An Indonesia hospital in Aceh struggled to treat dozens of burn victims from a fire at an illegal oil well that killed at least 18 on Wednesday (April 25) as they scrambled to collect oil after the well overflowed, authorities said.

Firefighters struggled all day to put out the blaze in the northwestern province of Aceh and were still working as darkness fell.

Dozens of people suffering from burns were taken to hospital in the provincial capital, Banda Aceh, several hours away from where the accident happened.

Pertamina, which has operations in the area, was providing equipment to help fight the fire. At least eight fire trucks had been deployed to try to douse the blaze. The head of police in the area said the fire might have been sparked by a careless smoker.

Flames towered over houses and trees as firefighters hosed down the area while villagers watched, in pictures posted on social media by Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, the spokesman of Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency.

"There was panic among the public because the fire is in a residential area," said Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said.&nbsp

The fire broke out in the east Aceh district in the early hours of Wednesday, after a well of depth 250 metres (820 ft) overflowed and residents gathered to collect the oil, the agency added.

The head of police in east Aceh said the oil well might have been drilled illegally and the fire might have been started when someone was smoking a cigarette.

"This is illegal drilling," said Roberth MV Dumatubun, a spokesman for at PT Pertamina EP, a subsidiary of state oil firm Pertamina.

"It was a well made and managed by the residents there. Incidents like these are likely to happen because they don't pay attention to elements like safety."

&nbsp

Firefighters struggled all day to put out the blaze in the northwestern province of Aceh and were still working as darkness fell

An Indonesia hospital in Aceh struggled to treat dozens of burn victims from a fire at an illegal oil well that killed at least 18 on Wednesday (April 25) as they scrambled to collect oil after the well overflowed, authorities said. Firefighters struggled all day to put out the blaze in the northwestern province of Aceh and were still working as darkness fell. Dozens of people suffering from burns were taken to hospital in the provincial capital, Banda Aceh, several hours away from where the accident happened. Pertamina, which has operations in the area, was providing equipment to help fight the fire. At least eight fire trucks had been deployed to try to douse the blaze. The head of police in the area said the fire might have been sparked by a careless smoker. Flames towered over houses and trees as firefighters hosed down the area while villagers watched, in pictures posted on social media by Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, the spokesman of Indonesia's disaster mitigation agency. "There was panic among the public because the fire is in a residential area," said Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said. The fire broke out in the east Aceh district in the early hours of Wednesday, after a well of depth 250 metres (820 ft) overflowed and residents gathered to collect the oil, the agency added. The head of police in east Aceh said the oil well might have been drilled illegally and the fire might have been started when someone was smoking a cigarette. "This is illegal drilling," said Roberth MV Dumatubun, a spokesman for at PT Pertamina EP, a subsidiary of state oil firm Pertamina. "It was a well made and managed by the residents there. Incidents like these are likely to happen because they don't pay attention to elements like safety."

Watch: Indonesian hospital struggles to treat victims of deadly oil well blaze

A Revolutionary Court in Iran on Saturday began the trial of a group accused of involvement in attacks last year which killed 18 people in the first deadly operation by Islamic State in the country.

Eight of the 26 suspects in the case attended the hearing, facing charges including belonging to a terrorist organisation, weapons smuggling and unauthorised entry to Iran, the Iranian judiciary's news website Mizanonline reported.

Sunni Islamic State, in decline in Iraq and Syria, claimed responsibility for the unprecedented attacks in majority Shi'ite Iran, in which suicide bombers and gunmen attacked the parliament and Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini’s mausoleum in Tehran. The attackers were Kurdish Iranian Sunnis.

Iran has said that the five gunmen and suicide bombers who were killed had fought in the militants’ strongholds in Syria and Iraq.

Eight of the 26 suspects in the case attended the hearing, facing charges including belonging to a terrorist organisation, weapons smuggling and unauthorised entry to Iran, the Iranian judiciary's news website Mizanonline reported

A Revolutionary Court in Iran on Saturday began the trial of a group accused of involvement in attacks last year which killed 18 people in the first deadly operation by Islamic State in the country. Eight of the 26 suspects in the case attended the hearing, facing charges including belonging to a terrorist organisation, weapons smuggling and unauthorised entry to Iran, the Iranian judiciary's news website Mizanonline reported. Sunni Islamic State, in decline in Iraq and Syria, claimed responsibility for the unprecedented attacks in majority Shi'ite Iran, in which suicide bombers and gunmen attacked the parliament and Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini’s mausoleum in Tehran. The attackers were Kurdish Iranian Sunnis. Iran has said that the five gunmen and suicide bombers who were killed had fought in the militants’ strongholds in Syria and Iraq.

Trial begins in Iran over deadly attacks claimed by Islamic State

Several Afghanistan security officials have been killed in separate clashes with the Taliban, police officials said on Tuesday.&nbsp

As per reports, at least five soliders were killed and two were wounded during an attack at their checkpoints in Bala Buluk district. Six Taliban fighters were killed and three others were wounded in the battle, which lasted several hours

Taliban insurgents attacked a check post in Qala-i-Naw city earlier on Monday which led to the death of nine soldiers, as reported by the Tolo news.

In another incident, seven policemen were killed in another Taliban attack on a police check post in Qads district.

The Taliban&nbspclaimed another attack in Afghanistan on April 24, in eastern Ghazni Province that killed at least four members of the local police force and wounded seven.

The attack in Ghazni took place in the district of Jaghatu, where insurgents targeted the local police security post, said Arif Noori, spokesman for the provincial governor. He said the gunbattle lasted several hours and that the Taliban used artillery and rocket-propelled grenade launchers.

On April 23, Taliban attacks in western Afghanistan killed 18 soldiers and police officers.

It has been a particularly deadly week in Afghanistan

Several Afghanistan security officials have been killed in separate clashes with the Taliban, police officials said on Tuesday. As per reports, at least five soliders were killed and two were wounded during an attack at their checkpoints in Bala Buluk district. Six Taliban fighters were killed and three others were wounded in the battle, which lasted several hours Taliban insurgents attacked a check post in Qala-i-Naw city earlier on Monday which led to the death of nine soldiers, as reported by the Tolo news. In another incident, seven policemen were killed in another Taliban attack on a police check post in Qads district. The Taliban&nbspclaimed another attack in Afghanistan on April 24, in eastern Ghazni Province that killed at least four members of the local police force and wounded seven. The attack in Ghazni took place in the district of Jaghatu, where insurgents targeted the local police security post, said Arif Noori, spokesman for the provincial governor. He said the gunbattle lasted several hours and that the Taliban used artillery and rocket-propelled grenade launchers. On April 23, Taliban attacks in western Afghanistan killed 18 soldiers and police officers.

Several Afghanistan security personnel killed in Taliban attacks

The suspect and co-accused of the Paris attack of 2016 have been sentenced to 20 years in prison by a Belgium court on Monday.&nbsp;

The suspect, Salah Abdeslam &nbsp;28, and co-defendant Sofien Ayari, 24, were responsible for trying to kill a cop during the shootout in Brussels in 2016. Both fired on officers who raided a flat in Brussels in 2016.

Judge Marie-France Keutgen told the courtroom that 28-year-old Abdeslam and Tunisian Sofien Ayari,&nbsp;had been found guilty of “attempted terrorist murder” during the shootout in March 2016. She further said that "there can be no doubt" about the two men's involvement with "radicalism".

Abdeslam is in a French prison awaiting trial for his role in the Islamic State attacks in Paris in November 2015 in which 130 people were killed. Prosecutors say he is the lone survivor of a suicide squad.

Neither he nor Ayari, who is in custody in Belgium, was present for the judgment. Despite the absence of both accused, security was tight around the Brussels court, with heavily armed police on guard.

By the time of the shootout in the Brussels district of Forest on March 15, 2016, Abdeslam had been in hiding for four months after fleeing Paris the night his elder brother blew himself up at a cafe.

Prosecutors who accuse Abdeslam of helping organize the attacks and ferry former fighters from Syria around Europe say he, too, would have died if his suicide vest had not failed to detonate. His lawyers do not dispute Abdeslam was in Paris during the attacks.

They finally stumbled across him when, with French officers, they went to inspect a suspect apartment in Forest and then came under a hail of gunfire which wounded four of them.

After a three-hour siege ended with marksmen killing a 35-year-old Algerian called Mohamed Belkaid, police found an arms cache.

Abdeslam’s DNA found at the scene linked him to the shootout and that led to his arrest three days later in a different apartment in Brussels.

Four days after his arrest, suicide bombers attacked Brussels Airport and the city’s metro, killing 32 people. Officials believe Abdeslam had links with the bombers and that they brought forward their attack because they feared Abdeslam might reveal their plans under interrogation.

Abdeslam was present on the opening day of the trial but refused to answer the judge’s questions.

His lawyer Sven Mary told reporters on Monday that he discuss the case with his client before determining whether to appeal.

Abdeslam was involved in small criminal activities in Belgium as a youth, and is believed to have become radicalised along with his brother Salim around 2014. Both then reportedly joined a French-Belgian network linked with the Islamic State group (IS), which later claimed the Paris attacks.

The network was involved in both the Paris attacks and bombings that struck the Brussels metro and airport on 22 March 2016, just days after Abdeslam's arrest, killing 35 people.

(WIth inputs from Reuters)

The suspect, Salah Abdeslam 28, and co-defendant Sofien Ayari, 24, were responsible for trying to kill a cop during the shootout in Brussels in 2016. Both fired on officers who raided a flat in Brussels in 2016

The suspect and co-accused of the Paris attack of 2016 have been sentenced to 20 years in prison by a Belgium court on Monday. The suspect, Salah Abdeslam 28, and co-defendant Sofien Ayari, 24, were responsible for trying to kill a cop during the shootout in Brussels in 2016. Both fired on officers who raided a flat in Brussels in 2016. Judge Marie-France Keutgen told the courtroom that 28-year-old Abdeslam and Tunisian Sofien Ayari, had been found guilty of “attempted terrorist murder” during the shootout in March 2016. She further said that "there can be no doubt" about the two men's involvement with "radicalism". Abdeslam is in a French prison awaiting trial for his role in the Islamic State attacks in Paris in November 2015 in which 130 people were killed. Prosecutors say he is the lone survivor of a suicide squad. Neither he nor Ayari, who is in custody in Belgium, was present for the judgment. Despite the absence of both accused, security was tight around the Brussels court, with heavily armed police on guard. By the time of the shootout in the Brussels district of Forest on March 15, 2016, Abdeslam had been in hiding for four months after fleeing Paris the night his elder brother blew himself up at a cafe. Prosecutors who accuse Abdeslam of helping organize the attacks and ferry former fighters from Syria around Europe say he, too, would have died if his suicide vest had not failed to detonate. His lawyers do not dispute Abdeslam was in Paris during the attacks. They finally stumbled across him when, with French officers, they went to inspect a suspect apartment in Forest and then came under a hail of gunfire which wounded four of them. After a three-hour siege ended with marksmen killing a 35-year-old Algerian called Mohamed Belkaid, police found an arms cache. Abdeslam’s DNA found at the scene linked him to the shootout and that led to his arrest three days later in a different apartment in Brussels. Four days after his arrest, suicide bombers attacked Brussels Airport and the city’s metro, killing 32 people. Officials believe Abdeslam had links with the bombers and that they brought forward their attack because they feared Abdeslam might reveal their plans under interrogation. Abdeslam was present on the opening day of the trial but refused to answer the judge’s questions. His lawyer Sven Mary told reporters on Monday that he discuss the case with his client before determining whether to appeal. Abdeslam was involved in small criminal activities in Belgium as a youth, and is believed to have become radicalised along with his brother Salim around 2014. Both then reportedly joined a French-Belgian network linked with the Islamic State group (IS), which later claimed the Paris attacks. The network was involved in both the Paris attacks and bombings that struck the Brussels metro and airport on 22 March 2016, just days after Abdeslam's arrest, killing 35 people. (WIth inputs from Reuters)

Paris attack suspect jailed for 20 years in Belgium

The Pentagon said there were no reports of US&nbsp;military activity, after reports from Syrian television that Syrian air defences responded to a missile attack over Homs which targeted Shayrat air base late Monday night.

"There is no US&nbsp;military activity in that area at this time," Eric Pahon, a Pentagon spokesman said. "We do not have additional details to provide."

Meanwhile, the Pentagon is seeking to arm up to 65,000 members of a "US-partnered force" in Syria, including the terror group PYD/PKK, according to its 2019 fiscal year budget proposal.

In the proposal submitted to the US&nbsp;Congress for approval in February, Pentagon requested $300 million to arm and equip its partners in Syria for the fight against Daesh.

Also, $250 million was also requested for building “border security” in Syria.

According to the proposal, the Pentagon plans to allocate $162.6 million of the $300 million on weapons, equipment, and vehicles, $8 million on base life support which provides basic humanitarian needs, $28 million on transportation and staging costs, and $101.5 million for operational sustainment.

Among the weapons being planned to be sent include 25,000 AK-47 automatic rifles, 1,500 light machine guns, 500 heavy machine guns, 400 RPG-7 rocket launchers, 95 sniper rifles, 20 60mm mortars and 60 120mm mortars.

Along with its total of $47 million cost, Pentagon also requested additional $24 million for ammunition of these weapons.

'There is no US military activity in that area at this time,' Eric Pahon, a Pentagon spokesman said. 'We do not have additional details to provide.'

