Page 561 - Politics
Modi, Adityanath popularity on test in Varanasi, Gorakhpur
As the ongoing Lok Sabha polls move towards a finale, the biggest battle will take place in the seventh and last phase of the elections in Uttar Pradesh.
BJP launches 'knock the door' campaign in Varanasi
'Knock the door is the BJP campaign in Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers have been directed to knock on every door and seek votes for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and urge people to cast their votes on the polling day.
AP sources: Trump Jr subpoena sent when interviews declined
The Senate intelligence committee subpoenaed Donald Trump Jr after he backed out of two scheduled interviews as part of the panel's Russia investigation, the chairman of the committee told his Republican colleagues last week as he tried to stem criticism from the move. Sen Richard Burr, R-N C, outlined the events at a GOP caucus luncheon Thursday after weathering fierce criticism for the subpoena of President Donald Trump's eldest son, according to three people familiar with the remarks. They requested anonymity to discuss the private senators' meeting. Burr told colleagues that Trump Jr had twice voluntarily agreed to interviews and later backed out. The committee had been in negotiations with Trump Jr since December and had scheduled the interviews for March and April, according to one of the people familiar with his remarks. Senators on the committee want to go over answers Trump Jr gave the panel's staff in a 2017 interview and ask further questions. It's the first known subpoena .
RSS has abandoned BJP, says Mayawati in latest jibe at PM Modi
In the run-up to the last and final phase of the Lok Sabha polls, BSP chief Mayawati on Tuesday accused BJP of not fulfilling election promises while asserting that even RSS has stopped supporting the party fearing public backlash.Speaking to ANI, Mayawati said, "It is known to everyone now that Prime Minister Narendra Modi led government is losing. It is evident from the fact that even RSS has left supporting them. Owing to public anger over non-fulfillment of poll-promises, RSS workers are not visible to us campaigning for BJP anywhere. Because of this, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is nervous and facing a hard time."Denouncing BJP's 'Main Bhi Chowkidar' campaign, she said, "Country has seen many leaders who have misled the country as Sevak, Jan-Sevak, Chaiwala and Chowkidar but now it wants a pure Prime Minister who can run the country as per the tenets of the constitution for the welfare of the people."The BSP supremo also took a jibe at temple visits by politicians saying it has ..
Aiyar returns, terms 'neech aadmi' jibe against PM Modi 'prophetic'
Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar on Tuesday said that he stands by his 'neech aadmi' jibe against Narendra Modi and termed his December 2017 remark about the Prime Minister as "prophetic"."I said what I wanted to say in that article, I stand by every word. I have no desire to engage in any argument," Aiyar told ANI over the phone.The Congressman hit yet another low by terming the Prime Minister "foul-mouthed" and added that his ouster is certain on May 23. Aiyar, in an article for an online publication, charged Modi of being "guilty of anti-national activity in trying to ride on the sacrifices of martyrs"."Modi will, in any case, be ousted by the people of India on 23 May. That would be a fitting end to the most foul-mouthed prime minister this country has seen or is likely to see. Remember how I described him on 7 December 2017? Was I not prophetic?" the former diplomat wrote in ThePrint.In the run-up to 2017 Gujarat Assembly polls, Aiyar had referred to Modi as a 'neech aadmi', a .
In Ratlam, Priyanka Gandhi climbs barricade to greet supporters
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was seen climbing a wooden barricade into a sea of people to meet her supporters after an election rally in Ratlam Lok Sabha constituency on Monday.Priyanka, dressed in a red saree, made an impromptu jump into the crowd, after which her Special Protection Group (SPG) guards swung into action to make way for the leader.However, Priyanka, paying no heed to this, hugged her supporters and even clicked selfies with some of them.This is not the first time the Congress leader has shown amiability towards the crowd.After casting her vote on May 12 in Delhi, Priyanka waded through the crowd to take the blessing of an elderly woman sitting across the road on a cot. Breaking the security protocol, she had also posed for a picture with two young women who displayed their inked fingers.Priyanka has even stopped her cavalcade numerous times in the past to greet supporters.At a rally in Assam last month, amid chants of "Priyanka Gandhi Zindabad," ...
No chances for non-BJP, non-Cong "third front" post LS polls: Stalin
DMK President MK Stalin Tuesday said he saw no chances for a non-BJP, non-Congress "third front" post Lok Sabha polls, but a decision could be taken only after May 23, the counting day. Stalin's remarks come a day after TRS supremo and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekara Rao, who has been pushing for a non-Congress, non-BJP federal front of regional parties, called on the DMK chief here. Stalin, also Tamil Nadu Leader of Opposition, said Rao had not visited the state for forging alliances. "He did not come to form alliances. He came to Tamil Nadu to offer prayers in various temples and on that basis, sought an appointment with me for a courtesy call. That is all," he told reporters here. Rao had earlier visited the Sri Ranganatha Temple at Srirangam before meeting Stalin. Asked about the possibility of a "third front" sans BJP and Congress, the DMK leader said, "It doesn't seem to me that there is a chance for that." "However, that will be decided only after counting on .
