Page 216 - Politics
Priyanka, Sonia to visit Rae Bareli to thank voters
UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi will visit Rae Bareli, her parliamentary constituency, on Wednesday to thank her voters for re-electing her with an overwhelming margin.
Praful Patel appears before ED in AI seat-sharing case
Former Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel on Tuesday appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for a second day of questioning in connection with the agency's probe into the irregular seat-sharing on Air India's profitable routes.
Kazakh EC says Tokayev has won presidential election with 70.76 per cent votes
Incumbent President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has won the presidential election in Kazakhstan with 70.76 per cent of the votes, according to preliminary results shared by the country's election commission on Tuesday.The preliminary results indicated that Tokayev won a clear victory among the seven candidates. He also held the lead the nationwide exit poll results, released earlier in the day, in which he was expected to secure 70.13 per cent of the votes.They showed that Amirzhan Kossanov of the Ult Tagdyry United National Patriotic Movement received 16.02 per cent votes, Daniya Yespayeva of the Ak Zhol Democratic Party bagged 5.2 per cent and Toleutai Rakhimbekov of the Auyl (Village) Party secured 3.2 per cent.Amangeldy Taspikhov of the Kazakh Trade Unions Federation got 2.07 per cent, Zhambyl Akhmetbekov of the Communist People's Party of Kazakhstan 1.82 per cent, and Sadybek Tugel of the Uly Dala Kyrandary (Eagles of the Great Steppe) Public Association 0.92 per cent of the votes.The .
Pompeo to boost US' 'incredibly important' ties with India during visit to New Delhi
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said that his visit to New Delhi this month will be focused on advancing the "incredibly important" ties with India which is a significant part of President Donald Trump's strategy in the strategic Indo-Pacific region. Pompeo would leave for New Delhi on June 24. New Delhi would be Pompeo's first stop and South Korea his last during the nearly week-long visit to the Indo-Pacific region, beginning June 24, that would also take him to Sri Lanka and Japan. Before starting his trip, Pompeo will address the India Ideas Summit of US-India Business Council on June 12. "I'll be speaking to a group of Indian business leaders in preparation for the trip that I'll take in a couple weeks where I'll be visiting India, an important part of President Trump's strategy in the Indo-Pacific," he told reporters at the Foggy Bottom headquarters of the US State Department on Monday. "I'm looking forward to the opportunity both to give the set of remarks about how it is
Yemen: Houthis claim attack on Saudi airport
The Houthi rebels of Yemen launched multiple drone attacks targeting a military airbase in Saudi Arabia's southwestern province of Asir on late Monday night, the Iran-backed militia said on its news channel.The Houthi's Al Masirah satellite news channel said they targeted King Khaled Airbase in Khamis Mushait city of Asir.However, Saudi Arabia is yet to confirm the reports, Xinhua news agency reported.Monday's attacks were the latest claimed by the rebels against cities and facilities located on Saudi Arabia's southern border. Most of the drone and missile attacks had been intercepted and destroyed by the Saudi defence forces.Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have been leading an Arab military coalition against the Houthis in support of Yemen's internationally recognised President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi over the last four years.The Yemeni rebels have seized control of much of the northern parts of the war-ravaged country, including capital Sanaa, in September 2014, forcing ...
Pompeo to visit Japan, S.Korea on denuclearization this month
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is scheduled to visit Japan and South Korea later this month to discuss denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, the State Department has announced.
Nuclear stalemate one year after Trump-Kim summit: analysts
When Kim Jong Un and Donald Trump shook hands before the world's cameras in Singapore a year ago, they pledged change and progress. But now they are gripped by diplomatic recriminations after a failed second meeting in Hanoi. In Singapore -- the first-ever summit between a sitting US president and a North Korean leader -- Kim signed a vaguely-worded deal on denuclearisation, touted by Trump as a historic breakthrough. But a second meeting in Vietnam in February ended abruptly -- without even a scheduled lunch -- after the two failed to agree on what the North would be willing to give up in exchange for sanctions relief. The process remains deadlocked and analysts say the two sides have sobered up since. "Immediately after the Singapore summit, we had a tidal wave of completely unrealistic, almost comical expectations," said Andrei Lankov, a professor at Kookmin University in Seoul. "Then it became clear what has been obvious -- the North Koreans are not going to surrender nuclear ...
