Page 732 - War Conflict
German 'military advisor' to Taliban arrested in Afghanistan: official
A German national believed to be a military advisor to the Taliban in Afghanistan has been arrested in the insurgency-racked province of Helmand, officials said today. "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," said Omar Zwak, the provincial governor's spokesman. Gereshk police chief Ismail Khplwak said the man -- who was detained by Afghan Special Forces during a night raid -- was the "military adviser of Mullah Nasir", commander of the Taliban's elite "Red Unit" in Helmand. Photographs taken by the Afghan military show a man who looks to be in his 40s with a long reddish-brown beard speckled with grey, and wearing a black turban. He is flanked by two members of the Afghan Special Forces dressed in combat gear and with night vision goggles pulled up onto their helmets. The man is dressed in traditional Afghan .
Aid convoy blocked in Syria despite UN ceasefire order: official
About 40 trucks are loaded and ready to ferry relief supplies to Syria's bomb-and-siege shattered Eastern Ghouta, but there has been no let up in fighting despite a UN ceasefire resolution, a top UN official said today. Mark Lowcock, the UN under secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, said there has been no change in the situation around the rebel-held enclave in the Damascus suburbs despite a ceasefire resolution on Saturday. "When will your resolution be implemented?" he asked, staring fixedly at members of the UN Security Council, who listened in complete silence. Lowcock said trucks loaded with supplies have been poised to go to 10 besieged areas including Douma, the main town in the enclave, since Saturday. But he said there has been no access for humanitarian convoys, nor authorisation by the regime to go into the besieged areas, nor medical evacuations since the Security Council resolution was passed, he said. On the contrary, the bombings have continued, and deaths and ...
4 UN peacekeepers killed in central Mali
Four UN peacekeepers from Bangladesh were killed in central Mali today after their vehicle hit an explosive device and four others were seriously injured, the United Nations said. Mali mission chief Mahamat Saleh Annadif said the peacekeepers hit the device along the Boni-Douentza road in the Mopti region. He said six Malian soldiers were also killed in a similar manner yesterday in the Segou region. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned the attack against the Bangladeshis and reiterated that attacks targeting UN peacekeepers may constitute war crimes under international law, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. Guterres demanded that the perpetrators be apprehended and prosecuted, he said. The more than 11,000-strong mission in Mali has become the most dangerous in the world for UN peacekeepers, which are routinely attacked by Islamic militants. The threat of groups related to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group continues to spread through Mali. Annadif said the ..
Walmart restricts sale of firearms, ammunition to people under 21
Walmart on Wednesday announced it will no longer sell firearms and ammunition to people younger than 21 of age.A statement by Walmart also said it would also remove items resembling assault-style rifles from its website."Going forward, we are raising the age restriction for purchase of firearms and ammunition to 21 years of age. We will update our processes as quickly as possible to implement this change," CNN quoted a statement by the retailing corporation as saying.The move comes a few hours after American sporting goods retailing corporation Dick's Sporting Goods announced that it would restrict the sale of firearms to those under 21 years old.However, it didn't mention ammunition. Dick's also said it would immediately stop selling assault-style rifles, and its CEO took on the National Rifle Association by demanding tougher gun laws, reported the Chicago Tribune.Walmart further said its decision came after the company reviewed its firearm sales policy in light of the mass shooting .
Seven killed in Colombia-Venezuela border clash
Seven suspected Colombian paramilitaries were killed in a confrontation with Venezuelan security forces in Tachira state on the border, an official said today. The incident in La Cabrera -- which borders the Colombian department of Norte de Santander -- involved "the Colombian 'Los Pelusos' paramilitary group," said Freddy Bernal, Venezuela's urban agriculture minister said. Bernal said the group, from which five men and two women were killed, was linked to paramilitary and drug trafficking group Gaitanista Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AGC), or the Gulf Clan. They were in possession of military gear, firearms, a grenade, "leaflets inciting violence" and drugs, the minister said. On Sunday, three Venezuelans were killed by Colombian National Liberation Army (ELN) rebels in Norte de Santander, in one of several recent violent attacks following the suspension of peace talks with Juan Manuel Santos's government last month. Colombia and Venezuela share a 2,219 kilometer porous border, .
Three nabbed over deadly blast in Leicester: Police
Three men were arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of manslaughter following an explosion in Leicester on Sunday that killed five people, the police said.
