The Gulf Cooperation Council, GCC, has raised “great concern” over the continued war between Azerbaijan and Armenia on the Nagorno-Karabakh region, resulting in casualties and injuries from both countries.
In a statement, GCC Secretary General Nayef Al Hajraf said that the Council ”urges Azerbaijan and Armenia to cease-fire and enter into comprehensive negotiations to reach an inclusive political solution in line with the UN Security Council resolutions and the international law.”
This dispute threatens stability and security of the Caucasus, as well as international peace, he noted as quoted by KUNA.
He appealed to the Security Council to assume its role for an immediate ceasefire and a political solution to the dispute to protect the lives of civilians and guarantee peace and security in this “sensitive area in the world.”
London-based well-known Indian-origin solicitor Sarosh Zaiwalla complains to Indian President Ramnath Kovind, Chief Justice of India, Sharad Bobde and Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, about misconduct of Patiala Court Judge Sanjeev Jain and Congress party MP regarding the order to restrict the sale and distribution of his memoirs titled Honour Bound – Adventures of an Indian Lawyer in the English Courts’…. Writes Kaliph Anaz.
London-based solicitor Sarosh Zaiwalla released a letter he wrote to President Ramnath Kovind complaining about a quid pro quo between Patiala Court judge, Sanjeev Jain, and Congress party MP and lawyer, Dr Abhishek Singhvi, and requesting the head of state for an inquiry into the case.
The letter was copied to the Chief Justice of India, Sharad Bobde and Union Home Minister, Amit Shah.
Zaiwalla’s memoirs ‘Honour Bound – Adventures of an Indian Lawyer in the English Courts’ were published last year by HarperCollins India.
The letter said, “an excerpt on my experience and knowledge regarding Mr Abhishek Manu Singhvi and his late father Mr L M Singhvi was published in the book which was before the Delhi’s Patiala Court”.
Mr Zaiwalla, senior partner of Zaiwalla & Co, one of the most prominent legal firms in London, further stated: “An injunction and all judicial relief were granted to the plaintiff Mr Singhvi by passing an ex parte order restricting the sales and distribution of the book. This was done without serving the proceedings on me as required by local law in England as the author of the book residing in the United Kingdom.”
Mr Zaiwalla alleged, “The judicial proceedings in this case are entirely suspicious of a quid pro quo between the Congress Leader and Member of Parliament Mr Abhishek Manu Singhvi and the Patiala Court’s Judge Sanjeev Jain.”
Mr Zaiwalla appealed to Kovind by saying: “As a member of the legal fraternity and admirer of the Indian judiciary, I humbly request you to please order an independent inquiry in this case.”
In 1990, Zaiwalla & Co acted on behalf of Ajitabh Bachchan, younger brother of Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan (both friends of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi), at the High Court of London in a libel suit against a Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter, which had reported the brothers had received kickbacks from the arms firm Bofors in a deal to sell field guns to the Indian army when Rajiv Gandhi was prime minister. Zaiwalla and the Bachchans succeeded in inflicting a significant defeat on the daily.
Mr Zaiwalla recorded in Honour Bound: “Judge MacPherson ruled that damages be paid to Ajitabh. After an adjournment, the court reassembled to hear from Charles Grey (the barrister appointed by Zaiwalla). He said the allegations by Dagens Nyheter had not only caused distress to Ajitabh but ‘also caused embarrassment to Rajiv Gandhi’, and in order to soothe this distress Ajitabh had been awarded ‘substantial’ damages and costs.”
The book goes on to narrate: “The Bofors saga had also entangled me in a political uproar in India, with my name bandied about in Parliament. Rene Felber, the Swiss foreign minister, leaked a memo to a journalist that had been handed to him by his Indian counterpart, Madhavsinh Solanki. This note recommended to the Swiss government that it close its inquiry into the Bofors kickbacks. When this news reached India, Solanki admitted in Parliament that he was given a sealed envelope to give to Felber, but said he was unaware it contained a Bofors memo. Solanki further elaborated he was in his seat on the plane when ‘a well-respected Indian lawyer in London’ gave him the envelope and requested him to give it to the Swiss foreign minister.”
