Changes in J&K led to loss of autonomy: UN experts

enact new laws could curtail political participation of Muslims and other minorities and lead to potential discrimination in employment and land ownership, two UN human rights experts said on Thursday. The concerns were expressed by Fernand de Varennes, special rapporteur on minority issues, and Ahmed Shaheed, special rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, even as a delegation of 24 envoys wound up a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir to assess the ground situation. India responded, saying concerns expressed by experts “disregards the fact that Jammu and Kashmir is an integral” part of India and the decisions were “taken by the Parliament of India”, external affairs ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said. In a statement issued in Geneva, de Varennes and Shaheed said: “The loss of autonomy... suggests people of Jammu and Kashmir no longer have their own government.” will uphold the highest ethical standards, her spokesperson said, asserting that it is the policy of the White House that the V-P’S name should not be used in connection with any commercial entity. The statement comes following media reports that the White House asked Meena Harris, niece of the vice president, to stop “using her aunt to boost her brand”. According to Los Angeles Times, the White House has asked Meena not to “build her brand” by using the name of the vice president. After Joe Biden and Harris won the election, the transition team’s ethics lawyers told Meena that she could no longer produce clothing or write new books with her aunt’s name or likeness, an unnamed White House official was quoted as saying by the daily.

Hashimoto has been chosen as president of the Tokyo 2020 Organising committee, replacing a man who resigned after setting off a furore with sexist remarks. Hashimoto, who competed in seven Summer and Winter Olympics as a cyclist and a skater, now faces a raft of tough issues at the helm of one of the world’s biggest sporting events with less than half a year before its delayed start. She replaces 83-year-old Yoshiro Mori, who resigned after saying women talk too much in meetings, sparking outcry in Japan and abroad. “I’m sure the Games are going to attract more attention related to gender equality, and in this regard I am determined to regain trust, by my fullest endeavours,” she said after her appointment. She pledged to increase the number of women on the Tokyo 2020 executive board from around 20% to 40%.