Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Uganda on Monday for a rare tour of sub-Saharan Africa, seeking new trade partners and marking the 40th anniversary of a hostage rescue in which his brother died.

Speaking in Entebbe, close to the site of the 1976 airport raid in which over 100 hostages were released, Netanyahu said the visit was &quot;deeply moving&quot; and symbolised the changing relationship between Israel and Africa.

&quot;Exactly 40 years ago Israeli soldiers carried out the historic mission in Entebbe,&quot; Netanyahu said.

&quot;Forty years ago they landed in the dead of night in a country led by a brutal dictator who gave refuge to terrorists, today we landed in broad daylight to be welcomed by a president who fights terrorism.&quot;

He said his visit signalled &quot;dramatic changes in the relationship between Africa and Israel: Africa is a continent on the rise. After many decades I can say Israel is coming back to Africa and Africa is coming back to Israel&quot;.

Israel is launching a $13-million aid package to strengthen economic ties and cooperation with African countries.

Israel would also provide African states with training in &quot;domestic security&quot; and health, an Israeli statement read.

Netanyahu said he would attend an &quot;historic summit&quot; with seven African leaders while in Uganda.

After Uganda, Netanyahu will travel on to Kenya, Ethiopia and Rwanda.

The Arab-Israeli conflict drove a wedge between African countries and the Jewish state in the 1960s.

Following wars between Israel and its neighbours in 1967 and 1973, North African nations led by Egypt put pressure on sub-Saharan African states to cut ties with Israel, which many did.

Relations were not helped by Israel&#39;s friendship with the apartheid regime in South Africa before it fell in 1994.
 
HONOURING HIS COMMANDO BROTHER 
 
Beyond diplomacy and trade, the trip has deep personal meaning for Netanyahu.

His brother Yonatan, known by his nickname &#39;Yoni&#39;, was killed in July 1976 as he led a commando raid in Entebbe, Uganda, to free passengers aboard an Air France plane hijacked by two Palestinians and two Germans.

&quot;I learned from my brother that you need two things to defeat the terrorists: clarity and courage,&quot; Netanyahu said.

Speaking during a commemoration event close to the old terminal building, Netanyahu said the fight against terrorism continued.

&quot;When terrorism succeeds in one place it spreads to other places, and when terrorism is defeated anywhere it is weakened everywhere. This is why Entebbe... was a victory for all humanity,&quot; he said.

Netanyahu said the Entebbe raid was &quot;a watershed moment&quot; for Israel when the country learned to stand up for itself.

&quot;It was the most daring rescue mission of all time. We were powerless no more, we would do whatever it takes,&quot; he said.

Israel&#39;s dealings with Africa currently constitutes only two percent of its foreign trade, leaving plenty of room for growth.

Demand is rising for its defence expertise and products.

But it also sees African countries as potential allies, particularly at the United Nations and other international bodies, where it is regularly condemned over its occupation of the West Bank and blockade of the Gaza Strip.

Some African countries are keen to obtain Israeli agricultural and water technology, which the country has been promoting, say officials. Netanyahu&#39;s trip follows years of efforts to improve ties. 
 
(AFP)

Netanyahu's brother?was killed when he led the commando raid to free Israeli hostages aboard a hijacked Air France plane

