Page 634 - War Conflict
10 journalists including AFP photographer among dozens killed in Afghan attacks
Ten journalists including Agence France-Presse's chief photographer in Kabul, Shah Marai, were among dozens killed in multiple attacks across Afghanistan today, in the deadliest day for the country's media since 2001. Two suicide blasts in Kabul killed 25 people including Marai along with at least eight other journalists, in what Reporters Without Borders said was the most lethal single attack on the media since the fall of the Taliban. The attack, claimed by the Islamic State group, was condemned internationally by groups including the United Nations and the European Union, and spurred an outpouring of grief among Afghan journalists, many of whom took to Twitter to post tributes to colleagues and friends. Kabul police spokesman Hashmat Stanikzai said the second explosion came minutes after the first and targeted reporters at the scene. "The bomber disguised himself as a journalist and detonated himself among the crowd," he said. The interior ministry confirmed the number of deaths ...
10 aid workers released after abduction in South Sudan
Ten aid workers who were abducted in South Sudan last week have been released, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said today. "We are pleased that these 10 aid workers will now be able to return to their families," said Francois Stamm, ICRC head in South Sudan. The ICRC is commonly involved in mediating the release of captives and hostages. The United Nations in South Sudan said last week that an aid convoy had gone missing in the southwest of the war-torn country, close to the town of Yei, adding it was the second time aid workers had been abducted by an armed group this month. Aid workers have frequently been targeted during South Sudan's four-year-long civil war, with 100 killed since the outbreak of fighting in December 2013, according to the UN. The conflict has killed tens of thousands, forced millions from their homes and pushed millions more to the brink of starvation. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said the 10 missing aid ...
Film on Subedar Joginder Singh shown to soldiers
A biopic of Subedar Joginder Singh, the hero of the 1962 Sino-Indian war who was conferred the Param Vir Chakra posthumously, was shown here in the presence of his family members and army GOC Gajaraj corps here. The Punjabi war film 'Subedar Joginder Singh' has been produced by Saga music and released on April 6 this year. It has been directed by Simerjit Singh who hails from Moga, the same region as Joginder Singh. The film depicts the life of Joginder Singh and his battalion of 20 men who held their position defying a 600-strong Chinese contingent in Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh during the Sino-India war. Gajaraj Corps GOC Lt Gen Gurpal Singh Sangha told the media after the screening last evening that the film is a "great honour" to Singh, who had made the supreme sacrifice. "We are proud of him", he said adding the film will be available in every frontier and area where Indian soldiers are deployed so that they can see their hero. Sangha said, "We still have ..
BBC reporter killed in eastern Afghanistan: broadcaster
A BBC reporter was killed in eastern Afghanistan today, the broadcaster said, hours after twin blasts in Kabul marked the deadliest day for journalists in the war-torn country since the Taliban's fall in 2001. "It is with great sadness that the BBC can confirm the death of BBC Afghan reporter Ahmad Shah following an attack earlier today. The attack took place in Khost province," BBC World Service director Jamie Angus said in a statement.
40 killed in Afghanistan suicide bombings (Fourth Lead)
At least 29 people, including eight journalists, were killed as two suicide bombers exploded themselves in quick succession in the Afghan capital on Monday. Hours later, another suicide attack killed 11 madrassa students in Kandahar province.
Chhattisgarh extends ban on CPI (Maoist) for one more year
The Chhattisgarh government has extended the ban on the Communist Party of India (Maoist) and six of its front organisations for one more year, an official said today. He said that the ban, the notification for which was issued by the state's Home department, has come into effect from April 12. The CPI (Maoist) was first banned, along with its affiliates, in the state in April 2006 under provisions of the Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act-2005. The ban has been extended for a period of one year every year since then, he said. "The ban on the CPI(Maoist) and its six front organisations has been extended for one more year," a government official said today. The official identified the six Maoist front organisations, on which bans have been extended, as Dandakaranya Adivasi Kisan Mazdoor Sangh, Krantikari Adivasi Mahila Sangh, Krantikari Adivasi Balak Sangh, Krantikari Kisan Committee, Mahila Mukti Manch and Janatana Sarkar. Security forces, comprising state police ..
