IS-claimed bombings in Syria kill at least 48

IS-claimed bombings in Syria kill at least 48

BEIRUT

Near-simultaneous bombings claimed by the Islamic State group struck in and around strongholds of the Syrian government and Kurdish troops Monday, killing at least 48 people in a wave of attacks that came a day after the militants lost a vital link to the outside world along the Syrian-Turkish border.

The IS-run Aamaq news agency said the attacks included six suicide bombings and one remotely detonated blast. Most targeted security forces.

The Britain-based Observatory, which maintains a network of contacts in Syria, put the overall death toll at 53, although Syrian state TV said 48 were killed. Conflicting casualty figures are common in the 5-year-old Syria civil war.

Seoul: N. Korea fires 3 missiles

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA

North Korea on Monday fired three medium-range missiles that traveled about 620 miles and landed near Japan in an apparent show of force timed to coincide with the Group of 20 economic summit in China, South Korean officials said.

North Korea has staged a series of recent missile tests with increasing range, part of a program that aims to eventually build long-range nuclear missiles capable of striking the U.S. mainland.

A Joint Chiefs of Staff statement described the launches as an “armed protest” meant to demonstrate North Korea’s military capability on the occasion of the G-20 summit and days before the North Korean government’s 68th anniversary.

Police: 3 people found slain in Fla. house

LAUDERHILL, Fla.

Police are investigating the deaths of three people found slain inside a South Florida house.

Lauderhill Lt. Greg Solowsky told the Sun-Sentinel that a 911 call reporting the triple homicide came in at 3:08 p.m. Monday. He said it was unclear how long the bodies had been in the home.

Police did not release the victims’ names, ages or genders or the manners in which they were killed.

Solowsky says police have not determined how many suspects are involved or the motive for “this heinous act.”

Lauderhill is about 6 miles northwest of Fort Lauderdale.

Bombings kill 24

KABUL, Afghanistan

Twin bombings near the Afghan Defense Ministry killed at least 24 people Monday, including two security force generals, in an attack claimed by the Taliban.

Public Health Ministry spokesman Ismail Kawasi said another 91 people were wounded in the attack in central Kabul. Interior Ministry spokesman Sediq Sediqqi said a district police chief and five other police officers were among those killed.

Deputy Defense Ministry spokesman Mohammad Radmanish said the second bombing was caused by a suicide attacker who struck the area of the first blast after security forces gathered there.

Lost Philae lander found on a comet

BERLIN

Europe’s Rosetta space probe has located its lost Philae lander, wedged in a “dark crack” on a comet, the European Space Agency said Monday.

Rosetta’s camera finally captured images Friday of the lander on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, weeks before the probe’s own mission ends, the agency said. The pictures showing the lander’s body and two of its three legs were taken as Rosetta passed within 1.7 miles of the surface.

After being launched in 2004, Rosetta took 10 years to accelerate and catch up with comet 67P. In November 2014 it released Philae, achieving the first landing of a spacecraft on a comet.

Associated Press