US expels 35 Russian agents, slaps sanctions over hacking

In this 2015 AP file photo, President Barack Obama shakes hands with Russian President President Vladimir Putin before a bilateral meeting at United Nations headquarters.

WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama today sanctioned Russia and expelled 35 of its agents over alleged Russian hacking during the US presidential polls, but his counterpart Vladimir Putin surprisingly refused to retaliate, saying he will watch the moves of President-elect Donald Trump.

"All Americans should be alarmed by Russia's actions," Obama said in a statement as he ordered a number of actions in response to the Russia's alleged aggressive harassment of US officials and cyber operations targeting the US election.

"These actions follow repeated private and public warnings that we have issued to the Russian government, and are a necessary and appropriate response to efforts to harm US interests in violation of established international norms of behaviour," he said yesterday.

The executive order issued by Obama provided additional authority for responding to certain cyber activity that seeks to interfere with or undermine US election processes and institutions, or those of its allies or partners. "Using this new authority, I have sanctioned nine entities and individuals: the GRU and the FSB, two Russian intelligence services; four individual officers of the GRU; and three companies that provided material support to the GRU's cyber operations," he said.

"In addition, the Secretary of the Treasury is designating two Russian individuals for using cyber-enabled means to cause misappropriation of funds and personal identifying information. The State Department is also shutting down two Russian compounds, in Maryland and New York, used by Russian personnel for intelligence-related purposes, and is declaring 'persona non grata' 35 Russian intelligence operatives," Obama said.

"Finally, the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are releasing declassified technical information on Russian civilian and military intelligence service cyber activity, to help network defenders in the US and abroad identify, detect, and disrupt Russia's global campaign of malicious cyber activities," he said.

Obama said these actions are not the sum total of US response to Russia's aggressive activities. "We will continue to take a variety of actions at a time and place of our choosing, some of which will not be publicised," he said.

Obama said the US and its allies around the world must work together to oppose Russia's efforts to undermine established international norms of behaviour, and interfere with democratic governance," Obama said.

Meanwhile, in Moscow, Putin in response to Obama's sanctions said Russia "will not create problems for American diplomats. We will not expel anyone". "According to international practice, Russia has all the grounds for a comparable response," Putin said shortly after Russian Foreign Ministry sought his approval for a tit-for-tat move.

"Reserving the right to retaliatory measures, we... will be planning our next steps in restoring US-Russian relations based on the policies pursued by the administration of president Donald Trump," Putin said.

Source:http://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2016/dec/30/us-expels-35-russian-agents-slaps-sanctions-over-hacking-1554555.html

‘Dangal’ worldwide box-office collection: Aamir Khan film zooms past 300-crore mark

Aamir Khan's Christmas release 'Dangal,' which also stars Fatima Sana Sheikh, Sanya Malhotra and Sakshi Tanwar in lead roles, is roaring at the box-office with the collection of over Rs 197 crore at the domestic box-office. The sports drama film, co-written and directed by Nitesh Tiwari, has also made a mark in the overseas market having collected Rs 111.61 crore, which takes its worldwide collection (domestic+overseas) to an astounding figure of over Rs 308 crore. 'Dangal,' which is a biopic on Indian coach and wrestler Mahavir Singh Phogat, has done a stupendous business in international circuits like USA-Canada, UAE-GCC, UK and Australia. With no major Bollywood release to compete with in the second weekend, the film's collections are expected to go up substantially.



Source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/box-office/dangal-worldwide-box-office-collection-aamir-khan-film-zooms-past-300-crore-mark/articleshow/56259658.cms

Bigg Boss 10 December 30 preview: Manoj Punjabi, BanI J have a massive fight

Bigg Boss 10: Manveer takes first decision as a captain of the house, sends Swami Om and Gaurav Chopra to jail.

Bigg Boss 10: Manu Punjabi accuses Bani of not taking a stand against the wrongdoings of Priyanka Jagga.

As if all the melodrama in Thursday’s episode of Bigg Boss 10 was not enough for Swami Om, now he takes up a fight with Lopamudra.

