Page 649 - War Conflict
World War II 'white angel' French nun dies aged 103
A French nun who was called "the white angel" by Canadian soldiers she saved during one of the worst single disasters to befall Allied armies during World War II has died aged 103, authorities said today. Sister Agnes-Marie Valois died on Thursday in a monastery, officials in the northern town of Dieppe said. She tended to wounded soldiers in the Dieppe Raid of August 19, 1942, when a 6,000-strong force of Canadian and British troops lost 4,131 men -- they were killed, wounded or captured in just six hours while briefly seizing a Channel port held by the Germans. Valois saved several lives by persuading German officials to tend to some of the wounded and also stole German rations to feed the injured. The raid, codenamed Operation Jubilee, was the first time the Canadian army had engaged in the European theatre of the war. Her father was an industrialist in the French city of Rouen. Born in 1914, Agnes Valois trained as a nurse with the Red Cross before joining the Augustine order in ..
CRPF official killed in gunfight with Naxals in Chhattisgarh
An officer of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was killed in an encounter with Naxals in a dense forest in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district, a senior police official said today. Teams of CRPF, its elite unit CoBRA and the District Reserve Guard (DRG) of police were carrying out search operations under the Kistaram police station limits when the gunfight broke out last night, Deputy Inspector General of Police (South Bastar) Sundarraj P said. Assistant Sub-Inspector Anil Kumar Maurya (51), attached to the CRPF's 212th battalion, was killed in the exchange of fire with Naxals which took place in the forests of Karigundam village, three kilometres from Kistaram, he said. CRPF's 212th battalion, 208th battalion of the Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA), and DRG had launched a search-cum-area domination operation in different directions from Kistaram, 500 km from Raipur, he told PTI. When a CRPF team was cordoning off the Karigundam forest, the encounter started and the ...
Afghan official says Taliban kill 6 at police checkpoint
An Afghan official says that at least six local police were killed when a group of Taliban fighters attacked and overran their checkpoint in northern Sari Pul province. Zabi Amani, spokesman for the provincial governor, said today two other policemen were wounded in the late last night attack. Amani said reinforcements arrived and a sporadic gun battle is still underway in Sayad district. He added that three Taliban fighters were killed and two others were wounded in the battle. Zabihullah Mujahid, Taliban spokesman, claimed responsibility for the attack. Taliban have increased their attacks in the province of late. Last week, Taliban killed 11 Afghan paramilitary forces in Sari Pul.
4 Palestinians killed by Israeli fire in Gaza border protest
Health officials say Israeli soldiers firing from across a border fence have killed four Palestinians, including a 15-year-old boy, and wounded more than 150 others as several thousand people in blockaded Gaza staged a fourth round of weekly protests on the border with Israel. Huge black plumes of smoke from burning tires engulfed the border area on Friday. Some of the activists threw stones toward the fence or flew kites with flaming rags dangling from their tails. The latest deaths brought to 32 the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli troops in protests since late March. More than 1,600 have been wounded by live rounds in the past three weeks, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
Students, security forces clash in J&K
Clashes broke out between students and the security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Badgam district on Saturday despite the authorities shutting down most colleges and schools in the valley.
Rebels set to leave new area outside Damascus
Rebels were expected to leave a new area outside the Syrian capital Saturday, state media said, after a new deal was reached between opposition fighters and the Russia-backed regime. The agreement is the latest in a string of deals that have seen opposition fighters and civilians bussed out of former opposition strongholds near Damascus. "An agreement has been reached in the area of Eastern Qalamun providing for terrorists to exit Al-Ruhayba, Jayrud and Al-Nasiriya starting from" Saturday, state news agency SANA said late Friday, using its usual term for rebels. The town of Al-Ruhayba lies some 60 kilometres (35 miles) northeast of Damascus. Under the deal, fighters would hand over heavy and medium-size weapons as well as ammunition depositories, before heading to northern Syria, SANA said. They would be transferred to the rebel-held northern town of Jarabulus in Aleppo province and to the neighbouring province of Idlib, which is the last in Syria to remain largely outside regime ...
