Sunday, 20 May 2018

Iraq Election final results: Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's Sairoon alliance triumphs, Prime Minister Abadi pushed to third spot

World Of News May 20, 2018 0

Iraq Election final results: Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's Sairoon alliance triumphs, Prime Minister Abadi pushed to third spot

Muqtada al-Sadr's party, the Sairoon alliance 54 out of the total 329 seats. The Conquest Alliance won 47 seats while the Victory Alliance led by Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi was pushed to the third position

Nearly a week after the Iraqis cast their vote to elect their new leader, the political coalition led by influential Shi'ite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has won the most seats in the national parliamentary elections. His party, Sairoon Alliance-a coalition between the Sadrist Movement and Iraq's Communist party won 54 out of the total 329 seats.

However, with no outright majority, al-Sadr will still need to build an alliance with other blocs to form the new government.

The Conquest Alliance won 47 seats while the Victory Alliance led by Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi was pushed to the third position.

“Your vote is an honor for us,” al-Sadr said in a statement released on Twitter just moments after the official announcement.“We will not disappoint you,” he continued, adding “the blame, all the blame is on those who failed Iraq.”

Partial results were announced earlier in the week, but allegations of irregularities and fraud delayed the complete count.

The vote was marked by record low turnout that benefited al-Sadr who maintains loyal supporters who made it out to the polls when apathy kept many millions away.

Following the 2003 U.S.-led overthrow of Saddam Hussein, Al-Sadr burst onto the scene as a renegade champion of poorer Shiites, leading militant fighters who carried out deadly attacks on American forces and were notorious for sectarian killings of Sunni Muslims.

In recent years, al-Sadr has gained popularity as a nationalist voice, opposing Iranian influence and waging a public campaign against corruption. For this election, he ran a non-sectarian campaign focused on issues of social justice, allying with secularists and Iraq’s communist party, and broadening support beyond his traditional base.

China lands strategic bombers in South China Sea for first time, US on high alert

World Of News May 20, 2018 0

China lands strategic bombers in South China Sea for first time, US on high alert

China's air force said that its fighter jets, including an H-6K bomber, had recently conducted take-off and landing training on an island reef in the resource-rich South China Sea (SCS).

In a move to strengthen its domination in the South China Sea, China on Saturday landed strategic bombers on an island in the South China Sea, drawing sharp reaction from the US which said that the move will "raise tensions and destabilise the region".

China's air force said that its fighter jets, including an H-6K bomber, had recently conducted take-off and landing training on an island reef in the resource-rich South China Sea (SCS).

The training had elevated the air force's abilities of "reaching its full territory, assaulting in full time and space, and striking in full scope", the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post quoted the People's Liberation Air Force (PLAF) as saying. Wang Minliang, a military expert, was quoted as saying that the bombers' take-off and landing training was "beneficial to enhance the real combat ability against all kinds of security threats in the sea".

People's Daily, the Chinese Communist Party's official newspaper, yesterday posted a video on its Twitter account featuring a series of the H-6K's training programmes, including take-off, landing, and flying.

The Chinese move invoked a sharp reaction from the US which said that it will "raise tensions and destabilise the region".

A spokesman at the Pentagon, Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Logan, called the exercise an act of "China's continued militarisation of disputed features in the South China Sea", the Post report said.

Bonnie Glaser, a China security expert at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, said the location of the H-6K landing was believed to be Woody Island. Woody Island is part of the Paracel Island chain in the South China Sea, which has been under China's control for over 40 years. China, Vietnam, and Taiwan have overlapping claims in the area.

Earlier in May, the United States reported that China may have deployed missile systems in the Spratly Islands, a contested feature in the South China Sea.

The construction of Chinese air and naval base structures on these islands has been met with criticisms from other claimants in the South China Sea.

The South China Sea issue has been brewing for years, with China, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam making competing claims in waters with vital global shipping routes and what are believed to be significant oil and natural gas deposits.

China has engaged in years of land-reclamation efforts on reefs it controls in the region and built both civilian and military facilities in the contested area.

Chinese military facilities include air bases, radar and communications systems, naval facilities and defensive weaponry including landing strips able to accommodate military planes.

Pakistan rakes up Kashmir in UNSC again, accuses council of selective implementation of resolutions

World Of News May 20, 2018 0

Pakistan rakes up Kashmir in UNSC again, accuses council of selective implementation of resolutions

"The Council needs to be more consistent and unbiased in its actions. Selectivity in implementation of its resolutions and decisions, especially on long-standing disputes, notably Jammu and Kashmir and Palestine must end. There can, after all, be no peace without justice," Lodhi said

Pakistan has said that the UN Security Council must end "selectivity" in implementing its resolutions, especially long-standing "disputes" such as Jammu and Kashmir and Palestine.

Pakistan's Ambassador to the UN Maleeha Lodhi made the remarks during a Security Council debate here last week on 'upholding international law within the context of the maintenance of international peace and security.'

