Afghan FM to stay

KABUL: Afghanistan’s cabinet has decided Rangeen Dadfar Spanta will stay on as foreign minister, an official said on Tuesday, despite parliament’s insistence that its vote to fire him be respected. The cabinet took the decision on Monday after “clarification” from the Supreme Court about parliament’s mid-May no-confidence vote linked to Iran’s deportation of refugees, a spokesman for President Hamid Karzai said. — AFP

Bangla toll tops 100

CHITTAGONG: The toll from landslides and storm in Bangladesh topped 100 on Tuesday as hundreds of rescue workers were battling to find survivors. Rescures involved in the search operation around the southeastern port of Chittagong said they were fighting a losing battle with continuing rain hampering the search effort. Landslides are regular in hilly areas of Chittagong, and experts have previously warned of disastrous consequences.The landslides struck early Monday as people slept following days of rains. —AFP

Chinese soldiers killed

BEIJING: Eight soldiers were killed and 16 injured when a building at a military base collapsed in northeast China, a rights group said Tuesday. The collapse took place in Fuxin city in Liaoning province on Saturday, on a base belonging to the 40th armoured division of the People’s Liberation Army. After the accident the military immediately sealed off the base. —AFP