Page 665 - War Conflict
Turkey says strong suspicion Syrian regime behind Douma chemical attack
Turkey today strongly condemned what it said was a chemical weapons attack in the Syrian city of Douma, saying there was a "strong suspicion" the regime of President Bashar al-Assad was responsible. "We strongly condemn the attack and we have the strong suspicion it was carried out by the regime, whose record on the use of chemical weapons is known by the international community," the Turkish foreign ministry said in a statement. Rescue workers said dozens of civilians had been killed in a chlorine gas attack on Douma - claims denied by Assads regime and its ally Russia. Turkey said that the incident showed that past UN Security Council resolutions on the use of chemical weapons in Syria were "once again" being ignored. The foreign ministry called for an investigation by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and said it expected condemnation from the international community. However in recent months, Ankara has been working tightly with the Syrian regimes ...
UN chief alarmed by reports of chemical use against Syrians
The head of the United Nations said on Sunday he was "particularly alarmed" by the alleged use of chemical weapons against civilians in Syria, during an attack that rescue workers said killed dozens of people. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement that he was "deeply concerned" about renewed violence in the city of Douma, citing reports that sustained airstrikes and shelling had killed civilians, destroyed infrastructure and damaged health facilities. "The secretary-general is particularly alarmed by allegations that chemical weapons have been used against civilian populations in Douma," the statement said. Guterres added his voice to those of Pope Francis, US President Donald Trump, and several other world leaders and humanitarian groups in denouncing the alleged chemical attack. While noting that the United Nations was not in a position to verify such reports, Guterres said that any confirmed use of chemical weapons would be "abhorrent." He called on all parties to .
2 militants killed as motorcycle packed with bombs exploded in Afghanistan
At least two militants have been killed after a motorcycle packed with explosives went off prematurely in Afghanistan's Laghman province.A group of insurgents was looking to detonate a Motorcycle-borne Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in Alingar district on Saturday. The explosives went off before they could be used for an attack, leaving at least two of them dead and two others wounded, Khaama Press, reported, citing, the Afghan Military, as saying.The explosives went off prematurely, killing the two militants, as they were busy planning to plant it on a roadside frequented by the Afghan forces in Alisheng district, Khaama Press reported, citing, the provincial government media office, as saying, in a statement.The militants killed in the explosion were reportedly involved in major terrorist-related activities in Laghman province.In a bid to target the government staff and security personnel, the anti-government armed militant groups often use explosives materials for the roadside ..
Four killed in suicide attack on Iraq party headquarters
A suicide attack targeting a political party headquarters in western Iraq has killed four people and injured seven others, including a candidate in polls set for May, officials said today. Last evening "two suicide bombers disguised as soldiers entered the Al-Hal Party headquarters", one of most prominent parties in the Sunni-majority province of Al-Anbar, a local security official told AFP on the condition of anonymity. One of the attackers "detonated his explosive belt while political leaders held a meeting" at the campaign headquarters in the city of Hit, about 200 kilometres (125 miles) west of Baghdad, General Qassam al-Mohammadi, head of army operations in the area, told AFP. "Three members of the security forces were killed and seven people, including candidate Zineb Abdel Hamid al-Hiti, were wounded," he said. A municipal employee today also succumbed to injuries sustained in the attack, the anonymous official said. He said the second attacker detonated his belt shortly after .
New government does first major Tripura Police reshuffle
In a major reshuffle after assuming power in Tripura nearly a month ago, the BJP-led government on Sunday issued the transfer and posting orders of 66 senior police officials, including 15 from the IPS.
Pope: Nothing justifies chemical weapons in Syria
Pope Francis closed his traditional Sunday blessing by saying "nothing can justify" the use of chemical weapons against defenseless populations and called for those responsible for a suspected attack in Syria to seek negotiations. The pope referred to news of dozens killed, including many children and women, in a suspected poison gas attack on a rebel-held town near the Syrian capital. He offered prayers for the dead and the families that are suffering. "There is not a good or a bad war, and nothing can justify such instruments that exterminate defenseless people and populations," the pope said. "Lets pray that the responsible politicians and military leaders choose another path: that of negotiations, the only one that can bring peace." Earlier, in a Mass focused on mercy, a signature theme of his papacy, Pope Francis has urged the faithful to not give up on the sacrament of reconciliation, especially those who continue to backslide. The pontiff urged the faithful to continue to seek .
