HANOI -- Vietnam and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), which comprises Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein, signed a free trade agreement in Hanoi on Sunday, the Vietnam News Agency reported.
Under the agreement, EFTA countries will maintain zero import tariffs on industrial and seafood products originating from Vietnam once the agreement enters into force, while Vietnam will gradually reduce or eliminate tariffs on most such products from EFTA countries within 11 years, the government portal reported on Saturday. (Vietnam-Europe-Trade)
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NEW DELHI -- The death toll in Saturday's stampede in India's eastern city of Kolkata rose to 19, with 25 injured people receiving treatment in different hospitals and one in a critical condition, confirmed West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Sunday.
Most among the dead were women and children, he said while admitting that there were "some shortcomings" in the arrangements made by the organizers. Kolkata is the capital city of India's eastern state of West Bengal. (India-Stampede-Death)
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ISLAMABAD -- The Pakistan Army on Saturday responded to firing from Afghan forces along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in the country's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, according to security sources.
The firing was allegedly carried out to facilitate the attempted entry of foreign terrorists into Pakistani territory, the sources said, adding that Pakistani forces responded to the firing and targeted several positions on the Afghan side. (Pakistan-Afghanistan-Firing)
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HONG KONG -- More than 130,000 cross-border passenger trips were recorded at the redeveloped Huanggang Port on Saturday, the first weekend following its opening, according to the Immigration Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government.
The figure marked a significant increase in passenger traffic compared to the old control point. (Hong Kong-Port-Trip) ■
