Bus crash kills over 70 Afghans returning from Iran
Kabul, Aug 20: A bus crash in northwestern Afghanistan killed at least 79 people returning from Iran, including 19 children, an official said. Two people were also injured in the crash, Ministry of Interior spokesperson Abdul Mateen Qani told The Associated Press. Tolo News, citing the official, said the accident happened Tuesday around 8:30 pm local time in Herat province. The bus collided with a truck and a motorbike, causing a massive fire that killed many on the spot, the outlet reported. Traffic accidents are common in Afghanistan, mainly due to poor road conditions and driver carelessness. Nearly 1.8 million Afghans have been forcibly returned from Iran in the past few months. A further 184,459 were sent back from Pakistan and more than 5,000 were deported from Turkiye since the beginning of the year. Additionally, nearly 10,000 Afghan prisoners have been repatriated, mostly from Pakistan. (AP)
Pak extends airspace ban for Indian aircraft till Sept 23
Lahore, Aug 20: Pakistan authorities on Wednesday extended its airspace ban for Indian aircraft till September 23. The Pakistan Airports Authority has issued a fresh NOTAM (notice to airmen) announcing the one-month extension of the restriction on Indian aircraft in Pakistan’s airspace. “All aircraft operated by Indian airlines will not be allowed to use Pakistani airspace. The ban also remains in place for military and civilian aircraft that are Indian-owned or leased,” the authority said. The ban was initially imposed on April 23 for one month in the wake of tension between the two countries following the Pahalgam terrorist attack. The move barred Indian carriers and aircraft from flying over Pakistani territory. Days later, on April 30, India responded with a reciprocal airspace closure for Pakistani aircraft and airlines. The tit-for-tat restrictions were first extended on May 23. (PTI)
UK jury convicts man in shooting of 9-year-old Kerala girl
London, Aug 20: A man involved in the planning of a drive-by shooting in north-east London which left a nine-year-old Kerala girl with life-changing injuries has been found guilty of the attack. The Metropolitan Police said a jury convicted 33-year-old Javon Riley on Monday of the attempted murder of three men as well as causing grievous bodily harm to the nine-year-old girl. His trial at the Old Bailey court in London heard how Riley did not shoot the gun but played a key role in orchestrating and implementing a plan intended to end the lives of rival gang members of an organised crime network on May 29, 2024. The innocent girl was caught in the crossfire and left with life-changing injuries as a result of a stray bullet being lodged in her head. “In a single moment, the future we had imagined for our daughter was torn away. She was once an energetic, adventurous child – everything that celebrated movement, energy, and life,” said the girl’s mother, in a statement issued by the Met Police. (PTI)