Latest news with #JPC
India.com
6 hours ago
- Politics
- India.com
Joint Parliamentary Committee Meeting On One Nation, One Election To Be Held Today
The Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) on the 'One Nation, One Election' Bill is scheduled to meet on July 30, with noted economist N K Singh set to depose before the panel. Singh is a former Rajya Sabha Member, Chairman of the Fifteenth Finance Commission of India, former Member of the Planning Commission, former Revenue Secretary, and Secretary to the former Prime Minister. He will be assisted by Dr Prachi Mishra, Professor of Economics and Head and Director of the Isaac Centre for Public Policy, Ashoka University, during the deposition. Earlier, the JPC had met on July 11 and held interactions with legal experts, including former Chief Justices of India, Justice J S Khehar and Justice D Y Chandrachud. Following the meeting, Committee Chairman P P Chaudhary had described the initiative as a golden opportunity for the panel to contribute to nation-building, with all members focused on preparing robust legislation. "Today, a meeting was held for the 'One Nation, One Election'... Former CJIs Justice Khehar and Justice present before us, and we had an interaction. This is a golden opportunity for this committee for nation-building... All the members of the committee are above the party politics and are focused on preparing a good 'One Nation, One Election' Bill," Chaudhary told ANI. He also stated that both committee members and the experts agreed on the significance of the initiative. In addition to the CJIs, the panel had heard views from former MP and ex-chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Law and Justice, E M S Natchiappan. Members present during the previous meeting included Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Manish Tewari, Randeep Singh Surjewala, Bhubaneswar Kalita, Saket Gokhale, Shambhavi Choudhary, and Bhartruhari Mahtab. Responding to media queries, Chaudhary noted that the panel was consulting judges as they are constitutional experts who remain impartial and are concerned solely with the legal framework. PP Chaudhary, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP, said the committee was examining possible amendments to ensure that the Bill stands judicial scrutiny and facilitates the implementation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'One Nation, One Election'. The JPC chief also discussed the panel's visit to five states and a union territory, noting that they received valuable inputs. He said that many political leaders, civil society members, and officials backed the proposal. The JPC is currently examining the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024. These bills propose aligning the election cycles of the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies to enable simultaneous elections. In September 2024, the Union Cabinet had accepted recommendations of the High-Level Committee on Simultaneous Elections, chaired by former President Ram Nath Kovind. The Committee had recommended a two-step approach to lead to simultaneous elections. It said that as the first step, simultaneous elections will be held for the Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies. It said that in the second step, elections to the Municipalities and the Panchayats will be synchronised with Lok Sabha and assemblies in such a way that these are held within a hundred days of holding elections to the House of the People and the state legislative assemblies. The Committee had also recommended that there should be a single electoral roll and Electoral Photo Identity Cards (EPIC) for use in elections to all three tiers of government. The Committee had said that its recommendations will significantly enhance transparency, inclusivity, ease and confidence of the voters.
