International news

Policemen killed in Taliban attack on Kandahar checkpoint

An attack on a police checkpoint in the southern province of Kandahar has killed five policemen, AP reported, citing officials. The attack happened late on Sunday in Maiwand district, according to Zia Durani, the spokesman for the provincial police chief. One or more of the attackers reportedly wore a police uniform. Taliban spokesman Qari Yousaf Ahmadi claimed responsibility for the attack in a message to the media.

Syria’s chemical weapons disarmament ends – Russian Deputy FM

Chemical weapons disarmament of Syria is over, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov told RIA Novosti. Chemical weapons have been destroyed, the program of disarmament has been fulfilled, and “there are no serious issues left,” he said.

China opposes Obama meeting Dalai Lama

China warned on Monday that it was opposed to any country meeting the Dalai Lama after the White House said US President Barack Obama would attend an event with the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, Reuters said. Obama plans to deliver remarks at a February 5 prayer breakfast in Washington about the importance of religious freedom, and the Dalai Lama is due to attend. “China is opposed to any nation or government using the Tibet issue to interfere in China’s domestic affairs, and opposed to any country’s leader meeting with the Dalai Lama in any manner,” according to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei.

Ukraine mass graves West still silent about Odessa tragedy, 

The UN investigation of the Odessa tragedy and mass graves in Ukraine is virtually not operating, and the West is trying to keep silent about these topics, RIA Novosti quoted Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov as saying. Moscow has raised the issue during the UN Security Council meetings, but the Western diplomats are trying “not to react to them,” he said, describing their position as “double standards.” Ukrainian officials said that 48 anti-Maidan activists died during a fire at Odessa’s House of Unions on May 2 last year, but local deputies said more than 100 people were killed.

Two simultaneous explosions strike Tripoli, Libya

Two simultaneous explosions have struck Tripoli in Libya, according to local reports. No further information is available at this time. On Tuesday, gunmen stormed the luxury Corinthia hotel, one of the last large establishments still open. Nine people were killed, five of them foreigners. There is currently a struggle between volatile Libya’s two rival governments. This summer saw the United Nations and most Western and Arabic countries evacuate all their diplomatic personnel due to intensifying violence between the many factions vying for control of the oil-rich country four years after the ouster of Muammar Gaddafi.