17 killed in Afghanistan flooding
Mazar-e-Sharif (Afghanistan), May 19: At least 17 people were killed and 23 others wounded after heavy torrential rains caused fresh flooding in two Afghan provinces, the authorities said on Saturday.
The seasonal disasters happened over the past 48 hours in Charhar Kint, Chimtal, Shulgara and Khulm districts of Balkh province, killing eight people including women and children, a police official told Xinhua news agency.
Hundreds of acres of land was washed away and several villages were seriously affected by the flooding in the province, said the official, adding security forces provided emergency aids for people in some affected areas.
Rain, strong winds and floodwaters continued to plague residents in Rustaq, Chal Farkhar and Worsaj districts of Takhar province, killing nine people and injuring 21 others, said Abdul Khalil Asir, provincial police spokesman.
The flooding also washed away up to 200 acres of farmlands in the province and closed highway extending to the neighbouring Kunduz province.
Heavy rains and flooding have killed 34 people and injured four others elsewhere in the country over the past 10 days, said the Afghan Natural Disaster Management Authority.
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Ready to face no-confidence motion, says Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah
Hassan (Karnataka) (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday said that the Congress government led by him was ready to face the no-confidence motion if moved by the opposition during the legislature session from December 8.
With Deputy CM D K Shivakumar by his side, he reiterated that they would both abide by the high command's decision on the leadership issue.
"Let them (opposition) bring in a no-confidence motion or adjournment motion or any other motion. We are ready to face it. Ours is an open book, transparent government. We are ready to face anything," Siddaramaiah said in response to a question.
However, BJP state President B Y Vijayendra and Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly R Ashoka, clarified that the party, along with the JD(S) has not discussed or decided anything so far regarding moving a no-confidence motion against the government.
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The winter session of the Karnataka legislature will begin in Belagavi, bordering Maharashtra, on December 8 and will go on till 19th of this month.
Not wanting to react to a question on the leadership issue, the CM said the Congress high command is very strong.
"D K Shivakumar and I will be committed to whatever the high command decides," he said.
Earlier in the day in Bengaluru, Shivakumar accompanied AICC Mallikarjun Kharge till airport from Vidhana Soudha, after paying tributes to B R Ambedkar on his 69th death anniversary, which had led to some speculation about possible discussion between the two on the leadership issue.
The power tussle within the ruling party had intensified amid speculation about a change in chief minister in the state, after the Congress government reached the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20.
However, both the CM and Deputy CM had recently held breakfast meetings at each others residences, on the instructions of the high command, which is seen as a move to pause the leadership tussle between the two and to signal Siddaramaiah's continuation as the CM for the time being, especially ahead of the Belagavi legislature session.
