the Lok Sabha elections and all records will be broken. The reason for this is the work done by the government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi," he said at the party headquarters here. The people's affection towards the prime minister will also prove instrumental in BJP's win, Nadda said. He said the party's ...
Left to skip TMC rally on Jan 19
Left parties will not participate in the All India Trinamool Congress' (TMC) led Opposition rally in Kolkata on January 19.This comes a day after the announcement that leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge will represent the party in the rally, owing to the absence of Congress president Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi at the mega event.TMC is organising the rally to gather support for a pan-India anti-BJP front. Party chief Mamata Banerjee had been touring the country for the last one year in an effort to shore up a strong and united opposition front to fight the Lok Sabha elections against the BJP.According to sources in the West Bengal Congress, the state unit of the party wanted Rahul and Sonia to skip the rally and instead send a party leader. Also, the state leadership is believed to have told the party chief that Congress workers were ready to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections alone.West Bengal Congress leaders were also annoyed over the TMC
Things 'under control'; party MLAs not to be shifted, says Kumaraswamy
Amid the political turmoil triggered by charges of horse trading flung at each other by the ruling coalition and the BJP, Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy Wednesday said things were "under control" and there was no reason for worry. Ruling out any "operation" by the ruling alliance to poach the BJP MLAs, the Chief Minister said there was no necessity for it and that he was "relaxed." "It is not necessary for me to carry out any operation (poaching), actually there is sufficient numbers with me.. Every thing is under control... don't worry," Kumaraswamy said. He was responding to a query from reporters on whether BJP MLAs were camping at Gurgaon, fearing alleged poaching by the Congress-JDS coalition. He also wanted BJP State President B S Yeddyurappa to explain whether his party MLAs have been shifted there to celebrate Sankranthi or for any other reason. In a significant turn to the political war that erupted on Monday with both sides venting their fears of poaching, two ...
TRS leaders meet Jagan to discuss proposed Federal Front
Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) Working President K.T. Rama Rao met YSR Congress Party President Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy here on Wednesday to discuss the proposed Federal Front.
No internal fight in Congress: KC Venugopal
Karnataka Congress In-charge KC Venugopal on Wednesday clarified that there is no internal fight in the Congress and he is in touch with party MLAs who are in Mumbai."I'm in touch with all our MLAs. This drama is going to end in a day or two. We are all together and there is no internal fight in Congress. This (speculation) is all baseless," Venugopal told ANI.The Congress leader's clarification came after certain media reports, while quoting him, claimed that an internal fight had taken place within the party.Earlier in the day, Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy had said the Congress MLAs who are in Mumbai are constantly in touch with him and assured that the three legislators will return soon.Speaking to media here, Kumaraswamy reaffirmed that the Janata Dal (Secular)-Congress coalition is going on smoothly in Karnataka."MLAs (Congress MLAs in Mumbai hotel) are unreachable to the media, not to me. I am in touch with everybody and I am speaking to everybody, they will come ...
Infrastructure development a priority of Government: PM
PM visits Kerala, dedicates Kollam Bypass on NH-66 to the nation
No threat to coalition government: Karnataka CM
Amidst allegations of poaching by BJP, Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Wednesday said there was no threat to his government.
Plea against acting CBI chief's appointment to be heard on Monday
The Supreme Court is likely to hear on Monday a plea by NGO Common Cause challenging the appointment of M. Nageswara Rao as the acting Director of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) after the ouster of Alok Verma.
No talks on alliance with AAP yet: Sheila Dikshit
Congress leader Sheila Dikshit, who will take charge as the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee (DPCC) president on Wednesday, said no talks have been held yet on forging an alliance with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections."Politics is full of challenges, we will strategise accordingly. The BJP and AAP both are a challenge; we will meet the challenges together. There is nothing on an alliance with AAP yet," she told ANI before assuming charge as DPCC president.Sources in both AAP and Congress, however, claimed that chances of forging an alliance for the upcoming polls have emerged with the appointment of Dikshit.Dikshit, who served as Delhi Chief Minister for three consecutive terms till 2013 before the Congress lost power, will take charge as DPCC president.Dikshit will succeed Ajay Maken, who had vehemently opposed an alliance with the AAP, criticising them over issues of governance and corruption.The change of guard in Delhi Congress assumes significance as
US govt shutdown enters day 26, workers continue sans pay
As the longest-ever partial US government shutdown enters its 26th day, US Representatives are sharing stories of affected workers from government agencies who are going without pay due to the shutdown."Ralph is an 11-year @USArmy vet who has spent 5 years keeping us safe at @MCO. Now, because of the #TrumpShutdown, he's working without pay. They have a son in the 4th grade, one in college, and one with special needs. His family is struggling to make ends meet. #ShutdownStories, " US Representative from Florida's 10th Congressional District, Val Demings, tweeted on Tuesday (local time)."A woman from NH wrote to me & said the #TrumpShutdown has impacted her & her daughters tremendously. Without the financial support of their father, a government worker, they will soon be unable to buy food, pay bills & buy gas. This is appalling. #EndTheShutdown #ShutdownStories," US Representative Ann McLane Kuster stated."Flying to Washington yesterday I met a TSA agent working without ...
