New Delhi, Aug 02: Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah has urged citizens to change the DP of their social media accounts to Tiranga.
In tweets, Amit Shah said “Have changed the DP of my social media accounts to Tiranga on PM Narendra Modi Ji’s clarion call to celebrate Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.”
In an official statement issued, Amit Shah said “I urge all to change the DP of your social media accounts to Tiranga to show your love and respect towards the National flag.”
Washington: Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri has been killed in a CIA drone strike in Afghanistan, US officials told Reuters on Monday, the biggest blow to the militant group since its founder Osama bin Laden was killed in 2011.
Zawahiri, an Egyptian doctor and surgeon, helped coordinate the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in which four civilian aircraft were hijacked and slammed into the World Trade Center’s twin towers in New York, the Pentagon near Washington and a Pennsylvania field, killing nearly 3,000 people.
One of the US officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said a drone strike was carried out by the CIA in the Afghan capital Kabul on Sunday.
“Over the weekend, the United States conducted a counterterrorism operation against a significant Al Qaeda target in Afghanistan,” a senior administration official said.
“The operation was successful and there were no civilian casualties,” the official added.
If confirmed, his death in a CIA drone strike raises questions about whether he was being given sanctuary by the Taliban following their takeover of Kabul in August 2021 as the last US-led troops were leaving Afghanistan after 20 years of war.
In a statement, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed that a strike took place and strongly condemned it, calling it a violation of “international principles.”
US President Joe Biden will deliver remarks on Monday at 7:30 p.m. (2330 GMT) on what the White House described as a “successful counter-terrorism operation.”
A loud explosion echoed through Kabul early Sunday morning.
“A house was hit by a rocket in Sherpoor. There were no casualties as the house was empty,” Abdul Nafi Takor, spokesman of the interior ministry, said earlier.
One Taliban source, requesting anonymity, said there had been reports of at least one drone flying over Kabul that morning.
With other senior al Qaeda members, Zawahiri is believed to have plotted the October 12, 2000 attack on the USS Cole naval vessel in Yemen which killed 17 US sailors and injured more than 30 others, the Rewards for Justice website said.
He was indicted in the United States for his role in the August 7, 1998 bombings of the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania that killed 224 people and wounded more than 5,000 others.
Both bin laden and Zawahiri had eluded capture when US.-led forces toppled Afghanistan’s Taliban government in late 2001 following the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States.
Bin Laden was killed in 2011 by US forces in Pakistan.–(Reuters)
New Delhi: Yasin Malik who was on hunger strike in Tihar Jail for the last 10 days discontinued his fast on Monday evening after he was informed that his demands have been conveyed to the authorities concerned, prison officials said.
Yasin Malik began an indefinite hunger strike on July 22 after the Centre did not respond to his plea that he be allowed to physically appear in a Jammu court hearing the Rubaiya Sayeed abduction case in which he is an accused.
The 56-year-old chief of the banned Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) is serving a life sentence in a terror-funding case.
He has deferred his hunger strike for two months at the request of the Director General (DG) of Delhi Prisons Sandeep Goel, the officials said.
The DG has conveyed to Malik that the demands raised by him have been sent to the authorities concerned and he will be informed of the decision on the same, said a senior jail official.
“On my request, convict Yasin Malik, who was on hunger strike in Tihar Jail since July 22 has today (Monday) evening, discontinued his fasting,” Mr Goel said.
Yasin Malik was admitted to the RML hospital in New Delhi last month following a fluctuation in blood pressure, and after returning to the prison, he refused to eat anything.
The separatist leader, who is kept in solitary confinement in a high-risk cell in Tihar’s prison number 7, was shifted to the prison’s Medical Investigation (MI) room where he was being given IV fluids, the officials said.
Yasin Malik had submitted a letter to the doctors at the hospital, saying he did not want to be treated.
Srinagar: Army personnel on Sunday thanked ‘Axel’ — an army dog who died during an anti-militancy operation in Baramulla district — for his services as they bid adieu to their canine friend.
“Thank you for your Service Axel”, Srinagar-based Chinar Corps tweeted alongside a file photo of the Army Dog.
“#ChinarCorps salutes the valour & sacrifice of Army Dog No 74B7 AXEL (Aslt Canine) who laid down his life in the line of duty in Op Wanigambala, #Baramulla on 30 Jul 22,” the army said in a tweet.
A wreath laying ceremony was held on Sunday for the fallen canine who was part of the 26 Army Dog Unit and carried the number ‘74B7’during its service.
