Page 250 - Politics
Pompeo to visit Bangkok, commit to Southeast Asia: official
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will recommit the United States on a visit to Bangkok to supporting the development of Southeast Asian nations in the face of a rising China, an official said Thursday. Pompeo will travel to the Thai capital for the July 29-August 3 ministerial meeting of the ASEAN bloc and will lead talks on the Lower Mekong Initiative, said Mark Clark, a US official in charge of the region. The initiative was launched 10 years ago by then secretary of state Hillary Clinton as a way to promote coordination and economic growth in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam -- several of which have increasingly close ties with China. "When ministers and our secretary meet in Bangkok in early August, we will highlight what we have achieved over the past decade and recommit to our joint efforts supporting the people of the Mekong," Clark told a conference on the Mekong River region at the Meridian International Center in Washington. Clark, an acting deputy assistant ...
Netanyahu fails to get postponement of corruption court hearing: reports
Israel's attorney general on Thursday rejected Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's request to postpone a court hearing over corruption allegations against him, media reports said. The prosecutor's office said Netanyahu had requested "that the hearing be delayed due to the dissolution of the Knesset and the elections due on September 17" to a date after the polls, the Ynet news site said. After considering the matter, the prosecutor's office said "nothing justified agreeing to the request to change the dates fixed for the hearing", it added. Netanyahu is facing possible indictment for bribery, fraud and breach of trust in the months ahead and is reportedly seeking legislation in the new parliament that would result in him being granted immunity. Last month, Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit pushed back to October the date by which Netanyahu needed to respond to the allegations against him. The prosecutor's office stressed that the hearing scheduled for October 2 and 3 would not be ...
Democrats urge Trump: No July 4 speech on National Mall
Democrats urged President Donald Trump Thursday to drop plans to give a July 4 speech on the National Mall, saying it would look like a campaign rally on a holiday that is traditionally apolitical. Back in February Trump tweeted that his administration would host "A Salute To America," an independence day celebration which he predicted would be "one of the biggest gatherings in the history of Washington, DC." The event, he said, would be held at the Lincoln Memorial on the west end of the National Mall and feature a fireworks display, entertainment, "and an address by your favorite President, me!" With less than a month to go before the holiday, three House Democrats including Majority Leader Steny Hoyer wrote the president to say they were "deeply troubled" that Trump intended to hold an event coinciding with the annual festivities. "For decades, the Fourth of July on the National Mall has been non-partisan and apolitical," a time to celebrate America's founding and reflect on the ...
US bars 23 people from participating in future weapons sales
The US on Thursday debarred 23 people for violating or conspiring to violate the Arms Export Control Act and prohibited them from participating in future weapons sales under the law."This action, as required by section 127.7(b) of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) (22 CFR parts 120-130), highlights the Department's responsibility to protect US defence articles, including technical data and defence services from unauthorised exports and brokering," a press statement from the US State Department said.The debarred persons are prohibited from participating directly or indirectly in activities regulated by the ITAR. This includes any brokering activities and any export from or temporary import into the US of defence articles, related technical data, or defence services in any situation covered under the law."Each individual on this list will remain debarred until the Department approves an application request for reinstatement. All persons engaged in activities subject ..
Spanish king tasks Sanchez to form new government
Spain's King Felipe VI on Thursday tasked acting prime minister Pedro Sanchez with forming a new government, a complex undertaking that involves negotiating with many diverging parties. While they won a general poll in April and gained lawmakers compared to the previous term, Sanchez's socialists failed to secure a majority in parliament and will need the support of other groupings. But despite the obvious horse-trading that entails, Sanchez is widely expected to get the backing he needs to start his second term as prime minister. Without the necessary seats in parliament to form a majority, the conservative Popular Party, centre-right Ciudadanos and far-right Vox have already resigned themselves to being in opposition. Sanchez was tasked with forming a new government after holding talks with the king, the Spanish parliament's speaker, Meritxell Batet, told a news conference The monarch has since Wednesday been meeting party representatives at the royal palace, is the norm after ...
Former President Jimmy Carter receives statesmanship award
Former President Jimmy Carter is being recognized for his contributions to relations between the U.S. and China. The George H. W. Bush Foundation for U.S. China Relations says Carter will receive the inaugural George H. W. Bush Award for Statesmanship in U.S.-China Relations. The foundation said in a statement Thursday that the award goes to people who have made "profound contributions to the development of constructive and mutually beneficial relations" between the U.S and the People's Republic of China. A private award ceremony is scheduled June 12 at the Carter Center in Atlanta. Emory University in Atlanta this week announced that the 94-year-old former president was granted tenure there. Carter has served as University Distinguished Professor at Emory for 37 years. Carter, a former Georgia governor, was president from 1977-1981.
