Page 258 - War Conflict
On eve of R-Day, three grenade attacks hit Kashmir Valley
Militants carried out four grenade attacks in the Kashmir Valley on Friday on the eve of India's Republic Day, injuring a policeman in one of the attacks.
Gandhi and Mandela wanted to see a world with tolerance: SA president
Mahatma Gandhi and anti-apartheid revolutionary Nelson Mandela wanted to see a world where there was tolerance for each other's religion, race, caste and regional affiliation, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said Friday. Speaking at the first IBSA (India, Brazil, South Africa) Gandhi-Mandela Memorial Freedom Lecture, Ramaphosa recalled Gandhi's famous words, "Be the change you want to see in the world". "But what was the change Gandhi and Mandela wanted to see. They wanted to see elimination of poverty and a world where nations respect one another and multilateralism was upheld and respected and there was tolerance for each other's religion, race, caste and regional affiliation," he said. Ramaphosa gave the lecture in presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He said South Africa is looking forward to build its relations with India. "We are two countries separated by ocean but bound together by the collective energies of our people. The legacies of Gandhi and Mandela have ...
Two Sri Lankan peacekeepers killed in Mali
Two Sri Lankan soldiers who were deployed for peacekeeping in Mali were killed on Friday when their armoured vehicle came under attack, the Sri Lankan Army said.
Security in top gear in Delhi ahead of Republic Day
A day after Delhi Police said they have arrested two Jaish-e Mohammad terrorists who were planning to carry out attacks in the national capital, they said on Friday that security has been beefed up ahead of the Republic Day, with thousands of policemen and anti-aircraft guns deployed at strategic points in the city.
Muslim self-rule backed in Philippines' troubled south
Voters have decisively approved a new Muslim-led region in the Philippines' south, which is hoped will bring a measure of peace after decades of fighting killed thousands and mired the area in poverty. The results, announced Friday, will begin the process of the Catholic-majority nation's largest rebel group, the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, laying down its weapons and assuming political power. About 150,000 people were killed in the rebellion that began in 1970s and aimed to push the government to grant independence to a Muslim minority concentrated on the island of Mindanao. "We are very happy about the overwhelming support of the people," MILF leader Murad Ebrahim told AFP. "It was a landslide. There's been nothing like this." Voters, who were expected to back the so-called Bangsamoro region, delivered a convincing result of about 1.7 million in favour and some 254,600 against, according to official results from the Philippines elections commission. A handful of smaller areas, ...
Afghanistan investigates claims civilians killed in air strike
Afghanistan is investigating reports that at least 16 civilians including women and children were killed in an air strike in southern Helmand province, the defence ministry said in a statement Friday. The reports come as civilian deaths from air strikes have risen sharply in the past year, after the Afghan and US forces intensified their aerial bombardment of Taliban and Islamic State group militants. Afghan forces backed by US air power were conducting counter-terrorism operations in Sangin district late Wednesday when the air strike was carried out, the ministry and NATO said. "Some reports have been published that civilians were killed and wounded, and the defence ministry formed a delegation to conduct a serious investigation into the civilian casualties," the ministry statement said. NATO's Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan said the "large Afghan-led, multi-day operation... supported by US advisors and coalition air strikes" was ongoing, and that it was still looking into ..
CRPF gets 2 Kirti Chakras, one Shaurya for operation in Kashmir
Two slain CRPF jawans were decorated with the Kirti Chakra, the second highest peacetime gallantry medal of the country, and their commander was awarded the Shaurya Chakra for displaying dare devilry in taking on heavily armed terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Awantipora in 2017. The military decorations have been bestowed on constables Pradip Kumar Panda and Rajendra Kumar Nain, who were killed while fighting the militants who stormed their camp in Awantipora, while their commander Assistant Commandant Zile Singh has been awarded the Shaurya Chakra, the third highest bravery decoration, on the eve of the Republic Day. The three displayed exemplary bravery to thwart the deadly fidayeen attack that was carried out on December 30, 2017, and went on for over 36 hours, an official citation said. Three heavily armed terrorists were killed by the CRPF personnel after the gun battle ended. Five troops of the force were also killed in this pre-dawn attack on the multi-acre camp that also ...
