Istanbul, May 28,2023: Incumbent Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his main opponent, opposition leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu, will meet in a showdown on Sunday as polling stations across the country prepare for a runoff.
The first round two weeks ago saw Erdogan win 49.52% of the votes, and Kilicdaroglu 44.88%. To win the election, a candidate must receive a simple majority of the votes.
Former presidential candidate from the right-wing ATA alliance, Sinan Ogan, said that he would support Erdogan in the runoff.
However, Ogan might fail to mobilize enough votes for the incumbent president, President of the Turkish Foreign Policy Institute and professor of international relations at the Middle East Technical University in Ankara, Huseyin Bagci, told Sputnik.
New Delhi , May 27,2023: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday chaired the eighth governing council meeting of the Niti Aayog.
Themed on ‘Viksit Bharat @2047: Role of Team India’, the meeting was held at the new Convention Centre in the national capital’s Pragati Maidan.
As the chairman of NITI Aayog, PM Modi presided over the meeting, which deliberated on issues related to health, skill development, women empowerment and infrastructure development, with an aim to make India a developed nation by 2047.
Chief Ministers of several States participated in the council meeting that was attended by Home Minister Amit Shah, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh
Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, Andhra Pradesh chief minister Jagan Mohan Reddy, Jharkhand chief minister Hemant Soren, Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Pema Khandu, Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde were seen at the meeting.
“Eight prominent themes will be discussed during the day-long Meeting including (i) Viksit Bharat@2047, (ii) Thrust on MSMEs, (iii) Infrastructure and Investments, (iv) Minimising Compliances, (v) Women Empowerment, (vi) Health and Nutrition, (vii) Skill Development, and (viii) Gati Shakti for area development and social infrastructure,” the NITI Aayog stated ahead of the meeting.
“The Meeting will see the participation of Chief Ministers/Lt Governors of all States and Union Territories, Union Ministers as ex-officio Members, and the Vice Chairman and Members of NITI Aayog”, it stated.
As a preparatory prelude to the 8th Governing Council Meeting, the second Chief Secretaries Conference was held in January 2023, where these themes were extensively discussed.
“Wide-ranging stakeholder consultations and brainstorming sessions with subject experts, academia and practitioners were held prior to the Conference in order to gain well-rounded grassroots-level perspectives,” it further said.
The NITI Aayog further said, “This 8th Governing Council Meeting is also being held in the backdrop of India’s G20 Presidency. India’s G20 motto ‘One Earth, One Family, One Future’ conveys its civilisational values and its vision of the role of each country in creating the future of our planet.”
This will be the guiding spirit of India’s inclusive and sustainable vision for the next quarter century.
In order to achieve this vision, the 8th Governing Council Meeting would provide a platform for strengthening Centre-State cooperation and forging partnerships for achieving the goal of Viksit Bharat @2047.
New Delhi/Washington, May 27,2023: US lawmaker Grace Meng has introduced a bill in the US Congress to declare Diwali a federal holiday in the US.
Grace Meng, a Democrat member of the House of Representatives, in a tweet said: “Today, I was proud to announce the introduction of the Diwali Day Act, my bill that would make Diwali a federal holiday. Thank you to all my government colleagues and the many advocates who joined me to express their support.”
The Diwali Day Act, when passed by the Congress and signed into law by the President, would make Diwali the 12th federally recognised holiday in the US.
“Diwali is one of the most important days of the year for billions of people across the globe, and for countless families and communities in Queens, New York, and the United States,” said Congresswoman Meng.
“Diwali celebrations, are a wonderful time here in Queens, and each year it is easy to see just how important this day is to so many people. America’s strength is derived from the diverse experiences, cultures and communities that make up this nation. My Diwali Day Act is one step toward educating all Americans on the importance of this day, and celebrating the full face of American diversity. I look forward to shepherding this bill through Congress,” she said.
Diwali represents the triumph of good over evil and knowledge over ignorance. While the holiday holds a different significance for various cultural, ethnic and religious groups, the Festival of Lights is universally a time for celebration, reflection, prayer and gatherings with loved ones. Diwali will be celebrated later this year on November 12, said a press statement.
Establishing a federal holiday for Diwali, and the day off it would provide, would allow families and friends to celebrate together, and demonstrate that the government values the diverse cultural makeup of the nation.
Meng has also pushed to make Diwali a school holiday in her hometown of New York City.
The bill has been sponsored by 14 members of the House — 13 Democrats and a Republican.
