Arab league calls on Assad to step down
Arab League nations have called on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to swiftly leave power in order to end his country's unrest, Qatar's emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani said at a ministerial meeting of the Arab League. “There is agreement on the need for the rapid resignation of President Bashar al-Assad," he said, as cited by AFP.
Three die in Spanish wildfire-related incidents
At least three people have been killed in incidents brought on by massive wildfires in Spain's northeast region of Catalonia. Two died as they jumped into the sea after the fire engulfed their cars on a road near Portbou, the regional fire department said. Another reportedly died of a heart attack after seeing his house surrounded by flames. The transportation system in Spain was severely disrupted. The main highway linking Spain with France through La Jonquera had been closed. More than 80 teams were deployed to combat the wildfires, according to the fire service’s statement.
Syrian rebels seize army infantry school near Aleppo - reports
Syrian rebel forces have reportedly seized the army's infantry school in the town of Musalmiyeh, about 16 km to the north of Aleppo, a senior military defector told Reuters. "This is of big strategic and symbolic importance,” brigadier General Mustafa al-Sheikh said. “The school has ammunition depots and armored formations and it protects the northern gate to Aleppo.”
Gunman in Afghan security uniform kills 3 NATO workers
At least three civilian NATO contractors have been killed Sunday in western Afghanistan by a gunman dressed in an Afghan national security force uniform. The gunman was also killed during the incident. No information about the civilians who died has been released. Attacks by militants dressed in Afghan security forces uniforms are on the rise, with 26 foreign troops so far having been killed in these types of attacks.
Madagascar army recaptures munitions camp
Two people were killed as Malagasy government forces drove out a group of rebelling soldiers who had taken over a military camp near the country’s main airport on Sunday. The casualties include one government troop and the alleged leader of the rebels. Several arrests were made. Attempts to negotiate with the group failed – the officer sent for talks was shot and later died of his wounds. The mutineers’ motivation remains unclear. The defense ministry says the group was led by Koto Mainty, a bodyguard of former Defense Minister Noel Rakotonandrasana who was jailed after taking part in a 2010 mutiny.
Coordinated car bombings kill 20 in Iraq
Twenty people have been killed and 80 have been wounded in a series of coordinated car bombings across Iraq, Reuters reports. Three car bombings in the town of Mahmudiya killed 11 people and wounded 38, while five people died in two explosions in the town of Madaen. A blast in the city killed five and injured 14 on a busy street in the city of Najaf. Twenty three people were also injured in another bombing in Najaf earlier on Sunday. That blast occurred just 766 yards (700 meters) from the gold-domed shrine to Imam Ali, one of the most revered figures in Shiite Islam, suggesting that the bombings were orchestrated by militant Sunni groups. One policeman was killed and ten people were injured in another car bombing Saturday evening in the northern city of Mosul.
Assad and his family still in Damascus – Israeli military
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his family are in Damascus, Brig. Gen. Yoav Mordechai, a spokesperson for the Israeli Defense Forces, said in a television interview. Mordechai also stated that Assad retains the loyalty of his armed forces despite numerous defections. There have been doubts about Assad’s whereabouts since a bombing killed four senior government members on Wednesday. The president had not spoken in public, and state media only showed footage of him swearing in the new Defense Minister and meeting with the country’s new Chief of Staff.
Three killed in light airplane crash in Russia
Three people have been killed in a light airplane crash in Russia’s Ryazan Region, a regional Emergency Ministry report states. Among the dead are two men and a boy. The first crash report came at 1:57 pm Moscow time. Rescuers are digging through the rubble of the ill-fated IL-103 jet, and investigators are also set to arrive at the scene of the crash.
Libyan Olympic Committee president freed – deputy
Nabil Elalem, the president of Libya’s Olympic Committee, has been released a week after he was captured by gunmen in the country’s capital, Tripoli, his deputy Noureddin el-Krekshi said. His release was reportedly secured by the Olympic Committee, and Elalem is now safe and at home. Kreshi also said the Olympic Committee chief could soon leave the country to travel to the Olympic Games in London. Elalem became the country’s Olympic Committee president last August, succeeding Mohammed Gaddafi, one of the deposed ruler’s sons who fled the country into Algeria.
US gives Jordan $100 million to host Syrian refugees
Washington has given Jordan $100 million in aid to help host some 140,000 Syrian refugees who have fled the civil conflict in their home country, US ambassador to Jordan said on Sunday. The US will also assist the kingdom to cope with energy issues caused by disrupted gas supplies from Egypt, added the ambassador. Jordan, a major beneficiary of US aid, has already been approved to receive $660 million in military and economic aid from Washington this year. In the last decade, the US has given the debt-ridden kingdom some $2.4 billion.
