Category: Politics

Most think we’re at one of America’s most acrimonious times. After rereading David McCullough’s biography of John Adams, I was reminded of how contentious politics has always been.

Adams, a founding father, became our second president in 1796. Though “low-key,” his opponents condemned him, even his own Vice President, Thomas Jefferson. “Mrs. Adams may wash his befuddled brain clear,” one newspaper hoped on his last day in office.

Our politics were already bitter during George Washington’s second administration. Thomas Paine termed Washington a “hypocrite in public life” and the “American Caesar.” Washington declined a third term, exhausted by politics and criticism. He thought the country’s “party system” was bad.

After becoming President, Federalist Alexander Hamilton wanted Adams to be harder, back Britain, and go to war with France. Adams struck a peace pact with France because he thought the nascent nation should avoid war. Old “friends” like Jefferson accused him of seeking to make the Presidency a monarchy like the English King. Adams opposed it.

Then there were political “upstarts” who arrived from nowhere and had no government philosophy other than self-promotion. Adams hated them. Adams called Aaron Burr “this dexterous gentleman rise like a balloon, filled with uninflammable air.”(Remind you of any current politicians?)

Most political disagreements were couched in lofty concepts.

The “Anti-Federalists” (later called democratic “republicans”), who advocated strong state government but limited federal government, developed quickly. Fear that the commercial north would use federal authority to subjugate the rural (and slave-owning) south fueled that attitude.

These political breakdowns are surprisingly familiar today. The south and rural America still fear that the nasty federalists (now Democrats) from the north would force their “big-government” will on the “freedom-loving people” of the south (now predominantly Republican) and “never the twain shall meet.”

We could debate our county’s early politics all day. That’s why. Contentious politics will likely always be with us.

The American people have and must sort through politicians’ allegations and acrimony to find our system’s cohesiveness. Our democracy works because we love our nation and freedom under law, notwithstanding our disagreements.

Our history repeats itself, and as citizens, we must struggle to keep the system, however flawed, operating.

Stow’s Rolland Kidder.

Exclusive survey shows that voters think Brexit has hurt the economy, the NHS, and the UK’s global position.

BMG Research’s exclusive polls for i found that over half (49%) of voters now want to reverse Brexit, the highest percentage ever.

11 percent of Leave voters wish to rejoin the EU, and 14 percent would vote differently in the 2016 referendum if they could go back in time, compared to 4 percent of Remainers.

48 percent of people now want a deeper economic connection with the EU over Boris Johnson’s trade deal and Rishi Sunak’s Windsor Framework agreement on Northern Ireland (33 percent).

It follows unfavorable Brexit opinions.

Many more voters said Brexit had a negative rather than positive impact on the economy (net score -42%), the NHS and public services (-34%), Northern Ireland’s political situation (-33%), the UK’s ability to influence other countries (-28%), the UK’s standing in the world (-27%), and the laws and regulations people and businesses had to follow (-21%).

Despite the Leave campaign’s emphasis on worldwide free trade accords, 21% of respondents think leaving the group has hurt trade with non-EU nations. Lost EU commerce also affects voters (-45%).

Brexit’s influence on the UK’s response to COVID-19 and future pandemics was the only subject surveyed that received a net score of zero.

BMG polling chief Rob Struthers said more Leave backers were seeing the downsides of quitting the EU.

The public is getting more pessimistic about Brexit’s impact.

“On economic, migration, NHS, and cost-of-living issues, more 2016 leave voters say the impact is negative than positive.

“Compared to November, on most of the areas we asked about, the share saying the impact will be negative has increased, with the biggest shifts seen in areas like the economy, NHS, and cost of living.

“This month’s poll shows the largest lead for rejoining the EU over staying out since we started tracking this question. These figures should clarify why.”

Kenya Cultural Centre Council board chairman Kung’u Muigai admitted to being a founding member of the Mungiki gang after Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua said politicians in Mount Kenya are reviving it.

