KABUL: A recent attack on the American University of Afghanistan left at least 13 people dead, and more than 30 wounded. Kabul Police Chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi said the dead included one guard, and the wounded, one foreign teacher. Dejan Panic, program director at Kabul's Emergency Hospital said 18 people wounded in the attack, include five women. Police spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said it wasn't clear if there were one attacker or two. AP photographer Massoud Hossaini said at least two grenades were thrown into the classroom. He and other students later took refuge in a residential house near the campus, and safely evacuated by Afghan security forces. The Pentagon said US military advisers were on the ground with Afghan security forces at the university.
Frenchman stabs Briton to death in Oz
SYDNEY: A woman of British-origin was stabbed to death in Australia, at a backpackers' hostel in what the police call an "extremist" attack. A spokesman for the Queensland state police said the suspected attacker was a 29 year old French national who yelled "Allahu Akbar" when arrested. Twenty one year old Mia AyliffeChung died on the scene, and a British man was left in critical condition. Deputy Commissioner Steve Gollschewski said, "Initial inquiries indicate that comments which may be construed of being of an extremist nature were made by the alleged offender. This person appears to have acted alone. He is a visitor to Australia and has no known local connections."
Pak shoemaker jailed over deer skin sandals for SRK
ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani shoemaker got into trouble for bragging about sending Peshawari sandals made from deer's skin to Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan. Reports said a cousin of the acter went to shoemaker Jahangir Khan and asked him to make two pairs for him. "Apparently, Jahangir Khan is a big fan of Shah Rukh and decided to send the Bollywood star a special gift, Peshawari sandals made out of deer skin, from his side. Soon after the news spread, the wildlife department officials contacted us and filed a complaint. We had to go and pick up Jahangir who is now behind bars," said a police official. A wildlife official said the probe is on, and "if he has used deer skin then he will face fine and prosecution under wildlife laws."
13 Pak TV channels fined for airing Imrans false wedding news
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority has issued a fine of Rs 5,00,000 each on 13 different TV channels for airing "false" news regarding former cricketer and leading politician Imran Khan's third marriage. An official said, "Though PTI had withdrawn the complaint, PEMRA decided to go ahead with the fine as the false news was against the spirit of the license issued by the regulator to the owners of these channels." The accused channels repeatedly showed news of a 63 year old Khan entering into a third marriage in London.
Bid to kill Angela Merkel foiled
PRAGUE: An attempt to assassinate German Chancellor Angela Merkel was reportedly foiled after the Czech police detained an armed man who tried to join her motorcade during her visit to the capital. Police spokesman Josef Bocan said, "The perpetrator has been detained. He is suspected of attempting to cause a crime, specifically an attempt to use violence against an official. This incident is currently being investigated by Prague detectives." Merkel was on her way from the airport when the black Mercedes appeared and the driver refused to obey orders coming from police cars. The suspect, instead, tried to enter the motorcade and cut off a police vehicle. He was only stopped after the police warned of shooting him.
Boko Haram chief `fatally wounded' in air raid: Nigeria
LAGOS (NIGERIA): Nigerian military said it has "fatally wounded" Boko Haram chief Abubakar Shekau, in an air strike that was carried out at Taye village. This isn't the first time the military has claimed to do so, and has said in the past that Boko Haram was using look-alike fighters to impersonate Shekau. Army spokesman Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman said, "Those Boko Haram commanders confirmed dead include Abubakar Mubi, Malam Nuhu, and Malam Hamman, amongst others. While Abubakar Shekau is believed to be wounded on his shoulders." The terrorist outfit was driven in 2009, and has killed 20,000 people and driven more than 2.2 million from their homes.
Canadian Mounted Police allow women in uniform to wear hijabs
OTTAWA: The Royal Canadian Mounted Police has allowed its officers to wear hijabs as part of their uniforms. Public safety minister Ralph Goodale's spokesman Scott Bardsley said, "The commissioner of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police recently approved this addition to the uniform. This is intended to better reflect the diversity in our communities and encourage more Muslim women to consider the Royal Canadian Mounted Police." The uniform of a RCMP officer includes a red serge tunic, leather riding boots, and wide-brimmed felt campaign hat as an iconic Canadian symbol. With the recent update, the RCMP becomes the third police force in Canada to add the hijab option, following Toronto and Edmonton.
