Page 154 - War Conflict
Philippines' Duterte warns China to back off disputed island
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has warned Beijing to back off from a disputed island in the South China Sea, warning of possible military action if China "touches" it amid rising tensions over the key waterway. Duterte, aiming to attract trade and investment from the Asian superpower, has mostly withheld his early criticism of Beijing's expansive claims to the sea -- a point of regional contention because trillions of dollars of goods pass through it. But as the Philippine military warned this week that hundreds of Chinese coast guard and fishing vessels had "swarmed" the Manila-held Pag-asa island, also known as Thitu, the Philippine president spoke out late Thursday. "I will not plead or beg, but I am just telling you that lay off the Pag-asa because I have soldiers there," Duterte said in speech to prosecutors. "If you touch it, that's another story. Then I will tell my soldiers 'prepare for suicide missions'", he added. Duterte has repeatedly said war with China would be ...
Rs 3 crore cash seized in Hyderabad
The police in Hyderabad seized Rs 3 crore cash from a car on Thursday during an intensified checking ahead of the April 11 parliamentary elections.
Not against AFSPA but won't allow misuse: Manpreet Badal
Responding to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's allegation that the Congress wants to take away the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal on Thursday said the party is not in favour of repealing the AFSPA but it will amend the Act to ensure that no illegal tortures and crime against women are committed.
LeT terrorist held with live grenade in J-K's Baramulla
A Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist was apprehended by the state police from Baramulla district on Thursday, officials said.The terrorist has been identified as Fordous Khan, a resident of Zandpal. According to police, a search operation was launched in Zandpal. During the operation, a person whose movements were found suspicious tried to flee from the spot.However, police successfully apprehended him and seized one live grenade from his possession. An FIR under Section 7/25 of the Indian Arms Act has been registered.Further investigation is underway.
Arms making unit unearthed near city
The police unearthed an illegal arms manufacturing factory at Rajarhat, near here, in North 24 Parganas district on Thursday night and arrested seven persons, a senior officer said. Around 100 semi-finished 7mm and 9mm pistols were recovered during the raid conducted by personnel of the Kolkata Police Special Task Force and the Bidhannagar Police. "Our raid is still on. So far we have seized several lathe machines which were used to manufacture the pistols," the IPS officer said. The arrested persons are being questioned to find out whether or not they were working for any terror outfit, he said.
EC appoints seven General Observers for polls in Goa
For the smooth conduct of Lok Sabha and bye-elections, the Election Commissioner of India has appointed seven general observers, three expenditure observers and one police observers for two Parliamentary Constituencies (PCs)--North Goa and South Goa, and for three Assembly seats where bye-elections are to be held, Goa Election Commission said in a statement on Thursday."Both the District Magistrates of Goa have imposed a complete ban on carrying all types of arms and firearms and lethal weapons within the South Goa district to ensure free, fair, peaceful and orderly conduct of the election process," the statement said.A total of two weapons, 12 cartridges, 4,322 licensed arms have been seized by the authorities so far.The seizures also include Rs 75.18 lakhs of cash. The value of total seizure which includes liquor and freebies amongst others is estimated to be Rs 3,84,20,898.The authorities have also made elaborate arrangements to check the menace of fake news and requested the ...
2 soldiers killed, 5 hurt in Mhow Cantonment blast
Two soldiers were killed and five others injured when a mortar bomb exploded during a training session at the Mhow Cantonment, near here on Thursday, sources said.
French authority rejects pre-emptive 'yellow vest' protest bans
France's Constitutional Council on Thursday struck down a measure that would have let authorities ban certain individuals from protesting, a key element of the government's plan to crack down on violence at "yellow vest" demonstrations. The council, which rules on the validity of laws, said the proposal gave officials "excessive latitude" to justify the individual bans against people suspected of being "a particularly serious threat to law and order." The move was inspired by anti-hooligan measures that keep out known troublemakers from football stadiums, but critics said it arbitrarily infringed on a person's right to freedom of speech and assembly. But the council upheld other measures of the law passed on March 12, such as more severe penalties for organisers of unauthorised demonstrations, and for people who cover their faces during violent protests. Demonstrators who defy protest bans will now face up to six months in prison and fines of up to 7,500 euros (USD 8,400), while those
Event held to commemorate 75 years of Battle of Kohima
Japanese envoy Kenji Hiramatsu Thursday paid tribute to the fallen soldiers of the Battle of Kohima, commemorating 75 years of the decisive battle, the country's embassy here said. A special event was held which was attended by Chief Minister of Nagaland Neiphiu Rio, High Commissioner of the United Kingdom Sir Dominic Asquith, and other dignitaries. "Ahead of the event, Ambassador Hiramatsu visited and laid flowers at the Kohima War Cemetery. After the event, he held a fruitful meeting with the chief minister of Nagaland, and explored ways to further strengthen Japan-Nagaland relations," the Japanese Embassy said in a statement. Hiramatsu offered heartfelt prayers to the fallen souls, while appreciating the opportunity presented by the event for reconciliation, it said. "Looking towards the future, Ambassador Hiramatsu reiterated his commitment to pursue stronger relations with India's Northeast, including the state of Nagaland, through such means as people-to-people exchanges," the ..
