Page 522 - War Conflict
Pompeo trashes N Korea's 'gangster' remark on denuclearization
Reacting to North Korea's "gangster-like demand" by the United States on denuclearisation, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the talks went well and were productive."If those requests were gangster-like, the world is a gangster," CNN quoted Pompeo, as saying.Furthermore, he noted that the United Nations Security Council was also clear on what North Korea needs to achieve.He also said that he had a word with his Japanese and South Korean counterparts - Taro Kono and Kang Kyung-Wha on the outcome of the two-day talks in Pyongyang.Pompeo underscored that unless North Korea dismantled its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programme, the US sanctions would remain in place."We had detailed, substantive conversations about the next steps toward a fully verified and complete denuclearization," he said.Pompeo, who is currently in Hanoi, Vietnam, remarked that the country experienced an "incredible rise" in development in the last few decades due to "a new engagement with the ...
6 security personnel killed in Tunisia terror attack
A terror attack in western Tunisia killed six security personnel on Sunday, according to the Tunisian interior ministry.Anadolu News Agency quoted a statement from the ministry, which said that a convoy of the National Guard was targeted in north-western Jendouba province near the Algerian border.The ministry added that a manhunt has been launched to nab the terrorist group responsible for the bombing.As of now, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack.Earlier, Tunisian state television said that nine security personnel had been killed in the terrorist attack.Tunisia has been hit by a series of terror attacks in the recent past.In 2016, the dreaded Islamic State (IS) terror group killed 12 soldiers and seven civilians after it launched deadly suicide attacks on military and security posts in Ben Guerdane near the Libyan border.Prior to that, armed gunmen staged three major attacks in Sousse, killing 38 people, mostly British tourists.
Afghanistan: 16 Taliban militants killed in operation
At least 16 Taliban militants were killed in an operation by the Afghan security forces in the last two days in northern Balkh province, local officials said on Sunday.Provincial police chief General Mohammad Akram Sami was quoted by TOLOnews saying that the operation, named "Walid 9" was launched in Chamtal district."Sixteen Taliban members were killed in the operation. Five villages have been cleared of the insurgents so far," Sami said.Local officials said that the security operation was initiated when the Taliban militants launched an assault in Chamtal district centre.On Friday, head of Balkh Provincial Council, Afzal Hadid told TOLOnews that the militants were planning to seize control of the area.A senior official said that Taliban captured four villages in Chamtal district following heavy clashes with security courses on Thursday evening.
Army Chief visits Golden Temple
Army chief General Bipin Rawat visited Golden Temple in Amritsar on Sunday to seek blessings and talk about the security of the temple.During his visit, General Rawat spoke to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) chief about literature and other invaluable articles which were taken away by the Army during Operation Blue Star.Operation Blue Star was an Indian military operation carried out between June 1 and June 8 in 1984, ordered by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to remove militant religious leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and his armed followers from the buildings of the Harmandir Sahib complex in Amritsar, Punjab.Talking about Rawat's visit, the SGPC president, GS Longowal said, "We discussed some literature from our library with him. He has also assured us to see if the books are still with the Army and if they will be returned to us."General Rawat also visited the Partition museum earlier in the day.
Riots ease as family of French police shooting victim plans lawsuit
A relative calm began to return to the western French city of Nantes early today after days of rioting over a police officer's fatal shooting of a black man, whose family plans to file a lawsuit over a killing which has cast a fresh spotlight on tensions in deprived urban areas. The officer who shot 22-year-old Aboubakar Fofana, after pulling over his vehicle last Tuesday, has been charged with manslaughter after admitting he had falsely claimed self-defence. But he has said he fired accidentally while reaching through the car window to try to wrest control of the vehicle as Fofana tried to flee, according to prosecutors, a version of events dismissed by many residents. "How can it be an accidental shooting when you take out your gun and remove the safety?" said Said, a manager of a community association in Breil, the neighbourhood where the shooting took place and which is home to a large public housing estate with a history of gang violence. "We are gathering witnesses and nobody ...
Encounter breaks out in Kupwara
An encounter broke out between security forces and militants in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir late evening today, police said. Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in a forest area in Handwara in the north Kashmir's Kupwara district, a police official said. He said the search operation turned into an encounter after militants fired upon the security forces. The exchange of fire was going on when last reports came in, the official said.
'Terrorist attack' kills 6 Tunisia security forces
Six members of Tunisia's security forces were killed today in a "terrorist attack" near the border with Algeria, the interior ministry said, the country's deadliest such incident in over two years. A national guard border patrol in the Ain Sultan area of the Jenduba border province "was hit in a landmine ambush that killed six agents" at 11:45 am (1045 GMT), the ministry said in a statement. Ministry spokesman General Sufyan al-Zaq said the blast was a "terrorist attack" and that assailants had "opened fire on security forces" after the mine exploded. "Combing operations" were underway, said Zaq, who had earlier told AFP that eight guards were killed in the attack. No group has claimed the attack, which took place in a mountainous border area where the Al-Qaeda-linked Okba Ibn Nafaa Battalion and the Tunisian branch of the Islamic State group, Jund al-Khilafa (Soldiers of the Caliphate), are active. Today's assault marks the first major attack in Tunisia since a March 2016 attack on ..
