Two US Navy pilots were shot down over the Red Sea in an apparent 'friendly fire' incident, the US military said Sunday. Both pilots were recovered alive, with one suffering minor injuries in the incident. The incident came as the US military conducted airstrikes targeting Yemen's Houthi rebels, though the US military's Central Command did not elaborate on what their mission was at the time. 'The guided missile cruiser USS Gettysburg, which is part of the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, mistakenly fired on and hit the F/A-18, which was flying off the USS Harry S. Truman,' Central Command said in a statement. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
22 December,2024 09:45 AM IST | Dubai | APSixteen soldiers were killed in an attack on a security forces check post in Makeen, South Waziristan, on Saturday, according to a statement by the military's media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Dawn reported. The attack was carried out by terrorists in the region, which has been a hotspot for violent incidents since the breakdown of a fragile ceasefire agreement between the Pakistani government and the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in 2022. The ISPR reported that the attack, which occurred late on Friday night, involved a group of terrorists attempting to assault the check post in the general area of Makeen. Security forces responded swiftly, repelling the attack and killing eight terrorists in the process. Despite their efforts, sixteen soldiers lost their lives during the encounter. The military's statement emphasised that a sanitisation operation was underway in the area, with authorities vowing to bring the perpetrators to justice. The ISPR further stated, "Security forces of Pakistan are determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism and such sacrifices of our brave men further strengthen our resolve." This attack serves as a reminder of the persistent security challenges in the region, especially since the TTP's renewed attacks following the collapse of the ceasefire. These attacks have targeted security forces and law enforcement agencies across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, reported Dawn. Earlier this week, another violent incident occurred in Khyber District, where one soldier was killed, and four terrorists were killed during a firefight along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. The ISPR reported that on the night of December 19-20, security forces detected a group of terrorists attempting to infiltrate Pakistan from Afghanistan. Following an intense exchange of fire, four terrorists were killed, and 22-year-old Sepoy Amir Sohail Afridi, a resident of Khyber District, "having fought gallantly, embraced shahadat (martyrdom)" while valiantly fighting the attackers, Dawn reported. The ISPR also reiterated the government's ongoing appeal to the Afghan Interim Government, urging it to manage its border effectively and prevent the use of Afghan soil by terrorist groups, particularly those targeting Pakistan. "Interim Afghan Government is expected to fulfil its obligations and deny the use of Afghan soil by khwarij for perpetuating acts of terrorism against Pakistan," the statement added. "The security forces of Pakistan remain committed to securing its borders and eliminating the menace of terrorism, and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve," the ISPR concluded. The escalation of violence in Pakistan's tribal areas follows a series of successful military operations earlier this month, which saw the killing of 43 terrorists, including 18 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 25 in Balochistan. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
22 December,2024 09:43 AM IST | Pakistan | ANIA rocket fired from Yemen hit an area of Tel Aviv overnight, leaving 16 people injured by shattered glass, the Israeli military said on Saturday, days after Israeli airstrikes hit Houthi rebels who have been launching missiles in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Another 14 people had minor injuries as they rushed to shelters when air raid sirens sounded before dawn, the military said. The Houthis in a statement on Telegram said they had aimed a hypersonic ballistic missile at a military target that they did not identify. Israel's military said it was investigating, adding that "we emphasise that aerial defence is not hermetic". "A flash of light, a blow and we fell to the ground. Big mess, broken glasses all over the place," said Bar Katz, a resident of a damaged building. The Houthis' media office later reported airstrikes on Yemen's Houthi-held capital, Sanaa. US forces conducted airstrikes against a missile-storage facility and a command facility operated by the Houthis, the US Central Command said in a statement on X. The attack on Tel Aviv came after Israeli airstrikes on Sanaa and the port city of Hodeida killed at least nine people on Thursday. The strikes came hours after a missile from Yemen hit a school building in central Israel. The Houthis also claimed a drone strike targeting an unspecified military target in central Israel that day. Israel's military says the Iran-backed Houthis have launched more than 200 missiles and drones during the 14-month Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. The Houthis have also attacked shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden and say they will not stop until there is a ceasefire in Gaza. The Israeli strikes on Thursday caused "considerable damage" to the Houthi-controlled Red Sea ports, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. The Hodeida port has been key for food shipments into Yemen in its decade-long civil war. Israeli strikes in Gaza kill a dozen children Mourners in Gaza held