17 killed in bomb attack on Saudi police at mosque
Riyadh: A bomb attack that took place at a mosque when worshippers were praying, has killed at least 17 people, in the city of Abha. Confirming the attack, but giving it a slightly lower toll of 'more than 13' dead, an interior ministry spokesman said, “It's confirmed there's an explosion and there's more than 13 (killed)... in a mosque.” The explosion happened at the headquarters of the SWAT team, which is tasked with domestic security, he added, saying it was too early to say who may have carried out the attack. Saudi Arabia has been on alert for attacks by the jihadist Islamic State group, who have been blamed for killing policemen and for slaughtering members of the minority Shiite community.
Bangladesh blogger hacked with machetes in 4th killing this year
Dhaka: The Bangladesh wing of terrorist group Al Qaeda has claimed responsibility for the gruesome murder of secular blogger Niloy Neel. The journalist was 'guilty' of contributing to humanist blogging mukto-mona and his posts were often critical of Islam. This isn't the first time a Bangladesh blogger was murdered. As many as 6 men, armed with machetes, broke into Neel's apartment and hacked him to death. Al Qaeda has warned of more murders of bloggers, and has threatened, “If your 'Freedom of Speech' maintains no limits, then widen your chests for 'Freedom of Machetes'.” He is the fourth secular blogger to be killed in the Muslim-majority nation since February, when Bangladeshi-born US citizen Avijit Roy was hacked to death in Dhaka.
Indian-American Atul Keshap confirmed Ambassador to Sri Lanka
Washington: Former official at the US Embassy in India, Indian American Atul Keshap has been confirmed as the US Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Maldives, making him the second Indian origin diplomat to be posted to the region after Richard Rahul Verma. He currently works as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in South and Central Asian Affairs Bureau of State Department, and had joined the Foreign Service in 1994. He was the deputy political counsellor at the US Embassy in New Delhi from 2005 to 2008, and has also served as special assistant for the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia for the under secretary of state for political affairs. “We want to help the Sri Lankan people strengthen democracy, civil society and human rights, including media freedom and freedom of religion,” he said. “We want to help build a lasting peace and fellowship among Sri Lanka’s ethnic and religious communities, including credible justice, accountability and reconciliation that can facilitate closure for those who suffered and lost loved ones during the war.”
Pak SC allows military trials for terror suspects
Islamabad: Pakistan Supreme Court has ruled on military trials for terror suspects, a decision welcomed by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, as the decision is seen as a major victory for his government, even when critics and rights activists say it goes against the constitution and civil rights. The Government's legal adviser, Zafrullah Khan said the ruling gives green light to army courts for trying civilians suspected in terrorism cases. He said the ruling basically upheld the Parliament decision. In Pakistan, the Parliament has broad rights, including approving amendments to the constitution. The country has been fighting Islamic militancy for over a decade but authorities only took extraordinary measures after the Peshawar school attack, including a lift on the moratorium on executions, in place since 2008.
Sri Lankan courts order release of 40 Indian fishermen
Rameswaram: Sri Lankan courts have ordered the release of 40 Indian fishermen, detained for the last 2 months on charges of trespassing into the country's territorial waters. The Sri Lankan navy detained 14 fishermen from Rameswaram in June, 26 fishermen from Nagapattinam and Karaikal, after which, they were all produced before Lankan courts and lodged in prisons. The 14 Rameswaram fishermen were produced before a Mannar court which ordered their release, while the rest were produced before a Point Pedro court, and ordered the same. “All of our fishermen were released by Sri Lankan courts, and we anticipate that they may reach their homes towns soon,” said U Arulanandam of the Alliance for Release of Innocent Fishermen.
Hafiz seeks ban on Bollywood movie 'Phantom'
Lahore: JuD chief and Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed has filed a plea in a Lahore court, seeking a ban on the release of Bollywood movie 'Phantom' in Pakistan, alleging that the film, set on post 26/11 attacks and global terrorism, contains “filthy propaganda” against the country. In the petition filed in Lahore high court, Saeed, through his advocate A K Dogar, pleaded that the Saif Ali Khan starrer, scheduled to release on August 28, has “venom against Pakistan and Jamaat-ud-Dawa”. “The film is about the 2008 Mumbai attack and global terrorism implicating the JuD. Filthy propaganda has been done in the film against Pakistan under subject of the world terrorism,” he alleged. “I pray to the court to ban the exhibition of 'Phantom' in Pakistan for its anti-Pakistan content,” said Saeed who has a $ 10 million bounty on his head, placed by the US.
Indian-American contractor indicted for fraud
New York: An Indian-American former president of a construction company has been indicted in a $1.9 million union fraud scheme in which his workers were under paid and for making false statements in documents. Yashvant C Patel, while serving as president of My Baps Construction Corp - a Southwest Side construction company - paid less than union scale wages to his workers to defraud the benefit funds of the employees' labour union by reducing the employer contribution, a report in The Voice Online said. Patel, 59, was arrested last week and has been charged with four counts each of mail fraud and making false statements in company documents. "Patel falsely reported that My Baps and a sister company, Vijay Construction Corp, owed approximately $600,000 less to the benefit funds of the Construction and General Labourers' District Council of Chicago and Vicinity," the indictment stated.
Kabul bloodbath: 51 dead in 24 hours
Kabul: Fifteen more fatalities were confirmed on Saturday from a barrage of bombings in Kabul, taking the toll to 51 in the deadliest day for the city in years as Afghanistan battles an escalating Taliban insurgency. The explosions on Friday, which devastated buildings and overwhelmed hospitals with hundreds of casualties, were the first major militant assaults on Kabul since the announcement of Taliban leader Mullah Omar's death. The attacks underscored the country's volatile security situation amid a faltering peace process and the potency of the Taliban insurgency, despite it being riven by growing internal divisions. In the first attack, a powerful truck bomb tore through the centre of Kabul just after midnight on Friday, killing 15 civilians and wounding 240 others. Less than 24 hours later, 27 cadets and civilians were killed when a suicide bomber dressed in police uniform blew himself up at the Kabul Police Academy. Explosions and gunfire also erupted when Camp Integrity, a US special forces base in Kabul, came under attack late Friday, killing nine people, including a Nato service member.
Nepal acknowledges transgenders on its passports
Kathmandu: Nepal has moved towards recognising a third gender after the Supreme Court in 2007 ruled that individuals should have their gender legally recognised based on “self-feeling” and that they should not have to limit themselves to female or male. Transgender community, activist Monica Shahi has now become the country's first citizen with a third gender bearing passport. “This is a very welcoming move. It is a huge recognition for all sexual minorities of Nepal,” Shahi said. “My struggle was not just for myself, but for future generations. Now everyone like me can get this service. My country has recognized and respected my identity.” However, given that only a handful of countries now recognise an 'other' category, it will be difficult for people like Shahi as they travel. Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Malta, New Zealand, and Australia now legally recognise more than two genders.
Disney apologises over insensitive tweet
Tokyo: Walt Disney Japan apologised after a tweet sent from its corporate Twitter account wished readers “congratulations on a not special day” on the 70th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of Nagasaki. The company later offered “deep apologies for causing discomfort,” saying it would take care and manage the Twitter account more carefully. In English, the tweet conveyed “A very merry unbirthday to you!” from a song in the Disney film 'Alice in Wonderland'. The tweet came as a shock to people as many criticised the insensitivity. “Why are you offering congratulations, Disney-san?” a tweet in response read. Japan holds ceremonies each year to mourn the death of more than 74,000 people in the bombing of Nagasaki on August 9, 1945, three days after the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima.
