Finnish special forces

A cheery-looking Queen has made her second public appearance in just two days as she continues her stay in Scotland. This morning she attended the armed forces act of loyalty parade at the Palace of Holyroodhouse to mark her Platinum Jubilee north of the border. The monarch, dressed in a heather-coloured silk wool dress and coat with a matching hat, all by Angela Kelly, waved to the crowds as she stood with the help of her walking stick. The parade also included a presentation to the Queen of the key for Edinburgh Castle in the gardens of the palace. All three forces - the army, navy and air force were represented and a royal salute took place as Her Majesty arrived in the gardens. The Queen waves to the forces ( Image: PA) The Queen is currently in Edinburgh ( Image: AFP via Getty Images) Lord Lyon, King of Arms, then presented three senior representatives from the services to the Queen. The key to the castle was then presented to the Queen by … [Read more...] about Beaming Queen makes second public appearance in just two days to attend special parade

Ukrainian troops blitzed a Russian base and reportedly destroyed their headquarters, a warehouse and armored vehicles, as can be seen in footage released by the Ukrainian military. The Ukrainian military said they used British-made M777 howitzers to destroy the Russian base. The Ukrainian Center for Strategic Communications (StratCom) said Wednesday: "Three howitzers (M777) on the occupiers' armored vehicles, headquarters and warehouse." Manufactured by the Global Combat Systems division of BAE Systems, the M777 is used by the ground forces of Australia, Canada, India, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, and the United States. Zenger News contacted the Ukrainian Center for Strategic Communications for further comment, as well as the Russian Defense Ministry, but had not received a reply at the time of writing. Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 in what the Kremlin is calling a "special military operation." Friday marks the 127th day of the invasion. The General Staff of the Armed … [Read more...] about Watch: Ukrainian troops blast Russian HQ with British-made M777 howitzers

Three men who are alleged to have attempted to slow down the Russian military advance through Belarus at the beginning of Vladimir Putin 's invasion of Ukraine are set to face the death penalty for high treason. The three men, who have become known as the "rail partisans", have not been named but are said to be aged 29, 33, and 51. They have been labeled "terrorists" and "traitors" by Belarusian prosecutors. They stand accused by the Belarusian regime—often referred to as the last dictatorship in Europe—of high treason for having allegedly damaged a railway line in a bid to stop supplies of Russian weaponry and equipment from transiting through Belarus to Ukraine. They currently face treason and terrorism charges from the regime of Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who has been in power since 1994 and is a close ally of Vladimir Putin, even allowing Russia to use Belarus as a staging area for some of the Russian forces at the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine, when … [Read more...] about Men who allegedly blew up rail lines to slow Russia face death in Belarus

Video allegedly shows a Russian multiple rocket launcher vehicle that can shoot thermobaric warheads. Russia showed off the weapon with video footage allegedly showing it in action somewhere in Ukraine. Russia claimed that it destroyed Ukrainian targets. The images, obtained Thursday from the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD), show the weapon firing a salvo of missiles, with the footage then cutting to explosions. The MoD said the images show "the combat work of Western Military District personnel operating a heavy TOS-1A 'Solntsepek' missile system." The Russian MoD also claimed: "Heavy TOS-1A 'Solntsepyok' systems are designed for fire support of infantry, tanks, the destruction of open and closed firing positions in various types of offensive and defensive combat, as well as for disabling lightly armored vehicles." A thermobaric weapon is a kind of explosive that, using oxygen from the air, generates a very high temperature that can reach 3,000 degrees Celsius (5,400 … [Read more...] about Russia video shows vehicle that can shoot thermobaric warheads

Bullet Bose has fond memories of his glory days at the Sholavaram track when he raced on his Lambretta scooter from 1968. The septuagenarian and Chennai racing legend Subash Chandra Bose (affectionately known as Bullet Bose for his affinity with the Royal Enfield Bullet) states that he has been riding for over 50 years. A regular on the Sholavaram Airfield circuit and later at the Madras Motor Cycle Club at  Irungattukottai, Sriperumbudur, Bose has been the most decorated rider through the decades. “Racing those days was so different. I come from a conservative family so we didn’t have any motorcycles, but my friends lent me my first bike, a Java 250 cc, in 1971 and then I graduated to the Royal Enfield Bullet and won my first race at Sholavaram,” he says. Bullet Bose | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Bose is enjoying being back on the road, riding alongside members of the Beast Riders Motorcycle club, Reborn Riders and Madras Bulls Motorcycling club since 2005, just … [Read more...] about Chennai’s biking community is back in the saddle

