International
New Delhi’s message to Dhaka on review of 101 agreements, ‘will take necessary measures to protect interests’
India’s Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal has reacted to the initiative of reviewing 101 agreements and memorandums of understanding signed with Bangladesh. He said the Bangladesh government has not yet formally informed anything on this matter. However, if any initiative is taken to reconsider or change the agreements, necessary measures will be taken to protect India’s interests.
Deaths rise to 27 in mosque bomb attack in Pakistan
Ittihad-ul-Mujahideen, known as a faction of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, has claimed responsibility for the attack while the death toll from the bomb blast at a mosque and subsequent gunfire in Kohat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has risen to 27. The deceased include six attackers, 15 police personnel and six civilians, it has been learnt. At least 75 people have been injured in the incident.
Teenager raped, murdered in Delhi, body left in field partially eaten by dogs
Four people have been accused of gang-raping and then stabbing to death a 17-year-old teenager in Delhi of India. Three of the accused are minors. After the murder the teenager’s body was dumped in an open field. Police informed that when the body was recovered from there after a few days some parts of it had been eaten by dogs.
Mamata Banerjee loses both party name and symbol
Former West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has lost both her party's name and symbol. On Friday, September 18, a day after India's Election Commission suspended the name of the All India Trinamool Congress and its traditional 'flower and grass' symbol, the commission allotted separate interim names and election symbols to the party's two rival factions. As a result, the political identity associated with Trinamool Congress for nearly three decades has been temporarily dropped from the ballot for West Bengal's October 6 by-election.
At least 16 killed in Pakistan mosque bombing, death toll feared to rise
At least 16 people have been killed in a bomb attack on a mosque in Kohat district of Pakistan's northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Among the dead are 11 civilians and five police personnel. At least 50 others were injured in the incident. As the condition of several of the injured is critical, the death toll is feared to rise further.
F-16 fighter jet crashes in residential area of US
NBC News has reported that an F-16 fighter jet has crashed in a residential area of Grand Traverse County in northern Michigan of the United States. The pilot was able to eject safely before the aircraft crashed on Friday (September 18).
Venezuela’s $4 billion gold heading to US
Financial Times has reported quoting four people involved in the discussions that the Venezuelan government and opposition have almost finalized an agreement on transferring nearly $4 billion worth of gold reserves of the country’s central bank from the Bank of England to the Federal Reserve Bank in New York.
US approves proposal to sell 48 F-35 jets to Saudi Arabia
The US State Department has approved a possible proposal to sell F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia worth $24.3 billion. If the deal is finalised, Riyadh will receive 48 advanced F-35 Lightning II fighter jets.
Saudi seeks China's help to rein in Houthis
Saudi Arabia has sought China's help in exerting influence over Iran to halt the recent military advances of Yemen's Houthi rebels. Following Riyadh's request, Beijing privately urged Tehran to use its influence over the Houthis to help contain the situation.
49 die after drinking toxic liquor in Nigeria
At least 49 people have died in southern Nigeria after drinking locally made toxic liquor containing methanol. Around 100 people are undergoing treatment in hospital in the incident, according to a report in The Indian Express on Thursday, September 17.