LIVE! Turnout low in Egypt's long-awaited parliamentary election

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Sun, 18 October 2015

Turnout low in Egypt's long-awaited parliamentary election

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21:51 Turnout low in Egypt's long-awaited parliamentary election

Egyptians turned out in low numbers to vote in the first phase of an election hailed by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi as a milestone on the road to democracy but shunned by critics who say the new chamber will rubber stamp his decisions.

Many voters were elderly supporters of Sisi, who as the army chief toppled Egypt's first freely-elected president in 2013 then launched a fierce crackdown on dissent.

Egypt has had no parliament since June 2012 when a court dissolved the democratically-elected main chamber, then dominated by the Muslim Brotherhood, reversing a key accomplishment of the 2011 uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak. Sisi, the latest man from the military to rule Egypt, ousted elected president Mohamed Morsi of the Brotherhood after mass protests against him.

US President Barack Obama ordered the government to take steps towards lifting sanctions on Iran, in accordance with the historic nuclear deal struck between six world powers and Tehran. Obama's directive comes 90 days after the UN security council endorsed the accord signed in Vienna in July, a milestone referred to as "Adoption Day."

"I hereby direct you to take all necessary steps to give effect to the US commitments with respect to sanctions," Obama said in a memorandum addressed to the US secretaries of state, energy, commerce and the treasury.

Asaduddin Owaisi sought a ban on organisations and publications who don't believe in the Indian constitution and rule of law, demanding outfits justifying killings and promoting a "lynch mentality" should be immediately banned.

"Cases should be booked against such organisations and owners of such publications," Owaisi said in Bihar, where he is campaigning for his party candidates in the assembly elections.

The Hyderabad MP said this when his reaction was sought to a story in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh mouthpiece Panchjanya which said that the killing of Mohammad Ikhlaq in Uttar Pradesh over beef consumption rumours could not have been "without reason" and even the "Vedas mandate killing of those who slaughter cows".

"The Indian Constitution is not based on any religion and nor India can become a religious state. These people are talking of making India a Hindu rashtra," said Owaisi.

20:51 Geeta to return to India on October 26

Geeta, the deaf and mute Indian woman who had strayed across the border 12 years back, will return to India on October 26, Indian high commissioner to Pakistan, Dr TCA Raghavan announced. He added that the members of the Edhi family (the Pakistan NGO which has been taking care of her) will accompany her to India.

Himachal Pradesh Police claimed to have arrested one of the five people accused of lynching an alleged cow smuggler two days back and said the remaining would be nabbed soon.

One of the accused has been arrested, DSP of Sirmaur district Yogesh Rolta said about the incident that took place near Lawasa village in Sirmaur district on Friday. The arrested person, who is a local resident, is being interrogated to get more information about the incident and the persons involved in the attack and some more accused may be identified, he said.

Pakistan has become one of the world's top three executioners, joining the likes of China and Iran. Pakistan has so far executed 260 people since the government lifted a moratorium on capital punishment following the Peshawar massacre in December last year. Executions in Pakistan have been the highest in a single calendar year over the past decade and outnumbered the 179 executions carried out in the country from 2007-2014.Pakistan has hanged at least 432 condemned prisoners since 2007 while awarding death sentence to 2,196 prisoners in that time, according to data gathered from Amnesty International and the ministry of Interior.China and Iran top the list of countries for the most executions since 2007 with 2,727 and 2,635executions, respectively.

JUST IN: Li Xurei beats PV Sindhu 21-19 21-12 to win her first Super Series title of year

Reacting to Finance Minister's Arun Jaitley's view on the SC order on the NJAC, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal took to Twitter, saying, "Jaitley ji on NJAC -- "Indian democracy cannot be a tyranny of the unelected". Jaitleyji, this is exactly what we have been demanding in Delhi."

Earlier, Jaitley in his Facebook post had said that the SC judgement had upheld the primacy of one basic structure -- independence of judiciary -- but diminished five other basic structures of the Constitution, namely, Parliamentary democracy, an elected government, the Council of Ministers, an elected prime minister and the elected leader of the opposition. "

Pakistan has stepped up security for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif after learning that the Indian intelligence agency RAW was trying to assassinate him, the media said.

The Punjab home department has issued a high alert to security institutions "over an assassination threat to Sharif from the Research and Analysis Wing", The News International said. It quoted a circular from the home department as saying that "RAW has weaved a plan to assassinate Sharif" and that a number of other prominent personalities in Pakistan were also on RAW's radar.

18:04

JUST IN: Urdu poet Munawwar Rana returns his Sahitya Akademi Award.

17:52 The Dalai Lama has revealed what makes him angry

The Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader known for his promotion of tolerance, patience, and forgiveness, has revealed what makes him angry: careless staff. In an interview with The Times Magazine, the Dalai Lama admitted that "small things' still get to him, but he doesn't hold on to his anger.