The Pentagon said there were no reports of US military activity, after reports from Syrian television that Syrian air defences responded to a missile attack over Homs which targeted Shayrat air base late Monday night. "There is no US military activity in that area at this time," Eric Pahon, a Pentagon spokesman said. "We do not have additional details to provide." Meanwhile, the Pentagon is seeking to arm up to 65,000 members of a "US-partnered force" in Syria, including the terror group PYD/PKK, according to its 2019 fiscal year budget proposal. In the proposal submitted to the US Congress for approval in February, Pentagon requested $300 million to arm and equip its partners in Syria for the fight against Daesh. Also, $250 million was also requested for building “border security” in Syria. According to the proposal, the Pentagon plans to allocate $162.6 million of the $300 million on weapons, equipment, and vehicles, $8 million on base life support which provides basic humanitarian needs, $28 million on transportation and staging costs, and $101.5 million for operational sustainment. Among the weapons being planned to be sent include 25,000 AK-47 automatic rifles, 1,500 light machine guns, 500 heavy machine guns, 400 RPG-7 rocket launchers, 95 sniper rifles, 20 60mm mortars and 60 120mm mortars. Along with its total of $47 million cost, Pentagon also requested additional $24 million for ammunition of these weapons.

No US military activity in Syria's Homs at this time, says Pentagon

Two Pakistani soldiers were killed in cross-border fire from Afghanistan while working on a fence intended to cover nearly all of the disputed 2,500km border separating the countries, the Pakistani military said on Sunday.

Though security has improved in Pakistan's remote areas bordering Afghanistan, sectarian militant attacks, primarily targeting Shi'ite Muslims, still occur.&nbsp;

"Pakistani troops are exercising maximum restraint so as to avoid any Afghan civilian casualties," the Pakistan Army's public relations department said, adding that five soldiers were wounded in the attack.&nbsp;

Afghan officials said that Pakistani troops crossed on to Afghan soil, prompting a response by border forces and the local tribal force.&nbsp;

"Two tribesmen were killed and the exchange of fire is ongoing," said Mohmud Zazai, a senior army commander in the area.&nbsp;

Pakistan has blamed Pakistani Taliban militants it says are based on Afghan soil for attacks that have taken place in the region over the past two years, urging Kabul to eradicate "sanctuaries" for militants.

Afghanistan, in turn, accuses Islamabad of sheltering the leadership of the Afghan Taliban militants who are battling the Western-backed government in Kabul.

A local political official, who asked not to be identified, said that Pakistani security forces had responded on Sunday by opening fire along the border.&nbsp;

Mosques in Pakistan's Kurram Agency region, where the attack took place, made announcements urging locals to assist the armed forces, prompting throngs of armed civilians to arrive at the border after the attack.&nbsp;

Kurram has been plagued by militancy over the past decade and was the location of many US&nbsp;drone strikes targeting commanders from al Qaeda and other militant groups.

Twin blasts in Kurram's most populous town, Parachinar, killed more than 75 people in June.&nbsp;

In a separate incident on Sunday in Pakistan's North Waziristan district, which also borders Afghanistan, a security forces vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device 15km from district capital Miranshah, a military official said.&nbsp;

A curfew has been imposed in the area, with security officials carrying out a search operation.&nbsp;

North Waziristan was a Taliban stronghold until 2014, when Pakistan's military launched a major offensive against the group and pushed many of its fighters across the border into Afghanistan. 
&nbsp;

A curfew has been imposed in the area, with security officials carrying out a search operation

Two Pakistani soldiers were killed in cross-border fire from Afghanistan while working on a fence intended to cover nearly all of the disputed 2,500km border separating the countries, the Pakistani military said on Sunday. Though security has improved in Pakistan's remote areas bordering Afghanistan, sectarian militant attacks, primarily targeting Shi'ite Muslims, still occur. "Pakistani troops are exercising maximum restraint so as to avoid any Afghan civilian casualties," the Pakistan Army's public relations department said, adding that five soldiers were wounded in the attack. Afghan officials said that Pakistani troops crossed on to Afghan soil, prompting a response by border forces and the local tribal force. "Two tribesmen were killed and the exchange of fire is ongoing," said Mohmud Zazai, a senior army commander in the area. Pakistan has blamed Pakistani Taliban militants it says are based on Afghan soil for attacks that have taken place in the region over the past two years, urging Kabul to eradicate "sanctuaries" for militants. Afghanistan, in turn, accuses Islamabad of sheltering the leadership of the Afghan Taliban militants who are battling the Western-backed government in Kabul. A local political official, who asked not to be identified, said that Pakistani security forces had responded on Sunday by opening fire along the border. Mosques in Pakistan's Kurram Agency region, where the attack took place, made announcements urging locals to assist the armed forces, prompting throngs of armed civilians to arrive at the border after the attack. Kurram has been plagued by militancy over the past decade and was the location of many US drone strikes targeting commanders from al Qaeda and other militant groups. Twin blasts in Kurram's most populous town, Parachinar, killed more than 75 people in June. In a separate incident on Sunday in Pakistan's North Waziristan district, which also borders Afghanistan, a security forces vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device 15km from district capital Miranshah, a military official said. A curfew has been imposed in the area, with security officials carrying out a search operation. North Waziristan was a Taliban stronghold until 2014, when Pakistan's military launched a major offensive against the group and pushed many of its fighters across the border into Afghanistan.

2 Pakistani soldiers killed in cross-border fire from Afghanistan: Pak military

The United States, France and Britain launched 105 missiles on Saturday targeting what the Pentagon said were three chemical weapons facilities in&nbsp;Syria, in retaliation for a suspected poison gas attack in the&nbsp;Syrian town of Douma on April 7.

Here is the information the Western countries say they have about the suspected&nbsp;Syrian poison gas assault on Douma.

Uniterd States

In a conference call with reporters on Saturday, senior U.S. administration officials said they had a large volume of clear and compelling information, both of chemical weapons use and of President Bashar al-Assad's culpability in the attack. "The information we have points to the use of both chlorine and sarin, both of which are chemical weapons," one official said.

The officials said they had videos and photos showing the remnants of at least two chlorine barrel bombs from the attacks with features consistent with chlorine barrel bombs from past attacks. Photographs and video from Douma documented victims suffering from symptoms consistent with exposure to toxic chemicals, such as asphyxiation and foaming at the mouth, the officials said.

Eyewitnesses reported multiple government helicopters over Douma on April 7, and said barrel bombs were dropped from those helicopters, the officials said. They said the only forces with military aircraft such as helicopters in&nbsp;Syria&nbsp;belong to Assad's government.

Doctors and aid organizations on the ground reported strong smells of chlorine, and described symptoms consistent with exposure to sarin, the senior US officials said.

The officials said that while the available information is much greater on the chlorine use, they also had significant information that also points to use of sarin, which is a nerve agent. Symptoms such as convulsions, in addition to the dozens of deaths and hundreds of injuries reported, suggest sarin, which is a much more efficient weapon, they said.

Pentagon officials on Saturday said they "assessed" that there were probably both chemical and nerve agents in the targets U.S. forces hit with missile strikes, but added that they had "successfully mitigated" against this in the way they attacked them.

France

France concluded after technical analysis of open sources and "reliable intelligence" that a chemical attack on Douma on April 7 was carried out by&nbsp;Syrian government forces, a declassified intelligence report said on Saturday.

"On the intelligence collected by our services, and in the absence to date of chemical samples analysed by our own laboratories, France considers, beyond possible doubt, a chemical attack was carried out against civilians at Douma ... and that there is no plausible scenario other than that of an attack by&nbsp;Syrian armed forces," the report said.

"After examining the videos and images of victims published online, they (intelligence services) were able to conclude with a high degree of confidence that the vast majority are recent and not fabricated," the report said.

It said no deaths from mechanical injuries were visible and all symptoms were characteristic of a chemical weapons attack, particularly choking agents and organophosphorus agents or hydrocyanic acid.

"Reliable intelligence indicates that&nbsp;Syrian military officials have coordinated what appears to be the use of chemical weapons containing chlorine on Douma, on April 7," the report said. &nbsp;It gave no other details on the intelligence.

What happens now?

International officials are working to try to confirm the suspected poison gas attack on Douma. Inspectors from the global chemical weapons watchdog OPCW were trying over the weekend to reach sites related to the suspected poison attack in Douma.

The inspectors met&nbsp;Syria's deputy foreign minister in the presence of Russian officers and a senior&nbsp;Syrian security official they were due to attempt to visit the Douma site.

Despite a US-Russian agreement to completely eliminate&nbsp;Syria's chemical weapons program after hundreds of people were gassed with sarin in Ghouta on August 21, 2013, the OPCW had been unable to verify that all manufacturing, storage and research facilities were destroyed.

OPCW stands for the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. It is to determine whether chemical weapons were used, but will not assign blame.

A United Nations-OPCW Joint Investigative Mechanism also looked at responsibility for chemical weapons use. It concluded in 2016 that&nbsp;Syrian government forces had several times used chlorine as a chemical weapons, and in 2017 it blamed Assad's government for a sarin attack. It blamed Islamic State militants for mustard gas use.

But the joint UN-OPCW mechanism ended in November 2017 after Russia repeatedly blocked attempts at renewing it. The Security Council is deadlocked over how to replace it.

About 45 human rights and aid groups urged UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday to appoint a team of independent investigators to determine blame for toxic gas attacks in&nbsp;Syria.

France, the United States and Britain circulated a draft resolution to the UN Security Council late on Saturday that aims to establish a new independent inquiry into who is to responsible for chemical weapons attacks in&nbsp;Syria.

The United States, France and Britain launched 105 missiles on Saturday targeting what the Pentagon said were three chemical weapons facilities in Syria, in retaliation for a suspected poison gas attack in the Syrian town of Douma on April 7

The United States, France and Britain launched 105 missiles on Saturday targeting what the Pentagon said were three chemical weapons facilities in Syria, in retaliation for a suspected poison gas attack in the Syrian town of Douma on April 7. Here is the information the Western countries say they have about the suspected Syrian poison gas assault on Douma. Uniterd States In a conference call with reporters on Saturday, senior U.S. administration officials said they had a large volume of clear and compelling information, both of chemical weapons use and of President Bashar al-Assad's culpability in the attack. "The information we have points to the use of both chlorine and sarin, both of which are chemical weapons," one official said. The officials said they had videos and photos showing the remnants of at least two chlorine barrel bombs from the attacks with features consistent with chlorine barrel bombs from past attacks. Photographs and video from Douma documented victims suffering from symptoms consistent with exposure to toxic chemicals, such as asphyxiation and foaming at the mouth, the officials said. Eyewitnesses reported multiple government helicopters over Douma on April 7, and said barrel bombs were dropped from those helicopters, the officials said. They said the only forces with military aircraft such as helicopters in Syria belong to Assad's government. Doctors and aid organizations on the ground reported strong smells of chlorine, and described symptoms consistent with exposure to sarin, the senior US officials said. The officials said that while the available information is much greater on the chlorine use, they also had significant information that also points to use of sarin, which is a nerve agent. Symptoms such as convulsions, in addition to the dozens of deaths and hundreds of injuries reported, suggest sarin, which is a much more efficient weapon, they said. Pentagon officials on Saturday said they "assessed" that there were probably both chemical and nerve agents in the targets U.S. forces hit with missile strikes, but added that they had "successfully mitigated" against this in the way they attacked them. France France concluded after technical analysis of open sources and "reliable intelligence" that a chemical attack on Douma on April 7 was carried out by Syrian government forces, a declassified intelligence report said on Saturday. "On the intelligence collected by our services, and in the absence to date of chemical samples analysed by our own laboratories, France considers, beyond possible doubt, a chemical attack was carried out against civilians at Douma ... and that there is no plausible scenario other than that of an attack by Syrian armed forces," the report said. "After examining the videos and images of victims published online, they (intelligence services) were able to conclude with a high degree of confidence that the vast majority are recent and not fabricated," the report said. It said no deaths from mechanical injuries were visible and all symptoms were characteristic of a chemical weapons attack, particularly choking agents and organophosphorus agents or hydrocyanic acid. "Reliable intelligence indicates that Syrian military officials have coordinated what appears to be the use of chemical weapons containing chlorine on Douma, on April 7," the report said. It gave no other details on the intelligence. What happens now? International officials are working to try to confirm the suspected poison gas attack on Douma. Inspectors from the global chemical weapons watchdog OPCW were trying over the weekend to reach sites related to the suspected poison attack in Douma. The inspectors met Syria's deputy foreign minister in the presence of Russian officers and a senior Syrian security official they were due to attempt to visit the Douma site. Despite a US-Russian agreement to completely eliminate Syria's chemical weapons program after hundreds of people were gassed with sarin in Ghouta on August 21, 2013, the OPCW had been unable to verify that all manufacturing, storage and research facilities were destroyed. OPCW stands for the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. It is to determine whether chemical weapons were used, but will not assign blame. A United Nations-OPCW Joint Investigative Mechanism also looked at responsibility for chemical weapons use. It concluded in 2016 that Syrian government forces had several times used chlorine as a chemical weapons, and in 2017 it blamed Assad's government for a sarin attack. It blamed Islamic State militants for mustard gas use. But the joint UN-OPCW mechanism ended in November 2017 after Russia repeatedly blocked attempts at renewing it. The Security Council is deadlocked over how to replace it. About 45 human rights and aid groups urged UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday to appoint a team of independent investigators to determine blame for toxic gas attacks in Syria. France, the United States and Britain circulated a draft resolution to the UN Security Council late on Saturday that aims to establish a new independent inquiry into who is to responsible for chemical weapons attacks in Syria.

