Page 241 - Politics
N Korea, Russia discuss cooperation in economy, trade
Officials from North Korea and Russia met on Friday and discussed ways to bolster bilateral cooperation in the fields of economy and trade, according to North Korean media.A delegation headed by North Korea's Minister for External Economic Affairs Kim Yong-jae met his Russian counterpart, Alexander Kozlov, in Pyongyang, Yonhap News Agency reported citing a report carried by Korean Central News Agency (KCNA)."The talks discussed matters of further revitalising the work of DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea)-Russia Intergovernmental Committee for Cooperation in Trade, Economy, Science and Technology and putting the equally-beneficial economic and trade relations between the two countries on a higher stage," the KCNA said while referring to North Korea's official name.The meeting comes at a time when the two countries are looking to strengthen cooperation in economy and trade.North Korean leader Kim Jong-un had visited Vladivostok for a summit with Russian President Vladimir ...
Mitt Romney says he may skip 2020 presidential endorsement
Utah Sen. Mitt Romney said Friday that he's not sure if he will endorse President Donald Trump for a second term and that he may not throw his weight behind anyone during the 2020 campaign. "I don't think endorsements are worth a thimble of spit," the Republican former presidential candidate told reporters during an annual gathering of political leaders, wealthy donors and powerful businesspeople in the Utah ski-resort town of Park City. "I wouldn't be surprised if I stay out of the endorsements." Romney wrote in the name of his wife, Ann, on his 2016 ballot, saying, "I still think she's doing a fine job." The senator repeated his view that Trump will likely win re-election in 2020 as an incumbent presiding over a strong economy, though "it's not a sure thing." Romney has been one of the president's fiercest GOP critics at times, though he's also backed Trump on other issues. Romney said he opposed Trump's proposal to impose tariffs on Mexico to force the U.S. ally to stem the flow of
Libya's UN-backed government sees US support
A senior official from Libya's UN-recognized government voiced confidence Friday over US support and called for greater diplomatic efforts by Washington as strongman Khalifa Haftar's forces try to seize Tripoli. President Donald Trump in April sowed confusion when he spoke by telephone with Haftar -- who is backed by US allies such as the United Arab Emirates -- and praised his role in "fighting terrorism and securing Libya's oil resources." "Before I came here, there were a lot of rumours about the US not supporting our government," Deputy Prime Minister Ahmed Maiteeq said after talks in Washington with lawmakers and the State Department. "I'm coming back home with a different message -- that the US is standing by us as the legitimate government of Libya," he told reporters. The State Department, however, was careful in its comments on the visit, which came as Haftar's two-month campaign is stalled on the outskirts of Tripoli after more than 600 people were killed. A State Department
'TRS trying to kill Cong in Telangana to lure Modi for ministerial posts'
Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) has claimed that TRS is trying to remove Congress from the state to impress Prime Minister Narendra Modi for gaining ministerial berths.Speaking to ANI, TPCC in-charge RC Khuntia claimed that TRS is "threatening" and "purchasing" Congress MLAs."How can Telangana Speaker combine 12 members and take a decision to merge CLP with TRS? Speaker cannot say that Congress party has merged with TRS," he said. "TRS is threatening and purchasing our MLAs."He went to ask why TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao is purchasing MLAs from Telangana Congress when he has a clear majority."When KCR has a comfortable majority, why he is purchasing more MLAs? I think KCR's intention is to kill the opposition, maybe he wants to send a message to Modi that I have killed the opposition and finished Congress, so give me some ministries as a reward. He is doing all this probably to please Modi and to become a partner in Delhi," he claimed.TPCC President Uttam Kumar Reddy ...
Will make Mamata's refusal to attend NITI Aayog meet an electoral issue: BJP
Following West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's refusal to attend a NITI Aayog meeting this month, the BJP has asserted that it will make this refusal an "electoral issue."Speaking to ANI, BJP spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao said Mamata can "compromise" with the developmental prospects of her state for "political benefits".Mamata declined an invitation to attend a meeting of NITI Aayog's Governing Council on June 15, amid heightened political war between the TMC and BJP in West Bengal."For Mamata Banerjee, politics is more important and she can really hurt the developmental prospects of West Bengal. She will further lose public esteem for politicising development agenda with the Centre. BJP will make it an electoral issue and tell the people of West Bengal how Mamata has actually compromised with developmental interest and prospects of the state," Rao said on Saturday.In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi - who will chair the June 15 meeting - Mamata had said on Friday ...
