Page 612 - War Conflict
Maharashtra govt pushes for concrete benefit for clay artists
The Maharashtra government wants to bring clay artists in the mainstream by enhancing their traditional skills using modern technology, a move that will help them earn better income, Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar has said. The Maharashtra State Khadi Gramodyog Board made a presentation in regards to the Sant Shiromani Gorobakaka Maharashtra Clay Art Board, a new body set up by the government, to Mungantiwar at a meeting here yesterday. Representatives of the khadi gramodyog board and members of potters' association were also present in the meeting. The government, in the last budget, had announced setting up of the Sant Shiromani Gorobakaka Maharashtra Clay Art Board to provide training in making various clay items. "The government seeks to bring clay artisans in the mainstream to increase their traditional skills using modern technology, bring more artistry in the field and to improve production to sales chain. "All this will create more employment opportunities .
Swaraj meets Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Myanmar's first State Counsellor (Myanmar) Aung San Suu Kyi met in Naypyidaw on Friday as a part of her two-day visit to the South-Asian country.Seven agreements pertaining to several bilateral issues were signed in their presence.Earlier in the day, she also met Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar armed forces, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.Sushma Swaraj is on a two day to Myanmar visit from May 10-11.Earlier on May 10, she met President of Myanmar Win Myint in Naypyidaw.Her visit is a part of the ongoing high-level interaction between the governments of India and Myanmar, according to a Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) statement.The visit comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Myanmar in September last year.
Swaraj meets Myanmar's State Counsellor Suu Kyi, discusses bilateral ties
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today met Myanmar's State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations across different sectors. Swaraj arrived here yesterday on a two-day visit for talks with the country's top leadership on key bilateral and regional issues, including the Rohingya refugee crisis. "Neighbourhood First! EAM @SushmaSwaraj met the State Counsellor and Foreign Minister of Myanmar Aung San Suu Kyi on the 2nd day of her visit to Myanmar. Discussion focused on strengthening our bilateral relations across different sectors," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted. Yesterday, she called on Myanmar President U Win Myint. An estimated 7,00,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled Myanmar's Rakhine State since August last year after large-scale violence following a military crackdown. The exodus of refugees in large numbers has resulted in a major crisis in neighbouring Bangladesh. Suu Kyi has faced intense international ...
Afghanistan extends deadline for voter registration amid violence
A deadline for Afghans to register to vote in the October 20 legislative elections has been extended, officials said today, as figures show hundreds of civilians have already been killed or wounded in poll-related violence. Enrolment for the long-delayed parliamentary and district council elections began on April 14 and was originally scheduled to finish in mid-June. By Thursday, just over 1.5 million adults had signed up to vote, a spokesman for the Independent Election Commission (IEC) told AFP -- a fraction of the 14 million it had hoped to register during the two-month process. "The election commission of Afghanistan has extended the voting registration process for one month," the IEC said in a statement, without explaining the reason for the decision. There are fears that a low turnout could erode the credibility of the elections, which are seen as a test run for next year's presidential poll. The vote was supposed to be held in 2015 but has been repeatedly pushed back due to ...
Separatist call for protest, restrictions imposed in parts of Srinagar
Restrictions have been imposed in parts of Srinagar in view of a protest called by Separatist today against civilian deaths in a clash between protestors and security forces after an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Sophian district. Separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq was put under house arrest this morning, a police official said. Restrictions, under Section 144 of the CrPc, were imposed by authorities in five police station areas of the summer capital, the official said. The curbs are in force in the Nowhatta, Khanyar, Rainawari, Safakadal and Maharajgunj police station areas of Srinagar, he said. The restrictions were imposed as a precautionary measure, to maintain law and order, and prevent any untoward incident, the official said. On May 6, five Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists were killed in an encounter in Sophian, even as five civilians died during clashes between protesters and law enforcing agencies near the encounter site. Separatists, under the banner of Joint Resistance ...
Triple murder rocks UP town, irate mob attacks police
Three members of a family were killed and several injured when dacoits attacked a house in Kasganj district in Uttar Pradesh, police said on Friday.
