ISLAMABAD -- Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday reaffirmed his call for a credible, transparent and neutral international investigation into a recent Kashmir incident.
Sharif made it clear during a meeting with Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Pakistan Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Salem Al-Zaabi, according to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office. (Pakistan-PM-Kashmir)
- - - -
KABUL -- At least 20 houses have been destroyed, rendering scores of people homeless due to landslide in the northern Afghanistan's Badakhshan province, provincial director for the Natural Disaster Management Authority Mawlawi Mohammad Akram Akbari said Friday.
The natural disaster took place in Toghbai village of Argo district on Wednesday, destroying 20 houses and forcing scores of people to live in open areas in the cold, the official added. (Afghanistan-Landslide)
- - - -
YANGON -- A total of 653 survivors have been rescued by emergency teams following Myanmar's 7.9-magnitude earthquake as of Thursday, the state-owned daily Myanma Alinn reported on Friday.
Both local and international rescue teams carried out search and rescue operations. They were also able to retrieve 779 bodies as of Thursday, the report added. (Myanmar-Quake Survivors Saved)
- - - -
SEOUL -- Han Duck-soo, South Korea's former prime minister, on Friday announced his presidential run after stepping down on the previous day.
Han told a televised press conference in the National Assembly that he will run for president in the June 3 election as he made up his mind to find what he can do for the future of the country, vowing all-out efforts to be selected by the people in the upcoming presidential election. (South Korea-Presidential Election) ■



