BJP will hold an intense training programme of&nbsp;two days for all its Members of Parliament in Delhi to train and sensitise them on the issues related to parliamentary practice, ideology and party.&nbsp;

The importance of this meeting lies in the fact that the training session would give clarity to MPs on crucial ideological issues which are important to BJP. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also attend Abhyas Varg on both days and is expected to speak at the event as well.

Sources also said that speakers from outside may also address the party MPs. Strict instructions have been sent from the organization that it should not be given a miss at all.&nbsp;

The programme is expected to start at 9 am and would finish at 9 pm.&nbsp;MPs will have breakfast, lunch and dinner at the venue of the training session itself.&nbsp;

Though details of the programme have not been officially released by the party the exercise is to ensure that certain basics of being a Member of Parliament, minister and organizational position holder are made clear to everyone in the party.

This is in contrast to all the major Opposition parties who hold a great public commitment to a certain ideology in public domain do very little to train their MPs when it comes to ideological commitment and responsibility towards parliament and the party.&nbsp;

In this case, BJP has charted a different course and has continued with a vigorous training programme for its elected representatives. Abhyas Varg will be organized in the Parliament for the BJP MPs.

BJP will hold an intense training programme of two days for all its Members of Parliament in Delhi to train and sensitise them on the issues related to parliamentary practice, ideology and party.

BJP will hold an intense training programme of two days for all its Members of Parliament in Delhi to train and sensitise them on the issues related to parliamentary practice, ideology and party. The importance of this meeting lies in the fact that the training session would give clarity to MPs on crucial ideological issues which are important to BJP. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also attend Abhyas Varg on both days and is expected to speak at the event as well. Sources also said that speakers from outside may also address the party MPs. Strict instructions have been sent from the organization that it should not be given a miss at all. The programme is expected to start at 9 am and would finish at 9 pm. MPs will have breakfast, lunch and dinner at the venue of the training session itself. Though details of the programme have not been officially released by the party the exercise is to ensure that certain basics of being a Member of Parliament, minister and organizational position holder are made clear to everyone in the party. This is in contrast to all the major Opposition parties who hold a great public commitment to a certain ideology in public domain do very little to train their MPs when it comes to ideological commitment and responsibility towards parliament and the party. In this case, BJP has charted a different course and has continued with a vigorous training programme for its elected representatives. Abhyas Varg will be organized in the Parliament for the BJP MPs.

Now a training camp for lawmakers: BJP to conduct 'Abhyaas Varg' for its MPs

Ahead of China's National Day on Monday, President Xi Jinping on Sunday emphasised on efforts to strengthen training and war preparedness of the military, and warned against any thought or behaviour that strayed away from real combat to win wars.

Xi, 64, is regarded as the most powerful Chinese leader after the founder of the People's Republic of China Mao Zedong as he heads the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC), the military and the Presidency.

China celebrates its 69th National Day on Monday with one week of "golden holidays" during which the country virtually shuts down.

On Monday, he along with other leaders of the CPC and the state paid tribute to the national heroes at the Monument to the People's Heroes at Tian'anmen Square here.

Xi, who is the chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) -- the overall high command of the two million-strong military -- inspected the 79th Group Army of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in Shenyang on Friday.

During the visit, Xi stressed efforts to strengthen the military training and war preparedness of the armed forces and improve its capability to win wars, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

Xi listened to the work report of the Group Army and delivered a speech warning against any thought and behaviour that strayed away from real combat, highlighting the implementation of combat requirement throughout training and preparation, the report said.

He asked the military to stay focused on the tasks, opponents and environment of combat, to firmly hold the initiative in both strategy and battle.

Since he assumed power in 2012, Xi has been stressing real time training of the PLA in order to be combat ready.

Besides carrying massive anti-corruption drive in the military in which over 50 top Generals of the army were punished, Xi has also reorganised the whole command structure of the military which included retrenchment of three lakh troops.

In his speech on Friday, Xi who has been stressing the military to strictly function under the leadership of the CPC, said that it was important to deepen the implementation of the Party's thinking on strengthening the military in the new era and military strategy for new conditions.

Xi visited the training ground of an aviation brigade of the Group Army and heard the innovation in command and coordination, battle strategy and equipment update, it said.

He inspected the weapons and equipment of the armed forces and asked detailed questions about attack helicopters.

