Lanka's India travel warning...

Sri Lanka's government has asked its citizens not to visit the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu until further notice because of increasing intimidation of Sri Lankans.

The warning from the external affairs ministry follows an incident Monday in which 184 Sri Lankan pilgrims visiting a church in the state were mobbed and had to seek refuge in the church.

Sri Lanka’s hosting of the cricket’s T20 World Cup was thrown in to jeopardy with a political, diplomatic storm brewing on the back of this move.

The World Cup starts on September 18 and the biggest contingent of supporters besides the home fans in Sri Lanka are expected to be from India.

A huge number of Indians and Sri Lankans from the UAE and other Gulf regions are also expected to fly in for the World Cup, the finals of which are on October 7.

At the time of publishing this article, Emirates 24|7 was still waiting for a comment from the International Cricket Council based here in Dubai, the apex cricket body in charge of the tournament.

Tamil Nadu is home to some 60 million Tamils who have ancestral links with Sri Lanka's ethnic minority Tamils.

The Indian Tamils have often expressed anger against Sri Lanka's Sinhalese-dominated government and its alleged abuse of Tamils during the country's civil war.

The ministry's warning Tuesday said it regretted the intimidation of Sri Lankans visiting Tamil Nadu and advised citizens not to visit "in the interest of their security."

Dubai driver clocks Dh104,990 in fines

Dubai Traffic Police impounded 23 vehicles for traffic violations. One of the motorists had accumulated Dh104,990 in fines, said a top official at the Traffic Department.

The campaign by Bur Dubai Traffic Department focussed on seizing vehicles of motorists who drove recklessly, as well as those who were violating rules.

Major General Mohammed Saif Al Zafeen, Director, Dubai Police Traffic Department, said, in a surprise check on August 29, officials seized 23 vehicles, including three for rash driving and three others for being left unlocked on highways. Two cars were stopped for making loud noise, too.

At least 10 cars were impounded for unrenewed licences. While several others were seized for making unlawful changes to their engines, one motorist was nabbed for driving without a valid permit, he added.

The campaign - part of the Ministerial Decree No. 127 of 2008- will continue for some time. It aims to reduce traffic deaths on roads and ensure security of pedestrians as well as motorists. 

My wife was murdered by her 'close' friend: Dubai Filipino

A 51-year-old Filipina lady, who went missing since last Sunday, was found murdered, allegedly by her 'close' Filipino friend.

“She was found dead in her car, which was abandoned near Industrial Area Number 11 in Sharjah,” Brigadier Mohammed Nasser Al Razouki, Assistant Director, in charge of all police stations in Dubai, told Emirates 24|7.

“The Sharjah Police arrested a Filipino man on Friday and the investigation is going on,” he added.

It is reported that the police spotted the abandoned car while they were patrolling the area early yesterday morning.

Lorna Lim Varona’s husband was heartbroken, speaking to Emirates 24|7.

“Yes, she was murdered,” he told this website over the telephone, minutes after stepping out of the CID office in Dubai.

“He (the suspect) was caught on Friday and he confessed to the crime last night,” he added.

With no information of what prompted him to commit the murder, the husband said, “What can I say? He is an evil man. I don’t know why he did it?”

The suspect, he revealed, was a “close friend of the family. He was very close to my wife”.

Lorna has been living with her husband in Dubai for the last 30 years.

When she did not return home last Sunday (August 26), her family and friends sent out e-mails to all news publications in the emirate seeking any information about the missing Lorna.

“My intent is to get media coverage so as to increase the chances of her being found sooner rather than later,” e-mailed Lorna’s niece Julie Ann Lim Jacobe, who has been trying to reach the media from the US.

“Her oldest daughter, Lot Lot Varona, has flown to Dubai from the Philippines to be with her dad and sister and help out in the search for her mom,” she wrote.

Her family had even taken to Twitter to spread the word. Carlo Suzara tweeted, “RT: Missing Filipina in Dubai for over 48 hours: Lorna Lim Varona. Car's a Jaguar w/plate number B19135. Contact @MissGladysL if u have info”.

The family also posted messages on Facebook, with her picture.

(Home page image courtesy Shutterstock)

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