The US State Department has imposed financial sanctions on four individuals and five entities, accusing them of having facilitated weapons or fuel transfers, or provided other financial or material support, to the Bashar al-Assad government in Syria.

According to a statement released on Thursday by the State Department, the sanctioned individuals were Syrian and Lebanese nationals, and the targeted entities included companies based in Syria, Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates, Xinhua reported.

“Today’s action shows that the US will continue to take concrete and forceful action to cut off material support to the Assad regime and its supporters. The US will continue to use all available mechanisms to isolate the Assad regime,” read the statement.

In a separate statement, the US Department of the Treasury said the targeted were involved in transactions with the Assad government and with the IS, noting the fact that the Idlib province has been encircled by the government forces.

All of the sanctioned individuals’ and entities’ assets within the US jurisdiction would be blocked, and US individuals and entities would be generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them.

Since earlier this year, the Syrian rebels were driven out of key areas in the capital Damascus, the central province of Homs and the southern region. The government’s army has been amassing forces and military gear around Idlib in recent weeks, as a major battle against the rebels in Syria looms.

(IANS)

Police in the Philippines have arrested 34 people for not standing while the national anthem was being played at a movie theatre, an official report said on Friday.

The report said the incident took place on Thursday in the theatre inside a mall in Lemery, a town in Batangas province, reports Xinhua news agency.

The national anthem called “Lupang Hinirang” is played in every theatre across the Philippines before the screening of a movie.

The police said the 34 people violated RA 8491 also known as the “Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines”.

“As a sign of respect, all persons shall stand at attention and face the Philippine flag, if there is one displayed, and if there is none, they shall face the band or the conductor,” the Act says.

According to the law, any person or judicial entity which violates any of the provisions, upon conviction, be punished by a fine of not less than 5,000 pesos ($93) but not more than 20,000 pesos ($371), or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or both.

(IANS)

British Airways announced that it was probing a massive theft of customer data from its website and mobile app.

The airline said the breach took place between 10.58 p.m. on August 21 and 9.45 p.m. on September 5, reported.

“The breach has been resolved and our website is working normally,” it said in a statement on Thursday night.

“We have notified the police and relevant authorities. We are deeply sorry for the disruption that this criminal activity has caused. We take the protection of our customers’ data very seriously.”

British Airways said personal and financial details of customers making bookings had been compromised.

About 380,000 transactions were affected, but the stolen data did not include travel or passport details.

All affected customers had been contacted on Thursday night.

Alex Cruz, British Airways’ Chairman and Chief Executive, said: “We are deeply sorry for the disruption that this criminal activity has caused. We take the protection of our customers’ data very seriously.”

This is not the first customer relations problem to affect the airline in recent times, the BBC said.

In July, the airline apologised after IT issues caused dozens of flights in and out of London’s Heathrow Airport to be cancelled.

In June, more than 2,000 British Airways passengers had their tickets cancelled because the prices were too cheap.

In May 2017, serious problems with British Airways’ IT systems led to thousands of passengers having their plans disrupted, after all flights from Heathrow and Gatwick were cancelled.

(IANS)

Congress leader and a former Maharashtra minister Subodh Saoji on Thursday allegedly announced a reward for anyone who “cuts off the tongue” of BJP MLA Ram Kadam, whose “would abduct the girl a boy has liked” statement triggered a huge controversy.

In a video of an event at Buldhana district, Saoji was purportedly heard saying that Kadam’s statement was unbecoming of a legislator. “And therefore, I am announcing a Rs 5 lakh reward for anyone who comes forward and cuts off his tongue. I strongly condemn him saying girls should be abducted,” he purportedly said.

The Maharashtra State Commission for Women has issued a notice to Kadam over his remark, seeking his reply.

In a big embarrassment for the ruling BJP in Maharashtra, one of its lawmakers on Tuesday courted a controversy by saying that he will kidnap a girl even if she refuses a proposal from a boy and help him elope with her. The controversial comments were made by BJP MLA Ram Kadam, who came under severe attack from ally Shiv Sena and other parties.

Kadam had made the controversial remarks at a ‘dahi handi’ event in his suburban Ghatkopar assembly constituency in Mumbai on Monday night. “You (youngsters) can meet me for any work,” he had told a huge gathering of youngsters there.

A video clip of the event later surfaced in which Kadam can be seen saying that he was flooded with requests from youngsters to help them after girls rejected their proposal. “I will help, 100 percent. Come (to me) with your parents. What will I do if parents approve? I will kidnap the girl concerned and hand her over to you (for marriage),” he told the crowd in Marathi.

Kadam also reportedly shared his mobile number with the crowd. However, when quizzed about his controversial statement, Kadam said that his remarks were distorted.

”If there was something objectionable, there were several journalists and they would’ve paid attention. They didn’t because they heard entire speech and not just a small video. Opposition leaders are making a 40-second clip viral on Twitter. That’s creating a wrong impression,” Kadam’said.

”I said that every youth, whether it’s a boy or a girl, should marry after taking their parents into confidence. After saying this, I took a long pause and from the audience said something. I repeated that on mike and after that also, I spoke some more,”Kadam.

Demanding an apology from the MLA, the Shiv Sena asked Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who is also the state’s home minister, what action would be taken against Kadam for making a statement that “threatens the safety of girls”. The Congress also called for Kadam’s arrest, while the NCP that said his comments exposed “Ravana-like” face of the ruling party.

Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray took to Twitter to slam the MLA offering to marry off girls “against their will”. “Ashamed and disgraced that he sits in the legislative assembly of Maharashtra- a land of culture & women liberty,” he tweeted.

“Not just an outright apology from him, but I’d want to know from the Home Minister of Maharashtra what action will be taken for openly making such statements that threaten the safety of girls and offering safety to those wanting to kidnap them,” he added.

Opposition Leader in Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil said Kadam’s remarks were unfortunate and condemnable. “The state government should immediately arrest him,” he said.

State NCP chief Jayant Patil said, “Cases should be filed against Kadam if a girl is kidnapped in Maharashtra as the MLA himself is encouraging their kidnapping.” “He should apologise. I am sure women members of the Assembly will pose questions to him,” Patil said.

State NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said Kadam was speaking the language of abducting girls.

(ANI)