The High Court ruling appeared to contradict an earlier decision by the country’s Federal Court in 2014. A Malaysian court ruled on March 10 that non-Muslims can use the word “Allah” to refer to God, in a major decision in a divisive issue for religious freedom in the Muslim-majority country.The High Court decision squashed a 35-year-old government ban on the usage of “Allah” and three other Arabic words by Christian publications, deeming the ban unconstitutional, said the plaintiff’s lawyer, Annou Xavier. The government has previously said “Allah” should be reserved exclusively for Muslims to avoid confusion that could lead them…
Author: Mike Harrison
American Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin will visit India from March 19 to 21 and meet Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and other leaders as part of his maiden visit abroad, the Pentagon announced on Wednesday. The dates of the visit were released by the Defence Ministry. The Secretary, whose trip begins on Saturday, will also visit Japan and South Korea and the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command in Hawaii. It would reinforce the U.S.’s commitment to the Indo-Pacific, the Pentagon said.“Secretary Austin will meet his counterparts and other senior officials to discuss the importance of international defence relationships, and reinforce the United…
Taking note of the delay in the conclusion of disciplinary proceedings initiated on its advice, wherein the second stage consultation with the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is also required before deciding penalties, the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has asked the organisations concerned to take corrective measures.The CVC said a considerable delay had been noticed in such cases, where the UPSC’s advice was obtained by the authorities concerned.The anti-corruption body, therefore, said at the time of approaching the UPSC for advice in those cases where the Commission’s first stage advice had been taken, the authorities should highlight the fact that…
Kerala State JD(S) president Mathew T. Thomas is among the candidates whom the party has fielded and he will be contesting from Thiruvalla Assembly seat The JD(S) on March 9 announced the list of four candidates for the April 6 Assembly polls in Kerala.Kerala State JD(S) president Mathew T. Thomas is among the candidates whom the party has fielded and he will be contesting from Thiruvalla Assembly seat.The other three are Dr. Neela Lohithadassa Nadar from Kovalam, K. Krishnan Kutty from Chittur, and Jose Thettayil from Ankamali.In a letter to Mr. Thomas, JD(S) patriarch H.D. Deve Gowda said as the…
Communist Party of India (Marxist) will contest the Kerala Assembly elections in 85 seats.CPI(M) acting State Secretary A. Vijayaraghavan announced the contestants for 83 constituencies. They included nine CPI(M) backed independents. The party would announce the contenders for Manjeswaram and Devikulam Assembly segments later.Notably, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Health Minister K.K. Shylaja, Excise Minister T.P. Ramakrishnan, Electricity Minister M.M. Mani and Devasom Board Minister Kadakampally Surendran are in the fray. Former Speaker K. Radhakrishnan, M. V. Govindan, P. Rajeev and K. N. Balagopal, all CPI(M) secretariat members, are fighting the elections scheduled for April 6. Thirty-three incumbent legislators, including five…
Narendra does not hold any official position in Bharatiya Kisan Union, formed by his father in 1986. Farmers are ready to stay put on Delhi borders to protest against three agriculture laws for the remaining three and half years of the Modi government’s second term and the stir cannot be “culled” in any way the Centre tries, legendary farm leader Mahendra Singh Tikait’s son Narendra Tikait says. Narendra does not hold any official position in Bharatiya Kisan Union, formed by his father in 1986. He mostly focusses on the family’s farming activities but is as vocal on issues concerning farmers…
President Ram Nath Kovind was delivering the 16th annual convocation address at Thiruvalluvar University in Vellore The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has a holistic vision of transforming the way children and youth will be educated to make learning a part of personal development while also serving the needs of society, said President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday.Delivering the 16th annual convocation address at Thiruvalluvar University in Vellore, he hailed the NEP. “India had a rich system of education prior to the British rule. Gandhiji described it as a ‘beautiful tree’ that was cut down by what the British rulers…
Governor Biswa Bhusan Harichandan and his wife cast their votes at C. V. R. High School in Vijayawada city. Elections for 12 municipal corporations and 71 municipalities in Andhra Pradesh are going on peacefully under close watch by the State Election Commission. Commissioner N. Ramesh Kumar visited a few polling stations in Vijayawada city along with district Collector A Md. Imtiaz and some other officials.According to official sources, 11.71% polling was recorded at 9 a.m. and it reached 32.23% by 11 a.m. Governor Biswa Bhusan Harichandan and his wife cast their votes at CVR High School in Vijayawada city. You…
Joe Biden delivered on top campaign pledges that involved rolling back Trump administration’s moves on everything from climate change to immigration. President Joe Biden laid out an ambitious agenda for his first 100 days in office, promising swift action on everything from climate change to immigration reform to the coronavirus pandemic.He hits his 50th day in office on Wednesday as his administration eyes a major milestone: final Congressional passage of his massive $1.9 trillion coronavirus aid package. The Bill includes direct payments to millions of Americans and money to help the White House deliver on a number of Mr. Biden’s…
38-year-old activist Ted Hui Chi-fung fled Hong Kong for Europe in December while he was free on bail on protest-related charges CFormer Hong Kong pro-democracy lawmaker and activist Ted Hui Chi-fung said he had relocated to Australia where he would continue campaigning against the Chinese Communist Party.The 38-year-old fled Hong Kong for Europe in December while he was free on bail on protest-related charges.Hui on Wednesday thanked the Australian government for intervening so that he was allowed to travel from London to Australia this week on a flight that was repatriating Australian citizens.Australia has limited the pandemic spread by denying…