EDMONTON (TIP): The foundation stone of Param Purakh Academy was laid in Edmonton in Alberta state of Canada by Baba Sukha Singh, head of Kar Sewa sect, Sarhali, on Monday. The sect head is on Gurmat Prachar tour in that country. He initiated the construction of the building which witnessed a large gathering from different cities in Canada. Members of the Sikh community attended the congregation in large numbers. Bhai Gurpreet Singh Moga performed Kirtan, while Gyani Harjit Singh (Kathawachak, Gurdwara Ber Sahib, Sultanpur Lodhi) captivated the congregation with his thoughts on Gurmat. Baba Sukha Singh also enthralled the audience with Kirtan. Addressing the gathering, he said that over the last two decades, a large number of Punjabis have settled in Canada, including students and young workers, and more families are likely to migrate in future. Hence, it is crucial to connect the new generation with both Punjabi language and Gurmat teachings.
Month: July 2024
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Four Indian Americans arrested for ‘running human trafficking racket’ in Texas
HOUSTON (TIP): Four Indian Americans, including a woman, have been charged with running a human labor trafficking scheme out of a home in the US state of Texas, a media report said. The Princeton Police Department released details of an investigation that led to four people being arrested after 15 women were found inside the home as alleged victims of human labor trafficking, a media portal said on Monday night.
Chandan Dasireddy, 24; Dwaraka Gunda, 31; Santhosh Katkoori, 31; and Anil Male, 37; all arrested in March, are now charged with trafficking of persons, a second-degree felony, and more arrests are expected, the channel reported, quoting police.
The authorities found that all the young women, living in the same home, were forced to sleep on the floor at a home on Ginsburg Lane in Collin County, Princeton. “There was basically no furniture inside the home at the center of human trafficking, just a bunch of computer electronics and blankets,” police said.
Another news portal said officers with the Princeton Police Department were dispatched on March 13 to a residence regarding a welfare concern and suspicious circumstance.
“After further investigation of the initial report, Princeton Police CID detectives obtained a search warrant for the home of Santhosh Katkoori, where 15 adult females were located. During the investigation, it was discovered that the females were forced to work for Katkoori and multiple programming shell companies owned by him and his wife, Dwaraka Gunda,” it said.
While the search warrant was executed, multiple laptops, cell phones, printers and fraudulent documents were seized. It was later determined that multiple locations within Princeton, Melissa and McKinney were involved in the forced laboring of the victims, including adult males, the portal said, adding, additional laptops, cell phones, and documents were seized from the other locations.
The original concern was raised by a pest control company, which was called for possible bed bugs. “Once inside, the inspector noticed that each room had three to five young females sleeping on the floors. There were also large amounts of suitcases. The company contacted police,” the report said.
The news portal quoted Princeton Police Sgt Carolyn Crawford who said over 100 more people are involved, “more than half of them victims”. However, she did not reveal what type of labor operation was happening. -
Indian American support for Biden declines sharply by 19 percent since 2020
WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): There is a sharp 19-per cent decline in Indian Americans supporting incumbent President Joe Biden between the last election of 2020 and the 2024 election cycle, according to a bi-annual Asian American Voter Survey (AAVS), the longest-running survey of Asian-American voters released on Wednesday.
Conducted by Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote), AAPI Data, Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC) and AARP, the survey reveals that 46 per cent of Indian Americans intend to vote for Biden this year as against 65 per cent in 2020.
The alarming drop of 19 per cent is the largest among all the Asian-American ethnic communities. According to the survey, which was conducted before the June 27 presidential debate between Biden and his Republican challenger Donald Trump, 46 per cent Asian Americans are likely to vote for Biden, down eight percentage points since 2020, while 31 per cent are likely to vote for Trump, gaining one point since 2020.
However, Trump has gained just 2 per cent in favorability rating (28 per cent in 2020 to 30 per cent in 2024), despite the record 19-per cent drop in Biden’s support from Indian Americans.
Asian-Americans have been a rapidly growing group of eligible voters in the United States over the past two decades, growing by 15 per cent in the last four years alone and turning out in record numbers in every federal election since 2016.
In 2020, a surge in the number of Asian American voters — especially those voting for the very first time — in battleground states was crucial to Biden’s victory.
The sharp decline in Indian American voters’ support for Biden might be crucial, given that the community has a sizable presence in many battleground states.
According to the survey, Biden has 55 per cent favorability rating among Indian Americans, while Trump has a favorability rating of 35 per cent. Interestingly, both Biden and Trump have the same 42 per cent unfavourability rating among Indian Americans.
Kamala Harris, who is the first Indian American and a woman to be elected as the vice-president, has a favorability rating of 54 per cent and an unfavourability rating of 38 per cent. Former South Carolina governor and US ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, has a favorability rating of just 33 per cent and an unfavourability rating of 46 per cent. Interestingly, 11 per cent said they have not heard of Haley.
“Asian Americans are rapidly diversifying the American electorate and it is critical for us to update our understanding of what motivates them and informs their voting choices,” said Karthick Ramakrishnan, executive director of AAPI Data.
“We see ongoing evidence of dynamism within the Asian-American electorate, including on matters pertaining to presidential vote choice and party preferences on key issues ranging from inflation to healthcare and immigration,” Ramakrishnan said in a statement. -
WORLD CULTURE FILM FEST AIMS TO ELEVATE HUMAN CONSCIOUSNESS
- By Mabel Pais
The inaugural World Culture Film Festival (WCFF) is set to captivate audiences in Los Angeles from July 25-28, 2024. This vibrant event promises entertainment that uplifts, bringing stories from every part of the world that elevate human consciousness through the art of cinema.
