Page 624 - Politics
Pompeo in London to discuss the UK-US 'special relationship'
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is in London for talks with British officials on the status of the special relationship between the nations amid heightened tensions with Iran and uncertainty over Britain's exit from the European Union. Pompeo is meeting Wednesday with British Prime Minister Theresa May and Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt and will later deliver a speech on the potential for improved U.S.-U.K. ties after Brexit. Pompeo arrived in London after canceling a trip to Germany to make an unannounced visit to Baghdad, where he warned Iraqi officials about what he called imminent threats to American interests in the Middle East. Iran said earlier Wednesday that it would partially suspend its compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal from which President Donald Trump withdrew last year. Britain remains a party to the deal.
J-K Panchayat Conference holds protest against killing of sarpanches
All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference on Wednesday held a protest in Jammu against the killing of sarpanches in the state.The protestors have demanded security to sarpanches and a National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe into the killings."More than 15 Sarpanches have been killed across the state. We demand the government of India and Governor of Jammu and Kashmir for an investigation into this case," said Anil Sharma, President of All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference."Also, we demand that the government should provide security to those Sarpanches, who do not feel safe," he added.
Kremlin denounces 'unreasonable pressure' on Iran
Russia on Wednesday said it stood by the Iran nuclear deal and denounced US pressure that led to Tehran to suspend some of its commitments under the agreement. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said President Vladimir Putin remained committed to the agreement and that there were no alternatives "at the moment" to the deal. "Putin has repeatedly spoken about the consequences of ill-considered steps towards Iran, meaning the decision taken by Washington" to reimpose sanctions, Peskov said. He said Russia would work with European countries to maintain the "continued viability" of the nuclear deal and that it was too early to discuss the possibility of Russia joining sanctions against Tehran. "Putin has said that it is ill-conceived and arbitrary decisions that put unreasonable pressure on Iran and cause the adverse steps that we are facing.
Sudan army rulers delaying transition to civil rule: protest leaders
Sudanese protest leaders Wednesday accused the military rulers of delaying the transfer of power to a civilian administration, amid disagreements between the two sides over the country's new governance structure. "The military council's response... is moving in the direction of extending the negotiation and not in the direction of transition" of power, the Alliance for Freedom and Change said in a statement. The protest movement said the military council is looking to "prolong the negotiations" after the generals took over following the ousting of veteran leader Omar al-Bashir on April 11. The 10-member military council has said they agreed overall to proposals submitted by protest leaders, but have "many reservations". The two sides are grappling over whether an overall ruling council should have a civilian or military majority. The Alliance for Freedom and Change has also remained silent on the military council's aim for Islamic law to remain the bedrock of Sudanese legislation. It .
Goa govt urges EC to ease poll code for pre-monsoon works
The Goa government has requested the Election Commission to relax the model code of conduct in South Goa district, where voting for the Lok Sabha polls has concluded, to take up pre-monsoon works. Goa's Chief Secretary Parimal Rai wrote a letter to the state chief electoral office last Friday, urging that the poll code be relaxed in the South Goa district, where voting took place on April 23. State Chief Electoral Officer Kunal on Wednesday said they have received the letter and pre-monsoon works are allowed in the South Goa district on a case-to-case basis. The model code of conduct came into force on March 10 before the Lok Sabha polls were held in the state on April 23. The poll code, however, will continue in North Goa district where the by-election to Panaji constituency is scheduled for May 19. The bypoll was necessitated due to the demise of former chief minister Manohar Parrikar.
Siddaramaiah rules out possibility of becoming CM now, says seat not vacant
Noting that many Congress leaders are pitching for making him the chief minister out of "affection", Siddaramaiah Wednesday ruled out the possibility of any change in the top post held by H D Kumaraswamy of the JD(S). "They (Congress men) are expressing their opinion, but is it possible now? The seat is not vacant now, Kumaraswamy is chief minister. How can I become the CM?" Siddaramaiah told reporters in Hubballi. "Some may be saying things, out of affection towards me. Is it wrong to say that?" he asked. To a query whether there would be changes after Lok Sabha poll results are out on May 23, the Congress Legislature Party leader said, "there are no indications of any changes. Why will there be any change? Kumaraswamy is the coalition government's chief minister." Asked if the JD(S) would give up the chief minister post to the Congress, Siddaramaiah said he cannot respond to such speculations. Karnataka Home Minister M B Patil had on Tuesday made a pitch for Siddaramaiah "as chief ..
