Page 2 - Politics

Lower import tariffs to diversify IT exports: 6 steps to navigate Trump 2.0

India must avoid being caught off guard on trade, tariffs, outsourcing, and data policies, and engage with the US as an equal partner

South Korea's president Yoon Suk Yeol denies wrongdoing in growing scandal

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol denied wrongdoing Thursday in a burgeoning influence-peddling scandal involving him and his wife that's severely hurting his approval ratings and providing political munition to his rivals. The political firestorm coincides with South Korea facing a slew of critical foreign policy issues, such as Donald Trump's election win to become the next president of the United States and North Korea's reported entry into the Russia-Ukraine war. The scandal centers around allegations that Yoon and first lady Kim Keon Hee exerted inappropriate influence on the ruling People Power Party to pick a certain candidate to run for a parliamentary by-election in 2022 at the request of Myung Tae-kyun, an election broker and founder of a polling agency who conducted free opinion surveys for Yoon before he became president. For weeks, the scandal has been making headlines in South Korea as Myung's leaked phone conversations show he boasted of his influence over the ...

Germany's Scholz fires his finance minister amid coalition's collapse

Germany's centre-left Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced Wednesday he was firing Finance Minister Christian Lindner, signalling the collapse of the ruling three-party coalition that relied on Lindner's pro-business party. Scholz announced the move at a news conference following weeks of disputes among the coalition partners over ways to boost the country's ailing economy. He said he would seek a vote of confidence in January that he said might lead to early elections that otherwise would be due next September. I feel compelled to take this step to prevent damage to our country. We need an effective government that has the strength to make the necessary decisions for our country," Scholz said. Lindner, from the pro-business Free Democrats, had rejected tax increases or changes to Germany's strict self-imposed limits on running up debt. Scholz's Social Democrats and the environmental Greens, who are also part of the coalition, wanted to see massive state investment and rejected the Free

MPLAD schemes: Detractors warn of eroded separation of powers in governance

Critics point out that rarely are questions asked and probes ordered on the utilisation of public money under these schemes, or when done, it is mostly to settle political scores around election time

Anmol Bishnoi booked for making threatening calls to Bhim Sena chief

Gurugram Police has booked gangster Anmol Bishnoi, brother of Lawrence Bishnoi, for allegedly threatening Bhim Sena chief Satpal Tanwar from abroad, an officer said on Sunday. Anmol is accused of making threatening calls from the US and Canada using numbers from Zimbabwe and Kenya. Police in the wake of the complaint constituted a team from the members of STF and several crime and cyber crime units for investigation. The officer said efforts are being made to bring Anmol Bishnoi to India. According to the complaint, Bhim Sena chief Satpal Tanwar received several calls from Anmol Bishnoi on October 30 with the threat that he would cut him in pieces. In total, the phone calls lasted 6 minutes 41 seconds, and were received by a female secretary of Tanwar. Police booked Anmol Bishnoi under sections of BNS at Sector 37 Police Station on Saturday. Anmol Bishnoi is said to be hiding in the US and carries a reward of Rs 10 lakh on information leading to his capture, announced by the Nat

Cong leader Rahul Gandhi promises to establish medical college in Wayanad

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday assured that he and his sister Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, the UDF candidate for the upcoming Lok Sabha bypoll in Wayanad, are committed to establishing a medical college in the hill constituency. Addressing a public meeting at Areekode in nearby Malappuram district as part of the election campaign, the former Wayanad MP said it's not easy for him to leave the hill constituency as the people cutting across party lines supported him during his tough time. "Some commitments that I have made to you. Commitment to medical college... commitment of night traffic. I guarantee you, your new MP is going to be committed to doing these things. And also, your old MP is also going to be committed. We will personally build one of the best medical colleges in the country in this constituency," he said. The mountainous constituency faces a shortage of basic infrastructure, with the need for a well-equipped medical college emerging as a key issue highlighted by all

Stand for credibility of promises under PM Modi, Congress for crisis: BJP

The BJP on Saturday asserted that it stood for credibility of promises made to people under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership and the Congress for crisis of credibility, as the ruling party fired a fresh salvo at its rival in a war of words between them over unkept poll pledges. BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi told reporters that the ruling party had gradually stepped up the scope of its welfare schemes, ranging from health insurance to free grains and cash transfer for farmers, by resorting to first creation of wealth followed by its distribution as the size of the Indian economy grew over the past decade. "We believe in first the creation of wealth and distribution. The Congress stands for creation of corruption and destruction of wealth," he said, citing a host of alleged unfulfilled promises of Congress-led governments in different states. A day after Mallikarjun Kharge claimed that "Modi ki guarantee" was a cruel joke on people after the prime minister had seized on

The Midwest question: Can US politics move beyond white working class?