Read more HERE

Chinese President Xi Jinping has reportedly requested a meal of fish and chips and a trip to a traditional English pub during his visit to the UK this week. President Xi will be on a state visit to the UK from October 20-23.

The Chinese president and his wife will stay at the Buckingham Palace. Xi is expected to visit a pub near Chequers on Thursday and wants to try the dish -- fish and chips -- that once symbolised Britain. The Chinese president and his wife will then sit down for a full dinner with Prime Minister David Cameron and his wife that evening. A source involved in negotiations over the trip was quoted by The Sunday Times as saying, "The Chinese are desperate to order fish and chips. They've asked about it repeatedly. I don't know if they know something we don't about the Chequers kitchens. It's all part of the president's view of himself as a man of the people."

Former Congress leader Cherian Philip said that women in the party had to perform sexual favours to get ticket to contest elections. Philip, a one-time shadow of senior leader A K Antony, made the comment in his Facebook page.

A few days ago, youth Congress workers had taken out a street march in Thrissur after removing their shirt in protest against denial of seats to contest local body elections.

Referring to that protest, Philip commented in Facebook, "The youth Congress protest by removing shirt was a model agitation. In the past, those women who had secretly staged this agitation had got Congress tickets to contest polls."

Philip's comments created furore in Congress with party state chief V M Sudheeran demanding withdrawal of the anti woman statement. Mahila Congress state president Bindu Krishna said Philip insulted women party workers. She threatened to move court if the former party leader failed to retract his comments.

A company and a society, linked to suspended railway officials facing CBI probe in connection with alleged corruption in supply of packaged drinking water in premium trains, have come under the agency's scanner which suspects these were used for camouflaging illegal remittances received from private caterers.

CBI sources said Sandeep Silas, a 1984-batch Indian Railway Traffic Service officer, has been involved in a project of his own, besides, being a very active player in the cultural scene of the national capital. The project run by Silas, Garland of Peace, has come under the scanner of the agency which will see weather any bribes were paid through it, they said, adding that all funds which came to the project and other cultural activities of Silas would also be probed.

Sources said a company run by the son of M S Chaliam, another Railway officer facing CBI probe in the case, has also come under the probe of the agency.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal warned Prime Minister Narendra Modi that he won't let him live in peace until crime against women stops. The remarks came in the wake of rape of two minors this week.

In a strong-worded message to Modi, Kejriwal said, "The PM should know one think that I am not like Sheila Dikshit who use to say that she is helpless that Delhi Police is not in her control. I will not sit quiet. I will not let the PM live in peace if such incidents continue."

Two children, including a two-and-half-year-old, were brutally raped in the capital, a week after the grisly sexual assault on a minor.

15:31 BCCI WON"T terminate CSK, Rajasthan from IPL

The Board of Control for Cricket in India will not terminate Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals from the Indian Premier League, it has been learnt.

More details are awaited.

In a desperate bid to bring down the spiraling prices of pulses, the government today ended all exemptions on stock limits of pulses for exporters, food processors and large retailers, departmental stores with multiple outlets.

The decision was taken on Friday during a meeting chaired by the cabinet secretary. The officials of the Agriculture and Food Supply Ministry were also present at the meeting. "Various remedial measures are underway for a month till the domestic produce is available in the market. There is need to ensure that no domestic player is sitting on larger than prescribed stocks," a senior government official said.

With the number of farmer suicides in Marathwada crossing 800-mark in 10 months of this year, the Maharashtra government has picked Osmanabad, one of the worst-affected districts, for its 'zero suicide' plan.

Of the total 807 suicides by farmers, at least 294 are not related to crop failure or rising debt of farmers, say district officials. "But yes, as many as 513 deaths are due to indebtedness and crop failure caused by poor rains. Nearly 294 suicides have taken place due to various reasons, including illness or family disputes. In some cases, it was found they did not qualify as farmers," added officials.

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg will hold the next 'Townhall Question & Answer' session at the Indian Institute of Technology- Delhi on October 28 to connect with Indians, who he described as "one of our most active and engaged communities".

This will be his first visit post the rebranding of Internet.org.

Zuckerberg announced his plan via a Facebook post. "I'm heading to India and I'll be hosting our next Townhall Q&A in Delhi on Wednesday, October 28."

14:24 21-year-old Amity student shot dead

A 21-year-old student of a private university was allegedly shot dead by another student in Noida. Ramaraju Sandesh, a 1st year Marine Science student from Amity University was allegedly shot dead by another student at the Lotus Bouleward Apartment of Sector 100 on Saturday, Zahir Khan, SHO of sector 39 police station said.

Patidar quota stir leader Hardik Patel has been detained as he was protesting outside the stadium in Rajkot as India take on South Africa in the third ODI.

Patel had initially said that he would attend the match with his followers to highlight their woes, but would not let the proceedings be affected.

