News in Brief

Iran parades 2,000 km range missiles
Afp, Tehran

 
Iran paraded 30 missiles with a nominal range of 2,000 kilometres yesterday, the first time it had displayed so many with the theoretical capacity to hit Israeli targets.
Iran displayed 12 Sejil and 18 Ghadr missiles at the annual parade marking the anniversary of the outbreak of the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war. The stated range of both missiles would put not only Israel but also US bases in the Gulf within reach.

Shebab Twitter account suspended
Afp, Nairobi

 
The Twitter account of Somalia's al-Qaeda-linked Shebab rebels was suspended Saturday after they used the site to claim responsibility for an attack on a Nairobi shopping mall that left 59 dead and 150 wounded.
A message from Twitter on the English-language @HSM_Press account read that the account was suspended, the third time this year that the group has been expelled from the site.

India accuses Pak of ceasefire violation
Pti, Jammu

 
India said there is no let-up in ceasefire violation by Pakistani troops which indulged in unprovoked firing overnight on Indian forward posts along the Line of Control in Rajouri district.
This is the 19th ceasefire violation in September alone while there have been 97 such incidents this year, the highest in the past five year.

85 booked for rioting in UP
Pti, Muzaffarnagar

 
A case has been registered against 85 persons, including a Khap council head and his two sons, for their alleged involvement in the communal riots in Muzaffarnagar and adjoining areas.
No arrest has been made so far. Communal violence had erupted in Muzaffarnagar and adjoining areas after three persons were killed in Kawal village on August 27 over an eveteasing incident. 47 people were killed in the ensuing violence.

Swiss vote on axing military draft
Afp, Geneva

 
Swiss voters yesterday headed to the ballot box for a referendum on axing a draft which pushes for a regular army. Opinion polls ahead of the plebiscite showed around two-thirds of voters likely to reject the proposal to scrap conscription spearheaded by pacifists and backed by left-wing parties.
Armed neutrality has been the bedrock of its defence policy for two centuries, with part-time soldiers keeping their arms at home.