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☆ Singapore's prime minister pledges 'zero tolerance' after recent wave of political scandals
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Singapore's prime minister Lee Hsien Loong vowed Wednesday to uphold "zero tolerance" toward any wrongdoing by government officials. His comments came after a wave of political scandals rocked the Southeast Asian nation in recent weeks, tarnishing the pristine image that underpins its standing as a global financial center. "The founding generation built up Singapore and entrusted it to our generation in good shape," Lee said in a parliamentary address Wednesday. Lee said actions taken after these scandals showed two aspects of how his PAP government works. "One, when there is a suspicion or allegation of wrongdoing in the discharge of official duties, especially possible corruption, there is zero tolerance," he said in the first parliamentary session after these events,.

Persons: Lee Hsien Loong, Lee, Iswaran, Ong Beng Seng, Tan Chuan, Jin, Cheng Li Hui, Shanmugam, Vivian Balakrishnan Organizations: Central Business District, Party, Home Affairs Minister, Foreign Locations: Bay, Singapore

☆ Australian lawmakers recommend potential WeChat ban on govt devices
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, Aug 1 (Reuters) - A senate committee investigating how foreign powers use social media to interfere in Australia has recommended a swathe of rules and restrictions for social media platforms, including potentially banning Chinese messaging service WeChat on government devices. Tuesday's report contains 17 recommendations including new transparency rules enforceable by fines, expanding an existing TikTok ban on government devices to contractors and investigating a ban on WeChat on government devices. "Platforms like TikTok and WeChat that are subject to the control of authoritarian regimes illustrate the broader cyber security risk to sensitive government information," he said in a statement. The committee also recommended that Australia helps developing countries in the Indo-Pacific resist "malicious information operations" by authoritarian states. While many recommendations singled out Chinese social media platforms, a set of 11 transparency rules would require all large social media platforms to label state affiliated media accounts, and disclose when governments direct content moderation and actions against accounts of elected officials.

Persons: WeChat, Paterson, James Paterson, Lewis Jackson, Ed Osmond Organizations: SYDNEY, HK, Liberal, Labor, Home Affairs, Thomson Locations: Australia, China

Djamani was sentenced to the mandatory death penalty in 2018 after being convicted of possessing 31 grams of heroin. Djamani is the first woman to be hanged in Singapore since hairdresser Yen May Woen, 36, in 2004, who was also convicted of drug trafficking. Criminal lawyer Joshua Tong said those convicted of drug trafficking were usually men, but he had seen “his fair share” of women drug offenders. We demand an immediate moratorium on the use of the death penalty,” the group wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. The case put Singapore’s zero-tolerance drug laws back under scrutiny, with rights advocates arguing the mandatory death penalty for drug trafficking is an inhumane punishment.

Persons: Saridewi, Djamani, Yen, Woen, ”, Celia Ouellette, “, ” Adilur Rahman Khan, Chiara Sangiorgio, Joshua Tong, Tong, Mohd Aziz bin Hussain, Kirsten Han, “ TJC, Suppiah, Dharmalingam Organizations: CNN, Singapore, Central Narcotics Bureau, Business Initiative for Justice, International Federation for Human Rights, Ministry of Home Affairs, Twitter, United Nations Office, Drugs Locations: Changi, Singapore, “ Singapore, France, Asia, East, Southeast Asia

CNN —A music festival in Malaysia has been canceled after the lead singer of British band The 1975 Matty Healy slammed the country’s anti-LGBTQ laws and kissed a bandmate on stage. The on-stage incident at the Good Vibes Festival in Kuala Lumpur on Friday night prompted the country’s Ministry of Communications to cancel the rest of the three-day event. Homosexual acts are illegal in Malaysia and punishable by fines and up to 20 years in prison. Healy added that the band considered canceling the show but decided against it to not disappoint the fans. In 2019, Healy kissed a male fan during a concert in Dubai, in defiance of the region’s anti-LGBT laws.

