Page 473 - War Conflict
Children among 39 civilians dead in Syria arms depot
An explosion at a weapons depot in a rebel-held town in northwest Syria killed at least 39 civilians including a dozen children on Sunday, a monitor said. An AFP correspondent at the site in Sarmada in Idlib province near the Turkish border said the explosion of unknown origin caused two buildings to collapse. Rescue workers used bulldozers to remove the rubble and extract trapped people from the flattened buildings, the correspondent said. Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group, said a previous death toll of 12 increased after more bodies were retrieved from the rubble. "The explosion occurred in a weapons depot in a residential building in Sarmada," said the head of the Britain-based monitor, which relies on a network of sources inside Syria. But the cause of the blast was "not yet clear", Abdel Rahman added. He said most of those killed were family members of fighters from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an alliance led by jihadists from ...
Children among 39 civilians killed in Syria arms depot blast: monitor
An explosion at a weapons depot in a rebel-held town in northwest Syria killed at least 39 civilians including a dozen children today, a monitor said. An AFP correspondent at the site in Sarmada in Idlib province near the Turkish border said the explosion of unknown origin caused two buildings to collapse. Rescue workers used a bulldozer to remove rubble and extract trapped people, the correspondent said. Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor, said a previous toll of 12 civilians killed increased after more bodies were retrieved from the rubble. "The explosion occurred in a weapons depot in a residential building in Sarmada," said the head of the Britain-based monitor, which relies on a network of sources inside Syria. But the cause of the blast was "not yet clear", Abdel Rahman added. He said most of those killed were family members of fighters from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an alliance led by jihadists from Syria's former Al-Qaeda affiliate, who had .
Eight Chinese detained in Pakistan for possessing firearms
Eight Chinese nationals have been detained in Pakistan for carrying weapons while entering a power plant in Punjab province, police said today. The police arrested the Chinese nationals, most of them engineers, yesterday at the Qadirabad power plant in Sahiwal district, some 225 kms from Lahore. District Police Officer Ghulam Mubashir Maken told PTI that the eight Chinese nationals have been taken into custody after weapons were found from their luggage. He did not explain why they were carrying the firearms. "The reason will be known after interrogating them. They have been shifted to an unidentified place," he said. A police source said that the Chinese were carrying the weapons for "self-defence". "In the wake of yesterday's attack on a passenger coach in Balochistan in which three Chinese nationals were injured, there has been a sense of insecurity among the Chinese workers," the source said. The Chinese nationals were detained by the army personnel deployed at the first check ...
Bridge blown up in '71 war restored in Punjab
A strategically important bridge in Punjab's Ferozepur district was on Sunday dedicated to the nation by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman -- 47 years after the old one was blown off in the 1971 India-Pakistan war.
18 killed in Syria arms depot blast
At least 18 people were killed on Sunday when an explosion rocked the rebel-held town of Sarmada in northern Syria near the Turkish border, a monitoring group reported.
Soldier killed in explosion in J&K
A soldier was killed on Sunday in an explosion near the Line of Control (LoC) in Uri Sector in Jammu and Kashmir, police said.
'India dreamt of secure, prosperous future for Sri Lanka'
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that India always dreamt of a secure, prosperous and peaceful future for Sri Lanka, where the desire of all for growth and development were met.Addressing the beneficiaries of an Indian housing project in Sri Lanka through a video message, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "So many of you are taking possession of the newly built independent houses in the plantation areas under the innovative Indian Housing Project. We are happy that India will be part of your journey towards land ownership. You have actively participated in building these houses. These are symbols of your sweat and toil. That is the success and uniqueness of the participatory owner-driven approach of the Indian Housing Project."Highlighting the importance of the Indian Housing Project in Sri Lanka, the Prime Minister said the establishments were embodiments of the dreams of people in both Sri Lanka and India and not mere physical structures."We have out of our total ...
India should encourage Bhutan for increase in deployment of soldiers around North Doklam: Par panel
India should encourage Bhutan to ensure increase in the deployment of soldiers around Northern Doklam in the Sikkim sector to check activities of Chinese military in the sensitive region, a parliamentary panel has suggested in its draft report. The Parliamentary Panel on External Affairs, headed by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, felt that increasing the number of soldiers in North Doklam was important for safeguarding India's strategic interests in the region. The draft report, circulated among the panel's members on August 6, did not clarify whether the committee was favouring increasing the deployment of Indian troops in the region. Troops of India and China were locked in a 73-day standoff in Doklam in the Sikkim sector from June 16 last year after the Indian side stopped construction of a road in the disputed tri-junction by the Chinese army. Bhutan and China have a dispute over Doklam and both the countries have been holding talks to resolve the issue. The parliamentary panel also ..