Lopa tries to cheer up Rohan as he was disheartened with the entire incident which led to his nomination for the entire season. She tells him that he should walk out of the show with dignity. Swami, who is overhearing their conversation, pokes his nose in between and passes personal comments on Lopamudra.

Manveer and Manu try to reason with Swami Om but Swami turns a deaf ear and continues with his remarks. Lopa’s anger hits the roof and she lashes out at him for making baseless comments. On seeing the situation going out of control, Bani asks Manu and Manveer to boycott Swami Om.

Finally, Gaurav succeeds in making Rohan understand the entire fiasco and brings him back to normal. Just when things seem to get back to normal, Bigg Boss asks Manveer to punish two weak contestants. Manveer punishes Gaurav and Swami Om. Later in the day, Swami Om and Gaurav are given a chance to get out of the jail with an interesting task, ‘Manveer Ki Adalat’. Manu and Rohan are made the advocates of Gaurav and Swami Om respectively. By the end of the task, the one who wins it will be released from the jail and the decision lies entirely with judge Manveer.

While discussing the various accusations pertaining to the captaincy task, Manu calls Bani in the kathghara and cross questions her. The entire drama turns into a massive fight after Manu accuses Bani of not supporting him when Priyanka Jagga passed comments on his mother’s death. Bani takes offence to this and blames Manu for making shallow and insensitive comments.

Now it will be interesting to see whether Manveer will stay fair in his decision as a captain of the house or his verdict will be influenced by his personal grudges

Source:http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bigg-boss-season-10/bigg-boss-10-december-30-preview-manoj-punjabi-bani-j-have-a-massive-fight-4452132/.

Sikh campaigners seek release of UK files on 1984 Golden Temple operation

Suspected Sikh militants surrendered after the Indian government’s 1984 operation on the Golden Temple.

Whitehall correspondence released in 2014 said an SAS officer had been asked to plan an operation to remove militants from the temple. (File photo)

Secret government files said to hold details of British involvement in the operation on the Golden Temple, Sikhism’s holiest shrine, in June 1984, that claimed the lives of hundreds of people, should be released to the public, campaigners have urged. Members of the Sikh Federation believe the documents will show there was a greater level of cooperation between the British and Indian governments over the latter’s attempts to clear militants from the Golden Temple in the summer of 1984 than has previously been acknowledged, the Guardian reported on Thursday.

According to the London-based newspaper, The Nation, they have launched an appeal to the information tribunal, due to be heard next year, to try to force through the release of the files under freedom of information laws, having been thwarted in their attempts thus far.

“The public has a right to know the truth about what happened 30 years ago. We believe these files are being held back – not for security reasons but for political reasons that would prove embarrassing to the Conservative Party, since it was Margaret Thatcher and her discussions with the Indian regime,” said Davinder Singh, of the Sikh Federation.

The federation wants greater transparency over Britain’s involvement in the Indian government’s effort to drive Sikh militants seeking a separate homeland out of the Golden Temple in Amritsar – the religion’s most holy site.

The Indian government has put the death toll from the action, named Operation Blue Star, at about 400 people, whereas Sikh groups say many more were killed – including pilgrims – when the then-prime minister, Indira Gandhi, sent in the troops. More than 100 Indian soldiers died.

Whitehall correspondence released in 2014 said an SAS officer had been asked to plan an operation to remove militants from the temple. That plan was then approved by Gandhi, the letter said. But an inquiry ordered by David Cameron found no evidence of British involvement in the massacre.

Suspected Sikh militants surrendered after the Indian government’s 1984 operation on the Golden Temple. “Around four months before the event, at the request of the Indian government, a single UK military officer provided some advice. But, critically, this advice was not followed, and it was a one-off. There is absolutely no evidence of UK government involvement in the operation itself,” Cameron said, summarising the findings of Cabinet Secretary, Sir Jeremy Heywood.

The campaigners, however, believe the closed files will shed more light on the extent of Britain’s involvement. One of the four files relates to “UK/Indian relations: situation in Punjab; activities of Sikh extremists”, as well as a visit to the UK by Rajiv Gandhi, who took office after his mother, Indira Gandhi, was assassinated by two of her Sikh bodyguards in October 1984 in retaliation for the Amritsar attack.

