Pilgrims among dozens killed in two separate bus accidents in Pakistan
Pakistan’s leaders expressed sorrow over the road accidents, frequent occurrences in the country largely due to poor infrastructure. At least 34 people have been killed in two separate bus accidents in northeast and southwest Pakistan, according to local authorities. Twelve people died on the Makran Coastal Highway in the southwest province of Balochistan, the Ministry of Interior said on Sunday, while a rescue official said 22 people were killed when a bus plunged into a deep ravine near Pakistan-administered Kashmir. The first accident occurred overnight, when a bus carrying Shia pilgrims returning from Iran for a religious commemoration veered off the road. Thirteen people were also injured and were reported to be in critical condition, the provincial government said. Four people remained trapped inside the coach, and a crane was ordered to evacuate them, local police authorities said, according to Pakistani news outlet Dawn. The second accident took place in the Kahuta district in Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province. Rescue coordinator Rawalpindi Muhammad Usman told the Reuters news agency that that bus was carrying 25 passengers, including six women and a child. Among these passengers, 22 had died and one was critically injured. All of the bodies from the crash have been recovered from the ravine, he said. The Interior Ministry, however, said 29 had died in that crash. “The accident was caused due to the coaster’s failed brakes,” rescue official Usman Gujjar told Dawn. Volunteers and relatives prepare to load the body of a woman, who was killed as a passenger bus fell into a ravine, into an ambulance at a hospital in Kahuta, Pakistan [Mohammad Yousaf/AP] Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi expressed his “heartfelt condolences and sympathy to the families of the deceased in both accidents”. Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also issued separate statements expressing their sorrow. Thousands killed each year Earlier this week, a bus carrying Pakistani pilgrims flipped over in central Iran, killing 28 passengers and injuring another 23 people. The passengers were Pakistani pilgrims heading to Iraq for the Arbaeen commemoration, one of the biggest events of the year for Shia Muslims globally. Thousands of Shia Muslims travel to Iraq’s holy city of Karbala to commemorate the occasion, marking the end of the annual 40-day mourning period after the death of the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson, Hussein, a central figure in the sect of Islam. The overturned bus caught fire in front of a checkpoint in the Yazd province on Tuesday night, Iranian state TV reported. The bodies of those victims were brought home on a Pakistani military plane on Saturday and buried in the southern province of Sindh. Road accidents occur frequently in Pakistan due to inadequate infrastructure, poorly maintained vehicles, and reckless driving. Each year, 9,000 incidents are reported on average, leading to more than 5,000 deaths. Adblock test (Why?)
At least eight people killed in Israeli air attack in Gaza’s Deir el-Balah
Israeli army ramps up attacks on Deir el-Balah over the weekend as authorities say 40,405 Palestinians now killed across Gaza. At least eight Palestinians have been killed in an overnight Israeli air attack in the eastern part of Deir el-Balah in the central Gaza Strip. Medical sources in Gaza told Al Jazeera on Sunday that six of those killed were from the same family. Witnesses reported that there was a drone strike before an Israeli jet dropped a giant bomb. The Wafa news agency reported, quoting local sources in Gaza, that the Israeli artillery launched a heavy barrage of attacks amid a series of intense air raids on the enclave. They struck a house belonging to the Maammar family in al-Hekker, resulting in the killings of the family members. Last week, the Israeli army called on Palestinians seeking shelter in the eastern part of Deir el-Balah to move westwards as the area had been declared a “red zone”. Reporting from Deir el-Balah, Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud said this “weekend has been quite violent, [and] quite bloody”. “This has been one-sided. The Israeli military has the upper hand in all of this in terms of the level of destruction, and it has caused further civilian casualties, including women and children,” Mahmoud said. He added that as the attacks took place, the Israeli army withdrew “partially” from the eastern part of Deir el-Balah. “According to witnesses, they left trails of destruction and devastation, including homes, mosques and public buildings,” he said. But the destruction continued, with reports from Wafa on Israeli drones firing at civilians near al-Aanan football field, killing three people and injuring several more. In Khan Younis, in southern Gaza, rescue teams have also recovered the body of a person from al-Qarara, north of the town, despite artillery shells being fired towards the area. Israeli artillery also targeted a home belonging to the Ayad family in the Zeitoun neighbourhood in Gaza City, Wafa reported. Meanwhile, a child succumbed to their wounds 10 days after being hit by an Israeli strike on a group of civilians in the Batn as-Sameen area of Khan Younis. According to health authorities in Gaza, at least 59 people have been killed across the Strip since Saturday. The continuing attacks come as Hezbollah launched drones and rockets into Israel and Israeli forces conducted “preemptive strikes” on Lebanon. It also comes as Egypt is hosting a new round of talks aimed at ending Israel’s war on Gaza, now in its 11th month. Since the war began, at least 40,405 Palestinians have been killed in intense Israeli bombardments, according to the enclave’s Ministry of Health. At least 93,356 Palestinians have been wounded in these attacks. Adblock test (Why?)