India-built houses for plantation workers mark a new high in ties with Sri Lanka: Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the handing over of houses built by India in Sri Lanka for Indian-origin people marked a new high in relationship between the two neighbours. Attending the ceremony via video link, the prime minister said India has kept its promise made to the people of Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was present at the ceremony at Dunsinane estate, Nuwara Eliya, along with ministers and Indian officials. India today handed over the first lot of houses built for Indian-origin people in Sri Lanka's tea plantation areas. India had committed 60,000 houses, out of which 47,000 are ready, under the 'innovative Indian housing project', Modi said. "Your roots are in India, they have grown in Sri Lanka. You have not just connected two countries, but also strengthened the hands of two great nations.... We are crafting a new future, a new high in India- Sri Lanka friendship," Modi told the gathering. He said that at 350 million USD, it is one of the ...
India hands over 1st lot of newly-built houses to Indian-origin people in Sri Lanka
India today handed over the first lot of houses built under a USD 350 million project for Indian-origin people, mostly Tamils, in Sri Lanka's tea plantation areas. Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined the special ceremony through video conferencing at Dunsinane Estate in Nuwara Eliya city to hand over the houses constructed under the Indian Housing Project, the largest one by India in any country. He said that "we have always dreamt of a peaceful, secure and prosperous future for Sri Lanka where aspirations of all for growth and development are met". Some 404 houses were handed over to the Indian-origin people, mostly Tamils. The new houses along with land ownerships were handed over by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, High Commissioner of India Taranjit Singh Sandhu, Ministers Palani Digambaram, Navin Dissanayake and Gayantha Karunathilake, India's High Commission here said. "More than 1,500 people attended the function despite inclement weather and rain," the Indian mission ...
One dead, 4 injured in J&K explosion
One person was killed and four were injured on Sunday in an explosion at a meadow in Jammu and Kashmir's Badgam district, police said.
Afghan forces battle Taliban in key city for third day
An Afghan official says security forces are battling the Taliban for the third straight day after the insurgents' massive attack into the key city of Ghazni. The Taliban pushed into the city, the capital of Ghazni province, from different directions on Friday and destroyed a telecommunication tower, cutting off landline and cell phone communications. Gen. Sharif Yaftali, army chief of staff, says all strategic and government offices in Ghazni are still under government control. He said on Sunday that fighting is still underway as the Taliban are hiding in residential areas and in civilian homes. Yafteli pledged Ghazni would be cleared in a couple of days and the highway between Kabul and the city reopened. Taliban claims of capturing parts of Ghazni, taking Afghan forces captive, couldn't be independently verified.
India hands over to people 1st lot of houses built in Sri Lanka
India today handed over the first lot of houses built for Indian-origin people in Sri Lanka's tea plantation areas. Prime Minister Narendra Modi joined a special ceremony through video conference at Dunsinane Estate, Nuwara Eliya to hand over the houses built under the Indian Housing Project in Plantation Areas. It is the largest Indian assistance project in any country with a grant of over USD 350 million. Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe thanked his Indian counterpart for the assistance. "I thank the Prime Minister Modi. He has kept the promise he made last year," Wickremesinghe said. Modi said that India continues to keep Sri Lanka in a special place in its neighbourhood first policy. Some 404 houses were handed over at the central district of Nuwara Eliya. Out of the 60,000 houses, close to 47,000 have been completed so far, Modi said, adding that the USD 350 million grant to build the houses was one of the largest grants by India in any country. "Sri Lanka has been .