“Not only that, when the crackdown on the Mungiki gang started in the Central region, we provided hideouts for their leader, Maina Njenga, and his followers in our vast lands and also recruited lawyers to defend them,” Mr. Muigai claimed in a live interview with Muoroto FM on Wednesday.

“When this group was created, I was in the thick of their lectures… The founders, Mr. Njenga and Ndura Waruinge, presented their Mungiki vision to the council of elders, and we agreed.

Mr. Muigai, the cousin of Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, said he was depressed to see the gang resurrected following its whole cycle of reformation from a noble cause to a criminal group.

Mr. Gachagua warned more than 50 elected leaders during Archbishop Julius Njoroge’s farewell ceremony at the African Inland Pentecostal Churches of Africa (AIPCA) in Thika on Sunday that Mungiki was being resurrected for political ends.

“At its inception, it was not a criminal gang but a cultural purist organization that wanted the youth of the Agikuyu community to uphold good values and advocated that they should be non-smokers, teetotalers, well-groomed and morally upright,” Mr. Muigai said.

Stop trying to bring back the Mungiki we created together.

He stated the founders were so cultured “that men and women slept together on retreats and not a single pregnancy was reported because of the sexual discipline they practised”.

“Call Mr Njenga to deny that I, we… did not help him,” said Kiama Kia Ma Council of Elders patron Mr. Muigai. We supported him and his allies, providing hideouts and attorneys during the crackdown.

The council of elders urged him to find Mr. Njenga and warn him to cease his new plan on Mungiki. We will let the authorities demolish him because he is hurting our children.

Mr. Muigai said “it was former President Daniel Moi who introduced criminal elements into the sect when he sent intelligence officers to infiltrate it”.

Mr. Muigai claimed the Moi government’s mid-1990s incursion was to take over Mungiki and utilize it as a special purpose vehicle to acquire support in Mt. Kenya. After multiparty democracy in 1992, the area supported opposition politics, threatening Moi’s leadership.

He added “the government agents sent to Mungiki were the ones who introduced crimes such as extortion in the property and public transport sectors”.

He stated that when members scented these officials’ money-making plans, it became a free-for-all and the outfit became a vampire assembly.

He said the elders were astonished at what the group had become and began to separate themselves from the followers, withdrawing their support.

“When President Mwai Kibaki took power in 2002, he later sanctioned a crackdown on the sect in 2006 and the then Internal Security Minister John Michuki came down on them with an iron fist,” he added. Mr. Muigai.

Mr. Muigai lamented that Mungiki’s fist had struck so hard on the sect’s soul and skull that hundreds of adolescents had perished and others fled their homes to escape the deadly persecution.

“I agree with Gachagua that Mungiki is reorganizing… “I saw the youths who accompanied Mr. Njenga to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters when he was arrested for allegedly possessing firearms and bhang…” he claimed.

Mr. Muigai remarked “it was a sad sight to see the youths singing songs of freedom, war and liberation while invoking serious Mau Mau teachings…even when it was clear that they were just little boys whose fathers were nowhere near the freedom war”.

Mr. Muigai said “the time has come to say no to Mungiki and the elders will work with government forces to ensure that the gang does not make a comeback in the name of politics, culture or fun”.

His close aide said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi held cordial discussions with White House and Biden administration officials, emphasizing the importance of the India-US relationship and the need to broaden it.

Gandhi ended his six-day three-city US tour in Washington on Friday. He met with think-tankers, academics, prominent Indian Americans, journalists, and administration officials.

“…Administration officials met. The meetings were friendly. The bigger goal is to emphasize the importance of the India-US relationship and the need to broaden it.

“There have been questions about Ukraine and India’s stand in Ukraine, and Gandhi has made it very categorically clear, both in private and in public, that he fully supports the Government of India’s stand on Ukraine’s war situation,” Congress Party Data Analytics chairman Praveen Chakrabarty told PTI.

