Nobel Laureate Satyarthi says companies cannot flourish on child slavery

Kailash Satyarthi, 2014 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, takes part in a panel during the Clinton Global Initiative's annual meeting in New York, September 27, 2015.
REUTERS/LUCAS JACKSON

NEW DELHI (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Big corporations must do more to clean up their supply chains and ensure that there is no child labour involved in the products which they manufacture and sell, Nobel laureate and child rights activist Kailash Satyarthi said on Friday.

From cosmetics and clothes to shrimp and smartphones, the supply chain for most products is often complex with multiple layers - whether in sourcing the raw materials or creating the final product - making it hard to identify exploitation.

Speaking at a conference on bonded labour in India, Satyarthi said a new anti-trafficking law being drafted by the government would hopefully make it harder for corporations to use child labour in their supply chains.

"Every national or international corporate must adhere to national as well as international laws. Those who are working in India should know that they cannot continue to violate the laws of the land," Satyarthi told journalists.

"We have laws in this country and we will have another clearer law on trafficking soon - so then there would be much more robust law and mechanisms to deal with that."

A draft of a comprehensive new anti-trafficking law is expected to be unveiled in India on Monday which will aim to unify several existing laws, raise penalties for offenders as well as provide victims with rehabilitation and compensation.

The law will also provide for the establishment of a central investigative anti-trafficking agency to coordinate and work between states and special courts to hear such cases.

Nearly 21 million people globally are victims of forced labour, an industry which generates $150 billion a year in illegal profits, says the International Labour Organization.

The British charity Anti-Slavery International on its website documents 122 products made by child labourers across 58 countries ranging from Latin America to Asia.

These children might be employed at the start of the supply chain, forced into mines to extract gold, mica, diamonds and coal or made to toil in farms to produce commodities such as cotton, sugar, tea, coffee and cocoa.

Children are also found working further down the supply chain, such as in the stitching of garments, manufacturing of footwear, weaving of carpets or in the assembly of fireworks.

Satyarthi, whose charity Bachpan Bachao Andolan (Save the Childhood Movement) is credited with rescuing more than 80,000 enslaved children, said big companies are increasingly being held accountable by consumers and the media.

"The power of the consumer and the media is growing everywhere. Companies should not ignore the power of consumers," said Satyarthi, who was awarded the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize jointly with Pakistani schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai.

"If they are exploiting children for their own benefit then that it is illegal and ethical. They cannot continue flourish at the expense of children in India or in any country."

(Reporting by Nita Bhalla,; Editing by Ros Russell; Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's rights, trafficking, corruption and climate change. Visit news.trust.org)

Naseeruddin Shah's oblique attack on Kher stirs controversy

New Delhi, May 28 (PTI) Veteran Bollywood actor Naseeruddin Shah's veiled comments against Anupam Kher on Saturday drew sharp reactions from his former co-star and some members of the film fraternity.

In an apparent dig at Kher, Shah had said, "A person who has never lived in Kashmir has started a fight for Kashmiri Pandits. Suddenly, he has become a displaced person." 

"Shah Saab ki Jai Ho. By that logic NRIs should not think about India at all.:)," Kher had tweeted.

The actor later said that he had spoken to Shah to clarify the matter. Kher said Shah denied making that statement.

When approached for his comments, Shah said, "I don't want to say anything. I don't want to give any reaction. This is misreporting." 

Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar wrote on Twitter, "You don't have to be Kashmiri to fight for #KashmiriPandits plight.

Every Indian should condemn the brutality and support their resettlement." 

Replying to Bhandarkar, Pandit said, "Well said Sir. Just like @NaseerudinShah who is from #Meerut but raised his voice for #GujaratRiots.

Russia continues monitoring development of US missile defense system — diplomat

Russia's deputy foreign minister says the development of the system can affect the implementation of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty

MOSCOW, May 27. /TASS/. Russia continues monitoring the development of US missile defense system as it can affect the implementation of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said on Friday at the session at the Russian Federation Council.

He noted that US positively assesses the process of implementing START. "We continue closely monitoring the development of US missile defense system, meaning interconnection between strategic defense and strategic offensive arms, as well as effect of this interconnection on the problem of START," Ryabkov added.

