Page 332 - War Conflict
Tunisia arrests 12 suspected IS members, dismantles cells: ministry
Authorities have arrested 12 suspected members of the Islamic State group and seized bomb making materials since a suicide attack last month, the interior ministry said Friday. Authorities have also "dismantled four takfiri (Sunni extremist) sleeper cells in several parts of Tunisia", the ministry said in a statement. The announcement follows an attack by 30-year-old female suicide bomber Mna Guebla on October 29 that wounded 26 people on the capital's busy upmarket Avenue Habib Gourguiba, in the first militant attack in the capital since November 2015. The attack went unclaimed but the Tunisian authorities said the suicide bomber had sworn allegiance to IS. Police have arrested 12 people suspected of supporting IS, an interior ministry spokesman told AFP, without specifying where and when the arrests were made, nor the suspects' links to the perpetrator of October's attack in Tunis. The suicide bomber had contact with IS officials "inside and outside the country, and liaised with ...
2 Indian drug peddlers held in Nepal
Two Indian drug peddlers have been arrested near here, police said. The duo identified as Karan Sahni, 55, and Sabir Ali, 29, are residents of Champaran in Bihar, they said. The two, who were transporting the drugs in their car, were arrested on Thursday from Thankot in Chandragiri area, 10 km west of Kathmandu, during a security check by a special team of Nepal Police. The drugs were hidden in a bag inside the car, police said, adding that 695 ampoules of diazepam, 696 ampoules of morphine and 495 ampoules of Phenergan were seized from the duo's possession.
J-K govt gives Rs 1 lakh financial aid to Kashmir's youngest pellet victim
The Jammu and Kashmir government Friday provided financial assistance of Rs one lakh to 18-month-old girl Hiba Nisar, the youngest pellet victim in Kashmir, who received injuries in security forces' action on protesters during clashes in Shopian district. Deputy Commissioner (Shopian) Owais Ahmed handed over the amount to Hiba, a resident of Kapran area of the south Kashmir district, an official spokesperson said. He said the deputy commissioner assured Hiba's parents that the government would provide the baby girl with every possible support for her early recovery. According to the infant's mother, Marsala Jan, Hiba was playing inside her house in Shopian when clashes broke out between protestors and security forces in the wake of an encounter where six militants were killed on Sunday. Doctors at the SMHS hospital, where Hiba underwent a surgery, said she had suffered corneal perforation due to the pellets. "Like most cases, the kid will be able to see but there is no guarantee that .
Police encounter with Maoists in Jharkhand
An encounter took place between security personnel and Maoist rebels inside a jungle in Chatra district of Jharkhand in the wee hours of Friday, police said. Around 200 rounds of fire were exchanged between the two sides in Meramgada jungle under Pathalgada police station area of the Maoist affected district. Police said the CPI(Maoist) activists retreated under pressure from the security forces led by district SP Akhilesh B Beriar. The security personnel consisting of the CRPF, the Jaguar force, the Cobra force and police surrounded the jungle and launched a massive search operation to track down the red rebels. The Maoists were planning an attack to hinder the ongoing development projects in the naxal-affected areas of the district, police said.
Rs 13 lakh looted at gunpoint from bank in Punjab
Unidentified men looted nearly Rs 13 lakh from a bank branch in a village in Punjab's Hoshiarpiur district on Friday, police said.
SC junks Army personnel's plea against dilution of AFSPA
The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a plea by a group of serving Army officers and personnel against the dilution of AFSPA that gives immunity to military personnel from prosecution for actions in disturbed and insurgency-hit areas.