Haryana Congress chief Tanwar calls meeting after Hooda meets supporters
Gurugram (Haryana) [India], June 11 (ANI): Haryana Congress president Ashok Tanwar called a meeting on June 12 in Gurugram. The agenda of the meeting is said to be assessing the political situation of the state and preparing for the assembly election.The meeting by Tanwar comes only three days after a similar meeting with supporters was held by former state chief minister and Congress veteran Bhupinder Singh Hooda.Denying any rift within Congress Ashok Tanwar told ANI that the meeting that is going to take place on June 12 will have state executives of the party.On being asked about an invitation to ex-CM Hooda, Tanwar stated that all members of state executive have been called for the meeting.According to sources, in past, there have been heated exchanges between the supporters of Hooda and Tanwar during a coordination committee meeting. During that meeting, the state in-charge Ghulam Nabi Azad had to reportedly walk out without any deliberations.Haryana state-chief Tanwar was also ..
Saudi downs two attack drones from Yemen: coalition
Saudi air defence forces intercepted two drones launched by Huthi rebels from neighbouring Yemen, state media reported Tuesday, as the Iran-aligned militia steps up attacks on the kingdom. The drones targeted Khamis Mushait in the kingdom's south on Monday and caused no damage or casualties, the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen said in a brief statement released by the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA). The rebels said earlier via their news outlet Al-Masirah that they had targeted the King Khalid airbase near Khamis Mushait. The attacks come as SPA reported the coalition was intensifying air raids on Huthi positions in the northern Yemeni province of Hajjah. The rebels have stepped up drone and missile attacks on the kingdom amid tensions between Shiite power Iran and the United States, Saudi Arabia's main ally. Last month, the Saudi air force shot down a bomb-laden drone deployed by Huthi rebels that targeted Jizan airport, close to the southern border with Yemen, the coalition
Watergate figure Dean details Trump-Nixon parallels
John Dean, the White House lawyer who helped bring about the Watergate downfall of Richard Nixon, has told Congress that there are "remarkable" similarities between the former president's illegal behaviour and alleged acts of obstruction by Donald Trump. Dean told the House Judiciary Committee on Monday that the Mueller report, which outlines 10 possible acts of obstruction by Trump, is equivalent to the famous "road map" that prosecutor Leon Jaworski delivered to Congress in 1974, sparking impeachment proceedings against Nixon and forcing his resignation. "In many ways the Mueller Report is to President Trump what the so-called Watergate roadmap... was to President Richard Nixon," the 80-year-old Dean told the House Judiciary Committee. There were "remarkable parallels" between the two, especially related to obstruction of justice, said Dean, who as Nixon's White House counsel was deeply involved in illegal efforts to stifle the Watergate probe. One of those parallels, Dean noted, ...
EU should resist US' economic terrorism against Iran: Rouhani
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Monday said that the European Union should resist the "economic terrorism" committed by the United States against Iran and fulfill its obligation under the 2015 nuclear deal.The US withdrawal from the JCPOA has had nothing, but the adverse impact on the interaction among the countries and regional stability. If EU states maintain that JCPOA benefits Iran and EU ties as well as regional stability and peace, it should take practical steps to save the deal," IRNA quoted Rouhani as saying.He made the comments during a meeting with German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas in Tehran.Accusing the US of breaching the nuclear agreement, Rouhani said that Washington launched "terrorist actions" in the reaction and added that the EU did not have any "responsible reactions" from their side."The US is moving on track of economic terrorism with its oppressive sanctions," he said.Denying US' claims that Iran is planning to build nuclear bombs, Rouhani said that ...
US expresses grave concern about Hong Kong proposed amendments to fugitive offenders ordinance
The Trump administration expressed its grave concern about Hong Kong's proposed amendments to its fugitive offenders ordinance, saying it would permit Chinese authorities to request the extradition of individuals, if passed. "The United States expresses its grave concern about the Hong Kong government's proposed amendments to its fugitive offenders ordinance, which, if passed, would permit Chinese authorities to request the extradition of individuals to mainland China," State Department spokesperson Morgan Ortagus told reporters. The peaceful demonstration by hundreds of thousands of Hong Kongers a day earlier clearly shows the public's opposition to the proposed amendments, she said. The United States shares the concern of many in Hong Kong that the lack of procedural protections in the proposed amendments could undermine Hong Kong's autonomy and negatively impact the territory's longstanding protections of human rights, fundamental freedoms, and democratic values, as enshrined in ...
Money laundering case: PPP to hold nationwide protests against Zardari's arrest
The Pakistan People's Party (PPP) is set to hold country-wide protests after former President Asif Ali Zardari was arrested in connection with a money laundering case.The decision was made during the party's executive committee meeting that took place late on Monday. Speaking after the meet, PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that he would "make the government an offer"."Bring a people-friendly budget. I will support it. We have always taken democratic steps for the people. But you will bring a budget that is an enemy of the people ('awam dushman' budget). You are threatening my workers, my family, you arrested my father. If you bring such a budget, I will show you what a protest is," The Dawn quoted Bilawal as saying while attacking the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government.Zardari's arrest by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) came hours after Islamabad High Court had rejected his application seeking an extension of the pre-arrest bail.A 15-member team of ..
