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North, South Korea agree to jointly bid for 2032 Olympics

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North and South Korea on Wednesday agreed to prepare a joint bid for hosting the 2032 Summer Olympics, as part of agreements reached during the third inter-Korean summit of the year.

The proposal, presented during the meeting between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang, was first put forward by the South Korean Sports Minister Do Jong-hwan during a visit to Tokyo on September 12 and could mean a joint hosting of events by Seoul and Pyongyang, reports Efe.

“The two Koreas agreed to jointly take part in international competitions, including the 2020 Summer Olympics, and to seek to jointly host the 2032 Summer Olympics,” said the joint declaration signed by the two leaders on the second day of the three-day summit.

Sports have been symbolic of the diplomatic thaw between the two countries this year, starting with Kim’s New Year address, in which he announced that his country was ready to participate and send a delegation to the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea.

Both the Koreas participated in the event under the same unification flag, a first since Turin 2006 Winter Olympics, and later repeated the gesture at the Asian Games, held in Indonesia in August.

The two Koreas reiterated on Wednesday that they would keep sending joint teams to sports events as was done in the Jakarta 2018 and the Pyeongchang 2018 games.

IANS

Asia Cup: India restrict Pakistan to low total

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Pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar and part-time off-spinner Kedar Jadhav took three wickets each as India restricted Pakistan to a paltry 162 in their Group A clash of the Asia Cup cricket tournament here on Wednesday.

The lynchpins of a strong Indian bowling performance, Bhuvneshwar returned figures of 3/15 while Jadhav got 3/23.

Jadhav removed Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed (6) around the halfway mark of the first innings before accounting for Asif Ali (9) and Shadab Khan (8) as Pakistan, who were relatively comfortably placed at 85/2 at one point, collapsed to 121/7.

Left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav triggered Pakistan’s slide with a brilliantly executed wrong un’ that outfoxed Pakistan’s best batsman Babar Azam (47) when he was looking good along with Shoaib Malik (43).

The pair had stitched together a 82-run stand for the third wicket after openers Imam Ul Haq (2) and Fakhar Zaman (0) departed early with fit-again Bhuvneshwar Kumar (3/15) sending them back.

From then on, Pakistan could never recover as Mohammed Amir (18 not out) and Faheem Ashraf (21) joined hands for a 37-run partnership towards the end before Jasprit Bumrah (2/23) dismissed Ashraf and Bhuvneshwar and Bumrah got rid of Hasan Ali (1) and Usman Khan (0) respectively.

Electing to bat first, Pakistan got off to a slow start and could only manage 25/2 in the first 10 overs, losing two wickets.

Malik and Azam then got going well and negotiated the spin duo of Yuzvendra Chahal, who went wicketless, and Kuldeep well.

Malik hit the first six of the innings in the 13h over off Kuldeep and three overs later got a reprieve when Mahendra Singh Dhoni dropped him behind the stumps off Hardik Pandya

Moments later, Pandya had to be stretchered off after suffering what turned out to be a lower back injury during his follow through. Pandya clutched the floor and could not get up, needing attention from the medical team.

Just when the partnership seemed to be growing, Kuldeep once again underlined why he is a wily customer and can be unplayable at times with a ripper of a googly that pitched on middle and turned away from the batsman at the last moment to knock over his off-stump.

Malik then was dropped again at deep midwicket off Kuldeep as Bhuvneshwar failed to read a slog sweep in which the ball went high up in the air with the pacer misjuding the direction and over-running.

Captain Sarfraz, who had joined Malik at the crease, did not stay long as Manish Pandey took a superb catch at wide long-on off Jadhav.

Malik was run out soon after, failing to convert his start into a big one as the slide started for Pakistan.

Jadhav then added to his rivals’ misery by picking up the wickets of Asif Ali and Shadab Khan as Pakistan failed to string together partnerships.

Amir and Ashraf tried hard to get important runs towards the end but could not bat out the full 50 overs.

Brief scores:

Pakistan: 162 in 43.1 overs (Babar Azam 47, Shoaib Malik 43; Bhuvneshwar Kumar 47, Kedar Jadhav 3/23) vs India.

(IANS)

India, Pakistan foreign ministers to meet in New York

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Breaking the ice in ties, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will meet her Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) session that begins later this month — the first such high-level interaction between the neighbours after three years.

“I can confirm that on the request from the Pakistani side a meeting between the two foreign ministers will take place on the sidelines of the UNGA at a mutually convenient date and time.

