Page 770 - Politics
Pompeo expects North Korea diplomacy to be 'bumpy'
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he expected "bumpy" talks ahead with North Korea but that he still hoped to reach a potentially landmark denuclearization deal. US President Donald Trump in February cut short a summit in Hanoi with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, with Pyongyang later blaming Pompeo for a pushing a hard line and calling for his exclusion from future negotiations. In an interview with CBS News, Pompeo Wednesday said the Hanoi summit had more "nuance" than publicly reported, with the two sides sharing their positions. "It's going to be bumpy. It's going to be challenging. I hope we get several more chances to have serious conversations about how we move this process forward," Pompeo said. North Korea has demanded an easing of sanctions and Trump has indicated sympathy, saying he is fond of Kim. But Pompeo has insisted on maintaining pressure until a comprehensive deal on ending North Korea's nuclear program. Pompeo said that years of previous diplomatic efforts ..
Any 'crazy measure' and US shall face consequence, Iran warns over oil sanctions
Iran on Wednesday announced that it will continue to find international buyers and supply oil to them, but the United States should "be prepared for the consequences" if it tries to stop Tehran.Addressing media in New York City on Wednesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif warned Washington against taking the "crazy measure" of attempting to block Iranian oil sales, Al Jazeera reported.Zarif's remarks came after Washington on Monday announced it was ending waivers that have allowed some of Iran's largest oil customers, including India, to import fuel in limited volumes without facing financial penalties from the US.The White House, in a statement, noted that the move means that buyers must stop purchasing oil imports by May 1 or face sanctions.It is aimed at bringing "Iran's oil exports to zero" to deny Tehran "its principal source of revenue", the statement added.The US, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are working to "ensure that supplies are made ...
US Democrats voice horror over Saudi mass executions
Leading Democrats voiced horror and called for a rethink of the US alliance with Saudi Arabia after mass executions, while President Donald Trump's administration expressed only indirect concern. Saudi Arabia on Tuesday beheaded 37 citizens, nearly all from its Shiite minority, with one crucified after death and the UN saying that at least three were minors when charged. Senator Bernie Sanders, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for president, said the mass execution "underscores how urgent it has become for the United States to redefine our relationship with the despotic regime in Saudi Arabia." Sanders said the United States should "show that the Saudis do not have a blank check to continue violating human rights and dictating our foreign policy". Senior Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein said she had already called for the United States to "reconsider our relationship with Saudi Arabia" after the October killing and dismembering of US-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the .
Sudan army rulers say 'agreement on most demands' of protest leaders
Sudan's army rulers said that they had reached an "agreement on most demands" made by protest leaders after the two sides held a meeting, but did not elaborate on the demands. "We have an agreement on most demands presented in the document of the Alliance for Freedom and Change," Lieutenant General Shamseddine Kabbashi, spokesman of the ruling military council, told reporters after a meeting between the council and leaders of the protest movement who have demanded the council hand over power to a civilian administration.
Iranian minister makes public prisoner swap offer to US
Iran's top diplomat on Wednesday made public an offer to the U.S. government for a prisoner swap that he said he made six months ago. Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told the Asia Society that Iran has not yet received a response from the Trump administration. "If they tell you anything else they're lying," he said. Zarif didn't specify who Iran might trade, though he mentioned the case of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian woman detained in Iran for nearly three years. On the other side, he cited U.S. extradition warrants against an Iranian man with a heart condition held in Germany for trying to buy spare parts for civilian airplanes, and against an Iranian woman imprisoned in Australia for three years who was the translator in the purchase of equipment for Iranian broadcasting. He did not name either of them. "Now we hear about Nazanin Zahari and her child, and I feel sorry for them and I've done my best to help," Zarif said. "But nobody talks about this lady in ...
Goa Congress flays delay in moving EVMs to strong room
The Congress in Goa on Wednesday questioned the "lackadaisical attitude" of the poll authorities in the state while alleging inordinate delay in transportation of EVMs from polling centres to strong-rooms in respective districts, which they claimed had rendered the machines vulnerable.
US renews call on Myanmar to free Reuters reporters
The United States on Wednesday renewed its call on Myanmar to free two Reuters journalists jailed after reporting on the Rohingya crisis, voicing dismay at a fresh rejection of their appeal. State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said that Tuesday's Supreme Court decision sent "a profoundly negative signal about freedom of expression" in Myanmar. "The United States is deeply concerned by recent arrests of reporters, political activists, civil society members and satirical performers in Burma," said Ortagus, using the former name of Myanmar. "We urge Burma to protect hard-earned freedoms, prevent further backsliding on recent democratic gains and reunite these journalists with their families," she said in a statement. Reporters Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo were arrested in December 2017 and sentenced to seven years in jail over possessing classified documents. Supporters believe the pair were punished for investigating a massacre of 10 members of the Rohingya minority, the target of a .