The much-anticipated festival is inspired by globally renowned humanitarian and emissary of peace, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar who has inspired millions around the world with a vision of a stress-free, violence-free world through his life and work.
Over 60 participating countries including Australia, Belgium, Mexico, Tibet, Japan, Germany, and Brazil and 60+ films are in competition as part of the official selections. The films will be showcased in person at USC’s Ray Stark Theater and the newly-reopened former-Downtown Independent Theater, and on the online streaming platform, EOFlix (available after).
FILMS
Opening Night: The Monk and the Gun (Credit : WCFF) Commencing the 4-day program is the Opening Night feature film presentation of ‘The Monk and The Gun’ by Bhutan-born writer and director Pawo Choyning Dorji, who rose to prominence with his 2019 Oscar-nominated feature film (best international feature), ‘Lunana: A Yak in the Classroom.’
Closing Night: Perfect Days (Credit : WCFF) Some of the prominent films that will screen are Justin Grant and Laurens Goud’s ‘Our Voice, Our Heart’ (2024 Golden Doc Winner, Asia & Australia), Radha Mehta’s ‘Dosh’ (2024 Slamdance George Starks Spirit Award Winner), Julio Palacio’s ‘Makayla’s Voice: A Letter to the World’ (2024 Tribeca Best Short Documentary), Dash Kolos’ ‘Crown,’ Harry Holland’s ‘Last Call’ starring Tom Holland, and Oscar Nominee Wim Wenders’ ‘Perfect Days,’ the Closing Night film of the festival.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
Some of the big event highlights outside of the screenings include – a live table read of the script, ‘Logic of Love’ with renowned director and producer Barnet Bain (‘What Dreams May Come,’ ‘The Celestine Prophecy’), industry panels such as the Film Festival Director’s Panel, an Environmental Panel, and a Storytelling Panel with Vernon Foster, Gil Junger (‘10 Things I Hate About You’), and Sebastien Siegel (‘Grace and Grit’). Capping the events schedule is a binaural beats music experience with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and music composer and recording producer, Stephen Hilton (‘Kung Fu Panda’, ‘Quantum of Solace’).
EXECUTIVE TEAM
Leading the film festival team are executive directors, Anabelle D. Munro and Sej Saraiya. This dynamic duo brings years of experience in film production and film festival leadership. Munro is the CEO and Founder of the ETHOS Film Awards and Institute, currently in its 6th season. She is an award-winning director, writer and producer at Blue Boots Entertainment. Saraiya is an award- winning, transdisciplinary visual artist with a focus on indigenous narratives. Her films boast over thirty international awards and her photographs grace galleries, universities, and museums. She serves on the board of the Garifuna Indigenous Film Festival, contributes to the Topanga Film Festival, and holds a Master of Fine Arts from USC.
In a joint statement, Saraiya and Munro, who also programmed the films, said, “We are thrilled to be launching the inaugural World Culture Film Festival, hosted by the Art of Living Foundation and in partnership with USC. The overwhelming response we have received from filmmakers across the globe has been nothing short of inspiring.” The co-executive directors further added, “We are particularly grateful to be entrusted with the vision of a remarkable and kind spirit who stands as one of the most influential humanitarians of our time. WCFF warmly welcomes everyone from around the world to join us in this celebration of film as a powerful medium for envisioning a better tomorrow.”
Jatin Chaurasia, the driving force behind WCFF, is an accomplished executive producer with a rich 20-year background in entrepreneurship. As CEO of Sumeru Inc. and Sumeru Studios, his expertise in leading international teams and pioneering technological innovation has significantly benefited legacy organizations worldwide.
PARTNERS
In its maiden year itself, WCFF has attracted partners such as USC School of Cinematic Arts, screening a total of 11 USC student films, Filmmakers Alliance, EOFlix, Sumeru Studios, and Ethos Film Awards.
TICKETS
Online tickets and passes are available after July 1, and online screenings are available on July 25, 2024. Visit worldculturefilmfestival.org.
World Culture Film Festival (WCFF)
The World Culture Film Festival is a premier event that showcases diverse cultures through the lens of cinema. With a mission to provide uplifting entertainment and foster unity, the festival brings together filmmakers, artists, and audiences from around the globe. WCFF showcases and awards works that are culturally diverse and unifying, elevate human consciousness through cinema, build bridges between cultures and communities, and foster the growth of conscious media that uplifts and positively influences society. Learn more at worldculturefilmfestival.org
Connect with the Film Fest on Social Media:
Instagram: @worldculturefilmfestival
Facebook: @worldculturefilmfestival
Program Schedule: https://www.worldculturefilmfestival.org/attend
Events Schedule: https://www.worldculturefilmfestival.org/events
Passes and Tickets: https://www.worldculturefilmfestival.org/passes
Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Learn more at worldculturefilmfestival.org/our-inspiration
All Events are subject to change.
(Mabel Pais writes on Social Issues, The Arts and Entertainment, Spirituality, Cuisine, Health & Wellness, Business, and Education)
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Paris-bound wrestler Anshu advised two-week rest
CHENNAI (TIP): Anshu Malik, a strong medal contender in the 57kg women’s wrestling at the 2024 Paris Olympics, submitted a status report on her injury to the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) on July 2. Anshu had recently sustained the said injury during training and had been forced to be admitted to a hospital in New Delhi a few days later. The hospital discharge summary, submitted by her to the WFI, advises her to ‘rest with no wrestling practice for the next two weeks.’ To add context to the development, the competition in the former World Championships silver medallist’s weight category will begin on August 8 with the medal rounds scheduled the next day.
Despite concerns surrounding her health, the WFI and Anshu’s father, Dharamveer Malik, were optimistic about her participation at the Games with the latter claiming the wrestler has even started training and is expected to leave for Japan for further training ahead of the quadrennial event. “She, along with me, and a physiotherapist will leave for Japan next week. She has started training at her academy,” the father told this daily.
