International
EV sales growth stalls in Europe
By AFP Europe is supposed to fully switch to electric vehicles in little over a decade, but sales growth of the climate-friendly vehicles stalled in the first half of the year, data showed Thursday. Instead, data from the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) showed that the modest 4.4 percent overall growth in the sales of…
Fire at shopping centre in China’s southwest kills 16
By REUTERS Sixteen people were killed in a fire at a department store in Sichuan province in China’s southwest on Wednesday evening, state media said on Thursday. The fire broke out in a 14-storey building in a high-tech zone of the city of Zigong, shrouding the vicinity with thick smoke, according to the Xinhua news…
Bangladesh students reject PM olive branch after deadly protests
BY AFP Bangladesh students vowed Thursday to continue nationwide protests against civil service hiring rules, rebuffing an olive branch from Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who pledged justice for seven killed in the demonstrations. Hasina’s government has ordered schools and universities to close indefinitely and stepped up efforts to contain weeks of rallies demanding equal access…
Champions Trophy 2025: India unlikely to travel to Pakistan
The Champions Trophy 2025 is expected to adopt a hybrid model in February-March, with India unlikely to travel to Pakistan for the tournament, reported an Indian media outlet citing informed sources. India has not engaged in bilateral cricket with Pakistan since the 2012-13 season and has refrained from visiting Pakistan since 2008. Pakistan holds the…
UK economy expands in May, boosts new government
London: Britain’s economy exceeded expectations with stronger-than-expected growth in May, according to official data released Thursday, providing an early boost to the newly-elected Labour government. The Office for National Statistics reported a 0.4 percent increase in gross domestic product (GDP) for May, following flat GDP growth in April. Analysts had anticipated growth of 0.2 percent…