Geelani offers prayers, Protests in Gaza, and other news in pictures

Geelani offers prayers

Chairman of Hurriyat Conference Syed Ali Geelani offered the congregational Friday prayers first time after a period of almost eight years, at the Jamia Masjid.

Focus returns to cricket in final Test

Matt Renshaw of Australia shines the ball under umpire Ian Gould's supervision on Day 1 of the fourth and final Test between South Africa and Australia in Johannesburg on Friday, March 30, 2018.   | Photo Credit: Getty Images

Action on the field took centre stage after the ball-tampering scandal during the fourth and final Test between South Africa and Australian in Johannesburg on Friday.

In what appeared to be a public commitment to play in a spirit of sportsmanship after a tumultuous week, the teams lined up to shake hands with their opponents after the national anthems, while captains Faf du Plessis and Tim Paine — named to replace the banned Steve Smith — had a warm conversation before the toss.

The South African fans could not resist poking fun at the Australians' attempts to alter the condition of the ball during the third Test. One banner in the crowd read: "Sandpaper Special, Only R10 (10 Rand)".

Protests in Gaza

A picture taken on March 30, 2018 from the southern Israeli kibbutz of Nahal Oz across the border from the Gaza strip shows Palestinians participating in a tent city protest commemorating Land Day, with Israeli soldiers seen below in the foreground.  

 

Palestinians in the Gaza stripe are holding a protest to commemorate Land Day, a day that marks the killing of six Arab Israelis during 1976 demonstrations against Israeli confiscations of Arab land.

Amit Shah's Mysuru visit

BJP President Amit Shah visits Maharani Pramoda Devi Wadiyar in Mysuru palace during Karunada Jagruti Yatra on Friday. Yadhuveera Krishnadattha Chaamaraja Wadiyar, Anantha Kumar and B.S. Yedurappa are also seen.   | Photo Credit: M.A. Sriram

 

The Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah kicked off his two-day tour of Mysuru-Mandya-Chamarajanagar-Ramanagar belt.

Good Friday

Christians attend special prayers at Our Lady of Snows Basillica in Thoothukudi on the occasion of Good Friday.   | Photo Credit: N. Rajesh

Prayers, ceremonies marked Good Friday in the country.

Protests against question paper leak

Students stage a protest against CBSE question paper leak near Udyog Bhawan, New Delhi.   | Photo Credit: V. Sudershan

Police teams are tracking WhatsApp messages and had identified around 32 people who could have passed on the picture of the CBSE question paper to others. Meanwhile students in Delhi took to the streets to protest the CBSE’s decision to hold a re-examination for the subjects where the questions papers had been leaked.

Thailand bus fire

All that remains of a bus after firefighters extinguish the blaze, which killed 20 Myanmarese migrant workers, in Tak province, Thailand, on March 30, 2018. .   | Photo Credit: REUTERS

Twenty Myanmar migrant workers died early on Friday as fire tore through a bus taking them from a Thai border town to Bangkok, officials said.

Black flags

Condemning the Central government for failing to form Cauvery Management Board, residents of Panangadu village hoist black flags atop their houses in Erode.   | Photo Credit: M. GOVARTHAN

Leaders of various political parties have expressed their opposition to the Centre for not complying with the Supreme Court’s direction. Parties are demanding that Centre must ensure that the Cauvery Management Board is formed as per the Supreme Court’s verdict.

England collapse in Christchurch

England's Joe Root is out bowled during play on day one of the second cricket test against New Zealand at Hagley Oval in Christchurch, New Zealand, Thursday, March 29, 2018.   | Photo Credit: AP

England's batting woes extended to the second Test against New Zealand at Hagley Oval, as they stumbled to 102 for 5 on the first day. England were at 92 for 2 one stage but Joe Root's wicket, bowled by Tim Southee, triggered a middle-order collapse. Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow stabilised the situation to take England to 150 for 5 at tea.

Sloane Stephens in final

Sloane Stephens reacts after she defeated Victoria Azarenka, of Belarus, 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 in their semifinal match at the Miami Open tennis tournament, Thursday, March 29, 2018, in Key Biscayne, Fla.   | Photo Credit: AP

U.S. Open champion Sloane Stephens beat former world number one Victoria Azarenka 3-6 6-2 6-1 on Thursday to reach the Miami Open final. Stephens will face either French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko, the sixth seed, or American qualifier Danielle Collins in Saturday's final at Crandon Park.