Page 178 - War Conflict
NZ PM Ardern confirms gun law reform following Christchurch shooting
In the wake of the Christchurch shooting, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has confirmed that the government has agreed to reform the country's gun laws.Terming the incident as the "worst act of terrorism on our shores", Ardern said that massacre at two mosques that claimed 50 lives exposed a range of weaknesses in New Zealand's gun laws, reported CNN.Speaking to reporters following her weekly Cabinet meeting on Monday evening (local time), Ardern said that ministers had agreed "in principle" to reform gun laws.Ardern said, "Within 10 days of this horrific act of terrorism we will have announced reforms which will, I believe, make our community safer.""I strongly believe that the vast majority of gun owners in New Zealand will agree with the sentiment that change needs to occur," she asserted. She also acknowledged that "for a short period" planned reforms might create uncertainty for some gun owners.On Monday, the New Zealand Prime Minister also announced a probe into the ...
Israeli dies from wounds in West Bank attack: family
An Israeli man wounded in a Palestinian attack that killed an Israeli soldier and injured another one in the occupied West Bank died of his injuries on Monday, his family said. Ahiad Ettinger, a 47-year-old rabbi who lived in the Eli settlement in the West Bank, was shot in the gun and knife attack on Sunday. Israel's army said the assailant attacked a soldier with a knife at a junction near the Ariel settlement and snatched his weapon. He later fired on three vehicles before taking one of the cars to another nearby junction, where he opened fire and wounded a second soldier. The second soldier was said to be in serious condition. Israeli security forces were pursuing the alleged attacker on Monday. Ettinger was the father of 12 children, Israeli media reported.
New Zealand to reform gun laws in 10 days
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on Monday said the country's existing gun laws will be reformed within the next 10 days, adding that her Cabinet has "completely unified" in the decision that comes in the wake of the March 15 shootings that were carried out by a "lone gunman" at two mosques in Christchurch.
NATO drone crashes near Afghanistan base
A drone belonging to the NATO-led Resolute Support (RS) coalition forces crashed in Afghanistan's Parwan province, police said on Monday.
Naxal killed in encounter with CoBRA troops in Bihar
A Naxal was killed in an encounter between troops of 205 CoBRA and ultras near a forest area in Bihar's Nawada district on Sunday, CRPF said.The troops launched a search operation after the encounter ended in Rajauli in the district, they said.The body is yet to be identified, CRPF said.Further details are awaited.
Dealer who sold arms to mosque killer rejects responsibility
The New Zealand arms dealer who sold weapons to the suspected mosque attacker said Monday he felt no responsibility for the deaths of 50 worshippers who were gunned down. David Tipple, the managing director of Gun City, confirmed he sold alleged gunman Brenton Tarrant four firearms and ammunition. "We detected nothing extraordinary about this licence holder," Tipple told a press conference in Christchurch. Tipple refused to answer direct questions about the use of firearms sold from his shop, indicating this was not the time for a debate about guns. Asked if he held any sense of responsibility, Tipple said: "No, I do not." He added he would continue to sell weapons to anyone with the same credentials as the gunman. It was the responsibility of the police to vet firearms licence applications, he said. Latest available statistics show police approved 99.6 percent of nearly 45,000 applications in 2017 when Tarrant received his licence. Tipple said the military-style semi-automatic (MSSA)
Christchurch attacks: Gunman sacks lawyer, to represent himself in court
Brenton Tarrant, the 28-year-old Australian-born suspect accused of gunning down 50 people during Friday's terror attacks here dismissed his lawyer and is planning to represent himself in future court hearings, raising fears that he could attempt to use the trial to express his extremist views.Richard Peters, the attorney who represented Tarrant in the hearing at the Christchurch District Court on Saturday, confirmed the news and said that the accused "appeared to be lucid" and was not "mentally unstable", New Zealand Herald reported.Peters said that the accused was insisting that he wanted to represent himself in the court and his job had come to an end after Saturday's hearing.Tarrant, who appeared before the court on murder charges on Saturday, was remanded in custody without plea until April 5.Meanwhile, Australian counter-terrorism police on Monday searched two homes in New South Wales state linked to the gunman.The house of Tarrant's sister was raided in Sandy Beach town, near ..
