Central News Hub

Category: Politics

  • Akhilesh: BJP to lose Maharashtra, UP bypolls 

    Akhilesh: BJP to lose Maharashtra, UP bypolls 

    Akhilesh Yadav chief promised that if people make the Samajwadi party win then schemes like Agniveer would be abolished and permanent jobs in security forces would be provided to the youth….reports Asian Lite News

    Launching a scathing attack against the Bharatiya Janata Party, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Sunday said that the voice of the Lucknow engine (UP government) has changed as the Uttar Pradesh bypolls are approaching. 

    “The voice of the Lucknow engine (UP government) has changed as the elections (UP Bypolls) approach. Are they talking about any development? They say that Samajwadi people are mafia and goons…But the truth is that when the Chief Minister (Yogi Adityanath) leaves his house, he does not look in the mirror,” said Akhilesh Yadav while addressing a public rally in Uttar Pradesh’s Katehari Vidhan Sabha. 

    He further promised that if people make the Samajwadi party win then schemes like Agniveer would be abolished and permanent jobs in security forces would be provided to the youth. 

    “Governments keep changing but we must work on improving the institutions. The democratic system must be improvised. People’s trust in the system must increase. The BJP has done damage to this. I appeal to you all to stand in queue to cast a vote. If you could stand in long queues when demonetisation happened, then, you can do it now as well. I promise youngsters of employment and tell them that we will never accept schemes like agniveer. I will work to provide them with permanent jobs in the security forces,” added Akhilesh Yadav. 

    The SP chief said that the BJP will be defeated in the Maharashtra assembly elections and UP bypolls as well. “The engines of Delhi (central government) and Lucknow (UP government) are colliding with each other. There are a lot of reasons behind this collision. Due to this, (UP) DGP has not been appointed…Earlier their (Delhi and UP) engines were colliding, now their slogans are also colliding…After the results of the Maharashtra elections, the Maharashtra government will not be in power. They (BJP) will lose UP also…”, he added. 

    Notably, bypolls will be held on nine seats in Uttar Pradesh on November 20 and results will be declared on November 23. (ANI) 

    Ruckus at BJP leader Rana’s rally 

    A ruckus occurred during a public rally held by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Navneet Rana at Khallar village, part of the Daryapur constituency in Amravati, the police said on Sunday. 

    According to the police, Navneet Rana came to Khallar village on Saturday to campaign for Ramesh Bundile, who is contesting from the Daryapur Assembly constituency on BJP’s ticket. 

    The incident occurred around 10 PM on Saturday when chairs were reportedly thrown at Navneet Rana while she was campaigning for Ramesh Bundile. The BJP leader was allegedly attacked as she was addressing the crowd in Daryapur’s Khallar village. 

    Following the attack, Navneet Rana filed a complaint at the police station. 

    Former MP Navneet Rana claimed that while she was delivering her speech from the stage, a few people in the audience started hooting. 

    She added when she stepped down after concluding her speech, chairs were thrown and slogans were raised against her. 

    The police have registered a case regarding the incident and have initiated a probe into the matter. 

    “BJP leader Navneet Rana came to Khallar village yesterday, to campaign for the BJP candidate from the Daryapur Assembly constituency, Ramesh Bundile. During the rally, a dispute broke out between two groups. We have registered a case on the complaint of Navneet Rana. The situation is now under control. A police checkpoint has been set up in the village. We request the citizens to not believe in any kind of rumours. Further investigation is underway,” Inspector Crime Branch Rural Amravati, Kiran Wankhade said. 

    Meanwhile, a viral video of senior Congress leader Nitin Raut purportedly claiming that he was dropped from the Vilas Rao Deshmukh cabinet for greeting the Chief Minister with ‘Jai Bheem’ has spelt trouble for the party. The clip has given the BJP ammunition to attack the party as Anti-Dalit. 

    The Maharashtra assembly elections are scheduled for November 20, with votes for all 288 constituencies to be counted on November 23. 

    The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition, comprising Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and the Nationalist Congress Party (SCP), seeks to reclaim power in the state, challenging the Mahayuti alliance, which includes Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and Ajit Pawar-led NCP. (ANI) 

    ALSO READ: India slams developed countries over climate finance 

  • Mob burns 4 more MLAs homes in Manipur 

    Mob burns 4 more MLAs homes in Manipur 

    The legislators and their family members were not at home when the angry mob stormed their residential compounds…reports Asian Lite News

    Irate mobs set fire to the residences of three more BJP legislators, one of whom is a senior minister, and a Congress MLA in various districts of Imphal Valley even as security forces foiled the attempt of agitators to storm the ancestral residence of Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh, officials said. 

    The fresh incidents of violent protests took place on Saturday night even as indefinite curfew was clamped after people, agitated by the killing of three women and children each by militants in Jiribam district, attacked the residences of three state ministers and six MLAs earlier on Saturday. 

    Enraged people torched the houses of PWD Minister Govindas Konthoujam at Ningthoukhong, Hiyanglam’s BJP MLA Y Radheshyam at Langmeidong Bazar, Wangjing Tentha’s BJP MLA Paonam Brojen in Thoubal district and Khundrakpam’s Congress MLA Th Lokeshwar in Imphal East district, the officials said. 

    The legislators and their family members were not at home when the angry mob stormed their residential compounds, vandalised properties and set the houses on fire, police said, adding the houses were partially burnt in the incidents. 

    Fire services rushed to the spots and doused the blaze before the flames engulfed the entire houses. On Saturday night, protesters also advanced towards Biren Singh’s ancestral residence at Luwangshangbam in Imphal East but were stopped short of 100-200 metres by security forces. 

