Page 492 - War Conflict
Militants attack refugee department in Afghanistan, 18 killed
A militant attack on a provincial headquarters of the department of refugees and migrants on Tuesday left at least 18 people dead and 15 others injured, officials told the media.
UN chief to visit Japan to meet PM, attend Nagasaki ceremony
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is heading to Japan next week to meet Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and attend the ceremony marking the 73rd anniversary of the US atomic bombing of Nagasaki. UN spokeswoman Eri Kaneko says Guterres will be the first UN secretary-general to attend the annual ceremony in Nagasaki. His predecessor, Ban Ki-moon, attended the Hiroshima ceremony in 2010. The August 6, 1945, bombing of Hiroshima killed 140,000 people, and the bombing of Nagasaki three days later killed another 70,000, prompting Japan's surrender in World War II. Kaneko says Guterres will meet victims from both bombings and Nagasaki's mayor on August 9 "to discuss their ideas on how to promote nuclear disarmament." He will hold wide-ranging talks with Abe in Tokyo on August 8, including on North Korea, she said.
Militant's body handed over to family in J-K
Authorities handed over today the body of a slain militant to his family here, 32 days after he was killed in an encounter with security forces in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir. The body of Mudasir Ahmad, a resident of Barzulla area of Srinagar - the summer capital of the state was handed over to his family today for last rites after exhumation, a police official said. He said the body was exhumed after DNA samples of the slain militant matched with those of the family members. The body reached here for last rites, the official said, adding heavy security arrangements were in place for maintaining law and order. Ahmad was killed in an encounter with security forces in Kachama area of the north Kashmir district on June 29. The family had held several protests demanding that Ahmad's body be handed over to them for last rites.
Chakan protests: Will find anti-social elements, says minister
Police will trace the "anti-social" elements who Maratha bodies claimed had infiltrated the protests in Chakan in Pune district yesterday, Maharashtra Minister of State for Home Deepak Kesarkar said today. Kesarkar visited the violence-hit industrial hub, located 40 kms away from Pune, today to take stock of the situation, a day after buses and vehicles were set on fire during the protests for Martaha reservation. "I spoke with the leaders of various organisations and assured them that police will not take unnecessary action against the genuine agitators but will take stern action against those who had resorted to the violence yesterday," he told PTI over phone. Kesarkar said the office-bearers of the Sakal Maratha Kranti Morcha too had said that some outside elements had infiltrated the agitation, which was going on peacefully. "I told them that the police will find these anti-social elements," he added. He said since Chakan houses several manufacturing units, MNCs and .
US puts 2 LeT financial facilitators as global terrorists
The US Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) took action to disrupt Lashkar-e Tayyiba's (LeT) fundraising and support networks by designating two of the group's financial facilitators, Hameed ul Hassan and Abdul Jabbar, as Global Terrorists.OFAC has designated Hassan and Jabbar for acting for or on behalf of LeT, a terrorist organisation based in Pakistan."These Lashkar-e Tayyiba financial facilitators are responsible for collecting, transporting and distributing funds to support this terrorist group and provide salaries to extremists. Treasury's designations not only aim to expose and shut down Lashkar-e- Tayyiba's financial network, but also to curtail its ability to raise funds to carry out violent terrorist attacks," said Sigal Mandelker, Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence.All property and interests in the name of Hassan and Jabbar subjected to US jurisdiction are now blocked.Also, US persons have been prohibited from ..
Lankan PM visiting Tirumala Hills on August 3
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe will offer worship at the famous hill shrine of Lord Venkateswara at nearby Tirumala on August 3 Wickremesinghe, along with wife Maithree, and a 15-member delegation would arrive at Renigunta airport near here on the evening of August 2 and go by road to the hills, a temple official told PTI tonight. After an overnight stay on the hills, the Prime Minister would offer worship in the morning of August 3, he said. This would be his third visit to the hill temple as he had visited it in 2002 and 2016, he added.
