At least 100 Yemeni rebels and pro-government troops have been killed in the past 48 hours as fighting intensifies for the key city of Marib, military and medical sources said Wednesday.

A string of air strikes from the Saudi-led coalition targeted the Iran-backed Huthi rebels, who have stepped up their assault on Marib, the government's last northern stronghold.

Sixty-eight Huthis and 32 loyalists were killed in the latest clashes, military sources told AFP. The tolls were confirmed by medical sources.

The rebels rarely announce casualties among their own ranks, but their Al-Masirah channel reported around 60 coalition air strikes in Marib governorate in the past two days.

Hundreds of fighters have been killed this month after the Huthis renewed their campaign for the capital city of the oil-rich province.

The Huthis initially escalated their efforts to seize Marib in February, hoping to gain control of the region's oil resources and strengthen their position in peace talks.

Marib, about 120 kilometres (75 miles) east of the rebel-held capital Sanaa, sits at a crossroads between the southern and northern regions and is key to controlling Yemen's north.

Tens of thousands of people have been killed and millions have been displaced in the war that erupted in 2014, after the Huthis seized Sanaa.

About 80 percent of Yemen's 30 million people are dependent on aid, in what the United Nations calls the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

At least 100 Yemeni rebels and pro-government troops have been killed in the past 48 hours as fighting intensifies for the key city of Marib, military and medical sources said Wednesday.

At least 100 Yemeni rebels and pro-government troops have been killed in the past 48 hours as fighting intensifies for the key city of Marib, military and medical sources said Wednesday. A string of air strikes from the Saudi-led coalition targeted the Iran-backed Huthi rebels, who have stepped up their assault on Marib, the government's last northern stronghold. Sixty-eight Huthis and 32 loyalists were killed in the latest clashes, military sources told AFP. The tolls were confirmed by medical sources. The rebels rarely announce casualties among their own ranks, but their Al-Masirah channel reported around 60 coalition air strikes in Marib governorate in the past two days. Hundreds of fighters have been killed this month after the Huthis renewed their campaign for the capital city of the oil-rich province. The Huthis initially escalated their efforts to seize Marib in February, hoping to gain control of the region's oil resources and strengthen their position in peace talks. Marib, about 120 kilometres (75 miles) east of the rebel-held capital Sanaa, sits at a crossroads between the southern and northern regions and is key to controlling Yemen's north. Tens of thousands of people have been killed and millions have been displaced in the war that erupted in 2014, after the Huthis seized Sanaa. About 80 percent of Yemen's 30 million people are dependent on aid, in what the United Nations calls the world's worst humanitarian crisis.

At least 100 people were killed in clashes for Yemen's Marib: Military sources 

An anti-Covid vaccine lockdown protest on the streets of Melbourne turned chaos on Tuesday after the police fired pepper balls and stinger grenades in a bid to disperse the agitators.

More than 1,000 demonstrators dressed as construction workers clashed with police for the second consecutive day and rampaged through the centre of Australia's second-largest city, lighting flares, throwing bottles, attacking police cars and chanting their opposition to vaccines and lockdown restrictions.

Police said 62 protesters were arrested and three police officers were injured along with one journalist.

Victoria’s police chief commissioner Shane Patton said officers used pepper balls, foam baton rounds, smoke bombs and stinger grenades which deploy rubber pellets.

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This is seriously out of control and someone is going to get hurt. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoHome?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoHome</a> now <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Melbourne?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Melbourne</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/protests?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#protests</a> <a href="https://t.co/jgbpIKWMQx">pic.twitter.com/jgbpIKWMQx</a>
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“These crowd control equipment munitions were necessary … because we can’t allow this type of conduct to go on,” he told reporters later in the day.

Video footage on social media showed police cars trying to leave one area before a mob attacked the vehicles with bottles and smashed windows. A line of riot police, weapons raised, then drove the protesters back.

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Didn't catch the really big bang but this was when it started getting scary <a href="https://t.co/yA0ud17bXY">pic.twitter.com/yA0ud17bXY</a>
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Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/asked-to-put-on-mask-angry-customer-shoots-petrol-station-worker-in-germany-414648">Asked to put on mask, angry customer shoots petrol station worker in Germany</a>

Patton said they had a tip-off that protests have been planned again for Wednesday and he implored people to stay at home.

“No one benefits from this type of conduct, we will be out in force again, I can assure you of that,” he told reporters.

“I won’t disclose what our tactics will be tomorrow, but they will be different. Please just stay home, we do not want a confrontation.”

Melbourne&nbsp;has been in strict lockdown for seven weeks, as the city struggles to curb an outbreak of the fast-spreading Delta variant.

Several clusters have been linked to construction sites, where Covid containment measures are said to be lax.

In response, authorities have introduced ever-tougher restrictions, closing work site tea rooms, announcing mandatory vaccination for labourers and, most recently, closing almost all construction sites for two weeks.

(WIth inputs from agencies)

An anti-Covid vaccine lockdown protest on the streets of Melbourne turned chaos on Tuesday after the police fired pepper balls and stinger grenades in a bid to disperse the agitators.

An anti-Covid vaccine lockdown protest on the streets of Melbourne turned chaos on Tuesday after the police fired pepper balls and stinger grenades in a bid to disperse the agitators. More than 1,000 demonstrators dressed as construction workers clashed with police for the second consecutive day and rampaged through the centre of Australia's second-largest city, lighting flares, throwing bottles, attacking police cars and chanting their opposition to vaccines and lockdown restrictions. Police said 62 protesters were arrested and three police officers were injured along with one journalist. Victoria’s police chief commissioner Shane Patton said officers used pepper balls, foam baton rounds, smoke bombs and stinger grenades which deploy rubber pellets. This is seriously out of control and someone is going to get hurt. #GoHome now #Melbourne #protests pic.twitter.com/jgbpIKWMQx — Níal Ó Fionnagáin (@NialFinegan) September 21, 2021 × “These crowd control equipment munitions were necessary … because we can’t allow this type of conduct to go on,” he told reporters later in the day. Video footage on social media showed police cars trying to leave one area before a mob attacked the vehicles with bottles and smashed windows. A line of riot police, weapons raised, then drove the protesters back. Didn't catch the really big bang but this was when it started getting scary pic.twitter.com/yA0ud17bXY — Michael Irving (@MikeIrvo) September 21, 2021 × Also read | Asked to put on mask, angry customer shoots petrol station worker in Germany Patton said they had a tip-off that protests have been planned again for Wednesday and he implored people to stay at home. “No one benefits from this type of conduct, we will be out in force again, I can assure you of that,” he told reporters. “I won’t disclose what our tactics will be tomorrow, but they will be different. Please just stay home, we do not want a confrontation.” Melbourne has been in strict lockdown for seven weeks, as the city struggles to curb an outbreak of the fast-spreading Delta variant. Several clusters have been linked to construction sites, where Covid containment measures are said to be lax. In response, authorities have introduced ever-tougher restrictions, closing work site tea rooms, announcing mandatory vaccination for labourers and, most recently, closing almost all construction sites for two weeks. (WIth inputs from agencies)

Melbourne anti-Covid vaccine protests turn violent as police fire pepper balls, smoke bombs

Hundreds of Hamas-backed activists launched what they said was the first in a series of nighttime protests along the Israeli border, throwing explosives towards Israeli forces, who responded with live fire.

Organisers said the gatherings, which are to continue throughout the week, were meant to step up pressure on Israel to ease a crippling economic blockade on the Gaza Strip.

"The occupation will not enjoy calm unless the siege on our beloved land is lifted," said Abu Omar, a spokesman for the protesters.

Watch: US President Joe Biden's remarks after meeting Israeli PM

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Israel and Egypt have maintained the blockade since Hamas, a group sworn to Israel's destruction, seized control of Gaza in 2007, a year after it won Palestinian elections.

The blockade, which restricts the movement of goods and people in and out of Gaza, has ravaged the territory's economy. Israel has tightened the closure since an 11-day war in May, demanding the return of the remains of two dead soldiers and freedom for two Israeli civilians believed to be in Hamas captivity.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/new-sub-lineage-of-delta-variant-first-reported-in-israel-found-in-several-indian-states-408378" hreflang="en">‘New sub-lineage of Delta variant, first reported in Israel, found in several Indian states’</a>

Amateur footage and photos from inside Gaza showed hundreds of Palestinians protesters engaged in Saturday's gathering. Some appeared to be throwing explosives and chanting in celebrations as blasts sounded.

The Israeli military said troops responded to the explosives by firing live rounds towards the protesters. It said there were no injuries on the Israeli side. Gaza health officials said three protesters were wounded by Israeli fire.

Earlier on Saturday, Gaza health officials said a 12-year-old Palestinian boy died from head wounds after being shot during a similar demonstration a week earlier.

Hundreds of Hamas-backed activists launched what they said was the first in a series of nighttime protests along the Israeli border, throwing explosives towards Israeli forces, who responded with live fire.

