US set to open embassy in Jerusalem
Washington, May 14 : The US is set to open its new embassy in Jerusalem on Monday, formally breaking from decades of established American policy and international practice in a move that US officials say will create greater regional stability.
The new embassy in Jerusalem, which will inhabit an existing US consular building, will open its doors at 4 p.m. in a 90-minute ceremony led by US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman, ABC News reported.
The move has been praised by Israel but condemned by Palestinians who were expected to hold mass protests.
US President Donald Trump will address the ceremony by video and he will be represented by his daughter and adviser Ivanka Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner.
At least 800 people were expected to attend the event, including a congressional delegation and a presidential delegation led by Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan.
The American delegation touched down Sunday, and following a reception with the Israeli Foreign Ministry, dined at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's house.
Netanyahu heaped praise on Trump, saying: "Thank you, President Trump, for your bold decision... Thank you for making the alliance between Israel and the US stronger than ever."
"Now, you know how you recognize real leadership? It's when others follow, and others are following in President Trump's footsteps," he said, telling the crowd that Guatemala and Paraguay would both move their embassies later this week.
Palestinians seek East Jerusalem as their own future capital and see the US move as backing Israeli control over the whole city. For its part, Israel considers all of Jerusalem as its indivisible capital.
The US State Department said that the embassy opening will take place on the 70th anniversary of American recognition of the State of Israel, the day of its founding and a day that Palestinians refer to as "the Catastrophe", as hundreds of thousands fled their homes.
Trump's decision last year to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital broke with decades of US neutrality on the issue and put it at odds with most of the international community.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas described Trump's decision as the "slap of the century".
Meanwhile, thousands of Palestinians were gathering for a protest along the perimeter fence that separates Israel and the Gaza Strip on Monday.
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UGC should engage in dialogue with state govts before proposing changes to regulations: M C Sudhakar
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Minister M C Sudhakar has written to Union Minister for Education Dharmendra Pradhan expressing his opposition to the recently published draft UGC Regulations, 2025.
He said UGC should be engaging in a dialogue with state governments before proposing any changes.
The University Grants Commission (UGC) called for public consultation of its draft for Minimum Qualifications for Appointment and Promotion of Teachers and Academic Staff in Universities and Colleges and Measures for the Maintenance of Standards in Higher Education Regulations.
In a letter dated January 13, Karnataka Minister for Higher Education Sudhakar said the state strongly opposes certain provisions related to the appointment of Vice-Chancellors, which he said, strike at the root of the higher education system and powers of the state government.
According to the minister, the draft guidelines provide no role for the state government in selecting the Vice-Chancellor of a university.
"The guidelines provide for a search-cum-selection committee appointed by the Chancellor/Visitor with no nominee of the State Government. The powers to appoint the Vice-Chancellor out of the panel recommended by the search-cum-selection committee is given solely to the Visitor/Chancellor," added the minister.
The qualifications required for appointment of Vice-Chancellors, which include non-academicians, also requires serious deliberation, he added. As per draft, said the minister, if the Vice-Chancellor is not appointed as per these guidelines, the appointment shall be null and void.
"This would contradict the provisions of the legislations governing Universities in the state, including in relation to the tenure and reappointment of Vice-Chancellors," he added.
The minister said the state government plays a critical role in advancement of higher education in the state.
"Karnataka is at the forefront of higher education with a gross enrolment ratio higher than the national average. Substantial funds are provided by the state government to administer and run public universities in the state. Apart from developmental grants to universities, salaries and pensions of the permanent teaching and non-teaching staff are provided by the state exchequer," said Sudhakar.
He also said UGC should ideally be engaging in a dialogue with state governments to assess the present status and issues faced by the universities pertaining to various student related issues in the present system before proposing any radical changes to the existing guidelines.
He urged the union education minister to direct the UGC to withdraw the draft guidelines immediately and engage in a wider consultation with state governments.
