Author: Rahul M

Iranian FM rejects ‘unfair pressure’ as Europe pushes to restore UN sanctions Tehran, Sep 20 (IANS) Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said that Tehran would not accept “political action and unfair pressure” over its nuclear program, warning such moves could escalate tensions. He insisted Iran has consistently pursued diplomacy and technical cooperation. Araghchi made the remarks in a phone call with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi, state news agency IRNA reported. The call came after the UN Security Council failed to adopt a resolution that would have extended sanctions relief under the 2015 nuclear deal. Britain,…

For the fourth time in as many years, Kurmis in West Bengal have revived their agitation for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status, placing the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government in a spot of bother ahead of the festival season.The Adivasi Kurmi Samaj, an umbrella organisation for the community, has called for an indefinite rail and road blockade in Jhargram, Banukra, Paschim Medinipur and Purulia districts from September 20, apart from protesting in parts of neighbouring Jharkhand and Odisha. The protest comes even after the Calcutta High Court on September 18 declared the protest programme of the Kurmis as “illegal and unconstitutional”.  However,…

THE BOMBAY High Court had to intervene to get Ajey: The Untold Story of a Yogi a release last month, after the Censor Board’s objections came in the way.On Friday, the film, based on Shantanu Gupta’s book ‘The Monk Who Became Chief Minister’, on Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath, was finally released – as per a PTI report, speaking to its US-based producer Ajay Mengi, in over 500 screens across India and many globally. While officially the BJP did not react to the release of the film, the party MLA from Sarojini Nagar near Lucknow, Rajeshwar Singh, hosted a special…

Former White House national security adviser confirmed as US ambassador to UN Washington, Sep 20 (IANS) The US Senate voted to confirm Mike Waltz, a former White House national security adviser, to serve as the US ambassador to the United Nations, filling the eight-month vacancy for this post. The 47-43 vote clears the way for Waltz to attend the UN General Assembly in New York next week, where US President Donald Trump is scheduled to address the annual gathering on Tuesday, Xinhua news agency reported. During his Senate confirmation hearing earlier this summer, Waltz stressed the need for reform at…

K Kavitha’s cultural organisation Telangana Jagruthi has been bustling ever since she resigned from the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) earlier this month, warning her father, party supremo, and former Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao (popularly known as KCR) about “conspirators” who have surrounded him.Kavitha, who quit the party a day after she was suspended for “anti-party activities”, speaks to The Indian Express after her break with the BRS, about her political future, her worries about her father, the discrimination she faced as a woman leader, and why the BRS ship has sailed for her. Excerpts: * Was it tough for you to…

As Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s 12-day visit to Wayanad continues to raise eyebrows in Kerala, with several local party workers saying they are in the dark, Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi and Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi joined her on Friday.A week into the tour of her Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency, Priyanka has been treading a different path, with the usual fanfare missing. No crowds have gathered to see her as she makes her visits and the state Congress, unaware of her schedule, has not arranged any functions for her. Congress sources said both Rahul and Sonia Gandhi had…

Mexico lottery proceeds to support migrants in US Mexico City, Sep 20 (IANS) Mexican authorities said that the proceeds from a special National Lottery draw held on September 15 will be used to expand protection programs for vulnerable Mexican migrants, particularly those living in the United States. National Lottery chief Olivia Salomon said the draw generated sales of 338.5 million pesos (about 18.4 million USD), with net proceeds of 115.9 million pesos after prize payouts, Xinhua news agency reported. Foreign Minister Juan Ramon de la Fuente said the funds will be used to support six initiatives designed to strengthen Mexico’s…

Washington, Sep 20 (IANS) In a major setback for Indian tech professionals working in the United States and top tech companies, US President Donald Trump signed a proclamation to significantly curtail the H-1B visa programme. According to the proclamation, every application will now require a fee of $100,000 per year – an attempt to curtail the overuse of the visa programme and encourage hiring of domestic workers. Signing the proclamation on Friday, at the White House, Trump said the “incentive is to hire American workers.” “We need workers. We need great workers, and this pretty much ensures that,” Trump added.…

TORONTO — The Canadian government banned the Irish-language rap group Kneecap from the country Friday, saying the group has endorsed political violence and terrorism.The group has faced criticism for political statements seeming to glorify militant groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. Hungary previously banned the group. Liberal lawmaker Vince Gasparro, parliamentary secretary for combating crime, said Kneecap has “publicly displayed support for terrorist organizations such as Hezbollah and Hamas” that goes beyond artistic expression.“Canada stands firmly against hate speech, incitement to violence and the glorification of terrorism,” Gasparro said in a video on social media. “Political debate and free speech are…

Focus Features Airing for six seasons on PBS — Channel 3 in its native England — “Downton Abbey” focuses primarily on the wealthy and powerful Crawley family in early 20th century England. But the massive ensemble includes not only the Crawleys, but also both their upper crust friends and the various housekeepers, ground staff, and other people who work for the Crawleys and their peers. So seemingly accurate is the franchise’s depiction of its era that some have wondered whether “Downton Abbey” is based on a true story. It’s not, but it…