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Showing posts from July 19, 2020

Over 20 farmers killed in armed clashes in Sudan’s Darfur: Tribal chief

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Gunmen have killed at least 20 people, including children, who were visiting their farms in Sudan's war-torn Darfur region for the first time in years, a tribal chief says. "Two months ago the government organized a meeting between the original landowners and those who took their fields" during the long-running war in Darfur, Ibrahim Ahmad told AFP by telephone. "An agreement was reached whereby the landowners would return to their fields -- but armed men came on Friday and opened fire, killing 20 people, including two women and children." The killings took place in Aboudos, some 90 kilometers south of Nyala, the capital of South Darfur province, the tribal chief said. Around 20 people were wounded in the attack, he said. The death toll "could well increase, because some of the wounded are in a serious condition", he added. Darfur has been devastated since 2003 by a conflict between ethnic minority rebels, complaining of marginalization, and forces loy

UN should send peacekeepers to US to stop its police brutality against people: Scholar

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The United Nations should send peacekeepers to the United States to stop its criminal conduct against its own people, a human rights expert and peace activist says. Daniel Kovalik, who teaches international human rights at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in the state of Pennsylvania, made the remarks in an interview with Press TV on Saturday. A new investigation has found that US police officers have violated their own rules when they fired "less lethal" projectiles at protesters who were for the most part peacefully assembled. Read more: Fractured skulls, lost eyes: Police break their own rules when shooting protesters with ‘rubber bullets’ “So what we're seeing in terms of both local police activity as well as these unmarked federal law enforcement agents in places like Portland is a complete disregard of all international human rights and humanitarian law norms,” Kovalik said. “What we're seeing looks like something out of Argentina during the dirty war,

At Least 6,500 Pakistani Terrorists in Afghanistan, Reveals UN Report

It said that many former TTP militants have joined Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant - Khorasan (ISIL-K) and member states expect that the group and its various splinter groups will align themselves with ISIL-K. News18 An estimated 6,000-6,500 Pakistani terrorists are in neighbouring Afghanistan, most of them with the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan, posing a threat to both the countries, a UN report has said. The 26th report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team concerning ISIS, al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities said that the terror group al-Qaida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) operates under the Taliban umbrella from Nimruz, Helmand and Kandahar provinces of Afghanistan. "The group reportedly has between 150 and 200 members from Bangladesh, India, Myanmar and Pakistan. The current leader of AQIS is Osama Mahmood", who succeeded the late Asim Umar. "AQIS is reportedly planning retaliation operations in the region to avenge the death of i

CarryMinati's YouTube Channel Hacked, Bitcoin Adverts Stream on CarryisLive

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Image Credits: Carry Minati/Instagram/Twitter. Popular Indian Youtuber Ajey Nagar, known by his channel name, Carry Minati's YouTube appears to have been hacked. Minati, who runs a second gaming channel on YouTube called CarryisLive, mainly posts gaming videos through it.  This was the channel which fans reported was hacked. The hacker apparently ran a bitcoin scam, asking people to donate to a particular account. The hack seems to have occurred in the early hours of Saturday. The hacker changed description for the content of streaming, and content related to bitcoin donation showed up. Nagar tweeted to YouTube India for assistance soon after the hack occured. The hack comes less than two weeks after the Twitter accounts of Bill Gates and Elon Musk appeared to have been hacked, or fallen prey to a crypto-related scam. The Twitter accounts of Barack Obama, Jeff Bezos, Joe Biden, Kim Kardashian West, Warren Buffet, and more also appeared to have had been compromised. The scam posted

Significant numbers of ISIS terrorists present in Kerala and Karnataka: UN Report on terrorism