During Gandhi’s US tour, Chakrabarty didn’t discuss such meetings.

“Without going into the details of those meetings… We met students and faculty at universities. Silicon Valley CEOs greeted us. We met American media leaders. We met think tanks, professors, and researchers. We met White House staff. He stated we met Biden administration officials.

Thus, many meetings. We met many diaspora. We will meet Indian Americans in Hollywood, Broadway, music, theatre, and more. He stated it covered a wide range of society.

Chakrabarty said Gandhi’s US tour sent several crucial messages.

“One is about what’s happening in the world and what that means for the India-US relationship, and what should India’s role be? Rahul Gandhi supports developing and extending India-US cooperation. He believes China’s ascent must be confronted. “That’s the first big message,” Chakrabarty remarked.

According to him, Indian democracy is a worldwide public good, thus strengthening it benefits the world and the US. “The second message is Indian democracy’s importance,” he remarked.

“The third message is for the diaspora here who are somewhat concerned about today’s India, which is perhaps different from what they would’ve liked,” Chakrabarty added.

The Bharat Jodo Yatra’s great response shows that Indians reject hate politics. They want love politics. He remarked, “We can reject that kind of politics and ensure (Mahatma) Gandhi’s vision of India prevails.”

“So exciting. We’re thrilled with the response. He claimed the variety of meetings has engaged us.

”The diaspora, the individuals we met, practically everyone has questioned us about the Yatra; asked us about the status of politics in India; asked Gandhi’s perspective for the changing international order,” Chakrabarty said.

After having discussions with Santiago Abascal, the head of Spain’s Vox party, in Budapest on Friday, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán stated that European politics need individuals “who want something, who still have the energy, dedication, and passion.”

According to Orbán, Europe is steadily losing its ability to compete as a result of the growing quantity of “blah-blah” in European politics, which consists of assertions that are made over and over again without being followed by any action.

Those who have similar worldviews have an obligation to collaborate; he went on to say that the collaboration between Hungary’s ruling Fidesz party and Vox had been verified during the discussions with Abascal.

“We would also like to see a turn to the right in Europe.”

Abascal emphasized the importance of collaboration amongst those who advocate for a Europe that is significantly more powerful.

He stated that he had the utmost contempt for the “persecution and blackmail” that Brussels had engaged in against Hungary.

According to what he claimed, “ideological discrimination is the real danger to European unity.” It is presently Hungary and Poland that are the center of attention, but in the next instant, bureaucrats in Brussels might turn their attention to any other nation, he warned. This has the potential to set a precedent.

Deepu, a circus performer, was fatally shot by two unidentified individuals in the Anantnag district of southern Kashmir on Monday night.

Deepu, a resident of Udhampur, was on his way to a nearby market to purchase milk at 8:30 p.m. when two men on motorcycles shot him at close range near the Jaglaat Mandi in Anantnag.

According to the police, he was performing at a private circus mela in the district’s amusement park.

The murder drew widespread condemnation from all sectors of society, particularly the political class.

Mehbooba Mufti, president of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and former chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir, condemned the slaying and stated that the Indian government’s policies in J&K have been a total failure.

“Extremely distressed by yet another attack on a civilian in Anantnag. Deepu supported himself by working at a theme park. My condolences go out to his family in their time of sorrow. This speaks volumes about the failure of the Indian government’s policy in J&K.

Another targeted killing in Jammu and Kashmir distressed National Conference (NC) vice president Omar Abdullah.

On his Twitter account, Omar wrote, “Pained by the news of yet another civilian targeted attack in the Anantnag region of South Kashmir. The murder of Deepak, who worked with a traveling circus to earn a livelihood, is a heinous act, and I condemn this act of terrorism unequivocally. He said, “May Deepak’s soul rest in peace.”

Chairman of the Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) Ghulam Nabi Azad condemned the heinous deed of terrorists in Anantnag murdering Deepu of Udhampur, a civilian, as a crime against humanity. Terrorism is a threat that must be combated collectively. It is a curse against humanity,” wrote Azad on his Twitter account.