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived in Uganda on Monday for a rare tour of sub-Saharan Africa, seeking new trade partners and marking the 40th anniversary of a hostage rescue in which his brother died. Speaking in Entebbe, close to the site of the 1976 airport raid in which over 100 hostages were released, Netanyahu said the visit was "deeply moving" and symbolised the changing relationship between Israel and Africa. "Exactly 40 years ago Israeli soldiers carried out the historic mission in Entebbe," Netanyahu said. "Forty years ago they landed in the dead of night in a country led by a brutal dictator who gave refuge to terrorists, today we landed in broad daylight to be welcomed by a president who fights terrorism." He said his visit signalled "dramatic changes in the relationship between Africa and Israel: Africa is a continent on the rise. After many decades I can say Israel is coming back to Africa and Africa is coming back to Israel". Israel is launching a $13-million aid package to strengthen economic ties and cooperation with African countries. Israel would also provide African states with training in "domestic security" and health, an Israeli statement read. Netanyahu said he would attend an "historic summit" with seven African leaders while in Uganda. After Uganda, Netanyahu will travel on to Kenya, Ethiopia and Rwanda. The Arab-Israeli conflict drove a wedge between African countries and the Jewish state in the 1960s. Following wars between Israel and its neighbours in 1967 and 1973, North African nations led by Egypt put pressure on sub-Saharan African states to cut ties with Israel, which many did. Relations were not helped by Israel's friendship with the apartheid regime in South Africa before it fell in 1994. HONOURING HIS COMMANDO BROTHER Beyond diplomacy and trade, the trip has deep personal meaning for Netanyahu. His brother Yonatan, known by his nickname 'Yoni', was killed in July 1976 as he led a commando raid in Entebbe, Uganda, to free passengers aboard an Air France plane hijacked by two Palestinians and two Germans. "I learned from my brother that you need two things to defeat the terrorists: clarity and courage," Netanyahu said. Speaking during a commemoration event close to the old terminal building, Netanyahu said the fight against terrorism continued. "When terrorism succeeds in one place it spreads to other places, and when terrorism is defeated anywhere it is weakened everywhere. This is why Entebbe... was a victory for all humanity," he said. Netanyahu said the Entebbe raid was "a watershed moment" for Israel when the country learned to stand up for itself. "It was the most daring rescue mission of all time. We were powerless no more, we would do whatever it takes," he said. Israel's dealings with Africa currently constitutes only two percent of its foreign trade, leaving plenty of room for growth. Demand is rising for its defence expertise and products. But it also sees African countries as potential allies, particularly at the United Nations and other international bodies, where it is regularly condemned over its occupation of the West Bank and blockade of the Gaza Strip. Some African countries are keen to obtain Israeli agricultural and water technology, which the country has been promoting, say officials. Netanyahu's trip follows years of efforts to improve ties. (AFP)

Israeli PM starts landmark Africa trip to reboot ties and mark Entebbe rescue anniversary

Britain&#39;s Home Secretary Theresa May, a candidate in the contest to be the UK&#39;s next prime minister and leader of the Conservative party, said today that if she became the next premier she would not trigger article 50 this year to ensure a clear negotiating stance on a post-Brexit deal with the European Union. 
 
May is a front-runner in the contest to be the country&#39;s next prime minister but said that there should still be an election within the party rather than a &quot;coronation&quot; of the most popular candidate. 
 
&quot;I think there should be a contest. I think it&#39;s important that members have their opportunity to have their say. And I think that what people want to hear is what the arguments are and people putting those arguments together and this isn&#39;t a new position that I&#39;ve taken,&quot; she told journalist Robert Peston. 
 
Prime Minister David Cameron resigned after Britons voted to leave the EU on June 23. He had led the campaign for &quot;Remain&quot; alongside May. 
 
May said that the vote was a &quot;very clear message&quot; that the British public wanted control over immigration. 
 
&quot;What I know is that there&#39;s no single silver bullet that actually solves the problems and concerns people have on immigration,&quot; she told Peston on Sunday. &quot;The Brexit vote gave us a very clear message from people that we couldn&#39;t allow free movement to continue as it had done hitherto, we need to bring control into movement of people coming into the UK from the EU.&quot; 
 
Cameron has said his successor would have to decide when to trigger article 50, the formal step that will begin the process of negotiating the terms of Britain&#39;s exit. 
 
May said it was not possible to set an &quot;absolute deadline&quot; and if she were to be the next prime minister she would not invoke article 50 before the end of the year. 
 
&quot;We need to establish our own negotiating position. Of course, once we hit Article 50, once we invoke that the process at the EU level starts, they say that could take up to two years. What&#39;s important for us though is that we get the right deal. And that&#39;s a deal which is about controlling free movement but it&#39;s also about ensuring that we&#39;ve got the best deal possible in trading goods and services,&quot; she said. 
 
Work and Pensions Secretary, Stephen Crabb, was the first Conservative minister to put himself forward to succeed Cameron and also backed Remain during the referendum campaign. 
 
But he said that his party must unite despite a majority of his colleagues supporting Leave. 
 
&quot;Every day that goes by, the longer that we as colleagues use labels like Remain or Leave to describe each other, the deeper the division that will be in the party,&quot; he told ITV. &quot;And I tell you, if we allow this leadership contest to be seen just through the prism of whether you were leave or remain, we risk splitting the party, mark my words.&quot; 
 
(Reuters)

Prime Minister David Cameron said his successor would have to decide when to trigger the formal step that begins the UK's EU exit

