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Gangster Salem gets life for Mumbai builder Pradeep Jain's murder

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Abu Salem

Mumbai: Extradited gangster Abu Salem was on Wednesday sentenced to life in prison by a TADA court for the 1995 murder of Mumbai builder Pradeep Jain.

On Monday, Salem’s advocate, Sudeep Pasbola, had contended that the court should fulfil the sovereign guarantee that India had given to Portugal while extraditing Salem.

He also added that the Indian government had assured the Portugal government that the treaty signed with them would not be violated. However, India’s demand for capital punishment and then for life imprisonment also amounted to violation of the treaty.

Pasbola had pointed out that as per the treaty, Salem cannot be awarded sentence for more than 25 years nor can he be given capital punishment.

He said that the set off period for Salem should be counted from the date when his extradition process began in 2002, and not from the date he was brought to India and arrested in 2005.

Pradeep Jain was shot dead by assailants outside his Juhu bungalow in March 1995 after he refused to give up a huge property to Salem.

(Agencies)

Pachauri steps down as IPCC chief, takes leave from TERI

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R K Pachauri

New Delhi/Nairobi: Environmentalist R K Pachauri Tuesday stepped down as chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) following charges of sexual harassment. Pachauri has denied the accusation.

Pachauri, who is also the director-general of New Delhi-based environment think-tank The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), has taken “leave” from the post.

In his resignation letter to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, he stated his inability to continue as the IPCC chair on the grounds that the international climate change body needed “strong leadership and dedication of time” that he was unable to commit to “under the circumstances… as shown by my inability to travel to Nairobi to chair the plenary session of the panel this week”.

“I have, therefore, taken the decision to step down from my position,” he said.

The bureau of the UN’s IPCC agreed Tuesday to designate Vice-Chair Ismail El Gizouli as acting chair, a press release said Tuesday.

Meanwhile, TERI, in a statement, said he has also proceeded “on leave for the time being” and adequate internal arrangements have been ensured for smooth operations in his absence.

The 74-year-old Padma Bhushan awardee is facing a complaint of alleged harassment by a woman research analyst who has also lodged a police case.

Citing several texts, emails, and WhatsApp messages as evidence to prove the claim of sexual harassment, the complainant accused the scientist of harassing her soon after she joined the TERI in September 2013.

However, Pachauri’s counsel refuted the accusations saying his client’s computer and phone were “hacked”.

Following the sexual harassment charges, Pachauri had already announced last week that he would skip one of the IPCC sessions in Nairobi due to “issues demanding his attention” in India.

His move from the IPCC assumes great significance at a time when India is being looked up to for leading the global negotiations at UN climate change conference in Paris in December.

Paris 2015 will serve as a global platform where world leaders would converge to hammer out a universal framework to roll back carbon emissions after 2020. The new framework would replace the current Kyoto protocol.

Pachauri, as the IPCC chair, was expected to play a prominent role in all the key negotiations in the run up to Paris 2015.

In 2007, the IPCC was jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize with former US vice president Al Gore for their part in galvanizing international action against climate change.

Pachauri was elected to the first of two terms as chair of the IPCC in April 2002 and had been scheduled to complete his second term in October, said the IPCC statement.

(IANS)

Madhya Pradesh Governor asked to resign after he is named in exam scam

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Madhya Pradesh governor Ramnaresh Yadav.

Madhya Pradesh governor Ram Naresh Yadav.

New Delhi: The governor of Madhya Pradesh, Ram Naresh Yadav, has been asked to go by the home ministry after he was named in an FIR or police complaint in connection with a multi-crore exam scam involving politicians and government officials.

Sources say the home ministry asked the governor to resign on Tuesday night, saying his continuing in the position was untenable.

Mr. Yadav, who has been governor since 2011, has been accused of taking money from candidates applying for the position of Forest Guards in 2013. He has been booked for corruption, misuse of his official position and cheating. 70 others have been named in the case.

Sources have told that the 86-year-old used his letterhead to recommend names of candidates.

According to legal experts, the Special Task Force, which booked the Governor, needs presidential sanction to charge sheet him. His son Shailesh Yadav’s involvement is also being examined by the Special Task Force set up to investigate the case.

The opposition Congress had for days demanded Mr. Yadav’s resignation.

Last week, Mr. Yadav was forced to cut short his speech in the state assembly and leave as the opposition lawmakers kept shouting slogans. Congress activists also clashed with the police as they tried to march to the assembly in protest.

The alleged scam involves the Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board or Vyapam, which holds exams for positions like medical officers, constables, teachers and auditors for government departments. Candidates allegedly bribed government officials to make it to the list of those who cleared the test, without taking the exam.

