At least 10 people, including eight Coptic Christians, were killed after unidentified gunmen opened fire outside a church in a south Cairo suburb, Egypt’s Health Ministry spokesman has said. It was the latest attack targeting the mostly Muslim country’s embattled minority.
A video circulated on social media after the attack apparently shows the gunman lying on the ground. Authorities have closed off the area around the church.
The spokesman for the Coptic Orthodox Church said in a statement that at least six people were killed in the attack, including five Copts and a policeman. It also said there was a separate attack on a store in the same suburb of Helwan that killed two Copts.
Egypt’s Christian minority has been targeted by Islamic militants in a series of attacks since December 2016 that left more than 100 dead and scores wounded. The country has been under a state of emergency since April after suicide bombings struck two Coptic Christian churches on Palm Sunday in an attack that was claimed by the local affiliate of the Islamic State group.
Christians, who make up about 10% of Egypt’s population, have long complained of discrimination in the Muslim-majority nation, and say authorities have often failed to protect them from sectarian attacks.
Hafiz Saeed slams U.S.
JuD chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed addresses supporters in Rawalpindi on December 29, 2017 during a protest against U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
Mumbai terror attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed walked free on November 24 after the Pakistan government decided against detaining him further in any other case. He was under detention since January 2017.
The JuD chief had confirmed that his organisation will contest the 2018 general elections in Pakistan under the banner of the Milli Muslim League, which is yet to be registered with the Election Commission.
“The Milli Muslim League (MML) is planning to contest next year’s general elections,” said Saeed, who has been designated a ‘terrorist’ by both the United Nations and the United States.
Dhinakaran takes oath as MLA
T.T.V. Dhinakaran takes oath as an independent MLA at the chamber of Tamil Nadu Speaker P. Dhanapal in Chennai on December 29, 2017.
Sidelined AIADMK leader T.T.V. Dhinakaran, who secured an emphatic win in the December 21 R.K. Nagar bypoll, has been sworn-in as a member of the Tamil Nadu Assembly.
He succeeds former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa as legislator of the Assembly segment.
The newly elected MLA was sworn-in as a member of the 15th Assembly by Speaker P. Dhanapal in his chamber. Mr. Dhinakaran’s supporters, including some disqualified MLAs and key aides like Thangatamilselvan and P. Vetrivel, were present.
Sidelined by the ruling camp a few months ago, Mr. Dhinakaran contested as an independent candidate from the constituency.
Indonesia's Mount Sinabung volcano erupts
This timed-exposure photo shows Moung Sinabung volcano spewing lava that lights up the night sky in Karo, North Sumatra. Mount Sinabung roared back to life in 2010 for the first time in 400 years, after another period of inactivity it erupted once more in 2013, and has remained highly active since.
Centenary conference of the Indian Economic Association
Noble Laureate and founder of Grameena Bank Muhammad Yunus gives a special lecture at the centenary conference of Indian Economic Association being held at Acharya Nagarjuna University.
Myanmar court extends detention of 2 Reuters journalists
Pan Ei Mon, wife of Reuters journalist Thet Oo Maung Maung, also known as Wa Lone, leaves after a press briefing in Yangon, Myanmar. A court extended the detention of two Reuters journalists and set their trial for January 10, 2018 on charges of violating state secrets. Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo were arrested on December 12 for acquiring "important secret papers" from two policemen.
Published at 7.00 a.m.
Protests in Peru over alleged election fraud
An anti-government protestor blocks a road, on the outskirts of Tegucigalpa, Honduras. The Trump administration recognized the results of Honduras' disputed presidential election despite opposition complaints, irregularities found by poll observers and calls from Congress to back a new vote.
Vaikunta Ekadasi celebrations
The main deity emerges out of the 'paramapada vaasal' as part of the annual Vaikunta Ekadasi ritual in Srirangam.
Special rituals will be performed today at various Vishnu shrines on account of Vaikunta Ekadasi. Prominent among them is the Sree Ranganathaswamy temple at Srirangam in Tamil Nadu. The opening of the ‘Paramapadavaasal’ is the highlight of the 21-day festival that concludes on January 8.
