Air strikes hit Sabha in central Libya: Libya TV

TUNIS: Western air strikes have targeted military and civilian areas in the town of Sabha, Libyan state television reported on Saturday, quoting a military source.

3 killed, 5 injured in Bangladesh bomb attack

DHAKA: At least three people were killed and five, including a lawmaker of the ruling party, injured in a suicide bomb attack in Bangladesh on Saturday, police said.

The bomb was detonated at the residence of Afaz Uddin, an Awami League member of parliament, near Khustia, 300 km (190 miles) west of the capital Dhaka.

Police would not say whether they thought the attack was related to Saturday’s widespread violence over the eviction from her home of opposition leader Begum Khaleda Zia. AGENCIES

Afghanistan: Kunduz governor among 20 killed in explosion

An Afghan provincial governor among 20 others killed on Friday when a powerful blast tore through a mosque in northern Afghanistan.
The nature of the blast in the town of Taluqan, the capital of Takhar province, was not immediately clear. There was a blast in the mosque. The governor, the imam, altogether 15 people have been killed, provincial police chief Shah Jahan Noori told the foreign news agency.
Governor Mohammad Omar was the governor of the neighbouring province of Kunduz, but originally came from Takhar.

Security tight for Mexican 200-year independence fiesta

MEXICO CITY: Mexico on Wednesday began spectacular festivities to mark 200 years of the start of its independence from Spain, in the shadow of drug violence and flooding which prevented some from celebrating.

A group of shamans, in white robes and feathers, carried out a pre-Hispanic fire ritual to launch celebrations in the capital’s massive main Zocalo square, as millions were set to join nationwide fiestas.

The celebrations mark the 1810 uprising by rebel priest Miguel Hidalgo that led to the ousting of the Spanish by 1821.

President Felipe Calderon’s shouting of “El Grito” — a reconstruction of Hidalgo’s battle cry — will be broadcast shortly after 11 pm (0400 GMT) on giant screens in the capital, and worldwide.

In response to the cry — which is echoed by local leaders across the country — Mexicans shout “Viva Mexico!” or “Long live

Israel warns Lebanon but also seeks calm along border

JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a public warning to Lebanon on Wednesday, saying it would face a “vigorous” Israeli response in the event of more unrest on their shared border.

But at the same time as Netanyahu”s office published his comments, which put the Lebanese government in the same category as the militant Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, Israeli, UN and Lebanese military officers were working behind the scenes to douse the flames.

“I want to make it clear to Hamas, and also to the government of Lebanon which we see as responsible for the violent provocation against our soldiers; do not test our resolve to defend Israel”s civilians and soldiers,” Netanyahu said.

Israel”s key ally, the United States, backed Israel”s contention that its troops were carrying out routine work on their own side of the frontier on Tuesday when they were subjected to an unprovoked attack by Lebanese soldiers.

“The firing of the Lebanese armed forces was wholly unjustified and unwarranted,” State Department Spokesman Philip Crowley said.

Netanyahu”s comments were made in a Hebrew-language statement distributed to media in writing and on video.

Tuesday”s firefight, the deadliest confrontation on Israel”s northern border in four years, took the lives of an Israeli colonel, two Lebanese soldiers and a Lebanese journalist.

Major 7.0-magnitude quake hits Papua New Guinea

SYDNEY: A major 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck Papua New Guinea on Thursday, the US Geological Survey said, but no tsunami warning was issued.

The quake hit New Britain island at 8:01 am local time (2201 GMT Wednesday) at a depth of 54 kilometres, USGS said.

The epicentre was 145 kilometres (90 miles) east of Kandrian, on New Britain, and 570 kilometres (350 miles) east of Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, based in Hawaii, said there was no threat of a widespread destructive tsunami as a result of the quake.

57 dead in India train crash

NEW DELHI: A speeding express rammed into the back of a stationary passenger train in eastern India on Monday, killing at least 57 people and trapping others in several badly mangled carriages.

The standing train was waiting to leave Sainthia station in Birbhum district, 260 kilometers (160 miles) north of the West Bengal state capital Kolkata, when the express slammed into its rear.

“The death toll has risen to 57,” West Bengal Relief Minister Murtaza Hussain told foreign news agency. “We have sent a relief team with gas cutters (blow torches) and other equipment for a speedy rescue operation.” He said the death toll would rise further, most likely above 60. It was not immediately clear what caused the accident, which occurred at around 2:00am (2030 GMT Sunday) when most passengers were sleeping.

70 dead in India train crash

KOLKATA: The death toll in India’s West Bengal train accident has gone up from 60 to 70 while over 90 passengers are said to have sustained injuries.

“A total of 70 persons, including three railway employees, have lost their lives in the accident when three rear coaches including one luggage van and two unreserved general second class coaches of the Vananchal Express were affected,” an Eastern Railway said in a statement.

The accident took place at around 2 am on Monday, Jul 19 when the Sealdah-bound passenger train, Uttarbanga Express rammed into another passenger train Vananchal Express.

Earlier the death toll was put up at 49 while the number of injured was estimated to be between 130 to 150.

Fire kills 12 in China”s Xinjiang

BEIJING: Twelve people died Monday in a fire in a residential building in the capital of China”s far-western Xinjiang region that also sent another 17 people to hospital, state-run news agency reported.

The brief dispatch said the accident occurred in Urumqi, a city of more than two million.

The fire broke out in a two-story building Monday afternoon but was extinguished about 30 minutes later, agency said.

Urumqi police told foreign news agency by phone that the cause of the fire was still being investigated.

Kamal Hassan movies to be screened in New Delhi

MUMBAI: A three-day film festival on veteran actor Kamal Hassan is being organised in the capital from July 2-4.

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Kamal Hassan movies to be screened in New Delhi

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