UN MIGRATION AGENCY SUPPORTS THOUSANDS DISPLACED IN CONFLICT-AFFECTED EASTERN DR CONGO
Posted:
05/19/17
Democratic Republic of the Congo – The UN Migration Agency (IOM) is responding to the urgent humanitarian needs of 27,193 displaced people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) eastern province of North Kivu, through funding from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA).
Through its rapid response mechanism, SIDA has provided 1.6 million SEK (USD 183,000) to IOM’s assistance programme for internally displaced persons in North Kivu, who had lacked adequate access to shelter, water and sanitation in IOM-managed displacement sites.
“These funds have come at a time when most humanitarian actors have pulled out of many displacement sites in eastern DRC due to security and funding issues, leaving thousands of displaced people even more vulnerable,” said Boubacar Seybou, Head of IOM’s Office in Goma. “With SIDA funding, we were able to ensure that residents of displacement sites in North Kivu have better access to dignified shelter, safe and potable water as well as adequate sanitation facilities,” added Seybou.
For decades, the DRC has experienced conflict and instability, triggering mass displacements and abuses of human rights at the hands of warring factions against innocent civilian populations. By the end of April 2017, there were 3.7 million internally displaced persons in the DRC, making it the African country most affected by internal displacement. North Kivu remains the province with the most population movement. Unlike in other provinces, armed violence represents the sole cause of displacement.
Since the beginning of 2016, the deterioration of the political and security situation, the upsurge in inter-ethnic conflicts and the disengagement of several humanitarian actors has led to a significant decrease in emergency assistance to IDPs in displacement sites in North Kivu.
SIDA’s funding has been crucial to enable IOM to construct and rehabilitate basic water and sanitation infrastructure and provide 4,000 households with shelter kits. In the first three months of 2017, IOM constructed 324 latrines with hand wash stations, 120 showers and 35 rubbish pits in four targeted displacement sites.
“Before we felt like prisoners but after the arrival of IOM we have been freed,” said Sebakara Mukamusoni, one of the residents of the Muheto displacement site. “We can finally wash ourselves in the showers and, thanks to the construction of latrines, diarrhoea has diminished in our site,” Mukamusoni added.
In the Muheto site, IOM installed a new water system network, as the closest source of clean water was more than two kilometres away. IOM also provided community committees in the different sites with tools and basic training to maintain these water and sanitation infrastructures.
Over the next 12 months, IOM will continue to provide life-saving assistance and protection to vulnerable people in displacement sites in North Kivu, thanks to additional financing from SIDA of 10 million SEK (USD 1 million).
RENEWED COMMUNAL VIOLENCE IN NORTHERN MALI LEADS TO SPIKE IN DISPLACEMENT
Posted:
05/19/17
Mali – A recent resurgence of communal violence and armed conflict in northern Mali has displaced thousands more people over the past few months.
This week, Mali’s Commission on Movement of Population (CMP) reported an increase of 14,223 internally displaced persons (IDPs) since February, bringing the total number of people uprooted by violence across the country to 58,985 individuals (10,248 households).
Most of the newly displaced people are clustered in the Timbuktu region due to recent violent conflict in the nearby commune of Gourma-Rharous.
Nationally, the Timbuktu region continues to host the highest number of IDPs (22,328), followed by Segou (10,794) and Menaka (10,381).
Several months ago, communal violence appeared to have abated, prompting the UN Migration Agency (IOM) to step up return and reintegration assistance for IDPs wishing to go home. At the time, IOM expressed hope that all displaced people could potentially return to their communities of origin by year’s end if there was no re-occurrence of conflict and there was sufficient humanitarian assistance to do so.
IOM says more financial support is necessary to assist vulnerable communities. It also renews its call to all groups in Mali to work toward stability and peace, avoid further displacement and do everything possible to enable displaced families to return home.
The IOM mission in Mali continues to work with the Government of Mali to provide up-to-date information on movements of IDPs and returnees as well as on the needs of the populations affected by conflict, as part of the country’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) programme.
IOM also continues its community stabilization work, including the rehabilitation of damaged houses in areas affected by conflict, delivery of core relief items, psychosocial and reintegration assistance, and income-generation and skills-building activities.
‘DOES BASIC ENERGY ACCESS GENERATE SOCIO-ECONOMIC BENEFIC.
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| CPR Initiative on Climate, Energy and Environment is pleased to invite you to a talk on ‘Does Basic Energy Access Generate Socio-Economic Benefit
s?’Monday, 29 May 2017, 4:30 – 6:00 p.m.