Another file covers meetings between Margaret Thatcher and an aide to Indira Gandhi, as well as the latter’s assassination and Thatcher’s visit to India to attend her funeral. The final document is entitled simply: “India: political”.

Some of the information has already been released to the National Archives, while other portions have been withheld from the public. A Cabinet Office spokesperson said: “The first tier tribunal will consider this case in the New Year and it would be inappropriate to comment any further.”

Source:http://indianexpress.com/article/india/sikh-campaigners-seek-release-of-uk-files-on-1984-golden-temple-assault-4451409/

10 Dead In Jharkhand Mine Cave-In, Many Still Missing

Rescue operations are on at a mine, where some workers were trapped in Jharkhand. (PTI)

RANCHI/NEW DELHI:  Rescuers pulled out two more bodies today from the rubble of a collapsed coal mine in Jharkhand, taking the number of deaths to 10, police said, as many were still feared trapped. A massive mound of earth caved in late Thursday at the Lalmatia open cast mine, burying at least 23 miners and dozens of vehicles as hundreds of workers battled overnight to rescue them.

"Up till now, 10 bodies have been recovered after two more were pulled out. Coal mine authorities believe that there may be 2-3 more dead bodies inside," Jharkhand police spokesman, RK Mallick, told AFP.

"Total dead should not be more than 13 or 14, as per assessment."

He added that it was difficult to know how many may be trapped, but said close to a dozen were still unaccounted for.

Some of the workers had escaped the disaster site following the collapse, Mr Mallick said.

Images showed the dead covered with white sheets on makeshift quilts as colleagues and locals looked on at the rescue efforts.

Police and emergency workers used sniffer dogs, earth movers and their bare hands to remove giant rocks and mangled, overturned trucks to locate the trapped workers under tons of earth.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his grief on Twitter, promising to help the state government in its rescue operations

"Saddened by the loss of lives at a mine in Jharkhand. My prayers are with those trapped inside," he said.  

Federal disaster and rescue authorities have dispatched more than 200 rescue workers to the site.

The mine is operated by the government-owned Eastern Coalfields Limited. Its top official, Niladri Roy, told AFP that more than 250 metres (820 feet) of the mine collapsed as workers headed towards the exit around 7:30 pm Thursday.

There was no immediate explanation for the collapse, but the government has launched an investigation into the "unprecedented" incident.

In a separate incident on Thursday, four miners were injured at a government-run coal mine in Jharkhand's Dhanbad district.

A mine official said the workers were hit after the roof of the Putki Balihari coal mine partially collapsed. Two of the workers were critically injured.

Jharkhand is one of the richest mineral zones in India, accounting for around 29 percent of the country's coal deposits. However it is also one of India's poorest areas and the epicentre of a Maoist insurgency.

In 2015, India recorded 38 deaths across 570 mining sites. The last major mining accident in India occurred in 1975, when 372 workers were killed following the flooding of Chasnala mine in Dhanbad.

Source:http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/10-dead-in-jharkhand-mine-cave-in-many-still-missing-1643589

Sports Ministry cracks the whip, suspends Indian Olympic Association

Following the suspension, the IOA will cease to enjoy the government's assistance, financial or otherwise.

The Sports Ministry has suspended the deemed recognition of Indian Olympic Association (IOA) until the apex sports body reverses its decision to appoint Suresh Kalmadi and Abhay Singh Chautala as its life presidents. (All ties with IOA remain cut till it reverses decision: Vijay Goel)

Following the suspension, the IOA will cease to enjoy the government's assistance, financial or otherwise. The ministry had issued a showcause notice to IOA on 28 December after the IOA on 27 December appointed Kalmadi and Chautala as life presidents in its general body meeting. (Suresh Kalmadi declines post of life president with Indian Olympic Association)

The IOA had a deadline till 5:00PM today to reply to the notice, instead they sought an extension till January 15, citing that the body's president was not in the country. But the ministry was not satisfied with the response and said IOA was trying to buy time.

"Government considers the reply of IOA only as a ploy to buy time. This is a serious violation of the norms of good governance by IOA which is the mother sports body and corrective action needs to be taken immediately as it is a matter of national prestige and public sentiments," the ministry's press release read.

