Page 711 - War Conflict
Ex-spy poisoning: UN Chief says use of nerve agent 'unacceptable'
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned the use of a nerve agent in an attack in Britain on a former Russian spy and branded it as "unacceptable.""The use of nerve agents as a weapon under any circumstances is unacceptable and its use by a state will constitute a serious violation of international law," China's state-run news agency Xinhua reported, citing UN spokesman Farhan Haq as saying in a press briefing."While the secretary-general is not in a position to attribute responsibility, he strongly condemns the use of any nerve agent or chemical weapons and hopes the incident will be thoroughly investigated," Haq told reporters.The comments reportedly came before an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council called at Britain's request to discuss the attack that left ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter in critical condition.Retired military intelligence officer Skripal, 66, and his daughter, Yulia, 33, were found slumped on a bench in Salisbury city centre on March ...
Telengana police identifies third militant killed in Kashmir encounter
Telengana police has identified the third militant, killed along with Esa Fazli and Syed Owais this week in south Kashmir, as a resident of Bhadradri-Kothagudem district of Telangana who followed ISIS' ideology and had fled to the Valley last year to join militancy. Three militants, including Fazli and Owais, both of whom left their B.Tech third year course to join militancy, were killed in the encounter on the intervening night of March 11 and 12, a development seen as a blow to the attempts by ISIS to gain ground in the Kashmir Valley. After a request for identification sent by Jammu and Kashmir police, the Telengana police came out with a small press note in which it claimed that the person was identified as 26-year-old MD Toufeeq hailing from Bhadradri-Kothagudem district of Telangana. "It is learnt that MD Toufeeq, a native of Manguru, died in an encounter with security forces on the intervening night of March 11-12 in Hakura area of Anantnag district along with two other ...
9 killed in suicide blast near Sharif's residence in Pak
A teenaged suicide bomber today blew himself up near the residence of Pakistan's ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif, killing nine people, including five policemen, police said. According to rescue officials, the blast took place close to a check post, a few kilometers from the palatial residence of the Sharif family, and next to the congregation of the Tableeghi Jamaat centre. Around 25 people were also injured in the attack. "Five policemen - two inspectors and three constables - are among nine persons killed in the blast. Around 14 policemen among the 25 who were injured in the blast. The condition of four policemen is stated to be critical," Rescue 1122 spokesman Jam Sajjad told PTI. He said the Rescue ambulances have shifted the injured to the Sharif medical complex and other nearby hospitals. Inspector General Police Punjab Arif Nawaz confirmed that the blast was a suicide attack carried out by a teenaged boy who blew himself up near the checkpost. Deputy Inspector General ...
Telangana youth killed in Kashmir was working for IS
A youth from Telangana, who was killed along with two Kashmiri militants in a gunbattle with the security forces in the border state last week, was allegedly working for international terror group Islamic State, police said.
Telangana man among 3 militants killed in J&K encounter
A 26-year-old man hailing fromBhadradri-Kothagudem district of Telangana, who was allegedlyradicalised into the Islamic State ideology, was killed in an encounter with security forces inAnantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir on March 12, police said. "It is learnt that MD Toufeeq, a native of Manguru died in an encounter with security forces on the intervening night of March 11-12 inHakura area of Anantnag district along with two other Kashmiri militants," a release from Telangana police said tonight. He (Toufeeq)was radicalised into the Islamic State ideology through social media and went to Kashmir to participate in terrorist activities of ISIS, according to the release. It clarified that he was not wanted in any of the criminal cases in Telangana. However, further details were being verified, it added. A J&K police spokesman had earlier said during an anti-militancy operation launched during late night of March 11that continued till pre-dawn of the next day, ...
2 injured in fire across LoC: Report
Two persons, who were interacting with a three-member team of the UN Military Observers Mission for India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) near the LoC, were injured in an alleged cross-border firing, a media report claimed today. Dawn online reported that the incident occurred at noon in Abbaspur sector of Poonch district where the UN observers had reached in two white vehicles hoisting blue UN flags. "The UN observers were interacting with local people in Polas village when suddenly Indian troops resorted to burst firing from across the dividing line located hardly one kilometre away from there," Qazi Arslan, a police official in Abbaspur, was quoted as saying by the paper. The firing injured two locals. Arslan claimed that the UN observers "barely saved their lives" and rushed to Abbaspur to inquire about the condition of the victims who had been evacuated to a health facility. The Army or the Foreign Office has not issued any statement so far.
