Page 240 - War Conflict
4 killed as hospital torched in Cameroon's anglophone west
Four people died when gunmen raided a hospital and burnt it to the ground in western Cameroon where anglophone separatists have been fighting troops, witnesses and a local official said Monday. The incident occurred in Kumba, a town which serves as the commercial hub for the anglophone region and which has been badly hit by the violence between separatists and Cameroon troops that began in October 2017. "Attackers killed four people and burnt down the hospital," said an administrative official in the Kumba region, confirming information from a witness. It was not immediately clear whether the victims were shot or died in the fire, nor whether they were patients at the facility. Another local source said it appeared separatists were behind the attack. The incident occurred on National Youth Day, the anniversary of the 1961 referendum which saw Cameroon's western English-speaking areas joined onto the francophone areas which had just won independence from France. Kumba lies about 70 ...
Army troops evacuate pregnant woman stuck in snow, woman delivers twins later
The incident took place in Bandipora sector of Kashmir which has been receiving heavy snowfall for the last many days now crippling road traffic and other means of transport."Troops of Rashtriya Rifles in Bandipora evacuated Ghulshana Begum a full-term pregnant lady who was stuck in snow-bound Panar Village. Troops carried the woman for two and a half kilometers in deep snow and low temperature to the hospital," Army sources said.The woman gave birth to twin girls in the hospital. The gesture was appreciated by locals who thanked the Army troops for their assistance.
UK calls for closer post-Brexit defence ties with India
Britain's Defence Minister Gavin Williamson on Monday called for closer ties with India as the UK prepares to leave the European Union (EU) next month. In a speech on modernising the UK's armed forces at the Royal United Service Institute (RUSI) in London, Williamson said plans for a "Global Britain" involve using the country's capabilities to strengthen its global presence and taking action to shore up the worldwide system of rules and standards. "Brexit has brought us to a moment. A great moment in our history. A moment when we must strengthen our global presence, enhance our lethality, and increase our mass," said Williamson. "So, as well as our relationships with Europe, we need to build on our established relationship with the United States, Australia, New Zealand and Canada as part of the Five EyesWith other ASEAN nations, with Japan, the Republic of Korea and India," he said. The enhanced global engagement is not a "reflex reaction" to leaving the EU but about building a ...
UK must bolster armed forces or face risk of being seen as a "paper tiger": Defence Minister
The UK needs a bolder and stronger armed forces prepared to use "hard power" or risk being seen as a "paper tiger", Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson warned on Monday, amidst China flexing its muscles in the Indo-Pacific region. Speaking at the Royal United Services Institute, he said Britain must stand up to those who "flout international law". He also said the country's planned exit from the European Union on March 29 had brought the UK its "greatest opportunity" to strengthen its global presence. Williamson detailed plans to modernise the armed forces, and said it must increase its "mass and lethality". He revealed plans for two military ships that could be deployed for crisis support as well as military operations, the BBC reported. He said they would be able to respond "at a moment's notice" to support the Royal Marines. He also confirmed the Royal Navy's new aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth is being deployed to the Pacific region, where China has been involved in a dispute .
Britain investigates new Skripal suspect with Bulgaria
Britain and Bulgaria are investigating a third suspect in the Salisbury chemical attack who has also been linked to a 2015 poisoning in Bulgaria, the British ambassador to Sofia said Monday. Britain's ambassador Emma Hopkins made the comments after talks with Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov and Chief Prosecutor Sotir Tsatsarov. "We are continuing a close partnership together with a joint team looking into the factual underpinning of these allegations," Hopkins said at a televised news conference. A report published last week by the investigative website Bellingcat identified a hitherto unknown third suspect in last year's attack in the English city of Salisbury on former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter. Both had to be hospitalised after being exposed to the highly toxic nerve agent Novichok in an attack the British government says was "almost certainly" approved by the Russian state. According to Bellingcat, the third suspect is a Russian military intelligence ...
No troop cut planned, says acting US Defence Secretary during Afghanistan visit
There have been no orders from the Donald Trump administration to reduce the US military presence in Afghanistan, acting US Defence Secretary Patrick Shanahan said on Monday as he arrived in the war-torn South Asian country on an unannounced visit.
Pakistan violates ceasefire, targets forward posts, villages along LoC in J-K's Poonch
Pakistani troops Monday targeted forward posts and villages along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, prompting "strong and effective" retaliation by the Indian Army, officials said. The exchange of fire between the two sides continued for nearly seven hours, causing panic among the locals, the officials said. They said Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire by resorting to unprovoked firing from light and heavy weapons in Kerni sector around 8.15 am. Indian troops guarding the LoC, retaliated effectively and the cross-border firing between the two sides continued till 3 pm, the officials said, adding there was no immediate report of any casualty on this side.
