4 IS militants killed in air srike in Iraq
Baghdad, Sep 21: Four Islamic State (IS) militants were killed in an airstrike in Iraq’s Kirkuk province, the Iraqi military said on Thursday. Iraqi warplanes carried out airstrikes on IS hideouts in Wadi Zghaitoun based on intelligence reports, according to a statement from the Security Media Cell, a media outlet affiliated with the Iraqi Joint Operations Command. On Thursday morning, a joint army and intelligence force arrived at the bombarded site, found four bodies of IS militants, seized four rifles, and carried out controlled explosions of four explosive belts and other equipment, the statement said, Xinhua news agency reported. The security situation in Iraq has improved since the defeat of the IS in 2017. However, IS remnants have melted into urban centers, deserts, and rugged areas, carrying out frequent guerilla attacks against security forces and civilians. (IANS)
Indian scales
world’s eighth highest peak
Kathmandu, Sep 21: A 32-year-old Indian banker on Thursday successfully scaled Mt Manaslu in Nepal, achieving the feat of being the first Indian climber to summit the world’s eighth highest mountain peak in this season. Sunil Kumar, who hails from Haryana, reached the peak of Mt Manaslu which stands at 8,163 metres above sea level at 5.25 am local time. He was accompanied by another Nepalese climber Sangita Kumari Rokaya and two mountain guides, according to the organiser of the expedition. Kumar climbed the mountain situated on the northern side of central Nepal in Gorkha district. Mountain guides Lakpa Gyaljen Sherpa and Chhangba Sherpa also reached the mountain peak at the same time around 5.25 am local time on Thursday, according to Nivesh Karki, executive director of Pioneer Adventure Pvt. Ltd. who organised the expedition. They are returning to the base camp after scaling the peak, Rai said. (PTI)
IMF chief tells Pak to tax rich & protect poor
New York, Sep 21: IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva has urged Pakistan to collect more taxes from the wealthy and protect the poor people, as the cash-strapped country reels under double-digit inflation after securing a bailout from the global lender in July, media reports said on Thursday. Speaking to Geo News after meeting Interim Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on the sidelines of the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session in New York, Georgieva said that it is in the interest of the people of Pakistan that the country revitalises its economy and addresses some of the “shortcomings” of the past. “What we are asking in our programme is that please collect more taxes from the wealthy and please protect the poor people of Pakistan,” shesaid. “I do believe this is in line with what people in Pakistan would like to see for the country,” she added. “Shortcomings” of the past should be addressed, Georgieva urged. Her comments come amid soaring inflation in Pakistan after the Washington-based global lender transferred USD 1.2 billion to the cash-strapped country in July. (PTI)