Hundreds of Hamas-backed activists launched what they said was the first in a series of nighttime protests along the Israeli border, throwing explosives towards Israeli forces, who responded with live fire. Organisers said the gatherings, which are to continue throughout the week, were meant to step up pressure on Israel to ease a crippling economic blockade on the Gaza Strip. "The occupation will not enjoy calm unless the siege on our beloved land is lifted," said Abu Omar, a spokesman for the protesters. Watch: US President Joe Biden's remarks after meeting Israeli PM × Israel and Egypt have maintained the blockade since Hamas, a group sworn to Israel's destruction, seized control of Gaza in 2007, a year after it won Palestinian elections. The blockade, which restricts the movement of goods and people in and out of Gaza, has ravaged the territory's economy. Israel has tightened the closure since an 11-day war in May, demanding the return of the remains of two dead soldiers and freedom for two Israeli civilians believed to be in Hamas captivity. Also Read: ‘New sub-lineage of Delta variant, first reported in Israel, found in several Indian states’ Amateur footage and photos from inside Gaza showed hundreds of Palestinians protesters engaged in Saturday's gathering. Some appeared to be throwing explosives and chanting in celebrations as blasts sounded. The Israeli military said troops responded to the explosives by firing live rounds towards the protesters. It said there were no injuries on the Israeli side. Gaza health officials said three protesters were wounded by Israeli fire. Earlier on Saturday, Gaza health officials said a 12-year-old Palestinian boy died from head wounds after being shot during a similar demonstration a week earlier.

Gaza protesters clash with Israeli troops near the border

Five&nbsp;police&nbsp;officers were injured, two seriously, and a&nbsp;partygoer lost his hand when security forces tried to break up an illegal&nbsp;rave&nbsp;of some 1,500 people in western France, local officials said on Saturday.

TV images showed gendarmes using tear gas and&nbsp;ravers throwing firecrackers, projectiles and petrol bombs as&nbsp;clashes broke out when around 400&nbsp;police&nbsp;officers moved in an effort to disperse the&nbsp;party.

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According to Emmanuel Berthier,&nbsp;police&nbsp;chief for the Ile-et-Vilaine area, a 22-year-old person lost a hand amid the "extreme violence".&nbsp;Clashes lasted for about seven hours, the national gendarmerie said on its Twitter account.

As of Saturday morning, about 1,000 people remain at a horse racing track near Redon in Brittany where the&nbsp;rave&nbsp;was held and officials said they hoped to regain control over the weekend.

"Those present were not there to&nbsp;party, but to fight with the&nbsp;police," Pascal Duchène, the mayor of Redon, told BFM TV.

Five police officers were injured, two seriously, and a partygoer lost his hand when security forces tried to break up an illegal rave of some 1,500 people in western France, local officials said on Saturday.

Five police officers were injured, two seriously, and a partygoer lost his hand when security forces tried to break up an illegal rave of some 1,500 people in western France, local officials said on Saturday. TV images showed gendarmes using tear gas and ravers throwing firecrackers, projectiles and petrol bombs as clashes broke out when around 400 police officers moved in an effort to disperse the party. Also Read | Discovered; Footprints of the very last Dinosaurs to walk on UK ground According to Emmanuel Berthier, police chief for the Ile-et-Vilaine area, a 22-year-old person lost a hand amid the "extreme violence". Clashes lasted for about seven hours, the national gendarmerie said on its Twitter account. As of Saturday morning, about 1,000 people remain at a horse racing track near Redon in Brittany where the rave was held and officials said they hoped to regain control over the weekend. "Those present were not there to party, but to fight with the police," Pascal Duchène, the mayor of Redon, told BFM TV.

French police clash with partygoers at unauthorised rave party

Three Afghan security forces lost their lives and nine Taliban terrorists were killed in a clash that erupted between them in southern Zabul province on Sunday.&nbsp;

Head of Provincial Council, Ata Jan Haqbayan said the clash erupted when the Taliban attacked a security checkpoint in Qalat, the capital city for Zabul. &nbsp;

According to him, two security forces were injured, reported Afghanistan Times.&nbsp;

After US President Joe Biden's announcement of withdrawing all American service members from Afghanistan, a significant number of security forces as well as civilians suffer casualties on a daily basis.&nbsp;

According to some findings, 226 people including 157 security forces and 69 civilians were killed in 24 of 34 provinces since Biden announced the exit of troops, reported Afghanistan Times. &nbsp;

The Taliban have intensified violence across the country by carrying out targeted killings against journalists, civil activists and massive car bomb blasts, inflicting heavy casualties on civilians and the security forces. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies) &nbsp;

Three Afghan security forces lost their lives and nine Taliban terrorists were killed in a clash that erupted between them in southern Zabul province on Sunday. Head of Provincial Council, Ata Jan Haqbayan said the clash erupted when the Taliban attacked a security checkpoint in Qalat, the capital city for Zabul.

Three Afghan security forces lost their lives and nine Taliban terrorists were killed in a clash that erupted between them in southern Zabul province on Sunday. Head of Provincial Council, Ata Jan Haqbayan said the clash erupted when the Taliban attacked a security checkpoint in Qalat, the capital city for Zabul. According to him, two security forces were injured, reported Afghanistan Times. After US President Joe Biden's announcement of withdrawing all American service members from Afghanistan, a significant number of security forces as well as civilians suffer casualties on a daily basis. According to some findings, 226 people including 157 security forces and 69 civilians were killed in 24 of 34 provinces since Biden announced the exit of troops, reported Afghanistan Times. The Taliban have intensified violence across the country by carrying out targeted killings against journalists, civil activists and massive car bomb blasts, inflicting heavy casualties on civilians and the security forces. (With inputs from agencies)

3 cops, 9 Taliban terrorists killed in clash in Afghanistan's Zabul 

Supporters of Somalia`s President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed and those opposed to the extension of his four-year term clashed on Sunday on the streets of the capital, residents said.

The president signed a law in mid-April extending his mandate for two years, stoking opposition inside Somalia and putting him on a collision course with Western and other donors opposed to the move.

&nbsp;Watch |&nbsp;

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Somalia, which plunged into war and chaos in 1991, has been struggling to re-establish the authority of central government and rebuild the nation, with international help. The failure to hold elections that were due in February sparked a new crisis.

"There is gunfire between pro-opposition military and government forces at Fagah Junction," Halima Osman, a resident of Fagah in Mogadishu, said after Reuters witnesses heard gunshots erupt in capital.

A Wion witness saw four military vehicles positioned in one place in the Fagah area.

Somalia`s lower house of parliament passed legislation to extend Mohamed`s tenure by up to two years, although the decision was rejected by the upper chamber.

Supporters of Somalia`s President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed and those opposed to the extension of his four-year term clashed on Sunday on the streets of the capital, residents said.

Supporters of Somalia`s President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed and those opposed to the extension of his four-year term clashed on Sunday on the streets of the capital, residents said. The president signed a law in mid-April extending his mandate for two years, stoking opposition inside Somalia and putting him on a collision course with Western and other donors opposed to the move. Watch | Somalia, which plunged into war and chaos in 1991, has been struggling to re-establish the authority of central government and rebuild the nation, with international help. The failure to hold elections that were due in February sparked a new crisis. "There is gunfire between pro-opposition military and government forces at Fagah Junction," Halima Osman, a resident of Fagah in Mogadishu, said after Reuters witnesses heard gunshots erupt in capital. A Wion witness saw four military vehicles positioned in one place in the Fagah area. Somalia`s lower house of parliament passed legislation to extend Mohamed`s tenure by up to two years, although the decision was rejected by the upper chamber.

Somali president's backers in gun clash with opponents, residents say

Police clashed with thousands of protesters in Berlin on Wednesday as the German parliament passed an amendment to give Angela Merkel's government power to impose tougher anti-coronavirus measures.&nbsp;

With Germany buckling under a third wave of the pandemic, the new law allowing for nationwide curbs including school closures and night curfews aims to end a political tug-of-war between the federal government and the 16 regional states over virus restrictions. &nbsp;

Around 8,000 protesters gathered in the German capital as the amendment was debated in the Bundestag lower house of parliament, with more than 2,000 police officers deployed to the scene.&nbsp;

Demonstrators were carrying placards with slogans such as "Merkel &amp; Co = high treason" and chanting "Wir sind das Volk" ("We are the people") -- a common refrain in the run-up to the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.&nbsp;

Police said some 150 people were detained for throwing bottles, attacking officers and failing to comply with rules on mask wearing and distancing. Three officers were injured.&nbsp;

Tear gas was fired as police attempted to drag protesters from the streets, according to an AFP video journalist at the scene.&nbsp;

Dubbed the "emergency brake", the amended law prescribes tough measures including sweeping shutdowns and overnight curfews in regions with incidence rates of more than 100 new infections per 100,000 people over the last seven days.&nbsp;

It will also force schools to revert to virtual teaching in areas where the incidence rate exceeds 165.&nbsp;

Only one state had an incidence rate below 100 on Wednesday, while seven topped 165, including the two most populous of Bavaria and North Rhine-Westphalia.&nbsp;

Police clashed with thousands of protesters in Berlin on Wednesday as the German parliament passed an amendment to give Angela Merkel's government power to impose tougher anti-coronavirus measures.

