Page 616 - War Conflict
Official: Taliban capture 2nd district compound in 2 days
An Afghan lawmaker says Taliban fighters have captured a second remote district compound in two days. Mohammad Hashim, a member of parliament from northwestern Faryab province, says the insurgents early Wednesday seized the compound in Bilchiragh district. Hashim says more than 40 government forces retreated. He says the Taliban also captured several villages nearby. Provincial police spokesman Abdul Karim Yorish says intense fighting is taking place near the compound, adding it's still in government hands. The Taliban have confirmed in a statement they control the district and say they also killed 10 government forces, whose bodies lay on the ground. The Taliban yesterday captured another district compound in northern Baghlan province.
CIA nominee Haspel to vow not to restart torture programme
Gina Haspel, President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the CIA, will pledge today to prevent the restart of the 2002-2005 interrogation programme that saw detainees tortured. The three-decade veteran of the Central Intelligence Agency's covert operations is facing opposition over her role at a secret CIA prison in Thailand in 2002 where Al-Qaeda detainees were waterboarded. "I understand that what many people around the country want to know about are my views on CIA's former detention and interrogation program," she will say, according to prepared testimony for her hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee. "Having served in that tumultuous time, I can offer you my personal commitment, clearly and without reservation, that under my leadership CIA will not restart such a detention and interrogation programme.
N Korea slams Japan for spoiling peace mood
North Korea condemned Japan on Tuesday for "throwing cold water" over easing tensions on the Korean Peninsula.The accusation carried referred to Tokyo's public support for continued sanctions and maximum pressure till the time North demonstrates its commitment to fully abandon nuclear weapons.On the eve of a trilateral leaders' summit between Japan, South Korea and China, Tokyo was expected to insist on the North's "complete, verifiable and irreversible" denuclearisation.The proposition was dismissed as according to Seoul's presidential office, it already secured a broad denuclearisation and peace agreement during the inter-Korean summit on April 27, Anadolu Agency reported.The U.S. is set to clarify the details of that agreement.President Donald Trump is expected to meet his North Korean counterpart Kim Jong-un in the coming weeks.The two Koreas reached an unprecedented set of agreements to end long-running hostilities and sign a peace agreement this year to replace the truce that ...
Suicide bomber kills at least two in east Libya
A suicide bomber attacked a checkpoint in eastern Libya held by militiamen loyal to strongman Khalifa Haftar, killing at least two people including a civilian, a senior security official said. The attacker also killed a fighter from Haftar's self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) when the vehicle they were driving exploded at a roadblock 90 kilometres (56 miles) east of Sirte yesterday, General Al-Mabruk Sahban told AFP. Sahban added that earlier in the day security services had detonated another car bomb discovered in the area. The attack on the checkpoint comes a day after Haftar announced the start of an offensive to "liberate" the city of Derna, held by Islamists and jihadists of the Mujahedeen Shura Council. Later last night, the Islamic State terror group claimed responsibility for the attack via its Amaq propaganda outlet. In March, IS claimed responsibility for two attacks against LNA checkpoints that killed 10 people. Last week, the jihadist group claimed a suicide attack in .
6 policemen suspended, SHO shifted for assault
Six Delhi Police personnel were suspended for allegedly assaulting a local BJP leader and his sons in a police station, a police official said on Tuesday.
Assam Rifles jawan wounded in grenade attack
A jawan of Assam Rifles on Tuesday was injured as two grenades were lobbed at the office of the military unit in Manipur's capital city, Imphal, by unidentified men on Tuesday.The jawan of 23 Assam Rifles, who suffered minor injuries, was reportedly rushed to a hospital after the grenade attack.An investigation is underway.
