Page 426 - War Conflict
Encounter breaks out between security forces and militants in J&K's Bandipora
An encounter broke out between the security forces and militants in the forest area of Bandipora district, Jammu and Kashmir Thursday, police said. No casualties have been reported in the incident, an official said. Following information about presence of militants, security personnel launched a cordon and search operation in the forests of Sumlar area in the district, he said. The search operation turned into an encounter after militants opened fire at positions of the security forces, an official said.
Where is PM Modi's 56-inch chest, asks Surjewala on BSF jawan's mutilation
Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala on Thursday made a sharp attack at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the brutal killing of a Border Security Force (BSF) jawan Narendra Singh by Pakistani forces.Speaking to ANI, Surjewala said, "First Hemraj, and now Narendra Singh, has been tortured, tormented and murdered by Pakistan yesterday. Soldiers are the souls of our nation. Our nation's soul was tortured for nine hours yesterday. Where is Modi ji today? Does it not shock your conscience Modi ji? Where is your 56-inch chest?"The body of the BSF Head Constable, who went missing after an unprovoked firing by Pakistan in Jammu's Ramgarh sector on September 18, was found with multiple bullet injuries on his torso, even on his neck, on Wednesday.Last year, the Pakistani forces had killed two Indian soldiers and mutilated their bodies after carrying out unprovoked rocket and mortar firing on two forward posts on the Line of Control in the Krishna Ghati sector. The deceased soldiers were ...
Ex-PM Najib Razak faces new corruption charges in Malaysia
Police and Malaysia's anti-graft agency say detained former Prime Minister Najib Razak will face at least two dozen fresh charges of abuse of power and money laundering over the multimillion-dollar looting of a state investment fund. Najib will be brought to court Thursday. Police have taken custody of him after he was detained by the anti-graft agency Wednesday over the transfer of $681 million into his bank account. National deputy police chief Noor Rashid Ibrahim said 21 of the charges involve the receiving, using and transferring of illicit funds. The anti-graft agency said Najib will face charges under a section of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Act that involves abuse of power. Najib pleaded not guilty to earlier charges against him and his trial is due to start next year.
Colombia guerillas release kidnapped minor
Leftist ELN guerillas freed a teenager on Wednesday who was kidnapped two weeks before in northwestern Colombia, the country's ombudsman said. The rebels handed the girl over to a commission from the ombudsman's office, after abducting her on September 7 from her home in Orupa, in the jungle region of Choco. A National Liberation Army (ELN) rebel fighter by the name of Comandante Uriel, who heads the regional guerrillas, said in a message sent to journalists on Saturday that the teen was kidnapped because she was "an armed forces informant," and that she would be released after "routine procedures." The government believes the ELN -- Colombia's last guerrilla force with about 1,500 fighters -- is holding around 10 hostages. President Ivan Duque, who took office on August 7 promising to take a hardline against the ELN guerrillas, maintains that in order to resume peace talks the rebels must release all their hostages and end "all criminal activities." The ELN is seeking a deal similar .
Troops of Indian, US army participate in Yudh Abhyas 2018
On the fourth day of Yudh Abhyas 2018, the troops of Indian and the United States army participated in a battle obstacle course, rock and ice craft wall, room intervention and unarmed combat.A joint military exercise between the armies of both the countries commenced on September 16 at the foothills of Chaubattia in Uttarakhand and it will conclude on September 29.The 14th edition of the exercise "Yudh Abhyas", which is hosted alternately by the two countries, kicked off with a short yet impressive ceremony that saw the unfurling of the national flags of both the countries to the strains of "Jana Gana Mana" and "The Star-Spangled Banner".While the Indian contingent was represented by an Infantry Battalion of the Congo Brigade, Garud Division, Surya Command, and a Central Command, their US counterpart was represented by the 1st Infantry Battalion and the 23 Infantry Regiment, 2 Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 7 Infantry Division, US Army.General Officer Commanding, Garud Division, in his .
Palestinian teen shot dead by Israeli fire in Gaza border clashes: ministry
A Palestinian teenager was shot dead by Israeli fire in clashes near the border in southern Gaza Thursday, the health ministry in the enclave said. The ministry said Mumin Abu Ayeda, 15, was shot along the heavily-fortified border east of Rafah in southern Gaza. It said he was part of night time demonstrations which have taken place over months of protests, dubbed the Great March of Return. There was no immediate confirmation from the Israeli army, which typically highlights the often violent nature of such demonstrations and labels them riots. At least 184 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in Gaza since the 'Great March' protests began on March 30. One Israeli soldier was shot dead by a Palestinian sniper. Protests have lessened in intensity in recent months, though smaller demonstrations continue. On Tuesday two Palestinians were shot dead during violent protests next to the Erez crossing into Israel. Demonstrators are calling to be allowed to return to the homes their ..
