Lack of consultation over setting up of inquiry panel upsets protesting wrestlers
Summary:
Three prominent Indian wrestlers, Bajrang Punia, Vinesh Phogat and Sakshi Malik, have expressed disappointment over the setting up of a five-member Oversight Committee to investigate sexual harassment charges against Wrestling Federation of India President Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, without consulting them. The wrestlers said they were assured they would be consulted before the setting up of the committee. The committee is headed by Olympic medallist boxer M.C. Mary Kom and comprises Olympic medallist wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt, well-known shuttler Trupti Murgunde, former Target Olympic Podium Scheme CEO Commander Rajesh Rajagopalan and former Executive Director (Team) of the Sports Authority of India Radhica Sreeman.
Delhi High Court notifies rules for livestreaming proceedings
Summary:
The Delhi High Court has notified rules for live-streaming of its proceedings and that of all the subordinate courts in the Capital. Live-streaming will not be allowed in cases such as matrimonial matters, cases of child adoption and child custody, cases concerning sexual offences, matters involving abuse of children etc. The rules aim to "imbue greater transparency, inclusivity, and foster access to justice". Live streaming of proceedings is already underway in the High Courts of Gujarat, Orissa, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Patna and Madhya Pradesh, as well as the Supreme Court of India. No person or entity other than an authorized person or entity can record, share or disseminate live-streamed proceedings or archival data.
AAP, BJP tug of war stalls mayoral elections again
Summary:
The meeting of the newly elected Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) was adjourned again without electing a Mayor due to a ruckus that broke out between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) councillors. The meeting was reconvened weeks after the first session on January 6 was adjourned amid chaos following AAP’s protest over presiding officer Satya Sharma’s decision to first administer the oath to the nominated persons (aldermen). The first House meeting is supposed to see all councillors being administered the oath, following which the election to the office of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor are held. Despite initial murmurs of protests over Sharma’s decision, the oath-taking process was completed without hiccups. However, as the process to hold the Mayor’s election began, a heated argument broke out between the BJP and AAP councillors, leading to adjournment of the meeting till the next date.
Youth outfits defy ‘ban’ to hold public screenings of documentary on Modi
Summary:
Youth organizations affiliated to the opposition parties and student outfits in India screened the first episode of BBC’s “India: The Modi Question” across the state of Kerala to protest against the Centre’s recent move to ban it on social media. Similar attempts at Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru University were prevented by the authorities, leading to group viewings on personal devices. The JNU campus was shrouded in darkness as the electricity had been cut off at most parts, especially outside the venue. As the screening could not take place, the union shared the link of the documentary and the students, who had gathered in large numbers, viewed it together on their phones. The Students’ Federation of India (SFI) in a statement said its Central Executive Committee had decided to screen the documentary in all states to reveal the “real face” of the Modi government.
EDITORIAL
A chance for peace
India should engage Pakistan if itcomes forward to normalise relations
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's recent offer of talks with India, saying that Pakistan "had learnt a lesson from three wars" with India and wants to "live in peace with India provided we are able to resolve our genuine problems", was met with equal measures of excitement and cynicism in India. Sharif's offer comes at a time when Pakistan is facing political turmoil and an imminent risk of debt default, and is being held together by support from UAE, Saudi Arabia and China, as well as hopes that its IMF bailout package will come through with the adoption of more austerity measures. Sharif's offer also comes as India prepares to host the SCO summit this summer and invitations are being sent out to ensure participation by Pakistan for the major meetings. India's G-20 presidency and desire to promote the concerns of the Global South amidst the Ukraine war would also benefit from peace in the neighborhood.
The G-20, or Group of Twenty, is an international forum that brings together the leaders of the world's 20 major economies. The G-20 was established in 1999 as a forum for finance ministers and central bank governors to discuss and coordinate policies related to the global economy. The forum has since expanded to include leaders of these countries, and it has become an important platform for discussing and addressing global economic and financial issues. The G-20 countries represent more than 75% of global economic output, and they are responsible for over 85% of world trade. The organization aims to promote international financial stability, sustainable economic growth, and global trade. The G-20 also works to promote cooperation and coordination among its members on issues such as financial regulation, tax policy, and climate change. The G-20 is also an important platform for discussing and addressing issues related to the global economy and financial system, as well as for promoting cooperation and coordination among its members.
The new and dark interpretations of ‘We the People’
Summary:
Developing schools without barriers
Summary:
The article discusses the challenges faced by children with disabilities (CWD) in accessing education in India, due to lack of accessible spaces and infrastructure in schools. A UNESCO report in 2019 found that CWD make up 1.7% of the total child population in India, and many struggle to access educational opportunities due to physical, institutional, socio-economic and communication barriers. The article argues that to ensure all children can meaningfully participate in all indoor and outdoor activities, the school ecosystem needs to be made safe, accessible, and reliable, and that cooperation and involvement from parents, teachers, school management authorities and local government departments is needed to address barriers to accessibility.
‘India lost access to 26 of 65 Patrol Points’
Summary:
India has lost access to 26 out of 65 Patrolling Points (PP) in eastern Ladakh, according to a research paper submitted at last week's annual police meet in Delhi, accessed by The Hindu. The paper states that the "play-safe" approach of the Indian Army, which restricts the movement of the district administration and local people in forward areas, has turned areas that were once accessible into informal "buffer" zones. Additionally, to avoid consternation with the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), the Army restricts the movement of graziers by installing check-posts and deploying personnel in disguise.
In President Sisi visit, India and Egypt look to rekindle nonaligned era ties
Summary:
Egyptian President Abdel Fateh el-Sisi arrived in India on Tuesday for a four-day state visit. He is the first Egyptian leader to be invited as the chief guest for the Republic Day Parade. During the visit, the two countries will sign several MoUs and discuss taking ties forward on strategic issues, defense, trade, agriculture and renewable energy. The invitation to Mr. Sisi is also being seen as part of the government’s push to engage the “Global South”, and as a rekindling of the principles of non-alignment that have come back to the fore after the Russian war in Ukraine began in February last year.
A.P., Bombay High Courts get three additional judges
Summary:
Advocate Neela Kedar Gokhale, judicial officer P. Venkata Jyothirmai and V. Gopalakrishna Rao were appointed as additional judges of the Bombay and Andhra Pradesh High Courts respectively. The appointments were made based on recommendations from the Supreme Court Collegium. Gokhale has been a part of the legal team representing an accused in the 2008 Malegaon blasts in the Supreme Court since 2017
IMF confirms India’s finance assurances for Sri Lanka
Summary:
India has confirmed to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that it will provide debt relief for Sri Lanka, as part of the country's bid to secure an IMF-supported programme for economic revival. India became the first of Sri Lanka's three largest bilateral creditors to provide written financing assurance to the IMF, with China and Japan expected to follow. An IMF provisional package of $2.9bn will be approved by its board once similar assurances have been received from all three countries.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an international organization that was established in 1944 to promote international monetary cooperation, exchange rate stability, and the balanced growth of international trade. The main purpose of the IMF is to ensure the stability of the international monetary system—the system of exchange rates and international payments that enables countries (and their citizens) to transact with each other. The organization provides policy advice, financial assistance, and technical assistance to its member countries to help them achieve these goals. The IMF is governed by its member countries, who are represented by a Board of Governors and an Executive Board. These boards are responsible for making the major policy decisions that guide the organization. The IMF's headquarters is in Washington, D.C.
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