Page 872 - Politics
Up to Pakistan to prove that they weren't hit or people were killed: Sitharaman on Balakot
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that onus to prove whether a terrorist camp was hit or not during the Balakot air strikes was on Pakistan.In an exclusive interview to ANI, Sitharaman said that Islamabad was making a mockery of itself by taking defence attaches and selected journalists to a Madarsa which was not even touched by the Indian Air Force on February 26, instead of the terror training centre which was attacked."It is for Pakistan to show they have not been hit and that a number of people were not killed. They took 40 days to take a small group of journalists and defence attaches and limited that picnic that they had of these people only to the madrasa. I am telling you the madrasa was at the lower end of the foothill and behind the madrasa, into the dense forest was the training camp. So, Pakistan is making a mockery of itself," she said.When questioned about the Indian government maintaining silence over the outcome of Balakot airstrike, the Defence Minister said, ..
Large cache of weapons found in Syria's Daraa
Authorities here found a large cache of weapons - some manufactured in the US and Israel - on Tuesday, as efforts to clean the country of terrorists are underway.The large haul, left behind by fleeing terrorists, contains a large assortment of rifles, heavy machine guns, mortar shells, and RPG rounds, grenades and a wide variety of ammunition of various calibres, according to Sputnik.Some of the equipment was found in brand new condition in original packaging.This is the latest hoard of weapons to be found, with authorities having uncovered a similar cache of weapons from a large warehouse here in February. A separate collection of arms was also discovered in the Quneitra governorate during the same time.The United States recently announced that Syria had been wiped clean of terror group ISIS, as the last bastion of the Islamic State was attacked by US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).Syria has been ravaged by a multi-sided war since 2011, forcing thousands of Syrians to flee to .
UN in negotiations on Libya ceasefire
United Nations Security Council diplomats began negotiations Tuesday on a British-drafted resolution that would demand an immediate ceasefire in Libya after forces loyal to commander Khalifa Haftar launched an offensive on Tripoli. The proposed text seen by AFP warns that the offensive by Haftar's Libyan National Army (LNA) "threatens the stability of Libya and prospects for a United Nations-facilitated political dialogue and a comprehensive political solution to the crisis." The council "demands that all parties in Libya immediately de-escalate the situation, commit to a ceasefire, and engage with the United Nations to ensure a full and comprehensive cessation of hostilities throughout Libya," the draft says. After Britain circulated the text late Monday, a first round of negotiations was held during which Russia raised objections to references criticising Haftar, diplomats said. "They were very clear. No reference anywhere," a council diplomat said. Britain was hoping to bring the ..
BJP cannot stop me for winning, says Kanimozhi after I-T raid
Unfazed by the Income Tax (I-T) department raids at her residence, DMK leader Kanimozhi on Wednesday said that the BJP cannot prevent her for winning in the ongoing elections.She also dubbed the raids as "anti-democratic, deliberately planned and tested"."BJP cannot prevent my success through this income tax raid. The raid is anti-democratic, deliberately planned and tested, and no documents have been seized," Kanimozhi told reporters here after completion of raids."They want to intimidate us through this. They have come to stop elections in Thoothukudi. DMK volunteers will be working with more enthusiasm," she added."On Tuesday evening, I-T department conducted raids at a house in which Kanimozhi is staying on the information shared by the local administration," sources added.According to sources, Kanimozhi was present during the raids and cooperated with the team. However, "I-T dept found nothing but verification is on."The raids have been completed.Reportedly, it was alleged that ..
BJP cannot stop me from winning, says Kanimozhi after I-T raid
Unfazed by the Income Tax (I-T) department raids at her residence, DMK leader Kanimozhi on Wednesday said that the BJP cannot prevent her from winning in the ongoing elections.She also dubbed the raids as "anti-democratic, deliberately planned and tested"."BJP cannot prevent my success through this income tax raid. The raid is anti-democratic, deliberately planned and tested, and no documents have been seized," Kanimozhi told reporters here after completion of raids."They want to intimidate us through this. They have come to stop elections in Thoothukudi. DMK volunteers will be working with more enthusiasm," she added."On Tuesday evening, I-T department conducted raids at a house in which Kanimozhi is staying on the information shared by the local administration," sources added.According to sources, Kanimozhi was present during the raids and cooperated with the team. However, "I-T dept found nothing but verification is on."The raids have been completed.Reportedly, it was alleged that .
Indonesia votes to elect president, parliamentarians
Voters in Indonesia began voting on Wednesday as polling stations opened in the east of the vast archipelagic country to select a new president and members of the parliament.