Might send gifts, sweets but won't give vote: Mamata
In an apparent reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's revelation that Mamata Banerjee sends him kurtas and sweets every year, the West Bengal Chief Minister on Wednesday said that she might send gifts and sweets to people on occasions but will not give them her vote.
BJP filed nearly 67 pc of total applications sent to MCMC: Delhi CEO office
The Delhi CEO Office has received 365 applications till date on pre-certification of political advertisements by various political parties with the BJP filing a maximum of 244 applications, according to data shared by the poll body here on Wednesday. These advertisements to be played on TV or social media, among other platforms are to be pre-certified by Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC) of the Election Commission constituted at state and district levels. According to the data shared by the Delhi CEO office, the BJP has sent 244 applications, Congress 98 and the AAP 20, till date for MCMC certifications. As many as 330 certificates have been issued and 11 are pending till date, while 24 were rejected, it said. The CEO office also said that, as many as 179 FIRs and daily diary (DD) entries were filed against political parties and others here for violation of the model code of conduct, till date. The statistics surveillance team of Delhi's Chief Electoral Office ...
Diplomats walk out as Venezuela hits US in UN speech
Several dozen diplomats walked out from the UN General Assembly Wednesday to protest a speech by Venezuela's foreign minister, who denounced US calls on the world body to recognize opposition leader Juan Guaido as interim president. Foreign Minister Jorge Arreaza took the General Assembly rostrum in the name of the Non-Aligned Movement as part of a special UN session devoted to the value of multilateralism. Walking out were between 30 and 40 diplomats from the Lima Group, the coalition of Latin American nations and Canada that have nearly all recognized Guaido and declared the leftist Nicolas Maduro to be illegitimate after widely criticized elections. In his speech, Arreaza accused the United States of wanting to "impose a dictatorship" at the United Nations through its "blatant attempt to expel or withdraw recognition of the credentials of member-states with full rights such as Venezuela." "This is discriminatory and unacceptable," he told the session, in which the United States was
Parrikar's son, aide in race for BJP ticket for Panaji bypoll
The Goa BJP on Wednesday shortlisted the names of late Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar's son Utpal and his aide Sidharth Kuncalienkar for the upcoming bypoll to the Panaji assembly seat, a top party leader said.
Ukraine anger as Russia eases citizenship rules in east Ukraine
Russia on Wednesday made it easier for people living in eastern Ukraine's separatist territories to obtain Russian passports, drawing swift condemnation from Kiev only three days after it elected a new president. President Vladimir Putin signed the decree aimed at residents of the unrecognised Donetsk and Lugansk republics that broke away from Kiev in 2014 and are governed by Moscow-backed rebels. People living in the separatist regions will now be entitled to receive a Russian passport within three months of applying for one. The conflict between the Ukrainian government and breakaway rebels began after Moscow annexed Kiev's Crimea peninsula in 2014. The war has claimed some 13,000 lives. Ukraine's president-elect Volodymyr Zelensky, a comedian who won Kiev's weekend vote, called for more international sanctions against Russia in response to the move. "This is another clear confirmation for the world of Russia's real role as an aggressor state, waging war against Ukraine," his press .
Akhilesh, Mayawati "PM material" for being CMs, says Sinha
Under attack within the Congress for describing BSP supremo Mayawati and SP leader Akhilesh Yadav "Prime Minister material", actor-turned politician Shatrughan Sinha Wednesday said anyone having successfully ruled a state is competent for the top job in the country. The Patna Sahib MP, who recently severed his ties with the BJP and joined the Congress which has fielded him from the same seat, also took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi dubbing his interview with actor Akshay Kumar as one conducted after "rehearsals" and with the help of "scriptwriters". "I hold that a prime minister does not need to have exceptional qualities. It is basically a number game. If you and I have the support of the requisite number of MPs, we too can become the prime minister," he told a news channel here. "Moreover, I think that anybody who has had a successful tenure as chief minister does have the necessary experience for the top job," Sinha said. Bihar CM Nitish Kumar is also a prime ..
