KATHMANDU: A 42 year old woman from Nepal climbed Mount Everest for the seventh time, breaking her own record for the most summits of the world's highest mountain by any woman. Lhakpa Sherpa, who works in a 7-Eleven in Connecticut, reached the 8850 meter peak from the Tibetan side and was accompanied to the top by a Nepali guide. "She has broken her own record," said Rajiv Shrestha of the 7 Summits Adventure company. Over 330 climbers have scaled the mountain from the Nepali side after expeditions were forced off due to last year's devastating earthquake that killed at least 18 people at Base Camp.
Israel defence minister warns of 'extremist' rise
JERUSALEM: Israel's defence minister resigned saying the nation was being taken over by "extremist and dangerous elements" shortly after Prime Minister Netanyahu made a move to replace him. "To my great regret, I have recently found myself in difficult disputes over matters of principle and professionalism with the prime minister, a number of cabinet members and some lawmakers," said Moshe Yaalon, from a statement at his Tel Aviv office. "The State of Israle is patient and tolerant toward the weak among it and minorities. But to my great regret extremist and dangerous elements have overrun Israel as well as the Likud party, shaking up our home and threatening harm to those in it." Meanwhile, PM Benjamin Netanyahu rebuffed the claims saying, "The reshuffle in portfolios did not result from a crisis in faith between us. It resulted from the need to expand the government so as to bring stability to the State of Israel."
China rebuffs rumours, demands apology
BEIJING: China's ambassador to Zambia has released a stern statement this week against rumours about the country selling human flesh in Africa. His statement sought to defy any misinformation being spread to harm the country's reputation in the African continent. "This is completely a malicious slandering and vilification, which is absolutely unacceptable to us," said Yang Youmings' statement. The action comes as response to rumours claiming China was taking dead bodies, marinating them, putting them in cans and selling them in African markets. The Chinese state media accused tabloids in Zambia of spreading the rumors, saying that "people with ulterior motives were attempting to destroy the long-standing partnership between Zambia and China." The social media worked as fuel to the fire, with blogs and other publications picking up the story from Facebook. Yang demanded an investigation by Zambia, prompting an apology from Zambian Deputy Defense Minister Christopher Mulenga.
First American drone strike in Baluchistan
KABUL: The Afghan intelligence agency reported that Taliban leader Mullah Akhtar Muhammad Mansour has been killed in a strike in the restive Pakistani province of Baluchistan. While the US announced the strike, it could not confirm the death. The news, confirmed or not, is of significance as it is believed to be the first American drone strike in Baluchistan, the de facto headquarters of the Afghan Taliban. It is also a sign that the Obama administration was growing less patient with Pakistan's incapability to act against the terrorist insurgency. The US and the Afghan government has long blamed the outfit for the resilience of the insurgents despite a strong campaign being lead against them involving 150,000 international troops. Repeating 2011 attack on leader Osama bin Laden, the US yet again alerted Pakistani officials only after the attack. The country's Foreign Ministry issued a statement later, denouncing the attack as a violation of the country's sovereignty.
Seven killed in Indonesia volcano eruption
GAMBER: Houses were incinerated and villages left covered in ash after Mount Sinabung on the island of Sumatra erupted with fast-moving flows reaching temperatures of up to 700C. Seven people were killed and many others left with life-threatening injuries as the effects of the natural calamity stretched for an area of 7.5 miles. "The villagers who managed to survive were running around in panic, trying to save themselves. There were only a few dozen. They were terrified and covered in ash," said Agustatius Sitepu, head of the local military. Six bodies were recovered by Sunday evening and three people were taken to hospital. Mt Sinabung had been quiet for 400 years until 2010, when it came back to life, and then erupted again in 2013. It killed sixteen people in 2014.
Pakistani terrorist charged with waging war
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani terrorist Mohammad Naveed who was caught during a terror attack on a BSF convoy in Udhampur district, last year, has been charged with waging war against India and, conspiring and collecting arms for the same. Special judge for the NIA court, Kishore Kumar also charged the youth with killing government officials on duty and making an attempt on the lives of others. Naveed and his accomplice Mohammad Noman allegedly attacked the convoy on August 5, 2015, at Narsoo nullah along the Jammu-Srinagar national highway at Udhampur. Two BSG personnel died and 13 others were injured in the bid. Noman was killed in retaliatory action.
Indian-Origin Student Wins Architecture Award In South Africa
JOHANNESBURG: An Indian-origin student won a prestigious award in South Africa for developing a safe water purification infrastructure model to clean the Ganga River using Varanasi's architectural principles. Vedhant Maharaj won the 2015 Architectural Student of the Year Award for his architectural thesis "Yantra". His dissertation shows critical elements that were picked out by the judges, such as innovation aond technical excellence expressed with a keen understanding of the combined social, economic and environmental context that is changing the approach to the built environment today. Maharaj illustrated how creativity could make an exceptional and meaningful contribution to South Africa's diverse and multi-cultural landscaoe. His co-supervisor said that the student's report explored water architecural heritage of Varanasi in India.
