EU leaders express concern over US-China trade war
European Union have expressed concern over the intensifying trade friction between the United States and China, and stressed the importance of a rules-based trade system.
European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and European Council President Donald Tusk were speaking to reporters in Osaka ahead of the opening of the G20 summit on Friday.
Juncker said the trade relations between the US and China are difficult and they are contributing to the slowdown of the global economy. He noted that a rules-based, multilateral trade system needs to be strengthened. He stressed that the EU will work closely with the US, China and Japan to reform the World Trade Organization.
Tusk referred to the tensions involving Iran. He said the EU will strongly urge Iran to continue the full implementation of all its commitments under the nuclear deal it signed with world powers in 2015.
Tusk said the matter is important for the security of the region and the whole world. He added that the EU will continue to monitor Tehran’s compliance.
Rinne to march in the Helsinki Pride Parade
Prime Minister Rinne will march in the Helsinki Pride Parade
Government Communications Department
PM @AnttiRinnepj will march in the #HelsinkiPride on Saturday, as the first Finnish PM in the history. “By boldly defending the indivisible human dignity for each and every person we are changing the world into a better place – for all people
Finland is one of the best countries in the world to live, study, work, do business, fall in love, and be loved. We have much to be proud of.
I am not saying that the Finnish society is perfect. But, much has happened – especially in terms of better equality and rights of minorities.
I am old enough to have lived at a time when the Criminal Code still discriminated against sexual and gender minorities. Now in 2019, it seems unbelievable that in 1971 homosexuality was still a crime, in 1981 it was considered a disease, and it was as late as in 1995 when discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation was prohibited. It is hard to even imagine how this sounds to young Finns in their early twenties. However, it was important to spell this out because it shows that the world is indeed changing for the better.
But it does not change on its own – bold people are needed to change the world.
Sexual and gender minorities have a proud history, but there is no honour in how they have been treated. Not in Finland, not in the world. Sexual and gender minorities have come a long way, and the road has been much too rocky. Along the path towards equality there has been a lot of inappropriate and unjust treatment, discrimination and fear.
Even in a hostile social environment, these bold people held their heads high. They have walked proudly towards an equal society where everyone could be accepted just as they are. They have moved forward so that no-one should have to crumble.
What is so wonderful today is that sexual and gender minorities are no longer walking alone. Last year the police estimated the number of people participating in the Helsinki Pride Parade at almost 100,000. This is great proof that the Finns want to defend human rights and promote equality and non-discrimination. These are among the top priorities for my Government as well.
By boldly defending the indivisible human dignity for each and every person we are changing the world into a better place – for all people. This is what we must speak and work for. There is no ambiguity in the Constitution of Finland: we are all equal before the law. Human rights are not a matter of opinion, and love between any two persons does not harm anyone else – especially not the politicians.
I am sure that this year even larger numbers of Finns will be marching in the Helsinki Pride Parade on Saturday. I will also be there, as the first Finnish Prime Minister to participate. The world is not ready, but we are heading towards an increasingly equal society – together.
On Thursday NASA announced a mission to land a car-sized robot quadcopter on Saturn’s moon Titan in 2026. After it reaches Titan in 2034, the craft, called Dragonfly, will fly around Titan for two-and-a-half years to try and understand the processes that formed the 5150 km-wide moon.
Titan is considered significant because its atmosphere hosts complex organic molecules. The moon’s surface has mountains of ice and liquids seas of hydrocarbons (mainly methane and ethane), making it the only solar system object to sustain stable liquid bodies on its surface. Scientists also think there could be an ocean of liquid water under Titan’s icy surface. All these features mean that Titan could potentially harbour or sustain life.
Europe’s Huygens probe was the first to touch down on Titan, in January 2005.
In response to a query in the Rajya Sabha about steps being taken by the government to contain climate change, Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said that India would not bow to international pressure and would protect its own interests first.
Saying that 70% of greenhouse gas emission was “due to the developed countries” while India’s contribution was just three percent, Javadekar added that wealthier nations had also not fulfilled their commitment of $100 billion and technology transfer to developing nations to help the latter deal with climate change.
He also said that the emission intensity of India’s GDP has decreased by 21% in 2014 from 2005 levels, and that 33 states and Union Territories have prepared climate action plans.
Europe is reeling under a heatwave caused by an unprecedented high-pressure weather phenomenon. Temperatures are at record June highs in Germany, France, Poland and the Czech Republic. In France, the mercury hit 42.3°C on Thursday, beating the previous record of 41.5°C from the summer of 2003 (when around 15,000 people died across the country of heat-related causes).
