Page 703 - War Conflict
39 Indians kidnapped by Islamic State in Mosul are dead: Sushma
Thirty-nine Indians kidnapped by the Islamic State in Iraq's Mosul in 2014 are dead, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Tuesday.
US-S Korea military drills to resume despite thaw with N Korea
The United States and South Korea announced today that their annual joint military drills would go ahead next month, with no significant downsize in scale despite an ongoing diplomatic thaw with North Korea. The large-scale exercises involving tens of thousands of ground troops are a perennial source of tension between the two Koreas, with Pyongyang condemning them as provocative rehearsals for an invasion of the North. With talks under way to set up a North-South summit, followed by a proposed face-to-face meet between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un, there was speculation that this year's drills might be scaled back to avoid derailing the discussions. They had already been delayed to avoid clashing with the Pyeongchang Winter Games in the South last month. But Washington and Seoul said the exercises would kick off on April 1 and be "similar" in size to those of previous years. "Our combined exercises are defence-oriented and there is no reason for North Korea to view them as a ...
Kroger's Fred Meyer plans to phase out firearms business
(Reuters) - Kroger Co's superstore chain Fred Meyer said it would exit its firearms business, two weeks after deciding to stop selling guns and ammunition to those under the age of 21.
Strike on Syria's Ghouta kills 15 children sheltering in school: monitor
An air strike on a school in Syria's Eastern Ghouta has killed 15 children and two women who were using its basement as a bomb shelter, a monitor said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the bombing raid hit Arbin, a key town in the dwindling rebel-held enclave of Ghouta that has been under attack by government troops for over a month. "Three missiles from a single air strike hit the school, where the underground level was being used as a shelter," said Rami Abdel Rahman, who heads the Britain-based monitor. "Rescue workers are still searching for survivors," he told AFP. The Observatory, which identifies air strikes based on flight patterns, munitions used, and aircraft, said Monday night's raids were suspected to have been carried out by Russia. Moscow has said it is helping Syria's government "finish off" fighters in Ghouta but has denied carrying out air strikes against civilians. Since February 18, Syrian troops and allied militia have been waging a ferocious ground and
Strike on Syria's Ghouta kills 15 children sheltering in school: monitor
An air strike on a school in Syria's Eastern Ghouta has killed 15 children and two women who were using its basement as a bomb shelter, a monitor said. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the bombing raid hit Arbin, a key town in the dwindling rebel-held enclave of Ghouta that has been under attack by government troops for over a month. "Three missiles from a single air strike hit the school, where the underground level was being used as a shelter," said Rami Abdel Rahman, who heads the Britain-based monitor. "Rescue workers are still searching for survivors," he told AFP. The Observatory, which identifies air strikes based on flight patterns, munitions used, and aircraft, said Monday night's raids were suspected to have been carried out by Russia. Moscow has said it is helping Syria's government "finish off" fighters in Ghouta but has denied carrying out air strikes against civilians. Since February 18, Syrian troops and allied militia have been waging a ferocious ground and
Canada to deploy troops, helicopters to help UN in Mali
Canada will deploy an infantry unit and military trainers along with attack and transport helicopters to Mali for 12 months in support of an ongoing UN peacekeeping mission, the government announced today. "The task force will include two Chinook helicopters to provide much-needed transport and logistics capability, as well as four armed Griffin helicopters for armed escort and protection," Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan told a press conference. A date for Canada's first deployment in Africa since its troubled mission to Rwanda in 1994 and the exact number of troops that will be sent have yet to be decided, he added. The pledge comes after Ottawa last November said it would send a Hercules aircraft to the UN regional support center in Entebbe, Uganda, which backs UN operations throughout Africa, as well as make available to the UN a rapid response force of 200 soldiers. Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland, meanwhile, said the unit heading to Mali would include women soldiers to meet a .