Syria force says 'thousands' still inside last IS pocket
US-backed forces have Sunday thousands of people were believed to still be inside the last Islamic State group enclave in eastern Syria, as they sought to flush out die-hard fighters with airstrikes and shelling. Tens of thousands of dishevelled women, children and men have streamed out of a small pocket in the village of Baghouz near the Iraqi border in recent weeks -- and they still keep coming. The huge numbers have flummoxed the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and slowed down their offensive aimed at dealing a knock-out blow to the jihadists' once-sprawling proto-state. "Fighting continues as the #SDF advancing into Daesh encampment," SDF spokesman Mustafa Bali said in a tweet late Sunday. "Several positions captured and an ammunition storage has been blown up by our forces. SDF is now holding positions inside the camp in #Baghouz." At an SDF outpost inside Baghouz on Sunday, an AFP correspondent saw white smoke rising above the IS enclave as the sound of airstrikes and shelling ...
Australian police search homes linked to New Zealand mosque attacks
Australian counter-terrorism police raided two homes early Monday linked to the mass shooting that killed 50 people at two New Zealand mosques last week, police said. The homes were in New South Wales where the accused gunman, Brenton Tarrant, grew up, though he has spent most of the last decade overseas, officials said. "The primary aim of the activity is to formally obtain material that may assist New Zealand police in their ongoing investigation," a police statement said.
Britain opens far-right terror probe into stabbing
British police said on Sunday they had launched a terror investigation into a non-fatal stabbing attack "inspired by the far right" in suburban London. Counter-terror police said a 50-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and racially aggravated public order offences following Saturday's incident in Surrey. "While this investigation is still in its infancy, it has hallmarks of a terror event, inspired by the far right, and therefore it has been declared a terrorism incident," counter-terror police coordinator Neil Basu said. "Police are committed to tackling all forms of toxic extremist ideology, which has the potential to threaten public safety and security." Police said the suspect had been shouting racist abuse while walking down the street with a baseball bat. They later received a call reporting a man being stabbed. A 19-year-old was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Police said the suspect carrying the baseball bat appeared to be one
New Zealand prepares to release bodies of terror attack victims
Authorities here on Sunday initiated identification procedures of the bodies of last week's terror attack victims so that their families can claim them for their burial.CNN quoted Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern as saying that the authorities had started returning identified bodies to their families. All bodies will be returned to their respective families by Wednesday, she added.Six disaster victim identification experts from Australia are also assisting the identification procedures, she added.In addition, New Zealand police described the identification process as "detailed and complex work" that must be completed thoroughly."It's vital we have certainty around the cause of death for any future court proceedings," Detective Superintendent Peter Read said.In the worst ever terror attack in New Zealand, the 28-year-old gunman, named Brenton Harrison Tarrant, carried out the Friday's attacks at Linwood Mosque and Al Noor Mosque in Christchurch killing 50 people and injuring 49 others, ...
2 Naxals arrested after encounter in C'garh, explosives seized
Two Naxals were Sunday arrested after an encounter between security forces and ultras in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district, police said. The two, identified as Jhatel Madvi (24) and Ware Mandavi (26), were held from the forest near Surnar village in Katekalyan police station limits, Dantewada Superintendent of Police Abhishek Pallava said. "A patrolling team of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), District Reserve Guard (DRG) and district force was combing Surnar when it came under Naxal fire. While the ultras fled following retaliatory fire from the forces, Madvi and Mandavi were nabbed," he said. "We have recovered a tiffin bomb, detonators, electric wire, Maoist literature from the two," he added.
29 held; over 3,000 pints of liquor, 12 kg cannabis seized
Twenty-nine people were arrested in Gautam Buddh Nagar on Sunday for allegedly selling illicit liquor and cannabis, police said. Police's crackdown comes amid restrictions clamped under the model code of conduct for the Lok Sabha polls. The arrests were made in Badalpur, Rabupura, Surajpur, Ecotech 3, Dankaur in Greater Noida area, in Dadri, and in Phase 3, Sector 20, Sector 49, Phase 2 areas of Noida, an official statement issued here stated. As many as 3,141 pints of illicit liquor were seized during the day-long operation, police said. Police also seized 12.2 kg of cannabis from suspected drug traffickers, they said. Overall, 14 illegal firearms, including country-made pistols, were seized from the arrested persons, police said. Cases were registered against them at respective police stations and further probe was underway. Gautam Buddh Nagar goes to polls on April 11 during the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections.
