Japan's Yamagata prefecture has introduced a new rule requiring citizens to laugh at least once daily. A study from Yamagata University found that people who laugh more are less susceptible to heart attacks.

Gravitas | Japan’s Yamagata passes rule urging people to laugh daily

The local government in Japan’s Yamagata prefecture has just passed an ordinance calling on residents to laugh at least once every day to promote better physical and mental health, although the new law has gone down like a bad joke in some quarters.

Japan: Legislative Assembly in Yamagata passes new laughter law

A day after Pakistan's Punjab Governor issued a notification regarding the appointment of a caretaker Chief Minister for Punjab's legislative assembly; the outgoing Punjab CM Chaudhary Parvez Elahi had announced that both PTI and PML-Q have finalized three candidates.

Pakistan: Parvez Elahi reveals Khan's nominees for caretaker CM Punjab

Environment became tense in the Puducherry legislative assembly as the&nbsp;Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy carried on delivering the annual budge for the year 2020-2021, despite objections from the&nbsp;Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi.

Kiran Bedia said she wrote to the Chief Minister earlier today with a request to "send the file for laying AFS and Demand for Grants before Assembly for her to accord considered approval and give fresh date for presenting Budget."

However, she later tweeted in the afternoon claiming that the annual budget had still not reached her.

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Annual budget file has still not been released from office of the Chief Minister for Administrative approval by LG, as per UT Act &amp; Business Rules. 
This will lead to a serious financial crisis caused by the office of CM. Ppl of Puducherry pl b informed<a href="https://twitter.com/AmitShah?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AmitShah</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/rashtrapatibhvn?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@rashtrapatibhvn</a> <a href="https://t.co/M0pvwgvxvY">pic.twitter.com/M0pvwgvxvY</a>
— Kiran Bedi (@thekiranbedi) <a href="https://twitter.com/thekiranbedi/status/1285129075791499266?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 20, 2020</a></blockquote>
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The session was scheduled to&nbsp;start on 9:30 am on Monday. However, as Kiran Bedi did not reach the assembly for the inaugural speech, the session got delayed&nbsp;and started at 12 pm.

Kiran Bedi alleged that his letter requesting her to deliver inaugural speech reached Rajnivas at 3:30 am today.

"An intriguing case of Puducherry Assembly without the Budget even seen &amp; approved by (LG) &amp; `trustees` wanting to discuss the rooms, design &amp; more!" she tweeted.

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An intriguing case of Puducherry Assembly without the Budget even seen &amp; approved by (LG) &amp; ‘trustees’ wanting to discuss the rooms, design &amp; more! <a href="https://t.co/5pIqO9Cfjs">pic.twitter.com/5pIqO9Cfjs</a>
— Kiran Bedi (@thekiranbedi) <a href="https://twitter.com/thekiranbedi/status/1285065472191238145?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 20, 2020</a></blockquote>
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In the budget, the Chief Minister announced abolition of drinking water tax and electricity tax (less than 100 units) for BPL families. "The government has decided to start Nammalvazhvar Agricultural Innovation Program and subsidise crops including grains and paddy," he said.

Environment became tense in the Puducherry legislative assembly as the Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy carried on delivering the annual budge for the year 2020-2021, despite objections from the Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi.

