Mangaluru: Padmashree Harekala Hajabba, the illiterate legendary orange seller who used the earnings of his humble profession to establish a primary school at his remote village called Newpadpu in Harekala, is about to witness the beginning of a PU college which was his long time dream. After a high school in the village, the government has now granted permission for the Pre-University College here and the classes are set to begin this year.

Many students of the village who passed SSLC stayed out of PUC due to the far distance they had to go to reach a college. Hajabba had tried hard to get a college here to benefit these rural students. Finally, the government had ordered for the establishment of a college at Newpadpu, a year ago. 1.3 acre of land was reserved for the college in Daganepadpu which has been registered under the Department of Pre-University Education.

Arts and commerce classes are set to begin in the current academic year and Prof Abdul Razak, faculty of economics at Government PU College Nalyapadavu, has been appointed as the in-charge principal for the college. Department of PU Education Assistant Director Jayanna stated that required number of lecturers would be appointed once the admission processes were done with. Lecturers from Government PU colleges with lesser work load and guest lecturers would be appointed for the posts. Padmashree Harekala Hajabba expressed joy for the beginning of the college and said that the local students would be benefited by it.

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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.