Page 490 - War Conflict

Indian among three killed in Kabul

An Indian national and two others were killed here on Thursday after they were kidnapped by gunmen.

Six loot accused flee from police lock-up in MP

Six men accused of loot managed to escape from the police custody by bending the iron bars of the lock-up at Jawar police station in the district today, a senior official said. The incident took place between 2 am and 5 am, the official said. "The six accused kept in the lock-up on the charge of looting managed to bend the iron rods of the cell's door to escape," Sehore district Superintendent of Police (SP) Rajesh Singh Chandel said. They were identified as Kalu Singh (23), Jatar Singh (25), Pankaj Singh (23), Babloo (27), Mohabbat Singh (23) and Kalam (25), police said adding that a search has been launched to nab them. Police have released their photos on the social media and urged people to share information about their whereabouts, Chandel said. All of them were arrested for allegedly looting two shops in Jawar town, the SP said.

Hemingway story from 1956 published for first time Hemingway story

The themes and trappings are familiar for an Ernest Hemingway narrative: Paris, wartime, talk of books and wine and the scars of battle. But the story itself has been little known beyond the scholarly community for decades: "A Room on the Garden Side," written in 1956, is being published for the first time. The brief, World War II-era fiction appears this week in the summer edition of The Strand Magazine, a literary quarterly which has released obscure works by Raymond Chandler, John Steinbeck and others. "Hemingway's deep love for his favorite city as it is just emerging from Nazi occupation is on full display, as are the hallmarks of his prose," Strand Managing Editor Andrew F Gulli wrote in an editorial note. Kirk Curnutt, a board member of The Hemingway Society, contributed an afterword for the Strand, saying that "the story contains all the trademark elements readers love in Hemingway." "Steeped in talk of Marcel Proust, Victor Hugo, and Alexandre Dumas, and featuring a long ...

'Our boys are coming home;' Pence welcomes Korean War dead

In an emotional and solemn ceremony, the remains of dozens of presumed casualties from the Korean War were escorted by military honour guards onto US soil, 65 years after an armistice ended the conflict and weeks after President Donald Trump received a commitment from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for their return. The US military believes the bones are those of US servicemen and potentially servicemen from other United Nations member countries who fought alongside the US on behalf of South Korea during the war. What is expected to be an exhaustive analysis and identification process will soon begin. "Some have called the Korean War the 'forgotten war.' But today, we prove these heroes were never forgotten," Vice President Mike Pence said at a ceremony welcoming the remains, which were flown from South Korea earlier in the day. "Today, our boys are coming home." Each container was accompanied by one Marine, one sailor, one soldier and one airman. They set them gently on risers lined

Ahead of two-plus-two talk, India, US hold military cooperation meet today

A two-day Indo-US Military Cooperation Meeting began today as a prelude to 2 plus 2 Dialogue between the two countries scheduled next month. The meeting was co-chaired by Lt Gen Satish Dua, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC) and Lt Gen Bryan Fenton, Deputy Commander, Indo-Pacific Command. "The 2-day 17th Indo-US Military Cooperation Meeting co-chaired by Lt Gen Satish Dua, CISC & Lt Gen Bryan Fenton, Dy Cdr, Indo Pacific Comd has begun today as a prelude to #2+2 Dialogue between the two countries scheduled next month," @HQ_IDS_India, the official handle of the Integrated Defence Staff, tweeted. External Minister Sushma Swaraj and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman would meet their US counterparts in 2 plus 2 meeting next month, a first such initiative between the two countries that will focus on strengthening defence and strategic ties. India and the US were also working to have a joint drill of all the three armed forces of the ...

603 pilgrims leave for Amarnath Yatra

A batch of 603 Amarnath pilgrims left Jammu on Thursday for the cave shrine in the Kashmir Valley, police said.

US Korean War dead heading home at last

Sixty-five years after the Korean War ended, the remains of dozens of American soldiers killed during the brutal conflict are finally coming home. Yesterday's repatriation marks an important step after US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un held a summit, during which Kim agreed to send home the war dead. Trump, who has faced criticism over the pace of progress since the June meeting, praised Kim for "keeping his word," and Vice President Mike Pence is set to meet families when the remains arrive back in the US at a ceremony in Hawaii. Caskets carrying the 55 sets of remains were draped in the blue-and-white flag of the United Nations. Many nations fought in the Korean War, but most of the cases are thought to contain US troops. More than 35,000 Americans were killed on the Korean peninsula during the 1950-1953 war, with 7,700 of these US troops still listed as missing in action -- most of them in North Korea. It could take scientists and historians years to ...