Environment became tense in the Puducherry legislative assembly as the Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy carried on delivering the annual budge for the year 2020-2021, despite objections from the Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi. Kiran Bedia said she wrote to the Chief Minister earlier today with a request to "send the file for laying AFS and Demand for Grants before Assembly for her to accord considered approval and give fresh date for presenting Budget." However, she later tweeted in the afternoon claiming that the annual budget had still not reached her. Annual budget file has still not been released from office of the Chief Minister for Administrative approval by LG, as per UT Act & Business Rules. This will lead to a serious financial crisis caused by the office of CM. Ppl of Puducherry pl b informed@AmitShah @rashtrapatibhvn pic.twitter.com/M0pvwgvxvY — Kiran Bedi (@thekiranbedi) July 20, 2020 × The session was scheduled to start on 9:30 am on Monday. However, as Kiran Bedi did not reach the assembly for the inaugural speech, the session got delayed and started at 12 pm. Kiran Bedi alleged that his letter requesting her to deliver inaugural speech reached Rajnivas at 3:30 am today. "An intriguing case of Puducherry Assembly without the Budget even seen & approved by (LG) & `trustees` wanting to discuss the rooms, design & more!" she tweeted. An intriguing case of Puducherry Assembly without the Budget even seen & approved by (LG) & ‘trustees’ wanting to discuss the rooms, design & more! pic.twitter.com/5pIqO9Cfjs — Kiran Bedi (@thekiranbedi) July 20, 2020 × In the budget, the Chief Minister announced abolition of drinking water tax and electricity tax (less than 100 units) for BPL families. "The government has decided to start Nammalvazhvar Agricultural Innovation Program and subsidise crops including grains and paddy," he said.

Puducherry CM presents budget without LG Kiran Bedi despite her objections

Bolivian President Evo Morales said on Sunday he would resign after the military called on him to step down and allies deserted him following weeks of protests over a disputed election that has roiled the South American nation.

Bolivian President Evo Morales said on Sunday he would resign after the military called on him to step down and allies deserted him following weeks of protests over a disputed election that has roiled the South American nation. Morales, in power for nearly 14 years, said in televised comments that he would submit his resignation letter to help restore stability, though he aimed barbs at what he called a "civic coup." "I am resigning, sending my letter of resignation to the Legislative Assembly," Morales said, adding that it was his "obligation as indigenous president and president of all Bolivians to seek peace." He later tweeted, "I want the Bolivian people to know that I have no reason to escape, they should prove if I'm stealing something." Vice President Álvaro García Linera also resigned. The departure of Morales, a leftist icon and the last survivor of Latin America's "pink tide" of two decades ago, is likely to send shockwaves across the region at a time when left-leaning leaders have returned to power in Mexico and Argentina. Some of Morales' leftist allies in Latin America decried the turn of events as a "coup," including Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and Argentine President-elect Alberto Fernandez. Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said his country would offer Morales asylum if he sought it. Bolivia under Morales had one of the region's strongest economic growth rates and its poverty rate was cut in half, though his determination to cling to power and seek a fourth term alienated many allies, even among indigenous communities. Pressure had been ramping up on Morales since he was declared the winner of an Oct. 20 election. General Williams Kaliman, the head of Bolivia's armed forces, earlier on Sunday said the military had asked Morales to step down to help restore peace and stability after weeks of protests over the vote. Kaliman added that the military was calling on the Bolivian people to refrain from violence and disorder. Earlier on Sunday, Morales had agreed to hold new elections after a report from the Organisation of American States (OAS), which conducted an audit of the Oct. 20 vote, revealed serious irregularities in the election. The OAS report said that vote should be annulled after it had found "clear manipulations" of the voting system that called into question Morales' win, with a lead of just over 10 points over main rival Carlos Mesa. 'Today we won a battle' The resignations of Morales and his vice president meant it was not initially clear who would take the helm of the country pending the results of new elections. According to Bolivian law, in the absence of the president and vice president, the head of the Senate would normally take over provisionally. However, Senate President Adriana Salvatierra also stepped down late on Sunday. Legislators were expected to meet to agree on an interim commission or legislator who would have temporary administrative control of the country, according to a constitutional lawyer who spoke to Reuters. Morales, speaking at an earlier news conference, had tried to placate critics saying he would replace the electoral tribunal for the new vote, though his opponents - already angry that he ran in defiance of term limits - were not assuaged. The election standoff has dented the image of Morales - who has helmed Bolivia through a period of relative stability and economic growth - and hit the landlocked nation's economy. His "legacy will be compromised and the region will suffer another impact with consequences well beyond Bolivia," said Juan Cruz Diaz, managing director of risk advisory Cefeidas Group, referring to Argentina, Chile, Peru, Paraguay and Brazil. Luis Fernando Camacho, a civic leader from the eastern city of Santa Cruz who has become a symbol of the opposition, said the OAS report on Sunday clearly demonstrated election fraud. He had reiterated his call for Morales to resign. "Today we won a battle," Camacho told a crowd of cheering supporters in the capital before Morales' resignation, though he added more time was needed to repair the constitutional order and democracy. "Only when we can be sure that democracy is solid, then will we go back home." US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had also welcomed the call for a new vote to "ensure free and fair elections." Morales allies fall As the fall-out from the audit report swept across Bolivia, Morales' support crumbled on Sunday. Several of his allies resigned, including Mining Minister Cesar Navarro and Chamber of Deputies President Victor Borda, who belongs to Morales' party. They both cited fear for the safety of their families as the reason for stepping down. Juan Carlos Huarachi, leader of the Bolivian Workers' Centre, a powerful pro-government union, said Morales should stand down if that would help end recent violence. In recent days police forces were also seen joining anti-government protests, while the military said it would not "confront the people" over the issue. The attorney general's office also announced it had ordered an investigation with the aim of prosecuting the members of the electoral body and others responsible for the irregularities. Mesa had also said Morales and his vice president should not preside over the electoral process or be candidates. Morales, who came to power in 2006 as Bolivia's first indigenous leader, had defended his election win but said he would adhere to the findings of the OAS audit. "The manipulations to the computer systems are of such magnitude that they must be deeply investigated by the Bolivian State to get to the bottom of and assign responsibility in this serious case," the preliminary OAS report had said. Voting in a new election should take place as soon as conditions are in place to guarantee it being able to go ahead, including a newly composed electoral body, the OAS said. The OAS added that it was statistically unlikely that Morales had secured the 10-percentage-point margin of victory needed to win outright.