Rahul has secret agenda with Muslim League: Adityanath
Hours after Congress president Rahul Gandhi filed his nomination from Wayanad, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Thursday accused him of having a secret agenda in Kerala with the Muslim League, the same organisation which caused the country's division. The BJP leader was apparently referring to the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) which is a long-time member of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala, equating it with the pre-Partition Muslim League. "The country attained freedom in 1947 after hundreds of years. But we also saw the country's unfortunate division on the eve of Independence. It was the Muslim League which had caused the division," he said. "Today, Rahul Gandhi has filed nomination from a seat in Kerala where he has a secret agenda with the Muslim League, the same organisation which was at the root of the country's division, he said. Where is this secret agenda between the Congress and Muslim league going to take the country? What sort of an .
Saudis open consulate in Iraq in sign of improving ties
Saudi Arabia on Friday reopened a consulate in Baghdad for the first time in nearly 30 years and announced a USD 1 billion aid package for Iraq, a sign of improving ties between the two neighbours whose relations have been uneasy for years. The consulate, which will issue visas to Iraqis, was opened at a ceremony in Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone, during which Iraq's Foreign Minister Mohamed Alhakim raised a green Saudi flag over the building. Iraqi Foreign Ministry spokesman Ahmad Sahhaf said the move was expected to benefit both countries. "This will reflect positively on pilgrims and investors," he told The Associated Press. He said work was also underway to reopen border crossings between Iraq and its southern neighbour. Iraq lies on the fault line between Shiite Iran and the mostly Sunni Arab world, and its relations with the Sunni kingdom have long been troubled. Saudi Arabia cut ties with Iraq when it invaded Kuwait in 1990. Diplomatic relations were resumed in 2015 ...
4 BSF troopers killed in attack by Maoists
In a major attack ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, four Border Security Force (BSF) personnel, including an Assistant Sub-Inspector, were killed and two others wounded on Thursday in a gun battle with Maoists in Chhattisgarh.
Four BSF men killed in encounter with Naxals in Chhattisgarh
Four Border Security Force (BSF) personnel were killed and two others injured Thursday in an encounter with Maoists in Chhattisgarh's insurgency-hit Kanker district. The incident comes a week before the first phase of Lok Sabha elections in the state on April 11. A joint team of BSF's 114th battalion and the district force of police were out on an 'area domination' operation around noon in a dense forest near Mahla village when they were attacked, Deputy Inspector General of Police (anti-Naxal operations) Sundarraj P told PTI. The deceased were identified as BSF's Assistant Sub- Inspector Bipul Borah, who hailed from Assam, constables Silam Ramkrishna from Andhra Pradesh, Ishrar Khan from Jharkhand, and Tumeshwar from Dongargaon in Chhattisgarh, he said. BSF's Assistant Commandant Gopu Kumar and Inspector Gopal Rang sustained injuries in the exchange of fire. Reinforcement was rushed to the spot, Sundarraj said, adding a search operation was underway in the area. According to a .
Wreckage of World War-II era US Air Force aircraft found in Arunachal
Wreckage of a World War-II era US Air Force aircraft, buried under five feet of snow, has been found in Arunachal Pradesh's Roing district, the Indian Army said Thursday. A 12-member Army patrol, along with a police representative, recovered the aircraft remains which was covered with thick undergrowth on March 30. The patrol team located the World War-II vintage US Air Force aircraft in Roing district, buried under five feet of snow, the Army said in a statement. "Based on the information received from local trekkers of Lower Dibang district through police, a special patrol of army was sent to locate the wreckage in a remote location, 30 km from Roing," it said. The patrol moved cross country for 30 km in thick jungles and snow covered areas for eight days to trace the wreckage. "The region had seldom been ventured by anyone in the past and is even obscured from air due to thick foliage," it added.
