Bomb at Pakistan political rally kills at least 40

Published

2 years ago

July 30, 2023

editor

At least 40 people have been killed in an explosion in Pakistan during a rally organised by an Islamist party.

Dozens of people were also injured in the explosion in north-west Bajaur district, where Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI) was holding a meeting.

Authorities have cordoned off the area and have warned the death toll is likely to rise further.

A rescue operation to assist the injured is ongoing and police have not yet confirmed the cause of the blast.

Images being broadcast on local TV show ambulances ferrying injured people to hospitals in the Pakistani tribal district of Bajaur, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province near the border with Afghanistan.

Some badly injured people have been waiting in the hallways of health clinics struggling to cope with the high number of casualties.

The authorities have declared a health emergency at the district hospital.

A regional leader of the JUI, Maulana Ziaullah, was killed in the blast, local officials have said.

Bus associations oppose proposal of 2% fare reduction

Published

40 minutes ago

June 25, 2025

editor

The government’s proposal to reduce bus fares by a 2% effective from July 01 has led to the strong disapproval of bus associations, reports say.

It was also proposed not to revise the minimum fare.

The announcement was made during a meeting between officials of the Transport Ministry and representatives of private bus associations to discuss the annual bus fare revision, scheduled for July 01.

UN Rights chief meets families of missing persons

Published

45 minutes ago

June 25, 2025

editor

A group of activists and families of missing persons handed over letters and memorandums to the visiting United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk in Trincomalee today (June 25).

UN Human Rights Spokesperson – Jeremy Laurence, who is accompanying the High Commissioner, said while in Trincomalee that Mr. Volker Turk expressed sorrow and solidarity with the families of the disappeared.

Meanwhile, a peaceful demonstration was also held in Trincomalee during this visit, where a group of activists and victims of disappearances was seen holding placards and banners.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights will visit Kandy before concluding his official visit to Sri Lanka tomorrow (June 26) after a special press briefing in Colombo.

News

200 new super luxury buses to be procured for expressways

Published

51 minutes ago

June 25, 2025

editor

There is an urgent need to introduce new buses to the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) bus fleet, as nearly 52% of the regular bus fleet of the Sri Lanka Transport Board and nearly 94% of the luxury bus fleet have exceeded the economic life span.

As to the insufficient buses to meet the passenger demand on the expressway, the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) is currently operating 61 luxury buses belonging to the private sector on a profit-sharing basis.

Therefore, the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) has decided to purchase 200 new super-luxury buses by using their own funds.

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Transport, Highways, Port and Civil Aviation to purchase 29 super luxury buses through the financially capable depots and to purchase the remaining buses by making a down payment using SLTB funds and the balance to be paid in monthly instalments over a period of 5 years.