Indian Sub-continent

Islamabad, May 21; PTI/GANASHAKTI: Career diplomat Moin-ul-Haq has been appointed as Pakistan's new  High Commissioner to India to start a new process of engagement with the country where a new government will be formed soon, amid strained relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday approved appointments of over two dozen ambassadors in various countries including India, China and Japan.

New Delhi, May 21; PTI/GANASHAKTI: Top opposition leaders met here on Tuesday, ahead of the Lok Sabha poll results on May 23, to discuss the possibility of a non-NDA alliance staking claim to government formation.

They will also move the Election Commission (EC) to press for their demand of tallying the paper trail of votes (VVPATs) with the electronic voting machine (EVM) figures.

COLOMBO, May 21 (Xinhua) -- A heat wave will sweep through Sri Lanka in the coming days and the public have been warned to take precautionary steps, the Meteorology Department said in its latest weather update here on Tuesday.

The department said the heat levels may reach "caution levels" and temperatures were likely to reach as high as 45 degrees centigrade in some provinces.

People in Polonnaruwa in the north central province, Trincomalee in the east and Vavuniya and Mullaitivu in the north were urged to remain extra cautious.

Madurai, May 20 (PTI) The Madras High Court rapped actor-politician Kamal Haasan for his Hindu extremist remark on Monday, observing that identifying a criminal with a religion, caste or race would definitely sow the seeds of hatred among people.

Granting anticipatory bail to Haasan in a case filed over his controversial remark made at a recent poll rally, Justice R Pugalendhi of the Madurai bench of the high court also said hate speeches had become a common affair of late.

Dhaka/Islamabad, May 21 (PTI) Bangladesh high commission in Islamabad has stopped issuing visas to Pakistani nationals for one week over a fresh diplomatic row, a Bangladeshi official said Tuesday, amid strained bilateral ties since 2013 when Dhaka decided to hang several of the 1971 war criminals.

The diplomatic row between Bangladesh and Pakistan is on the rise since last year when Dhaka denied a visa to the Pakistan high commissioner.

New Delhi, May 21 (PTI) Top opposition leaders will meet in the national capital Tuesday to discuss the possibility of a non-NDA alliance staking claim to government formation and also move the Election Commission to press for their demand of tallying paper trail of votes (VVPATs) with electronic voting machine (EVM) figures.

According to sources, leaders of opposition parties such as the Congress, TDP, Left parties, BSP, NCP and TMC will informally meet to discuss the way forward in case the NDA fails to get to the majority mark.

Kanpur: Sudden eruption of fire flares in a tannery of Chakeri area created panic among the labourers working there on Tuesday morning. 

According to the available reports, a tannery situated at Shivgodavri area of Chakeri caught fire suddenly. The labourers started running out in panic. The rising flares also caused fear. 

The police and the Fire Brigade were immediately informed of the fire. The fire tender doused the erupting fire. 

The tannery owner said that the damage worth Rs one lakh has been effected. The timely dousing of the fire saved heavy losses. 

Srinagar, May 21 (PTI) PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday said the silence of the Election Commission (EC) was worrying even after "evidence" had come to the fore that the electronic voting machines (EVMs) used in the just-concluded Lok Sabha polls were being switched.

"Worrying that despite solid evidence about EVMs being switched, @ECISVEEP hasnt clarified any of these concerns. A farcical wave backed by dubious exit polls followed by manipulating EVMs is another Balakot in the making," she said in a tweet.

Mumbai, May 21 (PTI) A special court here has granted exemption to the 2008 Malegaon blast case accused Pragya Singh Thakur, Lt Col Prasad Purohit and Sudhakar Chaturvedi from appearing before it this week.

When the matter was taken up by the special NIA court on Monday, the three accused filed applications through their lawyers seeking exemption from appearance.

While Thakur and Chaturvedi said they are busy with preparations for the upcoming results of the Lok Sabha polls, which they had contested, Purohit cited personal difficulties.

Bhuj (Guj), May 20 (PTI) Two Pakistani nationals were apprehended on Monday by the Border Security Force (BSF) and their boat seized from the Sir Creek area in Gujarat's Kutch district, an official said.

He said a probe has begun in the vicinity to find out more details about the two Pakistani nationals, he added.

In an incident that happened earlier this month, a group of fishermen from the neighbouring country had managed to flee when confronted by BSF personnel in the Sir Creek area.

Their boat was, however, seized by the border guarding force at the time.