Congress leader and former Union Minister Ashwani Kumar opposed his party's decision of moving an impeachment motion against the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra and said that the move could have been avoided.

He added that if he would have been a Member of Parliament and had been given the paper to sign, he would not have done it.

Kumar's expressed his objection to the impeachment motion while refusing to pass any comment on the circumstances that led to it, namely the dismissal of the PIL seeking a special investigation into the death of judge of Judge BH Loya.

"I would not like to get into the merits of the controversy, I am on a larger principle and the larger principle is that impeachment is the extreme remedy and that to against the chief justice, which is an unprecedented move," Kumar said.

On Friday, the opposition parties led by Congress moved the impeachment motion in the Rajya Sabha seeking the removal of CJI Misra under Article 217 read with article 124 (4) of the Constitution of India. The motion was signed by 64 sitting members of the House.

As per Article 124 (4), "A Judge of the Supreme Court shall not be removed from his office except by an order of the President passed after an address by each House of Parliament supported by a majority of the total membership of that House and by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members of that House present and voting has been presented to the President in the same session for such removal on the ground of proved misbehaviour or incapacity."

(With inputs from Agencies)

There are other senior Congressmen, like former PM Manmohan Singh, P Chidambaram and Salman Khurshid who have not signed the petition.

Congress leader and former Union Minister Ashwani Kumar opposed his party's decision of moving an impeachment motion against the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra and said that the move could have been avoided. He added that if he would have been a Member of Parliament and had been given the paper to sign, he would not have done it. Kumar's expressed his objection to the impeachment motion while refusing to pass any comment on the circumstances that led to it, namely the dismissal of the PIL seeking a special investigation into the death of judge of Judge BH Loya. "I would not like to get into the merits of the controversy, I am on a larger principle and the larger principle is that impeachment is the extreme remedy and that to against the chief justice, which is an unprecedented move," Kumar said. On Friday, the opposition parties led by Congress moved the impeachment motion in the Rajya Sabha seeking the removal of CJI Misra under Article 217 read with article 124 (4) of the Constitution of India. The motion was signed by 64 sitting members of the House. As per Article 124 (4), "A Judge of the Supreme Court shall not be removed from his office except by an order of the President passed after an address by each House of Parliament supported by a majority of the total membership of that House and by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members of that House present and voting has been presented to the President in the same session for such removal on the ground of proved misbehaviour or incapacity." (With inputs from Agencies)

Congress leader Ashwani Kumar opposes his own party for moving impeachment motion against CJI

Japan is considering seeking a summit between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to discuss Japanese citizens abducted by North Korean agents decades ago, a government source who was briefed on the matter said on Tuesday.&#39;

He declined to be identified because he is not authorised to speak to the media. A spokesman for the prime minister`s office had no immediate comment.

Abe has made the abductions a keystone of his political career and has said he would not rest until all 13 of the people North Korea admitted to kidnapping have returned and divulges information about the others Japan suspects were taken to train North Korean spies.

A spokesman for the prime minister`s office had no immediate comment.

Japan is considering seeking a summit between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to discuss Japanese citizens abducted by North Korean agents decades ago, a government source who was briefed on the matter said on Tuesday.' He declined to be identified because he is not authorised to speak to the media. A spokesman for the prime minister`s office had no immediate comment. Abe has made the abductions a keystone of his political career and has said he would not rest until all 13 of the people North Korea admitted to kidnapping have returned and divulges information about the others Japan suspects were taken to train North Korean spies.

Japan considers seeking summit between PM Abe and North Korea leader: Source

Senior leader of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) London&#39;s deputy convener was found dead in a car in Karachi&#39;s Ilyas Goth area on Sunday.&nbsp;

Dr Hasan Zafar Arif, who taught Philosophy at the University of Karachi was identified using his national identity card.&nbsp;

&quot;The body of Hassan Zafar Arif, son of Maqbool Hassan, 70-72-years-old, was found from car number ANC-016, Lancer silver at Ilyas Goth,&quot; the Dawn quoted station house officer (SHO) at Ibrahim Hyderi police station as saying.

&quot;The body was shifted to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC),&quot; he added.

As per the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre Arif was not shot or had any wounds, however, some traces of blood were found on his face. The postmortem report also mentioned that there were no signs of torture on the body.&nbsp;

Further investigation is in process to figure out the cause of death and has been shifted to the mortuary.

MQM-Pakistan leader Farooq Sattar, speaking to the media in Multan, expressed sympathy at the news and said that Arif belonged to MQM-London.&nbsp;

Also in September last year, another MQM leader Khawaja Izhar Hassan had managed to escape unhurt after unknown assailants on three motorcycles attacked him as he left the Karachi&#39;s Buffer Zone Eidgah after Eidul Azha prayers.&nbsp;

As per the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre Arif was not shot or had any wounds, however, some traced of blood were found on his face. The postmortem report also mentioned that there were no signs of torture on the body

Senior leader of Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) London's deputy convener was found dead in a car in Karachi's Ilyas Goth area on Sunday. Dr Hasan Zafar Arif, who taught Philosophy at the University of Karachi was identified using his national identity card. "The body of Hassan Zafar Arif, son of Maqbool Hassan, 70-72-years-old, was found from car number ANC-016, Lancer silver at Ilyas Goth," the Dawn quoted station house officer (SHO) at Ibrahim Hyderi police station as saying. "The body was shifted to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC)," he added. As per the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre Arif was not shot or had any wounds, however, some traces of blood were found on his face. The postmortem report also mentioned that there were no signs of torture on the body. Further investigation is in process to figure out the cause of death and has been shifted to the mortuary. MQM-Pakistan leader Farooq Sattar, speaking to the media in Multan, expressed sympathy at the news and said that Arif belonged to MQM-London. Also in September last year, another MQM leader Khawaja Izhar Hassan had managed to escape unhurt after unknown assailants on three motorcycles attacked him as he left the Karachi's Buffer Zone Eidgah after Eidul Azha prayers.

Karachi: MQM London convener found dead in car

An Al Qaeda&nbsp;leader, as well as over 80 other militants, have been killed in a joint operation by Afghan and US officials in Afghanistan, reports say.

The leader, Omar Khetab, famously known as&nbsp;Omar Mansoon was gunned down during the attack, Afghan&#39;s Intelligence agency National Directorate of Security (NDS) was reported saying.&nbsp;

As per reports, the death of famous Al&nbsp;Qaeda leader Qari Yasin, who was earlier killed in a US counter-terrorism airstrike, was the man being the 2009 bus attack carrying the Sri Lankan team in Lahore - comes in the backdrop of United States Department of Defense underscoring in a statement, issued in March.&nbsp;

The attack had caused the death of six Pakistani police forces, two civilians and also caused injury to six members of the cricket team.

Previously, Qari Noor Aqa, Taliban&#39;s military commission chief as well as seven other representatives were killed by the Afghan security and in central Maidan Wardak province of Afghanistan.

The leader, Omar Khetab, famously known ass Omar Mansoon was gunned down during the attack

An Al Qaeda leader, as well as over 80 other militants, have been killed in a joint operation by Afghan and US officials in Afghanistan, reports say. The leader, Omar Khetab, famously known as Omar Mansoon was gunned down during the attack, Afghan's Intelligence agency National Directorate of Security (NDS) was reported saying. As per reports, the death of famous Al Qaeda leader Qari Yasin, who was earlier killed in a US counter-terrorism airstrike, was the man being the 2009 bus attack carrying the Sri Lankan team in Lahore - comes in the backdrop of United States Department of Defense underscoring in a statement, issued in March. The attack had caused the death of six Pakistani police forces, two civilians and also caused injury to six members of the cricket team. Previously, Qari Noor Aqa, Taliban's military commission chief as well as seven other representatives were killed by the Afghan security and in central Maidan Wardak province of Afghanistan.

Top al Qaeda leader Omar Mansoon killed in US-Afghan joint operation

A BJP leader was shot dead outside his house last night by unidentified assailants at Bagma village in extremist-hit Khunti district, police said.

