
Blasts, ambush kill 30 people in Afghanistan
A provincial mayor along with six others were killed in a suicide attack in eastern Afghanistan on Monday, while 15 civilians, six private security guards and two Taliban militants were killed in separate attacks elsewhere in the country, officials said.
In the latest attack, a mayor, three of his bodyguards and three civilians were killed and three civilians were wounded on Monday when a suicide bomber attacked the municipal office in Metarlam, the capital of Laghman province, the interior ministry statement said.
The bomber, who had strapped explosives around his body, also died in the attack, the satement said.
Taliban militants took responsibility for the bombing in a statement posted on their website.
Separately, a roadside bomb blew up a tractor carrying civilians in the Shamalzai district of southern Zabul province on Monday morning, killing 12 civilians, Wazir Jawadi, district's administrative chief said.
Four women and two children were among those killed, Jawadi said. He held Taliban militants responsible for the attack.
Meanwhile, Taliban militants ambushed a convoy carrying supplies for NATO forces in Qalat district of Zabul province on Monday, killing six private security guards, who were escorting the convoy, Abdul Rahman Sarjang, provincial police chief said.
Sarjang said that two civilians were also killed in the firefight that happened on the Kabul-Kandahar highway.
Two militants were killed elsewhere in Zabul province when the bomb they were trying to plant on a roadside detonated prematurely, he said.
The Taliban rely heavily on suicide attacks and roadside bombings as part of their campaign against the Afghan government and around 70,000 international troops stationed in the country. The militants were responsible for more than 120 suicide bombings last year.
The militants have vowed to increase their attacks on the Afghan government and NATO forces in the country under the Nasrat (victory) operation they launched last week.
In western Herat province, NATO-led troops killed an Afghan child when they opened fire on a vehicle which was approaching their convoy and did not stop despite hand signals and warning shots, the alliance said in a statement on Monday.
Wary of suicide bombers, who often attack their forces by vehicles packed with explosives, NATO forces have killed several Afghan civilians in the past after they did not heed warnings to stay away from their military convoys.

British minister says on Meghan interview: 'No place for racism in our society'
- Meghan, the wife of Prince Harry, accused Britain's royal family of raising concerns about how dark their son's skin might be and pushing her to the brink of suicide, in a tell-all television interview that will send shockwaves through the monarchy.

Meghan, Harry say UK royals were worried ‘how dark’ their son Archie would be

Joe Biden’s giant stimulus to easily pass House, say Democrats

Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam 'fully welcomes' proposed electoral changes
- Chinese authorities have said the draft decision before China's National People’s Congress would mean the largely pro-Beijing committee that elects Hong Kong’s leader would also choose a large part of the legislature to ensure that the city is run by “patriots.”

Vietnam vaccinates Covid-19 front-liners with its 1st doses
- The Southeast Asian nation of 96 million people has a goal to inoculate at least half of the population by the end of the year.

Royal interview unlikely to affect New Zealand

Pope leaves Iraq for Rome after historic whirlwind visit

Malaysia to buy more Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccines
- The Southeast Asian country last month embarked on a nationwide vaccination programme, targeting to inoculate 80% of its 32 million people by February 2022.

As US mulls Afghan exit, activist sees long fight for women

Jill Biden sees teachable moment in the depths of a pandemic

China tells Biden to reverse 'dangerous practice' on Taiwan

UKPNP Chairman says part of J-K illegally held by Pakistan since 1947

'Realised soon royal family wouldn't protect me,' says Meghan Markle

It's a girl, Meghan Markle and Harry tell Oprah
