31 TTP militants killed in Pakistan: Army
PESHAWAR, Sep 15: At least 31 militants belonging to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) were killed in two separate engagements in northwest Pakistan, the army said on Monday. The two separate intelligence-based operations were conducted on September 13 and 14 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Lakki Marwat and Bannu districts, respectively, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) – the media wing of the army – said in a statement. During the first operation, security forces engaged the militants’ location, and after an intense fire exchange, 14 terrorists were killed, it said. It added that another operation was carried out in Bannu, where 17 more terrorists were killed in a gun battle. Earlier on Saturday, the ISPR said that the military had killed 45 terrorists between September 10 and 13. Meanwhile, 19 soldiers also died during these operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that Afghanistan must choose between siding with terrorists or standing with Pakistan. Pakistan has lately been witnessing a rise in terrorist activities, mainly in provinces bordering Afghanistan. (PTI)
UK arrests British-Pakistani in people smuggling case
LONDON, Sep 15: A British and Pakistani dual national has been arrested in Birmingham as part of an investigation into the use of social media to promote people smuggling activities. The 38-year-old man is suspected of using social media networks to promote illegal boat crossings between North Africa and Europe. The National Crime Agency (NCA) is currently examining digital devices and is focusing on targeting criminal networks that promote dangerous crossings using social media platforms. The arrest comes as part of the UK government’s efforts to crack down on illegal migration, with record numbers of employers banned from sponsoring foreign workers after they were found using work visas to help migrants circumvent the country’s immigration rules. UK Minister for Migration and Citizenship Mike Tapp has emphasized the consequences of those who abuse the immigration system and has called for companies to ban companies from sponsoring workers from overseas. (PTI)
UK withdraws charges against two in China spying case
LONDON, Sep 15: Two men accused of spying for China in Britain, including a former researcher, Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry, will no longer face prosecution. Cash, a parliamentary researcher, worked with senior lawmakers and Berry, an Oxfordshire academic teaching in China since 2015. They were accused of providing information or documents that could be useful to an enemy and prejudiced to the UK’s safety or interests. The men were due to go on trial next month at London’s Central Criminal Court. However, prosecutors said the case could not continue due to continuous review of evidence. The Crown Prosecution Service stated that the evidential standard for the offence indicted is no longer met, and no further evidence will be offered. (AP)