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Former Karnataka chief minister N Dharam Singh passes away

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Bengaluru: Former Karnataka Chief Minister N Dharam Singh died of a massive heart attack at a private hospital here today, doctors said.

Eighty-year-old Singh, ailing for the last few months, fainted at his home and was rushed to M S Ramaiah hospital where doctors declared him dead about 40 minutes later.

Singh headed the Congress-JD(S) coalition government from 2004 to 2006. A nine-time MLA and a former Member of Parliament, he had also headed the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee.

“He was sweating profusely (when he was brought to the hospital. Cardiologists attended to him but he was not responding and declared dead around 11.30 am,” Dr.V R Anil Kumar, Associate Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, said.

He is survived by wife, two sons and a daughter. The veteran Congressman had served in the ministries of D Devaraj Urs, R Gundu Rao, Veerappa Moily and SM Krishna holding key portfolios, including Home and Public Works Department.

Dharam Singh was born in Nelogi village of Jevargi taluk in Gulbarga District. He obtained his MA and LLB degrees from Osmania University, Hyderabad.

(Agencies)

Qatar says new terror list is ‘disappointing surprise’

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Move by Saudi-led group boycotting Qatar to add names to ‘terrorist’ list is baseless, communications director says.

The Saudi-led bloc has added 18 groups and individuals allegedly linked to Doha to their ‘terrorist’ list, a move Qatar has condemned [AFP]

by Al Jazeera

Qatar has described a new blacklist released by Saudi Arabia and its allies as a “disappointing surprise”, saying it was doing all it could to fight extremism.

Sheikh Saif bin Ahmed Al Thani, Qatar’s communications director, said the decision by the four Arab states to add 18 groups and individuals allegedly linked to Doha to their “terrorist” list has no basis in fact.

“It comes as a disappointing surprise that the blockading countries are still pursuing this story as part of their smear campaign against Qatar,” he said in a statement on Wednesday.

The move by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain on Tuesday came despite mounting international pressure to compromise in their weeks-old boycott of their fellow US ally.

The new names include nine entities in Yemen and Libya, and add to a previous blacklist of 59 individuals and 12 groups issued by the four states last month.

Sheikh Saif said: “This latest list provides further evidence that the blockading countries are not committed to the fight against terrorism.

“All individuals with links to terrorism in Qatar have been prosecuted. We encourage the blockading countries to spend less time on drafting these fabricated lists and more time on implementing measures to counter the threat of extremism in their own countries.”

He added that Qatar constantly reviews its anti-terror laws to “remain on the front foot in the fight against extremism and terror financing”.

Region’s worst crisis in years

Saudi Arabia and its allies have been boycotting Qatar since June 5 in the region’s worst diplomatic crisis in years.

Accusing Qatar of financing terrorism, they sealed the emirate’s only land border, ordered its citizens to leave and closed their airspace and waters to Qatari flights and shipping.

They want Qatar to cut back ties with Iran, close down a Turkish military base in Qatar and shut the Al Jazeera TV channel, which they view as critical of their governments.

Qatar has dismissed the demands as a violation of its sovereignty and has received significant support from its ally Turkey.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who last week spent four days in the region trying to broker a settlement of the crisis, has voiced satisfaction with Qatar’s efforts to address any suspicion of terror funding.

But after talks with European Union diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini on Tuesday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry warned that the four governments would accept no compromise in their dispute with Qatar.

“We cannot compromise with any form of terrorism, we cannot compromise or enter into any form of negotiations,” Shoukry told a news conference.

In Tuesday’s statement, the four countries accused Qatari, Kuwaiti and Yemeni nationals of helping to raise funds for al-Qaeda fighters.

Their blacklist now include three Yemeni charities, three Libyan media outlets, two armed groups and a religious foundation, some of which are already subject to US sanctions.

Palestine envoy to UN: Al-Aqsa crisis at tipping point

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Riyad Mansour urges Security Council to protect Palestinians and their holy sites from Israel’s ‘destructive agenda’.

Riyad Mansour accused Israel of ‘aggressive behaviour and provocative violation’ [Al Jazeera]

by Al Jazeera

The Palestinian envoy to the UN has told the Security Council that al-Aqsa Mosque compound crisis in East Jerusalem is at a tipping point, urging the council members to help protect Palestinians and their holy sites from Israel’s “reckless and destructive agenda”.

Riyad Mansour warned in his speech to the Council on Tuesday that “the stoking of a religious conflict is rapidly unfolding as Israel persists its illegal actions in occupied East Jerusalem”.

He accused Israel of “aggressive behaviour and provocative violation” of the historic status quo at the Muslim-administered al-Aqsa Mosque compound, referring to a brief closure of the holy site after a deadly shooting there that was followed by installation of CCTV cameras and metal detectors.

