Thursday, December 28, 2017

St. Petersburg blast, 8 hospitalized

A total of thirteen people were injured in Wednesday’s explosion in a storage locker at a busy St. Petersburg supermarket in the northeast of Russia, according to the city’s deputy governor Anna Mityanina. The earlier-reported figure of ten injuries proved to be an underestimate. The condition of five of the eight victims remaining in hospital is of intermediate severity, the rest are in a satisfactory condition. The explosion, equivalent to 200 grams of TNT, was caused by a homemade explosive device filled with lethal fragments. An investigation is currently underway.

Gunman opens fire on schoolchildren in Turkey

At least seven people, including five children, have been wounded in Gaziantep, Turkey on Wednesday, local media reported. An unidentified gunman, armed with a pump shotgun, opened fire at children who were playing ball in a schoolyard. The injured people have been taken to a local hospital, and none of the victims was in life-threatening condition, according to media reports. The police are searching for the assailant, who managed to flee the scene after the incident.

Triple talaq bill debate in parliament begins:

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Bill to prohibit divorce by triple talaq and protect rights of married Muslim women introduced in the Lok Sabha. Debate on the bill happening now. It will will be considered in the Rajya Sabha after the Lok Sabha debate. Opposition raises questions on the Bill. The Bill was tabled by Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad in the Lok Sabha.
Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananth Kumar has said that the bill on Triple Talaq is aimed to give gender justice, protection and respect to Muslim women.
Kumar said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appealed for consensus in passing the bill.”Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed for unanimous passage of the Bill as it aims to give gender justice, protection and respect,” he said.
The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill 2017 seeks to criminalise the practice of triple talaq. The draft bill says, “Any pronouncement of talaq by a person upon his wife, by words, either spoken or written or in electronic form or in any other manner whatsoever, shall be void and illegal”.
There is also a provision of imprisonment for a term, which may extend to three years and fine for violators. The draft bill also envisages entitling divorcee Muslim women for maintenance.It also has a provision for the divorcee Muslim women to have the custody of their minor children.
The offences under the purview of this bill will be cognisable and non-bailable.The Bill shall extend to the whole of India except Jammu and Kashmir. — ANI

ISIS attack Afghan Voice

With reports 40  people were killed and thirty wounded in multiple blasts near a media outlet and mosque in Kabul on Thursday, officials said, in the latest violence to hit the Afghan capital, Pajhwok news agency reported citing the deputy spokesman of the Interior Ministry.
Afghanistan’s health ministry confirms  four people have died and six people have been injured in an explosion at an office of the Afghan Voice news agency in the capital city Kabul.
ISIS Claims Afghan Intelligence Agency Explosion.
“There were two explosions. We still do not know the target of the attack, but Afghan Voice Agency is in the area of the attack,” interior ministry spokesman Najib Danish said.
“Our initial information shows there are five dead and six wounded but this toll could change.”
AFP reporters near the scene of the blast heard a third explosion, suggesting the attack may still be under way.
A hospital official told local TV that 18 wounded had been brought to his facility, including five in a critical condition.
Media agencies

Obama Foundation. And you were a part of it.

Obama.org
The Obama Foundation 2017
2017 was the year we began our work at the Obama Foundation.
And you were a part of it.
It’s been a year of listening, learning, and experimenting to design the most effective ways to inspire and empower people to change their world.
We’re spending these last few days of 2017 taking stock of what we’ve done together — and what we’ve learned from you.
You told us what you’re fighting for, and what you’d like to see us fight for — and helped us define our mission.
“A good citizen is someone who puts the needs of their people above their own — someone who doesn’t choose the easier path but instead digs their heels into the tougher path to forge a new one for others.” –Natalie M., Mableton, GA
You’ve shared what you believe makes a good citizen — and helped shape our programming.
“Even though we’re a bunch of teenagers from a variety of backgrounds and skin tones (at a school with a vast range of socioeconomic and demographic situations), we believe that if we choose to celebrate each other and work together, we can truly give life to our mission. We plan a community forum at the end of each school year as a culmination of our work throughout the year, and we will again be staying true to our vision: attendees will include Republicans, Democrats, state legislators, nonprofit advocates, judges, students, school administrators, public servants, and any member of the public who wants to add their voice to the mix.” –Sam B., Raleigh, NC
You opened up your favorite spaces for us — and helped us plan one of our own.
“John’s Park in Mansfield, Ohio, is a park surrounded by families struggling with poverty. I love this park because it is a gathering place for the community. We have installed a community garden, a mural, and a summer fun program for the youth. Over the last few years it has become the location of a non-violence rally, a basketball tournament, and a place where area organizations teach free classes! I love this park because the community has come together to save it!” –Rochelle J., Mansfield, OH
Each time you share something with us — whether it’s a story, a person we should know, a place, or an idea — you’re actively helping to build this organization. You’re adding another brick to a structure that’s going to grow strong enough to support millions, equipping the next generation of leaders with the tools they need to change their worlds.
Because we’re just getting started.
We heard from hundreds of thousands of you over the course of this year. And we can’t wait to hear from so many more.
Thank you, and Happy Holidays.
The Obama Foundation Team