Wearing a special helmet, Xi boarded a Z-10 helicopter, the third-generation of China's home-developed attack helicopters, and manipulated the airborne weapon and aiming system.

Xi went on the control tower of an airport to observe military drills. Dozens of helicopters took part in the drills, which included low altitude flights, aerial reconnaissance and air assaults.

He asked 79th Group Army to integrate itself into the joint operation system of the PLA, carry out the requirements for transformation of the army and accelerate the building of new combat forces, to further liberate and develop its combat capability, Xi said.

He added that the military must be built and managed in terms of thinking and political orientation, and the ideological and political foundation for obeying the Party's command should be consolidated while officers and soldiers' faith should be strengthened in daring to battle and being sure to win, the Xinhua report said.&nbsp;

Ahead of China's National Day on Monday, President Xi Jinping on Sunday emphasised on efforts to strengthen training and war preparedness of the military, and warned against any thought or behaviour that strayed away from real combat to win wars.

Ahead of China's National Day on Monday, President Xi Jinping on Sunday emphasised on efforts to strengthen training and war preparedness of the military, and warned against any thought or behaviour that strayed away from real combat to win wars. Xi, 64, is regarded as the most powerful Chinese leader after the founder of the People's Republic of China Mao Zedong as he heads the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC), the military and the Presidency. China celebrates its 69th National Day on Monday with one week of "golden holidays" during which the country virtually shuts down. On Monday, he along with other leaders of the CPC and the state paid tribute to the national heroes at the Monument to the People's Heroes at Tian'anmen Square here. Xi, who is the chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) -- the overall high command of the two million-strong military -- inspected the 79th Group Army of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in Shenyang on Friday. During the visit, Xi stressed efforts to strengthen the military training and war preparedness of the armed forces and improve its capability to win wars, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. Xi listened to the work report of the Group Army and delivered a speech warning against any thought and behaviour that strayed away from real combat, highlighting the implementation of combat requirement throughout training and preparation, the report said. He asked the military to stay focused on the tasks, opponents and environment of combat, to firmly hold the initiative in both strategy and battle. Since he assumed power in 2012, Xi has been stressing real time training of the PLA in order to be combat ready. Besides carrying massive anti-corruption drive in the military in which over 50 top Generals of the army were punished, Xi has also reorganised the whole command structure of the military which included retrenchment of three lakh troops. In his speech on Friday, Xi who has been stressing the military to strictly function under the leadership of the CPC, said that it was important to deepen the implementation of the Party's thinking on strengthening the military in the new era and military strategy for new conditions. Xi visited the training ground of an aviation brigade of the Group Army and heard the innovation in command and coordination, battle strategy and equipment update, it said. He inspected the weapons and equipment of the armed forces and asked detailed questions about attack helicopters. Wearing a special helmet, Xi boarded a Z-10 helicopter, the third-generation of China's home-developed attack helicopters, and manipulated the airborne weapon and aiming system. Xi went on the control tower of an airport to observe military drills. Dozens of helicopters took part in the drills, which included low altitude flights, aerial reconnaissance and air assaults. He asked 79th Group Army to integrate itself into the joint operation system of the PLA, carry out the requirements for transformation of the army and accelerate the building of new combat forces, to further liberate and develop its combat capability, Xi said. He added that the military must be built and managed in terms of thinking and political orientation, and the ideological and political foundation for obeying the Party's command should be consolidated while officers and soldiers' faith should be strengthened in daring to battle and being sure to win, the Xinhua report said.

President Xi emphasises to strengthen training and war preparedness ahead of China's National Day

Japan is drawing up plans requiring all senior government bureaucrats to undergo anti-sexual harassment training, an official said today, after a scandal involving a top finance ministry employee.

"We are now preparing such a plan," a cabinet office official told, adding that a final version will be presented at a meeting headed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe later this month.

The move comes after the top bureaucrat at the Finance Ministry quit in April following allegations he sexually harassed female reporters.

He denied the claims, but a ministry probe subsequently found the allegations credible and docked his retirement benefits.

The finance ministry was slammed for its poor handling of the case, with Finance Minister Taro Aso initially dismissing the allegations and officials later calling on victims to come forward publicly.

Earlier this week, a foreign ministry official in charge of Russian affairs was suspended for nine months, with Japanese media widely reporting he had been accused of sexual harassment.

