Indian Police unit in Congo gets UN medal
United Nations: An Indian police unit in the Democratic Republic of Congo has received the UN Peacekeeping Medal for its “high level of commitment” towards fighting criminals and maintaining peace in the African nation’s troubled east. The 135 Indian Formed Police Unit-2 (FPU) was honoured with the medal as an appreciation for their service in Goma/North Kivu.
55 killed in heavy rains in China
Beijing: At least 55 people have been killed and 14 others were reported missing in rain and hailstorms that have lashed south China, media reports said on Friday. Hardest-hit Guangdong Province reported 36 deaths and 10 missing persons, according to the National Committee for Disaster Reduction.
Toll in killer B’desh cyclone climbs to 48
Dhaka: The death toll in the cyclonic storm ‘Mahasen’ that battered Bangladesh’s southwestern coastlines climbed to 48 on Friday as bodies of nine children were pulled out from the Bay of Bengal. The cyclonic storm ‘Mahasen’ battered the country’s southwestern coastlines, damaging thousands of thatched houses and forcing evacuation of over one million people from low-lying areas.
‘Nigeria military shells camps, kills 21’
Maiduguri (Nigeria): Soldiers in northeast Nigeria shelled suspected camps of Islamic extremists in the first military action of a new offensive against the insurgents, killing at least 21 people, a security official said on Friday.
Former Argentina dictator Videla dies
Buenos Aires: Former dictator Jorge Videla, who ruled Argentina during its “Dirty War,” died in prison today while serving a life sentence for crimes against humanity. He was 87. Videla, who ruled at the head of a military junta between 1976 and 1981, died of natural causes, C5N television reported.