Police clashed with thousands of protesters in Berlin on Wednesday as the German parliament passed an amendment to give Angela Merkel's government power to impose tougher anti-coronavirus measures. With Germany buckling under a third wave of the pandemic, the new law allowing for nationwide curbs including school closures and night curfews aims to end a political tug-of-war between the federal government and the 16 regional states over virus restrictions. Around 8,000 protesters gathered in the German capital as the amendment was debated in the Bundestag lower house of parliament, with more than 2,000 police officers deployed to the scene. Demonstrators were carrying placards with slogans such as "Merkel & Co = high treason" and chanting "Wir sind das Volk" ("We are the people") -- a common refrain in the run-up to the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. Police said some 150 people were detained for throwing bottles, attacking officers and failing to comply with rules on mask wearing and distancing. Three officers were injured. Tear gas was fired as police attempted to drag protesters from the streets, according to an AFP video journalist at the scene. Dubbed the "emergency brake", the amended law prescribes tough measures including sweeping shutdowns and overnight curfews in regions with incidence rates of more than 100 new infections per 100,000 people over the last seven days. It will also force schools to revert to virtual teaching in areas where the incidence rate exceeds 165. Only one state had an incidence rate below 100 on Wednesday, while seven topped 165, including the two most populous of Bavaria and North Rhine-Westphalia.

Police clash with protesters as Germany passes virus law 

US and Iranian officials clashed on Friday over what sanctions the United States should lift to resume compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal, with Washington predicting an impasse if Tehran sticks to a demand that all sanctions since 2017 be removed.&nbsp;

The two nations laid out tough stances as indirect talks in Vienna on how to bring both back into full compliance with the agreement wound up for the week, with some delegates citing progress.&nbsp;

The talks, in which European Union officials are shuttling between the remaining parties to the deal and the United States, aim to restore the bargain at the core of the agreement - restrictions on Iran's nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting of US and other international sanctions.&nbsp;

The United States was the first to renege on that bargain under then-President Donald Trump, who vehemently opposed the deal and sought to wreck it. He pulled out, reimposed the sanctions that were lifted, and brought in many more. Iran responded by breaching many of the nuclear restrictions.&nbsp;

"All Trump sanctions were anti-JCPOA and must be removed—w/o distinction between arbitrary designations," Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said on Twitter, referring to the deal by its full name, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.&nbsp;

The United States says it is prepared to lift 'sanctions that are inconsistent with the JCPOA'. While it has declined to elaborate, that appears to exclude sanctions formally unrelated to nuclear issues covered by the deal.&nbsp;

A senior US State Department official told reporters the United States had seen some signs of Iranian seriousness about returning to the nuclear pact but 'certainly not enough’.&nbsp;

"If Iran sticks to the position that every sanction that has been imposed since 2017 has to be lifted or there will be no deal, then we are heading towards an impasse," the senior US official told reporters on a conference call.&nbsp;

Whether the statements are opening gambits or more firm positions remains to be seen. European officials said Iran was bargaining hard at the outset.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

US and Iranian officials clashed on Friday over what sanctions the United States should lift to resume compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal, with Washington predicting an impasse if Tehran sticks to a demand that all sanctions since 2017 be removed.

US and Iranian officials clashed on Friday over what sanctions the United States should lift to resume compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal, with Washington predicting an impasse if Tehran sticks to a demand that all sanctions since 2017 be removed. The two nations laid out tough stances as indirect talks in Vienna on how to bring both back into full compliance with the agreement wound up for the week, with some delegates citing progress. The talks, in which European Union officials are shuttling between the remaining parties to the deal and the United States, aim to restore the bargain at the core of the agreement - restrictions on Iran's nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting of US and other international sanctions. The United States was the first to renege on that bargain under then-President Donald Trump, who vehemently opposed the deal and sought to wreck it. He pulled out, reimposed the sanctions that were lifted, and brought in many more. Iran responded by breaching many of the nuclear restrictions. "All Trump sanctions were anti-JCPOA and must be removed—w/o distinction between arbitrary designations," Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said on Twitter, referring to the deal by its full name, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. The United States says it is prepared to lift 'sanctions that are inconsistent with the JCPOA'. While it has declined to elaborate, that appears to exclude sanctions formally unrelated to nuclear issues covered by the deal. A senior US State Department official told reporters the United States had seen some signs of Iranian seriousness about returning to the nuclear pact but 'certainly not enough’. "If Iran sticks to the position that every sanction that has been imposed since 2017 has to be lifted or there will be no deal, then we are heading towards an impasse," the senior US official told reporters on a conference call. Whether the statements are opening gambits or more firm positions remains to be seen. European officials said Iran was bargaining hard at the outset. (With inputs from agencies)

US, Iran clash over sanctions; US sees possible 'impasse' 

Venezuelan forces detained members of the Mexican Sinaloa drug cartel during clashes with armed groups near its western border with Colombia, a top Venezuelan military official said on Friday. &nbsp;

Venezuela's military on March 21 launched an offensive against what officials called irregular Colombian armed groups in the western state of Apure. About eight Venezuelan soldiers have died during the operations, which have caused about 5,000 people to flee across the border.&nbsp;

"We even captured some individuals from the Sinaloa cartel," the chief of Venezuela's strategic operational command, Remigio Ceballos, said in a telephone call broadcast on state television. &nbsp;

Ceballos did not specify the names of the people detained, nor how many cartel members were taken into custody. He said some individuals from Brazil were also detained, and said all would be presented to the country's courts.&nbsp;

The fighting has occurred near the border town of La Victoria, about 628 km (390 miles) southwest of the Venezuelan capital of Caracas. &nbsp;

Venezuela's information ministry did not immediately respond to a request for further details about the arrests. &nbsp;

Colombia's government has said that the Sinaloa cartel is active in the South American country and has alliances with local rebel groups, including the National Liberation Army (ELN) and former members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) who have rejected a 2016 peace deal.&nbsp;

Venezuela, which this week created a special military unit for the border region, has not specified which groups it is fighting along the border. Critics of President Nicolas Maduro say the fighters include dissident FARC guerrillas, who his government had previously accommodated.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Venezuelan forces detained members of the Mexican Sinaloa drug cartel during clashes with armed groups near its western border with Colombia, a top Venezuelan military official said on Friday.

Venezuelan forces detained members of the Mexican Sinaloa drug cartel during clashes with armed groups near its western border with Colombia, a top Venezuelan military official said on Friday. Venezuela's military on March 21 launched an offensive against what officials called irregular Colombian armed groups in the western state of Apure. About eight Venezuelan soldiers have died during the operations, which have caused about 5,000 people to flee across the border. "We even captured some individuals from the Sinaloa cartel," the chief of Venezuela's strategic operational command, Remigio Ceballos, said in a telephone call broadcast on state television. Ceballos did not specify the names of the people detained, nor how many cartel members were taken into custody. He said some individuals from Brazil were also detained, and said all would be presented to the country's courts. The fighting has occurred near the border town of La Victoria, about 628 km (390 miles) southwest of the Venezuelan capital of Caracas. Venezuela's information ministry did not immediately respond to a request for further details about the arrests. Colombia's government has said that the Sinaloa cartel is active in the South American country and has alliances with local rebel groups, including the National Liberation Army (ELN) and former members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) who have rejected a 2016 peace deal. Venezuela, which this week created a special military unit for the border region, has not specified which groups it is fighting along the border. Critics of President Nicolas Maduro say the fighters include dissident FARC guerrillas, who his government had previously accommodated. (With inputs from agencies)

Venezuela detains Sinaloa cartel members in clash at Colombian border 

Russia is "aggravating" Donbass situation, Ukraine recently claimed. A NATO official has also accused Russia of undermining peace efforts. Meanwhile, the US has promised support to Ukraine.

NATO and Russia clash over troop build up

In just 24 hours of the webspace crackdown on bloggers, today, China went on to further to detain 7 more people across provinces for insulting the PLA and questioning Communist Party. Earlier, China had made the fatalities of the Galwan Valley public

China: 7 people detained for insulting PLA

Two people killed and 20 others injured in a brutal clash with security personnel in Mandalay. Meanwhile, thousands take to the streets in Yangon as demonstrations enter the third week.

Myanmar Protests: Two people killed and 20 others injured in brutal clash with security personnel

Protests in France enter day 2, Protesters and Police clash across Paris

Protests in France enter day 2

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-says-kurdish-withdrawal-in-northeast-syria-complete-258817">Syrian army troops</a> clashed with Turkish forces near the border town of Ras al-Ain on Wednesday, Syrian state media reported, as Ankara said it reserved the right to launch another cross-border offensive against Kurdish YPG militia.

The state media gave no details but Turkish-backed rebels said similar, intermittent clashes had occurred in recent days with Syrian troops south of the town, which Turkey seized from Syrian Kurdish-led forces earlier this month.

The report underscores the risk that violence in northeast Syria could rekindle after Ankara and Moscow struck a deal a week ago in which Russia agreed to move the YPG at least 30 km&nbsp;south of the border by late on Tuesday.

As part of the deal, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-says-largely-reached-agreement-with-russia-in-syria-talks-report-258801">Syrian troops have with the agreement of Kurdish forces</a> headed north to take up positions in a region Damascus has not controlled since early on in the country's eight-and-a-half-year-old war.

In Ankara, President Tayyip Erdogan told lawmakers from his AK Party that Turkey has information the YPG has not completed its pull-out, despite assurances from Russia that they had left ahead of the deal's deadline.

"Even though the information in our hands suggests this has not been succeeded in a full sense, we will give our response to them after our field assessments," he said, adding Turkey reserved the right to return to military operations against the YPG in the area.