“There was a presumption in the Indian press that this lawyer was me. Naturally, the Indian parliament raised questions about the propriety of its foreign minister carrying a sealed envelope, without knowing its contents. I knew nothing about it. There was no way I would have got security clearance to board a plane on which I was not travelling, let along deliver anything to anyone on it. Vir Sanghvi (a senior Indian journalist) later told me the person who had handed the envelope over might have been the Indian high commissioner in the UK, Dr L M Singhvi, who was also a senior lawyer. Because of his diplomatic status, he would have had access and authority to meet the minister on the plane.”
In reference to an arbitration matter 27 years ago between the Government of India and a Danish company Volund, in which he was one of the arbitrators, Zaiwalla recounted in Honour Bound: “At the hearing in London, the Indian high commissioner appointed his son Abhishek Manu Singhvi, then a relatively junior lawyer, as counsel.”
Trump launched a vicious attack calling Harris a “monster” and a “communist”….Reports Asian Lite News
US President Donald Trump asserted on Thursday that Democratic Party’s vice-presidential candidate Kamala Harris would replace Joe Biden as president within a month if he were elected and launched a vicious attack calling her a “monster” and a “communist”.
In an interview with Fox Business TV, he said: “She’s a communist. We’re going to have a communist (as president)? She’s going to be (president), in my opinion, within a month. Look, I sit next to Joe and I looked at Joe. Joe’s not lasting two months as president.”
Using a strong invective, he referred to her as “this monster that was onstage with Mike Pence, who destroyed her last night, by the way”.
Washington, July. 21 (Xinhua) — Donald Trump takes the stage on the last day of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, the United States, July 21, 2016. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu/IANS)
Trump, who is recovering from Covid-19 at the White House after being released from a military hospital, spoke to interviewer Maria Bartiromo over telephone.
Pence and Harris conducted themselves with relative courtesy during the debate and the vice president, whose style is the opposite of Trump, avoided personal attacks on his rival.
While she also treated him with courtesy, her style honed in years as a prosecutor, overwhelmed him at times.
Trump called her performance at the debate “terrible” and said she was “nasty”.
Senator Kamala Harris and Vice President Mike Pence separated by Plexiglass partition at the US vice-presidential debate on Wednesday, October 7, 2020, in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo: C-Span screengrab)
During the debate, Pence tried to link to Harris to the radical left wing of the party leading to her disowning her previous support for that group’s Green New Deal manifesto that she had sponsored.
Trump appeared to be compensating for Pence’s civility with his attack viciously painting her as a radical.
He said that Harris was a communist, “not a socialist, she is well beyond socialist.”
He said: “She wants to open the borders to killers, murderers and rapists to pour into the country.”
Kamala Devi Harris
During the interview, he also turned on two members of his cabinet.
He said that he was not happy with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo because he had not released documents relating to Hillary Clinton, whom he defeated in the 2016 election and had been the secretary of state in former President Barack Obama’s administration.
Attorney General William Barr “could go down as a very, very sad situation” if he did not act on how the probe against him in the 2016 election collusion with Russia began, Trump said.
Royal Challengers Bangalore coach Ashish Nehra. (Photo: IANS)
Former Indian pacer Ashish Nehra is mighty impressed with the performance of youngsters Devdutt Padikkal and Ravi Bishnoi in the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Padikkal, who is playing for the Royal Challengers Bangalore, has been in great form so far, amassing 178 runs in the five innings he has played. Bishnoi, on the other hand, is plying his trade with Kings XI Punjab and he has been able to scalp four wickets in five innings he has bowled.
“Ravi Bishnoi and Devdutt Padikkal, both have shown great character. As I said earlier, I would’ve liked Parthiv Patel to open, but that is out of the picture now. Looking at the future, I am impressed by Devdutt Padikkal and Ravi Bishnoi’s performance,” said Nehra while speaking on Star Sports show Cricket Connected.