This week may be a trial for US President Joe Biden's core strategy-- that appealing to the white working class in the American Midwest is key to the White House

EC rejects Congress' allegation over irregularities in Haryana polls

In a letter to the Congress party, the Commission urged them to refrain from making unfounded claims after every election, accusing the party of creating "generic" doubts without substance

Japan's Shigeru Ishiba vows to bring stability after losing majority

"The LDP suffered a crushing defeat," said Takeshi Minami, chief economist at Norinchukin Research Institute, who sees a December rate hike as the main scenario

Bandra station stampede latest example of India's crumbling infra: Rahul

Hitting out at the BJP, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi said Sunday's stampede at Mumbai's Bandra railway station was the latest example of India's crumbling infrastructure. He also asserted that inaugurations and publicity were acceptable only when the foundation behind them was about working for public good. Nine people were injured in a stampede amid a rush to board a Gorakhpur-bound train at the Bandra station on Sunday, local civic and disaster control officials said. The Western Railway, meanwhile, said in a statement that two persons were injured. In view of the upcoming Diwali and Chhath festivals, a large number of people planning to go to their native places had reached the Bandra Terminus station where several passengers rushed to board the unreserved train when it was being brought on a platform, sources said. Gandhi said in a post in Hindi on X, "Inaugurations and publicity are acceptable only when the foundation behind them is about working for pub

Japan's ruling party braces for blow to comfortable majority in lower house

The results could weaken Ishiba's grip on power, possibly leading Japan into political uncertainty, though a change of government was not expected

Madhabi Puri Buch skips House panel meet; hearing deferred amid protests

The ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) members of the PAC challenged the postponement of the meeting

Jharkhand Assembly polls: Congress releases list of 21 candidates

Voting in Jharkhand will be held in two phases - November 13 and 20, and counting is scheduled on November 23

BNP criticises Bangladesh interim govt for not announcing elections date

Rizvi criticised the interim government for talking about reforms without a definite date for their completion

I'm back, says Omar Abdullah as he takes charge as J&K Chief Minister

5 ministers take oath, including Deputy CM from Jammu region and 1 Independent

'Crown of thorns': Farooq Abdullah after son Omar takes oath as J&K CM

It is a crown of thorns and may Allah help him fulfil the hopes of people, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah said on Wednesday after his son Omar Abdullah took oath as the first chief minister of the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir. Taking a cue from his grandfather, Zahir Abdullah, Omar Abdullah's son, said the new government's first priority is restoration of statehood. The state is full of challenges and I hope this government will do what it had promised in the election manifesto It is a crown of thorns and may (almighty) Allah succeed him (Omar) and he fulfils the people's hope. This is my message, Farooq Abdullah told reporters after the oath-taking ceremony at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC). After statehood, our true struggle (for restoration of) Article 370 will start. Article 370 will always be our priority, Zahir Abdullah added. Omar Abdullah heads the first elected government in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Articl

MVA releases 'traitors' booklet against Shinde govt: Here's what it said

Opposition alliance Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) released 'Gaddarancha Panchnama' booklet accusing Eknath Shinde-led Maharashtra govt of betrayal, corruption, and more

Why life of one soldier is not same as another: Rahul questions Agnipath

After the death of two Agniveers in Nashik during training, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Sunday demanded answers from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on why the life of one soldier is more valuable than the other. He asked why the families of the two soldiers, who died as 'Agniveers' would not get the same pension and benefits as other martyred soldiers and said that he would keep fighting against this "injustice". "The death of two Agniveers - Gohil Vishwaraj Singh and Saifat Sheet - during training in Nashik is very tragic. My deepest condolences to their families. "This incident once again raises serious questions on the Agniveer scheme, which the BJP government has failed to answer. Will the families of Gohil and Saifat receive timely compensation that is equivalent to the compensation for any other martyred soldier?" Gandhi asked in a post in Hindi on X. "Why will the families of Agniveers not get the benefits of pension and other ...

All is well, had another event: Ajit Pawar on leaving cabinet meet early

"I had to leave early to attend a scheduled programme at Ahmedpur in Marathwada region," the NCP chief said. "All the cabinet decisions taken yesterday have my approval," he added