Ankara views the YPG as a terrorist organisation because of its links to Kurdish militants in southeast Turkey and aims to establish a "safe zone" in northern Syria cleared of the YPG.

The YPG is the main component in the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) that fought for years alongside US&nbsp;forces to shatter the declared "caliphate" of Islamic State militants that spanned a swathe of northern and eastern Syria.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-says-kurdish-ypg-still-in-syria-border-area-as-deadline-looms-258685">Turkish-backed forces</a> crossed the border into northeast Syria on October&nbsp;9 to attack the YPG after President Donald Trump's abrupt withdrawal of US. forces there a few days earlier, drawing international condemnation of Ankara.

Trump's decision has been condemned in Washington by Democrats and his fellow Republicans alike for abandoning Kurdish fighters who helped rout Islamic State.

On Tuesday, the House of Representatives voted decisively to sanction Turkey, a NATO ally.

Joint Russian-Turkish patrols had been set to begin on Tuesday at a depth of 10 km&nbsp;inside northern Syria, but Erdogan said they would begin on Friday and at a depth of just 7 km.

"If we see that the members of the terrorist organisation have not been moved out of the 30 km, or if attacks continue, no matter from where, we reserve our right to carry out our own operation," Erdogan said.

On Tuesday, the Turkey-backed Syrian rebels said they had captured an undisclosed number of Syrian army soldiers near Tel Hawa, in the countryside around Ras al-Ain. A spokesman for the rebels said that the YPG had not fully withdrawn from the border area and that a new round of clashes was expected.

Some 300,000 people have been displaced by Turkey's offensive and 120 civilians have been killed, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based war monitor.

The US&nbsp;House voted 403-16 for a resolution calling on Trump to impose sanctions and other restrictions on Turkey and Turkish officials over its offensive in Syria.

In Geneva, Assad's government condemned what it called the occupation of its land while the Syrian opposition demanded justice at the opening of a U.N.-backed panel meant to usher in reconciliation, political reforms and free and fair elections as a basis for lasting peace.

Syrian army troops clashed with Turkish forces near the border town of Ras al-Ain on Wednesday, Syrian state media reported, as Ankara said it reserved the right to launch another cross-border offensive against Kurdish YPG militia.

Syrian army troops clashed with Turkish forces near the border town of Ras al-Ain on Wednesday, Syrian state media reported, as Ankara said it reserved the right to launch another cross-border offensive against Kurdish YPG militia. The state media gave no details but Turkish-backed rebels said similar, intermittent clashes had occurred in recent days with Syrian troops south of the town, which Turkey seized from Syrian Kurdish-led forces earlier this month. The report underscores the risk that violence in northeast Syria could rekindle after Ankara and Moscow struck a deal a week ago in which Russia agreed to move the YPG at least 30 km south of the border by late on Tuesday. As part of the deal, Syrian troops have with the agreement of Kurdish forces headed north to take up positions in a region Damascus has not controlled since early on in the country's eight-and-a-half-year-old war. In Ankara, President Tayyip Erdogan told lawmakers from his AK Party that Turkey has information the YPG has not completed its pull-out, despite assurances from Russia that they had left ahead of the deal's deadline. "Even though the information in our hands suggests this has not been succeeded in a full sense, we will give our response to them after our field assessments," he said, adding Turkey reserved the right to return to military operations against the YPG in the area. Ankara views the YPG as a terrorist organisation because of its links to Kurdish militants in southeast Turkey and aims to establish a "safe zone" in northern Syria cleared of the YPG. The YPG is the main component in the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) that fought for years alongside US forces to shatter the declared "caliphate" of Islamic State militants that spanned a swathe of northern and eastern Syria. Turkish-backed forces crossed the border into northeast Syria on October 9 to attack the YPG after President Donald Trump's abrupt withdrawal of US. forces there a few days earlier, drawing international condemnation of Ankara. Trump's decision has been condemned in Washington by Democrats and his fellow Republicans alike for abandoning Kurdish fighters who helped rout Islamic State. On Tuesday, the House of Representatives voted decisively to sanction Turkey, a NATO ally. Joint Russian-Turkish patrols had been set to begin on Tuesday at a depth of 10 km inside northern Syria, but Erdogan said they would begin on Friday and at a depth of just 7 km. "If we see that the members of the terrorist organisation have not been moved out of the 30 km, or if attacks continue, no matter from where, we reserve our right to carry out our own operation," Erdogan said. On Tuesday, the Turkey-backed Syrian rebels said they had captured an undisclosed number of Syrian army soldiers near Tel Hawa, in the countryside around Ras al-Ain. A spokesman for the rebels said that the YPG had not fully withdrawn from the border area and that a new round of clashes was expected. Some 300,000 people have been displaced by Turkey's offensive and 120 civilians have been killed, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based war monitor. The US House voted 403-16 for a resolution calling on Trump to impose sanctions and other restrictions on Turkey and Turkish officials over its offensive in Syria. In Geneva, Assad's government condemned what it called the occupation of its land while the Syrian opposition demanded justice at the opening of a U.N.-backed panel meant to usher in reconciliation, political reforms and free and fair elections as a basis for lasting peace.

Syrian army, Turkish force clash near border: Report

Hong Kong: Violent Clashes Continue Between Police & Protesters

Gravitas: Hong Kong: Tensions Intensify

Another weekend of protests begins in Hong Kong where Police fire tear gas in a renewed clash with protesters.

Hong Kong Protest: Police fire tear gas in renewed clash with protesters

At least 52 inmates were killed in a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/at-least-40-inmates-strangled-to-death-in-amazon-prison-gang-clashes-222148">prison riot </a>in northern Brazil on Monday as <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/clashes-between-prisoners-in-brazil-jail-leave-15-dead-official-221848">rival gang factions</a> fought each other, an official said.

Sixteen of the dead were decapitated in the second major eruption of violence to rock the country's severely overpopulated and deadly prison system in as many months.&nbsp;

Fighting broke out in the Altamira Regional Recovery Center at around 7:00 am, an official from the Para state government's penitentiary department said.

Two guards were taken hostage during the clashes that ended at around midday. They were eventually freed.&nbsp;

Footage broadcast by SBT Altamira purportedly showed thick black smoke rising from the prison compound and people sitting on the roof of a building.

In May, at least 55 prisoners were killed in several jails in the neighbouring state of Amazonas in violence also blamed on an apparent gang dispute.

Most of the victims were killed by asphyxiation, the state government said at the time.&nbsp;

The federal government dispatched reinforcements to boost security in the jails.

Brazil has the world's third-largest prison population after the United States and China, with 726,712 inmates as of June 2016, according to official statistics.

The population is double the capacity of the nation's jails, which in the same year was estimated to be 368,049 inmates.

The federal government had been expected to add another 115,000 inmates by the end of 2018, Human Rights Watch said in a recent report.

Along with severe overcrowding and gang violence, riots and breakout attempts in Brazil's prisons are not uncommon.

At least 52 inmates were killed in a prison riot in northern Brazil on Monday as rival gang factions fought each other, an official said. Sixteen of the dead were decapitated in the second major eruption of violence to rock the country's severely overpopulated and deadly prison system in as many months.

At least 52 inmates were killed in a prison riot in northern Brazil on Monday as rival gang factions fought each other, an official said. Sixteen of the dead were decapitated in the second major eruption of violence to rock the country's severely overpopulated and deadly prison system in as many months. Fighting broke out in the Altamira Regional Recovery Center at around 7:00 am, an official from the Para state government's penitentiary department said. Two guards were taken hostage during the clashes that ended at around midday. They were eventually freed. Footage broadcast by SBT Altamira purportedly showed thick black smoke rising from the prison compound and people sitting on the roof of a building. In May, at least 55 prisoners were killed in several jails in the neighbouring state of Amazonas in violence also blamed on an apparent gang dispute. Most of the victims were killed by asphyxiation, the state government said at the time. The federal government dispatched reinforcements to boost security in the jails. Brazil has the world's third-largest prison population after the United States and China, with 726,712 inmates as of June 2016, according to official statistics. The population is double the capacity of the nation's jails, which in the same year was estimated to be 368,049 inmates. The federal government had been expected to add another 115,000 inmates by the end of 2018, Human Rights Watch said in a recent report. Along with severe overcrowding and gang violence, riots and breakout attempts in Brazil's prisons are not uncommon.

Riot at Altamira jail in Brazil leaves 52 dead, 16 decapitated

BJP workers clash with state police in Kolkata. Police used bastons, teargas and water cannons to control that. Governor calls for all party meeting tomorrow. BJP's Protest against killing of workers.

India Watch: Clashes At BJP's Kolkata Rally

&nbsp;It will be Kangana Ranaut versus Hrithik Roshan once again but this time at the ticket window as the release of 'Mental Hai Kya' has been postponed to July 26 by the makers of the film.&nbsp;

In January, Hrithik announced that his film 'Super 30' will release on July 26. The decision was taken after director Vikas Bahl was accused of sexual assault by a woman who worked under the now dissolved Phantom Films.&nbsp;

Ekta Kapoor's Balaji Motion Pictures, producer of 'Mental Hai Kya', said that the clash is not deliberate and they have decided to push the release date from June 21 to July 26 'after the recommendations from distributors, trade analysts and their research team'.

'We have been advised to shift the release of our movie to July 26, purely for the business prospects.

