Page 332 - Politics
Norway says Venezuelan talks making progress
Norway's government on Wednesday praised progress made in talks between representatives of Venezuelan President Nicols Maduro and the political opponents trying to oust him, even as tensions mounted back home. The second round of meetings this week in Norway are part of international efforts to resolve a conflict between Maduro and the U.S.-backed opposition leader Juan Guaid over who should run the country. Norwegian Foreign Affairs Minister Ine Eriksen Sreide provided few details of the talks held behind closed doors, but reported some advance. "The parties have demonstrated their willingness to move forward in the search for an agreed-upon and constitutional solution for the country, which includes political, economic and electoral matters," she said in a statement. Norway also urged both sides to exercise "utmost caution" in their public statements about the talks in order to maintain the integrity of the process and achieve results. Guaido declared he was assuming presidential ...
Turkey releases detained US scientist: State Dept
Turkey on Wednesday released Serkan Golge, a NASA scientist with dual US-Turkish citizenship whose nearly three-year detention has soured relations between the NATO allies, the State Department said. "We welcome the news that Serkan Golge has been released from prison today," State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus told reporters. "We will continue to follow Mr Golge's case closely along with those involving our own locally employed staff" in Turkey, she told. Ortagus called on Turkey to ensure that "he can return home as soon as possible." Golge was detained in July 2016 on a visit to his country of birth as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan cracked down on alleged supporters of self-exiled cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom the leadership accused of orchestrating a failed coup. Golge was sentenced in 2018 to seven and a half years in prison despite State Department protests that he was convicted without credible evidence. Turkey in October also released an American pastor caught up in ..
In UAE, Trump's adviser warns Iran of 'very strong response'
President Donald Trump's national security adviser warned Iran on Wednesday that any attacks in the Persian Gulf will draw a "very strong response" from the U.S., taking a hard-line approach with Tehran after his boss only two days earlier said America wasn't "looking to hurt Iran at all." John Bolton's comments are the latest amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran that have been playing out in the Middle East. Bolton spoke to journalists in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, which only days earlier saw former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis warn there that "unilateralism will not work" in confronting the Islamic Republic. The dueling approaches highlight the divide over Iran within American politics. The US has accused Tehran of being behind a string of incidents this month, including the alleged sabotage of oil tankers off the Emirati coast, a rocket strike near the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and a coordinated drone attack on Saudi Arabia by Yemen's ...
Italy must hit back over UN criticism: Minister
Rome, May 30 (IANS/AKI) Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini on Wednesday called on the populist government to take a "tough stance" against criticism of Italy by the United Nations over a planned decree formalising the closure of the country's ports to charities that save migrants in the Mediterranean.
Cabinet contenders greet Shah ahead of Modi's swearing-in
Ahead of swearing in of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, senior BJP leaders, who are likely to be re-inducted in the Narendra Modi government, met BJP chief Amit Shah at his residence.
Politics hots up in Gujarat amid rumours of Congress defections
Gujarat's political climate is heating up amid speculation that the ruling BJP will engineer defections of Congress MLAs to ensure its victory on two Rajya Sabha seats falling vacant after resignations of BJP President Amit Shah and former Minister Smriti Irani, who have been elected to the Lok Sabha.
Modi to visit 'Samadhis' of Mahatma, Vajpayee
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit 'Sadaiv Atal' and Rajghat, the 'samadhis' of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Mahatma Gandhi, ahead of his swearing-in on Thursday.
CPI-M reclaims, reopens 200 closed party offices in Bengal
Amidst the violent clashes and political slugfest between West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress and the BJP, the CPI-M has reclaimed and reopened around 200 party offices which were allegedly captured by the Trinamool after coming to power in 2011.
All set for Jagan's swearing-in as Andhra Pradesh CM
The stage is set for swearing-in of Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy as the new Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh on Thursday.
Ferlin Sangma sworn in as member of Meghalaya Assembly
Newly elected MLA from Selsella constituency, Ferlin Sangma, was sworn in as a member of the Meghalaya Assembly on Wednesday. Ferlin Sangma was elected in the recently held by- elections in the state. Speaker Donkupar Roy administered the oath of office to Ferlin Sangma in the presence of National Peoples Party leaders, family and friends. The term of the current House began on March 6, 2018. The by-election to the Selsella Assembly seat in the West Garo Hills district was necessitated after it fell vacant following the demise of sitting legislator of Congress, Clement Marak.
A P Satpathy appointed Pro-tem Speaker of Odisha assembly
Odisha Governor Ganeshi Lal Wednesday appointed senior legislator Amar Prasad Satpathy as the Pro-tem Speaker of the 16th Odisha Legislative Assembly. Satpathy, the govenrment chief whip of the last assembly, took oath of office in presence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. A six-time MLA, Satpathy, will administer oath to the newly-elected members of the state assembly on Thursday and Friday, government sources said.
Seeking monopoly of power in democracy is foolish: Former TMC MP
In a veiled criticism of West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress, former party MP and noted historian Sugata Bose on Wednesday stressed the need for giving space to the opposition in a democracy, and said seeking "monopoly of power" in spite of having political dominance was "foolish".