Bolivian President Morales resigns after protests over disputed October vote

Fourteen rebels Congress-JD(S) MLAs in Karnataka Assembly were disqualified on Sunday by <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/karnataka-assembly-speaker-kr-ramesh-kumar-disqualifies-three-congress-mlas-238532">Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar</a>, news agency ANI reported.

Ramesh Kumar made the&nbsp;announcement while addressing the media earlier today.

Kumar disqualified three MLAs&nbsp;under Para 2(1) (a) of the tenth Schedule of the Constitution and under 191(a) of the Constitution of India a few days back. The disqualified lawmakers cease to be members of the Assembly till the expiry of the term that is May 23, 2023, the order by the Speaker said.

The vote of confidence will take place in Karnataka Legislative Assembly on July 29.

''BS Yediyurappa has asked me to oversee <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ahead-of-trust-vote-section-144-to-be-imposed-near-karnataka-assembly-238868">vote of confidence tomorrow</a>. The Finance bill is set to lapse on July 31. I appeal to all MLAs to appear for the session for the confidence motion,'' Kumar said.

Ahead of the vote of confidence, Commissioner of Police Alok Kumar on Saturday issued a prohibitory order to impose Section 144 within a two-kilometre radius of the Vidhana Soudha from 6 am on July 29 to midnight of July 30.

Section 144 prohibits an assembly of more than four people in an area.

The Congress-JD(S) coalition government fell on July 23 after losing the trust vote. Following which, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Yediyurappa took oath as the chief minister for the fourth time.

He will have to prove the majority of his government in state Assembly by July 31.

Fourteen rebels Congress-JD(S) MLAs in Karnataka Assembly were disqualified on Sunday by Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar, news agency ANI reported. Ramesh Kumar made the announcement while addressing the media earlier today.