Focus on technology to win wars in future, says Army chief
Technological strength will be key in future wars, Army chief Gen Bipin Rawat said Friday, adding there is a need to make military officers tech-savvy. Rawat attended the Passing Out Parade of 135th course of National Defence Academy here as the reviewing officer. He addressed the cadets and later spoke to reporters. "If we have to prepare a modern army, if we have to prepare for military operations, we need to concentrate on the technology," he said. "In coming days, the wars wouldn't be won just depending on the might but we will have to imbibe technology and we need to make our officers tech-savvy," said Rawat. At the NDA, a B-Tech course has been started for the same purpose, he said. "If their basics (about science and technology) are clear, they will not have problem imbibing the technology," Gen Rawat added. The Army chief also said information and cyber warfare will need more attention in coming days. "Artificial Intelligence is emerging as a force multiplier, and
Army not yet ready for women in combat roles: Gen Rawat
The Indian Army is not yet ready to have women in combat roles, Army chief Gen Bipin Rawat said Friday. The Army chief, however, said there are several other fields where the Army is thinking of inducting women, such as information and psychological warfare. "We are not yet ready for that (women in combat roles) as facilities have to be created... Women also need to be prepared for that kind of hardships," he said. "It is not easy. Let us not compare ourselves with Western nations, which are more open," Gen Rawat told reporters on the sidelines of the Passing Out Parade of the 135th course at the National Defence Academy here. "Yes, we may be more open in our big cities, but our Army personnel are not coming from big cities only. They are coming from rural areas too, where the inter-mingling, which is expected, is still not there," he said. "They are already there in education and law, so the other field we have identified for them is information warfare, psychological ..
SC rejects plea of Army men challenging FIRs against armed forces personnel in AFSPA areas
The Supreme Court on Friday rejected the plea of over 300 Army personnel challenging the lodging of FIRs against soldiers involved in operations in Manipur and Jammu and Kashmir, where AFSPA is in force, though the Centre contended that it will have a "demoralising effect" on soldiers who are fighting terrorism. The apex court brushed aside the fervent request of the Centre which supported the plea and said the issue should be "debated and discussed" so that a mechanism is evolved "where hands of our soldiers do not shake while fighting terrorism". The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) gives special rights and immunity to security forces in carrying out various operations in "disturbed" areas. The government said that armed forces were operating in an "altogether different situation" in disturbed areas and a balance has to be struck, but the apex court said that it was for the government, and not the courts, to come out with an internal mechanism so "that if somebody loses his
Rs 13 lakh looted from bank at gunpoint in Hoshiarpur
Five armed men allegedly looted Rs 13 lakh at gunpoint from a bank here Friday, police said. The accused who came in a white car at around 1 pm, have not been identified yet, they said. The five men entered the Punjab National Bank's Bassi Daulat Khan branch and pointed guns at manager Tarinder Kaur, cashier Ritu Kumari and others present there. The accused robbed a trunk containing about Rs 13 lakh cash and a digital video recorder of the bank, they said. There were 16 people present at the bank when the incident took place. A case has been registered and the police is probing the matter, they said.
US strike in Afghanistan's Helmand killed 23 civilians: UN
A US airstrike in Afghanistan against Taliban militants earlier this week killed 23 civilians and the majority of victims were women and children, the UN said in its preliminary findings on Friday.
Strict vigil along Indo-Bangla border ahead of B'desh general polls
The Border Security Force (BSF) has strengthened the security along the India-Bangladesh frontiers ahead of the general elections in Bangladesh on December 30, officials said on Friday.
Scotland Yard considers armed foot patrols to tackle gang violence
Scotland Yard on Friday said it is considering using armed foot patrols by officers as extra support during some instances of imminent gang violence in the British capital. The Metropolitan Police stressed that such deployment is not being planned as a routine measure and would only be used in "extreme circumstances". "As part of our response to the increase in violent crime in London we are examining how our armed officers can provide extra support and augment other units, either in response to a serious assault, or to be deployed to areas where we have intelligence that serious violence is imminent," said Met Police Assistant Commissioner Sir Stephen House. He said that any deployments would be for a limited time only and done in consultation with local policing commanders, and after a community impact assessment had been carried out. The Met Police said its consultation into the extended, yet limited, use of armed police is at an early stage as part of a wider fight against ...