22-yr-old man killed in Pakistan firing in JK's Poonch
A 22-year-old man was killed today after Pakistani troops resorted to firing from small arms on Indian Army posts along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district, a police officer said. There was small arms firing by Pakistani troops along the LoC in the district's Gulpur-Bagyal Dhara belt, the police officer told PTI. The Pakistan Army initiated firing around 12:30 am on Indian Army posts in Baghal Dhara, he said. The Indian Army retaliated effectively, the officer said. The deceased was identified as Mohammad Ikhlaq, a resident of Kalsan Malti Baghal Dhara. He suffered serious injuries and died on the spot, the officer said. The man was killed during a marriage function in an area close to the LoC. A bullet fired by from across the border hit Ikhlaq, he said. There has been a spurt in ceasefire violations along the LoC and the International Border (IB) in Jammu and Kashmir this year, resulting in the death of 31 people, including 16 security personnel, in over
7 found dead in Western Australia
Seven people were found dead on Friday at a rural property in Western Australia (WA), police said.
UN pushes Myanmar to hold accountable those behind Rohingya attacks
The UN Security Council has called on Myanmar to speed up efforts to ensure the safe return of the Rohingya and to hold accountable perpetrators of attacks against the Muslim minority. The Wednesday statement followed a fact-finding mission by the council's ambassadors to Myanmar and Bangladesh from April 28 to May 1 to get a firsthand look at the crisis from the forced exodus of 700,000 Rohingya form Myanmar. China, a strong supporter of Myanmar's former ruling junta, had initially opposed language that stressed the importance of transparent investigations of human rights violations but it dropped its resistance during negotiations. Council members said that "in light of the importance of undertaking transparent investigations into allegations of human rights abuses and violations, urge the government of Myanmar to fulfil, based on respect for the rule of law, its stated commitment to holding accountable perpetrators of violence." The council also urged Myanmar to "step up its ...
War on terror 'key' to Italy's OCSE chairmanship
Rome, May 11 (IANS/AKI) The fight against terrorism is "a top priority" for Italy, the coordinator of its chairmanship of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe told a meeting on returning foreign fighters here on Thursday.
Five killed in 'US raid' in Somalia: elders
Five civilians have been shot dead in an alleged raid involving US forces in southern Somalia, elders said today. Ali Mohamed Moalin, a traditional elder close to Afgoye in Lower Shabelle where the alleged raid took place on Wednesday night, said "two military helicopters" were involved as well as "some foreign special forces". District police officer Ibrahim Abdi confirmed the military operation saying it was targeting Islamic militants of the al-Qaeda aligned Shabaab group. "There was a raid by Somali special forces near Afgoye last night, they were targeting Al-Shabaab, but we have been informed about civilian casualties. The security forces are investigating the reports," he said. Somali commandos often launch operations side-by-side with the American forces that train them. Air assaults and missile strikes have increased in recent months, and with them allegations of civilian casualties. "There are five dead bodies of innocent farmers who have been killed by the special forces ...
One killed after attackers slit throats in Durban mosque
A person was killed on Thursday at a mosque in Verulam near Durban in South Africa when three armed men slit the throats of three worshippers.The paramedics are reportedly attending to the wounded.It is being reported that the attackers, who have fled, are three Egyptian nationals, however, it is yet to be officially confirmed.A section of the mosque was set ablaze, according to several media reports.The motive for the attack is still unknown.An investigation is underway.More details are awaited.
Hung K'taka Assembly may force BJP-JD(S) tie-up: Mungantiwar
Senior BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar today said that a hung Assembly in neighbouring Karnataka, which votes on May 12, could force the BJP to align with the Janata Dal (Secular). He said that the party could not afford to get stuck around the 100-seat mark in the Karnataka Assembly polls. "If we do, the party may once again have to align with the JD(S)," he said. He added that the Congress too might be toying with the idea of extending outside support to a JD-S government. Mungantiwar said that after the Karnataka results are out, the Congress would be left (in governance) in just two states. He said some parties were indulging in "spreading rumours" as they were unsure of voters' support. Speaking about the Lok Sabha and local bodies' constituency polls in Maharashtra, the senior BJP leader discounted reports about the BJP asking the Shiv Sena to withdraw its candidate for the Palghar Lok Sabha seat. Replying to a query on the Congress reportedly asking the BJP to ...