Police seizes crude bombs, gelatin sticks & detonators
The police seized crude bombs, gelatin sticks and detonators and arrested two persons in this connection in Birbhum district, a senior police officer said today. Superintendent of Police Kunal Agarwal said police raided some places in Bolpur, Sainthia and Md Bazar and seized 42 crude bombs, 52 gelatin sticks and 59 detonators. Two persons have been arrested in this connection, the SP added.
Pompeo appeals for NKorea to replicate Vietnam's 'miracle'
Undeterred by a blistering rebuke of his efforts to forge a denuclearisation deal with North Korea, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo today appealed for North Korea's leadership to follow Vietnam's path in overcoming past hostilities with the United States. Pompeo called on North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to replicate Vietnam's "miracle" of economic growth by improving ties with the US, vowing that America keeps its promises with former foes. Speaking to members of the US-Vietnamese business community in Hanoi, Pompeo said Vietnam's experience since the normalisation of relations with the US in 1995 should be proof for North Korea that prosperity and partnership with the US is possible after decades of conflict and mistrust. "We know it is a real possibility because we see how Vietnam has travelled this remarkable path," Pompeo said. "In light of the once-unimaginable prosperity and partnership we have with Vietnam today, I have a message for Chairman Kim Jong Un: President Trump ...
Swaraj assures all assistance to Sikh man injured in Afghan blast
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today said she has spoken with a Sikh man, who was admitted to AIIMS here after being injured in the blast that claimed 19 lives in Afghanistan's Jalalabad last week, and offered all assistance to him. The suicide attack had on July 1 killed 19 people, including 13 members from the Afghan Sikh community. "I have spoken to Sardar Iqbal Singh injured in Afghanistan blast and now admitted in AIIMS Trauma Centre. He is progressing well and should be discharged next week. We have offered him all help and assistance, Swaraj tweeted. Swaraj had met the relatives of some of the victims of the terror attack last week. The bomber had targeted a minority communities delegation as it was travelling to the governor's residence in the eastern city of Jalalabad for a meeting with President Ashraf Ghani. Swaraj also extended assistance to a man whose wife suddenly passed away in Vatican City. The deceased woman's son requested Swaraj for help on Twitter, saying
'Terrorist attack' kills 6 Tunisia security forces: ministry
Six members of Tunisia's security forces were killed today in a "terrorist attack" near the border with Algeria, the interior ministry said, updating an earlier toll. A national guard border patrol in the Ain Sultan area of the Jenduba border province "was hit in a landmine ambush that killed six agents", the ministry said. It said the attack took place at 11.45 am local time (4.15 pm IST). Ministry spokesman General Sufyan al-Zaq said the blast was a "terrorist attack" and that assailants had "opened fire on security forces" after the mine exploded. "Combing operations" were underway, said Zaq, who earlier told AFP that eight guards had been killed. The attack, for which there was no immediate claim of responsibility, comes as Tunisia prepares for the summer tourist season. Since its 2011 revolution, jihadist attacks in Tunisia have killed dozens of members of the security forces and 59 foreign tourists. The country has been under a state of emergency since November 2015 when a ...
Kashmir Valley mostly calm amid restrictions
The overall law and order situation remained calm in the Kashmir Valley on Sunday even as authorities imposed restrictions at many places to foil a separatist-called march on the second death anniversary of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani.
IED found in bucket in J&K's Pulwama, defused
Security forces today defused an improvised explosive device found in a bucket in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir, a police official said. The IED was found on Pulwama-Sirnoo road in the south Kashmir district and a bomb disposal squad defused it, the official said. Security has been tightened in the valley, including in parts of Pulwama district, as separatists observed a strike today on the second death anniversary of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani. Restrictions were imposed in Pulwama and Tral townships. Yesterday, a militants hurled a grenade towards a CRPF camp in Kakapora area of the district. A police official said no casualty was reported due to the explosion.
30,000 bottles of foreign liquor worth Rs 40 lakh seized in
Police have seized 30,000 bottles of foreign liquor worth Rs 40 lakh and arrested one person in this connection in Bihar's Rohtas district, a police officer said today. Acting on a tip off, a police team raided Mahadeva village and seized 30,000 bottles of foreign liquor worth Rs 40 lakh from a truck late last night, Dehri Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), Mohammad Anwar Javed Ansari said, adding that police arrested the driver of the vehicle Rukmana Ram, a resident of Barmer district of Rajashthan. The SDPO said the seized bottles, which bore the seal of Punjab excise department were meant for sale in Arunachal Pradesh. The Bihar government imposed prohibition in the state in April 2016 under which sale, consumption, manufacturing, trading, storage, transportation and possession of liquor is banned.
