India's political landscape is ablaze with activity! From the ongoing debates surrounding the new farm bills and their impact on rural India, to the upcoming state elections shaping the national narrative, the stakes couldn't be higher. Key political figures are maneuvering strategically, with alliances shifting and power dynamics constantly in flux. The opposition's challenge to the ruling party is intensifying, sparking vigorous debates on crucial policy matters including economic reforms and social justice initiatives. Parliamentary proceedings are filled with heated exchanges, reflecting the deep divisions within the nation. This evolving political climate directly impacts the lives of every Indian citizen, influencing everything from economic opportunities to social welfare programs. Stay informed about the latest developments in Indian politics, from crucial legislative decisions to grassroots movements, by exploring Abtak.com for in-depth analysis and breaking news updates. Understanding the intricacies of our political system is crucial; stay engaged, stay informed, and stay ahead.
Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun attends Beijing Xiangshan Forum in Beijing, China, September 13, 2024. File Image/Reuters China's anti-corruption campaign has rocked the upper echelons of its military, with Defence Minister Dong Jun becoming the latest in a string of top officials investigated for alleged misconduct. Dong Jun, appointed as defence minister in December 2023, is now under investigation for corruption, reported the Financial Times. This marks the third consecutive Chinese defence minister to face such allegations. Before Dong, Li Shangfu was removed from office in September 2023 after just seven months in the role and expelled from the Communist Party in June 2024 for "serious violations of discipline." His predecessor, Wei Fenghe, also faced similar accusations and was ousted in March 2023. The Communist Party's official statement on Li and Wei described their actions as betraying the party's trust, polluting the political environment, and damaging the military's image. Both were accused of accepting substantial bribes and using their influence to benefit others. Dong, a former chief of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy, took charge of military diplomacy during his tenure and oversaw an unprecedented thaw in US-China military relations. However, in an unexpected turn, he declined to meet US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin during a Laos defence ministers' meeting, citing US actions over Taiwan. Dong's omission from key positions like the Central Military Commission (CMC) and the State Council earlier this year now appears significant. Traditionally, China's defence ministers are members of these powerful bodies. Since 2022, Chinese President Xi Jinping has intensified the anti-corruption campaign within the military. Over nine PLA generals and multiple defence industry executives have been removed, including high-ranking officers from the Rocket Force, a strategic unit managing China's nuclear and conventional missiles. One prominent case involved Sun Jinming, a senior Rocket Force official, who was dismissed for "grave violations of party discipline and laws." Analysts suggest these purges are part of Xi's broader strategy to eliminate corruption that could undermine military readiness. Victor Shih, an expert on Chinese elite politics, told AFP, "Dong likely had authority over tens of billions in procurement per year during his time in the navy. The intense competition for top positions can lead to cycles of arrests, new appointments, and further recriminations." The anti-corruption drive is emblematic of Xi Jinping's focus on consolidating control and ensuring loyalty within the PLA. While Beijing has long grappled with the nexus of military leadership and business interests, the current wave of investigations signals an unprecedented level of intensity. The crackdown is not without controversy. Some experts argue it could weaken the military's morale and operational capability. Dylan Loh, an assistant professor at Nanyang Technological University, told AFP, "If the corruption probe into Dong Jun is true, then it is normal that people will question if it will erode morale and affect the PLA's warfighting capabilities." The growing scrutiny of the Rocket Force is especially notable given its role in China's strategic deterrence. US officials have raised concerns that corruption in procurement and leadership could hinder China's ability to wage a future war. China's foreign ministry has yet to comment on the investigation into Dong, while official state media has maintained silence. If confirmed, Dong's investigation would underline systemic issues in China's military hierarchy despite years of purges aimed at addressing corruption. China's political landscape has been shaken by more than just its defence ministers. Over a year since the mysterious disappearance of former Foreign Minister Qin Gang, the Chinese government continues to remain silent on his fate. Recent reports, including one by The Washington Post, claim that Qin has avoided imprisonment and is now holding a nominal position at the World Affairs Press, a state-owned publishing house under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. According to two former US government officials cited in the report, Qin's current role is purely symbolic, with one stating, "He's not going to jail, but his career is over." The 58-year-old was once celebrated as the youngest foreign minister since the founding of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). His abrupt removal from public life in July 2023 fuelled a flurry of theories, ranging from imprisonment to suicide. Speculation also linked his disappearance to an alleged affair with Fu Xiaotian, a Chinese journalist rumoured to have shared state secrets with foreign intelligence agencies. The handling of Qin Gang's disappearance, like the ongoing corruption probes within the military, has put a spotlight the CCP's unpredictable and often opaque approach to managing internal dissent and misconduct.
