Page 50 - War Conflict
Military ties with US 'stable': China
The relationship between the armed forces of China and the US is stable and the two sides have been engaging in normal exchanges and communication, China's Ministry of National Defence said.
S. Lankan President denies he was informed about Easter Sunday attacks
Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena on Thursday evening denied reports that he had prior knowledge of the Easter Sunday bombings, which targeted several high-end hotels and three churches, killing over 250 people across the country on April 21.Colombo Page cited a statement, issued by the President's Media Division, as saying that the President, on April 8, had convened a monthly meeting with the Inspector General of Police and other senior police officers.However, in the over two-hour long meeting, none of the police officers informed the President that advance reports on a possible terrorist attack had been received.Neither the Defence Secretary, nor the Inspector General of Police nor any other officer had informed the President about a warning letter received from a friendly foreign country about the impending April 21 terrorist attack, the statement said.The statement came after Defence Secretary, General Shantha Kottegoda, and Chief of State Intelligence Service, Sisira ...
French parcel bomb suspect pledged allegiance to IS: source
An Algerian suspected of setting off a package bomb in southeast France last week has told investigators that he pledged allegiance to the Islamic State jihadist group, a judicial source said Thursday. The 24-year-old man, identified as Mohamed Hichem M., was arrested Monday after an extensive manhunt since Friday, when 13 people were wounded by the explosion on a busy pedestrian street in Lyon. Sources close to the case said that after initially refusing to talk, the suspect admitted Wednesday to planting the bomb, packed with screws and ball bearings and a relatively small amount of acetone peroxide, or APEX. It was the same volatile compound used in the deadly Paris terror attacks of November 13, 2015 and other incidents since which have claimed the lives of more than 250 people. The Islamic State group has been behind several of the attacks, although police had said earlier that no one had claimed the Lyon blast. The suspect's brother, who was also arrested and questioned by ...
6 dead in suicide attack on Kabul military centre (2nd Lead)
As many as six people were killed and 16 others injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up outside a military training centre here on Thursday, officials said.
Russia rejects US claim of violation of nuke test ban
The Russian Foreign Ministry has angrily rejected a US claim of Moscow's possible violation of a global nuclear test ban. Lt. Gen. Robert Ashley, the director of the US Defense Intelligence Agency, said Wednesday that Russia "probably" is not adhering to a pact banning nuclear weapons testing. Speaking at the Hudson Institute, Ashley said Russia's nuclear activities would help it improve its weapons capabilities. Russia's Foreign Ministry dismissed Ashley's assertion as a "crude provocation." It emphasized that Russia ratified the ban in 2000 and has "strictly adhered to its letter and spirit." The ministry said Ashley's "absolutely unfounded" claim could reflect an attempt to divert attention from Washington's staunch refusal to ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty and may herald a U.S. intention to resume nuclear weapons tests.
Two BKI militants arrested in Punjab
The Punjab Police's Intelligence wing on Thursday said it averted terror attacks in the state with the arrest of two members of an ISI-backed Babbar Khalsa International (BKI) module.
Taliban, Afghan opposition officials claim 'progress' at talks
Taliban officials and Afghan opposition figures claimed Thursday to have made "tremendous progress" at Moscow talks, but the announcement rang hollow as discussions yet again excluded the Afghan government and no ceasefire was announced. The ultra-conservative Islamist insurgents spent more than two days at a plush hotel in central Moscow, where they met several leading Afghan politicians -- including past president Hamid Karzai and former warlord Atta Muhammad Nur. In a joint statement, the parties said they'd had "productive and constructive" discussions focusing on issues including a possible ceasefire, the "strengthening of the Islamic system" and "women's rights". "Both sides have had tremendous progress, but some issues require further discussions," the statement read. But with the Kabul administration -- viewed by the Taliban as a US-backed puppet regime -- once more sidelined from the conversation, it was difficult to see what tangible results could come from the talks. Afghan
China says laser report 'not consistent with the facts'
A report that Australian navy helicopter pilots were targeted with lasers, apparently coming from Chinese fishing boats, was "not consistent with the facts," China's defense ministry said Thursday. Spokesman Wu Qian told reporters at a monthly briefing that Australia should "reflect on itself" before pointing the blame at others. "According to my knowledge, what you have said is not consistent with the facts," Wu said. Scholar Euan Graham, who was onboard the Royal Australian Navy flagship HMAS Canberra on a voyage from Vietnam to Singapore, wrote that the Tiger attack helicopter pilots were hit by lasers while exercising in South China Sea waters claimed by China earlier in May, "temporarily grounding them for precautionary medical reasons." China maintains a robust maritime militia in the South China Sea composed of fishing vessels equipped to carry out missions just short of combat. China claims the strategic waterway virtually in its entirety and is sensitive to all foreign naval .