    Security personnel, including Assam Rifles, BSF and state forces, fired several rounds of tear gas shells, rubber bullets to disperse the protesters and foiled the attempt to damage Singh’s house, officials said. 

    Later, protesters burnt tyres on the main road leading to Biren Singh’s residence and piled iron roads to prevent vehicular movement. Protests continued till around 11 pm in Mantripukhri area, some 3-4 km from the CM’s ancestral home. 

    Officials said that many of the protesters had come in vehicles from other constituencies, and not from Heingang assembly seat, which the CM represented. On Sunday morning, the situation remained calm but tense in all five districts of Imphal Valley, where an indefinite curfew has been imposed and internet services suspended following violent protests after the discovery of the bodies of six persons, three women and children each, allegedly abducted and killed by militants in Jiribam. 

    Piles of burnt debris remained on the roads of state capital Imphal, a day after the violent protests. Security forces have intensified patrolling in parts of Imphal and increased deployment at many of the residences of legislators which were attacked on Saturday as well as all major roads leading to the secretariat, state BJP headquarters and Raj Bhavan. 

    On Saturday, agitators ransacked the houses of three legislators, including that of Biren Singh’s son-in-law R K Imo, who is also a BJP MLA, and set their properties on fire while security forces fired tear gas shells to disperse protesters in different parts of Imphal, police said. 

    Among the ministers whose residences were stormed by the protesters are Sapam Ranjan, L Susindro Singh and Y Khemchand, an official said. Curfew was imposed for an indefinite period in Imphal East and West, Bishnupur, Thoubal and Kakching districts of Imphal Valley “due to developing law and order situation”, he said. 

    Ranchi, Nov 11 (ANI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah wearing a traditional hat shows a victory sign during a public rally at the Tamar Assembly constituency for the Jharkhand Assembly polls, in Ranchi on Monday. (ANI Photo)

    Shah cancels rallies, returns to Delhi   

    Union Home Minister Amit Shah cancelled his rallies in poll-bound Maharashtra and is headed back to Delhi as the situation in Manipur continues to be volatile, according to sources. “The Home Minister is likely to hold a meeting to review the situation in the Northeastern State,” the sources said. 

    Irate mobs set fire to the residences of three more BJP legislators, one of whom is a senior Minister, and a Congress MLA in various districts of Imphal Valley on Saturday night even as security forces foiled an attempt by agitators to storm the ancestral residence of Chief Minister N Biren Singh. 

    Shah was supposed to attend a few election rallies as part of the BJP’s campaign in Maharashtra but he has cancelled them and is returning to the national capital, the sources said. Though there was no official word on the reason behind the cancellation of the Minister’s rallies, the sources indicated that it could be due to the volatile situation in Manipur. 

    A team of central security officers is expected to visit Manipur soon to assess the situation and assist the State government in tackling the situation, they said. The fresh incidents of violence took place on Saturday night even as an indefinite curfew was clamped after people, agitated by the killing of three women and children each by militants in Jiribam district, attacked the residences of three state ministers and six MLAs earlier in the day. 

    Armed miscreants from both Meiti and Kuki communities in conflict have been indulging in violence leading to unfortunate loss of lives and disruption in public order in Manipur. 

    A day ago the Ministry of Home Affairs had informed that all the security forces were directed to take necessary steps to restore order and peace in Manipur. 

    It was also informed that strict action would be initiated against anyone trying to indulge in violent and disruptive activities. 

    The ministry also mentioned that important cases were handed over to the National Investigation Agency for effective investigation. 

    Meanwhile, the MHA requested public to maintain peace and not to believe in rumours and cooperate with the security forces to maintain law and order in the state. 

    In light of continued tensions in the region, the Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Anish Dayal Singh also reached Manipur earlier on Sunday. 

    This visit comes as the security situation remains volatile, with the CRPF playing a crucial role in maintaining peace and stability. 

    The Director General’s visit aims to assess the ground situation firsthand, meet with local security officials, and explore further measures to de-escalate tensions in the area. This high-level visit underscores the government’s commitment to addressing ongoing issues and ensuring the safety and well-being of the communities. (ANI) 

    ALSO READ: Tinubu Applauds Modi’s Global South Push

  • Niger bans French aid group amid tensions with France 

    Niger bans French aid group amid tensions with France 

    Niger’s ruling military rulers took power in a coup last year, the latest of several military takeovers in Africa’s Sahel , the vast, arid expanse south of the Sahara Desert that has become a hotspot for extremist violence….reports Asian Lite News

    Niger’s military junta has banned the French aid group Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development, or Acted, from working in the country amid tensions with France. 

    The Ministry of the Interior signed a decree on Tuesday withdrawing the nonprofit organization’s licence to operate, without providing reasons for the decision. 

    Another aid group, Niger’s Action for Well-Being, or APBE, also saw its licence revoked.Acted had been active in the West African country since 2010, mainly helping people displaced by jihadist violence and natural disasters . 

    Niger’s ruling military rulers took power in a coup last year, the latest of several military takeovers in Africa’s Sahel , the vast, arid expanse south of the Sahara Desert that has become a hotspot for extremist violence. 

    Since the coup, the Sahelian country has pulled away from its Western partners, turning instead to Russia for security. The authorities expelled both the French soldiers fighting against jihadists in the country and the French ambassador. 

    In September, the U.S. military completed its withdrawal from Niger , after the ruling junta ended an agreement that allowed U.S. troops to operate in the West African country. Niger had been the West’s last reliable partner in the region in battling jihadists linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group. 