The Citizen
21 hours ago
- Business
- The Citizen
Johannesburg Property Company condemns false allegations surrounding sale of green spaces and sports complexes
Johannesburg Property Company (JPC) has released a statement aimed at addressing community concerns, misinformation, and unfounded allegations circulating regarding JPC's intentions regarding the remaining portion of Portion 33 of Farm Braamfontein 53 IR. In it, the entity reaffirms there are no plans or intentions to sell, develop, or convert the park land for residential purposes, including low-cost housing, with the city remaining steadfast in its commitment to the preservation of natural environments and green spaces, for the benefit of current and future generations. The statement says that claims suggesting JPC intends to transform park land into low-cost housing are completely unfounded, and that these assertions stem from a council report that recommended initiating a public participation process, in accordance with Regulations 34 and 35 of the asset transfer regulations. This is a standard process, with transparent procedure, said to be designed to engage the community and gather input regarding the potential use of the land for sports, recreation, and other compatible purposes, consistent with its public open space zoning, which JPC says does not imply any intention to sell or develop the property. Also read: The Irish Club in Linden needs JPC to be responsive to the community The statement adds that the area designated for public participation encompasses approximately 18.3881ha, currently used for sports and community activities. Importantly, key sections of the park – including the dam, botanical gardens, City Parks depot, and Melville Koppies – are excluded from this process and will remain protected as vital ecological and recreational assets. It furthermore goes on to state that JPC categorically refutes any claims suggesting an intention to alienate the land to a designated developer, to address municipal financial challenges, as the city maintains a stable financial position, with transparent budgeting processes and prudent fiscal management. Also read: Office of the Mayor no shows at Marks Park meeting they called for JPC says it acknowledges and respects the community's attachment to these natural features and reiterates its commitment to their preservation. Their primary goal is the responsible management of natural assets, ensuring biodiversity, conservation, and sustainable development. The statement ended with the entity, together with the City of Johannesburg, denouncing any misrepresentations or false allegations aimed at damaging their reputation, or undermining their efforts to serve the community effectively. JPC says it remains open to constructive dialogue, and they invite community members to participate in the upcoming public consultation process. Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration!
Business Insider
3 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Tanzania, Rwanda deepen ties with new transport and trade commitments
Tanzania and Rwanda have taken significant steps to deepen their bilateral cooperation, with renewed commitments in air connectivity, railway development, and the promotion of Kiswahili. Tanzania and Rwanda formalized bilateral agreements to enhance cooperation in air connectivity, railway development, and Kiswahili promotion. The treaties were signed during the 16th Joint Permanent Commission meeting in Kigali, focusing on strengthening trade and dialogue. Infrastructure projects, including the standard gauge railway linking the nations, are under feasibility studies. The agreements were signed by Rwanda's Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe and Tanzanian counterpart Mahmoud Thabit Kombo during the 16th Joint Permanent Commission (JPC) in Kigali. The ministers underscored the JPC's role in strengthening bilateral dialogue and trade cooperation, with a planned liaison office in Kigali expected to streamline port services for Rwandan importers and exporters. Nduhungirehe commended Tanzania's role in boosting Rwanda's economy through enhanced operations at the Dar es Salaam port, which handles over 70% of Rwanda's international trade, according to Xinhua. Tanzania's Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Mahmoud Thabit Kombo, stated that Rwanda is among Tanzania's top air travel partners, alongside Kenya. He noted that RwandAir operates daily flights between the two countries and described this level of connectivity as very encouraging, emphasizing its importance in strengthening bilateral ties. In addition to acknowledging RwandAir's service quality and performance, Kombo revealed that 90 percent of Tanzania's delegation, including himself, arrived in Kigali via RwandAir. He expressed optimism about the prospect of Air Tanzania resuming flights to Kigali, a route that was previously suspended. Plans are also underway for Air Tanzania to introduce cargo services, leveraging its large cargo fleet to support Rwanda's freight needs. Railway connectivity, language diplomacy, and regional integration Beyond aviation, Kombo confirmed that both governments are committed to implementing more ambitious infrastructure projects. One of the key projects under consideration is the standard gauge railway (SGR), which is expected to link Tanzania and Rwanda. He mentioned that technical matters such as feasibility studies and route planning are already being addressed at the ministerial level in Tanzania, to improve the transport of goods between the two nations. The Tanzanian minister also praised Rwanda for making Kiswahili one of its four official languages, alongside English, French, and Kinyarwanda. He described this as a commendable move, especially given that Tanzania hosts the headquarters of Kiswahili for the East African Community, the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the African Union, and UNESCO. He stated that Tanzania has a responsibility to do more and is prepared to provide Rwanda with additional support, including Kiswahili books and teachers, to strengthen Kiswahili education in the country. Quoting UNESCO, Kombo noted that over 200 million people now speak Kiswahili across the continent, making it the most widely spoken language in East and Central Africa. He also highlighted the broad areas of collaboration between the two countries, stating that both sides had agreed to intensify cooperation in several sectors, including political and diplomatic consultation, defense, security, trade, investment, agriculture, tourism, infrastructure development, ICT, energy, and health.