Britain's Home Secretary Theresa May, a candidate in the contest to be the UK's next prime minister and leader of the Conservative party, said today that if she became the next premier she would not trigger article 50 this year to ensure a clear negotiating stance on a post-Brexit deal with the European Union. May is a front-runner in the contest to be the country's next prime minister but said that there should still be an election within the party rather than a "coronation" of the most popular candidate. "I think there should be a contest. I think it's important that members have their opportunity to have their say. And I think that what people want to hear is what the arguments are and people putting those arguments together and this isn't a new position that I've taken," she told journalist Robert Peston. Prime Minister David Cameron resigned after Britons voted to leave the EU on June 23. He had led the campaign for "Remain" alongside May. May said that the vote was a "very clear message" that the British public wanted control over immigration. "What I know is that there's no single silver bullet that actually solves the problems and concerns people have on immigration," she told Peston on Sunday. "The Brexit vote gave us a very clear message from people that we couldn't allow free movement to continue as it had done hitherto, we need to bring control into movement of people coming into the UK from the EU." Cameron has said his successor would have to decide when to trigger article 50, the formal step that will begin the process of negotiating the terms of Britain's exit. May said it was not possible to set an "absolute deadline" and if she were to be the next prime minister she would not invoke article 50 before the end of the year. "We need to establish our own negotiating position. Of course, once we hit Article 50, once we invoke that the process at the EU level starts, they say that could take up to two years. What's important for us though is that we get the right deal. And that's a deal which is about controlling free movement but it's also about ensuring that we've got the best deal possible in trading goods and services," she said. Work and Pensions Secretary, Stephen Crabb, was the first Conservative minister to put himself forward to succeed Cameron and also backed Remain during the referendum campaign. But he said that his party must unite despite a majority of his colleagues supporting Leave. "Every day that goes by, the longer that we as colleagues use labels like Remain or Leave to describe each other, the deeper the division that will be in the party," he told ITV. "And I tell you, if we allow this leadership contest to be seen just through the prism of whether you were leave or remain, we risk splitting the party, mark my words." (Reuters)

Theresa May: Britain needs clear negotiating stance before article 50

The first candidate to put himself forward to succeed David Cameron as British prime minister, Stephen Crabb, has said a top priority for him would be to take back control of immigration policy. 
 
Crabb, the work and pensions secretary in Cameron&#39;s government, had supported a &quot;Remain&quot; vote in last week&#39;s referendum on the European Union, which saw Britain vote to leave the bloc by 52 to 48 percent. 
 
Cameron, who led the Remain campaign, has announced his resignation and a leadership contest will now take place in the ruling Conservative Party to elect his successor by early September. 
 
&quot;We cannot allow this leadership election to be defined by divisive labels like &#39;Remainer&#39; and &#39;Brexiteer&#39;,&quot; Crabb wrote in a column in the Daily Telegraph newspaper, calling on Conservatives to unite. 
 
Crabb said the people&#39;s verdict on the EU was clear and there would be no going back. A second referendum revisiting the issue was out of the question, he wrote. 
 
&quot;I want to lead a government that delivers on the expectations of the 17 million people who voted for Britain to leave the EU,&quot; he wrote. 
 
&quot;One of the overwhelming messages from that vote was the need to take back control of immigration policy in the UK. So for me, freedom of movement is a red line.&quot; 
 
The Remain camp had argued that if Britain wanted to retain access to the European single market, which it presented as crucial for its economy, it would have to come to a compromise over freedom of movement which is a key principle for the EU. 
 
A former state school pupil who was brought up by his single mother in a social housing home and once worked as a building site labourer,Crabb has been dubbed the &quot;blue collar ticket&quot; by some newspapers. 
 
His background contrasts dramatically with those of Cameron and of Boris Johnson, the former mayor of London who is seen as the frontrunner in the leadership contest, both of whom attended Eton, an elite private boarding school, and Oxford University. 
 
Crabb has gained support from Business Secretary Sajid Javid. 
 
Nominations must be submitted by Thursday. Apart from Johnson, the other senior figure widely expected to join the fray is Home Secretary Theresa May. 
 
(Reuters)

Stephen Crabb, work and pensions secretary in Cameron's government, had supported a "Remain" vote in last week's referendum on EU