A top NATO chief has urged business leaders to begin preparing for a 'wartime scenario' following rising tensions across the world. The warning comes as Germany announced it was drawing up a list of bunkers and other underground facilities that could provide shelter for civilians in the event of an attack. Speaking in Brussels yesterday, Dutch Admiral Rob Bauer (pictured) warned that NATO members needed to adjust their production and distribution lines in order to be less vulnerable to blackmail from countries such as Russia and China. The chair of NATO's military committee said: 'If we can m ...Read More >
OCCRP had published news articles against Adani; BJP MP Sambit Patra calls Rahul 'traitor of highest order' After a hiatus of two days, the Winter Session of Parliament plunged into chaos again Thursday, this time due to the ruling BJP targeting Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi and the Congress, accusing them of being part of a plan to "derail" India's economy and "disrupt" its democracy. Senior BJP MP Nishikant Dubey raised the matter in the Lok Sabha, alleging that a "dangerous triangle" ...Read More >
New Delhi: Nepal's Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli's decision to visit China before India after assuming office in 2024 had reignited speculations about the trajectory of India-Nepal bilateral ties. While some analysts see this as a shift in Kathmandu's diplomatic priorities, New Delhi has downplayed concerns, maintaining that relations between the two South Asian neighbours remain strong. "I can tell you that the relations between the two countries remain good and strong and we want to further strengthen these," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during his regular medi ...Read More >
Mumbai: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested a junior engineer working in the office of the Assistant Garrison Engineer (AGE) at the Naval Officers Family Residential Area (NOFRA), in Navy Nagararea of Colaba, for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 4.5 lakh from a contractor to clear a pending bill of Rs 40 lakh. About The Case The accused Dinesh Pandey was caught red-handed while accepting the bribe in the presence of AGE RS Thakur. The bribe amount was later recovered from a cupboard in Thakur's chamber. Pandey was produced before a special CBI court and remanded to cu ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Axiom-4 crew members, including Shubhanshu Shukla, were welcomed with hugs and drinks as they stepped into the International Space Station on Thursday. The newly launched spacecraft -- the fifth in the Dragon series and named Grace -- successfully completed a soft docking with the International Space Station at 4.01pm while orbiting above the North Atlantic Ocean."At 6:31 am EDT (4:01 IST) on Thursday, the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft docked to the International Space Station for the fourth private astronaut mission to the orbiting laboratory, Axiom Mission 4," the National Aeronautics ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 26 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to embark on a five-nation tour next week to attend the BRICS summit in Brazil and to enhance India's ties with four other nations, people familiar with the matter said on Thursday. Besides Brazil, Modi is set to visit Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina and Namibia, they said. There is no official announcement yet on Modi's planned trip. The main focus of the trip will be his visit to the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro to participate in the BRICS summit on July 6 and 7. BRICS brings together 11 major emerging economies of ...Read More >
New Delhi, June 27 (UNI) Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held a bilateral meeting with his Chinese counterpart, Admiral Dong Jun, and stressed the importance of maintaining peace and tranquility along the India-China border, as well as resolving issues through a structured roadmap of permanent engagement and de-escalation. The meeting was held yesterday on the sidelines of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers' meeting in Qingdao, China, a Defence Ministry statement said here. Rajnath Singh acknowledged the work being undertaken by both sides to bring back semblance of nor ...Read More >
SRINAGAR, Jun 27: The Jammu and Kashmir Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Friday filed a chargesheet before the Court of Additional Judge Anti-Corruption, Kashmir, against two persons in a bribery case involving a ₹9,000 demand for land record processing. "Jammu and Kashmir Anti Corruption Bureau has filed a charge- sheet under Section 173 Cr.P.C. before the Hon'ble Court of Addl. Judge Anti-Corruption, Kashmir in Case FIR No. 15/2022, against the following accused persons: Jamil Hussain Khan, then Patwari Halqa Baghat-e-shoor, Owanta Bhawan, Soura, Tehsil Eidgah - Charged under Section 7 of th ...Read More >
China’s anti-corruption campaign intensifies as Admiral Miao Hua, a senior military official and member of the Central Military Commission, is under investigation for corruption. Miao, known for his close ties to President Xi Jinping, is the latest target in Xi's crackdown on corruption within the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). This investigation follows reports of Defense Minister Dong Jun facing similar allegations, though dismissed by the Chinese Defense Ministry. Xi's campaign has led to the removal of several high-ranking military officials, especially from the Rocket Force, as part of e ...Read More >
Hyderabad: In a significant boost for 'Make in India' and 'Atmanirbharta' in the aerospace and defence sector, and Hyderabad's growing stature as a global aerospace hub, the complete fuselage of the Rafale fighter jet will now be made in India at Hyderabad. This move marks the first time that these Rafale components will be manufactured outside France for the Indian as well as global markets.French aerospace major Dassault Aviation has signed four production transfer agreements with Tata Advanced Systems Ltd (TASL) for manufacturing key sections of the Rafale fighter jet, including the lateral ...Read More >