Pompeo says he will visit India this month
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he would visit India this month to forge relations with re-elected Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Pompeo also told reporters on Monday that he would outline the US strategy on the Indo-Pacific in a speech Wednesday in Washington ahead of his trip to New Delhi. State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus, speaking after Pompeo, said the top US diplomat could leave for Delhi on June 24. He will also visit Sri Lanka in the aftermath of devastating Easter suicide attacks against Christians. Pompeo will later join President Donald Trump at the Group of 20 summit in Osaka and on his visit to South Korea, Ortagus said.
Georgian leader sees NATO future, seeks tough line on Russia
Georgia's president is calling on Western allies to do more to face up to Russia and the "very heavy pressure" she says Moscow has put on her Caucasus nation. Salome Zurabishvili took office as Georgia's first woman president in December. A former French diplomat who was born in Paris to Georgian parents, she insists Georgia will one day join the European Union and NATO. George lost control of the breakaway provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia after an August 2008 war with Russia. Russia has strengthened its military presence in both regions and recognized them as independent states. Zurabishvili joined about two dozen other heads of state and government including Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev for the International Labour Organisation's centennial that opened in Geneva on Monday.
Training programme organised for civil servants from Gambia
A special training programme for senior civil servants from Gambia was organised on Monday at the National Centre of Good Governance (NCGG) in Mussoorie.Around 25 senior civil servants including the Solicitor General and Legal Secretary, Permanent Secretaries and Deputy Permanent Secretaries from key governmental ministries of Gambia are attending the programme, which will go on till June 21, according to a press statement by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).The programme will focus on enabling the participants to gain requisite knowledge and skills in the area of field administration. It integrates cross-country experiences and best practices in field administration and good governance.This is the first ever such programme organised for senior civil servants from any country in West Africa, the statement said."This programme is part of the Government of India's assistance to meet the capacity building needs of The Gambia. The training is fully funded under the Indian Technical .
Swaraj rebuts reports of her appointment as Andhra Governor
Former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj denied reports of her being appointed as the Governor of Andhra Pradesh after Union Minister Harsh Vardhan's tweet congratulating her for the same on Monday."The news about my appointment as Governor of Andhra Pradesh is not true," Swaraj tweeted.Earlier, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Harsh Vardhan posted a tweet congratulating Swaraj on "her appointment". "Congratulations to senior BJP leader and former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj ji on being appointed as the Governor of Andhra Pradesh," Harsh Vardhan wrote on Twitter.She further said, "I called on the Vice President of India Shri Venkaiah Naidu ji on demitting office as Minister of External Affairs. This was enough for Twitter to appoint me as the Governor of Andhra Pradesh."He, however, deleted the tweet later.Social media users started congratulating Swaraj immediately after the minister's tweet.Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janta Yuva Morch vice-president S G Suryah .
Kazakhstan: Tokayev named winner of presidency amid protests
An ally of Kazakhstan's former president was named winner of the presidential election on Monday in a vote marred by a police crackdown on protesters who criticized the result as an orchestrated handover of power. The Central Election Commission in the Central Asian country said final results showed Kassym-Jomart Tokayev won nearly 71 percent of the vote in Sunday's balloting. Tokayev became acting president when Nursultan Nazarbayev, who had led the country since its independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, abruptly stepped down. Shortly after Nazarbayev resigned, Kazakhstan's ruling party nominated Tokayev for presidency. Some 500 people were taken into custody after police broke up rallies in Kazakhstan's two largest cities Sunday. Protests erupted again on Monday with people rallying in the capital Nur-Sultan, named after the former president, and the commercial capital Almaty. An Associated Press photographer saw at least 100 people detained by police on a central square in ...
Modi to meet Xi, Putin at SCO but not Imran Khan
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will have bilateral meetings with leaders of Russia and China during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit later this month but not with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan.
2 officers removed from service on corruption charges
Two special police officers (SPOs) have been removed from service on Monday for their alleged involvement in corrupt practices in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district, officials said An inquiry was ordered against Manoj Kumar and Mohmmad Azad for allegedly facilitating the movement of bovine smugglers. The inquiry revealed a nexus between the officers and the bovine smugglers in Bhaderwah area, the police said. The officers were allegedly taking a hefty amount of money to facilitate the safe passage of these bovine smugglers in the area. The two have been disengaged from the rolls of the SPOs with immediate effect and they will deposit all government articles at district police lines in Doda.