Pakistan forces kill 10 separatist militants in Baluchistan: report

QUETTA: Pakistani forces killed at least 10 separatist militants in the volatile province of Baluchistan on Monday, paramilitary officials said.

Baluch rebels have waged a decades-long insurgency in the remote, sparsely populated and mineral rich southwest province, bordering Iran.

The Frontier Corps, the main state security force in Baluchistan, said it launched an operation against militant hideouts in the mountainous Panjgur district on Monday morning.

"Ten militants were killed in heavy exchange of fire this morning," said Frontier Corps spokesman Wasay Khan. "Several militant hideouts were destroyed and three soldiers were also wounded."

It was impossible to verify official accounts as journalists and independent observers are not allowed to operate freely Baluchistan.The operation took place after Latif Johar, a member of the separatist Baloch Students Organisation (Azad), went on hunger strike 11 days ago to demand the release of the group´s chairman and more than 100 detained members.

In the past three years, bodies of hundreds of members of Baluch political parties, student groups and poets have been discovered across the province, and many more are still missing.Baluch activists say the bodies are evidence that the army is pursuing a systematic ´kill and dump´ campaign to crush the separatist movement - a charge the army has repeatedly denied.

Pakistan forces kill 10 separatist militants in Baluchistan: report

QUETTA: Pakistani forces killed at least 10 separatist militants in the volatile province of Baluchistan on Monday, paramilitary officials said.

Baluch rebels have waged a decades-long insurgency in the remote, sparsely populated and mineral rich southwest province, bordering Iran.

The Frontier Corps, the main state security force in Baluchistan, said it launched an operation against militant hideouts in the mountainous Panjgur district on Monday morning.

"Ten militants were killed in heavy exchange of fire this morning," said Frontier Corps spokesman Wasay Khan. "Several militant hideouts were destroyed and three soldiers were also wounded."

It was impossible to verify official accounts as journalists and independent observers are not allowed to operate freely Baluchistan.The operation took place after Latif Johar, a member of the separatist Baloch Students Organisation (Azad), went on hunger strike 11 days ago to demand the release of the group´s chairman and more than 100 detained members.

In the past three years, bodies of hundreds of members of Baluch political parties, student groups and poets have been discovered across the province, and many more are still missing.Baluch activists say the bodies are evidence that the army is pursuing a systematic ´kill and dump´ campaign to crush the separatist movement - a charge the army has repeatedly denied.

VC reinstated University Registrar

KOTTAYAM: Vice Chancellor A V George revoked the suspension of University Registrar M R Unni, using his special powers under section 10 (17) of the MG University Act. A syndicate meeting of Mahatma Gandhi University on December 5, 2013, had decided to suspend M R Unni, on the basis of findings of a syndicate sub-committee that Unni lacked administrative experience to hold the post. Following this, the registrar had approached the High Court of Kerala and a single bench on January 13, directed the university to reinstate him as the University Registrar. That was the third suspension for Unni in a year. He had been suspended on March 18, 2013 on charges of insubordination and misconduct and later, was been kept under continued suspension on April 24, 2013 as part of another disciplinary action. However, both the suspensions were revoked by the University, following the intervention of the court.

The single bench observed that the suspension of Unni from the post was against the rule of law and directed the university to take steps to reinstate him with immediate effect. However, the university filed an appeal before division bench against the order and the case is still pending before the court. Though, the Division bench refused to stay the single bench order to reinstate Unni as registrar, the University had been delaying the implementation of the order.

VC reinstated University Registrar

KOTTAYAM: Vice Chancellor A V George revoked the suspension of University Registrar M R Unni, using his special powers under section 10 (17) of the MG University Act. A syndicate meeting of Mahatma Gandhi University on December 5, 2013, had decided to suspend M R Unni, on the basis of findings of a syndicate sub-committee that Unni lacked administrative experience to hold the post. Following this, the registrar had approached the High Court of Kerala and a single bench on January 13, directed the university to reinstate him as the University Registrar. That was the third suspension for Unni in a year. He had been suspended on March 18, 2013 on charges of insubordination and misconduct and later, was been kept under continued suspension on April 24, 2013 as part of another disciplinary action. However, both the suspensions were revoked by the University, following the intervention of the court.

