Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said that the violence-hit north-eastern state of Manipur needs “healing”.
This came as protesters clashed with police after the government briefly blocking Mr Gandhi's visit to the region – considered to be the epicentre of the months-long ethnic strife.
Manipur is witnessing widespread ethnic violence between two major communities – the majority Hindu Meitei community and the Christian Kuki tribal group – over a proposed government policy that would benefit the dominant Hindu community.
More than 130 people have been killed and tens of thousands forced to flee their homes in the region, where rival groups have launched targeted attacks on each other’s neighbourhoods and burnt down religious buildings.
Mr Gandhi, a former parliamentarian, and the first leading opposition member to visit the state was stopped by authorities over security concerns before he took a helicopter and visited a relief camp in Churachandpur – the epicentre of the ethnic violence between the two communities, where he interacted with affected people and members of civil society.
“I came to listen to all my brothers and sisters of Manipur … Manipur needs healing. Peace has to be our only priority,” Mr Gandhi said on Twitter.
The state is ruled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party which has faced criticism for failing to curb the violence.
Officers stopped Mr Gandhi at Bishnupur over fears that “grenades could be thrown at him”, forcing him to take a helicopter instead.
Several women staged protests against police for blocking Mr Gandhi’s convoy. Police fired tear gas to disperse protesters.
“Why is the government blocking his visit, let him go,” a local woman said.
“When he wants to visit and what is the situation, why is the government blocking?”
India's Congress party called the government action a “dictatorship”.
“This is a type of dictatorship … what is the fate of our democracy? We are not coming here to politicise. We are coming here just to meet the people who are suffering, just to console them,” Okram Ibobi Singh, former Manipur chief minister and Congress leader said.
The BJP, however, attacked Mr Gandhi saying his behaviour to visit Churachandpur was “irresponsible”.
“He should have been aware of the ground realities before going there. Sensitivity is far more important than stubbornness … The local administration requested him citing protests surrounding his visit,” Sambit Patra, BJP spokesperson said.
While Mr Shah informed party leaders about actions taken by the state and his government in Manipur, the opposition parties slammed the government for its inability to control the violence.
They have criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his silence on the unrest.
Manipur borders Myanmar and Bangladesh and is strewn with hills and valleys.
About 34 ethnic tribes, roughly 40 per cent of the population, have traditionally inhabited the hilly areas that comprise 90 per cent of the territory.
The Meiteis, who make up more than half of the population and dominate the valley areas, are confined to only 10 per cent of the land mass.
They have long demanded to be included in the tribe list so that they get exclusive land rights, job benefits and match the status of other tribal groups.
But opposing tribes – largely represented by Kukis – have expressed their opposition to such a move, claiming that the Meiteis already dominate the demographic, political and social landscape.
More than 130 people have been killed, with around 40,000 displaced in the state. Thousands of homes and religious structures, including churches and temples, have been destroyed in the weeks-long strife.
More than a dozen of Manipur's 16 districts have been affected by the violence.
Women, children and elders have been forced to flee to army camps. Young men from both communities have been volunteering to keep watch at night in their villages.
The federal government has sent thousands of security forces to deal with the situation, but violence continues to ravage the state with insurgent groups from both communities targeting people and their properties.
On Monday, the army said that it was forced to release 12 insurgents after a 1,500-strong mob led by women interrupted a counter-insurgency operation in Imphal.
Kiran Kumar Meitei, a volunteer with the Co-ordination Committee of Manipur Integrity, who is planning to meet Mr Gandhi on Friday, said his visit would put pressure on Mr Modi’s government.
“It has become a national issue and not remained just an issue of two communities, as foreign militants have become involved. It is a threat to our national security and hence, all national political party leaders should visit,” Mr Meitei told The National.
“His visit will also create pressure on the ruling party to take control of the situation, which is worsening with each passing day.
“Mr Modi has not said a word on the situation yet, which is unfortunate.”
