Eight police officers and their driver were killed in Central India on Monday, in a roadside blast set off by communist insurgents.
The Maoist rebels – commonly known as Naxals – detonated an improvised explosive device in Bastar district in Chhattisgarh state, as security forces were returning from the site of a gunfight in which five alleged insurgents, including two women, were killed on Sunday.
“Additional security personnel have reached the area and are combing the nearby area,” said Sundarraj P, a senior police officer in the area.
Television images showed a deep crater in the ground where the explosion took place.
Maoists have waged an insurgency in large areas of Chhattisgarh and neighbouring regions for decades, despite government efforts to defeat them. They claim to be defending the rights of the poor and local tribes.
The now-waning armed rebellion has pledged to overthrow the Indian state. Inspired by the Chinese revolutionary leader Mao Zedong, the armed groups are opposed to the government and democratic elections.
The Naxals killed three security personnel and injured 15 in an attack in Chhattisgarh in January last year. Ten security personnel and a driver were killed in another IED attack, in the state’s Dantewada district in April 2023.
According to some estimates, more than 10,000 people have been killed in the conflict since 2000.
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The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
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Favourite book: Peter Rabbit. I used to read it to my three children and still read it myself. If I am feeling down it brings back good memories.
Best thing about your job: Getting to help people. My mum always told me never to pass up an opportunity to do a good deed.
Best part of life in the UAE: The weather. The constant sunshine is amazing and there is always something to do, you have so many options when it comes to how to spend your day.
Favourite holiday destination: Malaysia. I went there for my honeymoon and ended up volunteering to teach local children for a few hours each day. It is such a special place and I plan to retire there one day.
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Specs
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Power: 659hp
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Analysis
Maros Sefcovic is juggling multiple international trade agreement files, but his message was clear when he spoke to The National on Wednesday.
The EU-UAE bilateral trade deal will be finalised soon, he said. It is in everyone’s interests to do so. Both sides want to move quickly and are in alignment. He said the UAE is a very important partner for the EU. It’s full speed ahead - and with some lofty ambitions - on the road to a free trade agreement.
We also talked about US-EU tariffs. He answered that both sides need to talk more and more often, but he is prepared to defend Europe's position and said diplomacy should be a guiding principle through the current moment.
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The specs
Price, base / as tested Dh135,000
Engine 1.6L turbo
Gearbox Six speed automatic with manual and sports mode
Power 165hp @ 6,000rpm
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Top speed 420 kph (governed)
Fuel economy, combined 35.2L / 100km (est)
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UPI facts
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The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
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