Defence/Security

Surveillance programmes thwarted terror plots: US NSA chief (4 minutes ago)
Washington, June 19 (IANS) Two phone and Internet surveillance programmes run by the US National Security Agency (NSA) helped disrupt over 50 potential terrorist attacks against the US and its allies, the agency's chief said Tuesday.

G8 condemns use of chemical weapons in Syria (22:54)
London, June 18 (IANS) G8 leaders Tuesday condemned any use of chemical weapons in Syria, and that they were deeply concerned by the growing threat from terrorism and extremism in the Middle East country.

US, Taliban to meet in Doha (21:54)
Washington, June 18 (IANS) The US will meet the Taliban in Qatari capital Doha for talks on the peace process in Afghanistan, US officials said Tuesday.

Israeli army refuses to let soldier read poems on radio (20:10)
London, June 18 (IANS) A brigade in the Israeli Defence Forces has banned a soldier from reading out his own verses on the radio over fears that it might cast aspersions on the army's "manliness", a media report said.

Europe will regret arming Syrian rebels, says Assad (19:50)
London, June 18 (IANS) Embattled Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has warned Europe that it will live to regret arming rebel factions in the Syrian conflict.

IAF gets C-17 Globemaster III aircraft (With Images) (19:48)
New Delhi, June 18 (IANS) The first of ten Boeing C-17 Globemaster III military transport aircraft, being purchased by India from the US, touched down at Hindon airbase near the capital Tuesday, marking a milestone in the modernisation of the Indian Air Force (IAF).

4,500 British soldiers made redundant (19:38)
London, June 18 (IANS) In what is being termed as the biggest single cut to the size of the British army, 4,480 soldiers have been handed redundancy notices after they applied for it, a media report said Tuesday.

India concerned about terror groups in Pakistan: Antony (19:26)
Pune, June 18 (IANS) Defence Minister A.K. Antony Tuesday said India is concerned about terror groups operating from Pakistan and Islamabad must initiate strong action against such groups in order to improve bilateral ties.

Karnataka open to dialogue with Maoists (19:10)
Bangalore, June 18 (IANS) The Karnataka government is ready to hold a dialogue with Maoists to resolve their issues and address grievances to ensure peace in the areas they are active in, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said Tuesday.

Two NDFB linkmen arrested on India-Bangladesh border (19:00)
Shillong, June 18 (IANS) Two Bangladeshi linkmen of the outlawed National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) were arrested in Meghalaya's South West Garo Hills district while attempting to cross over back into their country, an official said Tuesday.

Man disrupts US flight by screaming about CIA (17:46)
Washington, June 18 (IANS) A man stood up from his seat during a flight to the US, and screamed about the CIA, security leaks and poison, but was subdued by fellow passengers, a media report said Tuesday.

NATO hands over security to Afghans (15:54)
London, June 18 (IANS) NATO Tuesday handed over security to Afghan forces for the whole of Afghanistan for the first time since the Taliban were ousted in 2001.

Bihar ex-top cop to be Jharkhand governor's advisor (09:54)
Ranchi, June 18 (IANS) Former Bihar police chief Aanand Shankar will replace Vijay Kumar as Jharkhand governor's advisor, said an official Tuesday.

Obama defends surveillance of American communications (09:30)
Washington, June 18 (IANS) As the US whistleblower accused President Barack Obama of worsening "abusive" practices, Obama defended extensive surveillance of US communications, saying it had disrupted multiple terrorist plots and had adequate checks and balances.

Russia against allowing no-fly zone in Syria (Lead) (03:28)
Moscow, June 18 (IANS) Russia said Monday that it would not allow the imposition of a no-fly zone over the conflict-ravaged Syria and expressed surprise over Cairo severing ties with Damascus.

MEA apathetic to Lankan attacks on fishermen: Jayalalithaa (20:50)
Chennai, June 17 (IANS) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa Monday charged the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of maintaining an "apathetic silence" on the issue of Indian fishermen being attacked by the Sri Lankan navy.

Army rescuing stranded pilgrims in rain-battered Uttarakhand (With Images) (17:42)
Lucknow, June 17 (IANS) Hundreds of pilgrims, cut off in Uttarakhand's Chamoli following incessant rains and landslides, were Monday evacuated to safer places by Indian Army troops, a defence spokesman said. Further evacuation was disrupted due to extensive landslides in the area.

Beijing begins military recruitment of college students (17:04)
Beijing, June 17 (IANS) More than 1,000 representatives from over 30 universities in Beijing Monday joined in a ceremony held to mark the start of the military recruitment of college students.

Hong Kong says it will follow law in Snowden case (12:10)
Beijing, June 17 (IANS/EFE) The government of Hong Kong, headed by Leung Chung-ying, said it will conduct itself in accord with the laws in the case of US former CIA contractor Edward Snowden, who is believed to be in hiding at an unknown location in the coastal enclave.

Dassault, EADS and Finmeccanica open to drone program (11:36)
Paris, June 17 (IANS/EFE) European aeronautical manufacturers Dassault, EADS and Finmeccanica announced in a statement released Sunday their readiness to launch a program to build observation and medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) strategic exploration drones.

US not to rush to war in Syria: White House (07:22)
Washington, June 17 (IANS) The US will not rush to war in Syria as it did in the past in the region, White House chief of staff Denis McDonough said Sunday.

Israel launches nationwide military exercise (06:28)
Jerusalem, June 17 (IANS) The Israeli military commenced a week-long military drill across the country Sunday.

Man held in Egypt over spying for Israel (08:11)
Cairo, June 16 (IANS) Egypt has detained a man for allegedly spying for Israel's Mossad intelligence agency, state-run Al-Ahram news website reported.

Live tank shell found in Gurgaon (20:50)
Gurgaon, June 15 (IANS) A live tank round was found near a police station here Saturday and was detonated in a deserted area by an army team from Delhi, police said.

Karunanidhi soft on UPA due to Kanimozhi: Jayalalithaa (14:12)
Chennai, June 15 (IANS) DMK president M. Karunanidhi does not oppose the training of the Sri Lankan military in India because he wants Congress support to get his daughter Kanimozhi re-elected to the Rajya Sabha, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa said Saturday.