Indian Sub-continent

Nagpur, May 17 (PTI) Naxals have called for a 'bandh' in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra on May 19 to protest the killings of two fellow women in an encounter last month, police said.

Naxals had put up banners in some villages in Etapalli tehsil of Gadchiroli on Wednesday night, in which they gave the 'bandh' call, an official from Gadchiroli superintendent of police (SP) office said Thursday.

Lucknow, May 17 (PTI) BSP chief Mayawati Friday alleged that outsiders are being used to lure and threaten voters in Varanasi to ensure a win for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and asked why the EC was not focusing on the constituency.

Slamming the Election Commission, she asked why the poll body was not keeping a watch on Varanasi like it was doing in West Bengal.

Chennai, May 17 (PTI) Actor-politician Kamal Haasan, who is at the centre of a raging row over his Hindu extremist remarks, Friday said "every religion has its own terrorists" and that no one can claim to be sanctimonious.

The Makkal Needhi Maiam chief also said that he was not afraid of being arrested but warned any such action would escalate tensions.

Imphal, May 17 (PTI) Contending that the BJP does not pay heed to its ideas and suggestions, the NPF, a partner in the saffron party-led alliance in the state, has convened a meeting of its leaders on Saturday to decide if it would continue to stay in the coalition or withdraw support.

Denying the allegation, the BJP said it has extended all possible cooperation to its partners to ensure smooth functioning of the government.

Jammu, May 17 (PTI) Curfew remained clamped in Bhaderwah valley of Doda district for the second day on Friday following violent protests by members of a community against killing of a person.

The Doda district administration refuted media reports that "cow vigilantism" was the reason behind the murder and said some people were trying to give communal colour to the incident.

The Army has been deployed in the town besides additional security personnel being posted in sensitive areas to maintain law and order.

Kanpur: Today is World Communication Day and we have now been experiencing the famous line of Duniya mutthi mein. Let us know about the first landline connection released in the name of the Nagar Nigam's chief health officer Radha Raman Srivastava in the district on August 27, 1947.

LAHORE, May 16 (APP): The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Thursday announced that AJ Sports are their kit sponsor for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, which will be played in England and Wales from 30 May to 14 July.

Established in 1987, AJ Sports is an ICC-approved manufacturer, which has also previously sponsored and supplied clothing and cricket equipment to the Pakistan cricket team for various series and also to the Bangladesh and Sri Lanka cricket teams for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2003.

ISLAMABAD, May 16 (Xinhua): At least nine terrorists were killed and four policemen injured in an operation by counter-terrorism department (CTD) of police in Pakistan's southwest Balochistan province on Thursday, local reports said.

The operation was carried out on an intelligence tip-off regarding presence of suspected militants in a compound being used as terrorists' camp in Mustang district of the province, ARY News reported.

ISLAMABAD, May 16 (APP): As many as 572 Pakistani prisoners in various jails of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are set to be released during Ramazan under amnesty announced by the UAE president.

The Pakistanis were among the 3,005 prisoners who were pardoned by UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan as an act of kindness during the blessed month of Ramazan, Foreign Office Spokesman Muhammad Faisal said at a weekly press briefing here at the Foreign Office (FO).

New Delhi, May 16; PTI/GANASHAKTI:  The Congress on Thursday accused the Election Commission of losing its credibility and independence and said time has come to review the process of the poll panel's appointment.

Asking whether the model code of conduct had become the "Modi code of misconduct", Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the Election Commission order curtailing campaigning in West Bengal by 20 hours is a "dark spot" on India's democracy and institutions like the poll panel.