Algeria interim leader calls for 'dialogue' over election
Interim Algerian president Abdelkader Bensalah on Thursday called for "dialogue" after the authorities ruled out holding a planned election on July 4. Bensalah urged the political class and civil society in the North African country to hold an "inclusive dialogue" aimed at fixing a new date for elections "as soon as possible" in a televised address. Algeria's constitutional council said Sunday it was impossible to stage the poll to choose a successor to ousted president Abdelaziz Bouteflika early next month, after the only two candidates were rejected. The move comes after weeks of demonstrations intented to pressure political leaders into postponing the vote. Bensalah, the former upper house speaker, was appointed on April 9 under constitutional rules which deem a presidential election must then be held within 90 days. With that deadline certain to be missed, the constitutional council has suggested his mandate be extended. The planned vote had drawn widespread protests, with ...
Palaniswami clears air on reports of 'rift' in AIADMK-BJP alliance
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami has refuted reports of an alleged rift between the ruling AIADMK and its ally BJP."We (AIADMK) still have an alliance with them (BJP). There is no change. Why is media trying to create confusion on this?" he said while responding to a question posed by reporters here on Thursday regarding 'bitter relations' between AIADMK and BJP post the poll debacle.As per reports, AIADMK, which won the Theni parliamentary seat, is upset as it was unable to find representation in the Union council of ministers.On being asked to respond on his tweet on the three-language formula, Palaniswami said he had just suggested that Tamil could be taught as an optional language in other states, adding that the Opposition is trying to create a "major controversy"."Where did I support three language policy? What I did suggest was a proposal that Tamil could be taught as an optional language in other states. That was all about my tweet. Opposition created a major ..
Will approach HC then SC and also go on fast starting June 8: Congress' Uttam Kumar Reddy
Soon after 12 Congress MLAs met Assembly Speaker Pocharam Srinivas Reddy seeking merger of the group with the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee Chief Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the party will be heading to the High Court tomorrow and will also hold 36 hours long fast starting June 8. He said that if they do not get sufficient remedy, they will approach the Supreme Court.While talking to ANI, Uttam Kumar Reddy said, "The Speaker has not withheld the dignity of his office. We tried to contact him by every means but he wasn't available for us. But in some secret place the Speaker took some representation from defected Congress MLAs against whom disqualification notices under anti-defection law are pending with him, and announced merger of Congress Legislature Party. Can anything be more disgraceful?"He added, "We are going to Telangana High Court tomorrow and if we don't get sufficient remedy, we will go to the Supreme Court. We will also be ...
DMK slams govt as Chennai braces for major water crisis
DMK leader Annadurai Saravanan slammed the AIADMK government in the state for its inability to solve the impending water crisis in the city and the state."We are distraught by the water crisis. The government was unable to find a solution to this. We knew well in advance of the impending water crisis. So, the government should have thought of a solution," Saravanan told ANI.He said, "At least in Chennai, it is better but in South Tamil Nadu, the situation is worse."Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palanisamy said, "The water scarcity situation in the state is due to lack of rain. We have instructed all the district collectors to make arrangements for the people and supply water to its minimum.""We have also taken various measures which will help bring water from various sources for distribution," he added.The TN chief minister also had a word of advice for the DMK. "I also expect DMK MPs to insist upon Karnataka coalition government to give away Kaveri water due for the ...
US Independence Day celebrations in Delhi: Envoy seeks to strengthen ties with Modi govt
United States' Ambassador to India Kenneth Juster on Thursday reaffirmed the US' commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with India while congratulating the Narendra Modi-led government for their astounding victory in the recently held polls.Juster was speaking at celebrations held in the American Embassy here to mark the 243rd Independence Day of the US.It is worth mentioning that July 4 marks the Independence Day of the US."The US-India partnership is durable and effective because it is based on a foundation of common values. These ideas have led millions of Indians to make their voices heard recently in the largest democratic exercise in world history," he said."We congratulate Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his new Cabinet of Ministers, and all of the newly elected parliamentarians, and wish them the very best as they take up their positions. We look forward to working with India and strengthening our partnership," he added.Juster also said US Secretary of State Michael R ..
