Page 599 - War Conflict
IS begins quitting last pocket of Syria's capital
Islamic State group fighters began evacuating their final stronghold in southern Damascus today, a monitor said, bringing Syria's government closer than ever to flushing out the last threat to the capital. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has used a combination of military pressure and evacuation deals in recent months to recapture territory around the capital from his armed opponents. Last month, troops and allied Palestinian militia launched a fierce offensive to oust IS from a cluster of districts in southern Damascus, including the Palestinian camp of Yarmuk. After weeks of combat and heavy casualties, an apparent deal was reached for remaining IS fighters to leave Yarmuk and the adjacent district of Tadamun, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. IS jihadists burned their headquarters in Yarmuk before boarding buses with their relatives to leave the area, said Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman. "The six buses left at dawn, heading east for the Syrian desert," he .
Malaysia ex-leader seeks police protection amid graft probe
Malaysia's national news agency is reporting that former Prime Minister Najib Razak, who is under investigation for a massive corruption scandal, has sought police protection over concern about his family's safety. Najib's long-ruling coalition suffered a shocking defeat in May 9 elections amid anger over at least $4.5 billion that investigators say was looted and laundered by Najib's associates from a state investment fund he set up. The new government has reopened an investigation into the case, with police raiding Najib's properties and seizing cash, jewelry and other valuables. A spokesman for Najib told the Bernama news agency Sunday that Najib had asked "for protection for himself and his family as they fear for their safety." He didn't give details. Najib's main aide said he couldn't immediately comment.
C'garh: Naxals blow up police vehicle; 7 policemen killed
Seven police personnel were killed after Naxals blew up their vehicle in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district today, police said. The attack took place on a day when Union Home Minister Rajanth Singh is scheduled to arrive in the state. Naxals carried out a land mine blast around 12 noon when a joint team of the Chhattisgarh Armed Force (CAF) and the District Force (DF) was patrolling the Cholnar-Kirandul road to provide security to trucks carrying construction material for road works between Kirandul and Palnar villages, a senior police official said. The intensity of the blast, which took place near a culvert, was strong enough to toss the police vehicle in a roadside ditch, he said. Five personnel died on the spot and two were rushed to the National Mineral Development Corporation's hospital at Kirandul. One of them died during treatment at the hospital and another was airlifted to Raipur, where he died, the official said. Those killed from the DF were identified as Head Constable ...
CRPF raises 'Bastariya Battalion' to combat Naxals activities
In a bid to enhance combat capabilities in Naxal-hit area of Bastar district in Chhattisgarh, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), for the first time, has decided to include local representation in a special unit.The special unit has been numbered as 241 and named as 'Bastariya Battalion', as all the candidates are selected from four highly Naxal infested district in Chhattisgarh, i.e Bijapur, Dantewada, Narayanpur and Sukma.Comprising of 739 local tribal youths, the Bastariya Battalion, will be commissioned on May 21.Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh will be attending the passing out parade of young recruits which include 198 women combatants, at the CRPF training centre at Ambikapur.One of the unique characters of this 241 Bastariya Battalion is that the representation of 33 percent female candidates has been maintaining as per policy of the government.A special recruitment drive was launched by the CRPF to recruit 743 rural ST candidates to give a fair chance to the ...
Baloch activists to hold protests against Pak's nukes testing
Members of Free Balochistan Movement (FBM) will organise worldwide protests against testing of Pakistan's nuclear weapons in Balochistan's Chaghai district on May 28, 2018.According to FBM official statement, protest rallies will be held in the United States' Washington DC, Germany's Hannover city, United Kingdom's capital London, Vancouver in Canada, Austria's capital Vienna and The Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden.The aim of these demonstrations is to highlight the dangers of Pakistan's nuclear weapons to Balochistan and the world.The FBM has invited all human rights activists, anti-nuclear weapons groups and journalist to join its protests around the world.The Baloch social media activists will also run a Twitter campaign on May 28 with hashtag #NoToPakistaniNukes.Twenty years ago, Pakistan tested its nuclear weapons in Balochistan's Chaghai hills on May 28, 1998, contaminating the Baloch land forever. The local population has been suffering from mysterious illnesses, according to ..
Naxals can't fight with our jawans face to face: Rajnath
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday condemned the Naxals attack in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district which claimed lives of six security personnel.Earlier today, six jawans lost their lives and one got injured in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast, when their vehicle was passing through Cholnar village.Talking to media, Singh said, "It is a sad incident where six jawans were killed in an IED blast in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada. The Naxals targeted the jawans by planting IED rather than fighting them face to face."Troops of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have rushed to the spot.Condemning the incident, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh said, "Naxals are against development and they usually target our soldiers. We will strongly retaliate against such incidents.
First IS fighters evacuate south Damascus: monitor
A first batch of Islamic State group fighters left their final stronghold in Syria's capital early today under a deal struck after weeks of fierce combat, a monitor said. "At dawn, six buses of IS fighters and their relatives left the Yarmuk Palestinian refugee camp and adjacent district of Tadamun," said Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Abdel Rahman said the buses headed east for Syria's vast desert, where IS still controls some territory. He had no details on how many people were aboard the vehicles, but said a majority of them were relatives of jihadists and not armed. The evacuations came a day after an apparent deal was reached to put an end to a ferocious month-long offensive to oust IS from its last positions in southern Damascus. Pro-regime forces, specifically Palestinian militias, had been fighting since April 19 to recapture Yarmuk, Tadamun, and the nearby districts of Qadam and Hajar al-Aswad from IS. The assault had ...