Pak arrests absconding Pashtun legislator over attack on military post
Pakistani authorities on Thursday arrested an absconding Pashtun lawmaker who was allegedly involved in the attack on a military post in which five soldiers were injured. Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) leader and parliament member Mohsin Dawar was arrested from North Waziristan, said Shaukat Yousafzai, a spokesman in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan. The PTM, which works for the rights of local Pushtu-speaking people, is against, what it claims, the military's excessive use of force against local tribesmen. Dawar and Ali Wazir, also a legislator, allegedly led the attack on Sunday by protestors in North Waziristan on a security checkpost that resulted in the death of three activists and injuries to 15 persons, including five soldiers. Wazir and seven other attackers were arrested on the same day of the incident, but Dawar fled from the spot.
Sudanese in suits and ties rally against Bashir's economic blunders
In unprecedented scenes in Khartoum, hundreds of workers in suits and ties alongside their neatly dressed women colleagues have gone on strike to protest what they call Sudan's "total economic collapse". The popular protests that have rocked the northeast African country for more than five months broke out over a decision to triple the price of bread before quickly turning political against the regime of Omar al-Bashir. They led to the army toppling the autocratic president on April 11 after 30 years in power. This week saw doctors, lawyers as well as civil aviation and public transport workers respond to the call for a strike from the leaders of the protest movement still pressing for the military to hand over power to civilians. For two days, these white-collar workers were on the front line of the protests, and they were among the loudest to be heard on the streets of the Sudanese capital. In Al-Mogran, the business district in the western part of the city, workers from various ...
2 terrorists killed in encounter in J-K's Baramulla
Two unidentified terrorists were killed on Thursday in an encounter with security forces in the Sopore area of Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district, police said. "On a credible input, a cordon and search operation was launched by the security forces in the Dangerpora area of Sopore. During the operation, the terrorists who were hiding fired on the search party. The fire was retaliated, leading to an encounter," a police spokesperson said. In the ensuing encounter, two terrorists were killed and the bodies retrieved from the site, the official said. Their identities and affiliation are being ascertained, he said, adding that incriminating materials, including arms and ammunition, have been recovered from the site of the encounter.
Two LeT militants killed in Sopore
Two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants were killed on Thursday in a gunfight with security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district.
Woman CoBRA commando from Bastar sets example
Usha Kiran, the youngest female CRPF officer to become a part of Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) and currently serving in the volatile Bastar region of Chhattisgarh, straddles both worlds of rough and refine.
Kargil war veteran declared foreigner: Cong slams BJP govt, says insult to sacrifice of forces
The Congress on Thursday hit out at the BJP government over a tribunal in Assam declaring a Kargil war veteran a foreigner, saying it shows the "high- handedness and flawed manner" in which the NRC exercise is being implemented in the northeastern state. Mohammad Sanaullah, a resident of Kolohikash village in Kamrup district, was declared a foreigner by the Foreigners Tribunal, Kamrup. "Shocking!! BJP Govt has labelled the 'Foreigner' tag to a Kargil War Hero! It is an insult to the sacrifice of our brave Armed Forces. This speaks volumes about the high handedness and flawed manner in which the NRC exercise is being implemented in Assam," Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala tweeted. The draft Assam National Register of Citizens (NRC) was published on July 30, 2018 in which the names of 2.89 crore of the 3.29 crore people were included. The names of 40,70,707 people did not figure in the list. Of these, 37,59,630 names have been rejected and the remaining 2,48,077 are on hold. A ..