Radicalisation of youth most challenging problem for world: Rajnath
Home Minister Rajnath Singh today said radicalisation of the populace, particularly youths, is one of the most challenging problems the world is facing currently. Addressing the fourth counter-terrorism conference -- 'Changing Contours of Global Terror' -- here, Singh, without taking Pakistan's name, said some countries are providing sponsorship and safe havens to terrorists and this has further played a major role in the phenomenal growth of terrorism globally. "Radicalisation of populace, particularly youths, is another trend and one of the most challenging problems being faced the world over. "Several countries in the world have identified the problem and have taken measures to check and control the process of radicalisation and I am happy to state that India has timely busted some modules that were planning to orchestrate terrorist attacks on her soil," he said. The home minister said providing sponsorship and safe havens have further played a major role in the phenomenal growth ..
Maha govt will have to take loan to pay staff salaries: Chavan
Former Maharashtra Chief Minister and Congress leader Prithviraj Chavan today said given the financial "indiscipline" the state is facing, the government will have to take loan even to pay salaries to its staff. "The state has officially admitted (in the budget) its revenue deficit stood at Rs 15,000 crore which means it does not have sufficient income to make the necessary spendings. "The necessary spendings include salaries of government employees and for that the state will need to take loan from banks," he said. "This shows the state completely lacks financial discipline," Chavan told PTI. Chavan, an MLA, was speaking outside the Assembly complex after Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar completed his reply over the budget he presented on March 9. "Mungantiwar himself has admitted that the impact of the government's farm loan waiver on the state coffers is going to be felt for the next 3-4 years. "It is an admission of his inability to increase the state income and ...
Vice Chiefs of 3 services given additional financial powers
The vice chiefs of the armed forces have been granted additional powers to carry out specific procurements to ensure operational preparedness, the defence ministry said. It said Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has approved the enhancement of powers to the vice chiefs of the three services to make certain categories of procurement. "This delegation (of power) will greatly enhance the ability of the armed forces to keep a high degree of serviceability of the in-service equipment, procurement of stores including ammunition," said the ministry. It said the additional financial delegation to the armed forces will be in the segment of revenue procurement. The ministry said the enhancement of powers of the vice chiefs is for cases under 'Single Tender Enquiry' (STE) and the Proprietary Article Certificate (PAC) categories. Officials said a cap of Rs 50 crore for the PAC and Rs 5 crore for STE procurement was applicable.
17 human rights violation cases in 3 years, 12 were false: Defence Ministry
The Defence Ministry on Wednesday informed the Lok Sabha that 17 cases of alleged human rights violations by armed force personnel were received in three years, of which 12 were found to be false.
More troops sent to west Afghanistan as Taliban step up attacks
Afghanistan has deployed more troops to a restive western province where a multi-billion-dollar pipeline is planned after the Taliban launched multiple attacks against security forces, causing heavy casualties, officials said today. The latest assault in Farah, which borders Iran, happened in the early hours of Wednesday when Taliban militants stormed a checkpoint manned by police and intelligence officers on the outskirts of the provincial capital of the same name, killing seven security forces. It came as the Taliban face growing pressure to take up Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's offer of peace talks to end the 16-year insurgency, but so far the group has given only a muted response. "When commando forces were deployed they (the militants) retreated," Jamila Amini, a member of the Farah provincial council, told AFP. Four members of the National Directorate of Security, Afghanistan's spy agency, and three police were killed, she added. The incident and death toll were confirmed by ..
Bombardment kills 25 civilians in Syria's Ghouta: monitor
Bombardment by the Syrian regime and its ally Russia killed 25 civilians, among them three children, in the embattled rebel enclave of Eastern Ghouta today, a monitor said. "At least 25 civilians including three children were killed on Wednesday, most of them in regime air strikes and others in Russian raids on an area controlled by Faylaq al-Rahman," a rebel group, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said.
Blame game begins on killing of CRPF personnel by Maoists in Sukma
A day after an IED explosion triggered by Maoists on a Mine Protected Vehicle (MPV) resulted in the killing of nine CRPF personnel in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district, a blame game appears to have started on Wednesday between the paramilitary force and the state police.
5 def personnel prosecuted for leaking sensitive info in last 3 yrs: Govt
Five armed forces personnel have been prosecuted for alleged involvement in spying and leaking of classified information since 2015, the government said today. In a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre said an Army personnel and another person from the Indian Air Force were arrested in 2015 for alleged involvement in espionage activities. Both of them are under judicial custody at present, he said, adding that the IAF personnel has already been dismissed from service. Bhamre said two Army personnel were punished by the Army in 2017 for alleged involvement in espionage. In the current year, a security personal was caught for alleged involvement in spying and leaking of classified information, he said. The person is lodged in Tihar jail, the minister said. Bhamre said the personnel may have been honey-trapped. "Some inimical intelligence agencies have been reported to be allegedly involved in these activities. Service personnel are .
