India gives Nepal Rs 375 million to control floods
Kathmandu: India on Monday handed over Rs 374.68 million to Nepal to build embankments on three border rivers to control floods affecting both neighbours. The constructions along the lalbakeya, Bagmati and Kamla rivers in southern Nepal are being undertaken in accordance with the decisions taken by the India-Nepal Joint Committee on Inundation and Flood Management.
‘Solution to B’desh deadlock still possible’
Dhaka: Bangladesh can end the current political deadlock on impending national elections if the feuding parties are willing to compromise in the face of continuing violence, a senior UN envoy on Monday said. “I do believe that there is possibility of a peaceful solution to this current deadlock,” UN assistant secretary general Oscar Fernandez Taranco, a special emissary of UN chief Ban-Ki-moon, said in his first comments since his arrival here four days ago for talks with top Bangladeshi leaders to defuse the crisis.
‘Kerry ideas will cause ‘total failure’ of talks’
Ramallah: US proposals on security presented by Secretary of State John Kerry will lead to the “total failure” of peace talks with Israel, a senior Palestinian official said on Monday. “These ideas will drive Kerry’s efforts to an impasse and to total failure because he is treating our issues with a high degree of indifference,” said Yasser Abed Rabbo, a top official with the Palestine liberation Organisation, referring to the US diplomat’s proposals on future security arrangements in the Jordan Valley.
N Korea accuses Kim Jong-Un’s uncle of graft
Seoul: North Korea confirmed on Monday that the powerful uncle of young leader Kim Jong-Un has been purged, with state TV airing humiliating images of Jang Song-Thaek being dragged away by uniformed officers. The official news agency KCNA accused the man once seen as the power behind the throne of being a corrupt, drug-taking womaniser bent on building his own faction in the ruling party. South Korean analysts predicted a sweeping purge would follow, leaving Kim as the undisputed centre of power.
Syria opposition leader to visit Russia
Kuwait City: Syrian opposition leader Ahmad Jarba said in Kuwait on Monday he would visit Russia at Moscow’s invitation, but gave no date for the trip. The announcement comes as Russia and the United States drum up support for their joint initiative to get all parties to the Syrian conflict to join peace talks slated for January 22 in Geneva. “I have received an invitation from Russian Foreign Minister Sergei lavrov to visit Moscow delivered by his deputy around 20 days ago,” Ahmad Jarba, head of the opposition National Coalition umbrella body, told the official KUNA news agency.
Japan to modernise Myanmar’s postal system
Tokyo: Japan has launched an initiative to modernise Myanmar’s postal system by introducing its fast, efficient and precise services in the Southeast Asian country. The initiative is part of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s economic revitalisation plans featuring exports of its advanced technologies and services to other countries, especially developing countries in Asia. Japan and Myanmar have held three rounds of working-level talks so far, but Japanese officials believe it would take a lot of time to introduce the Japanese-style postal services in Myanmar where people are not even used to writing postal codes.
70 activists, ex-MPs acquitted of storming House
Kuwait City: Kuwait’s lower court on Monday acquitted 70 opposition activists including nine former MPs of charges of storming the parliament building in the oil-rich Gulf state two years ago. “All the defendants were found not guilty” of charges of storming a public building, assaulting police, resisting orders and damaging public property, in the ruling by judge Hisham Abdullah.
Man gets custody over Indian woman’s murder
Melbourne: A man charged with the murder of a 38-year-old Indian-origin woman in New Zealand was remanded in custody until December 19 by a court in Wellington on Monday. The man who was charged with the murder of Sarwan lata Singh made a brief appearance in the High Court. He was granted interim name suppression by the court while he underwent psychiatric evaluation. He was sent to custody until December 19, New Zealand Herald reported.
Pak finalises treason chargesheet against Musharraf
Islamabad: The Pakistan Government has finalised the chargesheet in a case of high treason against former military ruler Pervez Musharraf, according to a media report on Monday. The Government plans to charge 70-year-old Musharraf for “abrogating, subverting, suspending, holding in abeyance and attempting to conspire against the 1973 Constitution” by declaring emergency and overthrowing the superior judiciary in November 2007. Musharraf is the first Pakistani military ruler to be charged for treason, and a conviction could lead to life imprisonment or the death penalty. The Government has not named any co-accused in the case, the influential Dawn newspaper reported.