The single bench observed that the suspension of Unni from the post was against the rule of law and directed the university to take steps to reinstate him with immediate effect. However, the university filed an appeal before division bench against the order and the case is still pending before the court. Though, the Division bench refused to stay the single bench order to reinstate Unni as registrar, the University had been delaying the implementation of the order.

Afzal Yusuff elated at winning Special Jury Award

Chennai: “Awards are always a sort of encouragement. It is a nice feeling when your efforts are appreciated,” he told PTI.

‘Immanuel’, directed by Lal Jose, released last year, was a blockbuster. Yusuff did the background score and music for both movies. “I got the award for music direction. Doing background score is challenging because I am visually challenged,” he said.

“It takes time as each scene has to be explained. The director explains how the movie and scenes pan out and then a narrator sits with me and details the visuals while I key in the score with technicians keeping track,” he said.

“It is not easy, but then you feel you have achieved something after it is over and others appreciate it,” he said.

The 36-year-old, who made his film debut in 2008, is looking forward to the release of Fahad Fazil-starrer ‘Cartoon’.

He has tuned two songs in the movie directed by debutant Shahid Arafat.

‘Mazhayil nirayum puzhapole’ from the recently released Malayalam film ‘Parankimala’, tuned by me, has registered over 18 lakh hits on youtube,” he said.

The duet, rendered by Najim Arshad and Mridula Warrier, is a remake of the 1981 critically acclaimed movie by late director Bharathan. “I also did the background score in ‘Parankimala’.”

“I am not looking for sympathy. It is talent that counts. You cannot survive in this industry on sympathy,” says Yusuff, citing Stevie Wonder, the legendary US singer as an inspiration.

“Look at his achievements. So many Grammy awards. He is an inspiration to all of us.” A former keyboard programmer for ational-award-winning music composer Bijibal, Yusuff has tuned the music for upcoming movie ‘Ee Yathrayil’ directed by Prashant Parameswaran.

“It is an academic film. But the lyrics are by veteran Yusuf Ali Kecheri,” he said.

Another project is a Jairam-Asif Ali starrer directed by Benny Thomas. The script is by the hit-duo of Siby K Thomas and Udayakrishnan.

Adept at handling all genres of music, Yusuff, who made his entry into the industry through the movie ‘Chandranillukku Vazhi’, said his forte is melodies.

PTI

Afzal Yusuff elated at winning Special Jury Award

Chennai: “Awards are always a sort of encouragement. It is a nice feeling when your efforts are appreciated,” he told PTI.

‘Immanuel’, directed by Lal Jose, released last year, was a blockbuster. Yusuff did the background score and music for both movies. “I got the award for music direction. Doing background score is challenging because I am visually challenged,” he said.

“It takes time as each scene has to be explained. The director explains how the movie and scenes pan out and then a narrator sits with me and details the visuals while I key in the score with technicians keeping track,” he said.

“It is not easy, but then you feel you have achieved something after it is over and others appreciate it,” he said.

The 36-year-old, who made his film debut in 2008, is looking forward to the release of Fahad Fazil-starrer ‘Cartoon’.

He has tuned two songs in the movie directed by debutant Shahid Arafat.

‘Mazhayil nirayum puzhapole’ from the recently released Malayalam film ‘Parankimala’, tuned by me, has registered over 18 lakh hits on youtube,” he said.

The duet, rendered by Najim Arshad and Mridula Warrier, is a remake of the 1981 critically acclaimed movie by late director Bharathan. “I also did the background score in ‘Parankimala’.”

“I am not looking for sympathy. It is talent that counts. You cannot survive in this industry on sympathy,” says Yusuff, citing Stevie Wonder, the legendary US singer as an inspiration.