Will show the right path to youngsters in Kashmir, says Ashoka Chakra awardee Nazir Wani's wife
It's been just two months since Lance Naik Nazir Ahmad Wani -- the first Kashmiri to be chosen for the Ashoka Chakra -- lost his life while gallantly fighting six heavily armed terrorists, but his wife is already working on a meaningful tribute to him which she knows would have made him proud. "In my own way, I will try to show the right path to children and youngsters. I will tell them that you have to do something for Kashmir," says Mahajabeen, a school teacher and mother of two. "If I see anyone taking the wrong path, I will stop him or her," she says, adding her inspiration has been her husband's "resolute sense of duty" which made him take on the militants on the fateful day of November 25 , though he knew he might not come out alive from the gunbattle. Mahajabeen is here to receive the Ashoka Chakra, the country's highest peacetime gallantry award, that has been conferred on Wani posthumously on Republic Day. "He telephoned me on the evening of Novemver 24. He told me about the
Policeman injured in Anantnag grenade attack
Militants carried out two grenade attacks on Friday in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag town injuring a policeman.
Security on maximum alert on eve of Republic Day in J&K
Security across Jammu and Kashmir were put on maximum alert on Friday on the eve of Republic Day while separatist leaders have called for a shutdown in the Kashmir Valley.
Taliban names co-founder as head of political office in Qatar
The Taliban have named Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, the co-founder of the group, as the head of their political office in Qatar with the aim to strengthen the ongoing negotiations with the US to put an end to the Afghan conflict.
Taliban appoints Mullah Baradar as head of Qatar office
Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, a co-founder of the Afghan Taliban, was appointed leader of its political office in Qatar to strengthen the militant group's hand in peace talks with the United States as efforts continue to find a resolution to the conflict, media reports said.Baradar, who was released from a prison in Pakistan in October last year, has been authorised to lead the political team and take decisions, Pakistan Today reported.The Taliban issued a statement to announce Baradar's appointment and a reshuffle in their team to put senior leaders into key positions as the talks with US officials gained momentum."This step has been taken to strengthen and properly handle the ongoing negotiations process with the United States," the Taliban said in statement.The move comes as US special peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad's meeting with the Taliban representatives, which was originally due to run over two days, entered its fourth day on Thursday."Baradar will soon fly to Qatar. He has been ..
Chinese embassy in Islamabad sends SOS to check response time of security agencies
An SOS call from the Chinese embassy in the Pakistani capital had the security establishment, including the police, paramilitary troops and the army along with emergency and rescue teams, rushing to the premises within minutes -- only to find to their chagrin that the alarm was sent to check their response time, a media report said.At around 3.15 pm on Thursday, alarms installed at the offices of senior police officers and paramilitary troops in Islamabad started ringing. A message was aired through the police communications system about an SOS call from the Chinese embassy, Dawn reported.The Quick Response Force reached the embassy within three minutes, a police officer told the daily. Officers of the police commandoes, Anti-Terrorism Force, bomb disposal squad, counter-terrorism force, Rangers, Special Branch, Crime Investigation Department, Crime Investigation Agency and the Islamabad Traffic Police reached the embassy within 20 minutes and began cordon operations, he ...
Notorious criminal nabbed after encounter in UP
In a joint operation with the Special Task Force, local police nabbed a notorious criminal carrying a cash reward of Rs 50,000 on his head following an encounter here, police said Friday. During a joint vehicle checking drive on the Badaut-Baghpat road Thursday night, police stopped two motorcycle-borne men who opened fire while trying to escape, injuring two constables of the STF, Arvind and Devdutt, Superintendent of Police Shailesh Kumar Pandey said. In the return fire, the man sitting on the pillion was injured and fell, while the rider fled, the SP said, adding that he has been identified as Ramvir Bavariya. He has cases of murder, loot and dacoity lodged against him in Lucknow, the SP added.
Gay Brazilian lawmaker quits, flees country amid death threats
Brazil's first openly gay congressman, Jean Wyllys, revealed in an interview published on Thursday that he has resigned his seat and left the country in the face of death threats.