Earlier in the day, IOA's assistant vice-president Narinder Batra resigned from his post in protest over the controversial appointments of Kalmadi and Chautala as life presidents. (Exclusive: International Hockey Federation president Narinder Batra slams IOA's 'stupid' decision)

Meanwhile, Sports Minister Vijay Goel said, it was necessary to send across a message that associations are also accountable to public and must abide by the code of conduct.

Kalmadi, declined to accept the post the next day following uproar over his nomination as life president. However, Chautala on Thursday agreed to step down if only asked by the International Olympic Committee. (Ready to give up IOA post if IOC wants: Abhay Chautala)

Source:http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/sports-ministry-suspends-indian-olympic-association/1/846349.html

MS Dhoni to practice with Jharkhand team ahead of Ranji Trophy semis

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who is the unofficial mentor to the Jharkhand cricket team often practices with the players during the domestic First-Class season.

MS Dhoni will practice with the Jharkahnd team ahead of their semis (PTI Photo)

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who is the unofficial mentor to the Jharkhand cricket team, is set to watch his state side take on Gujarat in its first ever Ranji Trophy semifinal beginning in Nagpur on Sunday.

Dhoni doesn't play the longer version of the game ever since retiring from Tests but often practices with the Jharkhand players during the domestic First-Class season. (Also read: MS Dhoni retired from Tests two years ago: How India have fared under Virat Kohli since)

"He should be there in Nagpur in all probability. He wants to be there. Interactions with him has always been helpful for the boys," a source close to the team management told PTI.

But with the Indian team for the home ODI and T20 series against England expected to be picked in the first week of January, Dhoni might not be in Nagpur for the entire duration of the game.

The India limited-overs captain has taken out time for his state team when he is not on national duty. It is rare for the national team captain to train with his domestic team but Dhoni has done so frequently.

He dropped in at the nets ahead of Jharkhand's Ranji Trophy opener against Maharashtra at the Karnail Singh Stadium here in October.

The 35-year-old was also part of the pre-season camp held at the international cricket stadium in Ranchi. He spent time with the team in Chennai too in August on the sidelines of Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament.

Besides providing a morale boost to the players, Dhoni will get crucial net sessions under his belt ahead of international assignments. It has been all the more helpful this season with India having a Test-heavy season at home.

With the Vijay Hazare Trophy only starting on February 25, Dhoni won't get a competitive game before the England series starting on January 15.

Source: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/ms-dhoni-jharkhand-ranji-trophy-semifinals-india-vs-england/1/846294.html

BHIM App Launched, PM Narendra Modi Says World Will Google For It: 10 Facts

Bhim App was launched by PM Narendra Modi at the Digi Dhan Mela in Delhi.

NEW DELHI:  In keeping with his push to steer India towards a digital economy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today launched a new e-wallet app, BHIM, named after founding father Dr BR Ambedkar, to make it easier to transact online. The Aadhaar-based mobile payment application will allow people to make digital payments directly from their bank accounts. The PM also reiterated that digital transactions will be rewarded with raffle-like cash prizes from the government.

                                Here are the 10 latest developments in this big story
________________________________________________________________________________

1.) The BHIM app is being improved upon so that in time, "only your thumb will be needed to make a payment," said the PM, adding "you will eventually not be dependent on the internet, on smartphones, your thumb will be your bank."

2.) The 50-day deadline to submit invalid 500 and 1,000-rupee notes ends today. The Reserve Bank of India or RBI has asked banks to submit details of the deposits made in the outlawed currency. Nearly 90 per cent of the cancelled notes have been already deposited in banks, which means that the government's intention of removing black money may have missed its mark. PM Modi will address the country tomorrow evening to discuss the impact of his abrupt demonetisation drive.

3.) So far, there has been no announcement of whether the cash restrictions at ATMs and withdrawals from banks that were introduced after demonetisation will remain in place in the new year.

4.) On November 8, PM Modi's shock announcement rendered 86 per cent of India's currency void, giving people until today to swap their old 500 rupee and 1,000-rupee bills for new ones.