Forty bombs recovered from Howrah
Forty live bombs were recovered from an abandoned house at Chandrapur in Howrah district, the police said today. Acting on a tip off, police raided the house and recovered the bombs under Amta police station last night. A bomb squad came from Kolkata and defused the bombs. Two bikes found in front of the house were seized, the police said.
Afghanistan: 5 killed in mine explosion at Nangarhar
Five civilians were killed in a mine explosion in Afghanistan's eastern Nangarhar province on Friday.As per the officials, the incident occurred near Haska Mina district of Nangarhar province as a civilian vehicle hit an IED, reports the Tolo News.Provincial governor's spokesperson Attaullah Khogyani has confirmed the incident and further said that nine other civilians were wounded in the incident including two children and two women.Those wounded are in a critical condition.No terror group has claimed the responsibility for the attack as yet.
One CRPF jawan killed in encounter in Sukma
One Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel lost his life in an encounter between Naxals and security forces in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district.The gunfight took place when troops of 212 battalion of CRPF, 208 CoBRA, along with Chhattisgarh police were carrying out a cordon and search operation (CASO) near Kistaram camp in Sukma yesterday.Mortal remains of the jawan, who died were brought to Kistaram camp and to be airlifted to Raipur.Further details are awaited.
CRPF officer killed in gunfight with Maoists
An officer of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) officer was killed in a gunfight with the Maoists in a dense forest in the insurgency-hit Sukma district of Chhattisgarh, police said today. The gunfight took place last night in Kistaram police station area when a team of CRPF's 212th battalion was out on a search-cum-area domination operation, Deputy Inspector General of Police (South Bastar Range) Sundarraj P told PTI. "Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) Anil Kumar Maurya was killed in the incident," he said. The deceased was a native of Madhya Pradesh. Security forces have launched a combing operation in the area, located around 500 km away from the state capital Raipur, he added.
N Korea move 'meaningful progress' towards denuclearisation: Seoul
South Korea today welcomed the decision by the North's leader Kim Jong Un to cease its testing of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. "North Korea's decision is meaningful progress for the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula, which the world wishes for," the presidential office in Seoul said in a statement. "It will create a very positive environment for the success of the upcoming inter-Korean and North-US summits.
Palestinians, Israeli troops clash in West Bank
Palestinian protesters came into confrontation here on Friday with Israeli troops deployed in this important West Bank city, media reports said.
4 killed in fresh protests, clashes on Gaza-Israel border
Thousands protested along the Gaza Strip's border with Israel in a fourth straight today of mass demonstrations and clashes, with four Palestinians shot dead by Israeli forces. Gazans also flew dozens of kites near the border fence, in some cases carrying Molotov cocktails and one with a swastika painted on it, in a new tactic that sparked at least two small fires in Israeli territory this week. Israeli army gunfire killed a 15-year-old boy and two young men, aged 24 and 25, in northern Gaza, rescue workers said, and a 29-year-old Palestinian was shot dead in the south of the coastal enclave. The latest deaths brought to 38 the toll of those killed by Israeli forces since March 30, with hundreds of others also wounded by gunfire, according to Gaza's health ministry. On Friday alone, 440 protesters were wounded by gunfire or needed treatment for tear gas inhalation, the ministry said. Israel says it has only opened fire when necessary to guard its border and prevent violence, but no ..
Ceasefire pact with Nagaland insurgent groups extended one more year
The Central government on Friday announced it has extended a ceasefire agreement with insurgent groups in Nagaland for one year affecting from April 28.
Violence mars protest against Kathua incident in Mysuru " "
A protest against the Kathua" gangrape incident turned violent at Mysuru today, with police making a lathicharge to bring the situation under control. Police said the protesters tried to forcefully shut shops and pelted stones when they tried to intervene, forcing them to make a lathi charge to bring the situation under control at Kyathamaranahalli area. "Some groups tried to forcefully shut businesses, so police intervened. There was some resistance from them as they pelted stones at us. So we lathicharged them and used tear gas to disperse the crowd," Mysuru Police Commissioner Dr A" Subramanyeswara Rao told PTI. He said police would make arrests and added that prohibitory orders had been imposed for 48 hours in the area. BJP Lok Sabha member from Mysuru Pratap Simha alleged that the protesters ransacked some shops, barged into several houses and pelted stones at women and children and police remained a 'mute spectator'. The brutal rape and murder of the eight-year-old .
