Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday declared that the whole country was supportive of Kerala as it faced its worst floods in 90 years. He said this in his monthly radio broadcast, Mann ki Baat. The State government has been demanding more Central assistance as it faces the daunting task …
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Kerala prepares memo seeking more Central funds
After a muted Onam, Kerala woke up on Sunday to the enormity of rehabilitation and restoration of normal life devastated by the unprecedented floods in the central districts of the State. According to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who held a review of the relief and rehabilitation work on Sunday, 4,62,456 …
Read More »China’s big ‘Belt and Road’ push in Africa
In another era, White colonisers had landed on Africa’s coast in search of resources and slaves. The traumatic epoch of slave trade and European colonisation, with its horrific human consequences, formally ended in the 1960s and 1970s. But arguably, the basic equation of Africa’s resource-rich periphery serving the metropolitan industrial …
Read More »It’s Turkish rule in Syrian border towns
In 2016, Turkey launched its first military operation in Syria to prevent both the Islamic State (IS) and the People’s Protection Units (YPG), a Kurdish militia, from advancing on the town of Azaz. Though the stated objective was to push the IS further away from the border, what concerned Ankara …
Read More »No-poaching pacts under scrutiny
The State of Washington announced last month that seven fast food chains would end the practice of ‘no-poaching’ clauses in contracts with their franchisees across the U.S. ‘No-poaching’ agreements are typically between two companies that agree not to hire each other’s employees; in this case, they stipulate that franchises of …
Read More »No country for Rohingya people
Sorat Alam, a Rohingya leader, yearns for home, but the trauma of being brutalised in Myanmar deters him from going back to the Rakhine State. Mr. Alam and his parents fled to safety in Bangladesh after Myanmar’s Army launched widespread assaults on the Rohingya, a Muslim minority group, in August …
Read More »China slams Trump’s remarks on N. Korea
China on Saturday called U.S. President Donald Trump “irresponsible” after the U.S. President cancelled his top diplomat’s trip to North Korea and suggested that Beijing was stalling efforts to disarm Pyongyang. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was due to make his fourth visit to the reclusive state next week …
Read More »Rohingya seek justice, one year on
Around 40,000 refugees protest in refugee camps to mark the first anniversary of crackdown Tens of thousands of Rohingya refugees staged angry protests for “justice” on Saturday on the first anniversary of a Myanmar military crackdown that sparked a mass exodus to camps in Bangladesh. Many wept as they recalled …
Read More »Solanki takes oath as Tripura Governor
Kaptan Singh Solanki on Saturday took oath as the Governor of Tripura. He replaced Tathagata Roy, who had been shifted to Meghalaya. Chief Justice of High Court of Tripura Ajay Rastogi administered the oath of office and secrecy to Mr. Solanki. He became the 17th Governor of Tripura. Chief Minister …
Read More »Does Kerala need more funds?
As Kerala struggles to come to grips with the worst floods in its history, the reconstruction of damaged infrastructure and restoration of livelihoods pose a daunting challenge for the State government. Initial estimates put the loss at Rs. 20,000 crore but officials feel the extent of the damage could be …
Read More »Mullaperiyar: genesis of a dispute
The colonial-era Mullaperiyar dam has again become a source of friction between Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Though the original dispute was over the appropriateness of the dam’s water level, Kerala, already reeling under severe adverse impact of floods, sprang a surprise by accusing Tamil Nadu of having carried out “sudden …
Read More »Muslims in Kolkata find a place to call home
After being turned away by several landlords for months, Aftab Alam and his three friends, all of them doctors, finally found a place to rent in south Kolkata. Their elation, however, was short-lived. Soon after moving in, a neighbour told their landlord that they ought to be evicted, arguing, “Four …
Read More »‘China should forge closer ties with India, Japan’
In countering the Indo-Pacific strategy led by the U.S, China should forge closer ties with India, Japan and Australia, says an official media commentary. The article run on the website of China Global Television Network (CGTN) — the state-run broadcaster — argues that instead of staying aloof, China should positively …
Read More »Morrison sworn in as Australia’s new PM
Scott Morrison was on Friday sworn in as Australia’s seventh Prime Minister in 11 years, after a stunning party revolt against Malcolm Turnbull, which the new leader admitted had left the government “bruised and battered”. Former Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton, an ex-police officer and right-winger, was the driving force …
Read More »U.S., Pak. disagree on phone call
In a new war of nerves between them, the U.S and Pakistan have contradicted each other on whether terrorism was discussed during a congratulatory phone call to Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday. Pakistan refuted the State Department statement that terrorism was discussed …
Read More »SC refuses to order repoll in West Bengal
Earlier, they appealed to the Calcutta High Court. The High Court, on May 8, directed the West Bengal State Election Commission to accept nominations submitted in the electronic form in order to ensure free and fair elections. The Commission, in turn, moved the Supreme Court, arguing that there was no …
Read More »Live-streaming for ‘open courtroom’
Technology has a flip-side but live-streaming of Supreme Court proceedings is a true representation of the “open courtroom” system where courts are accessible to one and all, Justice D.Y. Chandrachud said on Friday. The remark countered arguments that live-streaming of court proceedings would be misused, and verbal comments made by …
Read More »Poll panel to brainstorm on key issues
In the times of social media and phased elections, how can campaign silence be maintained during the last 48 hours before the elections? The Election Commission will be debating this and seven other issues, including limiting of expenditure and increasing participation of women, at a multi-party meeting on Monday. All …
Read More »Corruption has eaten into town planning, observes SC
People are dying in building collapses and fires because corruption has eaten into town planning and grant of building permits across the country, the Supreme Court said in Friday. Referring to the recent fire which engulfed Crystal Tower in Parel, Mumbai, Justice Madan B. Lokur said thousands of buildings in …
Read More »Gave regular warnings to Kerala, Tamil Nadu tells SC
Tamil Nadu warned Kerala when the water level rose in the Mullaperiyar dam during the critical days of the devastating floods, the State said in a counter-affidavit filed before the Supreme Court on Friday. The Tamil Nadu government denied allegations it waited too long until the water storage level crossed …
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