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Banks to remain open this Saturday Sunday; new notes from Nov 10

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new-notes-india

New Delhi: Having junked 86 per cent of total currency in circulation with the demonitisation decision, government today sought to assuage anxious public saying banks and post offices would start giving out high denomination replacement notes from tomorrow even as it expanded the list of exempt public utilities.

Besides, it expanded the list of areas where the withdrawn notes will be accepted till November 11 midnight. They include payments for metro rail tickets, highway and road toll, purchase of medicines on doctor prescription from government and private pharmacies, LPG gas cylinders, railway catering and ASI monuments entry tickets.

A 72-hour relaxation for use of such notes was given yesterday for government hospitals, railway ticketing, public transport, airline ticketing counters at airports, milk booths, crematoria/burial grounds and petrol pumps.

Banks and ATMs were shut today to remove old Rs 500/1000 notes and stock them with lower denomination and new hard-to- fake Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 currency notes. Banks will open tomorrow as RBI has sent truckloads of new notes throughout the country, while some ATMs will begin dispensing cash.

“Through RBI’s currency chest, adequate currency is (being) provided in all banks and post offices. But it would require 2-3 weeks for full adequate replacement. It would begin tomorrow morning,” Finance Minister Arun Jaitley told reporters here.

Withdrawal limitations – Rs 2,000 a day from ATM per card and Rs 10,000 through bank account on a day and Rs 20,000 in a week, will continue for some time, he said. “As and when more currency comes into banking system, there will be a rethink on those limitations.”

Officials said that while honest tax payers as well as housewives and farmers with genuine savings have nothing to worry if they deposit old currencies in their bank accounts and take out replacement ones, tax authorities would keep a close watch on high-value deposits made from illicit sources, black money or crime money.

Housewives, farmers and those whose annual income is within the tax exemption limit may not be hounded by tax authorities for depositing up to Rs 2.5 lakh of the now- defunct higher denomination currency notes in bank accounts.

“It should be clear that it is no immunity scheme. This (deposit) does not provide any relief from taxation. The law of land will apply (on source of fund),” he said. “If the money is legitimate which had been previously withdrawn from bank or earned legally and saved and had been disclosed, there is nothing to worry about”.

(Agencies)

 

Donald Trump beats Hillary Clinton to win US presidency

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New York businessman and former reality TV star clinches victory over Clinton after long and divisive election campaign.

[Reuters]

[Reuters]

by Al Jazeera

Donald Trump is the next president of the US after a long, bitter and divisive election campaign.

Projections early on Wednesday showed that Trump clinched victory over Hillary Clinton to become the 45th US president-elect after securing the 270 electoral votes needed to win.

Speaking to his supporters in New York after clinching victory, Trump said that Clinton had congratulated him on his win.

“I have just received a call from Secretary Clinton. She congratulated us on our victory … and I congratulated her and her family on a very very hard-fought campaign.”

Trump said it was “time for us to come together”, pledging to be president “for all Americans”.

Clinton’s campaign team said the Democratic candidate would speak on Wednesday morning.

Al Jazeera’s James Bays, reporting from New York, described the result as “a political bombshell that we haven’t seen in modern history”.

The 2016 US election caught the attention of hundreds of millions around the world with dramatic moments in the campaign grabbing headlines for more than a year.

Trump was seen as the least probable candidate to win in what was an extremely a tight race. A former reality TV star, he announced his candidacy in June 2015.

Since then, the billionaire businessman from New York has consistently alienated minority groups, refused to release his tax returns and remained seemingly unapologetic for leaked tapes in which he brags about sexually assaulting women.

Global markets fell as the projected results emerged amid fears that a Trump presidency could cause financial turmoil.

The dollar lost value against other currencies, and the Mexican peso saw its steepest dive in more than 20 years, plummeting 8 percent at one point. Oil futures also declined.

Clinton had a slim lead in the polls but no one was ruling out a Trump victory.

A polling average by tracker site RealClearPolitics gave Clinton a 3.3-percentage point national lead.

The 69-year-old former first lady, senator, and secretary of state – who was backed by incumbent President Barack Obama – on Monday urged the country to unite and vote for “a hopeful, inclusive, big-hearted America” in her last effort to woo voters.

Trump pressed his message with voters who feel left behind by globalisation and social change, wrapping up with a flourish on his protectionist slogan of “America first”.

Promising to end “years of betrayal,” tear up free trade deals, seal the border, halt the drug trade and subject Syrian refugees to “extreme vetting”, Trump told his supporters in New Hampshire: “I am with you and I will fight for you and we will win.”