What is known about suspected chemical weapons attack in Syria

Turkish foreign ministry has condemned the use of chemical weapons in a rebel-held Syrian town, Douma.

"We strongly condemn the attack, which there is strong suspicion was carried out by the regime, whose record on the use of chemical weapons is known by the international community," the ministry said.

Dozens of people were killed in the chemical attack carried out on the rebel-held town in eastern Ghouta.

Turkey has been working with allies of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for a political resolution to the crisis in Syria. Tayyip Erdogan-led government has also pressed for international action against the attacks in Douma.

"The Syrian regime must give an account for the attacks in various regions of the country at different times," President Erdogan's spokesman noted.

"The entire international community, primarily countries that have an influence on the Syrian regime, has a responsibility to take the necessary steps in order to prevent similar war crimes and crimes against humanity," noted the official statement.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Turkey has been working with allies of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for a political resolution to the crisis in Syria

Turkish foreign ministry has condemned the use of chemical weapons in a rebel-held Syrian town, Douma. "We strongly condemn the attack, which there is strong suspicion was carried out by the regime, whose record on the use of chemical weapons is known by the international community," the ministry said. Dozens of people were killed in the chemical attack carried out on the rebel-held town in eastern Ghouta. Turkey has been working with allies of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for a political resolution to the crisis in Syria. Tayyip Erdogan-led government has also pressed for international action against the attacks in Douma. "The Syrian regime must give an account for the attacks in various regions of the country at different times," President Erdogan's spokesman noted. "The entire international community, primarily countries that have an influence on the Syrian regime, has a responsibility to take the necessary steps in order to prevent similar war crimes and crimes against humanity," noted the official statement. (With inputs from agencies)

Turkey condemns use of chemical weapons in Douma, Syria

Rupali Meshram from Maharashtra had a near-death experience when she fought with a tiger who saved her goat last week.&nbsp;

Rupali, 23, ran out of her house when she heard her goat scream out of terror as the tiger attacked it. She then picked up a stick and hit the tiger and was then counter-attacked, leaving her with multiple injuries.&nbsp;

If it hadn't been for her mother, who pulled her inside, the situation could have been much worse. The mother also sustained some minor injuries, reports said.&nbsp;

Rupali had injuries on her head, &nbsp;waist, legs, and hands, but they were only superficial and she has been able to make a full recovery.

A doctor who treated her praised her "exemplary courage" in fighting off the tiger but said she was lucky not to have been bitten by the animal. 
&nbsp;

Rupali, 23, ran out of her house when she heard her goat scream out of terror as the tiger attacked it

Rupali Meshram from Maharashtra had a near-death experience when she fought with a tiger who saved her goat last week. Rupali, 23, ran out of her house when she heard her goat scream out of terror as the tiger attacked it. She then picked up a stick and hit the tiger and was then counter-attacked, leaving her with multiple injuries. If it hadn't been for her mother, who pulled her inside, the situation could have been much worse. The mother also sustained some minor injuries, reports said. Rupali had injuries on her head, waist, legs, and hands, but they were only superficial and she has been able to make a full recovery. A doctor who treated her praised her "exemplary courage" in fighting off the tiger but said she was lucky not to have been bitten by the animal.

Maharashtra woman attacks tiger with stick, to save goat

Nine people, including four of a family from the minority Christian community in Pakistan, were killed after gunmen carried out two separate attacks in Quetta city in the south-western Balochistan province, police said.

Both the attacks took place yesterday, they said.

The ISIS claimed responsibility for the first attack in which unidentified gunmen on a motorcycle opened fire on a rickshaw in which a Christian family was travelling on Quetta's Shah Zaman road.

All four died on the spot while a woman was injured and rushed to a hospital, Provincial Police Chief Moazzam Jah Ansari said, adding that her father and three cousins were killed in the firing.

The attack on the Christians, he said, appeared to be a targeted attack.

"We are investigating whether it was a targeted attack due to personal enmity or sectarian reasons," he said.

The Christians on Sunday had celebrated Easter in Pakistan and the family had come to celebrate with their relatives from Lahore.

Shortly after the attack on the Christian family in the evening, two groups clashed with each other in Quetta's Qambrani road leaving five people dead and nine others injured.

The clash erupted allegedly after members of the minority Shia Muslim Hazara community held protests in Quetta to protest the targeted killing of a Hazara man on Sunday.

Hazara community members with their distinctive looks have come under several terror attacks in recent years in Baluchistan.

The Islamic State group claimed the attack on the Christians in a statement carried by its Aamaq news agency. It was unclear who was behind the other attack.

All four died on the spot while a woman was injured and rushed to a hospital

Nine people, including four of a family from the minority Christian community in Pakistan, were killed after gunmen carried out two separate attacks in Quetta city in the south-western Balochistan province, police said. Both the attacks took place yesterday, they said. The ISIS claimed responsibility for the first attack in which unidentified gunmen on a motorcycle opened fire on a rickshaw in which a Christian family was travelling on Quetta's Shah Zaman road. All four died on the spot while a woman was injured and rushed to a hospital, Provincial Police Chief Moazzam Jah Ansari said, adding that her father and three cousins were killed in the firing. The attack on the Christians, he said, appeared to be a targeted attack. "We are investigating whether it was a targeted attack due to personal enmity or sectarian reasons," he said. The Christians on Sunday had celebrated Easter in Pakistan and the family had come to celebrate with their relatives from Lahore. Shortly after the attack on the Christian family in the evening, two groups clashed with each other in Quetta's Qambrani road leaving five people dead and nine others injured. The clash erupted allegedly after members of the minority Shia Muslim Hazara community held protests in Quetta to protest the targeted killing of a Hazara man on Sunday. Hazara community members with their distinctive looks have come under several terror attacks in recent years in Baluchistan. The Islamic State group claimed the attack on the Christians in a statement carried by its Aamaq news agency. It was unclear who was behind the other attack.

Pakistan: Gunmen kill 9 in twin attacks

Shares of Amazon.com Inc fell 6 per cent on Monday after US&nbspPresident Donald Trump again attacked the online retailer over the pricing of its deliveries through the United States Postal Service and promised unspecified changes.

"Only fools, or worse, are saying that our money losing Post Office makes money with Amazon," Trump tweeted.

"They lose a fortune, and this will be changed. Also, our fully tax paying retailers are closing stores all over the country...not a level playing field!"

Shares of the company were down 5.9 per cent at $1,362.48, wiping out nearly $45 billion from its market value.

Trump has been vocal about his opposition to Amazon's use of the postal service and Monday's tweet adds to investor worries that the company could see more regulation.

Amazon did not immediately respond to requests for a comment.

On Saturday, Trump tweeted that if the post office "increased its parcel rates, Amazon’s shipping costs would rise by $2.6 billion."

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) in November reported a decline in annual revenue, hurt by a drop in first-class and marketing mail, offset partly by an increase in package delivery.

The postal service has also been posting losses mainly because of payments, more than $5 billion a year as mandated by Congress to prefund the service's future retirees' healthcare.

The passage of postal reform legislation could alleviate USPS’s pension obligations, give it more pricing power and allow the agency to be more competitive, analysts said.

"We believe the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has gained share from Amazon which is helping the USPS stay afloat," Morgan Stanley analysts wrote.

Details of Amazon's payments to the USPS are not publicly known, but some Wall Street analysts have estimated it pays the postal service roughly half what it would to United Parcel Service Inc or FedEx Corp to deliver a package.

"President Trump's comments are consistent with industry sources we have spoken to in the shipping industry, who often label Amazon's deal with the USPS as a sweetheart deal," DA Davidson analyst Tom Forte wrote in a note.

"An argument, however, could be made that the USPS was losing billions before it expanded its service offerings for Amazon and would, still, likely lose billions if Amazon discontinued its use of the USPS tomorrow," Forte said.

Trump last Thursday accused Amazon of not paying enough tax, making the postal system lose money and putting small retailers out of business.

Shares of the company were down 5.9 per cent at $1,362.48, wiping out nearly $45 billion from its market value

Shares of Amazon.com Inc fell 6 per cent on Monday after US&nbspPresident Donald Trump again attacked the online retailer over the pricing of its deliveries through the United States Postal Service and promised unspecified changes. "Only fools, or worse, are saying that our money losing Post Office makes money with Amazon," Trump tweeted. "They lose a fortune, and this will be changed. Also, our fully tax paying retailers are closing stores all over the country...not a level playing field!" Shares of the company were down 5.9 per cent at $1,362.48, wiping out nearly $45 billion from its market value. Trump has been vocal about his opposition to Amazon's use of the postal service and Monday's tweet adds to investor worries that the company could see more regulation. Amazon did not immediately respond to requests for a comment. On Saturday, Trump tweeted that if the post office "increased its parcel rates, Amazon’s shipping costs would rise by $2.6 billion." The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) in November reported a decline in annual revenue, hurt by a drop in first-class and marketing mail, offset partly by an increase in package delivery. The postal service has also been posting losses mainly because of payments, more than $5 billion a year as mandated by Congress to prefund the service's future retirees' healthcare. The passage of postal reform legislation could alleviate USPS’s pension obligations, give it more pricing power and allow the agency to be more competitive, analysts said. "We believe the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has gained share from Amazon which is helping the USPS stay afloat," Morgan Stanley analysts wrote. Details of Amazon's payments to the USPS are not publicly known, but some Wall Street analysts have estimated it pays the postal service roughly half what it would to United Parcel Service Inc or FedEx Corp to deliver a package. "President Trump's comments are consistent with industry sources we have spoken to in the shipping industry, who often label Amazon's deal with the USPS as a sweetheart deal," DA Davidson analyst Tom Forte wrote in a note. "An argument, however, could be made that the USPS was losing billions before it expanded its service offerings for Amazon and would, still, likely lose billions if Amazon discontinued its use of the USPS tomorrow," Forte said. Trump last Thursday accused Amazon of not paying enough tax, making the postal system lose money and putting small retailers out of business.

Amazon shares fall 6% as Trump renews attack

Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has accused India of launching a "brutal crackdown" in Kashmir after terror groups suffered a major setback following killing of 13 terrorists in counter-insurgency operations.

Abbasi's statement late last night came after Indian security forces on Sunday gunned down 13 militants in three counter-insurgency operations that also claimed the lives of three Army jawans and four civilians in Anantnag and Shopian districts of Jammu and Kashmir.

"The brutal crackdown, including the despicable use of pellet guns on civilians who were protesting against the killing is deplorable," Abbasi said.

He also asked the international community to urge India to allow access to fact finding missions of the UN to Kashmir.

Yesterday's operations by the Indian security forces have rendered a severe blow to terror groups such as the Hizbul Mujahideen and the Lashker-e-Taiba.

Pakistan's Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa in a brief statement said today that Indian security forces cannot suppress the ?indigenous? struggle of Kashmiris for self-determination.&nbsp

Abbasi's statement late last night came after Indian security forces on Sunday gunned down 13 militants in three counter-insurgency operations that also claimed the lives of three Army jawans and four civilians in Anantnag and Shopian districts of Jammu and Kashmir

Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has accused India of launching a "brutal crackdown" in Kashmir after terror groups suffered a major setback following killing of 13 terrorists in counter-insurgency operations. Abbasi's statement late last night came after Indian security forces on Sunday gunned down 13 militants in three counter-insurgency operations that also claimed the lives of three Army jawans and four civilians in Anantnag and Shopian districts of Jammu and Kashmir. "The brutal crackdown, including the despicable use of pellet guns on civilians who were protesting against the killing is deplorable," Abbasi said. He also asked the international community to urge India to allow access to fact finding missions of the UN to Kashmir. Yesterday's operations by the Indian security forces have rendered a severe blow to terror groups such as the Hizbul Mujahideen and the Lashker-e-Taiba. Pakistan's Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa in a brief statement said today that Indian security forces cannot suppress the ?indigenous? struggle of Kashmiris for self-determination.

Pakistan PM Shahid Abbasi accuses India of launching 'brutal crackdown' in Kashmir

According to reports, terrorists opened fire at a Jammu and Kashmir police party in Khanabal area of Anantnag in South Kashmir today. One cop believed to be critically injured and has been taken to the nearest hospital.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FLASH?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FLASH</a>: Terrorists attack a Traffic Police personnel in Anantnag's Khanabal, shifted to hospital, area being cordoned off. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JammuAndKashmir?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JammuAndKashmir</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/979953361192673280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 31, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The area has been cordoned off. More details are awaited.