    EU-Niger migration cooperation at risk 

    Once a key partner for the European Union in fighting irregular migration, July’s coup d’état in Niger has put that partnership at risk, with the military junta repealing a key anti-trafficking law in response to EU sanctions. 

    An anti-trafficking law, passed in 2015 but repealed last November just months after the junta’s military takeover, had hugely reduced migrant traffic through the city of Agadez – Niger’s fifth largest city – into the Sahara desert. 

    In July last year, Niger’s presidential guard detained the president, Mohamed Bazoum, citing a “deteriorating security situation and bad governance.” Neighbouring countries Mali and Burkina Faso – which are also under junta control – backed the military takeover. 

    The coup was a shock for Brussels, which had long cultivated ties with Niger in order to strengthen the EU’s own border controls.  As far back as 2004, the EU has been attempting to bolster Niger’s resources in tackling rebels in the north of the country as well as possible terrorism links. That was in exchange for Niger’s help in externalising the EU’s own migration controls. 

    Since then, the relationship had only grown. Between 2012 and 2016, EU missions tasked with reducing insecurity and terrorism and combatting irregular migration were launched. Made up of some 150 EU officials, the mission was extended for another two years in 2022 and awarded a budget of €72 million. The 2015, the anti-trafficking bill now repealed by the junta had introduced severe penalties, including fines and imprisonment for involvement in smuggling or trafficking.  

    It has been suggested that some of these EU-promoted migration policies in Niger may have contributed to the coup d’état which toppled former leader Bazoum. In retaliation to the coup, the EU halted its support for security and migration projects in the country. Speaking to Euronews, Emanuela Del Re, EU Special Representative for the Sahel, said: “We were obligated to suspend all activities because of the coup d’état.” 

    “We have been supporting the action of the Ecowas (the Economic Community of West African States), which has imposed sanctions on the junta in power at the moment, because we wanted to send a very important sign that unconstitutional changes in the countries of the Sahel are absolutely unacceptable.” 

    The EU’s actions haven’t come without consequence – leading to the revoking of the aforementioned anti-trafficking law by the junta. The EU said it regretted the junta’s decision, warning it could lead to an increase in migratory flows to Europe.  

    Javier Nart, MEP for Renew Europe, said: “It [the junta’s repealment] is indeed a response to the end of the aid. But we cannot maintain an economic aid for a military junta.” However, for many of Niger’s residents, the decriminalisation of the migrant-smuggling trade could benefit the local economy: many make their living by transporting migrants.  

    “Locally, it is considered an ancestral way to live, to trade, to exchange. Population displacement, particularly in the Sahel itself or to northern regions, is considered part of a way of life,” said Niagalé Bagayoko, President African Security Secteur Network. For the EU, one of the biggest fears is that without the law in place, human trafficking networks could expand in the region. 

    The EU is working on plans to sanction the military leaders who seized power in Niger in July, the EU’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said Wednesday. 

    Speaking following a meeting of EU defence ministers in Toledo, Spain, Borrell said that the EU will plan sanctions similar to those imposed by West African bloc ECOWAS. 

    ECOWAS and the West African Monetary and Economic Union have introduced financial sanctions since coup leaders overthrew the democratically-elected government of President Bazoum in July, suspending financial transactions and freezing national assets. The members of the Presidential Guard responsible for the coup have also received travel bans. 

    On Wednesday, Borrell said he had proposed a new legislative framework to ministers that would allow the EU to impose its own sanctions on the putschists.  

    “It’s up to ECOWAS to take decisions in order to counter this military coup and we will follow, trying to implement the same kind of sanctions that they have decided,” Borrell said. 

    ALSO READ: Diplomats of 14 countries visit Odisha Sun Temple 

  • Gabon votes on a new constitution 

    Gabon votes on a new constitution 

    With the campaign dominated by official propaganda by the junta that took power in August last year in a coup, local media say voter turnout will be a crucial factor…reports Asian Lite News

    Gabon extended a night curfew as it held a referendum on a new constitution the ruling junta says will mark a new chapter after 55 years of dynastic rule in the African nation. 

    The estimated 860,000 registered voters have faced an onslaught of calls by authorities on TV, radio, and social media to make their ballot count — whether they choose a green one, meaning “yes,” or a red one for “no.” 

    With the campaign dominated by official propaganda by the junta that took power in August last year in a coup, local media say voter turnout will be a crucial factor. Voting began late at several polling stations in the capital, Libreville, with papers still being handed out when the polls opened at 7 a.m. (0600 GMT). 

    The 2,835 polling stations nationwide are due to remain open until 6 p.m. The junta on Saturday extended a night curfew by two hours, bringing it forward to midnight “during the whole electoral process,” according to a decree read on state television. 

    It did not specify when the extended curfew ending at 5 a.m. would remain. The proposed constitution sets out a vision of a presidency with a maximum of two seven-year terms, no prime minister, and no dynastic transfer of power. 

    It would also require presidential candidates to be exclusively Gabonese — with at least one Gabon-born parent — and have a Gabonese spouse. This would eliminate toppled ruler Ali Bongo Ondimba, married to a Frenchwoman, and his children. 

    His replacement, transitional President Brice Oligui Nguema, declared the referendum a “great step forward” as he cast his vote at a Libreville school. “All Gabonese are coming to vote in a transparent fashion,” the junta chief told the press, having ditched his general’s uniform for a brown civilian jacket over light-wash jeans. 

