Syria: The bodies of more than 230 people believed to have been killed by Islamic State (IS) have been found in a mass grave in eastern Syria, activists say. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said they were thought to be members of a tribe that fought the jihadist group in Deir al-Zour province in the summer.

The mass grave was discovered after the tribe, the Sheitat were allowed to return home by IS leaders, it added. Last month, the UN said it had received reports of a massacre there in August. Investigators said it appeared to have been perpetrated by IS in a struggle for control of oil resources near the town of Mohassan.

One survivor described seeing "many heads hanging on walls while I and my family escaped", while locals saw several freshly-dug mass graves. Video published online also indicated that IS fighters had conducted mass beheadings of fighting-age Sheitat tribesmen.

'Civilians killed'

The footage shows men mocking the victims before they are executed and is even reported to include the killings of injured men who are believed to have been forced out of hospital before they were decapitated. The killings were reported to have taken place after negotiations between the two sides broke down, with Sheitat tribal elders refusing to give their allegiance to IS.

In early November, IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi reportedly issued a statement granting members of the tribe permission to return to their homes upon the condition that they did not assemble. They were also told to surrender all weapons and inform on all "apostates" to the group. All "traitors" would be killed, Baghdadi's statement warned.

On Wednesday, the Syrian Observatory reported that it had been informed by a trusted source that the 230 bodies had been found by returning members of the Sheitat in a mass grave in the desert near the village of Kashkiya, in eastern Deir al-Zour.

The UK-based group said the "vast majority" of the victims had been civilians and that many of them had been executed in cold blood. The discovery brought the number of Sheitat tribespeople killed during the summer to more than 900, it added. Hundreds more are still missing.

Jeddah: Jeddah, which is commonly known as the gateway to the Two Holy Mosques and the commercial hub of the Kingdom, is also known for being a haven for expatriate violators of the residency and labor laws.
“Some 35,744 expatriates were nabbed last month alone in a special campaign aimed to curb the numbers of violators in the region,” said Lt. Aati Al-Qurashi, spokesman at the regional police headquarters.

He said in a statement that police combed several specific locations which harbor expatriates in violation of the country‘s labor regulations, adding that the arrested had been referred to the agencies concerned for further action.

New Delhi: Few days back, there were reports of Salman Khan leaving Bigg Boss thereby saying no to hosting of the show. This was due to his busy schedule and many reasons cited by him. Here is something fresh. According to reports, Salman Khan will be replaced by ace director Farah Khan on the show.

 Reportedly, Salman Khan would leave the show soon and Farah will be taking over his role from January onwards. Also, the show will be extended and will end in February rather than the usual January. This is as per reports.

 After Salman’s contract ends in January, he will start shooting for Bajrangi Bhaijaan. Also, regarding the extension of the show, the channel is getting TRPs from  this season and hence they want to derive that benefit from the TRPs. The production team also had a meeting with the housemates and most of them have agreed for the extension.

 

Islamabad: At least 57 terrorists were killed in air strikes carried out by the Pakistani military in Khyber Agency's Tirah Valley, media reported. 

"The fresh operation was launched after Tuesday's tragic incident, in which at least 145 people mostly school children died," tweeted director general Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Maj General Asim Bajwa, Dawn online reported Thursday. 

In the aftermath of deadly Taliban attack on an army-run school in Peshawar, Pakistan's military launched 20 air strikes. General Bajwa added that the operation was ongoing.