HP cylinder blast: Two succumb to burn injuries
Two persons, who sustained severe burn injuries in a cylinder blast in Nagrota Surian yesterday, succumbed today, police said. The deceased were identified as Fouji Ram and Khaintho Ram. The bodies were handed over to the family members after postmortem, the Senior Superintendent of Police, Kangra, said. At least 22 people, including women, were injured yesterday when the cylinder went off at a sweets shops near the Nagrota Surian bus stand here. Theinjured were admitted to a government hospital in Tanda, one injured is undergoing treatment at Sukhsadan Hospital in Pathankot, police said.
Naxal killed in gun-battle with police in Chhattisgarh
A naxal was today killed in an exchange of fire with security forces in Rajnandgaon district in Chhattisgarh, officials said. The incident took place in a forest area near Dudagad village under Bakarkatta police station limits, they said. A combined team of Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Special Task Force (STF) was on a patrol duty, when the naxals opened fire on them, police officials in Rajnandgaon told PTI over phone. The security forces retaliated and the exchange of fire continued for a while. After some time, the rebels escaped into the interior parts of the forest. When the security forces searched the area, they found the body of the naxal. They also recovered a pressure bomb and some naxal-related material from the spot. The deceased is yet to be identified, police said.
Maharashtra to get first police museum in Mumbai
The Mumbai Police Commissioner's office, the Mumbai Police Foundation and Tata Trusts have signed a MoU for setting up Maharashtra's first police museum here, it was announced on Thursday.
Requested for assistance from Afghanistan: MEA on 7 Indians abducted
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday confirmed that it has asked for all the possible assistance from Afghanistan in connection with the matter of abduction of seven Indians in the war-torn country."We are in touch with the Afghan authorities on this matter. Our External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and our National Security Advisor Ajit Doval have had the telephonic conversations with their counterparts and we have requested for all the possible assistance from them," MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar told reporters at media briefing."This is a sensitive matter. Lives of seven Indians are involved. Thereby, we cannot share much about where we are at this point of time in a public forum," Kumar added.On Sunday, seven Indians, working for RPG Group company KEC International in Afghanistan's northern Baghlan province, were abducted.The Taliban militants are reportedly suspected behind the abduction.According to several media reports, the Taliban apparently mistook them for .
Stone-pelters attack K'taka judge vacationing in J-K
Days after a resident of Chennai died in a stone pelting incident in Jammu and Kashmir, a similar incident has surfaced where the vehicle in which the District Judge of a Bengaluru Family Court was travelling in was pelted with stones.B. S. Bharathi, along with her family, was on vacation in the state when on May 7, their car was pelted with stones near Narbal. Thereafter, during their return from Gulmarg on May 8, they were attacked again.However, no one sustained any injuries in the incidents."My family and I went to J and K on a holiday. On May 7, stones were pelted on our car near Narbal and again on May 8, while returning from Gulmarg. We escaped unhurt because of the driver who responded quickly and drove us away from the spot," said Bharathi.On Monday, R. Thirumani, the 21-year-old Chennai resident, succumbed to his injuries in a Srinagar hospital after sustaining fatal injuries to his forehead and his nose as the car he and his family were travelling in was pelted with stones .
Militant outfit claims responsibility for BSF camp blast
Militant outfit People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) today claimed responsibility for the blast outside a BSF camp in Manipur that left two securitymen killed and three civilians injured. In a statement, the PREPAK said the bomb explosion was carried out by its cadres near the gate of the Border Security Force (BSF) camp at Koirengei in Imphal East district. Two BSF personnel were killed and three civilians injured in the blast that took place outside the gate of BSF's Manipur Sector Head Quarters at Koirengei yesterday afternoon. The PREPAK was formed in 1977 and its main demand is the expulsion of outsiders from Manipur.
LeT, Haqqani Network behind Kabul attacks-NDS
The infamous Haqqani Network (HN) backed by militants of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror group was primarily responsible for the coordinated serial attacks in Afghan capital Kabul on Wednesday that claimed the lives of 15 people, said the National Directorate of Security (NDS).The NDS, which is the intelligence wing of Afghanistan, said three separate attacks were carried out in Kabul. It said that one of the attacks occurred close to the Asian Development Bank office, in the downtown Shar-e Naw neighborhood, and the other in the western part of the city at a police headquarters. Those attacks killed at least seven people and wounded 17 others.According to the New York Times, the attacks came a day after two rural northern districts fell to the Taliban, expanding the militant group's control over territory in Afghanistan.The Islamic State militant group claimed responsibility for the attack on the Kabul police station, while the Taliban said it had carried out the ...