Page 554 - War Conflict
Afghan Taliban tells fighters to stay at posts after attack on ceasefire revellers
The Taliban today ordered its fighters in Afghanistan to avoid gatherings of security forces and civilians, a day after a suicide bomber killed 25 people including members of the militant group celebrating an unprecedented ceasefire. Yesterday's attack on the outskirts of Jalalabad in the eastern province of Nangarhar marred an otherwise extraordinary Eid holiday as Taliban members hugged, posed for selfies and prayed with Afghan police and troops, politicians and civilians around the country -- scenes that would have been unthinkable only a few days ago. It was the first formal nationwide ceasefire since the 2001 US invasion and the display of jubilation and unity has fuelled hopes among war-weary Afghans that peace is possible. The attack on a crowd celebrating the truce in Rodat district also wounded 54 people and was blamed by officials on the Islamic State group. After the bombing the Taliban ordered fighters to stay at their posts or in areas under its control. "To avoid harm ..
Suicide blasts in NE Nigeria kill at least 31: official, local militia
Suspected Boko Haram jihadists killed at least 31 people in a twin suicide bomb attack on a town in northeast Nigeria, a local official and militia leader said today. "There were two suicide attacks and rocket-propelled grenade explosions in Damboa last night which killed 31 people and left several others injured," militia leader Babakura Kolo told AFP.
Peace convoy calls on Afghan govt, Taliban to extend ceasefire
Members of the Helmand peace convoy have called on the Afghanistan government and the Taliban to work on a long-term ceasefire agreement.On Saturday, they were warmly welcomed in Wardak province.The convoy is expected to arrive in Kabul later in the week.It started its journey 34 days ago from Helmand. The members of this peace convoy walked across the country with the aim of spreading messages of peace.The convoy includes people ranging from 17 to 65 years of age. These are laborers, farmers, retired army officers, a polio victim on crutches and many more, as per Tolo News.The convoy has travelled through war-weary Kandahar, Zabul and Ghazni provinces and they have covered about 500km.Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Saturday announced an extension of the government's week-long ceasefire with the Taliban which was otherwise due to end on June 19.He also urged the Taliban to extend their three-day ceasefire which is due to end Sunday.This comes in the backdrop of an initial truce ...
US, UN welcome Afghan's ceasefire extension
The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and the US embassay in Kabul have praised the Afghanistan government for extending its ceasefire."UNAMA welcomes the announcement made today by President Ghani to extend the ceasefire with the Taliban beyond Eid-ul-Fitr," Tolo News quoted UNAMA's statement.UNAMA also appreciated President Ashraf Ghani's decision for responding to the voices of the Afghans to extend the ceasefire.UNAMA urged the Taliban to respond positively to the desire of the Afghan people to end the conflict."The Government's extension of the ceasefire provides a clear opportunity for initiating a negotiated solution to the conflict. This opportunity cannot be missed," Tolo News quoted said the UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Afghanistan and head of UNAMA, Tadamichi Yamamoto.The US also said it will work with the Afghan government and the Taliban to reach a peace agreement and political settlement.The Taliban on June 9 announced a ...
Top Chinese official held for corruption
A top Chinese official of the state-run shipbuilder, which developed China's first home-grown aircraft carrier, has been detained on the suspicion of corruption, the country's anti-graft body said today. Sun Bo, General Manager of China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation, was investigated for "suspected serious violation of Party disciplinary rules and law", the ruling Communist Party of China's (CPC) Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) and National Supervisory Commission said in a statement. The serious violations of party discipline is a euphemism for corruption. Sun, also deputy chief of the company's leading CPC members' group, is under investigation, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. It is significant that investigation against Sun was coincided with the launch of the first indigenously developed aircraft carrier by his company China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC). Over a million CPC officials were jailed or faced anti-graft investigations since ...
Government ends ceasefire in J&K
Amid unending violence blamed mostly on militants, the Centre on Sunday decided not to extend its unilateral ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir, declared on May 16 to coincide with the holy month of Ramadan.