Mayweather dominates Gotti again in Mexico City exhibition boxing rematch
Former world boxing champion Floyd Mayweather has again outmatched John Gotti III, the grandson of the late New York crime boss, in an exhibition fight rematch that left the Mexico City crowd unimpressed. Mayweather, 47, dominated Gotti from start to finish on Saturday despite confusion when a round-ending bell did not sound and the referee left the ring mid-fight. The eight-round bout included two-minute rounds with two-minute rest periods. Gotti showed little effort during the fight, provoking the 22,000-strong audience’s disdain. Mayweather came out throwing rights to Gotti’s head in the first round, Gotti limiting himself to containing the punishment. There was a moment of confusion after two minutes because the bell did not ring and the fight continued until complaints were heard from Gotti’s corner. There was more bewilderment in the second round when, after a forbidden punch by Mayweather, Panamanian referee Hector Afu left the ring, apparently annoyed by Mayweather’s actions. Mexican referee Alfredo Uruzquieta then took over. It was not until the fourth that Gotti threw some serious punches to Mayweather’s body, although with little effect. Mayweather rained blows on Gotti, who did little to defend himself, in the sixth and seventh rounds, leaving fans even more annoyed. Mayweather cornered Gotti in the final round but his opponent held on until the final bell. There was no official winner because it was an exhibition match. Saturday’s rematch followed a June 2023 exhibition in South Florida that was stopped after a brawl broke out between the two fighters’ camps. Mayweather retired from boxing in 2017, unbeaten in 50 bouts, but continues to appear in fights that do not count towards his career record. The 31-year-old Gotti, who had a 5-1 record in mixed martial arts (MMA) fights before switching to boxing, is the grandson of John Gotti, the head of the Gambino crime family who died in prison in 2002. Floyd Mayweather Jr (L) and John Gotti III in action during their exhibition match in Mexico City, Mexico, on August 24, 2024 [Henry Romero/Reuters] Adblock test (Why?)
Weather update: IMD issues heavy rainfall alert for several states; check full state-wise forecast for upcoming week
“A trough extending from South Uttar Pradesh to the Bay of Bengal at 1.5 km above sea level is likely to cause heavy rainfall in our state, with some areas potentially experiencing very heavy rainfall,” Bhubaneswar IMD Director Manorama Mohanty told ANI.
‘Unpardonable sin…’ PM Modi stresses for harsh penalties in crimes against women
PM Modi was addressing a gathering in Jalgaon, Maharashtra. At the function, he spoke with “Lakhpati Didis,” or women who belong to self-help groups and make Rs 1 lakh a year.
‘U in UPS stands for…’: Congress’ dig at Centre’s Unified Pension Scheme
The opposition party’s swipe came a day after the Union Cabinet approved an assured pension of 50 per cent of salary for those who joined the service after January 1, 2004, under the National Pension System
‘Bal buddhi’: Kiren Rijiju’s slams Rahul Gandhi for ‘no dalit, tribal, OBC in Miss India list’ comment
The union minister also accused Gandhi of stoking divisions in the country with his renewed remarks regarding the nationwide caste census.
