AUSTIN, Texas: Investigators believe a package bomb that killed a teenager and wounded a woman in Austin on Monday is linked to a similar bombing that killed a man elsewhere in the city this month, and they’re considering whether race was a factor because all of the victims were black.
The explosion Monday happened inside of a home near the Windsor Park neighborhood and killed a 17-year-old boy and badly wounded a woman who is expected to survive, Austin’s police Chief Brian Manley told reporters.
Shortly after the news conference ended, police were called to investigate another explosion in a different part of east Austin. Authorities haven’t said whether that explosion was also caused by a bomb.
Austin-Travis County EMS tweeted that the later blast left a woman in her 70s with potentially life-threatening injuries, and that a second woman in her 80s was being treated for an unrelated medical issue. Authorities haven’t said whether the injured woman is also black.
The explosions happened with hundreds of thousands of visitors in the city for the South by Southwest music, film and technology festival, and authorities urged the public to call the police if they receive any packages they aren’t expecting.
The first explosion on Monday happened about 12 miles (20 kilometers) from the home where a March 2 package bombing killed 39-year-old Anthony Stephan House. The March 2 blast was initially investigated as a suspicious death, but is now viewed as a homicide.
Manley said investigators believe the deadly attacks are related, as in both cases, the packages were left overnight on the victims’ doorsteps and were not mailed or sent by a delivery service. He said the US Postal Service doesn’t have a record of delivering the package to the East Austin home where Monday’s explosion occurred, and that private carriers like UPS and FedEx also indicated that they had none, either.
“There are similarities that we cannot rule out that these two items are, in fact, related,” Manley said.
Manley said investigators haven’t determined a motive for the attacks, but it is possible that the victims could have been targeted because they are black.
“We don’t know what the motive behind these may be,” Manley said. “We do know that both of the homes that were the recipients of these packages belong to African-Americans, so we cannot rule out that hate crime is at the core of this. But we’re not saying that that’s the cause as well.”
Special Agent Michelle Lee, a San Antonio-based spokesman for the FBI, said the agency “responded to both events” and was assisting Austin police which were taking the lead on investigating. She said the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was taking the lead on the federal investigation.
Manley said that a second package was discovered near the site of the initial Monday explosion and that some residents and media members were evacuated or pushed farther from the blast site as authorities determined whether it was a bomb.
Police didn’t immediately identify the teenager killed Monday. Manley said the woman who was injured in that attack is a 40-year-old woman who remains hospitalized.
US police eye race factor in Texas capital’s 2 deadly package bombs explosions
US police eye race factor in Texas capital’s 2 deadly package bombs explosions
Pakistan to launch yuan-denominated Panda bonds by June, finance minister says
- The South Asian country intends to raise approximately $200 million from Chinese investors through Panda bonds
- Muhammad Aurangzeb says the move is part of a strategy to achieve sustainability in Pakistan’s balance of payments
ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has said that Pakistan plans to launch yuan-denominated Panda bonds in June to enhance its presence in Chinese capital markets, Pakistani state media reported on Sunday.
The development follows an upgrade in Pakistan’s sovereign rating by all three major credit agencies. The country aims to get into the “single-B” category that would allow it to return to global bond markets to raise funds.
Aurangzeb said the South Asian country intends to raise approximately $200 million from Chinese investors through the issuance of the Panda bonds, the Radio Pakistan broadcaster reported.
“This step is part of a broader strategy to transition Pakistan’s economy toward export-driven growth, with a focus on achieving sustainability in the country’s balance of payments,” he was quoted as telling Hong Kong’s TVB news channel.
The South Asian country is navigating a challenging economic recovery path and has been buttressed by a $7 billion facility from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in September. The government is optimistic it will meet the terms of the program.
Pakistan is being advised on the issuance of Panda bonds by the China International Capital Corporation, a partially state-owned financial services company, according to the finance minister. However, the latest figure is lower than the $300 million targeted by Pakistan last year.
Aurangzeb extended an invitation to Hong Kong to send delegations to explore trade and financial opportunities in Pakistan, according to the Radio Pakistan report.
“Hong Kong could serve as a strategic hub for joint ventures between Chinese and Pakistani companies,” he said.
To revive its $350 billion economy, Pakistan has been making efforts to position itself as a regional trade and transit hub by leveraging its strategic geopolitical position.
The South Asian country has witnessed a flurry of visits, investment talks and economic activity involving officials from Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, China and Central Asian nations in recent months.
Closing Bell: Saudi main index rises to close at 12,331
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul All Share Index rose on Sunday, gaining 75.81 points, or 0.62 percent, to close at 12,331.87.
