BJP offers NC four cabinet berths
The Bharatiya Janata Party’s newly elected MLAs in Jammu and Kashmir believe that the party, which came in second-largest in the assembly polls, should ally with the National Conference, on Thursday. Senior BJP leaders also said the BJP has reached out to the NC, and is ready to offer it four cabinet berths if it agrees to an alliance. These leaders added that the NC would also be asked to join the central government and given support for a Rajya Sabha seat.
On Christmas, VHP converts 58 to Hinduism in Kottayam
Under the initiative of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad on Thursday, Christmas Day, 58 people in Kottayam from Kerala – most of them from Christian families – were converted to Hinduism. The local VHP leader said those who had been converted had volunteered for it and had not been forced into it. Earlier this week, similar conversion programmes had been held in Alappuzha district. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had said on Wednesday that the situation did not warrant government intervention.
No holiday on Good Governance Day for BJP officials
Although an official holiday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several ministers were busy on Christmas Day as they released a slew of initiatives and websites to mark "Good Governance Day". The websites included Gyansetu, a web-based real-time communication system designed to provide e-services in rural areas, and MAX-NG, which purportedly enables transitioning from old telephony to Voice over IP on existing landlines at cheaper rates. Modi also spent the day in his constituency, Varanasi, giving speeches and launching new teaching programs at Banaras Hindu University.
China equipping submarines with nuclear missiles
On Friday, China announced that it was equipping its JIN class of submarines with long-range nuclear-capable ballistic missiles, taking its nuclear deterrence program to the seas. Until now, China had been able to strike at the US only with land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles, but these had become vulnerable to advanced surveillance techniques. The sea-based missiles have a range of 7,350 km, which could target all of America’s mainland states if the JIN-class submarines position themselves west of Hawaii. The US military’s Pacific Command already has 200 ships focusing on the Asia-Pacific theatre, including five aircraft carriers.
Australia lose two wickets soon after lunch
The third out of four test matches been India and Australia was underway on Friday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Australia were 115/3 shortly after lunch. David Warner was out early, for a duck, after which Chris Rogers (57) and Shane Watson (52) put on a firm stand to dominate the session. However, they were both removed shortly after lunch. India trails the four-match series 2-0, while former Australian captain Ricky Ponting believes the familiarity of the MCG will be India’s only hope in beating Australia Down Under.
The Bharatiya Janata Party’s newly elected MLAs in Jammu and Kashmir believe that the party, which came in second-largest in the assembly polls, should ally with the National Conference, on Thursday. Senior BJP leaders also said the BJP has reached out to the NC, and is ready to offer it four cabinet berths if it agrees to an alliance. These leaders added that the NC would also be asked to join the central government and given support for a Rajya Sabha seat.
On Christmas, VHP converts 58 to Hinduism in Kottayam
Under the initiative of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad on Thursday, Christmas Day, 58 people in Kottayam from Kerala – most of them from Christian families – were converted to Hinduism. The local VHP leader said those who had been converted had volunteered for it and had not been forced into it. Earlier this week, similar conversion programmes had been held in Alappuzha district. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had said on Wednesday that the situation did not warrant government intervention.
No holiday on Good Governance Day for BJP officials
Although an official holiday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several ministers were busy on Christmas Day as they released a slew of initiatives and websites to mark "Good Governance Day". The websites included Gyansetu, a web-based real-time communication system designed to provide e-services in rural areas, and MAX-NG, which purportedly enables transitioning from old telephony to Voice over IP on existing landlines at cheaper rates. Modi also spent the day in his constituency, Varanasi, giving speeches and launching new teaching programs at Banaras Hindu University.
China equipping submarines with nuclear missiles
On Friday, China announced that it was equipping its JIN class of submarines with long-range nuclear-capable ballistic missiles, taking its nuclear deterrence program to the seas. Until now, China had been able to strike at the US only with land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles, but these had become vulnerable to advanced surveillance techniques. The sea-based missiles have a range of 7,350 km, which could target all of America’s mainland states if the JIN-class submarines position themselves west of Hawaii. The US military’s Pacific Command already has 200 ships focusing on the Asia-Pacific theatre, including five aircraft carriers.
Australia lose two wickets soon after lunch
The third out of four test matches been India and Australia was underway on Friday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Australia were 115/3 shortly after lunch. David Warner was out early, for a duck, after which Chris Rogers (57) and Shane Watson (52) put on a firm stand to dominate the session. However, they were both removed shortly after lunch. India trails the four-match series 2-0, while former Australian captain Ricky Ponting believes the familiarity of the MCG will be India’s only hope in beating Australia Down Under.
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