Attacks on Yemen's civilian facilities in breach of laws: UN

The ongoing violence and attacks on civilian infrastructure in Hudaydah of Yemen threaten hundreds of thousands of children and their families, said the head of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in a statement released on Wednesday.

Three dead in Zimbabwe election protests: police

Three people were killed in protests in Zimbabwe today after the army opened fire in central Harare during demonstrations over alleged fraud in the country's elections. "The Zimbabwe Republic Police would like to confirm the unfortunate deaths of three people during the riots and melee which occurred in Harare Central business district," police spokeswoman Charity Charamba told state television.

Cash van robbery: CCTV footage being gathered, says police

Police today said that CCTV footage was being gathered from cameras in the area where a cash van was looted and its gunner was killed in a sensational daylight robbery here two days ago. Additional Superintendent of Police (Lucknow East) Sarvesh Mishra said investigations were underway in the case and the suspect was yet to be identified. "His photo in CCTV footage is blurred. Footage from other cameras in the area is being gathered. Once the suspect is identified, we will nab him. Sixteen teams have been deployed in the entire district. We are also taking help of social media. Even police constables have been informed," he said. A police spokesperson said, "The police is also searching for the youngster who made a video of Monday's loot to get a significant lead in the case." Yesterday, Senior Superintendent of Police Kalanidhi Naithani said, "The escape route has been found through CCTV footage, and around 50 suspects have been shortlisted." "The photograph of a suspicious person ...

Chhattisgarh: Over 200 Maoists killed, 137 security personnel dead in 518 encounter conducted in 2 yrs

The Chhattisgarh Police on Wednesday said that Maoists have released a pamphlet claiming that they have lost 247 of their cadres in encounters with security forces over the last two years.However, in a press conference Special Director General (Anti-Naxal Operations) DM Awasthi said that as per police records the security forces have recovered bodies of 208 Naxals in more than 500 encounters between August 2016 and July 2018.Awasthi said the Naxals have given out the figures in a "press release"."According to a pamphlet released by the south sub-zonal bureau of Maoists, total 247 Maoist were killed between August 2016 and July 2018, which is a record. Maoist issued this pamphlet during a remembrance of their 'Martyrs' week from July 28 to August 3. However, as per police records total 208 Naxals bodies were recovered in more than 500 encounters," Awasthi said.He asserted that from January 2016 until now, the security forces have conducted 518 encounters against the Maoists and ...

CRPF jawan injured in IED blast in Chhattisgarh

A CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) jawanwas todayinjuredin the blast of an improvised explosive device (IED) triggered by Naxals in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district, police said. The incident took place late this evening in a forest under the limits of Basaguda police station when a team of CoBRA battalion -- an elite unit of the CRPF -- was out on a 'search-cum-area domination' operation, a local police official told PTI. The team had set out from Sarkeguda. The IED went off when it was cordoning off a jungle in the area, causing a minor injury to constable Amit Dagar, he said. Anti-Naxal operation was still underway in the area, the police official added.

UN agency warns of another possible Yemen cholera outbreak

The UN children's agency warned today of the potential for another cholera outbreak in war-torn Yemen after airstrikes hit water facilities and other civilian infrastructure in the port city of Hodeida. UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore said in a statement the airstrikes earlier this week damaged a sanitation facility and a station that supplies most of the city's water. Impoverished Yemen has been devastated by a stalemated three-year civil war that has left around two-thirds of Yemen's population of 27 million relying on aid, and over 8 million at risk of starving. "Two days ago, we received reports that a UNICEF-supported warehouse containing humanitarian provisions, including hygiene and water-related supplies, was hit by two airstrikes," Fore said. She said a UNICEF-supported sanitation center in the district of Zabid in Hodeida came under attack on July 28, damaging the facility's fuel tank. A day earlier, she said, the water station in the district of al-Mina, which ...

India welcomes US decision to designate 3 Pakistanis as global terrorists

India today welcomed the US's announcement to name three Pakistan-based LeT terrorists as 'specially designated global terrorists' and said the move vindicates its stand that terror groups continue to operate from the neighbouring country with "impunity". Spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Raveesh Kumar said the latest designations also call into question Pakistan's sincerity in taking effective action against such terrorist elements. "India welcomes the announcements made yesterday by the US Departments of State and Treasury in which three Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT) terrorists and terror financiers have been named as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGT)," Kumar said. He said the US announcement vindicates India's consistent stand that internationally designated terrorist groups and individuals, including LeT and its front, Falah-e-Insaniyat Foundation (FIF), continue to "operate from and raise financial resources with impunity in ...

