Page 375 - Politics
Iran's president says country could hold vote over nuke deal
Iran's president has suggested the Islamic Republic could hold a referendum over the country's nuclear program amid the unraveling deal with world powers and heightened tensions with the United States, Iranian media reported Sunday. According to the official IRNA news agency, President Hassan Rouhani, who was last week publicly chastised by the country's supreme leader, made the suggestion in a meeting with editors of major Iranian news outlets on Saturday evening. Rouhani said he had previously suggested a referendum to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in 2004, when he was a senior nuclear negotiator for Iran. At the time, Khamenei approved of the idea and though there was no referendum, such a vote "can be a solution at any time," Rouhani was quoted as saying. A referendum could provide political cover for the Iranian government if it chooses to increase its enrichment of uranium, prohibited under the 2015 deal with world powers. Last year, President Donald Trump pulled the ...
Iraq warns of 'danger of war' as Iranian FM visits
Iraqi leaders have warned of the risks of war during a visit by Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, whose country is locked in a tense standoff with the United States. Zarif's visit to neighbouring Iraq -- which is caught in the middle of its two allies the US and Iran -- follows a decision by Washington to deploy 1,500 additional troops to the Middle East. Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi warned of the "danger of a war" during a meeting with Zarif on Saturday night, his office said. Abdel Mahdi pleaded for the "stability of the region and the upholding of the nuclear deal," it said, referring to a 2015 agreement between Tehran and major powers. Iraqi President Barham Saleh discussed with Zarif "the need to prevent all war or escalation," his office said. On Saturday Zarif called the deployment of extra US troops to the region "very dangerous and a threat to international peace and security." It follows a US decision in early May to send an aircraft carrier strike ...
Thailand's unmatched powerbroker Prem Tinsulanonda dies aged 98
Former prime minister and close advisor to Thailand's revered royals Prem Tinsulanonda died early Sunday aged 98, a senior parliamentarian said, ending a decades-long career of unrivalled influence over Thai politics. Prem "passed away this morning around 9 o'clock", interim house speaker Chai Chidchob told MPs on the third day of Thailand's new parliament. "I would like to ask everyone to stand for a moment in memorial." Hailed as a stabilising force by allies but loathed by critics as a conservative underminer of democracy in the kingdom, Prem was a top aide to the late beloved King Bhumibol Adulyadej and helped cement the unshakeable bond between the monarchy and the military. As Privy Council president his influence endured through a tense succession period after Bhumibol died in 2016 and Prem was briefly appointed regent before Bhumibol's son Maha Vajiralongkorn ascended the throne. Prem presided over the king's surprise wedding to Queen Suthida days before his coronation ...
RLD undeterred by Lok Sabha results
The Chaudhary Ajit Singh-led Rashtriya Lok Dal party was decimated in the Uttar Pradesh Lok Sabha polls this time but senior party leader Jayant Chaudhary is undeterred by the results, saying "a person who has not tasted defeat, has actually not lived his life". There were some hopes of the party making its presence felt in the political landscape of the state in May last year during the Kairana bypolls, when the BJP lost to the joint opposition candidate, RLD's Tabassum Hasan. However, this time Hasan (SP) lost to BJP's Pradeep Kumar by a margin of 92,160 votes. Buoyed by the victory of the joint opposition candidate in the Kairana Lok Sabha bypolls, talks of 'mahagathbandhan' of opposition parties (SP, BSP and RLD) had gained momentum in the state. However, the joy was short-lived, as in the parliamentary elections, the SP could not improve its 2014 tally and bagged five seats, while the BSP gained 10 seats. The RLD, which had fielded three candidates, failed register a win on even .
Smriti Irani aide shot dead in Amethi; police probing possible angles
In the first incident of post-poll violence in Uttar Pradesh, a close aide of Smriti Irani, the newly elected MP from Amethi Lok Sabha constituency, was shot dead by two men, with police not ruling out the possibility of it being a "political murder". Surendra Singh (50), a former head of Baraulia village, was shot at around 11.30pm Saturday, said Additional Superintendent of Police Daya Ram. Singh was referred to a Lucknow hospital but he succumbed during treatment, Ram said. Speaking to reporters in Lucknow, UP DGP Om Prakash Singh said, "We have come to know about old enmity. We are also finding out if there was any political enmity." "UP police teams are conducting very intensive investigation. We have taken seven persons in custody, and they are being intensely interrogated. We have also got important evidence through electronic surveillance. I am hopeful that in the next 12 hours, we will solve the case," the DGP said. He said they are looking into a number of possible angles ...
