Page 739 - War Conflict

Death toll in Somalia twin blasts rises to 38

The death toll from two suicide car bomb blasts that ripped through the Somali capital on Friday, has risen to at least 38 people, according to government sources.Earlier, At least 18 people were killed and 20 others were injured, according to Aamin Ambulance service.Abdulkadir Abdirahman Adan of the Aamin Ambulance Service said the bombings targeted the presidential palace and a hotel. He said that most of the victims were civilians.The twin bombings came two days after the Somali government had issued a "possible terror warning" in Mogadishu.The militant group al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack.The group frequently carries out suicide attacks in Somalia and parts of East Africa.In December last year, 18 police officers were killed when an al-Shabaab fighter blew himself up inside the country's main police academy in Mogadishu.Furthermore, the Mogadishu bombings on October 14 and 28 last year claimed more than 350 lives and injured over 400.Somalia has been plagued with

UN chief wants Syria ceasefire 'immediately'

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres today welcomed the Security Council's demand for a 30-day ceasefire in Syria and said it must be "immediately" implemented. With Russia's backing, the council voted unanimously to demand the truce "without delay" as Syrian war planes pounded the rebel-held enclave of Eastern Ghouta. "The secretary-general stresses his expectation that the resolution will be immediately implemented and sustained, particularly to ensure the immediate, safe, unimpeded and sustained delivery of humanitarian aid and services, the evacuation of the critically sick and wounded and the alleviation of the suffering of the Syrian people," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. Guterres reminded all sides of their "absolute obligation" to protect civilians, adding that "efforts to combat terrorism do not supersede these obligations." The long-delayed vote at the council came as the death toll from seven days of bombardment of Eastern Ghouta rose to more than 500.

IS spreading its terror wings beyond Iraq, Syria

They may have laid a path of terror and destruction in Iraq and Syria, but the dreaded Islamic State (IS) group has spread its wings beyond these terror-ravaged countries to the unlikeliest places on Earth.Since declaring its caliphate in June 2014, the terror group has carried out or inspired more than 140 terror attacks in 29 countries outside Iraq and Syria till 2017, The Sun reported.In Europe, the IS have claimed a number of attacks in cities such as- London, Barcelona, Manchester, Paris, Nice and Stockholm to name a few.Their latest recruitment grounds include honeymoon isles and expat enclaves including New Zealand and South Africa.Here are some of the other countries the dreaded terror group has formed an unlikely foothold:1. ChinaThe IS sees China as its next major global target after reportedly securing a recruiting foothold in the country's badlands.In a recent video, the group pledged to "shed blood like rivers" in attacks against Chinese targets."We are the soldiers of ...

Russia joins UN Security Council to demand Syria ceasefire

With Russia's backing, the UN Security Council today unanimously demanded a 30-day ceasefire in Syria to allow for humanitarian aid deliveries and medical evacuations. The resolution demanding the ceasefire "without delay" was adopted as Syrian government forces pounded the rebel-held enclave of Eastern Ghouta, where hundreds have died during a week-long assault. "We are late to respond to this crisis, very late," US Ambassador Nikki Haley told the council after the vote, accusing Russia of stalling the vote. More than 500 people, including more than 120 children, have been killed in seven days of relentless airstrikes in Eastern Ghouta, which UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described as "hell on earth." The resolution demands a cessation of hostilities "without delay" throughout Syria to allow the "safe, unimpeded and sustained" deliveries of aid and evacuations of the sick and wounded. To win Russia's approval, language specifying that the ceasefire would start 72 hours after .

5 civilians dead in Syria rebel, jihadist clashes: monitor

Five civilians were killed today in clashes between Syrian rebel groups and jihadists in the northwestern province of Idlib, a monitoring group said. Rebel Islamist groups Ahrar al-Sham and Nureddine al-Zinki launched an operation Tuesday against Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an alliance dominated by jihadists once linked to Al-Qaeda, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. "It's a war to wipe out" the jihadists, said Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman. HTS is the main force in Idlib but the Islamist groups, which on February 18 announced a merger under the name of Syrian Liberation Front, have captured 26 localities in this week's fighting, the Observatory said.

Car bombs in Yemen's Aden kill 6: officials

Two car bomb explosions killed at least six people and wounded 43 others including civilians on Saturday in Yemen's southern city of Aden, security officials and witnesses said, in an attack claimed later by the extremist Islamic State group. The first targeted an anti-terrorism military camp with detention facilities for suspected militants while the other, which also detonated in Goldmor district, targeted an office for the Southern Transitional Council which is also the residence of Aden's former governor Aidrous al-Zubaidi, witnesses and officials said. Al-Zubaidi was not present when the bomb went off. The Islamic State's statement, carried by its Aamaq news agency, said two suicide bomb attacks had hit the anti-terrorism camp in Aden. Medical officials said those killed include three civilians and three security personnel. They added that the casualties were taken to hospitals for treatment. "The explosions terrified dozens of families living in the area that hurried to the .

