BANGKOK -- Anutin Charnvirakul, leader of the opposition Bhumjaithai Party, was elected as Thailand's new prime minister on Friday after winning a majority in a parliamentary vote.
Anutin beat his sole contender, nominated by the ruling Pheu Thai Party, Chaikasem Nitisiri, to lead the next government, following a court ruling last week that removed Paetongtarn Shinawatra from her premiership over an ethics breach. (Thailand-New PM)
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KABUL -- Bao Xuhui, charge d'affaires of the Chinese embassy in Afghanistan, met with President of the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS) Dilawar on Friday and handed over 200,000 U.S. dollars in emergency humanitarian cash assistance provided by the Red Cross Society of China to support Afghanistan's earthquake relief efforts.
Bao conveyed China's deep condolences over the victims of the earthquake and sincere sympathy to the bereaved families and the injured. He noted that the Chinese government has decided to provide 50 million yuan (about 7.04 million U.S. dollars) in emergency humanitarian aid for Afghanistan's quake relief, while the Red Cross Society of China has extended 200,000 U.S. dollars in emergency cash assistance. (Afghanistan-China-Aid)
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COLOMBO -- At least 15 people have died from a bus accident that took place Thursday night along the Ella-Wellawaya road in Sri Lanka's Uva province, said police.
Around 16 were injured and hospitalized, according to police. A spokesperson for a local hospital said some of them are in critical condition. (Sri Lanka-Bus Accident)
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ISLAMABAD -- Flash floods caused by high water levels in rivers and breach of river embankments have affected over 4 million people directly by displacing them across Pakistan's eastern Punjab province, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said on Friday.
An official from the PDMA told Xinhua that high floods in the Ravi, Sutlej, and Chenab rivers have been wreaking havoc across Punjab, the country's most populous province, with a population of over 127 million. (Pakistan-Flood-Impact) ■