BJP will definitely make inroads into Telangana by 2024: Muralidhar Rao
BJP National General Secretary Muralidhar Rao on Sunday asserted that the BJP will definitely make inroads into Telangana by 2024.Speaking to ANI, Rao said: "If there is one single party which is capable of performing well in the state, it is BJP. If we work hard towards exterminating unfavourable policies of Telangana Rashtra Samithi over the period of next 2-3 years, our party will definitely make inroads into the state in the next Lok Sabha elections in 2024. Telangana is ready for BJP."Out of 17 Lok Sabha seats in the state, TRS won nine parliamentary seats, wherein the BJP won four parliamentary seats, the Congress won three and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen won one seat.In 2014, however, TRS had won 11 seats, while BJP had won only 1 seat.Buoyed by his party's win in the four constituencies in the state, he said: "If there is one state which is naturally inclined towards the party, it is Telangana. It has a history of fighting against Nizam's feudalism. After ...
Newly elected BJD MPs meet Naveen Patnaik
Newly elected Biju Janata Dal (BJD) legislators on Sunday met incumbent Odisha Chief Minister and BJD chief Naveen Patnaik, who is set to form the government for a fifth consecutive term.The new legislators held talks with the party chief and also posed for a photograph, flashing the victory sign with Patnaik, after the meeting held here. The new Cabinet will be sworn in on May 29.DGP Odisha, RP Sharma said all arrangements for the swearing-in ceremony on May 29 were in place."Many dignitaries and VVIPs including the Governor will be present. We have assessed the quantum of force required for the event. We've installed CCTVs and other technologies to ensure foolproof security," said Sharma.BJD put up a tough fight against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and managed to retain 12 of the 21 Lok Sabha seats in the state.Patnaik won from two Assembly segments, Hinjili under the Aska Lok Sabha seat in southern Odisha and Bijepur in the Bargarh Lok Sabha seat in western Odisha. While BJP won 8 .
Trump, Abe have first informal chat over golf
Visiting US President Donald Trump on Sunday had his first informal talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during a round of golf here as the two countries held trade talks.
BJP to introspect Panaji bypoll defeat, says Parrikar's son
Former Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar's son Utpal Parrikar on Sunday said the BJP will introspect its defeat in the by-election to the Panaji Assembly seat, which was held by his father for long. Congress leader Atanasio Monserratte on Thursday won the Panaji bypoll, necessitated due to the death of sitting MLA Manohar Parrikar in March. The Congress nominee defeated BJP candidate Siddharth Kunkolienkar by a margin of over 1,700 votes in the seat, which was held by the saffron party for 25 years. The former chief minister's son was earlier among the candidates shortlisted by the BJP, but it later fielded Kunkolienkar in the bypoll, held on May 19. Utpal Parrikar, who actively campaigned for the BJP in the bypoll, said the party will do an assessment of its defeat and make all efforts to win the seat next time. "The state BJP leaders and workers will introspect on the results and will ensure that we win the Panaji seat in the next election," he told reporters here. He
Jaganmohan Reddy meets PM Modi, discusses SCS for Andhra
YSR Congress Party president and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister-designate Y S Jaganmohan Reddy met Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Sunday and discussed the issue of according the special category status to the state. He later also met BJP president Amit Shah and sought his support for the state's key demands. The SCS is a major demand of the YSRCP and Reddy, during his election campaign, had said he would support the party at the national level which promises to grant the status to Andhra Pradesh. The YSRCP stormed to power on Thursday with a landslide victory in assembly polls. During the meeting with Modi at his 7, Lok Kalyan Marg residence, Reddy discussed the issues of special category status to Andhra Pradesh and the state's financial situation and sought central funds, sources said. They said he also invited the prime minister to his swearing-in on May 30 in Vijayawada. The YSRCP chief also interacted with officials at Andhra Bhawan. On Saturday, he was unanimously elected ..
