Latest news with #IndiaPakistanBreakingNews
News18
5 days ago
- Politics
- News18
President For Life? Turkey's Erdogan Appoints Legal Team To Draft New Constitution
Last Updated: The Turkish leader, who is serving as President since 2014 and was Prime Minister for more than a decade before that, has advocated for a new constitution. Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has announced that he has appointed a team of legal experts to start working on a new constitution. The critics say that this decision by Erdogan, who is known for using electoral malpractices to stay in power, could allow him to remain in power beyond 2028, when his current term ends. The Turkish leader, who is serving as President since 2014 and was Prime Minister for more than a decade before that, has advocated for a new constitution arguing that the current one, which was drafted following a military coup in 1980, is outdated and retains elements of military influence even though it was amended several times. 'As of yesterday, I have assigned 10 legal experts to begin their work, and with this effort, we will proceed with the preparations for the new constitution. For 23 years, we have repeatedly demonstrated our sincere intention to crown our democracy with a new civilian and libertarian constitution," Erdogan told his ruling party's local administrators in a speech as quoted by news agency Associated Press. Under the current Constitution of Turkey, Erdogan cannot run again unless he calls for an early election or the legal framework is changed. Hence, critics see the push for a new constitution as a possible path for his re-election, allowing legal changes that would bypass the constitutional term limits. Erdogan's ruling party and its nationalist allies lack the votes needed to usher in a new constitution. Some analysts believe the government's recent effort to end the decades-long conflict with the militant Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, is part of strategy to gain the support of a pro-Kurdish party in parliament for the new charter. Amid all these accusations, Erdogan denied that he was trying to change the constitution to stay in power. 'We want the new constitution not for ourselves, but for our country. I have no interest in being re-elected or running for office again," he said. Meanwhile, Erdogan has already started employing tactics of curbing the voices of dissent. Earlier in March this year, Ekrem Imamoglu, the popular mayor of Istanbul and a key Erdogan rival was arrested by Turkish authorities on corruption charges. His arrest has been widely viewed as politically motivated although the government insists Turkey's judiciary is independent and free of political influence. It triggered widespread demonstrations calling for his release and an end to Turkey's democratic backsliding under Erdogan. Imamoglu is not the only opponent Erdogan has unleashed his wrath upon. This month, Turkey arrested 65 soldiers and police officers over suspected connections to the late preacher Fethullah Gulen, who was accused of orchestrating the failed coup attempt back in 2016. (With inputs from agencies) Watch India Pakistan Breaking News on CNN-News18. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published:
News18
6 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Who Are Todd And Julie Chrisley? TV Stars Convicted Of Bank Fraud, Pardoned By Donald Trump
Last Updated: Trump announced plans to pardon TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley, convicted in 2022 of bank fraud and tax evasion. The couple sought clemency amid claims of harsh treatment. US President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced his plans to pardon TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley, who in 2022 were found guilty of federal charges of tax evasion and conspiring to swindle community banks. The Chrisley family has implored the Trump administration to release the pair, and last week, Trump's daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, aired an interview on her Fox News program with the Chrisleys' daughter, Savannah. 'Your parents are going to be free and clean, and I hope that we can do it by tomorrow," Trump said in a call with Savannah Chrisley, according to a video posted online by a White House aide. 'They've been given a pretty harsh treatment based on what I'm hearing," the President added a few moments later. The move continues a pattern of Trump pardoning high-profile friends, supporters, donors and former staffers, according to the AP. On Monday, Trump pardoned Scott Jenkins, a former Virginia sheriff who was sentenced to 10 years in prison after being convicted on fraud and bribery charges. The President posted online that Jenkins and his family 'have been dragged through HELL by a Corrupt and Weaponized Biden DOJ". advetisement WHO ARE TODD AND JULIE CHRISLEY? Todd and Julie Chrisley are TV stars, famous for the reality show 'Chrisley Knows Best', which followed their tight-knit family and extravagant lifestyle that prosecutors said was boosted by bank fraud and hiding earnings from tax authorities. The Chrisleys were convicted in 2022 of conspiring to defraud banks in the Atlanta area out of more than $30 million in loans by submitting false documents. They were also found guilty of tax evasion, obscuring their earnings while showcasing a luxurious way of living that authorities said included high-priced cars, designer clothes, real estate and travel. Prosecutors said the couple walked away from their responsibility for repayment when Todd Chrisley declared bankruptcy and left $20-plus million in unpaid loans. Julie Chrisley was sentenced to seven years in federal prison, and Todd Chrisley got 12 years behind bars. The couple was also ordered to pay $17.8 million in restitution. Before the Chrisleys became reality television stars, they and a former business partner submitted false documents to banks in the Atlanta area to obtain fraudulent loans, prosecutors said during their trial. They accused the couple of spending lavishly, then using new fraudulent loans to pay off old ones. A three-judge panel of the 11th US Circuit Court of Appeals last summer upheld the Chrisleys' convictions but found a legal error in how the trial judge had calculated Julie Chrisley's sentence by holding her accountable for the entire bank fraud scheme. The appellate panel sent her case back to the lower court for resentencing. Watch India Pakistan Breaking News on CNN-News18. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published: May 28, 2025, 09:55 IST
News18
12-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
'They Don't Indulge In Terror Activities': What Pakistan Defence Minister Said On His Country Sheltering Terrorists
Last Updated: Pakistan defence minister Khawaja Asif said terrorists living inside his country's territory "do not indulge in terror activities, either in Pak or across the border in India" Denying his country sheltered terrorists, Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has said the ongoing terrorism has to do with past US alliances and they have not supported it for years. In an interview to the BBC hours after India carried out a military strike on terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on May 7, Asif said terrorists living inside its territory 'do not indulge in terror activities, either in Pak or across the border in India". India carried out the precision strikes under Operation Sindoor as retaliation to the Pahalgam terror attack and in view of cross-border links to the tragedy. The Resistance Front (TRF), known to be affiliated with Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility for the attack that claimed the lives of 26 tourists in Jammu and Kashmir. Asked if there were terrorists or terror groups active in Pakistan, Asif gave an emphatic 'no" for an answer. 'These (terrorism and terrorists) are things from our past…" he told the BBC, pointing to the role of the US in arming certain Afghanistan groups in the 1980s during the Afghan-Soviet war. He answered questions related to the funding of designated terror groups like the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and if Pakistan was helping them generate these through 'legitimate" businesses. 'The terrorists, which it is claimed that they are in Pakistan or their terrorist outfits are in Pakistan, they were allies of the US efforts in Afghanistan in the 80s. This thing keeps haunting us… that all these people who were actually our allies, or we were their allies… they're all 'dry-cleaned' now, but we are still 'dirty'. They still blame us for people who were their allies," he was quoted. India has repeatedly accused Pakistan of harbouring terrorists and fomenting their activities across the border, especially fuelling the Kashmir issue in India. In fact, the Pahalgam attack took place days after Pakistan Army chief General Asim Munir called Kashmir a 'jugular vein" for his country. Earlier, in his address to the nation and while speaking about Operation Sindoor, Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a stern warning to Pakistan saying India will not succumb to nuclear blackmail and sent a clear message to the world: terror and trade, terror and talks cannot go together. 'Operation Sindoor is India's new policy against terrorism. We have only kept in abeyance our operations against Pakistan and the future will depend on their behaviour," Modi said in the 22-minute address. He had an advice for Pakistan's rulers: 'The terrorists they have been feeding and nurturing all these years will swallow Pakistan itself. If Pakistan wants to survive, it will have to root out terrorism. This is not an era of war, but this is also not the era of terror." Watch India Pakistan Breaking News on CNN-News18. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published: May 12, 2025, 23:55 IST
News18
10-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
Satellite Images Show Potential Runway Damage At Pakistan's Sargodha Airbase After India's Strikes
Last Updated: India responded strongly to Pakistan's offensive last night, targeting key Pakistani Air bases in a measured and effective response, along with strikes in Lahore and Rawalpindi. As India launched retaliatory airstrikes against Pakistan, new satellite images have shown that the Indian Air Force has possibly managed to hit the Mushraf Air Base in Sargodha. Intelligence expert Damien Symon released images captured by LANDSAT, a moderate resolution satellite, showing potential runway damage this morning at the Sargodha air base following India's airstrikes inside Pakistan. LANDSAT – a moderate resolution satellite, captured an image over Sargodha Airbase this morning following India's airstrikes inside Pakistan, while resolution is limited, imagery suggests potential runway damage — Damien Symon (@detresfa_) May 10, 2025 India carried out precision strikes on eight Pakistani military sites early Saturday in response to a series of coordinated attacks by Pakistan on Indian Air Force installations, including Udhampur, Pathankot, Adampur, and Bhuj, as well as civilian infrastructure at the IAF bases in Srinagar and Awantipora, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said. India's 'Act Of War' Notice To Pakistan The retaliatory strikes came after Pakistani forces launched drones, loitering munitions, high-speed missiles, and fighter aircraft to target both military and civilian assets at 26 locations across western and northern India as well as the Line of Control (LoC). Pakistan launched ' Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos ' in response to India's strikes on Saturday morning, which was crushed within hours by the Indian military with its attacks in major cities and multiple airbases in Pakistan. Pakistan's foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, on Saturday said that his country would 'consider stopping here" if India halted its military action. He also expressed hopes that both nations would hold talks after several nations called for de-escalation. Addressing the press at 10 am, Colonel Sophia Qureshi confirmed that IAF stations at Udhampur, Pathankot, Adampur, and Bhuj sustained limited damage to equipment and personnel. In a particularly reckless move, Pakistan also targeted medical centres and school premises at the bases in Srinagar, Avantipur, and Udhampur. Later today, India issued a stern warning to Pakistan that any future terror attack in the country will be considered an Act of War, sources said on Saturday, as tensions skyrocketed between the two nations. This would mean that an armed attack or use of force that threatens the sovereignty or territorial integrity of a state or the safety of its people would be allowed. India also rebutted Pakistan's 'tissue of lies" regarding the alleged destruction of Indian military facilities. Misri presented timestamped images from airbases at Adampur, Suratgarh, Sirsa, Nagrota, and Chandigarh, confirming that runways and depots remained intact. Watch India Pakistan Breaking News on CNN-News18. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published: May 10, 2025, 16:22 IST
