Kashmir files controversy

A plea seeking a review of the judgement that upheld the Centre’s 2016 decision to demonetise Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 currency notes was filed in the Supreme Court on Sunday. A five-judge Constitution bench, in a 4:1 majority verdict, on January 2 had given its stamp of approval, saying the decision-making process was neither flawed nor hasty. The review plea was filed by lawyer ML Sharma, one of the 58 petitioners who had moved the top court challenging the demonetisation exercise announced on November 8, 2016. Sharma, in his review plea, contended that the bench did not consider his “written arguments” in its verdict on the batch of pleas which led to “serious injustice and miscarriage of justice”. “It is, therefore, most respectfully prayed that … may be pleased to: (i) Review the Judgment…,” it said. Observing that the scope of judicial review in matters of economic policy is ”narrower”, a five-judge Constitution bench headed by Justice S A Nazeer, since retired, had said … [Read more...] about Plea Seeking Review of Verdict on Demonetisation Filed in Supreme Court

Sheridan Smith has been confirmed as the star of controversial BBC1 docudrama about the 'abduction' of nine-year-old Shannon Matthews in 2008. But rather than playing Shannon’s mother Karen – later jailed for eight years for her part in kidnap plot – she will take the role of the woman who organised the local community in a desperate search to find the missing schoolgirl. Julie Bushby was the chair of the residents and tenants association on the Moorside estate in Dewsbury, West Yorks. Former Downton Abbey star Siobhan Finneran will play family liaison officer Christine Freeman while Game of Thrones actress Gemma Whelan takes the role of shamed mother Karen. The drama will be made by the same team behind Appropriate Adult, which told the story of serial killers Fred and Rose West from the perspective of Janet Leach. Role: Community leader Julie Bushby was a friend of Karen Matthews ( Image: Daily Mirror) It also reunites Sheridan with Jeff Pope, who she … [Read more...] about Sheridan Smith to star in controversial BBC docudrama about ‘abduction’ of schoolgirl Shannon Matthews

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email On Tuesday evening, Donald Trump held up a baby in front of the crowd in Aston, Pennsylvania. He had just announced his plans on paid leave and childcare, standing beside his eldest daughter Ivanka Trump. Recommended Read more Hillary Clinton releases new health information to quell pneumonia row The real estate developer turned apparent champion of working mothers wants to offer six weeks of paid maternity leave for women – that is, if their company does not already offer any form of paid leave. “I take tremendous pride in [the plan],” Ivanka Trump told Fox & Friends, adding that the proposal was “long overdue … He understands the needs and the challenges of a broken childcare system.” Trump described this “Family First” plan as his daughter’s “baby”. It is the first time that Ivanka has given … [Read more...] about What Donald Trump thinks is a progressive plan on maternity leave and childcare is ridiculously inadequate

The FBI is reportedly widening its investigation into Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton after new details in claims by former staffers that he helped a real estate developer in return for renovations to his million-dollar home and a job for his alleged mistress. Last fall, a number of senior staffers accused Texas's highest-ranking attorney of committing crimes to assist Nate Paul, later alleging that the developer or companies owned by him had a hand in work done on Paxton's home. All of those making accusations quit or were fired; four later sued the attorney general under the state's whistleblower law. The latest details have emerged in an updated court complaint filed Thursday. The lawsuit accuses Paxton of abusing his position to help Paul and claims the former deputies have information to suggest Paul "was involved in" the remodelling of a house in an affluent area of Austin, owned by Paxton. It also claims Paul employed the attorney general's alleged mistress as a … [Read more...] about Texas AG Paxton Faces Deeper FBI Scrutiny After Details From Ex-Aides

An FIR was registered on Sunday against Yoga guru Ramdev for allegedly promoting enmity and outraging religious feelings over his provocative remarks at a meeting of seers in Rajasthan’s Barmer district, police said. The FIR was registered at Chauhatan police station based on a complaint filed by a local resident, Pathai Khan, a police officer said. According to Chauhatan police station SHO Bhutaram, the case was registered under IPC sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence), 295A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) and 298 (uttering, words, etc., with deliberate intent to wound the religious feelings of any person). At the meeting of seers on February 2, Ramdev accused Muslims of resorting to terror and abducting Hindu women while comparing Hinduism to Islam and Christianity. He alleged that the two faiths were … [Read more...] about Ramdev Booked for Provocative Speech at Seer’ Meet Rajasthan

