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Asia Pacific
US Navy Confirms Demotion of Captain of Virus-Hit Carrier
The US Navy said Friday it would not reinstate the captain of a coronavirus-stricken aircraft carrier, saying he was in part to blame for the severity of the crisis on the warship. Admiral Michael Gilday, chief of naval operations, said Brett Crozier, who was fired as captain of the USS Theodore Roosevelt in April, was guilty of “questionable judgment” in handling an outbreak of COVID-19 aboard the nuclear-powered ship in March. Gilday likewise faulted Rear Admiral Stuart Baker, Crozier’s direct supervisor as the carrier’s strike group commander, for poor leadership. “It is my belief that both Admiral Baker and Captain Crozier fell well short of what we expect of those in command,” Gilday said. “In reviewing both Admiral Baker’s and Captain Crozier’s actions, they did not do enough, soon enough, to fulfill their primary obligation” to keep the ship’s 5,000 crew safe. After a two-month investigation, the Navy decided that Crozier would not return to the Roosevelt and not be eligible to captain another ship. Baker’s expected promotion meanwhile has been placed on hold, pending further review. The coronavirus outbreak onboard the Roosevelt was one of the first US crises of the pandemic, crippling the massive ship and forcing it …
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Africa
Al-Qaeda North Africa Confirms Chief Is Dead: SITE
Al-Qaeda's North Africa wing has confirmed that its Algerian chief Abdelmalek Droukdel is dead, according to SITE, the US watchdog for extremist groups.
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Africa
UN Accuses Multiple Countries of Quietly Sending Arms to DR Congo
DR Congo's military is receiving weapons and training from multiple countries without notifying the UN as required by a 2004 resolution.
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Africa
Nigeria Attacks Spark Fears of Bloodier Jihadist Strategy
People in northeast Nigeria are no strangers to horror after a decade-long jihadist insurgency, but a flurry of bloody assaults has ramped up fears that a powerful jihadist faction may be opening a grim new chapter.
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Middle East
Rockets Hit Baghdad’s Green Zone for the Fifth Time in 10 Days
Rockets hit Baghdad's Green Zone, home to the US embassy, on Thursday, the fifth such attack in 10 days.
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Africa
Cameroon General Says Troops Kill 24 Separatists
Troops carrying out raids in a western region of Cameroon have killed 24 people described as separatists, a general said.
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Middle East
Turkey Hits PKK in Iraq: Why Now and How Far Could It Go?
Turkey launched a rare ground assault into northern Iraq, deploying special forces against rebels from the Kurdistan Workers' Party which is blacklisted by Ankara as a 'terrorist' group.
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Middle East
Taliban Raids on Afghan Security Posts Kill 18
Taliban fighters killed at least 18 Afghan security personnel Wednesday in two attacks on checkpoints in the north.
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Middle East
Turkey Deploys Troops Against Kurdish Rebels in Iraq
Turkey launched an air and ground offensive against Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq on Wednesday, in a move likely to increase friction with the Baghdad government. The defense ministry said “commandos” moved in supported by drones and helicopters, following a bombardment with rocket launchers and artillery guns that hit more than 150 targets. It added that the operation, dubbed “Claw-Tiger,” came after a “recent upsurge in attacks on our police stations and military bases” near the Iraqi border. Turkey carried out air strikes earlier this week that drew an angry response from Iraq, which labeled them “a violation of sovereignty.” The Turkish military regularly carries out operations against the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in southeast Turkey and its rear bases across the border. The operation on Sunday night saw raids in the northern Iraqi territories of Kandil, Sinjar, and Hakurk. ‘Natural Right’ President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan‘s ruling party spokesman defended Turkey’s actions. “Turkey continues its effective fight against terror using its rights based on international law,” Omer Celik said on Twitter. “It is our most natural right and duty to fight against terrorists who attack our borders, citizens and security forces.” The PKK, which has fought an insurgency against the Turkish state since …
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Asia Pacific
North Korea Threatens to Beef up Military Presence Around DMZ
North Korea threatened Wednesday to bolster its military presence in and around the Demilitarized Zone, a day after blowing up its liaison office with the South, prompting sharp criticism from Seoul.
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