Phnom Penh: Three French tourists have been arrested by Cambodian authorities for taking nude photos of each other inside the country`s famed Angkor temple complex, officials said Friday.
The male tourists were discovered inside the Banteay Kdei temple at the world heritage site on Thursday, Chau Sun Kerya, spokeswoman for the Apsara Authority — the government agency managing the Angkor complex — told AFP.
“The temple is a worship site and their behaviour is inappropriate. They were nude,” she said.
Keat Bunthan, a senior heritage police official in northwestern Siem Reap province, confirmed the nationalities of the arrested and said many Cambodians would be offended by the tourists` actions.
“Their activities affect our culture. Nobody should take nude pictures at ancient temples,” he told AFP.
The Apsara Authority said in a statement that the three tourists have “admitted they really made a mistake by taking nude pictures”.
The agency added Cambodian police were building a case against them.
The tourists were caught just days after a series of photos of Asian women posing nude at ancient Cambodian temples went viral online and outraged officials.
The Angkor Archaeological Park, a world heritage site, contains the remains of the different capitals of the Khmer Empire, dating from the 9th to the 15th century and is Cambodia`s most popular tourist destination.
AFP
Kuala Lumpur: The undersea search for missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 has covered almost a third of its target area, Malaysian authorities said on Friday, adding that they were confident the aircraft is in the zone.
The Boeing 777 aircraft disappeared on March 8 last year, carrying 239 passengers and crew shortly after taking off from the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur, bound for Beijing.
Months of searches have failed to turn up any trace.
Malaysia, along with China and Australia, has been searching for the plane in the southern Indian Ocean, off the coast of Perth, Australia.
“Based on the available data, this is the place,” Mior Nor Badrishah Mohamad, an official of Malaysia`s civil aviation department, told a news conference on Friday, at a presentation that showed 31.04 percent of the search area had been covered.
Authorities reiterated that they expect the undersea search of an area of 60,000 square km (23,000 square miles) to be completed by May.
“If we cannot find MH370 within this area, we need to sit down again and decide what`s the best way forward, based on the data we have,” said Mior, adding that poor weather after May would make the search more difficult.
Malaysia on Thursday declared the disappearance an accident, clearing the way for the airline to pay compensation to victims` relatives.
The country`s civil aviation authorities plan to release an interim report on the investigation on March 7, a day before the first anniversary of the flight`s disappearance.
Malaysia Airlines` crisis worsened on July 17 when its Flight MH17 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was shot down over Ukraine, killing all 298 people on board.
AFP
Rome: Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi`s choice of a senior judge as his presidential candidate appears to have unified his fractious party, but it may spell an end to a reform pact sealed with rival Silvio Berlusconi.
After an inconclusive first round ballot on Thursday, the 1,009 parliamentarians and regional officials eligible to pick the new president began a new round on Friday.
The result is likely to be same because a two-thirds majority is needed to seat a president until the fourth round, expected on Saturday, when a simple majority is enough and Renzi should be able to muster the numbers to win.
Renzi`s Democratic Party (PD) and a handful of allies pledged on Thursday to back Sergio Mattarella, 73, a constitutional court judge and a veteran centre-left politician.
The process of voting by secret ballot has a history of intrigue and unpredictability similar to a papal conclave. Just two years ago, two candidates ostensibly backed by the PD fell short because of anonymous defections from within party ranks.
Failure for Renzi, who has been in office less than a year, to seat Mattarella in the fourth or fifth round would mean his authority over his party is wavering, raising the spectre of an early national election.
With newly elected Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras facing tricky negotiations with German-led European partners on renegotiating Greece`s debt, a political crisis in Italy would compound uncertainty in the euro zone.
Adding to tension is Berlusconi`s anger at Renzi for betraying what the media tycoon said was a promise to give him a role in choosing the candidate as part of a pact the two leaders made last year to draft institutional reforms together.
“Renzi took Berlusconi off guard psychologically,” Clemente Mastella, a former justice minister politically close to Berlusconi, said in an interview on La7 television. “It will be hard for the centre-right to recompose itself.”
