Centre agrees to hand over list today
The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered the Centre to disclose all the names being investigated under the Income Tax Act for reportedly stashing black money abroad. It asked why the government was "holding a protective umbrella for these people" after it had released only eight names the day before. Dabur India promoter Pradip Burman, bullion trader Pankaj Chamanlal Lodhiya, Goa mining company Timblo Private Ltd and five of its directors were named by the government for holding illegal funds overseas. "The government has no difficulty in placing the entire list and the same will be placed before the court tomorrow," Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said, assuring the court that it had nothing to hide.
India enhances defence cooperation with Vietnam
New Delhi on Tuesday agreed to enhance India's defence co-operation with Vietnam. After meeting with his visiting Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Tan Dung, Prime Minister Narendra Modi intensified India's engagement in Asia- Pacific region, which he thinks is critical for India's future. "India remains committed to the modernisation of Vietnam's defence and security forces," he said. "This will include expansion of our training programme, which is already very substantial, joint-exercises and cooperation in defence equipment." China and Vietnam have been involved in a long-standing territorial dispute in the South China Sea, which is a key economic corridor in the Asia-Pacific region.
Devendra Fadnavis all set to become Maharashtra CM
Newly-elected legislators from the Bharatiya Janata Party in Maharashtra on Tuesday unanimously elected state party president Devendra Fadnavis to the post of legislature party leader and moved ahead with the process of government formation, even as talks with the Shiv Sena on a possible alliance continue. Regardless of whether the Sena joins in, a BJP-led government will be sworn in on October 31. Devendra Fadnavis became the party's unanimous choice for the chief minister's post, after union minister Nitin Gadkari stepped out of the race.
India uncovers terror plot to assassinate Sheikh Hasina
The National Investigation Agency has reportedly uncovered a plot by the Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen, a terror group from across the border, to assassinate Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, according to Reuters. New Delhi will hand over a dossier to Dhaka with details of the plan. The Jamaat has already carried out scores of attacks in India's eastern neighbour, according to officials from the Bangladeshi security establishment. National Security Adviser Ajit Doval met West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday and briefed her about how operatives from the Jamaat had used the state as a safe haven over the past two years.
Pope gives his nod to evolution and Big Bang theory
Pope Francis on Tuesday declared that evolution and the Big Bang theory are real and that God is not "a magician with a magic wand", sending ripples among believers and non-believers alike. At a meeting of the Vatican’s Pontifical Academy for Sciences, the Pope said that the two scientific theories were not incompatible with the existence of a creator. "When we read about creation in Genesis, we run the risk of imagining God was a magician, with a magic wand able to do everything," he said. "But that is not so”. On the question of evolution he said, "Evolution in nature is not inconsistent with the notion of creation, because evolution requires the creation of beings that evolve." The Vatican Church has been viewed as anti-Science, after Italian physicist Galileo was forced to retract his theory in the 16th century that earth revolved around the sun.
We welcome your comments at
letters@scroll.in.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered the Centre to disclose all the names being investigated under the Income Tax Act for reportedly stashing black money abroad. It asked why the government was "holding a protective umbrella for these people" after it had released only eight names the day before. Dabur India promoter Pradip Burman, bullion trader Pankaj Chamanlal Lodhiya, Goa mining company Timblo Private Ltd and five of its directors were named by the government for holding illegal funds overseas. "The government has no difficulty in placing the entire list and the same will be placed before the court tomorrow," Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said, assuring the court that it had nothing to hide.
India enhances defence cooperation with Vietnam
New Delhi on Tuesday agreed to enhance India's defence co-operation with Vietnam. After meeting with his visiting Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Tan Dung, Prime Minister Narendra Modi intensified India's engagement in Asia- Pacific region, which he thinks is critical for India's future. "India remains committed to the modernisation of Vietnam's defence and security forces," he said. "This will include expansion of our training programme, which is already very substantial, joint-exercises and cooperation in defence equipment." China and Vietnam have been involved in a long-standing territorial dispute in the South China Sea, which is a key economic corridor in the Asia-Pacific region.
Devendra Fadnavis all set to become Maharashtra CM
Newly-elected legislators from the Bharatiya Janata Party in Maharashtra on Tuesday unanimously elected state party president Devendra Fadnavis to the post of legislature party leader and moved ahead with the process of government formation, even as talks with the Shiv Sena on a possible alliance continue. Regardless of whether the Sena joins in, a BJP-led government will be sworn in on October 31. Devendra Fadnavis became the party's unanimous choice for the chief minister's post, after union minister Nitin Gadkari stepped out of the race.
India uncovers terror plot to assassinate Sheikh Hasina
The National Investigation Agency has reportedly uncovered a plot by the Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen, a terror group from across the border, to assassinate Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, according to Reuters. New Delhi will hand over a dossier to Dhaka with details of the plan. The Jamaat has already carried out scores of attacks in India's eastern neighbour, according to officials from the Bangladeshi security establishment. National Security Adviser Ajit Doval met West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday and briefed her about how operatives from the Jamaat had used the state as a safe haven over the past two years.
Pope gives his nod to evolution and Big Bang theory
Pope Francis on Tuesday declared that evolution and the Big Bang theory are real and that God is not "a magician with a magic wand", sending ripples among believers and non-believers alike. At a meeting of the Vatican’s Pontifical Academy for Sciences, the Pope said that the two scientific theories were not incompatible with the existence of a creator. "When we read about creation in Genesis, we run the risk of imagining God was a magician, with a magic wand able to do everything," he said. "But that is not so”. On the question of evolution he said, "Evolution in nature is not inconsistent with the notion of creation, because evolution requires the creation of beings that evolve." The Vatican Church has been viewed as anti-Science, after Italian physicist Galileo was forced to retract his theory in the 16th century that earth revolved around the sun.
