Pamphlet claims Islamic State was responsible
At least 47 people from the Ismaili Shia community were killed by six gunmen in a bus in Karachi on Wednesday. Witnesses said that most of the victims were shot in the head at close range. In a pamphlet found near the site of the shootings, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant claimed responsibility for the attack, saying that it would conduct further such strikes in Pakistan. The incident was reported to be the worst attack on the Shia community this year since a bomb blast inside a mosque killed 62 people in Peshawar on January 30. Nearly 1,000 Shias have been killed in the last two years in Pakistan.
Five killed in attack on Kabul guest house
At least five people including an American and two Indian citizens were killed and five others wounded after gunmen attacked a guest house in the Afghan capital of Kabul on Wednesday. The attack took place at around 8.30 pm local time and ended five hours later. Kabul Police Chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi said that at least 44 people were in the guest house when the incident took place, adding that security forces managed to rescue most of them. He said that one attacker had also been shot dead.
Vatican to sign treaty with Palestine
Two years after officially recognising Palestine as a nation-state, the Vatican on Wednesday said that it was ready to sign its first treaty with the Middle Eastern country. The two countries were working on a “comprehensive agreement” on the activities of the Catholic Church in Palestine, a statement announced. Israel criticised the Vatican for recognising Palestine. “Such a development does not further the peace process and distances the Palestinian leadership from returning to direct bilateral negotiations,” an official from the country’s Foreign Ministry said.
North Korea executes defence chief
North Korea executed its defence chief a few weeks ago by shooting him with an anti-aircraft gun at a firing range north of the capital of Pyongyang, according to South Korea’s National Intelligence Service on Wednesday. Hyon Yong Chol was arrested late in April on charges of treason and executed three days later without any legal proceedings, the NIS said. Experts said that Hyon’s execution was part of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un’s purge against senior officials in the country. According to the NIS, nearly 70 officials have been executed since Kim took over the leadership of the country in 2011.
Burundian group launches coup
A group from the Burundian military on Wednesday launched a coup to overthrow the country’s President, Pierre Nkurunziza. Major-General Godefroid Niyombare said that the coup had been launched as Nkurunziza’s bid for a third term in office had violated the country’s constitution. He added that the coup’s objective was to ensure the “resumption of the electoral process in a peaceful and fair environment”. A spokesperson for the President said that the attempt had been foiled, adding that Nkurunziza would address the nation upon his return from Tanzania, where he had been attending a summit. However, unconfirmed reports said that Nkurunziza’s plane had been forced to return to Tanzania.
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At least 47 people from the Ismaili Shia community were killed by six gunmen in a bus in Karachi on Wednesday. Witnesses said that most of the victims were shot in the head at close range. In a pamphlet found near the site of the shootings, the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant claimed responsibility for the attack, saying that it would conduct further such strikes in Pakistan. The incident was reported to be the worst attack on the Shia community this year since a bomb blast inside a mosque killed 62 people in Peshawar on January 30. Nearly 1,000 Shias have been killed in the last two years in Pakistan.
Five killed in attack on Kabul guest house
At least five people including an American and two Indian citizens were killed and five others wounded after gunmen attacked a guest house in the Afghan capital of Kabul on Wednesday. The attack took place at around 8.30 pm local time and ended five hours later. Kabul Police Chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi said that at least 44 people were in the guest house when the incident took place, adding that security forces managed to rescue most of them. He said that one attacker had also been shot dead.
Vatican to sign treaty with Palestine
Two years after officially recognising Palestine as a nation-state, the Vatican on Wednesday said that it was ready to sign its first treaty with the Middle Eastern country. The two countries were working on a “comprehensive agreement” on the activities of the Catholic Church in Palestine, a statement announced. Israel criticised the Vatican for recognising Palestine. “Such a development does not further the peace process and distances the Palestinian leadership from returning to direct bilateral negotiations,” an official from the country’s Foreign Ministry said.
North Korea executes defence chief
North Korea executed its defence chief a few weeks ago by shooting him with an anti-aircraft gun at a firing range north of the capital of Pyongyang, according to South Korea’s National Intelligence Service on Wednesday. Hyon Yong Chol was arrested late in April on charges of treason and executed three days later without any legal proceedings, the NIS said. Experts said that Hyon’s execution was part of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un’s purge against senior officials in the country. According to the NIS, nearly 70 officials have been executed since Kim took over the leadership of the country in 2011.
Burundian group launches coup
A group from the Burundian military on Wednesday launched a coup to overthrow the country’s President, Pierre Nkurunziza. Major-General Godefroid Niyombare said that the coup had been launched as Nkurunziza’s bid for a third term in office had violated the country’s constitution. He added that the coup’s objective was to ensure the “resumption of the electoral process in a peaceful and fair environment”. A spokesperson for the President said that the attempt had been foiled, adding that Nkurunziza would address the nation upon his return from Tanzania, where he had been attending a summit. However, unconfirmed reports said that Nkurunziza’s plane had been forced to return to Tanzania.