CM Kumaraswamy to kick start ‘Kurra’ for Hajj yatra on Jan 16
Mangaluru, Jan 15: Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy will start the process of ‘Kurra’ selection process of Hajj pilgrims for the present year from State Haj Committee at the Banquet Hall in Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru on January 16 at 11 am.
Deputy Chief Minister Dr G. Parameshwar, Hajj and Wakf Minister Zameer Ahmed Khan, State Haj Committee president Roshan Baig, former union minister K Rahman Khan and others would take part in it, State Hajj Advisory Committee member KM Abubakar Siddiq Montugoli told Varthabharati.
This year, total 13,988 aspirants have applied for the Hajj pilgrimage and the government has allowed 6,701 persons to go to Hajj, he said.
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.
Lebanon appoints new representative for talks with Israel, rejects linkage to Iran
Beirut: Lebanon’s has moved to underline its independent position in ongoing regional developments, amid attempts to link the country to the broader conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
President Joseph Aoun, while announcing the appointment of former US ambassador Simon Karam as Lebanon’s representative in talks with Israel, made it clear that Karam would be the sole representative for Lebanon and that there would be no substitute.
The move comes in response to what the Lebanese officials see as efforts by Iran to tie Lebanon’s situation to the wider regional conflict. Iran had indicated that there would be no ceasefire involving the US, Israel and Iran unless it also included a ceasefire in Lebanon.
Some groups, including Hezbollah and its supporters, had expressed support for linking the situations, citing concerns that the Lebanese government has limited leverage in negotiations with Israel. Lebanon is not formally a party to the conflict, and its army is considered weak.
However, others, including Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, have opposed this approach. They view Iran’s stance as an attempt to influence Lebanon’s internal affairs and see it as undermining the country’s sovereignty.
Officials backing the government’s position say the move is aimed at reaffirming Lebanon’s sovereignty and ensuring that decisions about peace and ceasefire within the country are not dictated externally.
They also see it as a safeguard, so that any breakdown in talks between the US, Israel and Iran does not automatically lead to renewed conflict in Lebanon.