The first candidate to put himself forward to succeed David Cameron as British prime minister, Stephen Crabb, has said a top priority for him would be to take back control of immigration policy. Crabb, the work and pensions secretary in Cameron's government, had supported a "Remain" vote in last week's referendum on the European Union, which saw Britain vote to leave the bloc by 52 to 48 percent. Cameron, who led the Remain campaign, has announced his resignation and a leadership contest will now take place in the ruling Conservative Party to elect his successor by early September. "We cannot allow this leadership election to be defined by divisive labels like 'Remainer' and 'Brexiteer'," Crabb wrote in a column in the Daily Telegraph newspaper, calling on Conservatives to unite. Crabb said the people's verdict on the EU was clear and there would be no going back. A second referendum revisiting the issue was out of the question, he wrote. "I want to lead a government that delivers on the expectations of the 17 million people who voted for Britain to leave the EU," he wrote. "One of the overwhelming messages from that vote was the need to take back control of immigration policy in the UK. So for me, freedom of movement is a red line." The Remain camp had argued that if Britain wanted to retain access to the European single market, which it presented as crucial for its economy, it would have to come to a compromise over freedom of movement which is a key principle for the EU. A former state school pupil who was brought up by his single mother in a social housing home and once worked as a building site labourer,Crabb has been dubbed the "blue collar ticket" by some newspapers. His background contrasts dramatically with those of Cameron and of Boris Johnson, the former mayor of London who is seen as the frontrunner in the leadership contest, both of whom attended Eton, an elite private boarding school, and Oxford University. Crabb has gained support from Business Secretary Sajid Javid. Nominations must be submitted by Thursday. Apart from Johnson, the other senior figure widely expected to join the fray is Home Secretary Theresa May. (Reuters)

British PM candidate Crabb says immigration control a top priority

Thailand&#39;s Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said on Monday he would not resign if Thais reject a military-backed draft constitution when they vote in a referendum in August. 
 
Prayuth heads the ruling junta, or National Council for Peace and Order, that took power after a bloodless coup toppled Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra&#39;s elected government in a May 2014 coup. 
 
The military had justified the coup, saying it had acted to restore stability after months of street demonstrations in Bangkok had paralysed Yingluck&#39;s government. 
 
&quot;I won&#39;t resign. I am the one who lays out the rules for this country,&quot; Prayuth told reporters at Bangkok&#39;s Government House, insisting Thais should not compare him to British Prime Minister David Cameron who announced his resignation last week after Britain voted in a referendum to quit the European Union. 
 
The junta has said it would carry out political and economic reforms before a general election in 2017 that will start a transition back to democracy. 
 
The August 7 referendum will be the first national vote in Thailand since the coup and should provide a test of the junta&#39;s popularity, experts said. 
 
Groups of all political stripes have denounced the draft constitution as undemocratic, with one major political party urging supporters to vote &quot;no&quot;. 
 
The junta has banned criticism of the charter in the run-up to the vote and, in May, the Election Commission issued rules barring anyone from campaigning for either side ahead of the referendum. 
 
In the latest crackdown on dissidents, a Thai court jailed seven activists on Friday for campaigning against the draft charter, which critics say will enshrine military power and emasculate civilian politics. 
 
(Reuters)

'I am the one who lays out the rules for this country,' says Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha

Thailand's Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said on Monday he would not resign if Thais reject a military-backed draft constitution when they vote in a referendum in August. Prayuth heads the ruling junta, or National Council for Peace and Order, that took power after a bloodless coup toppled Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's elected government in a May 2014 coup. The military had justified the coup, saying it had acted to restore stability after months of street demonstrations in Bangkok had paralysed Yingluck's government. "I won't resign. I am the one who lays out the rules for this country," Prayuth told reporters at Bangkok's Government House, insisting Thais should not compare him to British Prime Minister David Cameron who announced his resignation last week after Britain voted in a referendum to quit the European Union. The junta has said it would carry out political and economic reforms before a general election in 2017 that will start a transition back to democracy. The August 7 referendum will be the first national vote in Thailand since the coup and should provide a test of the junta's popularity, experts said. Groups of all political stripes have denounced the draft constitution as undemocratic, with one major political party urging supporters to vote "no". The junta has banned criticism of the charter in the run-up to the vote and, in May, the Election Commission issued rules barring anyone from campaigning for either side ahead of the referendum. In the latest crackdown on dissidents, a Thai court jailed seven activists on Friday for campaigning against the draft charter, which critics say will enshrine military power and emasculate civilian politics. (Reuters)

Thai PM: Won't resign no matter what August referendum outcome is

Former Moldovan Prime Minister Vlad Filat&nbsp;was sentenced today to nine years in prison for abuse of power, a charge his lawyer said was a politically motivated attempt to humiliate him. 
 
Filat was arrested during a parliamentary session last October after months of mass street protests over the disappearance of $1 billion from the banking sector, equivalent to one-eighth of the tiny ex-Soviet republic&#39;s economy. He denies any connection to the crime and all charges against him. 
 
Prosecutor Adriana Betisor, who had sought a sentence of 19 years, said the ruling, at the end of a closed trial, was &quot;too soft&quot;, and vowed to continue pursuing other cases against Filat connected to the banking fraud. 
 
&quot;He has pleaded not guilty, but his guilt is clear ... Investigations will continue in other areas,&quot; Betisor said. 
 
