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Tuesday, September 22, 2026

2019 Easter bombings: Sri Lankan court sentences 15 accused to over 200 years in prison each

Colombo, Sept 22 (PTI): A Sri Lankan court on Tuesday found 15 of the 24 accused guilty of involvement in the 2019 Easter Sunday suicide attacks, and sentenced them each to over 200 years in prison.Nine suicide bombers belonging to the local Islamist extremist group National Thawheed Jamaat, linked to ISIS, carried out a series of devastating blasts that tore through three Catholic churches and as many luxury hotels on April 21, 2019, killing nearly 270 people, including 11 Indians, and injuring over 500.The fifteen accused each have been sentenced to 220 years of rigorous imprisonment by the Colombo Permanent High Court Trial-at-Bar, adaderana news portal reported.The three-judge High Court Trial-at-Bar comprising Judges Navaratne Marasinghe, Ramanathan Kannan and Sujeewa Nissanka on Tuesday announced its verdict, convicting 15 accused, while acquitting nine others.Mohammadu Ebrahim Mohammdu Naufer alias Naufar Moulavi, the prime accused, was among those convicted by the court after the trial, which lasted nearly five years.Initially, 25 accused were charged for their role in the bombings. As one of the suspects died, 24 were indicted in October 2021.A total of 23,270 charges were filed against them, and 2,309 witnesses testified for the prosecution.The accused were charged under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) for murder and attempted murder, conspiracy to commit terrorism, aiding and abetting, and possessing and handling firearms and explosives.Naufar's links to extremist Zaharan Hashim, the leader of the National Thowhith Jamaath, were also investigated. Hashim was one of the suicide bombers who carried out the blast at the Shangri La Hotel.In July, former police chief Pujith Jayasundera and Hemasiri Fernando, the then top bureaucrat in the Ministry of Defence, were handed the death sentence after being found guilty of criminal dereliction of duty for failing to act on prior intelligence that could have prevented the attacks.The attack stirred a political storm as then President Maithripala Sirisena and then Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe were blamed for their inability to prevent the attacks despite prior intelligence being made available.A presidential panel of inquiry appointed by Sirisena after the attacks ironically found the then-president guilty of his failure to prevent the attacks.Sirisena, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge in the case filed after the panel's findings.Sirisena and the top defence hierarchy were ordered to pay multiple millions of rupees as compensation to the kith and kin of the blast victims in the fundamental rights petitions verdicts delivered in 2023. PTI CORR ZH RDRD(This story is published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. No editing has been done in the headline or the body by ABP Live.)

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/2019-easter-bombings-sri-lankan-court-sentences-15-accused-to-over-200-years-in-prison-each-1867861

Netanyahu Hits Back At Mamdani, Says ‘Shame On You’ Over Gaza

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani have traded sharp accusations over the Israel-Hamas war and the situation in Gaza, days before Netanyahu is due to address the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Netanyahu lashed out at Mamdani in a social media video on Tuesday, criticising the progressive mayor over his stance on Palestine. “Shame on you, Mr. Mamdani,” Netanyahu said. “Shame on you for supporting the Hamas terrorist monsters who butchered our people. Shame on you for inciting riots against New York Jews. I'm coming to the UN. I'm going to tell the truth about our heroic soldiers, and I've got to tell the truth about you.” Netanyahu is slated to arrive in New York on Thursday for the United Nations General Assembly, where he will address the gathering. Reuters reported that Netanyahu said he would use his UN appearance to defend Israel’s military actions and respond to criticism from Mamdani. <h2>Mamdani Hits Back At Netanyahu</h2> Responding to Netanyahu's remarks at a press conference on Tuesday, Mamdani said: “We all know that what the prime minister has said in that video is not true.” “What we do know to actually be the truth when it comes to the prime minister is that he is the subject of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. And as the prime minister, he is the architect of a horrific genocide against Palestinians. And just a few days ago, killed an 11-year-old boy in what is deemed to be a safe zone in Gaza.” The ICC warrant referenced by Mamdani concerns allegations of war crimes and crimes against humanity; the allegations remain contested. <h2>Mamdani's Earlier Comments On Netanyahu</h2> Netanyahu's video came after Mamdani, a strong supporter of Palestinian statehood, called the prime minister “an architect of genocide” in an interview with CNN on Monday. “If the International Criminal Court deems someone worthy of an arrest because of a violation of those laws, then who are we to say that anyone should be above that?” Mamdani told CNN. During his campaign for mayor, Mamdani vowed to honour the ICC's warrant if the prime minister ever came to the city. The mayor later conceded that he did not have the power to do so. Reuters has also reported that Mamdani previously said he would arrest Netanyahu but later acknowledged that he lacked the authority to do so. <h2>Criticism Over Mamdani's Comments</h2> Some Israeli officials and representatives of Jewish advocacy groups have criticised Mamdani's past comments, saying they contribute to a rise in antisemitic violence. Mamdani has defended his criticism of Israel and has said that criticism of Israel is wrongly conflated with antisemitism, according to Reuters. The exchange comes as Netanyahu prepares for his UN appearance in New York, where his remarks on Israel's military actions and the Gaza war are expected to draw further international scrutiny.

