United Nations

Tonga: The UN stands ready to provide support after volcano eruption and tsunami

Secretary-General António Guterres expressed his deep concern after reports of a tsunami and ash affecting Tonga following the eruption of an undersea volcano near the Pacific nation.

The UN chief also aired his concern about the tsunami warnings that have been issued in other countries such as Australia, New Zealand, Japan and the United States.

“The United Nations offices in the Pacific are closely monitoring the situation and are on standby to provide support if requested. The Secretary-General is grateful to countries that have already offered their support“, UN spokesperson Farhan Haq said in a statement published on Saturday.

According to the Tonga Geological Services, a massive underwater volcano erupted just before sundown on Friday with plumes reaching more than 12 miles above sea level. A cloud of ash and steam reached about 150 miles across, an event captured by satellite images that have been shared by various meteorological agencies.

There has not been an immediate report of injuries or on the extend of the damage due to the nation’s current lack of connectivity.

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National

Punjab CM’s Brother To Contest Elections Independently

Ashmita Chhabria

Chandigarh: Ahead of Punjab Assembly Elections, Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi’s Brother, Manohar Singh, has announced that he will contest the elections independently from the Bassi Pathana constituency. Amid the ‘one family, one ticket’ rule he was denied ticket from the constituency.

Channi is yet to react to the announcement. Bassi Pathana falls in the Puaadh cultural region of Punjab and is seen as the home turf of Channi and his community.

In its first list of 86 candidates, the Congress on Saturday gave the Bassi Pathana ticket to its sitting legislator Gurpreet Singh GP.

Manohar Singh dubbed the decision of the Congress giving ticket to Gurpreet Singh GP as “injustice” with the people of the constituency and alleged that the sitting legislator was “incapable and ineffective.”

“Several prominent people of Bassi Pathana area have asked me to fight as an independent and I will go by what they have said. There is no chance of going back and I will surely fight the polls,” Manohar Singh told news agency PTI over the phone.

“I will contest as an independent and ensure the defeat of the sitting Congress MLA who has been fielded again,” he was seen telling a gathering of supporters in a video.

Singh had in August last year resigned as a senior medical officer from the Kharar civil hospital.

He said he decided to contest as an independent after meeting several councillors, village sarpanch and panch who asked him to fight the polls.

“People told me it was wrong to give the ticket to him (Gurpreet Singh GP). He had earlier not done anything and now he has again been foisted upon,” said Mr Singh, adding that he will talk to his brother Mr Channi and explain his decision.

Last year, Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu had inaugurated the poll office of Gurpreet Singh GP at Bassi Pathana constituency.

Voting for Punjab’s 117 assembly seats will be held on February 14 and counting will take place on March 10.

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