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Nepal’s CAB: Bill places 7 year threshold to get citizenship for foreign women marrying Nepali citizens

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The Commune
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KP Sharma Oli. Post/Photo: Anish Regmi

On Sunday, the Nepal parliamentary committee voted in favour of amending the country’s citizenship act that would place a threshold of 7 years for foreign women marrying Nepali citizens to get Nepali citizenship.

Clause 5.1 of the Citizenship Act 2063 allows foreign women to get Nepali citizenship immediately after marriage while no such provision exists for men. So, foreign men have to spend 15 years in Nepal before becoming eligible to acquire Nepali citizenship.

The State Affairs and Good Governance Committee met on Sunday and endorsed the act with majority paving the way for the bill to get tabled in the parliament for discussion. The 27 member committee has the 16 members from the ruling Nepal Communist Party. Nepali Congress and Rashtriya Janata Party has 6 and 2 members respectively.

This follows the last week’s meeting of the ruling Nepal Communist Party secretariat where it had endorsed the proposal of having a threshold of 7 years for foreign women marrying Nepali citizens to get citizenship.

The committee has proposed to grant residence permit to foreign women married to Nepali citizen till they become eligible for getting citizenship through naturalization. It added that they can exercise social, economic, and cultural rights during the 7 year period.

The amendment also has a provision for allowing women to operate businesses, use or sell fixed and moveable assets or get involved in property transaction.

The Nepali Congress has decided to register a note of dissent and has expressed its dissatisfaction over the provisions. The Janata Samajbadi Party and Rashtriya Janata Party has also sided with the Nepali Congress calling the bill unconstitutional that went against the interim constitution of 2006.

The Nepal Majdoor Kisan Party which has 1 member in the committee called for even stricter provision of 15 years.

BJP and Congress question Pinarayi’s silence on Chinese aggression

By
The Commune
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Ramesh Chennithala, Congress leader and Leader of Opposition of Kerala, questioned the Communist Party of India (Marxist)’s silence over the Chinese aggression in Ladakh and said that the Communist Party’s ideology held it back from openly condemning China and that its ideological baggage makes it softer towards China.

The Leader of Opposition said,”Pinarayi has not said anything against China’s incursion, though he had paid homage to soldiers”. He why didn’t CM Pinarayi Vijayan respond to the issue and asked whether China is a bosom pal to the party.

“Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is holding a press briefing every day. He did not utter a single word about the brutal killing of our soldiers. Even party general secretary Sitaram Yechury’s words are subdued in this regard. We want the party to explain its position,” Mr. Chennithala said.

He said that the communist party’s youth wing carried out poster wars on many issues but was silent on this matter. “It seems the party is still soft towards China. We have many examples to cite to prove this point” referring to the communist party’s anti-India stance taken during the 1962 war.

BJP Kerala’s President K Surendran questioned the Chief Minister Pinrayi Vijayan’s silence saying “the CM reacts immediately, but this time he is totally silent. It shows the party’s true allegiance.”

Is Stalin off to London again?

By
The Commune
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An online Tamil news portal Minnambalam on Sunday (June 21) carried a story about DMK President MK Stalin making arrangements for leaving to London on a chartered flight. It had mentioned that the DMK leader was in touch with the Centre to get the necessary clearance for the same considering the restrictions in air travel in view of the pandemic. However, this story was later withdrawn and the portal carried a clarification article from the DMK spokesperson TKS Elangovan.

Since 2010, MK Stalin’s frequent trips to London make it to the headlines as a personal trip. Ask any person ranging from a commoner to those in moving closely with politicians about Mr. Stalin’s foreign visits, the unanimous response would be that the DMK leader goes for taking medical treatment. Every year, Mr. Stalin prepares to leave for abroad after the debate on demand for grants ends for the Budget session of the Assembly, Minnambalam had reported.

In 2017, Stalin left for London on August 12. Similarly, he went to London on July 9 in the year 2018. He did not go to London in 2019 but instead went to Singapore on June 14 of that year, the Minnambalam report said.