Trump vetoes measure to end US involvement in Yemen war
President Donald Trump has vetoed a bill Congress passed to end US military assistance in the Saudi Arabia-led war in Yemen. In a break with the president, Congress voted for the first time to invoke the War Powers Resolution to try and stop US involvement in a foreign conflict. Trump vetoed the measure Wednesday. Congress lacks the votes to override him. Congress has grown uneasy with Trump's close relationship with Saudi Arabia as he tries to further isolate Iran, a regional rival. Many lawmakers also criticised the president for not condemning Saudi Arabia for the killing of a Saudi writer Jamal Khashoggi, who had been critical of the kingdom.
Turkey hopeful US will extend waiver on Iran sanctions
Turkey voiced hope Tuesday that the United States will extend an exemption in sanctions to allow it to keep buying oil from Iran, despite tensions between the allies on multiple fronts. Turkish Finance Minister Berat Albayrak met President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday and discussed the range of disagreements, including Ankara's major weapons purchase from Russia, said Ibrahim Kalin, the spokesman for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. "It was a positive meeting overall," Kalin told reporters in Washington. Kalin said Turkey was hopeful that the Trump administration would issue another waiver for Turkey after last year demanding that all nations stop buying oil from Iran. "Certainly we are expecting an extension for Turkey," Kalin said, adding that Ankara has not received a formal notice. The United States has given six-month exemptions to eight countries -- China, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Turkey -- that run out on May 2. Kalin said Turkey had ...
Macron pledges to respond to 'Yellow Vest' movement
"This is not a time for politics," French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday told the nation in a short televised speech in the wake of Notre Dame Cathedral fire, pledging to come out with a response to the "Yellow Vest" movement soon.
M K Stalin terms BJP-AIADMK an inefficient alliance
Terming the BJP-AIADMK alliance an inefficient alliance, DMK chief M K Stalin hit out at the BJP government for sky-rocketing price rise and burdening the traders-community with GST, in a public rally in Tiruvarur on Tuesday."Modi- Edappadi alliance is an inefficient alliance. The same Modi brought GST promising that the rates of the essential commodities will be brought down. All of you know the rate of petrol, diesel, LPG, and vegetables which have escalated under this government's watch," said Stalin.Targeting the Modi government for harming the interests of the business community, Stalin said, "Traders lost their trade due to the GST implemented by this government. Shall we vote for such an inefficient alliance?"Asking people to give Congress party a chance at the centre, Stalin said, "We support Rahul Gandhi for the post of Prime Minister. I seek your mandate for the same."Attacking the BJP-AIADMK alliance for disrespecting late DMK president M Karunanidhi, Stalin said, "These ...
CPM leader Nilotpal Basu writes to CEC on PM's remarks on Sabarimala
CPM leader Nilotpal Basu has approached the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Sunil Arora, alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been violating the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) and is "vitiating the atmosphere" in election campaign by importing polarizing issues.In a letter addressed to the CEC, Basu wrote, "We are constrained to again refer to an instance of flagrant violation of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi himself. To contextualize we had pointed out at the very outset, that the atmosphere is being vitiated in the election campaign by importing polarizing issues. Narendra Modi's statements in election rallies in Ramanathapuram in Theni in Tamilnadu and Bangalore in Karnataka on 13th April are emphatic pointers to this trend."Giving an example of how PM Modi is violating MCC and also implicitly challenging the order of the EC to refrain from using Sabarimala temple and Lord Ayyappa in the campaign, Basu said, "While addressing .
Iranian Parliament ratifies bill designating US CENTCOM as terrorist group
In a tit for tat move, 204 out of 256 Iranian Parliament members voted in favour of designating the US Central Command (CENTCOM) as a terrorist organisation on Tuesday.This comes after the United States designated Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a foreign terrorist organisation last week, a move which was severely criticised in Iran. Right after the listing, Iran's Foreign Ministry had advised its country's Supreme National Security Council to include CENTCOM in its list of terrorist groups.The bill also considers any type of financial, technological or information aid given to CENTCOM as a terrorist measure, according to Sputnik.While announcing IRGC's designation, US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo had said: "The use of terrorism is central to the Iranian regime's foreign policy. The designation of IRGC, including Qods Force will help starve the regime of the means to execute this destructive policy. Maximum pressure will be unrelenting until Iran's regime ...
Tamil Nadu: I-T raids at Kanimozhi's residence over, nothing found
Nothing was found at Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader and the party's Thoothukudi candidate K Kanimozhi's residence and office in the southern port town, which were raided by the income tax (I-T) department and the Election Commission (EC) on Tuesday night, said sources."On Tuesday evening, I-T department conducted raids at a house in which Kanimozhi is staying on the information shared by the local administration," sources added.According to sources, Kanimozhi was present during the raids and cooperated with the team. However, "I-T dept found nothing but verification is on."The raids have been completed.Reportedly, it was alleged that "lots of cash" was stashed on the first floor of her house in Thoothukudi.This comes two days before the Tamil Nadu votes on April 18 for 39 seats.The DMK candidate from Thoothukudi Lok Sabha seat, Kanimozhi is the sister of party chief MK Stalin.Even as the house was being searched a posse of DMK supporters gathered outside and staged a ...