4 security force members, 3 'terrorists' killed in Jordan raid
Four members of the Jordanian security forces and three "terrorists" have been killed during a raid on a militant hideout after an officer died in a bomb blast near the capital, the government said today. Five suspects were also arrested during yesterday's raid in connection with the home-made bomb that exploded under a patrol car at a music festival. A joint unit of special forces, police and army troops raided a house in the town of Salt northwest of Amman in search of a suspected "terrorist cell", government spokeswoman Jumana Ghneimat said. She said the militants were sought in connection with Friday night's bombing that killed a police sergeant and wounded six others in the town of Al-Fuhais west of Amman. "The suspects refused to surrender and opened heavy fire toward a joint security force," Ghneimat said yesterday. They also "blew up the building in which they were hiding, and which they had booby-trapped earlier", she added. Three members of the security forces were killed in
J-K: 3 injured in Budgam blast
Three people were injured in an explosion at Tosa Maidan in Budgam district on Sunday.Senior Superintendent of Police, Budgam, Tijender Singh said, "A mysterious blast occurred in Budgam's Tosa Maidan. Initially, the three injured were taken to Sub District Hospital in Khag. Later, two of them were referred to JVC hospital, Srinagar. One of the injured is critical. The police have taken cognizance".The last incident in Budgam was on July 7 when one security personnel was injured after terrorists hurled a grenade at a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) party in Hyderpora area.
Taliban travel from Afghanistan to Uzbekistan for talks
In a rare diplomatic foray and the strongest sign yet of the Taliban's increasing political presence in the region, the head of the militant group's political office led a delegation to Uzbekistan to meet senior Foreign Ministry officials, Uzbek and Taliban officials said. Taliban political chief Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai represented the insurgents in the four-day talks that ended Friday and included meetings with Uzbekistan's Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov as well as its special representative to Afghanistan Ismatilla Irgashev. The meetings follow an offer made by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in March to broker peace in Afghanistan. Suhail Shaheen, spokesman for the Taliban's political office in Qatar, said in a statement to The Associated Press on Saturday that discussions covered everything from international troop withdrawal to peace prospects to possible Uzbek-funded development projects that could include railway lines and electricity. Shaheen said Uzbek officials .
Egypt: Security forces kill 12 Islamic militants in Sinai
Security forces in Egypt have killed at least 12 Islamic militants in a shootout in northern Sinai Peninsula, the country's official news agency said today. In its report, the Middle East News Agency (MENA) said the fighting erupted when forces raided a suspected militant hideout in the city of al-Arish. It said troops also dismantled two explosive devices and seized weapons during the raid. MENA didn't reveal when the raid took place or whether any members of the security forces were killed or wounded. Egypt heavily restricts media access to the northern part of the Sinai Peninsula. Egypt has battled militants for years but the Sinai-based insurgency gained strength after the 2013 overthrow of the country's elected but divisive Islamist president, Mohammed Morsi. In February, Egypt launched a massive operation against militants in Sinai and elsewhere in the country.
Afghanistan: Over 100 dead in Taliban attacks in Ghazni
More than 100 people were killed and 133 injured as hundreds of Taliban militants launched an attack in Afghanistan's city of Ghazni since August 10. The clashes are still going on.Of the deceased, at least 90 were either military or law enforcement personnel, while civilians accounted for 13 of the deaths, reported Sputnik.The first reports of the attacks surfaced on Friday, with local media reporting heavy losses for the Taliban, having lost over 100 militants.Tolo News reports that Afghanistan's Army Chief of Staff Mohammad Sharif Yaftali is slated to arrive in the province later today to take charge of the situation.203 Tander Military Corps personnel have confirmed that the clashes were still ongoing, with the Taliban setting the Independent Election Commission offices ablaze, while also blocking the Kabul-Kandahar Highway.Foreign troops have extended assistance along with air support in the fight against the militants.
5 injured in J&K explosion
Five youths were injured on Sunday in an explosion at a meadow in Jammu and Kashmir's Badgam district, police said.
Blast in northern Syria kills at least 18
Syrian opposition activists said an explosion in the country's north has killed at least 18 people and wounded many others. The cause of the blast wasn't immediately known. The opposition-run Syrian Civil Defence, also known as White Helmets, said the blast occurred today in the village of Sarmada near the Turkish border and "killed and wounded dozens". Due to the explosion, a five-story building collapsed, burying many of the victims. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights put the death toll at 18. It's unclear if the casualties are all civilians. The Observatory said an arms depot in the basement of a building had detonated. The depot was run by an arms dealer close to the al-Qaida-linked Levant Liberation Committee, it added. Meanwhile, Syrian government forces are fighting rebels in Idlib province.