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India says situation in Iraq receiving attention on high priority
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India
said situation in Iraq is receiving attention on high priority while
External Affairs Minister is monitoring and reviewing situation of
Indian nationals in Iraq.
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MEA
spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin toady tweeted that External Affairs
Minister Sushma Swaraj is monitoring and reviewing the situation of
Indian nationals in Iraq.
Secretary West Anil Wadhwa in the ministry today met Iraqi Ambassador to
New Delhi Ahmed Derwari in this connection.
Earlier, on Monday India said that it "firmly stands by" the Government
and people of Iraq in their fight against "international terrorism"
while expressing serious concern over the safety and security of its
nationals in the violence-hit country.
Strongly condemning the violence, the government said it was "deeply
concerned" with deteriorating security situation in Iraq resulting out
of recent attacks and taking over of some cities, by terrorist outfits
since June 8.
The Ministry of External Affairs said "the safety and security of the
Indian nationals currently in Iraq remains a matter of serious concern
for the Government".
The government had already asked Indians residing in Iraq to consider
leaving the country in view of the "precarious" security situation.
People have also been advised not to travel to the country.
The Indian Embassy in Baghdad has already set up a a 24- hour helpline to offer assistance to Indian nationals there.
External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said that India's Mission in Iraq is in touch with nurses in Tikrit.
International Red Crescent Society volunteers visited them on Monday to ensure safety.
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Boat sinks off Malaysian coast, dozens reported missing
A boat from Indonesia with 97
on board sank off the western coast of Malaysia, and 61 of the
passengers are still missing, according to the Malaysian Maritime
Enforcement Agency. The passengers are suspected of aiming to reach
Malaysia illegally, an agency spokesman said, according to Reuters. The
agency is sending several boats to the area to search for survivors. The
boat sank around midnight local time on Tuesday, about two miles (3 km)
from the town of Banting on the Strait of Malacca.
Blast hits World Cup viewing area in northern Nigeria
A suicide bombing in northeast
Nigeria at an outdoor World Cup viewing space has killed several
people, witnesses told AP. The bomber detonated a tricycle taxi full of
explosives at the event in Damaturu, the capital of Yobe state. While no
deaths are official thus far, local hospital workers said at least 15
people are critically wounded, and casualties are still arriving at
General Sani Abacha Specialist Hospital, according to AP and Reuters.
Police Assistant Superintendent Nathan Cheghan confirmed the blast and
said rescue workers are on watch for possible secondary explosions.
Spain's King Juan Carlos's abdication approved by Senate
The Spanish Senate has
approved King Juan Carlos's abdication, finalizing the last legislative
procedure ahead of the proclamation of Felipe VI as Spain's next
monarch. King Juan Carlos is expected to sign the law on Wednesday, his
last act as head of state after 38 years on the throne. The 233-5 vote,
with 20 abstentions paved the way for the king's son to ascend to the
throne on Thursday. Some 160 guests are invited to the Hall of Columns
at the Royal Palace in Madrid to witness the ceremony.
Turkey evacuates Iraq consulate in Basra to Kuwait
Turkey evacuated its consulate in the southern Iraqi city of Basra on
Tuesday due to a growing security risk, Reuters reported. Foreign
Minister Ahmet Davutoglu wrote on his Twitter account that the staff has
been transferred to Kuwait. The 18 staff members, including the consul
general, would return to Turkey from Kuwait, according to a foreign
ministry official. Ankara has no plans to evacuate the embassy in
Baghdad.
More than 202 million Chinese older than 60 years
The number of people who are older than 60 years has reached 202.43
million people, or 14.9 percent of the population, by the end of 2013,
ITAR-TASS reported. This number increased in 2013 by 17.43 million
people, according to the Ministry of Civil Administration. Analysts
believe that the increasing number of pensioners will make problems for
the country’s financial system and propose urgent measures aimed at
diversifying funds.
15 more killed in new militant attack on Kenyan coast
Somali-linked Islamist militants killed at least 15 people in a second
night of attacks on Kenya’s coast, a day after an assault on a nearby
town left almost 50 dead, Reuters said. Armed men reportedly went door
to door hours before dawn in the village of Poromoko, ordered people
outside and made them recite the Islamic creed, according to a witness.
Somalia’s Al-Shabaab militants claimed responsibility for the two days
of attacks. However, Kenya’s president, Uhuru Kenyatta, said Tuesday
that the attacks were planned by “local political networks.”
Experts find painting underneath Picasso masterpiece ‘The Blue Room’
Scientists and art experts have found a hidden painting beneath one of
Pablo Picasso’s first masterpieces, “The Blue Room,” AP said. Advances
in infrared imagery were used to reveal a bow-tied man with his face
resting on his hand. Over the past five years, experts from The Phillips
Collection, National Gallery of Art, Cornell University and Delaware's
Winterthur Museum have developed a clearer image of the mystery picture
under the surface – a portrait of an unknown man painted in a vertical
composition.
Blast reported at chemical plant in Netherlands
An explosion and fire at a chemical plant in the southern Netherlands
was reported on Tuesday, Reuters said. Regional Dutch emergency services
tweeted that there had been a blast at a plastics production plant run
by chemical company Caligen Europe in the southern town on Breda. No
injuries were immediately reported. Witnesses reported a lot of smoke
and strong odors at the scene.
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