Jerusalem: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cancelled an agreement with the UN refugee agency on Tuesday aimed at avoiding forced deportations of thousands of African migrants only hours after having announced the deal himself. The stunning turnaround after Netanyahu announced the accord in a televised address on Monday afternoon came as he faced mounting pressure from his right-wing base. The UN refugee agency urged Netanyahu to reconsider. Yesterday's announcement drew immediate anger from right-wing politicians, including Netanyahu allies, and many of his traditional supporters. After the deluge of criticism, the premier said in a late-night Facebook post on Monday he was suspending the agreement that would have allowed thousands of the migrants to remain in Israel at least temporarily. Today, he said the deal was being cancelled outright after having held discussions on it. "After having heard numerous comments on the agreement, I have examined the pros and cons … [Read more...] about Netanyahu Cancels UN Deal on African Migrants in Shock Reversal

ISIS may be regaining strength just five months after it was ousted from its final stronghold in the Middle East, it has been claimed. Islamic State fighters have been conducting guerrilla raids across Iraq and Syria as it attempts to recruit new members at allied-run camps, US intelligence officials say. Sleeper cells have carried out sniper attacks, kidnappings and assassinations against security forces and other political leaders in recent months. The terror group has around 18,000 fighters and has smuggled a $400m (£331m) war chest into neighbouring countries to help finance its fanatical religious war against the West, it is alleged. ISIS still has around 18,000 fighters and is hoping to recruit more ( Image: AFP/Getty Images) ISIS once once boasted a brutal Islamic caliphate that controlled the fates of over 12 million people across Syria and Iraq, but saw its territory ebb away following a series of military losses against US-backed Iraqi forces. Some … [Read more...] about ISIS ‘growing stronger with 18,000 fighters and hidden £331m war chest’

Due to the lack of basic transport facilities, a pregnant woman in Karnataka’s Chamarajanagar district was carried on a pole held by villagers who trekked 8 kilometers to reach a nearby medical facility. The locals, who started trekking in the dense forest at 2 am, took four hours to reach the hospital. These are everyday scenes for the villagers in Mahadeshwara Hills. For many years, villagers have been compelled to carry pregnant women on shoulder poles for medical facilities, and children too are forced to walk through the jungle to reach schools. Shantala, who experienced labor pain, needed immediate medical assistance in the wee hours of Thursday. The locals then tried contacting the forest department who had earlier promised the villagers of a vehicle facility through their special drive at any time for pregnant women and school students. But when it mattered, the department was missing, villagers accused that when they tried calling the forest department officials multiple … [Read more...] about Karnataka: Pregnant Woman Carried on Shoulder Pole for 8 km Through Dense Forest to Reach Hospital

India and Vietnam signed on Wednesday a Joint Vision Statement on India-Vietnam Defence Partnership towards 2030 and also inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Mutual Logistics Support to strengthen bilateral defence cooperation between the two countries. While the Joint Vision Statement on India-Vietnam Defence Partnership towards 2030 is expected to significantly enhance the scope and scale of existing defence cooperation between the two countries, the logistics support agreement signed by Vietnam with any country is said to be a major step towards simplifying procedures for mutually beneficial logistic support. Defence minister Rajnath Singh, who is on a three-day tour to Vietnam, met his Vietnamese counterpart General Phan Van Giang in Hanoi during which they agreed on the early finalisation of the $500 million Defence Line of Credit extended to Vietnam. To this effect, the defence ministry said the implementation of the projects will add substantially to Vietnam’s … [Read more...] about India-Vietnam Defence Pacts Aim at Bolstering Maritime Security Amidst China’s Growing Presence in Region

Fuel thefts from UK filling stations have reached record levels amid soaring pump prices. Industry body the Petrol Retailers Association (PRA) said drive-off incidents – where a motorist fills up and makes no attempt to pay before leaving – have increased by 61% so far this year, compared with the same period in 2021. PRA executive director Gordon Balmer described the number of thefts as “going through the roof” with “10 incidents a day” being reported. Retailers will lose £25 million if the current rate of drive-offs continues for the next 12 months, he said. Recommended Trump ordered armed supporters to Capitol, lunged for steering wheel Metropolitan Police placed under special measures by watchdog Incidents of drivers claiming to be unable to pay for fuel they have already put in their vehicle – such as by forgetting their wallet – have also risen, reaching an annual cost to the sector of £16 million. “You’re looking at nearly £41 … [Read more...] about Fuel thefts up 61% as pump prices keep climbing