IS bomb kills 10, hurts 22 in Baghdad
BAGHDAD— A car bomb exploded outside a popular ice cream shop in central Baghdad late Monday, killing 10 people and wounding 22, hospital and police officials said.
The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack, which Iraqi officials said involved apparently remotely detonated explosives inside a parked car. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations.
The attack came just days into the holy month of Ramadan when Muslims fast during daylight hours. After sundown, families break their fast and Baghdad’s restaurants and cafes quickly fill up.
Videos posted to social media showed chaotic scenes on the streets surrounding the blast. A number of wounded lay on the ground, others propped themselves up on the colorful park benches outside the ice cream shop. Ramadan is often marked by an uptick in violence in Iraq.
India cattle ban
NEW DELHI— A new ban imposed by India’s government on the sale of cows and buffaloes for slaughter to protecta nimals considered holy by many Hindus is drawing widespread protests from state governments and animal-related industries.
Many state governments criticized the ban as a blow to beef and leather exports that will leave hundreds of thousands jobless and deprive millions of Christians, Muslims and poor Hindus of a cheap source of protein.
The rules, which took effect Friday, require that cattle traders pledge that any cows or buffalo sold are not intended for slaughter.
Flood death toll rises
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka –– Relief workers continued to help flood and landslide victims Monday as the number of weather-related deaths rose to 169, officials said, adding that water levels are now receding.
Over 100 others remained missing after five days of severe weather across the country, the Disaster Management Center said.
Navy vessels and aircraft were used to distribute cooked food and dry rations to cut-off areas.
Egypt regulations
CAIRO — President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi on Monday enacted a law that imposes strict new regulations on aid groups, stoking fears that his government intends to accelerate its harsh crackdown on human rights activists before a presidential election scheduled for next year.
The new law, which some aid groups predict will force them to shut down, was approved by Egypt’s Parliament in November, but Mr. el-Sissi hesitated to sign it after trenchant criticism from Western officials, most notably the Republican Sens. John McCain of Arizona and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who threatened to restrict American aid to Egypt if the legislation was approved.
But recently Mr. el-Sissi has appeared emboldened by a burgeoning friendship with President Donald Trump, who has hailed the Egyptian strongman as a “fantastic guy” and indicated that he did not intend to allow human rights issues to sour their relationship.
Having welcomed Mr. el-Sissi to Washington, D.C., last month, Mr. Trump met with him again during his visit last week to Saudi Arabia, where the two leaders were photographed touching a glowing orb alongside Salman, the Saudi king. On his return to Egypt, the el-Sissi government pushed through new news media restrictions and prosecuted a rival political leader in the courts.