“We have just agreed to the meeting. The Permanent Missions of both India and Pakistan will together work out the details. Till then, what will be discussed in the meeting, we will have to wait till the meeting takes place,” External Affairs Ministry (MEA) spokesperson Raveesh Kumar told the weekly media briefing here.

Replying to questions, Kumar suggested that the coming meeting was not resumption of the dialogue process.

This follows a letter written by Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking resumption of dialogue and suggesting a meeting between the two foreign ministers on the sidelines of the UNGA, and a letter written by Qureshi to Sushma Swaraj.

When pressed further, Kumar said this is just a meeting and there is nothing much to be read into this at this stage.

Kumar also revealed that India has confirmed that it would attend a meeting of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) foreign ministers.

“The existing policy on the Saarc process will continue. I don’t think there is any change in it,” said the MEA spokesperson.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had met the then Pakistan’s Advisor on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz in Islamabad in 2015 and two decided to resume the comprehensive dialogue process.

This was followed by an unscheduled visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Lahore on the Christmas Day. But the bilateral ties took a severe beating after the terror attack on the Pathankot airbase on January 2, 2016.

Asked whether the foreign ministers meeting in New York is the beginning of a dialogue process, he merely repeated that they requested for a meeting and we have not discussed details.

On reports of brutality on a Border Security Force (BSF) jawan who was killed in firing from the Pakistani side, he said it was a barbaric incident and the BSF has written a strong communication to its counterparts in Pakistan.

“It is a serious issue and we will take it up Pakistan.”

(IANS)

India successfully test fires Prahaar missile

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India successfully test fired the surface-to-surface short-range tactical ballistic missile Prahaar from the Odisha coast amid a heavy downpour on Thursday.

The missile developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) was test fired from launching complex-III of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) in Balasore at about 1.35 p.m.

The missile was launched from a road-mobile launcher, defence sources said.

The Prahaar missile has a strike range of 150 km. Fuelled by solid propellant, it is about 7.32 meters long and its diameter is 420 mm. Its launch weight is about 1.28 tonne and it can carry a payload of 200 kg.

Prior to the launch of the missile, people from hamlets in close proximity of ITR were shifted to temporary shelters.

(IANS)

RSS won’t accept Muslims: Mayawati

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The RSS would never accept the Muslims even if they agreed to build not just the Ram temple in Ayodhya but many other temples, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati said on Thursday.

She also slammed the Narendra Modi government’s move on the ‘triple talaq’ ordinance, calling it “politically motivated”.

Reacting to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat’s observation on Wednesday that if the Muslims themselves build the Ram temple in Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh it would help mitigate the animosity between the Hindus and Muslims, she said she did not agree with this.

“We don’t agree with this logic. Even if the Muslims make many more temples the narrow-minded Hindus will never mend fences with the Muslims because their basic mentality is anti-Muslim, anti-Dalit and anti-minorities,” Mayawati said in a statement.

Warning people to guard against the RSS and BJP leaders’ efforts to divide society on religious lines, the Dalit leader said that “they say one thing and do another”.

She alleged that the RSS’ “communal and casteist” face had come to the fore after the BJP came to power at the Centre and in many states.

The former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister said that Bhagwat’s three-day outreach programme was a ploy to distract public attention from the burning issues of poverty, hunger, price rise, unemployment and corruption.

“The RSS has put everything at stake for the BJP. Now that the discontent against the Narendra Modi government is at its peak, the RSS is also jittery,” the Dalit leader said.

She said that had the Sangh’s ideology been so humane, pro-people and respecting the Constitution of India, the organisation would not have faced a ban thrice after Independence.

On the ‘triple talaq’ ordinance cleared by the Union Cabinet, Mayawati said: “The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is doing politics on such sensitive issues to deflect public attention from its failures. Had it not been a politically motivated move, the government would have agreed to send the triple talaq bill pending in the Rajya Sabha to a Select Committee for comprehensive discussion.”

(IANS)

Defence Minister must go for “misleading” on Rafale: Congress

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The Congress on Thursday demanded Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s resignation accusing her of “misleading” the country after former HAL chief T.S. Raju refuted her claim that the defence undertaking did not have the capability to build Rafale fighter jets.

Leading the charge, Congress President Rahul Gandhi earlier in the day tweeted: “The RM (Rafale Minister) tasked with defending corruption has been caught lying again.

