Congress demands removal of BJP's IT cell head Amit Malviya over serious allegations of sexual exploitation by RSS members in 5-star hotels and BJP offices in Bengal.

Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose mentioned on Monday that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee turned off all her lights and remained in darkness throughout the swearing-in ceremony of Modi Cabinet 3.0. The TMC MP urged the BJP to choose a new leader, saying they should «replace Prime Minister Narendra Modi» as he failed to secure a majority.

Contracts for Russian aviation equipment amount to slightly less than a half of the total portfolio of Rosoboronexport contracts, CEO of the national arms export agency Alexander Mikheev said

Moscow companies directly involved in construction of the Zaryadye park can be investors, Nikita Stasishin noted

Wang Yi is confident that the event underway in Nizhny Novgorod will «lay a solid basis for the first BRICS summit upon its expansion» as he said that the grouping was seeking to boost «allied cooperation»

«Pakistan has retained its neutrality and made many steps forward,» the source said

The helicopter is armed with a remotely controlled turret with 7.62mm machinegun, a system of uninterrupted supply of 550 cartridges, eight air missiles and 16 antitank bombs

After discovering a broken needle was left in her spine during childbirth years ago, an Ontario woman filed complaints against the doctors and hospital involved. After botched investigations and many years, she worries no one may ever be held accountable.

Tired of advocating for themselves against powerful institutions, Indigenous students at English colleges asked their schools to speak up for them.

MAKKAH: The sermon on Arafat this year will reach 1 billion people across the world, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday. The General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques will be overseeing the broadcast. The project, named after King Salman, seeks to highlight Islam’s message of religious tolerance, moderation and peace, said Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz Al-Sudais, president of the general presidency.

RIYADH: Taif governor Prince Saud bin Nahar bin Abdulaziz on Sunday visited the Miqats of Ihram and various security checkpoints in the governorate to ensure pilgrims’ safety and convenience, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The governor also visited the Miqat of Qarn Al-Manazil in Al-Sail Al-Kabi where he inspected the security checkpoints on Al-Sail Al-Kabir road, and was briefed on the technology used for monitoring and handling violations of Hajj permits and related procedures.

AMMAN: Saudi aid agency KSrelief concluded its 26th volunteer program in Al-Zaatari camp for Syrian refugees in Jordan, reported state news agency SPA on Sunday. The program provided health services in various fields like optometry, dermatology and physical therapy benefiting 669 people. Courses in English, chemistry, sewing and more were also part of the program. The aid agency provided an awareness course on addiction, treating suicide cases and individual and group counseling which benefited 297 people.

RIYADH: The Kingdom will promote the camel industry at the UN Food and Agriculture Organization meeting in Rome this week, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday. The exhibition, from June 10 to 14, will showcase locally manufactured products, and their contribution to food security and health in the Kingdom. It will also emphasize the cultural importance of camels in Saudi Arabia society. The Kingdom’s participation in the FAO’s council meeting comes as a part of its co-chairmanship of the International Year of Camelids 2024.

RIYADH: The Saudi Ministry of Commerce is sending inspection teams to central Makkah and the roads leading to ensure that commercial outlets are complying with consumer protection regulations ahead of Hajj. The teams made 24,880 visits to the central area of the Grand Mosque, the Haramain express train, commercial centers, sales outlets, gold and jewelry markets, service centers, and petrol stations. As well as the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah and the markets surrounding it.

[allAfrica] 400 MPs Take Oath for New Parliament

In 2021, the European Commission put forward a proposal to update the European digital identity framework. This would allow citizens across the EU to identify and authenticate themselves online (through their European digital identity wallet), share digital documents, and prove a specific identity attribute such as age. In parallel, the Commission adopted a recommendation to design a toolbox supporting the framework, to avoid fragmentation and barriers owing to diverging standards. After the European Parliament and the Council of the EU approved their negotiating positions on the proposal in March 2023 and December 2022 respectively, they reached a provisional agreement on the creation of a pan-European digital identity framework in November 2023. On 29 February 2024, Parliament endorsed the agreed text in plenary. After it was adopted by the Council, the act was signed by the co-legislators and published in the Official Journal of the EU on 30 April 2024. It entered into force on 20 May 2021. Fifth edition. The 'EU Legislation in Progress' briefings are updated at key stages throughout the legislative procedure. Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

