Page 260 - War Conflict

Yemen govt accuses rebels of violating Hodeida truce

Yemen's embattled government accused rival rebels on Thursday of failing to abide by a truce reached between the warring parties at UN-sponsored peace talks in Sweden last month. "The legitimate government remains committed to the Sweden accords," state-run Saba news agency quoted Yemeni President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi as saying. Hadi accused Yemen's Huthi rebels of failing to respect an agreement on the flashpoint port city of Hodeida, controlled by the insurgents since 2014, Saba said. The news comes as reports surface that the UN is looking to replace the head of a monitoring mission to Hodeida, a lifeline to millions of Yemenis dependent on its imports to survive. The United Nations' Yemen envoy, Martin Griffiths, met with Hadi in Riyadh on Thursday, after holding talks with rebels in the Yemeni capital Sanaa. Also at the Riyadh meeting was retired Dutch general Patrick Cammaert, who heads a monitoring team tasked with overseeing the Hodeida truce. Diplomatic sources on Wednesday

Nations should join hands to put an end to terrorism:VP

Vice President M Venkiah Naidu Thursday said terror had no religion and rued that terrorists were misusing it. In his valedictory address at the Tamil Nadu Global Investors Meet (GIM) 2019 here, Naidu termed terrorism as a threat to the world order and urged all nations to join hands to put an end to it. "Terror is increasing. Terror has no religion. Unfortunately some people are linking terror with religion. No religion approves terror. Terrorists are trying to misuse religion. The world must be active and come together to put an end to this terrorism through united efforts," he said. He also sought extradition treaties among all countries to bring back economic offenders and said the mistakes of a few businessmen were giving a bad name to the entire community. On the issue of black money, the vice president said it was a 'menace' for the world community and urged all countries to come together, understand each others' problems and exchange information about black ...

I feel bad if there is loss of even one life, even if that is of a terrorist, says J-K Governor

Contending that killing terrorists is not a solution to the problems of Jammu and Kashmir, the state's Governor Satya Pal Malik on Thursday said he feels "bad" even when a terrorist is killed.He said all terrorists should return to the mainstream and "a good rehabilitation offer" will be made for their settlement. "Terrorism is not in the gun but in the head," Malik said at an event here."I feel bad if there is loss of even one life, even if that is of a terrorist. I feel sad about the fact that they (terrorists) could not be brought back to the mainstream," he added.The Governor's comments came on a day when the state police declared Baramulla as the first district of Kashmir valley where no militant is alive.The declaration was made a day after security forces gunned down three militants in the district.Lauding the police and security forces, Malik said several terrorists have been neutralised but that is the achievement of the security forces.The security forces are neutralising ...

Militant-turned-Army man from Kashmir gets highest peacetime gallantry award

Lance Naik Nazir Ahmad Wani, a militant-turned-soldier who laid down his life during an anti-terror operation at Shopian in Kashmir in November last year, has been awarded the Ashoka Chakra, India's highest peacetime gallantry award. President Ram Nath Kovind will present the award to the gallant soldier's wife Mahajabeen on the Republic Day, officials said Thursday. On November 25, 38-year-old Wani, hailing from Cheki Ashmuji in Kulgmam district of Jammu and Kashmir, lost his life in a counter-terror operation against six terrorists in Hirapur village near Batgund, in Shopian. Under intense hail of bullets from the terrorists, he eliminated the 'district commander' of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and one foreign terrorist in a daring display of raw courage, officials said. In the ensuing gunfight, he was hit multiple times including on his head. He also injured another terrorist before succumbing to his grievous wounds, they said. Apart from his wife, he is survived by two sons Athar ...

R-Day prep: Multi-layered security shield deployed around Rajpath

A multi-layer high-security grid has been activated around Rajpath for the Republic Day celebrations in line with threat perception assessment made by security agencies to safeguard the high-profile event from a possible terror attack.