VP Harris’ tiebreaker votes in Senate were key to inflation-boosting Biden policies: expert
When giving a farewell speech at the Democratic National Convention on Monday, President Joe Biden referenced Vice President Kamala Harris’s role in the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act. “Guess who cast the tie-breaking vote? Vice President soon-to-be President Kamala Harris, and now it’s the law of the land,” Biden said of the $739 billion spending bill that passed the Senate by 51-50 thanks to the Harris vote in August 2022. However, since Harris – now the Democratic presidential nominee – cast the tie-breaking vote as president of the Senate, the cost of rent has climbed 13%. In comparison, the cost of new mortgages climbed 36% in those two years, according to estimates assembled by Americans for Tax Reform. Further, the cost of baby food shot up by 13%, while frozen vegetables increased by 14%. The ATR, a conservative-leaning group, crunched numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Federal Reserve. The cost of transportation, butter, bread, flour, and breakfast cereal all increased by single digits since the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act. HARRIS’ ECONOMIC PLAN PROPOSES TO FIX ‘PRICE GOUGING’ AND GO AFTER ‘EXCESSIVE PROFITS,’ BUT WHAT DEFINES THIS? Over the last two years, some prices such as gas, transportation, energy, chicken, and milk declined, according to the ATR’s numbers. However, since Biden and Harris took office in January 2021, prices for every sector measured by ATR’s stats leaped by at least double digits. New mortgage rates since Biden-Harris came into office skyrocketed by 156% and rent shot up by 22%. Gas has gone up by 35%, energy has gone up by 33%, and transportation increased by 28%. The cost of eggs has increased by 53%, baby food has gone up by 30%, frozen vegetables are up 28%, bread is up by 24% and the cost of milk is up by 17%. Shortly after becoming vice president in March 2021, Harris also cast the tie-breaking vote on the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, which also led to printing more money amid rising inflation. CONNECTICUT FAMILY FORCED TO LIVE IN A HOTEL DUE TO SURGING HOUSING COSTS “Kamala Harris cast the tie-breaking vote on the two biggest legislative drivers of inflation: the American Rescue Plan and the Inflation Reduction Act. She also supported the Biden-Harris regulatory regime which imposed additional costs on households,” Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, told Fox News Digital. “And now she vows to make matters worse by imposing a long list of tax increases,” Norquist continued. “She has endorsed a carbon tax, a 44.6% capital gains tax, and a 28% federal corporate tax rate, higher than China’s 25% and the EU [European Union] average of 21%. Americans will have even less take-home pay.” The Harris campaign didn’t respond to inquiries for this story, but the Democratic National Committee responded by pointing to former President Donald Trump’s economic record during his last year in office during the COVID-19 pandemic. DNC spokesperson Alex Floyd said Trump would give a tax cut to billionaires if elected, and said he “left office with the worst jobs record since Herbert Hoover.” CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP Floyd referred to a statement in June by 16 Nobel economists that endorsed then candidate Biden’s economic plan, and argued Trump’s proposals would lead to inflation. “Economists have called Donald Trump’s plan an inflation bomb that would sell out working families to double down on tax giveaways for the ultra-wealthy,” Floyd told Fox News Digital. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.
Ex-Biden challenger Dean Phillips says he’d accept invite to serve in Democrat or GOP administration
CHICAGO — The sole Democrat who ran against President Biden during the 2024 Democratic primary, Rep. Dean Phillips, said he would accept an invitation to serve in either a Democratic or Republican administration, telling Fox News Digital he aspires to “help this country in some way, shape or form.” Phillips, D-Minn., spoke to Fox News Digital on the sidelines of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Phillips, a three-term congressman, launched an uphill challenge against Biden in the Democratic primary but suspended his campaign in March. “I didn’t want to run this cycle. I spent two years trying to call attention to something I was seeing clearly with my own eyes,” he said. “I remember my Republican buddies excoriating Donald Trump quietly behind closed doors and then praising him in front of cameras. I saw my Democratic colleagues doing the same thing about Joe Biden, who we knew was in decline, probably going to lose.” DEAN PHILLIPS ENDS LONG-SHOT PRIMARY CHALLENGE AGAINST BIDEN FOR DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION Phillips said he “didn’t want to do it,” but told Fox News Digital “it became evident that our political culture punishes courage, rewards cowardice and silence.” “Someone had to do it. In two weeks, I put together a campaign to run for president,” he said. “But the message was to try to be a Paul Revere — not a George Washington. It took someone to hand over power, like