Page 258 - Politics
UAE echoes Saudi call for resumed Sudan talks
The United Arab Emirates, which has been a key supporter of Sudan's ruling generals, called Thursday for resumed talks on its political future following a deadly crackdown on protesters. The military council, which ousted longtime president Omar al-Bashir on April 11, had offered on Wednesday to reopen negotiations. But the offer was rejected by protest leaders who demanded justice for the 108 people doctors say have been killed since Monday in the crackdown by the feared paramilitaries of the Rapid Support Forces. "The UAE hopes that wisdom, reason and constructive dialogue will prevail between all Sudanese parties, in a way that guarantees security and stability," the foreign ministry said in a statement carried by the official WAM news agency. "The UAE emphasises the importance of resuming talks among various Sudanese forces to realise the aspirations of the brotherly people of Sudan," it added. The Emirati statement echoed a call for resumed negotiations issued by its ally Saudi ..
AIADMK slams efforts to create rift in alliance with BJP
The ruling AIADMK in Tamil Nadu Thursday claimed that efforts were being made to create a rift in its alliance with the BJP, but indicated the two parties were ideologically inclined beyond mere friendship. The party also claimed that "misinformation" was being spread about the Centre trying to "impose a three-language formula" in the country, a reference to the state opposition parties' stand against the imposition of Hindi. "Though the AIADMK-BJP alliance for the Lok Sabha polls was an extension of (their) friendship, the two speak in one voice on primary intent like patriotism and worship of God," AIADMK mouthpiece "Namathu Amma," said. The write-up comes amidst reports of differences between the two alliance partners post the Lok Sabha drubbing where the combine could win just the Theni Parliamentary seat. The write-up in the party organ slammed efforts by a section of "family-owned media", an apparent reference to those of the DMK, to "create rift between the leaf and ...
Chinese cartoonist slams Twitter for refusing Tiananmen emoji
Chinese artist Badiucao, whose anonymous political satire infuriated Beijing and earned him comparisons to Banksy, on Thursday announced a protest campaign against Twitter over what he says is its pandering to China. This is the second time the social media giant has come under fire in the last week over its handling of China-related content, after it apologised for mistakenly suspending accounts critical of Beijing -- just days ahead of the 30th anniversary of the brutal Tiananmen Square crackdown. The 33-year-old Badiucao said he reached out to Twitter ahead of the anniversary and offered to create a special tank man emoji that would appear next to the hashtag #Tiananmen30. Such emojis have been deployed on Twitter to mark a variety of special occasions and events, from the premieres of Hollywood blockbusters to national elections. But the platform -- which is blocked in China -- told Badiucao it would not be able to collaborate with him on this anniversary because "emojis are ...
Amarinder sets deadline to complete programmes in 6 months
Setting a deadline for the completion of his government's flagship programmes within six months, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Thursday directed his Cabinet colleagues to expedite the execution of schemes.
China emerges victorious at Shangri-La dialogue
The Shangri-La Dialogue, held annually in Singapore, brings together defense ministers, military leaders, academia, media, and others to discuss pressing issues in the Asian region. North Korea typically features, and this year a special session was dedicated to the South Pacific for the first time, but usually, the drawcard for pundits is tense Sino-US relations.For 2019, the Chinese delegation was led by none other than Minister of National Defense General Wei Fenghe, the first time since 2011 that a Chinese minister has attended the Shangri-La Dialogue.However, this year the marked differences in position by China compared to everybody else were sharper than ever before. While the USA took a conciliatory approach, and ASEAN members negotiated a perfect middle course between the great-power rivalry, China brushed aside any olive branches and continued its individualistic and stubborn route.On 1 June, US Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan featured in the first plenary session.