Durban offers faint hope for beleaguered Sri Lanka
The odds appear to be stacked against Sri Lanka in a two-Test series against South Africa, which starts at Kingsmead on Wednesday, but the tourists can take heart from their previous record in Durban. The away team head into the series following heavy defeats in New Zealand and Australia, and having unceremoniously dumped captain Dinesh Chandimal. Sri Lanka have lost 11 of 13 Test matches in South Africa. The exceptions occurred at Kingsmead in the only two Tests Sri Lanka have played at the ground. In 2000/01 a rain-hit match was drawn -- with South Africa in a strong position -- and in 2011/12 Rangana Herath spun Sri Lanka to their only win in South Africa. The hosts have been beaten in six of their eight Test matches at Kingsmead since the start of the 2008/09 season, against a single win. By contrast, at other home venues they have won 32 of their 44 Tests, with only six defeats. Pitches in Durban have tended to negate outright pace, while offering help to spin bowlers. Herath ...
Security forces spot suspicious movement near Uri Army camp, open fire
The security forces on Sunday night launched an operation after detecting suspicious movement around the Army camp along the Line of Control in Uri town of Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district.No casualties have been reported so far.Talking to ANI, Commanding Officer 53 Battalion CRPF Vinay Kumar said: "Suspicious movement was detected around the camp of Army Artillery unit in Uri last night following which security personnel opened fire."The operation is underway. The number of terrorists is still unknown. "I will tell you the exact situation after assessing things on the ground," said the officer.Further details are awaited.
Singapore defends conscription after string of deaths
Singapore on Monday defended the city-state's system of conscription after the recent deaths of four servicemen, including a popular young actor, sparked widespread criticism. As a tiny state surrounded by bigger neighbours, Singapore's founding leaders decided to rely on conscription as a major plank of its defence strategy after the country gained independence in 1965. Male Singaporean citizens and permanent residents must undergo two years of national service upon turning 18, either in the military, the police or the emergency services. They are also regularly called up for further training in the following years. But some have called for the conscription system to be changed following the deaths of four servicemen -- three doing their initial two years of service, and a fourth doing reservist training -- in a spate of mishaps over the past 17 months. The case that sparked the greatest controversy was the death of Aloysius Pang, a 28-year-old actor, who suffered fatal injuries ...
Yemen food aid at risk of rotting: UN
Food aid in a warehouse on the frontlines of the Yemen war is at risk of rotting, the UN said Monday, leaving millions of Yemenis without access to life-saving sustenance. The Red Sea Mills silos, located in the western port city of Hodeida, are believed to contain enough grain to feed several million people for a month. But the granary has remained off-limits to aid organisations for months. "The World Food Programme (WFP) grain stored in the mills -- enough to feed 3.7 million people for a month -- has been inaccessible for over five months and is at risk of rotting," read a joint statement by the UN aid chief and special envoy for Yemen. "We emphasise that ensuring access to the mills is a shared responsibility among the parties to the conflict in Yemen." Hodeida, and its food silos, have been in the hands of Yemen's Huthi rebels since 2014, when the insurgents staged a takeover of large swathes of Yemeni territories. The coup prompted the military intervention of Saudi Arabia and .
Police educate youth to shun political violence in Kerala
: Police is donning a different hat in the 'highly volatile' Panoor area in Kannur district in Kerala to wean youth away from political violence by coaching them for competitive examinations and help them turn over a new leaf. Panoor often witnessed violence among CPI(M), BJP and RSS workers clashing with one another. To put an end to the violence, police here began the 'Insight' project for the youth in Panoor and nearby areas where police had recorded 21 cases of riots in 2017. The 'Insight', the brainchild of Panoor circle inspector Benny V V, has been instrumental in providing advanced coaching classes for youngsters who lack a permanent income. "We wanted to find the root-cause of political violence and learnt lack of education or a proper job was the reason, hence we started the classes," Benny told PTI Monday. Roping in civil society, the 'Janamaithri' (community policing) police have been coaching at 20 centres in Panoor police station limits where teachers, ...
Combing operation underway in Uri sector after suspicious activity near Army camp
A massive combing operation was launched by security forces in Uri sector of Jammu and Kashmir after an Army camp sentry noted suspicious movement and opened fire, police said Monday. A police official said that during Sunday night, a sentry of the Army artillery unit in Rajervani, Uri fired few a rounds after observing suspicious movement. The official said the area was sealed and search operations were going on to rule out any act of sabotage. "So far, we have not been able to find any terrorist in the area. Since the terrain is rocky with large boulders, the sanitation exercise will take some time," the official added.