Six aid workers killed in C. Africa
Unknown attackers have killed six humanitarian workers including one from the United Nations children's fund UNICEF in the northwest of the Central African Republic, the UN said today. The world body's Minusca mission "condemned the attack which led to the death of the six humanitarian workers including one from UNICEF," on Sunday at Markounda. Markounda has been plagued with violence since the end of last year as the National Movement for the Liberation of Central Africa and the Revolution and Justice party battle for domination. "We are deeply saddened and shocked by the death of our colleague as well as the five other education workers on February 25," said UNICEF regional director for west and central Africa Marie-Pierre Poirier. "The car carrying the UNICEF humanitarian worker and the five other people, including two women, was attacked by men from the (Muslim) ex-Seleka (rebels) operating in the region," Markunda resident Cyrille Mbagaye told AFP by telephone. "We firmly condemn
Four UN troops killed in central Mali mine blast: UN
Four UN peacekeepers were killed and four were wounded today when a mine exploded under their vehicle in central Mali in a deliberate attack, the UN mission in the country said. Jihadists have ramped up their activities in central Mali in recent months, targeting domestic and foreign forces in violence once confined to the restive north. "The provisional death toll stands at four peacekeepers dead following the explosion of a mine or IED against a MINUSMA vehicle on the Boni-Douentza road," a statement issued by the mission said, using its acronym. "Four more peacekeepers are seriously wounded and their medical evacuation is underway," it added. Mission chief Mahamat Saleh Annadif learnt with "consternation" of the attack, which took place around 2pm (local time) in the Mopti region, it added. "MINUSMA is currently upgrading its security presence in central Mali," Annadif said. "Cornered, the terrorists are multiplying their attacks." The mission, which counts almost 11,000 ...
DAC clears procurement of 'entire range of personal weapons' for three services
The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) chaired by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday gave approval to acquisition proposals of the three services (Army, Air Force, Navy) and Coast Guard worth around Rs 9,435 crore.
4 paramilitary soldiers killed in Blast in Quetta
At least four paramilitary soldiers were killed today in a bomb attack at a security check point in Pakistan's south-western province of Balochistan, a security official said. A security official said that six security men were injured in the blast, which appeared to be a suicide attack, targeting a Frontier Corps (FC) post in the Darvaish Belili area of provincial capital Quetta. "We are still investigating the incident and the exact nature of bombing will be determined after the report by bomb disposal experts," he said on anonymity. The injured were shifted to Civil Hospital Quetta for treatment, as forces started search operation in the area. Nobody so far claimed responsibility of the attack but Baloch nationalists and Taliban militants regularly target the forces in the province. It was second attack at the security forces in Quetta during the day, as two policemen were killed earlier today when gunmen opened indiscriminate firing at vehicle of Deputy Superintendent Police ...
Nine Naxals arrested in search operation in C'garh's Sukma
Nine Naxals were today arrested during a search operation by security forces in Chhattisgarhs insurgency-hit Sukma district, police said. The operation, which was carried out in Bhejji area of the district, was conducted jointly by personnel from the District Reserve Guard (DRG), District Force (DF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and its elite CoBRA battalion, a senior police official told PTI. Those arrested were identified as Muchaki Lakhma (22), Muchaki Kosa (25), Mandvi Lakhma (25), Nuppo Latham (37), Nuppo Ganga (30), Sodi Hidma (30), Nuppo Dual (55), Sodi Mukka Hidma (50) and Sodi Joga (19), all belonging to the lower rung of the outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoist), he said. Muchaki Lakhma had arrest warrants pending against him in Bhejji and Konta police stations, the official informed. Police said that they were allegedly involved in the attack on a police team inElarmadgu forest of Bhejji on February 18 this year in which two personnel were killed ...
J-K: Terrorists open fire in Tral, one civilian injured
Terrorists on Wednesday open fired upon a civilian in Tral area in South Kashmir's Pulwama district.The civilian has been identified as Ajaz Ahmed Shah.Ajaz has reportedly sustained serious bullet injuries on his chest and was shifted to Sub District Hospital (SDH) Tral from where he was referred to Srinagar hospital in a critical condition.On February 26, a terrorist was killed in a grenade attack on a police station in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district while trying to escape from police custody.The terrorist identified as Mushtaq Ahmad Chopan had dressed up as a woman while attempting to flee.Further details are awaited.
