President

Yoon indicted for manipulating probe into South Korean marine's drowning

South Korea's ousted President Yoon Suk Yeol was indicted on Friday on allegations he and others tried to manipulate the investigation into a marine's drowning, in another criminal case against the ex-leader. Yoon was removed from office earlier this year after being indicted on a rebellion charge related to his Dec. 3 martial law decree that plunged the country into political turmoil. After taking office in June, new President Lee Jae Myung appointed three independent counsels to investigate Yoon's martial law imposition and other allegations involving him, his wife and associates. On Friday, one of the independent councils charged Yoon, his former defence minister and 10 other figures with abuse of power, alleging they tried to alter an investigation report on the death of Cpl. Chae Su-geun, who died during a search-and-rescue operation for flood victims in 2023. The Marine Corps' early investigation report held one of the corps' division commanders and seven other people ...

Larry Summers to step back from public roles amid Epstein backlash

In one email, sent in October 2017, Summers told Epstein that Trump was the 'world s luckiest guy in terms of opposition, economy etc. still think his world will collapse'

Sarkozy set to become France's first former president to serve jail term

Nicolas Sarkozy was told by prosecutors that he will be incarcerated on Oct 21, according to BFM TV, which added that the former president would be held in the Paris prison of La Sante

Fled country in fear for life after military rebellion: Madagascar's Prez

Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina said he fled the country in fear for his life following a military rebellion but did not announce his resignation in a speech broadcast on national television late Monday from an undisclosed location. Rajoelina has faced weeks of Gen Z-led anti-government protests, which reached a pivotal point on Saturday when an elite military unit joined the protests and called for the president and other government ministers to step down. That prompted Rajoelina to say that an illegal attempt to seize power was underway in the Indian Ocean island and to leave the country. "I was forced to find a safe place to protect my life," Rajoelina said in his late-night speech, which was delayed for hours after soldiers attempted to take control of the state broadcaster buildings, the president's office said. They were Rajoelina's first public comments since the CAPSAT military unit turned against his government in an apparent coup and joined thousands of protesters ...

Madagascar president says coup underway as soldiers join protests

An attempted coup is underway in the Indian Ocean island of Madagascar, the country's president said on Sunday. A statement from President Andry Rajoelina's office said it wishes to inform the nation and the international community that an attempt to seize power illegally and by force has been initiated. The statement did not immediately identify who was attempting to overthrow the government, but members of the armed forces joined youth-led protests against Rajoelina on Saturday. The protests against service failures and alleged government corruption and nepotism have been going on since Sept. 25.

Nepal President Paudel admitted to hospital after sudden health problems

Nepal's President Ramchandra Paudel was hospitalised on Saturday after experiencing sudden health problems, according to authorities, who said his condition is normal so far. Paudel, 80, was admitted to the Manmohan Cardiothoracic and Vascular Transplant Centre here after his health condition deteriorated, according to the sources at the President's Office. He complained of a severe headache and vomiting and was immediately taken to the hospital, according to hospital sources. Doctors are monitoring his health condition, and so far it is normal, said a press release issued by the hospital. President Paudel was supposed to hold discussions on Saturday morning with representatives of the Gen Z group, around 20 of whom had already reached the President's Office for dialogue. However, after Paudel's health deteriorated, the dialogue was postponed till Monday, the sources said. In 2023, Paudel was airlifted to India for treatment for a chest-related ailment at the All India Institute

Ecuador President's convoy attacked, 5 held for alleged assassination bid

A video released by the presidential office showed crowds on both sides of the road hurling rocks at the motorcade, which cracked windows

Putin has Ukraine peace proposal Trump is familiar with: Lukashenko

Lukashenko meets Putin more often than any other foreign leader and has backed his war in Ukraine, although without committing his own troops to fight

Mauritius key to India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy: President Murmu