US still provided no details for their claims of Russia’s violations of INF Treaty

The United States is still not ready to provide detailed information to Russia about alleged violation of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF).

"The situation around the Soviet-US INF Treaty from 1987 has considerably deteriorated over the last years. We adhere to the Treaty and fulfill all its provisions. However, in 2013 US started to accuse us, at first in confidential contacts and then publicly, of violating the document. Washington says that in 2008-2011, a ground-based winged missile was test-fired on the Kapustin Yar training range, which is prohibited by the agreement," Ryabkov explained.

"Americans refuse to provide additional details to their claims, citing reluctance to disclose their sources. They only note that the aforementioned winged missile was not an RS-26 intercontinental ballistic missile or R-500 winged missile," he added.

US Administration is working on diplomatic, economic and military measures over "Russian violations," the diplomat said. "We see the tendency to integrating them into Washington’s general efforts to react to ‘Russia’s aggressive behavior’," he concluded.

Violations of INF by the United States

Meanwhile, Russia is concerned with violations of INF by the United States.

He noted the deteriorating situation around the INF Treaty. "The situation has not been settled so far because US refuse to take into account our concerns," Ryabkov said.

At the same time, the diplomat stressed that Moscow "has expressed to Washington very serious concerns over implementation of the agreement."

"Dialogue on implementing this agreement will continue," he added.

A ground-based Aegis system was commissioned in a ceremony in the Romanian town of Deveselu earlier in May. A total of 175 hectares was allocated here to accommodate the ballistic missile defense base comprising a radar, an operations center for antimissile batteries and Mk-1 vertical launch systems (VLS) with SM-3 Standard-3 antimissiles. It is also expected that the similar system will be deployed in Poland in 2018.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on May 13 at the session on developing military-industrial complex that deployment of US missile defense system in Europe is not protection but nuclear potential buildup. He also expressed concern with United States creating conditions for breaching the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF). "This (the deployment of the missile shield system in Europe) is an additional threat for us," the Russian president said. "After the US unilateral withdrawal from the anti-ballistic missile treaty, which was clearly the first step towards the attempts to disrupt the strategic balance of forces in the world, this will be the second blow against the system of international security, i.e. the creation of conditions for breaching the INF Treaty," the Russian president said. "This causes our additional concerns," he concluded.

Moscow ready for contacts with NATO on future of conventional weapons in Europe

Moscow is ready for contacts with NATO on the regime of conventional weapons control in Europe on the basis of equal and indivisible security and expects West’s response.

"Not NATO, but Russia was the first to note the importance of complete renewal of the set of rules of European security by proposing to make an agreement on European security," Ryabkov said. "The document would have fully taken into account the modern realities on the continent."

"Unfortunately, instead of eliminating division lines in Europe, Western colleagues chose a completely closed security architecture on the basis of never-ending NATO expansion to the detriment of development and strengthening of pan-European institutions and at the expense of security of those countries that do not want to join NATO," the diplomat noted.

In the conditions of the acute phase of the conflict in Ukraine, US and their allies started "to use instruments of control over weapons and confidence-building measures" to pressure Moscow and unleash an informational war against Russia, he went on. "We are refuting this appropriately," he stressed.

"Principles of the new regime of control over conventional weapons in Europe on the basis of equal and indivisible security may and should be considered in the context of restoring an adequate level of trust and normalization of relations between NATO, Western countries and Russia, including full restoration of military cooperation," Ryabkov said.

"Western colleagues know very well about our readiness for such contacts, the ball’s in their court. However, it looks like the Alliance is not ready to make any concrete proposals, taking into account the Ukrainian factor and upcoming presidential election in the United States," he concluded.

Obama mourns dead in Hiroshima, calls for world without nuclear arms

 

Hiroshima, Japan : Barack Obama on Friday became the first incumbent U.S. president to visit Hiroshima, site of the world's first atomic bombing, in a gesture Tokyo and Washington hope will showcase their alliance and reinvigorate efforts to rid the world of nuclear arms.