Tunisian man chased by police 'blows self up': ministry
A Tunisian man "blew himself up" as he was being chased today by police in the southern region of Ben Guerdane and a second one was shot dead, the interior ministry said. Interior ministry spokesman Khalifa Chibani told AFP the National Guard had received information concerning "two male suspects" in the region bordering Libya. They tracked them in the Magroun region near a nature reserve and tried to arrest them but "one of them blew himself up," he said. "The other suspect was armed with a Kalashnikov" assault rifle and opened fire on the police but there were no injuries, he said. After an exchange of fire, security forces "shot dead the second terrorist", the interior ministry said later, adding that the National Guard and the army were searching the area. The identity of the two suspects was not immediately clear. Since its 2011 revolution, Tunisia has faced a jihadist insurgency responsible for the deaths of dozens of soldiers, police, civilians and foreign tourists. Tunisia has
Human rights violations of fishermen: 'Highly unlikely SL will enter into spl agreement with India'
The Union government today informed the Madras High Court that it was highly unlikely that Sri Lanka would enter into any special agreement with India for invoking the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on alleged human rights violations of Tamil Nadu fishermen. A counter-affidavit to this effect was filed today before the first bench of Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice Abdul Quddhose by G Karthikeyan, Assistant Solicitor General of India, who appeared on behalf of the external affairs ministry. The matter relates to a PIL filed by an NGO, the Fishermen Care, seeking a direction to the Union Of India, Ministry of External Affairs to refer the alleged human rights violations committed against the fishermen of Tamil Nadu to the ICJ. The assistant solicitor general submitted the counter-affidavit filed by Banu Prakash, Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, to the bench. The counter-affidavit submitted that the ICJ's jurisdiction was based on
Dunford visits Afghanistan to review US military campaign
The top US military officer visited Afghanistan today to evaluate the military campaign and ensure new American advisory teams and an upgraded Afghan Air Force are on target as the next fighting season with the Taliban looms. Gen Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said he wants to understand the goals for the coming months so the US-led coalition can develop ways to measure progress in the fight. Dunford told reporters traveling with him that he seeks "a discussion about measures of effectiveness." A key question, Dunford said, is how the US will know that it's where it needs to be in implementing what is, in actuality, the Afghans' plan. The idea of benchmarks for progress in the Afghan war has been simmering for several months as the Pentagon looks to end America's longest war. Measuring success will be a key part of White House discussions this summer when President Donald Trump looks for a one-year assessment of his new regional strategy. Last August, a ...
No revision in intake of medicos in military: Par panel
A parliamentary panel has said there has been no periodic revision in the intake of medical officers and specialists by the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS), despite a shortage. In a Committee of Estimates report on the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme, the defence ministry has said that although the annual intake from the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) is 130 (105 males, 25 females), a sanction for an intake of 140 exists since 1999. The committee noted that "there has been no periodic upward revision in the sanctioned intake from the AFMS". The actual annual intake from the AFMC was only 130 as against the sanctioned intake of 140 since 1999, it added. The ministry has also informed the panel that the proposal to enhance the annual intake from AFMC to 150 is under consideration. The committee said the government had also approved the augmentation of manpower of the AFMS by 10,590 in three phases and that the third phase was under process.
South Asia strategy moving in right direction: US
President Donald Trump's South Asia strategy is moving in the right direction despite the challenge posed by Pakistan, the White House said today, ruling out any changes in the policy at least till it completes a year of its implementation. "Despite the lack of progress that we've had on the sanctuary issue inside Pakistan, we do believe that the overall South Asia strategy is moving in the right direction," said a senior administration official on latest development in the region and an update on the South Asia policy. The policy announced by Trump last August, the official said has bolstered the confidence of the US' Afghan partners. "The additional military resources and authorities, particularly the more intensive air campaign has had an impact on the battlefield, removing enemy fighters and preventing them from being able to amass in large numbers, and thereby threaten provincial centres," the official said. "However, unfortunately, the Taliban has resorted to these mass casualty
Bhima-Koregaon riots: Right-wing leader seeks Ambedkar's arrest
Right-wing Hindutva leader Sambhaji Bhide alias Guruji on Monday demanded the arrest of Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh leader Prakash Ambedkar and others for allegedly inciting the riots of January 1 in Bhima-Koregaon and its subsequent fallout.
Two examinees killed in accident, 10 policemen injured by mob
Two girl students were killed on their way to write their secondary examination in West Bengal's Nadia district today when a bus hit the scooter they were in, which was followed by mob fury in which 10 policemen were injured. Police said the incident took place at Debagram and a man too was injured in it. Nadia superintendent of police, Santosh Pandey said the mob had blocked the road after the accident and attacked policemen injuring ten of them. He said the two girls hailing from Mirzapur village were on their way to their Madhyamik (Class 10) examination centre along with a male relative on a scooter and a bus hit their vehicle. Both the girls came under the wheels of the bus and died on the spot, he said. The SP said seven persons have been arrested for throwing stones at the policemen. "We have arrested the bus driver and seized the bus," he added.
Fresh bombardment kills 20 in Syria's Ghouta: monitor
At least 20 civilians have died in a resumption of bombing on Douma, the largest town in shrinking rebel-controlled pockets of Syria's Eastern Ghouta, a monitor said today. Thirteen were killed late last night in air strikes and artillery fire on the battered town, and another seven were killed Monday morning, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The fresh bloodshed came after a week-long lull in the bombardment of Douma after negotiations between rebels and regime-backer Russia allowed medical evacuations from the town. After the bombing an AFP correspondent saw two rescue workers scouring mountains of rubble in the dark with tiny flashlights, searching for survivors. A third lifted a wounded person, who was screaming in pain, onto his back. As morning broke, the sounds of shelling could still be heard across the city. Entire buildings had been gutted by strikes, with a drying rack, glass, and plastic piping spilling out into the streets. Several members of a single .
