China appoints naval commander as new defence minister. General Dong Jun has served in all major naval divisions in the plan.

Dong Jun appointed as China's new Defence Minister

<p>Saudi Arabian Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman is expected to visit Washington on Monday for meetings with senior Biden administration officials, Axios reported on Saturday, citing three sources with knowledge of the trip.</p>

<p>The visit had been long-scheduled, the sources told Axios, but it would come as Israel on Saturday unleashed the second phase of the Gaza war as its forces pressed ground operations against Hamas militants, vowing to "destroy the enemy above ground and below ground."</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/internet-connectivity-getting-restored-in-gaza-strip-internet-monitors-652517">Internet connectivity getting 'restored' in Gaza Strip: Internet monitors</a></p>

<p>Khalid bin Salman is expected to meet with White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and several senators, according to the Axios report.</p>

<p>The White House National Security Council told Reuters it had nothing to confirm when asked about the possible visit.</p>

<p>U.S. President Joe Biden and Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman on a call on Tuesday discussed efforts to prevent the Israel-Hamas conflict from widening.</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/active-shooting-situation-in-california-mall-three-injured-report-652502">Shooter at large after opening fire in California mall, three injured</a></p>

<p>Saudi Arabia has been among Arab countries that have condemned the targeting of civilians and "flagrant violations of international law" in Gaza which has been under heavy Israeli bombardment.</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/idf-releases-footage-of-start-of-second-world-war-in-gaza-652518">IDF releases footage of start of 'second world war' in Gaza</a></strong></p>

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<p>Biden has said Palestinian Islamist group Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel that the Israeli government says killed about 1,400 people aimed to disrupt a potential normalization of ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia.</p>

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Saudi Arabian Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman is expected to visit Washington on Monday for meetings with senior Biden administration officials, Axios reported on Saturday, citing three sources with knowledge of the trip.

Saudi Arabian Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman is expected to visit Washington on Monday for meetings with senior Biden administration officials, Axios reported on Saturday, citing three sources with knowledge of the trip. The visit had been long-scheduled, the sources told Axios, but it would come as Israel on Saturday unleashed the second phase of the Gaza war as its forces pressed ground operations against Hamas militants, vowing to "destroy the enemy above ground and below ground." Also Read | Internet connectivity getting 'restored' in Gaza Strip: Internet monitors Khalid bin Salman is expected to meet with White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and several senators, according to the Axios report. The White House National Security Council told Reuters it had nothing to confirm when asked about the possible visit. U.S. President Joe Biden and Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohamed bin Salman on a call on Tuesday discussed efforts to prevent the Israel-Hamas conflict from widening. Also Read | Shooter at large after opening fire in California mall, three injured Saudi Arabia has been among Arab countries that have condemned the targeting of civilians and "flagrant violations of international law" in Gaza which has been under heavy Israeli bombardment. Watch | IDF releases footage of start of 'second world war' in Gaza × Biden has said Palestinian Islamist group Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel that the Israeli government says killed about 1,400 people aimed to disrupt a potential normalization of ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

Saudi defence minister expected to visit White House on Oct 30

<p>Canada's Defence Minister Bill Blair on Sunday (September 25), while speaking to a Canadian media outlet, spoke in brief over the row that sparked following Prime Minister Trudeau's grave allegations against India in connection with the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Speaking to Global News' <em>The West Block</em>, Blair spoke of the significance of Canada's relationship with India labelling it as "important." He said, "We understand that this can be, and has proven to be, a challenging issue with respect to our relationship with India."</p>

<p>In another significant statement amid the diplomatic row, the Canadian minister confirmed Canada's commitment to pursuing partnerships like the Indo-Pacific strategy, even as investigations into allegations unfold.</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/watch-nasa-spacecraft-lands-successfully-with-largest-sample-collected-from-asteroid-639236">NASA spacecraft lands in Utah, brings safely largest sample of asteroid Bennu</a></p>

<p>Blair highlighted that amid navigating its relationship with India, Canada has a "responsibility to defend the law, defend our citizens, and at the same time make sure that we conduct a thorough investigation and get to the truth."&nbsp;</p>

<p>The minister continued by saying that if the allegations against India are proven correct, it would be "a violation of our sovereignty in the murder of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil."&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Canadian defence minister's concerns come at a time when even after so many days, Canada failed to provide any evidence on the serious accusations levelled against India.</p>

<h2><strong>Indo-Pacific strategy</strong></h2>

<p>Despite the diplomatic tensions, Blair affirmed the continued importance of Canada's Indo-Pacific strategy, which has led to an increased military presence in the region and commitments for enhanced patrol capabilities, Global News reported.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/satellite-images-hint-at-expansion-of-nuclear-test-sites-in-us-russia-and-china-report-639168">Satellite images show US, Russia and China expand nuclear test sites: Report</a></p>

<p>The relationship between India and Canada plunged to a new low after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged of "potential" involvement of agents of the Indian government in the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on June 18 in British Columbia.</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/trudeau-canada-shared-intelligence-on-murder-with-india-weeks-ago-639237">Trudeau: Canada shared intelligence on murder with India weeks ago</a></strong></p>

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<p>"Canadian security agencies have been actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the Government of India and the killing of a Canadian citizen, Hardeep Singh Nijjar," said Trudeau in a statement to the House of Commons. India has firmly rejected these allegations, characterising them as "absurd" and "motivated".</p>

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Canada's Defence Minister Bill Blair on Sunday (September 25), while speaking to a Canadian media outlet, spoke in brief over the row that sparked following Prime Minister Trudeau's grave allegations against India in connection with the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Canada's Defence Minister Bill Blair on Sunday (September 25), while speaking to a Canadian media outlet, spoke in brief over the row that sparked following Prime Minister Trudeau's grave allegations against India in connection with the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Speaking to Global News' The West Block, Blair spoke of the significance of Canada's relationship with India labelling it as "important." He said, "We understand that this can be, and has proven to be, a challenging issue with respect to our relationship with India." In another significant statement amid the diplomatic row, the Canadian minister confirmed Canada's commitment to pursuing partnerships like the Indo-Pacific strategy, even as investigations into allegations unfold. Also Read | NASA spacecraft lands in Utah, brings safely largest sample of asteroid Bennu Blair highlighted that amid navigating its relationship with India, Canada has a "responsibility to defend the law, defend our citizens, and at the same time make sure that we conduct a thorough investigation and get to the truth." The minister continued by saying that if the allegations against India are proven correct, it would be "a violation of our sovereignty in the murder of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil." The Canadian defence minister's concerns come at a time when even after so many days, Canada failed to provide any evidence on the serious accusations levelled against India. Indo-Pacific strategy Despite the diplomatic tensions, Blair affirmed the continued importance of Canada's Indo-Pacific strategy, which has led to an increased military presence in the region and commitments for enhanced patrol capabilities, Global News reported. Also Read | Satellite images show US, Russia and China expand nuclear test sites: Report The relationship between India and Canada plunged to a new low after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged of "potential" involvement of agents of the Indian government in the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on June 18 in British Columbia. Watch | Trudeau: Canada shared intelligence on murder with India weeks ago × "Canadian security agencies have been actively pursuing credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the Government of India and the killing of a Canadian citizen, Hardeep Singh Nijjar," said Trudeau in a statement to the House of Commons. India has firmly rejected these allegations, characterising them as "absurd" and "motivated". WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

Nijjar row: Canadian defence min says ties with India 'important', will continue Indo-Pacific strategy

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced to re-shuffle his cabinet to cut down on corruption and secure global confidence subsequently for post-war planning.