Even before it occurred, the visit stirred debate, with critics accusing both sides of having selective memories, and pointing to paradoxes in policies relying on nuclear deterrence while calling for an end to atomic weapons.

The two governments hope Obama's visit to Hiroshima, where a U.S. atomic bomb killed thousands instantly on Aug. 6, 1945, and some 140,000 by the year's end, underscores a new level of reconciliation and tighter ties between the former enemies.

"We come to ponder the terrible force unleashed in the not so distant past," Obama said after laying a wreath at a Hiroshima peace memorial.

"We come to mourn the dead, including over 100,000 Japanese men, women and children, thousands of Koreans and a dozen Americans held prisoner. Their souls speak to us."

Before laying the wreath, Obama visited a museum where haunting displays include photographs of badly burned victims, the tattered and stained clothes they wore and statues depicting people with flesh melting from their limbs.

"We have known the agony of war," he wrote in the guest book. "Let us now find the courage, together, to spread peace, and pursue a world without nuclear weapons."

After speaking, Obama shook hands and chatted briefly with two atomic bomb survivors. Obama and Sunao Tsuboi, 91, smiled as they exchanged words; Shigeaki Mori, 79, cried and was embraced by the president.

The city of Nagasaki was hit by a second nuclear bomb on Aug. 9, 1945, and Japan surrendered six days later.

A majority of Americans see the bombings as having been necessary to end the war and save lives, although some historians question that view. Most Japanese believe they were unjustified.

The White House had debated whether the time was right for Obama to break a taboo on presidential visits to Hiroshima, especially in an election year.

Sensex soars 287 pts, brings up best weekly show in 3 months

Mumbai, May 27 (PTI) Market kept its strong run going for the fourth straight session as the Sensex ended about 287 points higher after investors created fresh long positions in the new June derivative series amid earnings traction and continued foreign inflows.

The NSE Nifty in the process reclaimed the 8,100 level.

A higher opening in Europe and a firm trend in Asia acted as a catalyst.

For the week, the Sensex climbed 1,351.70 points, or 5.34 per cent, while NSE Nifty surged 406.95 points, or 5.25 per cent. For both the indices, the jump is their biggest weekly gain since March 4.

The June series derivative contracts was off to a better start, which added to the confidence level. Refinery, healthcare and realty stocks hogged the limelight.

The Sensex opened strong and closed at 26,653.60, a gain of 286.92 points, or 1.09 per cent. The barometer ended last above this level at 26,656.83 on October 30 last year.

The index had gained 1,136.32 points in the previous three sessions.

4TH Batch of 25 declassified files relating to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose released online on web portal

The Fourth batch of 25 declassified files relating to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose released online on web portal www.netajipapers.gov.in by Shri N.K. Sinha, Secretary, Ministry of Culture here today. The present batch of 25 files consists of 05 files from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), 04 files from Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), and 16 files from Ministry of External Affairs (MEA)pertaining to the period 1968 to 2008.

It may be recalled that first lot of 100 files relating to Netaji, after their preliminary conservation treatment and digitization, were put in the public domain by the Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi on 23 January 2016, on the occasion of the 119^th birth anniversary of Netaji.  The second lot of 50 files and third lot of 25 files were released by Dr. Mahesh Sharma, Minister of State for Culture and Tourism (I/C) and Civil Aviation on 29 March, 2016 and 29 April, 2016 respectively.

The present release of 25 files will further meet the continued public demand to access these files and this will also facilitate scholars to carry out further research on the doyen of the freedom movement.  These many files having passed the scrutiny of the specially constituted Committee having experts from the field of Archives which looks into the aspects such as:

1.             To ascertain the physical conditions of the files and carry out necessary repair and conservation wherever needed, through Conservation Unit.

2.             To verify the quality of digitization for enabling the digitized records to upload in the web portal ‘www.netajipapers.gov.in’.

3.             To check if there are any duplication in the files are being released on the internet for use by the researchers and general public.

