Controversial Zulu minister Buthelezi dies
Johannesburg: Controversial South African politician and traditional minister of the Zulu ethnic group Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi has died at the age of 95, South African president Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Saturday. Buthelezi founded the Inkatha Freedom Party, the third largest political party in South Africa when the country transitioned from the racist apartheid system to a democratic one in 1994. He was admitted to hospital in July following a failed medical procedure to ease his back pain, his family said at the time. “Prince Buthelezi, who served as the democratic South Africa’s first Minister of Home Affairs, passed away in the early hours of today, Saturday, 9 September 2023, just two weeks after the celebration of his 95th birthday,” Ramaphosa said in a statement on Saturday.
X sues California over content moderation law
California: Elon Musk’s social media platform formerly known as Twitter has sued the state of California over a law requiring social media companies to publish their policies for removing offending material such as hate speech, misinformation and harassment. The first-of-its-kind legislation was signed into law a year ago by California Gov Gavin Newsom. In a lawsuit filed Friday against state Attorney General Robert Bonta, X Corp. challenged the “constitutionality and legal validity” of the law, saying it violates the First Amendment. Assembly bill 587 requires social media platforms to post their content moderation policies — which they already do — and twice a year submit a report to the state on how they address hate speech, racism, misinformation, foreign political interference and other issues.
UK police nab terrorism suspect
London: A former soldier who escaped from a London prison while awaiting trial on terrorism charges was captured on Saturday, police said. Daniel Abed Khalife was on the run four days before a massive search managed to nab him in the Chiswick, west of London. Khalife escaped on the bottom of a food delivery truck from Wandsworth Prison on Wednesday. The breakout ignited a storm of criticism as political opponents blamed the ruling Conservative party for incompetence. Khalife, 21, is accused of planting fake bombs at a military base and of violating Britain’s Official Secrets Act by gathering information “that could be useful to an enemy.” He was discharged from the British army after his arrest earlier this year and had denied the allegations. His trial is set for November. London counter-terror police had offered a 20,000 pound (USD 25,000) reward for information leading to his arrest.
Police detain kin of UK death probe suspect
Lahore: Police in central Pakistan detained for interrogation close relatives of a couple wanted by UK police in connection with last month's death of their 10-year-old daughter in the outskirts of London, an official said Saturday. A police spokesman in Jehlum, 175 kilometers (108 miles) northwest of Lahore, said that Urfan Sharif and his wife Beinash Batool, the couple sought by UK police, were in hiding and 10 close relatives have been taken into custody for questioning and an investigation. Among them was Mohammad Sharif, the father of Urfan, his brothers and cousins. Police spokesman Khan Mudassir said detaining close relatives might force the wanted person to surrender.
2 ISIS terrorists arrested in Pakistan’s Punjab
Lahore: Pakistani law enforcement agencies foiled a major terror plot to target key installations in the Punjab province and arrested two terrorists of the Islamic State (ISIS) militant group during intelligence-based operations, police said on Saturday. According to the spokesperson of the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) of Punjab police, the terrorists were arrested from Gujranwala and Rawalpindi cities. “The CTD has foiled a major terror plot in Punjab province and arrested two suspected terrorists of Daesh (ISIS) with weapons, explosives and other prohibited materials. The terrorists had planned sabotage across the province and wanted to target important installations,” the spokesperson said. The terrorists have been identified as Zakirulla and Muhammad Eisha. Around 1.5 kgs of explosives, eight detonators, 13 feet of safety fuse wire and banned literature were recovered from them.
3 killed in Lebanon refugee camp
Beirut: Clashes resumed early Saturday at the largest refugee camp in Lebanon between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah group and militant Islamist groups, killing three people and wounding 10 others. Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister, Najib Mikati, discussed with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas the volatile situation in an attempt to end the fighting. Mikati called for an end to the fighting saying that what is happening in Ein el-Hilweh “does not serve the Palestinian cause and is harmful to the Lebanese state.” Sounds of gunfire and explosions could be heard in the Ein el-Hilweh refugee camp and nearby areas on the edge of the southern port city of Sidon