The total trading turnover of the benchmark index was SR5.39 billion ($1.43 billion), as 148 of the stocks advanced and 78 retreated.
Similarly, the Kingdom’s parallel market Nomu gained 101.41 points, or 0.32 percent, to close at 31,600.12. This comes as 49 of the listed stocks advanced, while 38 retreated.
The MSCI Tadawul Index gained 10.75 points, or 0.70 percent, to close at 1,546.53.
The best-performing stock of the day was Saudi Cable Co., which debuted on the main market on Sunday, with its share price surging 9.85 percent to SR113.80.
Other top performers included Middle East Specialized Cables Co., with its share price rising 6.43 percent to SR45.50, and Zamil Industrial Investment Co., which saw its share price surge 5.65 percent to SR36.45.
Saudi Reinsurance Co. recorded the biggest drop, with its share price falling 2.27 percent to SR56.00.
Almoosa Health Co. saw its stock price decline by 2.60 percent to SR138.20, while Wataniya Insurance Co.'s share price dropped 1.75 percent to SR25.20.
On the announcements front, Almarai Co. reported its consolidated financial results for the year ended Dec. 31. According to a Tadawul statement, the company posted a net profit of SR2.3 billion in 2024, marking a 12.8 percent increase compared to 2023. This growth was driven by higher revenue, disciplined cost control, and a favorable product mix.
Despite the positive results, Almarai Co.’s share price ended the session at SR58.50, down 1.72 percent.
City Cement Co. has signed a natural gas supply agreement with Saudi Aramco under the supervision of the Liquid Fuel Displacement Program. According to a bourse filing, the agreement aligns with efforts by the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources to achieve the program's objectives.
The filing also noted that the shift from liquid fuel to natural gas is expected to reduce emissions from the company’s production processes and enhance operational reliability. The financial impact of the agreement will be disclosed at a later date.
City Cement Co.’s share price closed the session at SR18.80, up 1.17 percent.
Saudi Arabian Mining Co., or Ma’aden, has provided an update on the development of its third phosphate fertilizer manufacturing project. According to a Tadawul statement, none of the associated contracts involve related parties, and the financial impact of these contracts remains unclear and will be disclosed once available.
Ma’aden’s share price closed the session at SR48.60, up 1.66 percent.
Afghanistan blames US invasion, sanctions for environmental damage, delayed climate action
- Afghanistan ranked 7th on global index of countries most vulnerable, least prepared to adapt to climate change
- Use of bombs and mines during wars destroyed agricultural land, left toxic footprint on environment
KABUL: The US invasion of Afghanistan and subsequent sanctions exacerbated the impacts of climate change in the country, the National Environmental Protection Agency said on Sunday, as Kabul called on the international community for support in combating the ecological crisis.
Between the 2001 US-led invasion and its chaotic withdrawal in 2021, the US military had dropped tens of thousands of bombs on Afghanistan, many of which are munitions that can leave a toxic footprint on the environment.
“The presence of American and NATO forces in Afghanistan for 20 years has had a wide-ranging impact on Afghanistan,” Dr. Zainul Abedin Abed, technical and policy deputy director-general at NEPA, told Arab News.
“Among the environmental impacts, we can mention cases such as the destruction of agricultural land … These impacts have put pressure on the Afghan environment and accelerated climate change. The US and NATO have used weapons and chemical substances, which is irreparable.”
In April 2017, the US military dropped the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast Bomb, known as “the mother of all bombs,” on Afghanistan’s eastern Nangarhar province. It is the most powerful non-nuclear bomb ever used by Washington in a conflict.
“The adverse effects of the MOAB in Tora Bora district of Nangarhar province included an increase in premature births, skin diseases and neurological problems,” Abed said, adding that the bomb also destroyed homes and caused damage to the local economy.
Afghanistan has suffered through decades of war even before the US-led invasion, including a decade of Soviet invasion that also saw foreign forces deploying chemical weapons, such as napalm, to destroy crops.
The country lost around 80 percent of its forests in the conflicts, according to Taliban Deputy Foreign Minister Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai.
“The destructive bombs that the Soviet Union used on our forests have destroyed a major part of the country’s forests. Our country faced another crisis as the US and NATO forces experimented with their weapons in Afghanistan, which couldn’t be used anywhere else, without any mercy on the people of Afghanistan,” Stanikzai said at the national climate change conference in Kabul on Wednesday.
“Now, I call on the world countries, the United Nations, the European Union, America as well as neighboring and regional countries to support Afghanistan in these difficult times. It’s their moral responsibility, especially those countries that contributed to climate change.”
Dr. Abdul Latif Nazari, Afghanistan’s deputy minister of economy, said at the conference that it was “important to lift sanctions and remove restrictions so the international organizations can work with our entities,” such as NEPA.
