Vientiane, Aug 7 (IANS) Lao authorities and local communities are working side by side to aid thousands affected by widespread flooding and landslides across the country, as relief efforts are underway to distribute emergency supplies and restore damaged infrastructure. The Central Disaster Management Committee has issued a notice calling for public support to aid flood victims, following severe storms that brought heavy rainfall and widespread damage across Laos. The committee is urging all sec…

Accra, Aug 7 (IANS) Ghana has declared a three-day national mourning, beginning on Thursday, following a helicopter crash that killed the country’s Defence and Environment Ministers and six others. Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama has suspended all his scheduled activities and programmes for the rest of the week, following the national tragedy, according to a statement from the presidency late Wednesday.The government has directed that all flags must fly at half-mast until further notice, …

Hanoi, Aug 7 (IANS) Hailing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with India, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam To Lam appreciated the positive development of relations between the two countries in various fields, during his meeting with the Indian Ambassador in Hanoi.According to the Indian Embassy in Vietnam, the Vietnamese leader also extended his wishes to the Indian people on the occasion of India’s 79th Independence Day, conveying his greetings to President Droupadi Mur…

Canberra, Aug 7 (IANS) New research led by Australian scientists shows small earthquakes in New Zealand’s central Southern Alps are more frequent in spring and summer due to underground water changes from glacier melt and rainfall. These microearthquakes, usually too weak to be felt, increase in frequency as meltwater from glaciers and seasonal snow infiltrates the “highly fragmented” mountain bedrock, raising groundwater levels and fluid pressure in the Earth’s upper crust, according to a state…

Kolkata, July 7 (IANS) Houses of three women BJP workers have been vandalised in the Dinhata area of Cooch Behar district in West Bengal, a day after the state Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari’s convoy was attacked in the same district, in which seven Trinamool Congress workers were arrested. On Thursday, the houses of BJP workers Juthika Barman, Maina Barman, and Purabi Barman were attacked, and they were chased away from their houses. The BJP alleged that Trinamool workers and miscr…

Mumbai, Aug 7 (IANS) A Mumbai woman working in a private bank has landed in police net for blackmailing and attempting to extort Rs 1 crore from her ex-partner and IT professional by filing a false rape case after a break-up, an official said on Thursday. Mumbai’s Charkop Police arrested Dolly Kotak, who, with the help of her brother and four others, accessed the IT professional’s data in the bank and ended up getting him arrested and sacked.Kotak and the five others, including her close friend,…

Bengaluru, Aug 7 (IANS) BJP Yuva Morcha National President and Bengaluru South Lok Sabha MP, Tejasvi Surya, said on Thursday that the Bengaluru Metro connectivity is set to reach nearly 100 km, thanks to the priority given to the city’s infrastructure by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government and the Prime Minister himself. The Karnataka Congress leaders, now are taking publicity tours to get credit, he added.Speaking at a press conference at the State BJP office — Jagannath Bhavan in Bengal…

Kochi, Aug 7 (IANS) In a tragic incident at the Vadakkekotta Metro Station in Kochi on Thursday, a young man jumped from the elevated metro track onto the road below, resulting in his death.The deceased has been identified as Nisar, a native of Tirurangadi, an official said.Nisar reportedly entered the metro track area through the station, walked a considerable distance along the track, and eventually leapt.The fall caused severe injuries, and although he was rushed to a nearby private hospital,…

Bengaluru, Aug 7 (IANS) Karnataka BJP has demanded a CBI probe against state Labour Minister Santosh Lad, alleging that he has misappropriated crores of rupees in the name of health check-ups for construction workers.Speaking at a press conference at the BJP’s state office, BJP MLC K.S. Naveen has demanded the resignation of the Labour Minister, saying that the reports were submitted by doctors even before taking blood samples for tests.The BJP MLC highlighted that although only 6,000 workers ar…

Jaipur, Aug 7 (IANS) The Education Department of the Rajasthan government has taken a crucial step by reopening the school in Piplodi village of Jhalawar district, which witnessed a tragic incident 12 days ago as the school roof collapsed, claiming seven lives and leaving over 12 children injured. As a gesture of warmth and encouragement, students were welcomed back with tilak on their foreheads and floral garlands, bringing smiles to their faces.The joyous return marked a significant emotional …