A suicide blast in a mainly Shia area of Kabul killed at least 48 people last week, the latest in a wave of attacks that have killed hundreds of civilians, soldiers and policemen over recent days. The explosion, targeting an educational centre, tore through a large tent set up as a classroom in the courtyard, killing dozens of teenagers studying for a university entrance examination. The blast, which shattered weeks of relative calm in Kabul, also wounded at least 67, including both male and female students. “Most of the boys at the educational centre have been killed,” said Sayed Ali, who witnessed the blast. “It was horrific and many of the students were torn to pieces.” Doctors at city hospitals said many of the victims were severely burned. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the Kabul blast but the attack bore the hallmark of Islamic State, which has conducted many previous attacks on Shia targets. The Taliban denied that it was involved. The explosion, which came as the central city of Ghazni struggles to recover from five days of intense fighting between the Taliban and government forces, underlined how badly security in Afghanistan has degenerated, some two months before parliamentary elections scheduled for October.
UAE forms committee to provide aid to flood-hit Kerala
United Arab Emirates (UAE) has formed a committee to provide relief to the people affected by floods in Kerala. UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan took to Twitter to make the announcement and urged "everyone to contribute generously towards this initiative." "The people of Kerala have always been and are still part of our success story in the UAE. We have a special responsibility to help and support those affected, especially during this holy and blessed days" his first tweet read. Sheikh Khalifa further wrote, "UAE and the Indian community will unite to offer relief to those affected. We have formed a committee to start immediately. We urge everyone to contribute generously towards this initiative." Describing the situation in Kerala as "the most devastating in a century," the UAE President added, "The state of Kerala in India is currently witnessing huge floods, the most devastating in a century. Hundreds have been killed, hundreds of thousands have been displaced. Ahead of Eid Al Adha, do not forget to extend a helping hand to our brothers in India." To be chaired by the Emirates Red Crescent (ERC), the national emergency committee will include representatives from the UAE's humanitarian organisations, according to Gulf News.
Kerala man loses job for offensive comments
A Kerala man was fired from his job after he made offensive comments on social media over the ongoing rescue and relief efforts in flood-hit Kerala. The man, identified as Rahul Cheru Palayattu, worked as a cashier at Lulu Hypermarket in Bousher in Muscat. Responding to a social media post where someone was asking if sanitary napkins were required, Rahul wrote below asking if people required condoms too. His comments did not go down well with a large number of people, who called him out on his insensitivity. Following this, he was also fired from his job. Before he was sacked, Rahul even went live on Facebook, saying, "I apologise to everyone in Kerala. Because of my foolishness, a mistake happened on my behalf. I request everyone to forgive me. After that comment, my friends and others have been abusing me on Facebook." Rahul claimed that he was intoxicated when he made the comment.
Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan dies at age 80
Kofi Annan, one of the world's most celebrated diplomats and a charismatic symbol of the United Nations who rose through its ranks to become the first black African secretary-general, has died. He was 80. His foundation announced his death in Switzerland on Saturday in a tweet, saying he died after a short unspecified illness. "Wherever there was suffering or need, he reached out and touched many people with his deep compassion and empathy," the foundation said. Annan spent virtually his entire career as an administrator in the United Nations. His aristocratic style, cool-tempered elegance and political savvy helped guide his ascent to become its seventh secretary-general, and the first hired from within. He served two terms from Jan. 1, 1997, to Dec. 31, 2006, capped nearly mid-way when he and the UN were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001. During his tenure, Annan presided over some of the worst failures and scandals at the world body, one of its most turbulent periods since its founding in 1945. Challenges from the outset forced him to spend much of his time struggling to restore its tarnished reputation. His enduring moral prestige remained largely undented, however, both through charisma and by virtue of having negotiated with most of the powers in the world. When he departed from the United Nations, he left behind a global organization far more aggressively engaged in peacekeeping and fighting poverty, setting the framework for the U.N.'s 21st-century response to mass atrocities and its emphasis on human rights and development.
