News in brief

8 children among 15 civilians killed by mine in Afghanistan

AFP, Kabul

Fifteen civilians, including eight children, were killed Wednesday when their vehicle hit a land mine in Kunduz province in northern Afghanistan, a government official said. “At around 5:00 pm this evening a mine planted by the Taliban terrorists hit a civilian car... killing 15 civilians and wounding two more,” said Nasrat Rahimi, an interior ministry spokesman. Six women and a man were also among those killed in the blast in Kunduz, on the country’s northern border with Tajikistan, Rahimi said.

sri Lanka probes abduction of Swiss embassy staffer

AFP, Colombo

Sri Lanka’s foreign ministry said yesterday it was investigating a Swiss complaint that one of its embassy staff in Colombo had been abducted and forced to hand over sensitive information. Switzerland’s ambassador in Colombo has protested to Sri Lanka’s Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena over the case, the Swiss foreign ministry said.

Thousands march in Colombia to keep pressure on Duque

AFP, Bogota

Colombian unions marked their second general strike in a week on Wednesday as tens of thousands poured onto the streets in protest against the government of right-wing President Ivan Duque. Public transport was largely shut down and shops and offices closed in the center of the capital as a series of protests that began with a 250,000-strong march last Thursday continued for a seventh consecutive day.

Court grants top Pak general more time in power

AFP, Islamabad

Pakistan’s Supreme Court gave the country’s army chief a reprieve yesterday, allowing him to hold on to power for at least six more months after a days-long legal battle posed unprecedented questions about the nuclear-armed nation’s most powerful institution. General Qamar Javed Bajwa has served three years in his role, arguably the highest authority in the country, and in August Prime Minister Imran Khan asked him to extend his tenure and serve another three.

40 dead as families pulled from Albania earthquake rubble

AFP, Durrës, Albania

The death toll from the most powerful earthquake to strike Albania in decades rose to 40 yesterday after more bodies were pulled from the wreckage overnight in a tragedy that has wiped out whole families. The 6.4 magnitude earthquake rocked the Balkan state while people were sleeping just before 4:00 am (0300 GMT) on Tuesday, razing buildings and trapping victims beneath the debris in towns near the Adriatic coast.

 

News in brief

8 children among 15 civilians killed by mine in Afghanistan AFP, Kabul Fifteen civilians, including eight children, were killed Wednesday when their vehicle hit a land mine in Kunduz province in northern Afghanistan, a government official said. At around 5:00 pm this evening a mine planted by the Taliban terrorists hit a civilian car... killing 15 civilians and wounding two more, said Nasrat Rahimi, an interior ministry spokesman. Six women and a man were also among those killed in the blast in Kunduz, on the countrys northern border with Tajikistan, Rahimi said. sri Lanka probes abduction of Swiss embassy staffer AFP, Colombo Sri Lankas foreign ministry said yesterday it was investigating a Swiss complaint that one of its embassy staff in Colombo had been abducted and forced to hand over sensitive information. Switzerlands ambassador in Colombo has protested to Sri Lankas Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa and Foreign Minister Dinesh Gunawardena over the case, the Swiss foreign ministry said. Thousands march in Colombia to keep pressure on Duque AFP, Bogota Colombian unions marked their second general strike in a week on Wednesday as tens of thousands poured onto the streets in protest against the government of right-wing President Ivan Duque. Public transport was largely shut down and shops and offices closed in the center of the capital as a series of protests that began with a 250,000-strong march last Thursday continued for a seventh consecutive day. Court grants top Pak general more time in power AFP, Islamabad Pakistans Supreme Court gave the countrys army chief a reprieve yesterday, allowing him to hold on to power for at least six more months after a days-long legal battle posed unprecedented questions about the nuclear-armed nations most powerful institution. General Qamar Javed Bajwa has served three years in his role, arguably the highest authority in the country, and in August Prime Minister Imran Khan asked him to extend his tenure and serve another three. 40 dead as families pulled from Albania earthquake rubble AFP, Durrs, Albania The death toll from the most powerful earthquake to strike Albania in decades rose to 40 yesterday after more bodies were pulled from the wreckage overnight in a tragedy that has wiped out whole families. The 6.4 magnitude earthquake rocked the Balkan state while people were sleeping just before 4:00 am (0300 GMT) on Tuesday, razing buildings and trapping victims beneath the debris in towns near the Adriatic coast.