MITRA-MANDAL- PAGE

DHAKA, April 1 (Xinhua) -- With more focus on ways to end economic, political and social inequalities worldwide, the 136th assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) kicked off here on Saturday night.

Some 1,500 delegates of 131 countries have been attending the mega assembly.

The conference will be held from April 1 to April 5 on the theme of "Readdressing inequalities: delivering on dignity and well-being for all."

Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and Children's Rights Activist Kailash Satyarthi will present a key-note paper on the topic in the assembly.

Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the five-day conference at the South Plaza of Bangladesh Parliament House in capital Dhaka.

She released a commemorative postage stamp and launched IPU web television.

IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong told reporters at a press briefing in Dhaka on Friday that some 135 countries, out of 170 member IPU countries, will have discussions to fight against the menace of widening inequality from different perspectives.

IPU President Saber Hossain Chowdhury said acts of violence and militancy have become a global problem and they will also be discussed in the conference.

"Taking decisive actions to end economic, political and social inequalities will be the focus of deliberations," according to a news release issued by the IPU headquarters in Geneva on Monday.

Founded in 1889 with its headquarters in Switzerland, the IPU, a global organization of parliaments, works to establish democracy, peace and cooperation among people worldwide.

"During the IPU's Assembly, parliamentarians will concentrate on the impact of inequality on the poor, women and vulnerable groups."

IPU members are expected to adopt a resolution to guarantee the financial inclusion of women as drivers of development, said the release.

Joining the assembly, it said, women MPs from different countries in their session of the Forum of Women Parliamentarians would focus on "ending the gender gap in access to financial services."

According to the agenda of the conference, the participants are also expected to make recommendations for parliamentary actions to further promote the values of democracy and to strengthen the exercise of democratic government.

Officials said the IPU Standing Committee on Peace and International Security will further scrutinize and possibly adopt a resolution on the issue of non-interference in the internal affairs of other states.

British PM gives assurances over Gibraltar

Authentic news,No fake news.

British Prime Minister Theresa May leaves 10 Downing Street after the cabinet meeting in London, Britain on March 29, 2017. British Prime Minister Theresa May and her most senior ministers gathered in the Cabinet room at 10 Downing Street Wednesday at the start of one of the most historic days in generations for Britain. (Xinhua/Han Yan)

LONDON, April 2 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Theresa May on Sunday gave assurances over Gibraltar with Chief Minister of Gibraltar Fabian Picardo by phone.

It has become one of the early flashpoints in Brexit negotiations which started last week after May triggered Article 50, the process for leaving the European Union.

An official spokesman for 10 Downing Street said: "The prime minister reiterated our long-standing position that the UK remains steadfastly committed to our support for Gibraltar, its people and its economy.

"The prime minister said we will never enter into arrangements under which the people of Gibraltar would pass under the sovereignty of another state against their freely and democratically expressed wishes, nor will we ever enter into a process of sovereignty negotiations with which Gibraltar is not content," said the spokesman.

"The prime minister said we remain absolutely dedicated to working with Gibraltar for the best possible outcome on Brexit, and will continue to involve them fully in the process."

Gibraltar, located on the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean, was ceded to Britain as part of the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713. Spain has persistently sought to regain the tiny southern territory.

A row has erupted after draft Brexit negotiating guidelines drawn up by the European Council identified future arrangements for Gibraltar as one of its 26 core principles.

The guidelines stated: "After the UK leaves the union, no agreement between the EU and the UK may apply to the territory of Gibraltar without agreement between Spain and the UK."

That clause has potentially put Britain and Spain on a collision course over the future of this area.

University of California working with Mexico on energy efficiency research

Authentic news,No fake news.

SAN FRANCISCO, April 1 (Xinhua) -- U.S. University of California (UC) has stepped up its efforts to work with the Ministry of Energy of Mexico (SENER) by announcing 10 million U.S. dollars in new funding to support energy efficiency research projects.

UC President Janet Napolitano joined Mexican Secretary of Energy Pedro Joaquín Coldwell this week in Mexico City to launch a request for proposals that will award up to 200 million pesos, or 10 million U.S. dollars, to energy efficiency projects in Mexico.

Building on a Memorandum of Understanding signed by UC and the SENER in October 2014, UC is partnering with the ministry and research institutions in Mexico to accelerate the clean energy transition on both sides of the Mexico-U.S. border through applied research collaborations and exchanges of students and faculty.

The new funding is expected to help identify priorities in the areas of lighting technology, energy and water efficiency, smart buildings and the future electric grid.

