News in Brief 2024-06-12

FE Team | Published: June 11, 2024 23:53:14

Russia, Belarus launch a second stage of drills to train troops in tactical N weapons
MOSCOW, June 11: Russia and its ally Belarus on Tuesday launched a second stage of drills intended to train their troops in tactical nuclear weapons, part of the Kremlin's efforts to discourage the West from ramping up support for Ukraine. In announcing the nuclear maneuvers last month, the Russian Defense Ministry said they were in response to "provocative statements and threats of certain Western officials regarding the Russian Federation." —AP
Malawi VP, nine others, killed in plane crash
LILONGWE, June 11: Malawi's Vice President Saulos Chilima was killed in a plane crash, the nation's president said on Tuesday, after searchers located the wreckage of the aircraft in a foggy forest. The military plane carrying Chilima, 51, and nine others disappeared on Monday, after it failed to land in the northern city of Mzuzu due to bad weather and was told to return to the capital, Lilongwe. "The search and rescue team have found the aircraft ... completely destroyed with no survivors, as all passengers on board were killed on impact," Malawi's President Lazarus Chakwera said addressing the nation. —AFP
Russian SU-34 bomber crashes, crew killed
MOSCOW, June 11: A Russian SU-34 bomber crashed in the Caucasus mountains during a routine training flight likely due to a technical malfunction, killing the crew aboard, Russian news agencies reported on Tuesday, citing the defence ministry. "In the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania, in a mountainous area, an Su-34 aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces crashed during a scheduled training flight," Russia's RIA state news agency cited the defence ministry as saying. " —Reuters