Kabul, May 27,2023: Afghan acting Prime Minister Mawlawi Abdul Kabir has stressed having positive relations based on mutual respect with the world community, media reports said.
“The Islamic Emirate wants positive relations and mutual respect with all nations in the region and around the world in light of Islamic Sharia,” Tolonews quoted the acting premier as saying.
Kabir, according to the leading private media outlet, made the remarks in a meeting of the establishment’s leaders and tribal elders held recently.
He also noted that “having good relations between Afghanistan and the world is essential,” and his government wants to have relations with all the nations of the world.
Kabir replaced Mullah Hasan Akhund on May 18.
May 24,2023: Rights group Walk Free says up to 50 million people worldwide were experiencing forced labour or forced marriage in 2021.
North Korea, Eritrea and Mauritania have the highest prevalence of modern slavery in the world, according to the 2023 Global Slavery Index, which notes a “worsening” situation globally since its last survey five years earlier.
The report published on Wednesday said an estimated 50 million people were “living in situations of modern slavery” in 2021, an increase of 10 million over 2016 when the problem was last measured.
The figure includes some 28 million people in forced labour and 22 million living in a forced marriage.
The situation is worsening “against a backdrop of increasing and more complex armed conflicts, widespread environmental degradation” and effects from the coronavirus pandemic, among other factors, the investigation said.
Compiled by the human rights charity Walk Free, the report defines modern slavery as encompassing “forced labour, forced or servile marriage, debt bondage, forced commercial sexual exploitation, human trafficking, slavery-like practices, and the sale and exploitation of children”.
Slavery’s core principle entails “the systematic removal of a person’s freedom” — from the right to accept or refuse labour to the liberty to determine if, when and whom to marry.
By this benchmark, reclusive and authoritarian North Korea has the highest prevalence of modern slavery (104.6 per 1,000 population), according to the report.
It is followed by Eritrea (90.3) and Mauritania (32), which in 1981 became the last country in the world to make hereditary slavery illegal.
The 10 countries with the highest prevalence of modern slavery have some common characteristics, including “limited protections for civil liberties and human rights”.
Many of the countries are in “volatile” regions experiencing conflict or political instability, or are home to a large population of “vulnerable people” such as refugees or migrant workers.
Also in the top 10 globally were Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, where migrant workers’ labour rights are restricted by the “kafala” sponsorship system.
Other countries in the top 10 are Turkey, “which hosts millions of refugees from Syria”, Tajikistan, Russia and Afghanistan.
While forced labour is more common in low-income countries, it is “deeply” connected to demand from higher-income countries, the report said, noting that two-thirds of all forced labour cases are linked to global supply chains.
The report said G20 countries — made up of the European Union and the world’s 19 top economies — are currently importing $468bn worth of goods that are at risk of being produced with forced labour, up from $354bn in the previous report.
Electronics remain the highest value at-risk product, followed by garments, palm oil and solar panels, in a sign of high demand for renewable energy products.
“Modern slavery permeates every aspect of our society. It is woven through our clothes, lights up our electronics, and seasons our food,” the group’s founding director Grace Forrest said.
“At its core, modern slavery is a manifestation of extreme inequality. It is a mirror held to power, reflecting who in any given society has it and who does not,” she added.
New Delhi/Sydney, May 24,2023; Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday raised the issue of attacks on Hindu temples and the activities of Khalistani elements in Australia during his talks with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Sydney, and also said the two sides have decided to focus on negotiations on the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) to boost economic ties.
In his media statement after the holding of bilateral talks, PM Modi described the bilateral ties in cricketing language – of entering the T20 mode.
On the issue of attacks on temples, he said: “Prime Minister Albanese and I have in the past discussed the issue of attacks on temples in Australia and the activities of separatist elements — we discussed the matter today again.
“We will not accept any elements that harm the friendly and warm ties between India and Australia by their actions or thoughts. “
He thanked PM Albanese for the actions that have already been taken, and said that the Australian PM “has once again assured me today that he will take strict actions against such elements in the future also”.
On the CECA, he said: “Last year, the India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement came into effect. Today, we have decided to focus on Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement – this will further strengthen our economic partnership and open up new avenues for cooperation.”
PM Modi reiterated his announcement made at the community event yesterday of opening a new Indian consulate in Brisbane, like Australia has announced opening a new consulate in Bengaluru.
Thiruvananthapuram, May 24 ,2023: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will make the ‘Total e-Governance Kerala’ declaration here on May 25, as God’s Own Country becomes India’s total e-governed state, marking a major stride in its journey towards a knowledge-based society and economy besides achieving cent per cent digital literacy.