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Dr. Johannes Urpelainen
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| Conference Hall, Centre for Policy Research |
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| Image Source: Greenpeace |
The talk assesses the socio-economic effects of solar microgrids. The lack of access to electricity is a major obstacle to the socio-economic development of over a billion people. Off-grid solar technologies hold promise as an affordable and clean solution to satisfy basic electricity needs. We conducted a randomized field experiment in India to estimate the causal effect of off-grid solar power on electricity access and broader socio-economic development of 1,281 rural households. Within a year, electrification rates in the treatment group increased by 29-36 percentage points. Daily hours of access to electricity increased only by 0.99-1.42 hours, though the confidence intervals are wide. Kerosene expenditure on the black market decreased by 47-49 rupees/month. Despite these strong electrification and expenditure effects, we found no systematic evidence for changes in savings, spending, business creation, time spent working or studying, or other broader indicators of socio-economic development.
Speaker Bio: Johannes Urpelainen (PhD, University of Michigan, 2009) is Associate Professor of Political Science at Columbia University. His research focuses on international cooperation, environmental politics, and energy policy. His first book, Cutting the Gordian Knot of Economic Reform (Oxford University Press), draws on quantitative tests and extensive case studies to show that leaders in developing countries have used preferential trading agreements with the European Union and the United States to secure domestic political support and enhance the implementation of initially controversial reforms. The results from the book have been featured and used by various research and policy organizations, including the United Nations. The author of more than a hundred refereed articles, Professor Urpelainen’s research has been widely published in leading social science journals, such as The American Journal of Political Science, International Organization, and The Journal of Politics. Much of Professor Urpelainen’s current research focuses on finding practical solutions to the political problems surrounding sustainable development in emerging economies. These projects have brought him to a number of countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. In his spare time, Professor Urpelainen loves to read biographies, improve his Hindi, and meditate.
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SATYENDAR JAIN FILES CRIMINAL DEFAMATION COMPLAINTS AGAINST KAPIL MISHRA & MANJINDER SIRSA
Delhi minister Satyendar Jain has filed separate criminal defamation complaints in the court of Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Tees Hazaari, against Kapil Mishra and BJP MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa.
(Find attached a copy of the two defamation complaints filed in the court).
Details of the defamation complaints filed under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure are as follows :
1) On 7th May 2017, Kapil Mishra made a blatantly false, misleading, baseless and a defamatory statement before the media that the complainant (Satyendar Jain) had handed over Rs two crore to the Chief Minister on 5th May at his residence.
Mishra did not stop here and went on to malafidely link the complainant with completely false allegations about some fictitious deals.
These statements were repeatedly telecast and printed by national media on all platforms – electronic, print and social – which has caused immense damage to the complainant and his family. Further, such statements were carried by the media without making an attempt to even verify the completely false and libellious allegations.
2) BJP MLA from Rajouri Gardan, Manjinder Singh Sirsa and other accused : On 9th May, Sirsa in a media conference made a false and libellious statement which was published by a Hindi newspaper, that the complainant allegedly indulged in circulation of illegitimate money.
Such statements without any basis have been put in public domain to damage the reputation of the complainant and has become a habit of the accused to make and circulate such falsehoods.
“STALE ALLEGATIONS REPEATED BY MISHRA; CENTRAL INVESTIGATING AGENCIES HAVE FOUND NOTHING”
Arnind Kaejriwal lives in fantasy he is unable to bring any answer to questions leveled by the former Delhi minister Kapil Mishra today in his press conference and showed the figment of imagination of AAP leaders but in true sense these so called self style leaders are on the path of fooling all people by the counter press conferences. AAP leaders continuous allegation of Kapil Mishra BJP men does not hold any substance to fiscal misconduct and irregularity in the party. AK who still project himself holier than cow is in fix and legal action soon shall follow this reciter of truth who has never been close to any sort of truth. Thus the AAP release to media this point of view.
- BJP is using Kapil Mishra to malign AAP through stale allegations
- Central agencies have been investigating AAP for 2 years and have found nothing
The allegations leveled by Kapil Mishra against Aam Aadmi Party’s funding have turned out to be stale. The allegation of accepting a Rs 2 crore donation from a single source is the same one that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had referred to two years ago during the Delhi Assembly election campaign. Union Ministers N Sitharaman and Arun Jaitley too have made similar accusations over the same Rs 2 crore donations over the past two years.
The Prime Minister and the Finance Minister claimed to have evidence at that time about this alleged wrongdoing, but the fact that not a single central agency has been able to initiate action against AAP in the case is testimony to the fact that it was nothing more than an attempt to malign and defame the image of the AAP and Arvind Kejriwal. The ACB, CBI, ED, I-T and Delhi Police have hounded AAP for the past two years trying to find a single piece of evidence against the party, but nothing has been found yet.