Foreign Minister Taro Kono has declined to clarify why the bureaucrat was suspended, citing the privacy of "the victim." The training plan could be approved as early as next week at the meeting entitled "Base for creating a society where all women shine," that Abe will head, the Mainichi Shimbun newspaper reported.

How many officials will be required to undergo the training remains unclear, though some media reported it may become mandatory for bureaucrats seeking promotion.

Abe has made increasing female participation in the workforce a key plank of his economic policies as Japan struggles with a labour shortage.

But the country ranked bottom among G7 countries in the World Economic Forum's latest "Global Gender Gap Report", coming 114th worldwide.

It scored poorly on women's participation in the economy and political involvement.

The #MeToo movement has sometimes seemed to have skipped Japan, though some observers said the outcry over the finance ministry case suggested a reckoning could now happen in the country too.

The sexual harassment scandal at the finance ministry has proved an additional headache for Abe, whose government is already under fire over two cronyism scandals -- one of which involves the scrubbing of documents by the finance ministry.

The move comes after the top bureaucrat at the Finance Ministry quit in April following allegations he sexually harassed female reporters

Japan is drawing up plans requiring all senior government bureaucrats to undergo anti-sexual harassment training, an official said today, after a scandal involving a top finance ministry employee. "We are now preparing such a plan," a cabinet office official told, adding that a final version will be presented at a meeting headed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe later this month. The move comes after the top bureaucrat at the Finance Ministry quit in April following allegations he sexually harassed female reporters. He denied the claims, but a ministry probe subsequently found the allegations credible and docked his retirement benefits. The finance ministry was slammed for its poor handling of the case, with Finance Minister Taro Aso initially dismissing the allegations and officials later calling on victims to come forward publicly. Earlier this week, a foreign ministry official in charge of Russian affairs was suspended for nine months, with Japanese media widely reporting he had been accused of sexual harassment. Foreign Minister Taro Kono has declined to clarify why the bureaucrat was suspended, citing the privacy of "the victim." The training plan could be approved as early as next week at the meeting entitled "Base for creating a society where all women shine," that Abe will head, the Mainichi Shimbun newspaper reported. How many officials will be required to undergo the training remains unclear, though some media reported it may become mandatory for bureaucrats seeking promotion. Abe has made increasing female participation in the workforce a key plank of his economic policies as Japan struggles with a labour shortage. But the country ranked bottom among G7 countries in the World Economic Forum's latest "Global Gender Gap Report", coming 114th worldwide. It scored poorly on women's participation in the economy and political involvement. The #MeToo movement has sometimes seemed to have skipped Japan, though some observers said the outcry over the finance ministry case suggested a reckoning could now happen in the country too. The sexual harassment scandal at the finance ministry has proved an additional headache for Abe, whose government is already under fire over two cronyism scandals -- one of which involves the scrubbing of documents by the finance ministry.

Japan plans anti-sexual harassment training for officials

The Railways will spend around Rs 350 crore to train 1.5 lakh drivers and assistant drivers through virtual reality techniques to bridge the gap between theoretical and practical learning, an official said on Wednesday.

The training will be conducted in 47 centres across zones and the national transporter will soon float a global tender to acquire about 40 simulators for the purpose.

"We spend almost a month in giving drivers on-road training. They learn all the techniques in theory, but through these virtual reality techniques, they will learn how to navigate routes, signals, curves, bridges and any other situation as if they are actually driving a real train," said the senior official of the ministry.

Fitted with computer-generated motion images, the simulator will have a man-machine interface, a host of computers and a video camera to capture the movements of the driver.

It would look like a sophisticated electric locomotive and drivers would feel as if they are steering a train on a specified route.

The motion pictures on the monitor in front of the wheel would keep changing and drivers would feel a flurry of activity around them, such as the passing of other trains on adjacent tracks, people and cattle crossing the tracks and sharp bends.

Some zonal railways have already experimented with simulators. The first one was tried in Vadodara and the second in Vijayawada where assistant driver recruits were trained on the state-of-the-art simulators.

Globally, simulator-based training is being imparted by operators in the US, France and Spain and has emerged as a critical component of crew training for it presents a real-life environment and exposes trainees to unusual occurrences.

"This will test how alert a trainee is. They will learn how to deal with a hazardous situation by actually experiencing it and dealing with it. It will greatly improve their skills," said the official.