Clinton had pushed a more optimistic vision, despite a wobble in the final weeks of her campaign when the FBI reopened an investigation into whether she had put US secrets at risk by using a private email server – only to close the probe again on Sunday.

The email investigation allowed Trump to recover ground lost in a series of recent scandals.

As Trump celebrated his victory in New York, congratulations from world leaders poured in, with Egypt and Russian among the first nations to reach out to the president-elect.

The Kremlin said in a statement that Russian President Vladimir Putin was hoping to work with Trump to improve relations.

Putin “expressed hope for mutual work on bringing US-Russia relations out of their critical condition as well as on working out outstanding issues on the international agenda” in his congratulatory telegram, the Kremlin said.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi spoke to Trump by telephone, seeking to foster closer diplomatic ties, an Egyptian presidency statement said.

“The US President-elect Donald Trump expressed his utmost appreciation to the president, pointing out that his was the first international call he had received to congratulate him on winning the election,” the statement said.

Binali Yildirim, Turkish prime minister, expressed hopes that bilateral ties would strengthen under new US leadership.

The government of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has had strained relations with Barack Obama’s Democratic administration but Yildirim welcomed in the new Republican flagbearer.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said in a statement that he “congratulates the elected American president, Donald Trump, and hopes that peace will be achieved during his term”.

An Abbas aide, Saeb Erekat, said he does not expect US positions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to change under Trump.

Erekat said the Republican and Democratic parties are both committed to a two-state solution of the conflict and “I think this will not change with the coming administration”.

US Presidential election opens across 6 time zones

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us-presidential-election

Washington: As Americans go to the polls on Tuesday to elect their 45th president, here’s what to watch out for:

All 50 states and Washington D.C. go to the polls across six different time zones on election day. Thirteen of the states are operating with split time zones.

Depending on the state, polling booths will open between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m. local time and close between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. (If a voter is in line when polls close, then he or she gets to vote.)
But it is not just winning the popular vote that counts. The US’ system is a race to secure 270 out of the 538 votes in the electoral college.

Most of the US will have to wait for polling stations to close (typically between 5.30 a.m Wednesday and 6.30 a.m Indian time) for state projections.

One small town, Dixville Notch in New Hampshire, which is keeping alive a tradition of a midnight vote that began in 1960, has declared its result before the polls even open everywhere else.

Once the polls have closed, there will be a projection for each state based on opinion polls taken throughout the day, which are a good indication of the results – but not always correct.

According to CNN, the solid Republican states are: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, West Virginia and Wyoming.

The lean Republican comprise Georgia, Iowa, Maine 2nd Congressional District, Ohio and Utah.

The solid Democratic states comprise California, Connecticut, Delaware, Washington DC, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Minnesota and New Mexico.

The leans Democratics are Colorado, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin.

The Battleground or Swing states (a state where the two major political parties have similar levels of support among voters, important to determine the overall result) are Arizona, Florida, Nevada, Nebraska 2nd Congressional District, New Hampshire and North Carolina,

The results are expected to be known in India by 9.30 a.m. IST on Wednesday morning. That’s when West Coast polls close and history suggests a winner’s declared. It was bang on the hour in 2008, and 15 minutes later in 2012.

Polls begin to close in western states from about 10 p.m. ET — or 8.30 a.m. India time.

Usually by around 11 p.m. ET November 8 on the East Coast it becomes clear that one side has prevailed, although the result could come sooner than that.

All eyes will be on the key battleground state of Virginia, which voted for President Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012 but was previously solid Republican.

Georgia is another one to watch. The state has voted Republican since 1996, but the party’s margin of victory has eroded in recent elections.

Also expect projections from Indiana, home to Trump running mate Mike Pence, Kentucky, South Carolina and Vermont.

Half an hour later, polls close in two further important states, North Carolina and Ohio, the swing state which has backed the winner at every presidential contest.

By 8 p.m. ET (6.30 a.m. IST), Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Delaware, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Pennsylvania, Mississippi, Missouri, Alabama, Tennessee and Oklahoma will begin their state projections.

Another half hour later (7 a.m. India time) polls will close in Arkansas, which backed former President Bill Clinton at successive elections in the 1990s, but has voted Republican since 2000.

New York, Colorado, Michigan, Texas, Kansas, Louisiana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wyoming and Nebraska might show their projections by now.

Polls close in the biggest electoral prize on the map, California, which is a Democratic stronghold, as well as Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Hawaii — 10.30 p.m. ET or 9 a.m. India time.

Depending on how the electoral college is stacking up, every media outlet could declare the next president of the US.

The president-elect will not actually become the 45th president of the US until January 20, 2017, which is Inauguration Day. The president-elect will place his or her hand on the bible and take the Oath of Office at noon.

