Indian Sub-continent

Raipur, Jan 19 (PTI) A Naxal was killed in an encounter with security personnel in Chhattisgarh's Bastar region on Wednesday evening, an official said, a day after four ultras were gunned down in separate gunfights in Sukma district and along the state's border with Telangana.

The fresh encounter took place in the forests on tri-junction of Sukma, Dantewada and Bastar districts, where a dreaded woman Naxal was gunned down by security forces on Tuesday.

Varanasi, Jan 20 (PTI) The Banaras Hindu University has started a postgraduate programme in 'Hindu Dharma' and according to the varsity, the course is the first of its kind in the country.

Professor V K Shukla, who is the varsity's rector, said that this programme will help in making the world aware of many unknown aspects of 'Hindu Dharma' and take its teachings to more and more people.

He said that this would be the first such course in the country.

New Delhi,? Jan 20 (PTI) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the reported abduction of a teenager from Arunachal Pradesh by China, and said his silence shows he does not care

Gandhi said he is with the family of the missing boy Miram Taron, and will not lose hope

"A few days before Republic Day, an Indian has been kidnapped by China. We are with the family of Miram Taron and will not lose hope, will not give up

ISLAMABAD, Jan 19 (APP): Pakistan’s High Commissioner in London Moazzam Ahmad Khan Wednesday held the 12th virtual ‘Khuli Katchehry’ with the British Pakistani community.

It was attended by a large number of diaspora members.

The high commissioner redressed the issues pertaining to the NICOPs, POCs, passports and property matters in Pakistan.

He also assured the community members that their complaints would be taken up with the authorities concerned in Pakistan.

ISLAMABAD, Jan 19 (NNN-APP) – Two terrorists were killed during an exchange of fire with security forces, in Pakistan’s north-west Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, an army statement said, yesterday.

The security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation, on the reported presence of terrorists in North Waziristan tribal district of the province, the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations said, in a statement.

Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the killed terrorists, said the statement.

Lucknow, Jan 18 (PTI) Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday said her party believes in doing concrete work for the country instead of indulging in show off as she slammed the BJP over the inauguration spree ahead of the UP Assembly polls.

The Congress leader also sought to counter the allegations that her party did nothing under its "70-year rule" in the country, a rhetoric rival parties use to slam the Congress as it ruled a majority of the period after the country's Independence.

New Delhi, Jan 19 (PTI) The Supreme Court Wednesday agreed to consider listing a PIL challenging the Constitutional validity of a provision of the Representation of People Act which had led to the introduction of electronic voting machines (EVMs) instead of ballot papers for polls in the country.

Seraikela (Jharkhand), Jan 19 (PTI) A police team on Wednesday recovered 15 pressure cooker bombs, suspected to have been planted by Maoists, along a non-metalled road in a forest in Jharkhand's Seraikela-Kharswan district, a senior officer said.

Shortly after the explosives were detected in Kaderango forest, a bomb disposal squad cordoned off the area and defused the IEDs, the officer said.

According to the officer, the district police force has launched a massive anti-naxal operation here, on the directive of Superintendent of Police Anand Prakash.

ISLAMABAD, Jan 18 (APP): Prime Minister Imran Khan Tuesday telephoned Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and condemned the heinous terrorist attack by Houthi militia on civil facilities in the UAE.

The prime minister affirmed Pakistan’s solidarity with the UAE and rejection of any threat to the security and sovereignty of the Emirates, UAE’s official news agency WAM reported.

He also offered his condolences for the victims of these attacks and wished a speedy recovery for the injured.

KABUL, Jan 17 (NNN-ANA) – At least a child was killed and four security personnel were wounded, after a roadside bomb blast hit a security forces pick-up truck, in Bagrami district, east of the capital Kabul yesterday, the capital police said.

The incident occurred when an improvised bomb, planted at a road divider, was detonated when the vehicle was passing by an area in Bagrami district, at around mid-day, police spokesman, Mubin Khan, told reporters via text massaging.