Kabul roadside bombing kills 4
Kabul: A roadside bombing killed four civilians and wounded four others on Tuesday in eastern Kabul, Afghan officials said.
The eight were riding in a packed car in the district of Surobi when the vehicle hit the roadside bomb, setting it off, said Kabul police spokesman Ferdaws Faramarz. He added that the incident is under investigation.
No group has so far claimed responsibility for the bombing but the district official blamed the Taliban, claiming they had placed the bomb to target a military convoy. (AP)
NZ opposition leader resigns
Wellington: New Zealand’s opposition party leader Todd Muller resigned on Tuesday after less than two months in the role.
“It has become clear to me that I am not the best person to be leader of the Opposition and leader of the New Zealand National Party at this critical time for New Zealand,” he said in a statement.
He said the decision is “effective immediately”, reports Xinhua news agency. Deputy leader Nikki Kaye has been confirmed as the acting leader after Muller’s resignation, with the party holding an emergency caucus meeting Tuesday morning, local media reported. (IANS)
Japan PM visits flood-hit region
Tokyo: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited the flood-hit Kumamoto prefecture to assess the devastation and pledged the central government’s support to local municipalities.
After arriving at Kagoshima Airport on Monday, Abe visited a nursing home where 14 residents were killed after the Kuma River breached its banks, reports Xinhua news agency. Abe also met Kumamoto Governor Ikuo Kabashima.
At least 64 people were killed in Kumamoto, with 14 other prefectures also being inundated amid torrential rain which led to 105 rivers flooding, while 27 prefectures saw 316 landslides. (IANS)
