Page 90 - War Conflict

Afghan officials: Taliban launch complex attack on police

Afghan officials say Taliban insurgents have stormed a police headquarters in the capital of northern Baghlan province and that a gun battle is still taking place inside. Provincial council head Safder Mohsini said Sunday that the attack began with a large explosion outside the security headquarters. He said police have taken casualties but was unable to provide an exact figure. A Talban spokesman claimed responsibility for the attack, saying a suicide bomber had used a Humvee packed with explosives. The provincial governor's spokesman, Mahmood Haqmal, confirmed Sunday's attack on the police headquarters. The Taliban carry out near-daily attacks on Afghan forces even as peace efforts have accelerated to find an end to Afghanistan's nearly 18-year war.

Netanyahu vows 'massive strikes' in response to Gaza rocket barrages

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed Sunday to continue "massive strikes" in response to rocket fire from the Gaza Strip as a deadly escalation entered a second day, sparking fears of wider violence. Gazan authorities reported six Palestinians killed, including at least two militants, by Israeli strikes in the latest round of fighting that began Saturday as militants fired hundreds of rockets into Israel. But Israel disputed their account of the deaths of a pregnant mother and her baby, blaming errant Hamas fire. One 58-year-old Israeli man was killed overnight by a rocket strike on the city of Ashkelon near the Gaza border, Israeli police and medics said. "I instructed the (military) this morning to continue its massive strikes on terror elements in the Gaza Strip," Netanyahu said at the start of a cabinet meeting. He said he had also ordered "tanks, artillery and infantry forces" to reinforce troops already deployed near Gaza. The flare-up came as Hamas, the Islamist ...

SSDF stages protest against Mufti for advocating Ramzan ceasefire

Activists of Shiv Sena Dogra Front (SSDF) Sunday staged a protest and set ablaze an effigy of PDP president Mehbooba Mufti for advocating ceasefire in Kashmir during the holy month of Ramzan here. Mufti on Saturday had appealed to the Centre and the militants to announce ceasefire in Jammu and Kashmir for the Muslim fasting month of Ramzan so that the "people get some relief". "There is no need for ceasefire and we are on the roads because we are against any such move," SSDF chairman Ashok Gupta told reporters here. He claimed that the attacks by terrorists doubled while 40 youths joined the militant ranks during the unilateral ceasefire by the Centre in the Kashmir Valley last year. "When you were in power in the state and ceasefire was announced, the attacks by terrorists witnessed a surge which was evident from the data that 66 attacks including 22 grenade throwing and 12 weapon snatching incidents took place during the holy month compared to 33 in the previous month," Gupta ...

WFP gains access to vital Yemen food aid

The World Food Programme said it gained access Sunday to vital food aid on the outskirts of Yemen's flashpoint city of Hodeida a month after postponing its mission for security reasons. The Saudi-led coalition fighting on the side of the government accused the Iran-aligned Huthi rebels of denying a group from the UN agency access to the Red Sea mills warehouse in April. The WFP had said the mission was postponed due to "security reasons". WFP spokesman Herve Verhoosel said Sunday a WFP-led mission and a technical team of the Red Sea mills company gained access to the food aid. "The technical team will remain at the site to clean and service the milling equipment in preparation for the milling and eventual distribution of the wheat," Verhoosel told AFP in an emailed statement. Before the UN lost access in September the Red Sea mills held 51,000 tonnes of grain, which was enough to feed more than 3.7 million people for a month. In February, a WFP team visited the mills warehouse for the

Tight security arrangements in place for polls in Hazaribagh

Hazaribagh (Jharkhand) [India] May 5 (ANI): Hazaribagh Lok Sabha constituency, which faces challenges of being communally sensitive and some of its bordering areas being Naxal-affected, is all set to go for polls amidst tight security on Monday.According to police, these challenges have been taken into consideration while preparing for polls. Apart from local police, more than 40 companies of Central paramilitary forces are deployed on the ground."Overall arrangement of security is being ensured so that people come out and vote confidently without any kind of fear," said Hazaribagh SP Mayur Patel."Most vulnerable areas are Chatra, Bokaro and Gaya borders where we have deployed quick response teams. If needed, reinforcement will be provided immediately. We have activated our surveillance teams and flying squads. Intelligence mechanism has also been activated," he further said.Jharkhand has witnessed one phase of polling on April 29 while three phases remain on May 6, 12 and 19. The ...

