Page 637 - Politics
BJP's toughest battle against MGB in UP's phase 6 (IANS Exclusive)
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) faces its toughest challenge from the Mahagathbandhan (MGB) in the next round of voting in Uttar Pradesh on May 12 as the electoral arithmetic favours the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) alliance on almost all the 14 seats going to polls.
China denies having 'concentration camps' in Xinjiang
China has rejected US accusations of operating "concentration camps" in its Xinjiang region, with a government spokesman telling Washington to "stop interfering in Chinese domestic affairs".
Pragya not guilty but scapegoat of saffron terror: Shivraj
Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday said that Malegaon blast accused Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur has been made the BJP candidate from Bhopal as the party feels she is "not guilty" but was made a scapegoat by the then Congress government after coining the word 'bhagwa aatanki' (saffron terror).
US to move forward with Trump's tariff threat
US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said that the administration will be moving forward on President Donald Trump's latest threat to escalate tariffs on $200 billion of Chinese goods effective from Friday.
Mnuchin refuses to give Trump taxes to House Democrats
US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin has denied a request from House Democrats for access to six years of President Donald Trump's personal tax returns.
US deployment triggered after inputs of Iranian attack plans
Following intelligence showing Iran made plans to target US forces in Iraq and elsewhere in the Middle East, decision to reinforce the American military presence in the region was taken in an effort to deter any possible moves by Tehran, Dow Jones Newswires reported.
Opposition in Turkey terms Istanbul repoll 'dictatorship'
Turkey's electoral body has ordered that Istanbul's local elections be re-held after a shock opposition victory in March. The vote will be held on June 23.
'Had a very good conversation': Trump, Abe discuss N Korea, trade
US President Donald Trump on Monday said that he had a "very good conversation" with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on North Korea and trade."Just spoke to Prime Minister Abe of Japan concerning North Korea and Trade. Very good conversation!" Trump tweeted.The telephonic conversation between Trump and Abe comes days after North Korea fired multiple "projectiles" into the sea off its east coast.Later, the White House released a statement saying the two leaders discussed "recent developments on North Korea and reaffirmed US-Japan unity in how to achieve the final and fully verified denuclearisation" of Pyongyang.Last month, Abe had paid a visit to the US where he held talks with Trump on North Korea's denuclearisation process. The US President is scheduled to visit Japan later this month.Japan has backed the US' stand on maintaining sanctions on North Korea, in a bid to pressurise the secretive communist nation to dismantle its nuclear weapon and ballistic missile programme.It may ..
PTI to challenge Maryam's appointment as PML-N vice president
The ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Monday said that it will challenge the decision of the Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) to appoint Maryam Nawaz as one of the 16 vice presidents of the party.Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said that PTI was preparing to challenge PML-N's decision to grant a party post to a convicted person, Express Tribune reported.He said that the ruling party was exploring various options and will decide the best way to take the matter forward."We have the option to take this up in the Parliament, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), or the country's courts," Qureshi said."She (Maryam) has been convicted by the country's courts and is not eligible to hold a party position. She has been granted temporary relief by the court. Her conviction has not been reversed," he added.Maryam, along with her husband Captain (retd) Muhammad Safdar and her father and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, was sentenced by an accountability court on ...
Turkey election body orders Istanbul vote re-run
Turkey's top election body ordered a re-run of Istanbul's mayoral election on Monday after the party of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan complained about its shock defeat in the vote, the state news agency reported. The winner of the election, Ekrem Imamoglu of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), said it was a "treacherous decision" and vowed to fight on. "They are trying to take back the election we won. Maybe you are upset but never lose your hope," he told thousands of supporters in central Istanbul following the ruling. Imamoglu narrowly defeated the candidate of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in the March 31 local elections to take control of Turkey's biggest city. It was a rare electoral defeat for Erdogan, himself a former mayor of the city, which has been in the hands of the AKP and its predecessors for 25 years. But the AKP has refused to accept defeat, saying there were "irregularities and corruption" in the vote. Imamoglu won by just 13,000 ...
Turkey orders re-polling for Istanbul mayoral elections
Turkey's top electoral authority on Monday ordered a re-vote for Istanbul mayor on June 23, dealing a blow for opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), who won the city in the March 31 local elections.The members of the Supreme Election Council (YSK) accepted President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party's objection of local election results in Istanbul in a 7-4 decision, Anadolu News Agency reported.The Turkish electoral board also cancelled the mayoral certificate of Ekrem Imamoglu of CHP, who took office last month.The YSK said that the decision was made as some presiding officers and polling staffs, who are supposed to be civil servants as per Turkish law, had served during the polls."With this decision, our demand for re-election has been vindicated,'' said Recep Ozel of AK Party.On April 7, the AK Party had demanded YSK to recount the votes cast in all districts of Istanbul, alleging of electoral fraud and organised irregularities.The CHP had won .
Pompeo says US pressuring Iran to act 'normal'
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says the Trump administration is intensifying pressure to "get Iran to behave like a normal nation." Pompeo spoke to reporters Monday in Finland following the administration's decision to move an aircraft carrier group ahead of schedule to the Middle East from the Mediterranean in response to what it said were threats of a possible attack on US or allied interests by Iran. The larger pressure campaign has included withdrawing from an Obama-era nuclear deal, reimposing sanctions and designating the Iran's Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organisation. The secretary said the measures are intended to stop Iran from a range of activities that include sponsoring terrorist organisations that launch missile attacks on Israel or building missile systems in Yemen to assist rebels in that country's civil war. "Our objective is to get the Islamic Republic of Iran to behave like a normal nation," he said. "When they do that, we will welcome them back.