Trinamool local leader shot dead

A local leader of the Trinamool Congress was killed and three others injured after some unidentified people shot them during a fight over prawn farming in East Midnapore district today, police said. The incident happened at Mobarakpur village under the jurisdiction of Bhagwanpur police station. The deceased leader was identified as 42-year-old Nantu Pradhan, the police said. While Pradhan died on the spot, the three injured were admitted to Tamluk hospital, they said. A trouble was brewing between the leader and the villagers for sometime since he using a portion of an agricultural land for prawn farming and he was bringing water from the Kansai river for the purpose, the police said. Other villagers used to raise objections because, according to them, the river water was harming their paddy cultivation. The two sides had a heated exchange of words today and broke into a fight. The villagers allegedly hurled bombs and fired at Pradhan and his men, the police said, adding .

Car bombs in Yemen's Aden kill 5: officials

Yemeni security officials say two car bomb explosions have killed at least five people in the southern city of Aden. The officials said today that one explosion targeted an anti-terrorism military camp with detention facilities for suspected militants. The other, which also detonated in Goldmor district, targeted Aden's former governor, they added. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to brief the media. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack. Aden has been the seat of Hadi's government since 2014 when Shiite rebels, known as Houthis, seized the capital Sanaa and forced him into self-exile. A Saudi-led coalition backing Hadi's forces has been at war with the Houthis since March 2015.

Pak summons Indian envoy for fifth time this month

Pakistan today summoned Indian Deputy High Commissioner J P Singh here for the fifth time in a month and condemned alleged firing across Line of Control by Indian forces. The Pakistan Foreign Office said Director General (SA & SAARC) Mohammad Faisal summoned Singh over "unprovoked ceasefire violations" by Indian forces on Feb 23 in Nikial sector. Faisal said the firing killed a man in ThurtiNarr village located some 1,200 meters from the LoC and three other people were injured. The Foreign Office had earlier summoned India's deputy high commissioner on February 5, 15, 20 and 22. "This unprecedented escalation in ceasefire violations by India is continuing from the year 2017 when Indian forces committed more than 1,970 ceasefire violations," he claimed. He said the alleged ceasefire violations by India are a threat to regional peace and security and may lead to a strategic miscalculation. Pakistani troops today fired mortar shells targeting villages along the Line of Control (LoC) .

Meghalaya's most-wanted militant shot dead

Security forces today shot dead Meghalaya's most-wanted militant and self-styled chief of the outlawed Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) in an encounter in East Garo Hills district, police said. The encounter of Sohan D Shira, who carried a reward of Rs 10 lakh on his head, came after NCP candidate Jonathone N Sangma was killed in an IED attack, suspected to be carried out by GNLA in Samanda area of the same district on February 18. Following Sangma's death, counter-insurgency operations had been stepped up in poll-bound South and East Garo Hills districts. Acting on inputs about movement of armed GNLA cadres in Dobu area, counter-insurgency forces, mostly from the state's elite Special Force10, were pressed into service last night, a senior police officer involved in the operations told PTI. He said the police team ran into heavy firing at about 11:50 am in Achakpek village, where Sohan was killed during retaliation. "He (Sohan) is dead after a challenging encounter. Our team is ..

Pak troops fire mortar shells at border villages in J-K

Pakistani troops today fired mortar shells targeting villages along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district, police said. "Pakistani troops fired mortar shells and small arms from across the border in the Lam area of the Nowshera sector around 6.15 pm," a police official said. He said Indian troops retaliated and the exchange of fire continued for 15 minutes. There was no casualty reported in the Pakistani firing, the official said.

CAfrica deploys troops to flashpoint after deadly clashes

The government of Central African Republic deployed troops alongside United Nations peacekeepers Saturday to a flashpoint district on Bangui after clashes between rival groups left at least three people dead. "The government must restore peace," said security minister General Henri Wanzet Liguissara in a speech broadcast on national radio. Peacekeepers from the UN's MINUSCA force were deployed with government forces in the fractious PK5 and KM5 districts of Bangui "to take out all those who don't want peace and want weapons to sound out," throughout KM5, the minister said. Three people were killed and at least seven others wounded in clashes in the PK5 neighbourhood late Thursday. Once a Muslim rebel bastion, PK5 is now home to several armed groups that have taken advantage of the weakness of the state since the end of a sectarian conflict pitting mainly Muslim rebels against nominally Christian militias. Last week, a neighbourhood traders' association called ACK demanded the ...