12 Cong MLAs meet Telangana Speaker to join TRS
In another blow for Congress in Telangana, 12 of its MLAs on Thursday met Assembly Speaker Pocharam Srinivas Reddy and sought merger of the group with the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS).The MLAs met the Speaker at his residence and submitted a memorandum claiming that the decision to merge with the TRS was taken at a meeting of the Congress Legislature Party (CLP), a claim the state Congress President N Uttam Kumar Reddy rejected.Reddy said the defectors cannot claim to have convened a Legislature Party meeting without his permission. "The Congress will fight it democratically, we are looking for the Assembly Speaker since morning, he is missing. You people help us in finding him," he said."We are going to Telangana High Court tomorrow and if we don't get sufficient remedy, we will go to Supreme Court. We will also be filing cases in the Lokpal with evidence of MLAs benefiting out of changing parties. We are going on 36 hour fast on June 8," he added.He also said the MLAs have
US commander says Mideast buildup prompted Iran 'step back'
Iran has chosen to "step back and recalculate" after making preparations for an apparent attack against US forces in the Persian Gulf region, but it is too early to conclude the threat is gone, the top commander of American forces in the Mideast said Thursday. In an interview with three reporters accompanying him to the Gulf, Gen. Frank McKenzie said he remains concerned by Iran's potential for aggression, and he would not rule out requesting additional US forces to bolster defenses against Iranian missiles or other weapons. "I don't actually believe the threat has diminished," McKenzie said. "I believe the threat is very real." McKenzie, the head of US Central Command, and other military officials are trying to strike a balance between persuading Iran that the US is prepared to retaliate for an Iranian attack on Americans, thus deterring conflict, and pushing so much military muscle into the Gulf that Iran thinks the US plans an attack, in which case it might feel compelled to strike
Rajnath added to four more cabinet committees
Senior BJP leader and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was added to four more committees of the Union cabinet late on Thursday, a day after the Cabinet Secretariat released the list of committees reconstituted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the exercise reflecting the special stature granted to Home Minister Amit Shah, who was made part of all the eight panels.
Tension in Ludhiana after Shiv Sena workers, Sikh activists confront each other
Tension prevailed in Ludhiana on Thursday after Sikh activists and Shiv Sena workers confronted each other over tearing up of a few posters put up by the right-wing outfit, police said. Shiv Sena leader Rajiv Tandon alleged that some Sikh activists tore the posters put up by the party in the Ghas Mandi Chowk in Chaura Bazaar, they said. He also claimed that the activists raised slogans in favour of late militant leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale to mark the anniversary of Operation Bluestar. The Shiv Sena workers raised anti-Khalistan slogans and demanded immediate arrest of those who had torn the posters, police said. Police personnel were deployed in the area and the situation was brought under control, they said.
J-K delimitation: Dogra group demands 8 seats for Jammu region
Batting strongly for delimitation of assembly constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir, the Dogra Swabhiman Sangathan (DSS) Thursday demanded grant of eight seats to Jammu region, including six seats for Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) refugees. Former minister and DSS chairman Choudhary Lal Singh said seats under this process should be granted to Jammu through an administrative order by the governor as has been done in the past. "We welcome reports in media about move of the centre for delimitation of assembly constituencies in J&K. We demand that six should be granted to refugees of PoK and two seats should be given to displaced Kashmir Pandits in Jammu," Singh told reporters here. The BJP in Jammu and Kashmir has been raising the issue of reorganisation of the state so that Jammu gets a larger share of seats in the 87-member state assembly. As of now, Kashmir region has 46 seats followed by Jammu region with 37 and Ladakh with four.
Finland's new female-powered government sworn in
Finland's new centre-left coalition government has been sworn in, with the country's first Social Democratic prime minister in 16 years assuming office along with a climate issue-focused Cabinet where women are in the majority. The 19-member Cabinet of Prime Minister Antti Rinne was approved Thursday in the 200-seat Eduskunta legislature, after which President Sauli Niinisto appointed it. Eleven of the Cabinet members are female, reflecting Nordic gender equality in the nation's politics. With the Social Democrats in power in Sweden since 2014, and social democratic parties in Finland and Denmark scoring general election wins in the past few months, the political tide has turned to the left in the Nordic countries overcoming strong populist movements in each nation. Rinne's Social Democratic Party, the Centre Party, the Greens, the Left Alliance and the Swedish People's Party of Finland clinched a coalition deal Monday after weeks of intensive talks. The five parties muster a ...
Sukhbir Badal meets Shah, demands inquiry into Operation Bluestar
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Sukhbir Badal on Thursday met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and demanded a inquiry into Operation Bluestar - a code name of military operation carried out between June 1 and 8 in 1984 to remove Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and his followers holed up inside the Golden Temple in Amritsar.
12 Telangana Congress MLAs merge with TRS
Twelve Congress MLAs in Telangana on Thursday merged with the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS).
Chinese delegation calls on Rahul, Sonia
A Chinese delegation, led by a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and comprising officials of the Chinese Embassy here, met Congress president Rahul Gandhi and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Thursday and held discussions on the ties between India and China. The delegation called on the two Congress leaders at Sonia Gandhi's 10, Janpath residence here. Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma was also present on the occasion. Li Xi, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Secretary of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee, is currently visiting India. The Charge d'affaires of the Chinese Embassy in India, Li Vijian, was also present during Xi's meeting with the Gandhis. Vice Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (IDCPC) Guo Yezhou, Member of the Standing Committee and Director General, CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee Zheng Yanxiong and Deputy Secretary of the CPC Shenzhen ...