Page 526 - War Conflict
Police team comes under attack; two held
A police team that went to attend a call was pelted with bricks following which a case was registered against nine persons, officials said here today. An FIR against nine persons including half dozen ladies has been filed," DSP Vijai Shankar Mishra said. He said two persons were arrested while hunt for others was on. Yesterday, a 'Dial 100' vehicle was called on the false pretext that a Max pick-up had been looted, Mishra said. As soon as the police vehicle reached village Navali, some persons started brick-batting forcing the police to retreat, he added.
TN widens scope of inquiry by panel on Tuticorin violence
The Tamil Nadu government today widened the scope of the commission of inquiry into the police firing in Tuticorin on May 22 during the anti-Sterlite protests by bringing subsequent violent incidents also under its purview. Violent incidents subsequent to the police firing on May 22 would come under the ambit of the Justice Aruna Jagadeesan led Commission of Inquiry, according to a government order issued yesterday. The Terms of Reference (ToR) of the inquiry, originally, was to probe the "causes and circumstances" leading to the opening of fire resulting in death and injuries to persons on May 22 at Tuticorin and damage to public and private properties. Now, following an amendment to the ToR, the commission will also look into "subsequent events (after May 22) at Thoothukudi (Tuticorin) and nearby areas including damage to public and private properties." The public and victims can furnish facts and information known to them either directly or through authorised persons
Colombian rights activist killed every three days, says ombudsman
A human rights activist is killed every three days in Colombia despite the peace accord signed with FARC rebels, the country's ombudsman has said. Carlos Alfonso Negret said that between January 1, 2016 and June 30 this year "311 Colombian citizens who dedicated their lives to being social leaders and defenders of human rights" have been killed. The news comes as Colombia looks to end the final armed conflict in South America against the National Liberation Army (ELN), accused by local authorities of being behind a roadside bomb that injured eight soldiers, two seriously, in the country's lawless southwest yesterday. Since the 2016 peace deal with left-wing FARC guerillas, the Marxist ELN remains the last organized group fighting against the government, which has launched military operations in the dense jungle of its southwest to try to root out the rebels. The ombudsman said most of the murders were committed in areas beset by drug smuggling and illegal mining, but didn't identify ..
Holocaust centre slams Poland, Israel over controversial law
One of the world's main Holocaust memorials today slammed an agreement between Israel and Poland over a Polish law on the World War II genocide of Jews, saying it contains "deceptions". Poland amended the law last week after it sparked outrage in Israel by imposing jail terms of up to three years against anyone found guilty of ascribing Nazi crimes to the Polish nation or state. The amendment removed fines or criminal penalties from the legislation. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Polish counterpart Mateusz Morawiecki also issued a joint statement on the issue, which was later published in full in newspapers both in Israel and abroad. But Yad Vashem, Israel's renowned Holocaust memorial and research centre in Jerusalem, today released a scathing analysis of the amended law and joint statement. "A thorough review by Yad Vashem historians shows that the historical assertions, presented as unchallenged facts, in the joint statement contain grave errors and deceptions," .
Over 3000 refugees have left for Lanka since 2015: TN
More than 3,000 Sri Lankan refugees, who had been staying in India, have left for their home country since 2015, the Tamil Nadu government said today. The largest number in this regard was reported last year, at 1520, said a policy note of the Public Department, a portfolio held by Chief Minister K Palaniswami, tabled in the state Assembly. The refugees had been repatriated with the assistance of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, it said. While 1520 refugees left for Sri Lanka last year, 557 of them have been repatriated till May 2018, it added. Over 3.04 lakh Sri Lankan Tamil refugees had come to Tamil Nadu following the ethnic violence in the island republic in 1984, the policy note said. As many as 61,422 persons were now staying in 107 refugee camps in 24 districts of the state as on May 1, 2018. "In addition, 35,316 Sri Lankan Tamil refugees are staying outside the camps as on April 30, 2018," it said. The refugees were provided with various relief ..