“The former HAL chief, T.S. Raju, has nailed her lie that Hindustan Aeronautics Limited didn’t have the capability to build the Rafale. Her position is untenable and she must resign.”

Subsequently former Union Minister Manish Tewari citing Raju’s assertions made to a national daily, reiterated the demand for the Defence Minister’s resignation.

He said the Modi government’s “web of lies” surrounding the controversial defence deal has been demolished.

Besides asserting that the Bengaluru-headquartered Hindustan Aeronautics Limited’s (HAL) capability of building the French fighter jets, Raju also claimed that Dassault and the state-owned aerospace and a defence company had signed a mutual work-share contract and given it to the government.

“Raju, who retired on September 1, has absolutely demolished the entire case that the Modi government has tried to build in the last few months.

“He has not only asserted HAL’s capability but also revealed about the signing of a mutual work-share contract with Dassault Aviation (the French aircraft manufacturer of the fighter jet at the centre of the controversy).

“In the light of clear and unequivocal statement of facts by the former head of HAL, we demand the resignation of the Defence Minister on the charge of misleading the people of the country,” Tewari told the media here.

He also endorsed Raju’s call for the Modi government to make public the files concerning the deal.

Targeting both Prime Minister Modi and Sitharaman, Tewari reiterated the Congress’ demand for a Joint Parliamentary Probe into the deal announced in 2015.

The fresh attack against the Modi government came a day after the Congress on Wednesday approached Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) Rajiv Mehrishi seeking a special and forensic audit into the deal which has caused “loss” to the exchequer and “endangered” national security.

IANS

5 envoys present credentials to President Kovind

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Ambassadors of Iceland, the Netherlands, Guinea, Lithuania and Luxembourg presented their credentials to President Ram Nath Kovind at a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Thursday.

The envoys who presented their credentials are Iceland Ambassador Gudmundur Arni Stefansson; the Netherlands Ambassador Marten van den Berg; Guinea Ambassador Fatoumata Balde; Lithuania Ambassador Julius Pranevicius; and Luxembourg Ambassador Jean Claude Kugener.

(IANS)

BJP controlling media: Kejriwal

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Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday slammed the BJP for “controlling the media” by filing police cases against journalists. Kejriwal levelled the allegation following a BJP worker’s complaint against several journalists for reporting that he washed a party MP’s feet and drank the dirty water.

On Monday, a video clip had gone viral, showing Jharkhand BJP worker Pawan Kumar Sah washing MP Nishikant Dubey’s feet at a function in Godda district and drinking the collected water. Sah alleged that he was being “hounded” by reporters since then.

“Every day, people from TV channels call me and threaten me with derogatory words. They are continuously trying to damage my image in social circles and this has affected my health,” Sah complained to Godda police.

Kejriwal’s reaction came on Twitter after Leader of Opposition in Bihar, Tejashwi Yadav, shared a copy of Sah’s complaint.

“So far, the BJP was controlling the media by controlling advertisers and through money. But now, it seems it has decided to file police cases against the media if it dares to question the shameful acts of its MPs,” Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Kejriwal said.

Tejashwi Yadav wrote on Twitter: “Instead of apologising for his shameful conduct, Dubey (getting his dirty feet washed by a poor man who then drank that water) is bullying and trying to intimidate people in the media and social media through cases through his proxies.”

(IANS)

RSS Chief Bhagwat Has Put Focus Back on Ram Temple, But no Solution Likely Before 2019 Polls

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With RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat putting the spotlight back on the issue of Ram Temple in Ayodhya, those associated with the ongoing title suit case in Supreme Court feel that there is no verdict expected in the near future, most likely not even before the 2019 general elections. The question is, will the BJP with governments both at the Centre and State, make any move on the contentious issue? Or will it leave the matter to be decided by the court itself?

The current three-judge Bench headed by CJI Dipak Misra had been hearing the Ayodhya title dispute. Justice Misra is to retire on October 2 this year and those legally associated with the case say there is absolutely no possibility of any verdict coming in the case before that.
In fact, the Bench has not entirely started with the actual hearing in the title case. Zafar Yah Jilani, the convener of Babri Masjid Action committee and lawyer for the Muslim side in the Ram Janam Bhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute case, says

“The honourable bench has so far heard and reserved its order only on an earlier ruling of the Apex court in 1994, which said, ‘Mosque is not the essential requirement In Islam. Order on this was reserved on July 20th and is expected to be pronounced before Justice Mishra retires’.”

