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8:56 AM

Erdogan announces Turkey's parliamentary, prez polls to be held on May 14

Turkey's president has announced May 14 as the date for the country's next parliamentary and presidential elections. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who plans to seek reelection, made the announcement during a Saturday youth conference in northwestern Bursa province. A video of the event was released Sunday.

 

"I thank God that we are destined to share our path with you, our valued youth, who will vote for the first time in the elections that will be held on May 14," said Erdogan, who had hinted at the date last week.

 

He said in Bursa he would make the formal call on March 10, after which Turkey's Supreme Election Council would prepare for the elections.

 

8:54 AM

Ganga water scheme to soon meet drinking water needs in Nawada: Nitish

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said that his government, under its Ganga Water Supply Scheme (GWSS), will soon provide treated flood waters to households of Nawada district. Talking to reporters, during his ongoing 'Samadhan Yatra', Kumar said the project will meet the drinking water needs of the district.

 

"Work to provide treated flood waters of river Ganga to households in Nawada district is underway on a war footing. It will be completed in the next few months. People of Nawada will soon get sacred Ganga water at home," he underlined.

 

8:53 AM

Former UK PM Boris Johnson visits Ukraine, meets President Zelensky

Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Sunday reached the Ukrainian capital and visited its outskirts before meeting President Volodymyr Zelensky, reports said. The Conservative MP said it was a "privilege" to visit the country at the invitation of Zelensky, the BBC reported.

 

The unannounced visit came as fresh questions over Johnson's personal finances emerged in the UK, including claims that BBC Chairman Richard Sharp helped Mr Johnson secure a loan while he was the prime minister.

 

8:52 AM

US launches new initiative to cut delays in visa processing in India

With an aim to cut delays in visa processing in India, the US has launched new initiatives, including scheduling special interviews for first time applicants and increasing strength of consular staff.

 

As part of the multi-pronged approach to cut the visa backlog, the US embassy in Delhi and the consulates in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Hyderabad conducted "special Saturday interview days" on January 21. On January 21, the US mission in India launched the first in a series of special Saturday interview days, as part of a larger effort to reduce wait times for first-time visa applicants," the US embassy said on Sunday.

 

8:51 AM

Law minister Rijiju slams controversial BBC documentary on Gujarat riots

Law minister Kiren Rijiju has slammed the controversial BBC documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the 2002 Gujarat riots, saying India's image cannot be disgraced with "malicious campaigns". In a series of tweets in English and Hindi, he said minorities, or for that matter, every community in India is moving ahead positively.

 

"India's image cannot be disgraced by malicious campaigns launched inside or outside India," he said, adding that Prime Minister Modi's voice is the voice of 1.4 billion Indians. Some people in India have still not gotten over the colonial hangover. They consider BBC above the Supreme Court of India and lower the country's dignity and image to any extent to please their moral masters," said Rijiju.