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Visuals from Anantnag's Khanabal, the area has been cordoned off after a Traffic Policeman was attacked by terrorists; the Policeman has been admitted for treatment. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/JammuAndKashmir?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#JammuAndKashmir</a> <a href="https://t.co/OSJ223qvHu">pic.twitter.com/OSJ223qvHu</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/979969706206560256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 31, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

The area has been cordoned off. More details are awaited

According to reports, terrorists opened fire at a Jammu and Kashmir police party in Khanabal area of Anantnag in South Kashmir today. One cop believed to be critically injured and has been taken to the nearest hospital. #FLASH: Terrorists attack a Traffic Police personnel in Anantnag's Khanabal, shifted to hospital, area being cordoned off. #JammuAndKashmir — ANI (@ANI) March 31, 2018 × The area has been cordoned off. More details are awaited. Visuals from Anantnag's Khanabal, the area has been cordoned off after a Traffic Policeman was attacked by terrorists; the Policeman has been admitted for treatment. #JammuAndKashmir pic.twitter.com/OSJ223qvHu — ANI (@ANI) March 31, 2018 ×

Jammu and Kashmir: Terrorists attack traffic cop in Khanabal, Anantnag

Nobel peace laureate Malala Yousafzai returned to Pakistan on Thursday, officials said, in her first visit to her native country since she was shot in the head by a Taliban gunman for advocating education for girls in 2012.

Precise details of her itinerary have been "kept secret in view of the sensitivity surrounding the visit," a government official said of the trip, which is expected to last four days and include a meeting with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.

Accompanied by her parents, the 20-year-old student was escorted through Islamabad's Benazir Bhutto International Airport under tight security, according to still photographs broadcast on local television.

Malala has become a global symbol for human rights and a vocal campaigner for girls' education since a gunman boarded her school bus in the Swat valley on October 9, 2012, asked "Who is Malala?" and shot her.

She was treated for her injuries in the British city of Birmingham, where she completed her schooling.

Winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014, she has continued her campaigning while pursuing her studies at Oxford University.

Many Pakistanis on Twitter were pleased that the campaigner had returned for the visit, despite ongoing security fears.

"I welcome #MalalaYousafzai the brave and resilient daughter of Pakistan back to her country," politician Syed Ali Raza Abidi wrote on Twitter.

But she remains controversial among some conservatives at home, who view her as a Western agent on a mission to shame her country.

One leading Pakistani journalist Hamid Mir issued a plea for opposition politicians and commentators not to use bad language when talking about the visit.

"International media is highly focused on her return and this (bad language) will damage Pakistan`s image," he said.

Malala began her campaigning career aged just 11, when she started writing a blog -- under a pseudonym -- for the BBC`s Urdu service in 2009 about life under the Taliban in Swat, where they were banning girls` education.

In 2007 the Islamist militants had taken over the area, which Malala affectionately called "My Swat", and imposed a brutal, bloody rule. 
Opponents were murdered, people were publicly flogged for supposed breaches of sharia law, women were banned from going to market, and girls were stopped from going to school.

But it was only after the shooting, and Malala`s subsequent near-miraculous recovery in a British hospital, that she became a truly global figure.

She opened a new Twitter account on her last day of school in July 2017 and now has more than a million followers.

"I know that millions of girls around the world are out of school and may never get the opportunity to complete their education," Malala wrote at the time.

Winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014, she has continued her campaigning while pursuing her studies at Oxford University.

Nobel peace laureate Malala Yousafzai returned to Pakistan on Thursday, officials said, in her first visit to her native country since she was shot in the head by a Taliban gunman for advocating education for girls in 2012. Precise details of her itinerary have been "kept secret in view of the sensitivity surrounding the visit," a government official said of the trip, which is expected to last four days and include a meeting with Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. Accompanied by her parents, the 20-year-old student was escorted through Islamabad's Benazir Bhutto International Airport under tight security, according to still photographs broadcast on local television. Malala has become a global symbol for human rights and a vocal campaigner for girls' education since a gunman boarded her school bus in the Swat valley on October 9, 2012, asked "Who is Malala?" and shot her. She was treated for her injuries in the British city of Birmingham, where she completed her schooling. Winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014, she has continued her campaigning while pursuing her studies at Oxford University. Many Pakistanis on Twitter were pleased that the campaigner had returned for the visit, despite ongoing security fears. "I welcome #MalalaYousafzai the brave and resilient daughter of Pakistan back to her country," politician Syed Ali Raza Abidi wrote on Twitter. But she remains controversial among some conservatives at home, who view her as a Western agent on a mission to shame her country. One leading Pakistani journalist Hamid Mir issued a plea for opposition politicians and commentators not to use bad language when talking about the visit. "International media is highly focused on her return and this (bad language) will damage Pakistan`s image," he said. Malala began her campaigning career aged just 11, when she started writing a blog -- under a pseudonym -- for the BBC`s Urdu service in 2009 about life under the Taliban in Swat, where they were banning girls` education. In 2007 the Islamist militants had taken over the area, which Malala affectionately called "My Swat", and imposed a brutal, bloody rule. Opponents were murdered, people were publicly flogged for supposed breaches of sharia law, women were banned from going to market, and girls were stopped from going to school. But it was only after the shooting, and Malala`s subsequent near-miraculous recovery in a British hospital, that she became a truly global figure. She opened a new Twitter account on her last day of school in July 2017 and now has more than a million followers. "I know that millions of girls around the world are out of school and may never get the opportunity to complete their education," Malala wrote at the time.

Itinerary 'kept secret' but Malala returns to Pakistan six years after she was shot by Taliban

Italian police on Thursday arrested five people as part of what they said was a major operation against suspected supporters of Islamist terrorism around Rome.

They were believed to have connections with the Tunisian ISIS militant who killed 12 people at a Berlin Christmas market in 2016.&nbsp

A number of raids were conducted across central and southern Italy on Thursday when the suspects were arrested. Warrants have been issued to a Palestinian nation after he was accused of training and conducting other activities for the purpose of international terrorism as well as four Tunisians suspected of falsifying documents and facilitating illegal immigration.

However, the sources said there was no evidence the suspects participated directly in the Berlin truck attack or that they were preparing an imminent attack in Italy.

As part of their operation, police were carrying out searches in Rome, the southern port city of Naples and the central and southern towns of Latina, Viterbo, Caserta and Matera, the sources said.

As per reports, the suspects were traced by analyzing the mobile phone records of Anis Amri, the man who killed 12 people and wounded 56 when he drove a truck into a crowded market in the German capital on December 19th 2016. Four days later Italian police tracked him to Milan, where he was killed in a shootout.&nbsp

Thursday's arrests suggest that his network in Italy may have extended further. So far this year, 29 foreigners, mostly Muslims, have been expelled from Italy as suspected threats to national security.

They were believed to have connections with the Tunisian ISIS militant who killed 12 poeple at a Berlin christmans market in 2016

Italian police on Thursday arrested five people as part of what they said was a major operation against suspected supporters of Islamist terrorism around Rome. They were believed to have connections with the Tunisian ISIS militant who killed 12 people at a Berlin Christmas market in 2016. A number of raids were conducted across central and southern Italy on Thursday when the suspects were arrested. Warrants have been issued to a Palestinian nation after he was accused of training and conducting other activities for the purpose of international terrorism as well as four Tunisians suspected of falsifying documents and facilitating illegal immigration. However, the sources said there was no evidence the suspects participated directly in the Berlin truck attack or that they were preparing an imminent attack in Italy. As part of their operation, police were carrying out searches in Rome, the southern port city of Naples and the central and southern towns of Latina, Viterbo, Caserta and Matera, the sources said. As per reports, the suspects were traced by analyzing the mobile phone records of Anis Amri, the man who killed 12 people and wounded 56 when he drove a truck into a crowded market in the German capital on December 19th 2016. Four days later Italian police tracked him to Milan, where he was killed in a shootout. Thursday's arrests suggest that his network in Italy may have extended further. So far this year, 29 foreigners, mostly Muslims, have been expelled from Italy as suspected threats to national security.

Italy arrests 5 Tunisians in anti-terrorism swoop

India, today strongly condemned renewed missile attacks targeting civilian areas in Riyadh and other cities of Saudi Arabia and reiterated its resolve to fight terrorism and violence in all its forms.

According to Saudi authorities, one person was killed after seven missiles were fired from Yemen by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels on Sunday.

"We strongly condemn the renewed missile attacks targeting civilian areas in the direction of Riyadh and other cities of Saudi Arabia. We are deeply concerned about the escalating situation threatening the lives of innocent civilians. We reiterate our resolve to fight terrorism and violence in all its forms," the External Affairs Ministry spokesperson said.

The missiles were fired at four targets, including the capital city of Riyadh, and all were intercepted and destroyed, said spokesman of the Saudi coalition forces for supporting the legitimacy in Yemen Colonel Turki Al-Malki in a statement yesterday.

Fragments from the intercepted missiles killed an Egyptian resident, the statement added.&nbsp

India reiterated its resolve to fight terrorism and violence in all its forms

India, today strongly condemned renewed missile attacks targeting civilian areas in Riyadh and other cities of Saudi Arabia and reiterated its resolve to fight terrorism and violence in all its forms. According to Saudi authorities, one person was killed after seven missiles were fired from Yemen by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels on Sunday. "We strongly condemn the renewed missile attacks targeting civilian areas in the direction of Riyadh and other cities of Saudi Arabia. We are deeply concerned about the escalating situation threatening the lives of innocent civilians. We reiterate our resolve to fight terrorism and violence in all its forms," the External Affairs Ministry spokesperson said. The missiles were fired at four targets, including the capital city of Riyadh, and all were intercepted and destroyed, said spokesman of the Saudi coalition forces for supporting the legitimacy in Yemen Colonel Turki Al-Malki in a statement yesterday. Fragments from the intercepted missiles killed an Egyptian resident, the statement added.

India condemns missile attacks on Saudi Arabia

The death toll in the explosion that happened in Afghanistan&#39;s Helmand province has increased to 15, officials said on Saturday.&nbsp;

As per reports, the deceased included children as well. Helmand governor&#39;s spokesman Omar Zwak said the explosion took place outside Helmand stadium in Lashkargah City of the province on Friday when people were leaving the stadium after watching a wrestling match.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has condemned the attack and said in a statement that &quot;The enemies of Afghanistan cannot prevent the celebration of traditional, religious and cultural events in the country&quot;.

United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) confirming the incident on Twitter said, &quot;verifying disturbing reports of attack outside a sports stadium in Helmand.&quot;

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast, which went off outside the match venue in Lashkar Gah - capital of the province of Helmand - in front of a crowd that included local lawmakers.

The attack, which followed a suicide blast in Kabul on Wednesday that was claimed by Islamic State, underlined the continued threat of violence across much of Afghanistan with the approach of spring, when fighting tends to pick up.

The Taliban controls large areas of Helmand, source of much of Afghanistan`s opium crop. But government forces, backed by heavy US air strikes, have succeeded in preventing Lashkar Gah from falling and have made advances in some districts.

The city, which came under threat from the insurgents last year, had been relatively quiet in recent months following offensives by security forces and fighting has shifted to other provinces including neighbouring Farah on the border with Iran.

Helmand governor's spokesman Omar Zwak said the explosion took place outside Helmand stadium in Lashkargah City of the province on Friday when people were leaving the stadium after watching a wrestling match

The death toll in the explosion that happened in Afghanistan's Helmand province has increased to 15, officials said on Saturday. As per reports, the deceased included children as well. Helmand governor's spokesman Omar Zwak said the explosion took place outside Helmand stadium in Lashkargah City of the province on Friday when people were leaving the stadium after watching a wrestling match. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has condemned the attack and said in a statement that "The enemies of Afghanistan cannot prevent the celebration of traditional, religious and cultural events in the country". United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) confirming the incident on Twitter said, "verifying disturbing reports of attack outside a sports stadium in Helmand." There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the blast, which went off outside the match venue in Lashkar Gah - capital of the province of Helmand - in front of a crowd that included local lawmakers. The attack, which followed a suicide blast in Kabul on Wednesday that was claimed by Islamic State, underlined the continued threat of violence across much of Afghanistan with the approach of spring, when fighting tends to pick up. The Taliban controls large areas of Helmand, source of much of Afghanistan`s opium crop. But government forces, backed by heavy US air strikes, have succeeded in preventing Lashkar Gah from falling and have made advances in some districts. The city, which came under threat from the insurgents last year, had been relatively quiet in recent months following offensives by security forces and fighting has shifted to other provinces including neighbouring Farah on the border with Iran.

Afghanistan: Death toll from car bomb attack rises to 15

France will pay a national tribute to a security officer who died from gunshot wounds after voluntarily taking the place of a female hostage during a supermarket siege by an Islamist militant, President Emmanuel Macron said on Saturday.&nbsp;

Arnaud Beltrame, 44, a gendarme who once served in Iraq, had been raced to hospital fighting for his life after being shot by the gunman during the siege at the Super U store in the southwestern town of Trebes near the Pyrenees mountains.

His actions were described as heroic by politicians across the political spectrum.

&ldquo;He fell as a hero, giving up his life to halt the murderous outfit of a jihadist terrorist,&rdquo; Macron said in a statement shortly before dawn on Saturday.

Macron said France would organize a national tribute in Beltrame&rsquo;s honour, the president&rsquo;s office announced after he met with members of the government and officials involved in the attack investigation. It gave no further details.

The attacker was identified by authorities as Redouane Lakdim, a 25-year-old Moroccan-born French national from the city of Carcassonne, not far from Trebes, the tranquil town of about 5,000 people where he struck on Friday.

Lakdim was known to authorities for drug-dealing and other petty crimes but had also been under surveillance by security services in 2016-2017 for links to the radical Salafist movement, Paris prosecutor Francois Molins said on Friday.&nbsp;

The attacker&rsquo;s rampage began when he shot the occupant of a car he stole and fired on a group of police joggers, wounding one. He then headed to a supermarket where he killed two people, an employee and a client, bringing Friday&rsquo;s toll to three dead and 16 injured, according to a government readout.