Jilani adds, “If the bench thinks the 1994 ruling is required to be looked into, the issue will be recommended to be heard by a five-judge bench or above it. This, because the 1994 ruling of ‘Mosque not being an essential requirement in Islam’ was given by a five-judge bench.
Then what does it technically mean for the pending civil suit seeking the court order? And to whom does the disputed land belong, Hindus or Muslims? Jilani explains, “If a new bench is to be constituted, the matter will be subsequently heard by it. And if it’s the other way around, even then a new bench—most likely comprising of the new Chief Justice of India
will hear it post Justice Mishra’s retirement. Justice Ranjan Gogoi is set to take over as the new CJI.”

Jilani feels that this 1994 observation doesn’t makes any significant impact on the ongoing title suit case. However, since it’s related to the Ayodhya dispute, the judgement on the ruling will certainly create a flutter.

Advocate Hari shankar Jain of the Hindu Mahasabha is more vocal in his observation. He says, “I don’t see any solution coming from the Supreme Court even in the next two years. Forget about anything before the 2019 General elections.” He further says, “The actual hearing in the title suit has not yet started. First, the court will decide about the 1994 ruling. Only then will there be further progress.”

Now, amid this clarity of no verdict on the sensitive issue in the near future, the question arises about what the Narendra Modi government wishes to do.

With the RSS Chief bringing the focus back on the dispute, questions will be raised on how the BJP wishes to handle the issue ahead of 2019 polls. On Tuesday, Mohan Bhagwat had said, “As the RSS Chief I want that a grand Ram temple should be built at the Ram Janam bhoomi in Ayodhya at the earliest.” He had added, “If it happens through mutual understanding then it will lead to harmony with Muslims. The decision regarding a legislation or not on the issue rests with the government.”

The BJP leaders have been giving a mixed response in the matter. While BJP president Amit Shah and Prime Minister Modi have not spoken a word about the issue during their rallies and visits to Uttar Pradesh, the State’s chief minister Yogi Adityanath had earlier suggested that Temple is not part of party’s agendas for the 2019 elections. Yogi had said, “Lord Rama will himself decide the date of the temple construction.”

This statement was widely read as BJP’s tactical decision to not make it an issue in the 2019 polls. However, UP’s deputy CM Keshav Maurya had taken a different route. Speaking to News18 earlier, Maurya had said, “We are committed about the Ram Temple and Centre will not be shy about bringing in a legislation to pave way for the construction of Ram Temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya.”

Naturally, all eyes will now be fixed on the Modi government. Will it decide to move forward in the issue? Weather the government intends to bring in an ordinance or a legislation, as has been the demand of hardliner Hindu leaders like Vinay Katiyar from within the party, is not clear. What we can say is that on ground BJP’s focus has been more on the development issue, riding on the slogan of ‘Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas’.

Any move regarding Ram Temple will therefore derail the political campaign on the development issue. How the government strikes a balance between the two remains to be seen.

PTI

Make Bengaluru pothole-free by Thursday, it is your job’: K’taka HC tells BBMP

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Following the removal of flex banners across Bengaluru, the Karnataka High Court, led by Chief Justice Dinesh Maheshwari, came down heavily on the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and told them to ensure that the city is free of potholes by Thursday.

“It should be zero potholes by tomorrow. It is your job. How you go about it is up to you. Bengaluru has to be put back on its glory from every angle. If you cannot do it, then we would have to take a call. The city cannot be left to anybody’s mercy”  a Division Bench of CJ Maheshwari and Justice SG Pandit observed, according to The TImes of India.

While hearing a PIL filed by Vijayan Menon of the Citizens Action Forum and others, the bench also noted that potholes were a minor part of the larger traffic problem. The PIL had sought a direction from the court to ask the Palike to submit an action plan to fix potholes, and also to introduce a system to record complaints about the condition of roads in the city. Furthermore, the petitioners sought a method to award compensation to victims of road accident due to the deplorable condition of the roads.

“Are your officers not ashamed of this action of counting potholes,” the bench asked, when it was told that the city had 1,600 potholes, reported media.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court had also taken note and said that the situation was “frightening” when it was told that a total of 3,597 lives were lost across the country due to potholes.

Reacting to the HC’s observation, BBMP Commissioner N Manjunath Prasad said, “The work on filling potholes has been going on almost every day, except on days it rains. A standing instruction has been given to all officers to ensure the roads are pothole-free at the earliest.”

PTI

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