Sameer Tiger found death waiting in village he called home
After months of hiding in the thick forests of Kashmir, the 20-year-old came back to where he once belonged -- only to find death lying in wait. Sameer Ahmed Bhat, alias Sameer Tiger, the Hizbul Mujahideen's main recruiter, was gunned down today in Pulwama district's Drabgam, the village he called home, officials said. Bhat, who was also known as "Abbasi" and "Faisal", met his end in the village after a six-hour gunbattle around 2.15 pm, they said. The morning began with security forces, acting on a tip-off that militants were holed up inside a house, cordoning the area. Around noon, security personnel, who were fighting stone pelting from the civilians, fired heavily at the house, causing an explosion, officials said. About an hour later, the first militant, identified as Aaquib Mushtaq, was killed. He was a local resident belonging to Rajpora area of Pulwama. Shortly after, Bhat, who is alleged to have carried out several political and civilian killings in Pulwama area, was gunned .
Afghan Federation of Journalists, media issue joint statement condemning suicide blasts
The Afghan Federation of Journalists and Afghan's other media outlets have issued a joint statement on Monday condemning the twin suicide blasts at Shash Darak area leaving six people dead and multiple injured.The statement claimed the terrorists attack to be a war crime, as reported by the TOLO News."This terrorist attack is a war crime and an organized attack on the Afghan media," the statement read.The statement further said that "Despite today's attack and other threats against journalists, the Afghan media is committed to providing information."As per the statement, the journalists said that the attack indicates lack of security by the Afghan government.The Afghan media has called on the international agencies including the International Court of Justice and the United Nations Security Council to initiate a probe in the incident.It further asked the Afghanistan government to help victims' families.April 30 will be remembered in the honour of the 'fallen colleagues', read the ...
11 students killed as third blast rocks Afghanistan
At least 11 students of a madrassa were killed in a car bombing in Afghanistan's Kandahar province on Monday, officials said.
Afghanistan: 11 students killed in suicide bombing attack
Around 11 Madrassa students were killed in a suicide bomb attack in Kandahar province of Afghanistan on Monday.The students were killed by a suicide car bomber.According to Tolo News, the attacks were aimed at Romanian troops who were patrolling the area.16 others were also injured which included five Romanian soldiers.Tolo News further reported that no terrorist group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
J-K: 2 terrorists gunned down in Pulwama
Two terrorists were gunned during an encounter with the security forces at Jammu and Kashmir's Drabgam in Pulwama district.The two terrorists have been identified as Sameer Tiger and Aaqib Khan.Earlier, stone pelting was reported at the encounter site, where two-three terrorists were trapped.The encounter broke out at 10:00 a.m. after a cordon and search operation (CASO) was launched by troops of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) 182 Battalion and 183 Battalion, along with 44 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) and Special Operations Group (SOG) Pulwama.
End killings of Hazara Shias: Pakistani daily
A Pakistani daily on Monday urged the government to take immediate steps to end the "genocide" of the Shia Hazara community.
Double Kabul suicide bombing kills 25, including eight journalists
A coordinated double suicide bombing by the Islamic State group hit central Kabul this morning, killing at least 25 people, including eight journalists, officials said. An AFP photographer and a cameraman for a local TV station were among the fatalities, the police said. At least 45 people were wounded in the twin attacks, according to Kabul police spokesman, Hashmat Stanekzai, who also added that four policemen were among those killed. The attack was the latest in a relentless string of deadly large-scale bombings and assaults that have struck Kabul and elsewhere in Afghanistan so far this year. And as the Afghan capital reeled from today's assault, a suicide car bombing a few hours later in the southern province of Kandahar killed 11 children, a police spokesman said. In a statement posted on an IS-affiliated website, the Islamic State group said two of its martyrdom seekers carried out the double Kabul bombings, targeting the headquarters of the "renegade" Afghan intelligence ...