Ten persons caught while planning to rob jewellery shop
At least ten members of a gang were nabbed just as they were about to loot a jewellery shop in suburban Dadar here, police said today. A Crime Branch official said the ten, hailing from Nepal and Jharkhand, were roaming suspiciously in the vicinity of the shop and were nabbed on the basis of specific information. Two people managed to flee under the cover of darkness, the official said. During interrogation, they confessed that they had planned to rob the jewellery shop after whch they were placed under arrest, said officials. Gas cutters, a dagger and eight choppers were recovered from them, said police. Their modus operandi was to break the shutters of shops at night and open the safe using gas cutters, he said. The operation to nab them was carried out by personnel from Unit V of the Crime Branch and the Anti-Extortion Cell, said police.
1 UNICEF worker, 5 others killed in Central African Republic
The United Nations children's agency says one of its workers and five other education workers have been killed in an attack in Central African Republic. UNICEF's West and Central Africa Regional Director Marie-Pierre Poirier says the team was attacked Sunday while traveling near Markounda, a remote northwestern area near the border with Chad. Poirier strongly condemns the "senseless act against aid workers who were there to improve the lives of the most vulnerable populations." UNICEF says it has no further details. Militia violence has intensified in the past year in Central African Republic and spread into more regions. In August, clashes between a militia and a self-defense group killed 30 civilians, including six Red Cross volunteers.
Two boys injured in explosion in Anantnag
Two minor boys were injured in an explosion in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir today, police said. "Liyakat Khan (14) and Ishfaq Khan (12) -- were injured when they were fiddling with some suspicious object which exploded near Panchayat Mohalla, Rakh-e-Brah, in Anantnag district," a police spokesperson said. He said the injured boys were shifted to a hospital in Srinagar for treatment. "Their condition is said to be stable. Police is investigating the cause of explosion," the spokesperson said.
Afghan president unveils plan for peace talks with Taliban
Afghan President Ashraf Ghani today unveiled a plan to open peace talks with the Taliban, including eventually recognising them as a political party, days after the militants called for direct negotiations with the US. The apparent openness by both sides to some form of negotiations came as civilian casualties have soared in recent months, with the Taliban increasingly targeting towns and cities in response to a new and more aggressive US military policy ordered by President Donald Trump. Ghani disclosed the framework at the Kabul Process, a regional conference in the Afghan capital focused on bringing peace to the country. He called for a truce, after which the Taliban could become a political party and contest elections. "A ceasefire should be held, the Taliban should be recognised as a political party and trust-building process should be initiated," said Ghani, in remarks similar to past offers. "Now the decision is in your hands, accept peace... and let's bring stability to this .
Man critical after being shot by militants
Militants today shot at and injured a man in Tral area of Pulwama district in Jammu and Kashmir, police said. "Unidentified militants fired upon and injured Aijaz Ahmad Shah, 38, near Gol Masjid in Tral," a police spokesperson said. Shah was rushed to sub-district hospital, Tral, from where he was referred to SMHS Hospital in Srinagar for treatment. "His condition is stated to be critical," the spokesperson said.
Taliban kidnap 25 people, kill 5 in Afghanistan
The Taliban have kidnapped 25 bus and car passengers, killed five police officers and injured six more on a highway connecting the southern Urozgan and Kandahar provinces of Afghanistan, an official told Efe on Wednesday.
Youth shot in J&K town, critical
Unidentified gunmen on Wednesday shot and critically injured a youth in south Kashmir's Tral town, a police source said.
Lanka's NP council seeks intl court to probe war crime allegations
Sri Lanka's Northern Province Council has passed a resolution requesting the UN Human Right Council to establish an International Court to investigate allegations of war crimes against the armed forces during the decade-long civil war between the LTTE and the Army. The resolution, which was submitted by the Northern Provincial Councilor MK Shivajilingam, was passed with a majority at the 117th council session held yesterday, Tamil political sources said. Shivajilingam said the government had failed to take action to probe into war crime charges despite the UNHRC resolutions passed since 2013. "A probe by the government to solve human rights violations cannot be trusted. Since the latest UNHRC session has begun, a resolution should be sent to it," he said "This council calls upon the UN and the international community to require Sri Lanka to ratify the Rome statute as recommended by the OHCHR investigation on Sri Lanka," the resolution said. It also urged India, US and European Union ..