Discussed rehabilitation of Wayanad landslides survivors with district officials: Priyanka Gandhi
Wayanad (PTI): Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Saturday said she held discussions with the district officials regarding the concerns raised by some survivors of the 2024 Mundakkai-Chooralmala landslides of being left out of the final rehabilitation list.
Speaking to reporters here, Priyanka, who is in her constituency since Thursday, said the issues raised by the survivors, whom she met a day ago, were "genuine" and the District Collector Meghashree D R is aware of the same.
"Today, we discussed it. The DC is very well aware of the issues, and she's trying to do her part and I am also. I think it is a question of us coordinating better on what we are doing for them.
"Also, whatever is possible to be done through the administration, they will do and whatever is not possible, we can help with that. So, we had a good meeting and I think we will be able to help," the Congress MP stated.
She said that the survivors raised very specific issues, like those who have lost land but were not included in the final list, even though they were there in the earlier list, due to some reason or particular criteria.
Priyanka assured that those who have been excluded from the final list will be included in the hundred houses the Congress party is building.
"So it's a question of coordinating, we are doing it. I think everybody is trying their best," she said.
The July 2024 landslides in the Mundakkai-Chooralmala area of Wayanad had claimed over 200 lives and destroyed hundreds of homes.
Later, a statement issued by the party said that the Congress MP also discussed with the Collector the locals' complaints about loss of jobs due to the non-opening of the Bailey Bridge, which was constructed by the Army following the landslides for restoring connectivity to the disaster-struck area.
She also brought to the Collector's attention the complaints regarding the treatment cost of those who sustained serious injuries in the landslides, the statement said.
It further said that following the discussions, the Collector assured that the Bailey Bridge will be opened with certain restrictions after the rains are over.
During the day, Priyanka also visited the Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary and interacted with the forest department officials, the statement added.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Trump says he called off dispatching envoys to Iran talks
Dubai (PTI): US President Donald Trump said he told his top envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner not to travel to Pakistan to negotiate with Iran, stating on Fox News that "they can call us any time they want”.
Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian said his country won't negotiate while the United States imposes a blockade on its ports. Pezeshkian told Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during a phone call Saturday night that the US “should first remove operational obstacles, including the blockade,” to allow a new round of negotiations, according to the ISNA and Tasnim news agencies in Iran.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi left Pakistan on Saturday evening, two Pakistani officials told The Associated Press. Iran's state-run IRNA news agency said Araghchi is expected back in Pakistan's capital Islamabad on Sunday.
Trump said Thursday that Israel and Lebanon agreed to extend a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah by three weeks after talks at the White House. The meeting was the second high-level negotiation between the two countries this month. The initial 10-day ceasefire had been due to expire Monday.
The Trump administration is placing economic sanctions on a major China-based oil refinery and roughly 40 shipping companies and tankers involved in transporting Iranian oil.
The move announced Friday is part of the administration's threat to impose secondary sanctions on entities doing business with Iran in an effort to cut off Iran's oil exports, which are a key source of its revenue.
Airlines worldwide have begun cancelling flights as the war in the Middle East strains jet fuel supplies and pushes up prices. Experts have offered information to travelers about what to do if a flight is cancelled.
Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian said his country won't negotiate while the United States imposes a blockade on its ports, according to Iranian media.
Pezeshkian told Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during a phone call Saturday night that the US “should first remove operational obstacles, including the blockade”, to allow a new round of negotiations, the ISNA and Tasnim news agencies reported.
The Pakistani premier described the call as a “warm and constructive discussion”.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi concluded a one-day trip to Pakistan's capital Islamabad on Saturday after meeting with Pakistani military and government officials.
The trip did not produce a breakthrough in efforts to relaunch negotiations after US President Donald Trump canceled a planned trip by his envoys to Islamabad.
Iran's state-run IRNA news agency said Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will return to Pakistan after his current visit to Oman on his way to visiting Russia.
The report said he was expected to be back in Pakistan's capital Islamabad on Sunday and would join other members of his delegation who had gone to Tehran for consultations and “instructions on the topics related to the end of the war.”
