World (146)
Kejriwal wants Sanjeev Chaturvedi as his OSD
In less than two days after taking oath, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has written to the Centre seeking services of IFS officer Sanjeev Chaturvedi, who is likely to head the anti-corruption branch of Delhi government. Chaturvedi is currently serving as the deputy director of AIIMS. Kejriwal has sought services of the IFS officer in Delhi government as an officer on special duty.
Kiran Bedi joins BJP
NEW DELHI: In what is seen as a subtle dig at Kiran Bedi for joining BJP, Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday said he had also tried to convince her to take a plunge into politics. Bedi parted ways with Kejriwal after he decided to float a political party in October 2012 and was severely critical of his decision. "I have been fond of Kiran Bedi ji. I always tried to convince her that she should join politics. I am happy she did it today," Kejriwal tweeted. However, at AAP's press briefing, party leader Sanjay Singh, termed her joining BJP as "shocking". "It is sad and shocking that Bedi who had been maintaining that she will always remain apolitical and keep raising the issues of people has joined the BJP. Our best wishes are with her," he said.
Britain likely to allow voting at 16
LONDON: In a massive shift, Britain is planning to allow 16-year-olds to vote in the upcoming general election in May. Prime Minister David Cameron has backed a House of Commons vote on expanding ballot to teenagers. This was done in the recent Scottish independence referendum that boosted youth engagement with politics. "I thought the referendum in Scotland did switch a whole lot of people onto political issues because the question being asked was so important.
Spanish princess Cristina to stand trial
The sister of Spain's King Felipe VI, Cristina, will become the first member of the royal family ever to stand in the dock after a judge Monday ordered her to be put on trial for alleged tax fraud. The historic decision stemmed from four years of investigations that plunged the royal family into crisis and contributed to the abdication of King Juan Carlos in June. A court on the island of Majorca ordered Cristina, 49, to stand trial on two counts of accessory to tax fraud in connection with her husband's business affairs. She is accused of cooperating in tax evasion by her husband, the former Olympic handball player Inaki Urdangarin. He is accused of embezzling and laundering millions of euros in public funds. Cristina's lawyers say she is innocent of any wrongdoing. Cristina Federica de Borbon y Grecia is the youngest daughter of Juan Carlos and sixth in line to the throne. She married Urdangarin in 1997 in a glittering ceremony in Barcelona.
UK Policeman gifted egg to Helen
A white police officer in the US gifted 12 eggs to a grandmother after he caught her stealing five eggs from a store to feed her starved family in Alabama. 47-year-old Helen Johnson, who had not eaten anything for two days, burst into tears when William Stacy bought her a dozen eggs instead of arresting her for the petty theft. After the encounter was caught on camera and went viral, a groundswell of support poured in from food to cash and clothing as people came across the family's plight. On Wednesday, Stacy along with some of his colleagues landed at Johnson's house with two truckloads of food to keep her and her children and grandchildren fed through Christmas. It captured the nation's attention at a time of strained relations between the police and black Americans. Johnson then thanked Stacy with a hug in her kitchen after he dropped off donations of food at her house in Tarrant. "The last time I saw my house this full, I was 12-years-old and staying with my grandmother. I've been crying all day," Johnson was quoted as saying by a news website. Johnson had taken the step after she ran out of food and money to feed herself, two daughters, a niece and two grandkids who aged 1 and 3. After the hunger became too much, she stuffed five eggs inside her jacket which got broken. But when officer Stacy showed up, he didn't cuff the woman. He went inside and bought the grateful - and unexpecting - grandmother a dozen eggs. The police department has been overwhelmed by calls from well-wishers, Tarrant Police Chief Dennis Reno said, adding that the department signed up Johnson for the annual toy drive so the children will have presents this Christmas.
Shinzo Abe re-elected easily in Japan polls
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe won comfortable re-election Sunday in a snap poll he had billed as a referendum on his economic policies after early success faded into a recession. But a low turnout from unenthusiastic voters beset by a heavy snowfall could cast doubt on the endorsement he will claim for "Abenomics" — his signature plan to fix the country's flaccid economy. Broadcasters' exit polls shortly after voting finished showed his ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its junior partner Komeito had swept the ballot, with an unassailable two-thirds majority that will give them the power to override the upper house. TV Asahi said the pairing had won 333 of the 475 seats, while TBS put the figure at 328. "I have been pushing for Abenomics, the policies designed to create jobs and raise salaries," Abe told hundreds of voters in Tokyo's neon-lit Akihabara electronics district on the eve of the election. "Japan can be much richer," Abe said, sporting a knee-length white windbreaker emblazoned with his campaign slogan: "This is the only way". Abe, 60, was only halfway through his four-year term when he called the vote last month.
Maldives hit by water crisis, India sends help
With the Maldivian capital facing an acute water crisis after a fire in the city's water treatment plant, India on Friday sent an IAF transport aircraft and naval vessels carrying a large consignment of water to meet the immediate requirement of over 100,000 people. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj are seized of the crisis and have promised full assistance to the people and leadership of Maldives, a statement by the Indian high commission in Male said. "Mindful of the strong, friendly and close relations between India and the Maldives, India reacted with alacrity and promptness to the request from the Maldives for timely provision of water," the high commission said.
India to test-launch its heaviest rocket in December
India will test-launch its heaviest and upgraded rocket, the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV Mark III), sometime in the middle of next month, a senior official of the Indian space agency said on Saturday. The rocket will also carry a crew module to test its re-entry characteristics. "The main purpose of the mission is to test the atmospheric characteristics and stability of the rocket on its way up. We also decided to use this opportunity to test one component of the crew module — a human space mission that India may embark on at a later date," MYS Prasad, director of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, told reporters here.
Afghanistan president drops his tribal name
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has decided to drop his tribal name of Ahmadzai and has asked all government departments and media to use his family name only. A letter was sent last week by the Presidential Palace's administrative affairs office to all government departments telling them to drop "Ahmadzai" from official documentation, deputy palace spokesman Fayeq Wahidi said. The president had signed the letter, he said.
Mexico cancels bullet train deal with China
Mexico has suddenly canceled a $3.75 billion contract to buy bullet trains from China. This is a major blow to the Chinese railway manufacturing industry, which is trying to sell high-speed trains to India and other countries. Justifying the decision, Mexican president Enrique Pena Nieto said he wanted to avoid "any doubts about the legitimacy and transparency" of the bidding process. The cancellation came within days of the contract being signed on November 3. Earlier, two other Latin American countries, Brazil and Argentina, postponed their own high-speed rail projects.
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