Hong Kong Market falls 0.57%
Stalled talks in the U.S.-China trade war have soured sentiment for risk assets, with the global economy already showing signs of fragility before the full impact of the most recent tariff hikes kicks in. Investors remained cautious, awaiting new developments between Beijing and Washington amid the ongoing trade tensions.
Pentagon chief in Asia for 'candid' talks on China expansion
Pentagon chief Patrick Shanahan kicked off a week-long Asian tour Wednesday with an eye to strengthening ties with regional allies and having "candid" talks with his Chinese counterpart on Beijing's growing might. "It's more about listening and being able to hear from the allies and partners," the acting US defence secretary said in a plane bound for Jakarta. Indonesia is the first leg of a tour that also includes stops in Singapore, South Korea and Japan. On Thursday, Shanahan will meet with Indonesian President Joko Widodo after talks with Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and Defence Minister Ryamizard Ryacudu. Cooperation on maritime issues with the sprawling Southeast Asian archipelago nation will be at the top of the agenda, as the US looks to offset China's expanding presence in the South China Sea. In Singapore on Saturday, Shanahan is to meet Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue regional defence forum. "I want to identify areas where ..
Rajasthan Congress rules out leadership change in state
Amid turmoil in the ruling Congress in Rajasthan, state party in-charge Avinash Pandey on Wednesday denied speculation about a leadership change, following the party's failure to win even one of the state's 25 Lok Sabha seats.
Odisha: Number of beneficiaries under Kalia scheme increased to 75 lakh
Odisha government on Wednesday decided to increase the number of beneficiaries of its "Kalia" scheme to 75 lakh farm families as against 42 lakh at present."As a part of our commitment to farmers, today in our first cabinet meeting the target of Kalia beneficiaries has been increased to 75 lakhs farm families. This is 33 lakhs more than the existing 42 lakh families," Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said while addressing a press conference after the first cabinet meeting."Fund release starts from today with the immediate effect and about 25 lakh additional families will be assisted in a week," the Chief Minister added.Patnaik also informed that for the economic empowerment of women, the cabinet in its first meeting approved one thousand crores worth of government business to be done by women through Mission Shakti."40 different types of activities such as paddy procurement, uniforms for children, hospital diet, mosquito nets and midday meals will be a part of this first phase. ..
Telangana Congress urges Rahul not to resign; TPCC leader to
The Congress in Telangana Wednesday rallied behind party president Rahul Gandhi pleading him not to resign from the top post. State Congress president N Uttam Kumar Reddy said the state unit was having complete confidence in the leadership of Gandhi and wanted him to continue as party president. According to Congress sources, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) general secretary Bollu Kishan would begin an indefinite fast here Thursday requestingGandhi to withdraw his resignation decision. Earlier in the day, activists of NSUI, the students union of the Congress, staged a demonstration here Wednesday demanding that Rahul Gandhi continue as party president. The activists, led by its state president Venkat Balmoor, held placards hailing Gandhi's leadership and demanded that he continue in the post.
K'taka CLP passes resolution urging Rahul Gandhi to withdraw his resignation
Karnataka Congress Legislature Party (KPCL) on Wednesday passed a resolution urging Rahul Gandhi to withdraw his resignation from the post of party chief."We feel that Rahul Gandhi is the only person who can lead the party in this crucial hour. We urge him to withdraw his resignation letter and the CLP has unanimously passed the resolution that he continues as the Congress President," said state Congress chief Dinesh Gundu Rao while speaking to media persons here.Earlier in the day, party workers in Karnataka, Rajasthan and New Delhi held placards in support of the Gandhi scion, dubbing him as "hope of the nation" and appealing him to not resign from the Congress' top post.Delhi Congress chief Sheila Dikshit also met Rahul Gandhi here at his residence and urged him to continue as the party chief as his resignation will cause huge pain to the members.The Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee (RPCC) too passed a resolution, urging Rahul Gandhi to continue as Congress chief.On May 25, ...
Hours after Jaitley opts out of Cabinet, Modi visits his residence
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday met former Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley at his residence, hours after he opted out of the Union Cabinet citing health conditions.
Cabinet expansion no solution to overcome problems: Moily
An expansion or reshuffling of cabinet would not help JDS-Congress coalition government, which is facing a turmoil after the Lok Sabha election debacle, senior Congress leader Veerappa Moily said. He suggested that the cabinet reshuffle or expansion should happen only after ascertaining reasons for the failure of JDS and Congress alliance in Lok Sabha polls. "I think, going for expansion or reshuffle immediately is not going to help. It may further disrupt coalition government's prospects," Moily, a former state chief minister, told PTI. His comments come amid reports that a cabinet expansion or reshuffle was on the cards in a bid to save the coalition government with Congress General Secretary K C Venugopal, deputed by the high command, holding meetings with senior leaders and ministers and attending a legislature party meeting. Buoyed by the landslide win in the LS polls, the BJP, which emerged as the single-largest party in the 224-member assembly in the May polls ...