Russia-Ukraine war: Ukraine fires 6 Defence Ministers as fighting continues in the east

<p>The Ukrainian government dismissed six deputy defence ministers on Monday following the appointment of a new defence minister earlier this month.</p>

<p>The government gave no reason for the dismissals, but such moves are common after a new minister’s appointment. Those removed included Hanna Maliar, who frequently issues public updates on Russia’s war on Ukraine.</p>

<p>Rustem Umerov became defence minister less than two weeks ago, replacing Oleksii Reznikov. The ministry had been dogged by media allegations of corruption while Reznikov was in the post although he faced no corruption allegations himself.</p>

<p>“Rebooting. We (have) started. We continue. (The) Ministry continues to work as usual,” Umerov said in a Facebook post.</p>

<p>The Ukrainska Pravda news site quoted unnamed government sources as saying all the deputy ministers had resigned voluntarily following a request by Umerov and would not be returning to their posts.</p>

<p>It said consultations were underway on candidates to replace them and quoted a source close to the ministry as saying “a complete overhaul is underway” at the ministry.</p>

<p>Umerov has said his priorities include making the ministry the main institution for coordinating Ukrainian defence forces, enhancing the value attached to individual soldiers, developing Ukraine’s military industry and fighting corruption.</p>

<p>Maliar, a war crimes lawyer, had served as a deputy defence minister since 2021 and her latest update on the war in Ukraine appeared on Monday morning.</p>

<p>She faced criticism last week after initially reporting that Ukrainian forces had recaptured an eastern village from Russian forces, but later saying her report was inaccurate and that fighting was still raging around the village. Its capture was then announced by the military the next day, but Russia has since denied losing control of the village.</p>

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The Ukrainian government dismissed six deputy defence ministers on Monday following the appointment of a new defence minister earlier this month. The government gave no reason for the dismissals, but such moves are common after a new minister’s appointment.

The Ukrainian government dismissed six deputy defence ministers on Monday following the appointment of a new defence minister earlier this month. The government gave no reason for the dismissals, but such moves are common after a new minister’s appointment. Those removed included Hanna Maliar, who frequently issues public updates on Russia’s war on Ukraine. Rustem Umerov became defence minister less than two weeks ago, replacing Oleksii Reznikov. The ministry had been dogged by media allegations of corruption while Reznikov was in the post although he faced no corruption allegations himself. “Rebooting. We (have) started. We continue. (The) Ministry continues to work as usual,” Umerov said in a Facebook post. The Ukrainska Pravda news site quoted unnamed government sources as saying all the deputy ministers had resigned voluntarily following a request by Umerov and would not be returning to their posts. It said consultations were underway on candidates to replace them and quoted a source close to the ministry as saying “a complete overhaul is underway” at the ministry. Umerov has said his priorities include making the ministry the main institution for coordinating Ukrainian defence forces, enhancing the value attached to individual soldiers, developing Ukraine’s military industry and fighting corruption. Maliar, a war crimes lawyer, had served as a deputy defence minister since 2021 and her latest update on the war in Ukraine appeared on Monday morning. She faced criticism last week after initially reporting that Ukrainian forces had recaptured an eastern village from Russian forces, but later saying her report was inaccurate and that fighting was still raging around the village. Its capture was then announced by the military the next day, but Russia has since denied losing control of the village. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Ukraine sacks six deputy defence ministers after new minister’s appointment

The Chinese defense minister Li Shangfu is allegedly under investigation by Beijing and has been stripped of his duties, according to the US government. It is the most recent indication of impending unrest in Beijing following the mysterious disappearance and subsequent removal from office of Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang in July.

China's defence minister Li Shangfu not seen in weeks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday announced that he was replacing Kyiv's defence minister Oleksiy Reznikov, terming the move as a 'new approach' in the ministry. He nominated Rustem Umerov, a Crimean Tatar head of the State Property Fund since last year, to replace Reznikov.

Russia-Ukraine war: Kyiv recaptures the village of Robotyne

Russia-Ukraine war: Zelensky nominates Rustem Umerov to replace Reznikov

<p>Ukraine's Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov refuted new graft allegations related to military supplies on Tuesday (August 29), as reports of the purchase of uniforms at inflated prices amid war with Russia surfaced.<br />
<br />
Various media outlets reported that a contract was signed by the ministry late last year with a Turkish company for supplying winter combat fatigues, however, the prices were tripled after the finalisation of the deal.<br />
<br />
It was also determined by the Ukrainian journalists that the winter gear can be bought at considerably lower prices in Turkey. It was also reported that Oleksandre Kassai – one of the owners of the Turkish company – is also the nephew of Gennadi Kassai, who is in President Volodymyr Zelensky's party.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-liberates-strategic-southeastern-settlement-russian-strike-kills-at-least-two-629899">Ukraine liberates strategic southeastern settlement; Russian strike kills at least two</a></p>

<h2><strong>Minister slams accusations as 'false'</strong></h2>

<p>The accusations were slammed by Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov as false who stated that the billed prices corresponded to those advertised.<br />
<br />
"I urge everyone to treat information more critically and responsibly because it misleads society and, worse still, it misleads our partners, as from outside you'd say it is a disaster," said Reznikov, while speaking at a news conference.<br />
<br />
"Everything was done in accordance with the law on public procurement" and "via tender procedures," he added.<br />
<br />
In a previous corruption scandal involving army supplies, senior Ukrainian officials were sacked from their positions in January after it was revealed in the media that a contract which was signed by the ministry for purchasing food products for soldiers had mentioned similarly overstated amounts.<br />
<br />
At that time, Reznikov had accepted that the anti-corruption services of his ministry had "failed in their task". At the beginning of this month, all the regional officials who were in charge of military recruitment for removing corruption were dismissed by Zelensky, a step that also allowed some conscripts to leave army service.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Russia-Ukraine War: Ukraine using custom made rocket launchers against Russia | WION</strong></p>

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<h2><strong>Russia accuses US embassy 'informant' of passing data on Ukraine conflict</strong></h2>

<p>Russia on Monday (August 28) charged a former US consulate employee with the crime of illegally transferring data to American diplomats regarding the Ukraine conflict. The accusations against the US employee were protested by Washington which claimed that his activities were routine.<br />
<br />
The Russian Security Service (FSB) further announced that it would be questioning two US diplomats present at the embassy in Moscow regarding the case breaking the diplomatic tradition.<br />
<br />
The accusation is the latest in the multiple diplomatic spats that have built pressure on strained ties between Washington and Moscow, especially over the conflict in Ukraine.</p>

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Ukraine's Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov refuted new graft allegations related to military supplies on Tuesday (August 29), as reports of the purchase of uniforms at inflated prices amid war with Russia surfaced.

Ukraine's Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov refuted new graft allegations related to military supplies on Tuesday (August 29), as reports of the purchase of uniforms at inflated prices amid war with Russia surfaced. Various media outlets reported that a contract was signed by the ministry late last year with a Turkish company for supplying winter combat fatigues, however, the prices were tripled after the finalisation of the deal. It was also determined by the Ukrainian journalists that the winter gear can be bought at considerably lower prices in Turkey. It was also reported that Oleksandre Kassai – one of the owners of the Turkish company – is also the nephew of Gennadi Kassai, who is in President Volodymyr Zelensky's party. ALSO READ | Ukraine liberates strategic southeastern settlement; Russian strike kills at least two Minister slams accusations as 'false' The accusations were slammed by Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov as false who stated that the billed prices corresponded to those advertised. "I urge everyone to treat information more critically and responsibly because it misleads society and, worse still, it misleads our partners, as from outside you'd say it is a disaster," said Reznikov, while speaking at a news conference. "Everything was done in accordance with the law on public procurement" and "via tender procedures," he added. In a previous corruption scandal involving army supplies, senior Ukrainian officials were sacked from their positions in January after it was revealed in the media that a contract which was signed by the ministry for purchasing food products for soldiers had mentioned similarly overstated amounts. At that time, Reznikov had accepted that the anti-corruption services of his ministry had "failed in their task". At the beginning of this month, all the regional officials who were in charge of military recruitment for removing corruption were dismissed by Zelensky, a step that also allowed some conscripts to leave army service. WATCH | Russia-Ukraine War: Ukraine using custom made rocket launchers against Russia | WION Russia accuses US embassy 'informant' of passing data on Ukraine conflict Russia on Monday (August 28) charged a former US consulate employee with the crime of illegally transferring data to American diplomats regarding the Ukraine conflict. The accusations against the US employee were protested by Washington which claimed that his activities were routine. The Russian Security Service (FSB) further announced that it would be questioning two US diplomats present at the embassy in Moscow regarding the case breaking the diplomatic tradition. The accusation is the latest in the multiple diplomatic spats that have built pressure on strained ties between Washington and Moscow, especially over the conflict in Ukraine. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Ukraine's Defence Minister Reznikov refutes graft allegations

Sri Lanka's defence ministry has given the green light for the Chinese research vessel to dock at its ports. The Vessel named Shi Yan 6 is due to reach the island nation on October 25th and will be involved in research operations for a period of 17 days.