During a press conference addressed by senior leader and national spokesperson of the party Sanjay Singh, he said, “All rules and regulations in place governing the acceptance of funds for a political party have been complied with and followed strictly by Aam Aadmi Party. No laws have been violated by the party. Donations being alleged to be illegal have been received via a bank transaction, and not through cash. It was declared income that the party received through legitimate means.”
“If the BJP believes that this particular donation was received illegally, why doesn’t it ask any of its agencies to take suitable action against AAP? If the Delhi Police can reach Somnath Bharti’s pet dog during an investigation, surely these agencies can conduct a probe and punish whoever is guilty? The fact that nothing has been found yet is proof that this entire episode is a witch hunt to persecute and harass an opposition party.”
“Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) has reported that the BJP and Congress have accepted several thousand crore rupees from unknown sources over the last few years. Where has this money come from? Has it come from large corporations, or is it black money? Is the BJP accepting funds from foreign companies? They have never answered these questions and have never faced any action.
Both Congress and BJP have been indicted and found guilty by the Delhi High Court in March 2014 of illegally receiving foreign funds. The Court had indicted both parties and directed the Election Commission and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to take appropriate action against the two within 6 months for receiving illegal foreign funding from Vedanta subsidiaries. More than a year later, in June 2015, the Election Commission wrote to the MHA pushing for action against the two parties. After a contempt case was filed against the Government for failing to comply with the Court’s decision, the Delhi HC has sought a response from the BJP Government over its non-compliance, and has asked why contempt proceedings should not be initiated against the Government.
The BJP Government attempted to retrospectively amend the FCRA so as to overturn the Delhi HC’s decision against the BJP and the Congress in December, 2016. The FCRA was amended through the backdoor by introducing it as a Money Bill by the BJP last year, shielding it from a Rajya Sabha veto. The amendment changed the meaning of “foreign sources” in a manner that would legalize the donations made by Vedanta to both parties.
CHANGE OF GUARD AT COAST GUARD REGIONAL HQ(NE)
Inspector General Kuldip Singh Sheoran, PTM, TM, took over the helm of Coast Guard Region(NE) from IG KR Nautiyal, PTM,TM on 19 May 17. IG KR Nautiyal, the third Regional Commander of the Coast Guard NE Headquarters is proceeding on transfer to Mumbai as Coast Guard Commander(West) after a two year stint at Kolkata. The Coast Guard Region(NE) saw massive expansion during his time with addition of new assets, commissioning of Coastal RADAR system, etc. The first ever Indo Bangla joint Search and Rescue Mission which resulted in saving of 360 precious lives at sea was also undertaken under his able guidance.
IG Kuldip Singh Sheoran joined the Indian Coast Guard in 1984 and has served in various sea and shore appointments
The Flag Officer has served in various capacities at sea, the prominent among them being command of Indian Coast Guard Ship C- 02, Tarabai, Kamla Devi, Varad and Sankalp.
The Officer has also served ashore in several staff appointments of responsibility, the more significant among them have been Station Commander ICGS Tuticorin, Station Commander ICGS Delhi, Chief of Staff Coast Guard Region (A&N), Chief of Staff Coast Guard Region (West), Principal Director (Log) New Delhi. On attaining the Flag rank, the Inspector General took over the reins of Regional Headquarters (North West) and (A&N), one of the strategically significant Regions of Indian Coast Guard,
The Flag Officer has undergone Maritime Safety and Maritime Port Operations Department Course from US Coast Guard Academy, York Town and Executive Course on Advance Security Co-operation from Asia Pacific Centre for Security Studies Honolulu (Hawai).
The Inspector General is recipient of prestigious “President’s Tatrakshak Medal” and “Tatrakshak Medal” for meritorious service in the Indian Coast Guard and “Commendation” by the Director General, Indian Coast Guard for various achievements. The Flag Officer is also a recipient of “Central Board of Excise and Custom Commendation” by Finance Minister, Govt. of India for anti smuggling operation (Gold & Silver).
The Flag Officer is married to Mrs Vidya Sheoran.They have two sons Gagandeep and Navaldeep Singh. Elder son Gagandeep Singh is a Major in Indian Army and younger one after completing his MBA in Fashion Designing and Merchandising is working with American Brand “GUESS” at Ahmedabad.
SWEDISH PROSECUTORS DROP INVESTIGATION INTO WIKILEAKS FOUNDER OVER RAPE ALLEGATION.
Swedish prosecutors drop investigation into Wikileaks founder over rape allegation.
