A fidayeen (suicide) attack alert has been issued in Kashmir a day ahead of Republic Day on January 26.&nbsp;

Intelligence agencies said an attacker from Maharashtra, who is currently in the Valley, is expected to carry out a suicide bombing inside or near a Republic Day venue.&nbsp;

The agencies added that security personnel are to frisk everybody walking into the venues -- including women, since it is possible that the attacker is female.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Intelligence agencies said an attacker from Maharashtra, who is currently in the Valley, is expected to carry out a suicide bombing inside or near a Republic Day venue

A fidayeen (suicide) attack alert has been issued in Kashmir a day ahead of Republic Day on January 26. Intelligence agencies said an attacker from Maharashtra, who is currently in the Valley, is expected to carry out a suicide bombing inside or near a Republic Day venue. The agencies added that security personnel are to frisk everybody walking into the venues -- including women, since it is possible that the attacker is female.

Republic Day: Fidayeen alert issued in Kashmir

Thirty-five people were killed and at least 80 others wounded in two deadly suicide bombings in Baghdad on Monday morning.

According to reports in local media, the twin suicide bombings took place inside central Baghdad&#39;s Tayaran Square.

Tayaran is a major intersection in eastern Baghdad between Sadr city and al-Jumariyah bridge over the Euphrates.

No group has claimed responsibility for these attacks.&nbsp;

Today&#39;s bombings marked the first time this year that Baghdad has been targeted by suicide bombers.

Several social media users posted video and images, showing smoke rising from the spot.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Baghdad?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Baghdad</a>: Footage shows the aftermath of the Twin blast. Looks like a market was targeted in the early morning in central Baghdad. Absolutely Horrific <a href="https://t.co/U4rTFVhJwZ">pic.twitter.com/U4rTFVhJwZ</a>
&mdash; Nidalgazaui (@Nidalgazaui) <a href="https://twitter.com/Nidalgazaui/status/952783326464667648?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 15, 2018</a></blockquote>
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News of an explosion in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Baghdad?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Baghdad</a>&#39;s Tayaran Square near Tahrir Square with causalities reported. 
Really hoping this does not become a habit again in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Iraq?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Iraq</a> with elections approaching. <a href="https://t.co/5kYNgQfaCo">pic.twitter.com/5kYNgQfaCo</a>
&mdash; Hayder Al-Shakeri (@HayderSH) <a href="https://twitter.com/HayderSH/status/952764903986692096?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 15, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Terrible start to the week. 
 
Twin suicide bombing in Tayaran square in central Baghdad has killed 16 civilians and wounded upwards of 65 others. <a href="https://t.co/37zA1auO65">pic.twitter.com/37zA1auO65</a>
&mdash; Haidar Sumeri (@IraqiSecurity) <a href="https://twitter.com/IraqiSecurity/status/952780425390428160?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 15, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The twin suicide bombings took place inside central Baghdad's Tayaran Square

Thirty-five people were killed and at least 80 others wounded in two deadly suicide bombings in Baghdad on Monday morning. According to reports in local media, the twin suicide bombings took place inside central Baghdad's Tayaran Square. Tayaran is a major intersection in eastern Baghdad between Sadr city and al-Jumariyah bridge over the Euphrates. No group has claimed responsibility for these attacks. Today's bombings marked the first time this year that Baghdad has been targeted by suicide bombers. Several social media users posted video and images, showing smoke rising from the spot. #Baghdad: Footage shows the aftermath of the Twin blast. Looks like a market was targeted in the early morning in central Baghdad. Absolutely Horrific pic.twitter.com/U4rTFVhJwZ — Nidalgazaui (@Nidalgazaui) January 15, 2018 × News of an explosion in #Baghdad's Tayaran Square near Tahrir Square with causalities reported. Really hoping this does not become a habit again in #Iraq with elections approaching. pic.twitter.com/5kYNgQfaCo — Hayder Al-Shakeri (@HayderSH) January 15, 2018 × Terrible start to the week. Twin suicide bombing in Tayaran square in central Baghdad has killed 16 civilians and wounded upwards of 65 others. pic.twitter.com/37zA1auO65 — Haidar Sumeri (@IraqiSecurity) January 15, 2018 ×

Baghdad suicide attack: 35 killed, several injured

A former Islamic State fighter suspected of masterminding a deadly attack on Istanbul airport in 2016 was killed during a special operation in ex-Soviet Georgia last week, a spokeswoman for Georgia&#39;s state security service said on Friday.

Akhmed Chatayev was named by Turkish media and a US&nbsp;congressman as the mastermind of the suicide bombing of Istanbul airport in 2016 which killed 45 people. His involvement has not been corroborated by Turkish officials.

&quot;It&#39;s confirmed that one of those killed during the operation is Akhmed Chatayev,&quot; Nino Giorgobiani, a spokeswoman for Georgia&#39;s state security service, told a news briefing. Giorgobiani said that Chatayev blew himself up.&nbsp;

One Georgian special forces serviceman and two other members of the armed group, which was suspected of terrorism, were killed in the same operation. Four police officers were wounded and one member of the group was also arrested.

The 20-hour operation took place at an apartment block on the outskirts of the Georgian capital Tbilisi last week.

Giorgobiani declined to name the two other armed men killed or disclose the identity of the member of the group who was arrested, the group&#39;s motives, or how they got to Georgia.

&quot;The investigation is ongoing ... We continue to work with our international partners to identify the other two (armed men),&quot; Giorgobiani said.

She said that experts from the United States had been participating in the investigation.

A United Nations sanctions list describes Chatayev as a senior figure in Islamic State responsible for training Russian-speaking militants.&nbsp;

A veteran of Chechnya&#39;s conflict with Moscow during which he lost an arm, he lived in Georgia&#39;s Pankisi Gorge, a remote area populated largely by people from the Kist community, ethnic Chechens whose ancestors came to mainly Christian Georgia in the 1800s.

When, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Chechnya rose up in an armed rebellion against Moscow&#39;s rule, the Kist community were drawn to the fight. Thousands of refugees arrived from Chechnya, and some insurgents used the gorge to regroup and prepare new attacks.