AK bullets with 'hard steel' find way into terror arsenal
Bullets with steel core -- It's a new addition into the ammunition of terror groups especially Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed that has triggered an alarm within the security establishment as it has the capability to pierce a static bullet proof bunker used during counter-terrorism operations, officials said. The first such incident noticed had happened on the new year eve when terrorists of Jaish-e-Mohammed had carried out a suicide attack on CRPF camp at Lethpora in South Kashmir when one of the five personnel of para-military force was hit by a bullet fatally despite carrying out a static bullet-proof shield provided by the Army, officials said. Five CRPF personnel were killed in the attack. A thorough enquiry showed that the bullet fired by the terrorist from the assault AK rifle was of steel core which has the capability of piercing through the static bunkers used by security personnel during encounters with terrorists. The findings showed that the bullet, which is mainly termed .
Taliban bans fighters from visiting government-held areas
The Taliban on Sunday ordered its fighters not to visit areas controlled by the Afghan government, a day after an attack by the Islamic State terror group against a gathering of insurgents and civilians left 25 dead.
Death toll from suicide bombing in Afghanistan climbs to 36
The death toll from a suicide bombing against a gathering of Taliban fighters celebrating a holiday cease-fire in Afghanistan has risen to 36, an official said today. Najibullah Kamawal, director of the health department in the eastern Nangarhar province, said another 65 people were wounded in Saturday's attack. The bomber targeted a gathering of fighters who were celebrating a three-day truce coinciding with the Eid al-Fitr holiday. No one immediately claimed the attack, but it was likely carried out by the Islamic State group, which was not included in the cease-fire and has clashed with the Taliban in the past. After the attack, Afghan President Ashraf Ghani announced a nine-day extension of the cease-fire. There was no immediate word from the Taliban on whether they would observe the extension. The three-day holiday and cease-fire ends Sunday. The chairman of the High Peace Council, a government body charged with negotiating an end to the nearly 17-year war, called on the Taliban .
UN chief lauds Afghanistan's extension of ceasefire
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has welcomed the Afghan government's announcement of a unilateral extension of the ceasefire with the Taliban.
Cop, civilian injured in Srinagar violence critical
A policeman injured in a militant attack and a civilian injured in clashes with security forces in Srinagar continued to be in critical condition on Sunday.
6 people injured in clash between group in UP
At least six people were injured in a clash between two groups over some old enmity at Mujheda village here following which six persons were arrested, a police officer said today. The trouble started last evening when Haji Islam Qureshi and Haji Bhura Qureshi and their supporters clashed after an argument, police officer Sheetal Sharma said, adding six people got injured in the incident. Following the clash, a case was registered against 25 people and six of them were arrested, he said. Security has been tightened in the village and additional police personnel has been deployed to prevent any untoward incident, the officer said.
Sri Lanka to release 10 Indian fishermen's boats
Sri Lankan Navy will release ten Indian fishermen's boats that were taken into custody in 2015 and 2016.As per media reports, the Sri Lankan government had, on June 13 sent a letter to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stating that they are ready to release ten boats.In 2017, out of the 216 boats, Sri Lanka released around 42 boats. However, the fishermen were only able to retrieve 32 boats as remaining ten were damaged beyond repair. Now, the Sri Lankan government is releasing another 10 boats instead of the ones that were not retrieved in 2017, Colombo Page reported.A team headed by a fisheries official, including fishermen and salvage personnel will be leaving for Sri Lanka in two days to retrieve the boats.As per the demands of fishermen in the region, remaining 174 boats in the Sri Lankan custody must be released. Each boat costs Rs 8 to 10 lakh, they added."We will go and check the boats in Sri Lanka but we demand that all our boats in the Sri Lankan custody be released," ..