While Berlusconi told his party members to vote blank ballots through the fourth round, he could reverse his order at the last minute and back Mattarella, a former Christian Democrat who resigned as education minister in 1990 to protest a decree that favoured Berlusconi`s media empire.
That would keep institutional reforms on track and give Berlusconi a political role as he completes a tax-fraud sentence, for which he is doing public service, later this year.
Addis Ababa: The African Union called on Friday for a regional five-nation force of 7,500 troops to defeat the “horrendous” rise of Nigeria`s Boko Haram Islamist militants.
The call for collective action came as leaders of the 54-member bloc opened their two-day annual summit in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, where they are addressing a string of crises across the continent.
“Terrorism, in particular the brutality of Boko Haram against our people, are a threat to our collective safety, security and development. This has now spread to the region beyond Nigeria and requires a collective, effective and decisive response,” AU commission chair Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said in a speech opening the summit.
Conflict elsewhere, including civil war in South Sudan and the Central African Republic, as well as a new offensive launched Thursday by Democratic Republic of Congo against Rwandan ethnic Hutu rebels in the east of the country, are also expected to be discussed.
The AU Peace and Security Council called for a regional five-nation force of 7,500 troops to deploy to stop the “horrendous” rise of the insurgents.
The proposed force will have the backing of the AU, and will ask for expected UN Security Council approval, plus a “Trust Fund” to pay for it, Dlamini-Zuma said.
More than 13,000 people have been killed and more than one million made homeless by Boko Haram violence since 2009.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told African leaders that Boko Haram was “a clear danger to national, regional and international peace and security”.
African leaders were meanwhile set to elect Zimbabwe`s President Robert Mugabe to the bloc`s one-year rotating chair, replacing Mauritania`s President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz.
Mugabe, a former liberation war hero who aged 90 is Africa`s oldest president and the third-longest serving leader, is viewed with deep respect by many on the continent — but he is also subject to travel bans from both the United States and European Union in protest at political violence and intimidation.The leaders gathered in Ethiopia will also discuss the economic recovery of countries affected by the Ebola virus, the setting up a “solidarity fund” and planning a proposed African Centre for Disease Control.
The worst outbreak of the virus in history has seen nearly 9,000 deaths in a year — almost all of them in the west African nations of Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone — and sparked a major health scare worldwide.
With over a dozen elections due to take place this year across Africa, the focus at the talks will also be on how to ensure peaceful polls — likely leaving little time for discussions on the official summit theme of women`s empowerment.
The Institute for Security Studies, an African think-tank, warns that many of these elections “are being held in a context that increases the risk of political violence”.
Ban Ki-moon also told African leaders they “cannot afford” to ignore the wishes of their citizens.
“People around the world have expressed their concern about leaders who refuse to leave office when their terms end. I share those concerns. Undemocratic constitutional changes and legal loopholes should never be used to cling to power,” Ban said.
South Sudan`s warring parties met on the sidelines of the AU talks on Thursday, in the latest push for a lasting peace deal. Six previous ceasefire commitments, however, have failed to end the 13-month-old civil war in the world`s youngest nation.
The South Sudan talks, which are being brokered by the regional East African bloc IGAD, are due to resume on Saturday.
Also topping the agenda is the question of financing regional forces, amid broader debates on funding the AU, a thorny issue for the bloc, once heavily bankrolled by toppled Libyan strongman Moamer Kadhafi.
AFP
New Delhi: AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal has decided to move the High Court after the Assembly polls challenging the Election Commission’s order directing him to desist from commenting on the issue of BJP and Congress allegedly distributing money to voters.
“We will move the High Court against the Election Commission after the election. But, at the moment, we will fully respect the EC order,” an AAP spokesperson said.
Taking “serious note” of Kejriwal’s repeated remarks asking voters to accept bribe from Congress and BJP but vote for his party, the Election Commission had on Tuesday directed him to desist from making such comments in future and warned of stern action in case of any violation.
A senior AAP functionary said the party will approach the HC because it believes his comments “were in the same spirit of the crusade against corruption waged by the party”.
Following the warning by the Election Commission, the AAP leader has stopped making controversial comments at his poll rallies.