Afghanistan is one of the most vulnerable and least prepared countries to adapt to climate change, ranking seventh on the Notre Dame Global Adaptation Index, despite being a country with the 11th lowest contributor per capita to global carbon emissions.
“Afghanistan’s contribution to global climate change has been inconsequential,” Kabul-based environmental expert Noorudin Jalali told Arab News.
“However, the impact of international interventions on Afghanistan has been huge. Consecutive drought, deforestation, air pollution and huge damage to the country’s ecosystem are some of the major effects that climate change has had on the country’s environment.”
The use of bombs and mines “devastated the country’s environment and agriculture” and will take years and billions of dollars to recover, he added.
Afghanistan is already suffering from the impacts of climate change. After three consecutive years of drought, Afghanistan experienced severe flooding in 2024 that killed hundreds of people, devastated vast agricultural land in its northern provinces and left millions of people without their primary source of income and food.
Since the Taliban returned to power in 2021, Afghanistan has been excluded from representation under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change — which leads efforts in global climate cooperation — while major sources of funding for climate adaptation have also been suspended.
“Without the support of the international community and international organizations, Afghanistan will not be able to fight the climate change challenge. The sooner this support is facilitated, the better for the country and its people,” Jalali said.
More than 84,000 visitors attend Hira Winter events in Makkah
RIYADH: The Hira Winter events, organized by the Hira Cultural District and which recently concluded in Makkah, attracted more than 84,000 visitors.
Highlights included the Revelation Exhibition, which used cutting-edge technology to simulate the story of Prophet Muhammad’s revelation, blending tradition and innovation.
The exhibition featured a pavilion detailing the Cave of Hira and Khadijah bint Khuwaylid, the Mother of Believers, along with a depiction of the first revelation.
Rare historical artifacts, such as a photographed copy of the Qur’an manuscript of Uthman bin Affan and ancient stone inscriptions of Qur’anic verses, gave visitors a unique experience that combined the past and present.
Poetic performances inspired by Arab heritage underscored poetry’s role as the Arabs' diwan (repository of culture) and a tool for documenting events and emotions.
Poetic jousts highlighted live interaction and pride in the Arabic language and literature, enriching the cultural experience.
The Caravan Experience revived the cultural heritage of camel caravans, underlining their role in ancient Arab trade and society.
Visitors were taken back to ancient trade routes where camels played a key role in transporting goods and facilitating travel.
The Challenge Zone attracted adventure enthusiasts with various games blending entertainment and competition.
The Winter Theater delighted visitors with interactive performances, including contests and games inspired by winter traditions.
The district also featured a Crafts and Heritage Industries Market, where visitors explored local products, bought souvenirs, and enjoyed traditional and contemporary food and beverages, creating a holistic experience of entertainment, culture and shopping.
The Hira Cultural District is an area of approximately 67,000 sq. meters near Jabal Hira, one of Makkah’s most famous landmarks. It is a tourist and educational destination, bridging the past and present, and aligns with Saudi Vision 2030 to enhance quality of life and visitor experiences.
Pakistani security forces kill five militants in volatile southwest — military
- The militants were killed while attempting to ‘infiltrate’ Pakistan’s border in Balochistan’s Zhob district
- Islamabad blames a surge in militancy on militants operating out of Afghanistan, Kabul denies allegation
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani security forces have gunned down five militants in the country’s southwestern Balochistan province, the Pakistani military said on Sunday.
Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest province in terms of landmass that borders Iran and Afghanistan, has been the site of a low-level insurgency by Baloch separatists and religiously motivated militant groups.
The militants were killed while attempting to infiltrate Pakistan’s border in Balochistan’s Zhob district, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing.
“Pakistan has consistently been asking Interim Afghan Government to ensure effective border management on their side of the border,” the ISPR said in a statement.
“Interim Afghan Government is expected to fulfill its obligations and deny the use of Afghan soil by Khwarij [Pakistani Taliban militants] for perpetuating acts of terrorism against Pakistan.”
The Pakistani Taliban, or the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), have frequently targeted Pakistani forces in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province. The group has also maintained some presence in Balochistan.
This week, Pakistani security forces also killed 27 militants in an intelligence-based operation in Balochistan’s Kacchi district, according to the ISPR. The deceased militants had been involved in militant activities against security forces as well as innocent civilians and were “highly wanted” by law enforcement agencies.
Islamabad has frequently accused neighboring Afghanistan of sheltering and supporting militant groups that launch cross-border attacks. Afghan officials deny involvement, insisting Pakistan’s security issues are an internal matter of Islamabad.