Kashmir will not be given to Muslims as a gift: Shiv Sena
Reiterating its stand on the abrogation of Article 370 of the constitution, Shiv Sena on Thursday said that "Kashmir will not be given to Muslims as a gift".Shiv Sena in its editorial mouthpiece Saamna stated, "The population of Muslims in the valley is 68.35 per cent, while Hindus make up to 28.45 per cent of the total strength in the state. This does not mean Kashmir will be given to Muslims as a 'gift'. They are Indians, too, and the laws of the country must be extended to them. For this, Article 370 must be abrogated"Article 370 protects and grants special status to the sovereignty of the state and gives it the power to make a separate set of laws to be applied for its governance.The party also heaped praises at Union Home Minister Amit Shah for taking up the issue of delimitation of constituencies in Jammu and Kashmir.Shah on June 4 held a high-level meeting with Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satyapal Malik, Intelligence Bureau Director Rajiv Jain and Ministry of Home Affairs to ...
Ration shop sealed in Delhi after surprise check
Delhi Minister of Food and Civil Supplies Imran Hussain on Thursday conducted a surprise inspection of ration shops in east Delhi and ordered one of them sealed after finding it shut.
US Middle East Plan 'betrayal of Islamic world': Iran supreme leader
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has attacked the United States, saying its Middle East Plan is a "betrayal of the Islamic world".The plan which has been prepared by US President Donald Trump's son-in-law and advisor Jared Kushner will be unveiled during the Peace to Prosperity Summit on June 24-25 in Bahrain, reported Sputnik"The plan is a betrayal of the Muslim world and the summit's sole objective is to materialize America's wrongful, treacherous and evil scheme for Palestinians -- which they [Americans] have called 'the deal of the century'," Khamenei said on Wednesday.The deal is aimed to end Isreal and Palestine's decades-old conflicts. Israeli Jews and Palestinian Arabs both want the same land. Palestinians protesting against Israel have demanded a separate state with self-governance.So far, the speculation is that the upcoming deal does not include a two-state solution, which was promoted by several countries.Last month, Kushner had also said that the US may pull ..
Mandate reflects public approval of security policy: Jaishankar
The massive mandate won by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Lok Sabha elections is a vote also for continuing the government's foreign policy with emphasis on security issues, new External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said on Thursday.
Amit Shah chairs high-level meeting on internal security
Union Home Minister Amit Shah held a high-level meeting on internal security here on Thursday with National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval and Home Secretary Rajeev Gauba.Minister of State for Home Affairs, G Kishan Reddy also arrived at the Ministry of Home Affairs.Shortly after taking the charge, Home Minister Shah had on Saturday held a meeting with top officials of the ministry and had discussed a slew of issues related to internal security along with terrorism and Naxalism.It is worth noting that Kashmir is the focus area for Shah in view of the promises made in the BJP manifesto like abrogation of Article 370 and Article 35A of the Constitution. The Centre's muscular anti-terror policy pursued in Kashmir is likely to be continued under the new government.
Another MLA bats for Pilot as Rajasthan CM
Another Congress MLA in Rajasthan, P.R. Meena, has come out in support of making Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot as Chief Minister in the wake of the party's rout in the Lok Sabha elections.
Japan's Abe to visit Iran next week: officials
Shinzo Abe plans to travel to Iran next week, officials said Thursday, the first visit by a Japanese prime minister in more than four decades as Tokyo hopes to mediate between Washington and Tehran. A government official told AFP that Tokyo was "still arranging details, including whom our prime minister will meet there" but local media have said Abe will hold talks with Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Hassan Rouhani. Local news agency Kyodo reported it would be the first such visit for 41 years. As tensions intensify between Iran and Japan's key ally the United States, Abe has reportedly proposed serving as a go-between by directly holding talks with Iran's key leaders. During his state visit to Tokyo in late May, US President Donald Trump said he remained open to talks with Tehran, appearing to give the green light to Abe's plan. Abe told a news conference with Trump: "By closely cooperating between Japan and the US, I would like to help ease the current ...
