Page 264 - Politics
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq hopes BJP govt will take steps for resolution of political problem of J&K
Moderate Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq Wednesday expressed hope that the BJP-led government at the Centre will take steps for resolution of the political problem of Jammu and Kashmir. Addressing an Eid gathering at Jamia Masjid here, the Mirwaiz said he hoped that the "New Delhi's new ruling dispensation will take positive steps for resolution of the basic political problem and will work for its redressal to end uncertainty once for all". The separatist leader prayed for the resumption of dialogue between India and Pakistan. "Confidence Building Measures could be a starting point which would pave way for the resolution of all issues amicably, including the long-standing Kashmir issue," the Mirwaiz said. Demanding opening of traditional routes to facilitate travel and trade, Mirwaiz said all natural routes of divided Jammu and Kashmir should be re-opened so that people are allowed to connect with their loved ones.
US House passes bill to protect 'Dreamers'
The US House of Representatives has voted to protect so-called "Dreamers" and establish a path to citizenship for more than 2 million immigrants who entered the country without authorization or with only temporary status.
It was an experiment that failed: Akhilesh Yadav
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Wednesday admitted that his alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) was "an experiment that failed".
SBSP hopeful of forging alliance with SP, BSP for UP bypolls
The Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj, an estranged ally of the BJP,Wednesday said it was in talks with the SP and BSP for forging an electoral alliance for the UP Assembly bypolls. The move comes a day after the 'mahagathbandhan' fell apart. Speaking to reporters here, party general secretary Arvind Rajbhar said, "The SBSP is in touch with senior leaders of the SP and BSP, and we are hopeful that SBSP willcontest the Assembly bypolls after forging an alliance." Rajbhar said in the monthly meeting held on Tuesday, the strategy for the bypolls was deliberatedupon. "The party is now gearing up for the bypolls and panchayat elections," he said. Yesterday, the opposition 'gathbandhan' in Uttar Pradesh unravelled with BSP chief Mayawatideclaring her party will fight the assembly bypolls alone, prompting Akhilesh Yadav to say his SP too is ready togo solo. The Bahujan Samaj Party chief, however, said the break is not permanent and she can work with theSamajwadi Party again if the SP president can ...
610 political parties won no seat in LS elections
A total of 610 mainly regional and small political parties across the country failed to win even a single seat in the Lok Sabha elections while 530 got zero per cent vote share.
Delhi govt invites suggestions on proposed free travel scheme for women
The Delhi government has invited suggestions from people on its proposed scheme to make commute for women in public transport buses and Metro trains free, and asked them to submit the same till June 15. According to the Transport department, people can send their suggestions at ndelhiwomensafety@gmail.com, besides to the Chairman, DDC, Delhi Govt., 33, Shamnath Marg, Delhi-110054. "The government has sought people's suggestions for its free-ride scheme for women in buses and Metro trains till June 15," an official said. On Tuesday, Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia took a bus ride to get feedback from passengers about the proposed free travel scheme. Sisodia said that he did not find "even one citizen" who opposed the idea. The government has said that the move will ensure safety of women in the city.
Sudan crackdown death toll rises to 60
At least 60 people have died and over 300 injured in a two-day crackdown on pro-democracy protests carried out by security forces in the Sudanese capital Khartoum, the Central Committee of Sudan Doctors (CCSD) said on Wednesday.
Nigeria's UN envoy elected GA President, says will hasten UNSC reform process
Nigeria's Ambassador to the UN Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, elected as the next President of the General Assembly, said he will try and hasten the long-delayed reform process of the Security Council to ensure that the powerful UN organ is more democratic and efficient. The long-pending reform of the powerful 15-nation UN organ has made little progress after the Inter-Governmental Negotiatins (IGN) a decade ago. The negotiations process for UNSC reforms is headed for a roll-over to the next UNGA session that starts in September without making much headway this year. India has been calling for the reform of the UN Security Council along with Brazil, Germany and Japan for long, emphasising that it rightly deserves a place at the UN high table as a permanent member. Muhammad-Bande, who will succeed incumbent Maria Fernanda Espinosa, was elected by acclamation on Tuesday as President of the 74th session of the General Assembly, beginning in September. Congratulating Muhammad-Bande on his ...
India, Pakistan must start new chapter: Mirwaiz Umar
Senior religious and separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Wednesday urged India and Pakistan to start "a new chapter" and told the Modi government that the Kashmir issue needed "a peaceful and political solution".
Pramila Jayapal is 1st South Asian American woman to chair US House
Pramila Jayapal, a Democrat from Washington DC, has become the first South Asian American woman to preside over the US House of Representatives.
Trump walks back comments on UK health care and more
President Donald Trump rowed back Wednesday on his comments that Britain's much-loved national health service should be opened up to US private companies in a post-Brexit trade deal. The mercurial US leader also softened his tone on UK Labour opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn and actress-turned-British princess Meghan Markle. Trump sparked outrage across Britain's political divide by telling a joint press conference with Prime Minister Theresa May that "everything is on the table" in talks on a post-Brexit US-UK free trade deal -- including the NHS health service. "So NHS or anything else. A lot more than that," Trump said on the second of his three-day state visit Tuesday. Britons treasure their free health care system and fear its partial privatisation. Some suggest that US pharmaceutical companies would hike the price of medications and other basic services. Trump was asked specifically about the NHS at the press event and appeared to ask May what the acronym stood for before ...