    Oligui has vowed to hand power back to civilians after a two-year transition but has made no secret of his desire to win the presidential election scheduled for August 2025. Billboards adorned with an image of the general and urging a “yes” vote are everywhere, the Union newspaper commented on Friday, prompting it to ask: “Referendum or presidential campaign?“ 

    Queues of dozens of voters formed in front of the classrooms housing the polling stations at the Lycee Leon M’Ba in Libreville, under the watchful eye of the soldiers charged with ensuring the ballot’s security. Nathalie Badzoko, a 33-year-old civil servant, said she voted “yes” and had faith in the junta but admitted she had “not read the whole text” and its 173 articles. Louembe Tchizinga, a 45-year-old taxi driver casting his ballot, echoed her. 

    Opponents of the proposed text dismiss it as tailor-made for the strongman to remain in power. “We are creating a dictator who designs the constitution for himself,” lawyer Marlene Fabienne Essola Efountame said. Bongo ruled for 14 years until he was overthrown moments after being proclaimed the winner in a presidential election, which the army and opposition declared fraudulent. 

    He took office on the death of his father, Omar, who had ruled with an iron fist for more than 41 years. The opposition and the military coup leaders accused Ali Bongo’s regime of widespread corruption, bad governance, and embezzlement. 

    The Interior Ministry says it has done all it can to ensure Saturday’s referendum is transparent, including by inviting international observers — who were not present in the August 2023 presidential election. 

    “We trust them, and this is a test,” said Mathurin Bengone, a 45-year-old civil servant at the Ministry of Health. “If our vote isn’t respected, we won’t vote again.” 

    The ministry said provisional results will be released as soon as possible, with the final ones announced by the constitutional court. Polls on the outcome have not been released. 

    However, nearly 87 percent of those asked said they think the country is “heading in the right direction,” according to an Afrobarometer survey among 1,200 respondents published mid-October. The survey also suggested that unemployment topped the list of concerns, followed by health, roads, insecurity, and a rising cost of living. More than 46 percent have “great confidence” in Oligui, who would be the favorite if a presidential election were to take place now. 

    The draft constitution imposes a seven-year term, renewable only once, instead of the current charter that allows for five year terms renewable without limit. It also says family members can not succeed a president and abolishes the position of prime minister. The draft needs more than 50% of the votes cast to be adopted. 

    If the vote yes wins, presidential polls are scheduled in August 2025. “I would like the Yes vote to win so that the long-awaited change in our nation can finally take place,” voter Koundji said. 

    Other voters have have expressed their concerns though. A provision giving the head of state the power to dissolve the National Assembly and a controversy over eligibility rules notably arose. The final draft of the new Constitution project was made public less than a month ago. Brice Oligui Nguema will be allowed to stand for president. 

    Bongo, had served two terms since coming to power in 2009 after the death of his father, who ruled the country for 41 years. His rule was marked by widespread discontent with his reign. A coup attempt in 2019 failed. 

    The draft constitution imposes a seven-year term, renewable only once, instead of the current charter that allows for five-year terms renewable without limit. It also says family members cannot succeed a president and abolishes the position of prime minister. 

    The former French colony is a member of OPEC but its oil wealth is concentrated in the hands of a few — and nearly 40% of Gabonese aged 15 to 24 were out of work in 2020, according to the World Bank. Its oil export revenue was $6 billion in 2022, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. 

    The polls will close at 6 p.m. on Saturday. There is no legal deadline for when results should be announced. 

    ALSO READ: South Africa Eyes G20 Summit to Boost Multilateralism

  • Policymakers seek ways to end learning poverty in Africa 

    Policymakers seek ways to end learning poverty in Africa 

    The meeting drew about 500 delegates, including ministers of education, development partners, and experts from across sub-Saharan Africa…reports Asian Lite News

    Policymakers and educationists gathered at an education forum in Kigali, the Rwandan capital, to discuss pathways to end learning poverty, a major threat to Africa’s future workforce. “Learning poverty” is the inability of children to meet basic literacy and numeracy milestones. 

    The meeting drew about 500 delegates, including ministers of education, development partners, and experts from across sub-Saharan Africa, seeking to scale successful education initiatives that enhance foundational learning. 

    “Learning poverty is unacceptable and a fundamental threat to the continent. Foundational learning is the cornerstone of all future learning. Prioritizing it is not an option,” Obiageli Ezekwesi, chief executive of Human Capital Africa, an advocacy organization, said at the opening of the forum. 

    Ezekwesi, former Nigerian education minister, said action without accountability is not enough, adding that there must be a capacity to track progress on foundational learning. 

    Rwandan Education Minister Joseph Nsengimana said the forum offers an opportunity for Africa to unite for collective growth and equip every child with the skills necessary to contribute to socioeconomic development. 

    Wongani Taulo, education adviser at UNICEF Africa, said the continent “is running out of time to shape a generation of critical thinkers.” 

    She argued that governments need to invest more in foundational learning to unlock the potential of millions of children across Africa. “The solutions lie with all of us, we must dedicate more resources to foundational learning and not forget pre-primary so that children are ready to enter school,” she said. 

    Victoria Kwakwa, vice president for Eastern and Southern Africa at the World Bank, noted that education today builds the Africa of tomorrow, and to truly transform the continent, there is a need to invest in the next generation of learners. 

    Underlining the need to strengthen partnerships with the private sector to boost foundational learning, participants said aligning resources, expertise, and innovation from both sectors would expand educational access, improve quality, and drive sustainable impact across communities. 

    The forum, which will run through Wednesday, offers a platform for countries to exchange progress made on commitments in foundational learning at previous forums. 

    Through a series of presentations, panels, round table discussions, and formal and informal dialogue, participants will share knowledge derived from foundational learning efforts on the continent and jointly plan the way forward toward meeting targets. 

