Highlights of the week from Third World War website

Paris: US President Donald Trump expressed strong displeasure upon French President Emmanuel Macron’s proposal for a European army, leaving the United States out. A few days ago, the French President had stated in an article that Europe needed to build a ‘real European army’ to protect itself from the United States, Russia and China.

Since the last few years, the European Union (EU) has made efforts for building an independent European army, and Germany and France have taken the lead for it. Nevertheless, the United Kingdom bitterly opposed their lead and has outright rejected all the proposals presented to the EU in its regard. However, as the United Kingdom is stepping out of the bloc after Brexit, the activities for an independent European army, are gaining momentum.

Kinshasa: – In the second outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus which hit DR Congo this year, the government recorded more than 200 deaths. The health ministry has claimed that it is the worst Ebola outbreak to have hit DR Congo in history. Given the increasing extent of the epidemic in DR Congo, the neighbouring country of Uganda has initiated preventive measures to counter the epidemic with additional screening and stocks of the vaccine doses.

The new Ebola outbreak is on a rampage in the eastern parts of DR Congo and has claimed more than 200 lives. With over 300 confirmed cases of Ebola, the number of probable cases the local officials fear may be even higher. The World Health Organisation (WHO) had raised concerns in the last month, over the situation in the virus-hit region worsening due to the ongoing rebel conflict here.

Jerusalem/Gaza: On Monday night, Hamas challenged Israel by launching more than 300 rockets, mortars and missiles over the Israeli borders. About 16 people were injured in the attacks. Infuriated by the attacks, the Israel military carried out crushing attacks on 60 Hamas locations in Gaza Strip. Al-Aqsa, the Hamas TV channel, was also destroyed in the Israeli attacks. Following the Hamas air attacks, it appears that Israel has prepared for a massive strike as it increased the deployment of tanks and artillery at the Gaza border.

Two days ago, the Israeli special forces in operation, entered the Gaza Strip and eliminated seven people including a Hamas commander. The Israeli defence chief announced that the operation was undertaken to eliminate the Hamas commander who was a significant threat to Israel’s security. Nevertheless, accusing the Israeli action of violating the ceasefire, Hamas had threatened to make a strong retaliation.

Jerusalem: The conflict that was raging for past two days between Hamas and Israel, with the former launching 400 rocket attacks, followed by Israel’s crushing air raids, seems to have quietened down. Although a ceasefire is in effect between the two sides, there is a major political turmoil in Israel over the issue. The Israeli Defence Minister, Avigdor Lieberman has resigned saying Israel’s acceptance of the ceasefire amounts to surrender before the terrorists.

London – The US military could soon be possessing science fiction weapons much like the ones appearing in Hollywood movies. The United States has developed guided bullet for the sniper rifles akin the guided missiles, an exoskeleton which enhances the soldier’s physical capabilities turning them into ‘super soldiers’ at the battlefield, insects infected with engineered viruses, drones that can track or target submarines, phantom planes for space wars and systems to detect a nuclear or radioactive strike. These super-advanced weapons and technologies are believed to be soon inducted into the US military.

The US’s highly confidential and controversial defence laboratory, the ‘Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’ or the DARPA has developed and tested the weapons and technologies. DARPA has created guided bullets and killer insects using Artificial Intelligence (AI). The guided bullets hit the target with exact precision. DARPA claims that the bullets successfully hit the target determined by the sniper rifle laser.

Male: Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, who won the presidential elections in the Maldives after defeating pro-China former President Abdulla Yameen, was sworn in as the President of the state. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had attended the event. The presence of the Indian Prime Minister indicates a shift in the Maldivian policy from being pro-China, to the Indian democracy, once again. It is one of the significant jolts for China in recent times.

After assuming the office, President Abdulla Yameen had initiated steps to end the democracy in the Maldives. Yameen took vengeful political actions against the opposition leaders as also the decision to place the judges under house arrest. Strong reactions emanated from the people of the Maldives against the decisions taken. A few leaders even went on to make the fervent plea to India for a military intervention to save its democracy. However, China had strongly warned India against military inventions in the Maldives stating the matter was part of the archipelago’s internal affairs. The then President Yameen was believed to have had strong backing from China.

Kabul: Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani informed that approximately 30,000 Afghan soldiers were killed in the war with terrorists since the NATO and the United States’ militaries handed over the responsibility to the local military and security agencies in 2015. President Ghani’s disclosure endorses the reports which state, the Taliban conflict in Afghanistan is consistently intensifying. The report named ‘Costs of War’, published only last week, claimed that the Afghanistan war in the last 17 years, has taken a toll of nearly 150,000 lives.