Page 722 - War Conflict
WWII aircraft carrier found in Coral Sea by Allen expedition
A piece of prized World War II U.S. naval history, the wreckage of the aircraft carrier USS Lexington, which was sunk by the Japanese in a crucial sea battle, has been discovered by an expedition funded by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen. The expedition team announced that the wreckage of the Lexington, crippled by the enemy and then scuttled on May 8, 1942, in the Battle of the Coral Sea, was found Sunday on the seabed in waters 3,000 meters (about 2 miles) deep, more than 800 kilometers (500 miles) off Australia's east coast. "To pay tribute to the USS Lexington and the brave men that served on her is an honor," Allen said on his website. "As Americans, all of us owe a debt of gratitude to everyone who served and who continue to serve our country for their courage, persistence and sacrifice." The battle helped stop a Japanese advance that could have cut off Australia and New Guinea from Allied sea supply routes and crippled two Japanese carriers, leading to a more conclusive U.S. ...
Congress MLA carries tear gas shell inside Kerala Assembly
Congress MLA Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan on Wednesday carried a used tear gas shell to the Kerala Assembly.Showing it to the Speaker, he said that the tear gas shells being used to disburse Youth Congress protesters last week were beyond their expiry date, and police are still using them.The Left Democratic Front (LDF) legislators created a huge uproar in the Assembly citing that the MLAs are not supposed to bring firearms inside the Assembly.Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan too intervened calling it a huge security threat.Thiruvanchoor later handed over the tear gas shell to Assembly officials.
Two CRPF personnel injured in Maharashtra
At least two Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were injured after a fellow security personnel opened fire at them in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra on Wednesday.The incident took place in Etapalli town of the district when the CRPF personnel opened fire amid infighting.The injured security personnel have been admitted to the Aheri sub-district hospital.Further details are yet to be ascertained.
17 JK protesters died of pellet gun injuries in 2016-17: Govt
Seventeen protesters died of pellet gun injuries in Jammu and Kashmir in the past two years, the Rajya Sabha was informed today. Union Minister of State for Home Hansraj Gangaram Ahir also said that two security persons were killed by protesters in the Valley in 2016. As many as 13 protesters were killed in 2016 when security forces used pellet guns to thwart the agitators while four other protesters were killed in 2017, he said. The minister in a written reply also said the government has constituted an expert committee on July 26, 2016 to explore other possible alternatives to pellet guns as non-lethal weapons. "The recommendations of the committee have been taken into account by the government for appropriate implementation. "Accordingly, various measures such as using PAVA-Chilli (Shells and Grenades), STUN-LAC (Shells and Grenades) and Tear Smoke Shells are used to disperse the unlawful violent protesters before the use of pellet guns," he said.
Four arrested in 11 cases of 'post-poll violence' in Tripura
Eleven 11 cases of "post-poll violence" were reported from different parts of Tripura in the last 24 hours and four people were arrested in this connection, police said today. The state has been witnessing attacks and arson since the announcement of results of the just-concluded elections on March 3. The BJP has demolished the Left citadel in Tripura, winning a two-third majority with its ally, the IPFT. SP (Police Control) Pradip De said measures are being taken to "contain violence". Four people were arrested from Dharmanagar subdivision of North Tripura district yesterday in connection with a clash between the activists of the CPI(M) and the BJP, he said. "The situation has largely been brought under control now. I can say the violence did not escalate since last night," he said, adding that the 10 other cases reported since yesterday were "minor" ones. Sub-divisional Police Officer (SDPO) of Dharmanagar, Dhiman Das Chowdhury, said the clash broke out at Alanbazar area of ...
Attacks on journos down by half in 2017
The number of attacks on journalists plunged from 41 in 2016 to 15 last year, dropping by more than half, the Rajya Sabha was informed today. As many as 67 people were arrested for 62 incidents of attacks on journalists in different parts of the country in the last two years, Hansraj Gangaram Ahir, the Union minister of state for home, told the Upper House. There were 15 attacks on journalists and 26 arrests in 2017, down 63 per cent from 41 such attacks the previous year, in which 47 people were arrested, Ahir said. The highest number of incidents last year were reported from Rajasthan -- a BJP-ruled state -- where 22 people were arrested for three such attacks, followed by Kerala, where two persons were arrested for a single assault, the junior home minister said. In 2016, Madhya Pradesh recorded the highest number of attacks with 24 cases and 14 arrests, followed by Andhra Pradesh with nine arrests made from six incidents, Ahir added.
Yemen officials say UAE barring ships with government cash
Yemeni officials say the United Arab Emirates is barring ships carrying some 170 billion Yemeni rials (USD 680 million) from entering the southern port of Aden. They told The Associated Press today the money is meant for the salaries of government employees who haven't been paid for over a year. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak with reporters. There was no immediate comment from the UAE. Aden is under the control of the UAE, a key partner in the Saudi-led coalition fighting the Shiite Houthi rebels, who control most of northern Yemen, including the capital, Sanaa. The coalition is fighting on the side of President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi's government, but the UAE has long been at odds with Hadi.
Turkey detains 13 IS militants suspected of plotting attack
Turkey's state-run news agency says police in the southern city of Adana have detained 13 Islamic State suspects who were allegedly plotting attacks on a number of buildings in the city, including the US Consulate. Anadolu Agency says police detained the suspects Wednesday in simultaneous dawn raids at homes, using battering rams to break down doors at some locations. Twelve of the suspects are Syrian nationals, the agency said. The raids came days after police in the Turkish Black Sea coastal city of Samsun detained four Iraqi IS suspects while investigating a possible plot against the US Embassy in the capital Ankara, forcing the American facility to close. Turkey suffered a series of deadly terror attacks in 2015 and 2016 carried out by IS or Kurdish rebels.