    The learning poverty rate in sub-Saharan Africa stands at around 90 percent, according to the latest UNESCO Global Education Monitoring Report, which could affect the continent’s future workforce. 

    Failure to act, however, could result in economic losses of up to 17 trillion dollars across the continent. 

    The World Bank estimates a 97 billion dollar funding gap in education for sub-Saharan Africa. 

    Officials have called for committed and collaborative action among African nations and development partners to improve the situation. 

    Etleva Kadilli, regional director for Eastern and Southern Africa of the United Nations Children’s Fund or UNICEF, said ensuring prosperity across Africa requires greater political commitments and investment that are turned into concrete action. 

    “Governments must reach every child and keep them in school, assess learning outcomes regularly, support teachers to deliver the basics, and develop children’s mental health and well-being,” she said. “Only then will children attain the reading, math, and socio-emotional skills necessary for them to progress to higher forms of education and realize their further potential.” 

    The campaign is poised to build on the momentum generated during the event, with plans for ongoing advocacy, research, and collaboration over the coming months. The campaign seeks to mobilize resources, advocate for policy change, and drive community-level engagement to ensure that every child, regardless of their background, has access to quality education. 

    Prof. Mohamed Belhocine, Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (ESTI) noted that there is an urgency to address the learning deficit in Africa, a continent where 9 out of 10 children in Africa cannot read or solve basic arithmetic by the age of 10. 

    “Achieving meaningful change in foundational learning requires the collaboration of all sectors—government, civil society, and international organizations. We must mobilize our resources and our political will to turn these discussions into action,” he said during the Foundational Learning Conference under the theme “Inclusive Education: Ensuring No Child is Left Behind. 

    Ben Piper, Director of Global Education at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation called for an evidence-based approach to tackling Africa’s education challenges. “The solutions lie in leveraging data to guide our interventions and scaling proven models across the continent. We must move beyond discussions and commit to real, measurable progress,” said Ben. 

    Dr. Laila Gad, UNICEF Representative to the African Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) said to tackle the learning crisis, Africa must ensure that every child, regardless of their location or background, receives the support they need to develop essential literacy and numeracy skills. “We are committed to working with governments and partners across the continent to drive forward these reforms.” 

    The conference highlighted challenges in Africa’s education sector, including access to quality education, improving teacher quality, and policy implementation. It highlighted successful initiatives like the “Catch Up” Program, which improved literacy and numeracy in Zambia and Zimbabwe. Participants emphasized the need for significant investment, political will, and collaboration to close the learning gap and ensure sustainable improvements in educational outcomes. 

    ALSO READ: Diplomats of 14 countries visit Odisha Sun Temple 

  • Senegal ex-president makes political comeback from afar 

    Senegal ex-president makes political comeback from afar 

    The ex-president is now leading a newly formed opposition coalition from abroad, raising questions over the motives behind his return to the political fray and what it could mean for the West African country…reports Asian Lite News

    Senegal’s former leader Macky Sall, who earlier this year sparked one of the worst crises in decades by delaying the presidential election, is seeking a controversial comeback in Sunday’s snap parliamentary elections. Sall left office in April after 12 years in power, handing over the reins to his successor Bassirou Diomaye Faye and departing Senegal for Morocco. 

    The ex-president is now leading a newly formed opposition coalition from abroad, raising questions over the motives behind his return to the political fray and what it could mean for the West African country. Sall’s longtime political foe, current Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, has repeatedly suggested that members of the former administration, including Sall, could be brought before the courts. 

    He has accused Sall’s administration of leaving behind “catastrophic” public finances and manipulating financial figures given to international partners, which the previous leaders deny. Political science professor Maurice Soudieck Dione sees Sall’s return as an attempt “to get a grip on the political game in order to protect his own interests” in the event of any “political recriminations.” 

    There is also a “personal dimension around him not having had his fill of power,” Dione suggested, pointing out that Sall had for a time toyed with the idea of running for a third presidential term. Well respected on the international stage, Sall’s final years in power were marred by a political standoff with Sonko that led to dozens of deaths and hundreds of arrests. 

    His last-minute decision to postpone the presidential election in February then sparked one of Senegal’s worst crises in decades. The thirst for change among a hard-pressed population saw Sall’s hand-picked successor, Amadou Ba, crushed at the ballot box by Sonko’s former deputy Faye. 

    Faye and Sonko had been released from prison just ten days before the vote. Faye dissolved the opposition-dominated parliament in September, paving the way for legislative elections. 

    In returning to politics so soon, Sall has broken with the restraint normally adopted by former presidents in Senegal. As the lead candidate for the Takku Wallu Senegal coalition, Sall justified his comeback in a five-page letter, citing the need to defend the “achievements” of his time in power. He warned of the looming political and economic “dangers” faced by Senegal after months of “calamitous governance” by the new administration. 

    Presidential spokesman Ousseynou Ly decried Sall’s “indecency” on social media, blaming the former head of state for years of what he described as deadly unrest, debt and corruption. 

    As the election approaches, Sonko is traveling the length and breadth of Senegal promising economic transformation to excited crowds, while Sall addresses less rowdy audiences via speakerphone. 

    The former president can, officially, return to the country whenever he chooses. “If he were to return to the country, we would ensure his safety because he is a citizen and former President of the Republic,” government spokesman Amadou Moustapha Ndieck Sarre told the Senegalese radio station RFM. 

    “But if he returns and the courts decide to arrest him, neither the prime minister nor the head of state can do anything about it,” he said. Sonko has recently spoken of “high treason” in relation to what he termed the “catastrophic” state of public finances left by Sall’s administration. High treason is the only case in which a president can be charged. 

