Page 702 - Politics
Shiv Sena calls for ban on burqa in 'Ram's land', NDA ally RPI disagrees
Citing a ban on the burqa in Sri Lanka after the deadly Easter Sunday attacks, Shiv Sena mouthpiece 'Saamna' on Wednesday demanded the imposition of a similar ban in India.The Sena's proposal, however, was rejected by another NDA ally, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale of the Republican Party of India, who said that burqa should not be banned as it forms part of the country's tradition.The Shiv Sena editorial states "It has happened in Ravan's Lanka. When will it happen in Ram's Ayodhya? We ask this question to the PM as he is scheduled to visit Ayodhya on Wednesday".Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to address a political rally near Ayodhya today."The present government has made a law against Triple Talaq to stop the exploitation of Muslim women. After the ghastly bomb attacks, Sri Lanka has imposed a ban on the burqa and all types of face covers. President Maithripala Sirisena also announced that the decision has been taken for national security," Saamna said in a write-up ...
Brief halt to Trump-Democrats squabbles to tackle crumbling infrastructure (News Analysis)
US President Donald Trump and his Democratic adversaries put aside the fallout of the Russia investigations and their incessant confrontations for 90 minutes to arrive at an ambitious $2 trillion plan to fix the nation's crumbling infrastructure.
Modi, Rahul to address rallies in Hoshangabad today
Both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress President Rahul Gandhi will address rallies for their respective party candidates in Hoshangabad district of Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday.
Obamas to produce adaptation of book on Trump presidency
Former US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle Obama's production house will bring out an adaptation of Michael Lewis' "The Fifth Risk", which is around the administration of the Donald Trump presidency.
EC bars Gujarat BJP chief Jitubhai Vaghani from campaigning for 72 hours
The Election Commission has barred Gujarat BJP president Jitubhai Vaghani from campaigning for 72 hours starting tomorrow evening for violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).The ban will come in effect from 4 pm on May 2, an EC order said.Vaghani has been barred from campaigning for violating the MCC at Amroli in Surat on April 7.The model code is a set of instructions and guidelines to be followed by political parties and candidates for the conduct free and fair elections.The MCC came into force on March 10, when the EC announced the schedule of seven-phase Lok Sabha polls.The poll watchdog had yesterday barred Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan from campaigning for 48 hours starting from 6 am on Wednesday for violating the MCC with his "highly provocative" speeches in which he "appealed to secure votes on religious lines".
Maduro accuses protesters of attempting to attack, overthrow 'legitimate govt'
In a televised address on Tuesday, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro accused protesters siding with opposition leader Juan Guaido of attempting to "attack and overthrow a legitimate government to enslave Venezuela.""We have been facing various forms of coup d'etat, due to the obsessive efforts of the Venezuelan right, the Colombian oligarchy and the US empire," the embattled President said as Guaido declared he was "beginning the final phase of Operation Freedom."At least 71 people have lost their lives until now, as Venezuela witnessed one of its bloodiest days ever since the political crisis accelerated with Guaido declaring himself as the President of the nation amid crowds protesting for Maduro to step down earlier this year.Guaido's Tuesday call led to protesters collecting at the La Carlota military airbase, where a confrontation between the opposition leader's supporters and Maduro's supporters took place, according to CNN. In an apparent show of solidarity with the ...
Nandyal MP SPY Reddy passes away after prolonged illness
Three-time Lok Sabha MP and industrialist SPY Reddy on Tuesday died after prolonged illness at a private hospital here.Reddy, the sitting MP from Nandyal constituency in Andhra Pradesh was admitted to hospital on April 3 after he complained of heart and kidney problems.He was 69 and is survived by his wife and two daughters.The Nandyal MP was contesting on a Jana Sena Party's ticket in the ongoing parliamentary elections. Reddy has been associated with many political parties.In 1991, he contested and lost the general elections on a BJP ticket but lost. He was elected from Nandyal in 2009 on a Congress ticket but switched to the YSR Congress Party for 2014 Lok Sabha elections.After 2014 parliamentary elections, Reddy joined the Telugu Desam Party but left the party after he did not get Lok Sabha ticket.Reddy is a noted philanthropist from Nandyal and the founder of Nandi group of industries. He started his career from Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) Mumbai before he set up his ...
Mueller criticized Barr's depiction of Russia probe: reports
Special Counsel Robert Mueller complained to the attorney general over his characterization of the Russia probe that allowed President Donald Trump to declare himself cleared of obstruction of justice, US media reported Tuesday. Trump cast himself as fully exonerated after Bill Barr delivered a four-page memo to Congress on March 24 that he called a summary of the two-year probe's key findings, telling lawmakers the evidence was insufficient to support criminal obstruction charges. The release of a redacted version of the full 400-plus page report on April 18 however revealed that Mueller had detailed numerous attempts by the president to thwart the investigation. The Washington Post said Mueller's letter to Barr three days later complained that the attorney general's memo "did not fully capture the context, nature and substance of this office's work and conclusions." "There is now public confusion about critical aspects of the results of our investigation," Mueller reportedly wrote, .