His cousin and mother also suffered bullet injuries in the attack.

Superintendent of Police Ashiwini Kumar Singh, who rushed to the spot today after being informed about the incident, said the motive behind the killing of district secretary of the BJP&#39;s ST cell, Bhaiya Ram Munda, was yet to be ascertained.

&quot;We are investigating the incident from all possible angles to find out the motive behind the killing of the 38-year-old leader,&quot; the SP asserted.

A massive search operation led by Sub-Divisional Police Officer Ranveer Singh has been launched to apprehend the culprits.

&quot;Munda&#39;s cousin Birsa and mother Aguni Devi were initially admitted in a local hospital with bullet injuries. The doctors there referred them to Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences in Ranchi. Their condition is stable now,&quot; the SDPO said.

Initial investigations suggest Munda was killed by suspected members of an ultra group over levy demands, he added.

The district committee president of the BJP, Kashinath Mahato, said he has found out from the villagers that a group of assailants dragged Munda out of his house before pumping bullets into him.

Mahato today sought adequate compensation for Munda&#39;s kin, a government job for a family member and education expenses of his children.

He said that the BJP state committee has assured a sum of Rs 2 lakh from the party fund to the victim&#39;s family.

BJP leader Ram Mundi was shot dead outside his house last night by unidentified assailants at Bagma village in extremist-hit Khunti district, police said

A BJP leader was shot dead outside his house last night by unidentified assailants at Bagma village in extremist-hit Khunti district, police said. His cousin and mother also suffered bullet injuries in the attack. Superintendent of Police Ashiwini Kumar Singh, who rushed to the spot today after being informed about the incident, said the motive behind the killing of district secretary of the BJP's ST cell, Bhaiya Ram Munda, was yet to be ascertained. "We are investigating the incident from all possible angles to find out the motive behind the killing of the 38-year-old leader," the SP asserted. A massive search operation led by Sub-Divisional Police Officer Ranveer Singh has been launched to apprehend the culprits. "Munda's cousin Birsa and mother Aguni Devi were initially admitted in a local hospital with bullet injuries. The doctors there referred them to Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences in Ranchi. Their condition is stable now," the SDPO said. Initial investigations suggest Munda was killed by suspected members of an ultra group over levy demands, he added. The district committee president of the BJP, Kashinath Mahato, said he has found out from the villagers that a group of assailants dragged Munda out of his house before pumping bullets into him. Mahato today sought adequate compensation for Munda's kin, a government job for a family member and education expenses of his children. He said that the BJP state committee has assured a sum of Rs 2 lakh from the party fund to the victim's family.

BJP leader shot dead in Jharkhand's Khunti district

Kenya&#39;s Supreme Court has declared invalid the re-election of incumbent president Uhuru Kenyatta. This unprecedented move is also a sign of hope for veteran Opposition leader Raila Odinga, who has over the years accused the electoral body of irregularities.

&ldquo;The declaration of Kenyatta&rsquo;s win&nbsp;is invalid, null and void,&rdquo; said Judge David Maraga, announcing the verdict of four out of the six judges.

The Supreme Court ruled on last Friday that the election board had committed irregularities that rendered the August 8 poll invalid, thereby,&nbsp;overturning&nbsp;President Uhuru Kenyatta&#39;s win. Incidentally,&nbsp;Kenyatta won&nbsp;by a margin of 1.4 million votes.&nbsp;

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<h5>Kenyatta emerged as a winner of the August 8 polls with over 60 per cent of votes as against Odinga&#39;s 40 per cent.</h5>
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Kenyatta emerged as a winner of the August 8 polls with over 60 per cent of votes as against Odinga&#39;s 40 per cent.

Main Opposition leader Raila Odinga headed to the Court with a petition, citing irregularities by the electoral body and hacking of results which he considered to have&nbsp;favoured&nbsp;Kenyatta&#39;s campaign. Kenya&#39;s election body acknowledged hacking attempts but said those attempts were unsuccessful.

Kenyatta&#39;s victory had the backing of election observers, they all welcomed the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission&#39;s report of free and fair elections.

The Election Commission&#39;s stand on a fair election, however, did not go down very well with Odinga&#39;s followers who took to violence, resulting in dozens of death. To put an end to the violence,&nbsp;Odinga approached&nbsp;the Supreme Court.

This is not the first time, however, that Odinga has approached the Court hoping that the judges will be impartial. He did the same in 2013&nbsp;when he lost the election to the same rival Uhuru Kenyatta.&nbsp;There was light at the end of the tunnel for Odinga when the Supreme Court granted his coalition, NASA, limited access to the electoral body&rsquo;s data.

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<h5>Losing candidates in different countries of Africa have always placed their faith in the Court&#39;s impartiality.</h5>
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Kenya Supreme Court&#39;s ruling has brought&nbsp;hope to other Opposition candidates across Africa. Losing candidates in different countries of Africa have always placed their faith in the Court&#39;s impartiality. The latest post-election Constitutional Court battle is in Gabon, where the main Opposition, led by former African Union (AU) chief, Jean Ping is seeking to overturn results of the last presidential election. Approaching the Courts proved to be effective to curb instability, it is a move that Odinga took and many others in Africa.

But what does it mean for the winner?

Observers are watching as events unfold in Kenya after the Supreme Court ruling. The elections body was ordered to conduct fresh polls in sixty days.&nbsp;

With all eyes on Kenyatta&#39;s response to the unprecedented ruling,&nbsp;Kenyatta said that he has accepted a Court ruling annulling his re-election on August 8. He, however, expressed his disagreement with the judges&rsquo; position. The 55-year-old, now a serving president and not president-elect, had some uncharitable words for the Supreme Court describing them as &lsquo;thugs&#39;, local media reported.

For the poll re- run to take place peacefully, there has to be a consensus between President Kenyatta and the Opposition leader on the electoral board to run&nbsp;the election. For now, both leaders have voiced their differences, with Odinga calling for a new electoral board while Kenyatta insisting&nbsp;the poll should re-run with the current electoral board.

Kenya has a history of post-election violence, it remains to be seen how&nbsp;these&nbsp;two leaders will handle the re-run and ensure stability in this sixty days.

Kenya's Supreme Court has declared invalid the re-election of incumbent president Uhuru Kenyatta. This gives hope to Opposition leaders in Africa.

Kenya's Supreme Court has declared invalid the re-election of incumbent president Uhuru Kenyatta. This unprecedented move is also a sign of hope for veteran Opposition leader Raila Odinga, who has over the years accused the electoral body of irregularities. “The declaration of Kenyatta’s win is invalid, null and void,” said Judge David Maraga, announcing the verdict of four out of the six judges. The Supreme Court ruled on last Friday that the election board had committed irregularities that rendered the August 8 poll invalid, thereby, overturning President Uhuru Kenyatta's win. Incidentally, Kenyatta won by a margin of 1.4 million votes. Kenyatta emerged as a winner of the August 8 polls with over 60 per cent of votes as against Odinga's 40 per cent. × Kenyatta emerged as a winner of the August 8 polls with over 60 per cent of votes as against Odinga's 40 per cent. Main Opposition leader Raila Odinga headed to the Court with a petition, citing irregularities by the electoral body and hacking of results which he considered to have favoured Kenyatta's campaign. Kenya's election body acknowledged hacking attempts but said those attempts were unsuccessful. Kenyatta's victory had the backing of election observers, they all welcomed the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission's report of free and fair elections. The Election Commission's stand on a fair election, however, did not go down very well with Odinga's followers who took to violence, resulting in dozens of death. To put an end to the violence, Odinga approached the Supreme Court. This is not the first time, however, that Odinga has approached the Court hoping that the judges will be impartial. He did the same in 2013 when he lost the election to the same rival Uhuru Kenyatta. There was light at the end of the tunnel for Odinga when the Supreme Court granted his coalition, NASA, limited access to the electoral body’s data. Losing candidates in different countries of Africa have always placed their faith in the Court's impartiality. × Kenya Supreme Court's ruling has brought hope to other Opposition candidates across Africa. Losing candidates in different countries of Africa have always placed their faith in the Court's impartiality. The latest post-election Constitutional Court battle is in Gabon, where the main Opposition, led by former African Union (AU) chief, Jean Ping is seeking to overturn results of the last presidential election. Approaching the Courts proved to be effective to curb instability, it is a move that Odinga took and many others in Africa. But what does it mean for the winner? Observers are watching as events unfold in Kenya after the Supreme Court ruling. The elections body was ordered to conduct fresh polls in sixty days. With all eyes on Kenyatta's response to the unprecedented ruling, Kenyatta said that he has accepted a Court ruling annulling his re-election on August 8. He, however, expressed his disagreement with the judges’ position. The 55-year-old, now a serving president and not president-elect, had some uncharitable words for the Supreme Court describing them as ‘thugs', local media reported. For the poll re- run to take place peacefully, there has to be a consensus between President Kenyatta and the Opposition leader on the electoral board to run the election. For now, both leaders have voiced their differences, with Odinga calling for a new electoral board while Kenyatta insisting the poll should re-run with the current electoral board. Kenya has a history of post-election violence, it remains to be seen how these two leaders will handle the re-run and ensure stability in this sixty days.

