IN BRIEF (Page 12)

Afghanistan

Taliban clash with IS group; 28 die

At least 28 militants were killed after fighting erupted between two militant groups in Nangarhar on Sunday, authorities said on Monday. "Fighting between Taliban rebels and militants of the Islamic State group started early on Sunday and sporadic clashes are still going on there. The initial reports by the army found 21 Taliban and seven IS fighters had been killed by the clashes," Afghan army said in a statement.

United States

Two dead in pool party shooting

Police shot and killed a 49-year-old man suspected of shooting seven people on Sunday at a birthday pool party in an apartment complex in San Diego, authorities said. Four women and three men were taken to hospitals with gunshot wounds, police chief Shelley Zimmerman said. One of the women later died. Rielle Creighton, reporter of San Diego's local ABC 10 News, hinted that the shooter was a white supremacist.

Turkey

Iranian media tycoon shot dead

Saeed Karimian, an Iranian-British national and owner of Gem TV, was shot dead along with a Kuwaiti business partner in Istanbul, media reported on Sunday. The pair were traveling in Istanbul's upscale Maslak neighborhood in a car on Saturday night, when a jeep blocked their path and two masked attackers got out and opened fire, the Hurriyet daily news said. Karimian died on the scene, while his partner died later in hospital.

Thailand

Turbulence injures 27 on Aeroflot jet

At least 27 passengers were injured on an Aeroflot flight from Moscow to Thailand when the plane suddenly hit a patch of severe turbulence on approach to Bangkok, officials said on Monday. The aircraft encountered a severe pocket of "clean air" turbulence - so-called because there is no cloud warning - before landing just after midnight, the Russian national carrier said.

Tokyo

Jeweler offers Darth Vader mask

A jeweler from Tokyo is offering a life-size Darth Vader mask made of 24-karat gold at a hefty price of $1.4 million to mark the 40th anniversary of the release of the first Star Wars movie. The creation measures 26.5 centimeters wide and 30 cm high. The mask is about 15 kilograms and it is the most expensive Star Wars memorabilia.

Sweden

Police investigate fire at mosque

Swedish police said they are investigating a fire that caused major damage to a mosque near Stockholm as possible arson. Stockholm police spokesman Lars Bystrom said "it appears to have been lit from the outside". No one was injured in the blaze on Sunday. Only a handful of people were in the building but earlier up to 500 people had attended celebrations at the mosque.

Xinhua - AP - AFP

(China Daily 05/02/2017 page12)