251 cadets take part in convocation ceremony of 136th National Defence Academy course
The passing out parade of the 136th course of the National Defence Academy (NDA) was held here on Thursday. Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa, was the chief guest at the event.A total of 251 cadets, including seven cadets from friendly countries, took part in the parade.Battalion Cadet Adjutant K Sahu won the Commandant's Silver Medal and Chief of Army Staff trophy for standing first in the Science stream.Battalion Cadet Captain SKS Chauhan got the Commandant's Silver Medal and Chief of Naval Staff trophy for standing first in Computer Science stream.Battalion Cadet Captain A Kumar bagged the Commandant's Silver Medal and the Chief of Air Staff trophy for standing first in Arts stream.
Six dead in suicide blast at Kabul military academy
At least six people were killed and six more wounded in a suicide blast outside a military academy in the Afghan capital on Thursday, an official said. The attack outside the Marshal Fahim National Defense University in western Kabul took place at the road entrance to the war college. Kabul police spokesman Firdaws Faramarz said the suicide bomber had been on foot. He blew himself up when a soldier challenged him. "Based on initial information, six people killed, six wounded, police have reached the scene," Faramarz said. The attacker "detonated himself before reaching his target", Faramarz added, without providing further details. The attack happened around noon (0730 GMT), a time when students typically leave school early during the month of Ramadan. No group immediately claimed responsibility. Police and security forces in and around Kabul have come under frequent attack in recent weeks, even as the US and the Taliban have held talks about a possible peace agreement. Opened in 2005
Imbibe skills for techno-driven warfare: Dhanoa to NDA cadets
Air Chief Marshal B S Dhanoa Thursday said technological advancement and sophistication in fire-arms and combat gear has transformed the range and tempo of warfare, and therefore skills need to be imbibed to face the techno-driven warfare effectively. Dhanoa, who was the reviewing officer for the passing out parade of 136th course of the National Defence Academy (NDA) at Khadakwasla near here, said this during his address to the passing out cadets. "The improvement in the range and power of fire-arms and combat gear, the introduction of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons, and the advent of sophisticated electronic and night-fighting capabilities has transformed the range and tempo of warfare," the IAF chief said. Extensive use of digitised communication and high-tech sensors at operational level, real-time battle-field surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance has made it complex and multi-dimensional, he added. "Eventually, you have to imbibe the skills .
Afghan official: Suicide bombing kills 6 near Kabul academy
Afghan authorities say a suicide bomber targeting a military academy in the capital of Kabul has killed at least six people. The Interior Ministry says six others were wounded in the bombing on Thursday. A ministry statement says a soldier noticed a suspicious person and approached him, causing the attacker to detonate his explosives near the Mashal Fahim academy. Ferdus Faramarz, spokesman for the Kabul police chief, says police are trying to get more details about the bombing in western Kabul. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack but insurgents have targeted this academy in the past. Both the Taliban and the Islamic State group are active in Kabul and have staged large-scale attacks in the Afghan capital.
Four troops killed in Ukraine helicopter crash
An army helicopter has crashed in western Ukraine killing four servicemen, the military said on Thursday. The Mi-8 helicopter crashed in the western Rivne region during a training flight late Wednesday, killing three crew members and the commander of the 16th Separate Army Aviation Brigade of Ground Forces, a statement said. It was not immediately clear what caused the crash. Ukraine's new President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his condolences and tasked newly-appointed general staff chief Ruslan Khomchak with overseeing the investigation. "Our army should not be losing people during games and drills," the 41-year-old president was quoted as saying by his office. Zelensky, a former comedian, swept last month's presidential election in a rebuke to the establishment fuelled by popular anger over war with Russian-backed separatists and social injustice. The conflict against Russia-backed insurgents in the east has claimed some 13,000 lives since 2014.
Search operation in Kashmir's Sopore
Security forces on Thursday carried out a search operation in Jammu and Kashmir's Sopore area, police said.