Waves of strikes pound south Syria after talks fail
Waves of air strikes pounded rebel-held areas of southern Syria today as pro-regime forces launched their most intensive bombing campaign yet in a two-week-old offensive. The renewed assault came after the failure yesterday of Russian-brokered talks to end the offensive in Daraa province, which has killed dozens and forced tens of thousands from their homes. An AFP correspondent on the edge of the rebel-held south of the city of Daraa, the divided provincial capital, said the bombing was the most intensive since the launch of the Russian-backed offensive on June 19. "From last night until now, Russian airplanes are pursuing a scorched earth policy," said Hussein Abazeed, spokesman for the joint rebel command for the south. "This is to force rebels to return to negotiations." Hundreds of missiles and crude barrel bombs were unleashed by Syrian and Russian aircraft overnight, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Samer Homssi, who had fled to the outskirts of Daraa with his wife
Afghan Prez visits Gurdwara; promises action against Jalalabad blast perpetrators
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani today said the deadly attack targeting Sikhs and Hindus in the eastern city of Jalalabad will be thoroughly investigated and the perpetrators will face trial as he visited a Gurdwara in Kabul and offered condolences to the minority community. President Ghani visited the Gurdwara in Kart-e-Parwan area of Kabul city and offered condolences to the Sikh Community members, the Office of the President, ARG Palace, said. An ISIS suicide bomber targeted a convoy of Sikhs and Hindus on their way to meet the Afghan president in the eastern city of Jalalabad on Sunday. At least 20 people, including 17 Sikhs, were killed in the attack. Avtar Singh Khalsa, a longtime leader of the Sikh community who had planned to run in the parliamentary elections set for October, was also killed in the blast. "President Ghani called the attack a catastrophe and promised that the incident would be thoroughly investigated and the perpetrators would face trial for the crime," the ARG ..
2 over-ground workers of militants arrested in J-K
Security forces today arrested two over-ground workers of militants outfit in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district, police said. "Police, along with other security forces, apprehended two OGW's during a 'naka' checking at the Pazalpora-Urenhall road crossing," a police spokesperson said. He said the two OGWs were found roaming in suspicious circumstances by the joint team of security forces in the district. "One live grenade, one Chinese pistol with five rounds and two bottles of sodium nitrate were recovered from them," the spokesperson said, adding that the duo were identified as Junaid-ul-Islam Dar and Hilal Ahmad Ganie. A case under Section 7/25 of the Indian Arms Act and 3/4 of the Explosive Substance Act was registered against them.
CID to probe NYT report on Chinese company funding ex-Prez's poll campaign, says Lanka PM
The Sri Lankan police will probe the allegations in a New York Times report which claimed that a Chinese state-owned company had funded former President Mahinda Rajapaksa's unsuccessful presidential campaign in 2015, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has said. The NYT report published on June 26 alleged that Rajapaksa's campaign took USD 7.6 million in bribe from the the China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) which built the controversial Hambantota port on the island. Wickremesinghe told parliament yesterday that the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) will probe the allegations made by the NYT report following a complaint lodged by Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake. He further said that necessary action would be taken after the investigations were concluded. The Rajapaksa camp has denied the allegation and accused the NYT of carrying out politically motivated falsehoods on Sri Lankan government's bidding. The NYT on Tuesday had also claimed that two of its correspondents in
12 Indian fishermen arrested for poaching in Sri Lankan waters
Sri Lankan Navy today arrested twelve Indian fishermen and seized their two trawlers for allegedly poaching in the country's territorial waters. Nearly 3,000 fishermen from Rameswaram had ventured into the sea yesterday and were fishing near Karainagar in the Lankan waters early this morning, when the Sri Lankan naval personnel arrested them, Assistant Director of Fisheries department in India, Manikandan said. While those in other boats managed to escape, 12 fishermen were arrested and taken to Kangesanthurai port in Sri Lanka along with their boats, the official said. The fishermen were charged with poaching fish in Sri lanka's waters using the banned fishing net, he added. This is the first incident of arrest after the fishing ban period ended on June 14. The fishermen along with their trawlers were handed over to the Fisheries Inspectorate in Jaffna through the Department of Sri Lanka Coast Guard, the Sri Lankan Navy said. The arrest was made by the Sri Lanka Navy personnel ...