Special Cell arrests JeM terrorist Abdul Majeed; to be produced before CJM
An absconding Jaish-e-Mohammad terrorist, who was arrested by a team of Special Cell on May 11 from Srinagar, will be produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Srinagar, police said.The terrorist Abdul Majeed was brought to Delhi on transit remand, police said.The JeM terrorist Abdul Majeed, who had Rs 2 lakh reward on his head, was arrested by a team of Special Cell south-western range from downtown Srinagar.The team was sent to Jammu and Kashmir to trace the wanted terrorists. On May 11, the Special Cell acted upon a tip-off and arrested Majeed from Srinagar.
Sudan: 5 killed as violence flares up
At least five persons including a soldier were killed in violence that erupted in Sudan's capital Khartoum on Monday after Transitional Military Council (TMC) and opposition reached a deal to run the country.Three soldiers and several protestors also suffered injuries when "unidentified elements" fired shots at the sit-in outside the army headquarters, the ruling military council told Al JazeeraA doctor committee also confirmed that four demonstrators were killed, but were unable to clarify whether they were killed during sit-in firing.However, the TMC has said that the military would never fire on peaceful protestors."There are people who are infiltrating these groups; they are armed and they targeted some of our military personnel," Huthaifah Abdul Malik, head of military intelligence, said."We are aware of these people, their elements and plans of provocation. We know the means that they use. They have targeted the military with armed ammunition, but these outlaws were using ...
Security Council reform, fighting terrorism key priorities for next UNGA
The stalled Security Council reform and fighting terrorism will be priorities for the next session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA), the Nigerian diplomat who is expected to be its President has said.
Protesters removed from Venezuelan Embassy in Washington
US law enforcement has started the process of trying to remove protesters from the Venezuelan Embassy in Washington, a State Department official said.
Final phase of Telangana rural local body elections underway
The third and final phase of polling for Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituencies (ZPTC) and Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituencies (MPTC) elections got underway Tuesday. The polling began at 7 AM and would continue till 5 PM, except in Left Wing Extremism (LWE)-affected areas, where it would conclude an hour early at 4 PM, State Election Commission said. The election is held for 161 ZPTCs, and 741 candidates are in the fray. Officials said polling is being held for 1708 MPTCs, with 5726 candidates. The Commission last month released the election schedule for 5,817 MPTCs and 539 ZPTCs. The first phase and second phase were held on May six and 10, respectively. Around 1.56 crore voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in the elections to two upper tiers of local bodies. The elections are being held through ballot and counting would be held on May 27, officials had earlier said. After the ZPTC and MPTC polls, Mandal Praja Parishad and Zilla Praja Parishad ...
Oil tankers 'sabotaged' as Gulf tensions soar
Four ships, including two Saudi oil tankers, were damaged in mysterious "sabotage attacks" that have inflamed Gulf tensions amid a standoff between the United States and Iran. In the face of growing international concern, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo scrapped a planned visit to Moscow and headed to Brussels instead for talks Monday with European officials, as Britain warned of the danger of conflict erupting "by accident" in the Gulf. Turning up the pressure on Tehran after the United States deployed B-52 bombers and an assault ship to bolster an aircraft carrier in the region, President Donald Trump warned that Iran would "suffer greatly" were it to "do anything" to threaten US interests. "If they do anything, it would be a very bad mistake," Trump warned at the White House. "If they do anything they will suffer greatly." Acting Pentagon chief Patrick Shanahan proposed a revamped military plan at a meeting with senior national security aides that would send up to 120,000 US ...
Barr appoints top Connecticut prosecutor to investigate inception of Russian 'collusion' probe
United States Attorney General William Barr has appointed a top Connecticut prosecutor to examine the origins of the investigation into Russia's alleged collusion during the 2016 presidential elections.The New York Times reported that two officials familiar with the matter apprised that John H. Durham, the U.S. attorney in Connecticut, has been appointed by Barr to look into the probe's beginning. However, there is no official confirmation on Durham's appointment.This is the third public investigation into the matter.Meanwhile, Department of Justice inspector general Michael E. Horowitz is examining the use of wiretaps and pieces of information by investigators during the probe. He is also looking for possible political bias against incumbent President Donald Trump.Additionally, John W. Huber, the United States attorney in Utah, has also been reviewing aspects of the investigation. His findings are yet to be revealed.Republicans had conducted their own inquiries when they used to ...
