Page 301 - Politics
Navy acknowledges request regarding USS John S. McCain
The US Navy has acknowledged that a request had been made regarding the USS John S. McCain in relation to President Donald Trump's recent visit to Japan, but said the warship ended up remaining in its normal configuration.
Fire at US embassy in Honduras amid protests
The main entrance of the US Embassy in the Honduran capital Tegucigalpa was left charred after demonstrators set fire to tires and objects in front of the building.
US state of Illinois nears pot legalisation
The US state of Illinois on Friday moved closer to legalising marijuana for recreational use -- the first case in which US state lawmakers led the change. In a bipartisan vote of 66-47, the lower House in the state capital Springfield approved the measure which, once signed by the governor, would make Illinois the first US state to start a recreational pot industry via the legislature rather than through initiatives approved by voters. "This will have a transformational impact on our state, creating opportunity in the communities that need it most and giving so many a second chance," Governor J.B. Pritzker said in his statement. Pritzker, a Democrat, campaigned on marijuana legalization and was due to sign the legislation that would take effect January 1. Illinois residents age 21 and older would be allowed to legally possess 30 grams of cannabis, 5 grams of cannabis concentrate or 500 milligrams of THC contained in a cannabis-infused product. Non-residents are allowed to carry 15 ...
US President Donald Trump terminates preferential trade status for India under GSP
President Donald Trump has terminated India's designation as a beneficiary developing nation under the key GSP trade programme after determining that it has not assured the US that it will provide "equitable and reasonable access to its markets." The Generalized System of Preference (GSP) is the largest and oldest US trade preference programme and is designed to promote economic development by allowing duty-free entry for thousands of products from designated beneficiary countries. "I have determined that India has not assured the US that it will provide equitable and reasonable access to its markets. Accordingly, it is appropriate to terminate India's designation as a beneficiary developing country effective June 5, 2019," Trump said in a proclamation on Friday, ignoring the plea made by several top American lawmakers as it will cost American businesses over USD 300 million in additional tariffs every year. On March 4, Trump announced that the US intends to terminate India's ...
Meghan Markle was 'nasty': Trump tells UK daily
Ahead of upcoming visit to the UK, Ireland and France next week, US President Donald Trump told a British daily that Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, was "nasty" in response to her 2016 comment where she called Trump "misogynistic".
Saudi king slams Iran's 'terrorist acts' at Islamic summit
Saudi Arabia's King Salman slammed Iran over recent attacks targeting the kingdom, describing the incidents on Saturday in a speech before Muslim leaders gathered in Mecca as "terrorist acts" that threaten global energy supplies. It was the monarch's strongest words yet since tensions spiked in recent weeks between the two regional heavyweights. Iran had a representative present at the 57-nation summit of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, or OIC, but its top leadership did not attend. The Islamic summit drew political figures and heads of state from countries spanning Africa, the Middle East and Asia. They come with widely varying policies and priorities, but share a common reverence for the Al-Aqsa mosque in east Jerusalem, known as the first "Qibla" because Muslims prayed toward it before the cube-shaped Kaaba in Mecca. Despite sharp differences between OIC member-states on a gamut of issues, a final statement by the group stressed support for a future Palestinian state, as ..
Mecca summit slams US embassy move to Jerusalem: statement
The 57-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Saturday slammed the US decision to transfer its embassy to Jerusalem and recognise the disputed city as Israel's capital. The Saudi-hosted summit condemned the "transfer of embassies of the United States and Guatemala to Jerusalem" and urged all members to "boycott" countries that have opened diplomatic missions in the city, a statement said. The statement comes as US President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner prepares to roll out economic aspects of his long-awaited Middle East peace plan at a conference in Bahrain later this month. The plan, dubbed by Trump as the "deal of the century", has already been rejected by the Palestinians, who say Trump's policies have shown him to be blatantly biased in favour of Israel. Palestinians have cut off all contacts with the Trump administration after the president broke with decades of bipartisan policy to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel in December 2017. Israel ...