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/shame-on-you-mamdani-netanyahu-mamdani-clash-erupts-ahead-of-unga-1867853

Monday, September 21, 2026

Hundreds Of US Flights Delayed After Construction Workers Cut Air Traffic Control Cable

Hundreds of flights were delayed at major US airports after construction workers accidentally cut a cable used for air traffic control, disrupting operations across parts of the country's East Coast. Ground stops and delays were imposed on Monday afternoon at airports in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Massachusetts. The disruption came just a day before the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) was due to begin in New York City, with scores of world leaders expected to arrive through airports in the New York area. US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy later said the damaged cable had been repaired and airports would return to normal operations, although he warned that delays were still expected. The incident affected the Terminal Radar Approach Control system, which helps guide aircraft during take-off and landing, according to transport officials. <h2>Cable Damage Disrupts Air Traffic Control</h2> New Jersey's public transportation agency, NJ Transit, told CBS News that its construction workers had accidentally severed the line after markers at the digging site were wrongly placed. Duffy had earlier said workers from Amtrak, the US national operator of intercity rail services, were carrying out construction work when the damage occurred. He said the incident caused a telecommunications outage that forced the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to ground flights. An Amtrak spokesperson later said the incident involved an NJ Transit contractor, according to US media reports. Telecommunications company Verizon, which owns the cable, also said it was not responsible for the incident. <h2>Newark Airport Among Worst Hit</h2> The severed cable was a backup network, and the problem was discovered only after the primary circuit failed, according to FAA head Bryan Bedford. Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, one of the three major airports serving New York City, was the most heavily affected by the air traffic control disruption, according to flight-tracking website FlightAware. FlightAware reported that 267 departing flights from Newark were delayed, while another 257 flights arriving at the airport were also delayed. <h2>New York, Philadelphia Airports Also Affected</h2> John F Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport in New York were also affected by the disruption. Philadelphia International Airport in Pennsylvania was among the other airports hit by delays. The disruption came as New York prepared to host the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, when numerous world leaders are expected to travel into the New York area. UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham was among those travelling to New York. He managed to board his flight before the delays began and was expected to arrive on time.

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/us-airports-delay-hundreds-of-flights-disrupted-as-construction-workers-cut-air-traffic-control-cable-1867707

EAM Jaishankar discusses regional, global issues with foreign counterparts on margins of UNGA session

New York, Sep 22 (PTI): External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar discussed regional and global issues with his foreign counterparts as he held a series of bilateral meetings here on the margins of the high-level UN General Assembly session. Jaishankar arrived in New York City on Sunday, leading the Indian delegation for the 81st session of the UN General Assembly. His engagements on Monday commenced with a meeting with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot. “Our regular meetings and telecons enable us to maintain the momentum of our Special Global Strategic Partnership," Jaishankar said in a social media post. “Regional and global issues, specifically the Ukraine & Gulf crisis were discussed. Also exchanged views on multilateral issues, including the reform of UN Security Council,” he added. After his meeting with Ecuador Foreign Minister Roberto Kury, Jaishankar said, “We spoke about strengthening our economic ties, including in energy & pharmaceuticals, mobility, training of personnel, development partnership and cooperation in multilateral fora, including the @UN." Following his meeting with Slovakia Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar, the external affairs minister said that besides discussing the bilateral agenda, they also touched upon ways to deepen our multilateral cooperation. Jaishankar also held a “great first meeting” with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Hungary Anita Orban. “We resolved to work together to deepen our ties, as also advance” the bilateral strategic partnership #UNGA81," he said. Jaishankar will address world leaders at the General Debate from the UNGA podium on September 26. PTI YAS SCY SCY(This story is published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. No editing has been done in the headline or the body by ABP Live.)