The request for proposals will advance shared goals of increasing energy efficiency in buildings and cities by investing in demonstration projects and microgrids.

"Through demonstration projects, innovative technology and integrated solutions to optimize our energy use, we will work together to achieve Mexico's and California's common long-term goal of finding solutions to the biggest challenges that humanity faces," Napolitano said in a UC news release.

"What works in Mexico will help Californians -- just as what works in California will benefit Mexicans."

Napolitano launched the UC-Mexico Initiative to foster partnerships between UC and Mexican universities, governmental agencies, the private sector and foundations, and to address topics of mutual concern, with focus on key areas of interest to both California and Mexico.

As a public research university that claims to be a leader in energy sustainability, UC is dedicated to finding solutions to the related pressing global problems of climate change, air pollution and access to clean water.

Napolitano launched the UC Carbon Neutrality Initiative in 2013, setting the goal for the UC system to become carbon-neutral by 2025.

To date, energy efficiency measures and clean energy projects implemented across the UC system have generated savings of 28 million dollars a year in energy costs.

11 bodies recovered from canal in India

Authentic news,No fake news.

NEW DELHI, April 2 (Xinhua) -- At least 11 bodies were recovered Sunday from a canal in northern Indian state of Haryana, police said.

The bodies were recovered during dredging of Bhakhra canal near Narwana in Jind district of Haryana, about 181 km north of Delhi, the capital of India.

"We have recovered 11 bodies from the canal here today," Ramesh Kumar, senior police official told media. "Of them one body is of a female. The process of identification have initiated as we have informed all the police stations in and around the state to check list of missing persons."

Police officials suspect the bodies have come from Punjab with flow of water. The bodies have been kept at Narwana civil hospital, police said.

"Some of the bodies are in good shape, while as other have got decomposed," the Kumar said.

The Bhakra canal carrying water from Bhakhra Nangal Dam flows from Himachal Pradesh into Punjab and later to Haryana. It mostly supplies irrigation water to the state of Haryana.

"Authorities have closed a part of canal to clean the rivulet bed of weed and mud," a local government official said. "The cleaning of canal is often being carried out from time to time."

Local media reports four human skulls were also recovered from canal.

Reports said the depth of the canal usually remains 18 feet throughout the year, and incidents of people drowning in the canal while taking bath are often reported during summers.

Myanmar's ruling party wins half in by-elections

Authentic news,No fake news.

YANGON, April 2 (Xinhua) -- The ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) of Myanmar, led by Aung San Suu Kyi, has won nearly half number of parliamentary seats in Saturday's by-elections, according to the final results released by the Union Election Commission Sunday afternoon.

Of the 19 parliamentary seats contested in the election, the NLD won a total of nine seats -- five with the House of Representatives (Lower House), three with the House of Nationalities (Upper House) and one with the Shan state parliament.

The NLD's winning seats of the House of Representatives include four in Yangon region's constituencies and one in the constituency of Sagaing region's Monywa.

The party's winning seats with the House of Nationalities include one in Yangon region constituency, one in Bago region's and one in Chin state's.

The by-election results were highlighted by some victory of the ethnic Shan National League for Democracy (SNLD),led by Khun Htun Oo, which won two seats with the House of Representatives in Shan state's constituencies and four seats with the Shan state parliament.

The Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), led by U Than Htay, won a total of two seats -- one with the House of Representatives in Mon state's Chaungsone constituency and one with the state parliament in Shan state's Kengtung's.

The All Nationalities Democracy Party (Kayah state) won one seat with the State parliament in Kayah state, while the Arakan National Party (ANP) won one seat with the House of Representatives.

The multi-party parliamentary by-election was held across Myanmar on Saturday in which a total of 2 million eligible voters cast their ballots.

A total of 94 candidates competed for 19 parliamentary seats left vacant in 22 townships in eight regions and states. Of the open seats, nine are with the House of Representatives, three with the House of Nationalities and seven with the state parliaments.

Of the 94 candidates, 87 are from 24 political parties with 18 each shared by the NLD and the USDP, while the seven others are individuals.

It was the first by-election taking place in the tenure of the new government, led by the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD), one year after its assumption of office.

10 Tools That Make Gmail Better

10 Tools That Make Gmail Better

These tools will make managing your email easier and a lot more efficient.

READ NOW

READ THESE NEXT

How to Recover a Gmail Password You Forgot

Yes, You Can Take a Sent Email Back

How Smart People Are Streaming TV

Bloatware Is Slowing You Down: Dumb Apps You Can't Delete

China urges U.S. to conduct trade review based on international rules

Authentic news,No fake news.