Afghan officials says airstrike kills 16 civilians

An Afghan official says an airstrike on a home has killed 16 civilians from the same extended family in the southern Helmand province. Attaullah Afghan, head of the provincial council, said the airstrike was launched Wednesday in the Sangin district during heavy fighting between Afghan forces and the Taliban. He says most of those killed were women and children. Omar Zwak, a spokesman for the provincial governor, says 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. NATO said it was looking into the reports. Afghan forces have struggled to combat a resurgent Taliban that now effectively controls nearly half the country.

Centre reconstitutes tribunal to adjudicate ban imposed on 8 Manipur insurgent groups

The Centre on Thursday reconstituted a tribunal to adjudicate matters related to extension of ban imposed on eight insurgent groups in Manipur for five more years over continued involvement in unlawful and violent activities. In a notification, the Home Ministry said the tribunal has been set up under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 and will be headed by Delhi High Court judge Justice G S Sistani. The tribunal will adjudicate whether or not there is sufficient cause for declaring the Meitei extremist organisations of Manipur as "Unlawful Associations", the notification said. On December 12, 2018, the central government had constituted the tribunal headed by Delhi High Court judge Justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal. However, due to certain reasons, Justice Sehgal could not continue with the tribunal and hence the tribunal has been reconstituted with Justice Sistani. The organisations which were banned in November 2018 include Peoples' Liberation Army generally known as PLA ..

Didn't know about 'Ashok Chakra' till two days ago, happy that husband got it: Awardee's wife

Mahajabeen, who lives with two children in Cheki Ashmuji area of Kulgam district in Kashmir, said, she was proud of her husband and would try to fulfill his dreams.Wani was posthumously awarded India's highest peace time gallantry award the 'Ashok Chakra'.President Ram Nath Kovind will present the 'Ashok Charka' to the gallant soldier's wife Mahajabeen. "Till two days ago, I did not know that Ashok Chakra was an award or such an award existed. I am feeling happy that he has received the award but his loss is irreparable," she told ANI.She said she came to know about the award being given to her husband two days ago when the unit members came to her village in Kashmir to inform her about the government's decision.Mehjabeen recalled that the last time she had a conversation with her husband was a few hours before the operation of November 24 in which he lost his life.Wani had called her to discuss about the well being of the family and disconnected as he had to go for the operation.On ..

In first for Kashmir, Nazir Wani gets Ashok Chakra

Lance Naik Nazir Ahmad Wani has been posthumously awarded Indias highest peace time gallantry award, the Ashok Chakra, it was announced on Thursday.

Killing militants won't solve Kashmir problem: Governor

Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik said on Thursday that killing militants will not solve the real problem in the state.

One dead in skirmishes between Sudan security forces

A security agent from Sudan's intelligence service has been killed in skirmishes with a group of soldiers in the Red Sea town of Port Sudan, police said Thursday. The fighting between members of the country's powerful National Intelligence and Security Service and a group of soldiers erupted late on Wednesday, Port Sudan police chief Mohamed Musa Omer said in a statement. "There were skirmishes yesterday evening at 8:00 pm (1800 GMT) between members of Sudanese armed forces and members of NISS," Omer said. "One member of NISS was killed, while there are several others from both sides who are wounded." Residents of Port Sudan told AFP that the fighting was close to the coast, forcing nearby cafes and restaurants to shut. Omer said the commanders of both the groups later stopped the fighting and the "situation is now under control across the Red Sea state". Members of NISS are leading a sweeping crackdown on anti-government protests that have rocked Sudan for more than a month now, with

Bank collection agent looted of Rs 2 lakh at knifepoint

Two robbers Thursday waylaid a collection agent carrying bank cash and looted Rs 2 lakh at a knifepoint here in Madhya Pradesh, police said. Kotwali Police Station in-charge K S Tripathi said the incident occurred near LIC Colony when collection agent of Bandhan Bank, identified as Sandip Mewara (20), was returning on his bike at around 12.30 pm from Gerkhedi village after collecting loan dues from self-help groups. Mewara was stopped by two persons near LIC Colony and they asked him they wanted to take a loan from the bank for their self-help group. When Mewara told them to come to the bank, they brandished a knife and looted Rs 2 lakh from him, Tripathi said. According to the complainant, the robbers also snatched his motorcycle, mobile phone and fled the spot, he said. Tripathi said the police have launched a search for the robbers and also looking for CCTV footage from the area to get leads on the duo.

