Nawaz Sharif, Daughter Maryam leave for Pakistan, likely to be arrested Mid-Air

Nawaz Sharif and Maryan Sharif at Abu Dhabi Airport

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam, sentenced to jail for corruption, are expected to arrive in Pakistan in the evening.

A team of Pakistan’s National Accountability Bureau is apparently trying to leave for Abu Dhabi to board the flight taken by the Sharifs, as the arrest can be done when plane enters Pakistani air space.

After arrest the two will be taken to the Adiala Jail Rawalpindi amid tight security where they will be kept for one day and then be transferred to the Attock Fort.

Nawaz Sharif was sentenced to 10 years in prison by a Pakistani accountability court for corrupt practices linked to his family’s purchase of four London flats. He faces two more corruption cases against him following the Panama Paper scandal.

“My mother is on the ventilator and we don’t know what happens next, their is no pain like that of leaving your mother behind in such situation but there’s a national duty and we must make this important journey.” “Told my kids to be brave in the face of oppression. But kids will still be kids. Goodbyes are hard, even for the grownups,” said by Nawaz’s daughter Maryam Nawaz, 44, who was also convicted and sentenced to seven years in prison.

Egypt: Twelve people hurt in explosion near Cairo International Airport

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Twelve people were injured in a massive explosion at a chemical factory near Egypt’s Cairo’s airport on Thursday evening.

Injured people were taken to the hospital, but the severity of their injuries is not yet known.

“The blast was caused by “high temperatures” at a fuel storage facility”, an army spokesperson said.

According to the Egypt’s aviation minister Younis al-Masri, the air traffic at the airport has not been affected.

The blast could be heard across large parts of the city,,  According to eyewitnesses, the sound of the explosion was deafening and flames could be seen from a distance.

No government facilities for rape and molestation accused in Haryana: CM Khattar

During a public function organised under the ‘Ek Aur Sudhar Programme’ at Panchkula, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on July 12 announced that rape accused and molestation cases will now be debarred from availing any government facilities, including state scholarship, old age pension, pension for the physically disabled persons, driving and arm licenses.

“These services will remain suspended till the court announces its verdict in the case. In case the accused is convicted and sentenced, he would not be eligible for these facilities anymore,” said Haryana CM Khattar.

“I would shortly meet the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court to request him to issue necessary directions to the court to record the statement of a woman on the same day, and not to adjourn the hearing,” CM added.

Reiterating his government’s commitment to make Haryana number one state in terms of women’s security and safety Khattar announces:

·         To provide a secure atmosphere to women during the night, 2,100 new posts for the appointment of ex-servicemen as Special Police Officers for night patrolling have been sanctioned.

·         Day-time patrolling too would be carried out in areas where girls and women stay alone in their houses.

·         Rape victims wanting to hire a lawyer of her choice would be provided financial assistance of Rs 22,000 as fees.

·         Six fast track courts would be set up in Faridabad and one each in Gurugram, Panipat, Sonipat and Nuh —where 50 or more cases of rape, eve-teasing and mental harassment are pending in the courts.

·         Girl students of classes 9th to 12th would be trained in self-defense under Chatra Parivahan Suraksha Scheme. The expenditure on this facility would be borne by the government.

·         The investigation officers will have to complete the probe into rape cases in one month and in eve-teasing within 15 days, or else action would be taken against them.

·         The free transport facility would also be provided if the 9th and 10th class girl students of a village have to go far away from school or want to pursue science or commerce stream in 11th and 12th class.

·         A comprehensive scheme would be launched either on Independence Day or on Raksha Bandhan (Aug 26).

Pakistan to file counter-memorial in Kulbhushan Jadhav case in ICJ

Pakistan will reportedly file its second counter-memorial on July 17 in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the conviction of former Indian Naval officer Kulbhushan Jadhav who was arrested from Balochistan Province, and was awarded death penalty by Pakistani military court in April 2017 on charges of espionage and terrorism.

The ICJ on January 23 gave a timeline to both Pakistan and India for filing another round of memorials in the case.

Pakistan’s counter-petition will be in response to set of pleadings filed by India in the Hague-based ICJ on April 17.

