Tag Archives: protests

Japanese protesters oppose expensive state funeral to Shinzo Abe

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For a pacifist nation like Japan, the assassination of Shinzo Abe would have been painful but the public outrage during the funeral is astounding in view of the state funeral at a cost of 1.7 billion yen ($12 million) at a time when the government is heavily indebted.

Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was assassinated during the campaign trail in July and the government’s plans to a state funeral have been opposed by many since then owing to the country’s fragile economy.

Japan’s prime minister Fumio Kishida has been unable to assuage public concerns as the controversy undermines his proposed record defense spending, which began with Shinzo Abe, whose legacy is left behind with the revision of the country’s post-war Pacifist Constitution and sending Japanese armed forces abroad.

PM paying homage at the State Funeral Ceremony of the Former Prime Minister of Japan, Late Mr. Shinzo Abe, in Tokyo, Japan on September 27, 2022.

PM Modi paying homage at the State Funeral Ceremony of the Former Prime Minister of Japan, Late Mr. Shinzo Abe, in Tokyo, Japan on September 27, 2022 / PIB

PM Kishida’s approval ratings have reached the lowest level since he became the country’s Prime Minister in October. Last week, a man has allegedly set himself on fire near the office of Japanese Prime Minister protesting against the expensive state funeral.

The funeral on Tuesday kept the capital under maximum security due to protests which began just before the funeral. About 4,300 attendees gathered in Tokyo to pay their respects at the funeral.

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U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo were among 700 foreign dignitaries from 218 countries, regions and international organizations who attended the funeral.

 

Sri Lanka former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to return home on Aug 24

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It’s back to normal in Sri Lanka as former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who fled the country following protests against economic crisis in July is all set to return on August 24. Sri Lanka is still facing unprecedented economic crisis.

This was confirmed by former Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Rajapaksa’s cousin Udayanga Weeratunga, who said that the former President would return to the country.

“Gotabaya should return to the country and people will welcome him but he would not continue in politics as he is not suitable,” Weeratunga, who was critical of the role of Gotabaya as a President, told media.

After protesters stormed President’s house on July 9, Gotabaya left the palace and later fled to the Maldives and then to the Singapore. He later entered Thailand last week. However, no country was ready to provide asylum, nor any request thereof was made, according to local reports.

The Thailand government is the latest to deny reports that Rajapaksa had sought asylum there. The Thailand Foreign Ministry said it received a request from Rajapaksa to visit the country but no request for asylum was made.

“Thailand saw no problem with Rajapaksa entering on a diplomatic passport, which would allow him to stay 90 days,” Thailand Foreign Ministry had stated.

CBSE to hold re-exam on April 25 for Class 12 Economics, Class X Undecided

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Battered CBSE has announced a re-test for Class 12 Economics paper on April 25 throughout the country. It has further clarified that the Class 10 Maths paper re-test will be held, if required, in July, that too in Delhi, Haryana and NCR region and not all over the country, giving relief to many Class 10 students elsewhere in the country.

The ambiguity over Class X mathematics paper is due to the fact that the leak was confined to Delhi and Punjab, and once the enquiry is completed, the board will decide whether to hold the exam or not, said Anil Swarup, Secretary, School Education, in the Union Human Resource Development Ministry.

“The leak was restricted to Delhi and Haryana. If at all a re-exam will happen, it will happen only in these states in July. A decision will be taken on this in the next 15 days,” Swarup told reporters.

Referring to the Class 12 economics paper, the re-test will be held on April 25 not not outside the country as the leak confined to India only, said the HRD official. He further clarified that there will be no delay in the publication of results in May as per the schedule.

Replying to protests and demands that the CBSE chief should be removed, he said only after the enquiry, the responsibility on people who are behind the paper leak. “Action will be taken against whoever is responsible. But you cannot pre-empt the inquiry. Without inquiry action will not be possible,” he said and added that there will be two levels of inquiry, one is the police inquiry and the other is a departmental inquiry.

It may be recalled that in 2014, Class 12 physics paper was leaked in one of the northeastern sates and the CBSE pleaded in the apex court that a re-test was not required since the leak was limited to a region and the online access was not visibly seen in other places.