Page 2747 - Politics
Australia assigns warship to enforce North Korean sanctions
Australia has assigned a guided missile frigate to the East China Sea to boast international efforts to enforce sanctions against North Korea, an Australian officer said on Friday. Australian Defense Force Chief of Joint Operations, Air Marshall Mel Hupfeld said the warship with a crew of 230 will be supported by two Australian AP-3C Orion surveillance aircraft based in Japan. "Despite the easing of tensions on the Korea Peninsula, Pyongyang continues with its nuclear weapons and ballistic weapons programs in defiance of ... United Nations Security Council resolutions," Hupfeld told reporters. "The occasional deployment of ... maritime patrol aircraft and surface vessels to the region ... adds weight to Australia's ongoing economic and diplomatic pressure on North Korea and enhances the capacity of ongoing multinational enforcement efforts," he added. The Australians would work in cooperation with the Japanese, United States, Canadians and the South Koreas to enforce sanctions, ...
India appears all set to win election to UN Human Rights Council unopposed
India appears set to be elected to the United Nations's top human rights body in the Asia-Pacific category for a period of three years. The 193-member UN General Assembly will elect new members on Friday to the UN Human Rights Council. The members are elected by absolute majority through a secret ballot. Countries need a minimum of 97 votes to get elected to the Council. India will be vying for the seat in the Asia Pacific category. Along with India, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Fiji and the Philippines will also stake a claim in the same regional group. Given that there are five nations vying for five seats in the Asia Pacific category, India's election to the Council is all but certain. Ahead of the election, India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin had tweeted that "Pitching together. Bahrain, Bangladesh, Fiji, India & the Philippines stake claim to 5 seats for Asia-Pacific region at Human Rights Council elections." The new members will serve a term of ...
Kanye West meets Trump in White House
African-American rapper Kanye West met President Donald Trump at the White House here where he said that wearing the "Make America Great Again" cap made him feel like "Superman".
UN approves 'final' extension of Abyei peace mission
The UN Security Council on Thursday approved a final extension of its peacekeeping mission in the disputed Abyei region between Sudan and South Sudan -- unless the two sides make progress on border demarcation and other benchmarks. In its unanimous decision, the Security Council extended for six months the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei but said "this shall be the final such extension unless the parties take the specific measures." It repeated a previous warning that the situation in Abyei and along the Sudan-South Sudan border "continues to constitute a serious threat to international peace," and called on the two countries to show concrete progress on border demarcation and monitoring, as well as other benchmarks. Abyei is an area of about 4,000 square miles (10,500 square kilometers) contested since Sudan split into two countries in 2011. There have been tensions between the Arab Misseriya and Ngok Dinka peoples of the region. Sudan and South Sudan years ago agreed
US pastor detained in Turkey may soon be released
An American pastor may soon be released after two years of captivity in Turkey. A person involved in efforts to free Andrew Brunson says the 50-year-old evangelical pastor from North Carolina could be freed at his next court appearance on Friday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because officials had not yet reached a final agreement on the release and it could still fall through. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert told reporters that the US is hopeful he will soon go free but said she was unaware of any agreement on his release. President Donald Trump has demanded his release, and his case has added further complications to an already strained relationship. "I'm very hopeful that before too long Pastor Brunson ... and his wife will be able to return to the United States," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Wednesday. "It's the right thing for (Turkey) to do, it's the humanitarian thing for Turkey to do." Brunson was among thousands of people arrested in Turkey in .
Top US envoy on Iran to hold talks with India, European nations regarding oil import
A top US envoy on Iran is headed to India this week for talks ahead of the November 4 deadline set by the Trump administration for countries to bring down their import of Iranian oil to zero. In addition to India, Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook will be travelling to Europe to further discuss US foreign policy toward Iran. During this week-long trip, Hook will engage "allies and partners on our shared" need to counter the entirety of the Iranian regime's destructive behaviour in the Middle East, and in their own neighbourhoods, the State Department said. In India, he and Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources Francis R Fannon will meet with their counterparts for consultations, and in Luxembourg, he will attend meetings with officials gathered for the European Union meeting of ministers. In France, Hook and Bureau of Energy Resources officials will meet with the executive director of the International Energy Agency, and in Belgium, he will meet with EU ...
UAE slams 'fierce campaign' against Saudi Arabia
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) minister of state for foreign affairs on Thursday warned on Twitter that those who are fuelling a "fierce campaign" against Saudi Arabia will bear the "dire" consequences.
Virgin's Branson halts talks on $1 billion Saudi investment in space ventures
(Reuters) - British billionaire Richard Branson said on Thursday that his Virgin Group would suspend its discussions with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund over a planned $1 billion investment in the group's space ventures, in light of the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Canada to impose steel safeguards after U.S. tariffs
TORONTO (Reuters) - Canada will impose new quotas and tariffs on imports of seven categories of steel, the federal government said on Thursday, fresh measures to head off a potential rise in imports as overseas steelmakers shut out of the United States seek new customers.
CORRECTED - Canada to impose steel safeguards after U.S. tariffs
TORONTO (Reuters) - Canada will impose new quotas and tariffs on imports of seven categories of steel, the federal government said on Thursday, fresh measures to head off a potential rise in imports as overseas steelmakers shut out of the United States seek new customers.