On knowing, that there is already a movie scheduled for a release on that date, we did it all in our purview to ensure that there will be no mud slinging and it will be dignified release.

We stand by assuring that to all other parties,' the statement from the production banner read.&nbsp;

Soon after the announcement, various online entertainment portals and social media users started labeling the change in release date deliberate.&nbsp;

Ekta took to Twitter to condemn the reports.&nbsp;

'My decision my film... So all brickbats directed to me please. I'm my own person,' she wrote.&nbsp;

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My decision my film.....so all brickbats directed to me pls! I’m my own person !!! <a href="https://t.co/xRLtAzzzXN">https://t.co/xRLtAzzzXN</a>
— Ekta Kapoor (@ektaravikapoor) <a href="https://twitter.com/ektaravikapoor/status/1125672221110951936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 7, 2019</a></blockquote>
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'Mental Hai Kya', directed by Prakash Kovelamudi, also features Rajkummar Rao.

After 'Queen', this is Kangana and Rajkummar's second film together.&nbsp;

Prior to this film, Kangana's 'Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi' was supposed to have a box office war with 'Super 30' on January 25.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

Reports of 'Super 30' team postponing the release to August 9 are doing the rounds, but no formal announcement has been made yet.

It will be Kangana Ranaut versus Hrithik Roshan once again but this time at the ticket window as the release of 'Mental Hai Kya' has been postponed to July 26 by the makers of the film.

It will be Kangana Ranaut versus Hrithik Roshan once again but this time at the ticket window as the release of 'Mental Hai Kya' has been postponed to July 26 by the makers of the film. In January, Hrithik announced that his film 'Super 30' will release on July 26. The decision was taken after director Vikas Bahl was accused of sexual assault by a woman who worked under the now dissolved Phantom Films. Ekta Kapoor's Balaji Motion Pictures, producer of 'Mental Hai Kya', said that the clash is not deliberate and they have decided to push the release date from June 21 to July 26 'after the recommendations from distributors, trade analysts and their research team'. 'We have been advised to shift the release of our movie to July 26, purely for the business prospects. On knowing, that there is already a movie scheduled for a release on that date, we did it all in our purview to ensure that there will be no mud slinging and it will be dignified release. We stand by assuring that to all other parties,' the statement from the production banner read. Soon after the announcement, various online entertainment portals and social media users started labeling the change in release date deliberate. Ekta took to Twitter to condemn the reports. 'My decision my film... So all brickbats directed to me please. I'm my own person,' she wrote. My decision my film.....so all brickbats directed to me pls! I’m my own person !!! https://t.co/xRLtAzzzXN — Ekta Kapoor (@ektaravikapoor) May 7, 2019 × 'Mental Hai Kya', directed by Prakash Kovelamudi, also features Rajkummar Rao. After 'Queen', this is Kangana and Rajkummar's second film together. Prior to this film, Kangana's 'Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi' was supposed to have a box office war with 'Super 30' on January 25. Reports of 'Super 30' team postponing the release to August 9 are doing the rounds, but no formal announcement has been made yet.

Kangana Ranaut's 'Mental Hai Kya' to clash with Hrithik Roshan's 'Super 30' in July

Days after clashes broke out between two communities after a bus conductor was allegedly assaulted by a group of residents, nearly 500 people have been provided shelter in the army cantonment in Shillong.&nbsp;

However, the overall situation has improved and it is being assumed that curfew will be lifted for today but restrictions will remain in force.

A scuffle was also witnessed between the police and the mob at Them Iew Mawlong area, a Punjabi settlement, which allegedly left three boys critically injured.

Soon, the violence spread to the other part of the city with incidents like stone pelting, burning of petrol pump and houses being damaged were reported. A curfew was also imposed in areas under Lumdiengjri police station and Cantonment Beat House in view of the breakdown of law and order in Meghalaya's state capital.&nbsp;

Internet and SMS services have also been indefinitely suspended to prevent people from spreading rumours.

Meanwhile, several media reports claim that the larger matter is of community clashes between Khasis and Punjabis.&nbsp;The Khasi society wants the residents of residents of Them Iew Mawlong locality, that has 350 homes of the Punjabi community, to evict the area as they consider them to be illegal settlers since 1980.

However, the Punjabi community, who claim to have resided in the area for 200 years now, have no intention of moving out.&nbsp;

Internet and SMS services have also been indefinitely suspended to prevent people from spreading rumours

Days after clashes broke out between two communities after a bus conductor was allegedly assaulted by a group of residents, nearly 500 people have been provided shelter in the army cantonment in Shillong. However, the overall situation has improved and it is being assumed that curfew will be lifted for today but restrictions will remain in force. A scuffle was also witnessed between the police and the mob at Them Iew Mawlong area, a Punjabi settlement, which allegedly left three boys critically injured. Soon, the violence spread to the other part of the city with incidents like stone pelting, burning of petrol pump and houses being damaged were reported. A curfew was also imposed in areas under Lumdiengjri police station and Cantonment Beat House in view of the breakdown of law and order in Meghalaya's state capital. Internet and SMS services have also been indefinitely suspended to prevent people from spreading rumours. Meanwhile, several media reports claim that the larger matter is of community clashes between Khasis and Punjabis. The Khasi society wants the residents of residents of Them Iew Mawlong locality, that has 350 homes of the Punjabi community, to evict the area as they consider them to be illegal settlers since 1980. However, the Punjabi community, who claim to have resided in the area for 200 years now, have no intention of moving out.

Khasi-Punjabi clash: Nearly 500 people given shelter in Army cantonment at Shillong

Delhi and Punjab are all set to lock their horns for the second time in this year's Indian Premier League (IPL). While Punjab ranks second in the IPL Standings, Delhi is last after facing four defeats out of five matches played so far.&nbsp; Delhi will be playing at their home ground and are expected to come out strong against Punjab to seal today's game.

So, let us take a look at the players to watch out for in today's big clash.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;&nbsp;

1. Chris Gayle - 'The Universal Boss' Chris Gayle has proved that he still has a lot of cricket left in him as he smashed a century and two half-centuries in a total of three games he has played so far in IPL 2018 for Punjab. As he did not play the previous match against Delhi, so it will be interesting to see if he will succeed in giving us next century or will return to the stadium at a paltry score.&nbsp;

2. Yuvraj Singh - His poor form has been a serious cause of concern for Punjab. Being picked up at his base price of Rs 2 crore, he has not contributed much so far this season. Being one of the most experienced batsmen when it comes to the Firoz Shah Kotla ground, it will important to see him score high runs for his team in today's game.

3. Gautam Gambhir - This season he was welcomed back to his home team. But despite his great captaincy skills, Delhi hasn't performed well so far. Today, Gambhir will play at their home ground and is expected to give a tough fight to Punjab bowlers.

4. Risabh Pant - Pant slammed 85 runs off 48 balls against Bangalore. His innings included six fours and seven sixes. He is capable of hitting big strokes and can be a dependent player during crucial times. His experience and ability to deplete against any bowling attack makes him a player to watch out for in today's game.&nbsp;

5. R Ashwin - Ashwin got his big break this season when he was picked up by Punjab for 7.6 crores and was handed over the captaincy role. The veteran spinner proved his worth by putting Punjab at the 2nd position in the league table. But, if we talk about his individual performance then he has been good with the bat but not with the ball. In five matches played so far, he took only five wickets. So it will be interesting to see him swinging wickets in Punjab's favour as he has a good knowledge of the Kotla ground.&nbsp;

Delhi will be playing at their home ground and are expected to come out strong against Punjab

Delhi and Punjab are all set to lock their horns for the second time in this year's Indian Premier League (IPL). While Punjab ranks second in the IPL Standings, Delhi is last after facing four defeats out of five matches played so far. Delhi will be playing at their home ground and are expected to come out strong against Punjab to seal today's game. So, let us take a look at the players to watch out for in today's big clash. 1. Chris Gayle - 'The Universal Boss' Chris Gayle has proved that he still has a lot of cricket left in him as he smashed a century and two half-centuries in a total of three games he has played so far in IPL 2018 for Punjab. As he did not play the previous match against Delhi, so it will be interesting to see if he will succeed in giving us next century or will return to the stadium at a paltry score. 2. Yuvraj Singh - His poor form has been a serious cause of concern for Punjab. Being picked up at his base price of Rs 2 crore, he has not contributed much so far this season. Being one of the most experienced batsmen when it comes to the Firoz Shah Kotla ground, it will important to see him score high runs for his team in today's game. 3. Gautam Gambhir - This season he was welcomed back to his home team. But despite his great captaincy skills, Delhi hasn't performed well so far. Today, Gambhir will play at their home ground and is expected to give a tough fight to Punjab bowlers. 4. Risabh Pant - Pant slammed 85 runs off 48 balls against Bangalore. His innings included six fours and seven sixes. He is capable of hitting big strokes and can be a dependent player during crucial times. His experience and ability to deplete against any bowling attack makes him a player to watch out for in today's game. 5. R Ashwin - Ashwin got his big break this season when he was picked up by Punjab for 7.6 crores and was handed over the captaincy role. The veteran spinner proved his worth by putting Punjab at the 2nd position in the league table. But, if we talk about his individual performance then he has been good with the bat but not with the ball. In five matches played so far, he took only five wickets. So it will be interesting to see him swinging wickets in Punjab's favour as he has a good knowledge of the Kotla ground.

