In May, 24 women, children and babies – including one midwife – were killed when gunmen entered the Dasht-e-Barchi hospital in western Kabul and opened fire. Frederic Bonnot / Médecins Sans Frontières
In May, 24 women, children and babies – including one midwife – were killed when gunmen entered the Dasht-e-Barchi hospital in western Kabul and opened fire. Frederic Bonnot / Médecins Sans Frontières
People react at the scene of an attack at an MSF (Doctors without Borders) clinic in Kabul, Afghanistan. EPA
People react at the scene of an attack at an MSF (Doctors without Borders) clinic in Kabul, Afghanistan. EPA
An Afghan man reacts at the scene after an attack at MSF (Doctors without Borders) clinic in Kabul, Afghanistan. EPA
An Afghan man reacts at the scene after an attack at MSF (Doctors without Borders) clinic in Kabul, Afghanistan. EPA
Babies are taken away by ambulance after gunmen attacked a maternity hospital, in Kabul, Afghanistan. AP Photo
Babies are taken away by ambulance after gunmen attacked a maternity hospital, in Kabul, Afghanistan. AP Photo
People shift injured victims of a suicide bomb attack to a hospital in Jalalabad, Afghanistan. EPA
People shift injured victims of a suicide bomb attack to a hospital in Jalalabad, Afghanistan. EPA
An Afghan security officer carries a baby after gunmen attacked a maternity hospital, in Kabul, Afghanistan. AP Photo
An Afghan security officer carries a baby after gunmen attacked a maternity hospital, in Kabul, Afghanistan. AP Photo
An Afghan man reacts after his relative was killed in an attack at an MSF (Doctors without Borders) clinic in Kabul, Afghanistan. EPA
An Afghan man reacts after his relative was killed in an attack at an MSF (Doctors without Borders) clinic in Kabul, Afghanistan. EPA
Afghan women sit in an ambulance after being rescued by security forces during an attack and gunfire at a hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan. REUTERS
Afghan women sit in an ambulance after being rescued by security forces during an attack and gunfire at a hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan. REUTERS
People shift injured victims of a suicide bomb attack to a hospital in Jalalabad, Afghanistan. EPA
People shift injured victims of a suicide bomb attack to a hospital in Jalalabad, Afghanistan. EPA
Smokes rises from a hospital after gunmen attacked in Kabul, Afghanistan. AP Photo
Smokes rises from a hospital after gunmen attacked in Kabul, Afghanistan. AP Photo
Afghan security forces arrive at the site of an attack in Kabul, Afghanistan. REUTERS
Afghan security forces arrive at the site of an attack in Kabul, Afghanistan. REUTERS
Afghan security personnel arrive at the site of an attack outside a hospital in Kabul. AFP
Afghan security personnel arrive at the site of an attack outside a hospital in Kabul. AFP
An Afghan soldier stands guard near the scene of an attack at an MSF (Doctors without Borders) clinic in Kabul, Afghanistan. EPA
An Afghan soldier stands guard near the scene of an attack at an MSF (Doctors without Borders) clinic in Kabul, Afghanistan. EPA
An Afghan woman is brought to Emergency hospital for medical treatment after she was injured during an attack at an MSF (Doctors without Borders) clinic in Kabul, Afghanistan. EPA
An Afghan woman is brought to Emergency hospital for medical treatment after she was injured during an attack at an MSF (Doctors without Borders) clinic in Kabul, Afghanistan. EPA
Afghan security personnel arrive at the site where gunmen attacked, in Kabul, Afghanistan. AP Photo
Afghan security personnel arrive at the site where gunmen attacked, in Kabul, Afghanistan. AP Photo

Asia

US blames ISIS for Kabul maternity attack that killed newborns

ISIS claimed responsibility for a funeral bombing on the same day but no group has claimed the maternity ward attack

AFP

May 15, 2020

  • English
  • Arabic

The US negotiator on Afghanistan blamed ISIS on Thursday for the shocking attack on a maternity hospital as he urged the government and Taliban to stick to a faltering peace process.

Zalmay Khalilzad said the US government had assessed that the Islamic State in Khorasan, the Afghan branch of the extremists, carried out Tuesday's dual attacks on the Kabul hospital and on a funeral in eastern Afghanistan.

The Islamic State group "opposes a peace agreement between the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Taliban, and seeks to encourage sectarian war as in Iraq and Syria," Mr Khalilzad wrote on Twitter.

"Rather than falling into the ISIS trap and delay peace or create obstacles, Afghans must come together to crush this menace and pursue a historic peace opportunity," he wrote.

"No more excuses. Afghans, and the world, deserve better."