US to back Lanka Tamils on UN human rights resolutions
The US today assured Sri Lanka's minority Tamil community that it will continue to support the UN Human Rights Council resolutions for an independent international probe into alleged rights abuse by the military during its action against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The US was the main sponsor of the resolutions which was backed by a majority of the UNHRC members. Protesting perceived bias against Israel, the US in mid June announced withdrawal from the UNHRC. Since its withdrawal, doubts have been raised about the resolutions which held Sri Lanka accountable for alleged human rights abuses committed by both government troops and the LTTE during the final phase of the military campaign in 2009. Chargs d'affaires at the US Embassy here, Robert Hilton today tweeted, saying the commitments to the resolution facilitate Sri Lanka's expanded relationship with the US and many others nations. He made the assurances to Chief Minister of Tamil northern province C V ...
15 killed in Jalalabad attack
At least 15 people were killed when two gunmen stormed into the building of department of migrants and refugees in Jalalabad's PD3 area in Afghanistan on Tuesday.Eyewitnesses said that a number of explosions and gunfire shots can be heard from the scene of the attack.Officials told TOLOnews that a car bomb exploded near the entrance of the compound at around 11:30 am (local time) with two men barging inside the government building.Security forces were called in and were engaged in operations throughout the day. The siege finally ended after more than six hours, with the gunmen confirmed dead.Employees had escaped from the building during the assault, but many of them remained trapped inside the building.Huge layers of black smoke were also seen during the attack.The latest assault came after at least two people were killed and five others injured after terrorists stormed inside a midwife training centre, belonging to Afghanistan's Ministry of Public Health on July 28.TOLO news quoted .
Sri Lanka bets on Indian visitors to boost tourism
Sri Lanka is betting big on Indian visitors as the island nation is expecting a 20 per cent growth in arrival of travellers to 2.4 million in the current year, an official said on Tuesday.
Three Russians 'carrying press cards' killed in C Africa
Three Russians carrying press cards have been killed in the Central African Republic (CAR), security and religious sources said today. Their bodies were found on a road 23 km from the central town of Sibut after apparently being killed at a roadblock by unidentified men, an investigator told AFP. CAR is one of the poorest and most unstable countries in the world, with militia groups controlling most of its territory.
1 killed as militants attack government office in Afghanistan
One assailant was killed and 11 people were injured when an explosion and ensuing gunfire rocked a government office building in Afghanistan's Jalalabad city, officials said.
15 dead as gunmen storm Afghan govt building, 11 killed in bus bombing
A suicide bomb and gun attack by militants on an Afghan government building in Jalalabad today killed at least 15 people, some burned "beyond recognition", officials said, the latest in a series of assaults on the eastern city. On the other side of the country a roadside bomb apparently intended for security forces hit a passenger bus and killed 11 people, marking yet another bloody day for civilians who have borne the brunt of violence in Afghanistan. The attack in Jalalabad targeted the compound of the refugees and repatriations department. It ended after more than five hours of intense fighting between militants and security forces, said Attaullah Khogyani, spokesman for the governor of Nangarhar province. At least 15 people were killed and the same number were wounded, Khogyani said. Provincial health director Najibullah Kamawal said some of the dead were "burned beyond recognition". As the raid began with a suicide attacker blowing up a bomb-laden car at the entrance, local ...
All woman battalion in Kerala Police
At a time when the CRPF is getting ready to deploy a women contingent in Kashmir, the Kerala Police today got its first all woman battalion with 578 members. The batallion includes a 44-member commando team. The passing out parade was held at the Kerala Police Academy ground here with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan taking the salute. Addressing the battalion, he said the new recruits should stand for secularism and women empowerment. The government was taking various steps for ensuring gender equality and as part of this efforts were being made to ensure 25 per cent representation of women in police force. Presently, the strength of women in the force was 15 per cent, he said. The women have been inducted into the force after carrying out special recruitment. The CPI-M-led LDF Government had in 2017 announced its intention of forming a Thiruvananthapuram based womens battalion and their training had commenced in September last year. In addition to basic training, the ...
