Page 513 - War Conflict

Pidilite strengthens international presence; unveils adhesive manufacturing plant in Srilanka

Pidilite Lanka Pvt. Ltd., a JV between Pidilite and Macbertan Pvt. Ltd. strengthening its presence, unveiled a new state-of-the-art adhesive manufacturing plant in Polgahawela in North Western Province of Sri Lanka.Pidilite Lanka Pvt. Ltd. has earmarked over Rs. 200 million as an investment towards the plant. Spread over four acres, the plant will further strengthen Pidilite's position in the adhesive market in Sri Lanka and enhance its market share. This will be an environment-friendly plant with zero-discharge.Pidilite, one of Asia's leading adhesive and construction chemical companies began its journey in Sri Lanka 10 years ago and today, Sri Lanka is one of Pidilite's key global contributors."Our strong user-connect and deep market understanding enabled us to identify market gaps and offer unique, need-based solutions. The new facility is a testament to our commitment to Sri Lankan market. The plant will initially manufacture adhesives, under the household brand Fevicol® and ...

Officials: In policy shift, US open to meeting with Taliban

The United States is open to holding direct talks with the Taliban to encourage negotiations between the militant group and the Afghan government to end 17 years of war, US officials said. That marks a tactical shift by the Trump administration, which has previously only appeared willing to participate in discussions with the Taliban if those talks also involve the Afghan government. The US officials yesterday said that Afghan-to-Afghan negotiation remains the goal of any engagement with the militants. The officials were not authorized to speak to media and requested anonymity. The Taliban have long refused direct talks with the Afghan government, demanding instead to negotiate with Washington. The militants have persisted in that stance despite Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's unilateral extension of a holiday cease-fire last month in hopes of encouraging the militants to come to the bargaining table. With the Taliban continuing to mount deadly attacks, Ghani ordered government forces

Hawala trader held

A man allegedly involved in hawala trade was today held with unaccounted currency of different countries at the airport here. Following a tip off, a team of Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS) caught Anil Jain and recovered currencies of Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Oman, Bahrain and Qatar. "Cumulative value of the foreign currency in Indian rupees is around 46 lakh. The currencies are unaccounted and he has been handed over to custom officials at the airport for further action," Additional Director General, ATS, Umesh Mishra told PTI. He said the accused is involved in hawala trade.

One more batch of Amarnath pilgrims leaves Jammu

The 17th batch of Amarnath pilgrims left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp here today for the holy cave shrine in the south Kashmir Himalayas, police said. The footfall of pilgrims at the shrine located at an altitude of 3,880 metres was expected to cross the two-lakh mark today, they added. "A total of 2,201 pilgrims, including 544 women and 149 sadhus, left for Kashmir from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in a convoy of 74 vehicles, under tight security arrangements, in the wee hours today," a police official said. He added that this was the 17th batch of pilgrims to leave the Bhagwati Nagar base camp, taking the total number of "yatris" undertaking the pilgrimage under security arrangements to 63,314. Till last evening, 1,97,442 pilgrims had paid obeisance at the cave shrine, officials said. Among the pilgrims in the latest batch, 1,344, including 238 women and 149 sadhus, would reach Pahalgam to take the 36-km traditional route to the cave shrine, while 857, including 306 women, would ...

Peru declares 60-day state of emergency

Peru declared a 60-day state of emergency on its Colombian border to ensure security from the menace of drug trafficking in a region.As per a report published in the Voice of America, Peru President Martin Vizcarra said the decision was taken due to the "security problems" created by Colombian citizens crossing the border and it is was important to "reestablish the state's presence."The state of emergency has been declared in Peru's Amazonian province of Putumayo, which is separated from Colombia by the river of the same name.The president informed the first patrol was carried out by the Peru police and armed forces in coordination with their Colombian counterparts.Five helicopters and three planes were used in the first joint operation and 50 people were arrested."More than 50 people were arrested, most of them Colombians involved in illicit drug trafficking," he asserted."We're firm, we're clear, we're going to defend our sovereignty and our territory," added Vizcarra.

2,201 pilgrims leave for Amarnath Yatra

A batch of 2,201 Amarnath pilgrims left Jammu on Tuesday for the cave shrine in the Kashmir Valley, police said.

