KUALA LUMPUR  :  Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad read out the instrument of proclamation on Thursday (Jan 31), officially signifying Sultan Abdullah’s ascension to the throne as the new head of state of Malaysia, in accordance with the laws and the Federal Constitution. The Mufti of Sabah, Datuk Bungsu at Aziz Jaafar, recited the prayers, seeking the blessings of the Almighty for the well-being of Their Majesties, the people and the nation.

(Agencies)

KABUL, Jan 29: Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said Monday the Taliban should “enter serious talks” with his government, after the insurgents and Washington both touted progress during unprecedented negotiations in Qatar last week.
A months-long diplomatic push by the United States to get the Taliban to talk to Kabul culminated in six days of meetings between the US and the insurgents in Doha, but the Taliban have long refused to negotiate with the Afghan government to end the 17-year conflict, branding them as “puppets”.
“I call on the Taliban to… show their Afghan will, and accept Afghans’ demand for peace, and enter serious talks with the Afghan government,” Ghani said in a nationally televised address from the presidential palace in Kabul.
Both the Taliban and the US cited “progress” over the weekend as hopes rise that the length of the negotiations could mean a deal may be in sight which paves the way for Afghan talks.
Sticking points remain, with topics including a ceasefire and a timetable for the withdrawal of foreign troops, as well as a prisoner exchange and a guarantee not to allow militant safe havens in Afghanistan believed to have been on the agenda.
US President Donald Trump’s clear eagerness to end America’s longest war has also weighed heavy on the discussions.
But Afghan authorities have previously complained of being excluded from the talks in Qatar, and warned that any deal between the US and the Taliban would require Kabul’s endorsement.
“We want peace, we want it fast but we want it with a plan,” Ghani said in his address Monday.
“We should not forget that the victims of this war are Afghans and the peace process should also be Afghan-led… No Afghan wants foreign troops to remain in their country indefinitely. No Afghan wants to face suicide attacks in hospitals, schools, the mosques, and parks.”
– Talks continue –
Ghani spoke hours after his office said it has been reassured by Washington that the talks in Qatar remain geared towards bringing the insurgents to the table with Kabul.
US special envoy Zalmay Khalilzad — who has been leading the negotiations — arrived in Afghanistan late Sunday to update officials including Ghani on the progress made.
“The US insisted in their talks with the Taliban that the only solution for lasting peace in Afghanistan is intra-Afghan talks,” Khalilzad said, according to a statement released by Ghani’s office.
“My role is to facilitate” such talks between the insurgents and Kabul, Khalilzad said according to Ghani, adding that the discussions are ongoing.
The palace said Khalilzad also confirmed that no agreement had been made on the withdrawal of foreign troops, adding that any such decision would be coordinated and discussed in detail with the Afghan government.
The Taliban have insisted foreign troops must pull out.
On Saturday Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said that until a withdrawal timetable is decided progress on other issues is “impossible”.
The palace’s statement said Khalilzad denied reports that the issue of an interim government had been raised, saying that was “absolutely wrong” and there had been no discussions with the Taliban about any future government in Kabul.
He also confirmed there had been no progress on the issue of a ceasefire.
Afghans have expressed tentative hopes about the talks tempered by fears of an American exit, with Afghan security forces taking staggering losses, the government facing election upheaval, and civilians paying a disproportionate price after nearly two decades of bloodshed.
The Taliban and US officials have agreed to continue negotiations, though no date has been publicly announced. (AFP/RSS)

Railway Minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday, January 23 announced 2.50 lakh fresh vacancies in Indian railways soon. In a press meet, Railway Minister announced that the new job opportunities for 2.25-2.50 Lakh people has been created, process for 1.50 Lakh vacancies is underway and will complete in next 2-2.5 months. So Railways, in a way, will be providing 4 Lakh jobs.Goyal further added that in next two years approx. 1 lakh railway employees would retire and the process of recruitment is on the way.

While talking to Indian Express an official from Railway Recruitment Board confirmed that the 10 percent EWS quota will be applicable for the new recruitment process in Indian Railways. The first phase of recruitment will be advertised in February and the second phase will come up in May 2019.

Last year Indian Railways have already advertised recruitment of 1.2 lakh posts in Group C & Group D to be filled. The recruitment process for both is on the way and will be completed in August 2019. As for now, RRB Group D answer key 2018 is released and RRB Group D result 2018 is expected to be declared on February 13, 2019.

(Agencies)

Indian Railways, which dates back to 1853 during the British rule, is one of the world’s largest railway networks. The full track length of Indian Railways can circle the equator one-and-a-half times.

It comprises 115,000 km of track length over a route of 67,312 km. Also dubbed as the lifeline of India, the railway network has grown to be the world’s third largest network.

Even more interesting is that the daily total distance covered by Indian Railways daily equals three and a half times the distance to the moon.

The first train in India ran on 16th April 1853 from Bombay to Thane during the British rule. However, the first railroad was constructed by two Indians — Jaganath Shunkerseth and Jamsetjee Jeejeebhoy.

Train

Owned by the Government of India, the Indian Railways, an autonomous organization, is the world’s 9th largest employer having more than 1.6 million employees.

Indian Railways has a daily passenger population of almost 25 million, which is more than the entire population of Australia.

The fastest train of India is New Delhi-Bhopal Shatabdi Express, an all air-conditioned superfast train that clocks a maximum speed of 150kmph on the Faridabad-Agra section. This train covers the 704 km New Delhi-Bhopal stretch in 7 hours 50 minutes.

Likewise, the slowest train is Metupalayam Ooty Nilgiri Passenger, which runs at a speed of 10km per hour because it runs in hilly region.

Meanwhile, the longest run by an Indian Railways’ train is the Vivek Express that travels from Dibrugarh of Assam to Kanyakumari in Kerela covering a distance of 4273 km, making it the longest run in terms of total time and distance.

The shortest run train is the scheduled services between Nagpur and Ajni stations situated just 3km from each other.

Another interesting aspect of the Indian Railways is that the Howrah-Amritsar Express has 115 stops, the record maximum for an express train.

Likewise, the New Delhi Main Station, having the world’s largest route relay interlocking system, has a place in the Guinness Book of Records.

While the Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh having a length of 1366.33 meters is the longest platform in the world, Lucknow Station in Uttar Pradesh is the busiest station with 64 trains running per day.

Similarly, the railway bridge built over Chenab River, which is the world’s highest railway bridge, is said to dwarf the Eiffel Tower.

(Agencies)