8 people were killed in Kabul attack on British Council

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KABUL: Britsih Counsil bomb attack Eight people were killed and 10 others were injured in a series of suicide explosions.
At least eight people were killed as a wave of suicide explosions rocked a British cultural centre in Kabul Friday, a public holiday marking Afghanistan s independence from Britain in 1919.

Five blasts, claimed by the Taliban, struck the British Council offices in Kabul amid bursts of heavy gunfire that began in the early morning and were ongoing four hours later.

The British Council is an official organisation part-funded by London that promotes cultural relations in offices around the world.

Police said at least the first two blasts were the work of suicide bombers.

“Eight people, mostly police, are killed and 10 others injured,” said interior ministry spokesman Siddiq Siddiqui. “There s one person, one of the attackers who is still alive and resisting. The area has not yet been cleared.”

Kabul police spokesman Hashmat Stanikzai earlier said the dead included two policemen and two street cleaners who had been working nearby when the attackers struck.
The British embassy and NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan confirmed that the target was the British Council.

 

“I can confirm reports of an attack against the British Council compound in Kabul,” said an embassy spokesman.
He added that the embassy was co-ordinating with Afghan authorities at the scene but could not provide information on casualties.

 

An ISAF spokesman, Captain Justin Brockhoff, said the force had sent a “limited number” of troops to the scene.
“We have a very small contribution to the Afghan-led response,” he said. Afghan security forces are in overall control of security in Kabul.

 

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid, claimed the militant group leading a 10-year insurgency in Afghanistan was responsible for the attack, which he said was to mark the nation s independence day.

 

He said the attackers  target was the British Council and a United Nations guest house. But a spokesman for the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, Dan McNorton, denied any of its sites was involved.

Japan issues a tsunami Warning

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An earthquake of 6.8 magnitude struck Japan’s northeast coast on Friday.
A powerful earthquake of 6.8 magnitude struck off Japan s northeast coast Friday, triggering a tsunami advisory, the Japanese Meteorological Agency said.

The quake, which swayed buildings in Tokyo, struck off the Pacific coast at a depth of 20 kilometres (12 miles) at 0536 GMT, according to a preliminary report from the agency.

There were no immediate reports of damage from the tremor that struck 80 kilometres southeast of Miyagi prefecture, not far from the epicentre of the powerful magnitude-9.0 quake that hit on March 11.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said there was no threat of a destructive widespread tsunami in the broader Pacific Ocean.

But the meteorological agency warned that waves of up to 50 centimetres (20 inches) may hit areas along the disaster-struck coast, including the area where the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant is situated.

The operator of the plant, Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), said there were no reports of fresh damage or abnormalities after the latest quake at the stricken atomic power plant.

Afghan base suicide bomb attack 2 Afghan guard killed

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KABUL: A suicide bomb attack a truck bomb near the entrance of a heavily-guarded US-run base in eastern Afghanistan 2 Afghan guards killed two officials said.

The Taliban, the main militant group leading an escalating 10-year insurgency, claimed responsibility for the attack in Gardez, the capital of eastern Paktia province, which borders Pakistan.

“The bomber was in a vehicle. He tried to enter the base (but) the guards did not let him. He was frustrated and detonated at the very, very first gate,” a coalition spokesman said.

“Two Afghan-contracted guards were killed,” he said.

Earlier the Paktia provincial police chief told AFP three people, two contracted guards and a border police officer in a nearby police base had been wounded.

“A suicide bomber tried to attack the base with a truck bomb but he was encountered at the first gate by Afghan guards. He set off his bombs there,” Paktia provincial police chief, Abdul Ghafar Sapai told.

He said the distance between the first barrier and the main gate was more than 100 metres (300 feet).

4th test start today between India and England

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LONDON: Fourth Test start today England and India at the Oval cricket ground. Indian players have failed badly on the English wickets where Strauss men crushed all hopes of batting greats.

India, who came into this series as the world’s top-ranked Test team, are 3-0 down in a four-match contest after a trio of increasingly large defeats, most recently last week’s mammoth innings and 242 run reverse at Edgbaston that saw England replace them at number one in the ICC’s Test Championship table.

Despite the adverse situation that the team is in, MS Dhoni tried to maintain remarkable equanimity. The prospect of a washout failed to test his sense of humour and humility.

“We don’t need a wake-up call, because we’re not sleeping,” the India skipper quipped when asked if the England series was a wake-up call for his side. The humility was seen in another remark. “I’m not into blame game. The entire team has failed, not individuals.”

INDIA: Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan’s secret vacation

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INDIA: Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan took off for a five-day vacation to London to bring in Saif s birthday on August 16.

Despite both of them having hectic shooting schedules and Kareena s promotional duties for her next release, the recent passing of Bebo s grand uncle Shammi Kapoor doesn t seem to have put a dampener on her plans either.

Says a source close to the couple, “Last week they were shooting for Agent Vinod, but nobody knew what Kareena had planned for Saif s birthday. She requested Saif s production partner Dinesh Vijan for five days off from the shoot to whisk him off to London. This year, Saif s birthday plans have been kept completely quiet and nobody except their families know where they are. They are staying at their favourite hotel Claridge s. Kareena even made all the arrangements for the birthday dinner on Tuesday night at an exclusive resto-bar in London.”