BEIJING, April 1 (Xinhua) -- China on Saturday urged the U.S. side to carry out trade review targeting China and other surplus countries in accordance with international rules.

China's Ministry of Commerce (MOC) made the statement after U.S. President Donald Trump signed executive orders on Friday focused on reducing the trade deficit.

The reality, cause and possible impact for the U.S. trade deficit with China are well understood by both countries, the MOC said. It highlighted that Sino-U.S. trade is highly complementary and has mutual benefits.

As the world's top two economies, China and the United States have a special mission in promoting global trade and investment, as well as global economic prosperity, it said.

China is willing to work alongside the United States to enhance dialogue and properly address disagreements on the basis of mutual benefits and cooperation, it added.

INDIA-Govt proposes new RTI draft rules, seeks public opinion

Authentic news,No fake news.

New Delhi, Apr 2 (PTI) The government has proposed a new set of rules for processing Right to Information applications, complaints and appeals and has sought suggestions from the public by April 15.

The proposed rules, aimed at replacing RTI rules of 2012, have been placed by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) on its website for comments from public.

"The time given is too less. There is no official press release in this regard as well. How will people know that something like is placed on website for them to give opinion," RTI activist Commodore (Retd) Lokesh Batra told PTI.

A major proposal now allows the Central Information Commission (CIC) to convert a complaint into second appeal which would mean it can order the disclosure of information to an applicant who has come under complaint clause of the RTI Act which was not the case earlier.

"The Commission may in its discretion allow a prayer for any amendment of a complaint during the course of its hearing, including conversion of the complaint into second appeal, if available remedies have been exhausted, on a prayer made by the complainant," the draft rules state.

The Supreme Court had held in one of its orders that Section 18 of the RTI Act provides for complaint while Section 19 of the RTI Act provides mechanism of second appeal.

It had said that the CIC while hearing a plea under complaint clause cannot order disclosure of the information which can only be provided if the person is approaching it under second appeal or section 19 of the Act.

Another provision says that the proceedings before the Commission will abate in case of death of the appellant.

The new draft rules also allow the Commission to use its discretion for allowing withdrawal of appeal or a complaint if appellant requests but such requests cannot be entertained once the matter has been decided by it.

Some RTI activists have objected to such suggestions by the government in the past saying information seekers may be coerced by people with vested interests and may even be killed as the information against them cannot be ordered to be disclosed in such cases.

The rules also introduce provisions like providing a copy of complaint and appeal to the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) before approaching the CIC.

A proof in this regard will also be submitted to the Commission along with the complaint or appeal.

The applicants will have to declare that the matter submitted by them before the Commission has not been decided or pending before the Commission or any court.

The applicants can now file complaints within 135 days of filing the RTI application only. Any delay in filing the complaint will have to be accompanied with the request for condonation of delay.

If the RTI applicant does not know the name and address of the CPIO or the First Appellate authority in a government department, he will have to provide a copy of his complaint to the department before approaching the Commission.

The new proposed process asks the Commission to get replies from the CPIO within a specified time before issuing notices to them.

UN cuts cash incentive to Afghan refugees in Pakistan

Authentic news,No fake news.

Pakistan says it still hosts the world’s largest long-term refugee population [AP]

Voluntary repatriation of Afghan refugees from Pakistan is set to resume on Monday, but a cash incentive for returnees announced by the UN has been reduced from $400 to $200, a UNHCR official said.

Pakistan hosts 1.3 million registered Afghan refugees, in addition to nearly a million unregistered Afghans, of which 600,000 live in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, bordering Afghanistan.

"The amount before [the cut] at least helped us with our basic needs during our return to Afghanistan, but something is at least better than not having money at all ... an uncertain future awaits us," Ilyas, an Afghan refugee in Pakistan, who sells ice-cream in Peshawar city, told Al Jazeera.

Many Afghans still continued to register to leave despite incentive cuts, which the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, confirmed with Al Jazeera was due to the funding shortages.

"We could not sustain the amount of $400 for Afghans leaving Pakistan due to budget cuts, but the money they get will at least cover their transportation cost," Dunya Khan, spokesperson for the UNHCR in Islamabad, told Al Jazeera.

Some 16,000 refugees have registered themselves for repatriation this week with the UNHCR programme in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

Pakistan justified the move to deport registered and unregistered Afghans on the grounds of national security, accusing some refugees of posing a threat, which has led to a crackdown on the community.

