News in Brief --(5-02-2018)

FE Team | Published: February 04, 2018 22:06:35

Afghan air strikes leave eight including Taliban commander dead
FAIZABAD, Feb 04: At least eight insurgents were confirmed dead as warplanes struck Taliban bastion in Wardoj district of Afghanistan's northern Badakhshan province on Sunday, a local official said. "Security and Defence forces launched a military operation in Khawja Sabzposh district Saturday afternoon, as a result five militants were killed and nine villages cleared from insurgents," Sayed Sarwar Hussaini a police spokesman in northern region told Xinhua Sunday. During the operation a vehicle and five motorbikes used by Taliban insurgents were also destroyed by the security forces. Taliban militants have yet to make comment. — Xinhua

Actor Uma accuses movie producer of sexual assault
LOS ANGELES, Feb 04 (Reuters): Actor Uma Thurman has accused movie producer Harvey Weinstein of sexually assaulting her at a London hotel after they worked together on the 1994 hit film "Pulp Fiction." In a New York Times article on Saturday by columnist Maureen Dowd, Thurman broke her silence after saying in October that she would wait to speak out about inappropriate behavior in the workplace because she did not want to say anything in anger. Thurman became the latest of more than 70 women who have accused 65-year-old Weinstein of sexual misconduct, including rape. Weinstein's lawyer said on Saturday that the producer had immediately apologized to Thurman for making an "awkward pass" at her 25 years ago, but that her claims about being physically assaulted were untrue. In the Times article, Thurman (47) said Weinstein pushed her down when she met him in his suite at London's Savoy Hotel. — Reuters

Morocco recovers bodies of 20 migrants from sea
MADRID, Feb 04: Moroccan rescue services Sunday recovered the bodies of around 20 migrants in the Mediterranean, a spokeswoman for the Spanish enclave of Melilla said. The bodies of the migrants, from sub-Saharan Africa, were spotted by a Spanish patrol boat, which alerted the rescue services of both countries, the spokeswoman said. She added that "about 20" bodies were then recovered in Moroccan territorial waters. — AFP

Tanker with 22 Indian crew members on board missing off Africa
NEW DELHI, Feb 04: A tanker with 22 Indian crew members on board has gone missing off West Africa, officials said Sunday, in waters plagued by piracy. The Panama-registered MT Marine Express, loaded with 13,500 tonnes of petrol, had been anchored off the Benin city of Cotonou before authorities lost contact with the vessel on Thursday. "Our mission in Abuja (Nigeria) is in touch with the authorities in Benin and Nigeria for their help in locating the ship and is constantly monitoring the situation," Indian foreign ministry spokesman Raveesh Kumar said. The Hong Kong-based Anglo-Eastern shipping company, which manages the tanker, said the last contact with the crew was made on Thursday. — AFP

One dies as record snowfall hits Moscow
MOSCOW, Feb 04: At least one person died and several were injured after Moscow experienced its heaviest day of snowfall since records began, the city's mayor and agencies said Sunday. Russia's meteorological service said Moscow had seen more than half its average monthly snowfall in the space of 24 hours, with 43 centimetres (17 inches) blanketing the capital by Sunday morning, agencies reported. — AFP