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
The specs: 2018 Mercedes-Benz E 300 Cabriolet
Price, base / as tested: Dh275,250 / Dh328,465
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder
Power: 245hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 370Nm @ 1,300rpm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.0L / 100km
Origin
Dan Brown
Doubleday
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
The Perfect Couple
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Jack Reynor
Creator: Jenna Lamia
Rating: 3/5
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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The Buckingham Murders
Starring: Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ash Tandon, Prabhleen Sandhu
Director: Hansal Mehta
Rating: 4 / 5
About Housecall
Date started: July 2020
Founders: Omar and Humaid Alzaabi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: HealthTech
# of staff: 10
Funding to date: Self-funded
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
EA Sports FC 25
Developer: EA Vancouver, EA Romania
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4&5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
Company%C2%A0profile
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh219,000
On sale: Now
57%20Seconds
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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
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Ruwais timeline
1971 Abu Dhabi National Oil Company established
1980 Ruwais Housing Complex built, located 10 kilometres away from industrial plants
1982 120,000 bpd capacity Ruwais refinery complex officially inaugurated by the founder of the UAE Sheikh Zayed
1984 Second phase of Ruwais Housing Complex built. Today the 7,000-unit complex houses some 24,000 people.
1985 The refinery is expanded with the commissioning of a 27,000 b/d hydro cracker complex
2009 Plans announced to build $1.2 billion fertilizer plant in Ruwais, producing urea
2010 Adnoc awards $10bn contracts for expansion of Ruwais refinery, to double capacity from 415,000 bpd
2014 Ruwais 261-outlet shopping mall opens
2014 Production starts at newly expanded Ruwais refinery, providing jet fuel and diesel and allowing the UAE to be self-sufficient for petrol supplies
2014 Etihad Rail begins transportation of sulphur from Shah and Habshan to Ruwais for export
2017 Aldar Academies to operate Adnoc’s schools including in Ruwais from September. Eight schools operate in total within the housing complex.
2018 Adnoc announces plans to invest $3.1 billion on upgrading its Ruwais refinery
2018 NMC Healthcare selected to manage operations of Ruwais Hospital
2018 Adnoc announces new downstream strategy at event in Abu Dhabi on May 13
Source: The National
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Barbie
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One-off T20 International: UAE v Australia
When: Monday, October 22, 2pm start
Where: Abu Dhabi Cricket, Oval 1
Tickets: Admission is free
Australia squad: Aaron Finch (captain), Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey, Ashton Agar, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Chris Lynn, Nathan Lyon, Glenn Maxwell, Ben McDermott, Darcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Starc, Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa, Peter Siddle
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cylturbo
Transmission: seven-speed DSG automatic
Power: 242bhp
Torque: 370Nm
Price: Dh136,814
SQUAD
Ali Khaseif, Fahad Al Dhanhani, Adel Al Hosani, Mohammed Al Shamsi, Bandar Al Ahbabi, Mohammed Barghash, Salem Rashid, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Shaheen Abdulrahman, Hassan Al Mahrami, Walid Abbas, Mahmoud Khamis, Yousef Jaber, Saeed Ahmed, Majed Sorour, Majed Hassan, Ali Salmeen, Abdullah Ramadan, Khalil Al Hammadi, Fabio De Lima, Khalfan Mubarak, Tahnoun Al Zaabi, Ali Saleh, Caio Canedo, Muhammed Jumah, Ali Mabkhout, Sebastian Tagliabue, Zayed Al Ameri
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Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
((Disclaimer))
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Safety 'top priority' for rival hyperloop company
The chief operating officer of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, Andres de Leon, said his company's hyperloop technology is “ready” and safe.
He said the company prioritised safety throughout its development and, last year, Munich Re, one of the world's largest reinsurance companies, announced it was ready to insure their technology.
“Our levitation, propulsion, and vacuum technology have all been developed [...] over several decades and have been deployed and tested at full scale,” he said in a statement to The National.
“Only once the system has been certified and approved will it move people,” he said.
HyperloopTT has begun designing and engineering processes for its Abu Dhabi projects and hopes to break ground soon.
With no delivery date yet announced, Mr de Leon said timelines had to be considered carefully, as government approval, permits, and regulations could create necessary delays.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