Over 12,000 electric and diesel locomotives daily run on a 66,000-km network across the country. There are about 86,000 train drivers.&nbsp

The training will be conducted in 47 centres across zones and the national transporter will soon float a global tender to acquire about 40 simulators for the purpose.

The Railways will spend around Rs 350 crore to train 1.5 lakh drivers and assistant drivers through virtual reality techniques to bridge the gap between theoretical and practical learning, an official said on Wednesday. The training will be conducted in 47 centres across zones and the national transporter will soon float a global tender to acquire about 40 simulators for the purpose. "We spend almost a month in giving drivers on-road training. They learn all the techniques in theory, but through these virtual reality techniques, they will learn how to navigate routes, signals, curves, bridges and any other situation as if they are actually driving a real train," said the senior official of the ministry. Fitted with computer-generated motion images, the simulator will have a man-machine interface, a host of computers and a video camera to capture the movements of the driver. It would look like a sophisticated electric locomotive and drivers would feel as if they are steering a train on a specified route. The motion pictures on the monitor in front of the wheel would keep changing and drivers would feel a flurry of activity around them, such as the passing of other trains on adjacent tracks, people and cattle crossing the tracks and sharp bends. Some zonal railways have already experimented with simulators. The first one was tried in Vadodara and the second in Vijayawada where assistant driver recruits were trained on the state-of-the-art simulators. Globally, simulator-based training is being imparted by operators in the US, France and Spain and has emerged as a critical component of crew training for it presents a real-life environment and exposes trainees to unusual occurrences. "This will test how alert a trainee is. They will learn how to deal with a hazardous situation by actually experiencing it and dealing with it. It will greatly improve their skills," said the official. Over 12,000 electric and diesel locomotives daily run on a 66,000-km network across the country. There are about 86,000 train drivers.

Railways to spend Rs 350cr, train drivers on simulators

Union Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore on Saturday visited the Dr Karni Singh Range here and interacted with the shooters undergoing training to take feedbacks from them.

Being an Olympic silver medallist marksman, Rathore posted pictures of the visit on his Twitter.&nbsp; In one of them, he is seen sitting on a mat on the floor while talking to a shooter.

&quot;Taking feedback from shooters themselves about the facility. As its regular users, they know best the improvements needed in equipment and infra,&quot; Rathore wrote on his official Twitter handle.

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At Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range. 
 
Taking feedback from shooters themselves about the facility. 
 
As its regular users, they know best the improvements needed in equipment and infra.<a href="https://twitter.com/IndiaSports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IndiaSports</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Media_SAI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Media_SAI</a> <a href="https://t.co/9jeZc8gGl7">pic.twitter.com/9jeZc8gGl7</a>
&mdash; Rajyavardhan Rathore (@Ra_THORe) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ra_THORe/status/947071976534712320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 30, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Yesterday, he met and interacted with young archers practising at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

&quot;Enquired after their training. A motivated, energetic bunch of youngsters. India has lots of hope from them, and many more like them,&quot; Rathore, who won a silver in the double trap event, had tweeted.

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Interaction with young archers practicing at JLN Stadium. Enquired after their training. A motivated, energetic bunch of youngsters. India has lots of hope from them, and many more like them. <a href="https://t.co/3da7GAYHFO">pic.twitter.com/3da7GAYHFO</a>
&mdash; Rajyavardhan Rathore (@Ra_THORe) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ra_THORe/status/946697469781352448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 29, 2017</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

Yesterday, he interacted with young archers practising at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium

Union Sports Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore on Saturday visited the Dr Karni Singh Range here and interacted with the shooters undergoing training to take feedbacks from them. Being an Olympic silver medallist marksman, Rathore posted pictures of the visit on his Twitter. In one of them, he is seen sitting on a mat on the floor while talking to a shooter. "Taking feedback from shooters themselves about the facility. As its regular users, they know best the improvements needed in equipment and infra," Rathore wrote on his official Twitter handle. At Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range. Taking feedback from shooters themselves about the facility. As its regular users, they know best the improvements needed in equipment and infra.@IndiaSports @Media_SAI pic.twitter.com/9jeZc8gGl7 — Rajyavardhan Rathore (@Ra_THORe) December 30, 2017 × Yesterday, he met and interacted with young archers practising at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. "Enquired after their training. A motivated, energetic bunch of youngsters. India has lots of hope from them, and many more like them," Rathore, who won a silver in the double trap event, had tweeted. Interaction with young archers practicing at JLN Stadium. Enquired after their training. A motivated, energetic bunch of youngsters. India has lots of hope from them, and many more like them. pic.twitter.com/3da7GAYHFO — Rajyavardhan Rathore (@Ra_THORe) December 29, 2017 ×

Union Sports Minister visits Karni Singh Shooting Range

With Xinjiang tightening anti-terror law banning instigation of people to cross border to undergo terror training Pakistan army chief General Raheel Sharif has assured China of cracking down on militant outfits blamed for attacks in the volatile province. 
 