Chatayev was wounded and arrested in Georgia in August 2012 following a clash between the Georgian police and a group of militants, who were allegedly trying to cross the Georgian-Russian border and move to Dagestan.

'It's confirmed that one of those killed during the operation is Akhmed Chatayev,' said Nino Giorgobiani, a spokeswoman for Georgia's state security service

A former Islamic State fighter suspected of masterminding a deadly attack on Istanbul airport in 2016 was killed during a special operation in ex-Soviet Georgia last week, a spokeswoman for Georgia's state security service said on Friday. Akhmed Chatayev was named by Turkish media and a US congressman as the mastermind of the suicide bombing of Istanbul airport in 2016 which killed 45 people. His involvement has not been corroborated by Turkish officials. "It's confirmed that one of those killed during the operation is Akhmed Chatayev," Nino Giorgobiani, a spokeswoman for Georgia's state security service, told a news briefing. Giorgobiani said that Chatayev blew himself up. One Georgian special forces serviceman and two other members of the armed group, which was suspected of terrorism, were killed in the same operation. Four police officers were wounded and one member of the group was also arrested. The 20-hour operation took place at an apartment block on the outskirts of the Georgian capital Tbilisi last week. Giorgobiani declined to name the two other armed men killed or disclose the identity of the member of the group who was arrested, the group's motives, or how they got to Georgia. "The investigation is ongoing ... We continue to work with our international partners to identify the other two (armed men)," Giorgobiani said. She said that experts from the United States had been participating in the investigation. A United Nations sanctions list describes Chatayev as a senior figure in Islamic State responsible for training Russian-speaking militants. A veteran of Chechnya's conflict with Moscow during which he lost an arm, he lived in Georgia's Pankisi Gorge, a remote area populated largely by people from the Kist community, ethnic Chechens whose ancestors came to mainly Christian Georgia in the 1800s. When, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Chechnya rose up in an armed rebellion against Moscow's rule, the Kist community were drawn to the fight. Thousands of refugees arrived from Chechnya, and some insurgents used the gorge to regroup and prepare new attacks. Chatayev was wounded and arrested in Georgia in August 2012 following a clash between the Georgian police and a group of militants, who were allegedly trying to cross the Georgian-Russian border and move to Dagestan.

Suspect in Istanbul airport bombing killed last week: Georgia

33 people were wounded by a bombing on Thursday during an amateur boxing match in a central Philippines province, the government said.

This is the second attack in Philippines on a public place by unknown perpetrators in less than a week.

On late Wednesday, an 81-millimetre mortar round was detonated remotely by a cellphone during the amateur bout outside a shopping mall in Leyte province, reports Reuters.

It followed a Christmas Eve grenade explosion outside a Catholic church that wounded 16 people on the southern island of Mindanao.

Mindanao is a Muslim-dominated region where a long-running insurgency is being fought.

Till now no suspects have been identified and no group has claimed any responsibility, the police said.

Police said there was no indication the two attacks were linked, says a report on Reuters.

President Rodrigo Duterte has warned of the threat of a proliferation of festering Islamist militancy in the Philippines and also of an infiltration by the Islamic State militant group if offensives succeed in driving its fighters out of Iraq and Syria, reports Reuters.

Duterte has also warned of vulnerability in the southern Philippines, where some splinter groups have pledged allegiance to Islamic State.

(WION, with inputs from Reuters)

It was the second attack on a public place by unknown perpetrators in less than a week

33 people were wounded by a bombing on Thursday during an amateur boxing match in a central Philippines province, the government said. This is the second attack in Philippines on a public place by unknown perpetrators in less than a week. On late Wednesday, an 81-millimetre mortar round was detonated remotely by a cellphone during the amateur bout outside a shopping mall in Leyte province, reports Reuters. It followed a Christmas Eve grenade explosion outside a Catholic church that wounded 16 people on the southern island of Mindanao. Mindanao is a Muslim-dominated region where a long-running insurgency is being fought. Till now no suspects have been identified and no group has claimed any responsibility, the police said. Police said there was no indication the two attacks were linked, says a report on Reuters. President Rodrigo Duterte has warned of the threat of a proliferation of festering Islamist militancy in the Philippines and also of an infiltration by the Islamic State militant group if offensives succeed in driving its fighters out of Iraq and Syria, reports Reuters. Duterte has also warned of vulnerability in the southern Philippines, where some splinter groups have pledged allegiance to Islamic State. (WION, with inputs from Reuters)

Mystery bombing at boxing bout wounds 33 in Philippines

At least 25&nbsp;people were killed and over 30 injured&nbsp;during&nbsp;Sunday mass inside a Cairo church today.&nbsp;

The explosion took place at St Mark&#39;s Cathedral, main Coptic Christian cathedral, in central Cairo, according to a statement by the Ministry of Health, PTI reported.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility.&nbsp;

A bomb was lobbed into a chapel near the cathedral&#39;s outer wall, PTI reported. According to officials, most of the dead are women and children.&nbsp;

The toll is likely to rise, officials said.&nbsp;

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BREAKING VIDEO inside <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/church?src=hash">#church</a> after <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BOMB?src=hash">#BOMB</a> blast <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Egypt?src=hash">#Egypt</a> at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cairo?src=hash">#Cairo</a>&rsquo;s main coptic <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Christian?src=hash">#Christian</a> cathedral Saint Marcs <a href="https://t.co/s3vhBr8R7v">pic.twitter.com/s3vhBr8R7v</a>
&mdash; Europe 2424 (@europe2424) <a href="https://twitter.com/europe2424/status/807891740380303360">December 11, 2016</a></blockquote>
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The attack came two days after six policemen were killed in an attack elsewhere in Cairo.