"The Council needs to be more consistent and unbiased in its actions. Selectivity in implementation of its resolutions and decisions, especially on long-standing disputes, notably Jammu and Kashmir and Palestine must end. There can, after all, be no peace without justice," Lodhi said.

Lodhi and the Pakistani delegation consistently rakes up the Kashmir issue in various UN platforms.

Earlier this month, Pakistan's delegate Masood Anwar, addressing a session of Committee on Information, raised the issue of Kashmir saying that alleged human rights violations are taking place against the people of Kashmir.

India had strongly rejected Anwar's reference to Kashmir, saying his remarks are irrelevant to the work of the Committee.

"We have seen another attempt here today to make reference to issues extraneous to the agenda of the Committee. We completely reject these remarks as they have no relevance to the work of the Committee," S Srinivas Prasad, Minister in the Indian Mission to the UN, had said.

Pak authorities block circulation of Dawn newspaper over Nawaz Sharif's confession on 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks

World Of News May 20, 2018 0

Pak authorities block circulation of Dawn newspaper over Nawaz Sharif's confession on 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks

The latest move comes after the daily published ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's controversial remarks on the deadly 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

Pakistan authorities have blocked the circulation of the Dawn, the country's oldest English daily, alleged a media watchdog. The latest move comes after the daily published ousted Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's controversial remarks on the deadly 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

The interview of Sharif, which drew ire from the military establishment in Pakistan appeared in Dawn newspaper's May 12 issue and the blocking commenced on May 15, said Reporters Without Borders (RSF). It also condemned the latest attack on media freedom in Pakistan.

"The unwarranted blocking of the distribution of one of the main independent newspapers has yet again shown that the military are determined to maintain their grip on access to news and information in Pakistan," RSF said.

"It is clear that the military high command does not want to allow a democratic debate in the months preceding a general election. We call on the authorities to stop interfering in the dissemination of independent media and to restore distribution of Dawn throughout Pakistan," RSF added.

In the interview, Nawaz Sharif had confessed to the involvement of Pakistani terrorists in the deadly 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

Without naming Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed and Maulana Masood Azhar's militant organisations -- Jamaat-ud-Dawah and Jaish-e-Mohammad, -- operating in the country with impunity, Sharif said: "Militant organisations are active in Pakistan."

"Call them non-state actors, should we allow them to cross the border and kill over 150 people in Mumbai? Explain it to me. Why can't we complete the trial", he said during the interview.

Sharif's comments angered the Pakistan military officials, who in reply called for a high-level meeting on May 14 to discuss the confession.

Meanwhile, Sharif defended his remarks saying that he will continue speaking the truth no matter the consequences.

India on the other hand, termed Sharif's confession as a 'serious disclosure'. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharman had said that Sharif's disclosure only proves that India's stand on Pakistan's involvement in the attack has been right all through the way.

More than 166 people were killed in the attack carried out by 10 LeT militants. Nine of the attackers were killed by police while lone survivor Ajmal Kasab was caught and hanged after being handed down death sentence.

US-China trade deal: Beijing commits to buying more American goods

World Of News May 20, 2018 0

US-China trade deal: Beijing commits to buying more American goods

The statement, however, provided no dollar amounts on how much China might boost its purchases of American products.

Just-ended US-China trade talks produced a commitment by Beijing to "significantly increase" its purchases of American goods and services, according to a joint statement Saturday from the rival economic powers trying to lower trade tensions.

They also agreed on "meaningful increases" in US exports of agriculture and energy products and greater efforts to increase trade in manufactured goods and services.

The statement, however, provided no dollar amounts on how much China might boost its purchases of American products.

The statement also was silent on whether the talks had made progress in easing the trade standoff between the world's two biggest economies. Washington and Beijing have threatened to impose billions of dollars in punitive tariffs on each other.

The statement said they did agree on the need for "effective measures" to reduce America's trade deficit, and to strengthen cooperation on protecting intellectual property. The statement said the United States would send a team to China to work out further details.

One of the Trump administration's goals has been to get China to take steps that would lower America's goods trade deficit with China by at least $200 billion by the end of 2020. Outside analysts said it was highly unlikely that China would ever agree to a US demand for a specific deficit reduction target.

Eswar Prasad, an economist and trade expert at Cornell University, said that Saturday's statement seemed to be an effort to de-escalate for the time being the growing tensions.

"The Trump administration seems eager to engineer at minimum a temporary peace with China to ensure a smooth runup to the Kim-Trump summit in June," Prasad said, referring to the June 12 meeting between Trump and North Korea's leader.

"It is likely that this agreement, weak and vague though it is, will serve as grounds to at least delay the imposition of tariffs" that the United States and China have threatened to impose, Prasad said.

"There was a consensus on taking effective measures to substantially reduce the United States trade deficit in goods with China," the joint statement said.

The two days of talks were led on the Chinese side by Vice Premier Liu He and on the American side by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. The U.S. delegation included Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer.