funerals for 19 Palestinians -- 12 of them children -- killed in Israeli strikes on Friday and overnight. One strike hit a residential building in the built-up Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, killing at least seven, including five children and one woman, and injuring 16 others, health officials said. In Gaza City, a strike on a house killed 12, including seven children and two women, according to Al-Ahli Hospital where the bodies were taken. One man cradled a tiny shroud-wrapped body as mourners gathered. Later on Saturday, al-Awda Hospital said an airstrike hit a house in Nuseirat and killed four people including two children, with 14 other people wounded. Israel's military said it was checking the report. And Saturday night, large explosions could be seen on the Gaza skyline. Five bodies arrived soon afterward at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah. More than 45,200 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since October 2023, when a Hamas attack in Israel killed about 1,200 people and triggered the war. Gaza's Health Ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants but has said more than half of the fatalities are women and children. Israel faces heavy international criticism over the unprecedented levels of civilian deaths in Gaza. It says it only targets militants and blames Hamas for civilian deaths because its fighters operate in residential areas. Northern Gaza hospital says it is told to evacuate The director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahiya in largely isolated northern Gaza said in an online message late on Saturday that Israel's military had told the facility to evacuate. Dr Husam Abu Safiyeh asserted that the intensive care unit, maternity ward and other departments were being targeted, and said evacuating would mean transferring 66 patients. Israel's military in response to questions said it was "not aware of any strikes in the area of the hospital at this time". There was no immediate response to questions about the reported evacuation order. Gaza's Health Ministry earlier reported continuous gunfire and Israeli shelling near the hospital, and it issued an urgent appeal for medical and food supplies to be delivered to the facility as Israel's military pressed its latest offensive. Safiyeh has said the facility faced "severe shortages" including of food and asserted that requests for essential medical supplies and ways to maintain oxygen, water and electricity systems "have largely gone unmet". Aid groups have said Israeli military operations and armed gangs have hindered their ability to distribute aid. The Israeli military organisation dealing with humanitarian affairs for Gaza said on Saturday it had led an operation delivering thousands of food packages, flour and water to the Beit Hanoun area in the north. A killing in Syria Iran on Saturday said unknown gunmen killed a local staffer of the Iranian Embassy in Syria in Damascus last Sunday, the official IRNA news agency said. Its report quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei as saying "terrorists" opened fire on Davood Bitaraf's car. It did not say what he did with the embassy. The shooting happened the day that opposition fighters took Damascus and ousted Syrian leader Bashar Assad. Baghaei said Iran considers Syria's interim government responsible for finding and prosecuting those behind the killing. Iran had been a key Assad ally. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
22 December,2024 09:41 AM IST | Tel Aviv | APPope Francis told Vatican bureaucrats on Saturday to stop speaking ill of one another, as he once again used his annual Christmas greetings to admonish the backstabbing and gossiping among his closest collaborators. A wheezing and congested sounding Francis, who just turned 88, urged the prelates instead to speak well of one another and undertake a humble examination of their own consciences in the Christmas holiday season. “A church community lives in joyful and fraternal harmony to the extent that its members walk in the life of humility, renouncing evil thinking and speaking ill of others,” Francis said. “Gossip is an evil that destroys social life, sickens people’s hearts and leads to nothing. The people say it very well: Gossip is zero.” This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
22 December,2024 07:55 AM IST | Rome | AgenciesOn Saturday, Germans began mourning another violent attack and their shaken sense of security after a Saudi doctor drove a black BMW into a Christmas market teeming with holiday shoppers on Friday evening, killing at least two people, including a small child, and injuring at least 60 others in what authorities called a deliberate attack. Authorities identified the suspect as a 50-year-old who has been living in Germany for nearly two decades and practicing medicine there. On Saturday, there were still no answers as to what caused the man to drive into a crowd in the eastern Germany city of Magdeburg. The violence shocked the country and the city, marring a festive event that’s part of a centuries-old German tradition. It prompted several other German towns to cancel their weekend Christmas markets. Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Interior Minister Nancy Faeser were due to travel to Magdeburg on Saturday, and a memorial service that took place in the city cathedral on Saturday evening. “My thoughts are with the victims and their relatives,” Scholz wrote on X. “We stand beside them and beside the people of Magdeburg.” This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