A United Nations  report  on terrorism has cautioned that there are a sizeable number of ISIS terrorists in the Indian states of Kerala and Karnataka, adding that the ISIL Indian affiliate (Hind Wilayah), which was announced on May 10, 2019, has about 180 to 200 members. According to the 26th report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team concerning ISIS, “One Member State reported that the ISIL Indian affiliate (Hind Wilayah), which was announced on 10 May 2019, has between 180 and 200 members. According to the report, there are significant numbers of ISIL operatives in Kerala and Karnataka.” Al-Qaida’s Indian branch, AQIS, planning terror attacks in the region The report also noted that terror group Al-Qaida in the Indian subcontinent (AQIS), which operated under the Taliban umbrella from Nimruz, Helmand and Kandahar provinces, reportedly has 150-200 active terrorists in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar, and is planning to carry out terror attacks in the regio

'Millions In Camps, Abortions, Genocide': EU Asks UN To Probe China's Xinjiang Atrocities

EU's MEPs demanded a detailed UN-led investigation into the human rights abuses against Uighurs in China's Xinjiang calling it a crime proportional to genocide. Members of Parliament with the European Union (MEPs) led calls for the European Union (EU) to demand a detailed United Nations-led investigation into the alleged human rights abuses and conducts against Uighur Muslims in China's Xinjiang province.  A UN commission likely to be set up to study the alleged crimes committed by the current Xi Jinping government and investigated accordingly. The EU called on member states to consider imposing a Global Human Rights Sanctions Mechanism against Chinese government officials found to be guilty of involvement. Read | Is QUAD a viable alliance to counter the rising Chinese influence in Asia-Pacific? This move on the part of the European Union is not only symbolic but also signals a powerful message in Europe as well as the rest of the world about not letting China carry on its

J&K: Two LeT Terrorists Gunned Down By Security Forces In An Encounter At Ranbirgarh On The Outskirts Of Srinagar

Two Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists were killed on Saturday (25 July) by security forces in an encounter at Ranbirgarh on the outskirts of Srinagar city in Jammu and Kashmir.  A joint operation was launched by the Indian Army, J&K police and CRPF after receiving specific inputs about the presence of the terrorists in the Ranbirgarh area. The area  falls  in Panzinara on the outskirts of Srinagar city bordering North Kashmir’s Baramulla district. Officials said that as the search party cordoned off the suspected spot in the wee hours of Saturday, hiding terrorists fired upon them, which was retaliated by the force,  reports   Zee News . In the ensuing gunbattle, two terrorists were  killed  while a soldier was injured. The J&K police said that one of the two terrorists eliminated today was Ishfaq Rashid, resident of village Sozeith, Srinagar. Rashid was one of the top LeT commanders active since 2018 and was wanted in many cases of terror violence. Other killed terrorist, Aijaj

13 crew kidnapped from tanker off Benin -

The 2007-built 11,300 dwt chemical tanker Curacao Trader was attacked by pirates off the coast of Benin in West Africa on July 17. According to the ship’s manager Alison Management, 13 out of 19 Ukrainian and Russian crewmembers onboard the vessel have been taken hostage by the pirates. The ship was adrift with limited manpower following the attack. Nearby vessel Frio Chikuma sailed to the ship in an attempt to provide assistance. “Alison Mangement wishes to advise that its prime concern remains the safety and recovery of its abducted crews and no effort shall be spared to achieve their soonest possible release,” the company said in a release. Ship registration information shows the vessel is owned by UK owner Lomar Shipping. Last week, ICC International Maritime Bureau’s (IMB) released its latest piracy report saying The Gulf of Guinea off West Africa is increasingly dangerous for commercial shipping, accounting for just over 90% of maritime kidnappings worldwide. So far

Jihadists in northeast Nigeria execute five abducted humanitarian workers

Jihadists have killed five aid workers abducted last month in restive northeast Nigeria, group Action Against Hunger said Wednesday.  The announcement came after insurgents affiliated to the so-called  Islamic State group released a video online purporting to show the execution of the five Nigerian men.  "It is with profound grief that we confirm the murder of Ishaku Yakubu, Action Against Hunger (ACF) staff member from Monguno, and four other aid workers," the French-based aid group said.  It said the humanitarian workers "were taken hostage by a non-state armed group in Borno State , northeast Nigeria, on June 8". "This unjustifiable killing reflects the immense difficulty faced by independent and impartial humanitarian actors, and the violence we are exposed to every day to fulfil our mission," ACF said.  A