Peru declares state of emergency on Colombian border

Peru has declared a 60-day state of emergency on its border with Colombia in order to guarantee security in a region rife with drug trafficking. President Martin Vizcarra yesterday said the measure was "because there are security problems" created by Colombian citizens crossing the border and there was a need to "reestablish the state's presence." Police and armed forces used five helicopters and three planes in joint operations with their Colombian counterparts in the first patrol in the area, Vizcarra said. "More than 50 people were arrested, most of them Colombians involved in illicit drug trafficking," he said. The region in which the state of emergency has been declared is the Amazon basin province of Putumayo, separated from Colombia by the river of the same name, a tributary of the Amazon. "We're firm, we're clear, we're going to defend our sovereignty and our territory," added Vizcarra.

US not ready to negotiate directly with Taliban: NATO

NATO's Afghanistan mission has denied reports that its commander has said America is ready to join direct talks with the Taliban. US General John Nicholson spoke with Afghan officials in Kandahar, where he reportedly said the US was "ready" to talk to the Taliban -- a shift from the long-held position of Kabul needing to lead any peace process. In a statement, Nicholson said his comments had been mischaracterized and that he was merely reaffirming remarks by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who in June said the US is prepared to "support, facilitate and participate" in eventual peace talks. "The United States is not a substitute for the Afghan people or the Afghan government," Nicholson said in the statement released by NATO's Resolute Support mission. Resolute Support spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Martin O'Donnell added that the US is exploring "all avenues" to advance a peace process. "But this remains an Afghan-led process," O'Donnell said. The New York Times on Sunday reported ...

Mali Gunmen attack village, kill 12 in northeastern Mali

A Tuareg leader says that gunmen have killed at least 12 civilians in an attack on Mali's northeastern village of Injagalane near the country's border with Niger. Fahad Ag Al Mahmoud, secretary-general of a Tuareg defense group known by its French acronym GATIA, said today that yesterday's attack was likely carried out by suspected armed bandits associated with a criminal network operating along the Mali and Niger border. Mahmoud said men with his force have been sent to the area to help the victims. A coalition of armed Tuareg rebel groups have been operating against jihadist groups active in the area. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but there is significant communal violence in the area where fighters allied to the Islamic State group are also present.

Police arrest 3 members of JeM module

Police today claimed to have smashed a module of Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militant outfit in Sopore area of Baramulla district in Jammu and Kashmir by arresting three members of the outfit. "Police busted a JeM module by arresting three hardcore active members of the terror organization during naka checking at Haritar and Yarbugh Rafiabad areas today," a police spokesman said. He said acting on a credible input, a joint team of security forces ste up a check post at Haritar area. "During checking, a suspicious person was apprehended and during preliminary questioning, he revealed his identity as Bilal Ahmad Kaloo. He is an active member of proscribed terror outfit JeM and two grenades, a matrix sheet of JeM outfit were recovered from his possession," the spokesman said. He said two more active members of JeM outfit were apprehended by police with the assistance of security forces during checking at Yarbugh in Rafiabad. "They were identified as Asif Sheikh and Abdul Majeed Mir," he ...

BEL enters pact with Saab for marketing air-surveillance radar

Defence electronicscompany Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) today signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Swedishaerospace and defence firm for jointly marketing an air surveillance radar developed by the two companies. In a press release, BEL said it has joined hands with Saab to market the long range air surveillance radar for early detection and tracking of air and surface targets. The radar would be offered in both ship-borne and land-basedconfigurations, the release said, adding that the system incorporates the latest signal processing techniques. BEL designs, manufactures and supplies state-of-the-art radars like weapon-locating radar and battlefield surveillance radar, naval systems, electronic warfare systems, missile systems, night vision devices and other electro-optic for the armed forces, the release said.

NC leader escapes miliant attack, guard killed, weapons looted

Former National Conference legislator Gulam Mohiuddin Mir escaped miraculously after militants attacked his vehicle in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district on Monday, killing one of his guards and decamping with two weapons, police said.