Former Technical Education Minister Lakshmi Kant Sharma and four other officials of the Madhya Pradesh Professional Examination Board have also been named. All the five are currently in jail.

(Agencies)

Miscreants pelt stones at St. Joseph Vaz worship centre in Mangaluru

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St Joseph Vaz

Mangaluru: A day after RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat accused Mother Theresa of converting people into Christianity in the pretext of service, miscreants have attacked a place of worship belonging to Christians on the outskirts of the port city.

St. Joseph Vaz worship centre located at Panir near Deralakatte in Mangaluru taluk was attacked by miscreants on Tuesday night. The incident came to light on Wednesday morning.

The glass enclosure of the statues of ‘Mother Mary’ and ‘Infant Jesus’ has been damaged due to stone pelting by the miscreants.

St Joseph Vaz Centre

A local resident told police that he saw two unknown men suspiciously sitting in front of the worship centre in the night.

Health and Family Welfare Minister U T Khader rushed to the spot and directed the police to take necessary steps to nab the culprits immediately.

ACP Shankar Shetty and Sub Inspector Bharati along with a team of police arrived and conducted spot investigation.

The attack comes days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed to protect all religious groups; his comments were seen as a response to a series of attacks on Christian institutions in New Delhi fueling concerns that minorities are being targeted by Hindu extremist groups.

On Monday Mohan Bhagwat incited fierce criticism after he said that Mother Teresa’s service to the poor was pinned on a drive to convert them to Christianity.

The RSS is the ideological mentor of the Prime Minister’s party, the BJP. Mr Bhagwat has, in recent months, presided over a series of controversies for declaring India is a nation of Hindus, a descriptor that has been attacked for undermining the equality to all faiths guaranteed by the Constitution.

The PM has been accused by opponents of failing to rein in hardline affiliate groups focused on a Hindu-dominant agenda that includes ghar wapasi – the campaign to convert Muslims and Christians to Hinduism.

(Agencies)

Congress to hold 'Zameen Wapsi Andolan' against Land Ordinance today

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zameen-wapasi

New Delhi: Demanding the withdrawal of the BJP government’s Land Ordinance which is being considered as anti-farmer, the Congress on Wednesday will hold a protest rally called ‘Zameen Wapsi Andolan’ at Jantar Mantar.

Top Congress brass, including president Sonia Gandhi’s political secretary Ahmed Patel, AICC general secretaries Digvijay Singh, Madhusoodhan Mistry, Ajay Maken, former Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh, Salman Khursheed, Jitender Singh, Raj Babbar, Deepinder Hooda, Sushmita Deb, will oppose the bill in public and hold a massive rally at around 12:00 noon.

“Congress is organising a mega rally, ‘Zameen Wapsi Andolan’, to oppose the BJP government’s draconian ordinance that intends to change the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act 2013 passed by the Congress government,” the party said in a release.

The party has also attempted for convergence of farmers from across the country to raise their voice in opposition to the ordinance.

“Senior leaders of Congress will be present to challenge this Ordinance. They will stand up for the 2013 law which was enacted by the UPA government to deliver equitable justice to the poor farmer and to empower the common man,” the AICC said.

Declaring that its opposition to the Land Acquisition Ordinance was non-negotiable, Congress attacked the BJP- led government for introducing the Bill in Lok Sabha on Tuesday to replace the ordinance despite three Union Ministers giving assurances suggesting that all stakeholders would be taken on board.

Party chief Sonia Gandhi at a strategy meeting in Parliament House in the morning yesterday had set the tone for the party’s tough stand on the land ordinance.

(Agencies)

Cricket World Cup 2015: West Indies beat Zimbabwe

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chris_gayle

by Justin Goulding, BBC Sport

Chris Gayle hit the first double century in World Cup history as West Indies beat Zimbabwe by 73 runs under the Duckworth-Lewis method.

The left-hander smashed 215 off 147 balls, including 16 sixes and 10 fours, in West Indies’ 372-2 in Canberra.

He added an ODI record 372 for the second wicket with Marlon Samuels, who made a relatively sedate 133 not out.

Chasing a rain-revised target of 363 off 48 overs, Zimbabwe fell short as Gayle took two wickets and a catch.

Having lost their opening game to Ireland, West Indies’ win took them level on points with India at the top of Pool B, before their meeting with South Africa on Friday.

Although Zimbabwe’s bowlers suffered heavily at the hands of Gayle, their batsmen deserve credit for a respectable run chase that featured Sean Williams’s 76 and 52 for Craig Ervine.

Jerome Taylor claimed 3-38 and West Indies captain Jason Holder 3-48, but their figures were footnotes in a game that will be remembered for Gayle’s savage hitting.

Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels added 372 during a partnership spanning all but two balls of the innings

Tinashe Panyangara conceded 22 off his final over as he recoded figures of 9-0-82-1

Sean Williams has now made eight scores over 70 without reaching 80

Arvind Kejriwal, political leaders join Anna Hazare's protest on second day

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Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and MDMK chief Vaiko share stage with Anna Hazare at Jantar Mantar. (ANI Twitter photo)

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal and MDMK chief Vaiko share stage with Anna Hazare at Jantar Mantar. (ANI Twitter photo)

New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal today joined Anna Hazare on his second day of protest against the contentious land ordinance and shared the dais with the social activist.

Kejriwal was among a host of leaders cutting across party lines who joined the agitation on a day the government introduced the contentious land acquisition bill in Lok Sabha amid a walk out by the opposition.

Though Hazare had earlier ruled out sharing stage with any politician, political leaders including CPI’s Atul Anjan and Vaiko of MDMK were among those sitting on the dais.

Before beginning his protest today, Hazare said people from political parties were welcome to join the agitators but will not share the stage with him and made it clear that he would not allow any political colour to the agitation.

He accused the NDA government of not heeding to farmers’ interests.

Yesterday, Hazare had said a jail-bharo movement will be launched from the Ramlila Ground after carrying out “padyatra” across the country for three-four months.

Accusing the government of only caring for corporates, Hazare said he will not relent till government withdraws the controversial ordinance.

“The political parties are of the country only. And, people running the government are also from the country. The people who suffer injustice are also from this country. And, so if farmers are meted out injustice and if everyone comes together to fight injustice, then what is the problem,” Hazare told reporters.

(PTI)

Karnataka: Congress under pressure to replace CM Siddaramaiah with a Dalit face

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Siddaramaiah-Parameshwara

Bengaluru: Though summer is yet to set in, political heat is affecting the Congress party in Karnataka.

Dalits from across the state have come together to lobby for a CM from their community, and are backing Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president G. Parameshwara for the post.

Last week, representatives of at least 30 different Dalit organisations of the state met in Bengaluru to demand CM’s post for Parameshwara.

If reports are to be believed, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president G Parameshwara’s name has been floated by his supporters as the likely successor to Siddaramaiah.

Reports also suggested that Siddaramaiah is well aware of the forces backing Parameshwara and he is also in no mood to offer any powerful slot to the latter.

After Parameshwara’s shocking defeat in 2013 Assembly polls, he was forced to concede CM’s post to Siddaramaiah.

The Dalit groups have also planned a massive rally in Bengaluru on April 14 to press for their demand. The day coincides with Dr BR Ambedkar Jayanthi.

According to some media reports, Parameshwara is expected to lead a delegation to New Delhi shortly to meet the party high command.

(Agencies)

Climate crusading former Maldives leader arrested, dragged into court

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‘The conduct of the courts, police and President Yameen’s administration has been reprehensible,’ says Mohamed Nasheed’s lawyer

Maldives police on Monday night denied allegations of brutality against former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed, seen here being dragged into court on Monday. (Photo: Haveeru/Mohamed Sharuaan)

Maldives police on Monday night denied allegations of brutality against former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed, seen here being dragged into court on Monday. (Photo: Haveeru/Mohamed Sharuaan)

by Deirdre Fulton, Common Dreams

Former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed, the renowned climate and human rights crusader who was ousted in a military coup in 2012, was arrested Sunday on charges of terrorism and then forcibly dragged by police into criminal court on Monday.

Nasheed, the first democratically elected leader of the island nation, was charged under tough anti-terrorism laws that carry a penalty of more than 10 years in jail. According to news sources, the case relates to Nasheed’s 2012 decision to arrest Abdulla Mohamed, chief judge of the Criminal Court.

The New York Times reports that Nasheed, now leader of the country’s main opposition party, “is accused of using the military to arrest the senior judge when it had no authority to do so…He also is accused of detaining Mr. Mohamed for weeks without trial or legal counsel and ignoring a Supreme Court order to release him.”

But according to Agence France-Presse, the Maldivian Democratic Party “has argued that his arrest on ‘trumped-up charges of terrorism’ is an attempt to shut down growing opposition to the government of President Abdulla Yameen before a planned protest rally on Friday.”

Nasheed’s top legal adviser, Hissan Hussein, told AFP the charges against Nasheed were “blatantly politically motivated” and condemned authorities for refusing him legal access. “This arrest and detention is completely arbitrary,” Hussein said. “The conduct of the courts, police and President Yameen’s administration has been reprehensible.”

After Nasheed, 47, was detained on Sunday, hundreds of party activists took to the streets shouting anti-government slogans.

