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BrahMos Misfiring Incident News LIVE Updates: Govt terminates three officers from service with immediate effect

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BrahMos Misfiring Incident News LIVE: Three officers have primarily been held responsible for the BrahMos missile misfiring incident on 9th March 2022. Their services have been terminated by Central Govt with immediate effect. Termination orders have been served upon the officers today, 23rd August, announced Indian Air Force.

A BrahMos missile was accidentally fired on March 9. A Court of Inquiry (Col), set up to establish the facts of the case, including fixing responsibility for the incident, found that deviation from the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) by three officers led to the accidental firing of the missile.

!1 New UpdateClick here for latest updates

Shimla Police busts bike theft gang

Bike theft gang busted, 4 bikes recovered and 2 accused belonging to Gurdaspur and Ludhiana of Punjab were arrested. 3 FIRs were registered in PS Shimla West u/s 379 of IPC. Further investigation is under progress: Shimla Police

BrahMos missile misfiring incident:

A BrahMos missile was accidentally fired on 09 March 2022. A Court of Inquiry (Col), set up to establish the facts of the case, including fixing responsibility for the incident, found that deviation from the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) by three officers led to the accidental firing of the missile.

BrahMos missile misfiring incident:

Three officers have primarily been held responsible for the BrahMos missile misfiring incident on 9th March 2022. Their services have been terminated by Central Govt with immediate effect. Termination orders have been served upon the officers today, 23rd August, informed Indian Air Force.

NDTV acquisition:

NDTV acquisition:

NDTV acquisition:

Adani Group to purchase 29.18% stake in media group NDTV.

Special Cell has busted a PAN India syndicate in Delhi

Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations, Special Cell has busted a PAN India syndicate involved in duping people through fake E-commerce websites. Two persons Ravi Arora and Dinesh Sharma arrested for creating fake websites and cheating people to the tune of Rs 60 Lakh, informed Delhi Police. 13 mobile phones, 3 laptops and 10 debit cards used in the commission of crime were seized. Further investigation is continued to unearth the whole conspiracy.

Cong leader Bharat Bhushan Ashu sent to Police remand till Aug 27

Former minister and Congress leader Bharat Bhushan Ashu sent to Police remand till 27th August. Vigilance Bureau arrested him yesterday in the foodgrains transportation tenders scam.

LG V K Saxena asks for ensuring files sent by Delhi CMO for his opinion

Delhi LG wrote to CM – “Proposals have been submitted by your office for my approval/opinion with remarks “CM has seen & approved the proposal” without specifying grounds of urgency warranting such a communication….It may be ensured that proposals should be duly signed by you”

CBI has arrested seven more accused during the further investigation of a case related to the death of 10 persons at Village Bogtui, Birbhum. The arrested accused were produced today before the ACJM Court, Rampurhat and were remanded to 10 days of Police Custody.

ANI

Rs 605 Cr Bank Fraud Case: ED arrests Top head of SBBEL

ED has arrested Amar Chand Gupta, Ram Lal Gupta, Raj Kumar Gupta (Directors of Shree Bankey Behari Exports Ltd. (SBBEL) and Sanjay Kansal, nephew and employee of Amar Chand Gupta in connection with the Bank Fraud Case involving Rs.605 Cr by Shree Bankey Behari Exports, announced ED.

NDTV acquisition:

AMG Media Networks to indirectly acquire 29.18% stake in NDTV.

Adani entities make open offer for 26% in NDTV at Rs 294/sh; Adani firms make Rs 493 cr open offer for 26% in NDTV

Police disperse supporters of suspended Telangana BJP MLA Raja Singh as well as protesters who had gathered in opposition against him, outside Nampally Court, Hyderabad.

ANI

India achieves $675 bn of exports: Union Commerce Min Piyush Goyal

  • Over the last few years, the focus on exports has been a defining feature of govt’s efforts to make India a developed country by 2047. If India has to become a developed nation when we turn 100 years, foreign trade will play an important role.
  • For the first time ever we were able to achieve $675 bn of exports. PM has now asked all the missions across the world to focus on the 3 Ts, Trade, Technology and Tourism.