Beltrame&rsquo;s death took the number killed to four.&nbsp;

He was part of a team of gendarmes who were among the first to arrive at the supermarket scene. Most of the people in the shop escaped after hiding in a cold storage room and then fleeing through an emergency exit.

He offered to trade places with a hostage the attacker was still holding, whereafter he took her place and left his mobile phone on a table, line open. When shots rang out, elite police stormed the building to kill the assailant. Police sources said Beltrame was shot three times.

Politicians from the left and right called Beltrame a &ldquo;hero&rdquo; on Twitter, including opposition leader Laurent Wauquiez, far-right National Rally party leader Marine Le Pen and Olivier Faure, set to become the next Socialist party head.

#ArnaudBeltrame was a trending topic on the social network where people expressed their respect and gratitude for the officer, and thoughts for his wife. Several cities, the National Assembly and police stations lowered their flags in his honour.

The Grand Mosque of Paris, the largest in the country, said the Muslim community joined in mourning for a man who had &ldquo;fallen heroically under the bullets of the terrorist Redouane Lakdim in the exercise of his mission&rdquo;.&nbsp;

British Prime Minister Theresa May hailed Beltrame&rsquo;s courage and sacrifice on Twitter, saying they would never be forgotten.

ARRESTS AND SEARCHES

The Islamic State militant group on Friday claimed responsibility for the attack.

Several hundred investigators devoted to the inquiry were still checking the claim on Saturday and looking into possible complicity the &ldquo;terrorist&rdquo; could have benefited from to carry out his attacks, the president&rsquo;s office said.

Police arrested two people as part of the investigation - on Friday a woman connected to Lakdim, and overnight a 17-year-old male said to be one of his friends, judicial sources said.&nbsp;

Searches at the attacker&rsquo;s home showed notes referring to Islamic State that appeared to be a will, as well as a phone and a computer, judicial sources said.

Investigators also found three improvised explosive devices, a 7.65-millimetre handgun and a hunting knife in the supermarket, a source said.

U.S. President Donald Trump condemned &ldquo;the violent actions of the attacker and anyone who would provide him support&rdquo;.

&ldquo;We are with you @EmmanuelMacron!&rdquo; he added on Twitter.

More than 240 people have been killed in France in attacks since 2015 by assailants who either pledged allegiance to Islamic State or were inspired by the ultra-hardline group.

France is part of a group of countries whose warplanes have been bombing Islamic State strongholds in Iraq and Syria, where in recent months IS has lost much of a self-proclaimed &ldquo;caliphate&rdquo; of the territory it seized in 2014.

One multiple attacks by Islamist gunmen and suicide bombers killed 130 people in Paris in November 2015 while another killed close to 90 when a man ran a truck into partying crowds in the Riviera seaside city of Nice in July 2016.

Beltrame was a qualified parachutist who served in Iraq in 2005. He also worked as part of the elite Republican Guard that protects the presidential Elysee Place offices and residence in Paris, Macron said.&nbsp;

Friday&rsquo;s assault was the first deadly Islamist attack in France since October 2017, when a man stabbed two young women to death in the port city of Marseille before soldiers killed him.

Several attacks over the past year or more have targeted police and soldiers deployed in big numbers to protect civilians and patrol sensitive spots such as airports and train stations.&nbsp;

Sixteen other people were wounded, including two who were seriously hurt, in what President Emmanuel Macron called an act of "Islamist terrorism".

France will pay a national tribute to a security officer who died from gunshot wounds after voluntarily taking the place of a female hostage during a supermarket siege by an Islamist militant, President Emmanuel Macron said on Saturday. Arnaud Beltrame, 44, a gendarme who once served in Iraq, had been raced to hospital fighting for his life after being shot by the gunman during the siege at the Super U store in the southwestern town of Trebes near the Pyrenees mountains. His actions were described as heroic by politicians across the political spectrum. “He fell as a hero, giving up his life to halt the murderous outfit of a jihadist terrorist,” Macron said in a statement shortly before dawn on Saturday. Macron said France would organize a national tribute in Beltrame’s honour, the president’s office announced after he met with members of the government and officials involved in the attack investigation. It gave no further details. The attacker was identified by authorities as Redouane Lakdim, a 25-year-old Moroccan-born French national from the city of Carcassonne, not far from Trebes, the tranquil town of about 5,000 people where he struck on Friday. Lakdim was known to authorities for drug-dealing and other petty crimes but had also been under surveillance by security services in 2016-2017 for links to the radical Salafist movement, Paris prosecutor Francois Molins said on Friday. The attacker’s rampage began when he shot the occupant of a car he stole and fired on a group of police joggers, wounding one. He then headed to a supermarket where he killed two people, an employee and a client, bringing Friday’s toll to three dead and 16 injured, according to a government readout. Beltrame’s death took the number killed to four. He was part of a team of gendarmes who were among the first to arrive at the supermarket scene. Most of the people in the shop escaped after hiding in a cold storage room and then fleeing through an emergency exit. He offered to trade places with a hostage the attacker was still holding, whereafter he took her place and left his mobile phone on a table, line open. When shots rang out, elite police stormed the building to kill the assailant. Police sources said Beltrame was shot three times. Politicians from the left and right called Beltrame a “hero” on Twitter, including opposition leader Laurent Wauquiez, far-right National Rally party leader Marine Le Pen and Olivier Faure, set to become the next Socialist party head. #ArnaudBeltrame was a trending topic on the social network where people expressed their respect and gratitude for the officer, and thoughts for his wife. Several cities, the National Assembly and police stations lowered their flags in his honour. The Grand Mosque of Paris, the largest in the country, said the Muslim community joined in mourning for a man who had “fallen heroically under the bullets of the terrorist Redouane Lakdim in the exercise of his mission”. British Prime Minister Theresa May hailed Beltrame’s courage and sacrifice on Twitter, saying they would never be forgotten. ARRESTS AND SEARCHES The Islamic State militant group on Friday claimed responsibility for the attack. Several hundred investigators devoted to the inquiry were still checking the claim on Saturday and looking into possible complicity the “terrorist” could have benefited from to carry out his attacks, the president’s office said. Police arrested two people as part of the investigation - on Friday a woman connected to Lakdim, and overnight a 17-year-old male said to be one of his friends, judicial sources said. Searches at the attacker’s home showed notes referring to Islamic State that appeared to be a will, as well as a phone and a computer, judicial sources said. Investigators also found three improvised explosive devices, a 7.65-millimetre handgun and a hunting knife in the supermarket, a source said. U.S. President Donald Trump condemned “the violent actions of the attacker and anyone who would provide him support”. “We are with you @EmmanuelMacron!” he added on Twitter. More than 240 people have been killed in France in attacks since 2015 by assailants who either pledged allegiance to Islamic State or were inspired by the ultra-hardline group. France is part of a group of countries whose warplanes have been bombing Islamic State strongholds in Iraq and Syria, where in recent months IS has lost much of a self-proclaimed “caliphate” of the territory it seized in 2014. One multiple attacks by Islamist gunmen and suicide bombers killed 130 people in Paris in November 2015 while another killed close to 90 when a man ran a truck into partying crowds in the Riviera seaside city of Nice in July 2016. Beltrame was a qualified parachutist who served in Iraq in 2005. He also worked as part of the elite Republican Guard that protects the presidential Elysee Place offices and residence in Paris, Macron said. Friday’s assault was the first deadly Islamist attack in France since October 2017, when a man stabbed two young women to death in the port city of Marseille before soldiers killed him. Several attacks over the past year or more have targeted police and soldiers deployed in big numbers to protect civilians and patrol sensitive spots such as airports and train stations.

France mourns 'hero' officer who took place of hostage in attack

A woman who was living with the attacker who killed three people at a supermarket in southern France&#39;s Trebes has been detained, a prosecutor said on Friday.

Francois Molins, the prosecutor said gunman Radouane Lakdim had claimed to be a soldier for the terror group Islamic State (IS) while storming the Super U market in the town before he was killed by police.

A gunman killed three people in southwestern France on Friday as he held up a car, fired on police and seized hostages in a supermarket, screaming &quot;Allahu Akbar&quot; before security forces stormed the building and killed him, authorities said.

Sixteen other people were wounded, including two who were seriously hurt, in what President Emmanuel Macron called an act of &quot;Islamist terrorism&quot;.

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack. Macron said security services were checking that claim.

It took three hours to bring the situation under control when the police shot dead the gunman in a cross firing. Two more were later confirmed dead by the police.

Also, a French policeman shot by the gunman after swapping himself for a hostage in a siege at a supermarket in southwest France is &quot;fighting for his life&quot;, President Emmanuel Macron said.

Arnaud Beltrame, 45, was among a group of officers who rushed to the scene in the town of Trebes after the attacker, who claimed allegiance to the Islamic State group, stormed the store and fired on shoppers and staff before taking them hostage.

Francois Molins, the prosecutor said gunman Radouane Lakdim had claimed to be a soldier for the terror group Islamic State (IS) while storming the Super U market in the town before he was killed by police

A woman who was living with the attacker who killed three people at a supermarket in southern France's Trebes has been detained, a prosecutor said on Friday. Francois Molins, the prosecutor said gunman Radouane Lakdim had claimed to be a soldier for the terror group Islamic State (IS) while storming the Super U market in the town before he was killed by police. A gunman killed three people in southwestern France on Friday as he held up a car, fired on police and seized hostages in a supermarket, screaming "Allahu Akbar" before security forces stormed the building and killed him, authorities said. Sixteen other people were wounded, including two who were seriously hurt, in what President Emmanuel Macron called an act of "Islamist terrorism". The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack. Macron said security services were checking that claim. It took three hours to bring the situation under control when the police shot dead the gunman in a cross firing. Two more were later confirmed dead by the police. Also, a French policeman shot by the gunman after swapping himself for a hostage in a siege at a supermarket in southwest France is "fighting for his life", President Emmanuel Macron said. Arnaud Beltrame, 45, was among a group of officers who rushed to the scene in the town of Trebes after the attacker, who claimed allegiance to the Islamic State group, stormed the store and fired on shoppers and staff before taking them hostage.

France Supermarket attack: Partner of attacker detained

A French policeman, who was shot by an Islamist gunman Friday after swapping himself for a hostage in a siege at a supermarket in the southwest town of Trebes, has been hailed as a hero.

The policeman was among a group of officers who rushed to the scene after the attacker, who claimed allegiance to the Islamic State group, stormed the store and fired on shoppers and staff before taking them hostage.

The man, identified as 26-year-old Redouane Lakdim, shot dead two people at the supermarket after earlier opening fire on passengers in a car, killing one of them, and injuring a police officer in nearby Carcassonne.

Speaking at the scene Interior Minister Gerard Collomb said a police team immediately intervened after the start of the siege at around 11 a.m.

&quot;They managed to get some of the people out,&quot; he said, but the attacker kept one hostage back as a human shield.

A senior officer then offered to take the hostage&#39;s place and remained holed up with Lakdim while negotiations to end the standoff continued.

The officer &quot;left his telephone on the table&quot;, to allow police that had surrounded the building in the sleepy town of 5,000 inhabitants listen in, Collomb said.

&quot;When we heard shots the GIGN (an elite police force) intervened,&quot; the minister said, adding that the policeman was &quot;seriously injured&quot;.

Collomb praised the officer for his &quot;courage&quot; and &quot;act of heroism&quot;.

An officer from the police SWAT team was also hurt in the operation to kill the gunman.

Over the course of his rampage Ladkim killed three people and injured at least three others.

The injured included the driver of the hijacked car as well as a police officer out jogging with colleagues in Carcassonne.

The policeman was among a group of officers who rushed to the scene after the attacker, who claimed allegiance to the Islamic State group, stormed the store and fired on shoppers and staff before taking them hostage

A French policeman, who was shot by an Islamist gunman Friday after swapping himself for a hostage in a siege at a supermarket in the southwest town of Trebes, has been hailed as a hero. The policeman was among a group of officers who rushed to the scene after the attacker, who claimed allegiance to the Islamic State group, stormed the store and fired on shoppers and staff before taking them hostage. The man, identified as 26-year-old Redouane Lakdim, shot dead two people at the supermarket after earlier opening fire on passengers in a car, killing one of them, and injuring a police officer in nearby Carcassonne. Speaking at the scene Interior Minister Gerard Collomb said a police team immediately intervened after the start of the siege at around 11 a.m. "They managed to get some of the people out," he said, but the attacker kept one hostage back as a human shield. A senior officer then offered to take the hostage's place and remained holed up with Lakdim while negotiations to end the standoff continued. The officer "left his telephone on the table", to allow police that had surrounded the building in the sleepy town of 5,000 inhabitants listen in, Collomb said. "When we heard shots the GIGN (an elite police force) intervened," the minister said, adding that the policeman was "seriously injured". Collomb praised the officer for his "courage" and "act of heroism". An officer from the police SWAT team was also hurt in the operation to kill the gunman. Over the course of his rampage Ladkim killed three people and injured at least three others. The injured included the driver of the hijacked car as well as a police officer out jogging with colleagues in Carcassonne.