Saudi warns of oil supply threat as allies rally against Iran
Saudi Arabia's King Salman on Saturday warned that "terrorist" attacks in the Gulf region could imperil global oil supplies, as he sought to galvanise support among Islamic countries against arch-rival Iran. The king was speaking at a meeting of the 57-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the third and final Tehran-focused summit in the holy city of Mecca, marked by the notable absence of Iran and Turkey's leaders. The world's top oil exporter has ratcheted up tensions with Iran after sabotage attacks damaged four vessels, two of them Saudi oil tankers, off the UAE and twin Yemeni rebel drone attacks shut down a key Saudi oil pipeline. Tehran has strongly denied involvement in any of the attacks. "We confirm that terrorist actions not only target the kingdom and the Gulf region, but also target the safety of navigation and world oil supplies," the king told OIC member states. In a tweet just before the start of the summit, the king vowed to confront "aggressive threats ...
US acting defense chief calls out China over South China Sea
US Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan on Saturday denounced China's efforts to steal technology from other nations and militarise man-made outposts in the South China Sea as a "toolkit of coercion," saying Beijing's bad behaviour must end. In his first major speech on the international stage, Shanahan mixed sharp criticism of China and warnings of North Korea's "extraordinary" threat with vows that the US will remain strongly committed to the Indo-Pacific region and is ready to invest billions of dollars in securing its stability. While he didn't specifically name China in early parts of his speech, he made clear who his target was, making pointed references to Beijing's campaign to put advanced weapons systems on disputed islands in the region. "If the trends in these behaviours continue, artificial features in the global commons could become tollbooths. Sovereignty could become the purview of the powerful," Shanahan said. His remarks underscore America's frayed relations with
Neglecting grassroots workers, dynasty politics hurt Congress chances in Rajasthan
A week after the Congress suffered a humiliating defeat on all 25 Lok Sabha seats in Rajasthan for the second time in a row, party workers accused Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot of neglecting grassroots workers and promoting dynastic politics.
Less RS members in Team Modi 2.0 as more LS winners rewarded (Re-isssuing)
The representation of Rajya Sabha members in the second Narendra Modi government has dropped from 19 to 11 as those who fought tough battles in the Lok Sabha polls have been rewarded handsomely.
Congress gears up for presidium as Rahul targets old guard
The fallout from the Congress party's second consecutive general election rout is coinciding with Rahul Gandhi's obstinacy about not withdrawing his resignation to give shape to a presidium-like apparatus that could lead the party from now on.
IAF lifts temporary airspace restrictions, imposed after Balakot
All temporary restrictions imposed on all air routes, in the country's air space have been lifted, the Indian Air Force said.The move comes immediately after Prime Minister Narendra Modi began his second term in office."Temporary restrictions on all air routes in the Indian airspace, imposed by the Indian Air Force on 27 Feb 19, have been removed," the IAF tweeted on Friday..
US Senator Cory Booker hires several Indian-Americans for his 2020 presidential bid
US Senator Cory Booker has hired over a dozen Asian American Pacific Islanders, mostly Indian-Americans, for his 2020 presidential campaign which is said to be the largest among the Democratic aspirants. The first African-American Senator from New Jersey, Booker, 50, announced his 2020 presidential bid on February 1. Currently there are nearly two dozen Democratic presidential aspirants, who will be pitted against each other in the party's primary elections beginning early next year. Prominent among them include former Vice President Joe Biden, Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard; Senators Kamala Harris, Michael Bennet, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren. From his national press secretary Sabrina Singh, State operations director New Hampshire Shwetika Baijal to Iowa political director Rishi Bharwani; Booker has hired more than half a dozen Indian-Americans for his presidential campaign. "I'm proud to be building a campaign that reflects the rich diversity of our country. Being inclusive of ..
US looking into reports N Korea executed official after Trump's Hanoi summit: Pompeo
United States Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo said on Friday that Washington is looking into reports that North Korea executed a senior official after Kim Jong-un and Trump were unable to reach an agreement during their Hanoi summit in February this year."We've seen the reporting ... we're doing our best to check it out," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said during a press conference in Berlin, as cited by CNN. "We're doing our best to check it out. I don't have anything else to add to that today," he added.The matter pertains to a report published in South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo on Friday that North Korea's special envoy to the US, Kim Hyok-chol, was executed by Pyongyang in March on charges of "being recruited by US imperialists and betraying the supreme leader."During the Hanoi summit, Honk-chol had led negotiations with the US special representative to North Korea, along with being in charge of the working-level talks with his American counterparts.The report also said ..