Their cries grew louder on Monday, following a scuffle between Nasheed and police officers outside court in the capital of Malé. Video shows Nasheed stopping to talk to journalists and police dragging him away. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs described the police conduct as “manhandling.”

According to journalists on the scene, Nasheed’s shirt buttons were missing and he appeared in pain following the altercation. The BBC reported that Nasheed, who was denied bail, “was later seen with his arm in a sling.”

The Maldivian daily newspaper Haveeru caught the scene on film:

Outraged by the incident and arrest, thousands protested in Malé on Monday, calling for Nasheed’s release and Yameen’s resignation.

Nasheed’s supporters also took their message to Twitter:


“As president, Nasheed had become one of the world’s most outspoken figures in the struggle against climate change, given the impending impact of rising sea levels on his country’s survival,” Stephen Zunes wrote in 2012. “A journalist by training, Nasheed was repeatedly jailed and tortured for his writings exposing government corruption and other abuses under the Gayoom regime.  He eventually found himself leading a campaign of nonviolent protests and civil disobedience which eventually brought an end to a thirty-year dictatorship which had facilitated corruption, drug trafficking and human rights abuses.”

Zunes continued: “[R]egardless of the circumstances surrounding Nasheed’s resignation, it seems clearer every day that the regime that replaced his government has little regard for human rights or the democratic process. Indeed, the real test of a government’s legitimacy is its tolerance of freedom of expression and freedom of assembly.”

'Citizenfour' triumphs: Snowden documentary nabs Oscar

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‘Thank you to Edward Snowden for his courage and for the many other whistleblowers,’ says director Laura Poitras

Laura Poitras (second from left) speaks after accepting the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature for "Citizenfour" at the 87th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California February 22, 2015. The others, from left to right, producer Dirk Wilutzky, journalist Glenn Greenwald, Snowden's girlfriend Lindsay Mills, and producer Mathilde Bonnefoy. (Photo: Reuters/Mike Blake)

Laura Poitras (second from left) speaks after accepting the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature for “Citizenfour” at the 87th Academy Awards in Hollywood, California February 22, 2015. The others, from left to right, producer Dirk Wilutzky, journalist Glenn Greenwald, Snowden’s girlfriend Lindsay Mills, and producer Mathilde Bonnefoy. (Photo: Reuters/Mike Blake)

by Jon Queally, Common Dreams

Citizenfour, the film chronicling the decision made by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden to expose wrongdoing to the world by leaking details of the agency’s top-secret global surveillance operation to journalists, was awarded the Best Documentary Film award at Sunday night’s Academy Award.

The award was accepted by the film’s director Laura Poitras alongside its producers, Mathilde Bonnefoy and Dirk Wilutzky. Joining them on stage was journalist Glenn Greenwald and Snowden’s girlfriend Lindsay Mills, both of whom are featured in the film.

“Thank you to Edward Snowden for his courage and for the many other whistleblowers,” Poitras said as she accepted the award.

“The disclosures that Edward Snowden revealed don’t only expose a threat to our privacy but to our democracy itself,” she added. “When the most important decisions being made affecting all of us are made in secret, we lose our ability to check the powers that control.”

Snowden himself, of course, was not at the ceremony as he remains in Russia where he has lived since 2013 under protective asylum. However, through his attorneys at the ACLU, Snowden did release an official statement in reaction to the Oscar win.

“When Laura Poitras asked me if she could film our encounters, I was extremely reluctant,” Snowden stated. “I’m grateful that I allowed her to persuade me. The result is a brave and brilliant film that deserves the honor and recognition it has received. My hope is that this award will encourage more people to see the film and be inspired by its message that ordinary citizens, working together, can change the world.”

In a congratulatory post on the blog of the digital freedom advocacy group Electronic Frontier Foundation, Rainey Reitman, the group’s director of activism, said the award “recognizes not only the incredible cinematography of Poitras, but also her daring work with a high-stakes whistleblower and the journalism that kick-started a worldwide debate about surveillance and government transparency.”

Describing why the Oscar victory has import beyond the prestige of the trophy, Reitman continued:

This award means that more people will be no doubt be watching CITIZENFOUR, and thus learning about both Snowden’s sacrifice and the surveillance abuses by the United States government. For those watching the movie for the first time, there’s often a sense of urgency to get involved and fight back against mass untargeted surveillance. Here are some suggestions for getting started:

  1. Tell President Obama to amend Executive Order 12333, which is the primary legal authority the NSA uses to engage in surveillance of people worldwide.
  2. Start using encryption when communicating digitally.
  3. Speak out against reauthorization of a much-abused section of the Patriot Act which is set to expire this summer.

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