Iraqis demand change as protests run into second week

Protests in Iraq continued into their second week today following days of clashes that left six people dead, with demonstrators rallying to put social problems in the spotlight. Months after Iraq declared victory over the Islamic State group, attention has turned from the military battle to the fight for jobs and public services. Thousands of people rallied in fresh protests today in the eastern province of Diyala and the southern city of Nasiriyah, according to AFP correspondents. Iraqis already made their dissatisfaction with their leaders known through massive abstentions in May's national elections, and now citizens are taking to the streets to demand they see benefits from the country's vast oil reserves. "These oil fields belong to us, yet we get nothing," said Hussein Ghazi, a 34-year-old protester in the port city of Basra. The oil sector accounts for 89 per cent of the state budget and 99 per cent of Iraq's export revenues, but only one per cent of jobs, as the majority of ...

Reuters journalist takes stand as Myanmar trial begins

One of two Reuters journalists charged in Myanmar with breaking a state secrets law while reporting on the Rohingya crisis protested his innocence today on the first day of a trial that has provoked global condemnation. Myanmar nationals Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, were arrested in December and accused of possessing documents linked to security operations against Rohingya militants in Rakhine state. More than 7,00,000 of the stateless Muslim minority have fled the western state in response to a campaign that the US and the UN have described as ethnic cleansing. The reporters have spent seven months behind bars during pre-trial hearings but were informed last week that the case would go ahead. If convicted, they face up to 14 years in jail. Wa Lone, the first to testify, told the court that he had followed standard reporting procedures and not broken any laws. "I reported the news as I saw the facts and I reported right," he said. At the time of their arrest, the journalists had .

Cop killed, another hurt in attack by militants on former legislator

A policeman was killed and another injured today as militants attacked the vehicle of a former legislator in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said. Militants fired upon ex-MLA Mohiudin Mir's vehicle near Murran in south Kashmir, a police official said. National Conference (NC) leader Mir, a former MLA from Rajpora, was on his way to Pulwama from Srinagar, the official said. A constable, Mudassir Ahmed, was killed and another injured in the attack, he added. The two constables were deployed on the politician's personal security, the official said.

Afghan police gun down would-be suicide bomber

Police in the Afghan capital Kabul shot dead a would-be suicide attacker before he could reach his target, obviously a peace rally here on Monday, police said.

Death toll in Mastung suicide attack in Pak rises to 149

The death toll in a suicide attack targeting an election rally in Pakistan's troubled Balochistan province has risen to 149, making it one of the deadliest attacks in the country's history, officials said. Militants targeted a gathering of Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) leader Siraj Raisani in the Mastung area in the troubled province on Friday. According to an official communique issued by the deputy commissioner Mastung yesterday, 149 people including nine minors were killed and 186 others injured in the attack. Raisani, a candidate from PB-35 (Mastung), was among those killed in the attack, claimed by the Islamic State terror group. Many of the injured remain in critical condition at hospitals in Mastung, the provincial capital of Quetta and in the southern city of Karachi. Officials expect the death toll to rise. Pakistan's top counter-terrorism body has warned that there were serious security threats to political leaders of all major parties and suicide bombers could be used to ...

J&K ex-MLA's guard killed as militants attack, loot weapons

The personal security officer of a former Jammu and Kashmir legislator was killed as a group of militants attacked the guard post at his residence and decamped with two service rifles of the guards there on Monday, police said.

Taliban-IS fighting claims 10 lives in Afghanistan

At least 10 militants including six Taliban fighters have been killed in a clash with Islamic State (IS) in Afghanistan's northern Jawzjan province on Monday, police said.

Nepalese women set to join Gurkha regiment of British Army from 2020

For more than 200 years a male bastion, the Brigade of Gurkhas of the British Army will now induct Nepalese women, with the first female recruits set to join the elite regiment in 2020. The rigourous process of recruitment will begin in Pokhara in central Nepal next year and the successful applicants will be flown to Catterick, North Yorkshire, for a 10-week training programme. The Nepalese regiment has been part of the British Army for more than 200 years, dating back to the British Raj, and has so far been the preserve of men. Now, female cadets clearing rigorous physical tests such as racing 5km uphill carrying 25 kgs of sand in a wicker basket will be able to fight alongside the men. The Gurkhas are renowned as one of the best fighting forces in the world with a proud history of serving Her Majesty (Queen Elizabeth II), and it is right that women have the opportunity to serve in this elite group, said UK Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson. Lt Gen Nick Pope, Deputy Chief of the ...