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Monday, August 30, 2021

Multiple Rockets Fired Near Kabul Airport Monday After US Drone Strikes

As many as five rockets were fired at the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan on Monday local time, a US official told CNN.

The C-RAM defence system installed at the airport engaged with the rockets, the official added. 

There are, however, no reports of any casualties yet.

C-RAM is an automated system that detects incoming attacks and uses a machine gun to destroy the incoming fire before it can hit its target. The system has been used in Iraq and Afghanistan to intercept and destroy incoming projectiles targeting US forces.

The US official said the rockets aimed at the airport were likely launched by ISIS-K, but cautioned it was too early to know for sure.

A civilian vehicle was apparently used as an improvised platform in the rocket attack. Video obtained by CNN showed the vehicle in flames on a street in Kabul's Khair Khana neighbourhood after the rockets were fired.

The incinerated remnants of the car are covered with debris, the glass missing from all windows and rubber melted from the tires. The car appears to have been modified, with six large tubes visible inside the charred skeleton

Zia ud Din, a potato-chip seller whose house was next to where the car was parked, heard the bang of the rockets launching.

"There were a few big bangs, we all were inside the house -- the whole family -- when we heard the loud bangs, we ran into the garden, everything caught fire," he said. "Fortunately, no one is killed or injured."

Taliban fighters had initially cordoned off the street, telling bystanders the situation remained dangerous, though they later allowed journalists on the street.

Eyewitnesses said one of the rockets hit a nearby building. A rocket impact was visible on a nearby high-rise tower, though Taliban fighters and eyewitnesses said there were no casualties in the building.

The rocket strike comes just days after two suicide bomb attacks at the airport killed more than 170 people, including 13 American service members. At least 200 people were wounded in the attack on Thursday.

ISIS in Khorasan, known as ISIS-K, has claimed that an ISIS militant carried out the suicide attack, but provided no evidence to support the claim.

On Saturday, US President Joe Biden warned that another terrorist attack on the airport was "highly likely in the next 24-36 hours," citing US military commanders.

On Sunday, US forces launched a drone strike targeting suspected ISIS-K militants, the second of such strikes in three days. Though the US initially said there were no indications of civilian casualties, the military acknowledged reports of casualties later on Sunday.

Nine members of one family -- including six children, the youngest only 2 years old -- were killed in a drone strike targeting a vehicle in Kabul, a relative of the family told CNN.

US forces have been racing to complete their evacuation operation from Afghanistan before Tuesday's deadline to withdraw all US troops and under the threat of a new terror attack on the airport.

Although the government has faced calls both internationally and internally to extend the deadline, Biden has insisted they will finish operations by the end of the month.

Since August 13, the US has evacuated and facilitated the evacuation of about 114,400 people from Afghanistan, a White House official said on Sunday.

Earlier Monday, Kabul residents said they had heard a blast in the early hours of the morning, though there was no clear indication of the kind of explosion or any official confirmation of the source of the blast.

US President Joe Biden has been briefed on the rocket attack, said White House press secretary Jen Psaki in a statement.

Psaki added that Biden was informed "operations continue uninterrupted" at the airport, as Tuesday's deadline approaches.

Terrorism News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 

Police Arrest IPOB Members During Meeting In Ghana

The Ghanaian police have reportedly arrested some members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in Accra.

The police, it was learnt stormed the venue of IPOB’s monthly meeting around Mallam Junction in Accra on Sunday, arresting an undisclosed number of members of the group.

File photo used to illustrate story.

The reason for the action was not disclosed.

In a video obtained by SaharaReporters, the arrested members were seen singing a pro-Biafra solidarity song. 

They were subsequently taken to a police station in Accra where they were profiled.

The Nigerian government had in 2017 proscribed IPOB.

The Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN); and the then Solicitor General of the Federation and Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Justice, Dayo Apata; had in September 2017 approached the Federal High Court in Abuja to give judicial backing to the Executive Order of President Buhari, outlawing IPOB and its activities in every part of Nigeria.

