An attacker stabbed 10 people to death in Kerman province in southern Iran due to "personal differences", before being arrested by police, state media reported Monday. On Sunday, "an Afghan national killed ten people due to personal differences in Rafsanjan," Hossein Rezai, acting governor of the city, was quoted as saying by state news agency IRNA. He "was arrested by the police as he attempted to leave the province" in the evening, Rezai added. Six Afghans and four Iranians were killed in the attack in a rural area, he said. One person was also wounded. State broadcaster IRIB said that the suspect was reportedly "mentally unstable" and addicted to drugs. Iran has hosted millions of Afghan refugees for decades, but fresh waves have flooded through the shared 900-kilometre (550-mile) border between the countries since the Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan last year. … [Read more...] about 10 killed in stabbing spree in Iran’s south: state media
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Egyptian church fire kills at least 41, most of them children
An electrical fire swept through an Egyptian Coptic Christian church during Mass on Sunday, causing a stampede and killing at least 41 people, most of them children and many suffering from smoke inhalation. The blaze started just before 9 a.m. in the Abu Sifin church in the city of Giza where about up to 1,000 people had gathered. The fire blocked an entrance to the church, causing the stampede, the two sources said, adding that most of those killed were children. "People were gathering on the third and fourth floor, and we saw smoke coming from the second floor. People rushed to go down the stairs and started falling on top of each other," said worshipper Yasir Munir. People react during the funeral of victims, who died due to the fire that broke out at the Abu Sifin church, inside the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Warraq Al Arab district in Giza Governorate, Egypt, August 14, 2022. Photo: Reuters "Then we heard a bang and sparks and fire coming out of … [Read more...] about Egyptian church fire kills at least 41, most of them children
At least 41 killed in Egyptian church fire, security sources say
An electrical fire broke out just before 9 a.m. (0700 GMT) during Mass as 5,000 people gathered at the Coptic Abu Sifin church in the Imbaba neighbourhood, the sources said. The fire blocked an entrance to the church, causing a stampede, they said, adding that most of those killed were children. "People were gathering on the third and fourth floor, and we saw smoke coming from the second floor. People rushed to go down the stairs and stared falling on top of each other," said Yasir Munir, a worshipper at the church. "Then we heard a bang and sparks and fire coming out of the window," he said, saying he and his daughter were on the ground floor and able to escape. Electrical fires of this kind are not a rare occurrence in Egypt; in late 2020, a fire at a hospital treating Covid-19 patients killed at least seven people and injured several others. Giza, Egypt's second-largest city, lies just across the Nile from Cairo. "I offer my sincere condolences to the families of the … [Read more...] about At least 41 killed in Egyptian church fire, security sources say
FIFA officially advances World Cup by a day for Qatar
FIFA on Thursday officially brought forward the opening match of this year's World Cup by one day to November 20 in a rare change so that hosts Qatar feature in the gala game. A general view shows the Al Bayt stadium, built for the upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup. Credit: Reuters Photo Football's top officials universally approved the decision, FIFA said in a statement while Qatar said it would give unspecified help to fans affected by the change. On the old schedule, Qatar against Ecuador was to be the official inauguration match on November 21 but Senegal against Netherlands would be the first match of the day. England against Iran would have been second. Qatar had also been frustrated as it has invested in a huge opening ceremony show. "Host country Qatar will now play Ecuador on Sunday 20 November as part of a stand-alone event," said FIFA. "The opening match and ceremony of this year's tournament at Al Bayt Stadium have been brought forward one … [Read more...] about FIFA officially advances World Cup by a day for Qatar
Qatar World Cup start brought forward to November 20: sources
The World Cup's start will be brought forward by a day to allow hosts Qatar to play the opening game, sources told AFP on Wednesday, just over three months before the competition gets underway. The 2022 World Cup will open at the Al Bayt stadium in the Qatari city of Al Khor on November 20. Picture: Khaled Desouki AFP Qatar will now play Ecuador on November 20, 24 hours earlier than planned, in a move that FIFA's ruling council was expected to confirm soon, according to sources with knowledge of the matter. The change will see the tournament, which was switched to November-December to avoid the Gulf country's searing summer heat, keep to its tradition of the hosts playing the opening match. Senegal and the Netherlands had been scheduled to play the first game on November 21, followed by England against Iran and then the official inauguration match, Qatar's World Cup debut, that evening. "There were discussions and agreement between the two respective … [Read more...] about Qatar World Cup start brought forward to November 20: sources