Democrats set contempt vote for William Barr over Mueller's report
US House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler on Monday scheduled a vote for Wednesday (May 8) to hold Attorney General William Barr in contempt of Congress after the latter failed to adhere to a deadline to furnish Special Counsel Robert Mueller's full and unredacted report on alleged Russian collusion in 2016 presidential election.The contempt vote is scheduled to be held at 10 am (local time).Making the announcement, Nadler said that he proposed to hold Barr in contempt after he sent a letter to the Justice Department, which refused to provide Mueller's full report. The House Judiciary Committee had given a deadline of 9 am (local time) on Monday for Barr to comply, Al Jazeera reported.On April 19, Nadler had issued a subpoena for Mueller's full report on Russia probe, a day after Barr had released the redacted version of the report. However, the Justice Department had recently notified the committee that it would not adhere to the demand.On May 3, Nadler had reiterated his .
PM Modi has lost his mental balance due to lack of proper sleep, needs medical treatment: Bhupesh Baghel
Attacking the Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his 'Bhrashtachari number 1' remark on late Rajiv Gandhi, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said that Modi has lost his mental balance and needs medical treatment as he gets to sleep for only a few hours.The response from Baghel came after he was asked to react on Modi's 'Bhrashtachari number 1' remark on late Rajiv Gandhi."Rajiv Gandhi ji passed away years ago, talking about him and that too during elections shows Modi ji has lost mental balance. He needs medical treatment, he says he only gets to sleep for 3 to 4 hours. Those who don't get enough sleep tend to lose their mental balance," Baghel on Monday said while addressing a presser here.On May 4, PM Modi while addressing an election rally in Uttar Pradesh had said, the life of Congress President Rahul Gandhi's father Rajiv Gandhi ended as 'Bhrashtachari number 1.'"Your father was termed 'Mr Clean' by his courtiers, but his life ended as 'Bhrashtachari No 1,' Modi had ...
Goa Dy CM regrets after knocking off govt officer's ringing phone
Goa Deputy Chief Minister Vijai Sardesai has expressed regret after a video of him allegedly knocking off a ringing phone from a state administrative service official's hand during an interaction went viral.Narrating the incident, Sardesai said in his statement that an important discussion was underway when suddenly phone of Chief Officer of the Margao Municipal Council in South Goa started ringing which left him irritated.Issuing a clarification over the incident, Saradesai on Monday said, "We were discussing a very serious issue which is a symbol of the failure of the civic body and the administration and which pertains to the entire Salcete in general and my constituency of Fatorda in particular. I was irritated with the ringing phone when a topic of such seriousness was being discussed and for which specifically I had come to the site. I regret that I lost my cool and have expressed the same to MMC's Chief Officer.""Throw away the phone," the Deputy Chief Minister shouts in the ..
AAP MP accuses PM Modi, Rahul Gandhi behind attack on Delhi CM Kejriwal during roadshow
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Sanjay Singh claimed that the party believes Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress President Rahul Gandhi to be mutually involved behind the attack on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal."Nine times attack on Chief Minister Kejriwal is not an ordinary thing, there is a conspiracy behind this. There could be a threat to his (Kejriwal) life. We met the Delhi Police Commissioner and appealed to investigate the matter. The accused's wife said that her husband cannot tolerate if somebody says anything wrong to Prime Minister Modi, which means in this country speaking against Modi has now become a crime...We believe that behind this unfortunate incident (attack on Kejriwal), it's Prime Minister Modi and BJP. We demand a brief investigation into the attack on Kejriwal," Singh told reporters on Monday.Questioning Gandhi's silence over the incident, sitting AAP MP said, "The BJP and Congress have accused us (AAP) for planning this attack to raise TRP. All ...
'Approved US carrier strike group, bomber strike force to Middle East due to Iran's credible threat': Patrick Shanahan
The United States approved a carrier strike group and a bomber strike force to the Middle East due to "indications of a credible threat" by Iran, said acting Defence Secretary Patrick Shanahan on Monday."Last night's announced deployment of the @CVN_72 and a @USAirForce bomber task force to the @CENTCOM area of responsibility, which I approved yesterday, represents a prudent repositioning of assets in response to indications of a credible threat by Iranian regime forces," he wrote on his Twitter handle.The US on Sunday announced that it was sending USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group and a US Air Force bomber task force to the Middle East in response to Iran's "troubling and escalatory indications and warnings."Urging Iran to cease its provocative activities, Shanahan said that Washington will hold Tehran "accountable" in the event of a possible attack on US forces."We call on the Iranian regime to cease all provocation. We will hold the Iranian regime accountable for any attack .
JKNPP seeks action against BJP leaders in Ladakh
Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party Monday expressed shock over the allegations levelled by the Leh Press Club against BJP leaders for trying to bribe journalists to influence the parliamentary elections. On Saturday, the Press Club Leh had accused the BJP of trying to bribe its members by offering "envelops filled with money", a charge denied by the party which said the allegations were "politically motivated". "The report of saffron leaders offering bribe to the media ahead of polls is a brazen contravention of the Model Code of Conduct, hence the candidature of the BJP contestant should be immediately cancelled," NPP chairman and former minister Harsh Dev Singh told reporters here. Lauding the journalists for their exemplary honesty and professional ethics, he exhorted the Election Commission to take serious cognisance of the case. Drawing the EC's attention to the incident of a truck carrying cash catching fire in south Kashmir last month, Singh demanded a high level probe ..
PM's Rajiv jibe: Why double standard, Jaitley asks Congress
Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Monday attacked the Congress for referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as "chor" (thief) but crying hoarse when the Prime Minister called former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi "corrupt".
Decision taken on 43 of 49 model code complaints: EC
The Election Commission said on Monday that it had received 49 complaints for violation of model code of conduct (MCC) during the Lok Sabha elections of which 43 had been disposed off and six were under its consideration.