Poland’s Radzyń registered a new national heat record of 38.2°C on Wednesday. The same day, temperatures in the Czech Republic rose to a record 38.9°C, and to 38.6°C in Germany. All-time heat records were also set in Switzerland, Austria, and Italy on Wednesday and Thursday. In Spain, temperatures in excess of 40°C aided the spread of a wildfire in Catalonia that has burned about 54 sq.km. of land.
Experts think the heatwave is caused by a high-pressure weather system called an ‘upper ridge’ that is trapping warm air coming in from the Mediterranean and North Africa regions. The heatwave may continue over the weekend before easing next week.
PARIS, June 26, 2019: People cool off at a fountain in the Trocadero Gardens during a heat wave in Paris, France, on June 26, 2019.
Lightning Deaths Continue in Bihar; 30 Dead in Last 24 Hours
At least 30 people were killed and over a dozen others injured in incidents of lightning strikes across Bihar in the last 24 hours, an official said here on Thursday.
The deaths occurred in Bhagalpur, Begusarai, Saharsa, Purnea, Araria, Katihar, Jamui, Khagaria, Madyepura, Madhubani, Darbhanga, Sitamarhi, Mitigari and Gaya districts, the state disaster management department official said.
A team of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has found 7 mountaineers buried by an avalanche on the Nanda Devi Peak in Uttarakhand on May 26. An eighth body is yet to be found. Bad weather is posing challenges in the recovery operation, officials said.
The mountaineering team included seven foreigners and one Indian. Earlier efforts by authorities to locate the bodies from the air were unsuccessful.
·Crorepati Ministers:Out of the 26 ministers, 23 (88%) are crorepatis.
·Average Assets:The average assets of 26 ministers analysed is Rs 35.25 crores.
·Ministers with Highest Assets:The minister with the highest declared total assets is Yeduguri Sandinti Jagan Mohan Reddywith assets worth Rs 510.38 crores. The top three ministers with highest declared assets are:
S.No.
Name
District
Constituency
Party Name
Movable Assets (Rs)
Immovable Assets (Rs)
Total Assets (Rs)
PAN Given
1
Yeduguri Sandinti Jagan Mohan Reddy
Kadapa
Pulivendla
YSRCP
4,43,48,37,267
66,89,79,299
5,10,38,16,566 510 Crore+
Y
2
Peddi Reddy Ramachandra Reddy
Chittoor
Punganur
YSRCP
21,28,69,927
1,09,69,14,000
1,30,97,83,927 130 Crore+
Y
3
Mekapati Goutham Reddy
Nellore
Atmakur
YSRCP
13,76,47,301
48,19,22,775
61,95,70,076 61 Crore+
Y
Table: Top 3 Ministers with Highest Assets
·Liabilities:A total of 21 out of 26 ministers analysed have declared liabilities. The details of the top 3 ministers with highest liabilities are given below:
·Ministers with High Income:3 out of 26 ministers analysed have declared their total annual income above Rs. 1 Crore.The details of these ministers are given below:
S.No.
Name
Party Name
Constituency
District
Total Asset (Rs)
Self Source of Income
Spouse's Source of Income
The financial year for which the last income tax return has been filed by minister
Total income shown by minister in ITR (Self+Spouse+Dependent) (Rs)
Self income shown by minister in ITR (Rs)
1
Yeduguri Sandinti Jagan Mohan Reddy
YSRCP
Pulivendla
Kadapa
5,10,38,16,566
510 Crore+
MLA Salary,MP Pension, Rental income, other income (bank interest, dividend and agriculture income
Salary, Rental income, Capital gains other income(interest dividend and agriculture income)
2017-2018
38,71,47,777
38 Crore+
25,89,38,290
25 Crore+
2
Muttamsetti Srinivasa Rao
YSRCP
Bhimli
Visakhapatnam
35,57,13,877
35 Crore+
Business
Business
2017-2018
3,45,95,990
3 Crore+
1,46,22,408
1 Crore+
3
Dr. Suresh Audimulapu
YSRCP
Yerragondapalem
Prakasam
16,22,92,753
16 Crore+
Salary,pension,property income,agricultural income, capital gains, business income etc.
Salary,pension,property income,agricultural income,capital gains etc.
·Ministers’ Education:8(31%) ministers have declared their educational qualification to be between 8th and 12thstandardwhile 18 (69%) ministers have declared having an educational qualification of graduate or above.
·Ministers’ Age:A total of 12(46%) ministers have declared their age to be between 31-50 years while 14 (54%) ministers have declared their age to be between 51- 70 years.
·Women Ministers:Out of 26 ministers, 3 are women.