Kenya's Supreme Court's verdict on election malpractices will have wider repercussions in Africa

Angolans headed to the polls on Wednesday in a parliamentary election expected to usher in the ruling party&#39;s defence minister as the first new leader of Africa&#39;s second-biggest oil producer for 38 years.

Joao Lourenco, who has pledged to boost growth and fight corruption, would inherit an economy mired in recession as gaping inequality, soaring inflation and high unemployment squeeze poor Angolans who have benefited little from a decades-long oil boom.

The People&#39;s Movement for the Liberation of&nbsp;Angola&nbsp;(MPLA) is expected to remain in power but with a reduced majority. Its support has waned due to widespread political cronyism, though many Angolans remain loyal to the party that emerged victorious from 27 years of civil war in 2002.

&quot;I&#39;ve been following the party (MPLA) all my life. I grew up with it,&quot; 33-year-old bakery owner Telma Francisco told Reuters outside a polling station in the capital.

&quot;The other parties don&#39;t have the capacity to govern.&quot;

Voters like Francisco waited in orderly queues on a cloudy morning in the capital Luanda when polling stations opened at 7 a.m. (0600 GMT) as police and military manned street corners.

Questions have been raised as to how much power Lourenco will have if he wins, given veteran leader Jose Eduardo dos Santos, 74, will continue as head of the MPLA and have potentially a sweeping say over decision-making.

His daughter, Isabel, heads national oil producer Sonangol and his son Jos&eacute; Filomeno is in charge of the state investment fund.

Lourenco on Tuesday dismissed suggestions he would be a puppet president, saying he would focus on leading an &quot;economic miracle&quot;, possibly with the help of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, and prosecute corrupt politicians.

Dos Santos, Africa&#39;s longest-ruling president behind Equatorial Guinea&#39;s Teodoro Obiang Nguema, will step down after guiding the OPEC-member from Marxism to capitalism while embracing Chinese oil-for-infrastructure investment.

The MPLA&#39;s main opponent will be its former civil war foe, the National Union for the Total Independence of&nbsp;Angola&nbsp;(UNITA), while young voters have been lured by CASA-CE, which was formed in 2012 on a promise to disrupt 50 years of two-party politics.

More than two-thirds of&nbsp;Angolans are below 25 so many people will be voting for the first time.

&quot;We&#39;re voting for change,&quot; said 19-year old Joao Costa, who like most people who oppose the authoritative MPLA declined to say who he voted for.

Others were sticking by the ruling party.

&quot;The opposition is a joke,&quot; said out-of-work decorator Francisco, 32, declining to give his surname. &quot;The MPLA is the only party that can change things and with a new candidate for president I think he can do a better job&quot;

An unofficial result is expected by Friday. But there may be no formal announcement for two weeks as ballot boxes wend their way along pot-holed roads and dirt tracks in a country of 28 million spread across an area twice the size of France.

There are concerns about how fair the vote will be after the government cracked down on recently planned public demonstrations. UNITA has said it will lead protests if it believes the MPLA has manipulated results.

The former Portuguese colony has been largely peaceful since the end of a Cold War-era conflict between the MPLA, backed by the Soviet Union, and UNITA, supported by the United States and South Africa.

The People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) is expected to remain in power but with a reduced majority

Angolans headed to the polls on Wednesday in a parliamentary election expected to usher in the ruling party's defence minister as the first new leader of Africa's second-biggest oil producer for 38 years. Joao Lourenco, who has pledged to boost growth and fight corruption, would inherit an economy mired in recession as gaping inequality, soaring inflation and high unemployment squeeze poor Angolans who have benefited little from a decades-long oil boom. The People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) is expected to remain in power but with a reduced majority. Its support has waned due to widespread political cronyism, though many Angolans remain loyal to the party that emerged victorious from 27 years of civil war in 2002. "I've been following the party (MPLA) all my life. I grew up with it," 33-year-old bakery owner Telma Francisco told Reuters outside a polling station in the capital. "The other parties don't have the capacity to govern." Voters like Francisco waited in orderly queues on a cloudy morning in the capital Luanda when polling stations opened at 7 a.m. (0600 GMT) as police and military manned street corners. Questions have been raised as to how much power Lourenco will have if he wins, given veteran leader Jose Eduardo dos Santos, 74, will continue as head of the MPLA and have potentially a sweeping say over decision-making. His daughter, Isabel, heads national oil producer Sonangol and his son José Filomeno is in charge of the state investment fund. Lourenco on Tuesday dismissed suggestions he would be a puppet president, saying he would focus on leading an "economic miracle", possibly with the help of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, and prosecute corrupt politicians. Dos Santos, Africa's longest-ruling president behind Equatorial Guinea's Teodoro Obiang Nguema, will step down after guiding the OPEC-member from Marxism to capitalism while embracing Chinese oil-for-infrastructure investment. The MPLA's main opponent will be its former civil war foe, the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), while young voters have been lured by CASA-CE, which was formed in 2012 on a promise to disrupt 50 years of two-party politics. More than two-thirds of Angolans are below 25 so many people will be voting for the first time. "We're voting for change," said 19-year old Joao Costa, who like most people who oppose the authoritative MPLA declined to say who he voted for. Others were sticking by the ruling party. "The opposition is a joke," said out-of-work decorator Francisco, 32, declining to give his surname. "The MPLA is the only party that can change things and with a new candidate for president I think he can do a better job" An unofficial result is expected by Friday. But there may be no formal announcement for two weeks as ballot boxes wend their way along pot-holed roads and dirt tracks in a country of 28 million spread across an area twice the size of France. There are concerns about how fair the vote will be after the government cracked down on recently planned public demonstrations. UNITA has said it will lead protests if it believes the MPLA has manipulated results. The former Portuguese colony has been largely peaceful since the end of a Cold War-era conflict between the MPLA, backed by the Soviet Union, and UNITA, supported by the United States and South Africa.

Angola votes for first new leader

The <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/emmanuel-macron-elected-french-president-15319">victory</a> of 39-year-old Emmanuel Macron in the recent French presidential election has brought someone&nbsp;new, and very young,&nbsp;to the table of world leaders.

So when the next annual summit of G-20 world leaders takes place two months from now (July 7-8) <a href="http://www.hamburg.com/g20-2017/">in Hamburg, Germany</a>, how will Macron&nbsp;compare in age to the other world leaders present?

Here&#39;s a chart looking at the age of present G-20 world leaders:

<iframe class="highcharts-iframe" src="//cloud.highcharts.com/embed/obuqywe" style="border: 0; width: 100%; height: 600px"></iframe>

We see that Macron is the youngest in the group with the only other G-20 leader under 50 being Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada.