Earlier, the police had fortified the stadium with the deployment of over 8,500 policemen and drones to ensure no untoward incident or protest mars the match. In fact, Internet services had also been blocked since Saturday and would only resume on Monday.

13:08

JUST IN: PM Narendra Modi will be on air for the next Mann ki Baat on October 25.

13:01 42 Modi jackets to take Africa ties to next level

PM Narendra Modi has made a mark with his personalised diplomacy across continents but he will take it to altogether another level when he hosts a dinner later this month for top African leaders, all of them dressed in his trademark Modi jackets. The humble bundi waistcoat which Modi made his own, turning it into a chic accessory, will be at the heart of Modi's latest bit of sartorial diplomacy which he wishes to execute with the African leaders.

Read more HERE

12:32

JUST IN: Maharashtra Cricket Association decides to donate 1,00,00,000 to state govt to tackle drought situation in region.

12:30 'Bazaru' Chetan Bhagat's work lacks seriousness: Akademi award winner

A day after returning his Sahitya Akademi award, noted Hindi writer Kashinath Singh lashed out at English author Chetan Bhagat, calling him a 'bazaru' writer whose literary work "lacked seriousness". Singh said, "Writing and passports are two different things and so they should not be linked together. We are committed to creative literary writing which has depth and seriousness. As far Chetan Bhagat is concerned, he is a bazaru writer. The kind of seriousness required for writing is missing from his work."

Standing in solidarity with Indian authors who are protesting against "rising intolerance" in the country, a global association of writers, has urged India to provide better protection for such individuals and safeguard free speech as guaranteed by the Constitution.

In a statement, delegates from 73 countries participating in the 81st Congress of Pen International in Quebec City in Canada, also expressed solidarity with the writers and artistes, who have returned their prestigious awards in protest.

Simultaneously, PEN International President, John RalstonSaul, has written a letter to the country's president, prime minister and the Sahitya Akedemi, urging the Indian government to take "immediate steps" to protect the rights of everyone, including writers and artists. "We stand in solidarity with the more than fifty novelists, scholars, poets, and public intellectuals who have returned their awards to the Akademi and admire their courage," the letter said.

After criticising the pseudo secular philosophy prevailing in India, noted Bangladeshi writer and human rights activist Taslima Nasrin has now exposed the names of some writers whom she accuses of having double standards. Taking to Twitter, Nasrin wrote, "Most Bengali writers were supporters of CPI-M, now they're supporters of TMC. They change sides for own selfish interests. Look how honest Bengali writers are! Most were supporters of CPI-M, now they're supporters of TMC. They change sides for own selfish interests."

In her blog 'No Country for Women, Taslima wrote that some famous male writers in Bengal are worse than Muslim religious fanatics.

In wake of the controversial comments made by several Bharatiya Janata Party leaders about beef and the Dadri lynching episode, the BJP president Amit Shah has called on Union Cultural Minister Mahesh Sharma, Sangeet Som, Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar and Sakshi Maharaj. Sources say the PM, too, is unhappy with the comments made by the leader and hence, asked Shah to rein these rabble rousers in.

Slamming writers who have returned their awards in the wake of the incident in Dadri where a man was lynched over beef rumours, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh mouthpiece Panchjanya, in its latest edition, has carried a cover story saying the Vedas order the killing of "sinners" who slaughter cows.

It alleges that madrasas and the Muslim leadership teach Indian Muslims to hate the country's traditions. "Ikhlaq (the Dadri victim) perhaps slaughtered a cow under the influence of such bad deeds," it states.

"Veda ka adesh hai ki gau hatya karne wale pataki ke pran le lo. Hum mein se bahuton ke liye to yah jivan-maran ka prashn hai (Vedas order killing of the sinner who kills a cow. It is a matter of life and death for many of us)," states the article Is Utpat ke Us paar (The other side of this disturbance) by Hindi writer Tufail Chaturvedi who edits the journal Lafz. Tufail is the name Vinay Krishna Chaturvedi uses.

Shiromani Akali Dal president and Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today said he would not rest till those who are guilty of sacrilege of holy book are punished.

"Apprehending and ensuring exemplary punishment to those guilty of the most heinous and unforgivable crime of sacrilege... are like a holy mission and I will would not rest till I achieve it," Badal said.

In a statement, the SAD president said the grievous outrage against the highest honour had deeply wounded the psyche of every member of the peace loving community.

"No personal, political, constitutional or religious duty is above the need for me to fulfill this sacred mandate in a manner that serves as most effective deterrent against the recurrence any such events in future," he added.

00:01 Top headlines of the last 24 hours

Factory worker beaten to death, video goes viral
Bihar assembly elections: Over Rs 13 lakh cash seized
No breakup threat with Sena, govt will complete 5yrs: Fadnavis
Act or hand over Delhi police to us, Kejriwal to PM
'What can we do if somebody rapes you?' BJP's K S Eshwarappa asks scribe

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