Afghan council to decide whether Kabul releases 400 Taliban
Kabul: Afghanistan officials say a traditional consultative council will convene Friday to decide whether the last 400 Taliban prisoners will be released as part of a peace agreement, even as its Health Ministry says half of Kabul’s residents are infected with the coronavirus. The Taliban have rejected any changes to the deal they signed in […]
Lebanese confront devastation after massive Beirut explosion
Beirut: Residents of Beirut confronted a scene of utter devastation Wednesday, a day after a massive explosion at the port rippled across the Lebanese capital, killing at least 100 people, wounding thousands and leaving entire city blocks blanketed with glass and rubble. Smoke still rose from the port, where a towering building of silos was […]
French president traveling to Lebanon after deadly explosion
Paris: French President Emmanuel Macron is traveling to Lebanon on Thursday to offer support for the country after a massive, deadly explosion. Macron’s office told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the French leader will meet with Lebanese political leaders. It provided no further details. Lebanon is a former French protectorate and the countries retain […]
WHO airlifting medical supplies to Lebanon
Beirut: The World Health Organization says it is airlifting medical supplies to Lebanon to cover up to 1,000 trauma interventions and up to 1,000 surgical interventions following the explosion in Beirut. WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic said supplies airlifted from a “humanitarian hub” in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates would be used to treat burns […]
Lanka’s general election sees high voter turnout, Rajapaksa clan expected to win
Colombo: Sri Lankans, wearing face masks and carrying their own pens, turned out in large numbers to vote on Wednesday in the twice-postponed parliamentary election which is expected to be won by the powerful Rajapaksa family-run Sri Lanka People’s Party (SLPP). According to Chairman of the National Election Commission Mahinda Deshapriya, the election, conducted amidst […]
17 killed as boat capsizes in Bangladesh
Dhaka: A passenger boat carrying about 50 people, including madrassa students and teachers, capsized on Wednesday in northern Bangladesh, killing at least 17 people. The incident happened in Netrokona district’s Madan Upazila when the students and teachers of the madrassa were on their way to a local tourist spot. “With 48 passengers on board, the […]
Lebanese Red Cross: Toll from Beirut blast rises to 100 dead
Beirut: An official with the Lebanese Red Cross says at least 100 people were killed and more than 4,000 wounded in the massive explosion in Beirut on Tuesday. The official, George Kettaneh, says the toll could rise further. The blast in Beirut”s port appeared to have been triggered by a fire. It was the most […]
PIA sacks 63 employees for fake degrees, embezzlement
Islamabad: The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) last month sacked 63 of its employees, including 5 pilots, on charges of fake degrees, embezzlement and absence from duty. All five of the sacked pilots were holding fake licences, said PIA spokesperson Abdullah Khan, adding that all the employees were dismissed in accordance to the law. Twenty-eight employees […]
Vietnam reports new virus death
Hanoi (Vietnam): Vietnam has reported another virus death and 10 new infections. The Health Ministry said a 62-year-old woman with kidney disease died Tuesday. The woman tested positive for the virus while having treatment at Da Nang hospital, one of three hospitals where a majority of new cases have been found recently. According to the […]
Sri Lankans to vote in parliamentary election on Wed
Colombo: Sri Lankans will vote in the twice-postponed parliamentary election on Wednesday with the powerful Rajapaksa family-run party expected to gain control of the assembly that could allow them to amend the Constitution to restore presidential powers. Over 16 million people are eligible to vote to elect 196 out of a total of 225 lawmakers […]
