North Korea to dismantle its nuclear test site in May, says South Korea

Seoul/Washington:North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said during Friday’s summit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in that he would close the country’s nuclear test site next month, Moon’s office said on Sunday.

“Kim said during the summit... that he would carry out the closing of the nuclear test site in May,” Moon’s spokesman told reporters.

New US secretary of state Mike Pompeo said he had a “good conversation” with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un during his visit to Pyongyang, adding Kim was “prepared to... lay out a map that would help us achieve” denuclearisation.

Pompeo made the remarks in an exclusive interview with ABC News, extracts of which were released ahead of its broadcast on Sunday.

Pompeo, who is currently in the Middle East on his first trip as Washington’s chief diplomat, described Kim as “very well prepared” during their secret meeting, which took place over Easter weekend to set the groundwork for a historic summit meeting with US President Donald Trump.

“We had an extensive conversation on the hardest issues that face our two countries,” he said. “I had a clear mission statement from President Trump. When I left Kim Jong Un understood the mission exactly as I described it today.”

Trump, meanwhile, addressed the topic of the planned summit at a campaign-style rally in the town of Washington, Michigan.

“If we would have said where we are today from three or four months—months ago, do you remember what they were saying? ‘He’s going to get us into nuclear war, they said,’” referring to a fiery war-of-words between himself and Kim that preceded a diplomatic breakthrough.

He added: “No, strength is going to keep us out of nuclear war, not going to get us in!” The US president added he was cautiously optimistic over the outcome.

“I think we will have a meeting over the next three or four weeks that will be a very important meeting... but we’ll see how it goes.

“And again, whatever happens, happens. Look, I may go in. It may not work out. I leave,” he continued, adding he would avoid the mistakes of the Obama administration which arrived at a denuclearization deal with Iran.

“We’re going to have hopefully a very successful negotiation over the next three or four weeks. And we’ll be doing the world a big favor. We’ll be doing the world a big favor.”

Bank fixed deposit rates explained

Bank fixed deposits (FDs) continue to be popular investment products not just among senior citizens, who are looking for guaranteed income, but also among investors who can’t stomach risk or simply don’t have the wherewithal to invest in other asset classes like mutual funds. In a sense, FDs are simple comfort food on a menu comprising investment products with complicate recipes.

But over-exposure to FDs is not good, and you need to assess your asset allocation and goals to decide how much money you should park in them. For instance, saving for your child’s higher education that’s 15 years away through FDs may not be a great idea as the post-tax interest rate of an FD may not give you a real return (return that’s above the rate of inflation), but if you plan to take a holiday in two years and want to park your savings in a safe investment avenue, an FD can help.

Remember that interest earned from FDs gets added to your total income and is accordingly taxed at your slab rate. Usually, banks you already have a relationship with allow you to open an FD through your netbanking account.

But how do you pick the right FD? FD rates vary across banks, tenure and the amount you need to invest. You should compare the interest rates on offer before investing your money. Here is a list of some of the popular banks and the rates they currently offer for deposits up to Rs1 crore over various tenures.

Enforcement Directorate Files Second Charge Sheet Against Lalu’s Eldest Daughter

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The ED has filed a second charge sheet against RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav's daughter Misa Bharti and her husband in a money laundering case before a Delhi court, which today kept both charge sheets for consideration on Feb.5.

Irked over the repeated filing of charge sheets by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with its money laundering probe against Bharti and her husband Shailesh Kumar, Special Judge N K Malhotra berated the agency for not letting the trial begin.

“Will you let the trial begin or keep filing complaints? How many supplementary charge sheets will you file? You are a premier investigating agency. You cannot behave like this. It is an ill-drafted complaint,” the judge said.

The court, which could not take cognisance of the charge sheet filed on Dec. 23, 2017 against Bharti and Kumar, posted the matter for Feb. 5 for considering both the charge sheets after ED special counsel Atul Tripathi sought time to make further submissions in the matter.

Advocate Vijay Aggarwal, representing chartered accountant Rajesh Agrawal, who was also arrested by the ED in connection with the case, sought adjournment citing pendency of bail plea of brothers Surendra Kumar Jain and Virendra Jain, who have been accused of laundering crores of rupees using shell companies.

Also Read: ED Files Charge Sheet Against Lalu‘s Daughter Misa Bharti

Rajesh Agrawal was arrested by the ED following allegations that he mediated and provided Rs 90 lakh in cash to the Jain brothers in advance to invest in Bharti's firm Ms Mishail Packers and Printers Pvt Ltd "as share premium".