IPL 2018: Players to watch out for in Delhi vs Punjab clash

An Afghan official has alleged Pakistani forces for crossing into eastern Afghanistan and clashing with Afghan troops.

According to Colonel Abdul Hanan, the acting provincial police chief in the eastern Khost province, the clash broke out earlier today and is currently underway.&nbsp

Hanan did not confirm reports of the number casualties.

Both Afghanistan and Pakistan have shared a history of hurling accusations at each other for failing to crack down on militants operating along the porous border.

Meanwhile, a Taliban-led attack on an Afghan checkpoint killed at least 11, officials noted. A spokesman reported two other forces wounded in the attack that took place on late Saturday.&nbsp

According to reports, three insurgents were killed while four others were wounded. The attack, reportedly, targeted members of the Local Uprising Forces, militias supported by the government.

While no one claimed the attack, an Afghan official blamed the attack on the Taliban.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp

The clash broke out earlier today and believed to be underway

An Afghan official has alleged Pakistani forces for crossing into eastern Afghanistan and clashing with Afghan troops. According to Colonel Abdul Hanan, the acting provincial police chief in the eastern Khost province, the clash broke out earlier today and is currently underway. Hanan did not confirm reports of the number casualties. Both Afghanistan and Pakistan have shared a history of hurling accusations at each other for failing to crack down on militants operating along the porous border. Meanwhile, a Taliban-led attack on an Afghan checkpoint killed at least 11, officials noted. A spokesman reported two other forces wounded in the attack that took place on late Saturday. According to reports, three insurgents were killed while four others were wounded. The attack, reportedly, targeted members of the Local Uprising Forces, militias supported by the government. While no one claimed the attack, an Afghan official blamed the attack on the Taliban. (With inputs from agencies)

Afghan, Pakistani forces clash near disputed border: Afghan official

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worker Anil Singh, who was arrested in connection with the recent communal clash in Bihar`s Aurangabad, has escaped from the police custody.

Singh, who was one of the central figures among the 148 persons booked in the matter fled away on Thursday.&nbsp

A clash broke out between two communities during Rama Navami celebrations on March 25.&nbsp

The situation became tense in the evening when rioters set ablaze more than 20 shops and pelted stones at those participating in the Rama Navami procession through Nawadih Colony.&nbsp

As per reports, nearly 50 shops were torched by rioters, while nearly 60 persons, including 20 policemen were injured due to stone pelting by miscreants.&nbsp

The situation further intensified on Monday, which thereby led to a curfew being imposed in the vicinity.&nbsp

Anil Singh was arrested in connection with the recent communal clash in Bihar`s Aurangabad

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worker Anil Singh, who was arrested in connection with the recent communal clash in Bihar`s Aurangabad, has escaped from the police custody. Singh, who was one of the central figures among the 148 persons booked in the matter fled away on Thursday. A clash broke out between two communities during Rama Navami celebrations on March 25. The situation became tense in the evening when rioters set ablaze more than 20 shops and pelted stones at those participating in the Rama Navami procession through Nawadih Colony. As per reports, nearly 50 shops were torched by rioters, while nearly 60 persons, including 20 policemen were injured due to stone pelting by miscreants. The situation further intensified on Monday, which thereby led to a curfew being imposed in the vicinity.

Aurangabad clash: BJP worker flee away from police custody

At least three people have been reported dead in a clash that erupted between two groups of people in Mumbai&#39;s Bhandup area.&nbsp;

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Update?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Update</a>: Death toll rises to 3 in the clash that erupted between two groups of people in Bhandup area. Police investigation on. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Mumbai?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Mumbai</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/975401794804297728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Two people are reported injured. A police investigation is underway.&nbsp;

More details are awaited.&nbsp;

Two people are reported injured; police investigation is underway

At least three people have been reported dead in a clash that erupted between two groups of people in Mumbai's Bhandup area. #Update: Death toll rises to 3 in the clash that erupted between two groups of people in Bhandup area. Police investigation on. #Mumbai — ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2018 × Two people are reported injured. A police investigation is underway. More details are awaited.

Mumbai: Death toll rises to 3 in clash between groups at Bhandup

Two groups of African men went on the rampage at a Delhi hospital,&nbsp;attacking each other with meat cleavers, swords, rods, bottles&nbsp;and baseball, and in the process&nbsp;damaged several furniture and equipment in the hospital on Monday.

CCTV footage showed the men going on a rampage inside the hospital&nbsp;smashing the door to reach the reception area.

The incident took place around 4am&nbsp;when four African men entered the hospital with a woman who had head injuries. &nbsp;

According to eyewitnesses, the melee began when another African man arrived there in an autorickshaw. On seeing him, the youths started thrashing him. The hapless man ran into the hospital to save himself but was followed by the irate group.

The mob went on a rampage inside the hospital smashing the furniture and the laboratory of the hospital.&nbsp;They also allegedly roughed up the hospital receptionist. &nbsp;

Police registered a case of rioting, arson, and assault based on a statement of an employee at&nbsp;the hospital.

Police officers say that they have recovered three CCTV footages from the hospital in which the attackers were seen smashing the doors and glasses.&nbsp;

It was found that the two group had gone to a restaurant near Mehrauli church and got into a fight with each other during which one of them had smashed a beer bottle on the woman&#39;s head. A fight had ensued after that. While they had reached the hospital another youth from the rival group too reached there due to which another fight ensued.

Two groups of African men went on the rampage at a city hospital in Saket attacking each other with meat cleavers, swords, rods, bottles, and baseball, in the process, they also damaged furniture and equipment in the hospital

Two groups of African men went on the rampage at a Delhi hospital, attacking each other with meat cleavers, swords, rods, bottles and baseball, and in the process damaged several furniture and equipment in the hospital on Monday. CCTV footage showed the men going on a rampage inside the hospital smashing the door to reach the reception area. The incident took place around 4am when four African men entered the hospital with a woman who had head injuries. According to eyewitnesses, the melee began when another African man arrived there in an autorickshaw. On seeing him, the youths started thrashing him. The hapless man ran into the hospital to save himself but was followed by the irate group. The mob went on a rampage inside the hospital smashing the furniture and the laboratory of the hospital. They also allegedly roughed up the hospital receptionist. Police registered a case of rioting, arson, and assault based on a statement of an employee at the hospital. Police officers say that they have recovered three CCTV footages from the hospital in which the attackers were seen smashing the doors and glasses. It was found that the two group had gone to a restaurant near Mehrauli church and got into a fight with each other during which one of them had smashed a beer bottle on the woman's head. A fight had ensued after that. While they had reached the hospital another youth from the rival group too reached there due to which another fight ensued.

Two groups of Africans go on rampage at Delhi hospital

Police using a water cannon and batons clashed on Thursday (August 24) with refugee squatters who had occupied a small&nbsp;Rome&nbsp;square in defiance of an eviction order.

Video images showed some of the refugees screaming and trying to hit police, who were dressed in riot gear, with sticks in the square strewn with mattresses, overturned iron rubbish bins and broken plastic chairs.

Some 100 refugees had occupied the square on Saturday (August 19) when about 800 squatters were evicted from an adjacent office building they had occupied for about five years.

Most of the squatters were Eritreans who had been granted asylum.

Police said in a statement they decided to intervene because they had information that the refugees were planning to use gas canisters and Molotov cocktails. It said the refugees had refused to accept lodging offered by the city.

It said some gas canisters had already been opened, the police said, adding that agents were hit by rocks, bottles and pepper spray. They said two people were arrested.

Some 100 refugees had occupied the square on Saturday (August 19)

Police using a water cannon and batons clashed on Thursday (August 24) with refugee squatters who had occupied a small Rome square in defiance of an eviction order. Video images showed some of the refugees screaming and trying to hit police, who were dressed in riot gear, with sticks in the square strewn with mattresses, overturned iron rubbish bins and broken plastic chairs. Some 100 refugees had occupied the square on Saturday (August 19) when about 800 squatters were evicted from an adjacent office building they had occupied for about five years. Most of the squatters were Eritreans who had been granted asylum. Police said in a statement they decided to intervene because they had information that the refugees were planning to use gas canisters and Molotov cocktails. It said the refugees had refused to accept lodging offered by the city. It said some gas canisters had already been opened, the police said, adding that agents were hit by rocks, bottles and pepper spray. They said two people were arrested.

Police clash with refugee squatters in Rome

Portugal&#39;s coach Fernando Santos will leave his final decision on team selection for the quarter-final clash against Poland until today morning because of injuries to at least two players, he told reporters. 
 
Speaking on the eve of the game in Marseille, Santos also said he viewed the two sides as evenly matched which could result in a tight, defensive contest. 
 
&quot;There are some players who aren&#39;t 100 per cent fit so we&#39;ll wait until tomorrow to ascertain whether they are entirely fit or not and if they can play or not,&quot; Santos said. 
 
&quot;Sometimes the players can recover and we still have 24 hours to go.&quot; 
 
Defender Raphael Guerreiro and midfielder Andre Gomes have not trained since Monday and on Wednesday were again not on the pitch with the rest of the squad. 
 
The two sides have met 10 times with their last encounter ending in a goalless draw in 2012 and the omens are that it could be another close game. 
 