Iraq's al-Sadr, promising reform, is constrained by Iran
Iraq's Muqtada al-Sadr, the maverick Shiite cleric whose political coalition beat out Iran's favored candidates to come in first in national elections, says he wants to form a government that puts Iraqis first. The electoral commission announced early yesterday that the militant-turned-populist preacher, who has long spoken out against both Iranian and US influence in Iraq, had defeated his establishment rivals. Al-Sadr who is remembered for leading an insurgency against U.S. forces after the 2003 invasion did not run for a seat himself and is unlikely to become prime minister, but will command a significant number of seats and has already begun informal talks about government formation. Salah al-Obeidi, a spokesman for al-Sadr's Sa'eroun political bloc, told The Associated Press that Iraq's sovereignty was going to be the new government's "guiding principle." "We warn any other country that wants to involve itself in Iraqi politics not to cross the Iraqi people," he said. However, .
Maoist landmine kills six policemen in Chhattisgarh
Six police personnel were killed and another was critically wounded in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district on Sunday when a landmine planted by Maoists ripped through the vehicle they were travelling in.
Will give befitting reply to Naxals: Chhattisgarh CM
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh on Sunday said the state will give a befitting reply to Naxals and their growing activities."We condemn the Naxal attack in Dantewada in which six jawans have been killed. The Naxals try to stop development and target jawans. We will give a befitting reply to them," he told reporters.At least six jawans were killed in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast in Dantewada's Cholnar village on Sunday.One other jawan has been injured in the blast which ripped apart the police vehicle in which they were travelling.The bomb went off the moment the moving vehicle came over it, leaving a small crater on the road.Troops of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were rushed to the spot where the attack took place.
IS fighters being evacuated from south Damascus: monitor
A first batch of Islamic State group fighters left their final stronghold in the south of Syria's Damascus early today under a deal struck after weeks of fierce combat, a monitor said. Six buses carried fighters and their families out of the IS-controlled Yarmuk Palestinian refugee camp and neighbouring Tadamun district, said Rami Abdel Rahman, head of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. "The six buses left at dawn, heading east for the Syrian desert," Abdel Rahman told AFP.
North East security is of paramount importance: Kiren Rijiju
Terming the North East as a strategic area, Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Saturday asserted that the security of the region is of paramount importance and Assam Rifles is playing a stellar role in this regard.Rijiju, while addressing the 'Attestation Parade' at the Assam Rifles Training Centre at Sukhovi in Nagaland, highlighted the regiment's diversified role.He said the Assam Rifles is playing a vital role in today's scenario, ranging from security to providing welfare and developmental assistance to the people.The Union minister also witnessed the training activities of women recruits in the Centre insurgency training area.
Chhattisgarh: Six jawans killed, 2 injured in IED blast
At least six jawans were killed in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast in Dantewada's Cholnar village on Sunday.One other jawan has been injured in the blast which ripped apart the police vehicle in which they were travelling.The bomb went off the moment the moving vehicle came over it, leaving a small crater on the road.Troops of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have rushed to the spot where the attack took place.Further details are awaited.
Five security personnel killed in Maoist blast
Five security personnel were killed on Sunday when Maoists detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district.
C'garh: Naxals blow up police vehicle; 5 cops killed, 2 injured
Five Chhattisgarh police personnel were killed and two others injured when Naxals blew up their vehicle with an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district today, police said. DIG (Dantewada Range) Ratan Lal Dangi said the Naxals triggered the blast between Cholnar and Kirandul villages when a joint team of the Chhattisagarh Armed Force and the District Force, in an SUV, was escorting a vehicle carrying material for road construction work. "Three personnel belonging to the CAF and two of the District Force were killed in the IED blast while two others sustained injuries," the official said. The ultras also looted the weapons of the police personnel, he said, adding that reinforcement was rushed to the spot soon after the incident. Road construction work is underway between Kirandul and Palnar villages in Dantewada. Further details are awaited.
3 drown in water tank while taking bath in Rajasthan
Three men drowned in a water tank while taking a bath in Rajasthan's Rajsamand district, police said today. The incident occurred under Devar Police Station yesterday, they said. Chetan Khateek (24), Sudarshan Khateek (22) and Radheyshaym Khateek (27) had gone to the take a bath but they accidentally slipped into the tank and drowned, police added. The bodies were handed over to family members after post-mortem today.
4 Taliban insurgents killed in Afghan air strikes
At least four Taliban insurgents were killed following an Afghan Special Operations Forces-related air strikes in the southern province of Zabul, officials said on Sunday.
No further talks with Sena for alliance: Mungantiwar
There would be no further talks for alliance with the Shiv Sena for the 2019 Lok Sabha and Maharashtra polls until it takes an initiative, senior BJP leader and state minister Sudhir Mungantiwar has said. Mungantiwar, who has been instrumental in trying to get the Sena on board for the forthcoming elections, said the BJP has made overtures but there has been no response from the Uddhav Thackeray-led party. "We have always wanted that the BJP and the Shiv Sena fight all polls unitedly. However, there has been no response from our ally. Hence, we have now decided to stop the alliance talks from our end until the Sena takes the first step," the finance and planning minister told PTI. In January this year, the Shiv Sena, a constituent of the Central and Maharashtra governments, had said it would not align with the BJP and go solo in the 2019 Lok Sabha and Maharashtra Assembly polls. The bickering ally had then declared that it had so far not contested elections outside the state to keep ..
Minor injured in clashes in Kashmir
A 9-year-old boy was seriously injured during clashes between a group of youth and security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district, police said on Sunday.
Youth injured in clashes in Kashmir
A youth was seriously injured during clashes between a group of youth and security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district, police said on Sunday.