ISIL militants planting mines and bombs among Palmyra’s historic ruins.

ISIL militants planting mines and bombs among Palmyra’s historic ruins. (BG).

Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) has planted mines and bombs in the ancient part of the central Syrian city of Palmyra, home to Roman-era ruins, a group monitoring the war said on Sunday.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said it was not immediately clear whether the group was preparing to destroy the ancient ruins or planted the mines to deter government forces from advancing towards the city, also known as Tadmur.

"They have planted it yesterday. They also planted some around the Roman theatre, we still do not know the real reason," Rami Abdulrahman, the head of the Observatory, told Reuters.

The ultra-hardline Sunni Muslim group in May seized the city of 50,000 people, site of some of the world's most extensive and best-preserved ancient Roman ruins. Hmmmm......My guess they are preparing 'fireworks' for the end of Ramadan. Read the full story here.

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Daesh has placed TNT BOMBS around Bel temple ,say they will blow it up Sunday. #palmyra @arabthomness @archicivilians pic.twitter.com/afEu5d0b1c

— Ceftali (@CanelaNisa) June 20, 2015

@JulianRoepcke bombs and fuel placed at Baal Shamin and Bel temple #palmyra #Syria by ISIS. SOS 5 hrs ago @Anaminona pic.twitter.com/X9ufGskPSi

— Ceftali (@CanelaNisa) June 20, 2015

China Bans Ramadan Fasting Among Children and Members of Public Service in parts of the far Western Xinjiang district

China Bans Ramadan Fasting Among Children and Members of Public Service in parts of the far Western Xinjiang district. (ES).

China has banned Ramadan fasting in parts of the far Western Xinjiang district – a district known to have a minority population of Uighurs, the second largest Muslim ethnic group in China. Currently, the ban only applies to children and members of public service.

State media and government websites in Xinjiang have reported that fasting is banned for Muslim party members, civil servants, students and teachers. Shops and restaurants are also being required to remain open during daylight or else be threatened with closure.

It is also reported that shops and restaurants owned by Muslims have been ordered to continue selling cigarettes and alcohol during Ramadan, or face closure.

In the Jinghe county – near the Kazakh border – food safety officials have announced they would “guide and encourage” shops and restaurants to stay open during the day throughout Ramadan.

This is not the first time China has enforced a ban like this. From 2011, the Chinese authorities have consistently brought in measures to coerce its Muslim population into not fasting during the holy month.

In June and July of 2014, school children and government workers were given food and water in the middle of the day in an attempt to target and prohibit those choosing to fast.

“China is increasing its bans and monitoring as Ramadan approaches,” says Dilxat Raxit, a spokesman for the World Uighur Congress in a statement to Reuters. “The faith of the Uighurs has been highly politicised, and the increase in controls could cause sharp resistance.”

Raxit also accused Chinese authorities in an interview with Radio Free Asia of “extracting guarantees from parents, promising that their children won’t fast on Ramadan.” China has a Muslim population of around 20 million. The largest Muslim ethnic group is the Hui, followed by the Uighurs.