5.) The PM has been widely hailed for his assault on tax evasion but long queues outside banks, a cash crunch and policy flip-flops have led to a concerted attack from the opposition.

6.) The risky gamble is expected to impact the election in Uttar Pradesh, which is expected to be held in February. Many top industrialists and financial experts have praised the PM's call to move towards a digital economy, but some industries have ground to a halt and laid off staff, highlighting India's huge dependence on cash.

7.) As the almost two-month window draws to a close, serpentine queues outside banks have thinned down but a single 2,000 rupee note is still all that most ATMs dispense to customers.

8.) Until March 31, old notes can be deposited with the Reserve Bank of India but today is the last opportunity to do so at other banks. After the March deadline there will be a minimum 10,000 rupees penalty for holding old notes.

9.) Analysts say the cash squeeze will seriously dent India's economic growth in the short term, a prediction challenged by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. Ratings agency Fitch revised down its GDP forecast for the fourth quarter of 2016 to 6.9 per cent from 7.4 per cent.

10.) Economists expect the economy to benefit in the long term due to an increase in tax revenues but only once there is a plentiful supply of those elusive new notes in circulation. Many Indians have said they didn't mind the hours of queuing if it forced the rich to pay taxes.

Source:http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/pm-narendra-modi-launches-bhim-app-for-digital-transactions-10-points-1643507

Ceasefire continues in Syria despite isolated violence

The Observatory reported other minor violations, including the firing of a single missile by regime forces in southern Daraa province, but said the truce was largely holding.

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In this Saturday, Dec. 3, 2016 photo, Syrian army soldiers patrol the east Aleppo neighborhood of Tariq al-Bab, Syria. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

A fragile calm was holding across Syria today after a truce brokered by Russia and Turkey came into effect, a potentially major breakthrough after nearly six years of conflict. There were reports of isolated violence, including clashes in central Hama province between government forces and jihadist factions, a monitor said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said there were casualties among regime forces in the clashes after midnight with jihadists near the town of Mahardeh. The fighters were believed to be from a faction that did not sign the ceasefire announced yesterday by Russian President Vladimir Putin, and confirmed by Syria’s army and mainstream opposition bodies.

The Observatory reported other minor violations, including the firing of a single missile by regime forces in southern Daraa province, but said the truce was largely holding.

“There have not been any large violations,” said Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman.

“From midnight until 8:00 am (0600GMT) there have been no civilian deaths recorded,” he added.

AFP correspondents on the ground in rebel-held territory in northwest Idlib province and Eastern Ghouta outside Damascus also reported calm after the truce began.

The ceasefire is the first nationwide truce to be implemented in the country since September, and is intended to pave the way for new peace talks in Kazakhstan sponsored by Russia and Turkey.

Syria’s government hailed the agreement as a “real opportunity” to find a political solution to the war, which has killed more than 310,000 people since it began with anti-regime protests in March 2011.

And despite being left out of the process, Washington also hailed the truce agreement as a “positive development”, saying it hoped it would bring new negotiations.

The agreement comes a week after the regime, which is backed by ally Russia, recaptured second city Aleppo in a major blow to rebel forces.

Putin said Damascus and the “main forces of the armed opposition” had inked a truce and a document expressing readiness to start peace talks.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described the agreement as a “historic opportunity” and urged states with influence on the ground to show “the necessary sensitivity” to ensure the truce held.

Syria’s conflict has become a complex multi-front battle, with a range of outside players intervening, including Russia, which launched a military campaign to bolster President Bashar al-Assad last year.

Putin said Friday he would now reduce Moscow’s military contingent in Syria, though he added Russia would continue to fight “terrorism” and maintain its support for the government.

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Source:http://indianexpress.com/article/world/ceasefire-continues-in-syria-despite-isolated-violence-russia-turkey-aleppo4451779/

Obama tightens noose around Russia over election hacking, sanctions to put pressure on Trump

A month after an election the US says Russia tried to sway for Donald Trump, President Barack Obama on Thursday sanctioned the GRU and FSB, leading Russian intelligence agencies the US said were involved.