US gives Turkey to July 31 to backtrack on Russia missile deal
The United States on Friday gave Turkey until the end of July to abandon a deal made with Russia to buy an S-400 missile defense system, which Washington considers incompatible with Ankara's participation in the F-35 fighter jet program. If by July 31 Turkey does not give up on the S-400 system, Turkish pilots currently training in the United States on the F-35 will be expelled, and agreements with Turkish firms sub-contracted for manufacturing the F-35 stealth warplane will be cancelled, Ellen Lord, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, told reporters. Lord said the deadline "will allow sufficient time for Turkish personnel associated with the F-35 program to be reassigned and depart the United States... to facilitate an orderly cessation of Turkish participation." She justified the US ultimatum by the fact that Turkey, a NATO ally of the United States, had already sent its personnel to Russia to start training with the S-400. On Tuesday Turkish President Recep .
Pakistan PM writes to Modi, offers talks
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday wrote a letter to his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi offering dialogue to reconcilable problems.
Jagan meets governor ahead of cabinet expansion
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Friday called on Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan here and submitted him a list of 25 ministers to be sworn in on Saturday.
Kazakhstan: Ahead of presidential polls, candidates reveal key agenda
Nur Sultan (Astana City) [Kazakhstan], Jun 8 (ANI): Kazakhstan is set to undergo a historic presidential election on June 9, as it will mark the first time that the voters would not get to cast ballots for long-serving leader Nursultan Nazarbayev.With preparations in full swing for the elections, two of the presidential candidates on Friday, while speaking to ANI, shed light on their proposed policies for the country if voted to power."Our main agenda and focus is the development of agriculture production," said Toleutai Rakhimbekov, the presidential candidate of Auyl Party. "We also want to develop the chemical industry, food industry, education, and science and technology. I see the future of Kazakhstan as a prosperous, secular and democratic one, with a good international position," he added.Rakhimbekov opined that the upcoming elections would not only be important to Kazakhstan but to its neighboring countries and partners around the world as well, owing to the fact that the ...
PM Modi's first two bilateral visits in tune with India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy
Prime Minister Modi's upcoming bilateral visits to the neighbouring countries of Maldives and Sri Lanka after assuming office for the second term indicate the importance India attaches to its 'Neighbourhood-First' policy.PM Modi's two-day visit to Maldives will begin on June 8. While the Prime Minister had earlier visited the Maldives in November 2018 to attend President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's swearing-in ceremony, this visit will be the first by an Indian Prime Minister at a bilateral level in eight years.During the visit, PM Modi will address the Majlis (Maldivian Parliament). Before the address, the PM is expected to hold discussions with the speaker Mohamed Nasheed.To assist Maldives in its development and revival of its economy, a slew of Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) are expected to be signed between the two countries, including budgetary support for development projects, extending the Line of Credit for projects including water supply and sewerage, high impact community ..
First meeting of Council of Ministers on June 12: Sources
The first meeting of the new Council of Ministers will take place on June 12 under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sources said on Friday.In the meeting, discussions are likely to be held on the future course of action of the government for the next five years. Modi is expected to brief the ministers on the matter, sources added.Meetings of the council of ministers were regularly held in the previous Modi government, where he used to brief the ministers about the Centre's welfare schemes.In the first Union Cabinet meeting, Modi had approved all land holding eligible farmer families to avail benefits under PM-KISAN scheme, under which income support of Rs 6,000 is granted in three installments.
Iowa Democrats warn that Kamala Harris' 'star is fading'
Tim Bottaro was ready to endorse Kamala Harris. He planned an event for the California senator in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, buying balloons to match her campaign's colours. But the morning before Harris was due to arrive, her campaign called the former Democratic Party chairman in Woodbury County to cancel, blaming a crucial Senate vote on disaster aid. To Bottaro, it sounded like an excuse Harris cancelled both days of her Iowa swing, while several other senators were able to make the vote and still get to Iowa that weekend. He's now decided not to endorse Harris, illustrating the risk candidates face if they leave Iowa residents with the impressions that they're not paying enough attention to the state's coveted caucuses. Harris returns to Iowa this weekend promising renewed focus. But her relatively small staff and frequent travel to other places suggests Iowa isn't the linchpin in her strategy to win the Democratic presidential nomination. That's prompting complaints across the ...