US lawmakers concerned over human rights abuses in China
Top American lawmakers have expressed concern over human rights abuses in China and sought a change in the US' policy towards the country. The top US Senators expressed their views during a Congressional hearing 'Rule By Fear: 30 Years After Tiananmen Square'. The hearing came on the anniversary of the Chinese government's violent crackdown on student demonstrators who occupied Tiananmen Square in Beijing. On June 3-4, 1989, the Chinese government deployed the military to suppress a six-week long pro-democracy protest in the capital. The Communist Party of China continues its war against the people of China and treats the rest of the world with similar disdain, rued Senator Ted Cruz. He said that China poses the greatest long-term geopolitical threat to the United States. "They have to be dealt with, and dealt with, with clear eyes. We can't break off relations with Beijing, but we must begin to rethink the assumptions that have guided US policies toward China since Tiananmen Square,"
Foreign policy made a difference in last five years: EAM S.Jaishankar
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday opined that India's foreign policy during the last five years played a role in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's consecutive victory in the Lok Sabha elections.Speaking at an event here, Jaishankar said that people now are concerned about the country's position in the world order which is a factor when it comes to making voting choices."Majority of people think India's standing in the world has gone up (in the last five years). Most importantly, this is something that matters to the people. The assumption that 'masters do not care about what the world thinks about us' is not true," Jaishankar, a former Foreign Secretary said.He said that the people now feel that the country is making strides towards development and the world respects India. "The sense that the country is on the move and the world looks at us very differently is where foreign policy has made a difference in the last five years," he said.The newly-minted minister gave the .
Not demand, it is our natural claim: Shiv Sena on Deputy LS Speaker post
Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut on Thursday said that his party has 'natural claim' over the position of Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker."This is not our demand, it is our natural claim. Shiv Sena has right on this position. Why should we demand it since it is our right?" Raut said while speaking to ANI here.Raut's demand comes amid speculation over the possibility of Naveen Patnaik's BJD getting the post.While Raut termed BJD a friend, he questioned how a party that fought against the NDA can get the position."We have 18 MPs. But there are talks that the position will be given to some other party, which is also our friend. BJD fought against NDA in the general elections, how can they give this post to them? Only Shiv Sena should get the hold of this position," he asserted.As per various reports, Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray has also kept forward the demand for the post before BJP president and Home Minister Amit Shah.Another BJP ally, JD(U), was given the post of Rajya Sabha's Deputy
Alliance Politics: United they failed, divided will they fall?
United they failed and divided they may fall further.
Australian PM defends legality of police raids on media
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Thursday reiterated his government's commitment to press freedom while defending the legality of the latest police raids on the media.
Progress in US-Mexico talks not nearly enough: Trump
US President Donald Trump has said that the progress which has been made in talks between Washington and Mexico on tariffs and immigration were not enough, renewing his threat to impose a 5 per cent tariff on all imported Mexican goods next week.
Police serve notice to TDP Visakhapatnam (East) MLA Velagapudi for violating MCC
Police served a 41 CrPC notice to TDP Visakhapatnam (East) MLA Velagapudi Ramakrishna Babu on Wednesday for allegedly violating Model Code of Conduct (MCC). Police had registered a case against him earlier, for allegedly making objectionable comments against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy.The police registered the case against Babu following a complaint from YSRC candidate for Visakha East assembly segment mentioning that Babu lost his temper after YSRC defeated TDP with a huge margin and made offensive comments about Jagan Mohan Reddy and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 23, during a rally.Reddy had steered YSRCP to a four-fifth majority in the 175-member Assembly, ousting N Chandrababu Naidu-led Telugu Desam Party (TDP) from power in the state.YSRCP finished the tally by winning 151 seats, wresting power from TDP whose strength was drastically reduced from 102 in the 2014 Assembly elections to a mere 23. The party also bagged 22 ..
Mexican authorities intercept US-bound migrant caravan
Mexican authorities have intercepted a US-bound caravan of roughly 500 Central American migrants a few hours after entering Mexico.