Nearly 1000 bottles of Nepalese liquor seized in Bihar,one

Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) personnel here today seized nearly 1,000 bottles of Nepalese liquor, worth about Rs six crore, and arrested one person in this connection. Acting on a tip-off, an SSB team nabbed a local resident Dinesh Kesri from Amagachhi border outpost, Deputy Commandant Mukesh Kumar Gautam said. Kesri, who entered the Indian territory from Nepal, was being followed by a number of persons carrying a huge sack full of liquor bottles who fled upon spotting the SSB personnel, leaving the contraband behind, Gautam said. The sack contained a total of 991 bottles of liquor manufactured in Nepal, worth Rs 5.95 crore, he added. Kesri and the liquor bottles have been handed over to the Sonamani Godam police station for further action, the SSB Deputy Commandment said. Sale and consumption of liquor has been completely banned in Bihar by the Nitish Kumar government. SSB, a paramilitary force, is entrusted with the responsibility to guard country's International borders ..

Estonia celebrates 100 years of independence declaration

Estonia is celebrating the centenary of its independence declaration with festivities and a military parade. The celebrations today started with Estonia's blue, black, and white flag being hoisted atop the same downtown Tallinn tower it was flown from in 1918. Like its Baltic neighbours, Estonia was part of the Russian Empire and briefly Soviet Russia before it declared independence 100 years ago. The small country was occupied by the Soviet Union in 1940 and by Germany for three years during World War II. It regained independence in 1991 and joined the European Union and NATO in 2004. During today's parade, President Kersti Kaljulaid reviewed troops that included a multi-national NATO unit stationed in Estonia. Prime Minister Juri Ratas urged citizens never to forget the predecessors who established the republic.

Bombings in Myanmar injure 2

Three bomb explosions rocked the western Myanmar city of Sittwe on Saturday and left two people injured.

FIR lodged after stone-pelting at Army camp in Jammu

The Army has lodged an FIR against unidentified miscreants for pelting stones at a military station which was recently attacked by a group of three Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorists here. Six soldiers and a civilian were killed and 10 others, including four soldiers, were injured in the terror attack on the Sunjwan camp. All three terrorists, who stormed the camp, were also killed in retaliatory action. An army official said unidentified people pelted stones at the camp along the Jammu-Pathankot bypass yesterday. "The stone pelting was done on post number 12, which is adjacent to the area which was the suspected entry point of three terrorists," he said. The FIR was lodged last evening, the official said. The police carried out inspections in the area from where the stone pelting was done, he added. "Some suspects were identified by the police," the official said, adding that the police was keeping a vigil. A senior police officer said an investigation was underway in the case.

29 killed in fresh attacks on Syria's Eastern Ghouta

At least 29 people, including five children, were killed on Saturday in fresh attacks on Eastern Ghouta, a rebel-held suburb of the Syrian capital, where over 500 civilians have died in the last week in intensified bombardment by forces loyal to the Syrian government.

UNHRC to urge universal jurisdiction for Lanka rights process

The UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) is to receive a report that will recommend "other avenues including the application of universal jurisdiction" that could foster accountability in Sri Lanka. The report by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Raad Al Hussein will be presented at the 37th session of the UNHRC to be held in Geneva from February 26 to March 23. Noting that though Sri Lanka had constructively collaborated with the UNHRC over its human rights record the transitional justice action has been virtually stalled for more than an year. "Progress with some confidence-building measures has often been insufficient and inconclusive and the structures set up to coordinate implementation have not consolidated enough or did not receive sufficient political support to move things forward," the report says. The report notes that 2017 was marked by intermittent ethnic tensions and attacks on minorities which are unlikely to dissipate completely. The continuing allegations of ...

Multiple bombings in Afghanistan kill 9

At least nine people, including three assailants, were killed and 22 others wounded in three separate suicide bombings in Afghanistan on Saturday, authorities said.

Lanka army chief says attache recalled from UK for own safety

Sri Lanka's Army Chief Lt Gen Mahesh Senanayake today said the country's defence attache in the UK was recalled for his own safety after he was filmed making "throat cutting gestures" to Tamil protesters outside the Sri Lankan High Commission in London earlier this month. British politicians had demanded action against Brigadier Priyanka Fernando for openly making a death threat at the demonstrators. Fernando, who was serving as the military attache in the Sri Lankan mission in London, caused controversy when he made throat cutting gestures to Tamil demonstrators opposite the mission in London on February 4. "As the commander of the army, I have to take responsibility for his safety. When he serves in another country his security cannot be guaranteed. So I wanted him to return," Senanayake said in the northern town of Vavuniya. Fernando returned home on Thursday. He had been suspended by the foreign ministry immediately after the incident however President Maithripala Sirisena ordered