Page 320 - War Conflict

US returns 3 church bells seized from Philippines in 1901

The US on Tuesday returned to the Philippines three church bells seized by American troops as war booty over a century ago.

3 policemen killed in J&K attack

Three Jammu and Kashmir Police officials were killed on Tuesday in Shopian district in a militant attack, police said, in which four service rifles were also stolen.

Normalcy restored in Egyptian Sinai city, but danger lurks

Mohammed Amer Shaaban stood over trays of fresh fish at his tiny store in the coastal Sinai Peninsula city of el-Arish, pointing to his right and left while recalling the tough days when Islamic State militants operated with impunity. "They killed a Christian who owns a knife shop there and an informant over there. They also killed one of my cousins," he said. "We have enjoyed some stability and peace for the past six or seven months," added the 48-year-old father of five as some two dozen journalists descended on el-Arish's fish market as part of a rare, army-organized trip. The trip was chiefly designed to show off signs of normalcy in el-Arish, northern Sinai's largest city, as evidence that the military's all-out offensive against militants launched nearly 10 months ago has succeeded. But in the city and the surrounding deserts, the signs of war are difficult to miss, particularly the enormous security presence. The Associated Press was required to submit the photos and video ...

4 killed in suicide attack on Afghan security forces

At least four people were killed in a suicide attack targeting an Afghan security forces vehicle in a district of Kabul province on Tuesday.

3 labourers dead due to asphyxiation in J&K

Three labourers died due to asphyxiation on Tuesday in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam district, police said.

Suicide bomber kills 4 security forces near Afghan capital

An Afghan official says a suicide car bomber has struck a security convoy on the outskirts of Kabul, killing four security forces. Nasrat Rahimi, deputy spokesman for the Interior Ministry, said six other forces were wounded in Tuesday's attack. No one immediately claimed responsibility, but the Taliban and an Islamic State affiliate have both carried out attacks in the capital. Elsewhere in Afghanistan, the Taliban attacked a checkpoint in the southern Kandahar province late Monday, killing eight police. Aziz Ahmad Azizi, the spokesman for the provincial governor, said 11 insurgents were killed in the battle. The Taliban control nearly half of Afghanistan and carry out daily attacks that mainly target security forces.

Taiwan reinforces ban on Huawei, ZTE network parts among security concerns

Huawei has established a presence in Taiwan, with its handsets among the top sellers

'Jallianwala Bagh massacre was preceded by reign of terror by the British'

As the country gears up to observe the 100th anniversary of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre of innocent, unarmed Indians by ruthless British forces, the events before and after the April 13, 1919, killing of hundreds clearly indicate that the British rulers of that time were unnerved by the unrest in Punjab in general and Amritsar in particular, which led them to do something which could "teach a lesson" to the Indians.

Trump approves strategy on combating WMD terrorism

US President Donald Trump on Monday approved the National Strategy for Countering WMD Terrorism, in a bid to counter extremist groups' attempt to use Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) against the US.

Israel raids Palestinian news agency in hunt for gunmen

Israeli military forces carried out a series of raids in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Monday, bursting into stores and offices of the official Palestinian news agency in a manhunt for gunmen who shot seven Israelis outside a Jewish settlement. Workers at the Wafa news agency said the troops confiscated security camera footage from their offices as part of the raid, and detained employees in the office for a half an hour. The agency shared images on Twitter showing Israeli forces in their Ramallah offices. The military announced earlier Monday that it had commenced "extensive searches" in villages near the settlement of Ofra the site of the attack. The army had no comment on the raid at the Wafa agency. In Sunday night's attack, shots were fired from a Palestinian vehicle at a bus stop outside the settlement. Security camera footage from the scene showed a car speeding away after the shooting. A 21-year-old Israeli woman who was pregnant and her baby, who was prematurely ...

Israel hunts Palestinian gunmen, raids official news agency

Israeli forces entered the Palestinian city of Ramallah on Monday and raided the offices of the official Palestinian news agency, the agency and witnesses said, a day after gunmen wounded several Israelis near a settlement. Seven people were wounded in the drive-by shooting by Palestinian gunmen at a bus stop near the Ofra settlement in the occupied West Bank late Sunday, with doctors forced to prematurely deliver the baby of one of the wounded, Israeli officials said. Israeli soldiers entered Ramallah on Monday morning, with low-level clashes breaking out a few hundred metres from the house of Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, AFP journalists said. They seized the security camera footage of a nearby building, according to employees. Two people were hit with live bullets during the clashes, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent. Later soldiers raided the headquarters of Wafa, the official Palestinian news agency, including the photography and editing offices, a statement from ...

HC questions rationale in deporting man sent back by Australia, to Sri Lanka

Questioning the rationale behind deporting a man to Sri Lanka, the Madras High Court has summoned the regional foreigners registration officer to appear before it and explain the procedure followed in such cases. The issue pertains to a habeas corpus plea moved by K Sundar Lingam, whose son was deported to Sri Lanka. A habeas corpus is a petition filed to ensure a person under arrest is brought before a court to determine if the detention is legal. Lingam submitted that he is a Sri Lankan national who escaped to India in 1987 in view of the then ongoing ethnic crisis in the island nation. His son, S Anand, was born at Thirumala Devasam Medical College and Hospital, Alappuzha District, Kerala on December 25, 1992. He completed his school education in a private school in Chennai and in 2013, he went to Australia. He came back to India on October 27, 2018. The petitioner said that 'to his shock and surprise" his son was detained by Indian immigration authorities on his return and was ...