Two European Union (EU) directives regulate the EU collective investment funds industry: the Directive relating to undertakings for collective investment in transferable securities (UCITS) and the Alternative Investment Funds Manager Directive (AIFMD). The UCITS Directive, which covers mutual funds, lays down uniform rules, allowing them to be offered cross-border, while the AIFMD, which covers hedge funds and private equity, lays down the rules for authorising, supervising and overseeing the managers of such funds. While reviewing the application of the scope of the AIFMD (as mandated), the European Commission considered that a number of issues highlighted in the AIFMD review were equally relevant for the activities of UCITS. As a result, it proposed to amend both directives, to better align their requirements. The Council agreed on its general approach in June 2022. Within the European Parliament, the file was assigned to the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON). It adopted its report in February 2023, and Parliament confirmed the committee's decision to enter into interinstitutional negotiations in plenary the same month. The co-legislators reached a provisional agreement in July 2023. The final directive was published in the Official Journal on 26 March 2024 and entered into force 20 days later. Fourth edition of a briefing originally drafted by Angelos Delivorias. The 'EU Legislation in Progress' briefings are updated at key stages throughout the legislative procedure. Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

On 24 April 2024, the European Parliament adopted its first reading position on the proposal for a regulation on the production and marketing of forest reproductive material (FRM). The proposal, put forward by the European Commission on 5 July 2023, would replace the current FRM Council Directive and widen its scope to include not only FRM for forestry purposes, but also FRM intended for biodiversity conservation, restoration of forest ecosystems and climate adaptation and mitigation. The proposed legislation would specify the rules for the production and marketing of FRM intended for conserving forest genetic resources and would, for the first time, require that potential buyers be provided with information on the suitability of FRM for current and future climatic and ecological conditions. Member States would have to establish contingency plans to ensure a sufficient supply of FRM in cases of extreme weather events, wildfires and disease and pest outbreaks. Parliament's first reading position proposes to improve the traceability of FRM and make the information for end users more easily accessible via a QR code. In the Council, the proposal is being examined by the working party on genetic resources and innovation in agriculture. Second edition. The 'EU Legislation in Progress' briefings are updated at key stages throughout the legislative procedure. Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

On 4 March 2024, the Council adopted a decision to conclude the first-ever sustainable investment facilitation agreement between the EU and a third country, Angola. The aim is to make investment easier and more sustainable by promoting transparency, streamlining procedures and encouraging responsible business practices. Source : © European Union, 2024 - EP

The Supreme Court on Monday extended till August 10 the deadline to vacate Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) headquarters office in the Rouse Avenue area of Delhi as the land was allotted for the expansion of Delhi High Court's infrastructure.

The suspended board of Jaiprakash Associates has appealed to the NCLAT against the NCLT's order to initiate insolvency proceedings. ICICI Bank's insolvency plea was admitted in June, with Bhuvan Madan appointed as Interim Resolution Professional. The NCLT rejected JAL's plea, citing debt default and dismissed arguments regarding viability and asset richness.

The Left government in Kerala rejected the opposition's demand for a corruption case over liquor policy amendments. Chief Minister Vijayan cited an ongoing police probe. Opposition boycotted proceedings, demanding resignations amidst corruption allegations, denying claims of bribery.

Appointment of public servants, particularly to high-profile positions such as the Director General of Immigration, is a matter of significant public interest. It is essential that these appointments are conducted with the utmost integrity, transparency, and adherence to established legal and procedural frameworks. The recent nullification of Charles Kalumo’s appointment as Director General of Immigration […] The post Opinion: Kalumo’s nullification exposes gaps in the country’s appointment procedures for senior public officers appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi.

The 2024 International Letter Writing Competition, which is organised by Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) — in collaboration with the Universal Postal Union (UPU), has attracted over 440 competitors from across the country. Winners of the 53rd edition, which ran from January to March 2024, are expected to be unveiled at an event to be […] The post Over 440 entries received for 53rd letter writing competition organised by MACRA appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi.

Muslims in the country are on a nine day fasting following the sighting a crescent moon known in Arabic as Dhul-Hijjah. This will culminate in the joyous celebration of Eid ul Adha on the 10th day. Grand Mufti of Malawi Sheikh Muhammad Uthman Ntalika has since asked Muslims across in the country to  embrace unity […] The post Malawian Muslims on 9 day fasting following sighting of moon appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi.

Four people, including a two-year old boy, have perished in a road accident on Saturday in Kasungu. The fatal accident involved a lorry and a passenger vehicle which happened Saturday evening at Camel Trading Centre along the M1 Road in Kasungu. Kasungu Police Public Relations Officer, Joseph Kachikho said the two-year-old Isaac Phiri, Thokozani Foster, […] The post 4 perish in Kasungu road accident appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi.