Saudi-led Arab coalition gives back Hadhramaut ports to Yemen's forces
The Saudi Arabia-led Arab coalition gave back the management and coastal security of Hadhramaut ports to the Yemen Coast Guard.Along with this, they also strengthened the Guard by supplying boats armed with weapons, communication devices and advanced radars, while the UAE provided patrol vehicles to the coast guards.An official ceremony was held in Mukalla and was attended by several high-profile officials including Salem Ahmed Al Khanbashi, the Deputy Prime Minister of Yemen, Lt. Colonel Abdullah Al Zuwaidi, the Joint Task Force Commander of the Arab Coalition, Matthew Toller, the Ambassador of the United States to Yemen and Mohammed Saeed Al Jaber, the Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Yemen amongst others, according to the Khaleej Times."Today, we are celebrating the readiness of the coast guard forces in Hadhramaut," Al Zuwaidi mentioned at the event while mentioning that the coast guard boats damaged by the Al Qaeda have also been restored.He further outlined that the Coalition has .
Ukraine bars Russian men aged 16-60 from entering country
Ukraine on Friday barred Russian men aged 16-60 from entering the country following the imposition of martial law amid fears in Kiev of a Moscow-backed land invasion.
1.5 million children in C. Africa need emergency aid: UN
Two-thirds of all children in Central African Republic need emergency aid, the UN said Friday, sounding an alarm about the impoverished country's worsening "neglected" crisis. Some 1.5 million children nationwide are in need of humanitarian assistance, an increase of 300,000 compared with 2016, the United Nations children's agency UNICEF said in a new report. The agency's top representative in the country, Christine Muhigana, told reporters in Geneva that the situation in CAR is "probably even worse" than during the country's sectarian conflict of 2013. That year, longtime leader Francois Bozize, a Christian, was overthrown by a predominantly Muslim rebel alliance called the Seleka. Much of the country, roughly the size of France, is now controlled by rival militia groups. "What we are trying to do under these extraordinary circumstances is to keep children alive," Muhigana said. Beyond those in need of aid, UNICEF said that one in four children are either internally displaced or have
SC dismisses pleas of Army men challenging lodging of FIR against members of armed forces
The Supreme Court Friday dismissed pleas of over 350 Army men who had challenged the registration of FIRs against members of the armed forces for carrying out operations in Manipur and Jammu and Kashmir where the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) is in force. The Centre supported the pleas before a bench of Justices Madan B Lokur and U U Lalit against the lodging of FIRs against members of the armed forces in AFSPA-enforced areas. "There has to be a mechanism where hands of our soldiers are not shaken while fighting terrorism," said Solicitor General Tushar Mehta. To this the bench asked him as to who was stopping the Centre from coming out with a mechanism. "Who has stopped you from coming out with a mechanism. These are issues for you to discuss and not for the court, " the bench said.
Weapons, explosives recovered from Maoist hideout in Jharkhand
A huge amount of explosives and weapons were recovered from a Maoist hideout in Jharkhand's Palamau district on Friday, a police official said.
Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder exchange verbal blows ahead of heavyweight bout
Former heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury and American professional boxer Deontay Wilder engaged in a heated altercation ahead of their heavyweight bout, scheduled to be held on Saturday.As Wilder started shouting at Fury, security people had to intervene to forcibly separate them."You say your people have been fighting for 200 years? My people have been fighting for 400 years," CNN quoted Wilder as saying.Fury, in response, played down his remark saying that it is a heavyweight championship match and not a battle of races or cultures."I don't think we should bring this fight into a battle of races, or a battle of cultures or all that. This is above all that. We're fighting for the most gentlemanly, prized, heavyweight championship of the world. He instigated all that. I didn't get up there and start screaming and shouting in his face," Fury said."He started with all the '400 years of pain' and all this. He must think that's going to get in my mind, 'Oh he's had 400 years of pain, .
23 civilians killed in US air strike in southern Afghanistan: UN
At least 23 civilians, including women and children, were killed by a US air strike in southern Afghanistan earlier this week, according to an UN investigation, as ordinary Afghans continue to bear the brunt of the 17-year conflict. "Initial findings indicate that the vast majority of the victims were women and children," the UN mission in Afghanistan said in a report received by AFP late Thursday, adding that at least three people were also injured in the attack. The strike occurred during a firefight between Afghan special forces working with US advisors and Taliban insurgents late Tuesday in restive Helmand province. NATO said air support was requested by security forces on the ground as the militants deployed heavy weapons and retreated into a nearby compound. Provincial authorities had earlier said several members of a single family appeared to be killed in the strike, with one official saying "at least 18 civilians were killed", which could not be confirmed. NATO has said it was