Trump campaigned in 2016 on a pledge to get tough on China and other U.S. trading partners. He views the massive US trade deficit with China — $337 billion last year, the biggest with any country — as evidence that Beijing is engaged in abusive trading practices and has outmaneuvered previous U.S. administrations.

Last August, Lighthizer began an investigation into Beijing's strong-arm tactics to challenge US technological dominance. These include outright cybertheft of US companies' trade secrets and China's demands that American corporations hand over technology in exchange for access to the Chinese markets.

Last month, the administration proposed tariffs on $50 billion of Chinese imports to protest the forced technology transfers. Trump later ordered Lighthizer to seek up to an additional $100 billion in Chinese products to tax.

China responded by targeting $50 billion in U.S. products, including soybeans — a shot at Trump supporters in America's heartland. The prospect of an escalating trade war has shaken financial markets and alarmed business leaders.

In a separate controversy, the Commerce Department last month blocked China's ZTE Corp. from importing American components for seven years, accusing the telecommunications company of misleading US regulators after it settled charges last year of violating sanctions against Iran and North Korea.

The ban amounted to a death sentence for ZTE, which relies heavily on U.S. parts, and the company announced that it was halting operations. Chinese officials complained loudly about the ZTE sanctions when a high-level U.S. delegation, led by Mnuchin, visited Beijing this month.

Trump waded into the fray last Sunday, tweeting that he was working with Chinese President Xi Jinping to put ZTE "back in business, fast." Media reports suggested that the US was offering to swap a ZTE rescue for an end to proposed Chinese tariffs on US farm products.

Royal Wedding: Prince Harry and Magnus Merkel married Rachai, told each other - will be with the last breath

World Of News May 19, 2018 0

Royal Wedding: Prince Harry and Magnus Merkel married Rachai, told each other - will be with the last breath

Royal wedding: Prince Harry, Meghan Markle

London: For a long time the eyes of the whole world were based on Britain's Royal Wedding. Today's waiting ended and Prince Harry of Britain married American actress Megan Markle. The wedding ceremony took place in the magnificent St. George Chapel located in Windsor Castle. This Royal couple, carrying the ring of each other, taking the pledge of marriage in the presence of 600 guests from all over the world.

Why is this wedding special

This marriage was also very special because today it has broken two traditions. Among the promises made during marriage, there is one 'to obey'. Markle did not promise this to Harry during the marriage

Prince Harry also broke a tradition. Before this royal family had no tradition of wearing a ring, this time it happened. The Prince decided to wear a wedding ring and broke the old tradition of the royal family too. For these reasons, this marriage is being called 'Modern Marriage'.

Let Harry (33) and Megan (36) pair the sixteenth Shahi who married him in Windsor Castle from 1863.

Prince Charles played the role of Markle's father

Harry smiled when Megan entered the Chapel with Prince Charles. Charles played the role of Megan's father at the wedding ceremony because the father of American actress Thomas Murkle could not join the marriage due to senior illness. As the only member of Megan's family, his mother, Doria Ragland, came to the wedding.

Princess Sherroth made of bridesmaids

The six little girls selected as Bridesmaids included Prince Harry's niece and three-year-old Princess Sherlock. The total of 10 children selected as the Pageboy included Sherlock's older brother and Prince George 4.

Where and how married

This marriage took place in St. George's Chapel located in Windsor Castle, in which instead of using traditional promises, the Royal couple chose words from the Marriage Service Common Worship (2000). In the Marriage Service, instead of "Tu" you have used the synchronous language of the word "you".

The Archbishop of Canterbury proclaimed Prince Harry and Megan Markle as husband and wife. The crowd outside the venue of the venue saw the wedding ceremony on the big screen. Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip and other members of the royal family also witnessed this moment. The marriage ceremony was completed by Dean of Windsor and Archbishop of Canterbury and spiritual chief Justin Wellby of the Anglican Church completed the ceremony of marriage pledges. A black American bishop Michael Bruce Currie gave a marriage address on this occasion.

The marriage was officially found when Justin Welby read this, "Harry and Megan have given their consent for marriage and have given each other a marriage vow before God and in the presence of God. They have declared their marriage by placing each other's ring and giving each other a ring and receiving the ring from each other. That's why I announce my husband and wife. "

Made these promises

They promised each other, "We are part of each other in good times, in bad times, in richness, in poverty, in happiness, in sadness, in love, in the last breath of life. ''

Who arrived

Guests included Megan's friends and other Bollywood personalities such as Priyanka Chopra and George and Amal Cluny, David and Victoria Beckham and Sir Elton John.

Many times before it is broken tradition

This happened in the last several royal weddings when the brides did not promise to follow the orders of their husbands. The Duchess of Cambridge did not make this promise in 2011 too. In 1981, Harry's mother and Princess of Wales Diana did not make the promise when she was married to Prince of Wales. Firstly, Diana had broken the tradition of the royalty and did not promise to keep her husband Prince Charles's "obedience" at the time of marriage

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Sunday, 20 May 2018