Page 491 - Politics
Australia's conservatives secure majority government: ABC
Australia's ruling conservative coalition is set to secure a governing majority in its shock election victory over the centre-left Labor Party, the national broadcaster ABC projected Monday. Prime Minister Scott Morrison's Liberal-National coalition will hold at least 77 seats in the 151-member lower house, one more than needed to govern on its own, ABC's election analysts projected. The coalition will not hold a majority in the Senate, the upper house, meaning it will need the support of independents and minor parties to pass legislation. A number of close races across the vast island continent were still to be officially decided following Saturday's vote, with the formal count by the Australian Electoral Commission not expected to conclude until later this week. Among Morrison's first tasks following his victory was forming a new cabinet after several moderate ministers chose to retire from politics rather than contest the election. Morrison has indicated he will also make promised .
US to roll out economic part of Mideast peace plan
The Trump administration will unveil the first phase of its long-awaited blueprint for Mideast peace next month at a conference in the region designed to highlight economic benefits that could be reaped if the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is resolved, the White House said Sunday. The plan, which has been two years in the making, envisions large-scale investment and infrastructure work in the Palestinian territories. But the central political elements remain mostly unknown. And the economic workshop, June 25-26 in Bahrain, will not address the most contentious parts of the conflict: borders, the status of Jerusalem, Palestinian refugees and Israel's security. In a joint statement with Bahrain, the White House said the workshop will give government, civil and business leaders a chance to gather support for economic initiatives that could be possible with a peace agreement. The US wants to ensure security for Israel and economic opportunity to improve the lives of Palestinians. The ...
NDA 302, UPA 122, predicts NDTV's poll of polls (2nd Lead)
The poll of polls of exit polls done by NDTV predicted 302 seats for the BJP-led NDA, 122 for the Congress-led UPA and 118 for "non-aligned" parties.
Exit polls predict advantage to BJP in Karnataka (Lead, Correcting Para 8 & 9)
The efforts of Congress and JD-S alliance in Karnataka seem to be failing as multiple exit polls showed that the Bharatiya Janata Party will secure a maximum of 18 Lok Sabha seats.
US to hold economic workshop in June as part of Middle East peace plan
The White House on Sunday announced that it will hold an "economic workshop" in Bahrain in June for the development of Palestinian communities and other parts of the Arab world as part of its Middle East peace plan."This workshop is a pivotal opportunity to convene government, civil society and business leaders to share ideas, discuss strategies and galvanize support for potential economic investments and initiatives that could be made possible by a peace agreement," the White House said in a statement.The workshop, scheduled to be held in capital city Manama on June 25 and 26, is a part of US President Donald Trump's peace deal, prepared by his son-in-law and senior advisor Jared Kushner.However, the statement had no mention of the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, the Hill reported.So far the speculation is that the deal does not include a two-state solution, which was promoted by several countries.Various analysts have claimed that the US is framing the deal keeping its ..
Rocket attack hits near US Embassy in Baghdad's Green Zone
A rocket was fired into the Iraqi capital's heavily fortified Green Zone Sunday night, landing less than a mile from the sprawling US Embassy, an Iraqi military spokesman said. The apparent attack, which Iraq's state-run news agency said did not cause any casualties, came amid heightened tensions across the Persian Gulf, after the White House ordered warships and bombers to the region earlier this month to counter an alleged, unexplained threat from Iran. The US also has ordered nonessential staff out of its diplomatic posts in Iraq. It was the first such attack since September, when three mortar shells landed in an abandoned lot inside the Green Zone. There was no immediate comment from the State Department or the US Embassy in Iraq on Sunday's attack. No one claimed responsibility for the attack that took place after sunset when many Baghdad residents were indoors breaking their fast during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Associated Press reporters on the east side of the Tigris ..
Trump slams Republican leader over impeachment remarks
US President Donald Trump on Sunday fired back at Justin Amash, a Republican member of the House of Representatives, for the latter's remarks that the President had reached the "threshold for impeachment".
Time and again exit polls have failed to catch the people's pulse: AP CM
With most of the exit polls predicting a rout for his party in Andhra Pradesh, Telugu Desam president N Chandrababu Naidu Sunday night said that time and again such polls failed. "Time and again exit polls have failed to catch the people's pulse. Exit polls have proved to be incorrect and far from ground reality in many instances. While undoubtedly TDP govt will be formed in AP, we are confident that non-BJP parties will form a non-BJP govt at the center (sic)," Naidu said in a late night tweet. Barring one or two, almost all exit polls predicted a thumping victory for the main opposition YSR Congress in the state elections. They also said the YSRC would win close to 20 of the 25 Lok Sabha seats in the state. Though not dismal, the polls gave good numbers to the TDP as well. In another tweet, he said, "We reiterate our demand to the ECI to count VVPATs in at least 50% of polling stations. VVPATs should be counted in 5 polling stations in each Assembly Constituency at the beginning of .