Heavy overnight rains that wreaked havoc in parts of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand were triggered by a "violent interaction" between dry westerly winds and moisture-laden easterlies, meteorologists said on Tuesday. The overnight downpour swept away at least five people and stranded over 500 in Dehradun and adjoining areas. In Himachal's Mandi, three members of a family died as landslides and flash floods submerged a bus stand. C S Tomar, head of the India Meteorological Department's regional centre in Dehradun, said the incessant rains in Uttarakhand and Himachal were caused by a confluence of dry westerlies and moist easterlies and that the interaction is expected to continue for the next 24 hours. Mahesh Palawat, vice president (meteorology) at private forecaster Skymet, said no major weather system was present in the region. "The rains were a result of violent interaction between warm and dry winds due to an anti-cyclone near Rajasthan and humid easterly winds," he said. Thi

Marcos Jr backs outrage over corruption, says protests should be peaceful

The Philippine president on Monday encouraged the public to express their outrage over massive corruption that has plagued flood-control projects in one of Asia's most typhoon-prone countries but said street protests should be peaceful. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. vowed that an investigation by an independent commission would not spare even his allies in the House of Representatives and the Senate, where several legislators have been identified and accused in televised congressional hearings of pocketing huge kickbacks, along with government engineers and construction companies. Marcos first spoke about the corruption scandal in July in his annual state of the nation speech. Unlike recent violent protests in Nepal and Indonesia, street rallies against alleged abuses in the Philippines have been smaller and relatively peaceful. Outrage has largely been vented online, including by Catholic church leaders, business executives and retired generals. A planned protest on September 21

Nepal Gen Z protests: Toll rises to 34; high-level crisis meet at 2 pm

Earlier on Thursday, the leaders of the Gen-Z protest in a press conference also collectively endorsed former Chief Justice Sushila Karki as their nominee for interim Prime Minister

Ex-chief justice Sushila Karki likely to head caretaker govt in Nepal

Former Chief Justice Sushila Karki is likely to be appointed as the head of a caretaker government in Nepal, which would conduct fresh elections, addressing the demands of the agitating group, according to sources. Talks among various stakeholders, including representatives of the Gen Z group -- which spearheaded the anti-government protests -- the Army chief, and President Ramchandra Paudel, ended inconclusively at Thursday midnight. However, the youth-led Gen Z group proposed Karki's name for the post of new prime minister, multiple sources said. President Paudel is expected to appoint Karki as the first female prime minister of Nepal on Friday morning. The president is currently holding consultations with various political leaders as well as constitutional experts to find a way out of the current political impasse, according to sources close to the president. Two options were considered for forming the new government: dissolving Parliament or retaining it. However, the agitatin

SC reserves verdict on setting timeline for governors' approval of bills

The Supreme Court on Thursday reserved its verdict after hearing arguments for 10 days on the presidential reference, which asked if a constitutional court can impose timelines for governors and President to assent to bills passed by state legislatures. A Constitution bench of Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justices Surya Kant, Vikram Nath, P S Narasimha and A S Chandurkar, which commenced the hearing on August 19 on the reference, reserved the verdict. With the conclusion of country's topmost law officer, Attorney General R Venkataramani's arguments, the matter was reserved for verdict by the bench. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who appeared for the Centre, concluded his arguments, contesting the submissions of the opposition-ruled Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Kerala, Karnataka, Telangana, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh which opposed the reference. In May, President Droupadi Murmu exercised powers under Article 143(1) of the Constitution to know from the top court whether timelines could

Prez reference: Guv expected to act on Bills in reasonable time, says SC

The Supreme Court on Tuesday said governors were expected to act within reasonable time even if the term as soon as possible were not there in Article 200 that governs powers to assent to bills passed by the state legislature. A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice B R Gavai, hearing arguments on the eighth day on the presidential reference, whether the court could impose timelines for governors and President to deal with bills passed by assemblies, reiterated it would only interpret the Constitution and not examine facts of individual cases. Article 200 governs powers of Governor regarding bills passed by the state legislature, allowing them to either assent to the bill, withhold assent, return the bill for reconsideration or reserve the bill for the consideration of President. The first proviso of Article 200 says Governor may, as soon as possible, after the presentation to him of the bill for assent, return the bill, if it is not a money bill, to the house for ..