Russian President Vladimir Putin. Photo: AP

The United States is unleashing a string of sanctions and other punitive measures against Russia amid allegations that it engaged in cyber-meddling in the US presidential campaign, putting pressure on President-elect Donald Trump not to let Moscow off the hook after he takes office.

Russia's government threatened retaliation and continued to deny US accusations that it hacked and stole emails to try to help Trump win. Trump said the US should move on, but in a sign he was no longer totally brushing off the allegations, he planned to meet with US intelligence leaders next week to learn more.

A month after an election the US says Russia tried to sway for Trump, President Barack Obama on Thursday sanctioned the GRU and FSB, leading Russian intelligence agencies the US said were involved. In an elaborately coordinated response by at least five federal agencies, the Obama administration also sought to expose Russia's cyber tactics with a detailed technical report and hinted it might still launch a covert counterattack.

"All Americans should be alarmed by Russia's actions," said Obama, who was vacationing in Hawaii. He added, "Such activities have consequences."

COVERT ACTION

He said the response wasn't over and the US could take further, covert action - a thinly veiled reference to a counter-strike in cyberspace the US has been considering.

Yet the sanctions could easily be pulled back by Trump, who has insisted that Obama and Democrats are merely attempting to delegitimise his election.

As part of the punishment, the US kicked out 35 Russian diplomats, in response to Russia's harassment of US diplomats. They also shut down Russian recreational compounds in New York and Maryland that US officials said were being used for intelligence.

It was the strongest action the Obama administration has taken to date to retaliate for a cyber-attack, and more comprehensive than last year's sanctions on North Korea after it hacked Sony Pictures Entertainment. The new penalties add to existing US sanctions over Russia's actions in Ukraine, which have impaired Russia's economy but had limited impact on President Vladimir Putin's behavior.

Russia called the penalties a clumsy yet aggressive attempt to "harm Russian-American ties." Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia would take into account the fact that Trump will soon replace Obama as it drafts retaliatory measures.

US RELATIONS WITH RUSSIA

US relations with Russia have suffered during Obama's years in office as he and Putin tussled over Ukraine, Edward Snowden and Russia's support for Syrian President Bashar Assad. Maria Zakharova, a Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman, took to Facebook to call the Obama administration "a group of foreign policy losers, angry and ignorant."

It was unlikely the new sanctions, while symbolically significant, would have a major impact on Russian spy operations. The sanctions freeze any US assets and block Americans from doing business with them. But Russian law bars the spy agencies from having assets in the US, and any activities they undertake would likely be covert and hard to identify.

"On its face, this is more than a slap on the wrists, but hardly an appropriate response to an unprecedented attack on our electoral system," said Stewart Baker, a cyber-security lawyer and former National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security official.

Indeed, senior Obama administration officials said that even with the penalties, the US had reason to believe Russia would keep hacking other nations' elections and might well try to hack American elections again in 2018 or 2020. The officials briefed reporters on a conference call on condition of anonymity.

Though the FBI and Department of Homeland Security issued a joint report on "Russian malicious cyber activity" - replete with examples of malware code used by the Russians - it still has not released a broader report Obama has promised detailing Russia's efforts to interfere with US elections.

The report has been eagerly anticipated by those hoping to make it politically untenable for Trump to continue questioning whether Russia was really involved. But US officials said those seeking more detail about who the US has determined did the hacking need look only to the list of sanctions targets, which includes the GRU head, his three deputies, and two Russian nationals wanted by the FBI for cyber-crimes.

PRESSURE ON DONALD TRUMP TO ACT

The move puts Trump in the position of having to decide whether to roll back the measures once in office, and US officials acknowledged that Trump could use his executive authorities to do so. Still, they suggested that building the case against Russia now would make it harder for Trump to justify easing up.

US allegations of hacking have ignited a heated debate over Trump's approach to Russia and his refusal to accept the assessment of US intelligence agencies that Russia's government was responsible and wanted to help him win. Though US lawmakers have long called for Obama to be tougher on Russia, some Republicans have found that position less tenable now that Trump is floating the possibility of closer ties to Moscow.

"While today's action by the administration is overdue, it is an appropriate way to end eight years of failed policy with Russia," said House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis.