The oldest G-20 leader at present is King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia at 81 while India&#39;s own leader Prime Minister Narendra Modi is 66 years old right now.&nbsp;

(WION)

How does the age of new French leader Emmanuel Macron compare to that of other world leaders?

The victory of 39-year-old Emmanuel Macron in the recent French presidential election has brought someone new, and very young, to the table of world leaders. So when the next annual summit of G-20 world leaders takes place two months from now (July 7-8) in Hamburg, Germany, how will Macron compare in age to the other world leaders present? Here's a chart looking at the age of present G-20 world leaders: We see that Macron is the youngest in the group with the only other G-20 leader under 50 being Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada. The oldest G-20 leader at present is King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia at 81 while India's own leader Prime Minister Narendra Modi is 66 years old right now. (WION)

Infographic: How old are our world leaders?

South Sudanese President Salva Kiir has fired five ministers, according to an official decree, in a move that removed figures known for close ties to ex-rebel leader Riek Machar. 
 
Under a peace agreement signed in August 2015, Kiir headed the government while Machar was given the position of first vice president. Thirty ministerial posts were distributed between their two parties and others. 
 
But a presidential decree issued on Tuesday showed that cabinet posts including the interior and petroleum portfolios in the oil-rich state had been filled with allies of the new vice president, Taban Deng Gai. 
 
Deng, who leads a faction of Machar&#39;s SPLM/A (IO) party, was named vice president by Kiir after being fired as a minister by his own party leader.&nbsp;Among those removed were water resources minister Mabior Garang, the son of the figurehead of South Sudan&#39;s independence movement, and the minister for higher education, Peter Adwok, an influential ex-rebel. 
 
Their sacking strains the delicate balance of ethnicities in the government, analysts said.&nbsp;Garang is an opposition figure but a Dinka like the president, while Adwok is a Shilluk, a group which has now lost an important voice in government. 
 
Kiir did however retain powerful rebel figure Alfred Lado Gore in his government, moving him from the interior ministry to housing.&nbsp;Machar ally Gore hails from the Equatoria region, where the capital, Juba, is located and which is seen as a hotbed for opposition recruitment. 
 
The move also comes just days after Lam Akol, a minister representing another opposition grouping, resigned with the intention of organising the government`s opponents into a more consolidated force, he said, while declaring the peace deal dead. 
 
South Sudan&#39;s political tensions date back to December 2013, just over two years after the state achieved independence from Sudan. 
 
Kiir accused Machar of planning a coup, setting off a cycle of retaliatory killings that degenerated into a ruinous civil war. &nbsp;The two agreed a peace deal and power-sharing arrangement in August 2015, but problems have lurked beneath the surface. 
 
Renewed fighting in July led the UN Security Council to consider a visit this month to Sudan and South Sudan to push for a return to peace efforts. Machar has not returned to Juba since the clashes. 
 
(AFP)

Among those removed were water resources minister Mabior Garang and the minister for higher education, Peter Adwok

South Sudanese President Salva Kiir has fired five ministers, according to an official decree, in a move that removed figures known for close ties to ex-rebel leader Riek Machar. Under a peace agreement signed in August 2015, Kiir headed the government while Machar was given the position of first vice president. Thirty ministerial posts were distributed between their two parties and others. But a presidential decree issued on Tuesday showed that cabinet posts including the interior and petroleum portfolios in the oil-rich state had been filled with allies of the new vice president, Taban Deng Gai. Deng, who leads a faction of Machar's SPLM/A (IO) party, was named vice president by Kiir after being fired as a minister by his own party leader. Among those removed were water resources minister Mabior Garang, the son of the figurehead of South Sudan's independence movement, and the minister for higher education, Peter Adwok, an influential ex-rebel. Their sacking strains the delicate balance of ethnicities in the government, analysts said. Garang is an opposition figure but a Dinka like the president, while Adwok is a Shilluk, a group which has now lost an important voice in government. Kiir did however retain powerful rebel figure Alfred Lado Gore in his government, moving him from the interior ministry to housing. Machar ally Gore hails from the Equatoria region, where the capital, Juba, is located and which is seen as a hotbed for opposition recruitment. The move also comes just days after Lam Akol, a minister representing another opposition grouping, resigned with the intention of organising the government`s opponents into a more consolidated force, he said, while declaring the peace deal dead. South Sudan's political tensions date back to December 2013, just over two years after the state achieved independence from Sudan. Kiir accused Machar of planning a coup, setting off a cycle of retaliatory killings that degenerated into a ruinous civil war. The two agreed a peace deal and power-sharing arrangement in August 2015, but problems have lurked beneath the surface. Renewed fighting in July led the UN Security Council to consider a visit this month to Sudan and South Sudan to push for a return to peace efforts. Machar has not returned to Juba since the clashes. (AFP)

South Sudan leader fires 5 ministers close to ex-rebel leader

The leader of Nepal&#39;s Maoist party appeared certain to be the next prime minister after the deadline for nominations expired on Tuesday with only his name on the ballot. 
 
Lawmakers in the Himalayan nation are due to elect a new prime minister on Wednesday after KP Sharma Oli resigned last week, minutes before facing a no-confidence motion in parliament. 
 
&quot;We have only received the nomination of Pushpa Kamal Dahal for the prime minister&#39;s post,&quot; deputy parliament spokesman Sudarshan Kuinkel told AFP, referring to the Maoist party leader. Dahal, better known by his nom de guerre Prachanda or &quot;the fierce one&quot;, led a decade-long Maoist insurgency before transforming the rebel movement into a political party after a 2006 peace deal. 
 
He has served as prime minister once before, after the Maoists won elections in 2009, but only lasted nine months in office before resigning.&nbsp;The party lost ground in the last elections in 2013 and is now only the third-biggest force in parliament. But neither of the two larger parties have enough seats to govern alone. 
 
Dahal secured the backing of the largest party, the Nepali Congress, after pulling out of Oli&#39;s coalition three weeks ago. If elected, Dahal faces the twin challenges of rebuilding the country after a devastating earthquake and resolving simmering unrest over a divisive new constitution adopted last September. 
 
Oli faced fierce criticism over his handling of protests against the charter, which triggered a months-long border blockade by demonstrators from the Madhesi ethnic minority. 
 
More than 50 people died in clashes between police and protesters, who say the constitution has left them marginalised. The new charter, the first drawn up by elected representatives, was meant to bolster Nepal&#39;s transformation to a democratic republic after decades of political instability. 
 
But continuing discussions between the government and protesters over the constitution, particularly over the rights of marginalised communities, have failed to yield an&nbsp;agreement. 
 
(AFP)

He has served as prime minister once before, after the Maoists won elections in 2009, but resigned after nine months in office

The leader of Nepal's Maoist party appeared certain to be the next prime minister after the deadline for nominations expired on Tuesday with only his name on the ballot. Lawmakers in the Himalayan nation are due to elect a new prime minister on Wednesday after KP Sharma Oli resigned last week, minutes before facing a no-confidence motion in parliament. "We have only received the nomination of Pushpa Kamal Dahal for the prime minister's post," deputy parliament spokesman Sudarshan Kuinkel told AFP, referring to the Maoist party leader. Dahal, better known by his nom de guerre Prachanda or "the fierce one", led a decade-long Maoist insurgency before transforming the rebel movement into a political party after a 2006 peace deal. He has served as prime minister once before, after the Maoists won elections in 2009, but only lasted nine months in office before resigning. The party lost ground in the last elections in 2013 and is now only the third-biggest force in parliament. But neither of the two larger parties have enough seats to govern alone. Dahal secured the backing of the largest party, the Nepali Congress, after pulling out of Oli's coalition three weeks ago. If elected, Dahal faces the twin challenges of rebuilding the country after a devastating earthquake and resolving simmering unrest over a divisive new constitution adopted last September. Oli faced fierce criticism over his handling of protests against the charter, which triggered a months-long border blockade by demonstrators from the Madhesi ethnic minority. More than 50 people died in clashes between police and protesters, who say the constitution has left them marginalised. The new charter, the first drawn up by elected representatives, was meant to bolster Nepal's transformation to a democratic republic after decades of political instability. But continuing discussions between the government and protesters over the constitution, particularly over the rights of marginalised communities, have failed to yield an agreement. (AFP)

Nepal's Maoist leader, Prachanda, set to become next prime minister

A high-profile Hong Kong pro-independence leader said today he had been barred from standing in upcoming parliamentary elections -- the latest candidate backing separation from mainland China to be disqualified. 
 