The probe agency had earlier attached a Delhi farmhouse in connection with its probe against Bharti and her husband. The farmhouse, located at 26, Palam Farms in south Delhi's Bijwasan area was attached provisionally under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

It belongs to Bharti and Kumar and is "held in the name of Ms Mishail Packers and Printers Private Limited", the central probe agency had said. "It was purchased using Rs 1.2 crore involved in money laundering in the year 2008-09," it had alleged.

The agency had in July last year raided several locations, including the farmhouse, as part of its probe against the Jain brothers and others. The Jain brothers were arrested by the ED under the PMLA.

One of the firms that the arrested duo were linked with was Ms Mishail Printers and Packers Private Limited. The ED had alleged that Bharti and her husband had served as directors of this firm in the past.

"The company, Ms Mishail Packers and Printers, was registered at the address 25, Tuglak Road, New Delhi till the shares were bought by Bharti. It was only during the year 2009-10 that the address was changed to farm no 26 Palam Farms, VPO Bijwasan, New Delhi. Bharti and Kumar were the directors of the company during the relevant period," the probe agency had said.

The couple were also interrogated and their statements were recorded by the agency in this probe case.

The agency said the Jain brothers, CA Agrawal and the daughter and the son-in-law of the former Bihar chief minister were the "key persons behind the money laundering of Rs 1.2 crore".

Better Than Bitcoin

Cryptocurrencies have been all the rage.

And it’s no wonder when cryptocurrencies like Ethereum shot up 2,740% … digital cash surged 1,092% … and Bitshares jumped 1,446%.

And while more money might be made as the cryptocurrency market grows into an estimated $200 billion industry, there’s a much more lucrative place to make money.

An industry set to explode a full 8,000% … surging from $235 billion to $4 trillion in the next four years.

That’s why one former hedge fund manager — Paul Mampilly — isn’t recommending a single cryptocurrency to his 100,000-plus readers.

“Cryptocurrencies are in a massive bubble. They are too risky,” Mampilly says. “There’s a new, emerging industry that will mint more millionaires than any other investment in history. More than bitcoin, more than marijuana, more than biotech … combined.”

One should heed Mampilly’s insight.

He made a 76% return during the 2008 crash which is part of the reason Barron’snamed his co-managed hedge fund “one of the world’s best.”

Mampilly became famous for helping millionaires make millions, but turned legendary when he walked away from Wall Street to help Main Street Americans make the same type of returns.

And they love him.

Over 100,000 people have already flocked to get his insight as he has helped them rack up as much as 6,220% in total winning gains.

One guy, a retired man from Buffalo, wrote that he made $998,000 thanks to Paul’s timely advice … and even sent a copy of his brokerage statement to prove it.

But all of that could pale in comparison to this little-known industry set to explode 8,000%.

Which is why Mampilly recently posted a new video on his website giving all the details behind this surging industry. Best of all … he reveals the one company you need to buy now so that you can profit in 2018.

This is the biggest and boldest investment prediction of Paul’s decorated career.

A prediction that he says will “hand investors who act fast a rare once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to become incredibly rich, incredibly quickly.”

“Expect gains of at least 1,000% as this situation evolves,” Mampilly says.

This is the type of recommendation Paul used to give to his billionaire clients. But today, Paul is giving it to Main Street Americans so they can get in on the ground floor.

I urge you to take a few minutes to see Paul’s secret to stock market riches and to get the full story on this “better than bitcoin” investmen

Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has written a stinging letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking him not to 're-lay' the foundation stone of Barmer refinery.

PM Modi is scheduled to visit Rajasthan's Barmer district on January 16 to inaugurate the project.

In his letter, Gehlot also stated that the foundation stone of the refinery was laid by former Congress President Sonia Gandhi in September 2013.

Here's a verbatim of the letter:

"This is to remind you about my earlier letter No. PS/Ex-CM/2017 dated 12 August 2017 (copy enclosed), in which I had brought to your notice the facts about the 9 MMT capacity refinery with Petrochemical complex at Pachpadra in the Barmer district of Rajasthan.

It was launched by the UPA government in the Centre and the Congress government in Rajasthan in the year 2013. It has been reported in the newspapers that you are going to re-lay the foundation stone of on 16 January 2018, whereas it had already been laid by the former UPA chairperson Smt Gandhi on 22 September 2013."