St Peter&#39;s Church is beside St Mark&#39;s Cathedral, which is the seat of Egypt&#39;s Orthodox Christian church and is home to the office of its spiritual leader, Pope Tawadros II.&nbsp;

The presidency has declared national mourning after the attack.&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from PTI)

The incident came two days after six policemen were killed in an attack in Cairo on Friday

At least 25 people were killed and over 30 injured during Sunday mass inside a Cairo church today. The explosion took place at St Mark's Cathedral, main Coptic Christian cathedral, in central Cairo, according to a statement by the Ministry of Health, PTI reported. There was no immediate claim of responsibility. A bomb was lobbed into a chapel near the cathedral's outer wall, PTI reported. According to officials, most of the dead are women and children. The toll is likely to rise, officials said. BREAKING VIDEO inside #church after #BOMB blast #Egypt at #Cairo’s main coptic #Christian cathedral Saint Marcs pic.twitter.com/s3vhBr8R7v — Europe 2424 (@europe2424) December 11, 2016 × The attack came two days after six policemen were killed in an attack elsewhere in Cairo. St Peter's Church is beside St Mark's Cathedral, which is the seat of Egypt's Orthodox Christian church and is home to the office of its spiritual leader, Pope Tawadros II. The presidency has declared national mourning after the attack. (WION with inputs from PTI)

Egypt bomb blast: 25 killed, 30 injured at main Coptic cathedral in Cairo

A series of bomb attacks rocked mostly Syrian government-controlled areas, leaving at least 48 people, Syrian media reported. 
 
The attacks come after Turkish forces and their allies in Syria ejected Islamic State from northern Syria. 
 
One of the bombings occurred in Tartus, a coastal city in Syria&nbsp;and also Syrian President Bashar al-Assad&#39;s stronghold. 
 
Islamic State claimed responsibility for a blast against a security post in Hasakeh. The handiwork of other bombings in Tartus, Homs city and an army checkpoint outside Damascus remains unknown.&nbsp; 
 
The&nbsp;Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitoring group, believed the attacks to be coordinated.&nbsp;

&quot;Clearly these attacks were simultaneous and they all targeted security posts,&quot; Rami Abdel Rahman, the Observatory director, told AFP. 
 
The deadliest attack occurred in Tartus, which left 30 dead and dozens injured. 
 
All the four blasts happened between 05:00 and 06:00 GMT. 
 
United States President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin met to discuss the Syrian crisis in the G20 summit in China. 
 
Later, Obama called the talks &quot;productive&quot;, while Putin said the 90-minute discussion has led to some &quot;alignment&quot; on the issue. 
 
(WION with inputs from agencies) 
 
&nbsp;

 
 
 
 
&nbsp;

&nbsp;

 
 
 
 
 
A string of bomb attacks hit across mostly government-controlled areas of&nbsp;Syria&nbsp;on Monday, killing several dozen people including at least 35 in President Bashar al-Assad&#39;s coastal stronghold of Tartus, state media said.

At least 48 people died in the multiple blasts, with dozens also wounded in the double bombing outside of Tartus city, which is home to a Russian naval base.

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for one of the blasts, against a Kurdish security post in Hasakeh, but there were no immediate claims for the other attacks in Tartus, on government-held Homs city and at an army checkpoint on a road outside Damascus.

In Tartus, two blasts targeted the Arzuna bridge, &quot;the first a car bomb and the second a suicide bomber who detonated his explosive belt when people gathered to help the wounded,&quot; according to state television.

Quoting the head of Al-Bassel hospital in Tartus, the channel said 35 people had been killed and 43 others wounded in the attack.&nbsp;

Tartus has been largely spared the worst violence of&nbsp;Syria&#39;s conflict since it began with anti-government protests in March 2011.

It has become a refuge for many Syrians fleeing the fighting that has displaced more than half the country&#39;s population.

In&nbsp;the northeast of the country, at least eight people were killed by a bomber on a motorbike in the city of Hasakeh, which is mostly controlled by Kurdish forces, though the regime is also present.

Syrian state media said the dead were six members of the Asayesh security forces and two civilians.

IS claimed the attack in a statement circulated on social media.

Hasakeh city has been regularly targeted by IS, including in July when a motorcycle bomber killed at least 16 people outside a bakery in the city.

&nbsp;

<h2>- &#39;Coordinated attacks&#39; -</h2>

&nbsp;

Monday&#39;s bombings came after advances by Turkish forces and allied Syrian rebels expelled IS from the last stretch of the Syrian-Turkish border under their control.

The jihadist group has been losing ground to both an alliance of Kurdish and Arab fighters known as the Syrian Democratic Forces and, more recently, to a Turkish offensive involving rebels loyal to Ankara.

In central Homs city, state media said at least four people were killed in a car bomb at the entrance to Al-Zahraa, a neighbourhood whose residents mostly belong to the same Alawite sect as Assad.

Al-Zahraa has also been regularly targeted in attacks, including a devastating double bomb blast in February that killed 57 people and was claimed by IS.

State television broadcast images from the aftermath of the blast in Homs, showing rubble strewn on the streets and smoke rising from the charred remains of vehicles.

Another bomb attack was also reported on Al-Sabura road west of the capital Damascus, with state media saying one person had been killed and three wounded.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitoring group, said that attack targeted a checkpoint and gave a toll of three dead.

Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman said the dead in both the Homs and Al-Sabura road attacks were government security forces manning checkpoints.

He said the blasts appeared to be coordinated.

&quot;Clearly these attacks were simultaneous and they all targeted security posts,&quot; he told AFP.

More than 290,000 people have been killed in&nbsp;Syria&nbsp;since its conflict erupted in March 2011, and millions displaced by the fighting.