The apparent ban for Edward Leung, of the Hong Kong Indigenous party, from the September vote came despite him signing a controversial new form declaring Hong Kong is an &quot;inalienable&quot; part of China. 
 
Activists call for &#39;complete breakaway&#39; from mainland&nbsp; 
 
Critics have slammed the new stipulation by electoral authorities as political censorship and an attempt to deter prospective candidates from advocating self-determination or independence from Beijing. 
 
Some activists are calling for more distance or even a complete breakaway from the mainland as fears grow that freedoms in the semi-autonomous city are disappearing due to Beijing interference. 
 
Campaigners, including Leung, have challenged the declaration form in court and at least 13 prospective candidates have refused to sign it. 
 
Leung, 25, eventually signed last week, despite his open advocacy for an independent Hong Kong, in the hope the authorities would validate his candidacy. But his party said today he had been rejected. It accused the electoral commission of &quot;trampling the will of the people, abusing administrative power and giving up political neutrality&quot;. 
 
&quot;There is no way the crime of selecting candidates according to political goals can be easily forgiven,&quot; it said in a statement. 
 
The founder of the pro-independence Hong Kong National Party, Andy Chan, was one of three other hopefuls barred in recent days from standing in the September vote. Chan had refused to sign the declaration form. 
 
The other two prospective candidates who disqualified were also part of the &quot;localist&quot; movement, which is pushing for more autonomy for Hong Kong after mass pro-democracy rallies in 2014 failed to win political reform. 
 
Beijing and Hong Kong officials have repeatedly said that advocating independence goes against the city&#39;s mini-constitution, known as the Basic Law, and that independence activists could face legal consequences. Various government departments including the electoral office made no comment today. 
 
The government on Monday condemned what it called &quot;malicious personal attacks&quot; online aimed at returning officers over their decisions during the registration period and said police may take action. Hong Kong was returned from Britain to China in 1997 under an arrangement that guarantees civil liberties unseen on the mainland. But concerns have grown that such freedoms are now fading as Beijing increases its influence across a range of areas, from politics to the media. 
 
(AFP)

Critics have slammed the attempt to deter prospective candidates from advocating self-determination or independence from Beijing

A high-profile Hong Kong pro-independence leader said today he had been barred from standing in upcoming parliamentary elections -- the latest candidate backing separation from mainland China to be disqualified. The apparent ban for Edward Leung, of the Hong Kong Indigenous party, from the September vote came despite him signing a controversial new form declaring Hong Kong is an "inalienable" part of China. Activists call for 'complete breakaway' from mainland Critics have slammed the new stipulation by electoral authorities as political censorship and an attempt to deter prospective candidates from advocating self-determination or independence from Beijing. Some activists are calling for more distance or even a complete breakaway from the mainland as fears grow that freedoms in the semi-autonomous city are disappearing due to Beijing interference. Campaigners, including Leung, have challenged the declaration form in court and at least 13 prospective candidates have refused to sign it. Leung, 25, eventually signed last week, despite his open advocacy for an independent Hong Kong, in the hope the authorities would validate his candidacy. But his party said today he had been rejected. It accused the electoral commission of "trampling the will of the people, abusing administrative power and giving up political neutrality". "There is no way the crime of selecting candidates according to political goals can be easily forgiven," it said in a statement. The founder of the pro-independence Hong Kong National Party, Andy Chan, was one of three other hopefuls barred in recent days from standing in the September vote. Chan had refused to sign the declaration form. The other two prospective candidates who disqualified were also part of the "localist" movement, which is pushing for more autonomy for Hong Kong after mass pro-democracy rallies in 2014 failed to win political reform. Beijing and Hong Kong officials have repeatedly said that advocating independence goes against the city's mini-constitution, known as the Basic Law, and that independence activists could face legal consequences. Various government departments including the electoral office made no comment today. The government on Monday condemned what it called "malicious personal attacks" online aimed at returning officers over their decisions during the registration period and said police may take action. Hong Kong was returned from Britain to China in 1997 under an arrangement that guarantees civil liberties unseen on the mainland. But concerns have grown that such freedoms are now fading as Beijing increases its influence across a range of areas, from politics to the media. (AFP)

Hong Kong pro-independence leader gets barred from parliamentary elections, anger brews

A South Sudanese minister and opposition figure resigned on Monday, saying a peace deal designed to heal the troubled young nation was dead, while calling for President Salva Kiir&#39;s unity government to leave power. 
 
Lam Akol was agriculture minister in Kiir&#39;s administration and is the leader of the opposition Sudan People&#39;s Liberation Movement-Democratic Change (SPLM-DC) party. 
 
He has also spoken out against rebel leader Riek Machar, whose forces have clashed in recent weeks with government troops loyal to Kiir, and was the president&#39;s only real opponent in a 2010 election when the country was still a semi-autonomous territory. 
 
&quot;There is no more peace agreement to implement in Juba,&quot; Akol said at a press conference in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.&nbsp;&quot;All of us agree that the regime in Juba must change,&quot; he added. 
 
After gaining independence in 2011, South Sudan descended into civil war in December 2013.&nbsp;Under the terms of an August 2015 peace deal, the 30 ministerial posts are split between Kiir, Machar as first vice president, as well as opposition and other parties. 
 
But Machar has fled the capital, and Kiir has appointed a replacement from within the ex-vice-president&#39;s SPLM/A (IO) party, laying bare fractures within the administration and opposition. 
 
Akol said he was working with other opposition figures so that anti-government resistance could be &quot;consolidated&quot;. 
 
&quot;Since the agreement is dead and there is no free political space in Juba, the only sensible way to oppose this regime so as to restore &nbsp; &nbsp; genuine peace... is to organise outside Juba,&quot; he said. 
 
(AFP) 
 
&nbsp;

Lam Akol was agriculture minister in Kiir's administration, and also the leader of the opposition

A South Sudanese minister and opposition figure resigned on Monday, saying a peace deal designed to heal the troubled young nation was dead, while calling for President Salva Kiir's unity government to leave power. Lam Akol was agriculture minister in Kiir's administration and is the leader of the opposition Sudan People's Liberation Movement-Democratic Change (SPLM-DC) party. He has also spoken out against rebel leader Riek Machar, whose forces have clashed in recent weeks with government troops loyal to Kiir, and was the president's only real opponent in a 2010 election when the country was still a semi-autonomous territory. "There is no more peace agreement to implement in Juba," Akol said at a press conference in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. "All of us agree that the regime in Juba must change," he added. After gaining independence in 2011, South Sudan descended into civil war in December 2013. Under the terms of an August 2015 peace deal, the 30 ministerial posts are split between Kiir, Machar as first vice president, as well as opposition and other parties. But Machar has fled the capital, and Kiir has appointed a replacement from within the ex-vice-president's SPLM/A (IO) party, laying bare fractures within the administration and opposition. Akol said he was working with other opposition figures so that anti-government resistance could be "consolidated". "Since the agreement is dead and there is no free political space in Juba, the only sensible way to oppose this regime so as to restore genuine peace... is to organise outside Juba," he said. (AFP)

South Sudan minister resigns, calls for change in regime

Security forces said they shot dead separatist militant leader&nbsp;Burhan Wani&nbsp;in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday, a figure well known for his calls to arms on social media.

As news of the 22-year-old&#39;s death spread, crowds pelted police with stones in Srinagar, the state&#39;s summer capital, and in some southern reaches of the state, officials said.

