News in brief

IS kills two police in Egypt’s Sinai
AFP, CAIRO: Gunmen killed two Egyptian policemen Wednesday in the Sinai Peninsula, the interior ministry said, in an attack claimed by Islamic State group jihadists.
Egypt’s security forces have come under regular attack since the military ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi two years ago. In Wednesday’s attack in El-Arish, the capital of North Sinai province, “unidentified assailants on a motorbike opened fire on two police, who died of their wounds,” the interior ministry said in a statement. The attackers managed to escape, according to security officials.

Kuwait summons Iran envoy
AFP, KUWAIT CITY: Kuwait has summoned an Iranian envoy to protest Tehran’s apparent offer of investment opportunities in the disputed Dorra gas field, state media reported yesterday.
The move followed a report by the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) about investment possibilities in the Islamic republic, which “covered areas located near the Kuwaiti oilfield,” the KUNA news agency said. An official at Kuwait’s foreign ministry said Iran’s charge d’affaires was summoned on Sunday and was handed a letter of protest, according to the report.
“The ministry is taking all necessary measures to protect Kuwait’s interests and rights, and maintain neighbourly ties with all countries of the region,” the official said.

Iran film epic about prophet postponed
AFP, TEHRAN: The eagerly awaited premiere of Iran’s multimillion-dollar film “Muhammad” about the childhood of the prophet was postponed Wednesday for 24 hours due to technical problems, a spokesman said.
The huge production cost an estimated $40 million and took more than seven years to complete. The 171-minute film, which stars many top Iranian actors, was due to show in around 140 theatres throughout Iran on Wednesday, the day before it opens the Montreal Film Festival. But it will now be screened in Tehran on Thursday, just as in Canada, a spokesman for the film told AFP.

Two NATO soldiers killed in Afghanistan
AFP, KABUL: Men wearing Afghan military uniforms shot dead two NATO soldiers in the country’s south yesterday, the coalition said, the first insider attack on foreign troops since the Taliban’s bitter power transition.
So-called “green-on-blue” attacks—when Afghan soldiers or police turn their guns on international troops—have been a major problem during NATO’s long years fighting alongside Afghan forces.
No group has so far claimed responsibility for Wednesday’s attack in the volatile province of Helmand.
It was the first such incident since Mullah Akhtar Mansour was named the new Taliban chief following the announcement of the death of longtime leader Mullah Omar.

‘Maoist’ rebels kill 3 troopers in India
AFP, NEW DELHI: Suspected Maoist rebels killed three paramilitary troopers and injured another six in an ambush in eastern India yesterday, a police officer said.
After triggering a landmine, the rebels opened fire with assault rifles on a Border Security Force convoy in a forested area of Orissa state, district police chief Mitrabhanu Mahapatra said.
“Two troopers died on the spot and another was declared dead at the hospital,” Mahapatra told AFP by phone from Malkangiri district where the attack occurred, some 640 kilometres (400 miles) from the state capital Bhubaneswar.

 

News in brief

IS kills two police in Egypts Sinai AFP, CAIRO: Gunmen killed two Egyptian policemen Wednesday in the Sinai Peninsula, the interior ministry said, in an attack claimed by Islamic State group jihadists. Egypts security forces have come under regular attack since the military ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi two years ago. In Wednesdays attack in El-Arish, the capital of North Sinai province, unidentified assailants on a motorbike opened fire on two police, who died of their wounds, the interior ministry said in a statement. The attackers managed to escape, according to security officials. Kuwait summons Iran envoy AFP, KUWAIT CITY: Kuwait has summoned an Iranian envoy to protest Tehrans apparent offer of investment opportunities in the disputed Dorra gas field, state media reported yesterday. The move followed a report by the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) about investment possibilities in the Islamic republic, which covered areas located near the Kuwaiti oilfield, the KUNA news agency said. An official at Kuwaits foreign ministry said Irans charge daffaires was summoned on Sunday and was handed a letter of protest, according to the report. The ministry is taking all necessary measures to protect Kuwaits interests and rights, and maintain neighbourly ties with all countries of the region, the official said. Iran film epic about prophet postponed AFP, TEHRAN: The eagerly awaited premiere of Irans multimillion-dollar film Muhammad about the childhood of the prophet was postponed Wednesday for 24 hours due to technical problems, a spokesman said. The huge production cost an estimated $40 million and took more than seven years to complete. The 171-minute film, which stars many top Iranian actors, was due to show in around 140 theatres throughout Iran on Wednesday, the day before it opens the Montreal Film Festival. But it will now be screened in Tehran on Thursday, just as in Canada, a spokesman for the film told AFP. Two NATO soldiers killed in Afghanistan AFP, KABUL: Men wearing Afghan military uniforms shot dead two NATO soldiers in the countrys south yesterday, the coalition said, the first insider attack on foreign troops since the Talibans bitter power transition. So-called green-on-blue attackswhen Afghan soldiers or police turn their guns on international troopshave been a major problem during NATOs long years fighting alongside Afghan forces. No group has so far claimed responsibility for Wednesdays attack in the volatile province of Helmand. It was the first such incident since Mullah Akhtar Mansour was named the new Taliban chief following the announcement of the death of longtime leader Mullah Omar. Maoist rebels kill 3 troopers in India AFP, NEW DELHI: Suspected Maoist rebels killed three paramilitary troopers and injured another six in an ambush in eastern India yesterday, a police officer said. After triggering a landmine, the rebels opened fire with assault rifles on a Border Security Force convoy in a forested area of Orissa state, district police chief Mitrabhanu Mahapatra said. Two troopers died on the spot and another was declared dead at the hospital, Mahapatra told AFP by phone from Malkangiri district where the attack occurred, some 640 kilometres (400 miles) from the state capital Bhubaneswar.