    Legally, this would be “very complicated,” said El Hadji Mamadou Mbaye, a political science lecturer and researcher at the University of Saint-Louis. Sall is returning to politics because “in reality he never wanted to leave power,” Mbaye said. “He feels indispensable.” 

    But “I don’t think the Senegalese are ready to forgive,” he added. “If he had returned, the campaign would have been much more eventful, bordering on violent,” said political science professor Dionne. “He had to carry out a very harsh crackdown on the opposition,” he added, referring to the years of turmoil. “The wounds have not healed.” 

    ALSO READ: South Africa Eyes G20 Summit to Boost Multilateralism

  • Trump picks Chris Wright as energy secy 

    Trump picks Chris Wright as energy secy 

    Wright also serves on the board of a modular nuclear reactor company. ..reports Asian Lite News

    United States President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday named CEO of Liberty Energy, Chris Wright as the secretary of the Department of Energy, CNN reported. 

    The CEO of a Denver-based fracking company will also serve as a member of the newly formed Council of National Energy. Trump said that the council will consist of all agencies involved in the “permitting, production, generation, distribution, regulation, transportation” of energy. 

    “Chris has been a leading technologist and entrepreneur in Energy. He has worked in Nuclear, Solar, Geothermal, and Oil and Gas. Most significantly, Chris was one of the pioneers who helped launch the American Shale Revolution that fueled American Energy Independence, and transformed the Global Energy Markets and Geopolitics,” Trump wrote in a statement Saturday, according to CNN. 

    Wright also serves on the board of a modular nuclear reactor company. 

    Since Biden’s administration, the US has focused on developing nuclear energy and with the appointment of Wright, Trump takes another step toward achieving the US’s energy dominance. 

    The United States Department of Energy manages the country’s energy policy and production. It also focuses on the production of nuclear weapons and promotes scientific research. 

    Wright has been a supporter of fossil fuels and said that they are necessary to fight against poverty. He has expressed doubts over fossil fuels’ contribution in climate change, CNN reported. 

    Earlier on Friday, Trump announced the name of Karoline Leavitt as the latest addition to his cabinet to serve as the White House Press Secretary. 

    Leavitt, who previously held the role of National Press Secretary for Trump’s 2024 US Presidential campaign, was also part of the Trump administration as the Assistant Press Secretary of the White House during his first tenure. 

    Earlier, he selected his campaign spokesperson, Steven Cheung, as White House communications director as well as named Sergio Gor to lead the Presidential Personnel Office. 

    Earlier on Thursday, former Georgia Congressman Doug Collins was nominated by Trump for the next US Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA). 

    Trump also announced the name of Robert F Kennedy Jr. as the next US Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). 

    Additionally this week, he announced Tesla CEO Elon Musk, along with Indian-origin entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, to lead the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). 

    Trump nominated former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe as the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), William Joseph McGinley as White House Counsel, former New York Congressman Lee Zeldin as Administrator of the United States Environmental Protective Agency (EPA), and Pete Hegseth as the Secretary of Defense. 

    Donald Trump won a second term as President of the United States after securing 295 electoral votes in the 2024 presidential election, defeating Democratic rival Kamala Harris, who garnered 226 votes. Following his victory, President-elect Donald Trump has moved swiftly with finalising his foreign policy and national security team ahead of his formal inauguration in January 2025. (ANI) 

    ALSO READ: Warning against cheap cosmetic surgery 

  • Smyth abuse report triggers crisis in Church of England 

    Smyth abuse report triggers crisis in Church of England 

    The Church of England is facing its biggest crisis in modern times, and there is no clear pathway to recovery….reports Asian Lite News

    As the faithful give thanks to God in England’s 16,500 parish churches on Sunday, beneath the comforting ritual of prayers and hymns will run a strong undercurrent of shame, anger, sadness and dread. 

    The Church of England is facing its biggest crisis in modern times, and there is no clear pathway to recovery. The archbishop of Canterbury has been forced to resign, other senior figures are facing calls to quit and the church is reeling from its shameful failures over a prolific and sadistic child abuser. 

    A 253-page report detailing the appalling brutality of the late barrister John Smyth, repeated cover-ups and omissions by church figures, and the lifelong trauma suffered by victims has triggered an “existential crisis” for the C of E, according to Linda Woodhead, professor of moral and social theology at King’s College London. “It’s been a very, very long time coming, like lots of crises, but this is a critical moment.” 

    “It’s seismic,” said Tim Wyatt, who writes The Critical Friend, a weekly newsletter about the Church of England. “It’s unprecedented for an archbishop to resign over a crisis of their own making. It’s causing massive ructions up and down the institution. Now the sword is hanging over other senior leaders and bishops. Welby’s resignation could be the first stone rippling out to a much bigger crisis within the church.” 

    The context to the report on Smyth was, he said, “more than 10 years of damning investigations into C of E abuse failures. Bishops, clergy and senior lay volunteers have been exposed as abusers, and church figures knew about the abuse in some instances and failed to stop it or report it to the police.” 

    He added: “So there’s been a simmering anger among churchgoers and survivors of abuse that no one has been held accountable. What’s happening now is a culmination of many years of resentment building up, and finally it’s erupted. 

    “We’re now hearing talk of sweeping the stables clean and starting afresh. The sense you get from many in the church is a feeling that the whole hierarchy, not just the man at the top, is complicit and tainted.” 