Police to file a case against KT Jaleel over his Fb post

Thiruvalla First Class Magistrate Court directed Police to file a case against KT Jaleel over his Facebook post mentioning “Azad Kashmir”. This was on the complaint of Arun Mohan, an RSS leader from Pathanamthitta.

Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is signing an MoU with NHA, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare tomorrow on the Composite Health Package for Transgender people.

ANI

Prophet Row: Police brings Raja Singh to Nampally Court

Prophet Row: Telangana BJP MLA Raja Singh being present before Nampally Court

Telangana BJP MLA Raja Singh being brought to Nampally Court, Hyderabad by Police, in connection with his alleged derogatory comments against Prophet Muhammad.

Defence Min Rajnath Singh met the Defence Min of Uzbekistan in Tashkent

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met the Defence Minister of Uzbekistan Lt Gen Bakhodir Kurbanov in Tashkent”. During our talks, we reviewed India-Uzbekistan defence relationship. Our cooperation is based on a solid foundation and will continue to grow over coming decades,” he tweeted. Had an excellent meeting with Defence Minister of Uzbekistan, Lt Gen Bakhodir Kurbanov in Tashkent. During our talks, we reviewed India-Uzbekistan defence relationship. Our cooperation is based on a solid foundation & it’ll continue to grow over coming decades, said Defence Minister.

BJP State President and MP Sanjay Bandi was arrested after stopping his rally, it is unconstitutional. The questions we are asking about is his (KCR) corruption and ‘Parivar Raj’, he does not have an answer, so his (Bandi) visit was stopped.

– Union Min G Kishan Reddy

CPI Inflation may reach 4% target by FY24: RBI Gov to ET Now

Post Sept aviation sector will pick up: Civil Aviation Min

Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said that the aviation sector is going through an evolution curve. He believes that that while Indian aviation is in a lean season now, post Septemebr the peak season will pick up.

Decline in Maternal Mortality Ratio

PM to participate Smart India Hackathon (SIH) on August 25

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with students participating in grand finale of this year’s Smart India Hackathon (SIH) on August 25, announced Union Minister of State for Education Subhas Sarkar.

Indigo Airbus returns after taxy out

IndiGo Airbus (VT-IZR) operating 6E6097 from Goa to Mumbai returned after taxy out. During taxi, pilot got a momentary engine warning. Pilot carried out their procedures and returned the aircraft for necessary inspection. Passengers will be accommodated on another flight to Mumbai.

Indian Coast Guard rescues 32 Bangladeshi fishermen

32 Bangladeshi fishermen rescued from the sea by Indian Coast Guard (ICG) were repatriated to Bangladesh, at Indo-Bangla IMBL today. ICG Ship Varad handed over the rescued fishermen to BCG Ship Tajuddin in a formal ceremony at sea.

Resigning due to no confidence motion will hurt my self-respect

– Bihar Assembly Speaker Vijay Kumar Sinha

Malaysia’s former prime minister Najib Razak’s sentenced for 12-yr

Malaysia’s highest court upheld former prime minister Najib Razak’s 12-year jail sentence for corruption in the 1MDB financial scandal, a decision analysts said could slam the door on a political comeback.

At close, Sensex was up 257.43 points or 0.44 per cent at 59,031.30, while Nifty was up 86.80 points or 0.50 per cent at 17,577.50

SC issues notice to Baba Ramdev and union govt

The Supreme Court issued notice to Baba Ramdev and the union govt and agreed to hear a plea filed by the Indian Medical Association over Ramdev’s comments criticising allopathic medicines.

Mumbai-bound IndiGo aircraft develops snag at Goa Airport

Right engine of Mumbai-bound IndiGo aircraft developed snag at Goa Airport while proceeding to runway, passengers disembark with help of Navy rescue team, informed airport director

BJP chief at a program for Modi@20, in Delhi

  • For years there was Congress government. Pakistan used to execute terror activities whenever it wanted but no action was taken against them. PM Modi said at a public function in Calicut that a befitting reply would be given for what they’ve done and surgical strike took place.
  • Pakistan still didn’t understand. So, a second incident took place. After that, an airstrike was carried out. Before that PM Modi said – you have made a grievous mistake and you will have to pay the price. Then an airstrike took place.

