International

Yemen: 12 killed in a militant strike at Aden Airport

Published

3 years ago

December 30, 2020

Aden, December 30: At least 12 persons were reportedly killed and dozens left wounded in a militant strike carried out at Aden airport on Wednesday. The attack was reportedly shortly after top officials of the new Yemeni government returned from Saudi Arabia.

The fatality count was feared to rise as a number of injured victims were rushed to hospital in critical condition.
Local media reports claimed that two explosions took place, along with firing of mortar shells. The initial explosion was captured live by broadcaster Al-Hadath TV.

Officials of the country’s topmost security agencies rushed to the airport to trace the perpetrators of the fatal assault.

Deputy Ministers of the Yemen government, while speaking to The Independent, confirmed the death of at least 12 persons. They, however, added that Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik and Saudi Ambassador to Yemen Mohammed Said al-Jaber were safely escorted to their respective residential places.

No group had claimed responsibility for the attack so far, but the government was suspecting the role of Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who control vast swathes of the country’s northern region.

The Houthis are at war with the Saudi-backed government in Yemen since the last six years. The military battle has witnessed massive bombardments, allegedly by the Saudi-led alliance, and the imposition of a blockade that experts attribute to the widespread poverty in the region. (Agencies)

International

Erica Robin becomes first ever Miss Universe Pakistan

Published

1 week ago

September 17, 2023

Agencies

Erica Robin, a model from Karachi has been crowned “Miss Universe Pakistan 2023”, becoming the first-ever woman from the country to win the title.

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Four other models from different parts of the country participated in the beauty pageant, including Hira Inam from Lahore, Jessical Wilson from Rawalpindi, Pakistani-American Malika Alvi from Pennsylvania, and Sabrina Wasim. Jessica Wilson, a 28-year-old cyber security engineer was named first runner-up while Hira Inam (24), Malyka Alvi (19), and Sabrina Wasim (26) were the rest of the finalists.

Award-winning actress, mental health advocate, and former Miss International Kylie Verzosa from the Philippines was one of the distinguished panel of judges who picked the winner.

Robin will be the official representative of Pakistan at the Miss Universe pageant, scheduled to be held in El Salvador later this year. Pakistan will be sending five models to compete in the prestigious Miss Universe pageant. This landmark moment marks the first time Pakistan has ever been represented in the world’s most esteemed beauty competition.

International

Morocco earthquake: Death toll surpasses 2000

Published

2 weeks ago

September 10, 2023

Asian News Hub Webdesk

According to state TV, the number of fatalities following a strong 6.8-magnitude earthquake that shook Morocco on Friday night has surpassed 2,000. The death toll makes it the deadliest earthquake to strike the nation of North Africa in decades.

Also Read: Powerful earthquake in Morocco kills more than 800 people

Rescue teams are reportedly struggling to reach the most affected areas, with roads blocked by debris. One witness said “we are hoping for miracles from the rubble,” CNN reported.

The epicenter was in the High Atlas mountains, about 72 kilometers (45 miles) southwest of Marrakech, a popular tourist city of about 840,000 people. The city’s historic walls, first laid out in the early 12th century, have been damaged.

The quake was the most powerful to shake the area surrounding Marrakech in more than 120 years, according to the US Geological Survey.

International

Powerful earthquake in Morocco kills more than 800 people

Published

2 weeks ago

September 9, 2023

Asian News Hub Webdesk

More than 800 people were killed and hundreds were injured in a massive earthquake that struck Morocco. It was the deadliest tremor to hit the country in more than 60 years, and it destroyed homes in isolated mountain towns while rescue workers searched through the debris for survivors, reuters reported.

As per reuters, a magnitude 7.2 quake struck in Morocco’s High Atlas mountains late on Friday night. The Interior Ministry said 820 people had been killed and another 672 injured.

Most of the fatalities are in mountainous areas outside Marrakech, the nearest city to the epicentre, its updated toll showed.