Chhattisgarh: Satish Chandra Verma is new Advocate General
Chattisgarh government on Friday appointed a new advocate general, Satish Chandra Verma with immediate effect, replacing Kanak Tiwari on the post."In exercise of the powers conferred by Clause (1) of Article 165 of the Constitution of India, the Governor of Chhattisgarh is pleased to appoint Satish Chandra Verma, Additional Advocate General, Chhattisgarh as Advocate General, Chhattisgarh, in place of Kanak Tiwari, Advocate General, with immediate effect", read the notification issued by Chief Secretary Ravishankar Sharma on the name and orders of the state governor.Speaking to reporters here, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said, "Kanak Tiwari had resigned and it was accepted. The new appointment has also been made."Tiwari was appointed on the post of Advocate General in January 2019, soon after the change of government in the state.
Trump to formally announce re-election bid on June 18
US President Donald Trump has said that he would formally announce his bid for re-election at a June 18 rally in Florida - a state that was key to his victory in 2016. Trump's wife Melania, Vice President Mike Pence and his wife Karen will also be part of the evening event in Orlando at the Amway Center arena, Trump said on Twitter on Friday. "I will be announcing my Second Term Presidential Run... on June 18th in Orlando," he said. "Join us for this Historic Rally!" Trump has made it clear since taking office that he planned to run again in 2020, has held multiple campaign rallies and has already raised tens of millions of dollars. When he speaks to his supporters, he often refers to his six remaining years in power -- not the 18 months left in his first term. Trump will launch his campaign against the backdrop of mounting Democratic calls for his impeachment, including by several of the nearly two dozen members of the opposition party seeking to unseat him. For now, the 72-year-old .
US withdraws tax exemption for Pak diplomats
In a move likely to plunge the already strained relations between the United States and Pakistan to a new low, Washington on Friday announced that it has withdrawn its tax exemption programme for Pakistani diplomats.The move has come a year after the US barred Pakistani diplomats working in Washington from travelling outside a 25-kilometre radius around the city without approval, reports Sputnik.With the decision turning effective immediately, over 20 members in the Pakistan embassy on Friday surrendered their Tax Exemption cards to the US authorities.Notably, Pakistan has yet to provide tax exemption facilities to the US diplomats working in Islamabad since they applied for the same last year.Diplomatic Tax Exemption Cards provides an exemption from sales, occupancy, and other similar taxes for the eligible foreign officials working in the United States, or its territory.On Thursday, the Pakistani Embassy in the US had said that the two countries were discussing the said matter and ..
Hezbollah chief warns any war against Iran would engulf region
The head of the Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah has warned that if there was war against Iran the whole Middle East region would "erupt", amid escalating US-Iranian tensions. US President Donald "Trump, his administration, and his intelligence know well that any war on Iran will not remain confined to Iran's borders", Hassan Nasrallah said. "Any war on Iran will mean the whole region will erupt," said the head of the Iran-backed movement in a televised speech on Friday. "And any American forces and American interests will be permissible" as a target, he said. Hezbollah is listed as a "terrorist group" by the United States, and has fought several wars with US ally Israel to the south of Lebanon. Nasrallah on Friday also slammed a proposed US peace deal to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that Trump has dubbed "the deal of the century". "It's a void deal... a historic crime," he said of the plan, that has already been rejected by the Palestinians as it is expected to largely ...
Hundreds rally for military rulers in Khartoum
Hundreds of people rallied in support of Sudan's military rulers in the capital Khartoum, carrying posters of the generals while some chanted religious slogans. "One hundred per cent military (rule)," shouted the crowds, the majority young men, as they gathered in central Khartoum on Friday. Some of the demonstrators carried placards with pictures of the military council's chief, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and his deputy Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo. The council has ruled the country since the ouster of president Omar al-Bashir on April 11, after months of protests against his authoritarian rule. Negotiations between protesters who demonstrated against Bashir's rule and the military have broken down over whether a planned transitional body would be headed by a civilian or a military figure. Many of those at the pro-military rally on Friday chanted slogans and waved banners in favour of sharia -- Islamic law -- and against secularism. "Freedom, peace, justice, sharia is the choice of the