Wildfire forces evacuation of Canadian oil town
Vancouver: A wildfire has emptied Canada’s oil-producing city of Fort McMurray in Alberta province as the Government has instructed no one must return until it is safe. The fire has expanded to 85,000 hectares and has so far razed roughly 1,600 buildings, including homes and businesses deep inside the city limits, Xinhua news agency reported.
‘Won’t back down from SCS claims whatever UN tribunal verdict’
Beijing: China on Friday asserted that it will not backdown over its maritime rights on the South China Sea regardless of international pressures and the outcome of a case with the Philippines in a UN tribunal that is likely to deliver its verdict soon. “Some country tried to pressure China to backdown by using this award and using it as a fait accompli on China. It is impractical illusion. Whatever the award it is illegal. China will not accept or acknowledge it,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said.
Musharraf’s threat call to Benazir could not be traced: JIT
Islamabad: Former Pakistani military dictator Pervez Musharraf’s alleged threatening call to ex-premier Benazir Bhutto in 2007 could not be traced, according to the joint investigation team probing her assassination. During cross-examination by Barrister Farogh Nasim, Musharraf’s counsel, in the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Rawalpindi, joint investigation team (JIT) chief Mohammad Khalid Qureshi admitted that his team could not trace the call either from the two mobile phones of Bhutto or the ex-military chief’s cellphone.
Israel hits Gaza after mortar fire across border
Gaza City: Israeli aircraft struck a Hamas facility in the southern Gaza Strip on Friday after cross-border mortar fire, the Israeli army said, as violence continued for a third day. “In response to the ongoing attacks against Israeli forces, Israel Air Force aircraft targeted a Hamas terror infrastructure,” an army statement said. Palestinian witnesses said there were two sets of air raids, one targeting Beit lahia in northern Gaza and the second in Khuzaa, southeast of Khan Yunis, in the south of the territory.
Irish Prime Minister Kenny re-elected after 70-day deadlock
Dublin: Ireland’s lawmakers have narrowly re- elected Enda Kenny as Prime Minister, ending 70 days of deadlock following an inconclusive election.
Kenny received 59 votes, with 49 against, in Ireland’s 158-member parliament. His minority government rare in Irish politics will survive only with support from the main opposition Fianna Fail party, which abstained on Friday.