Authorities ordered restrictions on the movement of people and traffic in parts of Srinagar on Saturday and police said they had placed several separatist leaders under house arrest to prevent trouble.

Wani was killed, along with two others, in a shootout with police and soldiers at a house in Indian&nbsp;Kashmir&#39;s Kokernag area on Friday evening, the chief of police for Jammu and Kashmir, K&nbsp;Rajendra&nbsp;Kumar, said.

&quot;Wani&#39;s killing is a major success against militants in Kashmir.&nbsp;This year we killed 83 militants in Kashmir which is highest in recent years,&quot; Kumar added.

Wani, the son of a headmaster, was the head of Hizb-ul Mujahideen, seen as one of the main militant groups in a region that has been at the centre of a strategic tussle between India and Pakistan&nbsp;for decades.

Video footage of him dressed in fatigues and inviting young men join him in jihad, regularly appeared on Facebook, WhatsApp and other platforms.

In June, militants killed eight Indian police officials and injured 20 in an attack in Jammu and Kashmir claimed by Islamist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The month before, militants shot and killed three Indian policemen. 
 
No internet 
 
Authorities today suspended mobile internet services in Kashmir Valley, while the cellular facility was completely snapped in south Kashmir in the wake of apprehensions of law and order problems, following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant, Burhan Wani, a police officer said. 
 
It has been done to maintain law and order and prevent the miscreants from spreading rumours which otherwise could lead to the situation turning violent, the official said.&nbsp;However, he said, the broadband services were working as usual. 
 
(With inputs from Reuters and PTI)&nbsp;

The young militant, a headmaster's son, cut a charismatic figure among the disaffected youth of the troubled Indian state

Security forces said they shot dead separatist militant leader Burhan Wani in Jammu and Kashmir on Friday, a figure well known for his calls to arms on social media. As news of the 22-year-old's death spread, crowds pelted police with stones in Srinagar, the state's summer capital, and in some southern reaches of the state, officials said. Authorities ordered restrictions on the movement of people and traffic in parts of Srinagar on Saturday and police said they had placed several separatist leaders under house arrest to prevent trouble. Wani was killed, along with two others, in a shootout with police and soldiers at a house in Indian Kashmir's Kokernag area on Friday evening, the chief of police for Jammu and Kashmir, K Rajendra Kumar, said. "Wani's killing is a major success against militants in Kashmir. This year we killed 83 militants in Kashmir which is highest in recent years," Kumar added. Wani, the son of a headmaster, was the head of Hizb-ul Mujahideen, seen as one of the main militant groups in a region that has been at the centre of a strategic tussle between India and Pakistan for decades. Video footage of him dressed in fatigues and inviting young men join him in jihad, regularly appeared on Facebook, WhatsApp and other platforms. In June, militants killed eight Indian police officials and injured 20 in an attack in Jammu and Kashmir claimed by Islamist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). The month before, militants shot and killed three Indian policemen. No internet Authorities today suspended mobile internet services in Kashmir Valley, while the cellular facility was completely snapped in south Kashmir in the wake of apprehensions of law and order problems, following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen militant, Burhan Wani, a police officer said. It has been done to maintain law and order and prevent the miscreants from spreading rumours which otherwise could lead to the situation turning violent, the official said. However, he said, the broadband services were working as usual. (With inputs from Reuters and PTI)

Wani brought jihad to Kashmir through FB, WhatsApp

Seven members of Britain&#39;s opposition Labour Party said on Sunday they had withdrawn support for the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn, plunging the party into crisis in the wake of Britain&#39;s vote to leave the European Union. 
 
Corbyn sacked Hilary Benn as Labour&#39;s foreign policy chief today after he said he had lost confidence in the leadership. Gloria de Piero, Heidi Alexander, Lucy Powell and Ian Murray all announced they were withdrawing support and stepping down from Corbyn&#39;s &#39;shadow cabinet&#39;. 
 
Sky News television reported that Lilian Greenwood and Kerry Mccarthy had also resigned. 
 
Several said in statements that they doubted Corbyn&#39;s ability to lead the party to victory in the country&#39;s next parliamentary election. 
 
A vote must take place within months after Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron announced on Friday he would step down by October after Britain voted to leave the European Union. 
 
(Reuters)

Gloria de Piero, Heidi Alexander, Lucy Powell and Ian Murray announced they were withdrawing support and resigning from shadow cabinet

Seven members of Britain's opposition Labour Party said on Sunday they had withdrawn support for the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn, plunging the party into crisis in the wake of Britain's vote to leave the European Union. Corbyn sacked Hilary Benn as Labour's foreign policy chief today after he said he had lost confidence in the leadership. Gloria de Piero, Heidi Alexander, Lucy Powell and Ian Murray all announced they were withdrawing support and stepping down from Corbyn's 'shadow cabinet'. Sky News television reported that Lilian Greenwood and Kerry Mccarthy had also resigned. Several said in statements that they doubted Corbyn's ability to lead the party to victory in the country's next parliamentary election. A vote must take place within months after Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron announced on Friday he would step down by October after Britain voted to leave the European Union. (Reuters)

Seven of Labour withdraw support from Corbyn

The Maldives&#39; president appointed a new vice president Wednesday, weeks after his former deputy was convicted of attempting to assassinate him. 
 
President Yameen Abdul Gayoom appointed Abdulla Jihad as vice president. 
 
Jihad, who was previously finance minister, is the third vice president to be appointed by Gayoom since he was elected in October 2013. 
 
Jihad&#39;s predecessor, Ahmed Adeeb, was sacked eight months ago after being accused of trying to assassinate Gayoom by exploding a bomb in his speedboat. Gayoom escaped the blast unhurt but his wife, an aide and a bodyguard were injured. 
 
Adeeb was sentenced to 25 years in prison earlier this month on two counts of terrorism, including the assassination attempt. 
Gayoom&#39;s running mate in 2013, Mohamed Jameel, was also sacked and now lives in exile. 
 
Widely known for its luxurious tourist resorts, Maldives became a multiparty democracy in 2008 after years of autocratic rule. 
 
Human rights groups have accused Gayoom of harassing and jailing political opponents. Those imprisoned since last year include 
former President Mohamed Nasheed, former Defense Minister Mohamed Nazim and opposition party leader Sheik Imran Abdulla. 
Nasheed was allowed medical leave for back surgery earlier this year and traveled to Britain, where he was given asylum. 
 
(AP)

New VP comes after former deputy was convicted of attempting to assassinate him

The Maldives' president appointed a new vice president Wednesday, weeks after his former deputy was convicted of attempting to assassinate him. President Yameen Abdul Gayoom appointed Abdulla Jihad as vice president. Jihad, who was previously finance minister, is the third vice president to be appointed by Gayoom since he was elected in October 2013. Jihad's predecessor, Ahmed Adeeb, was sacked eight months ago after being accused of trying to assassinate Gayoom by exploding a bomb in his speedboat. Gayoom escaped the blast unhurt but his wife, an aide and a bodyguard were injured. Adeeb was sentenced to 25 years in prison earlier this month on two counts of terrorism, including the assassination attempt. Gayoom's running mate in 2013, Mohamed Jameel, was also sacked and now lives in exile. Widely known for its luxurious tourist resorts, Maldives became a multiparty democracy in 2008 after years of autocratic rule. Human rights groups have accused Gayoom of harassing and jailing political opponents. Those imprisoned since last year include former President Mohamed Nasheed, former Defense Minister Mohamed Nazim and opposition party leader Sheik Imran Abdulla. Nasheed was allowed medical leave for back surgery earlier this year and traveled to Britain, where he was given asylum. (AP)