Apart from a stunning bicycle kick goal by Switzerland&#39;s Xherdan Shaqiri, the Polish defence has not been breached. 
 
Portugal&#39;s last five European Championship ties have ended in draws after 90 minutes, although they scraped through against Croatia in the last 16 with a 117th minute winner. 
 
&quot;I think it&#39;s a 50-50 match. My players know that. They (Poland) are here on their own merit,&quot; Santos said. 
 
Asked if it could be similar to the Croatia clash, Santos lauded Poland&#39;s defensive unity and collective spirit. 
 
&quot;Of course, it will be a game of a lot of strategy. Sometimes there is a Gordion Knot that you can&#39;t untie,&quot; he said, referring to the mythological legend used as a metaphor for a difficult problem. 
 
&quot;There will be a strong strategic component to this game, because if you concede four goals nobody can ensure you can score five,&quot; he quipped. 
 
Talisman Cristiano Ronaldo struggled against Croatia producing one shot, but Santos defended his &quot;amazing&quot; captain. 
 
&quot;We want to strike a balance, of course. We want Ronaldo to shoot on target 15 times and score 10 goals, but our opponents won&#39;t let us and that&#39;s part of the game,&quot; Santos said. 
 
There have also been concerns over the Stade Velodrome pitch, but Santos, whose country lost to France in the 1984 European Championship semi-final in Marseille, said it looked better than expected. 
 
&quot;We&#39;ve thought about the match here in 1984, but we played against France so you can&#39;t compare the two. It&#39;s apples and oranges,&quot; he said. 
 
(Reuters)

The two sides have met 10 times with their last encounter ending in a goalless draw in 2012

Portugal's coach Fernando Santos will leave his final decision on team selection for the quarter-final clash against Poland until today morning because of injuries to at least two players, he told reporters. Speaking on the eve of the game in Marseille, Santos also said he viewed the two sides as evenly matched which could result in a tight, defensive contest. "There are some players who aren't 100 per cent fit so we'll wait until tomorrow to ascertain whether they are entirely fit or not and if they can play or not," Santos said. "Sometimes the players can recover and we still have 24 hours to go." Defender Raphael Guerreiro and midfielder Andre Gomes have not trained since Monday and on Wednesday were again not on the pitch with the rest of the squad. The two sides have met 10 times with their last encounter ending in a goalless draw in 2012 and the omens are that it could be another close game. Apart from a stunning bicycle kick goal by Switzerland's Xherdan Shaqiri, the Polish defence has not been breached. Portugal's last five European Championship ties have ended in draws after 90 minutes, although they scraped through against Croatia in the last 16 with a 117th minute winner. "I think it's a 50-50 match. My players know that. They (Poland) are here on their own merit," Santos said. Asked if it could be similar to the Croatia clash, Santos lauded Poland's defensive unity and collective spirit. "Of course, it will be a game of a lot of strategy. Sometimes there is a Gordion Knot that you can't untie," he said, referring to the mythological legend used as a metaphor for a difficult problem. "There will be a strong strategic component to this game, because if you concede four goals nobody can ensure you can score five," he quipped. Talisman Cristiano Ronaldo struggled against Croatia producing one shot, but Santos defended his "amazing" captain. "We want to strike a balance, of course. We want Ronaldo to shoot on target 15 times and score 10 goals, but our opponents won't let us and that's part of the game," Santos said. There have also been concerns over the Stade Velodrome pitch, but Santos, whose country lost to France in the 1984 European Championship semi-final in Marseille, said it looked better than expected. "We've thought about the match here in 1984, but we played against France so you can't compare the two. It's apples and oranges," he said. (Reuters)

Portugal sweating on injuries ahead of Poland clash

Germany central defender Jerome Boateng returned to training today after overcoming a muscle injury, and appeared fit for Sunday&#39;s Euro 2016 round of 16 clash against Slovakia. 
 
Boateng picked up a calf muscle injury towards the end of their 1-0 victory over Northern Ireland this week, and his participation on Sunday was in doubt. 
 
He did not train with the team on Friday, undergoing an individual session involving cycling and jogging, and seemed fit on Saturday, as Germany prepare for their departure to Lille later in the day. 
 
The 27-year-old, who has resumed his World-Cup winning partnership in central defence with Mats Hummels, has helped the world champions keep a clean sheet in all three of their group stage matches in the tournament so far. 
 
The winner of the round of 16 match will next play either Italy or Euro holders Spain in the quarter-finals. 
 
(Reuters)

Boateng injured his calf towards the end of their 1-0 victory over Northern Ireland and his participation on Sunday was in doubt

Germany central defender Jerome Boateng returned to training today after overcoming a muscle injury, and appeared fit for Sunday's Euro 2016 round of 16 clash against Slovakia. Boateng picked up a calf muscle injury towards the end of their 1-0 victory over Northern Ireland this week, and his participation on Sunday was in doubt. He did not train with the team on Friday, undergoing an individual session involving cycling and jogging, and seemed fit on Saturday, as Germany prepare for their departure to Lille later in the day. The 27-year-old, who has resumed his World-Cup winning partnership in central defence with Mats Hummels, has helped the world champions keep a clean sheet in all three of their group stage matches in the tournament so far. The winner of the round of 16 match will next play either Italy or Euro holders Spain in the quarter-finals. (Reuters)

Germany's Jerome Boateng back in training for Slovakia game

Pro-opposition gunmen locked in a protracted stand-off with police in the Armenian capital Yerevan today took four medics hostage, officials said, after a shootout left five people wounded. 
 
Police said the medics were held after entering a police compound seized by the assailants 10 days ago to treat two gunmen injured in clashes that also left two attackers and a police officer hospitalised. 
 
&quot;The doctors who went into the captured territory to assist two members of the armed group who refused to go to hospital have been taken hostage,&quot; police spokesman Ashot Aharonyan wrote on Facebook. 
 
&quot;The police are taking steps to free the doctors through negotiations.&quot; 
 
 
Lengthy stand-off shakes&nbsp;tiny Caucasus republic &nbsp; 
 
The lengthy stand-off has shaken the tiny Caucasus republic and sparked clashes between police and protesters furious over the handling of the incident.&nbsp; 
 
Gunmen supporters of fringe jailed opposition leader Zhirair Sefilyan, stormed a police building in Yerevan on July 17, killing one officer, taking several more hostage and seizing a store of weapons. 
 
Over the weekend, they released the final four police officers being held captive but remained holed up inside the police building surrounded by law enforcement officers. 
 
The group has demanded the resignation of the ex-Soviet nation&#39;s President Serzh Sarkisian and the release of Sefilyan. 
 
Sefilyan, the leader of a small opposition group named the New Armenia Public Salvation Front and six of his supporters were arrested in June accused of preparing to seize government buildings and telecoms facilities in Yerevan. 
 
A fierce critic of the government, he was previously arrested in 2006 over calls for &quot;a violent overthrow of the government&quot; and jailed for 18 months. He was released in 2008. 
 
Sarkisian, a pro-Russian former military officer, has been president of the country of 2.9 million people since winning a vote in 2008 that saw clashes between police and supporters of the defeated opposition candidate in which 10 people died. 
 
(AFP)

Police said medics were held after entering a police compound seized by assailants 10 days ago to treat two gunmen injured in clashes

Pro-opposition gunmen locked in a protracted stand-off with police in the Armenian capital Yerevan today took four medics hostage, officials said, after a shootout left five people wounded. Police said the medics were held after entering a police compound seized by the assailants 10 days ago to treat two gunmen injured in clashes that also left two attackers and a police officer hospitalised. "The doctors who went into the captured territory to assist two members of the armed group who refused to go to hospital have been taken hostage," police spokesman Ashot Aharonyan wrote on Facebook. "The police are taking steps to free the doctors through negotiations." Lengthy stand-off shakes tiny Caucasus republic The lengthy stand-off has shaken the tiny Caucasus republic and sparked clashes between police and protesters furious over the handling of the incident. Gunmen supporters of fringe jailed opposition leader Zhirair Sefilyan, stormed a police building in Yerevan on July 17, killing one officer, taking several more hostage and seizing a store of weapons. Over the weekend, they released the final four police officers being held captive but remained holed up inside the police building surrounded by law enforcement officers. The group has demanded the resignation of the ex-Soviet nation's President Serzh Sarkisian and the release of Sefilyan. Sefilyan, the leader of a small opposition group named the New Armenia Public Salvation Front and six of his supporters were arrested in June accused of preparing to seize government buildings and telecoms facilities in Yerevan. A fierce critic of the government, he was previously arrested in 2006 over calls for "a violent overthrow of the government" and jailed for 18 months. He was released in 2008. Sarkisian, a pro-Russian former military officer, has been president of the country of 2.9 million people since winning a vote in 2008 that saw clashes between police and supporters of the defeated opposition candidate in which 10 people died. (AFP)

Armenia stand-off drags on: Pro-opposition gunmen take 4 medics hostage

The United Nations called for a humanitarian truce in Yemen&#39;s&nbsp;province of Taiz after government forces captured a town from Iran-allied Houthi militia in heavy fighting that has spurred allegations of war crimes.

The fighting has complicated UN-sponsored peace talks, as envoys for the Houthis have delayed responding to UN&nbsp;proposals calling for Houthi pullouts from cities they control, including the capital Sanaa, and the creation of an inclusive government. 
 