Kondwani Nankhumwa, the interim president of the newly formed People’s Development Party (PDP), on Sunday failed to impress a mammoth crowd gathered at Masintha Ground in Lilongwe during the launch of his party with nothing fresh and clean on the table—just an old wolf in a new skin. Despite the opportunity to articulate a unique […] The post Nankhumwa’s PDP launch: Same old rhetoric, nothing fresh, no innovation—just an old wolf in a new skin appeared first on Malawi Nyasa Times - News from Malawi about Malawi.

Mogadishu (HOL) – Heightened security measures are now in place in the Landhere area of Galgaduud Province, central Somalia, following violent intercommunal clashes that began on June 8. The conflict, involving two rival local militias, has resulted in at least 50 deaths and more than 60 injuries. Authorities have deployed armed troops to the region to control the violence and prevent further conflict.

Jigjiga (HOL) — Defying expectations, the Nogob region football team defeated Afdheer 2-1 to claim their first-ever title in the 11th Somali Region Football Tournament, held in Jigjiga on Sunday.

Hargeisa (HOL) - The chairman of Somaliland's Waddani Party, Hirsi Ali Haji Hassan, has stated that President Muse Bihi Abdi must be held accountable for crimes committed in Somaliland during his term in office.

With cafes having such pretty aesthetics these days, it's no wonder some customers feel the temptation to steal some of their fittings.  Speaking to AsiaOne, the cafe owner of The Coffee Code Singapore, who only wanted to be known as Gordon, shared that his team realised that a mirror from their shop was missing on Sunday (June 9).  «My staff opened the shop and saw that the mirror had disappeared,» the 31-year-old recounted.  After going through the CCTV footage, which has since been uploaded onto the cafe's Instagram stories, the team discovered that the mirror had been stolen at around 2.07am that same morning. The cafe is located at Neil Road. In the footage, a woman can be seen gesturing at someone off camera before removing her jacket.  She then crouched down to pick up the mirror —which was displayed on the floor— with the jacket.  She can then be seen sprinting away from the cafe, with another woman next to her. «When the Coffee Code's Mirror is too cute to resist, you can't help but to steal it home,» read a caption on the Instagram story.  «Goodbye little one, hope they will let you come back soon.»

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was heading back to the Middle East on Monday to push a ceasefire plan, but Israeli politics and silence from Hamas raised further questions on whether he can succeed. The top US diplomat, paying his eighth visit to the region since war broke out, was set to start the trip in Egypt and head later Monday to Israel. Blinken is scheduled to hold closed-door talks first in Cairo with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, a key US partner in peace efforts, and later in Jerusalem with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Blinken planned the visit to push forward a proposal announced on May 31 by President Joe Biden, who has stepped up efforts to end a war that has taken a mounting toll on civilians and alienated parts of his base ahead of November elections. But Hamas, which opened the war with a massive October 7 attack on Israel that triggered a relentless retaliatory campaign, has not formally responded. And while Biden has described his plan as coming from Israel, the resignation on Sunday of a key centrist, Benny Gantz, from Netanyahu's war cabinet throws a new wild card on US diplomatic efforts. Gantz, a former general who leads in polls to replace Netanyahu if new elections are called, protested that the prime minister had not made the hard decisions to enable «real victory», including by thinking out a post-war plan for Gaza. Gantz has cast himself as a smoother partner for the United States than Netanyahu, a veteran of political squabbles with Israel's vital ally. Biden in recent weeks suspended a shipment of weapons to Israel and accused Netanyahu of prolonging the war to stay in power, an assertion on which he backtracked. Gantz defied Netanyahu by visiting Washington on his own in March and has regularly met in Israel with Blinken, although a meeting on the latest trip was not immediately announced. - Border crossing dilemma - The short-term effect of Gantz leaving the war cabinet could be removing a counter-balance to Netanyahu's far-right allies, who abhor any compromise and have threatened to quit if Israel accepts the ceasefire plan. Israel also showed Saturday it has more tools than diplomacy to free hostages -- its key priority -- with an operation that freed four Israeli captives and which Palestinian officials say killed 274 other people. Overall Israel's retaliatory military offensive has killed at least 37,084 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to the territory's health ministry. Hamas's October 7 attack on southern Israel resulted in the deaths of 1,194 people, also mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures. Under the plan laid out by Biden, Israel would withdraw from Gaza population centres and Hamas would free hostages. The ceasefire would last an initial six weeks, with the ceasefire extended as negotiators seek a permanent end to hostilities. Jake Sullivan, Biden's national security advisor, said Sunday it was difficult to say how the rescue operation would affect negotiations on a ceasefire. «If Hamas came and said yes to the deal on the table, there would be an end to the need for these kinds of operations, because the hostages would be coming out peacefully and not through military actions,» Sullivan told ABC News. In Egypt, Blinken is also expected to speak to Sisi about solutions to open the key crossing into Gaza at Rafah. The month-long closure has worsened the humanitarian disaster in Gaza, sending prices of scarce goods skyrocketing and worsening fears voiced by the United Nations of famine in the blockaded territory. Israel seized the crossing from Hamas and has blamed Egypt for the closure. Egypt, the first Arab state to make peace with Israel, has hit back and said that drivers feel unsafe going through what is now an Israeli checkpoint. Blinken was heading to the region from France, where he joined Biden on a state visit that marked the 80th anniversary of Allied troops' D-Day landing in German-occupied Normandy. Blinken will also visit two more key Arab partners, Jordan and Qatar, before returning Wednesday to join Biden at the Group of Seven summit in Italy. © Agence France-Presse