22 December,2024 07:54 AM IST | Magdeburg | AgenciesPakistan’s military courts sentenced 25 civilians to prison terms ranging from two to 10 years for attacking military installations during riots which erupted following the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan in May last year, the Army announced on Saturday. On May 9, 2023, Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters allegedly attacked several military installations, including the army headquarters in Rawalpindi and the ISI building in Faisalabad, to vent their anger against the arrest of their party founder. Hundreds of suspects were arrested in the countrywide swoop and at least 103 were handed over to the military authorities for trial due to their involvement in attacks on military installations. According to the statement, Field General Court Martial sentenced 25 individuals in the first phase, following a thorough review of evidence and the completion of proper legal procedures. It said that the convicts were awarded prison terms ranging from two to 10 years for attacking the military facilities. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
22 December,2024 07:54 AM IST | Islamabad | AgenciesThe future of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s leadership is increasingly uncertain after New Democratic Party (NDP) leader Jagmeet Singh, a key ally, said he would introduce a motion to topple the minority Liberal government. Singh, whose party has been helping keep Trudeau in office, announced in an open letter posted on social media that he would declare a loss of confidence in the Trudeau-led Liberal government next year, a move that would trigger an early election if other opposition parties support his move. Canada’s next election must be held on or before October. Jagmeet Singh, leader of NDP and key ally is likely to introduce a motion to topple the minority Liberal government. File Pic Singh’s party is the last of Canada’s three main opposition parties to turn on Trudeau. In his letter, Singh said the Liberals were undeserving of “another chance.” “That’s why the NDP will vote to bring this government down and give Canadians a chance to vote for a government who will work for them,” he wrote. He said the New Democrats plan to use their next opposition day in the House of Commons “during which opposition priorities are given precedence over government business” to introduce the vote. Singh’s letter came as questions swirled about the future of Trudeau, with at least 21 Liberal MPs now calling for him to resign, CBC News reported. Singh’s announcement is the latest in a series of political setbacks suffered by Trudeau this week after the resignation of Chrystia Freeland, his deputy prime minister and finance minister. Freeland quit hours before she was set to deliver an economic statement on Monday, citing political disagreements between her and Trudeau on the “best path forward for Canada” in light of tariff threats posed by US President-elect Donald Trump. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
22 December,2024 07:54 AM IST | Toronto | AgenciesTen people, including four children, have been killed in a stampede in Nigeria's capital city as a large crowd gathered to collect food items distributed by a local church at a Christmas event, the police said Saturday. The stampede occurred in the early morning hours at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, a high-brow part of Abuja, from where more than 1,000 people have been evacuated, police spokesman Josephine Adeh said in a statement. It is the second such stampede in a week in Africa's most populous country as local organisations, churches and individuals are increasingly organising charity events ahead of Christmas amid the country's worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
21 December,2024 07:10 PM IST | Abuja | APPrime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday arrived here in the Gulf nation on a two-day visit where he will meet the Indian diaspora and hold talks with Kuwaiti leadership to "strengthen the India-Kuwait friendship across various sectors". Modi is visiting Kuwait on the invitation of Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. His visit to Kuwait will be the first of any Indian Prime Minister to the Gulf nation in 43 years. "Landed in Kuwait to a warm welcome. This is the first visit by an Indian PM in 43 years, and it will undoubtedly strengthen the India-Kuwait friendship across various sectors. I look forward to the programmes scheduled for later today and tomorrow," Prime Minister Modi posted on X. On his arrival, Modi was warmly received by Sheikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al-Sabah First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence & Interior of Kuwait. "A new chapter in the making! PM @narendramodi arrives in Kuwait to a ceremonial welcome. Warmly received by H.E Sheikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al-Sabah First Deputy PM, Minister of Defence & Interior of Kuwait, H.E. Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya, FM of Kuwait & several other Ministers & dignitaries at the airport," Ministry of External Affairs official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X. During the visit, Modi will hold discussions with the leadership of Kuwait and also interact with the Indian community. In his departure statement, he said his talks with top Kuwaiti leadership would be an opportunity to chalk out a roadmap for a futuristic partnership between India and Kuwait. "We deeply value the historical connection with Kuwait that has been nurtured over generations. We are not just strong trade and energy partners but also have shared interest in peace, security, stability and prosperity in the West Asia region," he said. Modi said he was looking forward to his meetings with the Emir, the Crown Prince and the prime minister of Kuwait. He will also attend the opening ceremony of the 26th Arabian Gulf Cup here in Kuwait. The