Kashmir

Indian-administered Kashmir began voting on Wednesday in the first local elections since the cancellation of its special semi-autonomous status sparked fury in the troubled Himalayan territory, which is also claimed by Pakistan.

MacShane, the former British minister for the European Union, made that scandalous proposal on Twitter, accusing Serbs from the north of Kosovo and Metohija of "completely refusing to live in peace".

Hameed Iqbal Bhatti had prospered over two decades working in Saudi Arabia, but after returning to Pakistan three years ago, he was getting desperate.

Assailants sprayed bullets toward a row of civilian homes in a remote village in Indian-controlled Kashmir, leaving at least four civilians dead and five others injured, police said Monday.

Sarfaraz Javaid thumps his chest rhythmically in the music video, swaying to the guitar and letting his throaty voice ring out through the forest: "What kind of soot has shrouded the sky? It has turned my world dark. Why has the home been entrusted to strangers?"

India has received a new batch of S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems from Russia, India Today reported, citing high-ranking sources.

"According to sources, the batch of S-400 missile systems was delivered by ship and is already in service. Parts of the missile system arrived by air and sea and were quickly deployed to their designated places," the newspaper said.

A Savoy royal tiara which everyone could try on via Instagram, and the largest Kashmir sapphire ever auctioned sold for millions of dollars each on May 11.

The tiara went for $1.6 million and the sapphire fetched $3.9 million when the historic treasures went under the hammer at Sotheby's auction house in Geneva.

Turkey on Feb. 27 welcomed the understanding reached between Indian and Pakistani militaries for a cease-fire along the disputed Kashmir border.

A Turkish composer known for several other works on such international issues as Jerusalem hopes to give voice to the plight of Kashmir with a new song he released Kashmir Solidarity Day.

Voting began for a crucial state election in India's capital on Feb. 8 with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist party trying to regain power after a 22-year gap and major victories in a national vote.

Residents lined up in long queues across New Delhi neighborhoods, where a total of 14.6 million voters are registered to cast ballots.