“We are clearly at the tipping point,” he said. “We must therefore again warn against the dangers of such provocations and incitement, and fuelling of yet another cycle of violence which will surely have far-reaching consequences.”

Prayer protests

On the ground in East Jerusalem, Muslim leaders urged the faithful on Tuesday to keep up their prayer protests outdoors and avoid entering the compound, even after Israel dismantled metal detectors that initially triggered the tensions.

Sheikh Najeh Bakirat, director of al-Aqsa Mosque, said on Tuesday that the move does not fulfil the demands of the Muslim worshippers as the security cameras remain.

Sheikh Raed Saleh, an al-Aqsa official, said that the Palestinians would “never accept the current status, unless everything that was added after July 14 was removed.

“The picture until this moment is not clear. They are doing it in the middle of the night, in the cover of darkness, like bats. God knows what we are going to wake up to the next morning,” Saleh said.

Dozens of Muslim worshippers continued to perform prayers in the streets outside the compound on Tuesday.

Al Jazeera’s Imran Khan, reporting from occupied East Jerusalem, said that as the metal detectors were being removed, hundreds of Palestinians protested against the security cameras that remained in place

Israel said it would replace the metal detectors with new security arrangements based on “advanced technology”, reportedly including sophisticated cameras, but said it could take up to six months to install them.

On Tuesday evening the Israeli security forces used stun grenades and rubber bullets to disperse crowds of Palestinian worshippers outside the compound.

“Just after the evening prayers had finished, the Israeli security forces came out of the al-Aqsa Mosque compound and used stun grenades and rubber-coated steel bullets to disperse the crowd … We don’t know what sparked this latest round of violence but we do know that the Palestinian protesters were unarmed,” said Khan.

“I have counted at least five protesters injured when the Palestinian Red Crescent brought them in through here.”

Dhawan, Pujara tons take India to 399/3 at stumps vs Sri Lanka

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Centuries from opener Shikhar Dhawan (190) and one-down Cheteshwar Pujara (144 not out) helped India reach 399/3 at stumps on the opening day of the first of the three-Test series against Sri Lanka at the Galle International Stadium here on Wednesday.

Electing to bat after winning the toss, India rode on a 253-run second wicket effort between Dhawan and Pujara to surpass the highest ever first day’s total of 351 runs in Sri Lanka.

Later, Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane (39 not out) put on an undefeated 113-run fourth-wicket stand to take the visitors to their second ever highest opening day’s total.

(IANS)

Mangaluru: Aam Aadmi Party to Contest in Next MCC Elections

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Mangaluru: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will contest from all 60 wards of Mangaluru city in the next local body elections to send its representatives to Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC), said Rajendra Kumar, AAP District Volunteer speaking in a press meet held in the city on Wednesday.

Speaking on AAP’s election strategy in the upcoming local elections he said, his party would form ward level committees and find suitable persons to field them as candidates in the next MCC elections.

Rajendra Kumar criticised the Congress party led state government for its failure to prevent recent communal violence in Dakshina Kannada district and its inability to implement various development projects, to run corruption free government. Speaking on MCC, Rajendra Kumar also blamed members of MCC as they failed to serve the city residents in better way.

AAP blamed both BJP and Congress Party for recent series of incidents of violence in Dakshina Kannada and assured the public that AAP would work hard to maintain peace and communal harmony in Karnataka and Dakshina Kannada district in the future. AAP Karnataka state member Jnansagar Rai, Dakshina Kannada District volunteer Kabir Kaatipalla and others were present on the occasion.

(Agencies)

Withdrawal of Indian troops precondition for dialogue: China on Dokalam

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Beijing: China today reiterated that no meaningful dialogue can be held with India until it “unconditionally” withdraws troops from the disputed Dokalam area and said Foreign Minister Wang Yi has authoritatively made Beijing’s position clear on the issue.

Wang, who is the first top Chinese leader to have commented so far on the Dokalam impasse, yesterday claimed that India “admitted” to entering Chinese territory. He said that India should “conscientiously withdraw” its troops from the area.

“The remarks of Foreign Minister Wang Yi are authoritative and has made our position clear. I don’t have anything to explain,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a media briefing.

Lu, however, declined to react to reports that both sides have deployed over 3,000 troops each at Dokalam, saying that the question should be referred to the Chinese Defence Ministry.

He once again said China will not hold any meaningful dialogue without Indian troops’ withdrawal.

“I have stressed many times that the crux of this incident is that the Indian border troops illegally trespassed into China’s territory and the solution as Wang put it is for Indian border troops to pull-out unconditionally. This is a precondition basis for any meaningful talks between the two countries,” Lu said.

The Dokalam issue is expected to be discussed during the visit of Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval to Beijing for a meeting of the NSAs of BRICS countries – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa – on July 27-28.