Venezuela: 17 killed in Caracas stampede
As many as 17 people, including eight minors, have been killed in a stampede in a nightclub in the Venezuelan capital Caracas, confirmed the officials.At least five people have been wounded and at least seven have been arrested who are believed to be responsible for the incident.The wounded have been taken to the hospital.A middle school graduation party degenerated into a brawl and someone set-off a tear-gas canister triggering a stampede, Al Jazeera quoted Interior and Justice Minister Nestor Reverol, as saying.According to the local media reports the stampede took place at the Club Los Cotorros in the El Paraíso district in western Caracas.An investigation is underway.
25 killed in Nangarhar amid Afghanistan truce
At least 25 persons were killed and several wounded when a suicide blast occurred in Rodat district of Afghanistan's Nangarhar province on Saturday.Nangarhar spokesman Attaullah Khogyani confirmed that it was a suicide bombing, reports Afghan's TOLO News.As per the report, the blast took place at an Eid gathering here between Taliban and the Afghan government.The Islamic State (IS) has reportedly claimed the responsibility for the attack.According to the report, the Afghan government will take action and continue with their operations against Daesh and other groups as only Taliban was the part of the ceasefire.Saturday's deadly blast occurred around the time Afghan President Ashraf Ghani was announcing an extension of the cease-fire with the Taliban and urged the militant group to extend its cease-fire as well.
17 dead in Venezuela club stampede
At least 17 people were killed on Saturday in a stampede in a nightclub in the Venezuelan capital Caracas, the Interior Minister Nestor Reverol has confirmed.
Ghani extends ceasefire with Taliban
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Saturday announced an extension of the government's week-long ceasefire with the Taliban which was otherwise due to end on Tuesday."To respect the public's wishes and to support their demands about peace, I am ordering the security and defense forces to extend the ceasefire from the fourth day of Eid. We will soon share the details of the proposed ceasefire with the nation," Afghan President Ashraf Ghani tweeted.He also urged the Taliban to extend their three-day ceasefire which is due to end Sunday."We also request the Afghan Taliban to extend their ceasefire. During the ceasefire, we will provide medical assistance to the wounded Taliban, and will provide them any humanitarian assistance if needed. Taliban prisoners will also be allowed to contact and see their families," Ghani wrote in another tweet.This comes in the backdrop of an initial truce which was observed by both sides over the Eid festival period.Emphasising on the significance of peace, ..
Afghanistan extends ceasefire with Taliban
Afghanistan has extended its unilateral ceasefire with the Taliban following an initial truce observed by both sides over the Eid festival period.
17 killed after nightclub brawl in Caracas
Venezuela's government says 17 people were killed early today after a tear gas device was set off during a nightclub brawl in the capital, triggering a stampede among hundreds of people gathered for a graduation celebration. Interior Minister Nestor Reverol said eight minors were among those killed. Another five people were injured. He said one of those involved in the fight set off the tear gas device during a celebration at "Los Cotorros" club in the middle-class neighborhood of El Paraiso, triggering the stampede of more than 500 partygoers who fled in a mad, choking frenzy. Images circulated on Twitter showed shoes scattered outside what appeared to be the club and people embracing one another, some wiping away tears. Reverol did not give any motive behind the brawl. "The establishment has been ordered closed, and we are investigating in coordination with the public ministry, which is directing the criminal investigation," Reverol said. He also said seven people were arrested, ...
Afghanistan extends ceasefire after suicide attack kills 25
An Afghan government ceasefire with the Taliban was extended today despite a suicide bombing killing at least 25, which marred an otherwise remarkable Eid holiday that has seen militants hugging security forces and civilians in celebration of the unprecedented truce. President Ashraf Ghani made the announcement in a rare televised address to the nation, in which he also asked the Taliban to extend their three-day ceasefire, which is due to end Sunday night. So far the group has not responded. "I order the security forces to remain on their defensive positions," Ghani said, adding details of the extension would be released later. The government's ceasefire was due to end Tuesday. Ghani's comments came on the second day of Eid, the Muslim holiday that caps the fasting month of Ramadan. It has been marked by incredible scenes of Taliban fighters greeting, embracing and even praying with security forces, politicians, and civilians across the war-battered country, including on the ...