QUOTE OF THE DAY
“We don’t hold any ill will towards Afghanistan in general or even the gunman who did this.We don’t know what his history is.”
Jan Schuitema, the wife of Dr. Jerry Umanos of Chicago, one of three Americans killed in a shooting at a hospital in Kabul Article, 1A
Rebels slay 7 on busy Indian voting day
SRINAGAR, India - A major day of voting in the world’s biggest elections was marred by violence Thursday as suspected rebels killed four paramilitary soldiers and three polling officials who were traveling on buses after conducting balloting in two Indian states.
Maoist insurgents ambushed one of the buses near Shikaripada, a village in eastern Jharkhand state, and fatally shot four paramilitary soldiers and two polling officials carrying voting machines, said Anurag Gupta, a state police spokesman. Other details were not immediately available.
Suspected rebels also fatally shot an Indian poll official and wounded four other people in an attack on another bus in the Indian-controlled portion of Kashmir in the north.
With 814 million eligible voters, India is voting in phases over six weeks, with results expected May 16. Thursday’s violence came as millions of people turned out in 11 states for the second-biggest day of voting in the election. Voting covered 117 parliamentary seats across 11 states, many heavily populated.
U.S. envoy voices fears of S. Sudan crisis
NAIROBI, Kenya - The United Nations Security Council on Thursday expressed “horror” at the recent massacre of several hundred civilians in South Sudan, while the U.S. ambassador to the world body said she fears a deepening crisis.
The Security Council statement deplored the killings last week in Bentiu, the capital of oil-producing Unity state, as well as the use of radio broadcasts to “foment hate and sexual violence.” It said council members may be willing to impose sanctions if attacks on civilians continue.
Early last week, rebel fighters from the Nuer ethnic group took control of Bentiu and slaughtered non-Nuer civilians in the town mosque, the hospital and the streets, leaving “piles and piles” of bodies, the U.N.’s top aid official in the country said.
“The world’s newest state is clearly on a precipice,” said U.S. Ambassador Samantha Power, who demanded that the nation’s leaders end the violence. “Failure to take bold action now very well could push South Sudan into a cycle of retaliatory ethnic killing, a deepening civil war, and an even more devastating humanitarian catastrophe.
Expeditions called off as Sherpas quit
KATMANDU, Nepal - Nepal’s attempts to salvage the Mount Everest climbing season fell flat Thursday as major expedition companies canceled climbs and many Sherpas quit as guides after an avalanche killed 16 last week.
Sherpas said it appeared increasingly unlikely that any summit attempts would be made this season from the Nepal side of the mountain.
“Many of us think this year is not good for climbing and nobody should be going up the mountain at all,” said Tenzing, a 23-year-old Sherpa who goes by one name. He described 2014 as a “black year” for Everest.
Last Friday’s avalanche has laid bare deep resentments over Sherpas’ pay, treatment and the risks they take to help tourists ascend Everest. Dozens of Sherpas have left the mountain, saying they want to honor the dead and pressure the government to protect their rights.
A government delegation met with Sherpas at base camp Thursday to persuade them to keep working. Although both sides said the meeting calmed tensions somewhat, there was no sign that it would salvage the season.
At least six expedition companies have canceled climbs.
Tourism Minister Bhim Acharya said Thursday that expedition teams that have canceled plans to scale the peak can try again over the next five years, without having to repay the permit fees. Teams pay an average of $100,000 for a permit.
Suicide bomber kills 11, hurts 27 in Iraq
BAGHDAD - A suicide bomber rammed his explosives-laden car into a police checkpoint south of Baghdad on Thursday morning, killing at least 11 people, officials said, the latest episode in an uptick in violence in the run-up to next week’s parliamentary elections.
The attack struck during the morning rush hour, when the checkpoint at one of the entrances to the city of Hillah, about 60 miles south of Baghdad, was crowded with commuters.
Among the 11 killed were seven civilians and four policemen, and 27 people were wounded in the bombing, a police officer said.
No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.
Front Section, Pages 6 on 04/25/2014