Bamboo handicraft units to be set up in three Maha varsities
Maharashtra Forests Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar has directed setting up of Bamboo Handicraft and Art Units (BHAU) in three universities from August 1, with a view to boost employment opportunities. Recently, a meeting was chaired to start these units by Maharashtra Governor and Chancellor of universities C Vidyasagar Rao. In a review meeting held today, the minister directed establishment of the units at Savitribai Phule Pune University, Sant Gadgebaba Amravati University, and Mahatma Phule Agricultural University in Rahuri. "University campuses should be a center for employment generation. Once these units start functioning, self employment opportunities will be provided by training students in coordination with the Mudra Scheme," Mungantiwar said. Keeping in view the special significance of bamboo in the regions where the varsities are located, a bamboo dictionary should be prepared for providing details of the species of bamboo, their uses, and various other things ...
Mobile Internet services restored in Kashmir
Mobile Internet services were restored here tonight after remaining suspended for four days following an encounter between militants and security forces in the Chattabal area, the police said. Mobile Internet services had been restored in Srinagar and Budgam districts, a police official said. He, however, said only low-speed 2G services had been restored. High-speed 4G services continued to remain barred on mobile devices, the official said. Mobile Internet services were snapped in the summer capital on Saturday morning in the wake of an encounter between security forces and militants in the Chattabal area of the city. The facility was suspended in other areas, including four south Kashmir districts and Ganderbal in central Kashmir, after another encounter in Shopian on Sunday. Five militants were killed in that gunfight, while five civilians lost their lives in clashes between protestors and the security forces.
ED registers money laundering case against PFI
Kerala-based "radical" outfit PFI has been booked under criminal charges of money laundering by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for its alleged links with terror activities and funding, officials said today. The move has come days after BJP President Amit Shah had said that if the party forms government in Karnataka, it would recommend a ban against the outfit which allegedly also operates in some parts of the poll-bound state. The central probe agency has filed a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), based on a 2013 FIR of the NIA and a subsequent chargesheet. Officials said the agency will look into the alleged role of the "radical" outfit Popular Front of India (PFI) with respect to suspected terror funding and possible creation of assets by using "tainted" funds. The anti-terror probe organisation, National Investigation Agency (NIA), had submitted a report on the PFI to the Union Home Ministry a few months back claiming that the group has been involved in ...
Afghan official says Taliban capture district compound
An Afghan official says Taliban fighters have captured a remote district compound in northern Baghlan province. Provincial police chief Ekramuddin Sarih says the insurgents early today attacked and captured the compound Tala wa Barfak district. Sarih said government forces retreated temporarily from the district compound but will soon plan a counterattack. He said the rest of the district is under control of government forces. Sarih did not give any causality information. The Taliban in a text message claimed responsibility for the attacks and said a "number" of police were killed.
Villagers clash over differences on pharma firm's expansion
Two groups of villagers clashed here today after heated arguments during a public hearing on the expansion plan of a pharmaceutical firm, prompting police to make a lathi-charge and use tear-gas to disperse them. The clash broke out as the residents of the Periya Kalapet were divided over the plan of Strides Sashun Drugs, which has a unit in their village. A section of residents who attended the hearing opposed the proposal saying it would cause environmental pollution and affect their lives, while another group backed the company. With the issue snowballing, Puducherry Lt Governor Kiran Bedi, who was petitioned by an opposition AINRC MLA, said status quo would prevail and asked the Industries Secretary to look into all aspects and hear concerns of all. Earlier, trouble started as the villagers engaged in heated arguments during the public hearing convened by District Collector Satyendra Singh Dursawat, who abruptly called off the meet. Following this, the clash broke out
Afghanistan: 19 militants killed in NDS ops
At least 19 militants including seven Pakistani nationals have been killed during the operations of the Special Forces of the Afghan Intelligence, National Directorate of Security (NDS), in Afghanistan's eastern Nangarhar province.The NDS Special Forces conducted raids on military compounds of the Taliban in Beli area of Momand Dara, leaving five Taliban commanders dead, Khaama Press reported, citing the provincial government media office, as saying in a statement.At least eight others have been arrested, according to the report.The Taliban leaders killed during the operations have been identified as Irshad also famous as Haji, Shamali, Qari Janat famous as Qari Omar, Saqib and Afridi, the statement added.The Afghan forces have also confiscated and destroyed several arms, ammunition and explosive, such as machine guns, rocket launchers, 47 rifles, etc.No comments have been received from the anti-government armed militant groups including Taliban militants in connection with this ...
