Page 363 - War Conflict
France says no homage to Nazi collaborator Petain after outcry
President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday there would be no official homage to Nazi collaborator Philippe Petain as part of World War I ceremonies this week, a day after sparking outrage by saying his inclusion would be "legitimate." "It was never a question of celebrating him individually," Macron said in Maubeuge as he toured WWI sites in northern France this week ahead of the 100th anniversary of the armistice on Sunday. Petain was hailed as a national hero after WWI for leading French forces to victory, but during World War II he became head of the French government which collaborated with occupying German forces and helped deport thousands of Jews to death camps. Macron had indicated Wednesday that Petain would be among the eight army chiefs honoured at the Invalides military museum on Saturday, saying he had earned the nation's gratitude. "He was a great soldier, it's a fact," he said, though he stressed that Petain had made "disastrous choices" during World War II. His comments ..
Egypt convicts 65 on terror charges, allegiance to IS
Prosecutors say an Egyptian court has convicted 65 suspected militants of setting up a terrorist group and declaring allegiance to the extremist Islamic State group, sentencing 18 of them to life in prison. Thursday's verdict by a Cairo criminal court also sentenced 41 people to 15 years in prison and six more to five years. Two defendants were acquitted. Of the 67 defendants, only 43 are in custody, while the rest, who include two women, are fugitives. The prosecutors said the group set up cells in six provinces and members received training on firearms and explosives. Egypt's security forces have for years been battling militants in the turbulent northern Sinai Peninsula. The militants' insurgency, led by a local affiliate of IS, have targeted police, army soldiers and Egypt's Christian minority.
Constablecommits suicide in Telangana
: A 32-year-old special police constable allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself with his service gun, police said Thursday. According to Deputy Superintendent of Police B Anjaneyulu, P Srinivas fired his self-loading rifle Wednesday night in Gangadhram village in Khammam district. Srinivas belonged to 15th battalion of the special police. "We are investigating into the case and yet to ascertain the reason for the extreme act, the police official said. The police official said they were verifying if the deceased had any family problem.
Syria army frees Druze hostages from IS: state media
Syrian state media said Thursday the army has freed all remaining Druze women and children abducted in July from the southern province of Sweida by the Islamic State group. The army "clashed directly with the IS terrorist organisation, which had abducted women and children from the Sweida province", state news agency SANA said. Government troops "were able to liberate all the 19 hostages... and kill the terrorist kidnappers", it added. State television broadcast images of veiled women, boys and at least one girl surrounded by men in military uniforms near a white pick-up truck in a desert landscape. It said the images were broadcast from the desert near the ancient city of Palmyra in the centre of the country. IS jihadists abducted around 30 people -- mostly women and children -- from Sweida in late July during the deadliest attack on Syria's Druze community of the seven-year civil war. Nour Radwan, a journalist based in Sweida, confirmed the liberation but said the women and children
Tri-services vice chiefs' financial powers enhanced
The government has enhanced the financial powers of vice chiefs of the three services by five times and these officials would now be able to clear projects worth up to Rs 500 crore, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced on Thursday.
Pak soldier killed in Indian firing across LoC: Army
A Pakistani soldier was killed in "unprovoked firing" by Indian troops along the Line of Control (LoC), the army said on Thursday. Sepoy Zaheer Ahmed was killed in Thub Sector due to "unprovoked firing by Indian troops," army spokesman Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor said in a statement. Pakistan troops "retaliated effectively and engaged enemy's posts involved in unprovoked firing," he added. The fallen soldier belongs to Sultanpur area of Bhimber district in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Sri Lanka's new government vows to attract more tourists, FDI
Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Sarath Amunugama said on Thursday that the new government would launch new projects to attract tourists and more foreign direct investments (FDI) to strengthen the country's economy.
Heroin worth Rs 250 crore seized in Jammu
Heroin worth Rs 250 crore was on Thursday seized by the Narcotics Control Bureau in Jammu, police sources said.
Steps taken for bettering Army, police relationship: Khandu
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Thursday said that steps are being taken to improve the relation between the Indian Army, local administration and the state police. Khandu's comments came in the backdrop of an incident last week when a few soldiers had allegedly vandalised the Bomdila police station and assaulted police personnel and civilians. "A monthly sitting will be held between the Army and the state police for maintaining harmonious relation and to resolve issues, he said while attending the 46th Raising Day of Arunachal Pradesh Police here at Indira Gandhi Park along with Home Minister Kumar Waii, Speaker TN Thongdok and other officials. The chief minister directed the state police head to ensure that all necessary steps are taken so that relations with the armed forces can be maintained. "I am happy to know that the state has been adjudged as the best performing state when it came to securing law and order as per the survey by the Indian ...
11 'gangsters' arrested in Sonipat after exchange of fire
The Haryana police arrested 11 alleged gangsters after a brief exchange of fire in Bahalgarh area near here and recovered ten illegal weapons and Rs 10.23 lakh cash from them, an official said Thursday. The police official also seized 82 live cartridges from them, the official said, adding the police had earlier announced a reward of Rs 50,000 each for the arrest of five of them. All the eleven arrested persons together faced about three dozen cases of murder, attempt to murder, loot and kidnapping for ransom, the police said. They said the nabbed "criminal" were identified as as Krishan alias Gatha, Pawan alias Pona, Nitu alias Sita, Dinesh alias Pahalwan, Mahipal alias Malha, Ravinder alias Bori, Amit alias Mota, Pramod alias Pammi, Sunil Punia, Ravinder alias Golu and Pawan. The police had raided the gangsters' hideout on a tip off and ordered them to surrender, but they opened fire on the police team, in which a policeman was injured. The police too fired back injuring two of the .
