Indian Sub-continent

NEW DELHI, June 4 (Xinhua) -- An under-construction bridge over river Ganga in India's eastern state of Bihar collapsed on Sunday, but there were no reports of any known human casualties.

The incident was caught on mobile phone cameras of local residents, and the videos soon went viral on various social media platforms with people shouting about possible human casualties.

The ill-fated Aguwani-Sultanganj bridge in Bihar's Bhagalpur district was about to be completed this year. This is the second time when the bridge collapsed.

DHAKA, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina slammed a recent U.S. visa restriction for Bangladeshi individuals for "undermining the democratic election process."

"We will not be dependent on others. There is no point in fretting over who will not give us visas or who will impose sanctions," said Hasina on Saturday, as quoted by United News of Bangladesh.

Peshawar, Pakistan (AP) — The Pakistani Taliban or TTP claimed responsibility for an attack in northwest Pakistan that left two soldiers and two militants dead.

The army said in a statement that militants opened fire on a security checkpoint Saturday evening in the Jani Khel area of Bannu district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, leading to a shootout with Pakistani troops. A search operation was underway to track the militants behind the attack.

BALASORE, India (AP) — The train derailment in eastern India that killed more than 300 people and injured hundreds more was caused by an error in the electronic signaling system that led a train to wrongly change tracks, India’s railways minister said Sunday.

”Who has done it and what is the reason will come out of an investigation,” Ashwini Vaishnaw said in an interview with New Delhi Television network.

ISLAMABAD, Jun 03 (APP): A total of 38,934 Pakistani intending pilgrims of government scheme have arrived in Saudi Arabia ahead of the hajj pilgrimage, said spokesman Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony.

He shared the latest figures of intending pilgrims arriving in Makkah Mukarma and Madinah Munawara, stating that out of the total, 28,934 pilgrims have reached Madinah, while 10,504 individuals have already settled in Makkah Mukarma with the purpose of partaking in the esteemed hajj ceremony.

NEW DELHI (AP) — Rescuers waded through piles of debris and wreckage to pull out bodies and free people on Saturday after two passenger trains derailed in India, killing more than 280 people and injuring hundreds as rail cars were flipped over and mangled in one of the country’s deadliest train crashes in decades.

The accident, which happened about 220 kilometers (137 miles) southwest of Kolkata on Friday night, led to a chaotic scene as rescuers climbed atop the wrecked trains to break open doors and windows using cutting torches to free survivors.

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Debt-stricken Sri Lanka, which declared bankruptcy last year, is showing signs of economic improvement but its recovery still faces challenges, the International Monetary Fund said Friday.

The Indian Ocean island nation declared bankruptcy in April 2022 and said it was suspending repayment of its foreign debt. It reached an agreement with the IMF in March on a nearly $3 billion bailout program over four years.

Kanpur: The Uttar Pradesh government in its administrative reshuffle has transferred as many as eight IAS officers, including two divisional commissioners.

Reportedly, Kanpur divisional commissioner has also been transferred. He has been given charge of secretary, agriculture department.

In his place, Saharanpur DC Lokesh M has been sent to take charge here in the same capacity.

ISLAMABAD, May 31 (NNN-APP) – Hybrid rice seed donation from China, will play a major role in rebuilding the agriculture sector of Pakistan’s south-west Balochistan province, which was badly affected by devastating floods last year, a Pakistani official said, yesterday.

NEW DELHI, May 31 (Xinhua) -- At least three people were killed and two others injured Wednesday after a blast took place inside a firecracker godown in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, police said.

The blast took place at Ellakattava village in Tirupati district, about 758 km southwest of Visakhapatnam, the main city of Andhra Pradesh.

According to police, the explosion immediately triggered fire inside the godown.

The police rushed the fire brigade to the spot to contain the blaze. An investigation into the blast is underway.