Speaking on the issue, a WFI source said, “As was announced by the federation, Anshu is the official entry for the 57kg. The WFI has received her medical case report today (Tuesday). She is expected to go for follow-up with treating doctors on Wednesday and update the federation,” added the source.
Anshu, who booked her Paris ticket during the Asian Olympic Games Qualifier, got injured while training at a wrestling academy in Hisar, Haryana on June 19. She had pain in the neck, radiating to the left shoulder. (PTI) -
14-year-old swimmer Dhinidhi Desinghu to represent India at the Paris Olympics
BENGALURU (TIP): At just 14 years old, swimmer Dhinidhi Desinghu is set to be the youngest member of the Indian contingent at the Paris Olympics later this month. Despite missing out on the carefree pleasures her peers enjoy and occasionally feeling a sense of solitude, Dhinidhi believes that all her sacrifices have been worth it as she prepares to fulfill her dream of competing on the world’s biggest stage.
“Sometimes I miss the fun generally kids of my age have. I do not go out much with friends and feel lonely. But then I wanted to swim and I wanted to go to the Olympics,” Dhinidhi told PTI Bhasha in an exclusive interview at her residence. “I am the one who chose this path for me. With that comes a lot of sacrifices, but I do feel different, extraordinary, and proud. At 14, I am going to the Olympics, so all the sacrifices are worth it.”
Dhinidhi, who studies in the ninth grade, has made a significant mark in Indian swimming by winning medals at the National Games and the senior National championships last year. Her impressive performances this season have made her the top-ranked Indian female swimmer. The Swimming Federation of India recognized her potential and awarded her one of the two Universality places, giving her an opportunity of a lifetime.
“I knew that I had a chance (of making the Olympics) because I have been working very hard, but it was surprising that I got this chance so early in my career. Being the youngest one in the Indian contingent is a big honor. I am super excited to be a part of the Indian Olympic contingent as I will get a chance to meet the greatest athletes,” said Dhinidhi, who will compete in the women’s 200m freestyle event.
Having got the opportunity to compete at the Olympics at such a young age, Dhinidhi wants to soak in everything and gain experience. “This is just the beginning and I have a long, long way to go. I am really excited to know what more I can do in 2028 and 2032. (PTI) -
PM Modi shares hearty laugh with Rohit, Kohli, Dravid, poses for photos with India’s T20 World Cup champions
NEW DELHI (TIP): The T20 World Cup-winning Indian cricket team returned to the country here on July 4 aboard a specially-arranged charter flight with scores of fans lining up outside the airport to welcome the players despite a steady drizzle and heavy security deployment that kept them at a distance from their heroes.
Hundreds of supporters, holding placards congratulating their favourites and waving the national flag, braved the weather to welcome the victorious side, which defeated South Africa by seven runs in the final in Bridgetown on Saturday last week.
“We have waited for this moment for the past 13 years. The team has made us proud by winning the World Cup,” a fan, who claimed to have been waiting since 4:30am in the morning said, referring to India’s last World Cup triumph which came back in 2011.
The side was unable to head back home immediately after the title win due to a shutdown forced by hurricane Beryl in Barbados.
They were cocooned in their hotel before the BCCI made arrangements for the special charter flight.
The Air India special charter flight AIC24WC — Air India Champions 24 World Cup — which left Barbados around 4:50am local time on Wednesday arrived in Delhi at 6am (IST) on Thursday after a 16-hour non-stop journey.
The Indian squad, its support staff, the players’ families and some BCCI officials were aboard the flight along with members of the travelling media contingent. Heavy security was deployed to keep the crowd in check at the Indira Gandhi International airport but that did little to dampen the spirits as fans cheered enthusiastically holding up posters of star batter Virat Kohli, skipper Rohit Sharma and outgoing head coach Rahul Dravid. Two buses were stationed outside the T3 Terminal to ferry the players to their hotel, from where they will head to the Prime Minister’s residence at 9am tentatively for a reception.
They trickled out in ones and twos after completing immigration formalities.
Tired but excited, the players acknowledged the waiting fans by waving at them and flashing warm smiles.
Suryakumar Yadav, who took the sensational match-winning catch of David Miller in the final, was the most enthusiastic in responding to the cheering.
Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant saluted the gathered crowd, while pacer Mohammed Siraj blew flying kisses in their direction.
Rohit and Player of the Final Virat Kohli, both of whom retired from T20Is at the end of India’s campaign, were among the last to come out of the VIP exit.
Rohit, who held the coveted trophy in his hands, raised it for the fans to catch a glimpse before boarding the bus.
Kohli gave a thumbs up to acknowledge the support before taking his place in the bus.
In their excitement to see their heroes in person, some fans claimed that they had been waiting outside the airport since last night.
“We have been here since last night. It was very important for us to win this World Cup after losing the ODI World Cup last year,” a group of fans said.
The squad won the country its second T20 world title, ending an 11-year wait for an ICC trophy, on Saturday.
India’s previous ICC title was in 2013 when it won the Champions Trophy under Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
From the airport, Team India reached the ITC Maurya hotel, where they stayed before their meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Notably, Virat, Rohit, Hardik, head coach Rahul Dravid and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) president Roger Binny were spotted at the hotel.
A special cake featuring the T20 World Cup trophy was cut at the hotel to celebrate the win. Rohit, Virat, Dravid and all-rounder Hardik Pandya were among the stars who took part in the cake-cutting. The cake featured the trophy and some pictures of Indian stars. (PTI) -
Attacker wounds cop guarding Israeli embassy in Serbia, shot dead by authorities
BELGRADE (TIP): An attacker with a crossbow wounded a Serbian police officer guarding the Israeli Embassy in Belgrade on July 1, Serbia’s interior ministry said. The officer responded by fatally shooting the assailant.