In a tweet, Peoples Confrence (PC) Chairman Sajad Gani Lone condemned the murder of the circus employee.

“The murder of Deepu in Anantnag by terrorists is yet another instance of barbarism. How could the death of a civilian possibly benefit anyone? Deepu came to this city in quest of a living for himself and his family. “And may Allah burn those who murdered him in hell,” Sajad said.

According to Trend, President of Israel Isaac Herzog told the media that Azerbaijan is a very significant country in the area and that growing relations with Azerbaijan is highly advantageous.

“Azerbaijan is a friendly country for us, and our relations with it are a priority direction of our foreign policy at the same time,” he stated.

He made the observation that Israel is keen to maintain its long-standing strong collaboration with Azerbaijan in a variety of domains.

It was reported in the Israeli newspapers “Haaretz,” “Israel Hayom,” and “The Jerusalem Post,” as well as on the websites of the Russian-language publication “Vesty Israel” and NEWSru.co.il, that President Isaac

Israel’s president says Azerbaijan is vital.

Herzog’s visit to Azerbaijan will include a number of meetings, the signing of documents, and participation in an event commemorating the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the State of Israel.

Israeli-Azerbaijani relations have gotten even stronger. Israel was one of the first governments to officially acknowledge Azerbaijan’s statehood when it was declared independent.

At the moment, Israel is able to fulfill forty percent of its oil requirements by importing it from Azerbaijan, and the two countries also cooperate in the military domain. It is not a coincidence that the military products that Azerbaijan acquired from Israel led to Azerbaijan’s victory in the Second Karabakh War of 2020, which lasted for 44 days.

Israel and Azerbaijan have cooperative connections that are advantageous to both parties in a variety of domains, including the military, agriculture, the energy sector, and others. The state visit of the President of Israel to Azerbaijan will be beneficial to the expansion of these relations in the future.

On Tuesday, the Iranian MPs discussed Sahraee’s qualities as the suggested nominee to run the Ministry of Education. Sahraee was the subject of the debate.

With 167 votes in favor, 86 votes against, and 14 abstentions, Sahraee, who is 47 years old, was elected to office.

Yousef Noori, the former minister, tendered his resignation in April as a result of the widespread dissatisfaction caused by a delay in the payment of salary for teachers at the conclusion of the previous Persian year in March.

The Iranian Parliament appointed Reza Morad Sahraee as education minister.

In order to gain the vote of confidence from the Parliament, a nominee for a ministerial position needs to receive at least 51 percent of the vote.

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, met with a number of teachers from across the country on May 2 and criticized the Ministry of Education for its unstable management of affairs.

He stated, “A large organization like this will be harmed by the way it is continuously changing ministers, especially because such a change sometimes results in the change of deputies, middle managers, and even school principals.”

The Leader also emphasized the need of adapting the structure, content, and educational curriculum to the demands of the country, stressing that the country requires competent workers just as much as it requires academics and scientists.

According to the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Yevgeny Shestakov, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus, met with the parliamentary delegation of Oman on May 29.

The delegation was led by Said bin Mubarak Al-Muharrami, a member of the State Council of the Sultanate of Oman and Head of the Oman-Belarus Friendship Group at the State Council.

The participants met to discuss methods in which the political, commercial, and economic cooperation between Belarus and Oman may be expanded, as well as ways in which the legal foundation for bilateral relations can be strengthened, and ways in which connections can be expanded within international organizations.

The National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China’s top political advisory body, convened a study session for new members on Tuesday.

The CPPCC should use Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as the overall guiding principle for all work, said Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, when addressing the opening of the study session.

Wang urged the CPPCC to persistently deepen its understanding of the Thought, thoroughly study and implement the guiding principles of the 20th National Congress of the CPC, and continuously consolidate the shared theoretical and political foundation for concerted efforts.