HIJACKED SHIP ‘MV NAFEYA’ WAS SUCCESSFULLY RESCUED BY INDO-FRENCH NAVIES.

The Indian and French Navies conducted an operation to rescue a hijacked Indian dhow and its 14-member crew who were taken hostage by pirates near Somalia on July 10,
The dhow ‘mv Nafeya,’ registered at Porbandar and operating from the UAE was hijacked off Boosaaso, Somalia, last by seven pirates armed with RPGs and AK-47s. The vessel was hijacked about 10 nautical miles off Boosasso in Puntland, the semi-autonomous north-eastern region of Somalia, after it had offloaded its cargo at the Somalia harbour and was headed towards Dubai.
All the 14 Indian crew were found safe and the Indian warship provided them with food, water and medicine. The dhow proceeded towards Al Mukkalla in Yemen.
The Indian Navy said mutual understanding and operational interoperability resulted in the safe release of the Indian dhow and its crew without payment of any ransom.
VAYALAR RAVI TO BE CHIEF GUEST AT GOPIO MEET
Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Valayar Ravi will be the chief guest at the 20th annual convention of the Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO), which begins on August 20.The  four-day convention in New York will be attended by eminent people of Indian origin from various parts of the world. SIKHS OPPOSE U.S. BILL Sikhs in the U.S. have slammed a draft Oregon state law that would bar teachers in public schools from wearing "religious dress", including turbans, a move that may spark a racial row. The draft law actually broadens religious freedom in the workplace, but has prompted protests by faith leaders because it exempts schools from the same rights. The bill grants workers wide religious leeway as long as the activity, clothing or other practices do not cause undue hardship to the employer.
The agenda The participants at the convention will debate important issues affecting the PIOs, including human rights, political participation, economic trends, socio-cultural and Diaspora related issues and concerns, inter-generational conflict, and challenges and opportunities for the future.