Flash floods in Indonesia kill 16, destroy homes
MANADO, Jan 6: Flash floods triggered by days of heavy monsoon rain killed at least 16 people in North Sulawesi, Indonesia, officials said Tuesday. Riverbanks in Siau Tagulandang Biaro District burst early Monday, sending fast-moving torrents of water, mud, and debris that swept away residents and submerged villages. Emergency teams, including police and military personnel, were deployed to four affected villages, though damaged roads and disrupted communications hampered access. At least seven houses were destroyed and over 140 damaged, forcing more than 680 residents into temporary shelters. Authorities declared a 14-day emergency response to expedite aid, evacuations, and infrastructure repairs, warning that further rain could trigger more floods or landslides. Rescuers continue searching for three missing residents, while 25 people were reported injured. Earlier December floods across Sumatra had killed over 1,100 people, highlighting Indonesia’s vulnerability to monsoon disasters. (AP)
Curfew lifted in Nepal’s Birgunj, life returns to normalcy
KATHMANDU, Jan 6: Nepal authorities lifted the curfew in Birgunj on Tuesday after communal tensions eased following recent violence sparked by a social media video with alleged religious content. The curfew, initially imposed Monday and extended until 6:00 pm Tuesday, was withdrawn at 3:30 pm after an all-party meeting involving political and community representatives reached a consensus to halt demonstrations and restore normalcy. The unrest began when protesters burned tyres and vandalized a police post in response to the vandalism of a mosque in Dhanusha district, itself triggered by allegedly anti-Hindu messages shared by two Muslim youths who were later detained. Authorities also established a Permanent Harmony Mechanism to prevent religiously or socially motivated unrest and to oversee legal actions for future incidents. (PTI)
Imran Khan’s photo at wedding leads to 7 arrests in Pak
LAHORE, Jan 6: Seven wedding guests were arrested in Punjab, Pakistan, for displaying jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s picture and chanting slogans in his favor at a wedding near Rahwali Cantonment, Gujranwala. The detained men—Istikhaq Ahmed, Tariq Mehmood, Kareem Bhinder, Zahid, Imran Beig, Zeeshan, and Ayaz—were sent to Gujranwala district jail under Section 03 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) for 14 days, authorities said. The arrests follow a broader crackdown on public support for Khan, who has been imprisoned since August 2023 in multiple cases. Separately, Qawwal Fraz Amjad Khan and his team were booked for performing a song about Khan during a government event in Lahore, though the court granted the singer pre-arrest bail. Display of Khan’s image, name, or statements is banned on Pakistani media, and similar cases have been reported across Punjab. (PTI)
