Page 331 - Politics
Iran will not negotiate with US: Khamenei
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has ruled out the possibility of negotiations with the US over the existing mutual thorny issues.
Israel to hold fresh polls as Netanyahu fails to form government
With Benjamin Netanyahu unable to form a governing coalition, the Israeli Parliament Knesset voted to dissolve itself and convene new elections in September.
Mueller steps down after public statement on Russia probe
United States Special Counsel Robert Mueller on Wednesday announced his resignation from the Justice Department after delivering his first public statement since the end of a 22-month long investigation into the alleged Russian collusion in 2016 presidential polls.In his statement on the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, Mueller said he is also closing the special counsel's office, Al Jazeera reported.The announcement comes amid demands for Mueller to testify on Capitol Hill about his findings and tension with Attorney General William Barr over the handling of his report.Earlier in the day, Mueller said that the report is his testimony. He added that he hopes and expects that Wednesday is the "the only time" that he speaks about the report, but "any testimony from [his] office would not go beyond the report."A redacted version of the Mueller report, published in April, concluded that there was no conspiracy between the Trump campaign and Moscow. But Mueller
Chandrakant Kavlekar takes on Goa govt for Savarkar's portrait
Leader of Opposition Chandrakant Kavlekar on Wednesday said that the Goa government has insulted those leaders who worked hard for development work and helped in making Goa an independent state, by putting up a portrait of Savarkar in the state secretariat.Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday unveiled a portrait of Vinayak Damodar Savarkar in the state secretariat.When asked Kavlekar told ANI here, "Goa government has insulted Goa leaders, who worked hard for development work here and helped in getting Goa full statehood."While unveiling the portrait, the chief minister said, "We have unveiled his portrait in the State Assembly to ensure that his contribution in the freedom movement reach youngsters."Recalling Savarkar's role in the independence movement, Sawant said, "People have forgotten the tortures endured by Veer Savarkar during freedom struggle in Andaman prison in 1883.".
Israel calls for second snap polls after Netanyahu fails to form govt
Israel's Parliament voted to dissolve itself in the wee hours of Thursday, sending the country into a second snap election this year as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu failed to form a coalition government from parties elected to parliament on April 9.It is the first time in Israel's history that a general election has failed to produce a government, CNN reported.The new elections, scheduled for September 17, are the result of a bill to dissolve the parliament introduced into the Knesset earlier this week.Just after midnight local time (5 pm ET) the bill was passed into law by the Knesset members, with a 74 to 45 majority, just moments after Netanyahu's deadline to form a government formally expired.Government coalition negotiations were deadlocked over a proposed draft law, aimed at conscripting more ultra-Orthodox Jewish youth into the military. Israel's ultra-Orthodox religious parties demanded changes to the bill, while former Defence Minister Avigdor Liberman wanted it passed ..
Mueller's public statement ramp up calls for Trump's impeachment
Special counsel Robert Mueller's first public statement on the Russia investigation on Wednesday ramped up calls to begin impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump.Senators Cory Booker and Kirsten Gillibrand joined fellow Democrats Kamala Harris and Elizabeth Warren in calling for impeachment proceedings, with both Warren and Harris saying that Mueller had delivered an "impeachment referral", The Hill reported.Gillibrand was quoted as saying that "it's time for Republicans and Democrats to begin impeachment hearings and follow the facts wherever they may lead. We cannot let this president defy basic accountability measures built into our Constitution."In a statement, she further pointed to the Trump administration's refusal to comply with congressional subpoenas and "the fact that Robert Mueller clearly expects Congress to exercise its constitutional authority and take steps that he could not."In his statement in the morning, Mueller, who spent nearly two years ...
Narendra Modi ushers in second term as Prime Minister
Narendra Modi, who decimated the Opposition to lead his party BJP to a landslide win in the recent Lok Sabha election, has become the first prime minister in nearly 50 years to win a majority in consecutive polls.The 68-year-old stalwart leader is set to take oath as the Prime Minister of India for the second consecutive term today. President Ram Nath Kovind will administer the oath of office and secrecy at the function.Born on September 17, 1950, Modi, the three-time Chief Minister of Gujarat (2001-2014) fought and won the 2014 general election to become Prime Minister. With the 2019 Lok Sabha poll victory, he has become the first Prime Minister outside of the Congress to win two consecutive terms with a full majority since 1971.This time around, the BJP rode on muscular nationalism, national security and a strident anti-Congress plank under the leadership of Modi to storm back to power with 303 seats in the Lok Sabha.In his first term as PM, his National Democratic Alliance (NDA) ..