Six dead as gunmen storm Afghan govt building, 11 killed in bus bombing
Gunmen today stormed an Afghan government office in Jalalabad during a meeting with foreign aid agencies, killing at least six people in the latest of a series of assaults in the eastern city. On the other side of the country a roadside bomb apparently intended for security forces hit a passenger bus and killed 11 people, as civilians once again bear the brunt of violence in Afghanistan. The attack in Jalalabad targeted the compound of the refugees and repatriations department. It ended after more than five hours of intense fighting between militants and security forces, said Attaullah Khogyani, spokesman for the governor of Nangarhar province. At least six people were killed and 14 wounded, Khogyani said, but he warned the toll could rise as security forces searched the building. As the attack began with multiple explosions, local representatives of foreign donors and agencies were meeting department employees inside the building. "All the partner agency representatives attending the
Iraq has spent more than USD 700 bn oil wealth since 2005
Iraq has raised more than USD 700 billion from oil since 2005, but almost the entire amount has been spent, the central bank announced today. "Between 2005 and 2017, the finance ministry has taken in $706.23 billion dollars in foreign exchange" from oil, it said in a statement. "A total of USD 703.11 billion, or 99.5 per cent of the amount, has been spent," it said. Since Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared victory over the Islamic State group last December, marking an end to decades of conflict in Iraq, social grievances have boiled over in a series of protests. After erupting in the oil-rich southern province of Basra on July 8, unrest has quickly spread to several cities, as people have vented their anger over unemployment, high prices, power cuts and a lack of usable water. Fourteen people have been killed in clashes between security forces and demonstrators, frustrated over the lack of basic services in what has been ranked one of the world's most corrupt countries. According
Gunmen storm Afghan govt building, 11 die in bus bombing
Gunmen today stormed an Afghan government office in Jalalabad during a meeting with foreign aid agencies, killing at least one person in the latest of a series of assaults in the eastern city. On the other side of the country a roadside bomb apparently intended for security forces hit a passenger bus and killed at least 11 people, as civilians once again bear the brunt of violence in Afghanistan. The attack in Jalalabad targeted the compound of the refugees and repatriations department. It ended after more than five hours of intense fighting between militants and security forces, said Attaullah Khogyani, spokesman for the governor of Nangarhar province. As the attack began with multiple explosions, local representatives of foreign donors and agencies were meeting department employees inside the building, Khogyani said. "All the partner agency representatives attending the meeting were Afghans and those who were stuck inside, including the director of the refugees and repatriations ...
New Myanmar Rakhine commission denounced by observers
A new commission set up by Myanmar to look into human rights abuses in Rakhine state has been criticised by observers today as a "political gimmick", as the country tries to stave off further censure over its treatment of its Rohingya Muslims. The government announced yesterday evening that an "independent" commission of inquiry had been established but gave no details about its remit, powers or the timeframe given to complete its report. The military tore through Rohingya villages in a campaign that started last August following a spate of insurgent attacks, forcing some 700,000 to flee over the border en masse to Bangladesh. The Rohingya have recounted testimony of widespread murder, rape, torture and arson at the hands of the army and ethnic Rakhine Buddhist mobs, in violence the UN has branded as ethnic cleansing. In the decades before that the Rohingya systematically had their rights stripped away by a country that widely regards them as illegal immigrants from ...
Commonwealth secretary general to visit Sri Lanka
Commonwealth Secretary General Patricia Scotland will arrive in Sri Lanka on Wednesday on a four-day official visit, it was announced here on Tuesday.
Israel Arab sentenced to jail for 'incitement' with poems
An Israeli court today sentenced an Arab woman to five months in prison for incitement to violence and support for a terrorist organisation in poems and other social media posts, the justice ministry said. Dareen Tatour, 36 and an Israeli citizen, posted a video clip of herself reading her poem "Resist, my people, resist them," in October 2015, accompanied by pictures of clashes between Palestinians and Israeli forces, according to authorities. The posts on YouTube and Facebook came as a wave of Israeli-Palestinian violence was erupting, including Palestinian knife attacks. She was convicted in May and sentenced in the Nazareth district court. Her lawyer Gaby Lasky was expected to appeal. Her prosecution has drawn international criticism. International writers group Pen has defended Tatour, saying she "has been convicted for doing what writers do every day -- we use our words to peacefully challenge injustice." The poem was quoted in Hebrew in the charge sheet, but according to an ...
Weapon of ex-Minister's security guard snatched in Kashmir
Unknown persons on Tuesday overpowered the security guard of a former Minister and snatched his weapon in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said.