Japan in shock after suspected arson kills 33

KYOTO (Japan), July 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Japanese police on Friday wereinvestigating a suspected arson attack that killed 33 people in what would be one of the country’s deadliest crimes in decades, with the motive for theblaze still unclear. The horrific fire in the city of Kyoto gutted a building owned…

Four members of first all-female Afghan orchestra missing in Slovakia

BRATISLAVA, July 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Police in Slovakia said they were searching for four members of Afghanistan’s first all-femaleorchestra who went missing from their hotel after performing at a localfestival. Zohra, an ensemble of 35 teenagers and young women musicians played aconcert on Saturday at a festival in the western…

Turkey launches air strike on Iraqi Kurdistan after diplomat killed

ANKARA, July 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Turkey launched an air attackon Iraqi Kurdistan in response to the killing of a Turkish diplomat in theregion, the country’s defence minister said. The Turkish vice consul to Iraq’s autonomous Kurdish region was shot deadWednesday in the local capital Arbil. Police sources said two other…

Pakistan ex-PM Abbasi arrested by anti-corruption officials

LAHORE (Pakistan), July 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Former Pakistani prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has been arrested and will appear before an anti-corruption court, officials said, the latest in a string of opposition figures to be targeted under the government of his successor Imran Khan. Abbasi — whose Pakistan Muslim Leauge-Nawaz…

Iran Guards say they have seized a ‘foreign tanker’

TEHRAN, July 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they had detained a “foreign tanker” and its crew for allegedly smuggling fuel in the Gulf. The tanker was seized on Sunday “south of the (Iranian) island of Larak” in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, the force’s Sepahnews website said. The…

US ban on Myanmar army chief not enough, says UN

KUALA LUMPUR, July 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — A US travel ban on Myanmar’s army chief and three other top officers for their role in orchestrating a crackdown against Rohingyas does not go far enough, a UN rights investigator said. The sanctions announced Tuesday were the strongest censure yet from a Western…

ICC assures non-biased role in investigating atrocities on Rohingyas

DHAKA, July 19 (NNN-BSS) — International Criminal Court’s (ICC)prosecution office said their planned investigation into the atrocitieson Rohingyas would be completely “impartial” and “non-political” as theirofficials were now on a visit to Bangladesh to engage with stakeholdersincluding the victims. “We will work in strict conformity with the law, which in…

UN puts highest efforts in resolving Rohingya crisis – Sec-Gen Guterres

UNITED NATIONS, July 19 (NNN-BSS) — The United Nations (UN) Secretary General Antonio Guterres has expressed deep concern over Rohingya issue and said he put his highest efforts in resolving the crisis. The UN chief made the remark while Bangladesh foreign minister Dr AKAbdul Momen held a bilateral meeting with…

Beijing wants implementation of Rohingya repatriation deal: envoy

DHAKA, July 19 (NNN-BSS) — Outgoing Chinese Ambassador Zhang Zuo said Beijing wants implementation of the Bangladesh-Myanmar agreement on Rohingya repatriation. “We want execution of the deal signed between Bangladesh and Myanmar on the repatriation of the Rohingyas,” he said while paying a farewell call on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina…

Three French soldiers killed by toxic fumes in Guyana illegal mine operation

PARIS, July 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Three French soldiers died from toxic fumes during an operation targeting illegal gold miners in French Guyana, the defence ministry said. The ministry said the soldiers were preparing to place explosive charges to destroy the underground facilities used by the miners when eight of them…