Besides Axel, an unidentified militant was killed in the encounter at Wanigam Bala in Kreeri on Saturday in which two security personnel also sustained injuries.
—PTI
Handwara, Jul 31: A four-year-old boy was killed in a leopard attack at Monabal Haril area of Langate in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, officials said on Sunday evening.
Officials told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that a minor boy was playing outside his home when a man-eater wild animal attacked him and left him critically injured.
They said that the injured was taken to a nearby hospital where the doctors declared him dead.
After medico-legal formalities the body was handed over to his legal heirs for last rites, they said.
The officials identified the minor boy as Saqib-Din-Badana, son of Baya Din Badana of Londa-Lohikot village of Monabal in Langate—(KNO)
Ganderbal, Jul 31: Jammu and Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Sunday said that many areas in the UT have been cleared off the militancy and its eco-system stands fully damaged while efforts are on to root-out militancy from the entire region.
He, however, said narco-terrorism, if not handled in time, will emerge as a cancer. Addressing the passing out-cum attestation parade of 538 new recruits at Police Training Centre (PTC) Manigam, Ganderbal, the LG, as per news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that police along with other security forces through its human and technical intelligence have been able to clear off many areas in J&K from the menace of militancy and its ecosystem. “But more needs to be done to root out the terrorism completely from J&K. Narco-terrorism is fast emerging as a biggest challenge and if it is not dealt in time, it can take the shape of a cancer. For eradicating militancy, you need to destroy all its off-shoots and tools supporting it,” the LG said.
He said that police in J&K were facing multiple challenges on many fronts. “In other states, challenges for police are less compared to J&K. Here, police have to maintain law and order, deal with social crimes, criminals, also with militancy and subversive elements,” the LG said and hailed the police force for facing all challenges bravely and in a professional manner.
He said that the police force is fast learning the art of countering technical and social media propaganda through the same means. “We have counter the social media propaganda by using online means and the police force is working hard on that front,” Sinha said.
He said that administration has been providing full support to police over the years and no stone will be left unturned to make the police force more efficient in the times to come. He said that new recruits who completed their course are not trained to do just normal policing, but to handle law and order, deal with militancy and are also trained to use computers to stay connected through CCTNS—(KNO)
Kulgam, Jul 30: A woman from south Kashmir’s Kulgam district has written Aayat-ul-Qursi (greatest verse of Quran according to hadith) by designing it on a hand-made shawl.
Shaheena Banoo (42) wife of Ghulam Rasool Lone, who is a resident of Hariwath Gopalpora Kulgam has worked for several days and nights to ready the shawl.
A white colour shawl about five feet white and three feet tall is embossed with the Quranic verses.
Talking to news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Shaheena said that she has been associated with handicrafts for the last two decades and has trained dozens of women in handicrafts so far who are now earning their livelihood well.
“I had taken a loan from the government some three years before and started a centre at home to train women folk and for the last three years, I have trained dozens of girls who are earning their livelihood themselves,” she said.
“It took me months together to prepare this shawl and money does not matter whatever it will fetch as it is holy Quran written on it,” she added—(KNO)
Kupwara, Jul 29: Jammu and Kashmir police on Friday claimed to have arrested two hybrid militants of Lashkar-e-Tobia (LeT) and recovered arms and Ammunitions from their possession in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district.
As per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Police in a tweet informed that Kupwara police and Army arrested two hybrid terrorists identified as Talib Ahmad Sheikh of Laderwan Kupwara and Shameem Ahmad of Kawadi Laderwan Kupwara.
Police futher said that the arrested militants are affiliated with terrorist outfit Lashkar-e-Tobia while 04 pistols, 08 pistol magazines, 130 pistol rounds and 10 hand grenades recovered.
“Kupwara police & Army arrested 02 #hybrid #terrorists identified as Talib Ahmad Sheikh of Laderwan Kupwara and Shameem Ahmad of Kawadi Laderwan #Kupwara, affiliated with #terrorist outfit LeT. 04 pistols, 08 pistol magazines, 130 pistol rounds and 10 hand grenades recovered,” Kashmir Zone Police tweeted—(KNO)
Seoul- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un warned he’s ready to use his nuclear weapons in potential military conflicts with the United States and South Korea, state media said Thursday, as he unleashed fiery rhetoric against rivals he says are pushing the Korean Peninsula to the brink of war.
Kim’s speech to war veterans on the 69th anniversary of the end of the 1950-53 Korean War was apparently meant to boost internal unity in the impoverished country amid pandemic-related economic difficulties. While Kim has increasingly threatened his rivals with nuclear weapons, it’s unlikely that he would use them first against the superior militaries of the U.S. and its allies, observers say.