Iraqi PM to visit Saudi Arabia to boost ties
Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi on Tuesday said he will visit Saudi Arabia on Wednesday to promote bilateral relations.
Giuliani: Trump lawyers finishing Mueller report rebuttal
President Donald Trump's lawyers are putting the finishing touches on a rebuttal to the forthcoming report by special counsel Robert Mueller. Rudy Giuliani, one of the president's attorneys, said Tuesday that their document will be dozens of pages long. Giuliani says it will be published in the hours after the release of Mueller's report on Russian interference into the 2016 presidential election. The Justice Department says it expects to unveil a redacted version of the 400-page document Thursday. Attorney General Robert Barr last month released a four-page summary of the report and said Mueller did not conclude that Trump's campaign colluded with Russians. He did not rule on whether Trump obstructed justice. Barr and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein ruled that he did not.
The speech that never was: Macron's shelved address before Notre-Dame fire
Minutes before receiving the news that Notre-Dame cathedral was consumed by flames French President Emmanuel Macron had recorded a solemn message to the nation. But the highly-anticipated speech on Monday, in which he had planned to set out his recipe for ending five months of often violent "yellow vest" protests, never made it onto TV screens. Macron cancelled it to rush to the bedside of France's fire-scarred 850-year-old landmark, vowing to rebuild Notre-Dame. AFP has now seen a copy of the text of the cancelled speech, which set out several measures aimed at tackling inequality -- a key gripe of the "yellow vests" -- without a radical shift in policy. Macron's office refused to confirm the leaks, saying: "Today, the president and the prime minister, are prioritising the end of the operation to save Notre-Dame". The president addressed the nation Tuesday with his comments devoted to rebuilding Notre-Dame. But he also made an oblique reference to the shelved speech. "I will return ..
Palestinian PM accuses US of 'financial war'
The new Palestinian prime minister accused the United States of declaring "financial war" on his people and said an American peace plan purported to be in the works will be "born dead". In his first interview with the international media since taking office over the weekend, Mohammad Shtayyeh laid out plans to get through the financial crisis he has inherited and predicted that the international community, including US allies in the Arab world, would join the Palestinians in rejecting President Donald Trump's expected peace plan. "There are no partners in Palestine for Trump. There are no Arab partners for Trump and there are no European partners for Trump," Shtayyeh said during a wide-ranging hour-long interview on Tuesday. Shtayyeh, a British-educated economist, takes office at a difficult time for the Palestinians, with his government, the Palestinian Authority, mired in a dire financial crisis. The PA administers autonomous zones in the West Bank. The Trump administration has ...
Congress resorting to lies on Modi's affidavits: BJP
The BJP on Tuesday hit out at the Congress over its accusations against Prime Minister Narendra Modi about "omitting" certain details about his property in his affidavits, saying there was bankruptcy of issues in the opposition parties and the number of the amalgamated plot is different from the separate individual numbers.
Country will see Priyanka as a 'thief's wife', says Uma Bharti
Union Minister Uma Bharti Tuesday courted controversy by saying the country will see Priyanka Gandhi Vadra the way it views a "thief's wife", while claiming that the Congress general secretary will have no impact on the outcome of Lok Sabha polls in Uttar Pradesh. To a question on whether Priyanka Gandhi will contest the general elections from Varanasi, from where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking re-election, Bharti said, "It is a democracy, anybody can fight election from anywhere". When asked to comment on the impact the Congress leader could have on the poll outcome, the firebrand BJP leader told reporters in Chhattisgarh's Durg, "Nothing. Why will she have an impact... Whose husband is facing theft charges. She will be seen the way India sees a thief's wife." Bharti also targeted Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, saying by choosing to contest elections from Amethi and Wayanad, he has accepted defeat. He is the national president of his party and can fight as many elections as he
Egypt lawmakers pass amendments now headed to referendum
Egypt's parliament on Tuesday passed amendments to the constitution that could see President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi remain in power until 2030. The vote, which sends the amendments to a national referendum, was seen by critics as another step back to authoritarianism, eight years after a pro-democracy uprising ended autocrat Hosni Mubarak's three-decade rule. The 596-member assembly, packed with el-Sissi's supporters, overwhelmingly gave its initial approval in February, sending it to the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee to finalize the wording before Tuesday's final vote. Of the 554 lawmakers who attended the session, 531 voted "yes," 22 voted "no" and one abstained. "Today we are concluding what we started in February," speaker Ali Abdel-Al said at the beginning of the session. "In this great day, we offer to the Egyptian people a draft bill of the constitutional amendments." The national referendum will likely take place before early May when the Muslim holy month of