It may be reiterated that in 1997 the National Archives of India had received 990 declassified files pertaining to the Indian National Army (Azad Hind Fauj) from the Ministry of Defence. Further, in 2012, 271 files/ items pertaining the Khosla Commission, and 759 files/ items of Justice Mukherjee Commission of Inquiry, in total 1030 files/ items were received from the Ministry of Home Affairs. All these files/ items are already open to the public under the Public Records Rules, 

President Shri Pranab Mukherjee in China

The President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee and the President of the People’s Republic of China, Mr. Xi Jinping, at the Welcome Ceremony, at Great Hall of the People, in Beijing, on May 26, 2016.

The President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee meeting the Chairman of National People's Congress, Mr. Zhang Dejiang, at Great Hall of the People, in Beijing, on May 26, 2016.

The President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee and the Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, Mr. Li Keqiang, at the delegation level talks, at Great Hall of the People, in Beijing, on May 26, 2016.

The President, Shri Pranab Mukherjee being introduced to Chinese dignitaries, at the Welcome Ceremony, at Great Hall of the People, in Beijing, on May 26, 2016. The President of the People’s Republic of China, Mr. Xi Jinping is also seen.

President Mukherjee Outlines Eight Steps for a People Centric Partnership Between India and China
The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee delivered a lecture at Peking University today (May 26, 2016) on the topic “India-China Relations: 8 steps to a people-centric partnership”.

Addressing the gathering, the President said at a time of global economic uncertainty, India and China, despite the pressure of having 40 per cent of the world’s human population, have managed to maintain unity and growth. The joint contribution of the two countries to world economy as well as regional and global stability, cannot be underestimated. India and China are poised to join the ranks of leading global powers. It is incumbent on the two countries, as emerging economic powers to remain equally focused on nurturing regional and global prosperity.

The President said both countries are at the threshold of an opportunity to join hands and create a resurgence, a positive energy, an “Asian Century”. This will not be an easy task. Obstacles need to be resolved with fortitude. The two countries must persevere to realise this dream. They must join hands in a durable friendship.

The President said political understanding between India and China is vital for a Closer Developmental Partnership. One of the ways it could be developed is through enhanced political communication. To build a people-centric partnership, there must be mutual trust predicated on mutual respect and a better appreciation of respective political and social systems. This can be achieved by closer contacts at all levels. There is need to enhance and strengthen co-operation to the mutual benefit of both peoples. The President quoted Gandhiji and said "I look forward to the day when a free India and a free China will cooperate together in friendship and brotherhood for their own good and for the good of Asia and the world." He called on the peoples of India and China to tirelessly strive for that objective - despite current challenges.

Underling the steps for people-centric India-China relations, the President said both India and China are ‘young’ societies. Our youth share common aspirations and perceptions. Their annual exchanges have been fruitful but both sides need to synergize their potential. He stated that in a digital age, joint film productions could be useful instruments for creating positive perceptions among our peoples. Greater exchanges between institutions of higher learning, more cultural festivals and joint research and scholarship programmes can help dispel the notion that we need to look to the West and not to each other to make progress in education, science & technology. Travel can also be a very important binding factor between the two countries. Indians would like to have more opportunities to travel to their holy sites in China and, in turn, welcome more Chinese visits to Buddhist pilgrimage centres in India. By pursuing sustainable solutions and sharing experiences, civil societies on both sides can collaborate – duly respecting the parameters in which they are required to operate in our respective countries. We can use multilateral fora including the G-20, BRICS, EAS, AIIB, SCO and the United Nations to enhance public awareness of the desire of both our countries for a shared future shaped by us together. Trade and commerce can also be the most powerful agents in reinforcing our complementarities. He called upon India-China entrepreneurs to jointly innovate to create a new model for business.

Narendra Modi the second most-liked world leader on Facebook

Kolkata, May 26 (PTI) As Narendra Modi completes two years as Prime Minister, he remains the second most-liked world leader on Facebook, the social media giant said today.

The list of most-liked world leaders on Facebook released by the social network shows that Modi is second only to US President Barack Obama and is followed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Modi's Facebook post on May 15 with his mother at his official residence at Delhi's Race Course Road remains on top with 1.6 million likes, 1.2 lakh shares and 34,000 comments.

"My mother returns to Gujarat. Spent quality time with her after a long time & that too on her 1st visit to RCR," he had written in the post which was accompanied by three photographs of the mother-son duo.

