Three children killed in militant attack in Pakistan
Peshawar, March 27: At least three children were killed and three others injured when militants ambushed the vehicle of a tribal elder in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, police said on Friday. The attack took place on Thursday in Wana, the headquarters of South Waziristan district, when gunmen opened fire on tribal elder Malik Sardar Wazir’s vehicle carrying six children from his family. According to the police, Wazir’s three children died on the spot, while three others sustained injuries.
The injured were immediately moved to a hospital.
Security forces rushed to the scene shortly after the incident and launched a search operation to apprehend those involved. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far. (PTI)
Three killed in tourist helicopter crash in Hawaii
HANALEI, March 27: A tourist helicopter operated by Airborne Aviation crashed Thursday at Kalalau Beach on Kauai’s Na Pali Coast, killing three and injuring two, authorities reported. The helicopter, carrying one pilot and four passengers, went down in a remote area accessible only by hiking or boat. The injured were taken to Wilcox Medical Centre, while officials awaited updates on their conditions. Airborne Aviation offers sightseeing tours of Kauai’s canyons, waterfalls, and coastline, including “doors-off thrill seeker” experiences. Kauai Mayor Derek Kawakami praised the coordinated response of local police, fire, and US Coast Guard teams. Helicopter tours are popular for exploring the Na Pali Coast. In July 2024, a previous Kauai tour helicopter crash killed three, with investigators citing in-flight breakup after turbulence caused rotor blades to strike the airframe. (AP)
Sri Lankan man jailed for 21 days for fuel hoarding
Colombo, Mar 27: A man charged for hoarding four litres of petrol in a town in northwest Sri Lanka has been sentenced to 21 days in jail. Sri Lanka has banned fuel hoarding soon after the outbreak of the US and Israel’s joint attack on Iran. Lasantha Kumara Balasuriya, 48, from Nikaweratiya township in the North Western province, pleaded guilty in the court on Thursday and said the fuel he stockpiled was to be used for cleaning up the surroundings for an annual religious ceremony of his late parents. The magistrate sentenced Balasuriya to imprisonment for 21 days for hoarding four litres of petrol, and imposed an additional Sri Lanka rupees (LKR) 1500 fine on him. The Sri Lanka government on March 15 introduced a QR code-based rationing of fuel. According to the Ministry of Energy, in the rationing arrangement, cars are allowed 15 litres per week, while buses are allowed 60 litres per week. Starting February 28, the US and Israel have launched a massive joint attack on Iran and with Iran’s retaliation, it has extended to the entire Gulf region. Iranian strikes in Hormuz have affected maritime traffic in the strait, which is crucial for global supply chains for crude and oil. (PTI)
