SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — North Korea has carried out a “successful” new test of its “super-large multiple rocket launcher” system, state media said Friday — the latest in a series of provocations by Pyongyang. South Korea’s military said Thursday that the North had launched two short-range projectiles from South Pyongan province. They each flew approximately 370 kilometers (230 miles). It was the latest in a series of launches by the North but the first […]
Tag: military
Pentagon says $10 billion cloud computing contract going to Microsoft
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The Pentagon said Friday it was awarding a $10 billion cloud computing contract to Microsoft, following a highly scrutinized bidding process which Amazon had been favored to win. The 10-year contract for the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure program, better known as JEDI, ultimately will see all military branches sharing information in one system that can be scoured in real time with the help of artificial intelligence. The Pentagon earlier […]
Turkey boosts troops on Syria border after operation threat
AKCAKALE, Turkey (AFP) — Turkey on Tuesday sent more armored vehicles to the border with Syria, an AFP correspondent said, after the defense ministry said Ankara was ready for a cross-border offensive. Dozens of vehicles made up a large convoy seen by the correspondent in the town of Akcakale in Sanliurfa province. Different types of construction equipment were also part of the convoy which had been sent to reinforce the military units on the border, […]
N.Korea fires ‘projectiles’ after saying it will talk to US: South
SEOUL, South Korea (AFP) — North Korea on Wednesday fired “projectiles” toward the sea, South Korea’s military said, a day after Pyongyang signalled a resumption of nuclear talks with the US. “North Korea fired unidentified projectiles from Wonsan … towards the East Sea (Sea of Japan) this morning,” the South’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said without providing further details. “Our military is monitoring the situation for additional launches and maintaining a readiness posture,” the JCS […]
Missiles, drones and tanks: China shows off military prowess
by Ludovic Ehret and Helen Roxburgh BEIJING, China (AFP) — China put its growing military might on full display Tuesday with a parade of new ballistic missiles, supersonic drones and next-generation battlefield tanks that highlighted Beijing’s accelerating race to match the firepower of its US rival. The tightly choreographed procession across Tiananmen Square underscored a level of material and technological innovation that is increasingly viewed by many as a threat to US dominance in […]
President Duterte skips AFP change of command rites
Lorenzana attends in his place (Eagle News)–President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, Sept. 24, skipped the change of command ceremony for the new chief of staff of the Armed Forces of Philippines. Duterte was instead represented by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana at the event in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City. During the ceremony, General Benjamin Madrigal Jr. was replaced by Lieutenant General Noel Clement at the helm of the AFP. Earlier, President Duterte ordered Clement to […]
Hontiveros wants Senate probe into Chinese telco-PHL military pact
(Eagle News)–Senator Risa Hontiveros is calling for a Senate probe into the agreement between a Chinese telco and the Armed Forces of the Philippines that would supposedly allow the construction of Chinese telecommunications facilities inside military camps. In filing Senate Resolution No. 137, Hontiveros wants to look in particular at the national security implications of the pact between Dito Telecommunity Corp., formerly known as Mislatel Consortium, and the military. Hontiveros noted that this was the […]
Palace: Lorenzana to probe Chinese telco-military deal
(Eagle News)–The Palace on Monday, Sept. 16, said Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana was unaware of the deal between a Chinese telco and the military that would supposedly allow for the construction of telecommunications facilities inside military camps. Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Lorenzana, however, will probe the deal between the military and Dito Telecommunity Inc., which Senator Kiko Pangilinan had slammed as raising security concerns. He said Lorenzana and National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon would […]
Pentagon to keep 5,500 troops at Mexico border
WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The US Defense Department said Tuesday that it would keep up to 5,500 troops deployed at the Mexican border for the coming year to help combat illegal immigration. A week after announcing it would divert $3.6 billion in funds for the construction of an anti-migrant wall on the frontier, the Pentagon said it had also approved a request from the Department of Homeland Security to maintain a troop presence […]
China to hold fresh military drills near Taiwan
BEIJING, China (AFP) — China has said it will stage military exercises in the East China Sea near Taiwan this week, with relations tense between Beijing and the self-ruled island. This will be the third set of drills in a month and comes after the recent US approvals of arms sales worth billions to Taiwan, including F-16 fighter jets. Ties between Beijing and Taipei have plummeted since President Tsai Ing-wen came to power in 2016 […]
Sudanese celebrate transition to civilian rule
by Abdelmoneim Abu Idris Ali and Jean-Marc Mojon Agence France Presse KHARTOUM, Sudan (AFP) — Rapturous crowds filled the streets of Khartoum Saturday as Sudan’s generals and protest leaders signed a historic deal paving the way to civilian rule. Thousands of cheering people gathered around the Friendship Hall next to the Nile, where the documents that will govern Sudan’s 39-month transition were signed. “This is the biggest celebration I have ever seen in my country. […]
Military: Chinese warships seen passing through PHL territorial waters anew
(Eagle News)–Chinese warships have been spotted passing through Philippine territorial waters anew, the military said on Wednesday, Aug. 14. Western Mindanao Command chief Lt. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana said the two Chinese warships were first spotted by the Navy in Sibutu Strait in July. He said they were spotted three more times in August. He said all of these visits were unannounced, and the warships’ identification systems were turned off. “Hindi naman sila hostile. Ang ano […]
