Group seizes districts in northern province
The Taliban launched a large-scale attack on the Afghan parliament on Monday. The attack began with a suicide car bomber striking at the entrance while gunmen attacked the police even as lawmakers met inside to confirm the appointment of a defence minister, witnesses said. The country's Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said that all seven attackers were killed by police while no members of parliament were wounded in the incident. The insurgents have made significant advances in the country's northern Kunduz province, capturing two districts in the area in two days. According to province officials, the group took over the district of Dashti Archi early on Monday. The group had seized control of the Chardara district in Kunduz on Sunday.
Around 400 dead from Pakistan heatwave
Around 400 people have died due to an intense heatwave sweeping across Pakistan's southern Sindh province, prompting the army to step in to help victims. The heatwave has been termed the worst to hit the country in more than a decade. Since Friday, approximately 3,000 people with heat stroke, exhaustion and low blood pressure have flooded into hospitals, which are struggling to deal with the rush.
EU extends Russian sanctions for six months
The European Union formally agreed on Monday to prolong economic sanctions against Russia until January 31, 2016, to ensure its compliance with the Ukraine peace accords, officials said. The country was first hit with economic sanctions last year after Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 was allegedly shot down by pro-Moscow rebels, killing everyone on board. Before the incident, sanctions had only been extended to travel bans and asset freezes against key Russian and Ukrainian figures. The EU also warned Russia that it could impose more sanctions unless Moscow withdrew support for the rebels and used its influence with them to implement the ceasefire accord signed in Belarus' capital of Minsk this February.
Germany releases detained journalist
Germany on Monday released Al Jazeera journalist Ahmed Mansour after having detained him for a day on Egypt's request. Mansour is wanted in Cairo for the alleged torture of a lawyer during the 2011 Tahrir Square uprising that led to the ouster of former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Al Jazeera has claimed the charges against Mansour are "absurd and false". Mansour was taken into custody on Saturday and released after an extradition hearing on Sunday.
Grenade attack in Burundi kills four
Four people have been reported dead while at least 30 were wounded in a grenade attack on a bar in northern Burundi. The attack comes as political tensions over President Pierre Nkurunziza bid for a third term remain high. Over the weekend, 11 police officers were wounded in grenade attacks in the capital city of Bujumbura. Burundi has been rocked by protests following Nkurunziza's announcement of a bid to seek a third term in office, considered by many to be a violation of the country's constitution. Rights activists say at least 77 civilians have been killed and 500 wounded since protests against Nkurunziza's announcement began.
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The Taliban launched a large-scale attack on the Afghan parliament on Monday. The attack began with a suicide car bomber striking at the entrance while gunmen attacked the police even as lawmakers met inside to confirm the appointment of a defence minister, witnesses said. The country's Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said that all seven attackers were killed by police while no members of parliament were wounded in the incident. The insurgents have made significant advances in the country's northern Kunduz province, capturing two districts in the area in two days. According to province officials, the group took over the district of Dashti Archi early on Monday. The group had seized control of the Chardara district in Kunduz on Sunday.
Around 400 dead from Pakistan heatwave
Around 400 people have died due to an intense heatwave sweeping across Pakistan's southern Sindh province, prompting the army to step in to help victims. The heatwave has been termed the worst to hit the country in more than a decade. Since Friday, approximately 3,000 people with heat stroke, exhaustion and low blood pressure have flooded into hospitals, which are struggling to deal with the rush.
EU extends Russian sanctions for six months
The European Union formally agreed on Monday to prolong economic sanctions against Russia until January 31, 2016, to ensure its compliance with the Ukraine peace accords, officials said. The country was first hit with economic sanctions last year after Malaysian Airlines flight MH17 was allegedly shot down by pro-Moscow rebels, killing everyone on board. Before the incident, sanctions had only been extended to travel bans and asset freezes against key Russian and Ukrainian figures. The EU also warned Russia that it could impose more sanctions unless Moscow withdrew support for the rebels and used its influence with them to implement the ceasefire accord signed in Belarus' capital of Minsk this February.
Germany releases detained journalist
Germany on Monday released Al Jazeera journalist Ahmed Mansour after having detained him for a day on Egypt's request. Mansour is wanted in Cairo for the alleged torture of a lawyer during the 2011 Tahrir Square uprising that led to the ouster of former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. Al Jazeera has claimed the charges against Mansour are "absurd and false". Mansour was taken into custody on Saturday and released after an extradition hearing on Sunday.
Grenade attack in Burundi kills four
Four people have been reported dead while at least 30 were wounded in a grenade attack on a bar in northern Burundi. The attack comes as political tensions over President Pierre Nkurunziza bid for a third term remain high. Over the weekend, 11 police officers were wounded in grenade attacks in the capital city of Bujumbura. Burundi has been rocked by protests following Nkurunziza's announcement of a bid to seek a third term in office, considered by many to be a violation of the country's constitution. Rights activists say at least 77 civilians have been killed and 500 wounded since protests against Nkurunziza's announcement began.
