15,000 killed in Russian road accidents in
2018 so far
Tass, Moscow
About 15,000 people have been killed in road accidents in Russia so far in 2018, Russia’s General Administration for Traffic Safety informed TASS.
Sunday, November 18, is the World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims.
“Since the beginning of the year, there has been 136 thousand road accidents, which killed 14.8 thousand people and injured over 174 thousand,” the source stated, adding that in 2017, the total amount of road traffic victims had reached over 19,000 people.
Bainimarama narrowly retains power in Fiji
AFP, Fiji
Former Fiji military strongman Voreqe Bainimarama survived declining support for his FijiFirst party to remain in power Sunday, fending off a strong challenge from rival coup leader Sitiveni Rabuka.
The Fiji election result, confirmed four days after the island nation went to the polls for only the second time since “Frank” Bainimarama seized power in 2006, gave FijiFirst a three-seat majority in parliament.
Iraqi cleric linked to Basra protests killed
AP, Basra
Iraqi police say a Muslim cleric has been killed outside his home after he suggested that demonstrators should take up arms over poor public services in Basra.
Wissam al-Ghrawi was a prominent figure in demonstrations in recent months demanding clean water and reliable electricity in the southern Iraqi city. Basra province generates more than 90 percent of Iraq’s oil exports but suffers from contaminated drinking water and regular blackouts.
Three killed in blast in Punjab state
AFP, Amritsar
A blast at a religious ceremony in India’s Punjab state Sunday killed at least three people and injured 10, police said. Media reports said two armed men on a motorcycle forced their way into a building where the Nirankari spiritual group was meeting.
They brandished a pistol at a woman at the gate before throwing a hand grenade at the crowd, the Tribune newspaper said.