From then, the government is in their hands. So is the White House. Usually, the sitting president and their spouse host the incoming-First Couple for tea before the ceremony.

About six hours later, the new First Family moves in.

India recalls three diplomats from Pakistan

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Photo: AFP

Photo: AFP

New Delhi: India today recalled three diplomats stationed at its High Commission in Islamabad after their identities were made public and Pakistan charged them with “spying”.

The diplomats, including First Secretary (Commercial) Anurag Singh, were named last week by Pakistan’s Foreign Office Spokesman Nafees Zakaria, who had alleged that a number of Indian diplomats and staffers were involved in “coordinating terrorist and subversive activities in Pakistan under the garb of diplomatic assignments”.

According to officials, apart from Singh, Vijay Kumar Verma and Madhavan Nanda Kumar left Pakistan by air today. The decision was taken as their security had been “completely compromised” by Pakistan with their names and photographs published and broadcast in the media there, they said.

India’s action comes within days of Pakistan recalling six of its High Commission officials here after their names were made public by another mission staffer Mahmood Akhtar, who was declared persona non-grata and expelled for running a spy ring last month.

Akhtar’s expulsion had triggered a tit-for-tat action by Islamabad, which also expelled an Indian High Commission official posted there.

(PTI)

Senior journalist Girish Nikam, 59, dies following massive heart attack

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girish-nikam

New Delhi: Senior journalist and TV anchor Girish Nikam died in New Delhi Tuesday following a massive heart attack. Nikam, 59, complained of uneasiness after a programme shoot in the studios and was taken to Ram Manohar Lohia hospital where he breathed his last, according to his associates.

He started his journalistic career with “Star of Mysore” in Mysuru and later shifted to Indian Express, Bengaluru. He had worked in other media organisations including India Today, Deccan Chronicle and News Today before doing programmes for Rajya Sabha TV. Nikam’s body is being taken to Bengaluru tomorrow for the last rites.

Prasar Bharati Chairman A Suryaprakash was among others who condoled the death of Nikam. Suryaprakash said Nikam was an extremely versatile mediaperson who traversed the worlds of print, television and social media. Vice President Hamid Ansari also condoled Nikam’s death saying he was a valued and respected member of Rajya Sabha Television.

Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venakaiah Naidu said he was saddened at the death of Nikam who had made great contribution to the profession of journalism. He also visited the RML hospital, where 59-year-old Nikam had breathed his last.

Rajya Sabha TV CEO Gurdeep Singh Sappal said his passing away was a huge loss for RSTV. “Girish was a voice of sobriety and compassion in the debates he conducted,” he said.

A release by RSTV said Nikam anchored ‘The Big Picture’ programme ever since its inception. His “understated style and rich content stood apart in the cacophony of prime time TV discussions”, it said.

(PTI)

Roshan Baig files Rs 10-cr defamation case against Shobha Karandlaje

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roshan-baig

Bengaluru: Karnataka Urban Development Minister Roshan Baig has filed a Rs 10-crore defamation case against BJP leader Shobha Karandlaje, charging her with making a ‘baseless allegation’ against him.

Baig, in the petition, said that Karandlaje had needlessly dragged his name in the RSS worker R Rudresh’s murder case. He said that Karandlaje is indulging in character assassination and damaging his public image, without ascertaining the facts.

(Agencies)

South Africa defeat Australia by 177 runs in the first Test

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Kagiso Rabada (centre) took 7-170 in the match and has 36 wickets at 24 apiece in nine Tests

Kagiso Rabada (centre) took 7-170 in the match and has 36 wickets at 24 apiece in nine Tests

by BBC

Australia slipped to a fourth successive Test defeat as South Africa won the opening Test of their three-match series by 177 runs in Perth.

Set a notional 539, the hosts were bowled out for 361 shortly before tea on the final day thanks to 21-year-old pace bowler Kagiso Rabada’s 5-92.

Usman Khawaja made 97 and Peter Nevill an unbeaten 60 for Australia, who lost 3-0 in Sri Lanka in August.

Victory was South Africa’s third in a row at the Waca, after 2008 and 2012.

It was completed without Dale Steyn, the world’s number two-ranked bowler who was ruled out of the series on Friday with a fractured shoulder.

Australia, 169-4 overnight, survived for 119 overs in total in the fourth innings on a pitch featuring large cracks.

However, their first-innings collapse proved costly, slipping from 158-1 to 244 all out in response to South Africa’s 242.

JP Duminy made 141 and Dean Elgar 127, putting on 250 for the third wicket in South Africa’s second-innings 540-8 declared.

The second Test in Hobart starts on Saturday and the final Test in Adelaide on 24 November.