'Heroic' French cop shot after swapping himself for hostage: Minister

A suicide bomber on Wednesday killed at least 26 people, many of them teenagers, after detonating a device among a crowd of people in Kabul who were celebrating the Persian new year holiday, officials said.&nbsp;

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the deadly attack - the fifth suicide bombing in the Afghan capital in recent weeks - via its propaganda arm Amaq, SITE Intelligence Group said.&nbsp;

The Taliban earlier denied involvement on Twitter.&nbsp;

Another 18 people were wounded in the blast, interior ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi said, &quot;all of them civilians&quot;. 
&nbsp; 
There were fears the figure could rise, however, with the health ministry giving a higher toll of 29 people killed and 52 wounded. Afghan officials often give conflicting tolls in the wake of attacks.

The bomber, who was on foot, detonated his device in front of Kabul University and a hospital that was opposite, Rahimi said. 
&nbsp; 
The blast occurred less than 200 metres from Karte Sakhi shrine where many Afghans gather every year to mark Nawrooz, which is the traditional Persian new year holiday - but had been unable to reach it due to heavy security for the holiday.

So he &quot;detonated himself among teenagers returning from there&quot;, Kabul police chief Mohammad Daud Amin told Tolo News.

Bloodstains could be seen among scattered belongings on the road at the site of the attack. A man who was standing metres from where the explosion happened told Tolo that he saw &quot;at least four bodies in blood&quot; on the ground.

IS has attacked the same shrine once before, in October 2016 when gunmen killed 18 people gathered to mark Ashura, an important date for many Muslims, especially Shi&#39;ites.

President Ashraf Ghani, whose government has been repeatedly lambasted for its inability to protect its citizens, condemned the attack in a statement as a &quot;crime against humanity&quot;.

Taliban and Islamic State militants have increasingly targeted the war-weary city in recent months as US and Afghan forces ramp up air strikes and ground offensives against the groups. Wednesday`s blast comes days after a Taliban suicide attacker blew up a bomb-laden car in Kabul, causing multiple casualties. 
&nbsp; 
Some Western and Afghan security experts believe the Haqqani Network, a hard-line wing of the Taliban, has been behind some of the attacks in Kabul in recent months, including those claimed by IS.

The Taliban, Afghanistan`s largest militant group, faces growing pressure to take up a recent offer by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani of peace talks to end the 16-year war. So far it has given only a muted response. This latest suicide attack underscores the growing challenge facing Afghan and foreign forces to protect the already heavily militarised city.&nbsp;

Authorities had increased security ahead of Nawrooz festivities, which militants have previously struck with deadly force.

General John Nicholson, who leads US and NATO forces in Afghanistan, recently told reporters that protecting Kabul was a priority for foreign troops.

&quot;Kabul is our main effort right now, to harden Kabul, to protect the people of Kabul and the international community that are here because of the strategic impact that has and the importance to the campaign,&quot; Nicholson said.&nbsp;

But he acknowledged that preventing further attacks would be challenging in the sprawling city that is poorly mapped and extremely porous.&nbsp;

The latest attack comes as US Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford visits Afghanistan to assess the military campaign against insurgents - weeks before the start of the spring fighting season, which is expected to be particularly bloody this year.&nbsp;

Despite calls for the Taliban to sit down with the Afghan government, the group appears to have few reasons to negotiate.

The Taliban has been resurgent since the withdrawal of US-led NATO combat troops at the end of 2014, taking back territory and devastating Afghanistan`s beleaguered security forces.

In October, insurgents controlled or influenced nearly half of Afghanistan`s districts - double the percentage in 2015, the US government`s office of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction said in January.

Over the same period, the watchdog said, the number of districts under Afghan government control or influence fell to its lowest level since December 2015.

The Taliban earlier denied involvement on Twitter

A suicide bomber on Wednesday killed at least 26 people, many of them teenagers, after detonating a device among a crowd of people in Kabul who were celebrating the Persian new year holiday, officials said. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the deadly attack - the fifth suicide bombing in the Afghan capital in recent weeks - via its propaganda arm Amaq, SITE Intelligence Group said. The Taliban earlier denied involvement on Twitter. Another 18 people were wounded in the blast, interior ministry spokesman Nasrat Rahimi said, "all of them civilians". There were fears the figure could rise, however, with the health ministry giving a higher toll of 29 people killed and 52 wounded. Afghan officials often give conflicting tolls in the wake of attacks. The bomber, who was on foot, detonated his device in front of Kabul University and a hospital that was opposite, Rahimi said. The blast occurred less than 200 metres from Karte Sakhi shrine where many Afghans gather every year to mark Nawrooz, which is the traditional Persian new year holiday - but had been unable to reach it due to heavy security for the holiday. So he "detonated himself among teenagers returning from there", Kabul police chief Mohammad Daud Amin told Tolo News. Bloodstains could be seen among scattered belongings on the road at the site of the attack. A man who was standing metres from where the explosion happened told Tolo that he saw "at least four bodies in blood" on the ground. IS has attacked the same shrine once before, in October 2016 when gunmen killed 18 people gathered to mark Ashura, an important date for many Muslims, especially Shi'ites. President Ashraf Ghani, whose government has been repeatedly lambasted for its inability to protect its citizens, condemned the attack in a statement as a "crime against humanity". Taliban and Islamic State militants have increasingly targeted the war-weary city in recent months as US and Afghan forces ramp up air strikes and ground offensives against the groups. Wednesday`s blast comes days after a Taliban suicide attacker blew up a bomb-laden car in Kabul, causing multiple casualties. Some Western and Afghan security experts believe the Haqqani Network, a hard-line wing of the Taliban, has been behind some of the attacks in Kabul in recent months, including those claimed by IS. The Taliban, Afghanistan`s largest militant group, faces growing pressure to take up a recent offer by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani of peace talks to end the 16-year war. So far it has given only a muted response. This latest suicide attack underscores the growing challenge facing Afghan and foreign forces to protect the already heavily militarised city. Authorities had increased security ahead of Nawrooz festivities, which militants have previously struck with deadly force. General John Nicholson, who leads US and NATO forces in Afghanistan, recently told reporters that protecting Kabul was a priority for foreign troops. "Kabul is our main effort right now, to harden Kabul, to protect the people of Kabul and the international community that are here because of the strategic impact that has and the importance to the campaign," Nicholson said. But he acknowledged that preventing further attacks would be challenging in the sprawling city that is poorly mapped and extremely porous. The latest attack comes as US Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff General Joseph Dunford visits Afghanistan to assess the military campaign against insurgents - weeks before the start of the spring fighting season, which is expected to be particularly bloody this year. Despite calls for the Taliban to sit down with the Afghan government, the group appears to have few reasons to negotiate. The Taliban has been resurgent since the withdrawal of US-led NATO combat troops at the end of 2014, taking back territory and devastating Afghanistan`s beleaguered security forces. In October, insurgents controlled or influenced nearly half of Afghanistan`s districts - double the percentage in 2015, the US government`s office of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction said in January. Over the same period, the watchdog said, the number of districts under Afghan government control or influence fell to its lowest level since December 2015.

Islamic State claims responsibility for Kabul attack

Turkey&#39;s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that Turkish troops and the Syrian rebel fighter allies have seized control of the town center of Afrin from Kurdish YPG fighters.

A spokesman for the rebel fighters said they entered Afrin before dawn from three fronts, meeting no resistance.

&ldquo;Afrin city centre is under control as of 8:30 this morning,&rdquo; Erdogan told a rally marking the 103rd anniversary of the World War One Gallipoli campaign. Turkish and Free Syrian Army flags had been raised in Afrin, Erdogan said.

&ldquo;Most of the terrorists have already fled with tails between their legs. Our special forces and members of the Free Syrian Army are cleaning the remains and the traps they left behind,&rdquo; Erdogan said. &ldquo;In the centre of Afrin, symbols of trust and stability are waving instead of rags of terrorists.&rdquo;

But a war monitor said clashes continued in parts of Afrin, the main town of the Afrin region which has been under Kurdish control for years. Afrin is one of three Kurdish cantons in northern Syria on the border with Turkey.

Turkey launched its military offensive against US-backed Kurdish YPG militia in Afrin on January 20, supported by FSA rebel factions. Further, it says it will extend the offensive to other Kurdish regions where US forces are stationed alongside the YPG, an ally against Islamic State.

The fighting in a once stable pocket of northwest Syria has opened a new front in the country&rsquo;s multi-sided civil war, highlighting the ever greater role of foreign powers in the seven-year-old conflict.

More than 150,000 people have been displaced in the last few days from Afrin town, a senior Kurdish official and a monitoring group said Saturday.

A spokesman for the rebel fighters said they entered Afrin before dawn from three fronts, meeting no resistance

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that Turkish troops and the Syrian rebel fighter allies have seized control of the town center of Afrin from Kurdish YPG fighters. A spokesman for the rebel fighters said they entered Afrin before dawn from three fronts, meeting no resistance. “Afrin city centre is under control as of 8:30 this morning,” Erdogan told a rally marking the 103rd anniversary of the World War One Gallipoli campaign. Turkish and Free Syrian Army flags had been raised in Afrin, Erdogan said. “Most of the terrorists have already fled with tails between their legs. Our special forces and members of the Free Syrian Army are cleaning the remains and the traps they left behind,” Erdogan said. “In the centre of Afrin, symbols of trust and stability are waving instead of rags of terrorists.” But a war monitor said clashes continued in parts of Afrin, the main town of the Afrin region which has been under Kurdish control for years. Afrin is one of three Kurdish cantons in northern Syria on the border with Turkey. Turkey launched its military offensive against US-backed Kurdish YPG militia in Afrin on January 20, supported by FSA rebel factions. Further, it says it will extend the offensive to other Kurdish regions where US forces are stationed alongside the YPG, an ally against Islamic State. The fighting in a once stable pocket of northwest Syria has opened a new front in the country’s multi-sided civil war, highlighting the ever greater role of foreign powers in the seven-year-old conflict. More than 150,000 people have been displaced in the last few days from Afrin town, a senior Kurdish official and a monitoring group said Saturday.

Syrian rebel fighters enter Afrin town, Kurdish forces pull out

Thousands of civilians could be seen leaving Syria&#39;s Eastern Ghouta at the Hammouriyah crossing point on Saturday (March 17) in footage broadcast by Syrian state television.

Air strikes killed scores of people in eastern Ghouta, a war monitor said, and weary residents streamed out on foot for a second day, as Russian-backed government forces pressed their campaign to capture the last big rebel bastion near Damascus.

On another front, Turkish and allied rebel forces struck the northern Kurdish-held town of Afrin, killing more than 40 people including children,&nbsp;Syrian Kurdish forces and a monitor said.

Young children were carried on suitcases and bicycles, while the elderly were offered assistance along the dusty road.

More than 7,000 people left Syria&#39;s Eastern Ghouta on Saturday morning, the TASS news agency reported, citing the Centre for Reconciliation in Syria, a body run by Russia&#39;s defence ministry.&nbsp;

The UK-based war monitoring group said a new wave of 10,000 people had left the besieged insurgent pocket to army positions in Ghouta, where the government has waged a fierce month-long offensive.

Backed by Russia and Iran, government forces have thrust deep into eastern Ghouta on the capital&#39;s outskirts, splintering the rebel enclave into three separate zones. The United Nations believes up to 400,000 people have been trapped in the Ghouta satellite towns and farmland, short of food and medicine.

The&nbsp;Syrian war entered its eighth year this week having killed half a million people and driven more than 11 million from their homes, including nearly 6 million who have fled abroad in one of the worst refugee crises of modern times.

The government launched its offensive on eastern Ghouta a month ago, and Turkey began its cross-border assault in Afrin in January. In both cases, hundreds of thousands of civilians have been trapped inside encircled pockets on the battlefield.

An estimated 12,000-16,000 people left Ghouta in recent days, while fighting in the Afrin region has reportedly displaced more than 48,000, said Linda Tom, a U.N. humanitarian spokeswoman in&nbsp;Syria.

Young children were carried on suitcases and bicycles, while the elderly were offered assistance along the dusty road

Thousands of civilians could be seen leaving Syria's Eastern Ghouta at the Hammouriyah crossing point on Saturday (March 17) in footage broadcast by Syrian state television. Air strikes killed scores of people in eastern Ghouta, a war monitor said, and weary residents streamed out on foot for a second day, as Russian-backed government forces pressed their campaign to capture the last big rebel bastion near Damascus. On another front, Turkish and allied rebel forces struck the northern Kurdish-held town of Afrin, killing more than 40 people including children, Syrian Kurdish forces and a monitor said. Young children were carried on suitcases and bicycles, while the elderly were offered assistance along the dusty road. More than 7,000 people left Syria's Eastern Ghouta on Saturday morning, the TASS news agency reported, citing the Centre for Reconciliation in Syria, a body run by Russia's defence ministry. The UK-based war monitoring group said a new wave of 10,000 people had left the besieged insurgent pocket to army positions in Ghouta, where the government has waged a fierce month-long offensive. Backed by Russia and Iran, government forces have thrust deep into eastern Ghouta on the capital's outskirts, splintering the rebel enclave into three separate zones. The United Nations believes up to 400,000 people have been trapped in the Ghouta satellite towns and farmland, short of food and medicine. The Syrian war entered its eighth year this week having killed half a million people and driven more than 11 million from their homes, including nearly 6 million who have fled abroad in one of the worst refugee crises of modern times. The government launched its offensive on eastern Ghouta a month ago, and Turkey began its cross-border assault in Afrin in January. In both cases, hundreds of thousands of civilians have been trapped inside encircled pockets on the battlefield. An estimated 12,000-16,000 people left Ghouta in recent days, while fighting in the Afrin region has reportedly displaced more than 48,000, said Linda Tom, a U.N. humanitarian spokeswoman in Syria.