S.Africa mosque attacker 'had schizophrenia'
A Somali man who was shot dead after fatally stabbing two worshippers and wounding two others at a mosque in South Africa suffered from schizophrenia, police said today. Police ruled out any extremist motive behind the June 14 attack, saying that the suspect, Nur Arawal, 23, has recently been released from a psychiatric hospital in Cape Town. "The man had schizophrenia, we could not link him to any extremist or radical activity," Hangwani Mulaudzi, spokesman for the Hawks police investigation unit, told AFP. Arawal was shot dead by police at the mosque in Malmesbury, north of Cape Town, after entering the building carrying a knife and attacking worshippers. He tried to charge police before being killed. The incident occurred less than a month after another attack at a mosque, on the outskirts of the eastern port city of Durban. Three unidentified assailants killed the mosque's leader by slitting his throat and injured two others after midday prayers on May 10. They also off a petrol ..
Vietnam arrests 7 over police bombing, alleges US exile ties
Vietnamese police have arrested seven people suspected of involvement in the bombing last month of a police station in the Southeast Asian country's largest city. The blast in Ho Chi Minh City injured a policewoman and damaged some property. The online newspaper VnExpress reported today that four suspects were accused of conducting terrorist activities aimed at overthrowing the "people's administration" and 3 were accused of illegally trading explosives. Police also seized 10 kilograms (22 pounds) of explosives and 8 homemade bombs. The paper quoted Maj. Gen. Phan Anh Minh, the city's deputy police chief, as saying that the group collaborated with the "reactionary" Viet Nguyen Dynasty group in exile in the US. Bomb blasts are rare in Communist-ruled Vietnam where authorities maintain tight control over almost all aspects of life.
Head constable shot at
A head constable was shot at by an accused in a loot case in Rajasthan's Sikar district, the police said today. The injured head constable Sanwat Ram has been referred to a Jaipur hospital. A trap was laid to arrest Subhash Jat (30), an accused in loot cases in Ranoli, Srimadhopur and Khatushyam ji area last month. The police chased him in Rajpura village yesterday following which he opened fire on police in which a head constable was severely injured, SP, Sikar, Vineet Kumar said. He said the accused was later arrested and illegal arms recovered from his possession.
NIA court orders to seize property of Kerala youths who joined ISIS
The National Investigative Agency (NIA) special court has issued a notice to revenue officials to recover the properties of youths who had left from Kerala to join terrorist organisation ISIS.NIA officials have posted the notice at the residence of Abdul Rashid Abdulla, the first accused. A notice has also been issued to Thrikkarippur village officer in this regard.The accused has been asked to be present at the NIA court by July 13. Action will be taken according to Criminal Penal Code (CRPC) 81, 82 and 83.14 people along with their families from Kerala's Kasaragod district exited India in July 2016 to Join ISIS.Earlier in March 2018, An investigation by NIA revealed that the principal accused Abdul Rashid Abdulla had recruited the other accused persons in this case by conducting classes at Kasaragod and other places since Ramadan 2015, in support of the terrorist organisation ISIS/ Daesh and its ideology of violent jihad.He had motivated his co-conspirators to join the terrorist ...
Rebel-held south Syria hit by heaviest strikes yet
The Syrian government and its Russian ally pounded rebel-held areas of the southern province of Daraa today with the heaviest air strikes of a two-week-old offensive, an AFP correspondent and a monitor reported. "Hundreds" of missiles and barrel bombs were unleashed before dawn by both Syrian and Russian aircraft, after talks on rebel surrenders broke down yesterday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. The intensity of the bombardment allowed government forces to seize control of a security checkpoint on the Jordanian border for the first time in more than three years, the Britain-based monitoring group said. Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman said the bombardment was an "attempt to make the rebels back down after they refused to subject themselves to the Russian terms for a ceasefire." Some rebel groups have agreed to negotiated surrenders but on Wednesday evening the remainder walked out of talks with a Russian delegation saying they would not agree to hand over their .
