Author: Himalaya Post

Sukma (Chhattisgarh), India –  In a massive victory to the security forces in Chhattisgarh, at least 14 Maoists were killed in an encounter on Monday near Sukma’s Konta and Golapalli police station limits. The security forces also recovered 16 weapons from the spot. According to Sukma’s Superintendent of Police, Abhishek Meena, the encounter broke out in the morning when the police patrol party was carrying out a search operation in the area. The security forces are continuing with their search to check the presence of more Naxals around the encounter site. Earlier this month, the Chhattisgarh Police said that Maoists had released a pamphlet claiming that they lost 247 of their cadres in encounters with security forces over the last two years. However, Special Director General (Anti-Naxal Operations) DM Awasthi said that security forces recovered bodies of 208 Naxals in more than 500 encounters between August 2016 and July 2018....

OTTAWA- Canada said Monday it is “seriously concerned” about reports that its ambassador to Riyadh is being expelled by Saudi Arabia. The kingdom announced earlier it had declared the Canadian ambassador persona non grata and given him 24 hours to leave the country following Ottawa’s vigorous demands for the release of jailed activists. “We are seriously concerned by these media reports and are seeking greater clarity on the recent statement from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” said Marie-Pier Baril, a Canadian foreign ministry...

TOKYO  – Some 3,000 pieces of military equipment including guns, swords and grenades believed to date back to World War II have been found buried at a Tokyo elementary school, officials said Monday. Construction workers found the weapons last month when they excavated the grounds of Tanashi Elementary School in the city of Nishitokyo in metropolitan Tokyo to build a new storehouse. The weapons included 1,400 firearms, 1,200 swords, eight grenades and 302 bullets. “We were totally surprised to be informed about the discovery,” said Masaki Fujisawa, a city official. “The items are all rusted away and nothing can be used anymore.” “I suspect they were buried during or after the war but we will investigate the case,” Fujisawa told AFP. News reports said the weapons may have been discarded after Japan surrendered in 1945. Unexploded bombs and weapons are still occasionally found in Japan, more than 70 years after the conflict...

HARARE  – Twenty-seven members of Zimbabwe’s MDC opposition appeared in court Monday on violence charges after post-election protests that triggered a security crackdown. President Emmerson Mnangagwa, declared winner of the historic first elections since the downfall of Robert Mugabe, has vowed to protect rights since his re-election but the opposition say their members have been targeted. Police with assault rifles were on duty in the court precinct, with a truck of other officers stationed outside. Prosectors opposed bail, saying the accused — 19 men and eight women — were “linked” to the deaths of six people when the army opened fire on opposition supporters protesting against alleged election fraud. “There’s more than a likelihood that they will reoffend, they will intimidate witnesses, they will interfere with evidence and they will not attend trial,” said prosecutor Michael Reza. “These are people with unfinished work business outside. The deaths of six people… are directly linked to the accused.” Defence lawyers said that among the accused was a man who had been coming out of court after another case. Five other suspects were polling agents who had been visiting MDC headquarters to hand in polling returns and collect travel expenses, they sadded. Six people died after troops in the capital Harare opened fire on demonstrators Wednesday, sparking an international outcry and raising grim memories of post-election repression under Mugabe. Mnangagwa has accused...