News in Brief
Pakistan releases 40 Indian prisoners
Pti, Karachi
Pakistan yesterday released 40 Indian prisoners from a jail here, officials said. The release comes a day after Indian PM Narendra Modi and his Pak counterpart Nawaz Sharif shook hands and exchanged pleasantries at the 18th Saarc Summit in Nepal. The released Indian prisoners included 36 fishermen and 4 others.
Thailand votes to ban commercial surrogacy
Afp, Bangkok
Thailand's parliament has voted to ban commercial surrogacy after outrage erupted over the unregulated industry following a series of scandals. A draft bill -- which would see those caught profiting from surrogacy punished with up to ten years in prison -- passed its first reading in the country's military-stacked parliament.
Four dead, 3 missing in French floods
Afp, Paris
Four people died and three were missing after violent storms triggered flash flooding, uprooting trees and ripping off roofs in southeastern France, authorities said yesterday. Helicopters, soldiers, divers and paramilitary police carried out dozens of rescue operations in the region.
Storm batters Aussie city
Afp, Brisbane
Planes were flipped and roofs ripped off when hail and powerful winds tore through Australia's east coast, leaving a damage bill of more than Aus$100 million. The storm, which officials said was one of the worst seen in the country, rained hailstones the size of tennis balls on cars and buildings late Thursday, flooding streets and injuring 39 people.
Comments