11 children killed in Afghan suicide attack on foreign convoy: officials
A suicide attack on a foreign military convoy in southern Afghanistan today killed at least 11 children who were nearby, officials said, amid a spate of attacks across the war-torn country. Sixteen others were wounded, including foreign and Afghan security forces, when a bomb-laden car exploded in the southern province of Kandahar, provincial police spokesman Qasim Afgha told AFP.
Top Hizbul commander among three killed in Kashmir
A top Hizbul commander, Sameer Tiger, and his associate Aquib were killed on Monday in a gunfight with security forces while a civilian also lost his life during clashes in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district.
Two Hizb militants, civilian killed in Kashmir encounter
Two Hizbul Mujahideen militants, including Sameer Ahmed Bhat alias 'Sameer Tiger', were today gunned down and a civilian killed in an encounter in south Kashmir's Pulwama district, police said. Two armymen also suffered bullet injuries in the encounter that took place in Pulwama's Drabgam area, police officials said. Acting on an intelligence tip-off that militants were holed up inside a house, a joint team of personnel from the army, special task force of the state police and CRPF cordoned off the area. As the search operation closed in on the house, security personnel received a barrage of bullets in which two armymen were injured, officials said. The civilian was killed when security forces were trying to chase away a stone pelting mob, the officials said. Civilians wanted to throng the encounter site so that militants could run away, an official said. Around noon, security personnel, who were fighting stone pelting from the civilians, fired at heavily at the house, thereby ...
25 killed in Kabul suicide blasts
At least twenty-five people, including four journalists were killed and many others injured in twin suicide explosions that rocked Kabul's Shash Darak area on Monday.The first explosion was followed by another in which a journalist died and two police officers were injured, local authorities said.Local media quoted, Kabul police spokesman Hashmat Stanikzai, confirmed the explosions, saying that the first bomber was on a motorbike and the second on foot.Stanikzai further revealed that the second attacker was among reporters who had gathered at the scene to cover the attack.No individual or terrorist group has claimed responsibility for the incidents so far.Last week, 52 people were killed and more than 100 others were injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up in a crowd waiting at a voter and ID registration centre in Kabul.The Islamic State (IS) terrorist group had then claimed responsibility for the attack.A series of deadly terrorist attacks have ravaged Afghanistan over the ...
China's Foreign Minister to visit North Korea
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is expected to visit North Korea this week. This move comes after leaders of the two Koreas held a historic summit on Friday.Wang, who is also a State Councillor in China's cabinet was invited by his North Korean counterpart Ri Yong-ho on Wednesday and Thursday. He will be the first Chinese foreign minister to visit North Korea since 2007.According to Chinese analysts, China could be left out of the talks to make the peninsula nuclear-free following a meeting between United States President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. "Beijing should be involved in talks for a peace treaty to officially end the Korean War," they said.China had earlier backed a series of United Nations (UN) sanctions against Pyongyang over its nuclear weapons programme.The commitment of "no more war" and promise to sign a peace treaty 65 years after the end of the Korean War marks a vital step towards lasting regional stability.Kim and Moon Jae-in agreed to pursue .
25 killed in twin Kabul bombing, IS claims responsibility (Third Lead)
At least 25 people, including eight journalists, were killed in a coordinated double suicide bombing in the Afghan capital on Monday, according to government officials. The Islamic State militant group claimed responsibility for the attack.
Twin Kabul suicide blasts kill at least 25, including journalists
At least 25 people were killed, including Agence France-Presse chief photographer Shah Marai and five other journalists, when two suicide blasts ripped through Kabul today, police and AFP have confirmed. The attacks, claimed by the Islamic State group, are the latest deadly assaults on the Afghan capital and have spurred an outpouring of grief among journalists, many of whom took to Twitter to post tributes to their colleagues. Kabul police spokesman Hashmat Stanikzai said the second explosion came minutes after the first, and targeted reporters at the scene. "The bomber disguised himself as a journalist and detonated himself among the crowd," he said. The interior ministry confirmed the death toll and said six journalists were among those killed. It also said 49 people had been wounded, amid fears the death toll could rise. AFP confirmed that, along with Marai, two journalists from 1TV, one from Tolo news and one from Jahan TV were among the dead. Marai joined AFP as a driver in ...