Putin signs law allowing visa-free entry for World Cup fans
Moscow, Aug 4 : Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday signed a law allowing people holding the "Fan IDs" issued during the 2018 FIFA World Cup to visit Russia visa-free until the end of the year.
The document was posted on the Russian government's legal information website on Friday. Russia's lower and upper houses of the parliament passed the bill on July 26 and 28, respectively.
The initiative was taken by Putin shortly after the World Cup, which was held in 11 Russian cities from June 14 to July 15.
People were required to register for a Fan ID in addition to tickets to watch the matches. A Fan ID holder was able to enter Russia without visa and stay in the country during the football tournament.
According to Russia's official data, 1.5 million Fan IDs were issued, including about 630,000 to foreign spectators.
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5 schoolchildren among 7 killed in blast in southwest Pakistan
Islamabad (PTI): At least seven people, including five schoolchildren and a policeman, were killed on Friday in a remote-controlled blast in Pakistan's restive Balochistan province, according to media reports.
The blast occurred at 8.35 am near a school at the Civil Hospital Chowk of the Mastung district of the province, Dawn newspaper reported.
“It appears that an IED (improvised explosive device) attached to a motorcycle was detonated near a police mobile,” Kalat Division Commissioner Naeem Bazai was quoted as saying in the report.
“So far, seven individuals have been killed, including five school students,” Bazai said. At least 22 people were injured in the attack.
Most of those injured were schoolchildren, Geo News reported, adding that they were shifted to a nearby hospital.
A police van and several auto-rickshaws were damaged in the explosion, according to the report.
An emergency was declared across all Quetta hospitals after the blast, the report said quoting the provincial health department spokesperson, adding that all doctors, pharmacists, staff nurses and other medical staff were summoned.
