CP JOSHI TO BE SPEAKER OF RAJ ASSEMBLY

JAIPUR: Veteran Congress leader CP Joshi was on Monday named the Speaker of the 15th Assembly of Rajasthan while Mahesh Joshi was appointed the chief whip and Mahendra Chaudhary deputy chief whip. All three names were confirmed with the consent of Congress president Rahul Gandhi, party sources said. Joshi is a four-time MLA from Nathdwara. The new Speaker will be elected officially on January 16. Rajasthan Governor Kalyan Singh will administer the oath of office to him on the same day. As the first Assembly session starts on Tuesday, Pro-tem Speaker Gulabchand Kataria would conduct the maiden meeting.

Koregaon-bhima: SC won’t quash FIR against Anand

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday refused to quash the Pune police’s FIR against civil rights activist Anand Teltumbde in connection with the Elgar Parishadkoregaon Bhima violence and for his alleged Maoist links. The apex court also refused to interfere with the ongoing investigation in the case. However, a bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and justices Ashok Bhushan and S K Kaul extended the interim protection from arrest granted to Teltumbde by the Bombay High Court by four weeks.

Alleged Vadra aide questioned by ED

NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Direectorate (ED) Monday questioned Manoj Arora, the alleged aide of Robert Vadra for the third day on Monday, said people familiar with the development. Arora is being questioned in connection with a money laundering probe for acquiring some overseas assets which were not disclosed to the authorities. Arora has been granted interim protection from arrest on the condition that he will join the probe. “Arora was questioned on Saturday and Sunday as well,” said a person familiar with matter.

First annual disarmament programme held in Delhi

NEW DELHI: Young diplomats from 27 countries are participating in a fellowship programme here that aims at equipping them with the knowledge and perspectives on various contemporary disarmament, non-proliferation, arms control and international security affairs. United Nations Under