INDIA KEY PLAYER IN MULTILATERAL SYSTEM: UNGA

UNITED NATIONS: Commending India for being a very important player in the multilateral system, UN General Assembly President Maria Fernanda Espinosa has said the country is a “leading force” in areas of climate action and poverty eradication. “India is a very important player in the multilateral system. It is a very strong reliable partner of the system. This should be acknowledged,” Espinosa said. Lauding India for its “constructive” role in the multilateral sphere, she said the country is a very good ally to boost role of the UN and to strengthen the multilateral system.

SC to hear Jafri plea against clean chit to PM Modi

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday said it would hear a plea by Zakia Jafri, challenging the SIT’S clean chit to then Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi in connection with the 2002 Godhra riots, after four weeks. Zakia, the wife of ex-mp Ehsan Jafri who was one of the 68 killed in Ahmedabad’s Gulberg society, has challenged the Gujarat High Court’s October 5, 2017, order rejecting her plea against the SIT’S decision giving a clean chit to Modi and 63 others, including senior government officials.

Opposition set for pre-poll tie-up against Chamling

SILIGURI : Opposition parties in Sikkim are set to forge an alliance in a bid to challenge the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) led by Pawan Chamling that has been ruling the tiny Himalayan state since 1994. As a first step, Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) president P S Golay and Hamro Sikkim Party (HSP) Bhaichung Bhutia on Tuesday held a closed-door meeting on Tuesday. If the tie-up eventually materialises, it will be the first time an alliance of opposition parties will be forged in the 44-year history of Sikkim. The state is due to hold assembly polls this year. “The meeting was positive...we will again meet on January 31 along with the executive committee members of both parties,” said Golay.