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Man torches wife for bad curry

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man-sets-on-fire-wife

Mailardevpally: In a bizarre incident on Thursday in Hyderabad’s Mailardevpally area, a labourer set his wife ablaze over a bad mutton curry which she cooked for him, according to reports.

The victim identified as Sulochana, worked as a maid reported The Hindu.

The woman prepared the curry and served it to Shanker Rao. The man, who was in an inebriated state, picked up a quarrel with the woman and argued that the mutton curry did not taste good. He later assaulted the woman and set her ablaze after dousing her with kerosene, the daily quoted S. Venkat Reddy, Inspector of Mailardevpally Police Station.

The woman was rushed to a hospital where she succumbed to death.

The police have detained the man, Shankar Rao, and several charges have been brought against him including murder.

(Agencies)

More than 11,100 Iraqis killed in 2015: UN

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Iraqi mourners carry the body of one of the soldiers who were killed the previous day in a so-called friendly fire from a US-led coalition aircraft west of Baghdad, on December 19, 2015 during a funeral in the Shia holy city of Najaf. (AFP/Haidar Hamdani)

Iraqi mourners carry the body of one of the soldiers who were killed the previous day in a so-called friendly fire from a US-led coalition aircraft west of Baghdad, on December 19, 2015 during a funeral in the Shia holy city of Najaf. (AFP/Haidar Hamdani)

by Andolu Ajansi

At least 11,118 Iraqis, mostly civilians, were killed in violence across the country this year, the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) said.

According to UNAMI, Baghdad saw most of the violence, which included explosions and clashes, while Daesh claimed responsibility for most of the attacks.

Meanwhile, Maitham al-Ghazzi, a member of the Iraqi parliament’s High Commissioner for Human Rights, said the situation calls for more enhanced international cooperation to combat terrorism.

Iraqi security forces, backed by the U.S.-led international coalition and al-Hashd al-Shaabi, as well asKurdish Peshmerga forces and Sunni fighters, have been fighting Daesh for more than a year in northern and western Iraq.

Afghan and Taliban forces trade blows in Sangin battle

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At least 20 civilians killed in past 24 hours, officials say, as Afghan special forces re-take police headquarters.

The fight for control of Sangin has raged for days, with both sides claiming to have the upper hand [File: Watan Yar/EPA]

The fight for control of Sangin has raged for days, with both sides claiming to have the upper hand [File: Watan Yar/EPA]

by Al Jazeera

Afghan special forces troops are locked in an intense battle with Taliban fighters in Afghanistan’s strategic Sangin district, after re-taking some government buildings from the armed group, officials said.

At least 20 civilians have been killed during the past 24 hours of fighting, local council officials told Al Jazeera on Friday morning.

The fight for control of the town in southern Afghanistan’s Helmand province has raged for days, with both sides claiming to have the upper hand.

The most recent battle on Friday morning was taking place around the town’s central bazaar, said Al Jazeera’s Qais Azimy, reporting from the provincial capital of Lashkar Gah.

“The government [fighters] have been able to get control of the police headquarters and the district chief’s office,” he said.

Our correspondent said that about 100 Afghan special forces soldiers are believed to have dropped into the Sangin some time on Thursday and that they were now waiting for reinforcements and supplies to be trucked in.

“They are desperately looking to open the road between Lashkar Gah and Sangin so they can supply the soldiers there,” he said.

“But they are facing difficulties on the 70km stretch of road. There are a lot of improvised explosive devices and mines that have been placed by the Taliban, which makes it hard to travel. And they are facing ambushes as well.”

He added that several hundred civilian families are believed to still be in Sangin, mainly those who could not afford to leave.

While not confirming that they had lost control of the police headquarters, a Taliban spokesman told Al Jazeera acknowledged that the special forces troops had won some ground in Sangin.

Afghan forces in Sangin have been supported by US aircraft, which carried out two attacks in the district on Wednesday, and British forces, which have been deployed to Helmand.

The UK Ministry of Defence said on Tuesday that British troops had been deployed to the province to support local forces after the Afghan defence minister called for a desperate international support and air cover.

This month marks a year since the US-led NATO mission in Afghanistan transitioned into an Afghan-led operation, with allied nations assisting in training local forces.

In a separate development, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani are holding talks in Kabul on Friday.

Modi is expected to hand over four attack helicopters to Afghanistan during his one-day visit.

UP CM sacks MoS rank leader after temple remarks

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Akhilesh-Yadav

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister President Akhilesh Yadav has stripped Samajwadi Party leader Ompal Nehra of minister of state status after his remarks asking Muslims to help build temples in Ayodhya and Mathura.

“Nehra has been sacked by the Chief Minister yesterday,” SP spokesman and cabinet minister Rajendra Chowdhury told PTI today.

The action by Chief Minister, who is also the state president of ruling Samajwadi Party, came as the Ram temple issue came into renewed focus with two truck loads of stones for construction of the temple being brought to Ayodhya by Vishva Hindu Parishad.

Nehra had on December 23 suggested during a function that Muslims should come forward and help build temples at disputed sites in Ayodhya and Mathura, so that organisations like VHP lose their identity.