Hurriyat shouldn't consider me an alien: Satyapal Malik
"Hurriyat should not consider me an alien," said Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satyapal Malik on Wednesday.Speaking to ANI, Malik said Hurriyat must approach him directly with matters pertaining to atrocities and injustice to the common man if they come across any such situation."As I am available to a common man, I am also available for Hurriyat. If some incident takes place regarding atrocities on residents here, I will with my full forces make efforts to deliver justice. I respect the senior leaders of the Hurriyats and will treat them the way I am treating the common man," he said.However, he made it clear that his discussions with the Hurriyat will not be a political one. He said, "Discussions with the Hurriyat cannot be termed as political. Being the Governor, I do not have the powers to hold political discussions with them. Only the Centre has the authority to do so."Governor's rule was imposed in the state in June last year after Mehbooba Mufti resigned as Chief Minister ...
Rebel AAP Punjab MLA resigns from party
Rebel AAP MLA Baldev Singh Wednesday resigned from the party's primary membership, accusing its leadership of "giving up its basic ideology and principles and party chief Arvind Kejriwal of being "dictatorial and arrogant". The AAP legislator from Jaitu tendered his resignation to Kejriwal. He is the second MLA to quit the party after Bholath MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira -- another AAP rebel who resigned on January 6. I am pained to forward my resignation from the primary membership of the AAP because the party has completely given up its basic ideology and principles, he said in a letter to Kejriwal. "As a result of your dictatorial, arrogant and autocratic style of functioning, pioneers of AAP like Parashant Bhushan, Yogender Yadav, Medha Patikar, Kiran Bedi, Dr. Gandhi, H S Khalsa, Sucha Singh Chottepur, Gurpreet Ghuggi, Ashish Khetan, Ashutosh, H S Phoolka etc. have all left the party or have been thrown out in a humiliating manner, he alleged. Therefore, keeping these saddening ...
Shah's last palace, secluded refuge in Iran, is now a museum
The shah of Iran's last refuge before fleeing his country in 1979 was a palatial estate nestled against the Alborz Mountains a place no Iranian ever dreamed of visiting. Today, it costs them around USD 1. The Niavaran Palace, a complex of mansions on a 27-acre (11-hectare) plot, now welcomes the public to marvel at the luxuries the shah enjoyed as Iran's monarch for nearly four decades. As Iran reflects on Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi's departure from the country 40 years ago on Wednesday, the palace has taken on even more meaning for those visiting and working there. "We did what we did consciously. We were following an ideology," said Jamal Shahosseini, who as a young revolutionary raided the palace with other demonstrators. "When you do something consciously and with an ideology, you go until the end despite pressures," he said. The compound dates back to Iran's Qajar dynasty in the 1800s, when the monarchy chose to build a summer palace on a mountainside. As Tehran grew during its .
Karnataka political turmoil: Youth Cong workers protest outside Haryana resort
A group of Youth Congress workers Wednesday protested outside a resort in Haryana where the BJP's Karnataka MLAs have been camping in an "effort to thwart any poaching attempt" by the JD(S)-Congress ruling coalition. Around 20 Youth Congress workers led by party's Haryana Pradesh Congress General Secretary Pradeep Singh raised slogans against the NDA government outside the five-star ITC Grand Bharat resort located on the outskirts of Gurgaon. The protesters alleged that the BJP was "disrespecting the Constitution and murdering democracy" in the country. Meanwhile, sources said BJP's Karnataka unit chief B S Yeddyurappa is likely to hold a meeting with the party MLAs who are camping at the resort and discuss the prevailing situation in the state. They said the 104 BJP legislators will stay put till the top leaders in the party give their nod to return to Karnataka. Mobile phones of the first-time MLAs have been "kept aside" to safeguard them against any poaching attempt, the sources ...
Malaysia says it won't host any more events involving Israel
Malaysia's foreign minister said Wednesday that the government will not budge over a ban on Israeli athletes in a para swimming competition and has decided that the country will not host any events in the future involving Israel. Malaysia, a strong supporter of the Palestinian cause, is among the predominantly Muslim countries that do not have diplomatic relations with Israel. The government has said Israeli swimmers cannot join the competition in eastern Sarawak state in July, which serves as a qualifying event for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics. Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah said the Cabinet affirmed last week that no Israeli delegates can enter Malaysia for sporting or other events in solidarity with the Palestinians. "The Cabinet has also decided that Malaysia will not host any more events involving Israel or its representatives. This is to me, a decision to reflect the government's firm stance over the Israeli issue," Saifuddin said after meeting a coalition of Muslim ...