By the end of last year, as many as 370,000 registered refugees had returned under UNHCR's repatriation programme.

'When will you leave?'

A commonly used term in Pashto to mock Afghan refugees in Pakistan is 'Kala ba zai', or 'when will you leave?'

The term, used to taunt Afghans, has also been the theme of an hour-long Pashto comedy TV drama that depicts the life of Afghans in Pakistan, highlighting the difficulties they face.

Zabih Janbaz, the Pakistani actor who stars as an Afghan refugee, now faces anger from within the Afghan community in Pakistan for spreading the term.

In his defence, Janbaz said the term was used well before the drama was produced.

"My intentions were not to hurt our Afghan brothers; all I did was play a role as an actor. This is my profession, but unfortunately this profession is not appreciated in our region. They took it too seriously and forgot to enjoy the drama," Janbaz told Al Jazeera.

Janbaz stressed the importance of Afghans in Pakistan and called them "brothers". He is now working to produce a film in Afghanistan called 'Kala ba razae', or 'when will you come back?'.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Abdul Wahab, a citizen of Pakistan residing in Peshawar, giggled when asked about 'Kala ba zae'.

"When the borders were closed we jokingly ask them (Afghans) 'Singa ba zae?', which means, 'how will you go?', referring to Pakistan's decisions on February 16 to seal the Torkham and Chaman crossings after a string of suicide attacks killed more than 130 people across the country.

But last month, Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif ordered the immediate reopening of border crossings with its neighbour.

"Not many Afghans react to these terms anymore, they just reply back saying 'we had to return back to our country one day, so here we are,'" Wahab said.

Why is Pakistan forcing Afghan refugees back home? – Inside Story

Source: Al Jazeera News

Arrests after 20 people killed at Sargodha shrine

Authentic news,No fake news.

The incident occurred in the small village of Chak 95, just outside the city of Sarghoda located about 160km west of Lahore [EPA]

Lahore, Pakistan - The custodian of a shrine and two others have been arrested after murdering 20 devotees in Pakistan's Punjab province, police said.

Abdul Waheed, custodian of the Ali Muhammad Gujjar shrine, drugged the devotees before beating them with sticks and stabbing them to death late on Saturday, local police officer Shaukat Manzoor told Al Jazeera.

He then handed himself over to authorities, the official added.

The incident occurred in the small village of Chak 95, just outside the city of Sarghoda located about 160km west of Lahore.

"He drugged everyone who was at the shrine," Manzoor said, adding that Waheed appeared to suffer from mental instability.

Initial reports indicated there were no survivors from the attack but local police officials later said at least two people are being treated at a local hospital.

"The wounded appear to be out of immediate danger," Manzoor added.

Pervaiz Haider, a doctor at a Sargodha hospital, said most of the dead were hit in the back of the neck.

"There are bruises and wounds inflicted by a club and dagger on the bodies of victims," he told Reuters news agency.

Chief of the local police station Shamsher Khan said Waheed was found sitting outside the shrine when authorities reached the location.

"He had a dagger dripping with blood on him," said Khan. "He told us not to come near him otherwise he will attack us ... But we managed to arrest him and the two other men who were sitting outside the shrine with him.

"The whole shrine was filled with bodies. There were 20 dead bodies, including three women and 17 men."

Two other men, Zafar Ali and Sanaullah, believed to be Waheed's accomplices, were arrested from the scene, Khan said.

Police said it was unclear if the men have any affiliation with armed extremist groups such as the Pakistani Taliban, who often carry out attacks targeting shrines and Pakistan's minorities.

Police said there were no survivors in the attack [EPA]

The officials added they would decide whether or not to file terrorism charges after completing their questioning of the suspects and any witnesses.

Police have not yet questioned the wounded and will do so only after receiving doctors' clearance, said Manzoor.

“Waheed is in custody. We are currently taking down witness statements. We will decide on terrorism charges after that," said Manzoor.

On Friday, at least 22 people were killed when the Pakistani Taliban's Jamaat-ur-Ahrar faction targeted a Shia Muslim mosque in the northwestern town of Parachinar.

In February, 88 people were killed when a suicide bomber targeted one of Pakistan’s most well-known shrines in the southern town of Sehwan.

The attack, the worst in Pakistan since the 2014 attack on a school in Peshawar, was claimed by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).

Asad Hashim is Al Jazeera’s Web Correspondent in Pakistan. He tweets @AsadHashim.

Source: Al Jazeera News

MITRA MANDAL GLOBAL NEWS

'When will you leave?'