Indian Sub-continent

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — More Afghans will be struggling for survival as living conditions deteriorate in the year ahead, a top official of the International Committee of the Red Cross said in an interview, as the country braces for its second winter under Taliban rule.

The religious group’s seizure of power in August 2021 sent the economy into a tailspin and fundamentally transformed Afghanistan, driving millions into poverty and hunger as foreign aid stopped almost overnight.

ISLAMABAD, Nov 20 (NNN-APP) – At least four people were killed and four others injured, in two separate road accidents in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, rescuers told local media, yesterday.

Three teenage girls were killed and another person was injured yesterday, in Sudhnuti district, after a school van fell into a ditch, the rescue service said.

The girls were reportedly killed on the spot, while the driver was severely injured and was shifted to a local hospital, the local media said, adding that, two of the deceased were sisters.

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Nineteen people in northeastern Afghanistan were lashed for adultery, theft and running away from home, a Supreme Court official said Sunday. The announcement underscored the Taliban’s intention of sticking to their strict interpretation of Islamic law, or Sharia.

It appeared to be the first official confirmation that lashings and floggings are being meted out in Afghanistan since the Taliban seized power in August 2021.

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — Voters in Nepal lined up Sunday to elect members of Parliament in hopes that a new government would bring political stability and help with the Himalayan nation’s development.

The main contestants in Sunday’s election are the ruling alliance of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba’s Nepali Congress party and the Maoist communist party against the Nepal Communist Party (United Marxist-Leninist), headed by former Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli.

MUMBAI, Nov 19 (NNN-PTI) – India’s largest depository, in terms of dematerialised accounts, has detected malware in some of its systems, the Central Depository Services (India) Ltd said in a statement, late yesterday.

Admitting that malware was detected in its internal machines, the statement said, “As a matter of abundant caution, the company immediately isolated the machines and disconnected itself from other constituents of the capital market.”

NEW DELHI, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Engineering Export Promotion Council (EEPC) of India on Saturday welcomed the federal government's decision to withdraw the 15 percent export duty imposed on iron ore and steel products, saying it will boost engineering goods exports.

It also said the federal government's decision would check the downward trend witnessed in steel exports in recent months.

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — Nepal’s parliamentary elections being held Sunday are the fourth since the Himalayan nation abolished a centuries-old monarchy and became a republic. Nepalis have seen little change since, with the same generation of leaders holding power through their control of the main political parties.

Many voters say they are tired of the same leaders retaining power and failing to deliver on promises to improve people’s lives while the country makes little progress.

Kanpur: At least 18 students had a narrow escape following the school van they were travelling after it caught fire on Thursday.

The incident happened at 5.40 pm when the van carrying 18 students of SR Memorial Junior High School Arwal reached near Barry crossing in the Shivrajpur police station area.

The van driver, unaware of the fire, kept driving the vehicle at his own pace.

However, sub-inspector Omprakash and sub-inspector Ajit Yadav, who was coming from the rear side of the van, noticed the fire in the vehicle.

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — The Sri Lankan government is being urged to drop charges against two protest leaders detained for more than three months following the anti-government demonstrations that engulfed the island nation earlier this year.

Amnesty International also renewed its call for Sri Lanka to repeal the harsh, civil war-era Prevention of Terrorism Act under which the two protest leaders are being held.

Wasantha Mudalige and Galwewa Siridhamma, both university student leaders, were arrested in August and have been detained for more than 90 days under the PTA.

Kanpur: A resident approached police and complained alleging that her daughter has been receiving threatening letters requiring fifty thousand rupees.

A minor girl pulled a prank on her parents and wrote an extortions letter to herself.

The incident took place in the Rawatpur area, police said adding that a resident of the Maswanpur area Megha Pandey in her complaint on Monday alleged that her daughter has been receiving threatening letters demanding money.