“Look at his achievements. So many Grammy awards. He is an inspiration to all of us.” A former keyboard programmer for ational-award-winning music composer Bijibal, Yusuff has tuned the music for upcoming movie ‘Ee Yathrayil’ directed by Prashant Parameswaran.

“It is an academic film. But the lyrics are by veteran Yusuf Ali Kecheri,” he said.

Another project is a Jairam-Asif Ali starrer directed by Benny Thomas. The script is by the hit-duo of Siby K Thomas and Udayakrishnan.

Adept at handling all genres of music, Yusuff, who made his entry into the industry through the movie ‘Chandranillukku Vazhi’, said his forte is melodies.

PTI

Boko Haram claims responsibility for Nigerian schoolgirls abduction

Abuja: The Nigerian Islamist militant group Boko Haram Monday claimed responsibility for the abduction of schoolgirls in the northeast region of Nigeria, a media report said.

The claim is believed to have been made by the Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, in a new video, Nigerian newspaper Premium Times reported.

The girls were kidnapped from the dormitory of Government Secondary School, Chibok, on the night of April 14.

President Goodluck Jonathan Sunday had dismissed news that the government was negotiating with the insurgents to secure the release of the abducted schoolgirls in Chibok town of the northeastern state of Borno.

"The government cannot negotiate with faceless people," said Jonathan, while reassuring parents, guardians and all Nigerians that government would rescue all the abducted girls.

The actual number of girls kidnapped is yet to be verified but sources say over 200 girls have been reported missing.

Boko Haram claims responsibility for Nigerian schoolgirls abduction

Abuja: The Nigerian Islamist militant group Boko Haram Monday claimed responsibility for the abduction of schoolgirls in the northeast region of Nigeria, a media report said.

The claim is believed to have been made by the Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, in a new video, Nigerian newspaper Premium Times reported.

The girls were kidnapped from the dormitory of Government Secondary School, Chibok, on the night of April 14.

President Goodluck Jonathan Sunday had dismissed news that the government was negotiating with the insurgents to secure the release of the abducted schoolgirls in Chibok town of the northeastern state of Borno.

"The government cannot negotiate with faceless people," said Jonathan, while reassuring parents, guardians and all Nigerians that government would rescue all the abducted girls.

The actual number of girls kidnapped is yet to be verified but sources say over 200 girls have been reported missing.

Brotherhood will not return, says Egypt's Sisi

Cairo: Egypt's former-army chief and leading presidential candidate Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has said that the Muslim Brotherhood movement of deposed leader Mohamed Morsi was "finished" in Egypt and would not return if he was elected.

Sisi spoke in the first TV interview of his campaign, aired on Monday, vowing that restoring stability and bringing development were his priorities.

The comments were a seemingly unequivocal rejection of any political reconciliation with the Brotherhood, which was Egypt's most powerful political force until Sisi removed Morsi last summer.

Since ousting Morsi, Sisi has been riding an overwhelming media frenzy lauding him as Egypt's saviour, and his status as the country's strongest figure all but guarantees him a victory in the May 26-27 election.

Sisi's only opponent in the race is leftist politician Hamdeen Sabahi, the third-place finisher in the 2012 election won by Morsi.

Brotherhood will not return, says Egypt's Sisi

Cairo: Egypt's former-army chief and leading presidential candidate Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has said that the Muslim Brotherhood movement of deposed leader Mohamed Morsi was "finished" in Egypt and would not return if he was elected.

Sisi spoke in the first TV interview of his campaign, aired on Monday, vowing that restoring stability and bringing development were his priorities.

The comments were a seemingly unequivocal rejection of any political reconciliation with the Brotherhood, which was Egypt's most powerful political force until Sisi removed Morsi last summer.

Since ousting Morsi, Sisi has been riding an overwhelming media frenzy lauding him as Egypt's saviour, and his status as the country's strongest figure all but guarantees him a victory in the May 26-27 election.

Sisi's only opponent in the race is leftist politician Hamdeen Sabahi, the third-place finisher in the 2012 election won by Morsi.