Pakistan’s top attorney Khawar Qureshi, who pleaded the case at the initial stage, reportedly briefed interim Prime Minister Nasirul Mulk regarding the case last week. The meeting was also attended by Khalid Javed Khan, attorney general for Pakistan, and other senior officials.

The counter-memorial has been drafted by Qureshi.

Following the submission of the second counter-petition, the ICJ will fix the matter for hearing, which is likely to take place next year.

“Giving false identity to Kulbhushan, sending him for espionage and funding of terrorists activities are all some of the reasons which disentitle India from invoking the jurisdiction of the ICJ,” Pakistan had said.

However, India has been maintaining that the trial of Jadhav by a military court in Pakistan was ‘farcical’. 

India maintained that Jadhav was a former naval officer and was kidnapped from Iran, where he had business interests after retiring from the Indian Navy.

Six Die in gas leak at Steel factory In Andhra Pradesh

Six workers died due to poisonous gas leak at a private steel factory in Tadipatri of Andhra Pradesh’s Anantapur district on Thursday. “As per information, two workers died on the spot and four others in hospital. Carbon monoxide is the main gas used for reheating process and its leak caused the mishap,” the police officer said.

The mishap happened while testing was being done after maintenance work in the unit, District Superintendent of Police G Ashok Kumar said.

Meanwhile five more workers suffered serious health complications and were admitted to a local hospital. Two of them are said to be in a critical condition. 

The workers who died were identified as B Ranganath (21), K Manoj Kumar (24), U Gangadhar (37), S A Wasim Basha (39), K Shiva Maddileti alias Lingaiah (26) and Guruvaiah (40).

Brazilian company Gerdau, one of the largest steel manufacturers in the America, owns the Tadipatri steel mill.

Government likely to withdraw Rs.6,000-cr worth tax cases

Union Finance Minister Piyush Goyal on July 12 said that the government is likely to cut 41 percent of tax cases following an increase in threshold limit for filing appeals in tribunals.

“The government hopes to cut 41 percent of tax cases after raising threshold limit for filing appeals in tribunals and courts,” Goyal said this while addressing media.

“Income-tax refunds worth over Rs 70,000 crore have been issued to the taxpayers. Tax cases worth Rs 5 lakh crore stuck in litigation; new thresholds will lead to a reduction of 18 percent in tax cases,” he added.

“In case of CBDT (Central Board of Direct Taxes), the withdrawal of 41 percent of the cases, will have a revenue impact in absolute terms of Rs 4,800 crore, while in case of CBIC (Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs) withdrawal of 18 percent of cases will have a revenue impact of Rs 800 crore.

New thresholds for the tax department to file appeals:

He added, “Often it has been found that the cost of litigation is greater than the recovery amount… So to minimise litigation, the government has decided it will not file any appeals in appellate tribunals, High Courts and the Supreme Court in cases involving an amount less than Rs 20 lakh, Rs 50 lakh and Rs 1 crore (respectively).”

The Finance Ministry statement said, “This is a major step in the direction of litigation management of both direct and indirect taxes, as it will effectively reduce minor litigation and help the department to focus on high value litigation.”

While hailing the move Arun Jaitley’s tweet read, “Excellent move by the CBDT & CBIC…Good to trust those who pay taxes.”

Torrential rains, flash floods kill nearly 200 in Japan, UN offers assistance

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Atleast 200 people have been killed in landslides and flash floods caused by torrential rains in Japan from the past few days. This is the worst flooding disaster in last 36 years. Most of the people who have died are from the Hiroshima and Okayama prefectures.

Over the weekend, some parts of Japan received between 300 to 500 millimetres (12 to 20 inches) of rain forcing millions of people to flee their homes.

Yoshihide Suga, Japanese chief cabinet secretary reportedly said, “42 people were unaccounted for, while two persons were confirmed missing.”

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited an evacuation centre in the city of Kurashiki in Okayama prefecture on July 11 where nearly 200 people have taken refuge. In the centre more than 40 of the 200 confirmed victims died.