Police News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 

"Boris Johnson, Do Something, Afghanistan Today, Nigeria Tomorrow"—Nigerian Protesters Chant On London Street

Yoruba Nation agitators and Biafra Agitators last weekend held a protest in the United Kingdom over the violent clampdown by Nigerian government on agitators, including their leaders. 

Both Yoruba activist, Sunday Adeyemo (Igboho) and leader of the Indigenous People of Biafran, Nnamdi Kanu have been arrested. 

While Kanu was arrested in Kenya and brought to Nigeria, Igboho was arrested in Benin Republic, where he is fighting plans by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government to extradite him to Nigeria. 

The two groups, during the Saturday protest, reiterated calls for their separate independent nations. 

They likened the continued fusion of the three major tribes in the country to that of the United Kingdom, Afghanistan and North Korea. 

They were seen calling on the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom to intervene swiftly in the affairs of Nigeria so the security situation does not degenerate to what is currently experienced in Afghanistan. 

“Boris Johnson, do something! Afghanistan today, Nigeria tomorrow," they chanted. 

"ISIS is already in Nigeria. Our President is a terrorist," one of them said. 

The protest comes amid the current travails of the IPOB leader who has been in the detention of the Department of State Services since June. He briefly appeared in court, blindfolded, handcuffed and chained before Justice Binta Nyako of the Federal High Court on June 29.

Operatives of DSS did not bring Kanu to court for a trial slated for July 26, and Nyako adjourned the case till October 21. 

The trial of Kanu resumed last month in Abuja where he faced terrorism and treasonable felony charges among others.

The Nigerian government had said that Kanu was brought back after he jumped bail and went on the run in 2017.

His family and lawyers said he was illegally arrested in June while in Kenya, tortured, and repatriated to Nigeria.

On the other hand, Igboho was arrested at Cardinal Bernadin Gantin International Airport, Cotonou, while trying to leave the country for Germany.

The Department of State Services (DSS) on July 1 raided the residence of the activist in Ibadan, Oyo state.

Igboho had said he would be at a ”Yoruba Nation Rally” in Lagos two days after the raid.

The DSS raided the residence, killing two people and arresting 12 aides but Igboho escaped.

The agency alleged that Igboho was stockpiling weapons, and subsequently declared him wanted.

He has remained in detention since his arrest in the West African country.

Human Rights News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 

Police Kill Two Suspected Kidnappers Hiding Behind Polytechnic During Shoot-out In Ogun

Men of Ogun State police command reportedly engaged in a gun battle with members of a suspected kidnap syndicate on Sunday, killing two of them in the Itori area of the state. 

It was learnt that policemen at Ewekoro divisional headquarters received information around 7:30 am that some armed hoodlums with face masks were sighted hibernating in a bush behind ICT Polytechnic, Itori. 

File photo used to illustrate story.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Abimbola Oyeyemi on Monday noted that the anti-robbery team of the Ewekoro division was quickly dispatched to fish out the hoodlums.

"On sighting the police, the gang opened fire on them and the policemen engaged them in a gun battle which lasted for about 40 minutes. 

"During the encounter, two members of the syndicate were gunned down while others escaped with varying degrees of gunshot injuries," he explained.

A locally fabricated shotgun, two live cartridges, two battle axes, empty shells of AK-47 rifle, three android phones, two small phones, 8 pairs of slippers, and two school bags were recovered from them.

However, Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Edward Awolowo Ajogun commended the courage of his men. He warned criminals to stop testing the willpower of the command under his watch, saying doing so will continue to spell doom for them. 

Awolowo, who directed a massive manhunt for the fleeing members of the gang, reiterated the stand of the command to roll out all in its arsenal to wage war against crime and criminality to make Ogun State free of violent crimes.

Police News AddThis :  Original Author :  Saharareporters, New York Disable advertisements : 

Canadian-born Nigerian Singer Relocates To Native Delta Village, Says Nigeria Better Than Canada

A Canada-born Nigerian, Ndubuisi Okwumabua has relocated to his native place, Isele-Ukwu village, Delta state in Nigeria for his music career to gain more recognition.

 

Okwumabua, popularly known as Ndu, is a young, up-and-coming rapper, songwriter, and producer, who left his place in Winnipeg's Forte Rouge in Canada, to settle in Nigeria. 