Islamic State has claimed responsibility for the attack in Tartus, which is Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's base

A series of bomb attacks rocked mostly Syrian government-controlled areas, leaving at least 48 people, Syrian media reported. The attacks come after Turkish forces and their allies in Syria ejected Islamic State from northern Syria. One of the bombings occurred in Tartus, a coastal city in Syria and also Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's stronghold. Islamic State claimed responsibility for a blast against a security post in Hasakeh. The handiwork of other bombings in Tartus, Homs city and an army checkpoint outside Damascus remains unknown. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitoring group, believed the attacks to be coordinated. "Clearly these attacks were simultaneous and they all targeted security posts," Rami Abdel Rahman, the Observatory director, told AFP. The deadliest attack occurred in Tartus, which left 30 dead and dozens injured. All the four blasts happened between 05:00 and 06:00 GMT. United States President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin met to discuss the Syrian crisis in the G20 summit in China. Later, Obama called the talks "productive", while Putin said the 90-minute discussion has led to some "alignment" on the issue. (WION with inputs from agencies) A string of bomb attacks hit across mostly government-controlled areas of Syria on Monday, killing several dozen people including at least 35 in President Bashar al-Assad's coastal stronghold of Tartus, state media said. At least 48 people died in the multiple blasts, with dozens also wounded in the double bombing outside of Tartus city, which is home to a Russian naval base. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for one of the blasts, against a Kurdish security post in Hasakeh, but there were no immediate claims for the other attacks in Tartus, on government-held Homs city and at an army checkpoint on a road outside Damascus. In Tartus, two blasts targeted the Arzuna bridge, "the first a car bomb and the second a suicide bomber who detonated his explosive belt when people gathered to help the wounded," according to state television. Quoting the head of Al-Bassel hospital in Tartus, the channel said 35 people had been killed and 43 others wounded in the attack. Tartus has been largely spared the worst violence of Syria's conflict since it began with anti-government protests in March 2011. It has become a refuge for many Syrians fleeing the fighting that has displaced more than half the country's population. In the northeast of the country, at least eight people were killed by a bomber on a motorbike in the city of Hasakeh, which is mostly controlled by Kurdish forces, though the regime is also present. Syrian state media said the dead were six members of the Asayesh security forces and two civilians. IS claimed the attack in a statement circulated on social media. Hasakeh city has been regularly targeted by IS, including in July when a motorcycle bomber killed at least 16 people outside a bakery in the city. - 'Coordinated attacks' - Monday's bombings came after advances by Turkish forces and allied Syrian rebels expelled IS from the last stretch of the Syrian-Turkish border under their control. The jihadist group has been losing ground to both an alliance of Kurdish and Arab fighters known as the Syrian Democratic Forces and, more recently, to a Turkish offensive involving rebels loyal to Ankara. In central Homs city, state media said at least four people were killed in a car bomb at the entrance to Al-Zahraa, a neighbourhood whose residents mostly belong to the same Alawite sect as Assad. Al-Zahraa has also been regularly targeted in attacks, including a devastating double bomb blast in February that killed 57 people and was claimed by IS. State television broadcast images from the aftermath of the blast in Homs, showing rubble strewn on the streets and smoke rising from the charred remains of vehicles. Another bomb attack was also reported on Al-Sabura road west of the capital Damascus, with state media saying one person had been killed and three wounded. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitoring group, said that attack targeted a checkpoint and gave a toll of three dead. Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman said the dead in both the Homs and Al-Sabura road attacks were government security forces manning checkpoints. He said the blasts appeared to be coordinated. "Clearly these attacks were simultaneous and they all targeted security posts," he told AFP. More than 290,000 people have been killed in Syria since its conflict erupted in March 2011, and millions displaced by the fighting.

Multiple bombings leave at least 48 dead in Syria

North Korea has accused Washington of planning a pre-emptive nuclear strike, after the US announced it would deploy its B-1 bomber in the Pacific for the first time in a decade. 
 
The strategic aircraft were to be deployed on Saturday on the US island of Guam, the US military said last month, describing the operation as a routine rotation with the B-52 bomber.&nbsp; 
 
Tensions have been running high since North Korea carried out its fourth nuclear test in January, followed by a barrage of missile launches that this month reached Japanese waters directly for the first time.&nbsp; 
 
Pyongyang accused Washington of &quot;becoming all the more pronounced in their moves to topple down the DPRK by mobilizing all nuclear war hardware,&quot; using North Korea&#39;s official title. 
 
&quot;The enemies are bluffing that they can mount a pre-emptive nuclear strike on the DPRK by letting fly B-1B over the Korean peninsula within two-three hours in contingency,&quot; said an English-language statement on state media.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;Such moves for bolstering nuclear force exposes again that the US imperialists are making a pre-emptive nuclear strike on the DPRK a fait accompli.&quot; 
 
North Korea has threatened &quot;physical action&quot; over the planned deployment of a sophisticated US anti-missile system in South Korea, known as THAAD. 
 
Tensions on the divided Korean peninsula are also building ahead of an annual South Korea-US military exercise later this month. 
 
On July 29, the US Air Force said it would upgrade its hardware on Guam, a US territory in the western Pacific, by sending the B-1 for the first time since April 2006.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;The B-1 will provide US Pacific Command and its regional allies and partners with a credible, strategic power projection platform,&quot; it said 
in a statement.&nbsp; 
 
Pyongyang has repeatedly warned it may carry out pre-emptive nuclear strikes against the South and US targets, domestic and abroad. Ultimately, the North wants to be able to strike on the continental US.&nbsp; 
 
The secretive state, led by supreme leader Kim Jong-un, warned on Saturday it would respond to any aggression by reducing the US to a &quot;sea of flames&quot;. 
 
&quot;The ever-mounting moves of the US imperialists to ignite a nuclear war are pushing the situation on the Korean peninsula into the uncontrollable and catastrophic phase,&quot; said the KCNA statement. 
 
(AFP)

The accusation comes after US announced that it would a Bi-bomber in the Pacific on the US island of Guam