US-UAE defense agreement comes into force
The United States and the United Arab Emirates have announced that mutual defense cooperation agreement had come into force, amid increasing tensions between Washington and Tehran. "The DCA (Defense Cooperation Agreement) will enhance military coordination between the United States and the United Arab Emirates, further advancing an already robust military, political, and economic partnership at a critical time," a joint statement said on Wednesday. "The United States and the United Arab Emirates share a deep interest in promoting prosperity and stability in the region. "The DCA will advance that interest by fostering closer collaboration on defense and security matters and supporting efforts by both nations to maintain security in the Gulf region." US national security advisor John Bolton was in Abu Dhabi Wednesday, meeting his Emirati counterpart, Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Bolton said Iran was almost certainly behind recent oil tanker attacks that sent Gulf tensions ...
Israel to hold fresh election as Prime Minister Netanyahu fails to form coalition govt
In an unprecedented development, Israeli lawmakers have voted to dissolve Parliament after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu failed to form a coalition government before a midnight deadline, triggering a fresh general election to be held on September 17. In little more than six weeks since they were elected, Israeli lawmakers voted 74-45 in favour of dissolving the 21st Knesset (Israeli Parliament) and hold a second general election in the same calendar year. It is the first time in Israel's history that a prime minister-designate has failed to form a coalition. Netanyahu's remarkable victory in the April 9 polls securing him a record fifth term proved temporary in the face of a logjam between potential coalition partners over a military conscription bill governing exemptions for ultra-Orthodox Jewish seminary students. Former Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman of the nationalist Yisrael Beitenu party conditioned allying with ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties in the Netanyahu-led ...
Trump to meet Erdogan at G20 summit in June
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his US counterpart Donald Trump held a phone conversation and agreed to meet on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Japan in June, Turkish Presidency's Communications Director Fahrettin Altun said.
Crime charges against Trump 'not an option' for Russia probe: Mueller
US Special Counsel Robert Mueller said that charging President Donald Trump was "not an option" for his team of prosecutors due to the Justice Department guidelines that prohibit charging sitting US President with a crime.
Saudi calls on Muslim world to reject Iran 'interference': minister
Saudi Arabia's foreign minister has called on Islamic nations to reject its arch-rival Iran's "interference" in the affairs of other countries, amid a spike in regional tensions. "Tehran's support for Huthi rebels in Yemen is proof of Iranian interference in other nations' affairs and this is something that... Islamic countries should reject," minister Ibrahim al-Assaf told a gathering of foreign ministers of the 57-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Jeddah city on Wednesday. Assaf was speaking on the eve of emergency Arab and Gulf summits called by Saudi Arabia at the weekend as tensions between Iran and the US raise fears of military escalation. The summits in Mecca, Islam's holiest city, allow US ally Riyadh the chance to present unified Islamic, Arab and Gulf fronts against its arch-rival Tehran. A representative of Iran attended Wednesday's gathering of OIC, of which it is a member, an AFP reporter saw. But Iran's foreign minister was not present. Regional ...
Israel heads to election as Netanyahu fails to form govt
Israel's parliament voted to dissolve itself early Thursday, sending the country to an unprecedented second snap election this year as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu failed to form a governing coalition before a midnight deadline. The dramatic vote, less than two months after parliamentary elections, marked a dramatic downturn for Netanyahu and sent the longtime leader's future into turmoil. Netanyahu, who has led Israel for the past decade, had appeared to capture a fourth consecutive term in April's election. But infighting among his allies, and disagreements over proposed bills that would protect Netanyahu from prosecution stymied his efforts to put together a majority coalition. Rather than concede that task to one of his rivals, Netanyahu's Likud party advanced a bill to dissolve parliament and send the country to the polls for a second time this year. Had the deadline passed, Israel's president would have given another lawmaker, most likely opposition leader Benny Gantz, an ..
South African Prez Ramaphosa announces trimmed-down Cabinet that is 50% women
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced his new Cabinet, slashing from 36 to 28 the number of ministers, including two Indian-origins, days after he was sworn in at a stadium in the capital Pretoria. In the new Cabinet announced late Wednesday, half the new ministers are women, making South Africa one of the world's few gender-balanced governments. Ramaphosa, 66, led the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party to victory in elections earlier this month with a majority of 57.5 per cent, the smallest since the party came to power 25 years ago. "In the election of the 8th of May, South Africans provided this administration with a clear mandate to accelerate inclusive economic growth, act with greater urgency to tackle poverty, improve government services, fight corruption and end state capture," Ramaphosa said in a nationally-televised broadcast to announce the appointments. "If we are to give effect to this mandate, we need a capable, efficient and ethical ...