Our armed forces are completely prepared to respond to any crisis, and our country’s nuclear war deterrent is also ready to mobilise its absolute power dutifully, exactly and swiftly in accordance with its mission, Kim said in Wednesday’s speech, according to the official Korean Central News Agency.
He accused the United States of demonizing North Korea to justify its hostile policies. He said U.S.-South Korea military drills targeting North Korea show the U.S.’s double standards and gangster-like aspects because it brands North Korea’s routine military activities an apparent reference to its missile tests as provocations or threats.
Kim also alleged the new South Korean government of President Yoon Suk Yeol is led by confrontation maniacs and gangsters” who have gone further than previous South Korean conservative governments. Since taking office in May, the Yoon government has moved to strengthen Seoul’s military alliance with the United States and bolster its capacity to neutralise North Korean nuclear threats including a preemptive strike capability.
Talking about military action against our nation, which possesses absolute weapons that they fear the most, is preposterous and is very dangerous suicidal action, Kim said. Such a dangerous attempt will be immediately punished by our powerful strength and the Yoon Suk Yeol government and his military will be annihilated.
Moon Hong-sik, a deputy spokesperson at the South Korean Defense Ministry, reiterated Thursday an earlier position that South Korea has been boosting its military capacity and joint defense posture with the United States to cope with escalating North Korean nuclear threats. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the military maintains a firm readiness.
In April, Kim said North Korea could preemptively use nuclear weapons if threatened, saying they would never be confined to the single mission of war deterrent.” Kim’s military has also test-launched nuclear-capable missiles that place both the U.S. mainland and South Korea within striking distance. U.S. and South Korean officials have repeatedly said in the past few months that North Korea is ready to conduct its first nuclear test in five years.
Kim is seeking greater public support as his country’s economy has been battered by pandemic-related border shutdowns, U.S.-led sanctions and his own mismanagement. In May, North Korea also admitted to its first COVID-19 outbreak, though the scale of illness and death is widely disputed in a country that lacks the modern medical capacity to handle it.
Kim’s rhetoric inflates external threats to justify his militarily focused and economically struggling regime, said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul. North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs are in violation of international law, but Kim tries to depict his destabilizing arms buildup as a righteous effort at self-defense.
Experts say North Korea will likely intensify its threats against the United States and South Korea as the allies prepare to expand summertime exercises. In recent years, the South Korean and U.S. militaries have cancelled or downsized some of their regular exercises due to concerns about COVID-19 and to support now-stalled U.S.-led diplomacy aimed at convincing North Korea to give up its nuclear program in return for economic and political benefits.
During Wednesday’s speech, Kim said his government recently set tasks to improve its military capability more speedily to respond to military pressure campaigns by its enemies, suggesting that he intends to go ahead with an expected nuclear test.
But Cheong Seong-Chang at the private Sejong Institute in South Korea said North Korea won’t likely conduct its nuclear test before China, its major ally and biggest aid benefactor, holds its Communist Party convention in the autumn. He said China worries that a North Korean nuclear test could give the United States a justification to boost its security partnerships with its allies that it could use to check Chinese influence in the region.
North Korea recently said it is moving to overcome the COVID-19 outbreak amid plummeting fever cases, but experts say it’s unclear if the country can lift its strict restrictions soon because it could face a viral resurgence later this year. During Wednesday’s event, Kim, veterans and others didn’t wear masks, state media photos showed. On Thursday, North Korea reported 11 fever cases, a huge drop from the peak of about 400,000 a day in May.
North Korea has rejected U.S. and South Korean offers for medical relief items. It has also said it won’t return to talks with the United States unless it first abandons its hostile polices on the North, in an apparent reference to U.S.-led sanctions and U.S.-South Korean military drills. (AP)
Jammu, Jul 27: Bhartiya Janata Party’s (BJP) national spokesperson, Dr. Sambit Patra has been nominated to oversee arrangements for Har Ghar Tiranga in Jammu and Kashmir.
Patra is also on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir where he is holding a series of meetings with the party cadre.
Addressing a press conference at Jammu, Dr. Sambit Patra said that Har Ghar Tiranga is a highly appreciable move of the government.
Patra said that he is overseeing the arrangements of the party for this effort so that the motive of Har Ghar Tiranga is achieved.
He appealed to all the individuals, organizations and institutions to hoist Tiranga as per the schedule.
Dr. Sambit Patra further said that on Tuesday, he was in Kashmir and held meeting with party cadre and on Wednesday held met with party cadre at Jammu.