Filat&#39;s lawyer, Igor Popa, called the case &quot;a political, well-directed spectacle.&quot; 
 
&quot;Its goal was to destroy Filat as a person, in the most humiliating and crushing manner possible. We will seek a fair trial outside Moldova and will find a lawful ruling,&quot; he said. 
 
Filat, who served as prime minister from 2009 to 2013, is credited with putting Moldova on a pro-European path by signing an association agreement with the European Union. But an enduring economic crisis and perceived corruption in the ruling elite pushed his public trust rating into single digits. 
 
He says he has become a scapegoat over the banking scandal, which weakened Moldova&#39;s currency and damaged living standards in what was already Europe&#39;s poorest country. 
 
The crisis has held up the disbursement of valuable budget support from international lenders and highlighted the corrosive rivalry between oligarch groups in Moldova. 
 
The appointment of a new prime minister in January with close ties to Vladimir Plahotniuc, one of Moldova&#39;s richest and most unpopular public figures, angered opposition lawmakers and citizens, who wanted a snap parliamentary election. 
 
(Reuters)

Vlad Filat was arrested last October after months of mass street protests over the disappearance of $1 billion from banking sector

Former Moldovan Prime Minister Vlad Filat was sentenced today to nine years in prison for abuse of power, a charge his lawyer said was a politically motivated attempt to humiliate him. Filat was arrested during a parliamentary session last October after months of mass street protests over the disappearance of $1 billion from the banking sector, equivalent to one-eighth of the tiny ex-Soviet republic's economy. He denies any connection to the crime and all charges against him. Prosecutor Adriana Betisor, who had sought a sentence of 19 years, said the ruling, at the end of a closed trial, was "too soft", and vowed to continue pursuing other cases against Filat connected to the banking fraud. "He has pleaded not guilty, but his guilt is clear ... Investigations will continue in other areas," Betisor said. Filat's lawyer, Igor Popa, called the case "a political, well-directed spectacle." "Its goal was to destroy Filat as a person, in the most humiliating and crushing manner possible. We will seek a fair trial outside Moldova and will find a lawful ruling," he said. Filat, who served as prime minister from 2009 to 2013, is credited with putting Moldova on a pro-European path by signing an association agreement with the European Union. But an enduring economic crisis and perceived corruption in the ruling elite pushed his public trust rating into single digits. He says he has become a scapegoat over the banking scandal, which weakened Moldova's currency and damaged living standards in what was already Europe's poorest country. The crisis has held up the disbursement of valuable budget support from international lenders and highlighted the corrosive rivalry between oligarch groups in Moldova. The appointment of a new prime minister in January with close ties to Vladimir Plahotniuc, one of Moldova's richest and most unpopular public figures, angered opposition lawmakers and citizens, who wanted a snap parliamentary election. (Reuters)

Moldovan court jails ex-PM for 9 years for abuse of power

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

Just days after voting to leave the European Union, more than 1.5 million Britons and UK residents had signed a petition calling for a second vote, forcing lawmakers to at least consider a debate on the issue. 
 
The petition on the British parliament website was posted before the June 23 referendum, saying the government should hold another plebiscite on EU membership if the support for Leave or Remain in a referendum is less than 60 per cent based on a turnout of under 75 per cent of electors. 
 
The result on Thursday saw 52 per cent of voters back a British exit on a turnout of 72 per cent of eligible voters. 
 
Since then, the petition -- which only British citizens or UK residents have the right to sign -- was proving so popular that by 1417 GMT today, 1,580,220 people had signed it with the number rising quickly. 
 
It appeared to be rising at a rate of around 1,000 signatures a minute at one point. 
 
Most of those who signed were based in areas where support for staying in the EU was strongest such as London, the website indicated. 
 
Parliament has to consider a debate on any petition which attracts more than 100,000 signatures. 
 
Prime Minister David Cameron, who said on Friday he would resign after leading the failed campaign to keep Britain in the EU, has previously said there would be no second referendum. 
 
(Reuters)

The British Parliament has to consider a debate on any petition which attracts more than 100,000 signatures

Just days after voting to leave the European Union, more than 1.5 million Britons and UK residents had signed a petition calling for a second vote, forcing lawmakers to at least consider a debate on the issue. The petition on the British parliament website was posted before the June 23 referendum, saying the government should hold another plebiscite on EU membership if the support for Leave or Remain in a referendum is less than 60 per cent based on a turnout of under 75 per cent of electors. The result on Thursday saw 52 per cent of voters back a British exit on a turnout of 72 per cent of eligible voters. Since then, the petition -- which only British citizens or UK residents have the right to sign -- was proving so popular that by 1417 GMT today, 1,580,220 people had signed it with the number rising quickly. It appeared to be rising at a rate of around 1,000 signatures a minute at one point. Most of those who signed were based in areas where support for staying in the EU was strongest such as London, the website indicated. Parliament has to consider a debate on any petition which attracts more than 100,000 signatures. Prime Minister David Cameron, who said on Friday he would resign after leading the failed campaign to keep Britain in the EU, has previously said there would be no second referendum. (Reuters)

More than 1.5 million and rising sign UK petition for new EU referendum

The European Union needs a new roadmap that should be devised in consultation with voters and then put to a referendum, France&#39;s Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron said today in comments that may further stir tensions with the ruling Socialist Party. 
 
