Page 731 - War Conflict
Pakistani couple become first civilians evacuated from Syria's Ghouta
A Pakistani couple became the first civilians evacuated from the rebel-held Eastern Ghouta on the outskirts of the Syrian capital, a media report said on Thursday.
CRPF DG honours personnel for anti-Maoist encounters
CRPF Director General Rajiv Rai Bhatnagar today honoured officers and jawans of the force involved in encounters that resulted in elimination of six Maoists in Jharkhand last month, a release by the para-military force said. Bhatnagar handed over cash awards to 25 jawans and officers of the Central Reserve Police Force who had taken part in the encounters on February 8 and 26. The DG also assured them all assistance to wipe out the naxals. Self-styled Maoist sub-zonal commander Rakesh Bhuiya and five others were killed and two women cadres of the outfit were arrested following the two encounters, the release said. Later, Bhatnagar held meeting with senior officials of CRPF and Jharkhand Police to chalk out the strategy to crush the naxal activities. Bhatnagar also extended Holi greetings to the personnel.
Tell truth or resign: Nobel laureates tell Suu Kyi
Three female Nobel peace laureates have asked Myanmar State Counsellor and de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi "to act now" or "face the consequences" for what they called "genocide" being carried out in Myanmar's Rakhine State.
Police shoots dead two rowdies in Madurai
Two history sheeters were shot dead on Thursday by police in the temple city of Madurai in Tamil Nadu, officials said.
Singapore terror blackout plan curbs press freedom: NGOs
A proposal by Singapore to give police broad powers to block electronic communications at the scene of terror attacks was criticised today by rights groups as stifling press freedom. The interior ministry earlier this week supported a bill that would allow police to stop anyone within the vicinity of an incident from taking photos and video or communicating about police operations through text and audio messages. They argued that during terror attacks elsewhere live broadcasts had unwittingly helped assailants to anticipate moves against them. Fears are growing that the affluent city-state is a prime target for a militant attack, with the government warning it is a matter of when, not if. However activists said the proposal risked further damaging what they said was Singapore's already poor record on press freedom. "Singapore's proposed ban on photographing or videoing terror attacks would black out the news precisely when the public needs to be accurately informed," said Shawn ...
Drone strikes kill 7 militants in Afghanistan
At least seven militants, including the ones affiliated with the terror outfit Islamic State (IS), have been killed in drone strikes in Afghanistan's Nangarhar and Kapisa provinces.The Afghan military said that the airstrikes were carried out by the United States forces using unmanned aerial vehicles, reported Khaama Press.According to the report, four IS militants were killed after their hideouts were targeted in the airstrikes in Achin district of Nangarhar.A DShK heavy machine gun was also reportedly destroyed in the airstrike.Meanwhile, at least three militants, including one of their commanders, have been killed in separate drone strikes in Tagab district of Kapisa province.No comments have been received from the anti-government armed militant and terrorist groups, including IS, in connection with the report yet.
2 Egyptian officers killed in Sinai Peninsula
At least two officers of Egyptian Army have been killed during military operations against militant groups based in the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt.In a statement, the Egyptian army said that at least 13 militants were killed in the same operations, reported Anadolu Agency.The statement further stated that around 86 "terrorists and criminals" were captured during the operation.The Sinai operation comes at time when the country heading to its presidential election, which are slated to be held from March 26 to 28 in which incumbent President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi hopes to win a second four-year term in office.A militant insurgency hit the Sinai Peninsula in 2013, when the army led by Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi ousted Egypt's first freely elected president Mohamed Morsi.
Tri-Services exercise held in Arabian Sea
With an aim of building inter- operability, the Air Force, the Navy and the Army carried out three-week-long exercise in the Arabian Sea in which several fighter planes, frontline naval vessels, including aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, and the infantry were involved. Named 'Paschim Lehar', the tri-Services maritime exercise off India's western coast had commenced on February 12, the Navy said here today. The objective of the exercise was to build interoperability, said the Navy spokesperson. "The Western Naval Command concluded the large-scale operational exercise in the Arabian Sea. The three-week long exercise termed Exercise Paschim Leher, tested the operational readiness of the Command and the execution of it's operational plans," the spokesperson said. Over 40 naval assets including the aircraft carrier INS Vikramaditya, frontline ships of the Western Fleet and Eastern Fleet, including the newly-inducted Kolkata class ones, submarines, potent missile vessels of .