Speaking about his decision, Okwumabua, according to Nigeria Abroad, said, "In Canada you cannot fully own anything, everything you own can be taken away from you."

 

"I feel at home. I'm realising my dream. That's important to me," he added.

 

He admitted that living in Nigeria is not the same as living in Canada as many Nigerians are scrambling to migrate to Canada, perceived as a land of opportunities, but the music artiste related differently.

 

He submitted that Nigeria does not have the same accessible amenities as Canada, but spiritually, Nigeria is stronger.

 

"A simple life can be a good life," he stated. "I am among my uncles, aunties, cousins and family friends. I'm okay. Luckily my parents used to bring my siblings and me to visit Nigeria since we were children, so I'm chill here."

 

"I've written a lot during the pandemic and produced hundreds of songs for other artistes and myself and background music for movies. People are getting to know me around here. That feels hopeful.

 

"I have a big interest in doing independent mix with afrobeat. I want to do it all, dance music, reflection music, and car-listening music," he said. 

 

Asked why he felt Nigeria is a better place to accomplish his music dreams, Okwumabua responded that "artistes need genuine support in the beginning but there is not a lot of support for artistes like us who are attempting to break the manufactured mainstream mould. 

 

"People who are seen as socially acceptable and successful get more grants than those of us who are behind the curve. I do not think that is fair or right."

 

The rapper who once got a grant said the requirements were a hard nut to crack in Canada.

 

"When I saw what they needed from me, the red tape and all, I returned it to the funder to avoid any further creative block. I am using my own money to create my music right now. It is a little more cost effective in Nigeria to make music, but that is not including the ongoing electricity problem.

 

 

"It is sometimes challenging living in Winnipeg, branded as one of the most racist cities in Canada by Maclean's magazine, where you can be accused or judged because of the colour of your skin or ethnicity and not by the content of your character. 

 

"Nigeria has its own prejudices and post-colonial tribal conflict, but I am accepted as a human being first here and if you work hard and stay focused, you can own a few things. 

 

"You may think you own a house after paying for it for 25 years and if you do not pay your taxes, it can be taken away from you. It's not like that in Nigeria. What you own belongs to you.

 

"Life is good in Nigeria, not perfect but good. I am creating my music the way I want to. I would rather be free and be happy with myself to live longer."

Entertainment News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 

Massive rescue effort after Hurricane Ida cuts power to all New Orleans

Hurricane Ida has knocked out power to all of the United States city of New Orleans and inundated coastal Louisiana communities on a deadly path through the Gulf Coast.

The Hurricane became a tropical storm as its top winds slowed over Mississippi on Monday, while across south-east Louisiana residents waited for daylight to be rescued from floodwaters and see how much damage was caused by one of the most powerful hurricanes ever to strike the US mainland.

All of New Orleans lost power about sunset on Sunday (mid-morning Monday AEST), leading to an uneasy night of pouring rain and howling winds. 

READ MORE: Hurricane Ida 'similar to Katrina' but 'stronger, smaller'

The weather died down shortly before dawn and people began carefully walking around neighbourhoods with flashlights, dodging downed light poles, pieces of roofs and branches.

Levees failed or were overtopped in the maze of rivers and bayous south of New Orleans, threatening hundreds of homes. 

On social media, people posted their addresses and locations — directing search and rescue teams to their attics or rooftops.

Officials promised to start the massive rescue effort as the weather broke and the sun rose.

The torrential rains mostly moved into Mississippi on Monday as the storm slowly moved north. 

READ MORE: US drone strike hits vehicle carrying IS bombers

Destructive winds and water already had a catastrophic impact along the south-east coast of Louisiana, and life-threatening river flooding continued well inland, the National Hurricane Center said.

Ida made landfall on the same day that Hurricane Katrina 16 years earlier ravaged Louisiana and Mississippi and its 230km/h winds tied for the fifth-strongest hurricane to ever hit the mainland. 

It was already blamed for one death, someone hit by a falling tree in Prairieville, outside Baton Rouge, deputies with the Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office confirmed on Sunday.

