News in Brief

UNESCO re-elects director general
Afp, Paris

 
UNESCO has voted its director general Irina Bokova to a second term in office, a spokeswoman for the UN agency told AFP on Friday.
The Bulgarian was re-elected despite a tough challenge from two rivals -- the Djiboutian ambassador to France, Rachad Farah, and Lebanese academic Joseph Maila.

Indian troops kill 7 rebels in Kashmir
Afp, Srinagar

 
India's army, which says it has been locked in a nearly two-week battle with dozens of suspected Pakistan-backed rebels, said yesterday it killed seven militants in 24 hours in disputed Kashmir.
The military says it has been fighting 30 to 40 rebel infiltrators who crossed the heavily militarised Line of Control (LoC) dividing Kashmir between nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan last month.

Foreign forces raid Shebab base: Report
Afp, Mogadishu

 
Foreign special forces staged a nighttime sea and air attack on a key base of Somalia's al-Qaeda-linked Shebab, the insurgents said yesterday, claiming the assault had failed.
The assault comes two weeks after Shebab gunmen attacked Kenya's Westgate shopping mall, massacring 67 people in a four-day siege.
Multiple nations operate special forces in the wider Horn of Africa region, and have carried out similar missions in the past.

Malala picks up another award
Afp, London

Malala  added another award to a growing list on Friday. She was given the RAW in WAR Anna Politkovskaya Award, named after the Russian investigative journalist who was shot dead seven years ago next Monday.
Malala is also among the favourites for the Nobel Peace Prize, which will be announced on October 11.

Nato strike kills 5 afghans
Afp, Jalalabad

 
At least five civilians, including three children, were killed overnight in a Nato airstrike in eastern Afghanistan after they went hunting for birds with air guns, local officials said Saturday.
Angry locals at the scene of the strike near Jalalabad city brought out angry protests, officials said.