Chinese and Indian soldiers have been locked in a face- off in Dokalam area in the southernmost part of Tibet in an area also claimed by Indian ally Bhutan for over a month after Indian troops stopped the Chinese army from building a road in the disputed area.

China claimed it was constructing the road within its territory, and has been demanding immediate pull-out of the Indian troops.

But External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj told Parliament last Thursday that both sides should first pull back their troops for any talks to take place, favouring a peaceful resolution of the border standoff.

(Agencies)

Lizard found in rice served to passenger travelling in Howrah-Delhi train

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New Delhi: A lizard was found in vegetarian rice served to a passenger on board the Poorva Express Train Number 12303 on Howrah-Delhi route on Tuesday.

One of the fellow passenger complained to Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on Twitter.

“lizard found fried in biryani train no 12303, HA1, seat no 1, passenger feeling unwell , no medical attention#indianrailways,” the passenger wrote.

Danapur Division DRM Kishor Kuan said, “A check-up was done in Danapur Division and he (passenger) was given medicine. Action will be taken after an investigation.”

However, the passenger who had ordered the rice said he was given the medicine late.

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India in a report submitted on July 21 said the food sold at railway stations is “unfit for human consumption” and the hygiene standards at railway catering units are below par, has said in a scathing report.

The CAG performance audit found unpurified tap water being used to make beverages, uncovered and unwashed waste bins, food left out in the open, and rats and cockroaches at catering units in trains and stations.

The report was prepared after inspections at 74 stations and 80 trains, covering the period from 2013 to 2016 and issues of earlier years which could not be reported earlier.

The CAG audit report said, “articles unsuitable for human consumption, contaminated foodstuff, recycled foodstuff, shelf life expired packaged and bottled items, unauthorised brands of water bottles, etc., were offered for sale on stations.”

(Agencies)

Right to privacy can’t be elevated as fundamental right, Centre tells SC

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New Delhi: The Union Government on Wednesday maintained before the Supreme Court that right to privacy cannot be elevated to as a fundamental right. It cannot be read into right to life and liberty.

“Right to privacy was omitted from being mentioned in the Constitution, though it was debated in the Constituent Assembly,” Attorney General K K Venugopal submitted before a nine-judge bench presided over by Chief Justice J S Khehar.

Opening the Centre’s arguments, he said even the right to life and liberty guaranteed as a fundamental right is not absolute and can be taken away by the state under the procedure established by law like in case of death penalty and incarceration for life. The procedure has to be “just, fair and reasonable” as enjoined under the Maneka Gandhi case, he said.

At the outset, as many as five states including Karnataka sought to intervene into the matter, supporting a group of Aadhaar challengers. They sought a declaration from the top court that the right to privacy is a fundamental right.

In his arguments, Venugopal submitted nobody can object to if the Supreme Court decided to expand the scope of Article 21 to include right to privacy but it was his duty to place relevant materials which did not support such a demand.

He submitted it can’t be anybody’s plea that he won’t give his biometrics, address, telephone number, identity details etc to the state as right to privacy is elevated as a fundamental right.

In a country with 270 million people living below poverty line, Aadhaar has come as a great tool to prevent diversion of funds, meant for the welfare of poor people.

He said a recent World Bank report stated that Aadhaar is something which every developing country should adopt.

Earlier, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Karnataka, West Bengal, Punjab and Puducherry, submitted that the right to privacy is inalineable natural right which finds its manifestation in different parts of the Constitution. He said in the present age, technology has become all-pervasive as well as all-invasive. It has to be ensured that precincts of my house is not invaded, he said.

Congress-ruled Himachal Pradesh also supported Sibal.

(Agencies)

People Living with HIV stage Flash Protest to fight for access to medicines; Arrested, released

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Hyderabad: Twentyfour HIV positive people were arrested at Hotel Novotel in Hitec City and taken to Narsingi police station as they raised slogans and took out a flash protest against the harmful provisions in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Trade Agreement, especially against Access to affordable medicines here on Monday.

Forum against FTAs and RCEP, Farmers organisations and other civil society organisations under the banner `People’s Resistance Forum against RCEP’ condemned the arrests. Earlier in the morning, Peoples forum took out a rally from Peoples Plaza on Necklace road to I-max circle and back with about 500 people from 26 different organisations from across India.

“The HIV positive people were not even given food and many of them were on medication. We don’t know when they will release us,’’ said Shankar, of DNP+, Delhi.

“People’s right to dissent cannot be curbed and these negotiations should be conducted in transparent manner and not in secrecy. It is the responsibility of the Indian government to make healthcare affordable to common people and not to trade away by way of FTAs for big corporate and MNCs to make profits on by hiking medicines,’’ said Shalini Bhutani of Forum against FTAs and RCEP.