C P Radhakrishnan thanks President Murmu, PM Modi after his election as VP

Vice President-elect C P Radhakrishnan on Tuesday thanked President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for their best wishes on his election to the second highest constitutional post of the country. Radhakrishnan won the vice presidential election on Tuesday by bagging 452 votes, while Opposition candidate B Sudershan Reddy polled 300 votes. Radhakrishnan, who was elected as the 15th Vice President of India, took to 'X' to thank President Murmu and PM Modi for their greetings. "My heartfelt thanks to our Honourable President of India Smt. @rashtrapatibhvn Ji," he said in response to the President's post on X. "My heartfelt thanks to our Honourable Prime Minister Shri. @narendramodi Ji," Radhakrishnan said. Murmu on Tuesday congratulated Radhakrishnan on his election as the Vice President of India and said his rich experience in public life will contribute significantly to the nation's progress. Modi expressed confidence that Radhakrishnan will be an outstanding vice

Sri Lanka Parliament set to strip privileges of former presidents

Sri Lanka's Supreme Court has ruled that the bill to withdraw presidential privileges extended to former presidents and their widows can be approved in Parliament by a simple majority. The court's ruling was read out in Parliament on Tuesday by Speaker Jagath Wickremaratna. The Supreme Court has determined that no provision of the bill is inconsistent with any provision of the Constitution and can be enacted by Parliament with a simple majority, he said. Following the apex court's ruling, the parliamentary business committee decided to debate the bill on Wednesday. If passed, the bill will end special benefits such as an official residence, monthly allowances, secretarial support, official transport, and other perks currently provided to former presidents and their widows. Sri Lanka currently has five living former presidents and one widow entitled to these privileges. In late July, the government gazetted a new bill aimed at revoking all privileges granted to former presidents o

National Education Policy blends best of tradition, modernity: President

The National Education Policy brings together the best of tradition and modernity and those who can adapt and learn new skills would become leaders of change, President Droupadi Murmu said here on Wednesday. Presiding over the 10th convocation ceremony of the Central University of Tamil Nadu, Murmu said the varsity deserves special appreciation for maintaining high standards of academics and creating a stimulating environment that fosters intellectual curiosity and critical thinking. She said: "In India, we have great and ancient traditions that sought knowledge for the sake of knowledge." In today's digital age, students are in the enviable position of having so many learning resources. "It is far easier for you to rediscover our rich legacy than it was for any previous generation. This is at the heart of the National Education Policy; it brings together the best of tradition and modernity," she said. Urging students to keep learning, she said that in the last couple of decades, t

States will be at whims of governor if nod to Bills withheld: Supreme Court

The court was hearing the maintainability of the reference made by President Droupadi Murmu under Article 143

Fixed timelines for Guvs, Prez risk 'constitutional disorder': Centre to SC

Imposing fixed timelines on governors and the president to act on bills passed by a state Assembly would amount to one organ of the government assuming powers not vested in it by the Constitution and lead to a "constitutional disorder", the Centre has told the Supreme Court. The Centre has said this in the written submissions filed in the Presidential Reference raising constitutional issues on whether timelines could be imposed for dealing with bills passed by a state Assembly. "The alleged failure, inaction or error of one organ does not and cannot authorise another organ to assume powers that the Constitution has not vested in it. If any organ is permitted to arrogate to itself the functions of another on a plea of public interest or institutional dissatisfaction or even on the justification derived from the Constitution ideals, the consequence would be a constitutional disorder not envisaged by its framers," it has said. The note filed by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta has argued

Airbus appoints Jrgen Westermeier as President, MD for India, South Asia

Airbus has appointed Jrgen Westermeier as the President and Managing Director for India and South Asia. The appointment of 53-year-old Jrgen, currently the Executive Vice-President and Chief Procurement Officer at Airbus, will be effective from September 1, the aircraft maker said in a release on Wednesday. He will succeed Rmi Maillard, who will become Executive Vice-President Engineering for Commercial Aircraft and Head of Technology at Airbus. India is a key market for Airbus, which has a significant presence in commercial aircraft and defence segments. "In his new role, Jrgen will spearhead Airbus' business in India and South Asia, across Commercial Aircraft, Defence and Space, and Helicopters. He will be responsible for commercial aircraft sales and for expanding the company's footprint in the region, which includes services, engineering, digital, innovation and training. "Jrgen will also help advance Airbus' commitment to 'Make in India' by supporting the company's campaigns