Poll authorities accept nominations of Gambhir & Bidhuri after overruling AAP's objections
The AAP on Wednesday approached the poll authorities raising objections over "shortcomings" in the documents submitted by BJP's Lok Sabha poll candidates from Delhi -- Gautam Gambhir and Ramesh Bidhuri -- prompting the saffron party to term its rival "frustrated". The Returning Officer of East Delhi rejected the objections raised by the AAP over Gambhir's papers, saying these cannot be "sustained", while the South Delhi RO said Bidhuri's nomination has been "examined and accepted". AAP's East Delhi candidate Atishi claimed that date on the stamp paper and the ones mentioned over the notarial stamps in Gambhir's two nominations filed on Tuesday were different. Arvinder Singh Lovely, the Congress candidate from East Delhi, also raised similar objections. In case of Bidhuri, his AAP rival Raghav Chadha raised objections over what he claimed were "glaring discrepancies" in the BJP candidate's election affidavit and said he will move High Court to challenge the RO's decision. Hitting out ..
Iran FM warns US over Strait of Hormuz
Iran's foreign minister on Wednesday warned the United States of unspecified "consequences" if it tried to seal off to Tehran the Strait of Hormuz, the strategic passage into the oil-rich Gulf. President Donald Trump's administration has been ramping up pressure on the clerical state, this week vowing to stop all oil exports from Iran by sanctioning any countries that defy its order. "We believe Iran will continue to sell its oil, we will continue to find buyers for our oil and we will continue to use the Strait of Hormuz as a safe transit passage for the sale of our oil," Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said at the Asia Society in New York, where he was participating in a UN session. "But if the United States takes the crazy measure of trying to prevent us from doing that, then it should be prepared for the consequences," he said. The United States, which is closely allied with Arab states in the Gulf, has had years of small-scale naval confrontations with Iran, which has ...
Rajnath slams Cong over Balakot air strikes, 'chowkidar' jibe
Union Home Minister and senior BJP leader Rajnath Singh Wednesday said the number of terrorists killed in the Balakot air strikes was "high", and accused the Congress of politicising the anti-terror operation by the IAF. He hit out at Congress president Rahul Gandhi for using "foul language" against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Claiming the BJP would get a clear mandate in the Lok Sabha elections, Singh said he has no doubt in his mind that NDA allies will retain power with a three-fourths majority. He said the Congress is politicising the Balakot air strikes and dismissed its demand of proof of casualties in the operation as "uncalled for". The IAF had struck a Jaish-e-Mohammad terror training camp in Pakistan on February 26 in response to the February 14 Pulwama attack in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed. "Should our forces have stopped there to count the dead bodies? Brave jawans do not count the dead bodies, they keep marching ahead... eagles count bodies," he said. "Had there
Rajasthan betting town puts its money on BJP
Phalodi is a small town in Rajasthan that is home to the famous betting market in its vicinity which has come alive against the backdrop of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.
TMC has secret tie up with BJP, claims state Congress chief
West Bengal Congress president Somen Mitra Wednesday claimed that the Trinamool Congress has a secret understanding with the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remark that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee sends him sweets and kurtas every year only re-affirms this. In an interview to actor Akshay Kumar aired by TV channels, the prime minister had mentioned her gifts to him. Banerjee, however, said it is Bengal's culture to welcome guests with sweets and gifts. "There is a secret relationship between Banerjee and Modi. After the Gujarat riots, only Banerjee had sent him roses," Mitra said replying to a question at a meet-the-press programme organised by the Press Club Kolkata. CPI(M) state secretary Surjya Kanta Mishra also said Modi's comment has revealed the secret ties between the TMC and the BJP. "The cat is now out of the bag," he said. Hitting out at Banerjee, the TMC supremo, Mitra made her responsible for the spread of the BJP in West Bengal. It is because of ...
PM Modi to file nomination for Varanasi on April 26, NDA leaders to be present
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will file his nomination papers for the Varanasi Lok Sabha seat on Friday, April 26, in the presence of senior NDA leaders including JDU president Nitish Kumar and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray. Shiromani Akali Dal's Parkash Singh Badal and Lok Janshakti Party chief Ram Vilas Paswan will also be in attendance when the PM files his nominations at 11.30 am on Friday, the BJP said. A day before filing his nomination, the PM will hold a "major roadshow" in Varanasi that will start from the Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya's statue and end at Dashashwamedh Ghat, according to a party press release issued on Wednesday. "After the roadshow, the Prime Minister will participate in the Ganga Arti at Dashashwamedh Ghat. After that, at 8 pm, he will have a conversation with eminent personalities of Varanasi at Hotel De Paris," the BJP said. The BJP press release listed the two-day program of PM in complete detail. On Friday, the PM would be addressing booth heads and ...
Vote for Modi to make India developed: Harsh Vardhan
Union Minister Harsh Vardhan, who is recontesting from Delhi's Chandni Chowk, said that 2019 Lok Sabha elections are about taking developing a new India.