Bihar Assembly Speaker Vijay Kumar Sinha says he will not resign

Bihar Assembly Speaker Vijay Kumar Sinha told PTI that he will not resign as no confidence motion based on false charges.

India successfully test-fires Vertical Launch Short Range Surface-to-Air Missile (VL-SRSAM) from Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur off Odisha coast in Balasore, said Officials

PTI

Rajnath Singh at the bilateral meeting in Tashkent, Uzbekistan

The cancer Hospital is a tertiary care hospital of a 300-bed capacity and is equipped with modern facilities

PM Modi to dedicate the Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital & Research Centre’ to the Nation at Chandigarh

In Delhi, we’ve given 2 lakh govt & 10 lakh private jobs… This rapidly growing enthusiasm among people across the country is what is making CBI tighten the noose on me. I want to say that I am an honest person and I am not afraid of CBI

– Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia in Bhavnagar

Union Minister G Kishan Reddy on Asaduddin Owaisi’s remarks

CBI court judge Rajesh Chakraborty claims of getting a threat letter demanding bail for Anubrata Mondal

Asansol SPL CBI court judge Rajesh Chakraborty claims of getting a threat letter demanding bail for Anubrata Mondal or else his family will be implicated in an NDPS case with a commercial quantity. TMC Birbhum dist pres Anudata Mondal is arrested by CBI in a cattle smuggling case

Delhi Court grants regular bail to Poonam Jain, wife of Delhi Cabinet Minister Satyender Jain

Delhi Court granted regular bail to Poonam Jain, wife of Delhi Cabinet Minister Satyender Jain, in a money laundering case. She was earlier granted interim bail in the case.

Suspicious object has been found near City Police Station in Ferozepore

Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Navy today successfully flight tested Vertical Launch Short Range Surface-to-Air Missile (VL-SRSAM) from the Integrated Test Range (ITR), Chandipur off the coast of Odisha

The flight test was carried out from an Indian Naval Ship against a high-speed unmanned aerial target for demonstration of vertical launch capability. The missiles, equipped with indigenous Radio Frequency seeker, intercepted the target with high accuracy. The Vertical Launch Short Range Surface-to-Air Missile (VL-SRSAM) system has been indigenously designed & developed by Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO).

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reached Tashkent in Uzbekistan to attend the SCO Defence Ministers’ Meeting and also hold bilateral meetings with Uzbekistan’s Defence Minister, Lieutenant General Bakhodir Kurbanov.

MNS Chief Raj Thackeray comes out in support of Nupur Sharma

Man claiming to be a farmer from Osmanabad attempts self-immolation outside Maharashtra Assembly

A man claiming to be a farmer from Osmanabad attempts self-immolation outside Maharashtra Assembly as the monsoon session is underway. The man has been admitted to the nearest hospital by the police.His name is Subhash Banudas Deshmukh, a resident of Osmanabad. He tried to immolate himself because of his property issue. He has been referred to the hospital, said police officials.

BSF recovers cache of assault weapons at India-Pakistan border in Punjab

Border Security Force recovered a cache of assault weapons at India-Pakistan border in Punjab. 3 AK47 rifles with 6 magazines,3 M3 Rifles with 4 magazines & 2 pistols with 2 magazines in Ferozepur sector earlier today. It appears that weapons have been smuggled from Pakistan, the BSF revealed.

BJP suspends Telangana MLA, T Raja Singh

Congress protest against the government scheduled for August 26 has been postponed as Section 144 is imposed in Madikeri. We respect the law of the land

– Congress leader & former CM Siddaramaiah

SpiceJet airline is looking to raise funds to the tune of Rs 2000 cr, says SpiceJet MD, Ajay Singh

SpiceJet airline is looking to raise funds to the tune of Rs 2000 cr. Recently the airline board passed the resolution to raise the funds for its sustainability and future expansion, said SpiceJet MD, Ajay Singh.

Freebies are an important issue and a debate is needed on this: Supreme Court

High gas prices may increase FY23 govt expenditure on Urea subsidy to Rs 1 lk cr, reports ET Now

Gas prices are trading at record levels globally, sources told ET Now that India’s exposure on Urea imports and subsidy is expected to increase by 50 percentage.

