Briefly

IRAQ

Turkish jets drop bombs on Kurdish rebel bases

The Turkish military late on Sunday launched airstrikes on the bases of outlawed Kurdish rebels in northern Iraq, the Turkish Defense Ministry announced. "Operation Claw-Eagle has started. Our planes are crushing the caves of terrorists," the ministry tweeted. The air raids targeted Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) bases in northern Iraq, including in Kandil, Sinjar and Hakurk, it added. The PKK, which has fought an insurgency against the state since 1984, is banned as a terrorist group by Ankara and its Western allies. The group has rear bases in northern Iraq. The Turkish military launches regular raids against Kurdish militants in the southeast of the country as well as in northern Iraq.

RUSSIA

Former US Marine jailed for espionage

The Moscow City Court on Monday sentenced US citizen Paul Whelan to 16 years in jail after finding him guilty of spying in Russia, local media reported. The prosecution had asked the court to imprison Whelan, a former US Marine, for 18 years, just short of the 20-year maximum term for the charge. In the court, Whelan announced his intention to appeal the verdict and claimed that he was framed. Whelan's lawyer Vladimir Zherebenkov told reporters that after the appeal they will decide whether to request a pardon or an exchange for Russians Konstantin Yaroshenko or Viktor Bout, who are jailed in the United States.

JAPAN

Plan to deploy new missile system halted

Japanese Defense Minister Taro Kono said on Monday that he had suspended plans to deploy two Aegis Ashore air defense radar stations designed to detect and counter ballistic missiles of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Kono told reporters that Japan was halting the deployment due to technical issues as well as cost. The Lockheed Martin radar sites are in the northern prefecture of Akita and Yamaguchi prefecture in southern Japan. The two planned Aegis Ashore systems would cost about $4.1 billion for operation and maintenance over the next 30 years, according to ministry documents.

INDIA

Mumbai railway opens for state employees

Mumbai resumed limited railway services within the city on Monday, after more than two months of shutdown, for 125,000 employees providing essential services. Spread over more than 390 kilometers, Mumbai's rail network is popularly termed the city's lifeline and normally carries about 7.5 million commuters daily. On March 23 it was shut down as part of a nationwide lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A statement issued by the railway company said that it will operate 390 services across its three lines and these will not be available for the general public.

Agencies - Xinhua