Macron&#39;s talk of a European-wide referendum goes beyond comments made by President Francois Hollande and Prime Minister Manuel Valls, who both said the EU needed to reinvent itself after Britons voted to leave the bloc but made no reference to a popular vote.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;We would first build this new project with European peoples and then submit this new roadmap, this new project, to a referendum,&quot; he said ahead of a debate on the fallout from the British referendum. 
 
Macron said voters should be consulted through a series of debates that he called &quot;democratic conventions&quot;. 
 
&quot;It must be done in the right framework,&quot; the minister added. 
 
Macron, a former investment banker, is one of the embattled Socialist government`s most popular ministers among the public. But his launch last month of his own &quot;En Marche&quot; party a year ahead of a presidential election has fueled speculation that he could be eying the Elysee palace as the ratings of Hollande stay rock-bottom. He has said he would not run in the election. 
 
Macron said a knee-jerk referendum must be avoided. 
 
&quot;The idea would not be to have 27 separate referendums,&quot; Macron said during the debate. &quot;We&#39;ve never had the courage to organise a true European referendum in its real sense. This next project must give it that strength.&quot;&nbsp; 
 
In 2005, a proposed EU constitution was blocked by a referendum in France, due mostly to public opposition to an enlarged, free-marketeering Europe. Dutch voters also rejected the constitution in a separate referendum. 
 
(Reuters)

France's Economy Minister said voters should be consulted through a series of debates that he called 'democratic convention'

The European Union needs a new roadmap that should be devised in consultation with voters and then put to a referendum, France's Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron said today in comments that may further stir tensions with the ruling Socialist Party. Macron's talk of a European-wide referendum goes beyond comments made by President Francois Hollande and Prime Minister Manuel Valls, who both said the EU needed to reinvent itself after Britons voted to leave the bloc but made no reference to a popular vote. "We would first build this new project with European peoples and then submit this new roadmap, this new project, to a referendum," he said ahead of a debate on the fallout from the British referendum. Macron said voters should be consulted through a series of debates that he called "democratic conventions". "It must be done in the right framework," the minister added. Macron, a former investment banker, is one of the embattled Socialist government`s most popular ministers among the public. But his launch last month of his own "En Marche" party a year ahead of a presidential election has fueled speculation that he could be eying the Elysee palace as the ratings of Hollande stay rock-bottom. He has said he would not run in the election. Macron said a knee-jerk referendum must be avoided. "The idea would not be to have 27 separate referendums," Macron said during the debate. "We've never had the courage to organise a true European referendum in its real sense. This next project must give it that strength." In 2005, a proposed EU constitution was blocked by a referendum in France, due mostly to public opposition to an enlarged, free-marketeering Europe. Dutch voters also rejected the constitution in a separate referendum. (Reuters)

France's Macron wants new European project, and EU-wide referendum

The head of Malaysia&#39;s anti-graft body will step down on August 1, the agency said on Thursday, more than two years before the scheduled end of a term that included an investigation of Prime Minister Najib Razak. 
 
The revelations of the investigation, first reported by the Wall Street Journal last year, have shaken investors in Southeast Asia&#39;s third-biggest economy and dented confidence in Najib&#39;s ruling coalition. 
 
Abu Kassim Mohamed, the chief commissioner of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), asked for his contract to be terminated earlier than expected, the agency said in a statement. 
 
&quot;There was no pressure from any parties towards the decision made by Abu Kassim to shorten his contract,&quot; it said, dismissing speculation in domestic media that pressure from the Prime Minister&#39;s office might have prompted the resignation. 
 
The Prime Minister&#39;s office did not immediately respond to a request from Reuters seeking comment. 
 
Under Abu Kassim, who took on his role in the beginning of 2010, the anti-graft body began investigations into allegations of graft and financial mismanagement at state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) and the transfer of 2.6 billion Ringgit ($647.09 million) to Najib&#39;s bank accounts. 
 
