India supports UN membership for Palestine, says MEA
NEW DELHI, July 14: India has backed Palestine’s bid for United Nations membership and reaffirmed its support for a two-state solution to the festering conflict between the Palestinian people and Israel. New Delhi’s position on Palestine was apprised by Sripriya Ranganathan, a secretary at the external affairs ministry during a ministerial meeting of the Palestine Donor Group, held in Brussels on Monday. At the Palestine Donor Group meeting, Ranganathan emphasised that India has been a long standing partner of the Palestinian people, and reaffirmed India’s continued support to a two-state solution as well as to Palestine’s membership of the UN, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). While stating that India is currently engaged in major projects in healthcare, women’s empowerment and institution building in Palestine, she announced several new projects focused on rehabilitation, health, education and vocational training, the MEA added in a statement. (PTI)
Bodies of Vietnam boat victims returned to families
HANOI, July 14: The bodies of the 15 Indian tourists who were killed in a speedboat accident off Vietnam’s Phu Quoc Island reached their home states on Tuesday, the Indian Embassy in Hanoi said. Of the 15 victims, 10 were from Tamil Nadu, three were from Andhra Pradesh and two were from Kerala. The bodies were flown to Mumbai in a Vietnam Airlines flight from Ho Chi Minh City. From Mumbai, the concerned state authorities coordinated with the victims’ families to bring them home, officials said. Of the 17 rescued tourists, 16 have returned to India, while one is hospitalised in Vietnam. Phu Quoc, Vietnam’s largest island, is a major tourist destination known for its white-sand beaches, coral reefs and island-hopping excursions. The tourists were reportedly returning from an island visit when the speedboat capsized. (PTI)
Woman tourist, family members assaulted near Nashik; 9 held
NASHIK (MAHARASHTRA), July 14: Two days after a woman tourist was allegedly molested and her family members were attacked by a group of hooligans at Bhavali Dam in the district, police on Tuesday arrested nine persons in the case. As per the complaint filed by the 44-year-old woman, she, her husband, son, daughter, a brother-in-law and two nephews were visiting a waterfall near the dam on Sunday when two youths whistled at her and started harassing her. When her husband tried to take back the mobile phone, they snatched away the 20 gram gold chain he was wearing and beat him up, the complaint said. Around 8-9 persons, carrying sticks, iron rods and baseball bats, got out of the car, broke the windshield and forced the woman to come out, the complaint said. Those arrested were identified as Vishal Bhatate (27), Aniket Manvedhe (24), Aniruddha Bhagde (25), Sagar alias Lokesh Gite (22), Vinod Borade (26), Sachin Adole (29), Arjun Adole (25), Devidas Bhagat (25) and Ajay Dalbhagat (20). (PTI)