“We’ll cut through all the bureaucracy to secure the goods people need for their lives, to improve life in the evacuation centres — such as air-conditioners as the hot days continue — and then secure temporary housing and the other things people need to rebuild their lives,” PM Abe said.

The United Nations said secretary-general Antonio Guterres had written to PM Abe offering UN support in the clean-up operations.

UN also expressed condolences for the loss of life and destruction in Japan.

The Japanese PM also visited Kurashiki and met with the Okayama governor.

Nearly 75,000 responders have been deployed for search and rescue operations in the affected areas and near about 17,000 households are still without power, and phone lines are down across multiple prefectures.

Government aims to provide job opportunities in 2.5 lakh gram panchayats, says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 12 while interacting with Self Help Groups through video conferencing on the (NaMo) app said that the government is aiming to provide stable job opportunities to people in nearly 2.5 lakh gram panchayats across the country under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana.

“Under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana, the government aims to provide stable job opportunities to people in nearly 2.5 lakh gram panchayats across the country,” said PM Modi.

“As part of Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana, special focus is being accorded to skill development among youths. Young people are being trained to be self-reliant so that they can live according to their will,” Prime Minister Modi said.

“PM Modi is addressing women self help groups via video conferencing. We had organized screening in Bhawanipur area but we were stopped by some people. TMC workers are behind this, they don’t want this program to be screened,” West Bengal Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Locket Chatterjee reportedly said.

The interactions aim at highlighting the positive changes various Self Help Groups have brought at the rural level.

While interacting with women PM Modi hailed their contribution and said that women are an indispensable part of India’s dairy sector and agriculture.

The groups, which participated in interaction, were from Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana and Rural Self Employment Training Institutes.

Tax raids at Yogendra Yadav’s sister hospital, Kejriwal accuses Modi Govt of vendetta politics

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday extended his support to former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Yogendra Yadav over the latest Income Tax (I-T) raids at the hospitals run by his sisters.

AAP chief blamed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for targeting Yogendra Yadav’s family “We strongly condemn victimisation of Yog Yadav’s family by Modi govt thro the use of agencies like IT. Modi govt shud stop such vendetta politics,” Kejriwal wrote on twitter.

According to the Officials, the I-T department on Wednesday raided multiple building(s) of a hospital group in Haryana’s Rewari, related to the family of Swaraj India chief Yogendra Yadav. Around Rs 22 lakh cash was recovered after the searches.

Yogendra Yadav in a series of tweets, said I-T Department had raided his sister’s hospital, 

“The Modi regime now targets my family. Two days after my 9 day padyatra in Rewari and launching of agitation for MSP (minimum support price) and against liquor thekas, a massive IT raid is on at the hospital cum nursing home of my sister in Rewari,. Please search me, my home, why target my family?”

“Hospital sealed, including ICU for new born babies. A clear attempt to scare me but you can’t silence me Modi Ji,” Yadav said.

Preserve Taj Mahal or demolish it,  Supreme Court tells UP government

The Supreme Court on July 11 pulls up centre and Uttar Pradesh Government over the issue of protection of the Taj Mahal, one of the seven wonders of the world, and warned the government over its failure to produce a vision document which would preserve the monument of love for posterity.

“You (Government) can shut down the Taj. You can demolish it if you like and you can also do away with it if you have already decided,” SC Bench remarked on the carelessness on the part of government towards protecting the heritage monument.

“Uttar Pradesh (Government) is not bothered. No action plan or vision document has come yet. Either you demolish it or you restore it,” the Bench observed.

SC bench, comprising justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta, has been repeatedly asking the centre and the state governments to produce a blueprint to ensure that the Taj survives more than the predicted 400 years.

The bench said it will take up the matter on a day-to-day basis from July 31.

Pollution is the major reason harming the heritage site by causing the monument to turn yellow over the years despite the court’s continuous monitoring efforts.

Additional Solicitor General Nadkarni said, “Centre has taken a serious view of the matter. The committee has been set up that will find out the exact source of pollution in and around Taj. Three to four months are required for the report to be prepared.”

The apex court asked the Uttar Pradesh government in December 2017 to come up with a “detailed and comprehensive vision document” that would protect the Taj for at least another couple of centuries.

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