CPC proposal amending part of China’s Constitution

Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee decided Wednesday to discuss a proposal about amending part of China’s Constitution at the second plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee in January.
Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the political bureau meeting Wednesday, which also listened to a work report from the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) and discussed the Party’s anti-graft work in 2018.
The campaign to ensure full and strict governance over the Party and curb corruption shall not stop, said a statement issued after the meeting.
The CCDI should take the responsibility to supervise Party members, implement discipline and hold violators responsible under the guidelines of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, according to the document.
While safeguarding the authority of CPC Constitution and regulations, the CCDI should carefully check the implementation of the spirit of the 19th CPC National Congress and decisions made by the CPC Central Committee.
Stressing the importance of political discipline and regulations, the statement said discipline inspection agencies will focus on Party members who are disloyal and dishonest to the Party, who comply in public but oppose in private, who disobey the Party’s political guidelines and compromise the political environment.
Stressing the significance of the campaign against undesirable work styles, the statement said that the priority is to curb bureaucratism, red tape and privileges among senior officials.
To consolidate the progress of the anti-graft campaign, the CCDI will push forward reform of the national supervision system and fight corruption at the lower ranks, the statement said.
Officials who did not stop their misconduct after the Party’s 18th National Congress in late 2012, those who the public have strongly complained about, and senior officials who are likely to be promoted will be placed under strict scrutiny.
Those who develop personal networks and foster interest groups within the Party will face severe punishment, the statement said.
Before the meeting, Xi chaired a meeting of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.

New Delhi World Book Fair 2018

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New Delhi World Book Fair, Book Fair 2018 will focus on one of the most important issues that our world is facing. “Environment and Climate Change” will be this year’s theme.The event that all the book lovers were waiting for is now around the corner! New Delhi World Book Fair will be organized from 6 to 14 January 2018 in Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.
The fair will be organized from 6 to 14 January 2018.
Germany at the New Delhi World Book Fair 2018
Germany at the New Delhi World Book Fair 2018
Sat Jan 06 2018 at 11:00 am
Hall No. 7, International Pavilion, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, India

German Book Office New Delhi will be representing Germany at the EU Pavilion at the New Delhi World Book Fair 2018.
• One of our primary goals at this year’s NDWBF is to promote the translation of German books to diverse Indian languages. Witness the Indo-German exchange of literature at our WALL OF TRANSLATION display.
• Book collection on nature, literary releases, the Karl Marx collection, and the Best German Book Design 2016 collection are among the others that we will be displaying as a part of the CONTEMPORARY BOOK COLLECTION FROM GERMANY.
• Come and see the BOOKS ON TOUR! 50 original German titles from 26 publishers and their English translations from 53 publishers in the United States, Great Britain and the Commonwealth.

Launch Multi- modal Electric Public Transport System

INVITATION
Dear Sir/Madam,
Event: A Press Conference to announce plan to launch Multi- modal Electric Public Transport System in 10 cities by Shri Anant Geete, Minister for Heavy Industries and Public Sector Enterprises. MoS Shri Babul Supriyo will also be present.
Venue: 1st Floor, Room No. 176 Minister Office (HI&PE), Udyog Bhawan, New Delhi.
Date: Wednesday, 27th December, 2017
Time: 4:30pm.
You cordially invited to cover.

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