The Delhi High Court will on Monday hear a bail plea by JNU student and activist Sharjeel Imam in a UAPA case related to the alleged conspiracy behind the 2020 riots here. Imam, who was arrested in February 2020, was on Saturday discharged along with 10 others in the 2019 Jamia Nagar violence case, with the court saying they were made ”scapegoats” by police. The plea, which was filed in April 2022 against a trial court order refusing to grant bail to Imam in the matter, is listed before a bench of Justices Siddharth Mridul and Rajnish Bhatnagar. In this case, Sharjeel Imam and several others, including Umar Khalid, have been booked under the anti-terror law Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and provisions of the Indian Penal Code for allegedly being the ”masterminds” of the February 2020 riots in the North-East Delhi, which left 53 people dead and over 700 injured. The violence had erupted during the protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the … [Read more...] about Delhi Riots Case: HC to Hear on Monday Sharjeel Imam’s Bail Plea in UAPA Case

Real Madrid’s hopes of retaining the La Liga title were dented Sunday as the champions lost 1-0 at Real Mallorca, to remain five points behind leaders Barcelona. The Catalans host Sevilla later on and can open up an eight-point lead after a frustrated Madrid fell short against Javier Aguirre’s side, with Marco Asensio missing a penalty against his former club. Nacho’s 13th-minute looping header into his own net separated the teams in a hard-fought clash, frequently slowed by various fouls from the hosts. Amid a constant battle between winger Vinicius Junior and Mallorca’s players and supporters, the islanders held off Los Blancos to record an impressive victory. “It was difficult because of the kick-off time, the opponent, it all gets complicated when they go in front," Nacho told Movistar. “They were lucky with the goal, and we also missed a penalty." Vinicius suffered 10 fouls and Mallorca committed 29 in total. “I think there’s an atmosphere developing around … [Read more...] about La Liga: Mallorca Shock Real Madrid to Win 1-0

Violence broke out in South Sikkim district’s Namchi on Sunday as supporters of the ruling Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) allegedly vandalised an office of the opposition Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF), police said. The incident happened at Damthang Road amid the 48-hour bandh called by the SDF, protesting the Supreme Court’s observation on the Sikkimese Nepali community. Soon, a police team reached the spot and controlled the situation, officials said, adding that adequate forces were deployed in the area. On Saturday, the first day of the bandh, the SDF headquarters on Bypass Road was vandalised. Police said they arrested three persons in connection with the vandalism and are on the search for the others involved in it. Those arrested have been booked under IPC section 147 (rioting), police said. Ten SDF members were also arrested in Gangtok for burning the effigy of Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang. Among those arrested were youth leader Arun Limbu and former minister … [Read more...] about Violence in Sikkim Amid SDF’s Bandh Over ‘Immigrant’ Row

A 16-year-old girl died on Saturday after being mauled by a shark in a river in Western Australia’s state capital Perth after she jumped in the water to swim with a pod of dolphins. Police said they were called to the scene of the attack on Saturday afternoon local time near a traffic bridge in the Swan River, in the Fremantle port area of Perth. The girl was pulled from the water with critical injuries and she died at the scene, police said in a statement. Police believe the victim was with friends and jumped off a jet ski to swim with a pod of dolphins in the river when the shark attack occurred. Authorities were not sure what kind of shark attacked the girl, the Australian Broadcasting Corp reported. People were being urged to take extra caution in the Swan River around Fremantle in the wake of the mauling. The last fatal shark attack in Western Australian waters was in November 2021 when a 57-year-old man was killed by a great white shark at Perth’s Port … [Read more...] about Girl killed in shark attack on Australia’s west coast

For the 26th time in two years, the Texas attorney general Ken Paxton recently filed a lawsuit in federal court challenging a Biden administration policy. The suit, which seeks to wipe out a new Labor Department rule about the investment of pension trust assets, wasn’t filed in Austin, the state capital, or in Dallas, where the Labor Department’s regional offices are, or anywhere else with a logical connection to the dispute. It was filed in Amarillo. Why Amarillo? By filing there, Mr. Paxton had a 100 percent chance of having the case assigned to Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk — appointed to the bench by President Donald Trump in 2019 and a former deputy general counsel to the First Liberty Institute, which frequently litigates religious liberty cases before the Supreme Court. “Forum shopping” has long been a problem in civil litigation. Clever lawyers use procedural rules to file in courts deemed most likely to be sympathetic to their claims. But what Mr. Paxton and other plaintiffs are … [Read more...] about Don’t Let Republican ‘Judge Shoppers’ Thwart the Will of Voters