Page 533 - War Conflict
10 soldiers killed, 4 missing in Boko Haram attack in Niger: government
Ten soldiers were killed and four were missing after an attack blamed on the jihadist group Boko Haram on a military position in southeast Niger, near the border with Nigeria, the defence ministry said. "We have a provisional toll of 10 dead, four missing and three wounded," defence ministry spokesman Abdoul-Aziz Toure told AFP yesterday, nearly a month after the last attacks attributed to the group killed six, shattering several months of calm in the troubled region. The attack by "Boko Haram" had targeted Niger's "army positions in Bla Brin, a village not far from the Lake Chad area, 40 kilometres (25 miles) from the town of N'Guigmi", he added. The last attacks attributed to Boko Haram took place in early June. Three suicide bombers killed at least six people in separate attacks in the southeastern Niger city of Diffa. In late April, Niamey announced a military operation against Boko Haram in the region of Lake Chad, which links Niger, Chad, Nigeria and Cameroon. The group, which ..
4 civilians killed, soldiers wounded in Mali attack on French troops
French soldiers on patrol in troubled northern Mali were targeted in a "terror" attack in which four civilians were killed and dozens wounded, including four soldiers, Malian and French officials said. Citing hospital sources, Malian authorities said the attack in Gao yesterday left four civilians dead and 23 others injured in an apparent car bombing. In Paris late last night, the French army chief told AFP that four soldiers with the Barkhane force in Mali were wounded in the attack and that there were at least two civilians dead. "Terrorism has again hit Mali in a cowardly way," the French army minister Florence Parly said in a tweet. According to a Western military source, "some French soldiers with the Barkhane force leaving the city fell into an ambush set up by terrorists on the road that leads toward Bourem." Gao resident Fatouma Wangara said the French patrol was deliberately targeted by a suicide car bomb. "An armoured vehicle blocked the way and the car blew up," she ...
Jalalabad blast: DSGMC Chief condemns 'barbaric attack'
Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) Chief Manjit Singh GK condemned the 'barbaric' suicide bombing in Afghanistan's Jalalabad city that killed nearly 19 people, including 11 Sikhs.Speaking to ANI, Singh urged the Centre to ensure adequate security to Hindus and Sikhs residing in Afghanistan, in the wake of the blast."It was a barbaric attack on the Sikh delegation, who was going to meet the Afghanistan President. All 15 members of the delegation lost their lives. 11 of the deceased have been identified as Sikhs and four bodies are yet to be identified. Two Hindus were also part of the delegation. I think it was done to disrupt the relations between India and Afghanistan," he said.Singh also stated that a delegation of Afghan Sikhs in India was deciding on whether to cremate the deceased in India or Afghanistan."The eleven (Sikhs) who died today were political, social and religious leaders in Afghanistan, we lost the entire leadership in this attack. We want the Government
Sikhs among 19 killed in Afghan suicide blast
A suicide bomber blew himself up in an Afghan city of Jalalabad, where President Ashraf Ghani was to hold a meeting with provincial officials, killing at least 19 people, many of them Sikhs, officials said on Sunday.
India condemns 'heinous and cowardly' attack on Afghan Sikhs
India today condemned as "heinous and cowardly" the terrorist attack on a convoy of Sikhs in Afghanistan that left 20 people dead and said the incident underlined the need for united global fight against international terrorism. A suicide bomber targeted the convoy on their way to meet Afghanistan's president in the eastern city of Jalalabad today. Police chief Ghulam Sanaei Stanikzai told Pajhwok Afghan News that the suicide bomber detonated his explosives when the minority community members wanted to enter the governor's house to meet President Ashraf Ghani, who was visiting the region. "We strongly condemn the heinous and cowardly terrorist attack in #Jalalabad today evening which resulted in the death of 20 innocent Afghans, including 10 members of the Afghan Sikh Community, and injured more than 20 persons," the Indian Embassy in Kabul tweeted. "We convey heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and pray for early recovery of the injured...The attack again underlines .
Jalalabad blast: Punjab CM extends help to victims
Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Sunday condemned a deadly suicide bombing in Afghanistan's Jalalabad city which claimed lives of 19 people, including Sikhs and Muslims.While extending help to the victims, the Chief Minister also called upon the global community to come together to fight "against barbaric forces of terror.""Strongly condemn deadly attack by Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) on delegation of Sikhs and others on way to meet Afghan President Ashraf Ghani. Let global community rise in one voice against barbaric forces of terror and vow to wipe out the menace from world. My government extends all help to the victims and their families," Amarinder Singh tweeted.The suicide bombing in the eastern province of Nangarhar province of Jalalabad city on Sunday also left 20 people injured.Of 19 deceased people, ten are from Afghanistan's Sikh community, as per Afghan's TOLO News.The group of Sikhs were on their way to meet Afghan President Ashraf Ghani when the ...