Wearing white T-shirts embossed with HIV POSITIVE in bold red, the flash protest by about 25 HIV positive people from different states led by Loon Gangte of Delhi Network of People Living with HIV (DNP+) and Koushalya of Positive Women’s Network (PWN), a network of women living with HIV with its headquarters in Chennai, shocked the negotiators and police equally as the protestors crossed two main gates and arrived at the Hotel entrance at about 12.30 pm in two vans.

They immediately pulled out placards and banners and raised a huge arrow mark towards the hotel which said: “RCEP: Secret Negotiations Happening Here’’. The placards read `don’t trade our lives,’  `Provide access to affordable medicines,’ `don’t increase prices of generic medicines’ etc. They shouted Japan,.. shame, shame; Korea…shame, shame, India: Zindabad, `FTAs kill domestic production of medicines,’ `Remove harmful clauses from aar..cep.’ (RCEP) and started walking from the portico to the car park.

Within five minutes, police and private security guards of the hotel, came in numbers and stopped them from walking further. A police van was brought in and they were forced into the van but not before a woman constable manhandled three of the women and was seen forcing them and pushing them. Then the HIV positive people displayed placards from the police van and shouted slogans in Hindi from the van door before they were taken to Narsingi police station. A couple of TV cameramen were stuck at Madhapur police station when they came to know that they were actually taken elsewhere.

Gangte, added that protecting access to medicines in India and beyond is very crucial. India supplies cheap but quality generic medicines to over 60 countries around the world and is known as the Pharmacy of the world and it is a tragedy that we are all arrested at Hyderabad which the Bowl of bulk generic drugs in India.’’ Gangte spoke from the police station.

“Millions of people around the world are counting on India to protect them against harmful provision in the RCEP Trade Agreement and it is the responsibility of the government of India to provide affordable healthcare to common people and not trade their lives with Multi National companies for profits by getting into these trade agreements,’’ he lamented.

“People living with HIV who survive on generic HIV drugs have seen time and again how access to medicines is undermined when trade agreements include provisions that limit access to medicines. We are asking the countries involved to drop four key provisions in the trade agreement that will increase market monopolies for pharmaceutical corporation and block access to affordable lifesaving generic medicines for HIV, TB, Malaria, Cancer and many other diseases,’’ cautioned Kaushalya, who is living with HIV for more than a decade and is a highly-respected HIV positive leader who has fought with the government that led to free ART in India in 2004. She is arrested with four others from Chennai and TN.

The RCEP negotiations between 700 members from 16 countries started today at Hotel Novotel, near Hitec City here.

TiE Mumbai’s SmashUp 7.0 a grand success

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Mumbai: SmashUp, one of the flagship events of TiE Mumbai was held at ISDI ACE, Lower Parel over the weekend. In the last 7 years, SmashUp has brought together new and aspiring entrepreneurs to exchange ideas and boost peer learning from successful entrepreneurs. SmashUp is a platform where ideas mature into action plans inspired by stories of successful as well as not so successful strategies.

The main highlight of the conference was Smasher Award – a Spot funding platform created by TiE Charter Members, wherein six shortlisted startups pitched for a grand prize of $40K (~ INR 25 Lakhs). Each StartUp was given 15 mins with the investors (5 mins to pitch, 5 mins Q&A and 5 mins to discuss the details of funding). This year, the Smasher Award was bagged by a startup called IPHawk. It was funded by Sanjay Mehta, Dewang Nerella and other TiE Angels. The group of angel investors will become mentors and open doors for the StartUp rather than just passive investors.

Founders of Purple Squirrel, TinyOwl – Saurabh Goyal, Taskbob – Assem Khare, Zimmber – Anubhav Goel participated in a session called ‘StartUp Tales: Starting the 2nd Innings’ where they narrated their struggles, challenges in starting a venture, guide to raising the first million, surviving the first year after fund raising and finally the process of shutting down. Situations related to investors, staff relations and reasons for calling it quits which have never been spoken in open forums were discussed by these daredevil founders.

Commenting on the grand success of SmashUp 7.0, Mr. Anand Desai, President, TiE Mumbai said “Over the years SmashUp has established itself as a platform where entrepreneurs get access to and direction from those who have walked the path. This year too, SmashUp is successful in meeting expectations of the startup ecosystem. TiE Mumbai’s mission is to foster entrepreneurship and we will continue to give new entrepreneurs access to the startup ecosystem.”

About TiE:

TiE is a non-profit, global community catalyzing entrepreneurship development, through five pillars of activity – mentoring, networking, education, incubating and funding. TiE was founded in 1992 by a group of successful entrepreneurs and is today the world’s largest organization in its space. The Mumbai chapter has recently forayed into angel funding, another helping hand to fledgling entrepreneurs, with a ticket size of Rs.25-50 lakh. A total of 20 such angel networks are active across the TiE platform. Other programmes like TiE Young Entrepreneurs (TYE) and Mentor Match are also accomplishing the TiE mission of guidance to the next generation of entrepreneurs.

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