Washington, July 10 (IANS) US President Joe Biden on Wednesday said that the way forward for the NATO alliance is for each member country to strengthen their industrial base so that the group can stay ahead of Russia, which has “ramped up domestic production of defence goods with help from China, Iran, and North Korea”.

Thirty-two leaders of NATO countries, who include leaders of Finland and Sweden, the two new additions, are meeting here in Washington DC for the group’s 75th anniversary, with the Russian invasion of Ukraine bringing back memories of World War II that was started in Europe by a man’s desire to expand his country’s frontiers driven by historical grievances.

Speaking cogently and forcefully, perhaps to allay fears of allies who doubt his ability to govern for four more years if he wins, the US President said that the alliance has provided a security shield for member countries to grow and prosper. At a summit two years ago, allies decided to modernise their defence and deterrence. But the alliance is now facing fresh challenges.

“Right now, Russia is on a wartime footing with regard to defence production. They are significantly ramping up their production of weapons, munitions, and vehicles. And they’re doing it with the help of China, North Korea and Iran,” he said, adding “We cannot in my view, we cannot allow the (NATO) alliance to fall behind.”

To that end, he noted, that every member has taken a pledge to put together plans to shore up defence production at home. “That means as an alliance (we) will become more innovative and competitive. We’re able to produce more critical defence equipment more quickly than we should so that we may need it,” Biden asserted.

–IANS

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Manila, July 10 (IANS) Philippine police clashed with suspected criminals in Cotabato province in the southern Philippines on Wednesday morning, with at least six people killed, including a police officer, and six other police officers injured, local police said.

Jennefer Amotan, police chief of the Aleosan town, said the firefight happened before 9 a.m. local time while policemen served a warrant to search a hideout believed to be hiding firearms and illegal drugs. A 33-year-old male police officer was killed and six others were wounded in the clash, she added, reports Xinhua news agency.

Amotan said the armed suspects opened fire at law enforcers, triggering a 30-minute firefight. The alleged leader of the criminal group and his four companions were killed in the operation.

Amotan said the police recovered assorted types of firearms and explosives and illicit drugs.

–IANS

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Johannesburg, July 10 Cyberattackers allegedly stole 300 million South African rand (about 16.6 million US dollars) from the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure over the past 10 years, Minister Dean Macpherson said Wednesday.

The amount could be more as investigations continue, Macpherson said in a statement.

According to him, in May this year, cyber criminals have stolen 24 million rand from the department, reported Xinhua news agency.

The minister said he has asked the South African Police Service, State Security Agency as well as experts in the information and communications technology and cybersecurity industry to investigate the matter.

“It has become clear that the department has been a soft target and playground for cyber criminals for over a 10-year period and this should have been picked up a lot earlier,” Macpherson said, adding that those responsible for protecting the department from cyber criminals must be held accountable.

Four officials from the department, including three senior management officials and one middle management official, have been suspended, and 30 laptops have been seized by the investigators. “The cyber theft forced the department to shut down its payment system, thereby delaying paying its creditors,” said Macpherson.

The investigation will be expanded and deepened to find the masterminds and the beneficiaries of this grand theft, Macpherson said.

–IANS

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Vienna, July 10 (IANS) Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen said on Wednesday that the country needs India as a partner in a structurally sustainable transformation towards climate neutrality.

“We have a long friendship and strong bilateral relations with India, especially in the economic area. We now want to expand these further,” the Austrian President said after holding discussions with PM Narendra Modi in Vienna.

Thanking the Indian Prime Minister for visiting Austria, Van der Bellen stated that both countries can work in several areas, including the fight against climate change.

“As the most populous country in the world and a global economic power, India plays an important role in the common fight against the climate catastrophe. We need India as a partner in a structurally sustainable transformation towards climate neutrality,” he said. He highlighted that the two leaders also talked about the current geopolitical challenges, especially the Russia-Ukraine war.

“We agreed that Ukraine urgently needs peace and that we will support efforts in this direction,” the Austrian President posted on X.

India said that both leaders deliberated ways to strengthen India-Austria relations in a host of sectors.

“Had a very good meeting with Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen and we discussed the possibilities for expanding Indian-Austrian cooperation,” stated PM Modi.

Earlier, PM Modi held talks with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer as both countries identified “new possibilities” to further strengthen mutual cooperation and also decided to give a strategic direction to their bilateral ties. PM Modi and Chancellor Nehammer also met business leaders from India and Austria with the Indian PM emphasising that both nations are confident of leveraging “the many opportunities” ahead to boost commercial and trade linkages.

This is the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Austria in 41 years.

–IANS

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Bangkok, July 10 (IANS) The Election Commission of Thailand on Wednesday endorsed the results of the senate election after a delay due to complaints over the qualifications of some senators-elect and voting irregularities.

The commission agreed to certify the list of 200 senators and 99 reserve candidates, commission Secretary General Sawaeng Boonmee told a news conference, paving the way for the newly elected lawmakers to enter the upper house of parliament, reports Xinhua news agency.

In the multi-level election process, successful candidates from the district and provincial levels across the Southeast Asian country advanced to the final round of voting held in the capital Bangkok last month, where they cast votes among themselves to elect the 200-member Senate.

Representing 20 categories of social and professional groups, 10 candidates who received the most votes from each group were selected as senators.

–IANS

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