Kejriwal poses three questions to Modi in his rally
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal Wednesday posed three questions to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, including why Pakistan's Premier Imran Khan is "endorsing" him, and said he should answer them during his rally at Ramlila Maidan here. "Why didn't the BJP pass an ordinance and stop the sealing? In 2014, Modi promised full statehood for Delhi. Why didn't the BJP grant full statehood? Why Imran Khan is endorsing Narendra Modi?" Kejriwal asked the prime minister while speaking to reporters. He again accused the BJP of orchestrating an attack on him during a roadshow and asked which country's prime minister gets a chief minister attacked. Kejriwal was slapped allegedly by a disgruntled AAP supporter during a roadshow in Moti Nagar on Saturday. The AAP, however, claims that the BJP is behind the attack. The BJP has rubbished the claim as Kejriwal's "propaganda". Modi will address an election rally at the Ramlila Maidan in the national capital on Wednesday. BJP's Delhi unit has planned to
Mahagathbandhan's prospects to improve in next two phases: Mayawati
Rubbishing the BJP's claim that it was doing good in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, the opposition 'mahagathbandhan' on Wednesday said that on the other hand the prospects of the opposition alliance was improving day by day. "Our (electoral) prospects are improving...the prospects of the opposition alliance will further improve in the remaining two phases of Lok Sabha polls," BSP chief Mayawati said at a joint rally with SP chief Akhilesh Yadav here. She said ever since the 'mahagathbandhan' was formed to take on the saffron party, "BJP leaders have lost their sleep." Mayawati appealed to the voters to ensure a historic win for Yadav, who is the joint opposition candidate from the Azamgarh seat held by the SP in the outgoing Lok Sabha. Hitting back at the BJP, the BSP chief said, "We are not 'mahamilawati', it is Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is 'mahamilawati'." The PM has termed the mahagathbandhan' as the 'mahamilawati' (adulterated) alliance. Dubbing the Congress and the BJP ..
Pompeo visits Iraq amid tensions with Iran
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has made an unannounced visit to Iraq after abruptly cancelling a planned trip to Germany amid escalating tensions with Iran.
Archery Assn. acting president issues election notice; Secretary terms it illegal
Archery Association of India Wednesday embroiled itself in yet another controversy with acting president Sunil Sharma issuing notice of elections to be held on May 26 but secretary Maha Singh rejecting it, terming it "blatantly illegal" and contempt of Supreme Court order. Sharma was elevated to the top post on May 4 to start the process for fresh polls after the Supreme Court's order to set aside the national body's election last year and subsequent resignation of its president BVP Rao. Sharma, who is believed to be from ex-president V K Malhotra faction, has sent an election notice without any meeting of the Committee of Administrators which was allowed by the SC to function till a newly elected body takes charge. "The elections of office bearers of the Archery Association of India will be held on 26th May at the office of the Returning Officer at the Indian Olympic Association, New Delhi," Sharma wrote in the election notice to member associations, a copy of which is in possession .
Iran suspends nuclear deal curbs in push for relief from US sanctions
Iran said Wednesday it had stopped respecting limits on its nuclear activities agreed under a 2015 deal with major powers until they find a way to bypass renewed US sanctions. The well trailed announcement came as Washington stepped up its rhetoric against Tehran, accusing it of planning "imminent" attacks and deploying an aircraft carrier strike group with several nuclear-capable B-52 bombers to the region. Iran said it was responding to the sweeping unilateral sanctions that Washington has reimposed since it quit the agreement one year ago, which have dealt a severe blow to the Iranian economy. It said it would stop implementing some of the restrictions it had agreed with immediate effect. Tehran said it would abandon more if the remaining parties to the agreement -- Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia -- failed to start delivering on their commitments to sanctions relief within 60 days. President Hassan Rouhani underlined that the ultimatum was intended to rescue the nuclear
Rabri Devi denounces Modi
Jailed RJD chief Lalu Prasad's wife and former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi on Wednesday denounced Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he was worse than a "Duryodhan".
Mamata draws parallel between Quit India movement and her
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday accused Prime Minster Narendra Modi of running a fascist government in the country, and drew a parallel between her campaign against the BJP and the Quit India Movement of 1942. Addressing a rally here, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo said the prime minister and his party will be shown the door after the Lok Sabha elections. "Someone has to bell the cat. In 1942, Quit India movement was launched against the British, now we are fighting to oust a fascist Modi from power," she said. Banerjee claimed that Modi, if he retains power, will destroy the "constitutional fabric" and no elections will be held in future. "There will be no freedom or democracy in the country if Modi is voted to power again. It is time we show the door to Modi and the BJP. It's time this government is buried during this democratic exercise (elections)," she said. The chief minister claimed that people are scared to express their opinion in ..