US intelligence agencies concluded that Russia was trying to help Trump when hackers connected to the government breached Democratic Party computers and stole tens of thousands of emails that were then posted on WikiLeaks, some containing embarrassing information about Democrats. Clinton aide John Podesta's emails were also stolen and released publicly in the final weeks of the campaign.

Source: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/russia-cyber-meddling-us-presidential-elections-barack-obama-donald-trump-vladimir-putin/1/845957.html

PM Modi's Speech On Notes Ban Tomorrow, Last Day To Turn In Notes Today

The post demonetisation deadline to deposit old Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 notes in banks ends today.

NEW DELHI:  The deadline to submit invalid 500- and 1,000-rupee notes ends today. The RBI has asked banks to submit details of the deposits made in the outlawed currency. It is estimated that more than 90% of the cancelled notes have been already deposited in banks, which means that the government's intention of removing black money may have missed its mark. Here are the 10 latest developments in this big story:
_________________________________________________________________________

1.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the country tomorrow evening to discuss the impact of his abrupt demonetization drive.

2.)So far, there has been no announcement of whether the cash restrictions at ATMs and withdrawals from banks will remain in place.

3.)On November 8, PM Modi's shock announcement rendered 86 percent of India's currency void, giving people until today to swap their old 500 rupee ($7.30) and 1,000-rupee bills for new ones.

4.)The PM has been widely hailed for his assault on tax evasion but long queues outside banks, a cash crunch and policy flip-flops have led to a concerted attack from the opposition.

5.)The risky gamble is expected to impact the election in Uttar Pradesh, which is expected to be held in February. Many top industrialists and financial experts have praised the PM's call to move towards a digital economy, but some industries have ground to a halt and laid off staff, highlighting India's huge dependence on cash.

6.)As the almost two-month window draws to a close, serpentine queues outside banks have thinned down but a single 2,000 rupee note is still all that most ATMs dispense to customers.

7.)Until March 31, old notes can be deposited with the Reserve Bank of India but today is the last opportunity to do so at other banks. After the March deadline there will be a minimum 10,000 rupees penalty for holding old notes.

8.)Analysts say the cash squeeze will seriously dent India's economic growth in the short term, a prediction challenged by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. Ratings agency Fitch revised down its GDP forecast for the fourth quarter of 2016 to 6.9 percent from 7.4 percent.

9.)Economists expect the economy to benefit in the long term due to an increase in tax revenues but only once there is a plentiful supply of those elusive new notes in circulation.

10.)Many Indians have said they didn't mind the hours of queuing if it forced the rich to pay taxes.

Source: http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/pm-modis-speech-on-notes-ban-tomorrow-last-day-to-turn-in-notes-today-1643432

Russia plans immediate 'counter-measures' after US ejects 35 diplomats

Foreign ministry spokeswoman attacks ‘losers’ of outgoing Obama administration and says plans will be announced on Friday

 TV crews outside the Russian embassy in Washington. Photograph: Xinhua/Barcroft Images

Russia is planning an immediate response to the US decision to kick 35 Russian diplomats out of the country with its own “counter-measures”.

The foreign ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, wrote on Facebook overnight that Russia would announce its own measures during the day. She launched a stinging attack on the outgoing Obama administration, which she called “foreign policy losers”.

US intelligence services believe Russia ordered cyber-attacks on the Democratic National Committee (DNC), Hillary Clinton’s campaign and other political organisations in an attempt to influence the election in favour of the Republican candidate, Donald Trump.

The US response, announced on Thursday, involved the sanctioning of Russia’s GRU and FSB intelligence services, individuals and companies linked to them, and the expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats the US believes are engaging in espionage. They were given 72 hours to leave the country. Obama said Americans should “be alarmed by Russia’s actions”. He added that more actions would be taken, “some of which will not be publicised”.

Diplomatic expulsions are normally met with reciprocal action. In 2001, the George W Bush administration kicked out 51 Russian diplomats it said were spies. Russia responded by telling 50 US diplomats to leave Russia.

In this case, however, Moscow may pause for thought. With Trump, who has spoken positively about Russia and Vladimir Putin, just three weeks away from the White House, Russia may feel it is inadvisable to expel 35 US diplomats. Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said Russia would take into account the fact that Trump would soon replace Barack Obama as it drafted its response.

