Indian Sub-continent

Noida (UP), Feb 26 (PTI) After over two weeks of sit-in demonstration, some farmers here have launched an indefinite fast to press for their demands, including enhanced compensation in lieu of their land acquired by the Noida Authority over the years.

Scores of farmers, under the banner of 'Kisan Astitva Bachao Andolan', have been protesting outside the authority office in Sector 6 since February 12. Some farmers launched the indefinite fast on Monday.

KANPUR: As many as three students have been caught in the ongoing Chatrapati Sahuji Maharaj University (Kanpur University) graduation examinations. Looking over the arrangements Vice-chancellor Prof Nilima Gupta expressed her annoyance at the paucity of seating plan display on the main gate of examination centres. She directed the centre in-charges to paste a seating plan on the entrance. She also found that voice recorder gadget was not put at the SN Sen Degree College.

KANPUR: Insanitation is not tolerable to anyone. If the state’s chief minister pinpoints at the flaw, it becomes vital to correct the municipal employees' mistake.  Upon such a filthy sight the Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s anger was bound to escalate. What he saw on the road near Harjinder Nagar during the passing fleet of President of India on Monday, he could not control his anger. The repercussion was certain to come and the Municipal Commissioner ordered the suspension of four employees in this matter.

Jammu, Feb 27 (PTI) Pakistani fighter jets Wednesday violated Indian air space in Nowshera sector of Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district but were pushed back by Indian aircraft, a top official said.

"The jets entered into Indian air space over Nowshera sector this morning," the official said.

They were immediately pushed back by Indian jets on air patrol.

Kolkata, Feb 27 (PTI) The West Bengal government has shifted 14 Pakistani prisoners, lodged in two correctional homes here, to separate barracks and "high-security" cells, amid soaring tension between India and its western neighbour, a senior official said.

The state government's move comes days after a 50-year-old Pakistani convict was allegedly killed by fellow inmates in Rajasthan's Jaipur Central jail.

New Delhi, Feb 27 (PTI) The entire airspace north of the Indian capital has been vacated, official sources said on Wednesday.

The skies above New Delhi were vacated as nine airports in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Punjab were closed for civilian air traffic on a day of rapidly escalating tensions between India and Pakistan.

Srinagar, Feb 27 (PTI) Srinagar, Jammu and Leh airports were Wednesday closed for civilian air traffic shortly after an IAF jet crashed in Budgam district and amid escalation of cross-Line of Control shelling between armies of India and Pakistan.

"The civilian air traffic has been suspended temporarily in view of the emergency," an official of the Airport Authority of India told PTI.

ISLAMABAD, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi Tuesday told U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo over phone that India's "aggressive posture" could affect joint efforts for peace in Afghanistan, Qureshi's office said.

Qureshi's remarks came at a time when the Taliban and the U.S. officials are holding talks in Qatar.

Qureshi spoke with Pompeo and apprised him of the violation of the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir by India and the sentiments of Pakistani government, parliament and the people, a spokesman for Qureshi said.

ISLAMABAD, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday announced his decision to allow registered Afghan refugees to open bank accounts in Pakistan which refugees say will help them do business.

Pakistan presently hosts nearly 1.4 million registered Afghan refugees who hold Proof of Registration or PoR cards, which allow them to stay legally in the country, according to the UN refugee agency.

Besides, there are also about one million refugees, who have been documented but not entitled to have PoR cards.

Johannesburg, Feb 26 (AP) The United States military said that its latest airstrike in Somalia killed 35 fighters with the al-Shabab extremist group not far from the Ethiopian border.

The US military command for the African continent said Sunday's airstrike targeted the al-Qaida-linked fighters as they were travelling in a rural area about 23 miles (37 kilometers) east of Beledweyne in central Hiran region.