North Korea has accused Washington of planning a pre-emptive nuclear strike, after the US announced it would deploy its B-1 bomber in the Pacific for the first time in a decade. The strategic aircraft were to be deployed on Saturday on the US island of Guam, the US military said last month, describing the operation as a routine rotation with the B-52 bomber. Tensions have been running high since North Korea carried out its fourth nuclear test in January, followed by a barrage of missile launches that this month reached Japanese waters directly for the first time. Pyongyang accused Washington of "becoming all the more pronounced in their moves to topple down the DPRK by mobilizing all nuclear war hardware," using North Korea's official title. "The enemies are bluffing that they can mount a pre-emptive nuclear strike on the DPRK by letting fly B-1B over the Korean peninsula within two-three hours in contingency," said an English-language statement on state media. "Such moves for bolstering nuclear force exposes again that the US imperialists are making a pre-emptive nuclear strike on the DPRK a fait accompli." North Korea has threatened "physical action" over the planned deployment of a sophisticated US anti-missile system in South Korea, known as THAAD. Tensions on the divided Korean peninsula are also building ahead of an annual South Korea-US military exercise later this month. On July 29, the US Air Force said it would upgrade its hardware on Guam, a US territory in the western Pacific, by sending the B-1 for the first time since April 2006. "The B-1 will provide US Pacific Command and its regional allies and partners with a credible, strategic power projection platform," it said in a statement. Pyongyang has repeatedly warned it may carry out pre-emptive nuclear strikes against the South and US targets, domestic and abroad. Ultimately, the North wants to be able to strike on the continental US. The secretive state, led by supreme leader Kim Jong-un, warned on Saturday it would respond to any aggression by reducing the US to a "sea of flames". "The ever-mounting moves of the US imperialists to ignite a nuclear war are pushing the situation on the Korean peninsula into the uncontrollable and catastrophic phase," said the KCNA statement. (AFP)

North Korea: US is planning 'pre-emptive nuclear strike'

Saudi Arabia has offered to help German investigators find those behind Islamist bomb and axe attacks in July, news magazine Der Spiegel reported today, citing a senior member of the Saudi government. 
 
Saudi authorities are in contact with their German colleagues, responding to new findings that show both attackers were in close contact via a chat conversation with possible Islamic State backers from Saudi Arabia, Spiegel said. 
 
Traces of the chat, which investigators have been able to reconstruct, indicate that both men were not only influenced by but also took instructions from people, as yet unidentified, up until the attacks, the report said. 
 
The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for an attack on July 18 near Wuerzburg in Bavaria in which a 17-year-old refugee believed to be from Pakistan or Afghanistan wounded five people with an axe before police shot him dead. 
 
A twenty-seven-year-old Syrian who blew himself up in Ansbach, southern Germany on July 24 had pledged allegiance to Islamic State on a video found on his mobile phone, investigators said. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the bombing, which wounded 15 people.

Bavaria&#39;s Interior Minister said at the end of July that the Ansbach bomber had been &quot;significantly influenced&quot; in a chat conversation on his mobile phone that ended just before the attack. 
 
(Reuters)

The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for both the attacks that happened on July 18 and 24 in Germany

Saudi Arabia has offered to help German investigators find those behind Islamist bomb and axe attacks in July, news magazine Der Spiegel reported today, citing a senior member of the Saudi government. Saudi authorities are in contact with their German colleagues, responding to new findings that show both attackers were in close contact via a chat conversation with possible Islamic State backers from Saudi Arabia, Spiegel said. Traces of the chat, which investigators have been able to reconstruct, indicate that both men were not only influenced by but also took instructions from people, as yet unidentified, up until the attacks, the report said. The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for an attack on July 18 near Wuerzburg in Bavaria in which a 17-year-old refugee believed to be from Pakistan or Afghanistan wounded five people with an axe before police shot him dead. A twenty-seven-year-old Syrian who blew himself up in Ansbach, southern Germany on July 24 had pledged allegiance to Islamic State on a video found on his mobile phone, investigators said. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the bombing, which wounded 15 people. Bavaria's Interior Minister said at the end of July that the Ansbach bomber had been "significantly influenced" in a chat conversation on his mobile phone that ended just before the attack. (Reuters)

Saudi?Arabia?to?help?Germany?investigate?attacks, reports Spiegel

Japan today marked 71 years since the city of Hiroshima was destroyed by a US atomic bomb, as its mayor urged the world to unite in abolishing nuclear weapons. 
 
The annual ceremony came just months after Barack Obama became the first sitting US president to visit the western Japanese city, paying moving tribute to victims of the devastating bomb. 
 
American B-29 bomber Enola Gay dropped its deadly payload, dubbed &quot;Little Boy&quot;, on Hiroshima at 8:15 am local time on August 6, 1945.&nbsp; 
 
Much of the city was incinerated by a wall of heat up to 4,000 C (7,232 F) -- hot enough to melt steel -- killing tens of thousands. 
 
About 50,000 participants, including Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and representatives of more than 90 countries and regions, observed a minute`s silence at the exact time the atrocity occurred some seven decades ago. 
 
During the solemn ceremony, Hiroshima mayor Kazumi Matsui recalled the visit by Obama in his peace declaration, citing the president&#39;s historic speech. 
 
&quot;(His visit) was the proof that Hiroshima`s strong wish not to tolerate the &#39;absolute evil&#39; was shared by President Obama,&quot; he said. 
 
The mayor urged the world to take action towards the abolition of &quot;the ultimate form of inhumanity, united and with passion&quot;.&nbsp; 
 
Obama in May embraced survivors as he made his visit to the city and the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. 
 
&quot;Seventy-one years ago, death fell from the sky and the world was changed,&quot; he said of the bomb, adding it &quot;demonstrated that mankind possessed the means to destroy itself&quot;. 
 
Obama offered no apology for the bombings, having insisted he would not revisit decisions made by then president Harry Truman. 
 
But his moving tribute and brief conversations with elderly survivors, which included an unexpected embrace with one of them, profoundly impressed most Japanese. 
 
Abe, after lying a wreath of flowers, reiterated Saturday that Tokyo will continue working to rid the world of nuclear weapons. 
 
&quot;I am convinced (Obama`s visit) brought a great hope for people in Japan, in the world and in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, who believe in a world without nuclear arms,&quot; he said. 
 
The bombing claimed the lives of 140,000 people. Some died immediately while others succumbed to injuries or radiation-related illnesses weeks, months and years later. 
 
A second bomb destroyed the city of Nagasaki three days later. Japan announced its surrender in World War II on August 15. 
 
Many in Japan feel the attacks amount to war crimes and atrocities because they targeted civilians and due to the unprecedented destructive nature of the weapons. 
 
But many Americans believe they hastened the end of a bloody conflict, and ultimately saved lives, thus justifying the bombings. 
 
Since Obama went to Hiroshima, the park and accompanying memorial museum have witnessed an increase in visitors. 
 
