Headline

Bomb Attack Kills Guard, Injures Journalists

Published

2 years ago

March 11, 2023

Editor

A bomb blast in the northern Afghan city of Mazar-i-Sharif on Saturday killed a security guard and wounded a group of journalists, as well as several children, police and a witness said.The blast came two days after a suicide bomber killed the Taliban governor of northern Balkh province in an attack claimed by the Islamic State group.

The attack on Mohammad Muzammil in the Balkh provincial capital Mazar-i-Sharif on Thursday marked the killing of one of the highest-ranking officials since the Taliban stormed back to power in 2021.

Saturday’s blast took place during an event honouring Afghanistan’s media at a cultural centre in Mazar-i-Sharif. Police said a security guard was killed and that five journalists were among the wounded.

“I heard a big bang… then there was chaos as everyone was trying to find a way to escape,” Afghan journalist Atif Arian, who was wounded in the blast, told AFP.

“Some journalists are seriously wounded.”

Balkh police spokesman Mohammad Asif Waziri said three children were also among the wounded.

Arian said the explosion happened when a group of children were singing an anthem, minutes after a Taliban official had delivered a speech.

Afghan journalists were regularly targeted before the Taliban reclaimed power, with several attacks claimed by Islamic State.

“Targeting journalists during an event to honour reporters is a despicable and cowardly act,” said Beh Lih Yi, Asia programme director at the Committee to Protect Journalists.

“The Taliban must investigate quickly, bring the perpetrators to justice, and end impunity for those who target journalists.”

No group has so far claimed the attack.

Violence across Afghanistan has fallen since the Taliban seized control but security has deteriorated again, with Islamic State claiming several deadly attacks.

Muzammil, the Balkh governor, was killed by an IS suicide bomber minutes after he arrived at his office in Mazar-i-Sharif.

The jihadist group has emerged as the biggest security challenge to the Taliban government since last year, carrying out attacks against Afghan civilians as well as foreigners and foreign interests.

The Taliban and IS share an austere Sunni Islamist ideology, but the latter are fighting to establish a global “caliphate” instead of the Taliban’s aim of ruling an independent Afghanistan.
AFP

Headline

Popular American Actor, Joe Marinelli Dies Of Stomach Cancer

Published

30 minutes ago

June 25, 2025

Editor

Joe Marinelli, popular American actor, known for his roles in ‘The Morning Show’ and other television series, is dead.

Joe Marinelli reportedly died last Sunday at age 68 after a long battle with throat and stomach cancer.

The actor’s wife, Jean Marinelli, confirmed his passage to The Hollywood Reporter.

Reacting to his death, the actor’s colleague, Mark Duplass who worked with the deceased on ‘The Morning Show’, said.

“We have lost a great one. Joe Marinelli lived in the rare air.

“He was a generous performer, beautiful human, wide-eyed positivist. I will miss him dearly. I will try to live my life a bit more like his. We all should”.

Headline

Judge In Maradona Negligence Case Resigns Amid Scandal

Published

1 day ago

June 24, 2025

Editor

The Argentine judge who caused the collapse of a trial over the 2020 death of football legend Diego Maradona has resigned, her lawyer said Tuesday.

Julieta Makintach’s involvement in a clandestine documentary about the trial of Maradona’s medical team led to the proceedings being scrapped in May after two months of hearings.

No date has yet been set for a new trial.

“I have the honor of addressing you in my capacity as judge (…)in order to submit my resignation from my position,” Makintach wrote in a letter to the governor of Buenos Aires that was shared by her lawyer.

Makintach was facing impeachment proceedings over her participation in the documentary about the case against seven medical staff accused of manslaughter over Maradona’s death.

Maradona — considered one of the world’s greatest ever players — died in November 2020 at the age of 60 while recovering from brain surgery.

He died of heart failure and acute pulmonary edema — a condition where fluid accumulates in the lungs — two weeks after going under the knife.

Prosecutor say the conditions of his home convalescence were grossly negligent.

Makintach was one of three judges hearing the case.

Headline

Netanyahu Vows To Thwart ‘Any Attempt’ By Iran To Rebuild Nuclear Programme

Published

1 day ago

June 24, 2025

Editor

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Tuesday to crush any attempt by Iran to rebuild its nuclear programme in a national address to the country after 12 days of war.

“Iran will not have a nuclear weapon,” Netanyahu said after a ceasefire put a halt to airstrikes by the two countries against each other.

“We have thwarted Iran’s nuclear project. And if anyone in Iran tries to rebuild it, we will act with the same determination, with the same intensity, to foil any attempt,” he added.