Two held for looting Rs 37 lakh in Gurugram

Two people have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the loot of Rs 37 lakh from the cashier of a city-based cooking gas agency on gunpoint last month, police said on Monday. The cash is yet to be recovered.

Armed group blocks key oil field in Libya

An armed group has seized one of Libya's largest oilfields in the country's southwest, the state-owned National Oil Corporation said Monday. The seizure of Sharara oilfield prompted the company to declare a "force majeure" on exports from the field. "National Oil Corporation (NOC) hereby declares a state of force majeure at the Akakus-operated Sharara oil field as of Sunday," the company said in an online statement. Akakus is a joint venture between NOC, Spain's Repsol energy company, France's Total, Austria's OMV and Norway's Statoil. It produces some 315,000 barrels per day, out of Libya's current output of one million bpd. Force majeure, invoked in exceptional circumstances, exempts the company from liability in case of non-compliance with oil delivery contracts. Oil facilities in Libya are regularly targeted by rival armed groups, local militias or tribes vying for power or pushing for their social demands to be met. NOC, which is reviewing procedures to evacuate employees, urged .

Nobel peace prize ceremony shines light on rape in conflict

Congolese doctor Denis Mukwege and Yazidi activist Nadia Murad, an IS sex slave survivor, will be presented with the Nobel Peace Prize Monday, as they challenge the world to combat rape as a weapon of war. Mukwege, dubbed "Doctor Miracle" for his work helping victims of sexual violence, and Murad, who has turned her experience into powerful advocacy for her Yazidi people, will receive the prize at a ceremony in Oslo. The Norwegian Nobel Committee in October said the prize was "for their efforts to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war and armed conflict". The laureates, who have dedicated their award to rape victims across the world, have said they hope the Nobel will raise awareness of sexual violence and make it harder for the world to ignore it. "We cannot say that we didn't act because we didn't know. Now everyone knows. And I think now the international community has a responsibility to act," Mukwege told reporters at a news conference on Sunday. The prize was not a ..

Israel hunts Palestinian gunmen, victim's baby delivered

Israeli forces Monday searched for Palestinian gunmen who opened fire on several Israelis near a West Bank settlement, as doctors prematurely delivered the baby of one of the wounded. Seven people were wounded in the drive-by shooting at a bus stop near the Ofra settlement in the occupied West Bank, including a 30-week pregnant woman taken to hospital in serious condition. Doctors at the Shaare Zedek hospital in Jerusalem delivered the baby via a caesarean section, the hospital said, adding the mother, 21, was stable on Monday but the baby had taken a turn for the worse. "There has unfortunately been a deterioration in the baby's condition. The family is requesting prayers for him," a hospital spokeswoman said. The others wounded in the attack were not in life-threatening condition. The army said the perpetrators had so far not been located. "IDF (Israel Defence Forces), border police and security forces commenced extensive searches in the villages in the area as part of the hunt for .

BJP march over Sabarimala issue turns violent

The BJP's "secretariat march" over the Sabarimala issue here on Monday turned violent, prompting police to use water cannon and tear gas to disperse the protesters. The day also saw the Congress-led UDF take out a march to the state Assembly over the same issue. The BJP and the UDF marched separately, demanding the LDF government's intervention to end the agitation by their respective leaders for withdrawal of the prohibitory orders around Sabarimala. The BJP workers threw stones and hurled chairs at police personnel outside the state secretariat when the latter stopped them from proceeding further. The party had announced the march as part of its intensifying protests over the Sabarimala issue. The protesters raised slogans demanding the government's intervention to end the eight-day-old indefinite fast of BJP general secretary A N Radhakrishnan. Subsequently, police used water cannon and tear gas to disperse the protesters. Protesting against the police action, BJP workers, led by ..

Myanmar court to hear Reuters reporters' appeal

A Myanmar court will hear later this month the appeal of two Reuters reporters jailed on charges of violating a colonial-era Act while investigating the killing of Rohingyas in the country, one of their lawyers said on Monday.

Macron to hold crisis meeting over 'yellow vest' protests

French President Emmanuel Macron will hold talks with business leaders and trade unions on Monday after a fourth weekend of the violent "gilets jaunes," or "yellow vest" nationwide protests that have challenged his grip on power.

Amnesty calls on ICC to fully probe Boko Haram conflict atrocities

Amnesty International on Monday said the International Criminal Court should start a full-blown investigation into atrocities committed in the Boko Haram insurgency, accusing Nigeria of failing to bring those responsible to justice. ICC chief prosecutor Fatma Bensouda opened a preliminary examination in 2010 into eight potential cases of war crimes and crimes against humanity during the violence. Six cases relate to the jihadists and include the killing of civilians, mass kidnapping, attacks on schools and places of worship, sexual violence, plus the use of children in conflict. The other two -- involving attacks on civilians, mass arrests and detention of suspects, abuse, torture and summary executions -- concern the military. Boko Haram's Islamist insurgency has killed more than 27,000 people and left 1.8 million homeless in northeast Nigeria since 2009, triggering a humanitarian crisis in the wider region. President Muhammadu Buhari, a former military ruler, in June 2015 promised ..