Maldives leader appoints new Vice President after ex-deputy is jailed

Two bomb explosions rocked Afghanistan Monday morning. In the first, a&nbsp;suicide bomber killed at least 14 and wounded eight in an attack on a minibus carrying Nepalese security contractors in the Afghan capital, Kabul, officials said.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
A Reuters witness saw several apparently dead victims and at least two wounded being carried out of the yellow bus, while police and emergency service vehicles surrounded the scene in the Banae district of the city.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
Interior ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said on Twitter that 14 people had been killed and eight wounded. Police were working to identify the victims, he said.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
The casualties appeared to include both Afghans and Nepalese security contractors, Kabul police chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi said.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
He said the suicide bomber had waited near the compound housing the security contractors and struck as the vehicle moved through early morning traffic. As well as the bus passengers, several people in an adjacent market were also wounded.&nbsp; 
 
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the attack on the minibus that was carrying Nepalese security guards in Kabul. He said India will provide all assistance to Nepal government in this hour of tragedy.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;We strongly condemn the horrible tragedy in Kabul. Our deep condolences to the people and governments of Afghanistan and Nepal on the loss of innocent lives,&quot; he said in a tweet.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;We are taking steps to provide all relevant assistance to the Nepal government in this hour of tragedy,&quot; PM Modi said.&nbsp; 
 
Fourteen Nepalese security guards were killed when a Taliban suicide bomber targetted their minibus in the Afghan capital.&nbsp; 
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast, which occurred during Ramadan, Islam&#39;s holy month.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
It underlined how serious the security threat facing Afghanistan remains since the death of former Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour in a US drone strike last month.&nbsp; 
 
Also Monday morning, at least eight people were killed and 18 injured in a seprate attack Monday morning, when a motorcycle bomb exploded in a crowded market in Afghanistan&#39;s northeastern Badakhshan province, local authorities said. 
 
&quot;Our initial information is eight people were martyred, and 18 others were wounded, all the victims are civilians,&quot; the Badakhshan provincial governor&#39;s spokesman Naweed Froutan told AFP, adding that the death toll is set to rise. 
 
The district governor of Keshim, where the attack took place, gave a higher toll of at least 10 killed and 30 wounded. 
 
&quot;It was a motorcycle bomb explosion inside a main market in Keshim district of Badakhshan province,&quot; Abdul Salam Paiman told AFP, adding that some of the wounded were in critical condition and all had been taken to hospital. 
 
No one has yet claimed responsibility for the blast in the remote, mountainous province. 
 
Reuters reports that the attack was the latest in a recent surge of violence that highlights the challenges faced by the Afghan government in Kabul and its Western backers as Washington slowly draws down its remaining troops despite a persistent insurgency. &nbsp; 
 
AFP notes that the attacks come just days after Washington expanded the US military&#39;s authority to carry out airstrikes on the insurgents. 
(With inputs from Reuters and AFP)

Suicide attack and so far unclaimed motorcycle bomb devastate country as insurgency persists despite Taliban leader's recent death

Two bomb explosions rocked Afghanistan Monday morning. In the first, a suicide bomber killed at least 14 and wounded eight in an attack on a minibus carrying Nepalese security contractors in the Afghan capital, Kabul, officials said. A Reuters witness saw several apparently dead victims and at least two wounded being carried out of the yellow bus, while police and emergency service vehicles surrounded the scene in the Banae district of the city. Interior ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said on Twitter that 14 people had been killed and eight wounded. Police were working to identify the victims, he said. The casualties appeared to include both Afghans and Nepalese security contractors, Kabul police chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi said. He said the suicide bomber had waited near the compound housing the security contractors and struck as the vehicle moved through early morning traffic. As well as the bus passengers, several people in an adjacent market were also wounded. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the attack on the minibus that was carrying Nepalese security guards in Kabul. He said India will provide all assistance to Nepal government in this hour of tragedy. "We strongly condemn the horrible tragedy in Kabul. Our deep condolences to the people and governments of Afghanistan and Nepal on the loss of innocent lives," he said in a tweet. "We are taking steps to provide all relevant assistance to the Nepal government in this hour of tragedy," PM Modi said. Fourteen Nepalese security guards were killed when a Taliban suicide bomber targetted their minibus in the Afghan capital. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast, which occurred during Ramadan, Islam's holy month. It underlined how serious the security threat facing Afghanistan remains since the death of former Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Mansour in a US drone strike last month. Also Monday morning, at least eight people were killed and 18 injured in a seprate attack Monday morning, when a motorcycle bomb exploded in a crowded market in Afghanistan's northeastern Badakhshan province, local authorities said. "Our initial information is eight people were martyred, and 18 others were wounded, all the victims are civilians," the Badakhshan provincial governor's spokesman Naweed Froutan told AFP, adding that the death toll is set to rise. The district governor of Keshim, where the attack took place, gave a higher toll of at least 10 killed and 30 wounded. "It was a motorcycle bomb explosion inside a main market in Keshim district of Badakhshan province," Abdul Salam Paiman told AFP, adding that some of the wounded were in critical condition and all had been taken to hospital. No one has yet claimed responsibility for the blast in the remote, mountainous province. Reuters reports that the attack was the latest in a recent surge of violence that highlights the challenges faced by the Afghan government in Kabul and its Western backers as Washington slowly draws down its remaining troops despite a persistent insurgency. AFP notes that the attacks come just days after Washington expanded the US military's authority to carry out airstrikes on the insurgents. (With inputs from Reuters and AFP)

Twin blasts rock Afghanistan Monday morning: At least 22 dead, 26 injured

Thailand`s junta leader swatted away critics, vowing to stay in power despite &quot;people&#39;s hatred&quot; for him, &nbsp;as tensions simmered before a referendum which the military says will pave the way for elections.&nbsp; 
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha seized power two years ago from the elected government when he was army chief, promising to heal a bitter decade-long political divide.&nbsp; 
But his regime has curbed free speech, outlawed political activities and penned a new charter designed to entrench the military`s role in government.&nbsp; 
&quot;I won`t go anywhere as long as the country is not at peace and in order. I won`t leave, despite how much you hate me,&quot; Prayut, who is renowned for his often irate outbursts, said in remarks to a forum in Bangkok.&nbsp; 
While he was speaking Wednesday morning a Thai folk singer was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison for royal defamation -- one of several harsh laws the junta has used to curb critics, especially on the Internet.&nbsp; 
The singer, known by his stage name Tom Dundee, was convicted for comments he made in a 2013 speech at a political rally organised by supporters of the now-ousted government. 
Prayut also defended the sweeping powers granted to him as junta chief, saying &quot;there are still some politicians expressing their opinions&quot;.&nbsp; 
On the surface the political climate has calmed significantly under the junta, following years of competing street protests that often turned deadly.&nbsp; 
But disquiet is returning before an August referendum on the charter, despite a new law which punishes campaigning in the run-up to the vote with up to 10 years in prison.&nbsp; 
The junta has promised elections will go ahead in 2017 but has not clarified what will happen if the charter is rejected in the referendum, raising fears the timetable will slip once again.&nbsp; 
Prayut`s speech comes after the junta appeared to be loosening its grip by ending travel restrictions on many former politicians and promising to move its &quot;attitude adjustment&quot; sessions -- a common punishment for critics -- from military camps to government buildings and police stations.&nbsp; 
Critics say the regime is bent on dismantling the powerful political network of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, whose parties have long dominated the polls but are reviled by Bangkok`s military-allied elite.&nbsp; 
Analysts say the political troubles are exacerbated by the failing health of the 88-year-old monarch Bhumibol Adulyadej as competing elites jostle for power before the succession.&nbsp;

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha had seized power two years ago from the elected government when he was the army chief, promising to heal a bitter decade-long political divide

