Washington: A 12-year-old Indian-American girl from California has won the 90th National Spelling Bee. Ananya Vinay and another Indian-American Rohan Rajeev faced each other in the final round. Ananya won on the word "marocain", a fabric. According to her bio, Ananya loves to read and in her free time she imagines stories. "I'm so happy right now," she said after her victory. The two were among the brightest and best young spellers, a marathon event that stretched late into the night, according to organisers. Among the other words young participants were asked to spell were: pterygoideus, mollienisia, cinerarium and hesychast. The winner is entitled to a $40,000 cash prize, a trophy and other awards, including a $2,500 US savings bond from Merriam-Webster as well as trips to New York and California for televised appearances.
Toll in Sri Lanka floods hits 202
Colombo: The death toll in Sri Lanka's devastating floods and landslides reached 202 last week with 96 people still reported missing, officials said. The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) said 63 people were injured while over 600,000 people were affected. Severe rains and strong winds which ravaged Sri Lanka caused major floods and landslides in many areas of the island. The southern district of the country was the worst affected. As water levels were receding, tri-services forces along with rescue teams launched a massive clean up operation in order to restore normalcy in the affected areas. At least 83,200 people had sought shelter in safe locations.
Cyclone Mora claims 7 lives in Bangladesh
Dhaka: Cyclone Mora left at least seven people dead and damaged nearly 60,000 houses, displacing around 56,000 families when it hit Bangladesh, officials said. Four people were killed and 60 were injured in the Cox Bazar district, while two others were killed in Rangamati and one in Bhola district, Bangladesh's Disaster Management Department spokesperson Naznin Shamina said. According to Shamina, the cyclone caused substantial damage to private property with at least 19,768 houses seriously damaged and 38,112 partially, particularly in Cox Bazar and Chittagong districts. Two million people were evacuated before the cyclone made landfall, out of which 500,000 were moved to 3,800 cyclone shelters.
Suicide bombings in Iraq's Baghdad kills 42
Baghdad: Three suicide bombings in Baghdad and a city to the west have killed at least 42 people, targetting Iraqis breaking their fast and elderly people collecting their pensions, officials said. The strikes came as forces fought to retake the last areas held by the Islamic State group in their former stronghold of Mosul. The first Islamic State-claimed car bombing struck a Baghdad ice cream shop during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, when Iraqis often stay out late shopping or socialising after breaking their daily fast. A second attack claimed by the group targeted the country's main pension office, while a third bombing was carried out at an army checkpoint in Hit, some 120 km west of Baghdad.
Nepal prez appeals to parties to pick next PM
Kathmandu: Nepal's political parties have failed to meet a seven-day deadline to pick a consensus candidate for the post of Prime Minister, prompting President Bidya Devi Bhandari to issue another appeal to them to initiate the process quickly. According to the Constitution, the Prime Minister shall be elected by a majority of all the members of the Legislature- Parliament, if parties fail to pick a consensus candidate within a week. The president issued the call after the deadline given to form a consensus government ended without any result. President Bhandari initiated the Constitutional process to form the new government after PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal `Prachanda' resigned on May 24.
Pakistan roasts in intense heat, Punjab towns record 52 degrees
Islamabad: Pakistan is roasting in extremely high temperatures in a persisting heat wave that has further intensified, the Met Department said. The maximum temperatures set a new record in some cities in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Sunday. In Punjab's Noorpurthal and Bhakkar, mercury shot up to 52 degrees Celsius, recording the highest in the maximum temperature in the country. While Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Dera Ismail Khan and Sibbi recorded 51 degrees Celsius, Sargodha and Risalpur saw 50 degrees, and Mianwali and Dera Ghazi Khan 49 degrees Celsius, according to the Met Department. The temperatures also rose in the country's hilly areas, accelerating snow and glacier melt.
Gunman torches casino in Philippines, 36 killed
Manila: A gunman stormed a crowded Manila casino early on Friday and used gasoline to set gambling tables on fire, creating clouds of smoke that killed at least 36 people, police said. The gunman fled with more than $2 million in stolen casino chips, then forced his way into a room in an adjoining hotel and killed himself. Authorities suspect the man, who has not been identified yet, was trying to rob the casino at Resorts World Manila. “Either he lost in the casino and wanted to recoup his losses or he went totally nuts,” said Metropolitan Manila police chief Oscar Albayalde. While an Islamic State group-linked Filipino said on social media that “lone wolf soldiers” from the group were behind the attack, police noted the man didn't shoot anyone he encountered. The Philippines police chief said that there was no proof to indicate that the incident was an act of terrorism.