Cross-border terrorism poses major threat in South Asia: Experts
Experts at a seminar titled 'Cross-Border TerrorismTaha Siddiqui, a Pakistani journalist who is now living in exile, offered a brief history of Pakistan's obsession with jihadi proxies in the region."The Pakistan military protects itself by keeping the threat of India alive and though Pakistan initiated conflicts with India, it told the public it is only countering Indian aggression. Pakistan relies on internally-based militant groups to keep tensions simmering, and the army has the 'perfect excuse for a tax burden' on the country's economy, creating a Mafia-like protection racket. The military creates its own demand in Pakistan," Siddiqui said while addressing the audience."Can the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the UN and other international bodies and governments compel Pakistan to give up its 'jihadi' proxies in the South Asian region?" was the key question put forth by Taha Siddiqui. He spoke of the international commitments Pakistan should fulfil and the pressures it should
Palaniswami requests PM to make Tamil an optional language in states across India
In the midst of a controversy over Hindi being part of a three-language formula, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Wednesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to include Tamil as an optional language in curriculum across India."Request Honourable PM Narendra Modiji to include Tamil as an optional language for study in other states. This will be a great service to one of the most ancient languages of the world," he tweeted.The tweet has come at a time when the Centre was forced to revised the new Draft National Education Policy, which had recommended Hindi learning mandatory in schools of non-Hindi speaking states, and suggested a three-language formula without naming Hindi.In the draft National Education Policy 2019, a three-language formula has recommended the inclusion of English and Hindi besides mother tongue in non-Hindi speaking states, while Hindi-speaking states were to include English and an Indian language from other parts of the country.Many leaders ...
Vijayasai Reddy appointed as YSRCP's parliamentary party chief
V. Vijayasai Reddy was on Wednesday appointed as Y S RC P Parliamentary Party leader.Y.S R Congress Party President and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy has written a letter to Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi, requesting him to officially recognize the appointment.Vijaysai Reddy is a member of the Rajya Sabha.In the Lok Sabha elections, YSRCP bagged 22 out of the state's 25 seats with the rest three going to the TDP.Earlier in the day, Former Chief Secretary Ajeya Kallam has been appointed the Principal Advisor to the Chief Minister Reddy. An order regarding his appointment was issued by Chief Secretary LV Subrahmanyam on Tuesday.
Pak Foreign Secretary Mahmood offers Eid prayers at Jama Masjid
Pakistan Foreign Secretary Sohail Mahmood arrived here on a three-day private visit on Tuesday night, diplomatic sources said. On Wednesday, he offered Eid prayers at historic Jama Masjid here. Mahmood was Pakistan's High Commissioner to India before he assumed charge of the top post in mid-April. It is not immediately known where he would meet any Indian officials or leaders during his stay here. Mahmood's children were studying here. He is scheduled to return to Pakistan on Friday along with his family, sources said. Before returning to Pakistan on April 14, Mahmood had told PTI that dialogue between India and Pakistan was the only option to understand mutual concerns and ensure peace, prosperity and security in the region. He said Pakistan was hoping for "re-engagement" with India after the Lok Sabha polls. "Sustained engagement and structured dialogue would enable the two countries to understand mutual concerns and differences, resolve outstanding disputes and build the edifice of
After Eid prayers, clashes at some places in Valley
Clashes erupted on Wednesday between stone-pelting youths and security forces in Srinagar, Sopore, Anantnag and Kupwara towns in the Kashmir Valley after Eid prayers.
Zardari vows to remove Imran Khan's govt
Pakistan's former president Asif Ali Zardari has vowed to remove Prime Minister Imran Khan to end the people's misery, as he accused the government of unleashing a tsunami of price hike and failing to generate employment. Zardari's comments came as he addressed party workers in Sindh's Daulatpur province. "If the prime minister was not removed soon, he will bring the nation to a point where we too won't be able to run the country," Dawn newspaper quoted Zardari as saying. "I am not hungry for power, but the present government must be sent packing. Otherwise, the life of the most of the people will become a misery," Zardari warned. He further said his Pakistan Peoples Party had always served the masses as it was our manifesto and we believe in serving people at their doorstep. "Soon after Eid we will declare our plans and this will signal the beginning of the end," he said. Pakistan is celebrating Eid on Wednesday. Zardari said the present government has snatched jobs from people and ..
Yogi Adityanath celebrates quiet 47th birthday
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath turned 47 on Wednesday but stayed away from celebrations on his birthday.
Voices of dissent emerge in SP against Mayawati
Voices of dissent against Bahujan Samaj Party President Mayawati have started emerging from the Samajwadi Party after the BSP snapped its alliance with the SP on Tuesday.
Trump approved Saudi nuclear transfers after Khashoggi killing: senator
President Donald Trump's administration approved the transfer of nuclear technical expertise to Saudi Arabia twice after the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a Democratic senator said Tuesday. Those two times were part of seven occasions starting in December 2017 in which the administration gave the go-ahead to such transfers, Senator Tim Kaine said. Kaine, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has been pressing the Energy Department since March for information on such transfers to the kingdom. It took intervention by the chairman of the panel but Kaine says he finally got an answer, after two months. One of the transfers was approved on October 18, 2018, which was 16 days after Khashoggi, a Saudi who had US residency status and lived in Virginia, was murdered and dismembered inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. The second time after the killing was on February 18 of this year, Kaine said. US intelligence agents have said they believe Crown Prince Mohammed bin ...