EU hopes China will mediate with Taliban for talks
The European Union's Special Envoy to Afghanistan on Wednesday hoped that "key player" China would mediate with the Taliban for acceptance of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani's offer for unconditional peace talks.
India expresses concern over allegation on use of chemical weapons
India has expressed concern over new allegations on the use of chemical weapons in different parts of the world and called for bringing to justice the perpetrators of such abhorrent acts. Ambassador Venu Rajamony also said that India is worried about the reports of the so-called Islamic State' or ISIS acquiring chemical weapons and their delivery systems, according to the statement issued at the 87th session of the Executive Council (EC) of the Organisation of Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. He requested the Technical Secretariat to closely monitor this threat and report to the Executive Council on this emerging challenge. Rajamony, who is the Permanent Representative of India to Organisation of Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, said it has been India's consistent position that the use of chemical weapons anywhere, at any time, by anybody, under any circumstances, cannot be justified and the perpetrators of such abhorrent acts must be held accountable. The use of chemical weapons is .
SSB destroy illegal poppy cultivation in naxal strongholds
Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) had launched an offensive against illegal poppy cultivation in the states of Jharkhand and Bihar especially in naxal dominated areas.SSB had launched this in order to financially cripple the naxals and put an end to their attacks against the security forces, according to an official statement released by the SSB.In 2017-18, SSB battalions had successfully destroyed the poppy cultivation approximately spread across 550 acres of land.The average production of poppy cultivation is 20 kg per acre, and the production cost is Rs 1 lakh per acre. Therefore, the total cost of poppy cultivation destroyed by SSB was rupees 55 crores.The SSB had also used Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) in the operation to scan the illegal poppy cultivation.After destroying the cultivation, the SSB lodged an FIR with the local police against the owner of the lands.
UK PM to set out measures against Russia over spy poisoning
British Prime Minister Theresa May is likely to announce a range of measures against Moscow today over the poisoning of a former Russian spy with a deadly nerve agent in England this month. The British Prime Minister will chair a meeting of the UK's National Security Council (NSC) to lay out her proposals before announcing them in the House of Commons later today. Moscow, which had been given an ultimatum to provide a "credible response" over how a Russian-made nerve agent came to be used on British soil, has warned of "an equal and opposite reaction" against any UK reprisals. The set of measures are expected to cover the expulsion of Russian diplomats, financial sanctions against wealthy Russians with links to the Kremlin, possible curbs on the Russia's state-funded television station RT, and boycotting the FIFA World Cup in Russia later this year. The reprisals will follow days of diplomacy since Theresa May first informed Parliament that there was enough evidence to conclude that ..
Top US general in Afghanistan urges 'tired' Taliban to talk peace
Now is the best time for the Taliban to negotiate for peace, the top US general in Afghanistan said Wednesday, warning that an increased air and ground campaign against the insurgents would only get worse. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani last month unveiled a plan to open talks to end the 16-year-old war, offering to negotiate with the Taliban without any preconditions. So far the group's response to the offer has been muted, which analysts said reflects debate among Taliban leaders over the merits of engaging with an administration it has long viewed as illegitimate. But US officials including Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said this week that some Taliban elements are open to talking with the Afghan government. General John Nicholson, who leads US and NATO forces in Afghanistan, said the Taliban have taken heavy casualties since US President Donald Trump authorised ramped-up air operations last year, and he pointed to increasingly effective Afghan commando and regular Afghan army ...
Cristiano Ronaldo stands with Syrian children
Football great Cristiano Ronaldo has extended his support to the Syrian children who have been suffering due to the ongoing civil war in the country.The Portuguese international took to social media to draw attention to the violence against the children."Be strong. Have faith. Never give up," Ronaldo wrote on his official Twitter account as he shared a video about an attack against civilians in Syria's Eastern Ghouta last month.Be strong. Have faith. Never give up. #7WordsForSyria@SavetheChildrenpic.twitter.com/WjGltzXhSV— Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) March 13, 2018Eastern Ghouta, a Damascus suburb, which houses around 400,000 residents, has remained under a crippling regime siege for the last five years with humanitarian access being completely cut off.In the past eight months, regime forces have intensified their siege of Eastern Ghouta, making it nearly impossible for food or medicine to get into the district and leaving thousands of patients in need of treatment.Syria has been .