Senior Maha minister says simultaneous polls desirable

A senior BJP minister in Maharashtra today said that simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections would be preferable, as it would save on costs. Assembly elections are due in Maharashtra next year. Speaking to reporters, state Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar said the government spent Rs 18 crore on Lok Sabha by-elections to Palghar and Bhandara-Gondia in May. At this rate, the government may end up spending Rs 864 crore for conducting elections to 48 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state (during general elections), he said. "Therefore, if Lok Sabha and Assembly elections are held simultaneously, it will save tax payers' money and the government can go ahead with development works," Mungantiwar said. "The model code of conduct becomes a major hurdle which brings to halt all development works. In last four years, the code of conduct was imposed for 351 days, which meant that almost a full year was wasted," the minister said. The state government recently set up a ...

Gas balloons burst in CRPF programme, 27 injured

At least 27 persons including 14 children were injured when gas balloons burst inside a CRPF camp here in Burdwan West district during a programme, an official of the paramilitary force said. The incident occurred shortly after 4 pm inside the camp at Amarabati area of the city, CRPF Director General Vinay K Singh said. He said 27 people including 14 children were injured and they were taken to a private hospital. The condition of three was stated to be serious, the Singh said.

Nepal's Armed Police Force to establish units in all 77 districts

Nepal's paramilitary force, the Armed Police Force, has decided to expand its presence in the country's all 77 districts to give itself a federal set-up, a senior official has said. The Armed Police Force (APF) is a paramilitary land warfare force which was formed to fight insurgents during the decade-long Maoist insurgency in Nepal. It functions as a semi-military wing and has presence in 45 districts of the Himalayan nation's seven provinces. Apart from counter-insurgency operations, it is also plays role in controlling armed conflict, terrorist, riot and separatist activities; assisting search, rescue and relief operation during disasters; providing border security; and protecting vital public installations and infrastructures. APF spokesperson DIG Babu Ram Pandey said, a decision to this effect was made to further strengthen peace and security in the country and to perform its role mandated by the existing law in a more effective manner. The gulmas (companies) and posts to be ...

IS fighters surrender in Afghanistan's north, officials say

More than 150 Islamic State fighters surrendered in Afghanistan today, Afghan officials said, a move which they and the Taliban hailed as the end of the extremist group in the north of the country. NATO urged caution, saying it was premature to write the group off in the region. The surrender came after weeks of intense fighting between IS and the Taliban in Jowzjan province in the north, and continuing pressure from Afghan and US forces. It also came as the Afghan army took over security in the eastern city of Jalalabad, capital of Nangarhar province which is an IS stronghold, after a wave of attacks mostly claimed by the group. In Jowzjan, Afghan officials described the surrender as a turning point. "Their fighters have surrendered in the past, but this time it is more important because the Daesh leader and deputy surrendered with more than 150 fighters all at once," Mohammad Hanif Rezaee, spokesman for the army's 209 Corps in the north, told AFP, using an Arabic acronym for IS. ...

Naxal couple surrenders before police in C'garh

A naxal couple, carrying cash rewards on their heads, surrendered before Chhattisgarh's Special Intelligence Branch (SIB) here today, an official said. The cadres, identified as Ravi alias Sanna (30) and his wife Madvi Budhri alias Reena (28), who hailed from Sukma district, turned themselves in before the SIB here, state Special Director General (anti-naxal operation) D M Awasthi said in a press conference here. The surrendered couple was part of the Maoist team that had abducted in 2012 the then Sukma Collector and IAS officer Alex Paul Menon, he said. Besides, they were also involved in various crimes, including attack on police team, loot of weapons after killing police personnel, murder of villagers by branding them as police informers and planting bombs, he said adding that they were carrying a reward of Rs 5 lakh each on their heads. Talking to reporters, Ravi said he and his wife were disappointed with the violence committed by the naxals and they no more wanted

India-China border personnel meet on PLA foundation day

A special border personnel meeting between India and China was held at Natu La in Sikkim today to celebrate the 91st anniversary of foundation of the Peoples' Liberation Army (PLA), the armed forces of China. A Defence spokesperson here said a delegation of the Indian Army comprising officers and soldiers took part in the celebration on invitation from the PLA at Natu La (pass) bordering China. The PLA troops interacted with the visiting Indian delegation and held a cultural programme to celebrate the occasion. The Indian Army personnel also reciprocated with traditional cultural presentations, the spokesperson said.