Terror target: controversial cartoonist in Copenhagen
In what is being termed as a terrorist attack, armed men opened fire on a cafe in on Saturday, killing one person and injuring three police officers. The cafe was hosting a debate on Islam and free speech, which was being attended by Lars Vilks, who faced death threats after caricaturing the Prophet Muhammad. French Ambassador to Denmark Francois Zimeray was also present when the attack took place. According to Zimeray, the intent of the attack was the same as the one that took place on the offices of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris. The gunmen fled the scene in a car after the attack. Vilks, who has lived under constant police protection since 2007, was unharmed during the attack.
Ukraine ceasefire comes into effect
A ceasefire between Ukrainian government forces and Russia-backed separatist rebels has come into force. The ceasefire, which is the first since the conflict in Ukraine began last year, officially started at 10pm GMT on Saturday night. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, however, expressed scepticism about rebel forces respecting the agreement, saying that "Russia's" offensive on government-held territory had increased significantly before the ceasefire was due to come into effect. Under the terms of the ceasefire agreement, both government and separatist forces have two days from its start to pull back heavy weapons from the front lines. The conflict has so far claimed the lives of nearly 6,000 people.
Clashes between Shia Houthis and Sunnis in Yemen kill 26
Clashes between Shia Houthis and Sunni protesters in Yemen killed 26 people on Saturday as protests against the Houthi rebels intensified. Activists said that they were enraged by the death of Saleh al-Bashiri, who was allegedly detained and tortured by Houthi forces after a protest in the capital city of Sanaa two weeks ago. The security situation in Yemen deteriorated after the Houthis took formal control of the capital and continued an armed push into the rest of the country. Meanwhile, both Western and Middle-Eastern nations have closed their embassies and withdrawn staff citing security reasons.
Bahrain cracks down on anti-government protests
Police in Bahrain cracked down on protesters who were marking the fourth anniversary of an anti-government uprising on Saturday. Teargas and sound bombs were fired into the crowds of Shia protesters who were calling for Sunni monarch Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa to step down. Security measures were aimed at keeping demonstrations out of central Manama, where the uprising had taken place in 2011. While witnesses stated that there had been no casualties, Opposition members said on Twitter that several protesters had been wounded and arrested as well.
Death toll in attack on Pakistani mosque rises to 21
The death toll in a suicide attack on a Shia mosque in Pakistan rose to 21 on Saturday, after an injured person succumbed to his wounds. Over 50 people were injured in the attack which took place when automatic rifle-wielding suicide bombers stormed the mosque during Friday prayers before blowing themselves up. A spokesperson for the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, which claimed responsibility for the attack, said that it was the first in a series of revenge attacks, and had taken place in retaliation to the government's hanging of militants following a massacre in a school in Peshawar that left over 150 people, mostly students, dead.
In what is being termed as a terrorist attack, armed men opened fire on a cafe in on Saturday, killing one person and injuring three police officers. The cafe was hosting a debate on Islam and free speech, which was being attended by Lars Vilks, who faced death threats after caricaturing the Prophet Muhammad. French Ambassador to Denmark Francois Zimeray was also present when the attack took place. According to Zimeray, the intent of the attack was the same as the one that took place on the offices of satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris. The gunmen fled the scene in a car after the attack. Vilks, who has lived under constant police protection since 2007, was unharmed during the attack.
Ukraine ceasefire comes into effect
A ceasefire between Ukrainian government forces and Russia-backed separatist rebels has come into force. The ceasefire, which is the first since the conflict in Ukraine began last year, officially started at 10pm GMT on Saturday night. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, however, expressed scepticism about rebel forces respecting the agreement, saying that "Russia's" offensive on government-held territory had increased significantly before the ceasefire was due to come into effect. Under the terms of the ceasefire agreement, both government and separatist forces have two days from its start to pull back heavy weapons from the front lines. The conflict has so far claimed the lives of nearly 6,000 people.
Clashes between Shia Houthis and Sunnis in Yemen kill 26
Clashes between Shia Houthis and Sunni protesters in Yemen killed 26 people on Saturday as protests against the Houthi rebels intensified. Activists said that they were enraged by the death of Saleh al-Bashiri, who was allegedly detained and tortured by Houthi forces after a protest in the capital city of Sanaa two weeks ago. The security situation in Yemen deteriorated after the Houthis took formal control of the capital and continued an armed push into the rest of the country. Meanwhile, both Western and Middle-Eastern nations have closed their embassies and withdrawn staff citing security reasons.
Bahrain cracks down on anti-government protests
Police in Bahrain cracked down on protesters who were marking the fourth anniversary of an anti-government uprising on Saturday. Teargas and sound bombs were fired into the crowds of Shia protesters who were calling for Sunni monarch Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa to step down. Security measures were aimed at keeping demonstrations out of central Manama, where the uprising had taken place in 2011. While witnesses stated that there had been no casualties, Opposition members said on Twitter that several protesters had been wounded and arrested as well.
Death toll in attack on Pakistani mosque rises to 21
The death toll in a suicide attack on a Shia mosque in Pakistan rose to 21 on Saturday, after an injured person succumbed to his wounds. Over 50 people were injured in the attack which took place when automatic rifle-wielding suicide bombers stormed the mosque during Friday prayers before blowing themselves up. A spokesperson for the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, which claimed responsibility for the attack, said that it was the first in a series of revenge attacks, and had taken place in retaliation to the government's hanging of militants following a massacre in a school in Peshawar that left over 150 people, mostly students, dead.
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