Chinese vessel Shi Yan 6 to reach Sri Lanka on October 25th

<p>A couple of days after the United States approved sending F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine from Denmark and Netherlands, Kyiv announced training had begun for Ukrainian pilots on operating the planes.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov in a TV interview informed about the training, adding that it would take at least six months or possibly longer to complete it.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Therefore, to build reasonable expectations, set a minimum of six months in your mind, but do not be disappointed if it is longer," said&nbsp;Reznikov, adding that he would not give details on where and when the training was taking place,&nbsp;</p>

<p>Earlier this week, the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken assured his&nbsp;Danish and Dutch counterparts that Washington will&nbsp;accelerate clearance of F-16 transfer requests for the war-torn nation after the pilots are trained.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I am writing to express the United States' full support for both the transfer of F-16 fighter aircraft to Ukraine and for the training of Ukrainian pilots by qualified F-16 instructors," wrote Blinken in a letter accessed by Reuters.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"It remains critical that Ukraine is able to defend itself against ongoing Russian aggression and violation of its sovereignty," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He said the approval of the requests would allow Ukraine to take "full advantage of its new capabilities as soon as the first set of pilots complete their training".&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/russia-ukraine-war-ukraine-focuses-on-upping-its-air-defence-systems-594853"><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;Russia-Ukraine War: Ukraine focuses on upping its air defence systems</strong></a></p>

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<h2><strong>US reacts after 'defeatist' Kyiv statement</strong></h2>

<p>The decision by the US came a day after&nbsp;Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat said his&nbsp;country will not be able to operate the F-16&nbsp;fighter jets to defend itself from the Russian onslaught, at least this year.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“It’s already obvious we won’t be able to defend Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets during this autumn and winter,"&nbsp;Ihnat told Ukrainian channels.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“We had big hopes for this plane, that it will become part of air defence, able to protect us from Russia’s missiles and drones terrorism,” he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/kyiv-sounds-defeatist-says-wont-be-able-to-use-f-16-fighter-jets-this-year-626397"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;Kyiv sounds defeatist, says 'won't be able' to use F-16 fighter jets this year</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>Kyiv pressing for fighter jets&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Kyiv had&nbsp;been repeatedly calling upon the&nbsp;Western bloc to supply the F-16 jets for its defence against the superior Russian jets. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky remained at the forefront of it as he openly discussed the proposition during his brief appearance at the&nbsp;G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan, earlier this year.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After much back-and-forth, US President Joe Biden endorsed a training programme for&nbsp;Ukrainian pilots but never gave a precise timeline.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
&nbsp;</p>

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A couple of days after the United States approved sending F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine from Denmark and Netherlands, Kyiv announced training had begun for Ukrainian pilots on operating the planes.

A couple of days after the United States approved sending F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine from Denmark and Netherlands, Kyiv announced training had begun for Ukrainian pilots on operating the planes. Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov in a TV interview informed about the training, adding that it would take at least six months or possibly longer to complete it. "Therefore, to build reasonable expectations, set a minimum of six months in your mind, but do not be disappointed if it is longer," said Reznikov, adding that he would not give details on where and when the training was taking place, Earlier this week, the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken assured his Danish and Dutch counterparts that Washington will accelerate clearance of F-16 transfer requests for the war-torn nation after the pilots are trained. "I am writing to express the United States' full support for both the transfer of F-16 fighter aircraft to Ukraine and for the training of Ukrainian pilots by qualified F-16 instructors," wrote Blinken in a letter accessed by Reuters. "It remains critical that Ukraine is able to defend itself against ongoing Russian aggression and violation of its sovereignty," he added. He said the approval of the requests would allow Ukraine to take "full advantage of its new capabilities as soon as the first set of pilots complete their training". WATCH | Russia-Ukraine War: Ukraine focuses on upping its air defence systems US reacts after 'defeatist' Kyiv statement The decision by the US came a day after Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson Yuriy Ihnat said his country will not be able to operate the F-16 fighter jets to defend itself from the Russian onslaught, at least this year. “It’s already obvious we won’t be able to defend Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets during this autumn and winter," Ihnat told Ukrainian channels. “We had big hopes for this plane, that it will become part of air defence, able to protect us from Russia’s missiles and drones terrorism,” he added. Also read | Kyiv sounds defeatist, says 'won't be able' to use F-16 fighter jets this year Kyiv pressing for fighter jets Kyiv had been repeatedly calling upon the Western bloc to supply the F-16 jets for its defence against the superior Russian jets. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky remained at the forefront of it as he openly discussed the proposition during his brief appearance at the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan, earlier this year. After much back-and-forth, US President Joe Biden endorsed a training programme for Ukrainian pilots but never gave a precise timeline. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Ukrainian troops have begun training to operate F-16s, informs defence minister

Indian political leaders gathered at an all-party meet which was presided over by Rajnath Singh, the Indian defence minister. The meet was held in New Delhi a day after the old political parties formed a separate alliance. The goal of the meet was to bring the political parties together and address any issues that the leaders might want to bring up.

New Delhi: 32 legislative items to be discussed in monsoon session | India

<p>Pakistan's Defence Minister Khwaja Asif has said that if the current situation in the country persists, then there is a possibility of an emergency being declared.</p>

<p>The minister made the statement while speaking to WION's Pakistan correspondent Anas Mallick.</p>

<p>When asked about the “rumours of an emergency situation in Pakistan”, the minister said, “If the situation continues like this, then emergency is a constitutional option, no chances of martial law in the country.”</p>

<p>Questioning the Supreme Court's order to release Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan, the minister stated, “Why are there two yardsticks in this country? The court should have taken suo motu on the army installations but it wasn't taken. Nawaz Sharif, Zardari, Maryam, me, none of us&nbsp;got any facilities. Here the top court has given him (Imran) all the facilities.”</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ | </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/supreme-court-of-pakistan-declares-ex-prime-minister-imran-khans-arrest-unlawful-591350">Supreme Court of Pakistan declares ex-prime minister Imran Khan's arrest unlawful</a></p>

<p>The comments of the minister were directed to the Supreme Court &amp; Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial.</p>

<p>Early on Thursday, Imran Khan's arrest was declared unlawful by the Supreme Court and he was ordered to be released. The court gave the order after CJP Bandial asked that the former prime minister be brought to the apex court 'within an hour'.</p>

<p>On May 9, Khan was arrested, after which massive protests erupted in the country and even abroad. The lawyers representing Khan had challenged the legality of his arrest.</p>

<p>The court also directed Khan to approach Islamabad High Court. Khan was arrested in connection with the Al Qadir Trust case.</p>

<p>The case is related to Al Qadir University. The trust was created to support the university. Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi and other PTI leaders have been facing accusations of wrongdoing concerning the trust.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | Imran Khan arrest: Pakistan Army says, 'country-wide chaos, a black chapter' | World News | WION</strong></p>

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<p>According to the case, Khan and a real estate magnate made an alleged agreement which cost the struggling economy of Pakistan around $50 billion.</p>

<p>The issue surfaced after Pakistani media stated that the trust received 180 million Pakistani rupees but documents showed expenses of only 8.52 million Pakistani rupees.</p>

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Pakistan's Defence Minister Khwaja Asif has said that if the current situation in the country persists, then there is a possibility of an emergency being declared.