Persons: Matty Healy, Healy, “, ”, you’re, ” Healy, Ross MacDonald, It’s, – Healy Organizations: CNN, country’s Ministry of Communications, Ministry of Communications, Digital, Malaysian Home Affairs Ministry, Nazi, Kanye, Twitter Locations: Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Dubai

☆ Tunisia’s president is accused of racism and dictatorship. He’s now getting a billion euros from Europe
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Ivana Kottasová | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

“Since 2011, the European Union has been supporting Tunisia’s journey of democracy,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen after signing the agreement. But these difficulties can be overcome.”Several European lawmakers and human rights organizations have warned that any agreement that doesn’t include human rights assurances would be seen as an endorsement of Saied’s anti-democratic policies. Values lose.”Saied rose to power in 2019 after the death of Tunisia’s first democratically elected president Beji Caid Essebsi. The EU is cooperating with Tunisia on migration despite serious allegations of human rights abuses against migrants on Tunisia’s part. It brokered a similar agreement with Libya in 2017 despite documented human rights violations there.

Persons: Kais Saied, ”, Ursula von der Leyen, Sophie, Veld, ” Camille Le Coz, Tunisia’s, Beji Caid, Saied, von der Leyen, Georgia Meloni, Mark Rutte, Tunisia “, ” Max Gallien, ” Le Coz, ’ Gallien, Gallien Organizations: CNN, European Union, Civil Liberties, Justice, Home Affairs, Migration, Dutch, European Commission, EU, UN Refugee Agency, UN, Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex, European Council, Commission, Libya Locations: Tunisia, Europe, ‘, Brussels, Italian, Tunis, Italy, Hungary, Poland, Netherlands, France, Germany, EU, Africa, Libya

☆ Singapore is facing a wave of political scandals. Here's what we know so far
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Here's what we know so far:The news has involved the private lives of some of its leaders and highly paid ministers. SINGAPORE — A series of revelations has rocked Singapore's political scene in the past few weeks. Those dealings involved the Singapore Land Authority, a government agency under the charge of Shanmugam in the Law Ministry. The outcome of the review was debated in the Singapore Parliament. I think it's quite clear to me."

Persons: Tan Chuan, Jin, Vivian Balakrishnan, Shanmugam, Lee Hsien Loong, Pritam Singh Organizations: SINGAPORE, Law, Home Affairs Minister, Singapore Land Authority, Law Ministry, Prime, Singapore's Locations: Singapore

☆ Singapore launches corruption probe involving transport minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Clement Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said July 12 that he has instructed the country's transport minister S. Iswaran to go on leave after he was implicated in an anti-graft agency investigation. SINGAPORE — Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has asked the country's transport minister to go on leave after he was implicated in an anti-graft agency investigation. "I have instructed Minister Iswaran to take leave of absence until these investigations are completed," Lee said, without elaborating on the specifics of the case. Senior Minister of State Chee Hong Tat will be acting minister for transport, Lee added. The announcement comes weeks after a state review on allegations made against two other cabinet ministers regarding their rental of government-owned colonial bungalows.

Persons: Lee Hsien Loong, Iswaran, Lee, State Chee Hong, Shanmugam, Vivian Balakrishnan Organizations: Singapore's, SINGAPORE — Singapore's, State, Law, Home Affairs Minister, Singapore Locations: SINGAPORE

☆ These images aren’t real, but for some refugees they depict a painful truth
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-25 | by ( Hilary Whiteman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

For some, Australia’s approach has been seen as a model, particularly in the United Kingdom, which wants to send some asylum seekers to Rwanda. As AI images, they’re powerful and controversial, not least due to fears they could be mistaken for real images in a world awash with false and misleading information. Amnesty International was recently called out for using AI images in a report to depict protesters in Colombia that critics said undermined its credibility as a news source. The refugee AI images were created partly because no “real” alternative existed – partly due to distance but also restrictions on media access and early bans on mobile phones. But the use of fake images to visualize accounts raises questions about when it’s acceptable to create AI images and how they should be presented.

Persons: Ian Rintoul, ”, I’m, It’s, Saman, “ I’m, Maurice Blackburn, they’d, –, Jennifer Kanis, Maurice Blackburn “, “, we’d, Behrouz Boochani, Kim Wade, Wade, Gavin, Kanis Organizations: Australia CNN, Asylum Seeker Resource, Refugee, Coalition, United Nations, CNN, High, Amnesty, Guardian, University of Warwick, Howatson, Australia’s Home Affairs Department, “, Papua New, Papua New Guinea Government Locations: Brisbane, Australia, Nauru, Manus, Papua New Guinea, United Kingdom, Rwanda, Pakistan, United States, New Zealand, Indonesia, Colombia, Papua

Change is afoot in the conservative city state with a softening of attitudes and growing tolerance of gay issues, which some members of the LGBT community and academics attribute to the November lifting of a ban on sex between men. But the historic lifting of the ban was not all welcomed by LGBT people. The repeal of the gay sex ban was not universally welcomed. LGBT issues are appearing in the typically conservative domestic media, known for toeing the government line. The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore this month advised teachers to "address socio-religious issues, including LGBT issues, with wisdom, kindness, compassion and mercy".