    The shock waves being felt through the C of E have some parallels with those that engulfed the Roman Catholic church after the Boston Globe 2002 exposé of widespread child sexual abuse by priests and its cover-up. The reverberations were felt around the world as the Catholic church’s dark secrets were forced into the light, and its authority was severely damaged. 

    In the C of E, since Welby became archbishop of Canterbury almost 12 years ago, report after report has detailed sexual, psychological and spiritual abuse stretching back half a century or more. Welby has made repeated apologies for the church’s failures, and under his watch millions of pounds have been pumped into improving safeguarding. 

    “Parishes are doing a much better job on safeguarding,” said Woodhead. “It’s a different church at the grassroots level. Lots of parishes are doing wonderful work with great local lay leadership and some very good clergy. They don’t get much support or money from the national church.” 

    Wyatt said: “Some people talk about there being two churches of England – the local parish, increasingly run by volunteers, and the professional elite at Church House [the C of E’s headquarters] or Lambeth Palace [the office of the archbishop of Canterbury]. 

    “But we shouldn’t fall into the idea that mistakes are only made by those at the top of the tree. A lot of the errors made in the Smyth case were made by local people who found out about Smyth’s abuse and looked the other way – and carried on their ascent through the hierarchy.” 

    The repercussions of the Smyth scandal and other abuse cases will inevitably be at the top of the new archbishop’s in-tray. Building confidence in the C of E’s safeguarding processes and the way it treats abuse survivors will be of the greatest urgency, but it will not be the only issue that needs attention. 

    The next archbishop will also inherit the thorny and unresolved question of how far the C of E goes in its approach to LGBTQ+ equality. The issue has highlighted stark differences between conservatives and progressives, not just in the C of E but in the 85 million-strong Anglican Communion. 

    ALSO READ: UK’s CHOICE BETWEEN EU AND TRUMP 

  • Badenoch’s approval ratings worse than Sunak, Johnson 

    Badenoch’s approval ratings worse than Sunak, Johnson 

    Liz Truss is the only former party leader of past five years to rank lower in terms of starting popularity…reports Asian Lite News

    Kemi Badenoch’s personal approval ratings at the start of her Tory leadership are worse than those recorded by Rishi Sunak and Boris Johnson at the start of their reigns, according to the latest Opinium poll for the Observer. 

    The new Tory leader’s net approval rating – the difference between those who approve or disapprove of the job she is doing – sits at -5%. The only former party leader of the past five years that she beats in terms of her starting popularity is Liz Truss, whose first approval rating was -9% after she won the leadership. 

    Badenoch’s net approvals show that she has divided voters, with 20% approving of her and 25% disapproving. About 46% of voters who backed the Tories at the last election say they approve of her, though a third (36%) say they feel neutral. Her approval rating is still far better than the -22% score endured by Sunak at the end of his leadership. 

    Meanwhile, Keir Starmer’s approval rating is low at -24 points, but unchanged from the last poll a fortnight ago. However, he leads Badenoch by 12 percentage points when voters are asked who they regard as the best prime minister. Two weeks ago, when Sunak was still Conservative leader, the gap was seven points. 

    Voters do seem to be aware of Badenoch’s reputation as someone with strong convictions – a quality that recommended her to many Tory MPs, but worried others. Early in her time as leader, voters perceive her as sticking to her principles, being brave and being decisive. The largest gap between Badenoch and Starmer is on bravery, with her net score of +8 contrasting with Starmer’s net score of -19%. 

    It is also the first Opinium poll since president-elect Donald Trump’s US election victory. His return appears to have polarised the UK electorate. Almost a third (30%) feel that Trump’s election is positive for the US, compared with 44% who see it as a bad development. Almost three-quarters (72%) still believe the UK and US have a lot in common, but only 56% consider the country an ally. 

    More than two in five (43%) think the UK should stand up for what we think is right, even if that means breaking with the US on key issues. Just over a third think the level of UK spending on defence and the armed forces is too low. Almost half of UK adults believe Trump’s re-election is a bad thing for Ukraine. 

    James Crouch, head of policy and public affairs research at Opinium, said: “Day-to-day British politics has been overshadowed by the re-election of Donald Trump, which Brits see as good news for rivals like Russia and bad news for Ukraine. However, there’s no sign yet that the public will be pressuring the Labour government to increase defence spending, with two in five opposed to any further tax rises to fund it.”  

    Sunak’s aides advised against early polls 

    Rishi Sunak’s top aides advised him not to call an early election, warning him that voters would be less likely to feel “financially optimistic” in the summer and that Conservatives would not be able to “hit Labour hard with both fists”. 

    Isaac Levido, who directed the election campaign for the Conservatives, and Michael Brooks, a Tory strategist, issued the warning to the former prime minister in a blunt memo on 3 April, seven weeks before the election was called. 

    The pair strongly argued that Sunak should delay the election until after the summer. “It is strategically most beneficial to have an autumn election in October or November,” they explained in the memo, revealed in The Sunday Times. 

    “We need as much time as possible for economic metrics to improve and for voters to feel better off. An earlier election gives us less scope to communicate about economic progress, because voters are less likely to feel financially optimistic.” 

    Calling an election before the summer would remove “potential positive psychological effects of summer”, including those resulting from lower energy bills, holidays, better weather, the Euro 24 football tournament and even the Olympics, according to the memo. 

    The memo acknowledged there was a risk for the Conservatives that a late election “could leave us vulnerable to internal party division and other off-message distractions and policy challenges (eg strikes, increased Channel crossings)”. 

    Sunak and his aides had, by then, given up hoping that the Bank of England would successively cut interest rates. But, the memo argued, going to the country early would mean the Tories would have to communicate more “wedge” issue policies “because we would have less ammunition to fight on the economy”. 