A woman sits next to newborn babies who lost their mothers following a suicide attack in a maternity hospital, in Kabul. AFP
A woman sits next to newborn babies who lost their mothers following a suicide attack in a maternity hospital, in Kabul. AFP
Newborn babies lie in their beds at the Ataturk Children's Hospital after they were rescued from a deadly attack on another maternity hospital, in Kabul, Afghanistan. AP Photo
Newborn babies lie in their beds at the Ataturk Children's Hospital after they were rescued from a deadly attack on another maternity hospital, in Kabul, Afghanistan. AP Photo
A newborn baby is cared for at the Ataturk Children's Hospital after being rescued from a deadly attack on another maternity hospital, in Kabul, Afghanistan. AP Photo
A newborn baby is cared for at the Ataturk Children's Hospital after being rescued from a deadly attack on another maternity hospital, in Kabul, Afghanistan. AP Photo
A rescued mother and her newborn baby take medical care in a hospital after the complex attack at MSF hospital, in Kabul, Afghanistan. EPA
A rescued mother and her newborn baby take medical care in a hospital after the complex attack at MSF hospital, in Kabul, Afghanistan. EPA
A Rescued newborn baby receives medical care in a hospital after the complex attack at MSF hospital, in Kabul, Afghanistan. EPA
A Rescued newborn baby receives medical care in a hospital after the complex attack at MSF hospital, in Kabul, Afghanistan. EPA
Rescued twin newborn babies receive medical care in a hospital a day after the complex attack at MSF hospital, in Kabul, Afghanistan. EPA
Rescued twin newborn babies receive medical care in a hospital a day after the complex attack at MSF hospital, in Kabul, Afghanistan. EPA
An Afghan nurse observes newborn children who lost their mothers during an attack at a hospital, in Kabul, Afghanistan. REUTERS
An Afghan nurse observes newborn children who lost their mothers during an attack at a hospital, in Kabul, Afghanistan. REUTERS
Newborn children who lost their mothers during the attack lie on a bed at a hospital, in Kabul, Afghanistan. REUTERS
Newborn children who lost their mothers during the attack lie on a bed at a hospital, in Kabul, Afghanistan. REUTERS
A rescued mother and her newborn baby receive medical care in a hospital after the complex attack at MSF hospital, in Kabul, Afghanistan. EPA
A rescued mother and her newborn baby receive medical care in a hospital after the complex attack at MSF hospital, in Kabul, Afghanistan. EPA
Afghans light candles during a memorial for the victims of MSF hospital and Funeral suicide bomb attack, in Herat, Afghanistan. EPA
Afghans light candles during a memorial for the victims of MSF hospital and Funeral suicide bomb attack, in Herat, Afghanistan. EPA

ISIS group claimed responsibility for the funeral bombing, which killed 32 mourners.

But no group has taken credit for the assault on the maternity hospital where at least 24 people including newborns, mothers and nurses were killed.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo earlier highlighted the Taliban's denials and also urged progress on reconciliation.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, voicing outrage over the attacks, said his internationally recognised government would resume offensive operations against the Taliban.

The government, hoping to pave the way for peace talks with the Taliban, had been observing a unilateral policy of only responding defensively when attacked.

Read More

Afghanistan arrests regional ISIS leader

Newborn babies among dozens killed in Afghanistan attacks

The insurgents on February 29 signed an agreement with the United States, which has begun withdrawing troops as part of President Donald Trump's hope to end America's longest-ever war.

The Taliban imposed an austere brand of Islam over much of Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001 and welcomed Al-Qaeda but have increasingly jostled for influence with ISIS.

In making a deal with the United States, the Taliban agreed to oppose foreign extremists and not attack Western troops, although they have kept up violence against Afghan forces.

Afghanistan's intelligence agency has linked the Islamic State group to the Taliban-linked Haqqani network, which the United States considers a terrorist group.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets

Name: Brendalle Belaza

From: Crossing Rubber, Philippines

Arrived in the UAE: 2007

Favourite place in Abu Dhabi: NYUAD campus

Favourite photography style: Street photography

Favourite book: Harry Potter

On Women's Day
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company profile

Name: Steppi

Founders: Joe Franklin and Milos Savic

Launched: February 2020

Size: 10,000 users by the end of July and a goal of 200,000 users by the end of the year

Employees: Five

Based: Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai

Financing stage: Two seed rounds – the first sourced from angel investors and the founders' personal savings

Second round raised Dh720,000 from silent investors in June this year

The smuggler

Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple. 
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.

Khouli conviction

Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.

For sale

A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.

- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico

- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000

- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950

Tomorrow 2021
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
About Karol Nawrocki

• Supports military aid for Ukraine, unlike other eurosceptic leaders, but he will oppose its membership in western alliances.

• A nationalist, his campaign slogan was Poland First. "Let's help others, but let's take care of our own citizens first," he said on social media in April.

• Cultivates tough-guy image, posting videos of himself at shooting ranges and in boxing rings.

• Met Donald Trump at the White House and received his backing.

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Tearful appearance

Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday. 

Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow. 

She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.

A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.

SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dual%20electric%20motors%20with%20102kW%20battery%20pack%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E570hp%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20890Nm%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERange%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Up%20to%20428km%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh1%2C700%2C000%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
Based: Dubai, UAE
 
Sector: Entertainment 
 
Number of staff: 210 
 
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
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Poacher
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ERichie%20Mehta%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Nimisha%20Sajayan%2C%20Roshan%20Mathew%2C%20Dibyendu%20Bhattacharya%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Killing of Qassem Suleimani