<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/in-a-first-indias-external-affairs-minister-vk-singh-visits-north-korea-meets-top-officials-137431">In a first, India's minister VK Singh visits North Korea, meets top officials</a>

India's minister of state for external affairs General VK Singh visited North Korea from May 15-16.

India and North Korea had established diplomatic relations in December, 1973, this year marks the 45th anniversary of relations between the two countries.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/government-announces-ceasefire-during-ramzan-in-jk-137400">Government announces ceasefire during Ramzan in J&K</a>

The home ministry today declared a state of ceasefire during Ramzan in Jammu and Kashmir

Chief minister Mehbooba Mufti had appealed for ceasefire earlier.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/the-roller-coaster-life-of-malaysias-anwar-ibrahim-137384">The roller-coaster life of Malaysia's Anwar Ibrahim</a>

Anwar Ibrahim, a controversial figure in Malaysian politics, was freed on Wednesday after pardon from King Sultan Muhammad V. Anwar was sentenced to five-year jail term for sodomy, a charge he says was trumped up by the government of ousted Prime Minister Najib Razak.&nbsp

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/syrian-rebels-pull-out-of-their-last-besieged-area-137393">Syrian rebels pull out of their last besieged area</a>

The remaining fighters started to withdraw from the last rebel-held enclave in central Syria on Wednesday, state television reported, sealing the government's control over the area and opening a major stretch of the country's most important highway.

<a href="http://cmsuat.wionews.com/india-news/west-bengal-panchayat-elections-ballot-boxes-stolen-in-malda-at-gunpoint-137358">Watch: WB panchayat polls — Ballot box looted at gunpoint in Malda</a>

Brandishing a gun, unidentified miscreants, on Wednesday, escaped with a ballot box from polling booth no. 76 in Malda's Ratua during the re-polling in the Panchayat elections.

&nbsp

In a first, India's minister VK Singh visits North Korea, meets top officials India's minister of state for external affairs General VK Singh visited North Korea from May 15-16. India and North Korea had established diplomatic relations in December, 1973, this year marks the 45th anniversary of relations between the two countries. Government announces ceasefire during Ramzan in J&K The home ministry today declared a state of ceasefire during Ramzan in Jammu and Kashmir Chief minister Mehbooba Mufti had appealed for ceasefire earlier. The roller-coaster life of Malaysia's Anwar Ibrahim Anwar Ibrahim, a controversial figure in Malaysian politics, was freed on Wednesday after pardon from King Sultan Muhammad V. Anwar was sentenced to five-year jail term for sodomy, a charge he says was trumped up by the government of ousted Prime Minister Najib Razak. Syrian rebels pull out of their last besieged area The remaining fighters started to withdraw from the last rebel-held enclave in central Syria on Wednesday, state television reported, sealing the government's control over the area and opening a major stretch of the country's most important highway. Watch: WB panchayat polls — Ballot box looted at gunpoint in Malda Brandishing a gun, unidentified miscreants, on Wednesday, escaped with a ballot box from polling booth no. 76 in Malda's Ratua during the re-polling in the Panchayat elections.

News brief: Big stories of the day

The CPI(M) on Tuesday strongly denied reports that it has joined hands with the BJP in run-up to the panchayat polls in West Bengal, and blamed ruling Trinamool Congress for spreading such "motivated rumours".

Earlier in the day, it was reported that arch-rivals BJP and the CPI(M) have joined hands at the grassroots level in Nadia district to defeat the TMC in the upcoming panchayat polls in the state.

Party General Secretary Sitaram Yechury took to Twitter to dismiss such reports and said the TMC instead of spreading "lies and canards", should answer why the CBI was "going slow" in its investigation on Narada, Sarada and Rose valley scams unless it has an underhand deal with the BJP.

"Utter lies and rumours spread by TMC to distract from the violence it has unleashed on the Left Front cadres. We categorically deny any such understanding and remain opposed to both the BJP and TMC," Yechury tweeted.

In another tweet, he said, "Motivated rumours, canards and lies are being spread by TMC which has a deal with BJP on communal polarisation and on saving its corrupt. Biman Bose (Left front chairman) has denied any understanding with the BJP and we stand firm in our opposition to both TMC and BJP".

"All drama. BJP and TMC are two sides of the same coin," Yechury tweeted.&nbsp

A district level CPI(M) leader in Nadia had said the party had to opt for seat adjustment with the BJP in many seats as several villagers wanted a one-on-one fight against the TMC.

The CPI(M), with an opposite ideology to that of the BJP, never loses an opportunity to describe the saffron party as a "divisive force".

CPI(M) Nadia district secretary and state committee member Sumit De said there have been adjustments at the grassroots level.

It has nothing to do with the party's policy, he added.

"Yes, there have been adjustments at the grassroot level. In many seats as the villagers had wanted a one-on-one fight, we had to respect it and act accordingly. But it is not that there have been several rounds of discussions between parties and it is a formal seat-sharing adjustment," De told.

Earlier in the day, it was reported that arch-rivals BJP and the CPI(M) have joined hands at the grassroots level in Nadia district to defeat the TMC in the upcoming panchayat polls in the state.

The CPI(M) on Tuesday strongly denied reports that it has joined hands with the BJP in run-up to the panchayat polls in West Bengal, and blamed ruling Trinamool Congress for spreading such "motivated rumours". Earlier in the day, it was reported that arch-rivals BJP and the CPI(M) have joined hands at the grassroots level in Nadia district to defeat the TMC in the upcoming panchayat polls in the state. Party General Secretary Sitaram Yechury took to Twitter to dismiss such reports and said the TMC instead of spreading "lies and canards", should answer why the CBI was "going slow" in its investigation on Narada, Sarada and Rose valley scams unless it has an underhand deal with the BJP. "Utter lies and rumours spread by TMC to distract from the violence it has unleashed on the Left Front cadres. We categorically deny any such understanding and remain opposed to both the BJP and TMC," Yechury tweeted. In another tweet, he said, "Motivated rumours, canards and lies are being spread by TMC which has a deal with BJP on communal polarisation and on saving its corrupt. Biman Bose (Left front chairman) has denied any understanding with the BJP and we stand firm in our opposition to both TMC and BJP". "All drama. BJP and TMC are two sides of the same coin," Yechury tweeted. A district level CPI(M) leader in Nadia had said the party had to opt for seat adjustment with the BJP in many seats as several villagers wanted a one-on-one fight against the TMC. The CPI(M), with an opposite ideology to that of the BJP, never loses an opportunity to describe the saffron party as a "divisive force". CPI(M) Nadia district secretary and state committee member Sumit De said there have been adjustments at the grassroots level. It has nothing to do with the party's policy, he added. "Yes, there have been adjustments at the grassroot level. In many seats as the villagers had wanted a one-on-one fight, we had to respect it and act accordingly. But it is not that there have been several rounds of discussions between parties and it is a formal seat-sharing adjustment," De told.

CPI-M denies report on joining hands with BJP ahead of WB panchayat polls

wb-panchayat-polls

Wb Panchayat Polls, News on Wb Panchayat Polls, stories on Wb Panchayat Polls, articles on Wb Panchayat Polls, Wb Panchayat Polls stories at Wion, Wb Panchayat Polls news, Wb Panchayat Polls latest news

wb panchayat-polls

News brief: Big stories of the day

CPI-M denies report on joining hands with BJP ahead of WB panchayat polls