Asia

Maoists youth wing to concentrate on development activities

Kathmandu, Sept 29: The CPN-Maoist is planning to split its youth wing, Young Communist League (YCL), under two separate units which include production force and construction force to support the economic activities of the government.

Nepalnews quoted Maoist lawmaker and former YCL in-charge for the Kathmandu Valley, Chandra Bahadur Thapa, saying it was important to keep the youths employed, for the unemployed youth bulge is more than likely to drive the country to conflict again.

"We will bring reform among those youths already organised under YCL and also bring together those who are not organised yet," Thapa said.

Pak govt sets up makeshift mart in Islamabad’s Diplomatic Enclave for foreign envoys

IslamabadIslamabad, Sept 29: With the objective of ensuring security and safety of the foreign diplomats, the Pakistan Government has reportedly set up a temporary daily mart in Diplomatic Enclave, which houses most of the embassies, to enable the foreign envoys to purchase all commodities of daily use within their residential compound and not move out in busy market areas for shopping.

Afghan civilians, women in Kabul fear Taliban revival, resurgence

Kabul, Sept. 29: A nervous fear seems to have gripped most Afghan civilians, especially educated women, in the wake of the Taliban making a determined bid to regain the power that it lost seven years ago.

According to The Times, the jihadists are now just 20 minutes from Kabul.

Nobody seriously thinks the Taliban could take Kabul. The capital is surrounded by mountains, has only a few routes in and remained almost untouched during the Russian occupation.

Afghanistan has more than 71,000 foreign troops under the leadership of NATO and the US, neither of which can contemplate defeat.

However, the fear among Kabulis is palpable. “There is a sense of dread of return to the dark days of the past,” said a western diplomat.

Thousands stranded by storms in Bangladesh

BangladeshDhaka - Tens of thousands of people heading to their hometowns for the holidays at the end of Ramadan were stranded at ferry stations as tropical squalls battered the fragile Bangladeshi coastline at the weekend, officials said Monday.

Gale winds forced the suspension of ferry services along the southern coast while half a dozen fishing boats that ignored storm warnings capsized in the high waves.

About 50,000 holiday makers were trapped at ferry stations across the country as the river boat service was suspended.

Pak Army Chief Ashfaq Kayani satisfied with tribal support in chasing out militants

Pakistan Army Chief Gen Ashfaq KayaniRawalpindi, Sept 29: Pakistan Army Chief Gen Ashfaq Kayani has reportedly expressed satisfaction over the role of the local tribesmen in the Bajaur Agency in supporting his country’s Army in its fight against Al Qaeda and Taliban fighters.

In several incidents over the past weeks, the tribesmen in the Bajaur Agency have dragged the militants belonging to the Pakistan unit of the Taliban – the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) out of their areas. At times, the tribesmen also used weapons in chasing the terrorists away.

Typhoon Hagupit leaves 42 dead in Vietnam

Typhoon Hagupit leaves 42 dead in VietnamHanoi - Flash floods, heavy rain and landslides triggered by Typhoon Hagupit have killed at least 42 people and left 4 missing and 61 injured in northern Vietnam, the National Steering Committee for Storm and Flood Control said Monday.

Disaster officials said heavy rains and landslides triggered by the typhoon swept through villages, washing away nearly 20 thousand homes and 18 schools.

Over 600,000 poultry and 18,000 cattle were killed.

About 5,000 Vietnamese soldiers were dispatched to evacuate people in vulnerable areas.

Pages