last Indian prime minister to visit Kuwait was Indira Gandhi in 1981. India is among the top trading partners of Kuwait. He would also meet the vibrant Indian diaspora here. The Indian community is the largest expatriate community in Kuwait. Indians constitute 21 per cent (1 million) of the total population of Kuwait and 30 per cent of its work-force (approx 9 lakhs). Indian workers top the Private Sector as well as domestic sector (DSW) work force list, according to Indian Embassy in Kuwait. Kuwait is among India's top trading partners, with bilateral trade valued at USD 10.47 billion in the financial year 2023-24. Kuwait is India's sixth largest crude supplier, meeting 3 per cent of the country's energy needs. Indian exports to Kuwait reached USD 2 billion for the first time, while investments by the Kuwait Investment Authority in India exceed USD 10 billion. India and Kuwait have enjoyed traditionally friendly relations, with links dating back to pre-oil Kuwait when maritime trade with India was the backbone of its economy. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
21 December,2024 06:55 PM IST | Kuwait City | PTIA knife attack at an elementary school in Zagreb, Croatia, has resulted in the death of a seven-year-old girl and left eight others injured, including a teacher who is now in critical condition, CNN reported. The attacker, a 19-year-old believed to be a former student of Precko Elementary School, entered a first-grade classroom early Friday morning and began his assault with a knife. The attack left a teacher with life-threatening injuries, and the injured students are being treated in hospitals across the city. Authorities confirmed that the teacher's condition remains critical. "The attacker is under police custody. The injured persons are receiving medical treatment," Zagreb police said, as per CNN. Witnesses described chaotic scenes as emergency services arrived at the school. Helicopters were used to transport the wounded to various hospitals. Among the five injured students, three are said to have sustained non-critical injuries. Croatian Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic praised the quick response from police, who subdued the attacker just 10 minutes after the assault began, reported CNN. The attacker's mother spoke to Croatian media, revealing that her son had been emotionally unstable for years and had been admitted to a psychiatric ward multiple times. "I begged the doctor not to discharge him because he is not fit to be out," she said. The attacker, who reportedly lived near the school, had graduated from it five years prior. The Croatian government has expressed its horror over the incident. Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic condemned the tragedy, calling the nation "appalled" by the attack. He also announced a national day of mourning for the victims. Meanwhile, Health Minister Irena Hristic is set to visit the hospitals where the injured are being treated, CNN reported. School attacks are rare in Croatia and the broader Balkan region, but the incident comes on the heels of recent tragedies in neighbouring Serbia, including two mass shootings targeting schools in Belgrade last year. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
21 December,2024 08:57 AM IST | Zagreb | ANIPakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered strict action against officials of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) implicated in facilitating human traffickers, following the tragic Greek boat disaster that left at least five Pakistani nationals dead, The Express Tribune reported. During a meeting on Friday in Islamabad, PM Sharif instructed the relevant authorities to expedite investigations into the growing issue of human trafficking and emphasised the urgency of addressing such incidents. "Such incidents tarnish Pakistan's global image and must be dealt with swiftly and effectively," he remarked. The Prime Minister's directives come after the latest tragedy, in which a boat capsized near Greece, resulting in Pakistani casualties. The PM expressed concern over the delay in addressing last year's similar boat capsizing incident. "The delay in taking action against those responsible for last year's boat capsizing incident is concerning," he said, adding, "We cannot allow this to continue, as these tragedies only harm our country's reputation." The meeting was updated on preventive measures taken to combat human trafficking, alongside new developments regarding the recent boat disaster near the Greek island of Gavdos. The Pakistani mission in Greece confirmed that five Pakistanis had died in the incident, though they stated they had no concrete information about the exact number of missing persons, reported The Express Tribune. An official from the Pakistan mission updated the media, saying, "So far, we have identified five dead Pakistanis and rescued 47 others. There is no concrete information about missing persons at this stage, and this is the final information available." On Thursday, as part of a major crackdown on human traffickers involved in the boat tragedy, the FIA registered cases against three traffickers and arrested two of its own officers for negligence. Inspector Zubair Ashraf and Sub Inspector Shahid Imran were arrested for failing to properly screen passengers at Faisalabad Airport. Both officers were on duty when 18 victims of the Greek boat tragedy passed through the airport's screening process, The Express Tribune reported. The Prime Minister's office has made it clear that those found guilty of negligence or corruption will face serious consequences as Pakistan aims to combat the rising human trafficking issue. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
21 December,2024 08:53 AM IST | Islamabad | ANIADVERTISEMENT