Thailand`s junta leader swatted away critics, vowing to stay in power despite "people's hatred" for him, as tensions simmered before a referendum which the military says will pave the way for elections. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha seized power two years ago from the elected government when he was army chief, promising to heal a bitter decade-long political divide. But his regime has curbed free speech, outlawed political activities and penned a new charter designed to entrench the military`s role in government. "I won`t go anywhere as long as the country is not at peace and in order. I won`t leave, despite how much you hate me," Prayut, who is renowned for his often irate outbursts, said in remarks to a forum in Bangkok. While he was speaking Wednesday morning a Thai folk singer was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison for royal defamation -- one of several harsh laws the junta has used to curb critics, especially on the Internet. The singer, known by his stage name Tom Dundee, was convicted for comments he made in a 2013 speech at a political rally organised by supporters of the now-ousted government. Prayut also defended the sweeping powers granted to him as junta chief, saying "there are still some politicians expressing their opinions". On the surface the political climate has calmed significantly under the junta, following years of competing street protests that often turned deadly. But disquiet is returning before an August referendum on the charter, despite a new law which punishes campaigning in the run-up to the vote with up to 10 years in prison. The junta has promised elections will go ahead in 2017 but has not clarified what will happen if the charter is rejected in the referendum, raising fears the timetable will slip once again. Prayut`s speech comes after the junta appeared to be loosening its grip by ending travel restrictions on many former politicians and promising to move its "attitude adjustment" sessions -- a common punishment for critics -- from military camps to government buildings and police stations. Critics say the regime is bent on dismantling the powerful political network of former premier Thaksin Shinawatra, whose parties have long dominated the polls but are reviled by Bangkok`s military-allied elite. Analysts say the political troubles are exacerbated by the failing health of the 88-year-old monarch Bhumibol Adulyadej as competing elites jostle for power before the succession.

Thailand's junta leader says he will stay in power despite 'people's hatred' for him

British singer Elton John told a concert in Moscow he still wanted to meet President Vladimir Putin to discuss his concerns about gay rights and AIDS in Russia, despite the Kremlin leader not having time to meet him this time round.

John, performing at a luxury shopping and&nbsp;entertainment&nbsp;centre in the Russian capital on Monday night as part of a world tour, sounded disappointed about not getting to meet Putin, but said he would return to try to see him.

&quot;As some of you may know I hoped to meet with President Putin on this trip,&quot; said John, whose music has been popular in Russia since the Soviet era, told the audience.

&quot;Although it wasn&#39;t possible, I&#39;m deeply grateful to him for inviting me to discuss some serious issues in Russia including LGBT, HIV and AIDS, and I very much hope we will find time in future to meet.&quot;

Putin&#39;s spokesman said last week that the Russian leader&#39;s schedule did not match up with John&#39;s, but that a meeting might take place &quot;next time.&quot; Putin had to fly to Kazakhstan on Tuesday morning for a meeting.

In September Putin phoned the singer, who has used his status as one of the world&#39;s most famous gay celebrities to push for equal rights for homosexuals around the world, to say he would be willing to meet up after John, 69, requested a meeting.

Western governments and human rights activists have criticised the Russian authorities for their treatment of gay people, and John has previously spoken out against a 2013 law banning the dissemination of &quot;gay propaganda&quot; among young Russians.

Putin has said he is not prejudiced against gay people.

John has also expressed alarm about the scale of Russia&#39;s AIDS epidemic.

The number of people registered HIV-positive passed the 1 million mark earlier this year and the country&#39;s top AIDS specialist warned the rate of infection had reached record levels.

British singer Elton John told a concert in Moscow he still wanted to meet President Vladimir Putin to discuss his concerns about gay rights and AIDS in Russia, but the Kremlin leader didn't have time

British singer Elton John told a concert in Moscow he still wanted to meet President Vladimir Putin to discuss his concerns about gay rights and AIDS in Russia, despite the Kremlin leader not having time to meet him this time round. John, performing at a luxury shopping and entertainment centre in the Russian capital on Monday night as part of a world tour, sounded disappointed about not getting to meet Putin, but said he would return to try to see him. "As some of you may know I hoped to meet with President Putin on this trip," said John, whose music has been popular in Russia since the Soviet era, told the audience. "Although it wasn't possible, I'm deeply grateful to him for inviting me to discuss some serious issues in Russia including LGBT, HIV and AIDS, and I very much hope we will find time in future to meet." Putin's spokesman said last week that the Russian leader's schedule did not match up with John's, but that a meeting might take place "next time." Putin had to fly to Kazakhstan on Tuesday morning for a meeting. In September Putin phoned the singer, who has used his status as one of the world's most famous gay celebrities to push for equal rights for homosexuals around the world, to say he would be willing to meet up after John, 69, requested a meeting. Western governments and human rights activists have criticised the Russian authorities for their treatment of gay people, and John has previously spoken out against a 2013 law banning the dissemination of "gay propaganda" among young Russians. Putin has said he is not prejudiced against gay people. John has also expressed alarm about the scale of Russia's AIDS epidemic. The number of people registered HIV-positive passed the 1 million mark earlier this year and the country's top AIDS specialist warned the rate of infection had reached record levels.

Elton John tells Russians he still wants to meet Putin to discuss gay rights

A Bahrainian appeals court today sentenced the country`s top opposition leader Shaikh Ali Salman to nine years in prison. 
 
The verdict for Salman, secretary general of the main opposition group, Al Wefaq National Islamic Society, was announced at a hearing attended by rights activists, diplomats and other officials, amid tight security, Xinhua news agency reported. 
 
&quot;Salman has been sentenced for a nine-year jail term, which the society feels is unacceptable,&quot; Al Wefaq said in a statement following the court verdict. 
 
He was last sentenced in 2015 to four years in prison for spreading sectarianism and inciting others to break the law, among other charges.

Opposition leader Shaikh Ali Salman sentenced nine years in prison

A Bahrainian appeals court today sentenced the country`s top opposition leader Shaikh Ali Salman to nine years in prison. The verdict for Salman, secretary general of the main opposition group, Al Wefaq National Islamic Society, was announced at a hearing attended by rights activists, diplomats and other officials, amid tight security, Xinhua news agency reported. "Salman has been sentenced for a nine-year jail term, which the society feels is unacceptable," Al Wefaq said in a statement following the court verdict. He was last sentenced in 2015 to four years in prison for spreading sectarianism and inciting others to break the law, among other charges.

Bahrain''s opposition leader sentenced to 9 years in prison

New Delhi, May 28 (IANS) Criticising the central government over attacks on African nationals in India, CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury on Saturday said that such attacks were a serious issue with international repercussions. 
 
 
&quot;Attacks on Africans in Delhi is a serious issue with international repercussions. The BJP government can`t wish them away,&quot; Yechury said in a tweet. 
 
Yechury`s comments come after a 23-year-old Nigerian student was allegedly beaten by a local over a parking dispute in Hyderabad.&nbsp; 
 
The incident comes days after a 23-year-old Congolese national was beaten to death in south Delhi`s Vasant Kunj area over a minor dispute. 
 
The incidents of attacks has angered African envoys in Delhi who have protested to the Indian government, which has assured protection for the thousands of African students who study in India. 
 
The attack on the Congolese national saw repercussions in Democratic Republic of Congo capital Kinshasa, where Indian shops were attacked a some Indians injured in apparent retaliation earlier this week. 
 
--IANS

Criticising the central government over attacks on African nationals in India, CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury on Saturday said that such attacks were a serious issue with international repercussions

New Delhi, May 28 (IANS) Criticising the central government over attacks on African nationals in India, CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury on Saturday said that such attacks were a serious issue with international repercussions. "Attacks on Africans in Delhi is a serious issue with international repercussions. The BJP government can`t wish them away," Yechury said in a tweet. Yechury`s comments come after a 23-year-old Nigerian student was allegedly beaten by a local over a parking dispute in Hyderabad. The incident comes days after a 23-year-old Congolese national was beaten to death in south Delhi`s Vasant Kunj area over a minor dispute. The incidents of attacks has angered African envoys in Delhi who have protested to the Indian government, which has assured protection for the thousands of African students who study in India. The attack on the Congolese national saw repercussions in Democratic Republic of Congo capital Kinshasa, where Indian shops were attacked a some Indians injured in apparent retaliation earlier this week. --IANS

Attacks on Africans a serious issue: Yechury

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