Farmers’ march to Mumbai 

Farmers have embarked on a 180-km march from Nashik to Mumbai for the second time in the last 12 months to protest against what they termed as the “betrayal” of peasants by the BJP governments at the state and centre.

The Kisan Long March-2, expected to take over nine days to complete, is being organised by the CPI(M)-backed All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS).

First anniversary of Makkal Needhi Maiam

Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) chief Kamal Haasan addressing party workers after hoisting the party flag, on the occasion of the the first anniversary in Chennai on Thursday.   | Photo Credit: B.Jothi Ramalingam

 

Members of Makkal Needhi Maiam celebrated the first anniversary of the party in Chennai on Thursday. Party chief actor-politician Kamal Haasan hoisted the party flag and addressed party cadres. 

Major fire at chemical warehouse in Dhaka

Firefighters and local people help to douse a fire in Dhaka, Bangladesh   | Photo Credit: AP

At least 69 people have died in a huge blaze that tore through apartment buildings also used as chemical warehouses in an old part of the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka, fire officials said on Thursday.

Dozens of people were trapped in the buildings, unable to escape onto narrow streets clogged with traffic, as the highly combustible stores of chemicals, body sprays and plastic granules erupted in flames.