Both Serbian and Israeli officials said that initial indications are that it was a terror-motivated attack.
Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said in a statement that the attacker fired a bolt at the officer, hitting him in the neck. He said the officer then “used a weapon in self-defense to shoot the attacker, who died as a result of his injuries.”
The policeman was conscious when he was transported to Belgrade’s main emergency hospital, where an operation to remove the bolt from his neck will be performed, the statement added.
A spokesman with the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that “today there was an attempted terrorist attack in the vicinity of the Israeli Embassy in Belgrade.” The spokesman said the embassy is closed and no employee of the embassy was injured.
Dacic told reporters that “we are still talking about possible motives.”
Police officers work at a crime scene close to the Israeli embassy in Belgrade, Serbia, Saturday.
He added, however: “There are now all indications that the motives relate to terrorism. Because there is no other motive why someone would attack a gendarme outside the Israeli Embassy.”
He said one person was arrested near the scene of the shooting. Police are investigating a possible network and ties with foreign terrorist groups, he added.
“There are indications that those are individuals already known to the security services … the Wahhabi movement,” said Dacic, referring to the hard-line Islamist movement. “But this still has not been confirmed.”
The identity of the attacker was still being determined.
Authorities raised the security alert in Belgrade, including for foreign embassies and government buildings but also public places such as shopping malls and other busy areas.
Israel’s embassy is located not far from the U.S. Embassy in an upscale Belgrade district. It is guarded by an elite police unit with officers armed with automatic weapons.
Serbia has maintained close relations with Israel during the war in Gaza. (AP) -
Xi Jinping lauds relevance of Panchsheel to end world conflicts, calls for consolidating Global South
BEIJING (TIP): Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday highlighted the relevance of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, which gained traction with the Non-Aligned Movement, to end the present-day conflicts and sought to expand influence in the Global South amid its tussle with the West.
Xi, 71, invoked the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, termed as Panchsheel by India, at a conference here to mark its 70th anniversary and also sought to juxtapose them with his new concept of Global Security Initiative envisaging a shared future for mankind.
The Panchsheel pointers were first formally enunciated in the Agreement on Trade and Intercourse between the Tibet region of China and India signed on April 29, 1954, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.
The five principles formed part of the legacy of the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and his Chinese counterpart Zhou Enlai in their unsuccessful quest to find a solution to the vexed boundary issue.
“The Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence answered the call of the times, and its initiation was an inevitable historic development. The Chinese leadership in the past specified the Five Principles in their entirety for the first time, namely, ‘mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity’, ‘mutual non-aggression’, ‘mutual non-interference in each other’s internal affairs’, ‘equality and mutual benefit’, and ‘peaceful coexistence’,” Xi said.
“They included the Five Principles in the China-India and China-Myanmar joint statements which jointly called for making them basic norms for state-to-state relations,” Xi said at the conference where the invitees included former Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and several political leaders and officials from various countries closely associated with China over the years. The Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence were born in Asia but quickly ascended to the world stage. In 1955, more than 20 Asian and African countries attended the Bandung Conference, Xi recalled in his address. The Non-Aligned Movement that rose in the 1960s adopted the Five Principles as its guiding principles, he said.
“The Five Principles have set a historic benchmark for international relations and international rule of law,” he said, highlighting their relevance to ending the present-day conflicts.
They fully conform with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, with the evolving trend of international relations of our times, and with the fundamental interests of all nations, Xi said and sought to juxtapose them with his new concepts of Global Security Initiative (GSI) which advocates for joint security of nations and the ‘Vision of Building a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind’.
Xi, who commenced his unprecedented third five-year term in power last year, has been advocating several initiatives, including his billion-dollar pet project the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), to enhance China’s global influence. (PTI) -
At least 30 killed in Kenya anti-government protests: HRW
NAIROBI (TIP): At least 30 people died in protests in Kenya this week sparked by a government drive to substantially raise taxes in the East African country, Human Rights Watch said on July 1.
“Kenyan security forces shot directly into crowds of protesters on (Tuesday) June 25, 2024, including protesters who were fleeing,” the NGO said in a statement.
“Although there is no confirmation on the exact number of people killed in Nairobi and other towns, Human Rights Watch found that at least 30 people had been killed on that day based on witness accounts, publicly available information, hospital and mortuary records in Nairobi as well as witness accounts,” the statement said. “Shooting directly into crowds without justification, including as protesters try to flee, is completely unacceptable under Kenyan and international law,” said Otsieno Namwaya, associate Africa director at Human Rights Watch.
“The Kenyan authorities need to make clear to their forces that they should be protecting peaceful protesters and that impunity for police violence can no longer be tolerated,” Namwaya added.
The largely peaceful rallies turned violent on Tuesday when lawmakers passed the deeply unpopular tax increases following pressure from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
After the announcement of the vote, crowds stormed the parliament complex and a fire broke out in clashes unprecedented in the history of the country since its independence from Britain in 1963.
President William Ruto’s administration ultimately withdrew the bill. The state-funded Kenya National Commission on Human Rights said it had recorded 22 deaths and 300 injured victims, adding it would open an investigation.
“Eight military officers came out and just opened fire on people. They killed several people, including those who were not part of the protests,” HRW quoted a rights activist in Nairobi as saying. “Kenya’s international partners should continue to actively monitor the situation… and further urge Kenyan authorities to speedily but credibly and transparently investigate abuses by the security forces,” the rights watchdog said.