Suicide bomber targets Sikhs, Hindus in Afghanistan; 19 dead
A suicide bomber targeted a convoy of Sikhs and Hindus on their way to meet Afghanistan's president in the eastern city of Jalalabad today, killing at least 19 people. Inamullah Miakhail, spokesman for the provincial hospital in Nangarhar, said that 17 out of 19 dead in the attack are from the minority Sikh and Hindu community. Miakhail added that at least ten of the 20 wounded were also from the same minority community and are undergoing treatment at a Jalalabad hospital. Narendr Singh, one of the wounded Sikh from Sunday's attack, told The Associated Press by phone from his hospital bed in Jalalabad that the attack targeted their convoy. He cried on the phone worrying what had happened to his father, Avtar Singh Khalsa, who was also in the convoy. Miakhail confirmed that Khalsa, a longtime leader of the Sikh community who had planned to run in the parliamentary elections set for October, was killed in the attack. Attahullah Khogyani, spokesman for the provincial governor, said that .
Two French soldiers killed in Mali attack
At least two French soldiers were killed on Sunday in Gao town in northern Mali, after a bomb targeting French and Malian forces exploded, according to security official
Sikhs among 19 killed in Jalalabad suicide blast
A suicide bombing in Afghanistan's Jalalabad city on Sunday claimed lives of 19 people and injured 20 others.Of 19 deceased people, ten are from Afghanistan's Sikh community, as per Afghan's TOLO News.The group of Sikhs were on their way to meet Afghan President Ashraf Ghani when the explosion happened in the eastern province of Nangarhar province.It is pertinent to mention that Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, who is on a two-day visit to Nangarhar, earlier in the day attended the inauguration of a new hospital complex here.Provincial governor spokesman Attaullah Khogyani confirmed the casualties.The explosives were detonated close to the governor's compound, TOLO News quoted the unconfirmed reports, as saying.
Bolton: US has plan to dismantle NK nuclear programme in year
President Donald Trump's national security adviser says the US has a plan that would lead to the dismantling of North Korea's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes in a year. John Bolton suggests he expects the North Koreans to cooperate because they want to see sanctions lifted quickly and aid from South Korea and Japan start to flow. Bolton says, "Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will be discussing this with the North Koreans in the near future about really how to dismantle all of their WMD and ballistic missile programmes in a year." He adds: "If they have the strategic decision already made to do that, and they're cooperative, we can move very quickly." Bolton spoke today on CBS' "Face the Nation.
Bangladesh commemorates cafe attack on 2nd anniversary
Dozens of Bangladeshis, Japanese and Italians gathered today on the second anniversary of an attack by Islamist militants in Bangladesh's capital in which 20 people were killed. Foreign delegates, activists and family members of the victims gathered at the Holey Artisan Bakery site amid a vow to fight militancy in the Muslim-majority nation of 160 million people. The old premises of the cafe were opened for four hours on Sunday to allow visitors to pay their respects. The visitors placed flowers at the site, while separately tributes were also paid at a commemorative sculpture in Dhaka to honour the two Bangladeshi police officers killed in the attack. In the July 1, 2016, attack, five militants belonging to Jumatual Mujahedeen Bangladesh, or JMB, targeted the cafe and killed 20 hostages, including 17 from Japan, Italy and India. Two security officials succumbed to their injuries in a hospital, while commandoes killed the five attackers. The cafe attack followed several years of ...
'Hizb bid to revive militancy in Kishtwar foiled, two held'
An attempt by banned Hizbul Mujahideen to revive militancy in Kishtwar district of Jammu region has been scuttled with the busting of a module which was planning to carry out grenade attacks at busy locations and recruit local youths, a senior police officer said. A Hizbul Mujahideen militant and an overground worker (OGW) hiding under the guise of a Maulvi running a Madrasa were arrested and a huge cache of arms and ammunition were recovered from them, Kishtwar's Senior Superintendent of Police Abrar Chowdhary told PTI. He said more arrests and recoveries are expected as a massive manhunt for other members of the module is on in the district, while some boys recruited by them were 'recovered' and are being counselled. Police have been working for last many days to crack the terror module planning to revive militancy in the district and creating terror among the public by lobbing grenades, he said. He said the police after authenticating its field information, laid check points at ...
Maha to increase E-way bill threshold to Rs 1 lakh: Minister
The Maharashtra government today said that it would increase the E-way bill generation criteria for goods from the present threshold of Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh, state Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar said today. The E-way bill, an electronic system, has to be generated by traders when they have to move their goods within the state or outside. This change, officials said, would mean that goods having a value of less than Rs 1 lakh need not have a E-way bill when they are transported within Maharashtra. Mungantiwar was speaking at a function organised to commemorate the first anniversary of the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax mechanism across the country. "It is a day of celebration and I have good news for traders. The intra-state transport E-way bill limit will be revised (from the current Rs 50,000) to Rs 1 lakh," he told the gathering. The minister said that the E-way bill system had been effective in curbing evasion of stock and material as it could ...