Malaysia top court upholds ex-PM Najib Razak’s conviction, 12-year sentence in case linked to looting of 1MDB state fund, reports AP

MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan reviews the flood situation in Vidisha

Maharashtra Politics: SC directs Election Commission not to pass any orders on Eknath Shinde faction’s plea

Supreme Court refers matters on recent Maharashtra political crisis to Constitution bench

Election Commission can’t decide on Sena’s symbol till case in Supreme Court, next hearing on Thursday: Media Reports

The Betwa river and its tributaries are overflowing: MP CM SS Chouhan

In Vidisha, the Betwa river and its tributaries are overflowing. Parvati river is also flowing above the danger mark. The water level in River Narmada is decreasing in some places. I am keeping a constant eye on the situation. The administration is alert, said MP CM SS Chouhan.

In last 48 hours, MP received heavy rains: Madhya Pradesh CM

In last 48 hours, MP received heavy rains. Central & eastern districts incl Bhopal, Vidisha, Rajgarh, Guna, Raisen, Sehore, Narmadapuram & Jabalpur have received record rainfall. Due to this, the dams are full and many rivers flowing above the danger mark, said MP CM

We will try our best to give adequate compensation for damages due to flood situation. I will soon visit the flood-affected districts of the state, says Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan



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Bangladesh: Rampant Police Abuse of Rohingya Refugees

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(Bangkok) – Bangladesh’s Armed Police Battalion (APBn) is committing extortion, arbitrary arrests, and harassment of Rohingya refugees already facing violence from criminal gangs and armed groups, Human Rights Watch said today. Donor governments should press the Bangladesh authorities to investigate alleged abuses against Rohingya living in refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar, ensure that victims have effective remedies, and develop measures to better protect refugees.

The Armed Police Battalion took over security in the Rohingya camps in July 2020. Refugees and humanitarian workers report that safety has deteriorated under the APBn’s oversight due to increased police abuses as well as criminal activity. Some refugees allege collusion between APBn officers and armed groups and gangs operating in the camps.

“Abuses by police in the Cox’s Bazar camps have left Rohingya refugees suffering at the hands of the very forces who are supposed to protect them,” said Shayna Bauchner, Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch. “Bangladesh authorities should immediately investigate allegations of widespread extortion and wrongful detention by Armed Police Battalion officers and hold all those responsible to account.”

Human Rights Watch interviewed more than 40 Rohingya refugees in October and November 2022 and reviewed police reports, documenting more than 16 cases of serious abuse by APBn officers. These included abuses against 10 refugees who were detained on apparently fabricated grounds for trafficking yaba, a methamphetamine drug, or for violence-related offenses. Human Rights Watch and others have long documented the common practice by Bangladesh security forces of framing suspects with drugs or weapons.

Almost every case Human Rights Watch investigated involved extortion either directly by APBn officers or communicated through majhis, the camp community leaders. Police generally demanded 10,000-40,000 taka (US$100-400) to avoid arrest, and 50,000-100,000 taka ($500-1,000) for the release of a detained family member. Families often had to sell gold jewelry or borrow money for bribes or legal costs. Many worried about the harm to their reputation.

Several refugees were seemingly targeted for information they had shared online regarding APBn harassment of Rohingya. Sayed Hossein, 27, who works as a health volunteer with an international organization and as a citizen journalist, said that on July 25, 2022, at about 10 p.m., around 30 APBn officers arrived at his house, handcuffed him, and confiscated his laptop and flash drive. (Pseudonyms are used to protect the security of interviewees.) He said they told him he was being arrested for posting on social media about an APBn officer harassing innocent Rohingya. They took him to the police camp and demanded a bribe. When his family could not pay 50,000 taka ($500), the APBn officers forcibly photographed him with yaba tablets and sent him to the nearby Ukhiya police station.

“I asked them not to take any photos since it would impact my job and future,” Sayed Hossein said. “They said that because I’m Rohingya, I don’t have any future.” APBn posted the photos on their social media accounts. He was detained on drug trafficking charges and spent 41 days in jail before making bail. He said most of his fellow inmates were Rohingya.

