At least four people died in an explosion and shootout at a hotel for foreigners in Kabul early Monday, just days after the deadliest attack on the capital in 15 years.

Kabul police chief Abdul Rahman Rahimi said a truck laden with explosives was detonated about 1:30 a.m. near the Northgate Hotel in the city’s northern outskirts. Two attackers then exchanged gunfire with police for several hours. Besides the two gunmen and the truck driver, one police officer was killed and two others were wounded, Rahimi said.

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As ethnic armed groups gathered in Kachin State’s Mai Ja Yang to search for common ground toward federalism in Burma, clashes broke out twice on Thursday between the Burma Army and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA)—the armed wing of Kachin Independence Organization (KIO).

Battalion No. 2 under KIA Brigade No. 6 and battalions under the Burma Army’s 10th Military Operations Commands (MOC-10) clashed twice at Hopong Mountain in northern Shan State’s Kutkai Township, said Lt Col Naw Bu, a KIO information officer.

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President Rodrigo R. Duterte announced on Monday, July 25, a unilateral ceasefire with the communist rebels to be effective immediately.

“To immediately stop violence on the ground, restore peace in the communities, and provide enabling environment conducive to the resumption of the peace talks, I am now announcing a unilateral ceasefire with the CPP/NPA/NDF [Communist Party of the Philippines/New People’s Army/National Democratic Front] effective immediately,” said President Duterte during his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) held in Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City.

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Members of the breakaway Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters (BIFF). Latest reports claim that a faction has broken away from the current BIFF leadership. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Six gunmen of a breakaway faction of the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters and a soldier were killed in a series of clashes in Maguindanao on Tuesday, the Army said.

Four soldiers and 10 breakaway BIFF men were also injured in the fighting that erupted at 4:30 a.m. in Barangay Pamalian in Shariff Saydona town, according Col. Lito Sobejana.

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The Islamic State has claimed responsibility for an explosion during a protest in Afghanistan, which killed at least 80 people and left at least 260 more injured.

CNN reports that the death toll in the capital city of Kabul has reached 80 people as the Islamic State claims three suicide bombers carried out the attack in the crowd of protestors.

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