Meanwhile, former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar heaped praised on SunRisers Hyderabad pacer T Natarajan, who has scalped five wickets in five innings. Bangar, in particular, has been impressed with Natarajan’s ability to bowl yorkers which in turn has sorted out the death bowling issue for SunRisers.
“The yorker ball is the most difficult ball in this format, and that too when the ball is wet, despite that T Natarajan bowled in the previous match and sorted out SRH’s death bowling issue,” said Bangar.
“I am really impressed by Natarajan. He is looking in good form and Natarajan will be my player of choice who has impressed me in the IPL,” he added.
Rishabh Pant has vastly improved his batting and he is a major asset for the Delhi Capitals, says legendary West Indies batsman Brian Lara.
Pant has been in good form in the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL), scoring 171 runs in the five matches he has played so far.
“I think he is a major asset for the Delhi Capitals, but today he has also vastly improved his game. I am talking about his batting and the improvements he made in that department,” said Lara while speaking on Star Sports show Cricket Live.
“On what is immediately noticeable is his propensity to try and get everything to the leg-side. Also look at his run scoring chart and that’s quite a proof of that fascination he has with the on-side. I think he has come to the realisation that this is not working and he went away and worked on improving his off-side play,” he added.
Brian Lara
According to Lara, Pant has worked on improving his off-side play which in turn has helped him to score runs in all parts of the ground.
“Now he has the ability to score runs in all parts of the ground. His scoring charts are looking impressive, and yes, more worry for the bowlers,” said the former West Indies captain.
“He is now very well balanced and he is looking to score in key areas that he is not accustomed to scoring – over extra cover, over point, in front of point and his balance and his weight is staying there, he is not falling over to the off-side to create shots on the leg side. That is a vast improvement that he has made, which obviously going to help his all-round batting. I believe, this young lad has a long-long way to go,” he added.
Delhi Capitals, sitting pretty at the second spot in the points table, will on Friday evening take on Rajasthan Royals in Sharjah.
Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das (Photo: IANS)
Persistently high inflation fanned in part due to supply side disruptions along with seasonal factors led the Reserve Bank of India to maintain the key lending rates.
Accordingly, the Monetary Policy Committee of the central bank in its penultimate meet for 2020, decided to maintain the repo rate – or short-term lending – rate for commercial banks, at 4 per cent.
Besides, the reverse repo rate stands unchanged at 3.35 per cent, and the marginal standing facility (MSF) rate and the ‘Bank Rate’ at 4.2 per cent.
The MPC voted to maintain accommodative stance, thus opening up possibilities for more future rate cuts.
It was broadly expected that the RBI’s MPC might hold rates as recent data showed that retail inflation has been at an elevated level during June.
“The MPC evaluated domestic and global macroeconomic and financial conditions and voted unanimously to leave the policy repo rate unchanged at 4 per cent,” RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das said.
“It also decided to continue with the accommodative stance of monetary policy as long as necessary – at least during the current financial year and into the next year – to revive growth on a durable basis and mitigate the impact of COVID-19, while ensuring that inflation remains within the target going forward.”
A major point of disagreement is the idea of mandatory relocation of asylum seekers arriving in Europe’s coastal states…Reports Asian Lite News
European Union (EU) Ministers held a meeting to discuss the new migration pact for the first time since it was announced in late September.
Amid tension between member states regarding the proposal, the meeting took place on Thursday via video conference, the Euronews TV network said in a report.
A major point of disagreement is the idea of mandatory relocation of asylum seekers arriving in Europe’s coastal states. Poland, Hungary and Austria have opposed this.
But the new plan sidesteps it by allowing other countries to share the burden through logistical support or organising the return of unsuccessful asylum applicants.
However, the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, told Euronews that the new pact strikes the right balance.
“We have a very strong humanitarian angle in this proposal. We are standing up to defend the right to apply for asylum.
“We are doing new legislation to avoid push-backs at borders, we are taking the real step to do search and rescue so that those people can be disembarked on European soil with strong European solidarity,” Johansson said.
But some refugee organisations have argued that the new pact’s focus was wrong.
“It’s quite clear first of all that the pact aims to rebuild mutual trust between Member States and not prioritise refugee and migrant rights,” Sara Presitani from Euromed Rights told Euronews.