Pakistani violates ceasefire in Sundervani sector
Pakistan Army on Wednesday initiated unprovoked and indiscriminate firing here in the Sundervani sector along the Line of Control (LoC).The troops at 10:30 a.m. resorted to firing of small arms, automatics and mortars.This comes nearly a week after Pakistan forces resorted to a ceasefire violation in Rajouri sector, thus extensively damaging property in the area.Earlier, a civilian was injured as Pakistan continued firing in Nowshera sector, and also resorted to indiscriminate firing of small arms, automatics and mortars in Bhimber Gali sector, along the LoC.Further details are awaited.
Bud allocation to armed forces to keep them prepared for all exigencies: Govt
Budgetary allocations are provided to the armed forces to build up capability and prepare for all kinds of exigencies, the government today informed the Lok Sabha, after it was asked if the defence allocation was done keeping in mind the "collusive threat" from the borders of China and Pakistan. In a written response to another question, Subhash Bhamre, Minister of State in the Defence Ministry, said the government has also constituted a task force to study the Strategic Implementation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) application on National Security and defence needs to make appropriate recommendations "AI has the potential to contribute in national security in various applications like Unmanned Ariel Systems (UASs), Robotics Decision Support Systems and Operational Logistics," the minister said. On the question of budgetary allocations, he said they are provided to the armed forces to build up capability and prepare for all eventualities. He was asked whether monetary allocation of .
China asks Sri Lankan govt to ensure security of its nationals
China today urged the Sri Lankan government to take measures to ensure security of its nationals in view of the communal clashes between the Buddhists and Muslims that led to the imposition of an emergency. Sri Lanka yesterday declared a state of emergency for 10 days to rein in the spread of communal violence between majority Sinhala Buddhists and minority Muslims in the country's scenic Kandy district that left two persons dead and damaged several mosques and homes. Violence, triggered by the death of a Sinhalese man at the hands of a mob last week, erupted yesterday in the Theldeniya area of the central hill district popular with tourists. The government sent troops and elite police commandoes to Kandy to restore order and enforce the curfew. Asked about the emergency imposed in Sri Lanka to clampdown on the communal clashes, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said here that China hopes the Sri Lankan government would take measures to protect the safety and security of .
Ambedkar statue vandalized in UP
A statue of Dalit icon Bhimrao Ambedkar was vandalized in Meerut district in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday, police said.
Curfew extended in Sri Lanka for 3rd day
The police on Wednesday extended curfew for the third consecutive day in Sri Lanka's central district of Kandy after Buddhists and Muslims clashed on the streets resulting in two deaths and injuries to several people.
Taliban commander killed in clash in Afghanistan
A Taliban local commander, including three others, were killed in a clash on Tuesday with Afghan security forces in Dawlat Abad district of Balkh province in Afghanistan, local officials said on Wednesday.Abdul Razaq Qaderi, the security officer at Balkh's police chief office said that the local commander named Janat Gul, along with his three fighters were killed in a two-hour clash when they attacked parts of Dawlat Abad district.Qaderi added that there were no casualties among the security forces and blamed Gul for being reportedly responsible for the deaths of a number of security forces.The Taliban is yet to react to the latest development.
Pak's anti-insurgency operations 'partly successful' in reducing violence
Pakistan's counter-insurgency operations have been partly successful in reducing violence, according to a report published by the United States Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA).The DIA report is a worldwide threat assessment, which reflects the complexity, diversity and scope of today's challenges affecting the US national security. It aims to understand the global challenges that the country faces.The report was submitted to the US Senate's Armed Services Committee.In the report, the DIA said, "Islamabad is likely to proceed with its counterinsurgency operations and border management efforts along its western border while sustaining counter-terrorism and paramilitary operations throughout the country."Stating that these efforts have had some success in reducing violence in the country from "militant, sectarian, terrorist and separatist groups," the report further said that Pakistan will look towards the US and Afghanistan for "support against anti-Pakistan fighters in Afghanistan," .
11 landmines seized in Jharkhand
Security forces seized 11 landmines, each weighing 25 kg, from Jharkhand's Bokaro district on Wednesday.
Mirwaiz detained while trying to march to Shopian
Police today detained chairman of moderate Hurriyat Conference Mirwaiz Umar Farooq as he tried to march towards Shopian town in south Kashmir to protest against the killings in the firing incident on Sunday night. Mirwaiz and his supporters came out of the Hurriyat leader's Nigeen residence carrying placards and a banner, demanding an end to civilian killings and revocation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act. However, a posse of policemen was waiting outside the Mirwaiz residence and took the Hurriyat chairman into preventive custody. The authorities had placed Mirwaiz under house arrest in order to prevent him from visiting Shopian where six persons including two militants were killed in a firing incident on Sunday night. While the Army has claimed that the slain youth were overground workers of the militants, the family of the deceased said they had no links with militancy. Separatists under the banner of Joint Resistance Leadership (JRL), which includes Mirwaiz, Syed Ali ...
Naidu condemns razing of statues
Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu on Wednesday described as "shameful" and "mad" incidents of attacks on statues of iconic leaders in Tripura, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.
US imposes sanctions on Pyongyang over Kim Jong-nam's death
The US has announced new, unspecified sanctions against Pyongyang for using a chemical weapon to assassinate Kim Jong-nam, the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, in February 2017.
Lanka violence: Guterres concerned, UN official to visit Kandy
UN Under-Secretary-General Jeffrey Feltman is to visit the Sri Lankan city of Kandy, at the centre of incidents of communal violence. He will meet religious leaders there this week, a UN spokesperson said.