Malaysia&#39;s attorney-general cleared Najib of any criminal offences or corruption in January. Najib has denied any wrongdoing and said he did not take any money for personal gain. 
 
Abu Kassim&#39;s contract was to have run until December 4, 2018, the anti-graft body said, adding that the request to cut short his tenure followed an offer to be a visiting expert at the International Anti-Corruption Academy in Austria. 
 
&quot;The request was made after I got the opportunity to improve Malaysia and MACC&#39;s name and international standing,&quot; Abu Kassim told reporters, adding that he will stay in the civil service until mandatory retirement in 2020. 
 
A second vacancy is coming up as his deputy, Shukri Abdull, will retire on October 3, Abu Kassim added, in a video of the news conference released by the agency. 
 
Najib was widely criticised last year after the government replaced Attorney General Abdul Gani Patail, who had led investigations into 1MDB, with Mohamed Apandi Ali. It cited Patail&#39;s failing health for the change ahead of his retirement. 
 
($1 = 4.0180 ringgit) 
 
(Reuters)

Abu Kassim Mohamed, the chief commissioner of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, will vacate the post on August 1

The head of Malaysia's anti-graft body will step down on August 1, the agency said on Thursday, more than two years before the scheduled end of a term that included an investigation of Prime Minister Najib Razak. The revelations of the investigation, first reported by the Wall Street Journal last year, have shaken investors in Southeast Asia's third-biggest economy and dented confidence in Najib's ruling coalition. Abu Kassim Mohamed, the chief commissioner of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), asked for his contract to be terminated earlier than expected, the agency said in a statement. "There was no pressure from any parties towards the decision made by Abu Kassim to shorten his contract," it said, dismissing speculation in domestic media that pressure from the Prime Minister's office might have prompted the resignation. The Prime Minister's office did not immediately respond to a request from Reuters seeking comment. Under Abu Kassim, who took on his role in the beginning of 2010, the anti-graft body began investigations into allegations of graft and financial mismanagement at state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) and the transfer of 2.6 billion Ringgit ($647.09 million) to Najib's bank accounts. Malaysia's attorney-general cleared Najib of any criminal offences or corruption in January. Najib has denied any wrongdoing and said he did not take any money for personal gain. Abu Kassim's contract was to have run until December 4, 2018, the anti-graft body said, adding that the request to cut short his tenure followed an offer to be a visiting expert at the International Anti-Corruption Academy in Austria. "The request was made after I got the opportunity to improve Malaysia and MACC's name and international standing," Abu Kassim told reporters, adding that he will stay in the civil service until mandatory retirement in 2020. A second vacancy is coming up as his deputy, Shukri Abdull, will retire on October 3, Abu Kassim added, in a video of the news conference released by the agency. Najib was widely criticised last year after the government replaced Attorney General Abdul Gani Patail, who had led investigations into 1MDB, with Mohamed Apandi Ali. It cited Patail's failing health for the change ahead of his retirement. ($1 = 4.0180 ringgit) (Reuters)

Malaysia's anti-graft panel chief to step down

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today joined over 30,000 people here for the second International Yoga Day celebrations as he pitched for treating diseases like diabetes through the ancient spiritual discipline. 
 
Modi, dressed in a white-coloured t-shirt and trouser along with a scarf, led over 30,000 participants, including defence forces personnel and school children, for the second International Day of Yoga celebrations here at the Capitol Complex amid tight security. 
 
The Prime Minister, who arrived here last night, participated in a mass demonstration of &#39;Common Yoga Protocol&#39;. A yoga enthusiast himself, he performed yoga &#39;asanas&#39; along with the people at the event. 
 
Over 30,000 people from all ages -- 10,000 each from Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana -- performed yoga &#39;asanas&#39; on pink and blue coloured mats during the event. Separately, about 10,000 people also performed yoga at over 100 other locations in Chandigarh itself. 
Earlier addressing the gathering, Modi pitched for treating diabetes through yoga. 
 
&quot;I want to request trainers who are associated with yoga, from this public platform. From next year when we celebrate yoga day, in this one year, you continue to do what you do for yoga but focus on one subject and this is my subject -- diabetes -- Diabetes and yoga,&quot; he said. 
 
&quot;All people belonging to the yoga field, whatever knowledge they have, they must continue with the rest of their yoga activities but this (diabetes) must be the main focus,&quot; Modi said. 
 
Expressing concern over rising number of patients suffering from diabetes, Modi asked yoga trainers to help in controlling the disease. 
&quot;In India, patients suffering from diabetes are rising. We might be able to get rid of this disease or not but with the help of yoga, diabetes can be controlled. Can we start a public campaign to suggest measures in yoga to the common man suffering from diabetes. 
 