Pakistan's Defence Minister Khwaja Asif has said that if the current situation in the country persists, then there is a possibility of an emergency being declared. The minister made the statement while speaking to WION's Pakistan correspondent Anas Mallick. When asked about the “rumours of an emergency situation in Pakistan”, the minister said, “If the situation continues like this, then emergency is a constitutional option, no chances of martial law in the country.” Questioning the Supreme Court's order to release Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan, the minister stated, “Why are there two yardsticks in this country? The court should have taken suo motu on the army installations but it wasn't taken. Nawaz Sharif, Zardari, Maryam, me, none of us got any facilities. Here the top court has given him (Imran) all the facilities.” ALSO READ | Supreme Court of Pakistan declares ex-prime minister Imran Khan's arrest unlawful The comments of the minister were directed to the Supreme Court & Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial. Early on Thursday, Imran Khan's arrest was declared unlawful by the Supreme Court and he was ordered to be released. The court gave the order after CJP Bandial asked that the former prime minister be brought to the apex court 'within an hour'. On May 9, Khan was arrested, after which massive protests erupted in the country and even abroad. The lawyers representing Khan had challenged the legality of his arrest. The court also directed Khan to approach Islamabad High Court. Khan was arrested in connection with the Al Qadir Trust case. The case is related to Al Qadir University. The trust was created to support the university. Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi and other PTI leaders have been facing accusations of wrongdoing concerning the trust. WATCH | Imran Khan arrest: Pakistan Army says, 'country-wide chaos, a black chapter' | World News | WION According to the case, Khan and a real estate magnate made an alleged agreement which cost the struggling economy of Pakistan around $50 billion. The issue surfaced after Pakistani media stated that the trust received 180 million Pakistani rupees but documents showed expenses of only 8.52 million Pakistani rupees. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Exclusive | Possibility of emergency in Pakistan, says Defence Minister Khwaja Asif

<p>Republic Day parade in 2024 will be an all-woman affair, as per a letter written by Indian Defence Ministry (Seen by WION) to several government departments and agencies. “After detailed deliberations, it has been decided that the Republic Day Parade, 2024, will have only women participants in the contingents (marching and band), tableaux and other performances during the Parade at Kartavya Path,” the letter stated.</p>

<h2><strong>Move aimed at promoting women empowerment</strong></h2>

<p>Hindustan Times quoted senior government officials as saying that the move by the union government was aimed at promoting gender equality and women empowerment. It also reflects women’s growing participation in the country’s armed forces, including army and paramilitary forces.</p>

<h2><strong>Letter creates confusion among officials</strong></h2>

<p>The letter dispatched by the defence ministry has now created confusion among some officials. One official was quoted by Hindustan Times as saying that it was not possible to include women participants in all marching and band contingents. “Irrespective of what the letter states, the government will only do what is practical,” said another official.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;India@75: Women in Indian armed forces</strong></p>

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<p>The official added, “For instance, women have not been inducted in the infantry, which has the maximum number of marching contingents at the parade. Officers lead the marching contingents which consist of personnel below officer rank (PBOR). The army has women in the PBOR cadre only in the Corps of Military Police.”</p>

<h2><strong>Increasing women’s participation in India’s armed forces</strong></h2>

<p>The Indian government has been focusing on Nari Shakti (Women Power) in recent years, with women officers being assigned central roles on par with their male counterparts across the three services. Women in uniform are flying fighter planes, serving on board warships, being inducted into the PBOR cadre, eligible for permanent commission, being assigned command roles, and undergoing training at the National Defence Academy. However, tanks and combat positions in the infantry are still not accessible to women.</p>

<p>Despite this, women officers have been taking part in parades and leading marching contingents for the past few years. In March, Colonel Geeta Rana became the first woman army officer to assume command of an independent unit in the sensitive Ladakh sector, where India and China have been embroiled in a border dispute for three years.</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/the-rise-of-indian-defence-industry-exports-cross-16-billion-imports-down-11-580494">Also Read |&nbsp;The rise of Indian defence industry: Exports cross $1.6 billion, imports down 11%</a></strong></p>

<p>In early January, Captain Shiva Chouhan became the first woman officer to be deployed at Siachen, the world's highest and coldest battleground. The army also deployed its largest contingent of 27 women peacekeepers in Sudan's disputed region of Abyei, where they are performing security-related tasks in a challenging mission as part of the United Nations Interim Security Force (UNISFA).</p>

<p>On April 29, five lady cadets were commissioned into the regiment of artillery as lieutenants for the first time.</p>

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Republic Day parade in 2024 will be an all-woman affair, as per a letter written by Indian Defence Ministry (Seen by WION) to several government departments and agencies.

Republic Day parade in 2024 will be an all-woman affair, as per a letter written by Indian Defence Ministry (Seen by WION) to several government departments and agencies. “After detailed deliberations, it has been decided that the Republic Day Parade, 2024, will have only women participants in the contingents (marching and band), tableaux and other performances during the Parade at Kartavya Path,” the letter stated. Move aimed at promoting women empowerment Hindustan Times quoted senior government officials as saying that the move by the union government was aimed at promoting gender equality and women empowerment. It also reflects women’s growing participation in the country’s armed forces, including army and paramilitary forces. Letter creates confusion among officials The letter dispatched by the defence ministry has now created confusion among some officials. One official was quoted by Hindustan Times as saying that it was not possible to include women participants in all marching and band contingents. “Irrespective of what the letter states, the government will only do what is practical,” said another official. Watch: India@75: Women in Indian armed forces × The official added, “For instance, women have not been inducted in the infantry, which has the maximum number of marching contingents at the parade. Officers lead the marching contingents which consist of personnel below officer rank (PBOR). The army has women in the PBOR cadre only in the Corps of Military Police.” Increasing women’s participation in India’s armed forces The Indian government has been focusing on Nari Shakti (Women Power) in recent years, with women officers being assigned central roles on par with their male counterparts across the three services. Women in uniform are flying fighter planes, serving on board warships, being inducted into the PBOR cadre, eligible for permanent commission, being assigned command roles, and undergoing training at the National Defence Academy. However, tanks and combat positions in the infantry are still not accessible to women. Despite this, women officers have been taking part in parades and leading marching contingents for the past few years. In March, Colonel Geeta Rana became the first woman army officer to assume command of an independent unit in the sensitive Ladakh sector, where India and China have been embroiled in a border dispute for three years. Also Read | The rise of Indian defence industry: Exports cross $1.6 billion, imports down 11% In early January, Captain Shiva Chouhan became the first woman officer to be deployed at Siachen, the world's highest and coldest battleground. The army also deployed its largest contingent of 27 women peacekeepers in Sudan's disputed region of Abyei, where they are performing security-related tasks in a challenging mission as part of the United Nations Interim Security Force (UNISFA). On April 29, five lady cadets were commissioned into the regiment of artillery as lieutenants for the first time. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

India’s defence ministry moots all-woman Republic Day parade next year, leaves officials confused

<p>Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu and Chinese defence minister Li Shangfu will be in Delhi next week for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization or SCO Defence ministers' meetings.</p>

<p>The in-person defence ministers meeting will take place in Delhi from 27th to 28th April 2023, hosted by Indian defence minister Rajnath Singh. While many bilateral is expected on 27th April, the schedule of which is yet to be announced, the main day of engagement will be 28th April.</p>

<p>India got the chairmanship of the grouping last year at the Samarkand summit in Uzbekistan, and in the run up to the summit in July is hosting key ministerial meetings.</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/jack-dorseys-twitter-alternative-bluesky-makes-debut-on-android-584966">Jack Dorsey's Twitter alternative Bluesky makes debut on Android</a></p>

<p>Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu will visit India for the first time since the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict last year.</p>

<p>Despite the conflict, India-Russia ties have remained active with high-level engagements, such as the recent visit of Russian Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov for the 24th India-Russia Inter-governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC).</p>