The EC order had come in response to separate complaints made by BJP and Congress against the AAP Convener.
The commission had said the model code envisages that parties and candidates participating in the electoral process shall “avoid scrupulously all activities which are corrupt practices and offences under the election law, such as bribing of voters….”
It had on on January 23 censured Kejriwal for alleging that BJP incited communal violence in Delhi.
New Delhi: With an aim to encourage people to vote in February 7 Delhi polls, the Election Commission will carry out an awareness campaign targeting commuters in Metro stations and buses of Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC).
Delhi Chief Electoral Officer (CEO)’s office will launch a campaign at all DMRC stations and trains as well as DTC’s buses across the national capital on Saturday.
“In Metro and DTC buses, lakhs of people travel daily and this is one of the best modes to reach out to voters. At Metro stations, an appeal will be made to people through public announcement system to cast their voters.”
“Besides, we will also encourage passengers travelling in trains by displaying ‘Delhi Votes’ on LCD screens installed inside the Metro,” CEO Chandra Bhushan Kumar told a news agency.
Apart from DMRC stations and trains, a campaign will also be run in DTC buses, aiming at increasing voter turnout, he said.
“We will also appeal to people travelling in DTC buses by displaying ‘Delhi Votes’ on LCD screens installed inside the buses,” Bhushan also said.
In the 2014 Lok Sabha election, Delhi had recorded around 64 percent polling in the battle for seven seats while in the 2013 Assembly poll, the national capital had recorded over 66 percent voting.
In the capital, over 1.33 crore voters are eligible to exercises their franchise in the February 7 election while a total of 11,763 polling stations will be set up for the exercise.
The Delhi CEO office has also roped in wrestler Sushil Kumar to encourage people, especially youths, to cast their votes in the upcoming Assembly Election.
According to the Commission, around one lakh government employees will be involved in the conduct of the poll.
Chandigarh: There was no let up in cold wave conditions sweeping several parts of Punjab and Haryana for the past several days with further dip in night temperatures on Thursday making people reel under biting chill.
Poor visibility due to fog affected movement of trains in the region.
Unchahar Express train between Allahabad and Chandigarh was delayed by over two hours, while Lucknow- Chandigarh Express was running behind schedule by more than four hours.
According to MeT department, barring Amritsar where the minimum temperature had yesterday dropped to minus one degree Celsius, mercury at most other places today plummeted a few notches below normal level.
The minimum temperature at Amritsar rose slightly since yesterday to settle at 2.9 degrees Celsius, but even then it was two notches below normal.
Ludhiana’s low settled at 3.9 degrees Celsius, four notches below normal, while Patiala recorded a minimum temperature at 4.5 degrees Celsius, down two degrees.
Hisar too recorded bone-chilling low at 2.1 degrees Celsius, which was five degrees below normal.
Karnal’s low was recorded at 2.4 degrees Celsius, six degrees below normal, while Bhiwani and Ambala were equally cold recording respective below normal minimums at 3.8 and 5.4 degrees Celsius.
Chandigarh’s low settled at 6.2 degrees Celsius. The residents here woke up to a chilly morning with icy cold winds sweeping the city.
However, as the sky was clear here today the flights from here to various destinations were running as per schedule
Ralegan Siddhi: Anti-corruption campaigner Anna Hazare on Wednesday attacked the Narendra Modi government for its ‘failure’ to bring back black money stashed in tax havens abroad and said people will teach it a lesson for the “fraud” perpetrated on them.
The 77-year-old Gandhian also refused to be drawn into the subject of political slugfest going on between his two former proteges — Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal and BJP’s Kiran Bedi — in the Delhi assembly elections.
“People were promised during Lok Sabha elections that black money will be brought back within 100 days (of BJP forming its government), that Rs 15 lakh will be deposited in the accounts of every citizen, but not even Rs 15 have come.
“People have become aware now of the fraud perpetrated on them. They will teach a lesson (to the BJP-led government) the way they taught one to Congress. The masses have awakened after 2011 movement against corruption,” he said in an interview to a TV news channel.
Asked about his views on Kejriwal and Bedi, both his proteges in the India Against Corruption campaign, crossing swords for chief ministership of Delhi, the anti-graft crusader said he would not talk about politics.