James McGoldrick, the UN&nbsp;Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen, voiced alarm at increasing bloodshed in the southwestern Taiz province, particularly the al-Sarari area, and the closure of Taiz city, the regional capital. 
 
He urged all warring parties to agree immediately to a &quot;humanitarian pause&quot; to protect civilians and cooperate with humanitarian agencies to help treat and evacuate war-wounded and deliver urgently needed medicine into the embattled zone. 
 
McGoldrick warned both parties that holding civilian populations hostage and depriving them of humanitarian assistance was illegal under international humanitarian law. 
 
Hadi supporters control most of Taiz, Yemen&#39;s third largest city with an estimated pre-war population of 300,000, but it is sealed off by Houthi forces on three sides. 
 
There were conflicting reports on the fighting in al-Sarari, a Houthi stronghold southeast of Taiz captured by troops loyal to President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi earlier this week. 
 
A Houthi envoy on a ceasefire committee assigned to oversee a shaky truce in Taiz wrote to the UN&nbsp;that Sarari residents had been subjected to &quot;war crimes&quot; including house burnings and the detention of 49 civilians including women and children. 
 
&quot;We call on you to swiftly intervene to stop these gangs and limit the massacres they have begun to commit against unarmed civilians,&quot; Ahmed al-Msawa said in the letter, seen by Reuters.

Two residents of a hamlet adjacent to Sarari said that at least 15 Houthi combatants were killed or wounded in the fighting. 
 
They said 40 other Houthis were taken prisoner but denied that any women or children were among them. They said most Sarari residents had fled to neighbouring communities. 
 
Hadi supporters have denied setting fires to houses and accused the Houthis of booby-trapping a Sarari mosque to try to kill as many Hadi supporters as possible. 
 
A Saudi-led alliance intervened in Yemen&#39;s conflict in March 2015 to try to restore Hadi to power after the Houthis seized Sanaa and advanced on his temporary headquarters in Aden, forcing him to flee to Saudi Arabia.

A ceasefire accord between the Houthis and Hadi loyalists has repeatedly been violated since it took effect in April. 
 
Peace talks in Kuwait since then have done little to end fighting that has killed more than 6,200 people and displaced more than 2.5 million in the Arabian Peninsula state. 
 
(Reuters) 
&nbsp;

The fighting between government forces and Houthi forces regarding the control of Taiz has spurred allegations of war crimes

The United Nations called for a humanitarian truce in Yemen's province of Taiz after government forces captured a town from Iran-allied Houthi militia in heavy fighting that has spurred allegations of war crimes. The fighting has complicated UN-sponsored peace talks, as envoys for the Houthis have delayed responding to UN proposals calling for Houthi pullouts from cities they control, including the capital Sanaa, and the creation of an inclusive government. James McGoldrick, the UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Yemen, voiced alarm at increasing bloodshed in the southwestern Taiz province, particularly the al-Sarari area, and the closure of Taiz city, the regional capital. He urged all warring parties to agree immediately to a "humanitarian pause" to protect civilians and cooperate with humanitarian agencies to help treat and evacuate war-wounded and deliver urgently needed medicine into the embattled zone. McGoldrick warned both parties that holding civilian populations hostage and depriving them of humanitarian assistance was illegal under international humanitarian law. Hadi supporters control most of Taiz, Yemen's third largest city with an estimated pre-war population of 300,000, but it is sealed off by Houthi forces on three sides. There were conflicting reports on the fighting in al-Sarari, a Houthi stronghold southeast of Taiz captured by troops loyal to President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi earlier this week. A Houthi envoy on a ceasefire committee assigned to oversee a shaky truce in Taiz wrote to the UN that Sarari residents had been subjected to "war crimes" including house burnings and the detention of 49 civilians including women and children. "We call on you to swiftly intervene to stop these gangs and limit the massacres they have begun to commit against unarmed civilians," Ahmed al-Msawa said in the letter, seen by Reuters. Two residents of a hamlet adjacent to Sarari said that at least 15 Houthi combatants were killed or wounded in the fighting. They said 40 other Houthis were taken prisoner but denied that any women or children were among them. They said most Sarari residents had fled to neighbouring communities. Hadi supporters have denied setting fires to houses and accused the Houthis of booby-trapping a Sarari mosque to try to kill as many Hadi supporters as possible. A Saudi-led alliance intervened in Yemen's conflict in March 2015 to try to restore Hadi to power after the Houthis seized Sanaa and advanced on his temporary headquarters in Aden, forcing him to flee to Saudi Arabia. A ceasefire accord between the Houthis and Hadi loyalists has repeatedly been violated since it took effect in April. Peace talks in Kuwait since then have done little to end fighting that has killed more than 6,200 people and displaced more than 2.5 million in the Arabian Peninsula state. (Reuters)

UN?calls?for?humanitarian?truce?in?Yemen's?Taiz province

Philippine government forces fought hundreds of Islamic militants on two remote islands today, with the military aircraft-backed campaign leaving up to 10 people dead, the army said. 
 
The gun battles on the southern islands of Jolo and Basilan followed orders by new President Rodrigo Duterte for the security services to go after the Abu Sayyaf, which recently beheaded two foreign hostages and is also blamed for the worst terror attacks in Philippine history. 
 
The fighting was continuing late today with more troops being rushed in, backed by military aircraft and artillery, regional military spokesman Major Filemon Tan told reporters. 
 
&quot;Continuous indirect fire support and air strikes are being done and additional troops were deployed,&quot; he added without giving details. 
 
Army troops hunting down Abu Sayyaf units clashed with about 130 of the gunmen near the Jolo town of Patikul, killing a soldier and wounding six others, Tan said. 
 
Military intelligence reports later determined that nine Abu Sayyaf members were also killed and 13 others wounded, he added. 
 
Meanwhile up to 200 Abu Sayyaf gunmen have been fighting running gun battles with government forces in three Basilan towns since late Wednesday, Tan said, but did not say if there were casualties. 
 
The Jolo militants are believed to be holding a Norwegian resort manager abducted elsewhere in the south in September last year and a Dutch birdwatcher kidnapped in 2012. 
 
Tan did not reply when asked about the impact of the fighting on the hostages. 
 
The Abu Sayyaf beheaded in April and June two Canadian tourists who were kidnapped along with the Norwegian, while a Filipina who was abducted with them was freed last month. 
 
The Abu Sayyaf is a loose network of a few hundred Islamic militants, formed in the 1990s with seed money from Osama bin Laden&#39;s Al-Qaeda network, that has earned millions of dollars from kidnappings-for-ransom. 
 
Although its leaders have pledged allegiance to Islamic State, analysts say they are mainly focused on lucrative kidnappings. 
 
Last month, as Duterte prepared to assume office after winning the May presidential elections by landslide on a law and order platform, he ordered the military defeat the Abu Sayyaf. 
 
&quot;Our first priority is the Abu Sayyaf because that is the order of our new president: address the Abu Sayyaf immediately so we can neutralise them,&quot; Delfin Lorenzana told reporters before he was sworn in as defence secretary. 
 
(Reuters)&nbsp;

President Rodrigo Duterte ordered security services to go after Abu Sayyaf, an Islamic militant network formed in 1990 that beheaded two foreign hostages

Philippine government forces fought hundreds of Islamic militants on two remote islands today, with the military aircraft-backed campaign leaving up to 10 people dead, the army said. The gun battles on the southern islands of Jolo and Basilan followed orders by new President Rodrigo Duterte for the security services to go after the Abu Sayyaf, which recently beheaded two foreign hostages and is also blamed for the worst terror attacks in Philippine history. The fighting was continuing late today with more troops being rushed in, backed by military aircraft and artillery, regional military spokesman Major Filemon Tan told reporters. "Continuous indirect fire support and air strikes are being done and additional troops were deployed," he added without giving details. Army troops hunting down Abu Sayyaf units clashed with about 130 of the gunmen near the Jolo town of Patikul, killing a soldier and wounding six others, Tan said. Military intelligence reports later determined that nine Abu Sayyaf members were also killed and 13 others wounded, he added. Meanwhile up to 200 Abu Sayyaf gunmen have been fighting running gun battles with government forces in three Basilan towns since late Wednesday, Tan said, but did not say if there were casualties. The Jolo militants are believed to be holding a Norwegian resort manager abducted elsewhere in the south in September last year and a Dutch birdwatcher kidnapped in 2012. Tan did not reply when asked about the impact of the fighting on the hostages. The Abu Sayyaf beheaded in April and June two Canadian tourists who were kidnapped along with the Norwegian, while a Filipina who was abducted with them was freed last month. The Abu Sayyaf is a loose network of a few hundred Islamic militants, formed in the 1990s with seed money from Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaeda network, that has earned millions of dollars from kidnappings-for-ransom. Although its leaders have pledged allegiance to Islamic State, analysts say they are mainly focused on lucrative kidnappings. Last month, as Duterte prepared to assume office after winning the May presidential elections by landslide on a law and order platform, he ordered the military defeat the Abu Sayyaf. "Our first priority is the Abu Sayyaf because that is the order of our new president: address the Abu Sayyaf immediately so we can neutralise them," Delfin Lorenzana told reporters before he was sworn in as defence secretary. (Reuters)

Philippine army: 10 dead in clashes with islamic militants

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