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/eam-jaishankar-discusses-regional-global-issues-with-foreign-counterparts-on-margins-of-unga-session-1867705

Typhoon Dujuan Heads Towards Japan; Highest-Level Warning Issued, Hundreds Of Flights Cancelled

Edited by: Karl Sexton A powerful typhoon was nearing Japan's eastern coast on Monday, triggering flood and landslide warnings, evacuation advisories and prompting hundreds of flights to be canceled. The Japan Meteorological Agency issued level 5 emergency warning for the Izu islands, with the advisory cautioning a "life-threatening situation" and for residents to "ensure safety immediately." A level 5 warning is the highest level of alert on the agency's scale. Dujuan is forecast to pass close to the Tokyo metropolitan area later in the day and than one million people have been reported to be under evacuation advisories. <h2>What do we know about Typhoon Dujuan?</h2> Typhoon Dujuan was packing winds at speeds of 144 kilometers (89 miles) per hour as it lingered some 110 kilometres from Hachijojima, one of Tokyo's most remote islands. Parts of the Izu Islands and the Chiba prefecture near Tokyo already saw heavy rainfall over the weekend. The ⁠Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has cautioned that weather conditions could worsen rapidly. "The total rainfall through Tuesday could exceed the average monthly rainfall for September, resulting in record-breaking heavy rain," the JMA said. Authorities have also warned of a possibility of ⁠linear rain bands forming over central Japan and the Kanto region — which includes Tokyo and surrounding prefectures — that could raise the risk of rain-related disasters like flash floods and landslides. Linear &zwnj;bands cause heavy torrential rainfall over a narrow area for several hours. <h2>How have Japan's regions been affected by the incoming storm?</h2> Over 4,000 households in Chiba were without power. In the central prefecture of Aichi, which is currently hosting the Asian Games, an equestrian eventing competition was postponed until Tuesday. The Tokyo Game Show, one of the world's biggest video game trade fairs, was shut down ahead of its final day on Monday. Dujuan could also scupper travel plans during Japan's "Silver Week" holiday, which has just begun and which normally sees a surge in domestic travel. On Monday, Japan Airlines canceled 120 domestic and 15 international flights, while All Nippon Airways canceled 140 domestic flights. Some railway services were suspended on some lines in Tokyo and its neighboring areas. Disclaimer: This report first appeared on Deutsche Welle, and has been republished on ABP Live as part of a special arrangement. Apart from the headline, no changes have been made in the report by ABP Live.

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/typhoon-dujuan-heads-towards-japan-highest-level-warning-issued-hundreds-of-flights-cancelled-1867703

Sunday, September 20, 2026

Houthis Assure Trump US Ships Won’t Be Targeted, Warn Others Against Joining Saudi Arabia