China to build Nuclear-Powered Aircraft Carrier within 7 yrs
The Chinese Army has announced that Beijing wants to field its first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Liaoning by the middle of the next decade.The China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation on Tuesday announced a list of ambitions hope to achieve in weaponry and technical developments for the People's Liberation Army-Navy by 2025, the state-backed Global Times reported."The defence company said it will "speed the up the process of making technological breakthroughs in nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, new-type nuclear submarines, quiet submarines, maritime unmanned intelligent confrontation systems, maritime three-dimensional offensive and defensive systems and naval warfare comprehensive electronic information systems," the report said.China's navy has two aircraft carriers running on conventional oil. The French Navy's flagship, the Charles de Gaulle, is the only non-US aircraft carrier powered by nuclear reactors. Each Nimitz-class and Ford-class carrier in the US Navy is or will be
Afghanistan forces detain German fighting for Taliban
The Afghanistan special forces have detained a German national who had been fighting along with the Taliban for almost a year, officials said on Thursday.
To woo FDI, nation must be secure from external, internal threats: Army Chief
At a time when an emerging India is looking to attract more and more Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), it was imperative to assure investors and build confidence in them that the nation is secure both from external and internal threats, Army Chief Bipin Rawat said on Thursday.
IS militants stone man to death in Afghanistan
Militants affiliated with the terror outfit Islamic State (IS) have stoned a man to death in Afghanistan's eastern Nangarhar province over an alleged illicit sexual relationship.The loyalists of the terror group released a statement online, claiming that the man was executed after he was found guilty of adultery, reported Khaama Press.The group alleged that the man had illicit sexual relations with another woman despite being married.According to the report, this is not the first case of the execution of the ordinary civilians in Afghanistan, carried out by the terror outfit.About ten days ago, two men were beheaded on the alleged charges of having connections with the Taliban and spying for the government in the war-torn country's Nangarhar province.
Two Army men injured in Pakistani shelling along LoC
Two soldiers were injured today in firing and shelling by Pakistani troops along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch and Rajouri districts, an official said. Pakistan Army initiated unprovoked and indiscriminate firing of small arms, automatics, and mortars from 0845 hours today along the LoC in Bhimber Gali (BG) sector of Poonch district, a defence spokesman said. He added that Pakistani forces also violated ceasefire from 1030 hours today at Nowshera, Kalal and Sunderbani sectors along the LoC in Rajouri district. The Indian Army is retaliating strongly and effectively, he said. In the firing and shelling today, two soldiers suffered minor injuries and were hospitalised, an official said. Yesterday also, the Pakistan Army had violated the ceasefire from 1030 hours in Nowshera, Kalal and Sunderbani sectors along the LoC. Ceasefire violations along the LoC and international border in Jammu and Kashmir left 21 persons, including 12 security personnel, dead and over 80 others, mostly ...
Bali bombers' spiritual leader hospitalized in Indonesia
A radical Islamic cleric who was the spiritual leader of the Bali bombers and a force behind a jihadist training camp raided in 2010 has been transferred from prison to a Jakarta hospital. Guarded by four paramilitary police officers, the frail white-bearded Abu Bakar Bashir arrived at the hospital in Indonesia's capital this morning. He appeared unable to walk unassisted and was helped into a wheelchair as photographers and TV cameramen jostled around him. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison in 2011 for supporting a military-style training camp for militants that was uncovered the year before. The octogenarian Bashir suffers from medical problems including chronically weak blood circulation. A copy of a prison memo seen by The Associated Press said Bashir is being treated for pooling of blood in the legs, a common condition in old age known as chronic venous insufficiency. Local media reported that President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo agreed with Bashir receiving hospital treatment on ..
Hopeful of amicable solution in Ayodhya dispute: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Art-of-living head Sri Sri Ravi Shankar said on Thursday he was hopeful of an amicable and out-of-court settlement to the Ramjanmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute in Ayodhya.