Persons: Yeo Sam Jo, Yeo, JoJo Sam Clair, Laavanya Kathiravelu, Carol, Dot, Nishanthiy Balasamy, Corinna Lim, Lim, Cally Chia, Ching Chia, Ching, Clement Tan, Pink Dot, We're, Tan, Xinghui Kok, Chen Lin, Robert Birsel, William Mallard Organizations: Nanyang Technological University, Institute of Policy, Islamic, Council of, Pink, Thomson Locations: SINGAPORE, Singapore, Council of Singapore, Instagram

☆ Australia Russia embassy row: Suspected Russian diplomat squatter dismissed as just "a bloke" by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( Chris Lau | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Australia’s government last week terminated its lease on the grounds of national security. A man, believed to be Russian diplomat, has remained at the site in defiance of the move. Albanese was asked by journalists on Friday to comment on reports that a Russian diplomat had taken up residence in a shed. “The national security threat that was represented by a Russian Embassy on site is not the same as some bloke standing on a blade of grass on the site – that, we don’t see really as a threat to our national security,” he replied. On Friday, Australia’s home affairs minister said Moscow had told the Australian government that it would take the matter to court.

Persons: Anthony Albanese, Albanese, ”, “ We’re, Clare O’Neil, Australia’s, Moscow, “ Organizations: Hong Kong CNN — Australian, Russian Embassy, Home, Russian, Reuters, Australian Federal Police, CNN, Russian Federation, Commonwealth Locations: Hong Kong, Russian, Moscow, Canberra, Yarralumla, Australia, Kyiv, Ukraine, Russia

☆ Australia names air force veteran as cybersecurity chief amid rise in data breaches
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, June 23 (Reuters) - Australia on Friday named a senior air force commander as its first cybersecurity boss to help lead the government's response to major data breaches and boost the nation's security capabilities amid a recent spike in network intrusions. Air Marshal Darren Goldie, a 30-year veteran, will become the national cybersecurity coordinator, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said. He will be supported by a national office within the department of home affairs and begin his term on July 3. HWL Ebsworth has flagged ransomware group BlackCat, also known as ALPHV, may have published some stolen data on the dark web. Major breaches were reported by health insurer Medibank Private (MPL.AX) and telco Optus, owned by Singapore Telecommunications (STEL.SI).

Persons: Darren Goldie, Anthony Albanese, " Albanese, HWL Ebsworth, Goldie, Clare O'Neil, telco, Renju Jose, Jamie Freed Organizations: SYDNEY, Home Affairs, Medibank, telco Optus, Singapore Telecommunications, Thomson Locations: Australia, Sydney

☆ Windrush Day: Manchester United great Andy Cole opens up about Jamaican roots and racism
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( Darren Lewis | James Oware | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

On one of the first voyages, 492 Caribbean islanders onboard the HMT Empire Windrush arrived in the UK on June 22, 1948. That generation of immigrants became the namesake of that ship, and their arrival date is now celebrated as Windrush Day. However, Cole says racist abuse and a lack of acknowledgement for his achievements meant that in adulthood, he recognized his father was right. Speaking on the inevitability of racist abuse that Black footballers face when missing penalties Andy outlined, “I think we’re just waiting, okay, what’s happening on social media? A clinical striker in his playing career, maybe one day Andy can transfer his wealth of knowledge to the boardroom.