Battle of Kohima is etched in our hearts as one of fiercest battles, says Japan's Ambassador to India
Japan's Ambassador to India Kenji Hiramatsu on Thursday said that the Battle of Kohima was etched in "our hearts as one of the fiercest and toughest battles" during the Second World War."It took a toll on thousands of precious lives of the Indian National Army, the British Commonwealth Force, and the Japanese Army," he said, speaking at the 75th-anniversary event of the Battle of Kohima.Chief Minister of Nagaland Neiphiu Rio, Sir Dominic Asquith, High Commissioner of the United Kingdom, and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.Japanese envoy Hiramatsu also offered his heartfelt prayers to the fallen souls while appreciating the opportunity presented by the event for reconciliation.Renewing Japan's commitment to never repeat the devastation of the war, Hiramitsu said: "The people of Nagaland and its neighbours, including Myanmar, had to endure severe sufferings and pains. We should never forget that the peace we enjoy today is built over such tremendous ...
75th anniversary WW II commemorated in Nagaland
The 75th anniversary of one of the fiercest and toughest battles of World War II was commemorated on Thursday at Jotsoma in Nagaland.
Wreckage of World War II era US aircraft found in Arunachal
A patrol team of the Army has found the wreckage of a World War II era US Air Force aircraft in Lower Dibang Valley district of Arunachal Pradesh, a Defence spokesman said Thursday. Based on the information received from local trekkers through the police, personnel of the Spear Corps found out the wreckage buried under five feet of snow in a remote area, around 30 kms from district headquarter town of Roing. A few items of the 1941 aircraft were collected by the patrol team without disturbing the wreckage, Kohima-based Defence Spokesman Col Chiranjit Konwer said in a statement. The patrol team of 12 Army personnel and one police representative covered 30 kilometres of thick jungle and snow covered areas in eight days to trace the wreckage on March 30, he said. The region had seldom been ventured by anyone in the past and is even obscured from air due to thick foliage, the spokesman said. "The discovery of the vintage aircraft and other warlike stores will definitely lead
Kanker Naxal attack: Rajnath condoles death of 4 BSF jawans
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday expressed his condolences to the families of four BSF personnel who died in an encounter with Naxals in Chhattisgarh's Kanker district earlier today."Deeply anguished over the loss of @BSF_India personnel during an operation against the Naxals in Kanker. They fought valiantly before laying down their lives for the nation. My deepest condolences to the families of these martyrs and prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured," Rajnath wrote on his Twitter handle.The Union Minister said that he spoke to BSF DG Rajni Kant Mishra over the incident and informed that he will be visiting Chhattisgarh to assess the ground situation."I have spoken to DG @BSF_India regarding the encounter in Kanker. He has apprised me of the operation. He will be leaving for Chhattisgarh to help the families of martyred BSF soldiers and also assess the ground situation," read a second tweet from Rajnath.The incident occurred after the domination patrol of 114 ...
Cong playing into hands of anti-nationals
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath Thursday accused the Congress of playing into the hands of anti-nationals and separatists, saying the party intended to "weaken" the armed forces by promising to review the AFSPA. Adityanath was here to address a rally in support of Ajay Bhatt, the BJP candidate from the Nainital Lok Sabha seat. Yogi said the Congress's poll manifesto proves that the party has pledged its conscience to anti-nationals and separatists and is playing into their hands. "By saying that it would revoke the anti-sedition law and review the (AFSPA), the Congress has made its intentions clear. It wants to give anti-nationals and separatists a free run and weaken the armed forces," he said. The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act gives the armed forces certain protection from legal action in carrying out their operations in disturbed areas. Describing Uttarakhand as a land of brave soldiers who are always ready to die for their country, he said the state can never ...
'Dangerous' Congress manifesto demolishes independent structure of media, says Jaitley
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Thursday fired a fresh salvo at the Congress' "dangerous" manifesto, asserting that it is liberal towards terrorists and insurgents and "demolishes" the current structure of independent media in the country."The manifesto is liberal towards terrorists, criminals, and insurgents. But it demolishes otherwise the current structure of independent media in India. India has the privilege of having a multiplicity of print, television, radio and now the digital media," Jaitley wrote on his Facebook post."As a political activist, I hold the view that if some media organisations are opposed to my party's viewpoint, they may constitute a miniscule share in the ocean of media news available. This applies to every other party," he added.Jaitley said that the media chapter on suggestions which will regulate free journalism and multiplicity of India media is "anachronic" and is aimed towards terrorists and insurgents."The dangerous chapter in the media paragraphs is .