430 rockets fired from Gaza on Israel in last 24 hours

In the last 24 hours, at least 430 rockets have been fired from Gaza at Israel, setting off alarms in the nation alerting citizens to take shelter.Tensions have been high ever since incoming rocket sirens began blaring across Israel on Saturday morning, with the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) reporting that more than 250 rockets were fired at the country from Gaza.In response, the IDF struck more than 120 "terror targets" in Gaza, targetting a Hamas weapons depot, attack tunnel shafts, rocket launchers, Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) and Hamas weapons manufacturing factories, and a PIJ training compound and command centre located inside a mosque.Meanwhile, terror groups in Gaza are mulling over increasing the rocket range to over 40 kilometres in the coming hours "if the aggression continues.""Wherever you are in the world, whether you are now going to sleep or just starting your day...you need to know that for the second day in a row, Israelis are waking up to rocket fire from Gaza," .

Sri Lanka expels 200 Muslim clerics after Easter suicide bombings

The minister did not give the nationalities of those who have been expelled

Afghanistan: Taliban attacks police headquaters in Baghlan

Gunmen affiliated to Taliban launched an attack on the police headquarters in Pul-e-Khumri city in northern Baghlan province of Afghanistan on Sunday.No casualties have been reported yet, reported Tolo News.The authorities have confirmed that a suicide car bomber detonated explosives near the police headquarters in Baghlan and then other gunmen started an open fire.The gunfight is underway. Further details are awaited.On Friday, Taliban in a statement rejected the call for a ceasefire and added that they will not stop "Jihad" as it will have more "benefits" during Ramadan month.This comes amid ongoing peace talks led by US special peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad with Taliban to end two decades of war in Afghanistan.

Lankan schools to re-open Monday, 2 weeks after Easter Sunday bombings

Schools in Sri Lanka will re-open on Monday amidst heavy security, officials said Sunday, two weeks after the country's worst terror attack forced authorities to close the educational institutions. Nine suicide bombers, including a woman, carried out a series of devastating blasts that tore through three churches and three luxury hotels on April 21, killing 253 people and injuring over 500 others. Following the attack, the authorities closed the schools until further notice. The second term of school will commence on Monday (May 06) for Grades 6 to 13 in all government schools. For Grades 1 to 5 the second term will commence on May 13, Colombo Page reported. However, classes of only grade VIth and above will be held, according to the Director General of the Government Information Nalaka Kaluwewa. Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam said that a special security programme will be implemented in school premises with the commencement of the new school term. Special circulars have been issued

Vivek Oberoi urges Delhiites to vote for PM Modi

In the run-up to Lok Sabha polls in Delhi, actor Vivek Oberoi on Sunday campaigned on behalf of the BJP in the capital, urging the people to vote for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The actor, who plays Modi in the biopic "PM Narendra Modi", asked Delhiites to vote for the prime minister on all seven seats in the city. After almost three hours of wait, Oberoi arrived at the Constitution Club of India for the event, titled 'Saaton seetein Modi ko' (All seven seats for Modi) and started off his under four-minute-long address with "How's the josh?", the popular dialogue from the film, "Uri: The Surgical Strike". Earlier this year, at the inauguration of the National Museum of Indian Cinema in Mumbai, the prime minister also opened his address with the same punch line. Showing off his inked finger, the actor said, "The people of Mumbai have shown the finger in the right direction. I'm talking about the correct finger. Now it's time the people of Delhi showed the finger. So, 'Saaton seetein,

Jaish militant returns to mainstream

A Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) militant, hailing from Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir, Sunday laid down arms and returned to the mainstream, police said. A police spokesman did not reveal the identity of the militant, saying "the identity stands protected. "One more youth from Pulwama, who was part of terror outfit JeM, has shunned the path of violence and returned to mainstream with efforts of his family and police, the spokesman said. Dozens of militants have laid down their arms in Kashmir since 2017 when police announced that they will accept offer to surrender of local militants even during ongoing encounters. Most of these militants have returned home after appeals by their families to shun the path of violence.

Sri Lankan public urged to surrender swords, knives

Sri Lankan authorities have urged the public to surrender swords and large knives amid heightened security concerns following the deadly April 21 Easter Sunday bombings.

Afghan military kills 52 Taliban militants

At least 52 Taliban militants, including two key comanders, were killed by the Afghan Army in Ghazni province, the Defence Ministry said on Sunday.

J-K Governor orders inquiry into killing of political activists in Kashmir

Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik Sunday condemned the killing of BJP leader Gul Muhammad Mir and ordered an inquiry into killing of political activists belonging to various parties in the state in the last few months. The Governor also asked state chief secretary B V R Subrahmanyam to identify any lapses on the part of security agencies in ensuring security of political activists, an official spokesman said. Expressing grief over the loss of life, the Governor in a condolence message has prayed for peace to the departed soul and strength to the bereaved family in its hour of grief, he said. The spokesman said Malik has conveyed that immediately after the opening of Governor's Secretariat in Srinagar, he would call a high-level meeting to review the safety and security aspects of all political leaders and sarpanches in the state. The Governor spoke to K Vijay Kumar, Advisor to the Governor and directed him to ensure early arrest of those responsible for the killing and spare .

