NEW DELHI -- At least 17 people were killed and a few others injured after a portion of a four-storey building collapsed in the western Indian state of Maharashtra, officials said Thursday.
The building collapsed early Wednesday in Virar East area of Palghar district, about 86 km north of Mumbai, the capital city of Maharashtra. (India-Building Collapse)
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VIENTIANE -- A photo exhibition and a screening of the film "The Sinking of the Lisbon Maru" were held here to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.
At the event on Tuesday, Chinese Ambassador to Laos Fang Hong emphasized the importance of learning from history to unite the powerful forces safeguarding peace and promote the development of the international order in a more just and reasonable direction. (Laos-China-80th-Anniversary-Victory)
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MANILA -- The Philippine central bank said on Thursday that it decided to reduce its target reverse repurchase rate by 25 basis points to 5 percent, and interest rates on the overnight deposit and lending facilities were adjusted to 4.5 percent and 5.5 percent, respectively.
In a statement, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said that the inflation outlook "is broadly unchanged." The inflation forecast for 2025 settled at 1.7 percent. Forecasts stand at 3.3 percent for 2026 and at 3.4 percent for 2027. (Philippines-Interest Rates)
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NEW DELHI -- Heavy rains in Indian-controlled Kashmir over the past few days have unleashed a wave of devastation, which has claimed at least 41 lives, officials said Thursday.
The incessant rains triggered landslides and mudslides in the region. (India-Rains) ■