Russia 'probably' violating nuclear test treaty: US general
A top US military officer has said that Russia is "probably" violating the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, opening a new area of disagreement as the two powers negotiate arms control. Lieutenant General Robert Ashley, director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, part of the US military that provides analysis, voiced alarm on Wednesday at Russia's modernisation of its nuclear forces. "The United States believes that Russia probably is not adhering to the nuclear testing moratorium in a manner consistent with the zero-yield standard," Ashley said in a speech at the Hudson Institute, a think tank. "Our understanding of nuclear weapon development leads us to believe that Russia's testing activities would help it improve its nuclear weapons capabilities," he said, adding that the United States by contrast has strictly adhered to the ban. Pressed by a reporter to explain Russia's alleged wrongdoing, Ashley appeared to retreat from the charge that Moscow had actually carried out tests
US, Russia discuss peace plan that would end Syria's isolation
The United States and Russia are in talks on a "potential way forward" that would see Syria come out of international isolation if it agrees to a series of steps including a ceasefire in Idlib, the US envoy for Syria has said. Jim Jeffrey told reporters on Wednesday following a closed-door UN Security Council meeting that Moscow and Washington were exploring a "step by step approach" to ending the eight-year war, but that this would require "hard decisions." During talks in Russia this month, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo discussed the plan that "would allow a Syrian government that adheres to (UN resolution) 2254 to move back into the international community," said Jeffrey. Resolution 2254 calls for peace negotiations, the drafting of a new constitution and UN-supervised elections. But the US envoy said that "so far we haven't seen steps such as a ceasefire in Idlib, the convening of a constitutional committee that would give us confidence that the Assad regime actually ...
North Korea steps up UN campaign for return of seized ship
North Korea has stepped up a diplomatic campaign at the United Nations to secure the release of a cargo ship seized by the United States, warning there could be "undesirable consequences" if no action is taken. North Korean Ambassador Kim Song offered the warning in a meeting with UN political chief Rosemary DiCarlo on Wednesday to press Pyongyang's demands that the world body intervene, the North Korean mission said. The United States announced on May 9 that it had impounded the state-owned Wise Honest, arguing that it was being used to export North Korean coal, in violations of UN sanctions over its banned nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs. The seizure came amid heightened tensions after Pyongyang's recent short-range missile launches, and with talks deadlocked since the collapse of the Hanoi summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The Wise Honest, one of the largest cargo ships in North Korea's fleet, was detained in Indonesia in ...
Karnataka CM, BJP's Yeddyurappa to attend Modi's swearing-in
Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy would attend the swearing-in of Narendra Modi as Prime Minster in New Delhi on Thursday evening, an official said on Wednesday.
Erdogan offers Trump working group on Russian missiles
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke with US counterpart Donald Trump on Wednesday, reiterating an offer to set up a working group on Turkey's decision to buy a Russian missile defence system. The move to buy the Russian S-400 system over America's Patriot equivalent has been a major source of tension between the NATO allies, leading to threats of US sanctions. In his call with Trump, Erdogan reiterated the offer to form "a joint working group on Turkey's plan to procure the S-400," his office said in a statement. The offer was first made in April but has yet to receive a response. The two leaders agreed to meet on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Osaka, Japan, at the end of June. The S-400 purchase would expose Turkey to US sanctions against arms deals with Russia. Washington says the presence of Russian missile defences in Turkey would be a threat to Western military systems and could jeopardise its involvement in the F-35 fighter jet programme, for which it provides some ...
No change in party leadership in state: Rajasthan AICC in-charge
AICC general secretary in-charge of Rajasthan Avinash Pande Wednesday rejected speculations about changes in the leadership in the state in the wake of Congress' debacle in the Lok Sabha elections. "There will be no change in the party leadership in the state," he said. The ruling Congress, which came to power in the state in December last year, could not win even a single seat in the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls. This gave rise to speculation in political circles that the Congress might effect some changes in leadership in the state. When asked about the resignation of Agriculture Minister Lalchand Kataria, Pande told reporters that he had no such information. In a purported press release, circulated on social media on Sunday, kataria announced to resign as the minister following the lok sabha election results. However, chief minister's office and raj bhawan did not confirm any resignation and the minister is also not reachable. Pande was in the city for the Congress state ...