<p>The defence cooperation between the two countries has also advanced from a simple buyer-seller relationship to a more comprehensive collaboration, including joint research, development, production, and marketing of advanced defence technologies and systems.</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/tesla-secures-big-win-in-crash-case-court-says-autopilot-feature-did-not-fail-584976">Tesla secures big win in crash case, court says autopilot feature did not fail</a></p>

<p>The upcoming visit by the Chinese defence minister Shangfu to Delhi marks the first such visit since the 2020 Galwan incident, which saw aggressive action by China at the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh, resulting in the death of 20 Indian soldiers.</p>

<p>Since then, ties have seen a steep fall, including continued&nbsp;Chinese provocation, including a staking claim to the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. Last year, the then-Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi visited India, followed by the visit of the new Chinese FM Qin Gang this year for the G20 foreign ministers meet.</p>

<p>Minister Shangfu took charge in March this year. Both Russian and Chinese defence ministers are on the US sanctions list but that will not impact travel to India in any way.</p>

<p>One central Asian country and Pakistan will attend the SCO defence ministers' meeting virtually, with Pakistani defence minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif participating remotely. However, foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto will attend the SCO Foreign Ministers' meeting in Goa in person from 4-5 May 2023.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Oliver Dowden named UK deputy pm after Dominic Raab's resignation</strong></p>

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<p>This marks the first ministerial visit from Pakistan to India since the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir's special status in 2019, which led to a freeze in ties, including the suspension of bus and train services by Islamabad. The last visit by a Pakistani FM to India was in 2011 by Hina Rabbani Khar, although Pakistan's Prime Minister's Advisor on Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz, visited Amritsar, India, in 2016 to attend the Heart of Asia meet on Afghanistan.</p>

<p>The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a regional intergovernmental group of eight member states, covering more than 60% of the Eurasian landmass, 40% of the world population, and 30% of the global GDP. India has a long-standing association with the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) prior to becoming a full member. In 2005, India was granted observer status and later became a full member of the grouping in 2017.</p>

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Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu and Chinese defence minister Li Shangfu will be in Delhi next week for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization or SCO Defence ministers' meetings.

Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu and Chinese defence minister Li Shangfu will be in Delhi next week for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization or SCO Defence ministers' meetings. The in-person defence ministers meeting will take place in Delhi from 27th to 28th April 2023, hosted by Indian defence minister Rajnath Singh. While many bilateral is expected on 27th April, the schedule of which is yet to be announced, the main day of engagement will be 28th April. India got the chairmanship of the grouping last year at the Samarkand summit in Uzbekistan, and in the run up to the summit in July is hosting key ministerial meetings. Also Read | Jack Dorsey's Twitter alternative Bluesky makes debut on Android Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu will visit India for the first time since the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict last year. Despite the conflict, India-Russia ties have remained active with high-level engagements, such as the recent visit of Russian Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov for the 24th India-Russia Inter-governmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technological and Cultural Cooperation (IRIGC-TEC). The defence cooperation between the two countries has also advanced from a simple buyer-seller relationship to a more comprehensive collaboration, including joint research, development, production, and marketing of advanced defence technologies and systems. Also Read | Tesla secures big win in crash case, court says autopilot feature did not fail The upcoming visit by the Chinese defence minister Shangfu to Delhi marks the first such visit since the 2020 Galwan incident, which saw aggressive action by China at the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh, resulting in the death of 20 Indian soldiers. Since then, ties have seen a steep fall, including continued Chinese provocation, including a staking claim to the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. Last year, the then-Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi visited India, followed by the visit of the new Chinese FM Qin Gang this year for the G20 foreign ministers meet. Minister Shangfu took charge in March this year. Both Russian and Chinese defence ministers are on the US sanctions list but that will not impact travel to India in any way. One central Asian country and Pakistan will attend the SCO defence ministers' meeting virtually, with Pakistani defence minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif participating remotely. However, foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto will attend the SCO Foreign Ministers' meeting in Goa in person from 4-5 May 2023. Watch | Oliver Dowden named UK deputy pm after Dominic Raab's resignation × This marks the first ministerial visit from Pakistan to India since the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir's special status in 2019, which led to a freeze in ties, including the suspension of bus and train services by Islamabad. The last visit by a Pakistani FM to India was in 2011 by Hina Rabbani Khar, although Pakistan's Prime Minister's Advisor on Foreign Affairs, Sartaj Aziz, visited Amritsar, India, in 2016 to attend the Heart of Asia meet on Afghanistan. The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a regional intergovernmental group of eight member states, covering more than 60% of the Eurasian landmass, 40% of the world population, and 30% of the global GDP. India has a long-standing association with the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) prior to becoming a full member. In 2005, India was granted observer status and later became a full member of the grouping in 2017. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

EXCLUSIVE: Russian, Chinese defence ministers on Delhi visit next week to attend SCO meet

<p>Chinese defence minister in a meeting with Russia's President Vladimir Putin said that the country is willing to have close communication with the Russian military. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday refuted several claims, including Mossad involvement in Israeli demonstrations, declining poll numbers and strained ties with the Biden administration.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In other news, the Sudanese army continued striking paramilitary bases on Sunday. Reports suggest that the army appeared to have gained the upper hand over the Rapid Support Forces.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Click on the headlines to read more:</strong></p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-minister-meets-putin-says-willing-to-work-with-russian-military-to-have-close-communications-583151">Chinese minister meets Putin, says willing to work with Russian military to have close communications</a><br />
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<p>Chinese defence minister Li Shangfu met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Sunday (April 16) and hailed ties between the two nations, state media reported on Monday.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/middle-east/netanyahu-discloses-why-us-intel-leaks-said-mossad-encouraged-israel-protests-583154">Netanyahu discloses why US intel leaks said Mossad encouraged Israel protests</a><br />
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<p>Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday refuted all claims made in the alleged US intel leaks that top Mossad officials had supported and encouraged demonstrations against the government's judicial overhaul, a move against which massive protests have been held in the country.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/power-struggle-in-sudan-rages-as-army-pounds-paramilitary-bases-with-air-strikes-583171">Power struggle in Sudan rages as army pounds paramilitary bases with air strikes</a><br />
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<p>Sudanese army pounded paramilitary bases with air strikes on Sunday (April 16) as the power struggle continues to rage in the North African nation, news agency Reuters reported citing witnesses. Sudan's army appeared to have gained the upper hand. The latest report stated that the death toll climbed to 97, including UN workers.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Fierce fighting rages in Sudanese capital; Major shooting incident in Alabama </strong></p>

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<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Elon Musk launches new AI start up to compete with OpenAI</strong></p>

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Chinese defence minister in a meeting with Russia's President Vladimir Putin said that the country is willing to have close communication with the Russian military.

Chinese defence minister in a meeting with Russia's President Vladimir Putin said that the country is willing to have close communication with the Russian military. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday refuted several claims, including Mossad involvement in Israeli demonstrations, declining poll numbers and strained ties with the Biden administration. In other news, the Sudanese army continued striking paramilitary bases on Sunday. Reports suggest that the army appeared to have gained the upper hand over the Rapid Support Forces. Click on the headlines to read more: Chinese minister meets Putin, says willing to work with Russian military to have close communications Chinese defence minister Li Shangfu met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Sunday (April 16) and hailed ties between the two nations, state media reported on Monday. Netanyahu discloses why US intel leaks said Mossad encouraged Israel protests Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday refuted all claims made in the alleged US intel leaks that top Mossad officials had supported and encouraged demonstrations against the government's judicial overhaul, a move against which massive protests have been held in the country. Power struggle in Sudan rages as army pounds paramilitary bases with air strikes Sudanese army pounded paramilitary bases with air strikes on Sunday (April 16) as the power struggle continues to rage in the North African nation, news agency Reuters reported citing witnesses. Sudan's army appeared to have gained the upper hand. The latest report stated that the death toll climbed to 97, including UN workers. Watch | Fierce fighting rages in Sudanese capital; Major shooting incident in Alabama × Watch | Elon Musk launches new AI start up to compete with OpenAI ×

Morning news brief: China's close communications with Russian military, Netanyahu on US intel leaks, & more

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reinstated Defence Minister Yoav Gallant. Addressing a press conference, Netanyahu said the two resolved their disagreement over Gallant's public call last month for a halt to the government's bitterly divisive judicial overhaul plan which he said became a threat to Israel's security. "I've decided to put our differences behind us," Netanyahu said, adding he and Gallant worked closely together throughout the last two weeks.

