Author: Mike Harrison

Under a new U.S. glare, Saudi Arabia is rushing to release some political prisoners and make up with regional rivals, attempting to clean up its act as it braces for a policy reset in Washington.U.S. President Joe Biden pledged during his campaign to make the kingdom a “pariah” after it got a free pass under Donald Trump, but observers say he is instead adopting a middle path.While scrutinising human rights, his new administration is expected to work to preserve a valuable security partnership while it moves to reboot nuclear talks with Riyadh’s arch-enemy Tehran. Saudi Arabia has provisionally freed some…

North Korean hackers attempted to steal information about coronavirus vaccines and treatments, South Korea’s intelligence service said on Tuesday, but it denied a lawmaker’s claim that vaccine maker Pfizer Inc. was targeted. Earlier on Tuesday, Ha Tae-keung, a Member of Parliament’s intelligence committee, told reporters that the National Intelligence Service told him and other lawmakers during a closed-door briefing that North Korea hacked Pfizer to obtain COVID-19 vaccine technology. After Mr. Ha’s comments made headlines, the NIS said it didn’t mention any pharmaceutical company by name when it told lawmakers that North Korean hackers were going after coronavirus vaccine information.…

Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan has been given the additional charge of Puducherry. Kiran Bedi was removed as Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry late on Tuesday evening. Telangana Governor Tamilsai Soundararajan has been given additional charge of the Union Territory until regular arrangements are made.A communique from the Rashtrapati Bhavan said, “The President has directed that Dr. Kiran Bedi shall cease to hold the office of the Lieutenant-Governor of Puducherry and has appointed Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan, Governor of Telangana, to discharge the functions of the Lieutenant-Governor of Puducherry, in addition to her own duties.”The statement didn’t specify any reason behind Ms Bedi’s…

Internet blackout for second straight overnight to curb anti-coup uprising; junta promises election Myanmar’s deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi was hit with another charge on Tuesday, after the military imposed a second straight overnight Internet shutdown in an attempt to grind down an anti-coup uprising.In the two weeks since the generals ousted Ms. Suu Kyi and put the civilian leader under house arrest in the administrative capital Naypyidaw, big cities and isolated village communities alike have been in open revolt.The military justified its power seizure by alleging widespread voter fraud in November elections that Ms. Suu Kyi’s party won.After…

Mob torched a coach of Sabarmati Express near Godhra railway station and 59 persons were charred to death on Feb. 26, 2002. Rafiq Bhatuk, an alleged key conspirator in the 2002 Godhra train burning case, has been arrested by police. He was on the run for as many as 19 years before being arrested from Godhra.As per the local police, 51-year-old Bhatuk was part of the main group that hatched a conspiracy to target the train in which kar sevaks were returning from Ayodhya. The mob torched a coach of Sabarmati Express near the Godhra railway station and 59 persons…

The prime minister said while he was “increasingly optimistic” about the possibility of easing restrictions, he couldn’t guarantee the current lockdown would be the last ever. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has urged people, in a strict lockdown to contain the spread of a new Kent variant of coronavirus for months, to temper optimism around restrictions being lifted as a result of a successful vaccine rollout with patience.During a Downing Street briefing on Monday evening, Mr Johnson said he can’t offer any cast iron guarantees because while infections are falling, there are still more COVID-19 patients in hospitals than the…

Case involves allocation of 14 plots worth ₹30.34 cr. allegedly to acquaintances of Hooda in 2013  The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a charge sheet against 22 accused persons, including former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, in connection with the Panchkula industrial plot allotment scam. The case involves allocation of 14 plots worth ₹30.34 crore allegedly to the acquaintances of Mr. Hooda in 2013.The ED’s money laundering probe is based on an FIR registered by the State’s vigilance bureau on December 19, 2015. The FIR was later transferred to the CBI.The agency, based on its findings, alleged that Mr.…

The refinery, which is coming up in place of an existing facility, will produce petrol and diesel meeting BS-VI specifications and polypropylene as a value-added product Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lay the foundation stone for the Cauvery Basin Refinery at Nagapattinam on Wednesday evening through video-conferencing from New Delhi.Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami and Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas and Steel Dharmendra Pradhan would be present at the event to be held at Chennai Trade Centre from 4.30 p.m. onwards.The refinery, with nine million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA) capacity is being…

As per convention, the Finance Minister will table the interim budget and seek a vote-on-account for finances for a specific number of months The AIADMK government’s final budget for its current term before the Assembly polls will be presented on February 23, Tamil Nadu Assembly secretary K. Srinivasan announced on Tuesday.Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister O. Panneerselvam will present the interim budget for 2021-22 at 11 a.m. on February 23, at Kalaivanar Arangam.As per convention, the Finance Minister will table the interim budget and seek a vote-on-account for finances for a specific number of months. A full budget will…

The famous Jnana Saraswati temple located in Ring Road of Vizianagaram was busy with many devotional activities. Sri Jnana Saraswati temples located both in Vizinagaram and Srikakulam districts wore festive look with the celebration of Vasanta Panchami which is considered to be the most auspiciousd day for Aksharabhyasams, introducing world of letters to kids. The famous Jnana Saraswati temple located in Ring Road of Vizianagaram was busy with many devotional activities including Kumkumarchana, Tulabharam, Aradhana seva and Aksharabhyasams. The temple trustees Gudisha Srinivasa Rao, G. Shiva Kumar made elaborate arrangements for Akshrabhyasams for nearly 4000 students in the premises. They…