34 militants die in Afghan drive
MAZAR-E-SHARIF, July 08: More than 30 militants have been killed and more than a dozen other were injured in Chamtal district of Afghanistan's northern Balkh province since Saturday, police spokesman in the northern region Sayed Sarwar Hussaini said Sunday. "Up to 34 rebels have been killed and 18 others injured since launching cleanup operations in Chamtal district on Saturday," Hussaini told Xinhua. — Xinhua
UAE extends mandatory military
service for some to 16 months
DUBAI, July 08: The United Arab Emirates says it has extended its mandatory military service for men who graduated from high school from 12 to 16 months. The UAE's armed forces made the announcement in a statement issued late Saturday. The UAE began mandatory military service for men between the ages of 18 to 30 in 2014. Those who haven't completed high school must serve two years. — AP
Thailand pledges justice for
Chinese victims of boat tragedy
PHUKET, July 08: Thailand's government pledged Sunday to ensure justice for Chinese victims of a tour boat that sank in a storm off the southern resort island of Phuket, killing 42 people and leaving another 14 missing. Tourism Minister Weerasak Kowsurat said the government will "spare no one" as it seriously investigates the tragedy, one of the largest tourism-related disasters in Thailand since a 2004 tsunami that killed thousands. — AP
Kuwait jails lawmakers for protest
KUWAIT CITY, July 08: Kuwait's highest court on Sunday ordered an opposition leader and two lawmakers imprisoned for three ½ years over the 2011 storming of parliament amid that year's Arab Spring protests, in a case involving nearly 70 politicians, activists and others. — AP
Wildfires rage through California
LOS ANGELES, July 08: Firefighters toiled in stifling heat Saturday on the lines of destructive wildfires across the US West, making progress against some blazes while struggling to tame others that have forced evacuations of hundreds of homes. — AP