`We will continue to work together', says Israel PM Netanyahu after reinstating his defence minister

<p>Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that the finance ministry of the country is lacking funds for conducting elections, reported ARY News.</p>

<p>The revelation was made by Asif while speaking to the international media during a joint press conference along with the country's Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb.</p>

<p>As per ARY News, Khawaja Asif&nbsp;also&nbsp;criticised PTI chief Imran Khan and claimed that the allegation of an assassination attempt levelled by the latter was a lie.</p>

<p>Former army chief General Qamar Javaid Bajwa's tenure was first extended by Khan and now he is blaming Bajwa, the defence minister said.</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-imf-asks-govt-to-explain-its-fuel-pricing-scheme-before-loan-deal-575391">Pakistan: IMF asks govt to explain its fuel-pricing scheme before signing loan deal</a></p>

<p>The defence minister said that Imran also blamed the United States for his ouster. The minister further said that the provincial assemblies were dissolved unconstitutionally by Khan, however, through a vote of no confidence he was ousted from his seat constitutionally and now he is not willing to appear before the courts.</p>

<p>Asif further blamed the PTI chairman for imprisoning the leaders of PML-N during his tenure. He stated that he was jailed during the three-year tenure of Khan and his party leaders also had to face court trials in fake cases.</p>

<p>Asif added that everyday crises are being created by Khan but those are being tackled by the government and soon Pakistan will resolve all the crises.</p>

<p>He added that a false narrative was made by the former prime minister about the US conspiracy but due to the interference of the Supreme Court, the country was saved from a constitutional crisis.</p>

<p>Meanwhile, Imran Khan appealed that judges look into the constitutional violations that have taken place because of the general elections' postponement, reported ARY News.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | Gravitas: 'No more easy money', Saudi Arabia refuses to bailout Pakistan</strong></p>

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<p>While speaking to PTI workers and supporters through a video link, Khan said that the rule of law is the nation's fundamental right.</p>

<p>Appealing to judges to take notice of the moves of the government, he said that Pakistan is passing through a decisive phase.</p>

<p>The PTI chief added that the constitution was attacked by "the ruling mafia". He asked who will guarantee that the general elections will be held on October 8.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that the finance ministry of the country is lacking funds for conducting elections, reported ARY News. The revelation was made by Asif while speaking to the international media during a joint press conference along with the country's Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb.

Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said that the finance ministry of the country is lacking funds for conducting elections, reported ARY News. The revelation was made by Asif while speaking to the international media during a joint press conference along with the country's Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb. As per ARY News, Khawaja Asif also criticised PTI chief Imran Khan and claimed that the allegation of an assassination attempt levelled by the latter was a lie. Former army chief General Qamar Javaid Bajwa's tenure was first extended by Khan and now he is blaming Bajwa, the defence minister said. ALSO READ | Pakistan: IMF asks govt to explain its fuel-pricing scheme before signing loan deal The defence minister said that Imran also blamed the United States for his ouster. The minister further said that the provincial assemblies were dissolved unconstitutionally by Khan, however, through a vote of no confidence he was ousted from his seat constitutionally and now he is not willing to appear before the courts. Asif further blamed the PTI chairman for imprisoning the leaders of PML-N during his tenure. He stated that he was jailed during the three-year tenure of Khan and his party leaders also had to face court trials in fake cases. Asif added that everyday crises are being created by Khan but those are being tackled by the government and soon Pakistan will resolve all the crises. He added that a false narrative was made by the former prime minister about the US conspiracy but due to the interference of the Supreme Court, the country was saved from a constitutional crisis. Meanwhile, Imran Khan appealed that judges look into the constitutional violations that have taken place because of the general elections' postponement, reported ARY News. WATCH | Gravitas: 'No more easy money', Saudi Arabia refuses to bailout Pakistan While speaking to PTI workers and supporters through a video link, Khan said that the rule of law is the nation's fundamental right. Appealing to judges to take notice of the moves of the government, he said that Pakistan is passing through a decisive phase. The PTI chief added that the constitution was attacked by "the ruling mafia". He asked who will guarantee that the general elections will be held on October 8. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Pakistan's finance ministry does not have funds to conduct elections, says defence minister

<p>Russian Defence Ministry said on Monday (March 6) that Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu has visited Mariuopol, a city in southern Ukraine. His visit has come about a year after Russian forces besieged the city, levelling it to the ground.</p>

<p>Shoigu's visit came amid attacks by Russian forces closing in on Bakhmut, the city in eastern Ukraine. Ukrainian and Russian forces are battling hard for control of the city.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The ministry said Shoigu, one of the highest-ranking officials to visit east Ukraine, had toured the destroyed port city of Mariupol to oversee reconstruction efforts.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Wagner Chief: Our men running short of ammunition | Battle of Bakhmut</strong></p>

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<p>Shoigu "inspected work carried out by the... defence ministry to restore infrastructure in Donbas," the ministry said, without specifying the timing of the visit.</p>

<p>As per the ministry, Shoigu visited a medical centre built by the military alongwith a newly constructed district with a dozen five-story residential buildings.</p>

<p>Russia launched a scorched-earth campaign against Mariupol at the start of its campaign last year, destroying the Azovstal steel works, which was the last holdout of Ukraine forces in the city.</p>

<p>Investigative teams linked to jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny have reported that defence ministry officials are profiting personally from reconstruction efforts in Mariupol.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-war-govt-probing-171-cases-of-sexual-violence-committed-by-russian-troops-says-first-lady-zelenska-568628">Ukraine war: Govt probing 171 cases of sexual violence committed by Russian troops, says First Lady Zelenska</a></strong></p>

<p>The ministry's announcement comes one day after it said Shoigu had met with Russian soldiers deployed to a "command post in" eastern Ukraine.</p>

<p>Russia's gruelling effort to capture Bakhmut has been spearheaded on the ground by the Russian mercenary group Wagner.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ordinary-bureaucracy-or-a-betrayal-wagner-chief-says-without-fresh-ammunition-bakhmut-could-collapse-569053">'Ordinary bureaucracy or a betrayal?': Wagner chief says without promised ammunition Bakhmut could collapse</a></strong></p>

<p>Its founder, Kremlin-ally Yevgeny Prigozhin, routinely criticises the defence ministry in social media videos allegedly filmed from the front.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Russian Defence Ministry said on Monday (March 6) that Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu has visited Mariuopol, a city in southern Ukraine. His visit has come about a year after Russian forces besieged the city, levelling it to the ground.

Russian Defence Ministry said on Monday (March 6) that Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu has visited Mariuopol, a city in southern Ukraine. His visit has come about a year after Russian forces besieged the city, levelling it to the ground. Shoigu's visit came amid attacks by Russian forces closing in on Bakhmut, the city in eastern Ukraine. Ukrainian and Russian forces are battling hard for control of the city. The ministry said Shoigu, one of the highest-ranking officials to visit east Ukraine, had toured the destroyed port city of Mariupol to oversee reconstruction efforts. Watch | Wagner Chief: Our men running short of ammunition | Battle of Bakhmut × Shoigu "inspected work carried out by the... defence ministry to restore infrastructure in Donbas," the ministry said, without specifying the timing of the visit. As per the ministry, Shoigu visited a medical centre built by the military alongwith a newly constructed district with a dozen five-story residential buildings. Russia launched a scorched-earth campaign against Mariupol at the start of its campaign last year, destroying the Azovstal steel works, which was the last holdout of Ukraine forces in the city. Investigative teams linked to jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny have reported that defence ministry officials are profiting personally from reconstruction efforts in Mariupol. Also Read | Ukraine war: Govt probing 171 cases of sexual violence committed by Russian troops, says First Lady Zelenska The ministry's announcement comes one day after it said Shoigu had met with Russian soldiers deployed to a "command post in" eastern Ukraine. Russia's gruelling effort to capture Bakhmut has been spearheaded on the ground by the Russian mercenary group Wagner. Also Read | 'Ordinary bureaucracy or a betrayal?': Wagner chief says without promised ammunition Bakhmut could collapse Its founder, Kremlin-ally Yevgeny Prigozhin, routinely criticises the defence ministry in social media videos allegedly filmed from the front. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu visits Mariupol in Ukraine

Pakistan's Defence Minister Khwaja Asif has said that Islamabad has already defaulted amid looming fears and that the cash-strapped country may go bankrupt. Asif has further blamed the establishment, bureaucracy and the politicians for the prevailing economic crisis.

