Syria’s opposition group considering proposal by UN
In Geneva, the Syria’s main opposition group is considering a proposal by UN special envoy Staffan de Mistura that could pave the way to the delegation pressing ahead with talks after holding their first meeting with him yesterday. Representatives of the Saudi-backed Higher Negotiation Committee, which includes political and militant opponents of President Bashar al-Assad, had warned earlier in the day that they may yet walk away from the Geneva talks unless the suffering of civilians in the five year conflict is eased.
United Nations is aiming for six months of talks that would focus on achieving a broad ceasefire, while working toward a political settlement to the civil war. The civil war has killed over 2 lakh 50 thousand people, driven more than 10 million from their homes and drawn in global powers. The UN special envoy’s office said he would again meet the Syrian government delegation today and the Higher Negotiation Committee separately.
New Parliament session begins in Myanmar
Myanmar begins new Parliament session ending military rule. Hundreds of MPs have begun a parliamentary session in Myanmar to see in the first democratically elected government in more than 50 years. It is an assembly dominated by MPs from Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy, which won 80 percent of elected seats in November’s poll. But, a quarter of all seats are reserved for the military, which also retains control of key ministries.
One of the new parliament’s first jobs will be to choose a new President.
Outgoing leader Thein Sein will step down at the end of March, but Ms Suu Kyi, who spent 15 years under house arrest, is constitutionally barred from standing because her sons are British not Burmese.
Outgoing leader Thein Sein will step down at the end of March, but Ms Suu Kyi, who spent 15 years under house arrest, is constitutionally barred from standing because her sons are British not Burmese.
71 killed in bombings near Syria Shia shrine
Feb 1, 6:25 PM
In Syria, at least 71 people have died in blasts near the Shia shrine of Sayyida Zeinab, south of capital Damascus. A bus station and a building housing military headquarters were hit by the blasts, which mangled nearby vehicles.
It happened as the government and opposition groups gathered in Geneva in a bid to start talks aimed at a political solution to the conflict. The attack, claimed by the Islamic State group, was aimed at disrupting the talks, the EU said.
Both the Syrian government and opposition are in Geneva but the talks have yet to begin. The main opposition group says the government must first meet key humanitarian demands.
US Secretary of State John Kerry urged both sides to seize the opportunity to end the bloodshed. Mr Kerry said there was no military solution to the spiralling crisis, which he warned could engulf the region if the tentative UN-sponsored negotiations fail as previous attempts have.
The UN envoy to Syria has scheduled separate discussions with both sides in Geneva today.
The UN envoy to Syria has scheduled separate discussions with both sides in Geneva today.
J&K Governor ask PDP, BJP to clarify
In Jammu & Kashmir, the process of govt formation between PDP and BJP has entered the crucial and decisive phase after the State Governor sought opinion on the govt formation from both the parties by tomorrow. The coalition govt formation between PDP and BJP yesterday faced stumbling block after PDP spelt out its clear conditional decision regarding continuation of its alliance with BJP. PDP said it will go ahead with alliance if the Agenda of Alliance framed under the leadership of former chief minister Late Mufti Mohammad Sayeed was implemented in letter and spirit.
The PDP in today’s Legislature Party meeting under the chairmanship of Mehbooba Mufti discussed overall political situation and the govt formation. Chief Spokesperson Naeem Akhtar told AIR that Legislature Party authorized Mehbooba Mufti to meet Governor N N Vohra tomorrow in Jammu to convey him Party’s point of view on the govt formation in the State. Senior journalist and BBC’s former North India Correspondent Altaf Hussain said both PDP and BJP are in a difficult situation. He said the BJP which shared power in the State for the first time, has everything to lose if the coalition breaks. Hussain said in view of PDP’s bitter experience with the BJP, choosing new partners would be a gamble for the Party because it will have to do business with what he called the tough central govt. Hussain said PDP can’t be sure of people’s support if it opts for fresh elections.
Party President Mehbooba Mufti in core group workers meeting in Srinagar yesterday had said the party will take a call on government formation as and when it was confident that the vision and mission of Mufti Mohammad Sayeed will be carried forward and implemented with the clear support of BJP. The alliance had come into existence after around two months’ hectic deliberations and negotiations between PDP and BJP following 2014 fractured mandate. The new govt is yet to be in place after passage of over three weeks of the demise of former Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed. Mufti Sayeed passed away on January 07. The State is under Governor’s Rule since January 08.
SC recalls notice issued to Arunachal Governor
Feb 1,
The Supreme Court today recalled its earlier order to issue a notice to the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh in connection with the imposition of President’s rule in the state. The order of the Apex Court signifies that the report in which the Governor recommended president’s rule in the state does not have to be shared by him. The Apex Court accepted the Centre’s submission that Governor Rajkhowa enjoys certain constitutional immunity and should be covered under this category.
A five-judge constitution bench, headed by Justice Jagdish Singh Kehar, gave the ruling, after hearing from the Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, who appeared for the Central government and Mr Satyapal Jain, the counsel for the state Governor, Jyoti Prasad Rajkhowa.
On January 29, the Union government had filed a detailed affidavit along with annexures in the Supreme Court in connection with the imposition of President’s rule in the state of Arunachal Pradesh.
On January 29, the Union government had filed a detailed affidavit along with annexures in the Supreme Court in connection with the imposition of President’s rule in the state of Arunachal Pradesh.
Meanwhile, Arunachal Governor JP Rajkhowa has said that he is not a member or agent of any political party. Talking to media persons at Raj Bhawan in Itanagar today, Mr Rajkhowa said that he has not mentioned “Cow Slaughter” in his report to the President but is being misinterpreted and presented on the media.
The Governor said the President Rule is only for a temporary period and sooner or later a democratically elected government will be there in the state.
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