Minnambalam reported that even though the DMK President travelled in the months of July or August, Stalin’s team would start making arrangement 3 months in advance. They had made arrangements for this year too but the COVID19 pandemic that started spreading from China, Europe and now in India had suspended all international flights across the world.

The impact of the coronavirus has not diminished in the UK yet. As of now, the COVID alert level in the UK has been lowered from 4 to 3, which means that the virus is no longer judged to be “high or exponentially rising”. Though the curfew within the country is being gradually relaxed, restrictions on international travel have not been lifted yet.

On June 20, Union Minister of Civil Aviation Hardeep Singh Puri had stated that India can start international flights once domestic traffic reaches 50-60% provided other countries open up for international traffic. He mentioned of a calibrated opening once situation normalises.

As a result, Mr. Stalin’s international travel to London for medical treatment has been getting delayed. It was reported in Minnambalam that Mr. Stalin had got special permission from the hospital in London where he was to get treatment and that Mr. Stalin’s parties had requested the Centre to make arrangements for a chartered flight for the same.

Mr. Stalin is the Leader of Opposition of Tamil Nadu which is equal to the status of a Cabinet Minister of the State. It is on basis of this privilege that Mr. Stalin had written to External Affairs Minister Dr. Jaishankar for undertaking the trip to London on a chartered flight which has also gone to the attention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, the report said quoting DMK’s inner circles.

It said that the request is right now under the Centre’s review.

However, this report was later withdrawn and the news portal came out with a clarification article saying that the DMK spokesperson TKS Elangovan had reached out to Minnambalam with respect to the earlier story.

In the clarification article Mr. TKS Elangovan is quoted saying that the DMK President was to travel to London in February but got cancelled due to the prevailing international circumstances in view of the pandemic and the subsequent lockdown across the country. Since, then Mr. Stalin had reportedly been engaging in relief work to reach out to those affected by the pandemic and the lockdown and also giving pressure to the Tamil Nadu government on various issues, Mr. Elangaovan had said.

He also said that Mr. Stalin does not have any plans to go to London as of now and also rejected the claims of placing requests with the Centre for the same. “We reject the news about requests being placed with the Centre on behalf of DMK President Stalin as reported in Minnambalam”.

On International Yoga Day Sadhguru highlights the importance of Yoga

By
Gowtham Raj
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Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, Founder of Isha Foundation, called on humanity to embrace Yoga, “the technology of self-transformation” and “become joyful, wonderful and impactful human beings in this world.”  on the 6th International Yoga Day celebration.

To handle mental health, emotional balance and professional competence during the corona pandemic, Sadhguru has urged people to go for physical fitness and Yoga.

Sadhguru called on people to not only adopt the practices but to teach the practices to others around them as well. “I would like every one of you to experience this – not only experience this, be instruments of offering this to a large number of people.”

“Right now, a whole lot of studies are saying that during this moment of pandemic and post this pandemic situation, one of the biggest challenges will be the psychological crisis that human beings will face” he said.

The simple yogic processes that we are offering you for this International Yoga Day has the power to liberate you from this and also enhance your immune system in a significant way. There are enough studies to show this,” said Sadhguru.

He emphasized that Yoga is beyond religion, philosophies and ideologies and said that it is the technology for self-transformation.

Isha has been releasing several videos online since the lockdown that offer simple yogic practices said to have a profound impact on the human system.

Usually Isha conducts worldwide day-long programs for the Yoga day but this year it took it online due to COVID.

World Bank approves package to help Bangladesh’s economic recovery

By
The Commune
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World Bank has recently approved 1.5 billion dollars for Bangladesh’s 3 projects. This approval has been made to improve the quality and quantity of jobs in Bangladesh and to help the country fight back the pandemic.

This investment will also promote private companies to offer better jobs to the people of the country and help the country to bounce back in financial and economic aspects.

The first project called Private Investment and Digital Entrepreneurship (PRIDE) is worth a 500 million dollar and seeks to enhance the social and environmental standards of private companies. This project will create more than 1.5 lakh jobs. Among these jobs, a particular percent of jobs will be reserved only for women.

