Page 2362 - Politics
Chidambaram gets HC protection till Jan 15
The Delhi High Court on Thursday extended the interim protection to former Finance Minister P Chidambaram in connection with the INX Media case. He has been granted interim protection from the arrest till January 15 next year.The counsel for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had sought adjournment as the Solicitor General Tushar Mehta was in the Supreme Court. Chidambaram had filed an anticipatory bail plea in the Delhi High Court, seeking protection from the arrest by the CBI and the ED.The senior Congress leader and his son Karti Chidambaram are under the scanner of the CBI and the ED in connection with the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance granted to INX Media, a venture promoted by former media baron Peter Mukherjea and Indrani Mukerjea.The alleged irregularities took place in 2007 when Chidambaram was the Finance Minister under the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government led by then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Trump doesn't rule out pardon for Paul Manafort
US President Donald Trump has said that a pardon for Paul Manafort is "not off the table," while stating that it has never been discussed by him before."It was never discussed, but I wouldn't take it off the table. Why would I take it off the table?" he said during an interview with The New York Post.Trump further lambasted special counsel Robert Mueller's probe and stated that he (Mueller) had asked Manafort, Roger Stone and Jerome Corsi to lie."If you told the truth, you go to jail. You know this flipping stuff is terrible. You flip and you lie and you get - the prosecutors will tell you 99 percent of the time they can get people to flip. It's rare that they can't," The New York Post quoted Donald Trump, as saying.He backed the trio by calling them "brave" and stated, "And I'm telling you, this is McCarthyism. We are in the McCarthy era. This is no better than McCarthy. And that was a bad situation for the country. But this is where we are. And it's a terrible thing."Trump's ...
Indonesia cancels part of plan to relax rules on foreign business role
JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia has cancelled part of its plan to relax restrictions on foreign ownership of industries in order to keep some sectors only for domestic small and medium-sized enterprises, a government official said on Thursday.
Need for broader cooperation between UN and SCO to fully disrupt terror groups: India
India has sought broader cooperation between the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to "fully disrupt" terror organisations and networks and take strong measures against those who provide sanctuary to terrorists. India became a full member of the Beijing-based SCO in June 2017. Strengthening regional security, economic cooperation, transit and energy linkages and deepening of cultural ties are some of the areas where cooperation between the UN and the SCO will contribute positively, India's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Tanmaya Lal said. "The fight against terrorism and drug trafficking can be an important area of broader cooperation between the United Nations and the SCO," he said said at the 2nd?? High-Level Special Event on UN and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Cooperation. Lal said it is only through collective cooperation that the international community will be able to "fully disrupt the terror organisations and networks, ...
To woo Rajasthan voters, Cong promises farm loan waiver, unemployment allowance
The Congress party on Thursday announced farm loan waiver, Goods and Services Tax (GST)-free agriculture equipment, allowance to educated unemployed youths, Right to Health Bill, and Accountability Bill among a slew of other promises in its manifesto if the party wins the Rajasthan assembly polls, scheduled for December 7.Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee (RPCC) president Sachin Pilot, former chief minister Ashok Gehlot released the manifesto in the presence of other party leaders. "Our manifesto is not just a document, but a commitment. Its implementation will ensure holistic development of the state," said Pilot, while releasing the manifesto called 'Jan Ghoshna Patra.'"The Congress will waive off farmers' loan once the party forms the government in the state. The farm equipment will be freed from the GST," he said, adding that old farmers would get the pension. He also promised to set up 'Gauchar Bhumi Board,' which will ensure that cows have enough grazing land in the state.Not
Just look at facts, not tweets: French Envoy on Rafale deal
Commenting on the controversial Rafale fighter jet deal, Alexandre Ziegler, Ambassador of France to India, on Thursday asserted that people should go by "facts and not the tweets."Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an event here, Ziegler, when asked about the ongoing controversy over Rafale deal, said, "My very short and simple answer to that is, just look at the facts and not at the tweets."Congress has been accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Central government of irregularities in the high-profile defence fighter jets contract, alleging the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government was procuring aircraft at a cost of over Rs 1,670 crore each as against Rs 526 crore finalised by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government.In 2012, during the UPA's tenure, India had planned to buy 18 off-the-shelf jets from France, with 108 others to be assembled in the country by the state-run aerospace and defense company Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). BJP-led NDA ...
Suu Kyi leaves for Nepal
Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi on Thursday embarked on an official visit to Nepal where she will attend the Asia Pacific Summit in Kathmandu, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said here.