Chhattisgarh: Girls from Naxal affected villages receive judo training
Young girls residing in villages affected by Naxalism in Chhattisgarh's Kondagaon district are being given training in the martial art form of Judo by Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).Judo is a martial art used by the ITBP, and there a constable from its 41st battalion, Zahir Hasan, has been given the charge of imparting lessons to these young girls."Free lessons are being imparted to the girls belonging villages heavily affected due to Naxalism," said Hasan.On being asked about the motive behind training them, Hasan said it is being done to make them respect the sport."We encourage them to love this sport, and also help them move ahead in life,"While speaking to ANI, the constable said the students have brought in accolades in state and national level championships."20 children have participated in state-level championships and 3 of them at the national level," said Hasan.The training is being imparted in a girl's hostel set up by the ITBP. Until now, they have trained 65 young ...
Maoist carrying Rs 3 lakh bounty held in Chhattisgarh forest
A Naxalite, carrying a cash reward of Rs 3 lakh on his head, was today arrested from a forest in Chhattisgarh's insurgency-hit Kondagaon district, police said. Mohan Kashyap (20) was picked up from the forest between Madnar and Permpal villages under Bayanar police station limits during a search operation by a joint team of security forces, Kondgaon Additional Superintendent of Police Maheshwar Nag told PTI. A combined squad of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Chhattisgarh Armed Force (CAF) had launched the operation towards Mungawal, Kejang and Madanar villages, located around 300 kms away from the state capital Raipur, he said. Security forces spotted Kashyap between Madanar and Permapal villages when he was trying to hide in the forest, the ASP said. Kashyap, an LOS (local organisation squad) member of Maoists, was allegedly hiding there to target security forces through an improvised explosive device (IED) and cause damage to vehicles involved in road ...
Separatists ask people to resume normal activities from Wednesday
The Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL), headed by separatist leaders Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umer Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik, appealed to people of the Kashmir Valley to resume normal activities of life from Wednesday.
Body of Chennai tourist flown home, widespread condemnation continues
The body of a 22-year old tourist from Chennai killed by stone pelters here was flown home on Tuesday as Kashmiris cutting across the political spectrum continued to condemn the cowardly act.
Govt prepares cabinet note for CISF security at all airports
The government has made the final policy push to bring all civil airports in the country under the cover of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), in view of "threats" to national security from possible terror attacks and hijack bids. The Union home ministry, official sources said, has recently prepared a comprehensive note for the consideration of the proposal by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS), headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with the home, defence, finance and external affairs ministers as its members. The note is expected to be taken up at the next CCS meeting, they added. Of the 98 functional airports in the country, 59 are under the armed security cover of the paramilitary CISF, leaving out 39. Of the 26 "hyper-sensitive" airports, 20, including the ones in Mumbai and Delhi, are under the CISF cover while six, including the Srinagar airport in Jammu and Kashmir, are not. The remaining airports are under other security forces like the Central Reserve Police .
Yemen: 2 presidential guards killed in attack
Two presidential guard soldiers were killed in Yemen's interim capital Aden on Tuesday.As per Nasir Abbad, Aden's Hur Mekser district police chief, the identities of the perpetrators have not been ascertained yet, as reported by the Anadolu Agency.The soldiers were said to be motorbike-borne riding near a Yemeni Airways building in Hur Mekser, as they launched an attack on the soldiers.Yemen has in the past witnessed multiple incidents of violence and problems since 2014. The Houthi rebels had led various attacks in the country including Yemen's capital Sanaa.In 2015, Saudi Arabia and its Sunni-Arab allies had launched a massive military campaign in Yemen aimed at rolling back Houthi gains.
Two migrant workers killed in Patna
A gang of criminals stabbed to death two migrant workers and seriously injured another when they resisted their attempt to loot them in the Bihar capital on Tuesday morning, police said.
Teenager injured in Shopian clashes dies
A teenager injured in clashes with security personnel in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district on Sunday succumbed to his injuries in a hospital here on Tuesday.