Many of the Rohingya victims work for nongovernmental organizations or as teachers. Humanitarian organizations have raised concerns regarding the impact of APBn harassment on their staff and operations. Another health volunteer paid APBn officers 6,000 taka ($60) after they confiscated his work cellphone and downloaded photos and videos related to armed groups to frame him. “I still remember them smiling when they gave my mobile back,” he said. “In Myanmar, the security forces used to charge us money for anything, any time they wanted. Now in the camps, Bangladesh law enforcement is doing the same thing.”

The APBn officers arrested Soyedul Hoque, 57, in his betel leaf shop on November 2, 2022, and demanded 100,000 taka ($1,000) for his release. “Because we have such little income from the shop, we couldn’t pay the police anything,” his daughter said. He was charged with possession of 2,000 yaba tablets and remains in jail. Human Rights Watch interviewed a witness named on the First Information Report, a formal complaint, who knew nothing of the case or why he was listed.

The APBn crackdown has compounded fear and vulnerability among the one million Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, the majority of whom fled Myanmar military atrocities in late 2017. The police abuses have escalated amid increasingly coercive restrictions on livelihoods, movement, and education in the camps, including harassment at checkpoints and closing community schools and markets.

The refugees also face threats due to the growing presence of armed groups and gangs. Bangladesh authorities should develop and carry out a rights-respecting security policy, in consultation with refugees, to protect the camp population, Human Rights Watch said. This should include providing comprehensive access to education and livelihoods to reduce illegal and dangerous economic activity.

In late October, the APBn initiated “Operation Root Out” in response to a spike in targeted killings by armed groups. The police have arrested at least 900 Rohingya since mid-2022. But refugees allege that APBn corruption has allowed criminal activity to proliferate, while Rohingya not responsible for crimes have ended up targeted in police crackdowns.

Family members of three Rohingya arrested during Operation Root Out said that the cases against their relatives were fabricated. APBn officers arrested Ali Yusuf, 23, a teacher, on October 29, claiming he had ties to the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) armed group. His mother met with him at the police camp the next day.

“My son said that a number of Rohingya had been falsely arrested, accused of hoarding weapons like machetes, knives, or firearms,” she said. “He said the police had weapons and drugs in their possession and forced anyone arrested to be photographed to spread rumors about them. He told me not to pay any bribe. The majhi told me that if I paid the police money, he would be released, but I listened to my son.” In the First Information Report, reviewed by Human Rights Watch, Ali Yusuf is accused of possessing homemade weapons. His mother has not yet been able to afford the legal fees.

Several refugees said that ABPn officers beat, slapped, kicked, or otherwise assaulted them, either in detention or at checkpoints. Two were arrested when the police arrived at their homes looking for family members who were not there. Officers arrested Kamal Ahmod, 18, a teacher, on November 2 when they were looking for his father, whom they accused of being an ARSA member.

Kamal Ahmod was sent to jail when his family was unable to pay the 100,000 taka ($1,000) bribe, and later sentenced to one month in prison. “We still don’t know why my brother was sentenced to prison,” his sister said. “My mother went to prison to meet with him yesterday and saw his face was swollen from police beatings. My brother said he was tortured mercilessly.”

Mohammad Alam, 36, an activist who had assembled a list of 149 refugees allegedly abused by APBn officers, was arrested in December 2021 after police found out about the list. “I was put in a single room that looks like an APBn torture cell with equipment like sticks, rods, and electric shock materials,” he said. “They kicked me with their boots every time someone came to interrogate me.” He was released on bail in February 2022.

In some cases, refugees paid bribes that were not honored. APBn arrested a 35-year-old Rohingya man in October 2021. Though his family paid a series of bribes for his release, he remains in jail. His brother, Abul Basher, 23, was arrested on June 27, 2022, and refused to pay the 100,000 taka ($1,000) that APBn officers demanded given his brother’s experience. He paid 30,000 taka ($300) for a lesser charge, which was not upheld, and spent 70 days in jail before securing bail.