Civilians stream out of Ghouta as crisis intensifies

The Taliban claimed the car bomb attack which killed at least three people and wounded several others&nbsp;in the Afghan capital Kabul on Saturday&nbsp;in an apparent attack on a foreign contractor company.

Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danesh said all those killed and wounded in the explosion were civilians with no casualties among the contractors.

Witnesses said the casualty toll was higher but confirmed that, like countless other attacks in Kabul, its victims were ordinary people going about their daily activities.

&quot;All those killed were barbers or shoeshine men. I was horrified when I saw their bodies,&quot; said Mohammad Osman, who was nearby when the explosion shattered nearby buildings and who said he had seen four or five bodies.

It was the fourth suicide attack in Kabul in three weeks and comes days after the top US general in Afghanistan said protecting the war-weary city was &quot;our main effort&quot;.

It also comes as the Taliban faces growing pressure to take up Afghan President Ashraf Ghani&#39;s offer last month of peace talks to end the 16-year war.

Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danesh said all those killed and wounded in the explosion were civilians with no casualties among the contractors

The Taliban claimed the car bomb attack which killed at least three people and wounded several others in the Afghan capital Kabul on Saturday in an apparent attack on a foreign contractor company. Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danesh said all those killed and wounded in the explosion were civilians with no casualties among the contractors. Witnesses said the casualty toll was higher but confirmed that, like countless other attacks in Kabul, its victims were ordinary people going about their daily activities. "All those killed were barbers or shoeshine men. I was horrified when I saw their bodies," said Mohammad Osman, who was nearby when the explosion shattered nearby buildings and who said he had seen four or five bodies. It was the fourth suicide attack in Kabul in three weeks and comes days after the top US general in Afghanistan said protecting the war-weary city was "our main effort". It also comes as the Taliban faces growing pressure to take up Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's offer last month of peace talks to end the 16-year war.

Taliban claims deadly car bomb attack in Kabul

Hundreds of families fled the&nbsp;Syrian town of Afrin towards nearby villages held by pro-Syrian government forces overnight as Turkish forces shelled the town, the&nbsp;Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

Turkish forces and allied&nbsp;Syrian militias are targeting Afrin in an offensive against the Kurdish YPG militia in northwestern&nbsp;Syria.

The Observatory said families left the town in buses and cars towards Nubl and al-Zahra, Shi&#39;ite Muslim villages that are loyal to the government of President Bashar al-Assad. The&nbsp;Syrian government has sided with the YPG against Turkey in Afrin.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday that more than 12,000 people left&nbsp;Syria&#39;s rebel-held eastern Ghouta on Thursday.

He also said that any threat from the United States to strike the&nbsp;Syrian capital Damascus would be unacceptable.

The Observatory said Russian jets carried out the strikes, citing its activist network on the ground. Advancing&nbsp;Syrian government forces have splintered eastern Ghouta into three enclaves in an offensive that has been underway for a month.

The latest wave of air strikes hit the southern most enclave of eastern Ghouta, from which thousands of civilians fled on Thursday into government-held territory.

Turkish forces and allied Syrian militias are targeting Afrin in an offensive against the Kurdish YPG militia in northwestern Syria

Hundreds of families fled the Syrian town of Afrin towards nearby villages held by pro-Syrian government forces overnight as Turkish forces shelled the town, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Turkish forces and allied Syrian militias are targeting Afrin in an offensive against the Kurdish YPG militia in northwestern Syria. The Observatory said families left the town in buses and cars towards Nubl and al-Zahra, Shi'ite Muslim villages that are loyal to the government of President Bashar al-Assad. The Syrian government has sided with the YPG against Turkey in Afrin. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday that more than 12,000 people left Syria's rebel-held eastern Ghouta on Thursday. He also said that any threat from the United States to strike the Syrian capital Damascus would be unacceptable. The Observatory said Russian jets carried out the strikes, citing its activist network on the ground. Advancing Syrian government forces have splintered eastern Ghouta into three enclaves in an offensive that has been underway for a month. The latest wave of air strikes hit the southern most enclave of eastern Ghouta, from which thousands of civilians fled on Thursday into government-held territory.

As Turkey attacks, hundreds of families flee Syrian town of Afrin

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned a suicide attack on a police check-post near the residence of Pakistan&#39;s ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif in Lahore.

Guterres extended his condolences to the families of the victims of the March 14 attack, a statement from a UN spokesman said adding that the Secretary-General calls for the perpetrators of the attack to be brought to justice.

The statement said the UN supports the efforts of the government of Pakistan to fight terrorism with full respect for international human rights norms and obligations.

A teenaged suicide bomber blew himself up near the residence of Sharif, killing nine people, including five policemen, the police said.

The blast took place close to a check post, a few kilometres from the palatial residence of the Sharif family.&nbsp;

Around 25 people were also injured in the attack.&nbsp;

UN Secretary-General Antonio condemned a suicide attack on a police check-post near the residence of Pakistan's PM Nawaz Sharif in Lahore

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned a suicide attack on a police check-post near the residence of Pakistan's ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif in Lahore. Guterres extended his condolences to the families of the victims of the March 14 attack, a statement from a UN spokesman said adding that the Secretary-General calls for the perpetrators of the attack to be brought to justice. The statement said the UN supports the efforts of the government of Pakistan to fight terrorism with full respect for international human rights norms and obligations. A teenaged suicide bomber blew himself up near the residence of Sharif, killing nine people, including five policemen, the police said. The blast took place close to a check post, a few kilometres from the palatial residence of the Sharif family. Around 25 people were also injured in the attack.

UN chief condemns attack near Sharif's residence in Lahore

BJP leader Anwar Khan escaped a terrorist attack at Balhama village in Jammu and Kashmir&#39;s Pulwama district &#39;s Khanmoh area on Thursday, but his personal security officer (PSO) was injured in the incident, the police said.

Terrorists fired upon Anwar Khan, a BJP leader, at Balhama in Pulwama district, a police official said.

While Khan escaped the attack unhurt, his PSO, constable Bilal Ahmad, was injured in the incident, the official added.

He said the injured policeman was rushed to a hospital, where his condition was stated to be stable.&nbsp;

Security forces have cordoned off the Khanmoh area in Pulwama district after the terrorists attack.

Terrorists fired upon Anwar Khan, a BJP leader, at Balhama in Pulwama district, a police official said.

BJP leader Anwar Khan escaped a terrorist attack at Balhama village in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district 's Khanmoh area on Thursday, but his personal security officer (PSO) was injured in the incident, the police said. Terrorists fired upon Anwar Khan, a BJP leader, at Balhama in Pulwama district, a police official said. While Khan escaped the attack unhurt, his PSO, constable Bilal Ahmad, was injured in the incident, the official added. He said the injured policeman was rushed to a hospital, where his condition was stated to be stable. Security forces have cordoned off the Khanmoh area in Pulwama district after the terrorists attack.

Terrorists attack J&K BJP leader Anwar Khan; PSO injured

British Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday expelled 23 diplomats and suspended high-level contacts with Russia including for the World Cup, saying her government found Moscow &quot;culpable&quot; of a nerve agent attack on a former spy.

May said she would be pushing for a &quot;robust international response&quot; when the UN Security Council meets later Wednesday in New York to discuss the attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter on March 4.

Russia has repeatedly denied any involvement and its London embassy warned that May&#39;s response was &quot;totally unacceptable and shortsighted&quot;.

May told parliament that Russia had failed to respond to her demand for an explanation on how a Soviet-designed chemical, Novichok, was used in the English city of Salisbury.

&quot;There is no alternative conclusion other than that the Russian State was culpable for the attempted murder of Mr Skripal and his daughter,&quot; she said.

&quot;This represents an unlawful use of force by the Russian State against the United Kingdom.&quot;

&#39;Hostile activities&#39; 
In measures drawn up at a meeting of her national security council earlier Wednesday, May announced that 23 Russian diplomats believed to be undeclared intelligence officers must leave Britain in a week.

She suspended all planned high-level contacts, which includes revoking an invitation for Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to visit but said she did not want to break off relations entirely.

May also confirmed that neither members of the royal family or ministers would attend the football World Cup in Russia later this year.

And she outlined fresh measures against people travelling to or living in Britain who were responsible for violations of human rights or planned &quot;hostile activities&quot;.

NATO allies, including the United States, have expressed their support for Britain following the first offensive use of a nerve agent in Europe since World War II.

Along with the UN Security Council meeting in New York, EU Council President Donald Tusk indicated that the issue would be on the agenda of next week&#39;s summit of the bloc&#39;s leaders in Brussels.

Russian &#39;defiance&#39; 
May said on Monday that it was &quot;highly likely&quot; that Russia was behind the attack, which left Skripal and his daughter in a critical condition in hospital, while a policeman was also hospitalised.

She had given Moscow until midnight Tuesday to explain whether it was directly responsible or &quot;lost control&quot; of the nerve agent, but said it has responded with &quot;sarcasm, contempt and defiance&quot;.

President Vladimir Putin&#39;s spokesman said again Wednesday that it had &quot;nothing to do with the accident in Britain&quot;, but warned it would not accept the &quot;language of ultimatums&quot;.

Lavrov has said the Kremlin is ready to cooperate with Britain but complained that its request for samples of the nerve agent had been rejected.

Moscow has also warned that it will take retaliatory measures, and on Tuesday threatened to expel British media from Russia if the licence of its state broadcaster RT was threatened in Britain.

May on Wednesday blamed Putin for a deterioration of relations between Moscow and London, saying it was &quot;tragic that President Putin has chosen to act in this way&quot;.

But the Russian embassy said the British government was responsible.&nbsp;

Allied support 
Britain is wary of acting alone and May has spoken to US President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in recent days.

In a phone call late Tuesday, Trump and May &quot;agreed on the need for consequences for those who use these heinous weapons in flagrant violation of international norms&quot;, the White House said.

In a joint statement by its 29 member states, the US-led NATO alliance said the attack was a &quot;clear breach of international norms and agreements&quot; and called on Russia to fully disclose details of the Novichok programme.

British experts say Skripal, 66, and his 33-year-old daughter, who was visiting from Russia, were poisoned with a nerve agent from a broad category known as Novichok, which developed by the Soviet Union during the late stages of the Cold War.&nbsp;

The Russian chemist who first revealed the existence of Novichok, Vil Mirzayanov, said &quot;only the Russians&quot; developed the Novichok agents.

&quot;They kept it and are still keeping it in secrecy,&quot; he said from his home in the US, where he moved in 1995 after 30 years of working for the State Scientific Research Institute of Organic Chemistry and Technology.

The Salisbury case has drawn parallels with the 2006 death by radiation poisoning of former Russian agent and Kremlin critic Alexander Litvinenko, which Britain blamed on Moscow.

In a further twist, former senior Russian executive Nikolai Glushkov, linked to late Kremlin opponent Boris Berezovsky, was found dead in London on Tuesday in unexplained circumstances, British and Russian media reported.

&nbsp;

May said she would be pushing for a "robust international response" when the UN Security Council meets later Wednesday in New York to discuss the attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter on March 4

British Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday expelled 23 diplomats and suspended high-level contacts with Russia including for the World Cup, saying her government found Moscow "culpable" of a nerve agent attack on a former spy. May said she would be pushing for a "robust international response" when the UN Security Council meets later Wednesday in New York to discuss the attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter on March 4. Russia has repeatedly denied any involvement and its London embassy warned that May's response was "totally unacceptable and shortsighted". May told parliament that Russia had failed to respond to her demand for an explanation on how a Soviet-designed chemical, Novichok, was used in the English city of Salisbury. "There is no alternative conclusion other than that the Russian State was culpable for the attempted murder of Mr Skripal and his daughter," she said. "This represents an unlawful use of force by the Russian State against the United Kingdom." 'Hostile activities' In measures drawn up at a meeting of her national security council earlier Wednesday, May announced that 23 Russian diplomats believed to be undeclared intelligence officers must leave Britain in a week. She suspended all planned high-level contacts, which includes revoking an invitation for Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to visit but said she did not want to break off relations entirely. May also confirmed that neither members of the royal family or ministers would attend the football World Cup in Russia later this year. And she outlined fresh measures against people travelling to or living in Britain who were responsible for violations of human rights or planned "hostile activities". NATO allies, including the United States, have expressed their support for Britain following the first offensive use of a nerve agent in Europe since World War II. Along with the UN Security Council meeting in New York, EU Council President Donald Tusk indicated that the issue would be on the agenda of next week's summit of the bloc's leaders in Brussels. Russian 'defiance' May said on Monday that it was "highly likely" that Russia was behind the attack, which left Skripal and his daughter in a critical condition in hospital, while a policeman was also hospitalised. She had given Moscow until midnight Tuesday to explain whether it was directly responsible or "lost control" of the nerve agent, but said it has responded with "sarcasm, contempt and defiance". President Vladimir Putin's spokesman said again Wednesday that it had "nothing to do with the accident in Britain", but warned it would not accept the "language of ultimatums". Lavrov has said the Kremlin is ready to cooperate with Britain but complained that its request for samples of the nerve agent had been rejected. Moscow has also warned that it will take retaliatory measures, and on Tuesday threatened to expel British media from Russia if the licence of its state broadcaster RT was threatened in Britain. May on Wednesday blamed Putin for a deterioration of relations between Moscow and London, saying it was "tragic that President Putin has chosen to act in this way". But the Russian embassy said the British government was responsible. Allied support Britain is wary of acting alone and May has spoken to US President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in recent days. In a phone call late Tuesday, Trump and May "agreed on the need for consequences for those who use these heinous weapons in flagrant violation of international norms", the White House said. In a joint statement by its 29 member states, the US-led NATO alliance said the attack was a "clear breach of international norms and agreements" and called on Russia to fully disclose details of the Novichok programme. British experts say Skripal, 66, and his 33-year-old daughter, who was visiting from Russia, were poisoned with a nerve agent from a broad category known as Novichok, which developed by the Soviet Union during the late stages of the Cold War. The Russian chemist who first revealed the existence of Novichok, Vil Mirzayanov, said "only the Russians" developed the Novichok agents. "They kept it and are still keeping it in secrecy," he said from his home in the US, where he moved in 1995 after 30 years of working for the State Scientific Research Institute of Organic Chemistry and Technology. The Salisbury case has drawn parallels with the 2006 death by radiation poisoning of former Russian agent and Kremlin critic Alexander Litvinenko, which Britain blamed on Moscow. In a further twist, former senior Russian executive Nikolai Glushkov, linked to late Kremlin opponent Boris Berezovsky, was found dead in London on Tuesday in unexplained circumstances, British and Russian media reported.