More than a million customers in Louisiana and Mississippi were without power according to PowerOutage.US, which tracks outages nationwide, increasing their vulnerability to flooding and leaving them without air conditioning and refrigeration in sweltering summer heat.

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Entergy confirmed that the only power in New Orleans was coming from generators, the city's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness tweeted, citing "catastrophic transmission damage". 

The city relies on Entergy for backup power for the pumps that send storm water over the city's levees. The system is much-improved since Katrina, but Ida is posing its biggest test since that disaster.

The 911 system in Orleans Parish also experienced technical difficulties early on Monday (late Monday AEST). 

Anyone needing emergency assistance was urged to go to their nearest fire station or approach their nearest officer, the New Orleans Emergency Communications Centre tweeted.

Ida finally became a tropical storm again 16 hours after making landfall in Louisiana as a category 4 hurricane.

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Its top sustained winds were 97km/h early on Monday, and forecasters said it would rapidly weaken while still dumping torrential rain over a large area. 

The storm was centred about 155km south-southwest of Jackson, Mississippi, moving north at 13km/h.

The rising ocean swamped the barrier island of Grand Isle and roofs on buildings around Port Fourchon blew off as Ida made landfall. 

The hurricane then churned through the far southern Louisiana wetlands, swirled over the state's petrochemical corridor and threatened the more than 2 million people living in and around New Orleans and Baton Rouge.

Officials said Ida intensified into an extremely powerful hurricane too quickly over the Gulf of Mexico to organise a mandatory evacuation of New Orleans' 390,000 residents. 

Many didn't have enough gas and hotel money, transportation or other resources needed to flee. 

Hospitals also had no choice but to hunker down, counting on generators to keep COVID-19 patients alive.

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In Baton Rouge, 27-year-old Robert Owens watched the sky in his neighbourhood light up as transformers blew up all around him.

"Never in my life have I encountered something this major," he said as giant gusts rattled his home's windows.

Significant flooding was reported late on Sunday night in LaPlace near Lake Pontchartrain and in places like Lafitte, where a barge struck a swinging bridge in town.

Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards said rescue crews would not be able to immediately help those who were stranded as the storm raged. And he warned his state to brace for potentially weeks of recovery.

"Many, many people are going to be tested in ways that we can only imagine today," the Governor told a news conference on Sunday.

"There is always light after darkness, and I can assure you we are going to get through this," he said.

In New Orleans, wind tore at awnings and caused buildings to sway and water to spill out of Lake Pontchartrain. The Coast Guard office there received more than a dozen reports of breakaway barges, said Petty Officer Gabriel Wisdom.

Ida pushed so much water from the Gulf inland that engineers detected a "negative flow" on the Mississippi River as a result of storm surge, US Army Corps of Engineers spokesman Ricky Boyette said.

Ida was churning in one of the nation's most important industrial corridors — home to a large number of petrochemical sites.

The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality was in contact with more than 1500 oil refineries, chemical plants and other sensitive facilities and would respond to any reported pollution leaks or petroleum spills, agency spokesman Greg Langley said.

Comparisons to the August 29, 2005, landfall of Katrina weighed heavily on residents. Katrina was blamed for 1800 deaths as it caused levee breaches and catastrophic flooding in New Orleans. 

Now facing Ida more than a decade and a half later, officials emphasised that the city's levee system has been massively improved.

Monday would likely reveal if that was the case.

Homicide detectives question man over missing WA father Tony Ditri

Homicide detectives are questioning a person of interest following the disappearance of West Australian father Tony Ditri.

9News understands a 60-year-old man is currently in custody.

Mr Ditri, from Pemberton in Western Australia's south-west, was last seen at the local rubbish tip about 3pm on Friday afternoon.

READ MORE: Concern for missing non-verbal Melbourne woman

His family became concerned when the 40-year-old father-of-three failed to appear at a dinner that night.

Following news of his disappearance, Mr Ditri's truck was found abandoned just off Pemberton-Northcliffe Road that evening.

A huge search effort was launched with SES, police and community members all involved.

Police are now treating Mr Ditri's disappearance as suspicious.