Afghan official says bombing has killed 4 Taliban insurgents
An Afghan official says a bomb has killed four Taliban insurgents, including a senior leader, in the country's eastern Nangarhar province. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the bombing, which took place today. Militants from the Islamic State group have targeted the Taliban in the past in eastern Afghanistan, where they have gained a foothold, including in a devastating bombing during a recent three-day truce that killed several Taliban fighters and members of the security forces during a temporary cease-fire. Afghan defense ministry spokesman Mohammad Radmanish said on Thursday that a suspected US drone strike in northeastern Kunar province killed a senior Pakistan Taliban commander and his two bodyguards. Radmanish says the attack took place on Tuesday morning, near the border with Pakistan.
Ghani visits Gurdwara Kart-e-Parwan in the wake of Jalalabad blast
Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani paid a visit to Gurdwara in Kart-e-Parwan area of Kabul and offered condolences to the Afghan Sikh Community following the deadly suicide attack in Jalalabad City."President Ghani visits Gurdwara in Kart-e-Parwan area of #Kabul, offers condolences to the Afghan Sikh Community, following the deadly suicide attack in #Jalalabad City that killed many Sikh Afghans including Awtar Singh, the only Sikh candidate for Afghan parliament," tweeted Afghan journalist Shakib Mahmud.On Sunday, a suicide bombing in eastern Afghanistan's Jalalabad city killed at least 19 people, mostly Sikhs and Hindus. The deceased include Awtar Singh, the only Sikh candidate for the Afghan parliament.India has asked Afghanistan to step up the security of minorities linked to Indian origin in the wake of the Jalalabad attack.The bombing has rattled the Sikh community all over the world. Special prayers and 'ardas' are being organised in Gurudwaras.According to various media ...
George Washington and Military: The focus in Trump's Independence Day greetings
United States President Donald Trump on Wednesday morning wished his fellow Americans a happy Independence Day, reminding them of the heroics of the soldiers led by George Washington 242 years ago, to "win" America's independence from the British.In a video posted on his Twitter handle, Trump said, "My fellow Americans, Melania and I are truly honoured to wish every American a happy Independence Day. It was 242 years ago today in Philadelphia that 56 brave representatives of the American people adopted our Declaration of Independence. They announced to the world that America would be free and America would be independent. They pledged their lives, their fortune and their sacred honour. In so doing, they forever changed the course of human history."He then spoke about the first President of the United States, George Washington, who was also the general and commander-in-chief of the colonial armies during the American Revolution."General George Washington and his army of brave patriots .
Egypt unearths ancient artefacts 'hidden' in WWII
Hundreds of ancient pottery items have been discovered in an Alexandria museum in a hiding place "most probably" created during World War II, Egypt's antiquities ministry said today. Pots and other receptacles dating back to Greek, Roman, Coptic and Islamic eras were discovered "during restoration work" in a garden inside the Greco-Roman museum of Alexandria in northern Egypt, the ministry said in a statement. "These pots were most probably hidden by (British) archaeologist Alan Rowe and... employees in the museum's garden during World War II", Ayman Ashmawy, head of Egyptian antiquities at the ministry, said in the statement. The artefacts were hidden to "protect them from looting or being destroyed by repeated bombardments during the war", he said. "The hiding process was carried out quickly without being documented or recorded on the museum's list", he added. The haul includes "Hidari" cremation urns -- intended for ashes during Greek times, said another official, Nadia ...
NATO underpins peace and global stability, says Italian President
Rome, July 4 (IANS/AKI) NATO is "a pillar of peace and global stability", Italy's President Sergio Mattarella said on Tuesday after meeting his Estonian counterpart Kersti Kaljulaid during an official visit to the Baltic state.