Persons: Andy Cole, “, Darren Lewis, Cole reminisced, ” Andy, Windrush, Cole’s, Cole, Douglas Miller, ” Cole, Norma Gregory, Lincoln, ”, Caribbeans, Mark Leech, Andy, Devante, George Wood, Jadon Sancho, Marcus Rashford, Vinícius, Romelu, Tom Jenkins, Vinicius Organizations: CNN, League, Champions League, CNN’s, Commonwealth, Caribbean, Hulton, Coal Miners, Heritage, English League, Barnsley, English, England, Inter Milan, FIFA, UEFA, Italy, Real Locations: Britain, Nottingham, Jamaica, Commonwealth, Runnymede, British, England, Real Madrid, Italian, Brazil, European

☆ News outlets go all in on missing Titanic submersible. But have they gone overboard in coverage?
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

It melds elements of mystery and humanity with a dose of high drama as rescuers race against time in their frantic search for a missing vessel with five souls aboard. Should a missing tourism vessel for the ultra-wealthy take precedence over other consequential stories happening around the world? While the press took heat for around-the-clock coverage of MH370, the tragedy was arguably far more worthy of coverage. And yet, the disaster did not inspire a level of coverage close to what major news organizations have devoted to the ocean submersible. Eric Deggans, NPR’s media critic and an adjunct instructor at Duke University, conceded that the coverage of the Titanic vessel has perhaps been over-torqued in recent days.

Persons: CNN —, Samuel Freedman, ” Freedman, Trump, Vincent Browne, Ylva Johansson, hasn’t, ” Alex Shephard, it’s, ”, ” Shephard, Eric Deggans, ” Deggans, Deggans Organizations: CNN, Columbia Journalism School, Malaysian, European Union, The New, Duke University Locations: Ukraine, Europe, Greece, The New Republic

In Pakistan, authorities said more than 300 of its nationals died in the tragedy, but did not specify how they received the information. The Federal Investigation Agency of Pakistan in a statement Tuesday said that 88 people have officially been registered as missing by family members. Last week, Greek authorities denied claims that the boat had capsized after the coast guard attempted to tow it to shore. Migrants rest in a shelter, following a rescue operation, after their boat capsized at open sea, in Kalamata, Greece, June 14, 2023. “This is what they’re doing and it’s absolutely necessary to prevent it.”Migrants arrive at the port of Kalamata, following a rescue operation, after their boat capsized at open sea, in Kalamata, Greece, June 14, 2023.

Persons: Adriana, Saeed Anwar, Abdul Jabbar, selfie, Gibran Peshimam, Jabbar, Anwar, ” Anwar, “, ”, Tarek Aldroobi, Stelios Misinas, Raja Aqeel, Aqeel, Home Affairs Ylva Johansson, Johansson Organizations: Kashmir CNN, Federal Investigation Agency of Pakistan, Union, CNN, United Nations Migration Agency, Authorities, Reuters, Home Affairs, ”, Eurokinissi, Reuters Authorities, Human Rights Locations: Bandali, Pakistan, Kashmir, Greece, Europe, Khuiratta, Italy, Libya, East, Asia, Africa, Kalamata, Islamabad, Lahore, Gujrat, Gujranwala, Rawalpindi

☆ Rwandan genocide accused abandons South African bail, seeks asylum
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

CAPE TOWN, June 20 (Reuters) - Former Rwandan police officer Fulgence Kayishema, accused of participating in the 1994 Rwandan genocide, has abandoned his application for bail and applied for political asylum in South Africa, prosecuting authorities and his lawyer said on Tuesday. Rwandan genocide suspect Fulgence Kayishema appears at the Cape Town Magistrates' Court where 54 new charges were added against him, in Cape Town, South Africa June 9, 2023. REUTERS/Nic Bothma/File PhotoThe NPA said the 62-year-old accused "has abandoned his bail application and will instead launch an asylum application today". "My client fears for his life, if and when extradited, hence the very reason for his asylum application which has been filed today," Kayishema's lawyer, Juan Smuts, told Reuters in an emailed response. He said further details would be revealed in his client's asylum application to officials at the Department of Home Affairs.

Persons: Fulgence Kayishema, Kayishema, Nic Bothma, Juan Smuts, Wendell Roelf, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Former Rwandan, Rwanda, National Prosecuting Authority, Cape Town Magistrates, REUTERS, Reuters, Department of Home Affairs, Thomson Locations: CAPE, South Africa, Cape Town, Cape Town , South Africa

The chairman of of Pakistan’s Senate, Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani, disclosed the numbers in a statement Sunday, sending condolences to grieving families of the dead. “Our thoughts and prayers are with you, and we pray that the departed souls find eternal peace,” Sanjrani said. Pakistan is in the midst of its worst economic crisis in decades. The boat capsized off the Greek coast last week while traveling from Libya to Italy. “They are not sending them to Europe, they are sending them to death.

