ANKARA, Turkey (AFP) — Four soldiers were killed on Monday after a Turkish military helicopter crashed in a residential area of Istanbul, the province’s governor said. “Unfortunately four of our soldiers became martyrs,” Istanbul governor Ali Yerlikaya told reporters at the scene. Yerlikaya said no other military personnel or civilian had been injured after the helicopter ploughed to the ground in the Cekmekoy district. The incident happened around 1851 (1551 GMT), he said in televised […]
Tag: army
Gabon gov’t says ‘situation under control,’ rebels seized
LIBREVILLE, Gabon (AFP) — The government of Gabon declared that it was in control after an attempted coup by army rebels Monday and that it had arrested most of those involved. “Calm has returned, the situation is under control,” government spokesman Guy-Bertrand Mapangou told AFP. Only hours earlier, soldiers burst into state radio and called on the people to “rise up,” an apparent bid to oust ailing President Ali Bongo, who is out of the […]
Military ready for NPA attacks as Reds mark 50th founding anniversary
(Eagle News) — The Philippine military said it is stepping up security measures Wednesday until the year-end in anticipation of possible hostile actions to be conducted by the Communist Party of the Philppines’ New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) which is celebrating its 50th founding anniversary today, December 26. Lt. Col. Louie Villanueva, Army spokesperson, said that the Philippine Army, “with its entire operational and tactical units have already stepped up its security measures to prevent and […]
Two pilots killed in Ukraine fighter jet crash: military
KIEV, Ukraine (AFP) — Ukraine’s military said Tuesday that two pilots died when a Sukhoi fighter jet crashed during military exercises with the United States and other NATO countries. The Sukhoi-27 plane crashed at around 5:00 pm local time (1400 GMT) “during a training flight”, the army general staff said on its Facebook page, adding that “the bodies of the two pilots have been found”. The circumstances of the crash are being investigated, the statement […]
Malolos court dismisses Palparan’s bid to block his transfer to Bilibid
(Eagle News)–The Malolos Regional Trial Court Branch 15 has junked retired Army Maj. Gen. Jovito Palparan’s bid to block his transfer to the New Bilibid Prison. The court dismissed Palparan’s motion to hold the implementation of the mittimus or commitment order, citing SC-OCA circular no.163-2013 which directs all trial court judges to cause the immediate transfer of convicted persons to the NBP, regardless of the pendency of a motion for reconsideration or an appeal. Earlier, […]
Arms, investment and ‘instructors’: Russia boosts Africa role
by Maxime Popov with AFP bureaus in Africa © Agence France-Presse MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — Touting military cooperation and “instructors,” arms deals and investment, Russia is making a comeback in Africa after years of inactivity and now aims to rival European countries and even China, analysts say. Moscow has worked hard over the last three years to strengthen its position in Africa, a pace that seems to have accelerated in recent months, they say. Its […]
Fifteen dead in armed clashes in DR Congo
GOMA, DR Congo (AFP) — Fifteen people were killed during five days of clashes between armed militia in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s restive east, before the army intervened, local officials said on Wednesday. “Five civilians and two members of the ‘Guidon’ group were killed Monday in clashes in Kamiro,” said Cosmas Kangakolo, administrator of the Masisi territory in the North Kivu province. A further eight civilians were killed and others were injured between Friday […]
Venezuela promotes 16,900 ‘loyal’ military personnel
CARACAS, Venezuela (AFP) – The government of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro promoted 16,900 military personnel on Monday as reward for their “loyalty.” Enjoying considerable economic and political strength, the military is seen as a major force in maintaining the controversial Maduro’s grip on power in crisis-hitVenezuela. “We evaluate the loyalty that every man and every woman puts in their hands, in their thoughts, in their actions, in every task they have to perform at their […]
DILG, DND to hold joint probe into Samar ‘misencounter’
By Phoebe Salvador Eagle News Service (Eagle News) — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Department of National Defense (DND) will hold a joint probe into the alleged “misencounter” between army troopers and police operatives in Samar. DILG OIC-Secretary Eduardo M. Año said in a statement on Tuesday, June 26, that a board of inquiry will be formed to determine the lack of prior communication and coordination between local military and police […]
NATO does not want new arms race: secretary general
OTTAWA, Canada (AFP) — NATO does not want a new arms race with Russia, the alliance’s secretary general said Wednesday amid heightened tensions following an ex-spy’s poisoning in England. “We don’t want a new arms race, so we are focused on how can we respond” in a “firm strong predictable, but also measured and defensive, way,” Jens Stoltenberg told reporters alongside Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Ottawa. “We don’t want a new Cold War,” he […]
Pentagon looks to counter ever-stealthier warfare
by Sylvie Lanteaume Agence France Presse WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The US military has for years enjoyed a broad technological edge over its adversaries, dominating foes with superior communications and cyber capabilities. Now, thanks to rapid advances by Russia and China, the gap has shrunk, and the Pentagon is looking at how a future conflict with a “near-peer” competitor might play out. Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson recently warned that both Russia and […]
Army appeals for calm as Mugabe faces impeachment test
by Susan Njanji and Ben Sheppard Agence France Presse HARARE, Zimbabwe (AFP) — Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe came under increasing pressure to quit Monday as his ruling party said it would move to impeach him and the army revealed his likely successor would soon return to the country. In a televised address late Sunday, the 93-year-old president had flouted expectations he would step down after the military’s takeover, pitching the country into a second week […]