Jerusalem, Sept. 13, 2020 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gives a briefing on COVID-19 pandemic in Israel at his office in Jerusalem, on Sept. 13, 2020. Israel will reimpose a nationwide lockdown for three weeks, beginning on Friday, to slow a rapid resurgence of coronavirus infections, the government decided on Sunday. (Yoav Dudkevitch/JINI via Xinhua/IANS)
The deal had been discussed for years, but the neighbours were only able to finalize it after Israel and the two Gulf Arab states signed a historic agreement last month…Reports Asian Lite News
Israel has inked an aviation agreement with Jordan.The agreement will allow flights from the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain to fly through Israeli airspace, it said on Thursday.Arab News Reports
The deal had been discussed for years, but the neighbours were only able to finalize it after Israel and the two Gulf Arab states signed a historic agreement last month to normalize ties, Israel’s Transportation Ministry said.
Jordanian officials had no immediate comment.
With commercial planes now able to fly through the Israel-Jordan corridor, flight times for some routes between Asia and Europe and North America, including flights from Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, will be shorter, the Israeli ministry said.
Its statement did not specify any other countries that could benefit from the new arrangement.
LONDON, July 25, 2019 (Xinhua) -- Britain's Home Secretary Priti Patel leaves 10 Downing Street after attending a cabinet meeting in London, Britain, on July 25, 2019. (Photo by Alberto Pezzali/Xinhua/IANS)
The latest statistics also show that, of the more than 4 million applications across the UK, there have been nearly 3.7 million from England, 204,700 from Scotland, 67,200 from Wales and 66,300 from Northern Ireland up to the end of September 2020…reports Asian Lite News
Britain’s Home Secretary Priti Patel leaves 10 Downing Street after attending a cabinet meeting in London, Britain. (Photo by Alberto Pezzali/Xinhua/IANS)
The UK Home Office has announced that there have been more than four million applications to the EU Settlement Scheme, according to the latest published statistics.
This important milestone was reached with eight months still to go before the 30 June 2021 deadline. Nearly 3.8 million grants of status have also been made, securing millions of European’s rights in UK law for years to come.
The latest statistics also show that, of the more than 4 million applications across the UK, there have been nearly 3.7 million from England, 204,700 from Scotland, 67,200 from Wales and 66,300 from Northern Ireland up to the end of September 2020.
Minister for Future Borders and Immigration Kevin Foster said:
“European citizens are an integral part of our society, culture and community which is why I’m really proud we’ve already surpassed four million applications to the hugely successful EU Settlement Scheme.
“A wide range of support is available online and over the telephone if you need it and we are funding 72 organisations across the UK to help the more vulnerable in society.”
The EU Settlement Scheme has been fully open since 30 March 2019 and at its height Home Office caseworkers were regularly processing up to 20,000 applications a day. The highest number of applications processed in one month was in October 2019 when there were more than 400,000 grants of status.
Timeline:
28 August 2018 – EU Settlement Scheme first tested with a small number of NHS staff
1 November 2018 – Launch of second phase of testing
30 March 2019 – EU Settlement Scheme fully opened
15 August 2019 – One million applications
9 October 2019 – Two million applications
6 February 2020 – Three million applications
8 October 2020 – Four million applications
The Home Office also has a dedicated team of more than 1,500 people working on the EU Settlement Scheme with support provided seven days a week by telephone and by email.
The EU Settlement Scheme uses cutting edge technology and launched the EU Exit: ID Document Check app which allows people to apply from the comfort of their own home in as little as 15 minutes.
The Home Office has also made up to £17 million available to organisations across the UK who support the more vulnerable in society. The number of organisations funded has increased from 57 to 72 and includes charities, local authorities and local government associations.
EUSS Team Manager of Newport Mind Association in Wales Tom Finney said:
“We’re pleased to confirm that with Home Office funding we will now be able to provide practical EU Settlement Scheme support to vulnerable EU citizens throughout the whole of Wales.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the Chancellor Rishi Sunak join Gemma Connell from the Royal Squadron at RAF Northolt in her 24 hour cycle Challenge to raise money for Great Ormond Street 10 Downing Street. Picture by Andrew Parsons / No 10 Downing Street
“We’ve already broken-down barriers and reached out to more than 10,000 vulnerable EU citizens living in Wales and we are determined to build on that success.”