Pak senator comes under fire over his remarks against poor
ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani senator faced flak from fellow lawmakers recently, for making controversial statements regarding the rich and poor population. Senator Sardar Mohammad Yaqoob Khan Nasar of the Ruling Muslim League-Nawaz, said the rich and poor were created by "God" and one should not interfere in the system. The statement came in response to Senator Taj Haider of the Pakistan People's Party, saying the country has become the property of the ruking elite, and that all decisions were made in the interests of the rich. Nasar replied, "This is a system created by God, and he has made some people rich and others poor and we should not interfere in this system." The remark however, saw a strong reaction with Haider saying the socio-economic classes were man-made phenomena with which God had nothing to do.
Terrorists who attacked Lankan cricket team killed: Pakistan
LAHORE: Pak officials have claimed that four of the 10 terrorists allegedly involved in the 2009 attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team, were killed in a shootout with the police. The attack had injured six players and killed six policemen and two civilians and claimed by the Pakistani Taliban and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi. The encounter of the militants with the police took place late last Saturday.
Myanmar quake damages nearly 400 ancient temples
NAY PYI DAW: A 6.8 magnitude earthquake damaged around 397 ancient temples in the archaelogical complex of Bagan, in Myanmar. Deputy Director General of the Department of Archaeology, Thein Lwin said restoration work will take atleast a year to complete. The Cultural Ministry has currently put out a temporary ban on climbing some of the most famous pagodas of the region, to watch sunrise or sunset, one of the biggest tourist attraction of the area. The historic complex, which was capital of the ancient Myanmar kingdom of Pagan, has more than 3000 stupas and pagodas spread across 40 sq km.
At least 60 dead in Yemen army camp suicide attack
ADEN: A suicide car bomb attack on an army training camp killed at least 60 people in Aden. An official said the attacker drove his vehicle into a gathering of new recruits at the camp. Attacks in the region are often carried out by jihadists from either Al-Qaeda or the Islamic State, however, neither has taken responsibility for this one. Even after Yemeni government forces backed by a Saudi-led coalition retook towns in the area, there are several militants still present in recaptured towns and, control large parts of the neighbouring Shabwa province. A UN report said more than 6600 people, mostly civilians have been killed in Yemen since March 2015, and more than 80 per cent of the population has been left.
France's highest court suspends Burkini ban
PARIS: The highly controversial burkini ban has been suspended by France's highest administrative court, last week. Overturning the ban in 30 towns, the State Council ruled the measure was a "serious and clearly illegal violation of fundamental freedoms". It said local authorities could only introduce measures restricting individual freedoms. Judges said there was no such risk in the case before the court. The French Council of the Muslim Faith celebrated the ruling, calling it a "victory for common sense". The police have fined Muslim women for wearing the clothing item on beaches in several towns. The bans had triggered a vehement debate about women's rights and the French state's strictly-guarded secularism. "These bans do nothing to increase public safety but do a lot to promote public humiliation." CFCM secretary general Abdallah Zekri said, "This victory for common sense will help to take the tension out of a situation which has become very tense for our Muslim compatriots, especially women."
Indonesian claims to be world's oldest man at 145
JAKARTA: Mbah Gotho has been named the world's oldest man after documentation showed he was born in 1870. Gotho said he had been preparing for his death in 1992, but finds himself alive 24 years later. He has in fact, outlived his siblings, four wives, and children. Despite the remarkably long life, the man said, "What I want is to die". Becoming increasingly frail over the years, Gotho has been bathed and spoon-fed in the past three months. He said he spends his time listening to the radio, and stated the secret to a long life is patience.
Man stabs priest inside church in Indonesia
MEDAN (INDONESIA): A Catholic priest was stabbed by a knife-wielding man who even tried to set off an explosive device at a church in Indonesia last week. The latest in a series of attacks on religious minorities in the mainly Muslim country, priest Albert Pandiangan was conducting a mass in the city of Medan when a young man came up to him and stabbed him in his left arm. Local chief detective Nur Fallah said, "Somebody tried to kill the priest by pretending to attend the church servive and at that time tried to explode something, like a firecracker, but the firecracker didn't explode, it only fumed." An eyewitness said the attacker only wore a jacket and carried a bag.