“Where can a Ram temple be built if not in Ayodhya? It is an emotional issue. In Mathura, where we worship Krishna, how can there be a mosque there. Muslims should think about it and in fact come forward for Kar Seva (voluntary work) and say build the temples at these places. We should not fall in their (VHP’s)trap,” Nehra has said in Bijnore.

(Agencies)

Modi to meet Sharif in Lahore

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modi-sharif

Kabul: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Friday that he will meet his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif in Lahore on his way back to New Delhi.

Now in Kabul, Modi tweeted that he spoke to Sharif over telephone and wished him on his birthday.

“Looking forward to meeting Sharif in Lahore today afternoon when I will drop by on my way back to Delhi.”

(Agencies)

Actress Sadhana dies at 74

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Sadhana

Mumbai: Veteran actress Sadhana Shivdasani, known for films like “Mera Saaya”, “Wo Kaun Thi” and “Waqt”, died here today after a brief illness. She was 74.

Sadhana, who is credited for introducing the fringe hairstyle in Indian film industry, passed away at a private hospital here, sources said.

Her body was taken to her residence in suburban Mumbai where Bollywood personalities, including her former colleague and friend Waheeda Rehman, went to pay their last respects.

Sadhana was admitted to a suburban hospital here last year for a lesion in her mouth and underwent a surgery.

Born in 1941 in a Sindhi family, she was named after her father’s favourite actress Sadhona Bose. Her father and actor Hari Shivdasani were brothers. Hari’s daughter is actress Babita Kapoor.

Sadhana was the only child and and her mother home-schooled her until she was eight. In 1955 she played a chorus girl in the song “Mur mur ke na dekh mur mur ke” in Raj Kapoor’s “Shree 420”. She made her full-fldged film debut in the first ever Sindhi film “Abana”.

Some of her memorable films include “Love in Simla”, “Hum Dono”, “Ek Musafir Ek Hasina”, “Asli-Naqli”, “Mere Mehboob” and “Woh Kaun Thi”.

(PTI)

Kabul: Modi meets Ghani to discuss security, bilateral cooperation

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modi-ghani

Kabul: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today met Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to discuss a wide range of issues, including security and bilateral cooperation.

Modi met Ghani soon after his arrival here from Moscow in the wee hours. He was accorded a ceremonial welcome after which Ghani warmly received him at presidential palace.

“A meeting between friends…President @ashrafghani warmly welcomes PM @narendramodi as they begin their meeting,” Prime Minister’s office tweeted.

“The embrace of a friend, the strength of a true partner. Prez @ashrafghani welcomes PM @narendramodi in Kabul,” External Affairs Ministry Spokesman Vikas Swarup tweeted.

On his arrival here, Modi was received by Afghan National Security Adviser Mohammad Hanif Atmar and deputy Foreign minister Hekmat Karzai.

“From Russia to Afghanistan. A pre-dawn arrival in Kabul begins a day of engagements with another dost,” Swarup tweeted.

Modi will also be holding talks with other Afghan leaders, including Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Abdullah Abdullah and former President Hamid Karzai.

His talks with Afghan leaders will be focused on key bilateral issues including security co-operation and the ways to help the war-torn country where India has committed over USD two billion assistance.

He will also inaugurate the Parliament building which has been constructed by India at a cost of USD 90 million. He is expected to address the Afghan lawmakers.

The Parliament building project, which was initially conceived at a cost of USD 45 million, was started by India in 2007 as a mark of friendship and cooperation to help rebuild Afghanistan.

Significantly, prior to the Prime Minister’s visit, India has delivered three Mi 25 attack helicopters to Afghanistan, in what is seen as a shift in its strategy towards the strife-torn country.

Defence sources said that three such choppers have already been delivered to the Afghan government, which will boost its capability against Taliban terrorists.

(PTI)

AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan’s kids removed from school as he ‘fails’ to pay fees

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MLA Amanatullah Khan

New Delhi: AAP MLAs have been in the news lately for the proposal of 400 per cent hike in salaries.

An AAP MLA made headlines on Wednesday after his children’s names were removed from school register due to non-payment of fees.

According to a report in The Indian Express, Amanatullah Khan, AAP MLA from Delhi’s Okhla, said he had failed to pay his children’s school fees for the last six months due to his ‘abysmal’ salary.

Amanatullah Khan says it’s embarrassing for him as a parent. Also, he says his wife has been inconsolable due to the incident.

“I could not afford to pay the fees; how can you manage with such an abysmal salary,” the AAP MLA said.

According to the AAP MLA, the outstanding amount was already Rs 58,000 for both of his children.

Khan gets Rs 83,500 every month as salary.

Out of Rs 83,500 every month as salary, the AAP MLA says he ‘spends’ Rs 62,000 in running his office.

Union Home Ministry is yet to give its nod to the bill passed by the Delhi legislative assembly proposing a 400 per cent hike in the salaries of MLAs and ministers.

(Agencies)

Deadly fire rips through Saudi hospital

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At least 25 killed and more than 100 injured in blaze in Jizan, which began on floor housing ICU and maternity ward.

