Cargo ship struck by missile from rebel-held Yemen
Dubai, Dec 15: A ballistic missile fired from rebel-held territory in Yemen struck a Liberian-flagged cargo ship Friday in the Red Sea near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, an assault that apparently sought to target a vessel struck earlier, a U.S. defense official said. The official identified the vessel as the MSC Palatium III and said it remained unclear if anyone was hurt. The missile apparently was aimed at the Al Jasrah, which was set on fire by a projectile earlier Friday, the official said. Another missile launched in the salvo missed both ships. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters. MSC, the vessel’s operator, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen did not immediately acknowledge either attack. The attacks further escalate a campaign by the Houthi rebels, who have claimed responsibility for a series of missile assaults in recent days that just missed shipping in the Red Sea and its strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The attacks are a response to the Israel-Hamas war and the pounding air-and-ground offensive targeting the Gaza Strip, though the links to the ships targeted in the rebel assaults has grown more tenuous – or nonexistent – as the attacks continue. (AP)
Five cops killed in militant attacks
Peshawar, Dec 15: At least five law enforcement officials were killed in militant attacks on a regional police headquarters and a checkpost in the restive northwest Pakistan on Friday that also killed four rebels, in an uptick in violence against security forces in the country. The attacks come three days after terrorists killed 23 soldiers in the same region in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The first attack occurred at the Police Lines in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Tank district. Three policemen were killed and three others injured in the attack. Four militants were also killed, authorities said. A terrorist blew himself up at the main entrance of the police office and residence block and the others stormed in. The attack was claimed by a new militant group, Ansarul Jihad. In another attack, militants attacked the joint police and security forces check post in Nalla Bara tehsil in the Khyber tribal district in which two troops of the Frontier Constabulary were killed. Six people were also injured in the attack. (PTI)
Over 30 hurt in subway train mishap in Beijing
Beijing, Dec 15: More than 30 people were injured after a separation of carriages on a subway train took place along the Changping Line on Thursday evening in snow-hit Beijing, local authorities said. Beijing Municipal Commission of Transport said that the accident occurred at 6:57 p.m. Rescuers from emergency, fire, health and traffic departments promptly arrived at the scene and carried out rescue operations, Xinhua news agency reported. The injured have been sent to hospitals for treatment. The cause of the accident is still under investigation. The Chinese capital has been hit by snow since Wednesday, with train operations affected and schools suspended. The city is still on an orange alert for heavy snow, a yellow alert for icy roads and a blue alert for cold waves. (IANS)