Somali officials: Airstrike kills or hurts several of al-Shabab group
Several senior officials with the al-Shabab extremist group have been killed or wounded in an airstrike in southern Somalia, Somali intelligence officials said Thursday, while the al-Qaida-linked group and a resident said children were among the dead. The intelligence officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to talk to the media said the overnight airstrike hit a training school and nearby hospital in Sakow, a town in Middle Jubba region. They said those targeted include longtime commander Hassan Yaqub. It was not clear who carried out the strike. The US Africa Command, which has carried out more than 20 airstrikes in Somalia this year, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Neighboring Kenya also has carried out airstrikes against al-Shabab, the deadliest Islamic extremist group in sub-Saharan Africa. And over the weekend neighboring Ethiopia's state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporate reported that Ethiopia's air force killed .
Imran Khan, Abu Dhabi crown prince discuss bilateral ties
Dubai, Sep 20 (IANS/WAM) Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi and deputy supreme commander of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Armed Forces, met Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday, discussing enhancing of bilateral ties.
Clash between two communities over desecration in Ranchi, two cops injured
A clash broke out between two communities in Kumhartoli area here Wednesday over alleged desecration of place of worship, police said At least two policemen suffered minor injuries while clashing groups hurled stones at each other, a police release said. The clash broke out following some tension for the last three days over alleged desecration of a place of worship, they said. The injured policemen were sent to Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences for treatment. At least half a dozen persons were detained for questioning, the police said. The police are camping at the place.
PM Modi raises concerns about missing Indians with Ghani
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday expressed concerns about the seven missing Indians with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, as per sources.Ghani, in turn, assured the Prime Minister that he was personally looking into the matter.Seven Indian engineers were abducted in the restive northern Baghlan province of Afghanistan in May this year. The Indian engineers of KEC International, an RPG group company, were working on a project for the construction of a power sub-station in the country.Afghan media, quoting Baghlan governor Abdulhai Nemati, reported that Taliban militants were behind the abduction of Indians and they were moved to the Dand-e-Shahabuddin area of Pul-e-Khumri city.This is not the first case of abduction of Indians.Two years back an Indian worker, Judith D'Souza, was abducted in Afghanistan and was later released with the help of the Afghanistan government.
Truce with Taliban will help focus on pressing issues: Afghan Prez Ashraf Ghani
Batting for peace with the Taliban, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani Wednesday said a truce will help his government focus on pressing issues such as poverty and counter-terrorism in the country, where 40 per cent of the population lives below the poverty line. Referring to the Eid ceasefire with the Taliban announced by his government this year, the Afghan president said the "bold move" was largely successful and welcomed by an overwhelming majority of people. He said the Eid ceasefire was 98 per cent implemented. "Why is peace with Taliban important? Because, if we arrive at peace with Taliban, we can concentrate on (matters like) counter-terrorism," Ghani said at an event organised by India Foundation. With the presence of foreign terrorists and ISIS in Afghanistan, it is necessary to devise a method to separate the Taliban and others, he said. "Consequences of this will enable us to embark on the real task. 40 per cent of Afghans are below poverty (line)," he said. Asserting that ...
NIA team in Assam to grill arrested Hizbul link men
Days after the arrest of a Hizbul Mujahideen man from Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh, a team of National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrived in Assam on Wednesday to grill the seven accomplices of the Hizbul cadre, who have been arrested subsequently from the state.
Afghanistan not on the verge of collapsing: Ghani
Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani on Wednesday said that Afghanistan is not on the verge of collapse, as it has "forces, resources, and the public, wealth" not to allow a collapse.Referring to the atrocities against the Hazara community by terrorist groups in Afghanistan, Ghani asked for the constitution of an international commission of civil society to investigate the violation.Talking about people of Afghanistan, Ghani said that the government is fighting for the next five generations."We need to overcome the past to create a different future," Ghani said.He further talked about the possibility of Intra-Afghanistan peace, saying, "Most important thing we learnt from the ceasefire is that the people of Afghanistan are ready to forego the past for a better future. We are ready to embrace the future together."He further asserted that peace with the Taliban is important as it can help the country's effort for counter-terrorism. "Taliban are the part of Afghan society," he added.At the
UK Foreign Secretary in Myanmar to discuss Rohingya crisis
British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt arrived in Myanmar on Wednesday on his first official visit to the country for discussions expected to include the Rohingya refugee crisis and the jailing of two Reuters reporters.
