US concerned over presence of Shia militia
Pro-government forces in Iraq on Tuesday launched an offensive to retake the Anbar province from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. A spokesperson for a coalition of Shia militias said that government troops would attempt to cut off escape routes for the outfit’s militants in the provincial capital of Ramadi. While the United States welcomed the offensive, it also expressed concern over the presence of Shia militias in the forces attacking the Islamic State, saying that it would raise the risk of sectarian conflict in the region.
Unidentified gunmen attack Kabul guesthouse
Unidentified gunmen attacked a guesthouse in Afghanistan’s capital city of Kabul on Tuesday. Officials said that at least a dozen explosions took place in the Wazir Akbar Khan district, where the guest house, several embassies and government buildings are located. A spokesperson for the Kabul Police said that the area had been surrounded, adding that there had been no reports of injuries or casualties from the guest house. The Taliban said on Twitter that the assault was part of its summer offensive.
Fire at Chinese nursing home complex kills 38
At least 38 people were killed and six others injured after a fire broke out at a nursing home complex in the Pingdingshan city in China on Tuesday. State-run news agency Xinhua reported that the fire destroyed several buildings in the complex, adding that it was brought under control after nearly one hour. The site was cordoned off while hundreds of workers conducted search-and-rescue operations, the agency reported.
Rocket fired at Israel from Gaza Strip
At least one rocket was fired into southern Israel from the Gaza Strip, Israeli media reports said on Tuesday. However, medical officials in the region said that there had been no casualties, adding that fragments of the rocket were found near the port city of Ashdod. No group claimed responsibility for the incident, with a Hamas official saying that it was not clear who had fired the rocket or why. Israeli media reports suggested that the rocket might not have been intentionally aimed at the country’s territory.
UN Chief urges Europe to help migrants
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday urged European countries to “provide more help” to migrants who were attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea. Ban called for search-and-rescue operations to be further strengthened, noting that the crisis had to be addressed "in a more comprehensive way”. Meanwhile, the European Union’s border agency announced that it would expand its search operations off the coast of southern Italy. It said that three aircraft, six offshore vessels, 12 patrol boats, two helicopters and 15 teams of experts have been deployed to help cope with the rising number of migrants attempting to reach Europe.
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Pro-government forces in Iraq on Tuesday launched an offensive to retake the Anbar province from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. A spokesperson for a coalition of Shia militias said that government troops would attempt to cut off escape routes for the outfit’s militants in the provincial capital of Ramadi. While the United States welcomed the offensive, it also expressed concern over the presence of Shia militias in the forces attacking the Islamic State, saying that it would raise the risk of sectarian conflict in the region.
Unidentified gunmen attack Kabul guesthouse
Unidentified gunmen attacked a guesthouse in Afghanistan’s capital city of Kabul on Tuesday. Officials said that at least a dozen explosions took place in the Wazir Akbar Khan district, where the guest house, several embassies and government buildings are located. A spokesperson for the Kabul Police said that the area had been surrounded, adding that there had been no reports of injuries or casualties from the guest house. The Taliban said on Twitter that the assault was part of its summer offensive.
Fire at Chinese nursing home complex kills 38
At least 38 people were killed and six others injured after a fire broke out at a nursing home complex in the Pingdingshan city in China on Tuesday. State-run news agency Xinhua reported that the fire destroyed several buildings in the complex, adding that it was brought under control after nearly one hour. The site was cordoned off while hundreds of workers conducted search-and-rescue operations, the agency reported.
Rocket fired at Israel from Gaza Strip
At least one rocket was fired into southern Israel from the Gaza Strip, Israeli media reports said on Tuesday. However, medical officials in the region said that there had been no casualties, adding that fragments of the rocket were found near the port city of Ashdod. No group claimed responsibility for the incident, with a Hamas official saying that it was not clear who had fired the rocket or why. Israeli media reports suggested that the rocket might not have been intentionally aimed at the country’s territory.
UN Chief urges Europe to help migrants
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday urged European countries to “provide more help” to migrants who were attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea. Ban called for search-and-rescue operations to be further strengthened, noting that the crisis had to be addressed "in a more comprehensive way”. Meanwhile, the European Union’s border agency announced that it would expand its search operations off the coast of southern Italy. It said that three aircraft, six offshore vessels, 12 patrol boats, two helicopters and 15 teams of experts have been deployed to help cope with the rising number of migrants attempting to reach Europe.