Pakistan will firmly crackdown on terrorist forces like the &quot;East Turkestan Islamic Movement&quot; (ETIM) and protect the security of &quot;China-Pakistan Economic Corridor&quot;, (CEPC) state-run China Military Online quoted him as saying during his meeting with China&#39;s top military official Fang Fenghui in Urumqi, provincial capital of Xinjiang on Tuesday. 
 
Fang is the member of China&#39;s Central Military Commission (CMC), the highest military body and Chief of the Joint Staff Department of the CMC. 
 
Sharif was in Urumqi to attend the Quadrilateral Cooperation and Coordination Mechanism in Counter Terrorism by Afghanistan-China-Pakistan-Tajikistan Armed Forces. 
 
His assurance of firm crackdown followed China-Pakistan border police recently launching first joint patrols of the disputed Pakistan Controlled Kashmir (POK) border amid reports that 114 Uyghurs Muslims from Xinjiang joined Islamic State in Syria. 
 
Xinjiang, the home for Uyghurs who resented the increasing settlements of Hans from other provinces has witnessed violent attacks in recent years. 
 
China blamed ETIM, a separatist outfit linked to al-Qaeda for the attacks. Under pressure from China, Pakistan army has conducted military operations against ETIM training bases in the tribal areas bordering Pakistan and Afghanistan in recent months. 
 
Xinjiang recently adopted new anti-terrorism rules stipulating reassessment of risk levels of prisoners before release and solitary confinement and education for ring leaders. 
 
The new rules stipulated that recruiting, training or transporting terror-related personnel will be regarded as carrying out terror activities, as will as organising or instigating others to illegally cross into another country to participate in terror activities or terror training, state-run Global Times reported. 
 
The Quadrilateral Cooperation and Coordination Mechanism formed by China significantly includes Afghanistan which also shares borders with Xinjiang.&nbsp; 
 
(PTI)

Under Chinese pressure, Pakistan army has lately conducted operations against al-Qaeda linked ETIM's training bases

With Xinjiang tightening anti-terror law banning instigation of people to cross border to undergo terror training Pakistan army chief General Raheel Sharif has assured China of cracking down on militant outfits blamed for attacks in the volatile province. Pakistan will firmly crackdown on terrorist forces like the "East Turkestan Islamic Movement" (ETIM) and protect the security of "China-Pakistan Economic Corridor", (CEPC) state-run China Military Online quoted him as saying during his meeting with China's top military official Fang Fenghui in Urumqi, provincial capital of Xinjiang on Tuesday. Fang is the member of China's Central Military Commission (CMC), the highest military body and Chief of the Joint Staff Department of the CMC. Sharif was in Urumqi to attend the Quadrilateral Cooperation and Coordination Mechanism in Counter Terrorism by Afghanistan-China-Pakistan-Tajikistan Armed Forces. His assurance of firm crackdown followed China-Pakistan border police recently launching first joint patrols of the disputed Pakistan Controlled Kashmir (POK) border amid reports that 114 Uyghurs Muslims from Xinjiang joined Islamic State in Syria. Xinjiang, the home for Uyghurs who resented the increasing settlements of Hans from other provinces has witnessed violent attacks in recent years. China blamed ETIM, a separatist outfit linked to al-Qaeda for the attacks. Under pressure from China, Pakistan army has conducted military operations against ETIM training bases in the tribal areas bordering Pakistan and Afghanistan in recent months. Xinjiang recently adopted new anti-terrorism rules stipulating reassessment of risk levels of prisoners before release and solitary confinement and education for ring leaders. The new rules stipulated that recruiting, training or transporting terror-related personnel will be regarded as carrying out terror activities, as will as organising or instigating others to illegally cross into another country to participate in terror activities or terror training, state-run Global Times reported. The Quadrilateral Cooperation and Coordination Mechanism formed by China significantly includes Afghanistan which also shares borders with Xinjiang. (PTI)

Pakistan army chief promises China firm crackdown on Uyghur militants

An Oslo court on Wednesday jailed two jihadists of Pakistani and Chechen origin for six and seven and a half years, respectively, for joining the&nbsp;Islamic State&nbsp;in Syria. 
 