Russia hits back in spy poisoning row as experts called in
Russia hit back at Britain in the spy poisoning row today, demanding proof that Moscow was involved in the nerve agent attack, as international weapons experts were called in to take a sample of the chemical for testing. The poisoning of former double agent Sergei Skripal plunged relations between London and Moscow into crisis, shortly before the re-election of Russian President Vladimir Putin. But as the European Union offered "unqualified solidarity" with Britain, the Kremlin insisted that Britain prove Russia was involved in the March 4 attack or apologise. "Sooner or later these unsubstantiated allegations will have to be answered for: either backed up with the appropriate evidence or apologised for," said Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Putin yesterday rejected as "complete drivel, rubbish, nonsense" the allegations by London and its allies that Russia was behind the attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in the English city of Salisbury. But today, British Prime ...
EU sanctions 4 Syrian officials over chemical weapons
The EU today sanctioned four senior Syrian officials over the use of chemical weapons against civilians, amid reports President Bashar al-Assad's forces have deployed chlorine gas in the rebel-held enclave of Eastern Ghouta. EU foreign ministers hit a brigadier-general and three scientists working for the Syrian Scientific Studies and Research Center (SSRC) with travel bans and asset freezes, taking to 261 the number of regime figures punished by the bloc over the seven-year conflict. "The EU added these four persons for their role in the development and use of chemical weapons against the civilian population, in line with the EU's policy to fight the proliferation and use of chemical weapons," said a statement after ministers agreed the measures in Brussels. "These persons include a high-ranking military official and three scientists working at the Scientific Studies and Research Centre." Regime forces have been repeatedly accused of using chlorine in recent weeks during their fierce
200 paramilitary personnel dispatched in Bihar's Bhagalpur
At least 200 central paramilitary personnel, including riot police, were sent to Bhagalpur in Bihar to assist the local administration in tackling the tense situation there. About 100 personnel of the Rapid Action Force, a specialised force to deal with riot and crowd control situations, and 100 personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force were dispatched to Bihar, a Home Ministry official said. The central paramilitary personnel will help the local administration to deal with the tense situation in Bhagalpur, the official said. Reports suggest that a clash broke out on Saturday between two groups allegedly over a procession with songs and slogans. Several people, including six policemen and 12 others, suffered injuries during the clashes. The clashes erupted when a group of people reportedly objected to loud music during the procession. The two groups even pelted stones at each other, the reports said.
10 kg of gold looted, jewellers threaten strike
Armed robbers in police uniform looted 10 kg of gold chains from a Mumbai-based jeweller here early on Monday, triggering a threat to go on strike by jewellers in Ghaziabad.
Sikh body calls for fresh probe into Chittisinghpora killings
A Sikh body here today demanded a fresh probe into the Chittisinghpora massacre in Kashmir in which 35 Sikhs were allegedly killed by Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) militants. "We urge both the state and central governments to go for fresh probe into the killings of Sikhs (at Chittinsinghpora on March 20, 2000)," All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee (APSCC) chairman Jagmohan Singh Raina said in a statement here. Raina said although 18 years have passed since the massacre, no headway had been made in the case. The delay in justice has led to disillusionment among the members of Sikh community, he added. A total of 50 people were killed in the Chittisinghpora episode. It is important that justice is delivered to the victim families, Raina said. He said since the locals countered the claims of the government that it security forces killed five militants involved in the killing of 35 Sikhs, it was imperative that the whole incident be probed so that culprits were brought to book and justice ...
3 killed in motorcycle blast in Afghanistan
Three people were killed in a motorcycle explosion on Monday in Jalalabad city of eastern Afghanistan, according to officials.According to earlier reports, one person had been killed and five were wounded.However, Nangarhar governor's spokesperson, Attaullah Khogyani confirmed and revised the death toll to three and said eight people had been injured in the explosion, according to Khaama Press.The incident took place in the vicinity of the 4th police district of Jalalabad city after the explosives planted in a motorcycle went off.According to local officials, the incident took place at around 1:05 pm (local time) and the injured have been shifted to a local hospital.No group, including the Taliban, have claimed responsibility for the blast so far.This comes after five people were killed in separate bomb explosion incidents in the capital Kabul last week.Afghanistan has been hit by a series of deadly suicide attacks in the last few months, killing over 150 people, particularly in