Abul Basher said the harassment and extortion has not stopped. “APBn officers keep coming to me and my family asking for bribes,” he said. “They think we are some sort of money machine. How could we pay so much money? There is no way to earn cash. There is no work. We already lost all of our gold to get my bail. We are helpless.”

Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh lack recognized legal status, which puts them on a precarious footing under domestic law and makes them vulnerable to rights violations. The Bangladesh government has a responsibility under international human rights law to ensure that the rights of everyone in its jurisdiction, including refugees, are protected, and to investigate allegations of abuses by government security forces and hold those responsible to account. Restrictions on rights cannot be imposed on a discriminatory basis, including by country of origin.

The authorities should consult refugees and humanitarian groups to improve training and monitoring of APBn units operating in the camps, Human Rights Watch said. Each camp should task and train non-APBn personnel to receive complaints against police officers filed by refugees.

The 2022 Joint Response Plan for the Rohingya humanitarian crisis received less than half of the US$881 million needed for the year. Donors, including the US, United Kingdom, European Union, and Australia, should increase funding to meet the massive protection needs of the Rohingya refugee population.

“The US, UK, and other donors should support projects to promote Rohingya refugees’ safety and protection, while pressing the Bangladesh authorities to end police abuses in the camps,” Bauchner said. “Bangladesh should do what Myanmar never has – hold those responsible for abuses against Rohingya to account.”
 

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Vietnam Dismisses Two Deputy PMS Amid Corruption Probes

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(Bloomberg) — Vietnam dismissed two deputy prime ministers — the most senior officials to be relieved of duties since 2017 — amid lengthy investigations driven by a campaign to clean up corruption and protect the Communist Party’s legitimacy.

The National Assembly voted to dismiss Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam from office during a four-day special session that began today. Pham Binh Minh, who has held the position since late 2013, was also voted out.

The parliament didn’t provide reasons for the dismissals. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh earlier today asked the National Assembly to dismiss Minh and Dam at their requests, VnExpress news website reported.

Of the 484 delegates who voted, 476 approved the dismissals and three didn’t vote, according to a tally provided by the National Assembly.

Delegates also voted to approve Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha, 59, and Tran Luu Quang, 55, head of the Haiphong provincial Communist Party, to replace Dam and Minh.

Party officials in September stepped up efforts to prod officials to resign if they have been reprimanded, disciplined and are deemed to have low competency. Party Chief Nguyen Phu Trong has also urged “timely” dismissals of officials who haven’t been effective in their roles or have committed wrongdoings.

The dismissals come as authorities aggressively tackle graft as part of a years-long campaign that has ensnared hundreds of officials and businessmen. The probes have defined Trong’s legacy as he serves a rare third five-year term.

There were signs this was coming for the two top ranking officials. Late last month the two were dismissed from the powerful party Central Committee. Minh, a former foreign minister, was also dismissed from the Politburo, which plays a leading role in the country’s governance. The dismissals came at their requests, Thanh Nien newspaper reported earlier. 

Police recently detained Dam’s assistant on alleged abuse of power amid investigations involving Viet A Technology JSC., a maker of Covid-19 test kits. Authorities in September also detained Nguyen Quang Linh, an assistant of Minh’s, and Nguyen Thanh Hai, director of the department of international relations under the government’s coordinating office, for alleged bribery tied to the organization of repatriation flights for Vietnamese abroad during the pandemic. Authorities have begun criminal proceedings against 39 individuals tied to the case.

Criminal proceedings have been initiated against 102 individuals tied to the Viet A Technology case. In June, police detained former health minister Nguyen Thanh Long, former Hanoi Mayor Chu Ngoc Anh, and a former deputy minister of science and technology for alleged ties to bribery and abuse of power in investigations involving the test kit maker.

Trong has warned that corruption could put the party’s legitimacy at risk as the public grows more intolerant of graft — echoing President Xi Jinping in neighboring, communist China. In one of the biggest cases to date, former Vietnam politburo member Dinh La Thang was sentenced in 2018 to 18 years in prison for violating state regulations.

Vietnam, a country of roughly 100 million people, also has much to gain economically if it can bolster its image as place to do business. 