Rocket attack hits near US Embassy in Baghdad's Green
A rocket crashed Sunday night in the Iraqi capital's heavily fortified Green Zone, landing less than a mile from the sprawling US Embassy, an Iraqi military spokesman said. The apparent attack, which Iraq's state-run news agency said did not cause any casualties, came amid heightened tensions across the Persian Gulf, after the White House ordered warships and bombers to the region earlier this month to counter an alleged, unexplained threat from Iran. The US also has ordered nonessential staff out of its diplomatic posts in Iraq. Associated Press reporters on the east side of the Tigris River, opposite the Green Zone, heard an explosion, after which alert sirens sounded briefly in Baghdad. Iraqi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Rasoul told The Associated Press that a Katyusha rocket fell near the statue of the Unknown Soldier, less than a mile from the US Embassy. He said the military is investigating the cause but that the rocket was believed to have been fired from east ...
TMC resorted to violence, want repoll in several booths: BJP
The BJP on Sunday accused the TMC of letting loose widespread violence in the last phase of the Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal, and demanded repolling in several booths in eight out of the nine constituencies. Over 72 per cent of voters of the over 1.49 crore electorate exercised their franchise till 5 pm in the nine constituencies of West Bengal during the seventh and final phase of polling. "In Diamond Harbour, Kolkata North, Kolkata South, Jadavpur, Basirhat, Mathurapur and Joynagar, there has been rampant violence. The goons of TMC didn't allow elections in most of the booths. We would seek repoll in several booths," senior BJP leader Mukul Roy said. "The TMC is afraid of defeat, that is why it is resorting to violence," BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya said. On Trinamool Congress's allegations that central forces were "brutally torturing" and "intimidating" voters in West Bengal, and acting on the direction of BJP leaders, the saffron party ..
NDA to maintain stronghold in Bihar: Exit polls
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar are likely to overpower Grand Alliance in the state and expected to maintain its hold in Bihar as the coalition may win majority of the seats, most of the exit polls predicted.
75.8% average polling in Karnataka's twin Assembly by-polls
An average of 75.8 per cent polling was registered in the by-elections for Karnataka's two Assembly segments - Chincholi and Kundgol - after 11 hours of polling at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, a poll official said.
Exit polls predict Congress will improve but not impressively
Exit polls released on Sunday predicted that the Congress will improve from its lowest tally of 44 seats it won in 2014 but not sufficiently enough to mark a revival at the national level.
NDA leaders likely to meet on May 21
With most of the exit polls on Sunday predicting return of Narendra Modi as Prime Minister, the leaders of National Democratic Alliance (NDA) are likely to meet on May 21, ahead of the counting of votes on May 23.
BJP, Congress say results will be better than exit polls
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Sunday said the results of the Lok Sabha polls on May 23 will be better than the prediction of exit polls which have favoured the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) returning to power.
In Kerala, BJP is predicted to open its account
The exit polls by various agencies predict that for the first time the BJP will open its account in Kerala, seeing a setback for the ruling CPI-M-led Left and gains for the Congress-led UDF.
Syrian forces have called ceasefire in Idlib: Russia
The Russian army on Sunday said President Bashar al-Assad's Syrian forces had ceased fire "unilaterally" in northwestern Idlib province, where the UN fears a "humanitarian catastrophe". "From 00:00 on May 18, Syrian armed forces unilaterally ceased fire in the Idlib de-escalation zone," the Russian military's centre for reconciliation in Syria said in a statement. "However, firing targeting government forces' positions and civilians in the provinces of Hama, Latakia and Aleppo continues," it added. The statement came after Britain, France, the United States and eight other countries at the UN Security Council warned on May 10 of a potential humanitarian catastrophe from an all-out assault in Idlib region, in a statement opposed by Russia. Western powers are concerned that the Russia-backed Syrian government will launch a full-scale assault, despite a deal reached with Turkey, who back rebel forces, to set up a de-escalation zone in Idlib. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, ...
EC to re-examine PMO, NITI Aayog for violation of MCC
The Election Commission has decided to re-examine the clearance it had given to Prime Minister's Office and NITI Aayog for alleged violations of the Model Code of Conduct during the Lok Sabha elections, said sources.
Exit polls confirmed our prediction, says YSRCP
The YSR Congress Party on Sunday said the exit polls which predicted its victory in Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections had only confirmed what it had been claiming for last several months.
NDA to get 290-310 seats: India TV-CNX exit poll
The National Democratic Alliance may get a clear majority in the Lok Sabha, winning from 290 to 310 seats, an exit poll by India TV-CNX predicted on Sunday.