In brief: Assailants fire on U.S. Consulate
ANKARA, Turkey – Two assailants opened fire at the U.S. Consulate building in Istanbul today, touching off a gunfight with police, Turkish media reports said.
No one was hurt in the attack and the two assailants managed to escape, the private Dogan news agency reported.
The attack comes as Turkey is taking a more active role against Islamic State militants. Last month it conducted aerial strikes against IS positions in Syria and agreed to let the U.S.-led coalition use its bases for its fight against IS.
On Sunday, the U.S. military announced that a detachment of six F-16 fighter jets have arrived at Turkey’s southern Incirlik Air Base to join the fight against IS militants.
Fighters retake city from Yemeni rebels
SANAA, Yemen – Pro-government fighters recaptured a provincial capital Sunday in southern Yemen after three days of intense fighting against Shiite rebels and their allies, military officials said, the latest in a string of battlefield successes by the Saudi-backed troops.
The recapture of Zinjibar, the capital of Abyan province, came one day after a friendly fire incident in which a Saudi-led coalition airstrike hit the pro-government fighters while traveling on a coastal road toward Zinjibar, killing at least 20, officials said.
Suicide bomber hits meeting of criminals
KABUL, Afghanistan – A suicide bomber in Afghanistan’s northern Kunduz province has killed 29 people, mainly members of illegal armed groups that have clashed with security forces and the insurgents in the past, an Afghan official said Sunday.
Heyatullah Amiri, district administrative chief of Khan Abad district, said a suicide bomber on foot targeted a meeting of criminal groups late Saturday. Twenty-five of those killed were members of the armed groups, including four leaders, while the remaining four were civilians, he said.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack in an email sent to media.
Stampede at temple leaves at least 11 dead
PATNA, India – A stampede at a temple during a Hindu religious festival left at least 11 pilgrims dead and dozens injured early today in eastern India, police said.
Thousands of people tried to force their way into the temple when its gates opened at daybreak in Deogarh, a town in Jharkhand state, said police officer Subodh Kumar
At least 11 pilgrims, including eight women, died and another 24 were injured, Kumar said. The injured were being treated at a local hospital.
Pakistanis accused of child porn ring
ISLAMABAD – Police in eastern Pakistan arrested seven men accused of sexually abusing children and distributing videos of the abuse, authorities said Sunday. More arrests were expected.
Investigators were sifting through evidence, including 18 or 19 videos seized so far, said Kasur district regional police chief Shahzad Sultan.
It was not yet known how many children were abused or if there were other videos, police officer Babar Saeed said.
Police kill suspected tiger poachers
DHAKA, Bangladesh – Police on Sunday killed six suspected tiger poachers in Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest in southwestern Bangladesh, home to critically endangered Royal Bengal tigers.
Authorities found the skins of three adult tigers and seized firearms from the suspects.