But an association of atomic bomb survivors has criticised his speech, saying he failed to explicitly mention US responsibility for the bombing. 
 
Abe last year faced harsh criticism, especially from A-bomb survivors, for his policy of expanding the role of Japan`s military and opening the door to possibly sending troops into combat for the first time since the war. 
 
In his latest cabinet reshuffle, Abe appointed nationalist confidante Tomomi Inada as defence minister. 
 
(AFP)

American B-29 bomber Enola Gay dropped deadly payload, 'Little Boy', on Hiroshima at 8.15 am on August 6, 1945 that killed 140,000

Japan today marked 71 years since the city of Hiroshima was destroyed by a US atomic bomb, as its mayor urged the world to unite in abolishing nuclear weapons. The annual ceremony came just months after Barack Obama became the first sitting US president to visit the western Japanese city, paying moving tribute to victims of the devastating bomb. American B-29 bomber Enola Gay dropped its deadly payload, dubbed "Little Boy", on Hiroshima at 8:15 am local time on August 6, 1945. Much of the city was incinerated by a wall of heat up to 4,000 C (7,232 F) -- hot enough to melt steel -- killing tens of thousands. About 50,000 participants, including Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and representatives of more than 90 countries and regions, observed a minute`s silence at the exact time the atrocity occurred some seven decades ago. During the solemn ceremony, Hiroshima mayor Kazumi Matsui recalled the visit by Obama in his peace declaration, citing the president's historic speech. "(His visit) was the proof that Hiroshima`s strong wish not to tolerate the 'absolute evil' was shared by President Obama," he said. The mayor urged the world to take action towards the abolition of "the ultimate form of inhumanity, united and with passion". Obama in May embraced survivors as he made his visit to the city and the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. "Seventy-one years ago, death fell from the sky and the world was changed," he said of the bomb, adding it "demonstrated that mankind possessed the means to destroy itself". Obama offered no apology for the bombings, having insisted he would not revisit decisions made by then president Harry Truman. But his moving tribute and brief conversations with elderly survivors, which included an unexpected embrace with one of them, profoundly impressed most Japanese. Abe, after lying a wreath of flowers, reiterated Saturday that Tokyo will continue working to rid the world of nuclear weapons. "I am convinced (Obama`s visit) brought a great hope for people in Japan, in the world and in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, who believe in a world without nuclear arms," he said. The bombing claimed the lives of 140,000 people. Some died immediately while others succumbed to injuries or radiation-related illnesses weeks, months and years later. A second bomb destroyed the city of Nagasaki three days later. Japan announced its surrender in World War II on August 15. Many in Japan feel the attacks amount to war crimes and atrocities because they targeted civilians and due to the unprecedented destructive nature of the weapons. But many Americans believe they hastened the end of a bloody conflict, and ultimately saved lives, thus justifying the bombings. Since Obama went to Hiroshima, the park and accompanying memorial museum have witnessed an increase in visitors. But an association of atomic bomb survivors has criticised his speech, saying he failed to explicitly mention US responsibility for the bombing. Abe last year faced harsh criticism, especially from A-bomb survivors, for his policy of expanding the role of Japan`s military and opening the door to possibly sending troops into combat for the first time since the war. In his latest cabinet reshuffle, Abe appointed nationalist confidante Tomomi Inada as defence minister. (AFP)

Japan marks 71 years of Hiroshima bombing

Japan, on Saturday, marked 71 years since the city of Hiroshima was destroyed by a US atomic bomb, as its mayor urged the world to unite in abolishing nuclear weapons. 
 
The annual ceremony came just months after Barack Obama became the first sitting US president to visit the city, paying moving tribute to victims of the first atomic bomb. 
 
American B-29 bomber Enola Gay dropped its deadly payload, dubbed &quot;Little Boy&quot;, on the western Japanese city at 8:15 am local time on August 6, 1945.&nbsp;Much of the city was incinerated by a wall of heat up to 4,000 degrees Celsius (7,232 Fahrenheit), hot enough to melt steel, killing tens of thousands. 
 
Hiroshima mayor Kazumi Matsui recalled the visit by Obama in his peace declaration during the solemn ceremony.&nbsp;&quot;(His visit) was the proof that Hiroshima&#39;s strong wish not to tolerate the &#39;absolute evil&#39; was shared by President Obama,&quot; he said. &quot;It is the time for us to make actions towards the abolition of the &#39;absolute evil&#39;, the ultimate form of inhumanity, united and with passion.&quot; 
 
The bombing claimed the lives of 140,000 people. Some died immediately while others succumbed to injuries or radiation-related illnesses weeks, months and years later. 
 
A second bomb destroyed the city of Nagasaki three days later. Japan announced its surrender in World War II on August 15. 
 
Many in Japan feel the attacks amount to war crimes and atrocities because they targeted civilians and due to the unprecedented destructive nature of the weapons.&nbsp;But many Americans believe they hastened the end of a bloody conflict, and ultimately saved lives, thus justifying the bombings. 
 
Obama, in May, embraced survivors as he made his historic visit to the city and its Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. 
 
&quot;71 years ago, death fell from the sky and the world was changed,&quot; he said of the bomb, adding it &quot;demonstrated that mankind possessed the means to destroy itself&quot;. 
 
Obama offered no apology for the bombings, having insisted he would not revisit decisions made by then president Harry Truman.&nbsp;But his moving tribute and brief conversations with elderly atom bomb survivors, which included an unexpected embrace with one of them, profoundly impressed most Japanese. 
 
Since Obama went to Hiroshima the park and accompanying memorial museum have witnessed an increase in visitors. 
 
But an association of atomic bomb survivors has criticised his speech, saying he failed to explicitly mention US responsibility for the bombing.&nbsp;Abe, who also attended the service, faced harsh criticism last year, especially from A-bomb survivors, for his policy of expanding the role of Japan&#39;s military and opening the door to possibly sending troops into combat for the first time since the war. 
 
