India may change position on Palestine
The Narendra Modi government is considering the possibility of abstaining in the vote for Palestinian statehood at the United Nations. This is a sharp departure from the policy of previous governments – including Atal Behari Vajpayee’s – to support Palestine. The decision came after some Israeli ministers told their Indian counterparts that New Delhi’s position on Palestine was "keeping the bilateral relationship away from the public gaze" like a mistress.
Coldest day in Delhi sees deaths of three
Three men died of carbon monoxide poisoning on Sunday morning after being suffocated by the fumes from a brazier lit to stave away the cold in the Hauz Khas area of New Delhi. A fourth man has been admitted to hospital in a critical condition. All four were domestic workers. Sunday was the coldest day in Delhi so far this season, with lows of around 6 degrees Celsius and highs of 15 degrees Celsius, both below the normal.
Blame game flares up over delay in supplies to Indian troops
A blame game has cropped up in the Indian army over delays in supplies of medicines and spare parts to troops serving in peacekeeping missions in the Congo, Lebanon and South Sudan. The Indian Express reported that the Army was concerned that troops were being adversely affected by late delivery, especially of medicines that were expiring. Army officials had sent out letters to the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Shipping last week, but no action has yet been taken.
Omar Abdullah, Advani call for Vajpayee to receive Bharat Ratna
Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader LK Advani said on Sunday that former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee should be conferred the Bharat Ratna, the country's highest-civilian award. Advani's call was echoed by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who said on Sunday that the UPA – which had ruled at the centre for 10 years – had missed a good opportunity. Earlier, the BJP government at the centre had declared that Vajpayee’s birthday, December 25, would be declared Good Governance Day and that schools would have to remain open. After drawing flak for cancelling the holiday, the government allowed schools to remain shut.
Jordan executes 11 on single day
In the first executions to take place in the country in eight years, Jordan hanged 11 murderers on Sunday. All 11 men had been convicted in 2005 and 2006. Jordan had stopped carrying out the death penalty in 2006. It was reinstated recently after its lawmakers called for it after a surge in crime rates. Since then, over 122 criminals have been sentenced to death in Jordan, including militants convicted of terrorism.
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The Narendra Modi government is considering the possibility of abstaining in the vote for Palestinian statehood at the United Nations. This is a sharp departure from the policy of previous governments – including Atal Behari Vajpayee’s – to support Palestine. The decision came after some Israeli ministers told their Indian counterparts that New Delhi’s position on Palestine was "keeping the bilateral relationship away from the public gaze" like a mistress.
Coldest day in Delhi sees deaths of three
Three men died of carbon monoxide poisoning on Sunday morning after being suffocated by the fumes from a brazier lit to stave away the cold in the Hauz Khas area of New Delhi. A fourth man has been admitted to hospital in a critical condition. All four were domestic workers. Sunday was the coldest day in Delhi so far this season, with lows of around 6 degrees Celsius and highs of 15 degrees Celsius, both below the normal.
Blame game flares up over delay in supplies to Indian troops
A blame game has cropped up in the Indian army over delays in supplies of medicines and spare parts to troops serving in peacekeeping missions in the Congo, Lebanon and South Sudan. The Indian Express reported that the Army was concerned that troops were being adversely affected by late delivery, especially of medicines that were expiring. Army officials had sent out letters to the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Shipping last week, but no action has yet been taken.
Omar Abdullah, Advani call for Vajpayee to receive Bharat Ratna
Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader LK Advani said on Sunday that former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee should be conferred the Bharat Ratna, the country's highest-civilian award. Advani's call was echoed by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, who said on Sunday that the UPA – which had ruled at the centre for 10 years – had missed a good opportunity. Earlier, the BJP government at the centre had declared that Vajpayee’s birthday, December 25, would be declared Good Governance Day and that schools would have to remain open. After drawing flak for cancelling the holiday, the government allowed schools to remain shut.
Jordan executes 11 on single day
In the first executions to take place in the country in eight years, Jordan hanged 11 murderers on Sunday. All 11 men had been convicted in 2005 and 2006. Jordan had stopped carrying out the death penalty in 2006. It was reinstated recently after its lawmakers called for it after a surge in crime rates. Since then, over 122 criminals have been sentenced to death in Jordan, including militants convicted of terrorism.