BBC.CO.UK|BY BBC NEWS
CEAT CRICKET AWARDS2017
MEDIA INVITE:
Regards,
Archana Tiwari
Sr. Associate
Sr. Associate
+91 987-063-6163
Office : (d) + 91 22 4042 5527
(b) + 91 22 4042 5550
CEAT CRICKET AWARDS2017
One of the prestigious awards of the cricket fraternity, CEAT Cricket Awards2017 will be held on Wednesday, 24th May at Cricket Club of India (CCI), Chruchgate. The event will also include an insightful “Bat and Chat” session with the prominent cricketers.
We are pleased to extend an invitation to you to witness the award ceremony.
Looking forward to your presence.
Attached and below mentioned is the media invite for your ready reference.
MEDIA INVITE:
TEAM INDIA LOOK TO COMPLETE A FIVE-PEAT AT THE 5TH SABA CHAMPIONSHIP
- The winners of the South Asian Basketball Association (SABA) Championship will qualify for the FIBA Asia Cup taking place in Lebanon in August this year.
- The winner also ensures qualification for its country’s top club team in the FIBA Asia Champions Cup – a tournament where the premier club teams of Asian countries go head to head.
- India are defending champions and favourites looking to complete a five-peat. Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are the biggest threats to India’s five-peat.
- The tournament will be played in a round robin league format.
- The Indian squad includes 3 debutants under the age of 22 along with savvy veterans.
- India’s first match will be against host Maldives on May 19th.
- The training camp for the selection of the team was held at the Indira Gandhi Stadium, New Delhi from 1-17 May.
Team India at the Male International Airport, Maldives.
Bengaluru, 18th May 2017: The 5th South Asian Basketball Association (SABA) Championship 2017 will be held from 19th to 23rd May, 2017 in Male, Maldives. The five-day competition is being played in a round robin league format. Defending champions India will look to complete a five-peat but need be wary of Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, who pose the biggest threat to India’s attempt of accomplishing a rare sporting milestone.
India’s training camp for the tournament was held from 1st-17th May, at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, New Delhi with 33 players, and the final selections were made on 7th May. A conscious effort was made by the selectors and Head Coach Baskar Sappaniambalam to ensure that the right blend of youth and experience was picked for their campaign in Maldives. “India has had a solid record at the SABA Championship and we aim to continue that trend. It is the only tournament where we can provide an opportunity to our younger players and hence we have selected 3 players under the age of 22. Our main aim is to win and qualify for the FIBA Asia Cup taking place in Lebanon in August,” said Sappaniambalam.
India’s attempt at a five-peat of the tournament will be led by experienced point guard Akilan Pari. “Our motto as a team is to win big and make sure that the juniors of our team get playing time. This championship is important for them to get good exposure and will be crucial in their development as players,” says Pari, who made his debut for India in this very tournament four years ago. Also featuring in the squad are centre Amritpal Singh, guard Vishesh Bhriguvanshi and veteran forward Yadwinder Singh. The same trio recently attended the NBL Draft Combine in Melbourne, Australia. Other familiar faces are centre Rikin Pethani, forward Prasanna Venkatesh, shooting guard Arjun Singh, centre Ravi Bhardwaj and forward Anil Kumar BK.
Among senior team debutants are promising guard, Vishal Kumar Gupta (Delhi), the talented forward Muin Bek (Tamil Nadu) and centre Jeevanatham Pandi (Tamil Nadu). The trio will be hoping for valuable minutes.
As can be gleaned from past SABA editions (see below), the Indian men’s team, with a blend of youth and experience, will start off yet again as strong favourites. The key to its showing will continue to be its superior size advantage when compared to its traditionally smaller South Asian opponent teams.