ISIL killed 9 Hafter's soldiers in Libya

Sebha Medical Centre has confirmed that it has received nine dead bodies.ISIL claimed responsibility of the attack in a statement and said it had targeted "Haftar's heretical militia" and liberated prisoners held on the base.Libya has been largely divided into two factions ever since the death of its dictator Muammar Gaddafi. It has been facing infighting between rivals in which so far 390 people have been killed.The LNA-backed parliament controls the east of Libya, while the UN-backed interim Government of National Accord (GNA) governs Libya's western region from Tripoli.GNA has accused Haftar of the "reemergence of the Islamic State organisation""Ever since the offensive against Tripoli, we have warned that the only beneficiaries ... are the terrorist groups and that what is happening will offer them a fertile ground to restart their activities," said GNA in a statement.

Pak PM Imran pays tribute to Tipu Sultan on his death anniversary

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has paid tribute to Tipu Sultan, praising the 18th century ruler of Mysore for preferring to die for freedom rather than "live a life of enslavement". Khan took to twitter to express his admiration for the 18th century ruler of the erstwhile Mysore Kingdom also known as the Tiger of Mysore. "Today 4th May is the death anniversary of Tipu Sultan - a man I admire because he preferred freedom and died fighting for it rather than live a life of enslavement," Khan tweeted on Saturday. It is not the first time Khan has praised Sultan's valour. In February, the prime minister at a joint sitting of parliament convened in the wake of the heightened India-Pakistan tensions following the Pulwama terror attack lauded Sultan's gallantry. Sultan valiantly fought in the fourth Anglo-Mysore War but was killed in the siege of Srirangapatna after the French military advisers told him to escape via secret passages, but he famously replied: "It is better to live one day

Lankan national held in Ker capital without travel documents

A 30-year-old Sri Lankan national, who did not have valid travel documents, has been taken into custody, police said here on Sunday. The man, who identified himself as Maluge Juth Selfon Dias, was held from Thampanoor bus terminal in the heart of the city last night, police said. He told investigators that his bag, carrying passport, visa and other documents, had been stolen during the journey. However, he did not give any clear answer as to how he had reached the southern state. "We have informed all investigating agencies about his custody. Now, Intelligence Bureau (IB) officials are interrogating him. Based on the IB report, we will take further action. No case has been registered so far," a police official told PTI. The man claimed that he had reached Kerala on February 20, the official added. The custody of the Lankan man assumes significance in the wake of reports about the alleged visit of perpetrators of the recent blasts that had rocked the island nation on Easter

Killing of Mir big loss for nation: J-K unit of BJP

Terming the killing of its leader Gul Mohammad Mir as a big loss for the nation, the Jammu and Kashmir unit of the BJP Sunday said his sacrifice would not go in vain. Mir, the district vice-president of the party, was shot dead by three militants in his house at Nowgam-Verinag area of Anantnag district late Saturday. His killing is a big loss to the nation...he was a brave man who always fought against Pakistani terrorists and till the last breath of his life served the motherland, state BJP president Ravinder Raina said. He said Mir was known as Atal Bihari Vajpayee of Anantnag and was a great son of mother India. The martyrdom of Mir will not go in vain and all those coward Pakistanis (terrorists) will be neutralised very soon, he said and saluted the courage and patriotic zeal of the slain leader. BJP state spokesperson Brig (Retd) Anil Gupta said the killing of Mir is not only a dastardly act of terror but a sign of desperation of those forces who are scared of the growing numbers

7 Venezuelan military officers killed in chopper crash

Seven Venezuelan military officers were killed on Saturday when their helicopter crashed while heading to a state where President Nicols Maduro appeared alongside troops, days after the opposition called in vain for a military uprising. The Cougar helicopter hurtled into a mountain outside Caracas in the early hours of an overcast day in the capital. An investigation was underway. The armed forces in a statement said the chopper was heading to San Carlos in Cojedes state. That's near a military academy where Maduro appeared early Saturday to oversee training exercises following a week of intrigue that saw a small group of security forces turn against him in the failed attempt by opposition leader Juan Guaid to overthrow the government. On board the helicopter were two lieutenant colonels as well as five lower-ranking officers. The statement didn't say if the chopper was part of the presidential delegation. Also in Caracas on Saturday, a protester handed over a written appeal for the ..

Turkey kills 28 Kurdish militants after attacks

Turkey has killed 28 Kurdish militants in retaliation to an attack which left three Turkish soldiers dead, the Defence Ministry said in a statement.