The project is also looking forward to establishing Dhaka’s first digital entrepreneurship hub that will take place in the Janata Software Technology Park and will help attract $2 billion of the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) for Bangladesh.

The Enhancing Digital Government and Economy (EDGE) Project worth $295 million is set to establish an integrated, cloud-computing digital platform for all government agencies and improve cyber-security to deliver critical public services for citizens and business in times of crisis. Around 1 lakh jobs and are expected to be created. 1 lakh youth will be trained in digital technologies and a digital leadership academy will be established. It is meant to prepare small and medium industries to prepare for the fourth industrial revolution.

The $250 million Second Programmatic Jobs Development Policy Credit will create fiscal space to support the government’s response to the COVID-19 crisis.

Bangladesh is reportedly having a current total of 13 billion dollars coming from the largest IDA program. From the Independence of Bangladesh, in 1971, World Bank has committed over 13 billion dollars to it without any grants, interests, and concessional credits.

New study to explore the universe for technological civilizations

By
The Commune
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*** EXCLUSIVE *** BISHOP, CA - APRIL 2017: Located in a bowl of mountains between the Sierra Nevada range and the White Mountains, the radio astronomy observatory is the largest university-operated radio observatory in the United States, Bishop, California, April, 2017. PHOTOGRAPHER David Clapp is used to people asking him if his images were taken on another planet - and his latest series of incredible images show the otherworldly scenes of Owens Valley Radio Observatory. Located in a bowl of mountains between the Sierra Nevada range and the White Mountains, the radio astronomy observatory is the largest university-operated radio observatory in the United States. David, 46, was travelling around California continuing his photography of alien landscapes when he came across the incredible site at the end of his trip. PHOTOGRAPH BY David Clapp / Barcroft Images London-T:+44 207 033 1031 E:hello@barcroftmedia.com - New York-T:+1 212 796 2458 E:hello@barcroftusa.com - New Delhi-T:+91 11 4053 2429 E:hello@barcroftindia.com www.barcroftimages.com (Photo credit should read David Clapp / Barcroft Images / Barcroft Media via Getty Images)

Scientists at the Centre for Astrophysics, Harvard and Smithsonian and the University of Rochester are working on a project to search the universe for signs of life via technosignatures, after receiving the first NASA non-radio technosignatures grant awarded for the first time and the first SETI-specific NASA grant in over three decades.

Researchers believe that scientific principles of life remain the same though the forms may be different. They believe that technosignatures available on Earth may also be available outside of the solar system. Avi Loeb, Frank B Baird Junior Professor of Science at Harvard said, “Technosignatures relate to signatures of advanced alien technologies similar to, or perhaps more sophisticated than, what we possess. Such signatures might include industrial pollution of atmospheres, city lights, photovoltaic cells (solar panels), megastructures, or swarms of satellites.”

“The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) has always faced the challenge of figuring out where to look. Which stars do you point your telescope at and look for signals?” said Adam Frank, a professor of physics and astronomy at the University of Rochester and the primary recipient of the grant. “Now we know where to look. We have thousands of exoplanets including planets in the habitable zone where life can form. The game has changed.”

Scientists opine that other planets might show detectable signs of artificially produced molecules such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) that nature is unlikely to produce, which could indicate presence industrial activity

Loeb said, “My hope is that using this grant, we will qualify new ways to probe signs of alien technological civilizations that are similar or much more advanced than our own. The main question is are we alone and if now we are, were we in the past?”

Facebook comes out with initiative to support black businesses

By
The Commune
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Facebook, in one of its initiatives, will support “black-owned businesses and organizations” of USD 200mn, to boost black communities. This was announced by Sheryl Sandberg, COO, Facebook on Friday.

“Building on earlier investments, we are committing an additional $200 million to support black-owned businesses and organizations. This commitment is part of a broader $1.1 billion investment in black and diverse suppliers and communities in the US. We are also creating a new space in the Facebook app called Lift Black Voices and we are building a more diverse in the inclusive workforce so we can better support communities around the world,” Sandberg said in a blog. The company will also add a section to the Facebook app that will consist of stories from black people, fundraisers for causes fighting racial justice, and educational resources, Sandberg said.