Remorseless Seselj still dreams about Greater Serbia
Vojislav Seselj has no remorse over his role in the wars in the former Yugoslavia. Now 63, the ultra-nationalist Serb is again an MP in the parliament in Belgrade and has no regrets. "We will never give up the idea of a Greater Serbia," he insists. A close ally of the late Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic, Seselj was found not guilty in 2016 of war crimes and crimes against humanity over the 1990s Balkans wars that claimed around 140,000 lives. The radical Serbian leader had been accused of being behind the murders of scores of Croats, Muslims and other non-Serbs and Seseljs acquittal in 2016 after an eight year trial at the Hague came as a major surprise. Croatias prime minister condemned the verdict as "shameful". Two years on and UN war crimes judges will rule on Wednesday on an appeal brought by prosecutors. They allege that Seselj incited hatred through his fiery speeches on nationalism "seeking to unite all Serb territories in a homogeneous state that he called Greater ...
BSF to set up over 190 guest houses to beat loneliness among just-married jawans
With a trooper getting to spend an average of only five years out of 30 with his family during service, the BSF has launched a new concept to set up over 190 jawan guest houses across the country for newly married couples. More than 2,800 rooms will be built or carved out of the existing infrastructure in the eight frontiers of the force along the western and eastern border flanks of the country, a Border Security Force officer said. BSF Director General K K Sharma said the Union home ministry has recently accorded sanction to the force's proposal to set up 15 studio apartment-like facilities at each of its 186 battalion locations and few other stations. "The duties in the force are tough and hard and jawans have to remain alone for the maximum part of their service. An average jawan gets to spend only about 2.5 months in an year with his family and if one has a service of about 30 years, then this figure comes to about five years in the entire job period. "To ensure that the jawans ..
Hyderabad: Woman pelts stones at media after friend held for driving drunk
A woman in Hyderabad city of Telangana on Saturday created a nuisance and started throwing stones on media persons after her friend was caught for driving drunk, police said.According to Traffic Inspector in Gopalpuram, Majid, the traffic police on Saturday night caught a person in a Swift car driving in a drunk state at a checkpoint at Film Nagar main road here.His woman friend, who was sitting beside him in the car, overreacted and tried to hit media persons, who were already present there, with stones, he said.A case was registered against the driver and his car was seized, he said.No action has so far been taken against the woman.
Terrorist hideout in J&K's Rajouri busted
The security forces on Sunday busted an old terrorist hideout and recovered arms and ammunition during a search operation in Gadyog area of Khawas in Rajouri district.Rajouri police and Army jointly launched an operation in some villages, including Gadyog, falling under the Khawas police post of Budhal police station.During the operation, a terrorist hideout was busted from Gadyog village and 2 AK-47 rifles, 2 AK-47 magazines and bullets were recovered.Search in the area is still underway.
4 IS militants killed in US airstrike
At least four militants affiliated with the terror outfit Islamic State (IS) have been killed in an airstrike conducted by the US forces Afghanistan's eastern Nangarhar province.An official Afgan Military statement said that the US forces conducted airstrikes on ISIS hideouts using unmanned aerial vehicles in Achin district and that the militants were targeted in Takht Dara area, killing at least four militants, Khaama Press reported.This comes after at least four militants affiliated with the terror group were killed in a similar airstrike in this province last week.The latest airstrike is in tandem with the counter-terrorism ground operations are being conducted by Afghan and US forces in Afghanistan against the IS, Taliban and other militant groups in Nangarhar province.The US forces conduct airstrikes by using unmanned aerial vehicles in the province to clamp down the militants.
Terrorists creating safe havens on dark net
Terrorists and extremists are creating growing numbers of safe havens on the "dark net" to plot future attacks, raise funds and recruit new followers, according to new research published on Sunday.
Meghalaya CM's security personnel commits suicide
A security personnel from the escort team of Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma allegedly committed suicide here on Sunday.The deceased, identified as Elangbam Shantikumar Singh, allegedly took his own life by his official gun at Hotel Classic Grande at around 3.15 am.He was part of the 3rd Indian Reserve Battalion of the Meghalaya Chief Minister.Further details are awaited.