UK plan to offer citizenship to Hong Kongers draws China's anger

The United Kingdom has unveiled the details of its plan to offer an estimated three million people in Hong Kong a route to citizenship in an offer Home Secretary Priti Patel described as "very generous" and China condemned as a breach of international law and interference in its internal affairs. In a briefing paper released on Wednesday, Patel said people with British National (Overseas) or BNO status, a type of nationality created when Hong Kong was returned to Chinese rule in 1997, would be able to apply for the programme from January next year. They will not have to meet skills tests or minimum income requirements and can bring their dependents, including those who do not have BNO status. Patel said BNO status "recognised the special and enduring ties the UK has with those people as a result of our role in Hong Kong before 1997". Referring to China's imposition of a new National Security Law on Hong Kong at the start of the month, she added: &

Jharkhand Naxal cadre remanded in NIA custody for interrogation: Left wing Extremism

He was reportedly very active in Naxal activities in Parasnath area of Giridih district and was instrumental in the collection of huge amounts of levy from contractors engaged in developmental projects. Ranchi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday (July 22, 2020) remanded a senior Jharkhand Naxal cadre Sunil Manjhi in custody for interrogation in connection with the seizure of 6 lacs and incriminating material from a CPI (Maoist) cadre. "The case pertains to the seizure of Rs 6 Lacs and incriminating material from CPI (Maoist) cadre Manoj Kumar in January 2018 while he was going to make levy payment to CPI (Maoist) terrorists. During further investigation, the incriminating role of arrested accused Sunil

United States condemns deadly airstrikes in Afghanistan’s Herat province

The United States condemned the airstrikes conducted by the Afghan Air Force in the western province of Herat that left multiple civilians dead, said the US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad. “The last 24 hours have been very violent in Afghanistan with many losing their lives. In Herat, photos and eyewitness accounts suggest many civilians including children are among the victims of an Afghan airstrike. We condemn the attack and support an investigation,” Khalilzad wrote on his Twitter page on late Wednesday, reported Sputnik. Airstrikes in eastern Afghanistan killed 45 people, including civilians and Taliban fighters, local officials said on Wednesday. Ali Ahmad Faqir Yar, governor of Adraskan district in the eastern Afghan province of Herat, said, “Forty-five people had been killed so far in airstrikes by security forces in the Kham Ziarat area. Taliban were among those killed and at least eight civilians were among the

Afghan girl shoots dead two Taliban men who killed her parents

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Gul, believed to be aged between 14 and 16, and her younger brother had been taken to a safer place, the report said. (Source: Twitter) An Afghan girl shot dead two Taliban terrorists and wounded several more after they dragged her parents from their home and killed them, news agency AFP reported. The fighters had stormed the family home in the village of Griwa last week because the teenager’s father was a government supporter. The girl, identified as Qamar Gul, took the family’s AK-47 assault rifle and shot dead the two. Gul, believed to be aged between 14 and 16, and her younger brother had been taken to a safer place, the report said. The Taliban were looking for her father, who was the village chief, local police head Habiburahman Malekzada was quoted by AFP as saying. When his wife resisted, the Taliban terrorists killed the couple outside their home, he added. “Qamar Gul, who was inside the house, to

Left wing Extremism: Maoists set ablaze 2 vehicles used in road construction work in Telangana