&quot;It will be an achievement if we can help in treating diabetes. From next year, we can take another disease. But I want that for good health, we should address any one disease every year. We should run a public campaign with an aim to address one disease,&quot; he said. 
 
Yoga is not only a way to get rid of a disease but it also guarantees wellness. For holistic development of lives, yoga is a great way, he said. 
 
(PTI)

Says it's a great way to treat diseases like diabetes

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today joined over 30,000 people here for the second International Yoga Day celebrations as he pitched for treating diseases like diabetes through the ancient spiritual discipline. Modi, dressed in a white-coloured t-shirt and trouser along with a scarf, led over 30,000 participants, including defence forces personnel and school children, for the second International Day of Yoga celebrations here at the Capitol Complex amid tight security. The Prime Minister, who arrived here last night, participated in a mass demonstration of 'Common Yoga Protocol'. A yoga enthusiast himself, he performed yoga 'asanas' along with the people at the event. Over 30,000 people from all ages -- 10,000 each from Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana -- performed yoga 'asanas' on pink and blue coloured mats during the event. Separately, about 10,000 people also performed yoga at over 100 other locations in Chandigarh itself. Earlier addressing the gathering, Modi pitched for treating diabetes through yoga. "I want to request trainers who are associated with yoga, from this public platform. From next year when we celebrate yoga day, in this one year, you continue to do what you do for yoga but focus on one subject and this is my subject -- diabetes -- Diabetes and yoga," he said. "All people belonging to the yoga field, whatever knowledge they have, they must continue with the rest of their yoga activities but this (diabetes) must be the main focus," Modi said. Expressing concern over rising number of patients suffering from diabetes, Modi asked yoga trainers to help in controlling the disease. "In India, patients suffering from diabetes are rising. We might be able to get rid of this disease or not but with the help of yoga, diabetes can be controlled. Can we start a public campaign to suggest measures in yoga to the common man suffering from diabetes. "It will be an achievement if we can help in treating diabetes. From next year, we can take another disease. But I want that for good health, we should address any one disease every year. We should run a public campaign with an aim to address one disease," he said. Yoga is not only a way to get rid of a disease but it also guarantees wellness. For holistic development of lives, yoga is a great way, he said. (PTI)

Indian PM takes centre stage, leads 2nd International Yoga Day celebrations

The who&#39;s who of America Inc, including e-commerce giant Amazon&#39;s Jeff Bezos, PepsiCo&#39;s Indra Nooyi, Boeing&#39;s Mark Allen and Lockheed Martin&#39;s Marillyn Hewson, attended the roundtable held at Central Green Room Gallery of Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium. 
 
Bezos announced that his company will invest an additional $3 billion in India, Amazon&#39;s fastest growing region. This will boost Amazon&#39;s committed investment in India to over $5 billion. 
 
Foreign ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said in a tweet that Modi invited the US business leaders &quot;to work more closely with India and in India&quot;. 
 
The Prime Minister also &quot;outlined strengths of Indian economy and its talented workforce,&quot; Swarup posted on Twitter. 
 
US Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker and several top Indian business leaders were also present at the meeting. 
 
Earlier in the day, Modi held a closed-door meeting with Obama during which they discussed significant issues of bilateral interests. 
 
Prior to the US, the Indian prime minister visited Afghanistan, Qatar and Switzerland on his five-nation tour aimed at expanding India&#39;s trade, energy and security cooperation. He will end his tour in Mexico.

Amazon's founder and CEO Jeff Bezos announced that the e-commerce giant will invest an additional $3 billion in India

The who's who of America Inc, including e-commerce giant Amazon's Jeff Bezos, PepsiCo's Indra Nooyi, Boeing's Mark Allen and Lockheed Martin's Marillyn Hewson, attended the roundtable held at Central Green Room Gallery of Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium. Bezos announced that his company will invest an additional $3 billion in India, Amazon's fastest growing region. This will boost Amazon's committed investment in India to over $5 billion. Foreign ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said in a tweet that Modi invited the US business leaders "to work more closely with India and in India". The Prime Minister also "outlined strengths of Indian economy and its talented workforce," Swarup posted on Twitter. US Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker and several top Indian business leaders were also present at the meeting. Earlier in the day, Modi held a closed-door meeting with Obama during which they discussed significant issues of bilateral interests. Prior to the US, the Indian prime minister visited Afghanistan, Qatar and Switzerland on his five-nation tour aimed at expanding India's trade, energy and security cooperation. He will end his tour in Mexico.

Indian PM Modi meets top US CEOs in Washington

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