So far no trace of militants in Uri army camp: Police
A guard at an army camp in Jammu and Kashmir's Uri opened fire following suspicious movement nearby, police said on Monday, confirming that there has been no counter-firing by militants and refuting media reports of a terror atatck.
Suspicious movement detected in Uri, search operation underway
Security personnel are conducting search operations in Rajarwani area of Uri township after suspicious movement was detected here last night.Police said the area has been cordoned and is being searched jointly by the state police and Indian Army.Two people are being examined by security personnel.Further details are awaited.
Netanyahu vows to freeze Palestinian funds after teen killed
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is campaigning for re-election, has vowed to freeze money transfers by Israel to the Palestinian Authority after a deadly Palestinian attack on a young woman. Israel collects around $127 million a month in customs duties levied on goods destined for Palestinian markets that transit through Israeli ports and then transfers it to the PA. The Israeli parliament, the Knesset, last year passed legislation to partially withhold funds, in response to PA payments to families of Palestinians jailed by Israel for attacks against Israelis. "By the end of the week, the staff-work necessary for implementing the law on deducting terrorists' salaries will be completed," Netanyahu -- who faces a general election in April -- told journalists Sunday at the start of the weekly cabinet meeting. "Next Sunday I will convene the security cabinet and we will approve the necessary decision to deduct the funds. Let nobody doubt, the funds will be deducted, at the start of
Soldier, local chief killed in Boko Haram attacks
A soldier and a local chief were killed in Boko Haram attacks in northern Adamawa state in northeast Nigeria, military and civilian sources said Sunday. Fighters loyal to factional leader Abubakar Shekau attacked the town of Madagali Saturday, leading to a two-hour gun battle with troops. "We lost a soldier in the fight. He was one of the armoured tank drivers," said a military officer, in an account supported by residents. Madagali is 280 kilometres (nearly 175 miles) north of the Adamawa state capital, Yola, near the border with neighbouring Borno state. The jihadists, who came in guntrucks at about 5:00 pm (1600 GMT), were forced to retreat to their enclave in the Sambisa Forest, just across the state border in Borno. "They (Boko Haram) killed a soldier in the fight and also killed the village chief of Gubla as they fled back to Sambisa," said community leader Maina Ularamu, a former administrative head of Madagali local government area. Three bodies of Boko Haram fighters were ...
Tensions rise on Israel-Gaza border
Tensions have escalated between activists of rallies and protests, better known as the marches of return, and Israeli soldiers on the border between eastern Gaza Strip and Israel, eyewitnesses and local radio stations reported.
Police seize huge amount of cartridges, arrest 3 persons
The Police have seized a huge amount of cartridges, unassembled parts of AK-47 rifle and arrested three arms smugglers from Bihar's Purnea district, a senior officer said Sunday. A police patrolling team stopped a vehicle in Baisi area on Thursday during routine checking and found 600 live cartridges and arrested three arms smugglers, Additional Director General of Police (Headquarters) Kundan Krishnan told reporters here. After a thorough checking of the vehicle the police recovered various parts of firearms and 1000 additional cartridges which were hidden in specially built boxes inside the vehicle. The police found that there were three AK 47 rifles after assembling the various firearms parts seized, the ADGP said. During interrogation, the three arrested persons confessed that they used to supply arms and weapons to Mukesh Singh of Patna and Santosh Singh of Bhojpur, Krishnan said. The police raided Mukesh Singhs house in Patna on Saturday and seized 50 cartridges,
5 LeT, HM terrorists killed in Kulgam encounter
As many as five terrorists belonging to Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizb-ul Mujahideen were killed in an encounter that took place here earlier today, Jammu and Kashmir police said in an official release on Sunday.The deceased terrorists, the police said, have been identified as Waseem Ahmad Rather, Aqib Nazir Mir, Parvaiz Ahmad Bhat, Idrees Ahmad Bhat, and Zahid Ahmad Parray. They were wanted by the law for their complicity in a series of terror crimes including attacks on security establishments and civilian atrocities.Police said that Waseem, Aqib, and Parvaiz were involved in the killing of a civilian Mohd Iqbal Kawaq in Kilam and local army personnel Mukhtar Ahmad. This group of terrorists was also involved in various grenade attacks across Anantnag and Kulgam districts, it added.Incriminating materials such as arms and ammunition were recovered from the site of the encounter.Police said that no collateral damage took place during the encounter. Bodies of the slain terrorists were handed