16 DEAD, DOZENS INJURED AS ARMS DEPOT BLOWS UP IN BAGHDAD
BAGHDAD: At least 16 people were killed and dozens injured after an arms depot exploded in the Sadr City district of the Iraqi capital on Wednesday, security and medical sources said. “An arms depot exploded... The security forces have opened an inquiry to determine the cause,” Baghdad’s security operations command said in a statement. A senior police source told AFP on condition of anonymity that the blast was caused by heavy weapons, including rocket-propelled grenades and shells, belonging to an armed group and stored in a house. He said at least 16 people were killed and some 32 injured in the explosion. Medical sources confirmed the toll and said that women and children were found among the victims.
10 killed in Kenyan plane crash, says official
NAIROBI: All 10 passengers of a small plane, whose wreckage was discovered in central Kenya two days after it went missing, died in the accident, the airline and government said on Thursday. “Unfortunately, from the reports we are getting there are no survivors,” said Paul Maringa, principal secretary of the transport ministry.
Sweden truck attacker convicted, gets life term
COPENHAGEN: An Uzbek man who drove a stolen truck into a crowd in Stockholm, killing five people and wounding 14 others, was convicted Thursday of terror-related murder and given a life sentence. Rakmat Akilov said he wanted to punish Sweden for joining a coalition against Islamic State. The prosecutor called him a “security risk to society” during his trial in Stockholm. AP
UK court says would rule N Ireland abortion law illegal
LONDON: Britain’s Supreme Court said on Thursday it would have declared Northern Ireland’s abortion laws incompatible with human rights legislation if not for a procedural technicality, in what pro-choice campaigners hailed as a victory. A majority of justices said they would have ruled the current law, which outlaws abortion even in cases of rape, incest and fatal foetal anomaly, incompatible with the European Convention on Human rights.afp
Jordan withdraws tax bill after angry protests
AMMAN: Jordan’s new prime minister on Thursday announced a controversial Imf-backed income tax bill will be withdrawn, after it sparked a week of protests in the kingdom. Crowds took to the streets to demand the government drop the unpopular reforms.