Mumbai, Jun 6 (PTI) A special CBI court on Friday remanded a junior engineer at Garrison Engineer office in Mumbai's Navy Nagar to police custody till June 9 in a bribery case. Dinesh Pandey was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation on Thursday for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 4.5 lakh from a contractor to clear a building repair bill. The CBI told court Pandey was caught red-handed and the bribe amount of Rs 3.4 lakh was recovered from a cupboard in his office in Naval Officers Family Residential Area (NOFRA) here. The CBI sought five-day custody of Pandey citing the need to ...Read More >
A Russian strike on a nine-story building in the city of Sumy in northern Ukraine killed eight people and wounded dozens, an official said Sunday (November 17, 2024), as Russia launched a massive drone and missile attack described by officials as the largest in recent months. "Among the eight killed in Sumy, 40 kilometers (24 miles) from the border with Russia, were two children," said Ukraine's Minister of Internal Affairs Ihor Klymenko. More than 400 people were evacuated from the building. Ukraine's Zelenskyy urges allies to take steps before North Korean troops reach the front The rescu ...Read More >
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], February 10 (ANI): Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday met Minister Delegate to the Minister of Defence and Chief of Staff of the National Army of Algeria General Said Changeriha in Bengaluru at Aero India 2025. Singh called their meeting a "great interaction." Also Read | US: Judge Finds Trump Administration Hasn't Fully Followed Order To Unfreeze Federal Spending, Orders White House To Release All Money. In a post on X, he said, "Great interaction with the Minister Delegate to the Minister of Defence and Chief of Staff of the National Army of Algeria Ge ...Read More >
New Delhi, June 6 (SocialNews.XYZ) External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar on Friday welcomed the Foreign Ministers of Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan in New Delhi for the 4th India-Central Asia Dialogue, as India continues to put a strong foot forward in enhancing anti-terror and de-radicalisation partnerships across the region. "4th India-Central Asia Dialogue begins in Delhi. EAM S Jaishankar warmly welcomed Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu, Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin of Tajikistan, Deputy Chairman of C ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 8 (PTI) A Kerala businessman, who recently levelled corruption charges against an ED officer posted in the state, has recorded his statement with the central agency where he is understood to have denied knowing or having any evidence against the said investigator, official sources said Sunday. The businessman, Aneesh Babu, deposed before the Enforcement Directorate in Delhi on June 6 and his statement was recorded under audio-visual camera by the agency as per the provisions of section 50 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Such a statement made under the anti-mo ...Read More >
New Delhi: Alleging "blatant misuse" of agencies to defame its leaders, AAP on Thursday questioned why the first information report filed against former Delhi ministers Saurabh Bharadwaj and Satyendar Jain was being kept under wraps and "selective" press notes were being leaked to the media.Bharadwaj, who is Delhi AAP convener, alleged that only two former ministers were named in the case without any reasonable cause while all the officers of the health and public works departments, who were actually responsible for executing the hospital projects, were spared. "Is the FIR so baseless that BJP ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: India pushed for a permanent solution of border demarcation with China and underlined the need to solve complex issues through a structured roadmap of engagement and de-escalation, during talks between defence minister Rajnath Singh and his Chinese counterpart Admiral Dong Jun on Thursday. Singh "stressed on border management and to have a permanent solution of border demarcation by rejuvenating the established mechanism on the issue," the defence ministry said on Friday, a day after two ministers held talks at Qingdao in China on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisat ...Read More >
India's Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar spoke with Iranian counterpart Seyed Abbas Araghchi about the Iran-Israel conflict post 12-day hostilities. India praised Iran's help in evacuating Indians. Following a US-mediated ceasefire, India is closely monitoring radiation at Iranian nuclear sites and urges diplomatic dialogue for peace. India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, addressing the recent hostility between Iran and Israel. Jaishankar expressed gratitude for Iran's assistance in the evacuation of Indian nationals amid ...Read More >
Gurgaon: Two days after a law student died and his friend suffered critical injuries when a car knocked them down as they stood near railing on the service lane of Delhi-Jaipur highway in the early hours of Tuesday, a civil engineer was arrested on Thursday.Mohit (31), an employee of a private company in the city, told police that he got drowsy while driving. He is staying at a PG facility in Sector 14.The student who died, Harsh Singhal (25), was a resident of Om Nagar colony. His friend Abhishek Kumar (23), who is from Shanti Nagar in Sector 11, is undergoing treatment at a private hospital ...Read More >
A summary of world news briefs includes Hezbollah's media chief killed by Israeli airstrike, U.S. policy shift allowing Ukraine to use American weapons against Russia, Xi Jinping's final talks with Joe Biden, and other geopolitical developments including climate finance consensus at the G20 in Brazil. In a significant escalation of regional tensions, Lebanese Hezbollah's media relations head, Mohammad Afif, was killed in an Israeli strike in central Beirut. The attack targets a senior Hezbollah figure, signaling a rare focus on individuals without explicit military roles. The U.S. administra ...Read More >