Hizbul Mujahideen module busted in Jammu, 2 arrested
The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Sunday busted a module of terror outfit Hizbul Mujahideen in Jammu's Kishtwar area.The police also arrested a terrorist and an over ground worker (OGW), and recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition from their possession.Meanwhile, police have launched a manhunt to effect more arrests.The local police have been working since a couple of days to crack the terror module of the banned outfit Hizbul Mujahideen.The arrested terrorist and OWG has been identified as Rameez Ahmed Wani and Nissar Ahmed Ganie respectively.The police have registered cases against them under Sections 120-B, 121,121-A , 4/5 Explosives Act, 7/25 Indian Arms Act and 3/13 Unlawful Activities Act .The matter is being further investigated.
Chinese firms involved in 40 pc of construction projects in Sri Lanka: report
With Chinese companies involved in as much as 40 per cent of the construction projects in Sri Lanka, a trade body here has moved a Cabinet paper demanding foreign companies engaged in such works should have local partners. The Ceylon Institute of Builders (CIoB), an illustrious group of engineers and builders of Sri Lanka, said the China International Contractors Association (CHINCA) has a stake in 40 per cent of construction projects in the country, Colombo Gazette reported. "In the next three years CHINCA wants to increase their stake in the Sri Lankan construction industry to 70 per cent of total projects. This can be detrimental to our local firms," CIoB President Rohan Karunarathna said at the opening of the seventh construction industry exhibition titled 'Construction Expo 2018' here on Friday. "As a result, the Construction Chamber of Sri Lanka has signed an MoU with CHINCA to share all their projects here with Lankan construction firms so that the risk is mitigated," he ...
Rebels, Russia pursue talks over battered south Syria: monitor
Syrian rebels and local officials pursued talks with regime ally Russia on Sunday over the fate of a key southern region facing a government offensive, a Britain-based monitor said. The Jordan-backed talks came as a tentative calm reigned over most fronts in the southern province of Daraa, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said. A "ceasefire has largely held since yesterday at 7 pm to facilitate the ongoing negotiations," Observatory chief Rami Abdel Rahman said. Since June 19, Russia-backed regime forces have ramped up bombardment against opposition fighters in southern Syria as Damascus pushes to retake the area. The region borders Jordan and the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights and is considered to be the cradle of the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad seven years ago that sparked the civil war. The regime has chipped away at rebel-held territory in Daraa since the escalation began almost two weeks ago. Most fronts were quiet Sunday with the exception .
4 dead as blast rocks Afghan city
At least four people were killed as a blast, presumably a suicide attack, rocked Jalalabad city on Sunday, an official said.
US says Taliban inertia on peace talks 'unacceptable'
The US today said the Taliban's failure to engage in talks to end Afghanistan's nearly 17-year conflict was "unacceptable" and called on Pakistan to exert more pressure on the militants. US envoy Alice Wells made the remarks during a visit to Kabul on Saturday, two weeks after an unprecedented ceasefire triggered spontaneous street celebrations involving Taliban fighters and security forces. "I think it (the ceasefire reaction) creates this impulse for everyone to renew their efforts to find a negotiated political solution," Wells, the principal deputy assistant secretary for the State Department's Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, told reporters. "Increasingly I think it's becoming simply unacceptable for the Taliban not to negotiate." The Taliban have so far ignored President Ashraf Ghani's offer of peace negotiations. Instead, they have insisted on direct talks with the US which Washington has repeatedly refused. One of the Taliban's key demands for engaging in talks is ...
First time: CRPF inducts 500 women personnel to counter protestors in Kashmir
Breaking yet another glass ceiling, a special contingent of about 500 women CRPF personnel has been brought to Kashmir valley for regular security duties and tackle the unruly crowds and stone-pelters, a senior officer of the paramilitary force said. The women personnel, largely in constable ranks, are based at Central Reserve Police Force recruit training centre in Humhama in the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir and are being trained in counter-riot and anti-militancy operations. "This is the newest theatre of operations where women personnel have been brought in. This is the maiden team of women personnel in the Kashmir valley. A few years back, the CRPF women troops were inducted into the anti-naxal operations grid in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand," the officer told PTI. He said the women, after their 45-day induction training and combat-stress inoculation, will be deployed in the valley to tackle stone-pelters and protestors, including women. It was believed that the special ...
CRPF to launch women unit to deal with stone-pelters in J&K
The CRPF is all set to launch a special unit of over 800 women commandos to deal with stone-pelters, among which women are increasingly figuring, in Jammu and Kashmir from the middle of this month, say officials of the central paramilitary force.