(AFP)

Much of the city was incinerated by a wall of heat up to 4,000 degrees Celsius. 140,000 died, some immediately, some weeks and years later

Japan, on Saturday, marked 71 years since the city of Hiroshima was destroyed by a US atomic bomb, as its mayor urged the world to unite in abolishing nuclear weapons. The annual ceremony came just months after Barack Obama became the first sitting US president to visit the city, paying moving tribute to victims of the first atomic bomb. American B-29 bomber Enola Gay dropped its deadly payload, dubbed "Little Boy", on the western Japanese city at 8:15 am local time on August 6, 1945. Much of the city was incinerated by a wall of heat up to 4,000 degrees Celsius (7,232 Fahrenheit), hot enough to melt steel, killing tens of thousands. Hiroshima mayor Kazumi Matsui recalled the visit by Obama in his peace declaration during the solemn ceremony. "(His visit) was the proof that Hiroshima's strong wish not to tolerate the 'absolute evil' was shared by President Obama," he said. "It is the time for us to make actions towards the abolition of the 'absolute evil', the ultimate form of inhumanity, united and with passion." The bombing claimed the lives of 140,000 people. Some died immediately while others succumbed to injuries or radiation-related illnesses weeks, months and years later. A second bomb destroyed the city of Nagasaki three days later. Japan announced its surrender in World War II on August 15. Many in Japan feel the attacks amount to war crimes and atrocities because they targeted civilians and due to the unprecedented destructive nature of the weapons. But many Americans believe they hastened the end of a bloody conflict, and ultimately saved lives, thus justifying the bombings. Obama, in May, embraced survivors as he made his historic visit to the city and its Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. "71 years ago, death fell from the sky and the world was changed," he said of the bomb, adding it "demonstrated that mankind possessed the means to destroy itself". Obama offered no apology for the bombings, having insisted he would not revisit decisions made by then president Harry Truman. But his moving tribute and brief conversations with elderly atom bomb survivors, which included an unexpected embrace with one of them, profoundly impressed most Japanese. Since Obama went to Hiroshima the park and accompanying memorial museum have witnessed an increase in visitors. But an association of atomic bomb survivors has criticised his speech, saying he failed to explicitly mention US responsibility for the bombing. Abe, who also attended the service, faced harsh criticism last year, especially from A-bomb survivors, for his policy of expanding the role of Japan's military and opening the door to possibly sending troops into combat for the first time since the war. (AFP)

Japan observes 71st anniversary of Hiroshima nuclear bombing

At least seven people, including two attackers, were killed in a bombing and shooting attack by the Islamist al Shabaab group on Somalia&#39;s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters today, police said. 
 
&quot;We have confirmed seven dead, including civilians and two militants,&quot; Ali Mohamed, a police officer, told Reuters. 
 
He said police had killed two gunmen who stormed into the building in the capital after two car bombs exploded outside. 
 
(Reuters)

Police killed the two Islamist al Shabaab militants, who stormed into the building after two car bombs exploded outside

At least seven people, including two attackers, were killed in a bombing and shooting attack by the Islamist al Shabaab group on Somalia's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) headquarters today, police said. "We have confirmed seven dead, including civilians and two militants," Ali Mohamed, a police officer, told Reuters. He said police had killed two gunmen who stormed into the building in the capital after two car bombs exploded outside. (Reuters)

7 killed in attack on Somalia's central investigation department headquarters

The Afghan Taliban today condemned a deadly suicide bombing at Islam`s second holiest site in the Saudi city of Medina, describing it as &quot;an act of enmity and hatred&quot;.&nbsp; 
 
Four people were killed in the bombing outside the Prophet`s Mosque on Monday, the same day as an attack outside a minority shiite mosque in eastern Saudi Arabia, and another near the US consulate in the western city of Jeddah.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;The Islamic Emirate (Taliban) &nbsp;which has been shocked by this gruesome act condemns this incident in the strongest of terms and considers it an act of enmity and hatred towards Islamic rituals,&quot; the militant group said in an emailed statement.&nbsp; 
 
There were no claims of responsibility for the bombings, but the Islamic State group had urged its supporters to carry out attacks during Ramzan. 
 
The Taliban, who were ousted from power by a US-led invasion in late 2001, have themselves been repeatedly blamed by the UN for deliberately targeting civilians in the war-torn country.&nbsp; 
 
As many as 600 civilians were killed and 1,343 were injured in the first three months of 2016, according to a UN report in April, with the Taliban responsible for six out of every 10 casualties.&nbsp; 
 
Monday`s suicide bombing received wide condemnation from across the Muslim world, with Shiite power Iran calling for Muslim unity following the attacks in its Sunni-dominated regional rival. 
 
Afghanistan`s Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah also condemned the attacks in Saudi Arabia in a tweet today, expressing his sympathies to the people and government of Saudi Arabia. 
 
(AFP) 
 
&nbsp;

Four people were killed in the attack outside the Prophet`s Mosque on Monday

The Afghan Taliban today condemned a deadly suicide bombing at Islam`s second holiest site in the Saudi city of Medina, describing it as "an act of enmity and hatred". Four people were killed in the bombing outside the Prophet`s Mosque on Monday, the same day as an attack outside a minority shiite mosque in eastern Saudi Arabia, and another near the US consulate in the western city of Jeddah. "The Islamic Emirate (Taliban) which has been shocked by this gruesome act condemns this incident in the strongest of terms and considers it an act of enmity and hatred towards Islamic rituals," the militant group said in an emailed statement. There were no claims of responsibility for the bombings, but the Islamic State group had urged its supporters to carry out attacks during Ramzan. The Taliban, who were ousted from power by a US-led invasion in late 2001, have themselves been repeatedly blamed by the UN for deliberately targeting civilians in the war-torn country. As many as 600 civilians were killed and 1,343 were injured in the first three months of 2016, according to a UN report in April, with the Taliban responsible for six out of every 10 casualties. Monday`s suicide bombing received wide condemnation from across the Muslim world, with Shiite power Iran calling for Muslim unity following the attacks in its Sunni-dominated regional rival. Afghanistan`s Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah also condemned the attacks in Saudi Arabia in a tweet today, expressing his sympathies to the people and government of Saudi Arabia. (AFP)

Afghan Taliban condemn Medina bombing

Nearly 120 people were killed and 200 wounded in two bombings overnight in Baghdad, most of them in a busy shopping area as residents celebrated Ramzan, police and medical sources said on Sunday. 
 