Persons: Pakistan CNN —, Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani, ” Sanjrani, Shehbaz Sharif, ” Sharif, Home Affairs Ylva Johansson, Johansson, ” Organizations: Pakistan CNN, European Union, Pakistan’s, Greece Coast Guard, United Nations Migration Agency, Home Affairs Locations: Karachi, Pakistan, Greece, European, Europe, Libya, Italy

☆ Greek migrant boat disaster may be ‘worst ever tragedy’ in Mediterranean sea, EU commissioner says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-17 | by ( Florence Davey Attlee Elinda Labropoulou Zahid Mahmood Mostafa Salem Nadine Schmidt Eyad Kourdi Sharon Braithwaite Heather Chen | Florence Davey Attlee | Elinda Labropoulou | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —The sinking of a packed migrant boat off the coast of Greece may be “the worst tragedy ever” in the Mediterranean sea, according to the EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson. “We don’t have all information yet on what has happened but it seems like this is the worst ever tragedy we’ve seen in the Mediterranean,” she told a press conference in Brussels on Friday. On Friday, they denied claims that the boat had capsized after the coast guard attempted to tow it to shore. A rope, not a mooring rope, was also used when the coast guard approached,” he added. “When the Greek navy tried pulling them it caused the boat to capsize.”CNN has reached out to Greek authorities regarding the allegations.

Persons: Home Affairs Ylva Johansson, ”, Johansson, “, we’ve, Ilias Siakanderis, –, …, ” Tarek Aldroobi, ” Aldroobi, Ayman Abu Mahmoud, ” Abu Mahmoud Organizations: CNN, Home Affairs, International Organization for Migration, UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, Authorities, ERT, Horan Free League Locations: Greece, Tobruk, Libya, Italy, Brussels, Europe, Syrian, Deraa

☆ Australia's visa overhaul leaves Chinese millionaires in limbo
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Stella Qiu | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/2] Chinese and Malaysian tourists take photographs of the Sydney Opera House from a viewing area located on Sydney Harbour, Australia, October 4, 2016. Similar investment visa schemes have been scrapped in Canada, Britain and Singapore as governments conclude they do not create jobs and could be a means to park speculative money. It said a new migration strategy would be released later this year, which would include "radically reshaping" the BIIP programme. "I just don't think the investor programme is on their radar at the moment - they might overhaul it down the track. BIIP holders say they are curtailing business investment given the uncertainty, postponing life decisions and in some cases selling properties in Australia.

Persons: David Gray SYDNEY, Paul Wang, Wang, Tony Le Nevez, Tan, Stella Qiu, Praveen Menon, William Mallard Organizations: Sydney Opera House, REUTERS, Innovation, Investment, Labor, Department of Home Affairs, Henley & Partners Australia, Thomson Locations: Malaysian, Sydney Harbour, Australia, Beijing, Canada, Britain, Singapore, Sydney, Melbourne, United States

☆ Australia cancels lease for new Russian embassy citing national security
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Renju Jose | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, June 15 (Reuters) - Australia said on Thursday it would introduce legislation to parliament to cancel Russia's lease to build a new embassy in the national capital of Canberra, citing national security. The move follows the conclusion of a long-running litigation regarding the leased site after the federal court ruled last month that an eviction order made by the National Capital Authority - a government body tasked with the planning of the national capital - was invalid. Russia bought the lease in 2008 and had plans approved in 2011 but the National Capital Authority blamed the embassy for leaving the site unused, according to Australian media. Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil said the "principal problem" with the proposed second Russian embassy was its location, as the site sits directly adjacent to the parliament house. Since the conflict began, Australia has provided millions in military support to Ukraine and has sanctioned more than 1,000 Russian individuals and entities.

Persons: Anthony Albanese, " Albanese, Clare O'Neil, Albanese, Renju Jose, Michael Perry Organizations: SYDNEY, National Capital Authority, Home Affairs, Ukraine, Thomson Locations: Australia, Canberra, Russian, Russia, Ukraine, Sydney

☆ EU ministers seek long-stalled migration deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( Gabriela Baczynska | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

A tentative deal on the table comes after years of damaging feuds between EU states since their cooperation collapsed in acrimony in 2015 as more than a million people - mostly fleeing the war in Syria - arrived across the Mediterranean. "We can only handle migration together as the whole EU." CAMPSFor nearly a decade, EU countries traded blame for handling new arrivals. On Thursday, the ministers will also discuss EU aid for Tunisia, which is a gateway for African migration to Europe and faces growing instability. Bad blood spilled over as eastern EU countries like Poland and Hungary refused to host anyone from the mainly-Muslim Middle East and North Africa.