LS Polls 2019: Modi, Rahul to address marathon rallies today
In the run-up to the final phase of polling in the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress chief Rahul Gandhi will address multiple rallies on Tuesday in a bid to woo voters.The Prime Minister will hold public meetings at Ballia in Uttar Pradesh, Buxer and Sasaram in Bihar, and Chandigarh in Punjab, all of which will witness polling in the last phase of elections on May 19.Meanwhile, Gandhi will be speaking at election meetings in Neemuch, Khandwa and Tarana districts of Madhya Pradesh. Polling in these regions will also be held in the final phase.As campaigning for Lok Sabha polls has entered its last leg, political parties have stepped up their attack against each other in a bid to outdo one another.The penultimate phase of election campaigning saw Modi hit out at Gandhi citing references of his late father Rajiv Gandhi, while Congress continued to question the Prime Minister and the BJP on job creation, demonetisation and alleged irregularities in the Rafale fighter jet .
US, Russia test tense ties as Pompeo visits Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday meets US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in the highest-level talks between the rival powers in nearly a year as they see if they can make headway on a raft of disagreements from Venezuela to Iran to arms control. Pompeo will visit Putin in the Black Sea resort of Sochi less than two weeks after President Donald Trump voiced optimism about improving relations with Moscow during a more than one-hour telephone conversation with the Russian leader. The renewed diplomacy followed the long-awaited report in the United States by investigator Robert Mueller which found that Russia interfered in the 2016 election but that the Trump campaign did not collude with Moscow, partially lifting a cloud that had hung over the mogul-turned-president for two years. Pompeo is the highest-ranking US official to see Putin since July when Trump met him in Helsinki and stunned the US political class by appearing to accept the Russian leader's statement at face value
Many BJP MLAs will come to Congress after May 23: KC Venugopal
Congress leader KC Venugopal asserted that many BJP MLAs in Karnataka will join his party after May 23, when results of the seven-phase general elections will be declared.Addressing a press conference here on Monday, Venugopal said Congress is not going to indulge in horse-trading, as legislatures would shift guard on their own."We are not going to poach any MLAs from BJP but naturally they will come to Congress after May 23. That is going to happen. In last one year, Karnataka has been witnessing horse-trading mentality of BJP, and on the other hand, Congress-JD(S) joined together," Venugopal said. "We formed the government; we are ruling the state from last one year. We will definitely continue," he added.Horse-trading allegations have surfaced time and again in Karnataka, ever since the Assembly elections took place in May last year.In January this year, BJP had housed all its 104 MLAs in a hotel in Gurugram, fearing poaching by Congress.A month later, Congress alleged that BJP's ..
Trump threatens to slap more tariffs on Chinese imports
US President Donald Trump said has that he is prepared to impose tariffs on virtually all Chinese imports to the US as the trade war between the world's two largest economies intensified.
Five shot dead as Sudan sees breakthrough in civil rule talks
Four Sudanese protesters and an army major were shot dead on Monday in the capital, hours after protest leaders and the ruling generals reached a breakthrough agreement on transitional authorities to run the country. The latest developments came as the prosecutor general's office said ousted president Omar al-Bashir had been charged over the killings of protesters during anti-regime demonstrations that led to the end of his rule last month. The major and a protester were killed at a sit-in outside the army headquarters in Khartoum where thousands of protesters remain camped for weeks, demanding that the army generals who took power after ousting Bashir step down. Three soldiers and several protesters and civilians were also wounded when "unidentified elements" fired shots at the Khartoum sit-in, the ruling military council said. A doctors' committee linked to the protest movement later said three more protesters had been shot dead, but did not specify if they were actually killed at ..
US puts Chinese, Pakistani companies on entity list
The United States on Monday placed 12 foreign companies, including several entities from China and one from Pakistan, among others, in its entity list to ensure that sensitive technologies do not fall into the hands of those who would threaten its national security. The 12 entities making it to the list include four companies with locations in both China and Hong Kong, and a further two Chinese, one Pakistani and five Emirati persons, the Department of Commerce said. "The Trump Administration will vigorously defend against any action which could harm American citizens or our nation's security. We are putting individuals, businesses and organisations across the world on notice that they will be held accountable for supporting Iran's WMD activities and other illicit schemes," said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. "Moreover, we cannot allow China's civil-military integration strategy to undermine US national security through prohibited technology transfer plots orchestrated by state ...