'Terrorist attack' kills 8 Tunisia security forces: ministry
Eight members of Tunisia's security forces were killed today in a "terrorist attack" near the border with Algeria, the interior ministry said. "Eight members of the national guard were killed in an ambush by a terrorist group" in the Ain Sultan area of Jenduba border province, spokesman General Sufyan al-Zaq told AFP.
Tens of thousands return home after south Syria ceasefire deal
Tens of thousands have returned to their homes in southern Syria since a ceasefire deal between regime ally Russia and rebels to end more than two weeks of deadly bombardment, a monitor said today. The deal was largely holding despite air strikes on two areas that killed four civilians, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said, as rebel evacuations under the deal were postponed. President's Bashar al-Assad regime is determined to retake control of the key southern province of Daraa bordering Jordan and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, seven years after protests there sparked Syria's civil war. Since June 19, a deadly regime bombardment campaign on the province had caused more than 320,000 people to flee their homes, according to the United Nations, many to the sealed border with Jordan. On Friday, rebels and the regime announced a ceasefire deal, providing for opposition fighters to hand over their heavy weapons and paving the way for a regime takeover of the ..
CISF plants 8.5 lakh saplings in a day
The CISF has planted over 8.5 lakh saplings in a day across the country as part of its golden jubilee celebrations being held this year, an spokesperson said today. He said the drive was undertaken in all the 344 units and 74 formations of the paramilitary force across the country yesterday and was led by the force's Director General Rajesh Ranjan. "Planting more then 8.5 lakh saplings in a single day is a humble contribution of the force for a green and clean country. The plants would be protected and taken care of to ensure that they last till their full growth," the spokesperson said. The about 1.80-lakh personnel strong Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), raised in 1969, guards 60 civil airports of the country apart from securing a number of establishments in the aerospace and nuclear domain apart from vital infrastructure in the private domain too.
Israeli leader says he understands criticism of Poland deal
Israel's prime minister says he understands criticism of his compromise with Poland over its disputed Holocaust speech law and that it "will be expressed." Benjamin Netanyahu and his Polish counterpart issued a joint statement last week praising Polish resistance to the Nazi occupation and distancing Poland from the Holocaust. The move came after Poland agreed to scrap prison terms for those who criticize its wartime conduct. Israel's Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial slammed the statement, saying it contained "highly problematic wording" and "grave errors and deceptions." At his weekly Cabinet meeting today, Netanyahu defended the compromise statement, which sought to ease months of tensions between the two countries, but acknowledged that it did not address all elements of the dispute. Critics have accused Netanyahu of whitewashing history for political considerations.
Chhattisgarh: Close aid of top Maoist leader arrested
A joint operation by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and Chhattisgarh Police on Friday resulted in the arrest of a Naxal involved in various attacks on security forces in Chhattisgarh.The naxal, identified as Madkam Podiya, was a gang member of a top Maoist leader, Pada Appu.Meanwhile, another top Naxal, Doodhi Handa surrendered in front the security forces.Handa was known for spreading Maoist propaganda in as many as five villages, while Podiya had served as a gunman for Pada Appu.Podiya was involved in various attacks on security forces, most notably in the attack in Chhattisgarh's Kasalpad village last year, which claimed the lives of 14 CRPF personnel.He was also involved in the ambush on a Special Task Force in Pidmel village, in 2015, which left seven STF personnel dead, while injuring 12 others.Speaking to ANI, the Commanding Officer of the 74th Battalion of CRPF, Praveen Kumar Singh hailed the anti-Naxal operations."A gang member of top Maoist leader Pada Appu, Madkam .
Punjab: 25 Sikh families from Afghanistan seek Indian citizenship
As many as 25 Sikh families from Afghanistan have urged the Congress-led Punjab government to provide them Indian citizenship and give houses to stay as they are unable to fulfill their daily requirements.Currently residing in Ludhiana, these families apparently came back to India from Kabul in Afghanistan a few years ago after they were "continuously" forced to convert to Islam."In total we were 40 families, which came back to India. Now only 25 are left. I had four children, but one of my daughters died some time ago as she didn't get proper medical help," Simmi Singh, one of the members of the 25 families, told ANI.Simmi is currently forced to earn a lifestyle for his family by riding an auto rickshaw."I was running my own business in Afghanistan. However, the people there always forced me and my family to become Muslims. Not just that, we were even asked to handover the female members of our families to them. That's why I came back to India," he said.Simmi's wife Meena Kumari said