During a corruption standing committee meeting on Nov. 18, Trong pointed to slow progress in handling some major graft cases and called for stronger actions to be taken, according to his speech posted on the government’s website.  

Authorities last year initiated criminal investigations of at least 4,646 individuals in about 2,474 cases for alleged violations tied to corruption, abuse of power and economic wrongdoings. Since early 2021, the Politburo and the party have disciplined at least 67 officials under the management of the Politburo and the Secretariat, including 5 ministers and former ministers, 13 provincial chairs and former chairs and 20 lower level officers.

In April of this year, police detained Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister To Anh Dung over alleged bribery while he organized repatriation flights for Vietnamese abroad during the pandemic.

–With assistance from Philip J. Heijmans.

(Updates the story with new deputy prime ministers in the fifth paragraph.)

©2023 Bloomberg L.P.



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Peru roadblocks resume as president urges ‘peace, calm, unity’ | Protests News

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Protests reignite in Peru after holiday pause, with many demonstrators demanding removal of new President Dina Boluarte.

Anti-government demonstrations and roadblocks have resumed in Peru after a two-week pause as the South American nation continues to reel from last month’s impeachment, arrest and detention of former President Pedro Castillo.

Peruvian protesters on Wednesday used stones and burning tyres to barricade main routes in the southern regions of Puno, Cusco, Apurimac and Arequipa, as well as in Junin, a department in the centre of the country.

The crowds chanted for the removal of President Dina Boluarte, who took over on December 7 after the country’s opposition-held Congress overwhelmingly voted to remove Castillo.

Castillo, a former rural school teacher and union leader who took office in July 2021, was impeached after he tried to dissolve the legislature and rule by decree – a move widely condemned as an attempted coup.

He was arrested shortly after the impeachment vote and has been ordered to remain in pretrial detention for 18 months on charges of rebellion and conspiracy, which Castillo has denied.

The left-wing leader’s removal followed months of escalating tensions with Peru’s Congress over allegations of corruption. It spurred demonstrations across the country, particularly in rural regions where Castillo garners much of his support.

In addition to Boluarte’s removal, the protesters also are demanding the closure of Congress — which has a high disapproval rate — along with changes to the Constitution and Castillo’s release from prison.

The new government has agreed to bring forward elections set for 2026 to April next year — another key demand of the demonstrators — but many want the vote to happen even sooner.

While the demonstrations died down over the holiday period, representatives of civil groups and unions from 10 historically left-wing regions in southern Peru announced their resumption on Wednesday.

“There are 10 blockades, mainly around Puno,” government spokesman Alberto Otarola told reporters in the capital, Lima, where a crisis centre was set up.

As a precaution, train services between the town of Cusco and the Machu Picchu historical site were suspended indefinitely on Tuesday. Some 2,000 were tourists escorted from the tourist destination. During the first wave of protests, thousands were stranded in the area after transportation was disrupted.

Soldiers and police stand guard at an airport in Peru
Soldiers and police stand guard inside an airport to keep protesters out in Arequipa, Peru, on January 4, 2023 [Jose Sotomayor/AP Photo]

In mid-December, Boluarte’s administration declared a 30-day, nationwide state of emergency, suspending certain civil liberties and authorising the police and military to be deployed in a bid to stop the demonstrations.

Television footage on Wednesday showed police and the army guarding the headquarters of public institutions in areas where protests were announced, including Ayacucho, which has been a centre of the recent unrest.

In a speech from Lima, Boluarte again called for a return to calm.

She blamed the protests for “delays, pain, economic losses” and urged “peace, calm, unity to promote development of the homeland”.

But in the mountainous Apurimac region, protest leader Milan Knezvich said the struggle will continue. “No one will want to talk to her. As long as Mrs Dina Boluarte does not resign, this will continue,” he told Exitosa radio.

On Tuesday, thousands of people marched in Lima and elsewhere demanding “peace and tranquillity”. The country’s human rights ombudsman has said 22 people were killed in protest-related clashes and more than 600 were injured so far.

People march during a rally for peace in Lima, Peru
People walk during a march asking for peace, in Lima, January 3, 2023 [Sebastian Castaneda/Reuters]

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