Eco dev, military modernisation must go together: Gen Rawat
India's economic development must go hand-in-hand with modernisation of the armed forces, Army chief Gen. Bipin Rawat said today. "Economic rise takes place if the country is secure," he said, defending the quantum of budget allocation to the armed forces, and stressed that there is a link between flow of foreign investment into India and the situation at the country's borders as well as the internal security scenario. To invite investment, "we have to build and develop confidence among the investors that the nation's borders are secure and the internal security situations are under control for which there is a requirement for budget for the defence forces," he said at a seminar here. "Economic development and military modernisation must go hand-in-hand," he asserted The Army chief also talked about those who question the budgetary allocation to the armed forces. Referring to the defence budget, Gen Rawat, quoting an internal study by the Army, said 35-37 per cent of the annual budget
'Army provides welfare services, where govt can't reach'
The Indian army has been providing various welfare services like education and health in areas that are inaccessible to the government, Army Chief Bipin Rawat said on Thursday.Speaking at a seminar titled 'Contribution of Armed Forces towards Nation Building', the Army Chief said, "Armed Forces, in remotest locations are providing education and healthcare to people where government has not been able to reach out to them. A very large part of them is dependent on resources of armed forces.""Where our troops are deployed, local produce is purchased for their consumption, giving back in kind and monetary remuneration to locals. I can keep recounting various issues towards which we contribute," he added.Rawat also said that each member of the armed forces pays taxes as it is deducted at source"So while we may be drawing salaries, we also contribute to taxes, which go to the state exchequer," he further remarked.Minister of State for Defence Subhash Bhamre was also present at the event.
Rajiv Gandhi assassination: Life convict Ravichandran gets 2-week parole
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court granted a two-week parole to convict Ravichandran, in connection with the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, who was assassinated in 1991.In the petition filed by Ravichandran, he said that he had undergone imprisonment for 26 years and was released on parole three times earlier during the period.Ravichandran, a native of Arupukottai in Virudhunagar district in Tamil Nadu had requested the police to release him on parole to help his aged mother to solve property issues, as she was finding it difficult to manage by herself.However, the police raised an objection to release his parole citing difficulty in providing security to him.They opined that releasing Ravichandran on parole might be a risk to his life.As the convict owns a property in Thoothukudi district in Tamil Nadu, the police added that it would be difficult for the police to provide security in two places if he happens to visit Thoothukudi to see the property from .
Sri Lanka govt appoints members to office on missing persons
Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena today appointed seven members to a special office set up for determining the status of all persons who went "missing" during the brutal civil war against the LTTE. The Office of Missing Persons (OMP) aims to bring in reparations to the victims of the nearly three-decade long armed conflict in the country. "The OMP law was passed in August 2016 and will now be operational. The OMP is tasked with determining the status of all missing persons in Sri Lanka and is the first pillar of the transitional justice mechanisms under design and implementation," a government release said. The commissioners have been appointed for a three-year period under the chairmanship of leading legal luminary Saliya Peiris. The panel also includes two members from the Tamil minority and one from the Muslim community, it said. According to the release, the commissioners were selected in an open and competitive process conducted by the Constitutional Council of Sri Lanka .
German citizen arrested with Taliban in Afghanistan: officials
A German national has been arrested with the Taliban in Afghanistan's insurgency-racked Helmand province, officials have said, a rare example of a European among the insurgents. "A man with a long beard, wearing a black turban who identified himself as a German citizen and speaks German, was taken along with three other suspected Taliban on Monday night in Gereshk district of Helmand province," Omar Zwak, the provincial governor's spokesman, told AFP late last night. A statement from the Afghan army corps in the province confirmed that the man had been detained with other suspects in a joint operation between Afghan Special Forces and the Afghan air force. "The German national calls himself Abdul Wadood, and he was taken to Kandahar for further investigation," the statement said. Gereshk police chief Ismail Khplwak said the man was the "military adviser of Mullah Nasir", commander of the Taliban's elite "Red Unit" in Helmand. If confirmed it would be one of the few incidents in which .