Page 551 - Politics
Guaido blasts Venezuela regime after security forces block congress
Juan Guaido accused the Venezuelan government of trying to "gag" congress after security forces prevented opposition lawmakers from entering the National Assembly on Tuesday, two weeks after the opposition leader's failed uprising against President Nicolas Maduro. Deputies said members of the National Guard, who provide security for the building, along with police and SEBIN intelligence agents, blocked access to the opposition-controlled National Assembly. The move came as Amnesty International said it believes the Venezuelan authorities have committed crimes against humanity in their crackdown on anti-government protests, and urged the International Criminal Court to investigate. "SEBIN agents, using the excuse that there's an explosive device within the facilities, took over the federal palace. We're surrounded by intelligence agents," lawmaker Manuela Bolivar told AFP. Guaido said the security forces used "brute force", adding that congress was "occupied militarily". He tried to ...
British govt to put forward Brexit bill in June
Prime Minister Theresa May's government will publish draft legislation in the first week of June that would allow Brexit to proceed if approved by parliament, a Downing Street spokesman announced on Tuesday. The statement came after talks between May and opposition Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn on a possible compromise that would end a deadlock on Brexit in parliament. May met with Corbyn "to make clear our determination to bring the talks to a conclusion and deliver on the referendum result to leave the EU". "We will therefore be bringing forward the Withdrawal Agreement Bill in the week beginning June 3," the spokesman said, referring to a draft law based on the divorce deal agreed with EU leaders. May was seeking a "stable majority in parliament that will ensure the safe passage of the Withdrawal Agreement Bill and the UK's swift exit from the EU", the spokesman said. For the past six weeks, ministers and their Labour counterparts have been discussing how parliament might accept the .
Trinamool to meet EC on vandalism after BJP's roadshow
A Trinamool Congress delegation will meet the Election Commission on Wednesday in the wake of vandalism in college and destruction of Bengali polymath Vidyasagar's bust during BJP President Amit Shah's roadshow, according to party officials.
Don't understand why USA hasn't toughened gun laws, says NZ PM
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Tuesday said that she does not understand why the United States has not toughened gun laws following mass shootings which have claimed scores of lives, including students'.Just a few days after the Christchurch terrorist attacks, New Zealand announced a ban on military-style semiautomatic weapons, assault rifles, and high-capacity magazines.Ardern highlighted that while guns have a "practical purpose" in New Zealand, she added that it "does not mean you need access to military-style semiautomatic weapons and assault rifles." She made these comments while speaking to CNN's Christiane Amanpour here."Australia experienced a massacre and changed their laws. New Zealand had its experience and changed its laws. To be honest, I do not understand the United States," she said.She is currently in Paris to hold a summit, aimed at making the world's biggest internet platforms remove extremist content online. The summit has been co-organised by Ardern ..
US fundamentally does not seek war with Iran, says Pompeo in Russia
The United States does not fundamentally seek war with Iran, said US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo during a presser with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov here on Tuesday (local time).Diplomatic tensions have been high between the US and Iran, with the United States designating Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a Foreign Terrorist Outfit (FTO) recently and refusing to grant extensions in sanction waivers for Iranian oil imports to eight countries.The presser was held following talks between Pompeo and Lavrov, during which a wide range of bilateral and global issues were discussed between the sides. Pompeo called on the Russian President Vladimir Putin after holding talks with Lavrov."We fundamentally do not seek a war with Iran. We are looking for the regime to simply stop conducting assassination campaigns throughout Europe; to cease their support of Hezbollah that threatens interests all across the Middle East, their support for the Houthis that are ...
Mallikarjun Kharge should have become CM long ago: Kumaraswamy
In a veiled dig at the Congress party, Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Tuesday said that senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge was not given enough recognition for his work by his party.Kumaraswamy opined that Kharge should have been made a Chief Minister long time ago."Mallikarjun Kharge should have become the Chief Minister long ago. I feel that injustice has happened with him. I would like to clearly state that, even I feel that, Kharge has not been given recognition for all the work he has done," the Chief Minister said while addressing a public rally here.Kharge is a two-time Lok Sabha MP from Gulbarga constituency in Karnataka and is a leader of Congress in Lok Sabha. He had also served as a cabinet minister in the Karnataka Government.Kumaraswamy was addressing the rally in support of Congress byelection candidate Subhash Rathod from Chincholi assembly seat which will go to polls on May 19.