Britain expels 23 Russian diplomats over spy poisoning, May says Moscow 'culpable'

&nbsp;A suicide bombing hit Yemeni troops trained by the United Arab Emirates in the government bastion of Aden on Tuesday, a security source said, with at least five people dead or wounded.

The attack in the north of the port city hit an army mess hall serving the so-called Security Belt brigade, supported by government ally the UAE.

Several cars parked nearby were severely damaged.

Aden is controlled by the Yemeni government and its allies in a Saudi-led coalition, who are battling Shiite Huthi rebels who control the capital Sanaa and much of the north.

But it also hosts jihadists of Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group, who have both claimed attacks in the city in recent years.

On Feb 24, twin suicide bombings claimed by IS hit a base of an Aden counter-terrorism unit, killing five people, including a child.

The government established its headquarters in Aden, Yemen&#39;s second city, after the rebels forced it out of the capital.

In Jan, Aden was rocked by deadly clashes that saw southern separatists seize much of the city from other pro-government forces.

The attack in the north of the port city hit an army mess hall serving the so-called Security Belt brigade, supported by government ally in the UAE

A suicide bombing hit Yemeni troops trained by the United Arab Emirates in the government bastion of Aden on Tuesday, a security source said, with at least five people dead or wounded. The attack in the north of the port city hit an army mess hall serving the so-called Security Belt brigade, supported by government ally the UAE. Several cars parked nearby were severely damaged. Aden is controlled by the Yemeni government and its allies in a Saudi-led coalition, who are battling Shiite Huthi rebels who control the capital Sanaa and much of the north. But it also hosts jihadists of Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group, who have both claimed attacks in the city in recent years. On Feb 24, twin suicide bombings claimed by IS hit a base of an Aden counter-terrorism unit, killing five people, including a child. The government established its headquarters in Aden, Yemen's second city, after the rebels forced it out of the capital. In Jan, Aden was rocked by deadly clashes that saw southern separatists seize much of the city from other pro-government forces.

Suicide bombing hits Yemen's Aden, at least 5 people dead, wounded

The piano notes of Richard Clayderman`s &quot;Romeo and Juliet&quot; accompanied Taliban gunmen as they rode gold mirrored elevators to the upper floors of a luxury Kabul hotel in search of guests to kill.

Stopping on nearly every floor of the Intercontinental Hotel, the heavily armed militants went from room to room, blasting away electronic door locks and shooting terrified guests during the hours-long attack on January 20.

At least 25 people, including 15 foreigners, were killed. Nearly seven weeks on, media was allowed to inspect the still badly damaged hilltop hotel overlooking the Afghan capital after it partially reopened its doors to the wary public.

Having repaired the ground floor, workmen ride up and down the landmark hotel`s plush elevators as they strip and rebuild the upper four floors that were also shot up, bombed and set alight in the raid.

The soothing piano music inside the lifts, which sales and marketing manager Rohullah Nawab said was also playing that night, provides a chilling contrast to the destruction in the hallways and rooms.

The smell of smoke permeates the upper floors where bullet-riddled mirrors, blackened walls, shattered door locks and burned carpets provide a grim reminder of the carnage caused during the 15-hour ordeal.

Clear plastic sheets are draped over furniture stacked up in some rooms as workmen paint walls, replace electrical wiring and install new windows and doors.

Nawab estimates it will take five months and around 40 million afghanis (nearly $600,000) to restore the government-owned hotel - which does not belong to the global InterContinental chain - to its former glory.

Repairing its reputation, however, will probably take much longer.

On the night of the attack 173 guests had checked into the 200-room hotel, Nawab said. Since then not a single room on the first floor - the only one undamaged in the attack - has been reserved in recent weeks since it reopened.

The ground-floor restaurant, where militants pretending to be guests launched the assault by opening fire on diners, has been repaired and every trace of the bloody incident erased.

But the buffet lunch - salads and silver dishes of hot food - had no takers when reporters visited, and Nawab said only a handful of people had dared to eat there since the assault. The hotel`s revenues have been devastated, plunging from more than one million afghanis a day to around 50,000 afghanis, Nawab said, with a couple of wedding parties and official functions providing succour.

But Nawab is confident the hotel will remain open. &quot;It`s a historical hotel. The government will never close it,&quot; he said.

To entice people back, the Intercontinental, which opened in the 1960s, has launched a publicity campaign on Afghan television talking up its history and offering discounts of up to 50 per cent on food, rooms and events.

&quot;It takes a lot of time to get back to business. It shocked the foreign community,&quot; Nawab said.

Officials remain silent over how the attack was carried out. The interior ministry has submitted a report of its investigation to President Ashraf Ghani but there has been no public announcement.

Around a dozen hotel and security staff have been detained amid speculation the Taliban may have had insider help.

The deputy head of security told last month that guards were ordered to wave through a car later revealed to be carrying militants and explosives ahead of the deadly assault.

Visitors to the hotel reported lax security before the attack - something that does not appear to have changed.

When media visited this week the privately-owned Kabul Balkh Safety &amp; Security was still manning the vehicle checkpoints on the road leading up to the hotel, the only baggage scanner was still not working, and there were no armed guards inside the hotel.

Rohullah told that the hotel was waiting for the National Directorate of Security, Afghanistan`s spy agency, to give advice on security upgrades.

Memories of the attack are still fresh in the minds of employees who returned to work several weeks after the raid.

Two waiters who jumped from the fourth floor are still in the hospital, said Nawab, who himself narrowly avoided being caught up in the shooting inside the restaurant.

At least 25 people, including 15 foreigners, were killed in the attack

The piano notes of Richard Clayderman`s "Romeo and Juliet" accompanied Taliban gunmen as they rode gold mirrored elevators to the upper floors of a luxury Kabul hotel in search of guests to kill. Stopping on nearly every floor of the Intercontinental Hotel, the heavily armed militants went from room to room, blasting away electronic door locks and shooting terrified guests during the hours-long attack on January 20. At least 25 people, including 15 foreigners, were killed. Nearly seven weeks on, media was allowed to inspect the still badly damaged hilltop hotel overlooking the Afghan capital after it partially reopened its doors to the wary public. Having repaired the ground floor, workmen ride up and down the landmark hotel`s plush elevators as they strip and rebuild the upper four floors that were also shot up, bombed and set alight in the raid. The soothing piano music inside the lifts, which sales and marketing manager Rohullah Nawab said was also playing that night, provides a chilling contrast to the destruction in the hallways and rooms. The smell of smoke permeates the upper floors where bullet-riddled mirrors, blackened walls, shattered door locks and burned carpets provide a grim reminder of the carnage caused during the 15-hour ordeal. Clear plastic sheets are draped over furniture stacked up in some rooms as workmen paint walls, replace electrical wiring and install new windows and doors. Nawab estimates it will take five months and around 40 million afghanis (nearly $600,000) to restore the government-owned hotel - which does not belong to the global InterContinental chain - to its former glory. Repairing its reputation, however, will probably take much longer. On the night of the attack 173 guests had checked into the 200-room hotel, Nawab said. Since then not a single room on the first floor - the only one undamaged in the attack - has been reserved in recent weeks since it reopened. The ground-floor restaurant, where militants pretending to be guests launched the assault by opening fire on diners, has been repaired and every trace of the bloody incident erased. But the buffet lunch - salads and silver dishes of hot food - had no takers when reporters visited, and Nawab said only a handful of people had dared to eat there since the assault. The hotel`s revenues have been devastated, plunging from more than one million afghanis a day to around 50,000 afghanis, Nawab said, with a couple of wedding parties and official functions providing succour. But Nawab is confident the hotel will remain open. "It`s a historical hotel. The government will never close it," he said. To entice people back, the Intercontinental, which opened in the 1960s, has launched a publicity campaign on Afghan television talking up its history and offering discounts of up to 50 per cent on food, rooms and events. "It takes a lot of time to get back to business. It shocked the foreign community," Nawab said. Officials remain silent over how the attack was carried out. The interior ministry has submitted a report of its investigation to President Ashraf Ghani but there has been no public announcement. Around a dozen hotel and security staff have been detained amid speculation the Taliban may have had insider help. The deputy head of security told last month that guards were ordered to wave through a car later revealed to be carrying militants and explosives ahead of the deadly assault. Visitors to the hotel reported lax security before the attack - something that does not appear to have changed. When media visited this week the privately-owned Kabul Balkh Safety & Security was still manning the vehicle checkpoints on the road leading up to the hotel, the only baggage scanner was still not working, and there were no armed guards inside the hotel. Rohullah told that the hotel was waiting for the National Directorate of Security, Afghanistan`s spy agency, to give advice on security upgrades. Memories of the attack are still fresh in the minds of employees who returned to work several weeks after the raid. Two waiters who jumped from the fourth floor are still in the hospital, said Nawab, who himself narrowly avoided being caught up in the shooting inside the restaurant.

Kabul hotel reopens after deadly attack but guests stay away

Robbers used a hacksaw to try to cut off a South African triathlete&#39;s legs when they attacked him on his way to a training session, the sportsman&#39;s colleagues said Wednesday.

A gang of three men targeted 27-year-old triathlete Mhlengi Gwala in a dawn attack in the east coast city of Durban on Tuesday before dragging him to a bush and attempting to cut off his legs.

&quot;He is currently in surgery to try and save his leg - the surgeons are confident,&quot; said Dennis Jackson, the head of South Africa&#39;s Elite Athlete Development Programme.

Gwala&#39;s friend and fellow triathlete Sandile Shange said Gwala told him that the attackers failed to cut through the bone because they had used a blunt, rusty saw.

&quot;Two guys were holding his upper body and the other guy was just was cutting the leg and I think when they got to the bone they got stuck,&quot; told Shange.

&quot;Mhlengi said the... saw they were using was very rusty and it was, like, oldish and it was not sharpened and they tried another leg.&quot;

The attackers fled when a private security patrol passed close by.

Gwala then managed to limp to the road and raise the alarm.

The motive for the attack was not immediately known.

Doctors have said &quot;he will be able to walk and run again&quot; - but it will take a long time, according to Shange.

South African 2016 Olympic triathlon medallist Henri Schoeman described the attack in a tweet as &quot;absolutely disgusting! How safe are we on South Africa&#39;s roads?&quot;

South Africa suffers some of the world&#39;s highest crime rates and faced 34 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants in 2015-16, according to the police.

The attackers fled when a private security patrol passed close by

Robbers used a hacksaw to try to cut off a South African triathlete's legs when they attacked him on his way to a training session, the sportsman's colleagues said Wednesday. A gang of three men targeted 27-year-old triathlete Mhlengi Gwala in a dawn attack in the east coast city of Durban on Tuesday before dragging him to a bush and attempting to cut off his legs. "He is currently in surgery to try and save his leg - the surgeons are confident," said Dennis Jackson, the head of South Africa's Elite Athlete Development Programme. Gwala's friend and fellow triathlete Sandile Shange said Gwala told him that the attackers failed to cut through the bone because they had used a blunt, rusty saw. "Two guys were holding his upper body and the other guy was just was cutting the leg and I think when they got to the bone they got stuck," told Shange. "Mhlengi said the... saw they were using was very rusty and it was, like, oldish and it was not sharpened and they tried another leg." The attackers fled when a private security patrol passed close by. Gwala then managed to limp to the road and raise the alarm. The motive for the attack was not immediately known. Doctors have said "he will be able to walk and run again" - but it will take a long time, according to Shange. South African 2016 Olympic triathlon medallist Henri Schoeman described the attack in a tweet as "absolutely disgusting! How safe are we on South Africa's roads?" South Africa suffers some of the world's highest crime rates and faced 34 homicides per 100,000 inhabitants in 2015-16, according to the police.

Attackers try to cut off South African triathlete's legs

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