Strategic Affairs Archives - Page 296 of 303

10 Dec

3 Yemeni soldiers killed, 8 injured in gunmen ambush

Aden (Yemen), Dec 10 (IANS) Three soldiers of the Yemeni government forces were killed and eight others injured by unidentified gunmen, who ambushed their convoy in the country's southeastern province of Hadramout. The gunmen, suspected of belonging to terror groups, ambushed the soldiers in the Al Abr district of Hadramout, a local security source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity on Friday. He noted the ambush targeted a convoy of newly-recruited government troops backed by Saudi Arabia in the turbulent district, Xinhua news agency reported. The suspected terror attackers fled the area following an intense armed confrontation with the government soldiers,…

10 Dec

Israeli Prez gives Netanyahu extension to form govt

Jerusalem, Dec 10 (IANS) Israeli President Isaac Herzog has announced that he would give the Prime Minister-designate Benjamin Netanyahu another 10 days to form a government, announced the Presidency in a statement. Netanyahu submitted the extention request on Thursday evening before the mandate expires at midnight between Saturday and Sunday, as he has not secured agreements with all his potential coalition partners. Netanyahu will now need to conclude his efforts by December 21, Xinhua news agency reported. "I wish to repeat my call ... the government that is set to be formed must work for the entire public in Israel," Herzog…

09 Dec

Israel PM Netanyahu asks President to extend mandate to form govt

Jerusalem, Dec 9 (IANS) Former Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked President Isaac Herzog for an extension of the mandate to form a new coalition government, his Likud party said in a statement. The Likud formally submitted to Herzog a request for additional 14 days to put together a coalition government, the statement said on Thursday. The President has yet to announce his decision. If he refuses to approve the request, Netanyahu's 28-day mandate would expire at midnight between Saturday and Sunday, Xinhua news agency reported. "The negotiations are in full swing and there has been a lot of progress,"…

09 Dec

M23 kills 131 civilians in eastern Congo: UN

United Nations, Dec 9 (IANS) In eastern Congo last week, M23 rebels killed at least 131 civilians, including 17 women and 12 children, a UN spokesman said. "An additional 8 people were shot and wounded, 60 people were abducted and at least 22 women and five girls were raped," said Stephane Dujarric, the Chief Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, on Thursday. "Our colleagues say the victims were arbitrarily executed with bullets and with knives." The UN mission, known as MONUSCO, and human rights partners confirmed the toll after a preliminary investigation into what was described as a reprisal attack November…

09 Dec

Iranian Prez says US acknowledges failure to stop Iran’s oil exports

Tehran, Dec 9 (IANS) Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has said that the US anger at Iran is due to the fact that Washington has failed to stop Iran's oil exports through sanctions, reported the official news agency IRNA. In a speech during a visit to the Robat Karim County in Tehran Province, Raisi on Thursday added that "the enemy," referring to the US which has imposed "draconian sanctions" on Iran, is currently acknowledging that its embargoes have ended in "abject failure". The President also said that Iran's enemies also acknowledge that Iran is a leading country in many areas, adding that…

09 Dec

15 oil vessels blocked at Turkish Straits amid EU sanctions on Russian oil

Ankara, Dec 9 (IANS) Fifteen oil tankers were banned from passing through the Turkish Straits due to a lack of proper insurance amid the European sanctions on Russian oil, Turkey's maritime authority said. The Protection and Indemnity (P&I) insurance of these ships is invalid due to the EU sanctions and such insurance cannot be compensated in the event of an accident, the Turkish General Directorate of Maritime Affairs said on Thursday in a statement. "Crude oil tankers that cannot offer valid P&I insurance are not allowed to pass through the Turkish Straits and this rule has been in effect since 2002,"…

09 Dec

UK, Italy, Japan team up for new fighter jet

London, Dec 9 (IANS) UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is set to announce a collaboration between Britain, Italy and Japan to develop a new fighter jet that uses artificial intelligence (AI). According to Sunak, the joint venture aims to create thousands of UK jobs and strengthen security ties, reports the BBC. The nations will develop a next generation fighter, due to enter service in the mid-2030s, that will eventually replace the Typhoon jet. It is hoped the new Tempest jet will carry the latest weapons. Work on developing it is already under way, with the aim to create a combat aircraft…

09 Dec

US House sends defence funding bill to Senate for consideration

Washington, Dec 9 (IANS) The US House of Representatives has passed the annual defence authorization bill. The National Defence Authorization Act (NDAA) -- worth $847 billion -- now goes to the Senate for consideration. The NDAA includes a topline of $817 billion for the Pentagon and about $30 billion to fund nuclear activities overseen by the US Department of Energy, Xinhua news agency reported. The US has been heavily criticised for hefty spending on military activities. In 2021, the US military spending represented nearly 40 per cent of the world's total, more than the next nine countries combined. Andrew Lautz, Director…

08 Dec

South Korean Army retires scout dog famed for finding missing girl in 2019

Seoul, Dec 8 (IANS) The South Korean Army retired a scout dog, famed for his role in locating a missing teenager in 2019, from surveillance duty due to old age on Thursday, officials said, concluding the canine's decade-long career. The armed service held a retirement ceremony for the dog, Dalgwan, at the 32nd Infantry Division's maneuver battalion unit in Sejong, about 120 km south of Seoul, reports Yonhap News Agency. The 10-year-old German Shepherd rose to national prominence in 2019 when he played a pivotal role in the search mission for then-14-year-old Cho Eunnuri who had been missing for 10 days…

08 Dec

Violence in South Sudan forces thousands of civilians to flee: UN

United Nations, Dec 8 (IANS) Violence in South Sudan's Upper Nile State has forced many people to flee the country or hide in swamps, a UN spokeswoman said. "According to local responders, at least 75 per cent of the newly displaced are women and children," said Stephanie Tremblay, an associate spokeswoman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. "This surge of new arrivals puts additional pressure on the already limited capacity of our partners to provide services to support them." Peter Van der Auweraert, the UN's interim humanitarian coordinator in South Sudan, strongly condemned the ongoing violence, which has displaced more than 9,000…