Pakistan Economic Crisis: Defence Minister Khwaja Asif claims, 'We are living in a bankrupt nation'

The five-day event, with the theme "The runway to a billion opportunities," was launched by PM Modi on Monday at the Yelahanka Air Force Station to highlight India's expanding aerospace and defence capabilities. In keeping with the motto "Make in India, Make for the World," Aero India-2023 will this time place a strong emphasis on showcasing homegrown machinery and innovations as well as establishing alliances with foreign businesses. It was stated that 98 countries, 32 defence ministers, 29 air chiefs, and 73 chief executive officers of international and Indian original equipment manufacturers are expected to participate in this, the largest gathering to date.

Aero-India 2023: Indian Defence Minister to host Defence Minister's conclave

A U.S. fighter jet shot down an unidentified object over Canada on Saturday. This is the third such incident in over a week. The object was taken down in a joint operation by North American Aerospace Defense Command. The U.S. shot down an alleged Chinese spy balloon off the coast of South Carolina in the Atlantic Ocean setting off a diplomatic dispute between Washington and Beijing.

Mystery object flies over Yukon, Canada

In comparison to the same period in the previous year, Iranian arms shipments increased over threefold from March to December 2022. This year, the export of defense-related goods is progressively growing and has increased from last year.

Iranian Minister: The export of defence prooducts gradually growing

Ukraine's defence minister Oleksii Reznikov has been sacked over allegations of paying inflated prices for food for troops. Reznikov was a key figure coordinating billions of dollars of western aid. Molly Gambhir explains.

Gravitas: Ukraine defence minister sacked: All about the corruption scandal

<p>The Turkish government on Saturday cancelled the upcoming visit of the Swedish Defence Minister Pal Jonson in the wake of right-wing extremist planning a demonstration in Stockholm.&nbsp;Turkiye expressed its anger over the permission granted to Rasmus Paludan, a Swedish-Danish politician who had sparked riots with his anti-Islamist actions across Sweden last year, to stage a demonstration in front of the Turkish embassy in Stockholm.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A day after the Swedish ambassador was summoned over the issue, Turkiye announced that the Swedish defence minister's visit aimed at resolving objections raised by Ankara over Sweden's bid to join the NATO alliance was being cancelled.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/turkey-opens-investigation-into-erdogan-effigy-burning-incident-sweden-calls-it-an-act-of-sabotage-552479">Türkiye opens investigation into Erdogan effigy burning incident in Sweden</a></p>

<p>"At this point, Swedish Defence Minister Pal Jonson's visit to Turkiye on January 27 has lost its significance and meaning, so we cancelled the visit," stated Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar.</p>

<p>Paludan has claimed that he intends to "burn the Koran", which is a holy book of Islam while holding the protest on Saturday.</p>

<p>In April 2022, the announcement made by Paludan of burning the Koran sparked riots in Sweden.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>'Not freedom but modern barbarism'</strong></p>

<p>Turkiye's presidential spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin on Saturday condemned the protests planned by Rasmus Paludan, calling it a "clear crime of hatred".&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Allowing this action despite all our warnings is encouraging hate crimes and Islamophobia," Kalin tweeted.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | Erdogan says Turkey is not in favour of Sweden &amp; Finland's NATO bid</strong></p>

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<p>"The attack on sacred values is not freedom but modern barbarism,” he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>On Friday, Sweden's ambassador had been summoned by Turkiye to "condemn this provocative action which is clearly a hate crime — in strongest terms," stated a diplomatic source.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The ambassador was told by the officials of the foreign ministry that the permission granted by Sweden for staging the protest, under the pretext of protecting democratic values, was "unacceptable", added the source.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p>You can&nbsp;<strong>now write for wionews.com</strong>&nbsp;and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>

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The Turkish government on Saturday cancelled the upcoming visit of the Swedish Defence Minister Pal Jonson in the wake of right-wing extremist planning a demonstration in Stockholm.

The Turkish government on Saturday cancelled the upcoming visit of the Swedish Defence Minister Pal Jonson in the wake of right-wing extremist planning a demonstration in Stockholm. Turkiye expressed its anger over the permission granted to Rasmus Paludan, a Swedish-Danish politician who had sparked riots with his anti-Islamist actions across Sweden last year, to stage a demonstration in front of the Turkish embassy in Stockholm. A day after the Swedish ambassador was summoned over the issue, Turkiye announced that the Swedish defence minister's visit aimed at resolving objections raised by Ankara over Sweden's bid to join the NATO alliance was being cancelled. ALSO READ | Türkiye opens investigation into Erdogan effigy burning incident in Sweden "At this point, Swedish Defence Minister Pal Jonson's visit to Turkiye on January 27 has lost its significance and meaning, so we cancelled the visit," stated Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar. Paludan has claimed that he intends to "burn the Koran", which is a holy book of Islam while holding the protest on Saturday. In April 2022, the announcement made by Paludan of burning the Koran sparked riots in Sweden. 'Not freedom but modern barbarism' Turkiye's presidential spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin on Saturday condemned the protests planned by Rasmus Paludan, calling it a "clear crime of hatred". "Allowing this action despite all our warnings is encouraging hate crimes and Islamophobia," Kalin tweeted. WATCH | Erdogan says Turkey is not in favour of Sweden & Finland's NATO bid "The attack on sacred values is not freedom but modern barbarism,” he added. On Friday, Sweden's ambassador had been summoned by Turkiye to "condemn this provocative action which is clearly a hate crime — in strongest terms," stated a diplomatic source. The ambassador was told by the officials of the foreign ministry that the permission granted by Sweden for staging the protest, under the pretext of protecting democratic values, was "unacceptable", added the source. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Turkiye cancels Swedish defence minister’s visit over protest planned by right-wing leader

<p>Germany named Boris Pistorius as the country’s new defence minister on Tuesday (January 17) following the resignation of Christine Lambrecht a day prior. This comes weeks after several missteps by the now former defence minister of Berlin and amid mounting pressure on the country from European allies to approve the re-export of Leopard tanks for Ukraine amid its ongoing conflict with Russia. Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s administration made the announcement and averted a possible government crisis ahead of the upcoming meeting with Western defence officials at the Ramstein military base, on Friday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to the chancellor’s spokesperson, the 62-year-old German lawmaker from the country’s Lower Saxony state and Scholz’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) will be sworn in on Thursday. A day before the new defence minister is expected to host his US counterpart, Lloyd Austin in Berlin. Pistorius also completed his military service in the 1980s and has been serving as Germany’s interior minister in Lower Saxony since 2013.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/german-defence-minister-christine-lambrecht-resigns-after-a-series-of-gaffes-553280">German defence minister Christine Lambrecht resigns after a series of gaffes</a></strong></p>

<p>In a statement making the announcement about the new defence minister Scholz said, “Pistorius is an extremely experienced politician who has administrative experience, has been involved in security policy for years”. He added, “with his competence, assertiveness and big heart, is just the right person to lead the Bundeswehr (armed forces) through this epochal change.”</p>

<p>The outgoing defence minister, Lambrecht, had recently come under fire for posting a video on social media on New Year's Day that attempted to recapitulate her experiences of the war in Ukraine while also thanking servicemen and women but could not be heard against the noise of fireworks around her. She drew major criticism from the opposition who called her message tone-deaf. Additionally, many had been critical of her performance as the defence minister as well as Germany’s response amid the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-european-allies-plan-to-send-tanks-to-ukraine-what-we-know-so-far-552934">Explained: Are European allies planning to send tanks to Ukraine?</a></strong></p>

<p>Notably, Berlin has been facing mounting pressure from its allies about the&nbsp;authorisation&nbsp;of the re-export of modern battle tanks to Ukraine.&nbsp;Since the Leopards are being produced by Munich-based defence company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann their delivery to Kyiv&nbsp;would require the authorisation of the country of origin which in this case is Germany.&nbsp;However, Scholz previously said that such a move would have to be coordinated with the entire Western alliance, including the US.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;</em><br />
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Germany named Boris Pistorius as the country’s new defence minister on Tuesday (January 17) following the resignation of Christine Lambrecht a day prior. This comes weeks after several missteps by the now former defence minister of Berlin and amid mounting pressure on the country from European allies to approve the re-export of Leopard tanks for Ukraine amid its ongoing conflict with Russia.

