Israel ‘to blame’ for soldier death

United Nations: Spain’s ambassador to the UN blamed Israel yesterday for the death of Spanish peacekeeper Corporal Francisco Javier Soria Toledo on the border of Lebanon and Israeli-held territory.

Lebanese security officials said earlier that the peacekeeper had been killed by Israeli shelling that struck a UN base inside Lebanon.

“It was because of this escalation of violence and it came from the Israeli side,” ambassador Roman Oyarzun Marchesi told reporters at UN HQ.

Strategic rail hub falls to separatists

Ukraine: Separatist forces said on Wednesday that they had almost fully encircled government forces in a town hosting a strategic railway hub, putting them within grasp of a decisive new victory.

The motorway linking the town of Debaltseve to other government-held areas has now fallen into rebel hands.

Kiev’s eastern military operations spokesman Roman Turovets said fighting was raging all along the 190-mile front line between government and separatist territory.

23 killed as bus hits fuel lorry

Afghanistan: At least 23 people died and 31 were injured when a bus crashed into a fuel lorry on a narrow road in southern Zabul province yesterday.

Zabul governor Mohammad Ashraf Nasiri said the crash took place on Thursday morning near the provincial capital of Qalat while en route to Kandahar province.

The collision ignited a fire that burned half the bus and caused most of the fatalities. Four children and five women were among those killed.

Migrants capsize with 20 missing

Bangladesh: A fishing boat carrying migrants to Malaysia capsized yesterday off the southern coast, leaving around 20 people still missing.

Rescuers saved 39 people after the boat sank in strong currents in the Bay of Bengal, but up to 60 people were on board and rescuers were searching for more survivors.

Owners to regain military land

Sri Lanka: The new government said yesterday that it planned to give back military-held private land and release detainees.

Cabinet spokesman Rajitha Senaratne said that the government of President Maithripala Sirisena would ease its military presence.

“Especially for the north, we don’t think we need all that security. Our entire concept will be different,” he said.

“Whatever was acquired for business purposes, other than security purposes, we will give back to the owners.”

Police quiz boy of 8 over terror support

France: An eight-year-old boy who claimed to support the men who attacked Charlie Hebdo was questioned for defending terrorism yesterday.

Alpes-Maritimes region deputy director for public security Fabienne Lewandowski said the boy declared: “I am with the terrorists” and refused to take part in the national minute of silence for the victims.

A lawyer for the child said the decision to question the child at a police station showed “collective hysteria.”

Flights cancelled for security strike

Germany: Dozens of flights were canceled at Dusseldorf and Cologne-Bonn airports yesterday after private security workers walked off the job in a dispute over wages.

Cologne-Bonn cancelled 40 of 190 flights and Dus­sel­dorf 205 of 530 due to the one-day warning strike.

The United Services Union called the strike to put pressure on employers ahead of a new round of negotiations scheduled to start on February 5.

Truck blast kills 7 at maternity hospital

Mexico: Seven people died and dozens were injured yesterday after a fuel truck exploded next to a maternity hospital in Mexico City.

Part of the hospital collapsed in the explosion which sent a column of smoke billowing over the area in the west of the city.

At least 54 people were injured, 22 of them children, Mayor Miguel Angel Mancera said, although there were no reports of deaths.