Canadian PM Justin Trudeau to run for re-election in 2019
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has formally announced his bid to run for re-election in the 2019 legislative polls. The Liberal leader announced his nomination at a party event in Papineau, a federal electoral district in Montreal he represents. The crowd cheered as Trudeau, 46, reaffirmed his belief in what he called "positive politics", and took jabs at Conservative leader Andrew Scheer, whom he accused of exploiting fear and division. Trudeau also promised to tackle a number of challenges that include protecting Canada's oceans, raising the standard of living for indigenous peoples and narrowing the gap between rich and poor. He was first elected to represent Papineau in 2008 and was re-elected in 2011 and 2015.
Musharraf seeks top security to appear before court
Former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has sought presidential-level security to appear before a court in a high treason case citing threats to his life. During hearing, Musharraf's attorney, Akhtar Shah, told the Justice Yawar Ali-led two-member bench of the special court that his client would return and "appear before the court if he is given presidential level security by the defence ministry", reports Dawn. "Musharraf's life is in danger... There were two attempts on his life,” Shah added. In response, a bench member said: "There is a non-bailable warrant out against Musharraf, so to provide him security is the government's responsibility." The case against the former leader is for suspending the Constitution on November 3, 2007 - an offence for which he was indicted by the special court on March 31, 2014.
Mehsana NRG shot dead in US
A Non-Resident Gujarati (NRG) from Kadi taluka in Mehsana district was shot dead by two armed robbers in a grocery store located in Macon city of Georgia in the US last week. Alpesh Prajapati (36), who was working as Gulf Mart store on Napier Avenue in Macon, was attacked by two masked men when he had opened the store. The Bibb County Sheriff’s office investigating the shooting said, “Two masked gunmen had entered the store and a short time later the clerk (Prajapati) was shot. The two masked gunmen fled the store in an unknown direction.” When the cops arrived, Alpesh was lying on the floor in a pool of blood just inside the front door. Alpesh was transported to the hospital where he succumbed to gun wounds. The news of Alpesh’s death reached his native village of Kaiyyal in Kadi taluka, leaving his relatives and the villagers in a state of shock. According to family members, Alpesh had settled in the US seven years ago and was unmarried. He was to come to India for engagement in couple of months, one of his family friends Jayatibhai Prajapati said.
Migrant held while driving pregnant wife to hospital in US
A California woman said that she had to drive herself to the hospital and give birth without her husband after he was detained by immigration agents. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials said the man was detained because he was wanted on an outstanding arrest warrant in a homicide case in Mexico. Maria del Carmen Venegas said she and her husband, Joel Arrona Lara, were driving to the hospital when they stopped for gas. Surveillance footage shows two vehicles flank the couple’s van after they pulled into the gas station. Agents with ICE questioned the couple and asked for identification, Venegas said. Venegas, 32, said she provided hers but that Arrona had left his at home in their rush to the hospital. The footage shows the agents handcuffing Arrona, 35, and taking him away, leaving Venegas alone at the gas station. Venegas said she and her husband came to the US 12 years ago from Mexico. They do not have legal authorisation to live in the US, and all five of their children are US citizens, she said.
Scientists create mini Mona Lisa using bacteria
Scientists have created an accurate millimetric replica of Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, using approximately one million bacteria cells that were genetically engineered to respond to light. The researchers used light patterns to control the swimming speed of bacteria and direct them to form different shapes. Controlling bacteria in this way means it could be possible to use them as microbricks for building the next generation of microscopic devices. For example, they could be made to surround a larger object and then used as living propellers to transport it where it is needed, researchers said. Escherichia coli (E coli) bacteria are known to be fantastic swimmers. Recently, scientists found a protein (proteorhodopsin) in ocean-dwelling bacteria that allows them to power their propellers using light. “Much like pedestrians who slow down when they encounter a crowd or cars, swimming bacteria will spend more time in slower regions than in faster ones,” said Giacomo Frangipane, Postdoctoral Scientist at Rome University in the Italy.
