NEW DELHI // The Indian government faced growing domestic pressure today to cool its ties with Sri Lanka, including calls for an economic embargo and for a boycott of a Commonwealth summit in Colombo.
Politicians in Tamil Nadu state, which has seen daily protests against Colombo, passed a resolution asking New Delhi to stop treating Sri Lanka as a friendly country until it probes the "genocide" of ethnic Tamils.
The resolution also called on India to operate an economic embargo against Sri Lanka, a day after the state's chief minister, J Jayalalithaa, barred Sri Lankan cricketers from playing any matches on her patch.
Sri Lanka's sports minister retaliated, saying the country would not allow its cricketers to travel to India to play in the IPL Twenty20 tournament next month unless it gets guarantees from New Delhi of their safety.
Tamil Nadu also demanded an international probe into the alleged "genocide" of Tamils in Sri Lanka, and asked New Delhi to move a UN resolution seeking a referendum on creating a separate homeland for the minority community.
As anger deepens among Indian Tamils about Colombo's treatment of their ethnic kinsmen, politicians in both Tamil Nadu and the neighbouring union territory of Pondicherry have insisted on stronger action by New Delhi.
The Pondicherry chief minister, N Rangasamy, said he would petition the central government to boycott the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Colombo in November.
"We will write to the centre [central government] to urge that India skip the meet at Colombo. We will write the letter to the centre immediately," the Press Trust of India news agency quoted Mr Rangasamy as telling local lawmakers.
The issue has already proved toxic for the central government, with the Tamil Nadu-based Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party quitting the ruling coalition last week after accusing it of being soft towards Colombo.
Rights groups have said Sri Lankan troops killed up to 40,000 members of the minority Tamil population in 2009 in the final months of the island's civil war, a charge denied by Colombo.
The Indian government, which has traditionally been wary of upsetting its neighbour, was among 25 nations which last week supported a resolution at the UN Human Rights Council calling for a probe of alleged war crimes on the island.
Points to remember
- Debate the issue, don't attack the person
- Build the relationship and dialogue by seeking to find common ground
- Express passion for the issue but be aware of when you're losing control or when there's anger. If there is, pause and take some time out.
- Listen actively without interrupting
- Avoid assumptions, seek understanding, ask questions
While you're here
The specs: 2018 Volkswagen Teramont
Price, base / as tested Dh137,000 / Dh189,950
Engine 3.6-litre V6
Gearbox Eight-speed automatic
Power 280hp @ 6,200rpm
Torque 360Nm @ 2,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 11.7L / 100km
ABU%20DHABI'S%20KEY%20TOURISM%20GOALS%3A%20BY%20THE%20NUMBERS
Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
THE SIXTH SENSE
Starring: Bruce Willis, Toni Collette, Hayley Joel Osment
Director: M. Night Shyamalan
Rating: 5/5
Roger Federer's 2018 record
Australian Open Champion
Rotterdam Champion
Indian Wells Runner-up
Miami Second round
Stuttgart Champion
Halle Runner-up
Wimbledon Quarter-finals
Cincinnati Runner-up
US Open Fourth round
Shanghai Semi-finals
Basel Champion
Paris Masters Semi-finals
Listen here
Global institutions: BlackRock and KKR
US-based BlackRock is the world's largest asset manager, with $5.98 trillion of assets under management as of the end of last year. The New York firm run by Larry Fink provides investment management services to institutional clients and retail investors including governments, sovereign wealth funds, corporations, banks and charitable foundations around the world, through a variety of investment vehicles.
KKR & Co, or Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, is a global private equity and investment firm with around $195 billion of assets as of the end of last year. The New York-based firm, founded by Henry Kravis and George Roberts, invests in multiple alternative asset classes through direct or fund-to-fund investments with a particular focus on infrastructure, technology, healthcare, real estate and energy.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylturbo
Transmission: seven-speed DSG automatic
Power: 242bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Price: Dh136,814
What She Ate: Six Remarkable Women & the Food That Tells Their Stories
Laura Shapiro
Fourth Estate
THE%20SPECS
PROFILE OF SWVL
Started: April 2017
Founders: Mostafa Kandil, Ahmed Sabbah and Mahmoud Nouh
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport
Size: 450 employees
Investment: approximately $80 million
Investors include: Dubai’s Beco Capital, US’s Endeavor Catalyst, China’s MSA, Egypt’s Sawari Ventures, Sweden’s Vostok New Ventures, Property Finder CEO Michael Lahyani
COMPANY PROFILE
if you go
The flights
Air Astana flies direct from Dubai to Almaty from Dh2,440 per person return, and to Astana (via Almaty) from Dh2,930 return, both including taxes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Almaty cost from Dh1,944 per night including taxes; and in Astana the new Ritz-Carlton Astana (www.marriott) costs from Dh1,325; alternatively, the new St Regis Astana costs from Dh1,458 per night including taxes.
When to visit
March-May and September-November
Visas
Citizens of many countries, including the UAE do not need a visa to enter Kazakhstan for up to 30 days. Contact the nearest Kazakhstan embassy or consulate.
While you're here
Thomas Harding: Johnson and Biden on collision course over Northern Ireland
Thomas Harding: Biden victory will rejuvenate America's relations with Europe
Gavin Esler: Can the world continue to trust Britain after move to break law?
WHY%20AAYAN%20IS%20'PERFECT%20EXAMPLE'
The Brutalist
Director: Brady Corbet
Stars: Adrien Brody, Felicity Jones, Guy Pearce, Joe Alwyn
Rating: 3.5/5
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
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Zodi%20%26%20Tehu%3A%20Princes%20Of%20The%20Desert
More on Quran memorisation:
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
How to avoid crypto fraud
- Use unique usernames and passwords while enabling multi-factor authentication.
- Use an offline private key, a physical device that requires manual activation, whenever you access your wallet.
- Avoid suspicious social media ads promoting fraudulent schemes.
- Only invest in crypto projects that you fully understand.
- Critically assess whether a project’s promises or returns seem too good to be true.
- Only use reputable platforms that have a track record of strong regulatory compliance.
- Store funds in hardware wallets as opposed to online exchanges.
INDIA'S%20TOP%20INFLUENCERS
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
-
- Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
- Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
- Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
- Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
- Trying but failing to reduce phone use multiple times.
- Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
- Experiencing physical problems such as eye strain, neck pain, or thumb and wrist pain.
- Encountering friction with family and friends over the amount of time spent on the screen.
What are the guidelines?
- Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
-
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
-
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
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Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
-
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.Source: American Paediatric Association
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
THE LIGHT
Director: Tom Tykwer
Starring: Tala Al Deen, Nicolette Krebitz, Lars Eidinger
Rating: 3/5