News in Brief (2024-01-16)

FE Team | Published: January 15, 2024 23:06:06

Britain commits 20,000 military personnel
for NATO exercise in Europe
LONDON, Jan 15: Britain will commit 20,000 military personnel to serve across Europe in a major NATO exercise in the first half of this year, as well as warships and fighter jets, the defence ministry said on Monday. The deployment includes 16,000 British army troops who will be based in Eastern Europe from February to June, an aircraft carrier strike group and F35B Lightning attack jets and surveillance planes. NATO's Exercise Steadfast Defender 24 marks the Western alliance's 75th year. The NATO alliance has boosted the number of combat-ready troops after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine almost two years ago and has continued to support Kyiv with military, economic and humanitarian aid. — Reuters
Heavy Rio de Janeiro rains claim 11 lives
RIO DE JANEIRO, Jan 15: Heavy rains that buffeted Brazil's Rio de Janeiro state this weekend have killed at least 11 people, according to the state fire service. The rains flooded streets, the capital city's metro line and peoples' homes, bringing down trees and causing landslides. Rio's Mayor Eduardo Paes announced a state of emergency while President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's government offered federal support. Firefighters are still looking for one woman who is missing after her vehicle fell in a river. — Reuters
Top North Korean diplomat visits Moscow
SEOUL, Jan 15: A government delegation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) led by Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui arrived in Moscow on January 14, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said. At the airport, the delegation was met by Russian Foreign Ministry officials, the North Korean ambassador to Russia and other North Korean diplomats. According to earlier reports, Choe will be visiting Russia on January 15-17 at the invitation of her Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov. Russia's top diplomat visited Pyongyang in October 2023. — TASS
Turkey bombs 'terrorist targets' in Iraq, Syria
ISTANBUL, Jan 15: Turkey carried out another series of airstrikes against Kurdish sites in northern Iraq and Syria in response for the deaths of nine Turkish soldiers, Ankara announced on Sunday. "In accordance with our right to self-defence... air operations were carried out against terrorist targets in northern Iraq in the regions of Metina, Hakurk, Gara, Qandil and Asos, and in northern Syria," the Turkish defence ministry said in a statement. The Turkish army claimed to have hit 24 targets, "including caves, shelters, ammunition and equipment depots, housing and gas factories" used by Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) fighters, who have been waging a guerrilla war against the Turkish state since 1984. — AFP