Ruto had already rolled back some tax measures after the protests began, prompting the treasury to warn of a gaping budget shortfall of 200 billion shillings ($1.6 billion). The cash-strapped government had said previously that the increases were necessary to service Kenya’s massive debt of some 10 trillion shillings ($78 billion), equal to roughly 70 percent of GDP. (PTI) -
Kenya’s president says he won’t sign finance bill that led protesters to storm parliament
NAIROBI (TIP): Kenyan President William Ruto said July 3 he won’t sign into law a finance bill proposing new taxes, a day after protesters stormed parliament and several people were shot dead. It was the biggest assault on Kenya’s government in decades.
The government wanted to raise funds to pay off debt, but Kenyans said the bill caused more economic pain as millions struggle to get by. The chaos on Tuesday led the government to deploy the military, and Ruto called protesters’ actions “treasonous.”
The president now says the bill caused “widespread dissatisfaction” and he has listened to the people and “conceded.” It’s a major setback for Ruto, who came to power vowing to help Kenyans cope with rising costs but has seen much of the country unite in opposition to his latest attempt at reforms.
“It is necessary for us to have a conversation as a nation on how to do we manage the affairs of the country together,” the president said.
Kenyans faced the lingering smell of tear gas and military in the streets a day after the latest protests saw thousands storm parliament, an act of defiance that Ruto called an “existential” threat. At least 22 people were killed, a human rights group said.
Ruto acknowledged deaths, calling it an “unfortunate situation,” and offered condolences.
The capital, Nairobi, has seen protests in the past, but activists and others warned the stakes are more dangerous. Ruto on Tuesday vowed to quash unrest “at whatever cost,” even as more protests were called at State House on Thursday. Soldiers patrolled alongside police, who were accused of shooting several people dead on Tuesday.
Kenyans united beyond tribal and other divisions in a youth-led effort to keep the finance bill from becoming law. It would have raised taxes and fees on a range of daily items and services, from egg imports to bank transfers. The government wanted the revenue to pay off debt in East Africa’s economic hub.
There were no reports of violence Wednesday, but there was fear. Civil society groups have reported abductions of people involved in recent protests and expect more to come.
Many young people who helped vote Ruto into power with cheers for his promises of economic relief now object to the pain of reforms. Part of the parliament building burned Tuesday, and clashes occurred in several communities beyond the capital.
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‘Carry your son and run’: Gaza families describe fleeing Rafah under Israeli fire
RAFAH (TIP): Displaced Palestinian families in Gaza’s south have fled what they said was intensifying Israeli fire in northern areas of Rafah to seek shelter elsewhere, describing a chaotic night as the sounds of fighting drew closer and prompted the difficult decision to evacuate.
“Just carry your son and run, we don’t have anything with us,” said one man, Mohammad al-Hadad. Some who fled overnight were able to return, throwing their belongings atop vehicles or wagons pulled by donkeys and setting off.
“We do not know where we can go,” said a woman, Ghada Qudeh. “Since yesterday, we have not found food or drink.” She said her family fled after Israeli forces fired missiles at a house where they were sheltering Thursday.
Palestinians arrive in the southern Gaza town of Khan Younis after fleeing an Israeli ground and air offensive in the nearby city of Rafah on Friday, June 28, 2024.
10 children suffer amputations daily in Gaza, says UNRWA
The Israeli military said its forces were continuing to operate in Rafah but did not immediately comment on specific strikes. The military said one soldier had been killed during combat overnight in Rafah.
The people fleeing Rafah are some of the last holdouts in a city that was once filled with displaced Palestinians. However, Israel’s ground invasion since early May has driven nearly everyone who sought shelter there to leave.
The United Nations estimates 1.3 million people have been displaced out of Rafah, more than half of Gaza’s entire population, and only 65,000 remain.
International criticism is growing over the nearly nine-month Israel-Hamas war as Palestinians face severe and widespread hunger. The war has largely cut off the flow of food, medicine and basic goods to Gaza, and people there are now totally dependent on aid. The top United Nations court has concluded there is a “plausible risk of genocide” in Gaza — a charge Israel strongly denies.
Palestinians arrive in the southern Gaza town of Khan Younis after fleeing an Israeli ground and air offensive in the nearby city of Rafah on Friday, June 28, 2024.
Israel launched the war after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack, in which militants stormed into southern Israel, killed some 1,200 people — mostly civilians — and abducted about 250.
Since then, Israeli ground offensives and bombardments have killed more than 37,700 people in Gaza, according to the territory’s Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between combatants and civilians in its count. (AP) -
Mauritania heads to polls with incumbent tipped to win
NOUAKCHOTT (TIP): Mauritanians go to the polls to decide whether to re-elect President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani as head of the vast desert state, seen as a rock of relative stability in the volatile Sahel.
Around 1.9 million registered voters are set to choose between seven candidates vying to lead the West African nation, which has largely withstood the tide of jihadism in the region and is set to become a gas producer. The 2019 election brought Ghazouani to power and marked the first transition between two elected presidents since independence from France in 1960 and a series of coups from 1978 to 2008.
Polling stations will open at 7 am (0700 GMT) and close at 7 pm (1900 GMT), with the first results expected on Saturday evening.
Official results are set to be announced on Sunday or Monday.
Former general Ghazouani is the overwhelming favourite to win a second term, with observers considering a first-round victory possible — given opposition divisions and the resources of the president’s camp. A possible second round vote would take place on July 14.
Campaigning was relatively peaceful, except for some scuffles on Monday in the northern town of Nouadhibou, when “one candidate’s supporters” attacked backers of another candidate, the interior ministry said. (AFP) -
60 Indian nationals arrested in Sri Lanka for cyber crime operations
COLOMBO (TIP): At least 60 Indian nationals part of a group engaged in online financial scams have been arrested by Sri Lanka’s Criminal Investigations Department. They were arrested on June 30 from the Colombo suburbs of Madiwela and Battaramulla and from the western coastal town of Negombo. According to Police Spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa, the CID conducted simultaneous raids in these mentioned areas, leading to the seizure of 135 mobile phones and 57 laptops.
