Author: TELO Admin

Republican lawmaker nominates Trump for Nobel Peace Prize for ‘historic’ Middle East policy

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A Republican lawmaker has nominated Donald Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize, citing his ‘historic’ policy in the Middle East.

New York representative Claudia Tenney said in a statement that she decided to nominate the former president for his role in the Abraham Accords treaty, which formally normalised relations between the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Israel.

‘Donald Trump was instrumental in facilitating the first new peace agreements in the Middle East in almost 30 years,’ she claimed in a statement posted on her website.

‘For decades, bureaucrats, foreign policy ‘professionals’, and international organisations insisted that additional Middle East peace agreements were impossible without a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. President Trump proved that to be false,’ she added.

‘The valiant efforts by President Trump in creating the Abraham Accords were unprecedented and continue to go unrecognised by the Nobel Peace Prize Committee, underscoring the need for his nomination today. Now more than ever, when Joe Biden’s weak leadership on the international stage is threatening our country’s safety and security, we must recognise Trump for his strong leadership and his efforts to achieve world peace. I am honoured to nominate former president Donald Trump today and am eager for him to receive the recognition he deserves,’ the statement continued.

Mr Trump has previously complained that he has not received enough recognition for his work on foreign policy.

But while the Abraham Accords have been cited as a way to introduce and strengthen Israeli-Arab ties, the historic agreements have also been criticised for so far failing to produce meaningful solutions for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

‘The Abraham Accords without the Palestinians were a disaster, just like his deal with the Taliban without the Afghan government. On top of that, he bombed the Middle East more than Obama,’ one person posted on X, following news of Mr Trump’s Nobel Prize nomination.

‘Someone explain to me how she nominates him for a Nobel for a peace accord in the middle east WHILE the middle east is at war in Gaza!’ another person wrote.

Despite such criticism of Mr Trump’s foreign policy, the 77-year-old was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize several times during his presidency. However, he failed to win the prize.

‘I would get a Nobel Prize for a lot of things, if they give it out fairly, which they don’t,’ the former president complained at a press conference in New York in 2019.

Mr Trump was nominated for the prize in 2020 by far-right Norwegian politician Christian Tybring-Gjedde, citing his efforts to bring reconciliation to North and South Korea.

But despite a period of improved relations between North and South Korea, the negotiations ultimately failed in making any clear progress towards denuclearizing the North.

Swedish MP Magnus Jacobsson also nominated Mr Trump in 2020 for his role in brokering a deal to normalise relations between Serbia and Kosovo.

The following year, Swedish nationalist MP Laura Huhtasaari and a group of Australian lawmakers then nominated him for his role in brokering the Abraham Accords.

Mr Trump lost out that time to Filipino and Russian journalists Maria Ressa and Dmitry Muratov, who received the prize ‘for their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace’.

The former president has routinely conflated his Nobel Peace Prize nominations – which the organisation does not record, release or consider to be endorsements – as an honorific.

Speaking at an Iowa rally in 2020, he said: ‘I get home, I turn home the television and they talked about your floods in Iowa. How is Iowa doing? The crops. How is this happening? How are they doing in Florida? Three or four stories, one after another.

‘Where is my Nobel Peace Prize? They don’t talk about it. I said, ‘You know, darling. This news is a little tough to crack’.’

Meanwhile, former White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany previously described the nomination as a ‘well-deserved honour’ for Mr Trump.

The organisation stresses that receiving a nomination, which any one of thousands of people can make, is not an ‘extended honour’.

While Mr Trump has never won the prize, his predecessor, former president Barack Obama, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009 for his ‘extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples’.

Mr Obama donated the $1.4m award to charity.

His win is something that has irked Mr Trump, who previously suggested his predecessor had ‘no idea’ why he was nominated for the prize just months into his presidency.

‘When Obama got it he didn’t even – he just said, ‘What did I do?’ He had no idea what he did,’ Mr Trump said at a rally in 2020.

‘And they made it a big story,’ he added. ‘I did a great job.’

In 2013, Mr Trump tweeted calling for Mr Obama’s award to be rescinded.

The former director of the Norwegian Nobel Institute, Geir Lundestad later said he regretted Mr Obama’s selection. ‘Even many of Obama’s supporters believed that the prize was a mistake,’ he told the AP news agency. ‘In that sense the committee didn’t achieve what it had hoped for.’

The Nobel Peace Prize will be announced in October.

Source – The Independent

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Online Safety Bill to come into effect from today

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Speaker of Parliament Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena has endorsed the Online Safety Bill, and it will be brought into effect as the Online Safety Act No.9 of 2024.