2 militia members admit role in attack on Minnesota mosque
Hoping to scare Muslims into leaving the US, members of an Illinois militia group rented a truck and drove more than 805 kilometers to bomb a Minnesota mosque, two men have admitted. Michael McWhorter and Joe Morris said that when they arrived at the Dar al-Farooq Islamic Center in Bloomington on August 5, 2017, they broke a window and threw a lit pipe bomb and a gasoline mixture inside, causing an explosion, fire and extensive damage. No one was injured in the attack, which happened just as morning prayers were about to begin, shaking members of the local Muslim community. McWhorter, 29, and Morris, 23, of Clarence, Illinois, each pleaded guilty Thursday to five counts in connection with the mosque attack, the attempted bombing of an Illinois abortion clinic, armed robberies and other crimes. A third defendant, 47-year-old Michael Hari, whom prosecutors said directed the bombing, remains in federal custody in Illinois. The plea agreements portray Hari as the ringleader of a militia ..
Dozens killed in failed IS counterattack in east Syria: monitor
The Islamic State group made an aborted attempt to retake a village from US-backed forces in eastern Syria Thursday, a monitor said, leaving 50 fighters dead on both sides. The failed assault came a day after the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), who are backed by the US-led coalition, took the village of Baghouz from IS. On Thursday, the jihadist group launched a counterattack including at least three suicide bombers wearing explosive belts against SDF fighters, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Sixteen SDF fighters and 34 IS jihadists were killed in the assault aimed at retaking the village near the Iraqi border, the Britain-based monitor said. A further "21 IS fighters were taken prisoner as they tried to open up a gap" in defences and make an escape towards Iraq, Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said. The SDF have since September been whittling away at a pocket of territory on the eastern banks of the Euphrates River in the eastern province of Deir Ezzor. The latest ..
Death toll in Venezuela protests this week reaches 26: NGO
Twenty-six people have been killed since the latest wave of protests against Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro broke out four days ago, the Caracas-based Observatory of Social Conflict said Thursday. The previous toll from the protests -- which began when a group of soldiers took over a command post in the north of the capital in defiance of the socialist regime -- had stood at 16. In some places, armed forces have fired tear gas and rubber bullets to subdue protesters, some of whom threw stones.
JeM members arrested for allegedly planning attacks on R Day
Two alleged Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) members have been arrested on charges of planning to carry out terror strikes in the national capital during Republic Day celebrations, Delhi Police officials said on Thursday. They were identified as Abdul Latif Ganaie (29), alias Umair alias Dilawar, and Hilal Ahmad Bhat (26) residents of Jammu and Kashmir's Wakura and Batapora areas respectively. Dilawar was arrested on the intervening night of January 20-21 after police got a tip off from military intelligence that a house in Laxmi Nagar was frequented by suspicious persons, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell P S Kushwah said. Police learnt that Dilawar would come near Rajghat to meet someone and accordingly a team was deployed there. Subsequently, he was arrested with incriminating material, he said. A .32 bore pistol and 26 live cartridges were recovered from him. Three rubber stamps of JeM commanders and other material was also recovered from his possession, he added. It took the ...
Afghan official says airstrike kills 16 civilians
An airstrike on a home in southern Afghanistan killed 16 civilians from the same extended family, an Afghan official said Thursday. Attaullah Afghan, head of the Helmand provincial council, said the airstrike was launched Wednesday in the Sangin district during heavy fighting between Afghan forces and the Taliban. Most of those killed were women and children, he said. Omar Zwak, a spokesman for the provincial governor, said an investigation has been launched. It was not immediately clear if the airstrike was launched by Afghan forces or NATO, which often provides air support to Afghan ground troops. "A large Afghan-led, multi-day operation in Sangin, Helmand has been supported by US advisors and coalition air strikes," NATO said in a statement. "Due to the ongoing operation and the number of units involved, we are still looking into the claim of non-combatant casualties." Afghan forces have struggled to contain a resurgent Taliban that now effectively controls nearly half the ...