Australia batsman Joe Burns will replace Shaun Marsh, who suffered a broken finger in Perth, for the second Test, while the uncapped Callum Ferguson has been added to the squad.

Ban on NDTV India an assult on Freedom of Press: Press Club Of Bangalore

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press-club-of-bangalore

Bengaluru: The Press Club here strongly condemned the 24-hour ban on NDTV India by the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I & B) on charges of airing “sensitive information” while reporting on the Phatankot terror attack.

The protesting journalists also demanded the Centre that the one-day ban imposed on Hindi Channel NDTV India on November 9 should be immediately withdrawn.

Peshmerga in heavy gun battles with ISIL near Mosul

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Iraqi Kurdish forces assault town of Bashiqa, just 13km from ISIL-held Mosul, from two fronts as offensive continues.

Kurdish Peshmerga forces had kept Bashiqa surrounded for nearly three weeks before launching its overnight offensive [Reuters]

Kurdish Peshmerga forces had kept Bashiqa surrounded for nearly three weeks before launching its overnight offensive [Reuters]

by Al Jazeera

Iraqi Kurdish fighters are exchanging heavy fire with ISIL fighters as they advance from two directions on a town held by the armed group just 13km east of the city of Mosul.

The town of Bashiqa has been surrounded by Kurdish Peshmerga forces for weeks.

Monday’s push appears to be the most serious yet to drive the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) from the area, which is to the northeast of Mosul, the group’s last major urban bastion in the country.

Al Jazeera’s Mohammad Jamjoom, reporting from the frontline near Bashiqa, said “it was the biggest push yet to try to take control of Bashiqa since the battle for Mosul began”.

“The Peshmerga fighters are optimistic. They say there are only about 100 to 200 ISIL fighters left as well as possibly three very high ranking ISIL commanders,” he said before adding there was black smoke rising from the city and its surrounding areas, signaling ISIL’s tactic of burning tyres and oil to limit aerial vision and create suffocating smells.

There were also white plumes of smoke from US-led coalition air strikes over the city, he said.

“As far as civilians go, the Peshmerga fighters believe that most of the civilians have already fled the town.”

Kurdish forces launched mortar rounds and fired heavy artillery into the town on Sunday in advance of the offensive.

Al Jazeera’s Jamal El Shayyal, reporting from Erbil, said “as far as the Kurdish fighters are concerned, Bashiqa is the last remaining major area ISIL controls in the KRG, which is the semi-autononums Kurdish region of Iraq”.

“[Kurdish forces] are entering [Bashiqa] not only on the ground but from the skies as well. Bashiqa is also important to retake because it has a multicultural, multi-ethnic population, which includes Christians, Yazidis, Sunni Arabs, and many others,” he said.

“This is not only a fight against ISIL to retake these towns for the Iraqi government. There’s a sectarian side to this conflict where maybe getting these towns back will give some benefit to beating ISIL, as it will build a cross-section of society banded together.”

ISIL hits back

The three-week-long Mosul offensive has slowed down in recent days as Iraqi forces have pushed into more densely-populated areas of the city.

The Iraqi army has also been fighting in the district of Gogjali, east of Mosul.

The army is going house-to-house to secure some of the other districts taken in recent days.

However, Iraqi troops have been forced to retreat from the neighbourhood of Al-Karamah after ISlL fighters used a network of tunnels to surround them.

Elsewhere, two ISIL suicide attacks killed at least 22 people in cities 200km south of Mosul.

A fighter blew himself up in an ambulance packed with explosives at a checkpoint in Samarra. Ten Iranian pilgrims were among the dead in that attack.

Earlier, another bomber had blown up his vehicle on the outskirts of the city of Tikrit.

“The trajectory of suicide bombings is in correlation with how much closer the Iraqi army is getting to the centre of Mosul,” Elshayyal said. “The closer they get, the higher number of suicide and car bombings we will see.”

“Over the past few days, ISIL has been focusing all its efforts and fire power on maintaining its stronghold in Mosul. We even saw some videos of international journalists stuck for up to 24 hours as they and the forces they were embedded with were ambushed by ISIL fighters.”

2 Kannada actors feared dead, as action scene goes wrong

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uday-anil

Bangalore: Two Kannada actors are feared to have drowned when performing stunts during a movie shoot at Tippagondanahalli lake about 30 km from here today.

According to reports, three actors, Duniya Vijay, Anil and Uday jumped from a chopper into the lake during the shooting for a Kannada movie titled “Masti Gudi”.

A news footage showed two people jumping off a helicopter followed by another person.

While Vijay managed to swim to safety, the two others are missing. Police say the chances of finding them are slim.

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