Putin lauds Mueller probe, favours restoration of full-scope relations with US
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday favoured the restoration of "full-scope relations" with the United States during a meeting with the US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo here.The Russian leader's comments come as the United States announced its intent to withdraw from the Cold War-era Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, citing breaches by Russia as the reason behind the decision.The US is slated to withdraw from the accord by August this year, warning that the treaty will terminate if "Russia does not return to full and verifiable compliance" with it, according to an official statement.During the meeting with Pompeo, Putin outlined his recent phone conversation with his US counterpart, Donald Trump, left the impression that the US wanted to restore relations as well."As you know, a few days ago I had the pleasure to talk to the US president over the phone, I had an impression that the president was in favor of restoring the Russia-US ties, contacts, jointly ...
Israel deploys anti-missile systems as Eurovision starts
Sprucing up security as an international competition kicks off here, Iron Dome anti-missile systems were extensively deployed across Israel to ward off a repeat of the recent exchange of missiles between Israel and Palestine.The Eurovision Song Contest is being held in Israel from May 14 to May 18 after Israeli singer Netta won it last year, reported Sputnik. It coincides with Palestinians' Nakba Day, which saw violent protests erupt in Gaza last year. It also begins on the same day that US opened its embassy in Jerusalem in 2018.The systems are poised to respond to the probability of rockets being fired from the Palestinian side.Tensions are high between Israel and Palestine especially after May 4 when hundreds of rockets were fired at Israel from the Palestinian side, prompting retaliatory action by Israel. At least 25 Palestinians and four Israelis were killed in the flare-up.Thousands of tourists are in the Israeli capital due to the competition, leading to the need for ...
US at UN warns of escalating crackdown in Venezuela
The United States told the UN Security Council on Tuesday that Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro was stepping up a crackdown on the opposition-controlled National Assembly and called on countries to respond with concrete actions. The council met behind closed doors at the request of European countries to hear a briefing on the political and humanitarian crises in Venezuela and details of an EU-backed diplomatic push to end the stalemate. US Acting Ambassador Jonathan Cohen raised alarm over the arrest on May 8 of Edgar Zambrano, a senior opposition leader and first vice president of the National Assembly. "We are concerned that Zambrano's arrest is a major escalation of the ongoing crackdown by the Maduro regime against the National Assembly," said a statement from the US mission to the United States. "The United States calls on all member states to be prepared to take concrete actions in response to the Maduro regime's repression throughout Venezuela," it added. The US is among ...
SP, BSP and Cong play politics of fear: Rajnath Singh
Opposition parties especially those in Uttar Pradesh, the Samajwadi Party (SP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Congress have contributed to fuelling politics of fear, alleged Union Minister Rajnath Singh here on Tuesday."Be it the Congress, the SP or BSP, all of them have always badmouthed the BJP and fueled fear among the minorities to gain their support. Modiji has said 'sabka saath, sabka vikaas', we do not want divisions in the name of caste, creed or religion," Singh said at an election rally here.The union home minister put the blame on the Congress for defaming the country on the international platform but added that the party was a failure and it was apparent by the recent happenings."Congress tried its level best to blemish the good name of India continuously but it failed. their failure was proven when the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which is a body of 57 Islamic countries, invited India after 50 years, despite protests by Pakistan. This is the face of ...
EC issues notice to Congress' Sanjay Nirupam for MCC violation
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday issued a notice to Congress leader Sanjay Nirupam for prima facie violation of Model Code of Conduct (MCC) in a speech he delivered in Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi.ECI asked Nirupam to furnish his response within 24 hours.The notice has been issued to him for his alleged controversial remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Varanasi.
Iran does not seek talks with US: Khamenei
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has ruled out any talks with the US government over the disputed issues, Tasnim news agency reported.
US does not want war with Iran: Pompeo
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said the United States does not want a war with Iran, amid escalating tensions between the two countries.
