Short Takes

South Pakistan hit by power cut
BBC, Karachi: A major power failure plunged large parts of southern Pakistan into darkness on Tuesday night.
Worst affected was the port city of Karachi, a city of 20 million, where many people spent a sleepless night because of warm and humid weather.
The city's privately-run power company, K-Electric, said the disruption had been caused by a fault in the distribution system. The company said engineers were working to fully restore the service.

Bodies of WWII US Marines found    
AFP, WELLINGTON: The bodies of 36 US Marines have been found on a remote Pacific island more than 70 years after they died in a bloody World War II battle, a member of the recovery team said.
The remains of the men were discovered after a four-month excavation on Betio Island in Kiribati, director of US charity History Flight Inc., Mark Noah, told Radio New Zealand. Noah, whose organisation worked with the US Defense Department on the project, said the men were killed during the Battle of Tarawa in 1943.

60 Syrians trained to fight IS
AFP, WASHINGTON: Only about 60 Syrian rebels are being trained by the United States to take on the Islamic State group, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said Tuesday, admitting it was far below the number hoped for.
The disclosure is likely to add to criticism of the Obama administration's military strategy, with US Senator John McCain saying that the United States was "losing" the fight against the extremists, who have overrun large areas of Syria and Iraq.

Mortar round kills 5 Egyptians
AFP, CAIRO: Five Egyptian civilians were killed yesterday when a mortar round hit a house in a North Sinai village where the army is battling jihadist insurgents, security officials said.
It was not immediately clear who fired the projectile, which also wounded four people. Both soldiers and militants use mortars in skirmishes.

Short Takes

South Pakistan hit by power cut BBC, Karachi: A major power failure plunged large parts of southern Pakistan into darkness on Tuesday night. Worst affected was the port city of Karachi, a city of 20 million, where many people spent a sleepless night because of warm and humid weather. The citys privately-run power company, K-Electric, said the disruption had been caused by a fault in the distribution system. The company said engineers were working to fully restore the service. Bodies of WWII US Marines found AFP, WELLINGTON: The bodies of 36 US Marines have been found on a remote Pacific island more than 70 years after they died in a bloody World War II battle, a member of the recovery team said. The remains of the men were discovered after a four-month excavation on Betio Island in Kiribati, director of US charity History Flight Inc., Mark Noah, told Radio New Zealand. Noah, whose organisation worked with the US Defense Department on the project, said the men were killed during the Battle of Tarawa in 1943. 60 Syrians trained to fight IS AFP, WASHINGTON: Only about 60 Syrian rebels are being trained by the United States to take on the Islamic State group, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said Tuesday, admitting it was far below the number hoped for. The disclosure is likely to add to criticism of the Obama administrations military strategy, with US Senator John McCain saying that the United States was losing the fight against the extremists, who have overrun large areas of Syria and Iraq. Mortar round kills 5 Egyptians AFP, CAIRO: Five Egyptian civilians were killed yesterday when a mortar round hit a house in a North Sinai village where the army is battling jihadist insurgents, security officials said. It was not immediately clear who fired the projectile, which also wounded four people. Both soldiers and militants use mortars in skirmishes.