Afghan authorities: 3 protecting voter registration killed
Three police protecting voter registration centres in two Afghan provinces were killed by militants over a two-day period this week, authorities said today. Sharafuddin Majhidi, spokesman for the governor of western Badghis province, said five rockets were fired by militants on a voter registration centre in the provincial capital Qalay-i-Now, killing one officer and wounding two others. Last night, two other police officers were killed by unknown gunman at a registration center in Jalalabad in eastern Nangarhar province and their weapons taken, said Abdul Ghafar, a member of parliament. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attacks. Afghanistan Parliament elections are set for October. Also today, an Afghan official said a roadside bomb killed five people in eastern Nangarhar province. Attaullah Khogyani, spokesman for the provincial governor, said the explosion struck a vehicle in the Aska Mina district yesterday, killing the five and wounding 14 civilians. Khogyani sad .
Al-Qaida claims deadly attack on French, UN forces in Mali
Al-Qaida extremists have claimed responsibility for an attack in northern Mali that killed a UN peacekeeper and wounded seven French soldiers. SITE Intelligence Group reported today that the al-Qaida branch in Mali posted a message saying it had carried out the attack nearly a week ago. The message called it retaliation for a series of recent military operations that had killed some of the branch's fighters. Witnesses said the attackers struck the town of Timbuktu in vehicles disguised as belonging to the Malian military and the UN peacekeeping mission. Extremists controlled Timbuktu and other northern towns in 2012 before a French-led military operation forced them from power the following year. They have continued to attack Malian and international forces.
2 Palestinians killed in clashes with Israeli soldiers
Two Palestinians were killed and over 40 injured on Friday during clashes between Palestinian protesters and Israeli soldiers near the border between eastern Gaza Strip and Israel, medics said.
Sena can't be forced into an alliance, says BJP's Mungantiwar
Senior BJP leader and Maharashtra minister Sudhir Mungantiwar today said the Shiv Sena, a constituent in the state and Union governments, would not be "forced" into an alliance if the latter did not want it. He said that an alliance between the two parties would be forged only through "consensus", adding that there was "no problem from our (BJP) side". Speaking to PTI, Mungantiwar said, "If the Sena does not want an alliance, how can it happen? There can be no force. There is no problem from our side." Earlier, on Monday, a meeting between Mungantiwar and Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray did not materialise as the latter was, reportedly, busy with other issues concerning the party. "Uddhav ji was caught up in meetings on issues including the proposed mega-refinery at Nanar (the setting up of which the Sena is opposing) as well as the killing of two Sena functionaries in Ahmednagar (Sanjay Kotkar and Vasant Anand Thube who were shot dead by motorcycle borne assailants on ..
Govt extend ceasefire agreement with 2 Naga insurgent groups
The Centre has extended the ceasefire agreement with two insurgent groups in Nagaland for one more year, starting April 28, a Home Ministry official said. The parties to the ceasefire agreement are -- the Centre, the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Neokpao-Khitovi), and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Reformation). "It was decided by the Government of India to extend the suspension of operation with the NSCN-R and the NSCN-NK for a further period of one year with effect from April 28," an official of the ministry said here today. The pact was signed by Satyendra Garg, Joint Secretary in the Home Ministry, and Jack Jimomi of the NSCN-NK, and Viniho Kiho and Toshi Longkumer of the NSCN-R. The NSCN (Isak-Muivah) and the NSCN (Khaplang) are among other groups that operate in Nagaland. While the NSCN (I-M) had entered a ceasefire agreement in 1997 and has been maintaining it since then, the pact with the NSCN (K) ended after the group attacked a military convoy in ...