DNA

BAKU: The parliamentary delegation to be led by Chair of the Milli Majlis will be in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on a working/official visit from 31 May till 4 June, Press and Public Relations Department of the Milli Majlis.

Whilst in Pakistan, our parliamentary delegation will join the 2nd General Conference of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Economic Co-operation Organisation in the capital city of Islamabad to mark the Azerbaijani side’s views of the issues to be discussed there. Besides, the Chair of the Milli Majlis will deliver a speech at the conference.

It is also planned for the Chair of the Milli Majlis to hold tête-à-tête conversations with the leaders of the other participating delegations.

On May 25, the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a number of laws. They include the introduction of direct elections of rural akims (mayors of regional districts), lowering the threshold for political parties to get elected into the Majilis of the Parliament of Kazakhstan from 7% to 5% of votes, and the introduction of the “against all” option on voting ballots in all elections.

The introduction of direct elections of rural akims will facilitate the involvement of citizens and enhance the accountability of local government bodies towards the needs and issues of the population.

To be elected as an akim, a candidate must be at least 25 years of age at the time of the election and meet the necessary requirements.

Elections will be announced 40 days in advance and will be held 10 days before the expiration of the term of the incumbent akim. The term of the election campaign will be 30 days.

Lowering the threshold from 7% to 5% of votes for political parties to get elected into the Majilis of Parliament will increase political competition.  Introduction of the “against all” option on voting ballots is a democratic tool that enables voters to voice an alternative opinion, which creates conditions for the protection of the electoral rights of citizens.

On May 25, the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a number of laws. They include the introduction of direct elections of rural akims (mayors of regional districts), lowering the threshold for political parties to get elected into the Majilis of the Parliament of Kazakhstan from 7% to 5% of votes, and the introduction of the “against all” option on voting ballots in all elections.

The introduction of direct elections of rural akims will facilitate the involvement of citizens and enhance the accountability of local government bodies towards the needs and issues of the population.

These amendments to certain legislative acts on elections were adopted as part of President Tokayev’s concept of the “Listening state”, in the framework of the key initiatives of his political reforms’ package. ramework of the key initiatives of his political reforms’ package.

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Leaders of the West African grouping Ecowas have suspended Mali’s membership from the bloc following last week’s military coup – the second in nine months.

The coup leader and now interim president, Colonel Assimi Goïta, attended the meeting in the Ghanaian capital, Accra.

Ghana’s Foreign Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey told reporters that the block has called on Mali to nominate a new civilian prime minister immediately, to adhere to an 18 months transition period and to hold presidential election next February.

Ghana said the stability of Mali was critical if West Africa was to hold back terrorist activities from the region.

Colonel Goïta seized power after ordering the arrest of the transitional President Bah Ndaw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane.

The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for a global partnership to tackle climate change and strive toward inclusive green growth.

He made this appeal in a video message at the Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 Summit hosted by South Korea.

The UN Chief said tackling climate change head-on will help protect the most vulnerable people from the next crisis while sustaining a job-rich recovery from COVID-19.

Assailants opened fire on a crowd outside a concert in Florida early on Sunday, killing two people and wounding more than 20, police and media reports said.

Three people got out of a white SUV and fired assault-style weapons and handguns at revelers gathered for an album launch party at the El Mula Banquet Hall near Hialeah, a city in Miami-Dade county, according to local media.

“I am at the scene of another targeted and cowardly act of gun violence,” Miami-Dade police director Alfredo Ramirez wrote on Twitter. “These are cold blooded murderers that shot indiscriminately into a crowd and we will seek justice.”

The Miami Herald said 20 wounded victims were taken to local hospitals, and posted a photo of friends and relatives holding hands in prayer outside one trauma center. CBS4 Miami said at least one victim remained in critical condition, and that police had no one in custody as of midday Sunday.

Angelica Green, of Miramar, told reporters her son and nephew, both 24, were arriving at the event when they became among those shot and wounded. She said they were both now in stable condition at Miami’s Jackson Memorial Hospital.

She told Local 10 News her son had telephoned her “frantic, saying he had been shot, that it hurts and that he loves us”.

“He said the guys came with ski masks and hoodies, and just started shooting up the crowd,” Green said.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said state authorities were working to catch the perpetrators.

“Justice needs to be swift & severe!” he wrote on Twitter.

The United States saw at least 200 mass shootings in the first 132 days of this year, according to a report by the Gun Violence Archive, a non-profit research group.