The attack on the shopping area of Karrada is the deadliest since US-backed Iraqi forces last month scored a major victory when it dislodged Islamic State from their stronghold of Fallujah, an hour&#39;s drive West of the capital. It is also the deadliest so far this year. 
 
Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi had ordered the offensive after a series of deadly bombings in Baghdad, saying Fallujah served as a launchpad for such attacks on the capital. However, bombings have continued.&nbsp; 
 
A convoy carrying Abadi who had come to tour the site of the bombings was pelted with stones and bottles by residents, angry at what they felt were false promises of better security.&nbsp; 
 
A refrigerator truck packed with explosives blew up in the central district of Karrada, killing 115 people and injuring at least 200. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement circulated online by supporters of the ultra-hard line Sunni group. It said the blast was a suicide bombing. 
 
Karrada was busy at the time as Iraqis eat out and shop late during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which ends next week with the Eid al-Fitr festival.&nbsp; 
 
Videos posted on social media showed people running after the SUV convoy of Abadi as he departed Karrada after touring the scene, throwing pavement stones, bottles of water, empty buckets and slippers, venting their anger at the inability of the security forces to protect the area. 
 
Another video posted on social media showed a large blaze in the main street of Karrada, a largely Shi`ite district with a small Christian community and a few Sunni mosques. 
 
Reuters TV footage taken in the morning showed at least four buildings severely damaged or partly collapsed, including a shopping mall believed to be the target, and gutted cars scattered all around.&nbsp; 
 
The toll climbed during the day as rescuers pulled out more bodies from under the rubble and people succumbed from their injuries. 
Comments posted on social media accused security forces of continuing to use fake bomb detectors at checkpoints filtering traffic in Baghdad, five years after the scandal broke out about a device commonly known as the `magic wand`. 
 
A police officer in Baghdad confirmed these hand-held ADE 651 detectors were still in use. They were sold to Iraq and other nations by a British businessman who was jailed for 10 years in 2013 in the United Kingdom for endangering lives for profit. 
 
AL SHAAB ATTACK 
In a second attack, a roadside explosive device also blew up around midnight in a market in al-Shaab, a Shi&#39;ite district in the North of the capital, killing at least two people, police and medical sources said. 
 
Iraqi forces on June 26 declared the defeat of IS militants in Fallujah, a historic bastion of Sunni insurgency, following a month of fighting. 
 
Now the militants were &quot;trying to compensate for their humiliating defeat in Falluja,&quot; said Jasim al-Bahadli, a former army officer and security analyst in Baghdad. 
 
&quot;It was a mistake for the government to think that the source of the bombings was restricted to just one area,&quot; he said. &quot;There are sleeper cells that operate independently from each other.&quot; 
 
Fallujah was the first Iraqi city to fall to Islamic State in January 2014. Abadi said the next target of the Iraqi forces is Mosul, the de facto capital of the militants and the largest city under their control in both Iraq and Syria. 
 
(Reuters) 
 
 
&nbsp;

The suicide car bombing and roadside explosion also injured almost 200. Islamic State claimed responsibility

Nearly 120 people were killed and 200 wounded in two bombings overnight in Baghdad, most of them in a busy shopping area as residents celebrated Ramzan, police and medical sources said on Sunday. The attack on the shopping area of Karrada is the deadliest since US-backed Iraqi forces last month scored a major victory when it dislodged Islamic State from their stronghold of Fallujah, an hour's drive West of the capital. It is also the deadliest so far this year. Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi had ordered the offensive after a series of deadly bombings in Baghdad, saying Fallujah served as a launchpad for such attacks on the capital. However, bombings have continued. A convoy carrying Abadi who had come to tour the site of the bombings was pelted with stones and bottles by residents, angry at what they felt were false promises of better security. A refrigerator truck packed with explosives blew up in the central district of Karrada, killing 115 people and injuring at least 200. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement circulated online by supporters of the ultra-hard line Sunni group. It said the blast was a suicide bombing. Karrada was busy at the time as Iraqis eat out and shop late during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which ends next week with the Eid al-Fitr festival. Videos posted on social media showed people running after the SUV convoy of Abadi as he departed Karrada after touring the scene, throwing pavement stones, bottles of water, empty buckets and slippers, venting their anger at the inability of the security forces to protect the area. Another video posted on social media showed a large blaze in the main street of Karrada, a largely Shi`ite district with a small Christian community and a few Sunni mosques. Reuters TV footage taken in the morning showed at least four buildings severely damaged or partly collapsed, including a shopping mall believed to be the target, and gutted cars scattered all around. The toll climbed during the day as rescuers pulled out more bodies from under the rubble and people succumbed from their injuries. Comments posted on social media accused security forces of continuing to use fake bomb detectors at checkpoints filtering traffic in Baghdad, five years after the scandal broke out about a device commonly known as the `magic wand`. A police officer in Baghdad confirmed these hand-held ADE 651 detectors were still in use. They were sold to Iraq and other nations by a British businessman who was jailed for 10 years in 2013 in the United Kingdom for endangering lives for profit. AL SHAAB ATTACK In a second attack, a roadside explosive device also blew up around midnight in a market in al-Shaab, a Shi'ite district in the North of the capital, killing at least two people, police and medical sources said. Iraqi forces on June 26 declared the defeat of IS militants in Fallujah, a historic bastion of Sunni insurgency, following a month of fighting. Now the militants were "trying to compensate for their humiliating defeat in Falluja," said Jasim al-Bahadli, a former army officer and security analyst in Baghdad. "It was a mistake for the government to think that the source of the bombings was restricted to just one area," he said. "There are sleeper cells that operate independently from each other." Fallujah was the first Iraqi city to fall to Islamic State in January 2014. Abadi said the next target of the Iraqi forces is Mosul, the de facto capital of the militants and the largest city under their control in both Iraq and Syria. (Reuters)

Death toll in Baghdad twin bombing rises to 120

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