Fourteen rebels Congress-JD(S) MLAs in Karnataka Assembly were disqualified on Sunday by Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar, news agency ANI reported. Ramesh Kumar made the announcement while addressing the media earlier today. Kumar disqualified three MLAs under Para 2(1) (a) of the tenth Schedule of the Constitution and under 191(a) of the Constitution of India a few days back. The disqualified lawmakers cease to be members of the Assembly till the expiry of the term that is May 23, 2023, the order by the Speaker said. The vote of confidence will take place in Karnataka Legislative Assembly on July 29. ''BS Yediyurappa has asked me to oversee vote of confidence tomorrow. The Finance bill is set to lapse on July 31. I appeal to all MLAs to appear for the session for the confidence motion,'' Kumar said. Ahead of the vote of confidence, Commissioner of Police Alok Kumar on Saturday issued a prohibitory order to impose Section 144 within a two-kilometre radius of the Vidhana Soudha from 6 am on July 29 to midnight of July 30. Section 144 prohibits an assembly of more than four people in an area. The Congress-JD(S) coalition government fell on July 23 after losing the trust vote. Following which, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Yediyurappa took oath as the chief minister for the fourth time. He will have to prove the majority of his government in state Assembly by July 31.

Karnataka: Speaker disqualifies 14 rebel lawmakers a day ahead of trust vote

Five more Karnataka Congress MLAs moved the Supreme Court on Saturday, contending they had resigned "voluntarily" and that their resignation must be accepted by the Assembly Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar.

The petition, filed by Anand Singh, K Sudhakar, N Nagaraju, Munirathna and Roshan Baig of the Congress party, has sought a direction to the Speaker to not proceed with the application for their disqualification.

The legislators also claimed that there was no disqualification proceeding against them when they resigned.

"The disqualification proceedings are being used to threaten and intimidate the MLAs. On one hand, the Speaker is not acting upon the resignation and on the other, a whip has been issued threatening disqualification for failure to attend the legislature proceeding starting July 12," the petition stated.

The rebel MLAs said that when some of the applicants submitted their resignation on July 10, they were manhandled in the Assembly and were confined.

"They were rescued by the police personnel from the Legislative Assembly," the plea said.

The plea also submitted that their resignations were in "accordance with Rule 202 of the Rules of Procedure and the Conduct of Business of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly."

On Friday, the Supreme Court took up the petitions of 10 dissident MLAs and directed the Speaker to maintain the status quo on their resignation and disqualification till July 16.

The 13-month-old Congress-JD(S) government slumped into crisis following the resignation of 10 MLAs from the membership of the state Assembly on July 6.

It is worth mentioning that R Shankar and H Nagesh, who have taken back their support to the ruling party, have requested the Speaker to make separate sitting arrangement for them in the Assembly.

Five more Karnataka Congress MLAs moved the Supreme Court on Saturday, contending they had resigned "voluntarily" and that their resignation must be accepted by the Assembly Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar.

Five more Karnataka Congress MLAs moved the Supreme Court on Saturday, contending they had resigned "voluntarily" and that their resignation must be accepted by the Assembly Speaker KR Ramesh Kumar. The petition, filed by Anand Singh, K Sudhakar, N Nagaraju, Munirathna and Roshan Baig of the Congress party, has sought a direction to the Speaker to not proceed with the application for their disqualification. The legislators also claimed that there was no disqualification proceeding against them when they resigned. "The disqualification proceedings are being used to threaten and intimidate the MLAs. On one hand, the Speaker is not acting upon the resignation and on the other, a whip has been issued threatening disqualification for failure to attend the legislature proceeding starting July 12," the petition stated. The rebel MLAs said that when some of the applicants submitted their resignation on July 10, they were manhandled in the Assembly and were confined. "They were rescued by the police personnel from the Legislative Assembly," the plea said. The plea also submitted that their resignations were in "accordance with Rule 202 of the Rules of Procedure and the Conduct of Business of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly." On Friday, the Supreme Court took up the petitions of 10 dissident MLAs and directed the Speaker to maintain the status quo on their resignation and disqualification till July 16. The 13-month-old Congress-JD(S) government slumped into crisis following the resignation of 10 MLAs from the membership of the state Assembly on July 6. It is worth mentioning that R Shankar and H Nagesh, who have taken back their support to the ruling party, have requested the Speaker to make separate sitting arrangement for them in the Assembly.

Five more Karnataka Congress MLAs move Supreme Court

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