Roadside bomb kills 3 Pak army officers, one soldier
Three Pakistani army officers and one soldier were killed on Friday after a roadside bomb targeting a military vehicle exploded in the troubled North Waziristan tribal district bordering Afghanistan. Four soldiers were also injured in the attack, the army said in a statement. The IED, targeting the military vehicle, was planted at a roadside in Kharkamar area in the district, it said. The slain army personnel were identified as Lt Col Raashid Karim Baig, Major Moeez Maqsood Baig, Captain Arif Ullah and Lance Havaldar Zaheer.
US gives Turkey to July 31 to backtrack on Russian missile deal
The United States on Friday gave Turkey until the end of July to abandon a deal made with Russia to buy an S-400 missile defense system, which it considers incompatible with Ankara's participation in the F-35 fighter jet programme. If by July 31 Turkey does not give up on the S-400 system, Turkish pilots currently training in the United States on the F-35 will be expelled, and Turkish firms will not participate in the joint F-35 development program, Ellen Lord, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, told reporters.
Giriraj Singh compares Mamata to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un
The countdown to the end of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's rule has begun as she has been trying to suppress her political opponents with a ruthlessness comparable to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Union minister Giriraj Singh said here on Friday. Singh was talking to reporters at the party's state headquarters upon his first visit to Bihar after being sworn in as a Union cabinet minister. "Ulti ginti (countdown) has begun for Mamata Banerjee...fear of an imminent defeat has left her frustrated. The treatment she has been meting out to her political opponents remind us of King Jong-un," the firebrand BJP leader alleged when asked about the running feud between his party and the Trinamool Congress headed by the West Bengal Chief Minister. "She has been displaying contempt for the country's federal structure. She has said that she refuses to acknowledge Narendra Modi was the Prime Minister of India and has never attended meetings of the Niti Aayog where Chief Ministers ..
Mamata warns party workers against infighting, asks them to reach out to masses
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday took stock of the TMC's organisational deficiencies in Hooghly district, where it faced a setback in the Lok Sabha election. Miffed over the Trinamool Congress' performance in the district, the cradle of the party's anti-land acquisition movement in Singur, Banerjee warned party workers against infighting. She urged the "traitors" to leave the party rather than weakening it from inside. The TMC chief held a two-hour-long closed-door meeting with the district unit leaders, after it lost the Hooghly Lok Sabha seat to the Bharatiya Janata Party and just managed to scrape through in Arambagh by a margin of 1,000 votes. In several assembly segments of the district, the BJP has taken a lead over the TMC in the general election. "The party supremo (Mamata) has warned us against infighting and asked us to work unitedly," a senior district leader said on the condition of anonymity. "She also said those who are more interested in switching ...
HRD Minister calls meet with the states on draft policy
In a bid to fine-tune the draft National Education Policy (NEP), Human Resources Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' has called a meeting with the education ministers of the states on June 22. The meeting will deliberate on the recommendations suggested by the draft policy.
Ethiopia PM urges democratic transition in Sudan after deadly crackdown
Ethiopia's prime minister Friday called for a "quick" democratic transition in Sudan as he met the country's ruling generals and protest leaders, days after a deadly crackdown killed dozens of demonstrators in the capital. Abiy Ahmed arrived in Khartoum to revive talks between the Sudanese generals and protest leaders after the African Union suspended Sudan on Thursday until the military makes way for a civilian-led transitional authority. The move by the African bloc was backed by the European Union amid a chorus of condemnation of Sudan's military rulers over Monday's deadly crackdown on a weeks-long sit-in outside army headquarters demanding civilian rule. "The army, the people and political forces have to act with courage and responsibility by taking quick steps towards a democratic and consensual transitional period," Abiy said in a signed statement issued to reporters after he held separate meetings with the generals and protest leaders. "The army has to protect the security of .
Mamata announces Trinamool's mass contact campaign
Following a setback in the 2019 elections in West Bengal, ruling Trinamool Congress will hold four Jan-Sanjag Yatras (mass contact rallies) in the state, Chief Minister and party supremo Mamata Banerjee said on Friday.
Goa CM allots additional portfolios to ministers
All ministers barring Fisheries Minister Vinod Palienkar from the Goa Forward party, were allotted additional portfolios by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday.