Latest in Politics
NBC News
16 minutes ago
- Business
- NBC News
Trump announces 30% tariffs on European Union, Mexico
President Trump threatened a significant tariff hike on the European Union and Mexico, two of the largest U.S. trade partners, on Saturday. NBC News' Yamiche Alcindor has more.
Express Tribune
19 minutes ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Bugti urges discourse rethink on Balochistan
Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti has urged the human rights organisations to build an impartial and fact-based narrative of Balochistan's history, current realities and overall situation. He expressed these views in a meeting with a delegation from the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) at the Chief Minister's Secretariat in Quetta on Saturday. Bugti said the ongoing narrative at the national and international level regarding Balochistan was inconsistent with facts and was in need of revision to reflect a balanced and accurate perspective. The meeting included in-depth discussions on law and order, human rights conditions and the province's social development initiatives. Dwelling on history, Bugti pointed out that the accession of the erstwhile Kalat State to Pakistan in 1948 was the result of mutual agreement rather than coercion, adding that certain groups had deliberately distorted historical facts to mislead those unfamiliar with the region's true past. Referring to recent terrorist incidents, he condemned the targeted killing of innocent citizens based on their identity, describing it as part of a broader agenda driven by hostile foreign powers, particularly India. "These terrorist acts have nothing to do with a struggle for rights but are part of an organised attempt to destabilise and divide Pakistan," he said, adding that supporters of these groups have openly expressed their intentions on various national and international platforms. Questioning the legitimacy of such violent acts, Bugti asked, "What kind of rights movement involves killing people based on their ethnic identity?" He pointed out that such elements had rejected dialogue and openly advocated for the division of Pakistan, an approach that was unacceptable in any civilised state or society. He reiterated that the state bears a constitutional and legal responsibility to safeguard the lives and property of its citizens, adding that the obligation would be fulfilled under all circumstances. Addressing the issue of missing persons, he noted that the phenomenon was not confined to Balochistan alone, but also existed in other provinces and in various countries worldwide. However, he expressed concern over the prevailing tendency in the country to level accusations against state institutions without concrete evidence.
Express Tribune
19 minutes ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
SJC disposes of 19 misconduct complaints
The Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) on Saturday disposed of 19 complaints filed against various high and apex courts' justices under Article 209. It also decided to defer proceedings on five other complaints lodged by different individuals. The SJCthe constitutional forum that can hold superior court judges accountablemet at the Supreme Court in Islamabad under the chairmanship of the chief justice of Pakistan (CJP), Yahya Afridi. SC's Justice Munib Akhtar, Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice Aalia Neelum and Sindh High Court (SHC) Chief Justice Muhammad Junaid Ghaffar attended the meeting. SC's senior puisne judge Syed Mansoor Ali Shah also participated in the meeting through video link. According to sources, the council deliberated on the suggestion of CJP Afridi to announce names of the judges against whom complaints were disposed of. The SJC later decided to keep those names confidential. The Supreme Court's press release also did not specify which judges the five deferred complaints are against as well as the nature of the 19 resolved complaints. The council also approved the proposed draft of the Supreme Judicial Council Secretariat Service Rules 2025. However, it decided that the proposed amendments to the inquiry procedures and code of conduct required further consideration from legal and drafting perspectives. Article 209 of the Constitution deals with the composition and functions of the SJC.
The Guardian
21 minutes ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Kash Patel denies rumors he's quitting the FBI over DoJ ruling on Epstein files
FBI director Kash Patel has denied swirling resignation rumors over reported unhappiness at a justice department decision to close the book on Jeffrey Epstein after administration officials teased a big reveal earlier in the year. In a Saturday social media post, the agency director said: 'the conspiracy theories just aren't true, never have been. It's an honor to serve the President of the United States – and I'll continue to do so for as long as he calls on me.' Over the past week, Maga hardliners, including Georgia representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, former White House adviser Steve Bannon and – reportedly – FBI deputy director Dan Bongino, have been strongly critical of a joint decision by US attorney general Pam Bondi and the FBI to not release further information about Epstein held in government files, including a so-called client list. Critics have slammed the FBI-justice department conclusion about Epstein's official autopsy that the disgraced financier had hung himself in his cell. Many have refused to accept that, repeating a conspiracy theory that Epstein, who died in August 2019 while awaiting trial, was in fact murdered to silence him. 'This systematic review revealed no incriminating 'client list',' the memo stated. 'There was also no credible evidence found that Epstein blackmailed prominent individuals as part of his actions. We did not uncover evidence that could predicate an investigation against uncharged third parties.' Rumors of a rift between the FBI and the justice department over the memo have been denied by deputy attorney general Todd Blanche, who wrote on social media that there is 'no daylight' between the FBI and the Department of Justice leadership on the issue. 'I worked closely with [Kash and Bongino] on the joint FBI and DOJ memo regarding the Epstein Files. All of us signed off on the contents of the memo and the conclusions stated in the memo. The suggestion by anyone that there was any daylight between the FBI and DOJ leadership on this memo's composition and release is patently false,' Blanche said. But on Friday, NBC News reported that Bongino is considering stepping down from his post at the FBI after a 'heated confrontation' with Bondi over the issue. 'Bongino is out-of-control furious,' the person who has spoken with the deputy FBI director said. 'This destroyed his career. He's threatening to quit and torch Pam unless she's fired.' Donald Trump has also grown testy with repeated questions about Epstein, who was once a neighbor in Palm Beach. He erupted on Tuesday when he was pressed on an apparent one-minute gap in a 10-hour video recorded outside of Epstein's cell. 'Are you still talking about Jeffrey Epstein?' he said. 'This guy's been talked about for years … Are people still talking about this guy, this creep? That is unbelievable.' Bondi has since explained that the missing minute of surveillance film was simply the recording equipment resetting itself, as it does every night. Still, it is not clear that Maga hardliners are willing to let the Epstein conspiracy theories go – they have provided a constant stream of material that supposedly supports their theories of a deep state. But no evidence has emerged that Epstein was engaged in a conspiracy to blackmail high-profile visitors, including Britain's Prince Andrew, to his homes in New York, Florida, New Mexico and the US Virgin Islands. The FBI-DoJ memo stated that it had uncovered 'a significant amount of material', including more than 300GB of data and physical evidence that included 'a large volume of images of Epstein, images and videos of victims who are either minors or appear to be minors, and over ten thousand downloaded videos and images of illegal child sex abuse material and other pornography'. 'Through this review, we found no basis to revisit the disclosure of those materials and will not permit the release of child pornography,' the memo said.
Indian Express
22 minutes ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
BJP govt has set its sights on demolishing jhuggis in Nangli Dairy: Atishi
AAP leader and former Delhi chief minister, Atishi, on Saturday said that the BJP government has started preparations to demolish jhuggi-jhopri (JJ) clusters in Nangli Dairy, just months after razing Madrasi Camp, Jailerwala Bagh, and Bhoomiheen Camp. Speaking to mediapersons, Atishi said, 'Ahead of elections, BJP leaders conducted symbolic stays in jhuggi-jhopri clusters, shared meals with residents, played ludo and carrom with children, and distributed 'Jhuggi ke sthaan par pakka makaan' cards.' 'While Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly claimed that not a single slum would be demolished in Delhi… the moment Delhi elections were over and the BJP came to power, they began tearing down the homes of the poor. The very jhuggis where they made promises are now the first to face bulldozers,' she added. Atishi, Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly, said the BJP government is now preparing to demolish slums in Nangli Dairy. 'Two days ago, the BJP-run MCD pasted demolition notices on homes in the cluster, which has 250-300 jhuggis. Residents have been labelled 'encroachers' and warned that unless they submit documents within five days, their homes will be demolished,' she added. Maintaining that AAP stands firmly with the poor, Atishi said, 'Whether it's in court, at the MCD, in the Delhi Assembly or out on the streets, AAP will fight shoulder to shoulder with jhuggi dwellers. We will not allow the BJP to demolish these homes.'