The legislation which seeks to regulate online content was passed in Parliament, with amendments, on 24 January, amidst objections from opposition politicians and activists who allege the new law will muzzle free speech.

The controversial Bill garnered not only the attention of local activists and organisations, but also that of diplomats and large international organisations, claiming that the Bill had numerous problematic aspects.

The Sri Lankan government says the Online Safety Bill, published in the government gazette on 18 September, aims to ban online communication of certain statements in the country, prevent the use of online accounts – both authentic and inauthentic – for the use of prohibited purposes, to suppress the financing and other support of communication of false statements and other related matters.

Additionally, the Speaker endorsed the certificate on National Hydrographic Bill passed on January 9th with amendments and the Contempt of a Court, Tribunal or Institution Bill passed on January 10 with amendments.

These two Bills will come into effect as the National Hydrographic Act. No.7 of 2024 and the Contempt of Court, Tribunal or Institution Act. No.8 of 2024.

72 health trade unions on strike

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72 health trade unions have launched a strike from 6.30 on Thursday (01) morning.

Co-convener of the Health Trade Union Alliance Ravi Kumudesh said the health unions joined the strike demanding that the Rs.35,000 allowance granted to doctors be given to them as well.

The government did not respond to their demands despite a strike being launched on a previous occasion as well.

The All Ceylon Nurses’ Union has reached a decision to refrain from supporting today’s strike action.

This was confirmed by its Chairman Ravindra Kahandawarachchi on Wednesday (31) afternoon, while speaking to media after visiting the Malwathu Maha Viharaya.

Sri Lanka drops further in corruption perceptions index

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Sri Lanka dropped further in the latest corruption perceptions index (CPI) for the year 2023.

Sri Lanka dropped 2 places to 115 with a score of 34 in the 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) released by Transparency International.

The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) is the most widely used global corruption ranking in the world. It measures how corrupt each country’s public sector is perceived to be, according to experts and businesspeople.

The index notes that in South Asia, both Pakistan(29) and Sri Lanka (34) grapple with their respective debt burdens and ensuing political instability. However, the two countries have strong judicial oversight, which is helping to keep the government in check.

The CPI global average remains unchanged at 43 for the twelfth year in a row, with more than two-thirds of countries scoring below 50. This indicates serious corruption problems.

Denmark (90) tops the index for the sixth consecutive year, with Finland and New Zealand following closely with scores of 87 and 85, respectively. Due to well-functioning justice systems, these countries are also among the top scorers in the Rule of Law Index.

Somalia (11), Venezuela (13), Syria (13), South Sudan (13) and Yemen (16) take the bottom spots in the index. They are all affected by protracted crises, mostly armed conflicts.

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Pakistani naval ship SAIF docks at Colombo Port

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The Pakistan Naval Ship (PNS) SAIF arrived at the port of Colombo on a formal visit this morning (Jan.30). The visiting ship was welcomed by the Sri Lanka Navy in compliance with naval traditions.

PNS SAIF is a 123m-long Sword Class Frigate commanded by Captain Muhammad Ali. It is manned by a crew of 276.

The Commanding Officer of the ship is also expected to call on the Commander Western Naval Area.

During the ship’s stay in Colombo, its crew members will visit some of the tourist attractions of the country, Sri Lanka Navy said.

Concluding the visit, PNS SAIF will leave the island on February 01 and conduct a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with a ship of the Sri Lanka Navy in Colombo seas, on her departure.

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China’s threat to India would come from Sri Lanka, warns Vaiko

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India’s MDMK general secretary and Rajya Sabha member Vaiko on Tuesday urged the Indian government to handle its relationship with Sri Lanka, considering the threat posed by China’s entry into the island nation.

Addressing an all-party meeting chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi, Mr. Vaiko said China had constructed a port in Hambantota and the Indian government should realise that the threat to the country from China would emerge first from the south.

A statement from the party said that he also drew Mr. Rajnath Singh’s attention to the alleged attack on Tamil fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy, claiming that “over 800 fishermen had been killed so far” and there was no protection to their lives and belongings. He also used the occasion to launch an attack on Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi, accusing him of “blabbering on one issue or another.”

When Mr. Vaiko said Mr. Ravi had remarked that the country attained Independence because of Subhas Chandra Bose, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Prahalad Joshi said that the Governor had clarified his comments. “His comments have appeared in all newspapers and other media. Probably, the Minister has not read them,” Mr Vaiko said.