INDIAN SQUAD FOR THE 5thSABA CHAMPIONSHIP 2017
| Jersey Number | Family Name/ Last Name | Given Name/ First Name | Place of Birth | Date of Birth (dd/mm/yy) | Height | Position | |
| 5 | Pari | Akilan (c) | Chennai | Tamil Nadu | 20/07/1989 | 180 (5’10.8”) | PG |
| 4 | Hafeez | Muin Bek | Dharmapuri | Tamil Nadu | 16/03/1996 | 190 (6’2”) | F |
| 6 | Sivakumar | Prasanna Venkatesh | Gobichettipalayam | Tamil Nadu | 25/09/1992 | 186 (6’1”) | F |
| 7 | Bukankere Krishne Gowda | Anil Kumar | Mandya | Karnataka | 31/07/1989 | 185 (6’) | F |
| 8 | Singh | Arjun | Varanasi | Uttar Pradesh | 8/6/1992 | 189 (6’2”) | SG |
| 9 | Bhriguvanshi | Vishesh | Varanasi | Uttar Pradesh | 13/09/1991 | 195 (6’4.5”) | SG |
| 10 | Amritpal Singh | Ganna Pind | Punjab | 05/01/1991 | 207 (6’9.5”) | C | |
| 11 | Gupta | Vishal Kumar | Chapar Village | Delhi | 07/12/1999 | 198 (6’5”) | SG |
| 12 | Bhardwaj | Ravi | Chandigarh | Chandigarh | 31/10/1992 | 207 (6’9.5”) | C |
| 13 | Pandi | Jeevanatham | Virudhunagar | Tamil Nadu | 13/10/1994 | 204 (6’7”) | C |
| 14 | Yadwinder Singh | Rasulpur Khurd | Punjab | 30/12/1986 | 198 (6’6”) | PF | |
| 15 | Pethani | Rikin | Sajiavadar Amreli | Gujarat | 02/12/1990 | 203 (6’8”) | PF/C |
*PG – Point Guard / Feeder, G – Guard, F – Forward, G/F – Wing, PF – Power Forward, C – Centre, PF/C – Post
Coaches: Sappaniambalam Baskar (Head Coach) and Sebastian Padipurakkal Joseph (Assistant Coach)
Manager: Sushil Kumar
Physiotherapist: Raj Kumar Dubey
FIBA Referee: Ceciline Michael Vino Vincent Francis Victor
About the SABA Championship 2017
Tournament Fixtures
May 19
- Bangladesh vs Nepal
- India vs Maldives
May 20
- Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka
- Nepal vs Maldives
May 21
- Sri Lanka vs India
- Maldives vs Bangladesh
May 22
- India vs Bangladesh
- Sri Lanka vs Nepal
May 23
- Nepal vs India
- Maldives vs Sri Lanka
Championship Format
The Championship is played in a round robin format and the team with the best record at the end of this championship will progress from the South Asian region to the FIBA Asia Cup scheduled for 17th to 27th August in Beirut, Lebanon. A round robin format is when each team will face every other team in the tournament once, and the final standings will be based on win/loss statistics.
Previous Editions / Winners:
2016: Bengaluru — 1st India, 2nd Bangladesh
2015: Bengaluru — 1st India, 2nd Sri Lanka
2014: Kathmandu — 1st India 2nd Bangladesh
2013 (June): Delhi — 1st India, 2nd Afghanistan. (From this edition onwards, the tournament changed from a standalone event to a qualifying Championship to the Asian level)
2013 (Jan): Dhaka — 1st Bangladesh, 2nd Pakistan (India, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka did not participate)
2012: Assam — 1st India, 2nd Bangladesh
Qualification for 2017 FIBA Asia Cup and FIBA Asia Champions Cup
The country that wins the SABA Championship 2017 ensures its qualification for the FIBA Asia Cup 2017 and earns a qualification for its top club team to the FIBA Asia Champions Cup – a tournament where the top club teams of FIBA Asia go head to head (previously known as known as the Asian Basketball Confederation Champions Cup).
The FIBA Asia Cup 2017, FIBA Asia’s flagship event, will be played from August 17-27 in Beirut, Lebanon.
FILM: BENVENUTO PRESIDENTE – WELCOME MR. PRESIDENT
ISTITUTO ITALIANO DI CULTURA NEW DELHI ADDED AN EVENT.
In Italian, with subtitles in English
Cinema at the Institute: Incontri in biblioteca: Contemporary Italian
Year: 2013
Genre: Comedy/ Drama
Genre: Comedy/ Drama
Synopsis:
In a small mountain village lives a man with a challenging name: Giuseppe Garibaldi. He is a simple man, loves fishing, friends and has an indestructible optimism. One day something incredible happens, Peppino is mistakenly elected President of the Italian Republic! �������������
In a small mountain village lives a man with a challenging name: Giuseppe Garibaldi. He is a simple man, loves fishing, friends and has an indestructible optimism. One day something incredible happens, Peppino is mistakenly elected President of the Italian Republic! �������������
In un piccolo paesino di montagna vive un uomo dal nome impegnativo: Giuseppe Garibaldi. E’ un uomo semplice, ama la pesca, gli amici ed ha un ottimismo indistruttibile. Un giorno accade una cosa incredibile, Peppino viene eletto per sbaglio Presidente della Repubblica Italiana!
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Director: Riccardo Milani
Cast: Claudio Bisio, Kasia Smutniak, Giuseppe Fiorello
Cast: Claudio Bisio, Kasia Smutniak, Giuseppe Fiorello
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Free entry upon presentation of a valid photo ID
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