The crackdown follows a complaint from a victim who was lured into a WhatsApp group promising cash for social media interactions.
Further investigation revealed a scheme where victims were coerced into making deposits after initial payments. In Peradeniya, a father-son duo admitted to aiding the fraudsters, Daily Mirror Lanka newspaper reported.
Key evidence uncovered during a luxury house raid in Negombo led to the initial arrest of 13 suspects and the seizure of 57 phones and computers.
Subsequent operations in Negombo yielded 19 additional arrests, exposing international links in Dubai and Afghanistan. (PTI) -
Veteran Sri Lankan politician & Tamil leader Sampanthan passes away
COLOMBO (TIP): R Sampanthan, a veteran Sri Lankan politician and a moderate Tamil leader, passed away on July 3 while receiving treatment in a hospital, the Tamil National Alliance has announced. Sampanthan, 91, led the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) from 2004 and became only the second Tamil to become the main opposition leader in the Sinhala-majority country.
He was ailing for a long time and was missing the current parliamentary sessions for a long time.
He was a moderate Tamil who had been leading the political movement to achieve a negotiated political settlement to the Tamil demand for political autonomy. The Tamils put forward their demand for autonomy since gaining independence from Britain in 1948, which, from the mid-70s, turned into a bloody armed conflict.
He took office as the leader of the opposition in 2015 and was actively involved in the process of drafting a new Constitution until 2019.
A brilliant lawyer, Sampanthan entered Parliament for the first time in 1977 from the eastern port district of Trincomalee.(PTI) -
Pakistan’s Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa comes to Election Commission’s rescue on reserved seats
ISLAMABAD (TIP): Amidst a legal tussle over the reserved seats in Pakistan’s legislatures, Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa has ruled that the election commission is not a subordinate institution to the Supreme Court or the government but an independent authority with a constitutional role to conduct elections. He was heading a full court of the Supreme Court (SC) hearing on July 1 on a set of appeals by the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) against the denial of reserved seats to women and non-Muslim candidates, the Dawn newspaper reported on Tuesday. The top judge said the Supreme Court can only exercise its jurisdiction if it is convinced that the commission has gone beyond its constitutional role, pointing out that ideally, all institutions should function within their own prescribed domain.
The Supreme Court ordered the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to do a calculation by applying the formula of allotting reserved seats among political parties based on the election results of 2018 by excluding, as well as including, independents to understand the difference, the report said. (PTI) -
Won’t quit, would rather face confidence vote: Nepal PM Prachanda
KATHMANDU (TIP): Embattled Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has decided not to resign from the post despite an agreement reached between the country’s largest parties – Nepali Congress and CPN-UML – to form a new coalition government. In a meeting of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) office-bearers held in Baluwatar on July 1, Prime Minister Prachanda said he would rather face a vote of confidence in Parliament than resign from the post, the party Secretary Ganesh Shah told PTI. “The Prime Minister has decided to seek a vote of confidence,” said Shah.
Prachanda, 69, has won three votes of confidence in Parliament during his one-and-a-half-year term.
The development came after Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) inked a midnight power-sharing deal to form a new ‘national consensus government’ to replace the Prachanda-led coalition government.
Nepali Congress, the largest party in the House of Representatives (HoR) has 89 seats at present, while CPN-UML has 78 seats.
The combined strength of the two large parties is 167, which is sufficient for a majority of 138 seats in the 275-member HoR.
Deuba, 78 and Oli, 72, agreed to share the Prime Ministerial position on a rotation basis for the rest of the term of the Parliament.
Meanwhile, the talks between Prime Minister Prachanda and CPN-UML chief Oli to save the current coalition also failed, according to Maoist sources.
Quoting Prachanda, Shah said that a conspiracy has been hatched to topple the coalition government and create instability in the country.
“The conspiracy came at a time when the government focused on ending corruption and introducing good governance,” he said.
As per the constitutional provision, the prime minister will have 30 days to seek a vote of confidence in the House of Representatives, which would give Prachanda some time for political manoeuvring. “We will engage in discussions with various parties, including the Rashtriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Nepali Congress, and CPN-UML, so as to save the coalition,” Prachanda was quoted as saying.
Nepali Congress President Deuba briefed party officials about the agreement with the CPN-UML during a meeting of office bearers at his residence in Budhanilkantha on Tuesday morning, according to party sources. (PTI) -
Pak court acquits ex-PM Imran Khan in protest case related to Toshakhana scam
ISLAMABAD (TIP): A Pakistani court on July 3 acquitted former prime minister Imran Khan and several senior party colleagues in a case registered against them for protesting against the jailed premier’s disqualification by the election commission in the Toshakhana corruption case. Other leaders who have been exonerated in the case by the district and sessions court here are Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Sheikh Rasheed, Asad Qaiser, Shehryar Afridi, Faisal Javed, Raja Khurram Nawaz and Ali Nawaz Awan.
Judicial Magistrate Yasir Mehmood pronounced the verdict, which was reserved last week on the petitions seeking acquittal, during the hearing on Wednesday, the Geo News reported.
The case was registered against the 71-year-old Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Khan and other politicians at Aabpara Police Station for protesting against the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) Toshakhana corruption verdict in 2022, which disqualified him from holding office for a limited time.
The Toshakhana is a department under the administrative control of the Cabinet Division and stores precious gifts given to rulers, parliamentarians, bureaucrats, and officials by heads of other governments and states and foreign dignitaries.
The Toshakhana issue over the sale of state gifts received by the former cricketer-turned-politician became a major issue in national politics after the ECP disqualified Khan for making ?false statements and incorrect declaration?.