Adam Idrisovich Magomadov, a 23-year-old Russian of Chechen origin, and Hasan Ahmed, a 46-year-old Norwegian of Pakistani origin, were convicted of belonging to IS and of &quot;terror conspiracy&quot;. 
 
The two men, who had been living in Southeastern Norway, travelled together to Syria in August 2014, a little more than a month after the IS declared a caliphate in an area straddling Iraq and Syria. 
 
While there, the two took part in IS training programmes, vowed allegiance to the group, and bore weapons in its name, the court found. Magomadov was handed a heavier sentence because he stayed in Syria longer. 
 
The court found it likely that he had taken part in combat, that he had maintained ties with IS after returning to Norway, and that he, like his co-accused, planned to return to Syria. 
 
Ahmed, whose son Ishaq was also sentenced to eight years in prison in Norway last year for joining IS, will appeal the conviction, while Magomadov had not yet decided, their lawyers told public broadcaster NRK. Their sentences were in line with those requested by the prosecution. 
 
(AFP)

The two took part in IS training programmes, vowed allegiance to the group and bore weapons in its name

An Oslo court on Wednesday jailed two jihadists of Pakistani and Chechen origin for six and seven and a half years, respectively, for joining the Islamic State in Syria. Adam Idrisovich Magomadov, a 23-year-old Russian of Chechen origin, and Hasan Ahmed, a 46-year-old Norwegian of Pakistani origin, were convicted of belonging to IS and of "terror conspiracy". The two men, who had been living in Southeastern Norway, travelled together to Syria in August 2014, a little more than a month after the IS declared a caliphate in an area straddling Iraq and Syria. While there, the two took part in IS training programmes, vowed allegiance to the group, and bore weapons in its name, the court found. Magomadov was handed a heavier sentence because he stayed in Syria longer. The court found it likely that he had taken part in combat, that he had maintained ties with IS after returning to Norway, and that he, like his co-accused, planned to return to Syria. Ahmed, whose son Ishaq was also sentenced to eight years in prison in Norway last year for joining IS, will appeal the conviction, while Magomadov had not yet decided, their lawyers told public broadcaster NRK. Their sentences were in line with those requested by the prosecution. (AFP)

Pakistani and Chechen-origin jihadists jailed in Norway

The US military conducted air strikes in Libya on Monday, following a government request to target the Islamic State group&#39;s Libyan stronghold of Sirte, the Pentagon announced. 
 
While the Pentagon has previously carried out air attacks on specific high-value IS targets in Libya, Monday&#39;s action marked the first known US strikes in Sirte itself. 
 
&quot;At the request of the Libyan Government of National Accord, the United States military conducted precision air strikes against ISIL targets in Sirte, Libya, to support GNA-affiliated forces seeking to defeat ISIL in its primary stronghold in Libya,&quot; Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook said in a statement, using an acronym for the IS group. 
 
US strikes in Sirte &quot;will continue&quot;, Cook added without elaborating. 
 
President Barack Obama authorised the bombings following recommendations from top pentagon officials, and the strikes were &quot;consistent with our approach to combating ISIL by working with capable and motivated local forces&quot;, Cook added. 
 
&quot;The US stands with the international community in supporting the GNA as it strives to restore stability and security to Libya,&quot; he said. 
 
Monday&#39;s action comes after a US strike targeted an IS training camp in a rural area near Sabratha, outside Tripoli, in February, likely killing an IS leader called Noureddine Chouchane and dozens of other jihadists. 
 
In November, a US strike killed Abu Nabil, another IS leader who was also known as Wissam Najm Abd Zayd al-Zubaydi. 
 
A US senior administration official said US action would be limited to strikes and information sharing to support these, and that 
American troops would not take part in any ground operations to support the GNA. 
 
The official said precision strikes would target key IS military infrastructure such as tanks, high-caliber weapons and command and control nodes.&nbsp;Libya spiraled into chaos after longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi was ousted and killed in October 2011, with two governments vying for power and armed groups battling to control vast energy resources. 
 
