Nepal: Schools resume in makeshift structures
Many of the estimated 8,000 schools damaged in April's devastating earthquake in Nepal have begun to re-open. The 7.8 magnitude quake and subsequent aftershocks are believed to have destroyed more than 25,000 classrooms. A month on, many of the schools have been rebuilt with materials such as bamboo, wood and tarpaulin. The initial focus will be on group activities to help children heal from the trauma of the disaster. The Asian Development Bank said the government is planning to open 15,000 temporary learning centres.
Gas blast in Syria kills 40
A gas canister exploded in a Syrian hospital on Sunday, killing at least 40 people and seriously injuring dozens of other patients, including children, and nurses. An activist said that the fire caused by the explosion broke out soon after a United Nations-aided vaccination drive for children had begun at the clinic in Qamishli in the northeastern province of Hasakah.
Yemen's Houthi rebels holding talks with US
Yemen's government-in-exile said on Sunday that senior members of the country's dominant Houthi group were in talks with US officials to resolve the conflict in the country. The development comes amid reports earlier in the week that the Houthi rebels were holding five Americans captive. Rajeh Badi, a spokesman for the Yemeni government currently based in Saudi Arabia, said the meetings were held at the US' request and that a private American plane had brought the Houthi leaders to neighbouring Oman. He added that the Yemeni government played no part in the talks.
Muslim woman alleges discrimination on US flight
A Muslim university student has accused an American airline of discrimination after she was allegedly told that she could not be given an unopened beverage because "she could use it as a weapon". Tahera Ahmad, who was wearing a headscarf on the United Airlines flight from Chicago to Washington, said a flight attendant willingly gave unopened cans to other passengers but denied her a sealed Diet Coke can for security reasons. The incident came to light after Ahmad posted details on Facebook, saying that "she couldn't help but cry" about the incident. United Airlines released a statement saying there had been a "misunderstanding".
Egypt demolishes Mubarak's headquarters
The Egyptian regime on Sunday started demolishing the headquarters of ex-President Hosni Mubarak's ruling party, a structure symbolising decades of dictatorship. Successive governments had contemplated tearing down the building, which was gutted during the 2011 uprising against Mubarak. However, some activists felt the building should be preserved as a monument to the popular revolt, which constituted part of the Arab Spring. Meanwhile, the head of a state-sanctioned rights body has said that at least 2,600 people, half of them supporters of former President Mohamed Morsi, have been killed in violence since he was overthrown by the military 18 months ago.
Many of the estimated 8,000 schools damaged in April's devastating earthquake in Nepal have begun to re-open. The 7.8 magnitude quake and subsequent aftershocks are believed to have destroyed more than 25,000 classrooms. A month on, many of the schools have been rebuilt with materials such as bamboo, wood and tarpaulin. The initial focus will be on group activities to help children heal from the trauma of the disaster. The Asian Development Bank said the government is planning to open 15,000 temporary learning centres.
Gas blast in Syria kills 40
A gas canister exploded in a Syrian hospital on Sunday, killing at least 40 people and seriously injuring dozens of other patients, including children, and nurses. An activist said that the fire caused by the explosion broke out soon after a United Nations-aided vaccination drive for children had begun at the clinic in Qamishli in the northeastern province of Hasakah.
Yemen's Houthi rebels holding talks with US
Yemen's government-in-exile said on Sunday that senior members of the country's dominant Houthi group were in talks with US officials to resolve the conflict in the country. The development comes amid reports earlier in the week that the Houthi rebels were holding five Americans captive. Rajeh Badi, a spokesman for the Yemeni government currently based in Saudi Arabia, said the meetings were held at the US' request and that a private American plane had brought the Houthi leaders to neighbouring Oman. He added that the Yemeni government played no part in the talks.
Muslim woman alleges discrimination on US flight
A Muslim university student has accused an American airline of discrimination after she was allegedly told that she could not be given an unopened beverage because "she could use it as a weapon". Tahera Ahmad, who was wearing a headscarf on the United Airlines flight from Chicago to Washington, said a flight attendant willingly gave unopened cans to other passengers but denied her a sealed Diet Coke can for security reasons. The incident came to light after Ahmad posted details on Facebook, saying that "she couldn't help but cry" about the incident. United Airlines released a statement saying there had been a "misunderstanding".
Egypt demolishes Mubarak's headquarters
The Egyptian regime on Sunday started demolishing the headquarters of ex-President Hosni Mubarak's ruling party, a structure symbolising decades of dictatorship. Successive governments had contemplated tearing down the building, which was gutted during the 2011 uprising against Mubarak. However, some activists felt the building should be preserved as a monument to the popular revolt, which constituted part of the Arab Spring. Meanwhile, the head of a state-sanctioned rights body has said that at least 2,600 people, half of them supporters of former President Mohamed Morsi, have been killed in violence since he was overthrown by the military 18 months ago.
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