Over 2,000 Tamil Nadu fishermen chased away by SL Navy
Over 2,000 Tamil Nadu fishermen were allegedly chased away and nets of around 20 boats snapped by the Sri Lankan Navy while they were fishing near Katchatheevu, a fishermen association leader said today. The fishermen from this island town had ventured into sea in 434 boats and were fishing off Katchatheevu islet last night when the Sri Lankan naval personnel reached the spot and snapped the fishing nets of 20 boats before chasing them away, Rameswaram Fishermen Association President, P Sesuraja alleged. Following which all of them returned to shore without a catch, he said. On March 3, more than 2,500 fisherfolks from here were allegedly chased away by the Lankan Navy while they were fishing near Katchatheevu.
Fresh raids pound Syria's rebel Douma after talks falter
Renewed air strikes have hit the last opposition holdout in Syria's Eastern Ghouta, leaving 70 civilians dead in around 24 hours, as regime troops pressed an offensive to pressure rebels to withdraw. Eleven people also suffered breathing problems in Douma, the last rebel-held pocket of Eastern Ghouta, with first responders accusing forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad of using "poisonous chlorine gas". State media, quoting an official source, said yesterday the reports were rebel "fabrications". The regime has used a combination of a fierce military onslaught and two negotiated withdrawals to empty out 95 percent of the enclave near Damascus, but rebels are still entrenched in its largest town of Douma. Bombing had subsided as Moscow pursued talks with Jaish al-Islam, the Islamist faction that holds Douma, putting military operations seemingly on hold for about 10 days. But the negotiations crumbled this week and air strikes resumed on Friday, killing 40 civilians according to ...
70 killed in suspected Syria chemical attack
At least 70 people were killed in Douma, the last rebel-held town in Syria's Eastern Ghouta in a suspected chemical attack, medics and rescuers said on Sunday.
Fireworks, tears after ex-Brazilian president Lula's surrender
After former Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who has been found guilty of corruption, surrendered before the police on Sunday, fireworks and tears broke out in parts of a divided country.Lula handed himself to the police, after spending two nights at the metalworkers' union headquarters in Sao Paulo, in defiance of an arrest warrant.Outside the metalworkers' union, in stark contrast to the merrymaking, Lula was carried on the shoulders of his supporters shouting "Free Lula!".He was then flown to the southern city of Curitiba, where he would begin serving a 12-year sentence for corruption.Military police in Curitiba were forced to disperse Lula supporters with rubber bullets and tear gas when he arrived at a police station in the city, The Guardian reported.While fireworks and cheering broke out among his critics after his arrest, his supporters cried openly at the exit of a man they remember for removing tens of millions of people from poverty.Although the 72-year-old ..
Air strikes kill 30 civilians in Syria's rebel Douma: monitor
Syrian regime air strikes killed at least 30 civilians today in the last rebel pocket in the former opposition bastion of Eastern Ghouta near Damascus, a war monitor said. Eight children were among the dead in the town of Douma according to the updated toll from the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which relies on sources on the ground.
Rs 25 lakh looted, cash van guard shot at
In a daylight heist, unidentified miscreants looted Rs 25 lakh in cash today after shooting at the guard of a cash van that had come to replenish an Axis Bank ATM in the busy Gangnahar area of Roorkee in the district. The cash van had pulled up outside the ATM on the BSM college trisection at around 1:30 PM. The guard, Shakeel Ahmed, stood in front of the gate of the van, while two others went in to replenish the machine with cash. Three miscreants suddenly arrived on the scene and shot at the guard. As the latter fell to the ground, they picked up the bag containing cash and ran away, SP (rural) Manikant Mishra said. The injured guard is under treatment but out of danger, the SP added. Efforts are on to nab the miscreants and recover the looted cash, he said.
Dreaded criminal arrested in Mathura: Police
The police today nabbed a dreaded criminal, carrying a reward of Rs 15,000 on his head, following an encounter near the Gokul barrage curve under the Sadar Bazar police station limits of Mathura district, an officer said. On the basis of inputs received from a reliable source, in a joint operation of the Sadar Bazar police and a SWAT team, Harun of Bishambhara village was nabbed after an exchange of fire, from a spot near the Gokul barrage curve, SP, City, Shravan Kumar Singh said. He added that the accused was wanted in over 16 cases of murder, loot, dacoity, ransom etc. in various states. A motorcycle, a country-made pistol and two live cartridges were seized from the possession of the accused, the SP said.