At least 20 brigades from the civil defence directorate were deployed to fight the blaze [Saudi Civil Defence Directorate]

At least 20 brigades from the civil defence directorate were deployed to fight the blaze [Saudi Civil Defence Directorate]

by Al Jazeera

At least 25 people have been killed and 107 injured in a fire at a hospital in Jizan, Saudi Arabia, authorities said.

The Saudi civil defence directorate said in a post on Facebook that the fire at the Jizan General Hospital started at about 2.30am local time.

It is not yet known what caused the blaze, which began on the first floor of the hospital.

The intensive care unit and maternity ward are both on the first floor.

Saudi Arabian authorities are on the scene investigating.

At least 20 brigades from the civil defence directorate were deployed to fight the blaze, which has now been brought under control.

Dr. Ahmad Alsum, an emergency doctor at Jizan’s King Fahd Hospital, told Al Jazeera that most of those injured in the fire were patients.

Patients were transferred to a number of other nearby public and private hospitals.

Alsum said early indications were that the blaze was an electrical fire.

“Twenty-five people died in this fire. It is very devastating,” he said.

Jizan is the capital of the Jizan region in southwest Saudi Arabia, located immediately north of the Yemen border.

US launches air strikes in embattled Afghan district

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The Taliban has taken control of most of the strategic district of Sangin where heavy fighting continues.

Afghan commanders have appealed for NATO close air support to bombard Taliban positions in the Helmand province of Afghanistan [Abdul Khalik/AP Photo]

Afghan commanders have appealed for NATO close air support to bombard Taliban positions in the Helmand province of Afghanistan [Abdul Khalik/AP Photo]

by Al Jazeera

US aircraft carried out two attacks in Sangin, the district in southern Afghanistan overrun by Taliban fighters this week, officials said as the battle for the strategic province of Helmand continued.

“US forces conducted two strikes in Sangin on December 23 against threats to the force,” a spokesman for the military coalition said.

Earlier on Thursday, Afghanistan’s government sent reinforcements to help besieged forces as Taliban claim to have taken control of almost all of Sangin district.

The Taliban spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, said on Wednesday that their fighters had seized the entire district including police and military installations and their flags had been raised.

However, Helmand’s deputy governor, Mohammad Jan Rasoolyar, denied the claim.

“We are still fighting to push back the Taliban. Parts of Sangin are under the Taliban control but not the police and military installations,” he told Al Jazeera.

“The military planes have dropped food and supplies to the Afghan forces on ground.”

The UK Ministry of Defence said on Tuesday that British troops had been deployed to the province to support local forces after the Afghan Defence Minister called for a desperate international support and air cover.

“As part of the UK’s ongoing contribution to NATO’s Resolute Support Mission, a small number of UK personnel have been deployed to Camp Shorabak in Helmand Province in an advisory role,” a spokesman said.

“In total the UK has around 450 troops in Afghanistan mentoring and supporting the Afghan National Defence and Security Forces and the Afghan Security Ministries.”

Sangin has seen more than 100 British troops losing their lives during the decade long combat mission in Afghanistan.

The Taliban statement regarding the British troops deployment said that before entering Afghanistan “they should have studied the history of their ancestors and should have learned a lesson from the repeated defeat”.

“For that reason they would have not come with the intend to invade our country,” the statement said.

“They were defeated even after the presence of thousands of troops and the same will happen with these few hundred troops, this means nothing else but a shameful humiliation for them.

“They have made no accomplishment even after fighting for the past 14 years. We are still strong.”

David Sedney, a foreign policy analyst at the Wilson Center in Washington D.C, told Al Jazeera that the Afghan army is showing its weakness.

“The Taliban have made big advances in Helmand province in summer and into the winter and the offensive is increasing,” he said.

“They [Taliban] put a lot of fighters a lot of weapons in Helmand province that is right in the border with Pakistan and most of the fighters and weapons come across the border, there is nothing that stops them.

“The Afghan National Army core that was charged with the defending Helmand was the newest one and when the United States and NATO pulled back, they decided not the leave any serious advisors with them, just a few special forces troops, so you have force that is poorly equipped and is really struggling to survive.”

No end to violence 

The northern city of Kunduz briefly fell to the Taliban in late September – the biggest victory for the group in 14 years of war.

Earlier this week, a suicide bomber attacked a joint Afghan-NATO convoy near Bagram airbase near Kabul, killing six foreign soldiers and wounding three others. The Taliban claimed responsibility.

“Recently, the Taliban has shown an extraordinary capability to launch major attacks on government forces. They have proven capable of using both guerrilla fighters and engaging in conventional warfare,” Hashmatullah Moslih, Al Jazeera’s political analyst said.

“At the same time, the government soldiers are static – sitting in their outposts defensively, effectively handing the initiative to the Taliban.”

This month marks a year since the US-led NATO mission in Afghanistan transitioned into an Afghan-led operation, with allied nations assisting in training local forces.

US President Barack Obama announced in October that thousands of US troops would remain in Afghanistan past 2016, keeping the current force of 9,800 troops, amid a surge in Taliban attacks.

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