India not to sit back and watch subversion of int'l order, says envoy Shringla
Emphasising upon the need to preserve a global order based on international rules that all can adhere to, India's Ambassador to the United States, Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Tuesday said New Delhi will not sit back and watch subversion of this order. In an interaction with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a top US think-tank, Shringla also said that it is necessary to make changes in international organisations, including the UN, based on ground realities of the 21st century. India's co-operation with countries like United States and Japan, among other things, is to preserve our concept of a global order which is based on certain international rules that all of us can adhere to, he said, responding to a question during his interaction, the first one after his arrival in the US early this year. The subversion of this order is not something that we will like to sit back and watch, the Indian diplomat added. The countries like the United States, Japan and India believe there .
Venezuela uprising: Russia responds to Pompeo's claims; Cuba rejects Trump's 'sanctions and embargo' threat
Russia has rubbished US Secretary of State Micheal R Pompeo's claim of the country having persuaded Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro not to leave the country."Washington tried it's best to demoralize the Venezuelan army and now used fakes as a part of information war," Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova told CNN.Pompeo had claimed that Maduro was preparing to leave the country for Cuba amid calls for his ouster, but the Russians talked him out of it.Ever since the civil unrest and political chaos began in Venezuela, Russia has stood by the embattled regime headed by Maduro, and often criticised the US for interfering in the country.Amid the uprising, United States President Donald Trump had threatened to impose "highest level sanctions" together with an embargo against Cuba if it continued its military support to Maduro.However, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, who "strongly rejected" Trump's threat, denied the presence of Cuban troops in Venezuela."We strongly
Amnesty condemns Yemen rebels' detention of journalists
Amnesty International on Wednesday condemned the prolonged detention of 10 journalists by Huthi rebels in Yemen, saying it reflected "the dire state of media freedom" in the war-torn country. The 10 journalists have been held since the summer of 2015 and are being prosecuted on trumped-up spying charges, according to the rights group. It said the men have been tortured, held incommunicado and deprived of medical care. "The unlawful and prolonged detention, torture and other ill-treatment of these 10 journalists is a shocking reminder of the repressive media climate facing journalists in Yemen and illustrates the risks they face at the hands of all parties to the conflict," said Rasha Mohamed, Amnesty's Yemen researcher. "These men are being punished for peacefully exercising their right to freedom of expression. "The de facto Huthi authorities should release them immediately and drop all the charges against them," he said in a statement. In December 2018, the men were charged with a ..
Health services report 69 injured in Venezuela clashes
At least 69 people were injured in Caracas on Tuesday, two from gunfire, during clashes between demonstrators and security forces, Venezuela's health services said. Local press said a third person suffered a gunshot wound while the government claimed a soldier was hit by a bullet during the clashes sparked by a call from Venezuela's opposition leader Juan Guaido on the military to help him force President Nicolas Maduro from power.
'Various' Venezuelan troops seek asylum in Brazil embassy: official
A number of Venezuelan troops have sought asylum in Brazil's embassy in Caracas, a senior Brazilian official said Tuesday after Venezuela's self-declared president Juan Guaido claimed soldiers had joined him. A source in Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's office confirmed to AFP there had been "various applications" from Venezuelan soldiers, but would not say how many or what ranks. Brazilian media reported 25 had applied so far. The petitions for asylum came as Bolsonaro threw his support behind Venezuelans "enslaved by a dictator," a reference to President Nicolas Maduro whom Guaido is challenging for power. "Brazil is on the side of the people of Venezuela, President Juan Guaido and the freedom of Venezuelans," Bolsonaro said in a series of tweets. "We support the freedom of this sister nation to finally live a true democracy." Foreign minister Ernesto Araujo reiterated Brazil's support for a "democratic transition" and expressed "hopes that the Venezuelan military will be part ..
Venezuelans stage pro-Guaido rally in Madrid
Hundreds of Venezuelans rallied in central Madrid late Tuesday in support of their country's self-proclaimed leader Juan Guaido, as riots broke out in faraway Caracas. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his government have vowed to put down what they see as an attempted coup by the US-based opposition leader. But as police fired tear gas at the crowds in Caracas, around 300 people gathered in the Puerta del Sol square in Madrid in support of the 35-year-old National Assembly leader, waving Venezuelan flags and brandishing banners with slogans such as "Maduro is destroying Venezuela". "This isn't a state coup," a former mayor of Caracas and opposition politician, Antonio Ledezma, told the small crowd in the Spanish capital, which included Venezuelan opposition figures, as well as officials from Spain's conservative Popular Party and centre-right Ciudadanos. A spokeswoman for the Spanish government had earlier said Madrid "strongly hope that there will be no bloodshed" in ...