His contribution to making armed forces lean and mean fighting machine unparalleled: Sitharaman
Condoling the death of Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman Sunday said his contribution in making the armed forces a lean and mean fighting machine will remain unparalleled. Terming the former defence minister a sincere, honest and sensitive political activist, she said she learnt a lot from Parrikar. "Shri Manohar Parrikar is no more. A sincere, honest and sensitive political activist. Was simple and down to earth, I learnt a lot from Shri Parrikar. As Raksha Mantri his contribution to making the armed forces a modernised, lean and mean fighting machine will remain unparalleled," she tweeted. Parrikar headed the Defence Ministry from November 2014 to March 2017.
Nation has lost a true patriot: Shah on Parriker's death
In the death of Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar the nation has lost a true patriot, BJP president Amit Shah said Sunday, remembering him as a leader who dedicated his life to the country and ideology. Shah said Parrikar has shown how a BJP worker "even during his toughest time, is committed to the philosophy of Nation First, Party Next and Self Last". Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman also condoled his demise and said his contribution in making the armed forces a lean and mean fighting machine will remain unparalleled. Shah said, "Manohar Parrikar ji's demise is extremely painful. In him, the nation has lost a true patriot who selflessly dedicated his entire life to the country and ideology. Parrikar ji's commitment towards his people and duties was exemplary. He will always be remembered for his contributions as India's defence minister and as CM of Goa." The entire BJP, he said, stands firmly with Parrikar's family. "I along with millions of BJP karyakartas (workers) and ...
Live mortar shell found in stream in J-K's Reasi, defused
A live mortar shell was found Sunday in a stream in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir and was later defused by the bomb disposal squad, police said. The rusted 81-MM mortar shell was found lying in the bed of the stream at Arlikhud in the Katra area by some villagers, police investigating officer Suman Singh said. He said the bomb disposal squad of police immediately rushed to the spot and defused the shell successfully. It is believed that the shell floated with waste from a nearby security camp, the official said.
Imran announces award for Pakistani NZ victim-hero
Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday announced a national award for a Pakistani man who lost his life in New Zealand's Christchurch mosque attack while apparently trying to tackle the white extremist.
Palestinian shooter kills 1, injures 2 in Israel
A Palestinian killed an Israeli and severely injured two others in shooting and stabbing attacks before fleeing the scene on Sunday, Israeli Army said.
People throng police public mela in Jammu
The 31st police public mela in Jammu, which was rescheduled after the Pulwama terror attack, attracted huge rush on Sunday with visitors going around various stalls set up by different units of police. Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik inaugurated the mela at police sports stadium here in presence of his advisors Khurshid Ahmad Ganai, Kewal Kumar Sharma and K Skandan and Director General of Police Dilbag Singh. The governor also paid floral tributes to the jawans and officers of state police who laid down their lives while fighting terrorism. The mela was organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Police Wives Welfare Association (PWWA) and the income generated from the fair would be diverted to the police martyrs welfare fund to take care of their dependents. It was earlier scheduled on February 17 but was cancelled due to a terror attack on the CRPF convoy at Lethpora in Pulwama district on February 14 which left 40 CRPF personnel dead.
Paramilitary personnel deployed for the polls should not terrorise people: TMC
The Trinamool Congress Sunday said central paramilitary personnel deployed ahead of the seven-phase Lok Sabha polls in West Bengal should not "terrorise" the people in the "name of making them feel safe and secure". Party secretary general Partha Chatterjee said a paramilitary personnel was seen in a TV news channel asking a woman at her home in the city about the whereabouts of her son and telling her "Koi dadagiri nahi chalega," (no hooliganism will be allowed). The footage was aired on Saturday night, Chatterjee told a workers' meeting here. "Does a central force personnel have the right to visit a house and threaten its residents this way during a flag march, which is aimed at instilling confidence among the people?" the state minister asked. TMC, Chatterjee said, will "certainly" take up the issue at the appropriate level. "We don't have anything against the deployment of central forces. But they (forces) have no right to terrorise people in the name of interaction with locals," .