Khan had earlier contended that recent amendments to the Elections Act 2017 limit the ECP’s jurisdiction in deciding the qualification or disqualification of a member based on a court conviction.
He had accused the ECP of acting with unlawful zeal and haste to exclude him from the February 8 general elections rather than ensuring fair and free elections.
On August 5 last year, Khan was sentenced to three years in imprisonment and fined Rs 100,000 in the Toshakhana corruption case, a conviction later suspended by the Islamabad High Court.
Khan has been facing a slew of charges ranging from corruption to terrorism since his removal as the premier in 2022.
The PTI founder has been in jail since last August and was convicted in some cases ahead of a nationwide election earlier this year.
He is also fighting dozens of other cases.
The only hurdle keeping him behind bars is the iddat or the un-Islamic marriage case, whose proceedings are underway, and the judge expects the case to be wrapped up within this month, according to the Geo TV report. (PTI) -
Rajnath Singh ‘lied’ in Parliament on compensation to families of martyred Agniveers, alleges Rahul Gandhi; Army rebuts claims
NEW DELHI (TIP): Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi on July 3 alleged that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh “lied” in Parliament about the issue of compensation to families of martyred Agniveers and demanded an apology for it. The Army on Wednesday refuted Gandhi’s claim, stating that the family of the Agniveer had been paid Rs 98 lakh.
The Congress leader also shared a video on X purportedly of the father of a deceased Agniveer who stated that Rajnath Singh had claimed that Rs 1 crore compensation had been given to the next of kin of martyred Agniveers but no such assistance was received by his family.
Sharing the video message posted by her brother, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also accused the BJP of “insulting the sacrifice of the families” who gave up their sons for the country In his video, Rahul Gandhi said that he had stated in his speech in Parliament that the protection of truth is the basis of every religion.
“In reply, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, before Lord Shiva’s photo, lied to the country, its armed forces and Agniveers about compensation,” Gandhi said in the video.
He then referred to the purported statement by the father of an Agniveer martyr Ajay Singh.
Ajay Singh’s father said that Rajnath Singh made the statement that families of martyrs have been given Rs 1 crore compensation but no such assistance had been received by his family.
“Rahul Gandhi is raising our voice in Parliament that families of martyrs must get all necessary help. Agniveer recruitment must stop and regular recruitment should be reinstated,” he said. (PTI) -
Army Chief reaches Jammu, takes stock of LoC operational readiness
NEW DELHI (TIP): Emphasising the security and defense significance in the regions of Poonch and Rajouri, south of Pir Panjal, the Chief of Army Staff, General Upendra Dwivedi, visited the area on Wednesday, shortly after assuming charge.
General Upendra Dwivedi reviewed the security situation and operational preparedness of the troops along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.
In addition to his review with field commanders in Poonch, he conducted an aerial survey of forward areas in the district. The Army Chief was accompanied by the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief
(GOC-in-C) of the Northern Command, Lt Gen Suchindra Kumar, and the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Jammu-based White Knight Corps, Lt Gen Navin Sachdeva. Before his shift to Army Headquarters in New Delhi, General Dwivedi served as the Commander of the crucial Northern Command of the Army.
There has been a surge in terror attacks, which is seen as a shift in terrorist operations from the valley to the Jammu region. The visit is particularly significant as the holy Amarnath Yatra 2024 commenced on 29th June and is scheduled to conclude on 19th August 2024. On 9th June, nine pilgrims heading to the Vaishno Devi Shrine in Katra were killed, and 41 were injured when terrorists fired on their bus.
The rise in terror attacks included 43 incidents in 2023 and 20 so far this year. This number is expected to rise, with 60 to 70 terrorists reportedly active across the borders, as stated by RR Swain, the Director General of Jammu and Kashmir.
The Chief of Army Staff also interacted with some ex-servicemen at the 93 Infantry Brigade. General Dwivedi, who served as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Northern Command from 2022-24, later flew back to Jammu. He is scheduled to return to Delhi on Wednesday evening.
The Northern Command handles borders with both China and Pakistan, including sensitive areas such as Kargil, Siachen, and Eastern Ladakh, where tensions with China continue due to the ongoing standoff. (PTI) -
3 more bridges collapse in Bihar, 9th in 15 days
PATNA (TIP): Amid heavy showers in Bihar, three bridges collapsed in Siwan district within 24 hours, marking the ninth such incident in the state in the last 15 days. No casualties or injuries were reported in the latest incidents of bridge collapse.
With the collapse of the bridges, road links of various villages situated along Gandak and Dhamhi rivers in Siwan have been snapped. These villages have been cut off from the district headquarters.
The incidents of bridge collapse took place in Patera and Dhamai villages and the third one under Tewta panchayat of the district. The first incident was reported from Devariya in Patera village of Maharajganj subdivision of the district.
A bridge that collpased near Sikandar puri village in Siwan on Wednesday.
A portion of the bridge built on Gandak river collapsed on Wednesday. Sources claimed that the bridge has not repaired ever since it was built 36-40 years ago. Its condition deteriorated due to the incessant rains in the last 24 hours. The bridge served as the only means of transportation for villagers. Similarly, a bridge connecting Nautan and Sikandarpur collapsed in Tewtha panchayat of Maharajganj block.
The third bridge that caved in was in Dhamai village. The bridge was built over Gandak river and was repaired only a few days ago. Strong flow of water led to the collapse.
Experts, however, blamed an “unholy nexus” between politicians, contractors and officers behind a series of bridge collapse in the past fortnight.
A bridge that collpased near Sikandar puri village in Siwan on Wednesday.