J-K: Day curfew lifted in Kishtwar, night curfew continues; Vyas meets families of deceased
Day curfew has been lifted in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district following improvement in situation, though night curfew will remain in force as a precautionary measure, authorities said Thursday. Curfew was imposed in the district last Thursday following the killing of BJP state secretary Anil Parihar, 52, and his brother Ajeet Parihar, 55, by suspected militants. "We have lifted the day curfew in Kishtwar, but the night curfew continues to remain imposed in the town as a precautionary measure," Deputy Commissioner Angrez Singh Rana told PTI. He has the situation has improved and there was no report of any untoward incident in the district. The authorities had on Wednesday lifted the day curfew to allow people to buy essential commodities and celebrate Diwali. Advisor to Governor B B Vyas Thursday visited the families of Anil Parihar and Ajeet Parihar. While interacting with the bereaved families, Vyas expressed deep sympathies and condolences to them on behalf of Governor Satya ..
Afghan officials: Taliban attacks kill 13 policemen
Afghan officials say the latest Taliban attacks in the country's central and eastern region have left 13 policemen dead. Council member Ghulam Hussain Changiz in eastern Ghazni province says the insurgents attacked a police outpost early on Thursday morning in Khugyani district, killing eight policemen, including a district commander. The attack set of a firefight that lasted for hours until the government sent reinforcements and drove Taliban from the compound. He says the Taliban still managed to confiscate weapons and ammunition. The Taliban also attacked a police outpost in central Wardak province on Thursday morning, killing five policemen. Police spokesman Hekmat Durrani says three policemen were wounded. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attacks. Near-daily Taliban attacks on Afghan security forces have been relentless in recent months.
CISF trooper among four killed in Maoist attack
A CISF trooper and three civilians were killed when Maoists blew up a vehicle on Thursday in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district, four days before the first phase of Assembly polls in the state, police said.
Clashes in J&K during searches
Security forces fired tear gas after being stoned by bands of youths who took to the streets during a cordon and search operation in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district, police said.
Ornaments of Kali idols stolen in Birbhum: villagers protest
The ornaments of two Kali idols of a temple were stolen at Chinpai village of Birbhum district triggering furore among locals who blocked road, the police said. The idols were decorated with gold and silver ornaments on the occasion of Kali puja Tuesday. Those were found missing by the priest this morning, they said. Angry over the theft, hundreds of villagers, including women, sat on the busy national highway. Initially, police tried to disperse the villagers, but failed. Once the officer-in-charge of the local police station reached the spot, he was chased by them. After about two hours, Additional Superintendent of Police Subimal Pal arrived and the blockade was lifted. Superintendent of Police Kunal Agarwal said that the situation was under control. Senior police officers were camping in the spot.
Chhattisgarh: 4 dead in Naxal attack
At least four people, including three civilians, were killed after Naxals triggered a blast on a bus near Bacheli in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada on Thursday.The njured personnel of the Central Industrial Security Force have been shifted to a hospital. More details awaited.The attack has come just days ahead of the first phase of voting for the state assembly elections, in which 18 constituencies, mainly in the Naxal-affected areas, will go to polls.Just eight days ago, two Chhattisgarh police personnel and a Doordarshan cameraman were killed in a Naxal attack in Aranpur village of Dantewada district.
Army's northern commander celebrates Diwali with troops on LoC
The Army's northern command chief Lt. Gen Ranbir Singh celebrated Diwali with troops deployed along the Line of Control (LoC) and lauded their unwavering dedication to duty, selfless devotion and high standard of professionalism. Lt. Gen Singh, accompanied by White Knight Corps Commander Lt. Gen Paramjit Singh, visited forward posts in Poonch sector in Jammu and Kashmir to convey Diwali greetings to the troops on Wednesday, a defence spokesman said. Amid high alert, Army jawans and BSF personnel deployed along the LoC and the International Border (IB) lit up the borderline on Diwali. The Army commander distributed sweets among Army and Border Security Force (BSF) troops and complimented them for their unwavering dedication to duty, selfless devotion and high standard of professionalism. The northern command chief appreciated the high morale of the troops who are away from their near and dear ones. He also complimented soldiers for measures and standard operating procedures instituted .
Hideout unearthed in Kashmir's Shopian district
Security forces Thursday unearthed a militant hideout in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir and recovered material used in making improvised explosive devices (IEDs), police said. A joint team of police and Army unearthed the hideout at Ramnagri in Shopian district following a specific tip off, a police official said. He said incriminating material including explosives and other material used in making IEDs was recovered from the hideout. The official said police have registered a case and started investigations.
16 Talibans killed in Afghanistan
Afghan forces killed 16 Taliban militants and injured 19 others while evicting them from several villages in Dand-e-Ghori area in Baghlan province, police said Thursday.
2 Israelis injured in West Bank shooting attack
Two Israelis suffered mild injuries in a Palestinian shooting attack on a bus near a settlement in West Bank on Wednesday evening.The incident occurred near Focus Crossing, next to Beit El settlement, located north of Ramallah city, Xinhua reported.In a statement, a military spokesperson said that a live fire was opened at a moving bus. "Two civilians were struck by fragments and lightly injured before being evacuated for medical treatment," the statement read.Among the two injured, one was a bus driver in his 30s and the other was a passenger aged 35 years.The spokesperson added that the shooters fled after the attack and the Israeli forces have launched a search operation in the area.Earlier on Tuesday, a Palestinian woman was hurt in a shooting incident after she had attempted to stab the Israeli border police officers with scissors near a petrol station in the northeast of Jerusalem.On Monday, a Palestinian man sustained injuries when he was shot by Israeli forces in a similar ...