9 children hurt in drone strike on madrassa in Pakistan
PESHAWAR, Dec 26: Nine children, including three girls, were injured when a drone struck a madrassa in Shadikhel village of Tank district in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province while classes were in session. The incident occurred on Thursday, officials said. Rescue 1122 teams rushed to the scene and transported the injured to the District Headquarters Hospital in Tank. Hospital authorities confirmed that the victims included six boys and three girls and stated that all were in stable condition and out of danger. Police launched an investigation into the attack, though no group has claimed responsibility so far. Following the strike, local residents, led by clerics, staged a sit-in protest at the main chowk in Tank district, condemning the attack on the religious seminary. The protest led to the temporary closure of markets and suspension of traffic on major roads. District Police Officer Shabbir Hussain and senior administration officials later held talks with the protesters, resulting in the temporary suspension of the sit-in. Protesters demanded strict action against those responsible. (PTI)
Yemen separatists say Saudi Arabia hit their forces
ADEN, Dec 26: Southern Yemen’s separatist Southern Transitional Council (STC) accused Saudi Arabia of carrying out airstrikes against its forces in Hadramout governorate, amid rising tensions within the Saudi-led coalition. The Saudi government has not confirmed the strikes, which reportedly followed warnings for STC fighters to withdraw from areas they recently entered. The UAE-backed STC said its forces had faced ambushes by gunmen, killing two fighters and wounding 12, before the alleged Saudi strikes occurred. Eyewitnesses reported destroyed military vehicles, and STC media aired footage it said showed the attacks. The STC claims its operations aimed to pursue a wanted suspect and curb smuggling. The dispute highlights growing friction between Saudi Arabia and the UAE, longtime allies backing rival Yemeni factions, as Yemen’s decade-long war continues to destabilize the country and region. (AP)
Indian student shot dead near University of Toronto campus
TORONTO, Dec 26: A 20-year-old Indian doctoral student, Shivank Avasthi, was shot dead near the University of Toronto Scarborough campus, with authorities investigating the incident as a homicide. Toronto police responded Tuesday afternoon to reports of an injured person near Highland Creek Trail and Old Kingston Road and found Avasthi suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said the suspect fled before officers arrived and no description has been released. India’s Consulate in Toronto expressed deep anguish over the killing and said it is in contact with the victim’s family, offering assistance. The University of Toronto Scarborough issued a safety alert and urged people to avoid the area while the investigation continues. (PTI)