Exploiting Libya&#39;s power vacuum, IS jihadists established a foothold in Libya, especially in Sirte. The Pentagon estimates fewer than 1,000 IS fighters are in Sirte. 
 
(AFP)

Monday's action comes after a US strike targeted an IS training camp in a rural area near Sabratha, outside Tripoli, in February

The US military conducted air strikes in Libya on Monday, following a government request to target the Islamic State group's Libyan stronghold of Sirte, the Pentagon announced. While the Pentagon has previously carried out air attacks on specific high-value IS targets in Libya, Monday's action marked the first known US strikes in Sirte itself. "At the request of the Libyan Government of National Accord, the United States military conducted precision air strikes against ISIL targets in Sirte, Libya, to support GNA-affiliated forces seeking to defeat ISIL in its primary stronghold in Libya," Pentagon press secretary Peter Cook said in a statement, using an acronym for the IS group. US strikes in Sirte "will continue", Cook added without elaborating. President Barack Obama authorised the bombings following recommendations from top pentagon officials, and the strikes were "consistent with our approach to combating ISIL by working with capable and motivated local forces", Cook added. "The US stands with the international community in supporting the GNA as it strives to restore stability and security to Libya," he said. Monday's action comes after a US strike targeted an IS training camp in a rural area near Sabratha, outside Tripoli, in February, likely killing an IS leader called Noureddine Chouchane and dozens of other jihadists. In November, a US strike killed Abu Nabil, another IS leader who was also known as Wissam Najm Abd Zayd al-Zubaydi. A US senior administration official said US action would be limited to strikes and information sharing to support these, and that American troops would not take part in any ground operations to support the GNA. The official said precision strikes would target key IS military infrastructure such as tanks, high-caliber weapons and command and control nodes. Libya spiraled into chaos after longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi was ousted and killed in October 2011, with two governments vying for power and armed groups battling to control vast energy resources. Exploiting Libya's power vacuum, IS jihadists established a foothold in Libya, especially in Sirte. The Pentagon estimates fewer than 1,000 IS fighters are in Sirte. (AFP)

US launches first anti-IS air strikes in Libya's Sirte

Two women will soon be the first female soldiers to undergo training to become members of the Green Berets, the US Army&#39;s special forces, the military said on Monday.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;They are the first two women who have been selected for special forces assessment&quot; following the elimination of the ban on women in combat roles, said Major Melody Faulkenberry, a spokeswoman for the United States Army John F Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School.&nbsp; 
 
She did not give additional details about the candidates. President Barack Obama&#39;s administration decided in 2013 that all combat positions should be open to women by 2016, including the infantry and special operations forces.&nbsp;The Marines had requested some exemptions, but these were overruled by defence secretary Ashton Carter. 
 
Two female Marines were assigned to frontline infantry roles in May, though it will take some time before they are placed in their new roles. 
 
Rules stipulate that a female &quot;leadership cadre&quot; needs to be established in their units at least three months beforehand. 
 
Although women warriors have frequently found themselves in combat situations in Iraq and Afghanistan, they had previously been barred from joining frontline combat roles. 
 
Currently, women account for 15.6 per cent of the 1.34 million active duty personnel in the Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force. 
 
(AFP)

Two women have been selected to undergo training to become members of this elite force

Two women will soon be the first female soldiers to undergo training to become members of the Green Berets, the US Army's special forces, the military said on Monday. "They are the first two women who have been selected for special forces assessment" following the elimination of the ban on women in combat roles, said Major Melody Faulkenberry, a spokeswoman for the United States Army John F Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School. She did not give additional details about the candidates. President Barack Obama's administration decided in 2013 that all combat positions should be open to women by 2016, including the infantry and special operations forces. The Marines had requested some exemptions, but these were overruled by defence secretary Ashton Carter. Two female Marines were assigned to frontline infantry roles in May, though it will take some time before they are placed in their new roles. Rules stipulate that a female "leadership cadre" needs to be established in their units at least three months beforehand. Although women warriors have frequently found themselves in combat situations in Iraq and Afghanistan, they had previously been barred from joining frontline combat roles. Currently, women account for 15.6 per cent of the 1.34 million active duty personnel in the Army, Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force. (AFP)

US Army to accept first female Green Berets

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