Deputy CEO at Advice NI in Northern Ireland Fiona Magee said:
“Advice NI has already helped more than 20,000 people in Northern Ireland to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme and the Home Office funding will allow us to continue this important work with the more vulnerable in society including the elderly, isolated or those who lack IT literacy skills.”
Chief of Mission at International Organization for Migration Dipti Pardeshi said:
“To date, the IOM UK led project has provided EUSS support to over 25,000 individuals in vulnerable situations. People who have been supported include children in care, people who are homeless or rough sleeping, survivors of modern slavery and domestic abuse, as well as people living with disabilities, or facing language, literacy or economic barriers.
“We have been working closely with Local Authorities and our model has expanded the ability to reach out to at-risk migrants. The new Home Office funding will help us to continue such vital work to ensure that no one is left behind”.
Additional support is available for those who do not have the appropriate access, skills or confidence to apply online.
The Home Office has also run two bursts of marketing campaigns, spending £4 million across the UK to encourage EU citizens to apply.
To raise awareness of the scheme at a local level, the Home Office held a series of pop-up events across the UK where staff answered questions and helped people to apply in person, with more planned in 2020.
Communication materials have also been translated into 26 EU languages including Polish, Romanian and Italian.
Allan Border Comes down Heavily on BCCI’s Overreach
Even as Cricket Australia (CA) is yet to officially announce the dates for India’s tour of Australia that begins next month, controversy has flared up. It is not just the broadcasters Seven West Media, the owner of Channel 7, who are crying foul over the tentative schedule that the Australian board has prepared.
Former Australia cricketer Allan Border too has criticised Cricket Australia for bending over backwards and accommodating the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) demand to reschedule the series, the Sydney Test in particular.
The Sydney Test, usually known as the New Year’s Test, begins in the first week of January or January 3 or 4 to be precise but has been pushed back to January 7 in the new schedule.
The gap between the Boxing Day Test (December 26-30) and the New Year’s Test (January 3-7) is generally three days. However, India want an extended break of over a week.
The series-ending fourth and last Test will be played between January 15-19 at Brisbane. With the Brisbane Test scheduled to end on January 19, the series will also be clashing with the Australian Open which begins on January 14.
The Test series assumes significance for Border also because it is known as the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
“I don’t think it should be a negotiated scenario,” Border told Fox Sports News. “If it’s necessary because of what is happening globally with the virus then fair enough, but if it’s just because they want a bit of a spell off between Boxing Day and the New Year’s Test match then that’s rubbish.”
“We’ve been doing this for how many years now, back-to-back Test matches? It works a treat through that Christmas-New Year period and I wouldn’t be comfortable with it moving just because India want a couple more days off.
“I think they’re just playing mind games,” Border said.
“They consider themselves the strength of world cricket, and financially that is the case so they do have a fair say in things. But if the roles were reversed, we wouldn’t have much say in the itinerary, it would just be put in front of us and these are the dates that we’re going to play.
“You can negotiate as much as you like but these are traditional dates that everyone knows have been in the calendar forever, so to start negotiating now… it’s a tough one. I wouldn’t be bowing down to it – we’ve got traditional dates, let’s stick with them.”
Border also criticised the shifting of the Brisbane Test to the back-end from the traditional slot of being the season opener.
“The Brisbane Test match has traditionally been the first game for a lot of years now,” he added. “It’s such a great ground, it’s a pitch that we know well and play well on and it gives us a huge start to our international summer.
“Now obviously, India don’t want to play that first game in Brisbane, but that shouldn’t be the case. We should just be saying ‘these are the venues and these are the dates’. As far as of when games should and shouldn’t be played, I don’t think we should give an inch at all.”
Seven West Media had on Tuesday taken Cricket Australia to arbitration over the change on losses, demanding a cut in annual fees.