Russian authorities on Thursday ordered that the Anglo-American School of Moscow be closed, according to CNN, citing a US official briefed on the matter. The school serves children of US, British and Canadian embassy personnel, and the move would make a Russian posting difficult for US diplomats with families. There was no official confirmation of the move, which may be in retaliation for the US closing two recreational facilities run by the Russian government that it said were used for espionage.

On Friday morning, Zakharova denied that Russia would target the school in response. “It’s a lie,” she said. “It seems the White House has now gone completely mad and is inventing sanctions against its own children”

Russia, which has repeatedly denied the hacking allegations, reacted furiously to Obama’s measures. Zakharova wrote: “The people who have spent eight years in the White House are not an administration, they are a group of foreign policy losers, embittered and short-sighted. Today, Obama officially proved this.”

Konstantin Kosachev, chairman of the international affairs committee in the upper house of the Russian parliament, was quoted by the RIA news agency as saying the US move represented “the death throes of political corpses”.

The Twitter feed of the Russian embassy in London, meanwhile, called the Obama administration “hapless” and attached a picture of a duck with the word “lame” emblazoned across it.

A Russian diplomatic source told Interfax that the US move was “completely unexpected” and many of the diplomats had been preparing to celebrate New Year’s Eve, the biggest Russian holiday. Many were struggling to find tickets back to Russia, as planes were full because of the holiday season, the source said.

On Thursday, Trump, who has previously dismissed reports of Russian interference in the election, said: “It’s time for our country to move on to bigger and better things.”

He added, however, that “in the interest of our country and its great people, I will meet with leaders of the intelligence community next week in order to be updated on the facts of this situation”.

In a conference call with reporters, senior White House officials said the president-elect’s transition team had been informed of the sanctions before they were announced on Thursday. Trump and Obama spoke on Wednesday, they said.

The officials added that the actions were a necessary response to “very disturbing Russian threats to US national security”.

“There has to be a cost and a consequence for what Russia has done,” a senior administration official said. “It is in a extraordinary step for them to interfere in the democratic process here in the United States of America. There needs to be a price for that.”

Demonetisation, GST to transform India, NPAs key risk: RBI

RBI) Governor Urjit Patel speaks during a news conference after the bimonthly monetary policy review in Mumbai, India December 7, 2016.

Lauding the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and demonetisation initiative by the government, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Thursday said these moves can transform the economy, inconvenience to public and momentary impact on growth notwithstanding. In a statement to the media on Thursday, RBI Governor Urjit Patel said withdrawal of specified bank notes will impart far reaching changes going forward, adding that demonetisation will significantly transform economy in due course. These observations were made in the Report on Trend and
Progress of Banking in India 2015-16 (RTP) and the 14th issue of the Financial Stability Report (FSR).

Patel said that enhanced transparency has helped in reinforcing the stability of India’s financial system. He further added that the performance of corporate sector has improved though the risk of lower turnover remains. The Governor also cautioned that there is “little room” for complacency and it is important to guard against sporadic volatility in financial markets. RBI further said that the banking stability indicator shows that the risks to the banking sector remained elevated due to continuous deterioration in asset quality, low profitability and liquidity.

Meanwhile, in an effort to assuage concerns of Medium and Small Enterprises (MSMEs), the central bank directed banks to provide additional working capital limit to them to deal with cash crunch following demonetisation. It also noted that the financial system remains stable although banks, particularly public sector banks (PSBs) continue to face significant levels of stress.

In a recent move, the central bank also refused to entertain RTI queries on reasons behind demonetisation and notes replenishment. The RBI feels the reasons behind the sudden announcement cannot be made public. It also refused to give any details on the amount of time it will take to replenish the currency notes. “The query is in the nature of seeking future date of an event which is not defined as information as per Section 2(f) of the RTI Act,” RBI said in response to an RTI query.

The RBI did not give any reasons as to how exemption would apply in the given case as the decision was already taken and there was no way that disclosure of information would have fit in any of the reasons cited in section 8(1)(a) of the RTI Act.