HYDERABAD : Maoists set fire to machinery engaged for construction of road in Bhadradri-Kothagudem district of Telangana, police said on Wednesday. A group of ultras from bordering Chhattisgarh set on fire a dozer and a road roller at Tippapuram village of the district late on Tuesday night after threatening the villagers, Bhadradri-Kothagudem District Superintendent of Police Sunil Dutt told PTI. A hunt was launched to nab the rebels who fled after the incident. Last week two groups of Maoists, including five members led by Bhaskar, Telangana "State Committee" member of CPI (Maoist), carrying a reward of ₹ 25 lakh, had escaped after an exchange of fire with police in the forest areas in Kumram Bheem Asifabad district and Bhadradri-Kothagudem district. Police had intensified combing operation in the areas following the two incidents of exchange of fire. Source: https://www.livemint.com/news/india/maoists-set-ablaze-2-vehicles-used-in-road-constru

‘Strengthen multilateralism’ to combat global terrorism

Although the pandemic has posed one of the greatest challenges since the UN’s founding 75 years ago, Vladimir Voronkov, head of the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) closed a week of events devoted online to countering the scourge, by echoing the Secretary-General in stating the “need to keep up the momentum” in countering the global threat of terrorism. Key conclusions Setting out key conclusions of the discussions, the counter-terrorism chief spoke of the need to invest in strategic preparedness to build societies able to cope with global challenges, including terrorism.  The UN official also underscored the importance of strengthening multilateralism and international cooperation, calling the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact , “a dynamic platform” to enhance coordination in delivering UN technical assistance to Member States. Pointing out that “all events underscored the need to fully respect human rights and the rule of law in the fight

China accused of 'plotting mass terrorist cyber-attacks' to 'manipulate' easy targets

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CHINA and India tensions continue to soar along their border and now Beijing has been accused of plotting "terrorist-cyber-attacks" on mass media outlets. A Singapore cyber firm, Cyfirma, warned  China may be attempting to launch cyberattacks on media houses in India . Times Now hosts Rahul Shivshankar and Navika Kumar claimed China was attempting to change the narrative being pushed by global media on the secretive nation. Both hosts claimed China could be planning further attacks on Indian media houses as the tension between the two countries escalates. Mr Shivshanker said: "We are being told there is a cyber terror offensive taking place. "The cyber warfare model is suggestive of what the Chinese want to do. "China wants to try and plant news stories to try and change the narrative in India. "I think that some people are beginning to fall for it and this has been exposed by a top Singapore based agencies that have sounded an alert saying me

Covid-19 should not make us oblivious to other security threats

Aliya Danzeisen, Anjum Rahman, and Frances Cook QC outline the Islamic Women's Council's submission to the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Christchurch Mosque Attacks. OPINION: It’s a distant memory now – the mid-2010s when Isis was ascendant and the attacks across Europe, the United States and even Australia catapulted terrorism into a priority place in many countries’ national security strategies. Beyond Isis, ethno-nationalist, extreme Left, extreme Right and single-issue causes were already perpetrating terrorism, but none had succeeded the way Isis did in grabbing the media’s attention. On March 15, 2019, modern-age terrorism struck home. The New Zealand media and public protested that our security sector agencies missed the gunman preparing to do what hindsight made obvious he was going to. This was a remarkable irony, because New Zealanders had buried their heads in the sand on national security issues for decades and, frankly, still do. Lynne Sladk

Invisible workers: Underpaid, exploited and put at risk on Europe’s farms

They toil away for hours on end, under blazing sunshine or drenching rain, to cultivate and harvest the fruits and vegetables we so easily take for granted. As the coronavirus pandemic swept across Europe, those helping to bring food to our plates suddenly became visible, even hailed as "essential workers". But for the past six decades, the European Union's farming policy has overlooked their labour rights and living conditions. The EU’s common agricultural policy – which accounts for over a third of the bloc's budget – aims to support farm owners and pumps nearly €60 billion into the sector each year. The working conditions of those employed by these farms, however, are not even mentioned in the subsidies scheme. "At the moment we have this crazy situation where we actually have better protection for animals than for some of these workers on our farms," said German Green MEP Daniel Freund. In a joint investigation with Lighthouse Report