Two people were killed and 21 injured when a popular Afghan TV station was attacked by a gunman and a suicide bomber on Tuesday morning.
Nearly 150 other employees were held hostage for two hours as gunfire rained down around them.
At least two insurgents dressed as Afghan army officers launched the attack at the complex that houses the national TV studios. After one of the attackers One of the attackers blew himself up at the gates, two others entered the complex, eyewitnesses told The National. Some said the attackers were carrying rocket launchers and hand grenades as well as guns.
"I had just started my work for the day, when I heard firing and explosions around half past 10 this morning," said Mirwais Stanikzai, head of current affairs in Shamshad's news division news division told The National. Mr Stanikzai was among those who were able to escape the attack in the first half-hour.
“Within minutes of the initial explosion, my colleagues and I found out that the guards at the gates had been killed and that the attackers were making their way inside. Our office is a vast complex and we were lucky to be at the far end of where the attack started, which allowed some of us to escape through other routes.”
However, Mr Stanikzai witnessed several colleagues who were injured due to the initial explosions. "Many of us were hit by flying glass and debris. While I was not hurt too badly, several colleagues were wounded due to the glass shattering and were not able to escape," he said. "We still don't know for sure who survived and who was killed," he added with concern.
ISIL was quick to claim responsibility for the attack via their Aaamaq news outlet. Though broadcasting was halted at the 24-hour station, it resumed immediately after the last militant was killed, and began showing a popular Turkish drama dubbed into Pashto language.
Najib Danish, spokesman for the Interior Ministry, said the two casualties were a male and a female security guard at Shamshad TV.
"There were two attackers and both have been killed," he added. Police sealed off the station and combed the premises and were able to rescue some of the TV staff as the attack was unfolding. .
“It was an attack on the media and on the people’s voice. It was not the first attack and probably it will not be the last,” Shamshad TV news director Abed Ehsas, who was among those who needed hospital treatment for cuts from flying glass and debris.
The United Nation’s Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) condemned the attack, calling it a “violation of laws”.
This is the second such attack on a major media outlet this year claimed by ISIL in Afghanistan. In May, ISIL insurgents stormed the offices of National Radio and Television in Jalalabad city in the southern province of Nangarhar. At least six people were killed, and 24 injured.
The Taliban were quick to deny responsibility for the attack on Shamshad TV, although they have in the past targeted media organisations and often regard journalists as legitimate targets. In January 2016, they targeted a bus carrying employees of TOLO News, one of Afghanistan’s largest media organisations. Seven staff members were killed and several others injured.
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Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
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Engine: 3.7-litre V6
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- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
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The Greatest Royal Rumble card as it stands
50-man Royal Rumble
Universal Championship Brock Lesnar (champion) v Roman Reigns in a steel cage match
Intercontinental Championship Seth Rollins (champion) v The Miz v Finn Balor v Samoa Joe
SmackDown Tag Team Championship The Bludgeon Brothers (champions) v The Usos
Casket match The Undertaker v Chris Jericho
John Cena v Triple H
Matches to be announced
WWE World Heavyweight Championship, Raw Tag Team Championship, United States Championship and the Cruiserweight Championship are all due to be defended
Haircare resolutions 2021
From Beirut and Amman to London and now Dubai, hairstylist George Massoud has seen the same mistakes made by customers all over the world. In the chair or at-home hair care, here are the resolutions he wishes his customers would make for the year ahead.
1. 'I will seek consultation from professionals'
You may know what you want, but are you sure it’s going to suit you? Haircare professionals can tell you what will work best with your skin tone, hair texture and lifestyle.
2. 'I will tell my hairdresser when I’m not happy'
Massoud says it’s better to offer constructive criticism to work on in the future. Your hairdresser will learn, and you may discover how to communicate exactly what you want more effectively the next time.
3. ‘I will treat my hair better out of the chair’
Damage control is a big part of most hairstylists’ work right now, but it can be avoided. Steer clear of over-colouring at home, try and pursue one hair brand at a time and never, ever use a straightener on still drying hair, pleads Massoud.
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Company profile
Name: Infinite8
Based: Dubai
Launch year: 2017
Number of employees: 90
Sector: Online gaming industry
Funding: $1.2m from a UAE angel investor
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Why your domicile status is important
Your UK residence status is assessed using the statutory residence test. While your residence status – ie where you live - is assessed every year, your domicile status is assessed over your lifetime.
Your domicile of origin generally comes from your parents and if your parents were not married, then it is decided by your father. Your domicile is generally the country your father considered his permanent home when you were born.
UK residents who have their permanent home ("domicile") outside the UK may not have to pay UK tax on foreign income. For example, they do not pay tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than £2,000 in the tax year and do not transfer that gain to a UK bank account.
A UK-domiciled person, however, is liable for UK tax on their worldwide income and gains when they are resident in the UK.
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
What is graphene?
Graphene is extracted from graphite and is made up of pure carbon.
It is 200 times more resistant than steel and five times lighter than aluminum.
It conducts electricity better than any other material at room temperature.
It is thought that graphene could boost the useful life of batteries by 10 per cent.
Graphene can also detect cancer cells in the early stages of the disease.
The material was first discovered when Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov were 'playing' with graphite at the University of Manchester in 2004.