US suspended a total of USD 3 billion in security assistance to Pak this year: Sources
The US has suspended USD 3 billion in security assistance to Pakistan this year after it failed to rein in terrorist groups, a figure which is much higher than the USD 1.3 billion quoted by the Trump administration earlier, according to sources. The USD 3 billion amount was calculated in the latest compilation of all figures coming from various funding streams from different fiscal years, PTI has learnt. Not been made public yet, the suspended figure of USD3 billion is much higher than the USD1.3 billion quoted by President Donald Trump this month and USD 1.66 billion reported by the Pentagon last week. The compilation of the figures coming from various wings of the US Government is understood to have been done after the recent Twitter spat between President Trump and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan. The US president this month said that Pakistan did not "do a damn thing" for the US despite billions of dollars in American aid for the South Asian nation. Khan fired back, telling the
CBI vs CBI case: SC commences hearing on Alok Verma's plea
The Supreme Court on Thursday commenced hearing on CBI Director Alok Kumar Verma's plea against government's decision to divest him of duties and send him on leave. Senior advocate Fali S Nariman, appearing for Verma, is advancing arguments before a bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justices S K Kaul and K M Joseph which had on November 20 expressed deep anguish over the purported leak of the CBI director's response to the CVC's findings against him. The bench was also irked over the publication of allegations levelled by agency's DIG Manoj Kumar Sinha in his separate plea. At the outset, Nariman said the court cannot prohibit publication of the content of the petition as Article 19 of the Constitution is paramount and added, "If I file something tomorrow in the Registry then it can be published." He also referred to the apex court's 2012 judgement in a case on the issue. He added that if the apex court later prohibits then the matter cannot be published.
Raj Cong promises to waive farm loans, provide free education to women
Loan waiver to farmers, free education to girls and women, unemployment allowance of up to Rs 3,500 to educated youth and pension to elderly farmers are among the promises the Rajasthan Congress has made in its election manifesto released here on Thursday. AICC general secretary Avinash Pande, Pradesh Congress Committee president Sachin Pilot, former chief minister Ashok Gehlot and chairman of the manifesto committee Harish Choudhary released the manifesto titled 'Jan Ghoshna Patra'. Pilot said the party reached out to people through online and offline modes and received nearly two lakh suggestions before coming out with its manifesto. He said the party aims to implement the manifesto in a time-bound manner on formation of a Congress government in the state. Highlighting the promises made in the manifesto, Pilot said the government will waive farmers' loan, provide free education to girls and women and give up to Rs 3,500 monthly allowance to educated unemployed youths. The ruling BJP
Rahul says PM Modi has "broken" all promises
Congress President Rahul Gandhi Thursday charged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has broken every single promise made by him. Making a strong pitch for farm loan waiver, he said, "...if the Prime Minister of India can forgive three lakh fifty thousand crore of 15 people...the richest people in the country, then he should be ready to forgive the loan of India's farmers". "We are not asking for any free gift for farmers; we are just saying that whatever you do, you treat everyone fairly. If you are treating the richest people in the country, and you are giving them loan waiver, then you owe that to the farmers of the country", Gandhi said. The Congress has been accusing the Modi government of indulging in crony capitalism from time to time, a charge which has been vehemently denied by the saffron party. Addressing a convention on "KG to PG recognised institutions in Telangana for 'Change and Existence" here, he alleged that Modi has broken every single promise of his, including that .
Democrats overwhelmingly nominate Nancy Pelosi as House Speaker
The Democrats have voted overwhelmingly to nominate Representative Nancy Pelosi as the next House Speaker, underlining her strength within the caucus as she strides toward a tougher public contest in January 2019.
A willful toddler in the White House dismantles the vision of America's Founding Fathers (Comment)
As President Donald Trump went on another verbal rampage this week, decrying climate change, and the Federal Reserve chairman, one is reminded of John Adams, the second president, who said, "Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence."
US Senate advances Yemen resolution in rebuke to Trump
The US Senate has issued a sharp rebuke to President Donald Trump, easily advancing a resolution that would end American military support for the Saudi-led campaign in Yemens civil war despite a White House effort to quash the bill.