Turkey, US press Riyadh to explain fate of missing journalist
Turkey and the United States on Thursday ratcheted up the pressure on Saudi Arabia to explain how a journalist vanished after entering its Istanbul consulate last week, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urging the release of CCTV footage from the mission. The Washington Post, which Khashoggi wrote for, added to the still unresolved mystery by reporting Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had ordered an operation to "lure" the critical journalist back home. Khashoggi, a Saudi national whose articles have criticised the prince, has not been seen since October 2 when he went to the consulate in Istanbul to obtain official documents for his upcoming marriage. Turkish officials have said he was killed -- reportedly by a 15-man "assassination team" that arrived on two planes -- but Riyadh denies that. The disappearance has captured international headlines and threatens to harm Saudi's relations with both Ankara and Washington, as well as damage efforts by Prince Mohammed to improve the
Geeta Koda joins Congress
Former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda's wife, Geeta Koda, Thursday joined the Congress in the presence of party president Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi, a senior leader said here. Congress leader Rajesh Thakur said Geeta Koda, a two-time MLA from the Jagannathpur assembly constituency, joined the Congress in the presence of Gandhi, party's Jharkhand Affairs in-charge R P N Singh, PCC president Ajoy Kumar and former state assembly speaker Alamgir Alam.
Decision to replace Cabinet Secy with NSA as head of Strategic Policy Group flawed: Anand Sharma
Senior Congress leader Anand Sharma Thursday termed as "flawed" the government's decision to replace the Cabinet Secretary with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval as the head of the Strategic Policy Group (SPG). Sharma alleged Prime Minister Narendra Modi has done a disservice to the nation by doing so. "NSA Doval replacing the Cabinet Secretary as head of National Strategic Group is a manifestation of PM's utter disregard for practices, rules and institutional sanctity. The BJP government had repeatedly undermined institutions having specific mandate and defined jurisdictions," he wrote on Twitter. He said the decision is "flawed" and will not make up for failures in foreign policy and securing India's strategic interests. Sharma said the NSA is a political appointee whereas the cabinet secretary, chiefs of the armed forces, IB and RAW are institutions. "By subordinating them PM had done a disservice to the country," he alleged.
Trump, Xi may meet at G20 summit in Argentina in Nov
American and Chinese officials are holding talks for a possible meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G20 summit in Argentina in late November, the White House said Thursday, as the world's two largest economies clash over trade. White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow told reporters that a meeting between the two leaders at the global gathering in Buenos Aires is under discussion. "I know it's under discussion and has been for a while," Kudlow said. Kudlow, however, said that it is for the Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and the National Security Advisor John Bolton to discuss about it. "Just don't want to put adjectives or adverbs. I know it is under discussion, he said. "It's not just logistics. They are going to be in the same city. It's the agendas, who is going to be in there, those kinds of things. My view is it's better to talk than not to talk," Kudlow said. A trade conflict between China and the US has escalated as the two countries .
India is set to be elected to UN Human Rights Council
India is set to be elected unopposed to the Human Rights Council on Friday as a candidate from the Asia-Pacific region.
BSP minister in Karnataka coalition government quits
Bahujan Samaj Party's (BSP) lone Minister N Mahesh in Karnataka's JD-S-Congress coalition government resigned on Thursday, citing personal reasons.
Trump, China's Xi to meet at G20 amid trade tensions: WSJ
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping plan to meet at the G20 summit in Argentina in late November, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, citing officials in both countries.
AAP to contest all 13 LS seats in Punjab, no tie-up on cards
Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party's national convener Arvind Kejriwal Thursday said his party will contest all the 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab and not enter into alliance. "We will fight on all Lok Sabha seats from the state, we will not enter into any tie-up with anyone," Kejriwal, who was in Bathinda to attend a party legislator's wedding, told reporters. He lashed out at the ruling Congress in the state and accused it of failing on all fronts. "He (Amarinder) had promised to give a job in each family. He had said if anyone is unemployed then he will be given unemployment allowance, he had talked about raising social security pension, waiving debt of farmers, promised smartphones to youths. Only tall promises were made, but none have been fulfilled. He spoke lies and now people of Punjab are fed up with them," he alleged. Kejriwal said Singh had promised to wipe out drug problem from the state, but it was still there. He also charged the Congress government of failing to act
US denies aid to Syria for reconstruction until Iran troops are sent off
The United States has cut off financial aid to Syria for the reconstruction of the war-torn nation unless the Iranian troops are sent off.Secretary of State Michael R Pompeo on Wednesday at Jewish Institute for National Security of America asserted that Syria should ask the Iranian soldiers to leave the country if it wants to continue receiving aid for the reconstruction from Washington in the future, reported RT."If Syria doesn't ensure the total withdrawal of Iranian-backed troops, it will not receive one single dollar from the United States for reconstruction," Pompeo added.Talking about the presence of the Iranian forces in Damascus, Pompeo said, "The onus of expelling Iran from the country falls on the Syrian government."There has been a visible friction between Tehran and Washington after the US accused Iran of facilitating terrorist activities in the Middle East.On May 8, US President Donald Trump announced had Washington's withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action
Wife of senior Congress leader joins BJP in Telangana,
Social worker Padmini Reddy, wife of senior Congress leader C Damodar Rajanarasimha, joined the BJP here Thursday but withdrew her decision within hours, saying she was moved by the reaction of Congress workers who were 'upset'. She said the party workers were upset over her joining the BJP and hence she decided to withdraw her decision. "I did not expect this reaction.... I am not able to see their (Congress workers) pain. So, I am withdrawing (her decision)," she told reporters Thursday night. Her husband Rajanarasimha was the deputy Chief Minister in undivided Andhra Pradesh when N Kiran Kumar Reddy was Chief Minister. BJP spokesperson Krishna saagar Rao said in a statement that Padmini Reddy joined the party on her own and that the party respected both her decisions. Earlier Thursday, Reddy joined the BJP in the presence of state party president K Laxman, who said she had earned a name for herself with her social work in Medak region and also among women. Laxman said