The Iran-backed Houthis have told the Donald Trump administration that they will not target US vessels in the Red Sea, while warning other countries against joining Saudi Arabia in Yemen’s escalating conflict. Mohamed al-Bukhaiti, a member of the Houthis’ political bureau, told The Associated Press that Washington reached out to the group after its rapid advance along Yemen’s western coast towards the Bab el-Mandeb Strait earlier this month. He said the Houthis assured US officials that their operations were not directed at the United States or other countries using the strategic waterway. “We confirmed that we are not targeting the United States, or any other nation, in the strait, with the sole exception of the Saudi enemy,” al-Bukhaiti said in an interview from Sanaa. Trump had revealed days earlier that his administration had held discussions with the Houthis. “The Houthis called us, and they don't want to fight with us,” Trump said last weekend, adding that the group wanted to avoid US involvement and was allowing most ships to pass through. ALSO READ | <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/world/us-iran-war-latest-update-better-behave-trump-says-3-options-on-table-for-iran-open-to-meeting-pezeshkian-1867570">'When Do I Blow Entire Nation?': Trump Says 3 Options On Table For Iran</a> <h2>Houthis Say Bab el-Mandeb Will Remain Open</h2> According to an AP report, Oman hosted talks between US and Houthi representatives last weekend. While al-Bukhaiti did not confirm direct negotiations, he acknowledged indirect contacts through Oman, which brokered a ceasefire between the Houthis and the Trump administration in 2025. That agreement ended a week-long US bombing campaign after the rebels agreed to halt attacks on US vessels in the Red Sea. Al-Bukhaiti also insisted that the Houthis were not seeking to shut the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a crucial maritime chokepoint connecting the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. “The goal of our military operations is not to close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, but rather to ensure freedom of navigation through it for everyone, including Yemen,” he said. At the same time, al-Bukhaiti warned that the Houthis were prepared to widen the conflict if additional countries joined Saudi Arabia’s campaign. “Today, Yemen is capable of waging battle — not merely an internal conflict, but an international one as well,” he said. ALSO READ | <a href="https://ift.tt/zaXKlm5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ed Sheeran Calls Gaza War 'Catastrophic, Unjustifiable' Amid Macklemore Tour Controversy</a> <h2>Houthis Demand End To Saudi Blockade</h2> Al-Bukhaiti said attacks on Saudi Arabia would continue until Riyadh lifted its decade-long blockade on rebel-held territories and allowed ships to access Houthi-controlled Red Sea ports. He said the group would then be prepared to negotiate. The Houthi official blamed Saudi Arabia for the latest escalation, saying the renewed fighting followed an airstrike attributed to the Saudi-led coalition that struck Sanaa International Airport and prevented an Iranian aircraft carrying a Houthi delegation from landing. He said the flight was intended to challenge the coalition’s air and naval blockade. The Houthis subsequently launched missile and drone attacks on Saudi targets, including a strike aimed at Riyadh on Saturday that was intercepted. Saudi authorities said debris from a Houthi drone killed one civilian and wounded others. The rebels have also announced a blockade on Saudi shipping in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Red Sea. They have targeted Saudi-linked vessels and oil infrastructure inside the kingdom.

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/houthi-saudi-arabia-conflict-houthis-assure-trump-us-ships-wont-be-attacked-warn-others-1867581

Italy Plans School Ban On Burqas, Niqabs; Meloni Proposes Foreign Student Cap

Italy is preparing to restrict face coverings such as burqas and niqabs in schools and limit the number of foreign students in each classroom, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni indicated during a youth programme organised by her party on Sunday. The proposed measures are being viewed in the context of Meloni’s right-wing political image. Italy, due to its location in the Mediterranean, is among the European countries that receive a large number of migrants, making immigration a major issue for successive governments. <h2>What Did Meloni Say?</h2> Meloni said a proposal would soon be presented at a Cabinet meeting. It will include provisions to limit the number of foreign students in each classroom. She also said parents of foreign students who face serious difficulties integrating into schools would need to learn Italian. The proposal would also ban burqas and niqabs in schools. “If there is only one child in a class who does not know the Italian language, that child will probably learn the language with the help of friends and teachers and integrate quickly,” Meloni said. “But if there are more such children, it will become difficult to ignore. They will not be able to integrate and will end up forming their own majority,” she added. Meloni did not specify the proposed limit on the number of foreign students in each classroom during her speech. <h2>11.6% Students In Italian Schools Are Non-Citizens</h2> According to research by Italian organisation Fondazione ISMU cited in the report, 11.6% of students studying in Italian schools are not Italian citizens. This means that around 12 out of every 100 students are foreign nationals. <h2>‘You Will Have To Go To School With Your Face Uncovered’</h2> Addressing school students, Meloni said they would have to attend school without covering their faces. “You will have to go to school with your face uncovered. In Italy, no one can, in the name of a real or perceived tradition, say that a young woman should cover herself,” she said.

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/italy-to-restrict-burqas-niqabs-in-schools-meloni-proposes-foreign-student-cap-1867572