Netanyahu: Israel will 'not allow' nuclear-armed Iran
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Wednesday not to allow Iran to acquire nuclear arms after the Islamic republic said it would abandon limits on its nuclear activities agreed in a 2015 deal. "This morning on my way here I heard that Iran intends to continue its nuclear programme," Netanyahu said at a ceremony on Israel's annual day of remembrance for its fallen soldiers and civilian victims of militant attacks. "We shall not allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon," he said in Hebrew. Netanyahu has been an outspoken opponent of Iran's landmark nuclear deal with major powers and was the leading supporter of US President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from it and reimpose crippling economic sanctions last year. Israel is considered the leading military power in the Middle East and is widely believed to possess its sole, if undeclared, nuclear arsenal. On Wednesday Tehran said it was ending curbs on its uranium enrichment stockpile agreed under the 2015 deal until other .
Will bring petrol and diesel within ambit of GST: Rahul
Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday promised that if his party is voted to power it will bring petrol and diesel within the ambit of the GST and will try and reduce rising prices. He said the Congress believes that rising prices have put a heavy burden on the life of the common man. "To reduce this burden, the Congress party will bring petrol and diesel within the ambit of the GST and will try and reduce the increasing prices," Gandhi said in a Facebook post.
Omar seeks action in journalists bribery case
National Conference leader Omar Abdullah Wednesday said action must be taken in the alleged bribery of journalists by BJP leaders in Leh in Jammu and Kashmir. "In light of the CCTV footage purported to show BJP leaders attempting to bribe journalists in Leh, I'm retweeting my original tweet with the letter of complaint by the Press Club Leh. Action must follow," Abdullah said in a tweet. The former chief minister was reacting to emergence of a CCTV footage from a hotel in Leh where several BJP leaders, including the party's state president Ravindra Raina, could be seen distributing envelopes among journalists. However, as soon as the journalists opened the envelopes, they returned those to the BJP leaders. Later, seven journalists from Press Club Leh wrote a letter to local police Station House Officer and asked him to register an FIR against Raina and another BJP leader Vikram Randhawa for "violating the model code of conduct and also at their attempt to bribe mediapersons of ...
Modi a 'jallad' of savage mindset: Rabri Devi
Jailed RJD chief Lalu Prasad's wife and former Chief Minister Rabri Devi on Wednesday described Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a "jallad" (executioner).
Aasia Bibi arrives in Canada after blasphemy acquittal
Aasia Bibi, a Pakistani Christian woman who was cleared by the country's Supreme Court of blasphemy charges last year after spending eight years on death row, has left Pakistan and arrived in Canada to reunite with her family, her lawyer and government officials said on Wednesday.
Centenarian voters to be treated like 'VVIPs'; get bouquets, selfies on polling day: Delhi CEO
Special arrangements would be made for Delhi voters who are aged 100 and above on the polling day, including pick-up and drop facility, and they will be greeted at booths with bouquets and selfies to make them "feel like VVIPs". Delhi goes to polls on May 12 and Chief Electoral Officer Ranbir Singh said, there are 96 centenarian voters in the city, and women outnumber men in this category. "We have been trying for the last four months to identify all voters who are aged 100 or above. This is a first such initiative to cater to such elderly voters who were born before Independence and have seen the first general elections in 1952. For us, they are VVIP voters and they will be treated as one," Singh told PTI. According to data shared by the Delhi CEO Office, there are 42 male centenarian voters and 54 female. "A senior officer will go to the house of each of these centenarian voters, residing nearest to the polling station in a constituency, and escort them them to booths. They will ...
No party will get majority, Cong will forge alliance for 'UPA plus plus' govt: Jyotiraditya Scindia
Predicting that no single party will get a majority in Election 2019, Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia says his party will forge a strong alliance of like-minded entities to create a "UPA plus plus" government at the Centre and end five years of "injustice". The days of coalition governments are here to stay, the Congress general secretary, who is seeking a fresh mandate from the electorate of Madhya Pradesh's Guna-Shivpuri seat for a fifth term, told PTI in an interview. Asked about the Congress' chances after five rounds of the seven-phase elections, Scindia said he never quantifies the number of seats but can see that the mood of the people is against the present BJP dispensation. "My assessment is the Congress party, the UPA government will form the government at the Centre and I am very confident of our performance as a coalition," he said. "I think the people of India are waiting for the moment to respond to the injustice that has been meted out to them by the Narendra Modi .