Somali MP killed, Shebab claims onus
Mogadishu: Somalia’s Al-Qaeda-linked Shebab claimed onus for shooting dead a lawmaker, MP Ahmed Mohamud Hayd, and wounding another on Thursday, the latest in a surge of attacks in Mogadishu during Islam’s holy month of Ramadan.
Curfew imposed after Myanmar riots
Yangon: Myanmar’s second-largest city was put under curfew on Thursday after two people were killed in the latest outbreak of Buddhist-Muslim violence to convulse the former junta-ruled nation.
Govt denies meddling in Sarkozy graft case
Paris: France’s Socialist Government on Thursday rejected claims it was using the justice system for political ends after ex-president Nicolas Sarkozy accused his enemies of being behind corruption charges.
Storm Arthur gathers strength
Miami: Tropical Storm Arthur strengthened into the first hurricane of the season on Thursday as it moved up the US East Coast just in time to disrupt the July 4 holiday. Arthur is churning off South and North Carolina with sustained winds of 120 kmph, the National Hurricane Centre said.
Communist rebels kill Philippine mayor
Manila: Communist guerrillas waging one of Asia’s longest-running insurgencies have ambushed and killed Mario Okinlay, the mayor of a town in the violence-plagued southern Philippines, the military said.
‘Threat of attack at Kampala airport’
Kampala: The US embassy in Uganda warned on Thursday of a “specific threat” by an unknown group to attack the international airport serving the capital Kampala. The alert came as travellers flying to the United States from Europe and the Middle East faced tighter security.