Joe Biden did, to really make it happen.” He added, “I’m glad he did. And the rest may be history.” EMOTIONAL JOE BIDEN PASSES TORCH TO KAMALA HARRIS ENDING 5 DECADES IN ELECTED OFFICE When asked if he had aspirations to run for president again in the future, Phillips said he just aspires “to help this country in some way, shape or form.” “This was not about running for president. This was about showing people that it is never too late, and you should sit up and stand up and do something when you feel that something is wrong. And I did that,” he said. “If there is a way to serve my country in a Democratic administration — in a Republican administration — my goodness, we should all stand up and accept that invitation whenever it is issued,” he told Fox News Digital. “So, you never know.” However, Phillips told Fox News Digital that policy is critical. “Americans remember how they feel. They remember how they feel. They want to feel excited, safe, joyful, optimistic and a lot of that results from policy,” he said. “As it relates to policy, yeah, we have a border crisis. I’ve seen it twice with my own eyes. We also have to be a welcoming country, as Ronald Reagan would say,” Phillips said. “We have to be a country that has an economy that works for people. Sixty percent of people are living paycheck to paycheck. It doesn’t matter what party you are — we failed a lot of people. Our healthcare system is a mess. This is America.” However, Phillips said politicians need to stop the infighting. “As long as we keep spending all of our time fighting, we’re never going to spend our time developing better ideas,” he said. “And that’s my call to action for my colleagues in Congress and for Americans. We’re not going to solve problems by beating ourselves up.”
Lawsuit challenges mask ban in New York county, claiming discrimination against disabled people
A disability rights organization has sued to block the Nassau County, New York, mask ban that prohibits face coverings in public except for health and religious reasons, with the lawsuit arguing the ban is unconstitutional and discriminates against people with disabilities. The Disability Rights of New York filed a federal class action lawsuit Thursday on behalf of people with disabilities, seeking a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to immediately stop enforcement of the county’s Mask Transparency Act, according to The Associated Press. The Republican-controlled Nassau County Legislature passed the bill on Aug. 5, and it was signed into law on Aug. 14. “This mask ban poses a direct threat to public health and discriminates against people with disabilities,” the disability rights group’s executive director Timothy A. Clune said in a statement. NASSAU COUNTY BANS MASKS IN PUBLIC TO CURB VIOLENT CRIME, PROTESTS The lawsuit lists two plaintiffs with various health conditions and who wear medical-grade face masks to protect themselves. The plaintiffs say they are now fearful of harassment and potential arrest due to the new mask ban. “While in public and private places, strangers have come up to G.B. since August 5, 2024, to ask them if they are sick, if they are healthy or not, and to ask why they are wearing a facemask,” according to the lawsuit, referring to one of the plaintiffs by their initials. The lawsuit said G.B. has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy and asthma and needs a wheelchair to move around. “G.B. fears that they will be arrested just for wearing a facemask for their health because there is no standard for the police to follow to decide if they meet the health exception or not,” the lawsuit said. “G.B. is also concerned that they will be harassed, discriminated against, or even assaulted by people, including business owners and employees, in Nassau County for just going about their day with a mask on.” Republican Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who signed the bill into law, said county officials are “confident that the law will be upheld as there is a presumption of constitutionality when the legislature acts, and this legislation is reasonable and responsible.” NEW YORK COUNTY PASSES FACE MASK BAN Legislator Howard Kopel said lawmakers sought to approve the ban in response to “antisemitic incidents, often perpetrated by those in masks” amid anti-Israel demonstrations seen on college campuses in the aftermath of Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack against Israel that started the ongoing war in Gaza. The law makes it a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine for anyone in Nassau County to wear a face covering to hide their identity in public, with exemptions for people who wear masks “for health, safety, religious or cultural purposes, or for the peaceful celebration of a holiday or similar religious or cultural event for which masks or facial coverings are customarily worn.” Blakeman has said protesters wearing masks were the reason for the ban, but that the new law is also a way to combat everyday crime. “This is a broad public safety measure,” Blakeman said at a news conference. “What we’ve seen is people using masks to shoplift, to carjack, to rob banks, and this is activity we want to stop.” The Associated Press contributed to this report.