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was sworn in on Sunday for a third term after worse-than-expected election results left him reliant on coalition partners to govern. Modi's Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ruled outright for the past decade but failed to repeat its previous two landslide wins this time around, defying analysts' expectations and exit polls. He was instead forced into quick-fire talks with coalition partners in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which guaranteed him the parliamentary numbers to govern. His office said he would appoint a 71-member cabinet, including 11 NDA ally ministers, without adding further details. Modi's previous cabinet had 81 ministers. Flanked by top BJP officials and party leaders of his coalition, Modi vowed in a ceremony marking his formal assumption of power to «bear true allegiance» to the constitution. Honour guards lined the steps of the presidential palace where thousands gathered to watch Modi, dressed in a flowing white kurta shirt and blue waistcoat, take the oath. - Attack in Kashmir - The cheering crowd also included adoring BJP loyalists, as well as celebrities such as Bollywood legend Shahrukh Khan and billionaire tycoons Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani, key Modi allies. South Asian leaders from neighbouring Bangladesh, the Maldives and Sri Lanka attended the ceremony, however neighbouring rivals China and Pakistan did not. But celebrations were overshadowed after police said gunmen had ambushed a bus carrying Hindu pilgrims in Indian-administered Kashmir shortly before the ceremony began. The bus then tumbled into a ravine killing at least nine people. Kashmir has been divided between India and Pakistan since their independence in 1947, and both claim the high-altitude territory in full. Rebel groups have waged an insurgency since 1989, demanding independence or a merger with Pakistan, but violence fell drastically after 2019, when Modi's government cancelled the region's limited autonomy. - Allies eye top posts - Larger coalition parties have demanded hefty concessions in exchange for their support. With Modi yet to announce details of his cabinet, the line of lawmakers also taking the oath of office was keenly watched. Indian media reported widely that the top jobs, including the four most powerful posts, would remain in the BJP's grip. Modi was followed immediately by top BJP aides Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah and Nitin Gadkari -- the defence, interior and transport ministers in his last government respectively. The first among the BJP's coalition members was H.D. Kumaraswamy from the Janata Dal (Secular) party. Other coalition leaders to take the oath included Ram Mohan Naidu of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), the largest BJP ally with 16 seats, and which India media reports has extracted four cabinet positions. Rajiv Ranjan Singh also took the oath, from the BJP's next biggest ally the Janata Dal (United) with 12 seats, which has reportedly two minister posts. - 'More consultation' - But analysts said that the coalition will shift parliamentary politics and force Modi's once domineering BJP into a more conciliatory approach. «In the past, the BJP has had confidence because of its sheer majority,» said Sajjan Kumar, head of the Delhi-based political research group PRACCIS. «The coalition will now force the BJP to engage in more consultation.» Political analyst Zoya Hasan of Jawaharlal Nehru University told AFP that Modi faced potential challenges ahead -- warning he may be «meeting his match» in the «crafty politicians» of among his coalition allies. At the same time, Modi's chief rival Rahul Gandhi was nominated on Saturday to lead India's opposition in parliament, after he defied analysts' forecasts to help the Congress party nearly double its parliamentary numbers. It was Congress's best result since Modi was swept to power a decade ago, rescuing the party from the political wilderness. Gandhi is the scion of the dynasty that dominated Indian politics for decades and is the son, grandson and great-grandson of former prime ministers, beginning with independence leader Jawaharlal Nehru. © Agence France-Presse