Persons: Nancy Faeser, France's Gerald Darmanin, Benoit van Overstraeten, Bart Meijer, Alexander Ratz, Kristina, Gabriela Baczynska, Mark Potter Organizations: Home, European Union, Liberal, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Syria, Spain, Tunisia, Europe, Italy, Greece, Germany, Sweden, Poland, Hungary, East, North Africa, EU, Budapest

☆ Breakthrough on stalled EU migration deal coming this week - official
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( Gabriela Baczynska | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The EU's migration chief spoke ahead of talks between home affairs ministers of the bloc's 27 member states on Thursday. "It's about having a European migration policy," EU migration commissioner, Ylva Johansson told reporters. Agreeing a joint approach has proven all but impossible for EU countries since 2015 when the sea arrivals caught them by surprise, overwhelming their reception and security capacity. Bad blood spilled over as eastern EU countries like Poland and Hungary refused to host any refugees and migrants from the mainly-Muslim Middle East and North Africa. Johansson said the tentative deal allowed for the latter, adding that it envisaged no "mandatory relocations" of people and that EU states could help differently.

Persons: Johansson, Ylva Johansson, Gabriela Baczynska, Ed Osmond Organizations: Luxembourg Deal, Oxfam, Union, EU, Thomson Locations: Luxembourg, BRUSSELS, Syria, Spain, Italy, Malta, Greece, Germany, France, Sweden, Poland, Hungary, East, North Africa, Europe

☆ Modi inaugurates controversial new parliament building in India
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-26 | by ( Rhea Mogul | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

A cyclist rides past the construction site for the new Parliament building in January 2021. Controversial projectThe new triangular parliament building is part of a major overhaul of New Delhi’s colonial-era administrative center dubbed the Central Vista Redevelopment Project. The rush was widely thought to have resulted from hopes of opening the parliament building by the 75th anniversary of Indian independence in August 2022. Capacity is also limited — a concern magnified by growing calls to increase the number of MPs sitting in India’s parliament. A photo of the parliament's interior taken during a visit to the building by Modi earlier this year.

☆ ‘Best Friends’ Australia and New Zealand Patch Up a Major Difference
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Natasha Frost | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Hundreds of New Zealanders were about to take an oath to become Australian citizens, and cheering them on in their pursuit of dual citizenship was the head of the New Zealand government. Australia was about to reverse a two-decade-old policy and restore rights for the almost 700,000 New Zealanders living in Australia to easily gain citizenship, putting them on par with Australian migrants across the Tasman Sea in New Zealand. Australia and New Zealand often describe each other as their closest international partners. The new center-left government in Australia, led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, has taken steps to address these issues. At the citizenship ceremony on Sunday in Brisbane, Australia, Chris Hipkins, the prime minister of New Zealand, said his presence was a sign of the “bonds that bind us all together.” That sentiment was later echoed by Clare O’Neil, Australia’s home affairs minister: “Our Kiwi cousins are our very best friends in the world.”

New Delhi CNN —Ten policemen and a civilian were killed in blast as they were returning from an operation against insurgents in India’s central Chhattisgarh state, its chief minister said Wednesday. Rebel Maoist militants are believed to be responsible for the attack, Bhupesh Baghel told reporters, expressing his grief over the deaths. More than 2,100 civilians in India have been killed in the Maoist insurgency since 2010. In 2017, 25 police officers were killed and six others injured when hundreds of suspected Maoist rebels attacked a convoy in central India. Suspected Maoists also struck during India’s elections in 2019, allegedly gunning down a polling supervisor in the eastern state of Odisha.

☆ Australia to overhaul immigration system, smooth entry for skilled workers
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, April 27 (Reuters) - Australia proposed on Thursday overhauling its immigration system to speed up getting highly skilled workers into the country and smoothening the path to permanent residency. It is failing our businesses, it is failing migrants themselves. Australia has been competing with comparable countries, like Canada and Germany, to lure more skilled migrants, with the surge in demand exacerbated by an ageing population. But it will not add to Australia's annual intake of permanent migrants, she said. From July 1, the government said it would raise the migrant wage threshold of temporary skilled workers to A$70,000 ($46,250) from A$53,900, stuck at the same level since 2013.

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