India's former Finance Minister elected President
Pranab Mukherjee, former Finance Minister of India, has been elected the country’s next President, according to an announcement by the candidate’s campaign. Mukherjee secured 558,194 votes, a solid majority. His main rival was P. A. Sangma, who received 239,966 votes. Sangma is the speaker of the country’s lower legislative chamber, Lok Sabha. Official tallies will be announced later on Sunday, with Mukherjee set to be sworn in on Wednesday. The Indian President is elected by members of the two houses of Parliament and local assembly members, with each MP representing 708 votes. Mukherjee rose to prominence in Indira Gandhi’s Indian National Congress, and served as finance minister from 1982 to 1984. Mukherjee later had a falling out with her successor, Rajiv Gandhi, and briefly led a splinter party. He rejoined the INC in 1989 and served as the country’s Minister of External Affairs between 1995 and 1996. Following the INC’s return to electoral power in 2004, he has served consecutive terms as India’s Defense, Foreign and Finance ministers.
Russian officials detained over flood deaths
On Sunday, Russia's chief investigative body charged that the head of the southern Krymsk region and the mayor of the town of Krymsk received warnings about the possible impact of coming rainfall, but failed to properly warn and evacuate residents. The death toll from the early July disaster reached 153 (revised down from an earlier estimate of 171), with hundreds more reported injured.
Strongest downpour in Beijing in 60 years, 20 dead in China
At least ten people have died in the Chinese capital Beijing as a result of a heavy rains that fell on Saturday night. Ten more victims in other provinces registered. Many of the victims saw their roofs cave in, while some died because of broken electric cables. Reports of people being struck by lighting were also registered. It rained heavily throughout the night as the streets were flooded with up to one meter of water. City traffic was blocked on many streets that turned into rivers. The Beijing airport had to cancel over 500 flights.
Soyuz with 5 satellites blasts off from Baikonur
A Soyuz-FG booster-vehicle with a transfer orbit stage Fregat was launched from the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Saturday. It is taking five satellites into orbit: Russia’s Kanopus-B and MKA-MFI, a Belarusian BKA, a German TET-1 and a Canadian ADS-1B. The launch was conducted from rocket site 31; a back up site for the first manned spaceflight of Yuri Gagarin. Gagarin’s site was used a week ago, on July 15, to take to the newest international crew to the ISS for the long-term Expedition 32/33. The Fregat transfer orbit stage is expected to deliver the satellites into their orbit successively between 7:26 and 9:00 GMT.
Gas pipeline on Sinai blasted for 15th time
An export gas pipeline on the Sinai Peninsula that delivers natural gas from Egypt to Israel and Jordan has been blasted for the 15th time. Police report that the saboteurs came to a pipeline junction in a pickup truck, dug a hole under the pipe and detonated it with an automatic primer. The explosion of the pressurized pipeline was so loud it could be heard at a distance of up to 30 kilometers; locals say the flames were visible from far away. The pipeline had only started redelivering gas three days ago as a previous subversive act had taken it out of commission.
F-16 fighter jet crashes in Japan’s north
A US Air Force F-16 fighter jet has crashed in the waters off Hokkaido Island Sunday morning, close to the town of Nemuro, report Japanese authorities. There are no reports forthcoming on the status of the pilot thus far.
At least 14 killed in heavy Beijing rainstorm
At least 14 people have died in Beijing Saturday as a result of one of the strongest rainfalls in over four decades to hit the Chinese capital, Chinese TV reports. Many streets have been flooded as the rainfall continued into Sunday. Authorities have evacuated over 14,000 people to higher ground. Almost 100,000 people have been mobilized in order to minimize the consequences of the storm.
Murdoch leaves several News Corp. subsidiary boards
Rupert Murdoch has resigned as director of News International Group Ltd., NewsCorp Investments and Times Newspaper Holdings on Friday. "This decision by Rupert is part of the preparation of the business for the upcoming restructure into two companies," said The Times’ reporter Nico Hines, citing an email to the staff. Murdoch’s News Corp. plans to split into two companies, separating its newspaper and book publishing businesses from its TV and film enterprises. Murdoch, however, “remains fully committed to our business as chairman of what will become the largest newspaper ... group in the world,” the email reads.
Hamas to release 159 Gaza prisoners on Ramadan
The Palestinian Islamist group Hamas has pledged to release 159 prisoners in Gaza “on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan," Hamas police spokesman Islam Shahwan said. Shahwan said the inmates are criminal prisoners and not political. Earlier, Egypt's newly elected President Mohammed Morsi issued pardons to 572 civilians sentenced in military tribunals for Ramadan. The holy month of Ramadan began on Friday.
Five killed as car hits bus stop in Russia
Five people, including a 7-year-old child, have been killed after a car hit a bus stop in the Moscow region. A 15-year-old girl was injured in the accident. A woman was reportedly exceeding the speed limit and lost control of her Land Rover. She crashed into the bus stop on Biserovskoe highway at around 10 pm local time.
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