North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il has died, aged 69, of a heart attack, the state media announced on Monday, plunging the nuclear-armed and deeply isolated nation into a second dynastic succession.
Pyongyang urged people to rally behind Kim’s youngest son Jong-Un, describing him as “great successor” to the leader who presided over a famine that saw hundreds of thousands die, but still built an atomic arms arsenal. State television, which delivered the shock news in a tearful announcement from a female newsreader, aired footage of hysterical North Koreans, young and old alike, pounding the ground in a display of abject grief.
South Korea put its military on emergency alert but urged its people to stay calm, and swiftly closed ranks with the United Sta-tes. Analysts said there would be little turbulence in the North — at least for now. Neighbouring China and Russia, both influential in Pyongyang, sent their condolences.
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Delhi to Maya: Explain details of 4-way split
Amita Verma
Lucknow, Dec. 19
As expected, the Centre has asked UP chief minister Mayawati to explain details of her plan to divide Uttar Pradesh into four states.
The home ministry, which returned the proposal sent by Uttar Pradesh last month, said Monday it has asked the chief minister to explain how she plans to draw boundaries for the proposed states; how civil service cadres will be divided among them; how the current debt burden will be split; and also the proposed capital of each new state.
The Centre has thus sought a detailed feasibility report for the creation of Bundelkhand, Purvanchal, Paschim Pradesh and Avadh Pradesh.
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Bhanwari case: cong mla held
Age Correspondents
Jaipur/Delhi, Dec. 19
The CBI on Monday arrested Congress MLA from Luni Assembly constituency (Rajasthan) Malkhan Singh in connection with the Bhanwari Devi case. The agency has already arrested Malkhan Singh’s brother Parasram Bishnoi.