Sri Lanka arrests 23 Indian fishermen
Colombo, Feb 5: The Sri Lankan Navy has arrested 23 Indian fishermen and seized two trawlers for allegedly poaching in the island nation’s waters, according to an official statement here. The fishermen were arrested, and their two trawlers were seized on Saturday north of the Delft Island, Jaffna, the Sri Lanka Navy said in a press release on Sunday. The 23 apprehended fishermen and their two trawlers were escorted to the Kankesanthurai Harbour and will be handed over to the Mailadi Fisheries Inspector for further action, it said. “The Sri Lanka Navy conducted a special operation to chase away Indian poaching trawlers from Sri Lankan waters on the night of February 3, 2024. The operation resulted in the seizure of 2 Indian trawlers and the apprehension of 23 Indian nationals poaching in the northern waters of Sri Lanka, off the Delft Island in Jaffna, the statement said. The Navy conducts regular patrols and operations in Sri Lankan waters to curb illegal fishing practices by foreign fishing trawlers. (PTI)
10 cops killed in terror attack in Pakistan
Islamabad, Feb 5: At least 10 police officials were martyred and six critically injured in yet another targetted terror attacks on a police station in Dera Ismail Khan during the early hours of Monday. The attack signifies the tense, sensitive and critical situation in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province with increased terror attacks, only four days before the polling day on February 8. According to the police, terrorists entered the Chodhwan police station at around 3 a.m. on Monday morning, sniping out the guards standing around it. “They hurled grenades as well as shot at police officers they encountered. Four of the martyred belong to the Elite Force,” said a police official. “After entering the building, the terrorists used hand grenades which caused more casualties to the police,” said Malik Anees ul Hassan, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) of Draban. Police sources revealed the attack was carried out by at least 30 terrorists, who attacked from at least three different directions. (IANS)
California Guv Newsom declares state of emergency
Los Angeles, Feb 5: California Governor Gavin Newsom has proclaimed a state of emergency for several counties in Southern California as a series of winter storms began impacting much of the state with high winds, damaging rain and heavy snowfall. The proclamation covers eight counties – Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura, Xinhua news agency reported. The emergency proclamation includes provisions authorising a California National Guard response if tasked, facilitating unemployment benefits for impacted residents, and making it easier for out-of-state contractors and utilities to repair storm damage, according to Newsom’s office. “California is ready with a record number of emergency assets on the ground to respond to the impacts of this storm,” Newsom said in a statement. More than 790,000 customers in California are experiencing power outages as of Sunday night, according to PowerOutages.us. ((IANS)
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