Seoul, May 10 (IANS) South Korean Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back said on Sunday that South Korea and the United States face “no major issues” in accelerating the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON), stressing that the allies have made “significant progress” in meeting the conditions agreed upon by the two sides for the transition. Ahn made the remarks before departing for Washington for talks with US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, scheduled for Monday (US time), as Seoul is seeking t…
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Dubai, May 9 (IANS) A South Korean government team continued its investigation Saturday into the cause of a fire aboard a cargo ship operated by Korean shipping firm HMM while it was stranded in the Strait of Hormuz, officials said.The HMM Namu, a Panama-flagged cargo ship operated by HMM, arrived at Drydocks World Dubai, the Middle East’s largest ship repair yard, early on Friday (local time) and has since been undergoing an inspection by a government investigation team, reports Yonhap news age…
Seoul, May 9 (IANS) South Korean Defence Minister Ahn Gyu-back will visit the United States next week for talks with US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, the defence ministry said Saturday, as the allies seek to discuss a host of pending issues, including the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON). Ahn will make a five-day trip to Washington starting Sunday and plans to hold talks with his American counterpart on Monday (US time), the ministry said. It will be Ahn’s first visit to the US …
New Delhi, May 9 (IANS) Large cache of previously classified files on unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs) has been released by the US Pentagon, which revealed decades of unexplained aerial sightings reported by astronauts, military personnel, intelligence officials and civilians.Officials said that the released material does not constitute proof of extraterrestrial life and many incidents remain officially “unresolved” because of limited evidence, missing data or other explanations, incl…
Washington, May 6 (IANS) US President Donald Trump said “Project Freedom” — the American-led movement of ships through the Strait of Hormuz — has been paused temporarily after what he described as progress in negotiations with Iran and requests from Pakistan and other countries.“Based on the request of Pakistan and other Countries, the tremendous Military Success that we have had during the Campaign against the Country of Iran and, additionally, the fact that Great Progress has been ma…
Washington, May 6 (IANS) US President Donald Trump announced the revival of the Presidential Fitness Test, restoring a decades-old programme that had been phased out during the Obama administration, as he joined athletes, cabinet officials and children at the White House to promote youth fitness and competitive sports.Speaking at a White House event attended by professional athletes including golfer Bryson DeChambeau, golfer Gary Player and former NHL player T. J. Oshie, Trump said the initiativ…
Washington, May 5 (IANS) The current US-Iran standoff in the Strait of Hormuz has left thousands of commercial vessels stranded, disrupting global trade and threatening energy supplies, with potential ripple effects for import-dependent economies like India.US officials said more than 22,500 mariners aboard over 1,550 commercial vessels are currently unable to transit the region due to Iranian attacks and threats to shipping.The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow but critical waterway between Iran and O…
Washington, May 5 (IANS) The United States on Tuesday urged its allies to step up and share responsibility for securing the Strait of Hormuz, signalling a push towards a broader international role in safeguarding one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes.Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said Washington expects partner nations to contribute to maritime security even as US forces lead a new mission to protect commercial vessels from Iranian threats.“The world needs this waterway a lot more …
Washington, May 5 (IANS) US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Air Force Gen. Dan Caine have outlined “Project Freedom” as a limited, defensive military mission aimed at restoring commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz amid rising tensions with Iran. Hegseth said the operation was ordered by President Donald Trump to “restart the free flow of commerce through the Strait of Hormuz under the umbrella of Project Freedom,” stressing that it is “separate and d…
Washington, May 5 (IANS) The United States has launched a military mission to break what it calls Iran’s blockade of commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, deploying warships and aircraft to escort vessels through one of the world’s most critical oil routes.US Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth said the operation, dubbed “Project Freedom”, was ordered by President Donald Trump to “restart the free flow of commerce through the Strait of Hormuz.”He described the mission as “defensi…