The source adds that Kareena and Saif were both adamant that they needed a short break. Though she was in the middle of photo shoots, promotional events and shooting for Agent Vinod, she completed everything before she left with Saif. Kareena wanted to make this year special for him. As for Saif, taking this break meant a mix of both work and leisure, as he has some work-related meetings in London. “They don t want anybody to know about their vacation, so they quietly flew out on August 14. This time the couple didn t want anybody to know what Kareena s birthday plans for Saif were. Their close friends got to know only the next day.”

A year ago, Kareena and Saif brought in Saif s birthday in Latvia, where he was shooting for Agent Vinod.

Spanish Supercup Barcelona beats by Real Madrid

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Spanish Supercup Barcelona won the match by 3-2.  Lionel Messi scored two goals, including the late winner, and Barcelona won its 10th Spanish Supercup. Real Madrid that ended with both benches brawling on the field.
Messi volleyed Adriano s cross past Iker Casillas for the 87th minute winner to finish off a move started by recent arrival Cesc Fabregas, who made his Barcelona debut.

Messi fed Andres Iniesta for the 15th-minute opener before scoring his first before the break. Madrid twice rallied through goals by Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema before Messi clinched the 5-4 aggregate victory.

Tensions on the hot, humid night at Camp Nou reached a climax in injury time as players and coaching staff brawled on the field after Madrid defender Marcelo s hasty challenge on Fabregas.

After the players and coaching staff were separated and three red cards were handed out, Barcelona lifted its third straight Supercup and first in five tries against Madrid. That gave Pep Guardiola his 11th major piece of silverware, tying Johan Cruyff as the club s most successful coach.

“For a preseason game to be played at this level? That was enormous,” Guardiola said. “Even when we won 5-0 against them last year I never thought we were so superior. It s always been a very difficult matchup for the history between the clubs.”

American protested against President Obama’s anti-immigration policies

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US: According to reports, the human rights activists gathered in front of Democratic Party Offices in Miami, Chicago, Boston, Houston and Atlanta on Tuesday.

The protesters slammed the Obama Administration for reneging on its promise of immigration reform and, instead using federal immigration agents and even local police officers to crackdown on immigrants.

Based on Obama s reform plan, workplace enforcement and border security would be boosted and instead the government would grant millions of immigrants a chance to become citizens if they pay a fine and learn English.

However, the protesters, who brought a petition signed by more than 24,000 people, say the plan has only empowered police to act as immigration agents. The activists also criticized the US Department of Homeland Security s fingerprint sharing program.

US officials disagree on how to organize the estimated 11 million illegal immigrants, mostly from Latin America, who live in the shadows in the United States.

23 killed in Yemen in Fierce clashes

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Yemen: Fierce clashes between tribesmen and troops 23 tribesmen dead.

“Twenty-three of our fighters were killed in fierce overnight clashes with the Republican Guard,” said the source from the Bakil tribe, adding that the worst fighting was concentrated in the area of Sheheb Arhab.

The trouble began last week after the elite Republican Guard, which is led by President Ali Abdullah Saleh s son, Ahmed, installed a checkpoint that allegedly harassed residents of the area that is considered the northeastern gate to Sanaa.

The source said troops chased tribesmen to their villages after few skirmishes, adding that the Republican Guard and the army had recently deployed reinforcements in Arhab, which lies 40 kilometres outside Sanaa.

Tribal sources claimed that the army was planning a war against the Bakil tribe, Yemen s largest confederation of smaller tribes.

 

Source : http://www.latestcnnnews.com/yemen-fierce-clashes-23-tribesmen-killed.html

Brazil and Franch reach in U20 world cup semi final.

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U20 World Cup: Brazil and France reach  in semi-finals after beating Nigeria and Spain respectively.

Brazil won a thrilling 4-2 penalty shootout against Spain to advance to the semi-finals of the U20 World Cup on Sunday night along with France who earlier beat Nigeria 3-2 after extra-time.

Brazil, bidding for their fifth title and first since 2003, will next meet Mexico in tomorrow’s semi-finals at Pereira while France take on Portugal in Medellin.

Three of the four quarter-finals went to extra-time with only Mexico having the advantage of winning in regular time, beating hosts Colomba 3-1 on Saturday. Portugal ousted favourites Argentina 5-4 on penalties after their tie ended goalless.

In Pereira, Spain had come from behind twice with Rodri equallising (57) after Willian (35) had opened for Brazil, with Alvaro Vasquez sending the tie into penalties as he scored after 102 minutes just two minutes after Dudu scored Brazil’s second.

 

Source : http://www.latestcnnnews.com/u20-world-cup-brazil-and-france-reach-in-semi-fi...

 

 

 

United States Chemical plants and oil refineries are at terrorist interests

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Washington: US government feared that terrorists may target chemical factories and plants.

In a letter released by homeland security regarding terrorism, it is intimated that terrorists are appointed at important positions and they may use there position for Al-Qaeda’s terrorism. The attacks may be of cyber nature or real ones. In the report it is intimated that the any worker of these chemical plants and refineries may attack these site on the completion of a decade of 9/11 attacks for massive destruction and massacre.

Former chief of homeland security Mr. Chad sweet said in an interview that for massive terrorists attacks, the use of US infrastructure is essential.