“I don’t want to go into these things. Ask me about other things, ask me about the country. An Arvind or a Kiran is not important,” he said.
Questioned whether he was angry with them for entering politics against his advice, Hazare said, “No, no. The question of getting angry arises when you have expectations that are not fulfilled. I don’t have any expectations from anybody, so where is the question of anger?”
He also refused to hazard a guess about who — Kejriwal or Bedi — will emerge triumphant in the polls.
“I don’t know. Ask them,” he retorted when persistently questioned about his views on Delhi elections and asked, “Why are you pushing me into the cesspool?”
Hazare said no change can be brought through party politics and that there was no mention of politics in the Indian Constitution.
“No change can be brought through party politics. The Constitution also does not mention politics. It says any Indian citizen can contest elections. When 543 good individuals win and choose the Speaker of Lok Sabha and the Prime Minister and run the country, change will come,” he said.
Hazare, however, acknowledged that the task was daunting and will take long to achieve.
“It will take 10-12-15 years. When people will awaken and reject party politics and choose 543 good people as their representatives, then true democracy will come. People made sacrifices for independence but there has not been any struggle for democracy,” he said.
New Delhi: The central government Wednesday proposed to set up special hostels for students from the northeast region studying in Delhi.
Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) Minister Jitendra Singh ordered a sub-committee be set up consisting of representatives from offices of resident commissioners of various states as well as representatives of the DoNER ministry to identify suitable location and land for construction of such hostels.
The minister was addressing a meeting here of resident commissioners of the northeastern states.
The accessibility, security and availability of basic amenities should be important consideration while planning such hostels, an official release said.
Singh also issued instructions for carrying forward negotiations about the venues which were shortlisted
as possible locations for these hostels.
The minister called upon the resident commissioners to maintain a regular and closer interaction with his ministry in a more institutionalised manner.
Singh suggested each resident commissioner could collect general information about the profile and composition of the people from his state living in Delhi. This would enable the DoNER ministry to focus its plans on specific needs of students, youth, elderly citizens, women and other sections of society from each state residing in Delhi.
New Delhi: Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party, accusing it of dividing people along sectarian lines for the benefit of corporates and of not fulfilling promises made prior to the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.
“The Bharatiya Janata Party wants to divide Hindus and Muslims and wants the poor to fight amongst themselves. That is their strategy so that a few corporates can benefit. Ever since they have come to power, India has not progressed, the employment rate has not increased, but the corporates have been getting business,” Rahul said, while addressing a rally in Seelampur, ahead of the legislative assembly polls in Delhi.
Mocking the Prime Minister’s promises and initiatives, the Gandhi scion further referred to his party as the ‘poor man’s party’.
“The Prime Minister promised to distribute Rs 15 lakhs to each household when he got the black money back into the country. You have not got the money, but Prime Minister Modi is wearing a Rs 10 lakh suit. You wanted employment, you wanted the government to curb inflation, and he has given you a broom to clean up with,” Rahul said, referring to the Prime Minister’s garb at the Republic Day celebrations and his Swachh Bharat initiative.
“The Congress party is not weakened – it is the poor man’s party and we will stand by those who are poor. We will provide every poor person with the right to shelter. We want everyone to be part of Delhi’s progress. Delhi is the capital and is everyone’s city. If we have to take Delhi forward, we’ll have to take everyone forward,” he added.
Rahul further accused the Aam Aadmi Party of being hand in glove with the BJP, pointing towards the large number of AAP leaders who have defected to the latter.
“The AAP only has one goal; to not let the Congress come to power. When the UPA was in power, Arvind Kejriwal started protests on every topic but now he doesn’t protest at all,” he said.
“When the UPA ruled, Arvind Kejriwal raised the issues of rape and corruption and held protests. Now when there is an NDA government, rape cases in Delhi have increased by 30 percent but Kejriwal has not held any protest. Also, Everyone who leaves the AAP goes to the BJP,” he added.
Voting for the 70-member Delhi assembly will be held on February 7 and counting will take place on February 10. A total of 673 candidates are in the fray.
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