This unique achievement, which comes decades after Kerala became the first fully literate Indian state and began its quest to become a fully e-literate society, has been realised through a set of visionary policy initiatives of the Government seeking to transform the state into a digitally empowered society.
Besides digitising the delivery of government services to the people by making them transparent and inclusive, total e-governance will also ensure the inclusion of all sections of society, including the less privileged and marginalised.
The achievement enables online delivery of the whole range of government services by leveraging state-of-the-art technology and platforms. The Government has built a single window service delivery mechanism called e-Sevanam which integrates more than 800 plus government services online.
Keeping in tune with the vision of the Chief Minister for the transparent and speedy delivery of services to all, the state IT Mission has also created a set of digitised platforms and applications including e-Office File Flow, taking it down to the village office level.
The delivery of all vital services has already been digitised, covering all key domains including health, education, land revenue, documentation of properties, public distribution system and social security payouts.
Over the period, the state has also successfully carried out a clutch of major projects like eDistrict, K-Swift, EHealth, ePDS, eCourt management, ERSS, Pol App, Cyber DOM, KITE, HSCAP and Digital Survey Mission.
Kerala IT Mission, the nodal agency for the implementation of digitisation initiative, has made all services easily accessible for people of all strata of society.
The total e-governance will also help bridging the digital divide by making digital infrastructure to all at affordable cost, which is critical in transforming Kerala into a digital society to achieve sustainable economic growth.
In its policy initiatives, the state government has, over the last few years, emphasised on the importance of Information Technology as the key instrument of social development and economic growth.
The roll-out of KFON (Kerala Fibre Optic Network) will be a decisive step forward in this direction. Kerala stands out as the first Indian state to declare access to the Internet as a citizen’s right.
Making fast-paced progress, the state also emerged top in the National e-Service Delivery Assessment conducted by the Government of India.
The Chief Minister will make the historic declaration at a function at Nishagandhi Auditorium in the state capital at 4.30 pm.
Rajouri (Jammu and Kashmir) May 16,: The Azaala platform, a one-stop solution for the redressal of grievances, has provided the people of Rajouri with an easy and efficient way to get their issues resolved, officials said.
The live phone-in programme has allowed people to connect directly with the concerned officials, providing them with a platform to voice their concerns and grievances, they said.
Special cells have also been constituted to trace grievances on social media, ensuring that no issue goes unnoticed, they added.
According to an official note, the district administration of Rajouri, under the guidance of Deputy Commissioner Vikas Kundal, has been working tirelessly to provide prompt and effective services to the citizens.
n the run-up to providing solutions to the people’s issues, the launch of the Azaala platform, live phone-in programme and special cells for tracing grievances on social media has revolutionised the way governance is delivered in this remote and rugged part of the country.
Bangkok, Thailand,May 15,2023: Thailand’s reformist opposition has won the most seats and the largest share of the popular vote in a general election after voters resoundly rejected the military-backed parties that have ruled the Southeast Asian country for nearly a decade.
With nearly all votes counted on Monday, the progressive Move Forward Party (MFP) and the populist Pheu Thai Party were projected to win about 286 seats in the 500-member House of Representatives.
But uncertainty remains about whether they would be able to form the next government due to skewed parliamentary rules that allow 250 members of a military-appointed Senate to vote on the prime minister.
That means MFP and Pheu Thai will need the support of smaller parties to establish a new administration.
The biggest winner of Sunday’s vote was MFP, a progressive youth-led party that contested the general elections for the first time on a bold platform of reforming the monarchy and reducing the power of the military by rewriting the country’s constitution and ending conscription.
With 99 percent of votes counted, the MFP looked set to take the biggest share of the lower-house with a total of 147 seats, preliminary results published on the election commission website showed. The figure includes 112 from the 400 seats that are directly elected and 35 from the 100 seats allocated to parties on a proportional basis.
Damascus, May 14,2023: The Syrian government agreed on Saturday to extend the permission for the United Nations to use two border crossings on the Turkish border for three more months until August 13, the Syrian envoy to the UN headquarters in New York said.
“The Syrian Arab Republic has decided to extend the permission it granted to the UN and its specialized agencies to use the two border crossings of Bab Alsalama and al-Ra’i for an additional period of three months ending on 13 August 2023,” Bassam Sabbagh said on social media.
The envoy reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring stability and improving the living conditions of all Syrians after a series of devastating earthquakes rocked northwestern Syria in February. The border crossing were reopened to allow for deliveries of relief aid.