Gehlot, in his letter, has claimed that due to obstacles created by the current Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Vasundhara Raje, the project has not made any progress.

"One could appreciate inviting you on completion of the project. But unfortunately due to obstacles created by the present Chief Minister the project did not move an inch," the letter states.

Gehlot also claimed that it seems the Rajasthan government did not apprise him deliberately of the facts to land him in an embarrassing situation.

"You are aware that holy mantras are chanted and pooja is performed at the time of foundation stone laying ceremony and inauguration. To chant the same mantras and perform the same pooja all over again for the very same project is against the religious sanctity. Moreover, the public does not view it in a positive manner. Re-laying of foundation stone is, indeed, not a healthy tradition in a democratic setup where governments keep changing."

"It seems to me that the state government has deliberately not apprised you to these facts to create an embarrassing situation for the PM. Hope you will re-think about your decision to re-lay the foundation," the letter concludes.

After Congress complaint, scrutiny of AAP Rajya Sabha candidate ND Gupta's nomination put on hold till Monday

New Delhi: The scrutiny of nomination of AAP Rajya Sabha candidate ND Gupta was put on hold till Monday by the Returning Officer over Congress allegations concerning his holding office of profit.

The nomination of Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) two other candidates – Sanjay Singh and Sushil Gupta – for the biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha were approved, party leaders said.

The scrutiny of nomination of ND Gupta was deferred following Congress complaint with the Returning Officer Nidhi Srivastava – its second complaint of the day – saying that Gupta had not resigned as chairman of the Audit Committee of the National Pension Scheme Trust.

File image of Congress leader Ajay Maken. News18

Delhi Congress Chief Ajay Maken said Gupta's nomination paper has not been cleared on Saturday. He said the Congress was called for hearing on party's complaint on Saturday evening.

"I think he (Gupta) has been issued a fresh notice. We have been asked to submit our written submissions by Sunday afternoon. There could be discussion on Monday morning. Our main complaint is that it comes in the domain of office of profit as he is chairman of the audit committee (of NPS). As chairman of audit committee, there is no protection (under office of profit)," he said.

AAP took strong exception to the scrutiny of party nominee being deferred till Monday, saying it was unprecedented.

"The law prescribes only the candidates or its election agents to raise objections at the stage of scrutiny of nominations. However here, Maken's objections are not only considered but were invited at the time of scrutiny. This is unprecedented in the history of election nominations," party leader Saurabh Bhardwaj said.

"Further, due to lack of knowledge or under pressure, the Returning Officer invited Maken to lead evidence before the Returning Officer. This is evidence hunting and is defying all laid down principles," he added.

Bhardwaj said the law is very clear about who can file objections at time of nomination. "Now, if one lakh people file objections, will the Returning Officers give individual hearing to all such people. Will one lakh people lead evidence and arguments. Will this become an unending civil suit?

"Instead of deciding the nomination, the Returning Officer has reserved the order making it further susceptible to external influence," he said.

Maken said Gupta has attended meetings of audit committee of NPS.

In a letter to the Returning Officer, he noted that Narayan Dass Gupta is also the chairman of Audit Committee of National Pension Scheme Trust and he has been appointed as a chairman from 8 September, 2015 and it is "pertinent to mention that Gupta has not resigned from the Chairmanship of Audit Committee of NPS Trust till date".

The Congress had earlier alleged that Gupta had been appointed as trustee of the NPS on 30 March, 2015. Following the complaint, the Returning Officer had written a letter to Gupta. In his detailed reply, Gupta referred to various exemptions under the office of profit and also said that he had resigned from the trust on 29 December, 2017.

AAP leader Raghav Chadha also defended Gupta, saying that he had resigned from the post of Trustee of the NPS and the Congress was only raising frivolous objections to gain cheap publicity.

Maken also said that it was also contented that ND Gupta has not mentioned about the legal requirement of 30 days notice for resigning as trustee in a reply submitted before the Returning Officer.

"It was also submitted before the Returning Officer that ND Gupta has not given any proof to the effect that his resignation was accepted by the NPS Trust," he added.

Three Rajya Sabha vacancies had arisen in Delhi due to end of tenure of Congress members later this month.

AAP is set to win the three seats due to its vast majority in the Delhi Assembly. The last date of withdrawal of candidature is 8 January.

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