Police, paramilitary forces participate in full dress rehearsal for R-Day parade

Braving snowfall and extreme cold, various contingents of police and paramilitary forces Thursday participated in full dress rehearsal for the Republic Day parade even as security was beefed up across Kashmir to ensure smooth passage of the event. Kashmir Divisional Commissioner Baseer Khan presided over the parade, officials said. Dress rehearsal for the Republic Day parade at Sher-e-Kashmir Cricket Stadium here was held despite snowfall and extreme cold, they said. They said the contingents of police and other forces marched past the national flag. Similar rehearsal was held at other district headquarters, the officials said. Authorities have tightened the security across the Kashmir Valley in the wake of recent grenade attacks in the city to ensure that militants are not able to disrupt the celebrations on January 26. Police and paramilitary CRPF personnel have been deployed in the city and at all entry points to the summer capital of the state to thwart any plans of militants to ..

Curfew in Odisha town following group clash

Authorities on Thursday imposed a curfew in Odisha's Kendrapara town as tension prevailed following a group clash on Wednesday.

Defence Ministry sacks five civilian officers over poor performance

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman approved the sacking of five civilian officers of the Defence Ministry over poor performance in the job.The officers belong to the Military Engineering Services which is the construction arm of the armed forces and deals with maintenance and upkeep of the military buildings."Five officers have been sent on compulsory retirement due to poor performance after 55 years age or 30 years of service whichever is less by the Defence Ministry a couple of days ago," Defence Ministry sources told ANI.The employees are of the rank of Assistant Engineers in the MAs and have been given three months' salary.Sources said the sacking of the officers has been done based on Department of Personnel and Training guidelines of September 11, 2015, read along with instructions of March 21, 2014.A total of 484 Group B Gazetted officers of MES were considered by the Review Committee set up based on DoPT instructions.

Italian convert to Islam arrested for instigating terrorism

Catania (Italy), Jan 24 (IANS/AKI) The police in the Sicilian port city of Catania said they have arrested an Italian convert to Islam for allegedly instigating terrorism.

Holocaust survivor to share experience in live webcast

A Holocaust survivor will share his experiences of a Nazi concentration camp and a death march in a live webcast to thousands of students across the UK on Thursday.

Maldives President to be chief guest at Sri Lankan Independence Day

Maldivian President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih will be the chief guest at Sri Lanka's 71st Independence Day celebrations on February 4, authorities said on Thursday.

Taliban says talks with the US enter fourth day in Qatar

Negotiations between the Taliban and US officials in Qatar entered a fourth straight day Thursday, according to the insurgents, as the two sides pursue a potential deal to bring an end to Afghanistan's 17-year conflict. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed to AFP that "discussions are still ongoing". "We will talk in detail later when we reach agreement," the spokesman added. Washington has been stepping up efforts for a peace deal that could pave the way for the Taliban's participation in the next government. "Both sides are discussing the various aspects of the US troops' withdrawal," a senior Taliban commander based in an unknown location in Pakistan told AFP, adding that a statement could be released later in the day or on Friday. The Pakistan foreign ministry also confirmed that talks were ongoing between the two sides. However there was no immediate comment from the US embassy or NATO in Kabul. The US said Tuesday it had resumed talks with the insurgents in Qatar, ...

Indian, Pakistani troops exchange fire on LoC

Indian and Pakistani troops were locked in heavy clashes on Thursday on the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district.