EU calls for 'utmost restraint' in Venezuela crisis
The European Union on Tuesday called for "utmost restraint" in the Venezuela crisis, as the government vowed to put down what it called an attempted coup by US-backed opposition leader Juan Guaido. "The EU is closely following the latest events in Venezuela. We reiterate that there can only be a political, peaceful and democratic way out for the multiple crises the country is facing," EU diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini said in a statement. "The European Union rejects any form of violence and calls for utmost restraint to avoid the loss of lives and an escalation of tensions." Guaido, Venezuela's self-proclaimed acting president, said Tuesday that troops had joined his campaign to oust President Nicolas Maduro. But the attempt by Guaido to demonstrate growing military support disintegrated into rioting as palls of black smoke rose over eastern Caracas and the government said it was "deactivating" an attempted coup by a small group of "treacherous" soldiers. Mogherini said the EU ...
Pompeo claims Russians persuaded Maduro not to leave Venezuela
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday (local time) claimed that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was preparing to leave the country for Cuba amid calls for his ouster, but the Russians talked him out of it."He had an airplane on the tarmac, he was ready to leave this morning as we understand it and the Russians indicated he should stay," Pompeo told CNN, adding that Maduro was headed for Havana.Ever since the civil unrest and political chaos began in Venezuela, Russia has stood by the embattled regime headed by Maduro, and often criticised the US for interfering in the country."We have told the Russians and the Cubans that it [the support to Mudaro] is unacceptable. The nations of the regions and the Organisation of American States are all demanding that we get the democracy restored in Venezuela; that we get the dignity back in this once great nation," Pompeo said.Pompeo's statement comes against the backdrop of clashes between anti-government protesters led by self-proclaimed
Trump, Democrats agree to spend $2 trn on US infrastructure
Democratic congressional leaders -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer -- said they have agreed to seek a deal with President Donald Trump on a 2-trillion-US-dollar infrastructure package.
Trump, US Democrats agree to forge $2 trillion infrastructure plan
Democratic leaders said Tuesday they reached agreement with President Donald Trump to pursue a USD 2 trillion plan for improving America's creaking infrastructure, but deciding how to pay for the ambitious project could become a sticking point. "We agreed on a number which was very, very good: USD 2 trillion for infrastructure," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said, in a sign the feuding sides may be willing to work together on accomplishing a major bipartisan goal to upgrade the nation's roads, bridges, airports, rail lines, energy grid, waterways and broadband internet access. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi added that the lawmakers and Trump agreed to pursue a "big and bold" proposal, but that Democrats would be waiting eagerly to see the president's plans for how to pay for it. The group will meet again with the president in three weeks. White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders characterized the discussions as "excellent and productive" and said the meeting next month will address ...
Trump, US Democrats agree to forge $2 trillion infrastructure plan
Democratic leaders said Tuesday they reached agreement with President Donald Trump to pursue a USD 2 trillion plan for improving America's creaking infrastructure, but deciding how to pay for the ambitious project could become a sticking point. "We agreed on a number which was very, very good: USD 2 trillion for infrastructure," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said, in a sign the feuding sides may be willing to work together on accomplishing a major bipartisan goal to upgrade the nation's roads, bridges, airports, rail lines, energy grid, waterways and broadband internet access. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi added that the lawmakers and Trump agreed to pursue a "big and bold" proposal, but that Democrats would be waiting eagerly to see the president's plans for how to pay for it. The group will meet again with the president in three weeks. White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders characterized the discussions as "excellent and productive" and said the meeting next month will address ...
Russia should press Venezuela's Maduro to avoid violence: US envoy
Russia should encourage its Venezuelan ally President Nicolas Maduro to avoid violence amid a street revolt aimed at ousting him, the US representative on the crisis said Tuesday. "The Russians have been playing a very unhelpful role," envoy Elliott Abrams told reporters. "It would be helpful if they would make a call for no violence, because one of the things we have seen in a few cases today is violence on the part of the Venezuelan security forces against unarmed, innocent civilians," he said. Russia earlier accused Juan Guaido, recognized by the United States and more than 50 other countries as interim president, of fuelling conflict and urged negotiations -- an option Washington has rejected. Abrams said he had exchanged messages with Guaido at around 1800 GMT on Tuesday and that the opposition leader appeared to be "buoyant and determined." The US envoy also questioned why Maduro had not been seen in public throughout the tumultuous day. "Normally one would view that as a sign ..