The Prime Minister's colleagues are also not far behind in making their presence felt in the virtual world.

Out of a total of 50 cabinet ministers along with ministers with independent charge, 47 of them have verified Facebook presence.

During the last one year, the top performing ministers on Facebook include Home Minister Rajnath Singh, HRD minister Smriti Zubin Irani, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Food processing minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal.

The Facebook report says Modi makes an average of 2.8 posts per day.

His other top posts include the one where he changed his profile picture in support of the efforts towards a Digital India.

The prime minister paying homage to former President Dr A P J Abdul Kalam is his third most popular post, according to Facebook.

Among the top three government initiatives popular on the social media site include 'Make In India', 'Digital India' and 'Skill India'
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SC allows marine Salvatore Girone to go to Italy, imposes fresh conditions

New Delhi, May 26 (PTI) The Supreme Court today relaxed the bail conditions of Salvatore Girone, one of the two Italian marines accused of killing two fishermen off Kerala coast in 2012, and allowed him to go to his country till an International Arbitral Tribunal decides the jurisdictional issue between India and Italy.

The other marine Massimiliano Latorre is already in Italy on health grounds and his stay there was recently extended by the apex court till September 30 this year.

A vacation bench of Justices P C Pant and D Y Chandrachud sought a fresh undertaking from Italian Ambassador here stating that if the International Arbitral Tribunal (IAT) decides jurisdictional issue in India's favour then he will be responsible in bringing back the marine within one month.

The apex court imposed four conditions on the marine which include that he has to report to police station in Italy on first Wednesday of every month and the Italian Embassy has to inform the Indian Embassy in Rome about the same.

It also said the marine will not tamper with any evidence nor influence any witness in the case.

The third condition imposed was that Girone will give an undertaking that he will remain under the jurisdiction of Supreme Court.

Lastly, if found violating any of the conditions imposed, his bail will be cancelled, the apex court said.

During the hearing, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) P S Narasimha said that Centre has no objection to the application moved by Girone if he complies with the conditions imposed by the apex court.

"We support the application on humanitarian grounds subject to his compliance with the conditions imposed by the court," the ASG said.

Girone, who presently is in the custody of the apex court and residing in Italian embassy here, had filed the application through lawyer Jagjit Singh Chhabra, also seeking a direction that Ministry of Home Affairs and the Foreigners Regional Registration Office be asked to provide him with the "necessary residential permit and exit visa".

The marines, who were on board ship 'Enrica Lexie', are accused of killing two Indian fishermen off the Kerala coast on February 15, 2012.

National Capital Goods Policy

The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for National Capital Goods Policy. This is first ever policy for Capital Goods sector with a clear objective of increasing production of capital goods from Rs.2,30,000 crore in 2014-15 to Rs.7,50,000 crore in 2025 and raising direct and indirect employment from the current 8.4 million to 30 million. 

The policy envisages increasing exports from the current 27 percent to 40 percent of production. It will increase the share of domestic production in India’s demand from 60 percent to 80 percent thus making India a net exporter of capital goods. The policy also aims to facilitate improvement in technology depth across sub-sectors, increase skill availability, ensure mandatory standards and promote growth and capacity building of MSMEs. 

The Policy will help in realising the vision of ‘Building India as the World class hub for Capital Goods’. It will also play a pivotal role in overall manufacturing as the pillar of strength to the vision of ‘Make in India’. 

The objectives of the policy will be met by the Department of Heavy Industry in a time bound manner through obtaining approval for schemes as per the roadmap of policy interventions. 

Background: 

The idea of a ‘National Capital Goods Policy’ was first presented by the Deptt. of Heavy Industry to the Prime Minister in the ‘Make in India’ workshop held in December, 2014. The policy has been finalized after extensive stakeholder consultations with industry, academia, different ministries etc. The key recommendations and elements of the policy have been formulated to support and boost development of this crucial sector. The aim of the policy is create game changing strategies for the capital goods sector. Some of the key issues addressed include availability of finance, raw material, innovation and technology, productivity, quality and environment friendly manufacturing practices, promoting exports and creating domestic demand.