He further said that the Indian democracy was facing a major threat and would die if “Hindutva forces” succeeded in implementing one country, one election, one language and one religion.

Source: The Hindu

Presidential candidates: IUSF opposes meetings in unis.

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The Inter University Students’ Federation (IUSF) said that it is against any kind of political meeting held within university premises with the participation of Presidential candidates of any party.

Speaking to The Daily Morning yesterday (30), IUSF Convenor Madushan Chandrajith said that the IUSF would not endorse any political meeting organised by Presidential candidates of any party and would not let the university premises be a platform where rallies of political parties are held ahead of the Presidential Election.

State Minister of Higher Education Dr. Suren Raghavan, alleged that some universities are planning to invite politicians and Presidential candidates to universities, opining that such moves should be stopped.

“I am informed that some State universities are making plans to invite politicians and Presidential candidates to universities. This should be stopped completely. Universities are solely for academic activities. Politics must be kept away from university premises,” Raghavan said.

Chandrajith stated that the recent protest that took place on Monday (29) at the University of Kelaniya was launched against the attendance of President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the University. He claimed that the Government is trying to use universities as a part of Wickremesinghe’s Presidential campaign, adding that the students’ protest was therefore a good example for those who are planning to do the same.

Moreover, Chandrajith noted that no politician has the moral right to come to universities at a time when the continuous grievances of the students are being neglected by the political elite. He said that the IUSF would not let any Presidential candidate hold meetings inside the universities, despite his or her political leanings.

He said that students as individuals have the right to hold any political view inside the universities and that student activism is always promoted by the IUSF. “But, politicians are not allowed to hold meetings. They don’t have a right to do so. They have not addressed any of the issues that we raised. Yesterday (29), several students were attacked during the protest. First, they have to be patient enough to tolerate our opinions,” he added.

The University Grants Commission Chairman Prof. Sampath Amaratunge and the Spokesperson of the Federation of University Teachers’ Associations, Senior Lecturer Charudaththa Illangasinghe were unavailable for comment.

Sarath Fonseka slams Sajith Premadasa over alliance with Daya Ratnayake

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In the wake of Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) leader Sajith Premadasa accepting the support of former Army Commander (Retired) General Daya Ratnayake, Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka expressed his strong displeasure over the move.

Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka made these remarks during his participation in the protest organized by the SJB in Colombo yesterday.

Sarath Fonseka disclosed Ratnayake’s significant involvement in his imprisonment back in 2010 under the administration of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Expressing his concerns, Fonseka emphasized that Ratnayake’s allegiance to the SJB, particularly given his past affiliations, raises questions about the party’s direction and principles.

He went on to suggest that by embracing Ratnayake, the SJB risks aligning itself with the former President, implying a compromise of its political stance.

Retired General Ratnayake, known for his prominent roles during the tenure of former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa, recently aligned himself with the SJB.

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Indian High Commissioner calls for Tamil parties to have unified stance on political rights

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New Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha, in his maiden interaction with the representatives of the mainstream Tamil parties in the north recently, is reported to have emphasized the need for them to have a unified position on their collective demand for a political solution.

However, Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF) led by MP Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam defied it and said his party could not align with other Tamil parties on this matter.

India has been consistent that a solution to what is called ‘Tamil national question’ should be implemented based on the 13th Amendment to the Constitution introduced consequent to the 1987 Indo-Lanka Accord.

The Indian High Commissioner reportedly underscored the importance of having a unified stance on their demand. He said India stands for the political rights of Tamil people. He also briefed them about steps being taken by India as a country to help develop the Sri Lankan economy, including the financial assistance amounting to nearly US $ 4 billion during the crisis time. He highlighted that key Indian investments in Sri Lanka are located in the Northern and Eastern Provinces.

The Indian envoy referred to the Palali Airport, the implementation of the Trincomalee mega city project and the renewable energy project on the coast of Mannar.

Referring to the call for a unified stance on political rights, Mr. Ponnambalam is reported to have said his party is not for a solution based on the 13th Amendment. Citing it as something unworkable, he said he would not agree with his colleagues in other parties on this matter, and therefore a unified stand would not be possible.

The Indian envoy is reported to have said, though differences are all right, it is advisable to have a unified position.

Former MP Suresh Premachandran who attended the meeting representing the newly formed Democratic Tamil National Alliance (DTNA) said there are around 900,000 Tamil votes in the north and the east, and the Tamil parties should not deliver these votes to any presidential candidate from the south without a commitment to resolve the Tamil national question.