Beijing: China has expressed its willingness to engage in dialogue with the United States following recent threats by former President Donald Trump to impose new tariffs on Chinese goods. The statement comes amid growing tensions between the two economic giants over trade practices, technology policies, and geopolitical issues. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Wang Wenbin, said that China was open to "constructive dialogue" with the U.S., emphasizing the importance of cooperation to ensure global economic stability. "China believes that both countries should seek common ground and manag ...Read More >
Russia's nuclear doctrine has been updated to affirm its nuclear umbrella for primarily the six member states of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), including an explicit focus on Belarus. The announcement followed a joint meeting of the CSTO's Council of Foreign Ministers, Council of Defense Ministers, and Committee of Security Council Secretaries held in Astana. According to the state news agency TASS, Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu highlighted the revisions, emphasizing Moscow's commitment to protecting its allies under the CSTO. The CSTO, formed in 2002 ...Read More >
In the Indo-Pacific region, if one development would prove to be a landmark event in the region's modern history, it would be the signing of the Treaty of Comprehensive Partnership between North Korea and Russia in June 2024. The partnership has paved the way for strengthening bilateral ties between Moscow and Pyongyang and marked the onset of the global order transition, which was already underway. The institutionalization of the U.S., South Korea, and Japan's trilateral security cooperation has also given Russia and North Korea another strategic reason to collaborate. Therefore, with the geo ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], December 18 (ANI): Chinese Ambassador to India, Xu Feihong on Wednesday said that China is ready to work with India and put into action the understandings between Indian and Chinese leaders. The comments come ahead of the 23rd meeting of the Special Representatives between National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and China Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing. In a post on X, Ambassador Xu Feihong, "China is ready to work with India to implement the important common understandings between the leaders of China and India, respect each other's core interests and major concerns, str ...Read More >
New Delhi, May 21 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to entertain a plea seeking criminal prosecution of Justice Yashwant Varma, who is embroiled in a controversy surrounding the alleged discovery of a huge pile of burnt cash in the storeroom attached to his bungalow in the national capital after the fire brigade had gone there to douse a blaze on March 14. "There was an in-house inquiry report. It has been forwarded to the President of India and the Prime Minister of India for action. If you are seeking a writ of mandamus, you have to first make a representation to those ...Read More >
RS Bharathi further alleged that ED has become a "blackmailing organisation," and referred to instances of the agency's officials arrested by the state police of Tamil Nadu and Kerala over bribery allegations The Supreme Court staying the ED probe against state-run TASMAC in Tamil Nadu is a "big blow" to the BJP's efforts to malign the party-led government in the state and the central probe agency was a "blackmailing organisation," senior DMK leader R S Bharathi said on Thursday. Responding to ...Read More >
Bengaluru: The Karnataka government on Thursday took strong action against the police officers allegedly responsible for the Bengaluru stampede, suspending several high-ranking officials, including the city's police commissioner. Addressing a press conference, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also announced a one-man commission to probe the lapses that triggered the deadly stampede. "Cubbon Park Police Station police inspector, station house master, station house officer, ACP, Central Division DCP, cricket stadium in-charge, additional commissioner of police, commissioner of police have been susp ...Read More >
Pakistan's former Foreign Minister and Chairman of the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, recently faced public embarrassment at a United Nations press briefing after he was fact-checked by a reporter for making unsubstantial claims that Muslims were being 'demonised' in India. Bilawal Bhutto, part of Islamabad's diplomatic team at the UN, made the remarks during a press conference to clarify Pakistan's stance on Kashmir. Pahalgam attack was politicised to demonise Indian Mus ...Read More >
Bengaluru, June 6 (SocialNews.XYZ) BJP MP Tejasvi Surya slammed Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and called his delegation at the UN Headquarters in New York, the "Devil reading the scriptures". The office of Tejasvi Surya has released a statement in this regard on Friday. Addressing a press conference at the National Media Centre in Washington, DC, Surya strongly condemned Bhutto for playing the victim card again before an important forum like the United Nations. Bhutto said, "Dialogue and diplomacy are the only viable path to peace. Pakistan has appealed to the internation ...Read More >
Kolkata: Once heavily dependent on imports, India's defence sector is poised to emerge as a global supplier, riding on a plethora of policy reforms, investments and industrial capabilities. With NATO announcing that its member nations will raise defence expenditure to 5% of GDP by 2035, there is a growing optimism in India about making it big in the export of military hardware in the developed world. One of the bright spots is the achievement of Reliance Defence, which has grabbed an export order of Rs 600 crore from Germany's major defence manufacturer Rheinmetall Waffe Munition GmbH. Relian ...Read More >