Putin says wants to 'fully restore' Russia-US ties
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday said he wanted to "fully restore" strained ties between Washington and Moscow, during a visit by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. "I would very much like your visit to Russia to benefit Russia-US relations and promote their development," Putin said as he received Pompeo at his residence in the Black Sea resort of Sochi. Putin also praised the Mueller report, despite its findings that Russia interfered in the 2016 US presidential election. "Despite the exotic nature of Mr Mueller's commission, on the whole he conducted quite an objective investigation and confirmed the absence of any collusion between the US administration and Russia," he said. Moscow has rejected these claims "from the very beginning as complete nonsense". Pompeo earlier told Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that US President Donald Trump was committed to improving relations with Moscow. Pompeo underlined to Putin that Trump wanted to make "our two peoples more ...
Hold J-K assembly polls after nomads return to plains: State BJP unit
The BJP's Jammu and Kashmir unit Tuesday said assembly elections should be held in November after over 30 lakh nomads return from the state's high-altitude areas to the plains. "We want that elections should be held in J-K in November this year. It should be held after the return of Gujjars and Bakerwals back to the plains from the upper reaches of the state. It is the period of November," state BJP general secretary Ashok Koul told reporters here. He said the party does not favour immediate elections in the state. Though, the party is not in favour of any delays in the polls, but at the same time, it doesn't want that a huge population of nomads are deprived of their right to vote, Koul said. He said had assembly elections been held along with the Lok Sabha polls, the BJP would have favoured it."We don't favour immediate polls at this time," the BJP leader said. Koul said over 30 lakh Gujjars and Bakerwals are in the migration phase these days. "We can't deprive them of their rights.
Pushing for new language in politics: Rahul
Congress President Rahul Gandhi said on Tuesday that he was pushing for a new language in politics which does not use violence and hatred even as ideological issues are debated intensely.
Will never insult Modi's parents in return, says Rahul
Citing the attacks on the Nehru-Gandhi family by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the Lok Sabha 2019 campaign, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday vowed that he will not insult Modi's parents in return.
TMC seeks meeting with EC in aftermath of Shah roadshow violence
The TMC Tuesday sought a meeting with the Election Commission over the destruction of a statue of Bengali writer and philosopher Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar during clashes between workers of the ruling party and the BJP. Supporters of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Trinamool Congress (BJP) fought pitched battles on the streets of Kolkata during a massive road show by former's president Amit Shah, who escaped unhurt but was forced to cut short the jamboree and had to be escorted to safety by the police. Parts of the city plunged into a welter of violence as his convoy was attacked with stones by alleged TMC supporters from inside the hostel of Vidyasagar College, triggering a clash between supporters of the two parties, officials said. "Trinamool parliamentary team comprising Derek O'Brien, Sukhendu Sekhar Ray, Manish Gupta, Nadimul Haque seeks meeting with EC in aftermath of attack on Bengal's heritage after Shah roadshow in Kolkata. BJP outsider ruffians resort to arson &
Khattar deplores violence during Amit Shah's roadshow in Kolkata
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar Tuesday deplored the violence during BJP president Amit Shah's roadshow in Kolkata and said the party will not tolerate such kind of "goonda raj". Khattar said the Election Commission should look into the matter to ensure smooth conduct of polls in West Bengal on May 19. BJP and TMC supporters fought pitched battles on the streets of Kolkata during a roadshow by Shah, who escaped unhurt but was forced to cut short the jamboree and had to be escorted to safety by police. Parts of Kolkata plunged into a welter of violence as the BJP president's convoy was attacked with stones by alleged TMC supporters from inside the hostel of Vidyasagar College, triggering a clash between supporters of the two parties, officials said. "I strongly condemn the incident. BJP will not tolerate this type of goonda raj, the Election Commission should take cognizance," Khattar told a hurriedly called press conference at his residence here. He blamed Trinamool ...
3 Western countries part of probe into attack on ships: UAE
Three Western countries will be part of an investigation into mysterious "sabotage attacks" on ships in the Gulf, an Emirati official said on Tuesday. The official, who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity, said the United States, France and Norway were involved in the investigation along with the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. The official said the investigation into Sunday's incident was launched with the support of the Western experts. The ships -- including two Saudi oil tankers, an Emirati ship and the Norwegian tanker Andrea Victory -- were docked in the sea off the coast of Fujairah, the official added. Neither Saudi Arabia nor the UAE gave details on the nature of the attacks or accused anyone of responsibility. Fujairah port is the only Emirati terminal located on the Arabian Sea coast, bypassing the Strait of Hormuz, through which most Gulf oil exports pass. Iran has repeatedly threatened to close the strait in case of a military confrontation with the United ...