Khalistani leader Gopal Chawla posts snap with Sidhu
Amid the raging controversy surrounding Punjab cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu's visit to Pakistan, the cricketer-turned-politician has now landed in a soup after Khalistani leader Gopal Singh Chawla posted a photograph with the Congress leader on social media.Chawla posted the snap on his Facebook page, where he is seen standing next to Sidhu during the latter's visit to Pakistan for the ground-breaking ceremony of the Kartarpur corridor.The foundation stone of the route was laid down by Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday. The Kartarpur corridor along the India-Pakistan border is three kilometres away from Gurdaspur in Punjab. Once opened, it would allow Sikh pilgrims a direct access to the historic Gurudwara Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur, Pakistan, where Guru Nanak Dev died in 1539.The Khalistani leader was also seen meeting and hugging Pakistan Army Chief Qamar Jawed Bajwa at the same event.Chawla's presence in Pakistan comes at a time when Khalistan separatist groups .
US puts on hold discussions over Lanka's participation in MCC amidst political crisis
The US has put on hold its discussions with Sri Lanka on its potential participation in an American aid initiative on poverty reduction due to the disruption in the country's democratic process following the ouster of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. Sri Lanka plunged into a political crisis after President Maithripala Sirisena dismissed Wickremesinghe and replaced him with former strongman Mahinda Rajapaksa. Rajapaksa has failed to muster support of the majority in the Parliament. "Because of this disruption to Sri Lanka's democratic process, we have put on hold discussions about Sri Lanka's potential participation in Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) programmes," a senior administration official told PTI when asked about the relationship with Colombo and the Trump Administration. The latest move by the Trump Administration could be seen as a setback for Sri Lanka, which was expecting a major investment from the US in the island nations transport and land sectors. The ...
Sabarimala: Kerala Assembly disrupted for second day
The Congress-led opposition UDF disrupted proceedings in Kerala Assembly for the second consecutive day Thursday demanding discussion on the Sabarimala row. As soon as the day began, opposition members stood up from their seats and requested Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan to scrap the Question Hour. A few opposition MLAs placed a black banner in front of the Speaker's podium which stated "lift the prohibitory orders and restrictions imposed in Sabarimala completely" and raised slogans. With placards, they gathered in front of the Speaker's chamber, raising "protect Sabarimala" slogans and against Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala demanded the Speaker to take up their notice for an adjournment motion over dearth of infrastructure facilities in Sabarimala and the difficulties faced by pilgrims there. Sreeramakrishnan, however, said the 60-minute-long Question Hour was a slot to discuss issues of people and scrapping it would amount to ...
Former speaker joins Congress in Rajasthan
Former Speaker of the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly Sumitra Singh on Thursday joined the Congress here. She joined the Congress in the presence of AICC general secretary Avinash Pande, PCC chief Sachin Pilot, former chief minister of the state Ashok Gehlot at the PCC headquarters here. Singh, who has been the member of the legislative assembly for nine terms, was the speaker during the first tenure of Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje.
Cong promises farm loan waiver, unemployment allowance to youths in Rajasthan
The Congress on Thursday announced farm loan waiver, allowance to educated unemployed youths, and Accountability Bill among a slew of promises in its manifesto to win the Rajasthan assembly polls, scheduled for December 7.Rajasthan Pradesh Congress Committee (RPCC) president Sachin Pilot and former chief minister Ashok Gehlot released the manifesto in the presence of other party leaders. "Our manifesto is not just a document, but a commitment," said Pilot.With a view to empower girls in a holistic manner, the Congress leader said, "Our government, if formed, will bear the entire education expenses of girls. We will finance their entire education," he added.Pilot said that unemployed educated youths would get Rs 3,500 as monthly allowance. "We will also give jobs to them and easy loans so that they set up their own businesses too," he said. Moreover, students will get free travel facilities to appear in the examination, he added."The Congress will waive off farmers' loan once the party
S Korean president's approval below 50% in poll first
South Korean President Moon Jae-in's approval rating has dipped below 50 percent for the first time, a poll showed Thursday, as economic hardship bites and concerns rise over a rapid drive toward reconciliation with the North. Moon's popularity hovered near 80 per cent in May -- an all-time high for any South Korean president at the end of their first year in office -- in the wake of a landmark summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. But it tumbled to 48.8 percent in a Realmeter survey of 1,508 people carried out this week, extending a downward trend for the ninth week running. The sharp drop reflected public discontent over "economic struggles" amid stagnant growth, rising joblessness and persistent income gaps, the pollster said. "Expectations for economic recovery have plunged as economic indicators such as unemployment and investment remain sluggish," it added. Realmeter said stalled nuclear talks between the US and North Korea also fuelled negative views of Moon as concerns .