    The memo concluded: “The election will be a fist fight, and we want to be able to throw punches with both fists – our economy fist, and our policy platform/reform fist … in summer, our ability to fight on the economy will be weaker, meaning we will have to punch harder with our reform fist in order to hurt Labour and inject urgency into the campaign. Whereas in autumn, our ability to throw punches on the economy will be stronger, meaning we can hit Labour hard with both fists.” 

    ALSO READ: UK’s CHOICE BETWEEN EU AND TRUMP 

  • FARMERS PROTEST 

    FARMERS PROTEST 

    Prime minister hails ‘path of change’ in Wales and Westminster at Welsh Labour conference in Llandudno…reports Asian Lite News

    Keir Starmer said he would defend the budget “all day long” at the Welsh Labour conference, amid protests by farmers outside the venue. In his first address to the Welsh Labour conference since taking power, the prime minister went on to hail a “path of change” with Labour governments in Wales and Westminster. 

    “Make no mistake, I will defend our decisions in the budget all day long,” he said. “I will defend facing up to the harsh light of fiscal reality. “I will defend the tough decisions that would be necessary to stabilise our economy and I will defend protecting the payslips of working people, fixing the foundations of our economy and investing in the future of Britain and the future of Wales, finally turning the page on austerity once and for all.” 

    However, angry farmers held a tractor protest outside the conference opposing the inheritance tax changes the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, unveiled in the budget last month. 

    The protest organisers, Digon yw Digon, said: “Enough is enough. Our government isn’t working or listening to us. This is an opportunity to stand shoulder to shoulder with farmers and rural communities. 

    “We call on everyone to attend in solidarity – whether by walking, driving or bringing agricultural vehicles such as tractors, slurry tankers, lorries, or 4x4s with trailers.” Gareth Wyn Jones, a Welsh farmer and YouTuber, told Sky News that the government was “destroying” an industry that was already struggling. 

    He said farmers plan to deliver Starmer a letter that starts with the words “Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.” He said: “They’re destroying an industry that’s already on its knees and struggling, absolutely struggling, mentally, emotionally and physically. We need government support, not more hindrance, so we can produce food to feed the nation.” 

    He also said inheritance tax changes will result in farmers increasing the price of food, adding: “The poorer people in society aren’t going to be able to afford good, healthy, nutritious British food, so we have to push this to government for them to understand that enough is enough, the farmers can’t take any more of what they’re throwing at us.” 

    Meanwhile, Starmer confirmed a £160m investment zone in Wrexham and Flintshire for 2025. During a visit to Airbus in north Wales on Friday with the Welsh first minister, Eluned Morgan, Starmer said it was a “gamechanger” to have Labour governments in both Wales and Westminster. 

    He said communities in Wales and across the UK were ready for an exciting new era, with “Labour Wales and Labour Britain” pulling in the same direction once more and serving the people of Wales with the “full force of our union”. 

    Lady Morgan, who took over as the leader of Welsh Labour in August, touted the “power in partnership” between two Labour governments working together to deliver for the people of Wales. 

    She announced £22m to tackle NHS waiting lists in Wales, in addition to £28m already pledged, while the prime minister described the £21bn 2025 budget allocation for Wales unveiled last month as “a record figure”. 

    Farm income falls 

    Income fell on almost all farm types in England last year, as extreme weather hit yields and the government cut subsidies. 

    Farmers fear future hits to their industry after a hugely unpopular change to agricultural property relief which means some farms will be saddled with a large, unexpected tax bill, and a surprise, severe cut to the EU-derived basic payments scheme meaning a shortfall in cash that they had not predicted. 

    Last year, average farm business income was lower for all farm types except specialist pig farms and specialist poultry farms, figures the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) show. Extreme weather including floods hit farmers hard, causing entire crops to be submerged. Experts said these events were being made more likely by climate breakdown. 

    Cereal farms fared the worst, with a drop in income of 73%. For general cropping farms, the average income was 24% lower. Dairy farm income plummeted by 68%, and on lowland-grazing livestock farms, average income fell by nearly a quarter to £17,300, driven by lower output from crop and sheep enterprises. 

    However, payments under the post-Brexit nature-friendly farming schemes gave farmers a small boost: net income from agri-environmental activities increased by an average of 14% to £10,600. 

    Olly Harrison, who farms cereal near Liverpool, said next year’s numbers were likely to be even worse as the bad weather continued in 2024 and the government was cutting grants to farmers for technology. 

    “That data is a year out of date. We’ve had the worst harvest ever just now for cereals: no sunlight in June, poor planting last autumn, the perfect storm, floods – [income] will go down next year,” he said. “I bet food self-sufficiency has gone down after this last harvest – it’s got to be. I’ve been growing overwintered bird food and deliver for nature, and have the kit and technology to do no-till [farming]. If the government invested we could boost food security and nature.” 

    The UK is about 60% self-sufficient in food and reliant on imports. Harrison is one of the organisers of a mass protest expected to take place in Westminster next week over changes announced in the budget earlier this month. 

    Speaking in parliament, the Liberal Democrat environment spokesperson, Tim Farron, said the government had “rashly cut the basic payment by 76%. That will hit livestock farmers, upland farmers, dairy farmers and destabilise the whole industry.” 

    Responding, the farming minister, Daniel Zeichner, said the Labour government had given the “biggest boost to sustainable farming that the country has seen”. He said it was “determined to tackle the extreme climate crisis we have globally” by changing the payment schemes. 

    ALSO READ: Healthcare in Germany Hit by Staff Shortage