Sources claimed that politicians in cahoots with officers and contractors are allegedly responsible for the construction of weak bridges, said Prof. S Narayan, former director of A N Sinha Institute of Social Study. “Nexus between contractors, bureaucrats and politicians is mainly responsible for the bridge collapse in the state and even the possibility of political funding cannot be ruled out,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Bihar government has formed a high-level committee to probe the bridge collapses. Majority of the bridges collapsed were either built or being constructed by the rural works department. (PTI) -
Hathras stampede: Survivors recount horrors, say not sure whether relatives dead or alive
HATHRAS (TIP): A day after a stampede claimed the lives of at least 121 people in Western UP’s Hathras district, survivors recovering at the Hathras District Hospital recounted their ordeal.
Sixty-two-year old Kusum Devi, who attended the Satsang, recounted that things had gone well till the very end. “When we tried to walk towards the exit after the aarti, the situation suddenly turned chaotic. People started pushing and pulling each other in all directions. I fell down and people started walking over me. A few people helped me and I managed to survive,” she said.
Her sister, who was accompanying her, sadly could not make it and passed away late on July 2. Among the survivors at the hospital was head constable Sheela Mohday who was on duty when the stampede broke out. In an effort to control the crowd, she was injured.
At the hospital’s mortuary, Rao Dayal was waiting impatiently to identify the bodies of his sister and two nephews, aged 11 and 9, who had been missing since Tuesday. “My family has been a devotee of Bhole Baba for the past 5-6 years and we had never imagined something like this could happen. I still don’t know whether my relatives are alive or dead. I have received no help from the authorities. They just keep referring me from one hospital to another,” he said.
The bodies of the victims were sent to Etah, Aligarh, Agra and Mathura where the autopsy was carried out the whole night. Asphyxia due to compression was the leading cause of death among the victims of the Hathras stampede who were taken to the district hospital in Etah on Tuesday, additional chief medical officer Dr Ram Mohan Tiwari said.
Police Circle officer (Sakeet area) Sanjay Kumar Singh said 21 of the 27 bodies brought to Etah government hospital were identified by midnight. (PTI) -
‘Rise in N-warheads to check China’s buildup’
BENGALURU (TIP): The reported increase in the estimate for Indian nuclear warheads is an “educated guess based on limited information,” nuclear and military strategist Aditya Ramanathan told TNIE.
He was responding to the report on increase in nuclear arsenals globally, including India by the Swedish think tank ‘Stockholm International Peace Research Institute’ in its 2024 Yearbook released last month.
“We don’t actually know the exact size of India’s nuclear arsenal, but most studies place it in the range of 150-200 warheads. If there is indeed an increase in the number of Indian warheads, it is a direct response to developments in China,” he added.
Ramanathan said that in 2021, “evidence emerged of three large silo fields in Western China that could house hundreds of ICBMs. China has also developed improved missiles like the solid-fueled DF-41 ICBM and the DF-27 hypersonic glide vehicle. It has also put its nuclear deterrent to sea with ballistic missile submarines and is developing missile defences.
Naturally, India has to be concerned about ensuring that enough of its own nuclear forces can survive a Chinese first strike and inflict unacceptable damage in retaliation. (PTI) -
Another bridge collapses in Bihar, tenth such incident in over 15 days
PATNA (TIP): Another instance of bridge collapse came to the fore in Bihar on Thursday, making it the 10th such incident to have been reported from the state in just over a fortnight, an official said. The latest incident was reported from Saran which witnessed two more bridge collapses in the last 24 hours, District Magistrate Aman Samir said.
No casualty was reported after the structure, built 15 years ago by local authorities, collapsed this morning, he said.
The small bridge over the Gandaki river was situated in the Baneyapur block and used to connect several villages in Saran with the neighbouring Siwan district.
“The small bridge was constructed 15 years ago. I am going to the spot. Several other officials of the district administration have already reached there. The exact cause of the bridge collapse is yet to be ascertained but desilting work was recently undertaken,” the district magistrate told PTI. On Wednesday, the Saran district witnessed the collapse of two small bridges – one in the Janta Bazar area and another in the Lahladpur area. -
Chief Justice Chandrachud highlights financial justice at SAT office inauguration
MUMBAI (TIP): Inaugurating the new Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) office complex here on July 4, Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Yeshwant Chandrachud said that the judiciary and regulators have to ensure that protecting the economic and financial interests and delivering financial justice in a time-bound manner is as important as delivering social and political justice because financial and regulatory fairness are the bedrock of the economic progress of any nation and is also a key part of the rule of law.
“A legal system that has adequate safeguards, fairness, and dispenses justice without arbitrariness, is integral to building a country’s business and financial landscape and this is one of the main reasons why the Supreme Court recently constituted a five-judge bench to see whether an unstamped arbitration agreement can be relooked at the section 11 stage itself and that too within a month, because in the financial and business world, even a month is too long a period,” he added.
He further said that the judiciary must send out this message across that any aberration happened in the past should be corrected at the earliest and with the greatest speed so that can help establish a stable regulatory environment in the country.
Chandrachud, who holds his court in a fully paperless manner, said that virtual hearing is a matter of right for the petitioner and lawyers.
On this regard he specially commended the SAT for holding virtual hearings since the pandemic. Since SAT has only one bench and therefore has national jurisdiction, it is all more important that this appellate body allows the virtual participation of lawyers from across the country. This is all the more important as it has only a single bench.
Emphasising the importance of the rule of law, the chief justice said, “we often consider the idea of rule of law is social and political justice. Way back in 2005, the World Bank has theorized that protecting the rule of law is intrinsically linked to ensuring better economic outcomes and financial advancement.”
Coming to the soaring market which has scaled past the 80,000 mount yesterday, he said for Sebi and SAT this also brings to the fore of the importance of timely regulation. (ENS)