News24
5 days ago
- Politics
- News24
SANDF SOS: Why are the armed forces fighting for survival?
EDITORIAL: SANDF's SOS – Why are the armed forces fighting for survival? Since 2024, the world has witnessed the highest number of active conflicts since World War II. As concerns grow about global security and what the future holds, lists of the world's safest havens have begun circulating. South Africa has made several of these lists, thanks to our alleged 'abundant food sources, plentiful fresh water, and fertile landscapes'. However, what these assessments often overlook is the state of South Africa's defence capabilities. It's no secret that the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has been struggling for years. Both equipment and personnel are ageing, creating significant operational challenges. The situation reached a boiling point recently when Admiral Monde Lobese, head of the SA Navy, accused National Treasury of sabotaging the country's national security by failing to provide adequate resources. National Treasury fired back, arguing that Lobese was incorrect to hold it responsible for the SANDF's budget challenges. In this week's Friday Briefing, News24 investigative journalist Sikonathi Mantshantsha examines how the SANDF has been managing its budget and explores the factors that led to its current predicament. We also feature insights from defence analyst Dean Wingrin, who argues that while equipment and budget constraints are critical issues, any meaningful reform of the SANDF must also address human factors including force structure, leadership quality, recruitment strategies, succession planning, and political oversight. Finally, we bring you a Q&A with Sizeka Tshabalala, General Manager for Commercial and City-focused Interventions at the Joburg Property Company about its submission to the City of Johannesburg to review the leases for public parks, clubs and green spaces. You can read the full submissions below. R12-billion. That's all the SANDF spent on new equipment in 5 years When our military planners finally start fixing what they have broken in the SANDF, it will take more than a generation of serious discipline and investment to get the military ready for war again, writes Sikonathi Mantshantsha. Too old to fight, too broke to fix: The SANDF's march to mediocrity If the SANDF is to reclaim credibility, and truly serve South Africa's constitutional mandates, both political and military elites must step aside from self‑preservation, and lead with vision, accountability and purpose, writes Dean Wingrin. Read the rest of the article here. Q&A with Sizeka Tshabalala | 'JPC not driven by greed' in Joburg land review controversy JPC's Sizeka Tshabalala categorically denies any intention to redevelop Marks Park or any of the Joburg green public spaces into residential spaces. Amid an acknowledged trust deficit with residents, Tshabalala says a six-month consultation process will shape the future of Joburg's public properties.
Japan Times
22-07-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
Japanese love leisure more than ever but turn thrifty
Japanese people's preferences for leisure over work grew to an unprecedented level in 2024 while their tendency to save money became stronger amid rising prices, a private-sector report has shown. In a survey, those who answered they attached importance to leisure rather than to work, including study, last year accounted for 67.8% of the total respondents, the highest reading since comparable data became available in 2009, the Japan Productivity Center said in its 2025 Leisure White Paper, released last week. Among respondents who took part in at least one spare-time activity in 2024, "domestic pleasure trip" enjoyed the highest participation rate of 48.3%, proving to be the most popular way of having fun for three years in a row. However, the figure is lower than 48.7% in the previous survey and far short of the 2019 prepandemic level of 54.3%. "Recent price spikes are believed to have made many people cautious about spending on travel," a JPC official said. "Video viewing" emerged as the second most popular leisure activity with the participation rate of 38.1%, up 1.1 percentage points year on year, while "eating out" descended from second to third with the rate dropping 3.6 points to 35.6%. Those results as well suggest that elevated inflation has been keeping Japanese people from splurging on leisure activities. The nationwide survey was conducted online in February, and 3,467 people gave valid responses.