28 families of Bru refugees return to Mizoram
At least 28 Bru families from a refugee camp in Tripura Wednesday entered Mizoram during the repatriation process which commenced from August 25, officials said. With this, the number of repatriated families has gone up to 31. Earlier, three families have returned during the first three days of the beginning of the repatriation process. The officials said these 28 families would be taken to Dinthar village near Mizoram-Bangladesh border Tlabung town in south Mizoram's Lunglei district. The repatriation process is scheduled to be completed by September 25. At a meeting held earlier this month, Ministry of Home Affairs' Joint Secretary (North East) Satyendra Garg appealed to the Bru refugees housed in relief camps in Tripura to return to Mizoram as assistances doled out to them would be withdrawn from October 1. Thousands of Brus had been lodged in the Tripura relief camps since late 1997 in the wake of a communal tension triggered by the brutal killing of Lalzawmliana, a .
Thousands protest UN job cuts in Gaza
Thousands of employees of the United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees protested in Gaza on Wednesday against forced redundancies as a result of US funding cuts, announcing a one-day strike next week. More than 5,000 people attended the march that began at the Gaza headquarters of UNRWA, including senior figures from the enclave's Islamist rulers Hamas and other political factions. The agency announced it would cut more than 250 jobs in Gaza and the West Bank and make over 500 other positions part-time, as it seeks to survive crippling financial shortfalls caused by US aid cuts. Washington has provided more than USD 350 million a year for the agency, but US President Donald Trump pulled all funding earlier this year. More than five million Palestinians are eligible for UNRWA support, while around three million access its services. The job cuts have sparked fierce protests, with UNRWA's head in Gaza accusing the agency's labour union in the enclave of "mutiny". During Wednesday's
Jharkhand Minister on dharna against arrest of Hindus over communal clashes
Jharkhand Urban Development Minister C.P. Singh on Wednesday launched an indefinite fast at Kotwali Police Station here to protest against the arrest of five persons of the majority community over communal clashes.
Two BSF personnel among three dead in highway accident in JK: police
Two Border Security Force (BSF) personnel were among three killed Wednesday when a truck carrying the jawans plunged into a gorge along the Jammu-Srinagar national highway, police said. The private truck, hired by the BSF, was part of a convoy carrying personnel to Kashmir reportedly for deployment in connection with the upcoming municipal and panchayat polls, a police officer said. The accident occurred around 2.10 pm when the driver lost control over the vehicle which rolled down into an over 150-feet-deep gorge, he said. Civilian volunteers along with police and BSF personnel immediately launched a rescue operation, the officer said. After hectic efforts, the bodies of two BSF personnel, Ajit Singh and Atma Singh of 89th battalion, were retrieved from the mangled truck. The driver, Balbir Singh of Simbal area of Jammu, was rescued in a critical condition but succumbed while being shifted to a hospital, he said.
ICC opens probe into Myanmar's treatment of Rohingyas
The International Criminal Court has opened a preliminary examination into Myanmar's alleged crimes against its Rohingya Muslim minority, including killings, sexual violence and forced deportations.
Malaysia's anti-graft agency arrests former leader Najib Razak over USD 628 mn scandal
Malaysia's anti-graft agency said it arrested former Prime Minister Najib Razak on Wednesday over the multimillion-dollar looting of a state investment fund and that he will face further charges in court. The agency said Najib was detained at its office and will be taken to court on Thursday to face the charges. Najib was earlier charged with multiple counts of criminal breach of trust, corruption and money laundering over the scandal at the 1MDB state fund. He has pleaded not guilty. Those charges involve the transfer of 42 million ringgit ($10.3 million) into his bank accounts from SRC International, a former unit of the 1MDB fund that international investigators say was looted of billions by Najib's associates. Najib set up 1MDB when he took power in 2009 for the stated purpose of promoting economic development, but the fund amassed billions in debts and is being investigated in the US and several other countries for alleged cross-border embezzlement and money laundering. After ...