Germany named Boris Pistorius as the country’s new defence minister on Tuesday (January 17) following the resignation of Christine Lambrecht a day prior. This comes weeks after several missteps by the now former defence minister of Berlin and amid mounting pressure on the country from European allies to approve the re-export of Leopard tanks for Ukraine amid its ongoing conflict with Russia. Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s administration made the announcement and averted a possible government crisis ahead of the upcoming meeting with Western defence officials at the Ramstein military base, on Friday. According to the chancellor’s spokesperson, the 62-year-old German lawmaker from the country’s Lower Saxony state and Scholz’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) will be sworn in on Thursday. A day before the new defence minister is expected to host his US counterpart, Lloyd Austin in Berlin. Pistorius also completed his military service in the 1980s and has been serving as Germany’s interior minister in Lower Saxony since 2013. ALSO READ | German defence minister Christine Lambrecht resigns after a series of gaffes In a statement making the announcement about the new defence minister Scholz said, “Pistorius is an extremely experienced politician who has administrative experience, has been involved in security policy for years”. He added, “with his competence, assertiveness and big heart, is just the right person to lead the Bundeswehr (armed forces) through this epochal change.” The outgoing defence minister, Lambrecht, had recently come under fire for posting a video on social media on New Year's Day that attempted to recapitulate her experiences of the war in Ukraine while also thanking servicemen and women but could not be heard against the noise of fireworks around her. She drew major criticism from the opposition who called her message tone-deaf. Additionally, many had been critical of her performance as the defence minister as well as Germany’s response amid the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. ALSO READ | Explained: Are European allies planning to send tanks to Ukraine? Notably, Berlin has been facing mounting pressure from its allies about the authorisation of the re-export of modern battle tanks to Ukraine. Since the Leopards are being produced by Munich-based defence company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann their delivery to Kyiv would require the authorisation of the country of origin which in this case is Germany. However, Scholz previously said that such a move would have to be coordinated with the entire Western alliance, including the US. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Germany appoints Boris Pistorius as new defence minister, averts government crisis

Germany's defence minister Christine Lambrecht plans to resign as per a government source. This will potentially add to chancellor Olaf Scholz's problems. Watch further to know more.

German Defence minister to step down ?

German Defence Minister is under intense pressure and if reports are to be believed, she could soon be resigning according to a Berlin official. Christine Lambrecht is aiming to step down as early as next week and has already informed Chancellor Olive Schultz about the decision.

Germany: Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht to resign next week

Israel's new government plans to overhaul the country's judicial system, former Defense Minister Benny Gantz has urged people to take to the streets to oppose the judicial reform plan which he said could lead to Civil War in the country.

WION Dispatch: Israel's former defence minister opposes juidicial reform plan

The United States said that Pakistan has a right to defend itself from terrorism as the country has suffered tremendously from terrorist attacks.

Pakistan has a right to defend itself from terrorism, says U.S.

<p>Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will be in Arunachal&nbsp;Pradesh on Tuesday and&nbsp;inaugurate several infrastructure projects, both virtually and in person. In the bordering state, he will be&nbsp;inaugurating four bridges --Siyom ,&nbsp;Simar, Swamy and Moody bridges and&nbsp;Pangin Boleng road. All in all, he will be inaugurating 28 infrastructure projects in bordering states like Sikkim, Uttarakhand and union territories of Jammu &amp; Kashmir and Ladakh.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This is the first visit by a top Indian minister to the bordering state since the India-China face off on December 9. The face-off&nbsp;took place in LAC in Yangtse area of Tawang Sector when Chinese forces tried to transgress in the region. The incident led to injuries to a few personnel on both sides and was the worst ever face off since 2020 Galwan incident in Eastern Ladakh. The Galwan incident saw the worst ever loss of life at the Line of actual control between India and China in the last 45 years.</p>

<p>The projects have been completed by BRO at the cost of Rs 724.3 Cr. These include 22 Bridges and several roads. Bridges include 5 bridges in Union territory of J&amp;K --Maitra, Manna-II, Basti, Baknor, Begal, 8 in UT of Ladakh- PMH-II, III, IV, BR at KM 61,BR at KM 63, &nbsp;BR at KM 111.60, BR at KM 130, BR at KM 172, 2 Bridges in Uttarakhand-Dhauliganga, Gumrodi Nallah, 3 Bridges in Sikkim--kalep Chu, Samdong, Thangu. Roads that will be opened to the public are Srinagar-Sonmarg-Gumri road in UT of J&amp;K, Bhaironghati-Nelong in Uttarakhand.</p>

<p>India is ramping up its border infrastructure fast even as worries grow over Chinese infrastructure development in Tibet &amp; as Delhi-Beijing ties go southwards. EAM Jaishankar recently pointed out that ties with China are "not normal" and how "intense challenge" remain when it comes to the northern border.&nbsp;</p>

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Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will be in Arunachal Pradesh on Tuesday and inaugurate several infrastructure projects, both virtually and in person. In the bordering state, he will be inaugurating four bridges --Siyom , Simar, Swamy and Moody bridges and Pangin Boleng road.

Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will be in Arunachal Pradesh on Tuesday and inaugurate several infrastructure projects, both virtually and in person. In the bordering state, he will be inaugurating four bridges --Siyom , Simar, Swamy and Moody bridges and Pangin Boleng road. All in all, he will be inaugurating 28 infrastructure projects in bordering states like Sikkim, Uttarakhand and union territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. This is the first visit by a top Indian minister to the bordering state since the India-China face off on December 9. The face-off took place in LAC in Yangtse area of Tawang Sector when Chinese forces tried to transgress in the region. The incident led to injuries to a few personnel on both sides and was the worst ever face off since 2020 Galwan incident in Eastern Ladakh. The Galwan incident saw the worst ever loss of life at the Line of actual control between India and China in the last 45 years. The projects have been completed by BRO at the cost of Rs 724.3 Cr. These include 22 Bridges and several roads. Bridges include 5 bridges in Union territory of J&K --Maitra, Manna-II, Basti, Baknor, Begal, 8 in UT of Ladakh- PMH-II, III, IV, BR at KM 61,BR at KM 63, BR at KM 111.60, BR at KM 130, BR at KM 172, 2 Bridges in Uttarakhand-Dhauliganga, Gumrodi Nallah, 3 Bridges in Sikkim--kalep Chu, Samdong, Thangu. Roads that will be opened to the public are Srinagar-Sonmarg-Gumri road in UT of J&K, Bhaironghati-Nelong in Uttarakhand. India is ramping up its border infrastructure fast even as worries grow over Chinese infrastructure development in Tibet & as Delhi-Beijing ties go southwards. EAM Jaishankar recently pointed out that ties with China are "not normal" and how "intense challenge" remain when it comes to the northern border.

India: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to inaugurate infra projects in Arunachal Pradesh

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