After election drubbing, JD(S) asks members to not engage with media
Following the massive defeat faced by Janata Dal (Secular) and Congress alliance in the 2019 Lok Sabha election, JD(S) working president MS Narayan Rao issued a circular to party leaders, spokespersons and MLAs asking them to not participate in TV debates or give any statements to the media.The BJP has won 25 out of 28 parliamentary seats in Karnataka - a state government by the Congress, JD(S) alliance - while one seat each was bagged the coalition partners and an independent candidate.Congress heavyweights including Rizwan Arshad, Krishna Byregowda, BK Hariprasad, Mallikarjun Kharge and HD Deve Gowda lost from their respective constituencies against the BJP candidates.Earlier, taking the moral responsibility for the Congress party's humiliating defeat in the Lok Sabha polls, the party's campaign committee chairman H K Patil had resigned from his post.In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, BJP had won 17 seats in the state while the Congress and the JD(S) were restricted to nine and two ...
Dutch PM congratulates Modi on poll victory
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has congratulated his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on his victory in election and expressed confidence in working together in a spirit of friendship and cooperation. Prime Minister Rutte, in a letter sent to Prime Minister Modi on Friday, wished him success in the coming years. He expressed confidence in working together with Modi in a spirit of friendship and cooperation for the benefit of people of India and the Netherlands, a statement issued by the Indian Embassy here said. Prime Minister Rutte said that he greatly values the strong and wide-ranging partnership between India and the Netherlands which is based on long-standing historic ties between the two countries. Rutte conveyed that he is looking forward to meet Prime Minister Modi next month in Osaka at the G20 Summit, the statement added.
'Stop Boris' campaign launched by UK Ministers
A campaign to stop former Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson from becoming the UK's new Prime Minister and taking the country into a no-deal Brexit has been launched by moderate cabinet ministers.
Chinese Vice President to arrive in Pakistan
Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan will arrive in Islamabad on Sunday on a three-day visit to Pakistan, the government announced.
Palaniswami must tender his resignation: Dayanidhi Maran
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader MP Dayanidhi Maran on Sunday asked Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami to resign following the defeat of AIADMK in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections."Edappadi K Palaniswami must take moral responsibility for the defeat of AIADMK in Lok Sabha elections. The party managed to win on one seat in general elections because of money power. Palaniswami must tender his resignation," Maran told reporters here.Raveendranath Kumar was the only All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) leader who managed to win from the Theni seat in Tamil Nadu.23 seats were won by DMK while Indian National Congress (INC) won 8 seats in the state. The Communist Party of India (CPI) and Communist Party of India (Marxist) won 2 seats each, while the rest went to Indian Union Muslim League and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi with both winning one seat.AIADMK which is in power in the state and an ally of the NDA on the national front faced this ...
52 Congress MPs come from 18 states, UTs (Lead, Correcting headline)
Who are the 52 candidates of the Congress who won despite the Narendra Modi wave in the just-concluded Lok Sabha elections?
Smriti Irani to visit family of aide killed in Amethi, his son alleges Cong hand
Son of Surendra Singh, a close associate of Amethi's newly-elected MP Smriti Irani, on Sunday alleged Congress supporters' role in the killing of his father."My father was a close aide of Smriti Irani and campaigned 24 by 7 in the Lok Sabha elections. After she was elected as an MP, a victory procession was carried out. I believe some Congress supporters didn't like it. We have suspicions on some people," Singh's son said here.Some of the deceased's relatives have indicated that his murder could be a fallout of a political rivalry, including the recently concluded general election in which Irani trounced Congress president Rahul Gandhi.Smriti Irani has left for her constituency from New Delhi to meet Singh's family.Uttar Pradesh cabinet minister Rita Bahuguna Joshi condemned the attack and demanded strong action against the culprits. "There is no place for violence in democracy. The who did this act should be punished and stringent action should be taken against them," she said.Singh .
Himanta Biswa Sarma elected BAC Vice President
Badminton Association of India (BAI) President Himanta Biswa Sarma has been elected the Vice President of the Badminton Asia Council (BAC).
Jaganmohan Reddy meets Modi
YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) leader Jaganmohan Reddy, who is set to form a government in Andhra Pradesh, on Sunday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi here.
Pakistan ready to talk to new Indian government: Qureshi
Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has said that Islamabad is ready to hold talks with the new Indian government, the media reported on Sunday.