On May 31st, CEO Mark Zuckerberg had already said that Facebook would support “groups working on racial justice” with USD 10 million.

The amount will be divided into two stages. Half will be given to black-owned small businesses, black creators, and nonprofits working with black communities. Of the $100 million, $25 million will go for black content creators while $75 will go to small businesses and non profits. The remaining part of $100 million will be distributed to black-owned suppliers, “from facilities to construction to marketing agencies and more.”

International Yoga Day 2020: PM Modi says that Pranayama helps in building immunity

By
The Commune
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Addressing the nation on Yoga Day 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed the benefits of Yoga and said that breathing practices like Pranayama helps in boosting immunity and strengthens the respiratory system to fight COVID.

PM said that “If our immunity is strong, it is of great help in defeating this disease. For boosting immunity, there are several methods in yoga, various ‘asanas’ are there. These asanas are such that they increase the strength of the body and also strengthen our metabolism.

“COVID19 virus specifically attacks our respiratory system. The one that helps in strengthening our respiratory system the most is Pranayama, i.e., breathing exercise,” he said.

“This year, we are celebrating Yoga day at our homes. Today is also a day when we will strengthen the bond with our family,” PM Modi said today.

The Prime Minister also said that Yoga is a unifier of people beyond race, colour, gender, faith, nations, etc and asked people to perform Yoga within their houses at the time of corona. “Yoga enhances our quest for a healthier planet”, the Prime Minister said, adding that “it has emerged as a force for unity and deepens the bonds of humanity”.

PM Modi quoted Swami Vivekananda, remembered as a spiritual genius who introduced Yoga to the western world, and Bhagavad Gita during his address.

This year’s theme is “Yoga at Home and Yoga with Family”.

India deploys fighter jets and attack helicopters along LAC

By
The Commune
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Amidst the tensions between India and China over the issue of Galwan Valley, India has mobilised fighter jets and attack helicopters along the LAC border.

In the aftermath of China laying claim to the entire Galwan valley area into which the country has now moved bulldozers and equipment, Indian fighter jets are now patrolling the border skies. This latest action comes after it was images of China using bulldozer to divert the course of a river near the disputed border surfaced.

Chinese Soldiers in a medieval-style brutality had used spiked clubs and rocks as weapons as both sides engaged in clashes on the intervening night of June 15 and 16.

The midnight braw earlier in part of the disputed Ladakh region along the Himalayan frontier was the deadliest in 45 years.

The Chinese aggression came is seen as a response to India increasing its border infrastructure development at a rapid pace. Within days after the clash, India announced the completion of the 60 m bridge over the Galwan river which China had objected to.

DMK MP RS Bharathi withdraws petition alleging corruption by EPS

By
The Commune
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On Thursday, DMK MP and Organizing Secretary RS Bharathi, withdrew the petitions filed against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and Revenue Minister R B Udhayakumar, alleging graft charges in the tender process for road maintenance and optical fibre cables laying project.

RS Bharathi had filed a petition alleging corruption against the Chief Minister in the tenders calling for ₹1165 crore road maintenance project. In another petition the DMK MP alleged that Chief Minister and Revenue Minister were involved in graft related to tender worth ₹1,950 crore to lay the cables connecting 12,524 villages

The Madras High Court while hearing on June 16 had observed orally that RS Bharathi should “honourably withdraw” the petitions as there was no scope for corruption.

The High Court passed the dismissal order based on the report closure report filed by Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) that had mentioned that there was no prima facie case made out in the preliminary enquiry. The DVAC, on receiving the complaint of the DMK Rajya Sabha MP, had conducted a detailed verification and found nothing amiss in the process followed for tender. It had said that the allegations were merely based on assumptions rather than material facts.

Public prosecutor A Natarajan representing the state government had filed a detailed counter and submitted that the complaint was “false” and “politically motivated”. He added that the petitioner had failed to exploit other available remedies before approaching the court.

Recording the submission the court dismissed the plea as withdrawn.

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The Commune is a news and views portal focusing on social and political issues of the southern part of India with a focus on Tamil Nadu.
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