Tag Archive for: General

Election campaigns in Kerala turn ugly: Cyber warfare, personal attacks and allegations galore – SPECIAL – GENERAL

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THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In the midst of the parliamentary election campaign in the state, which will last only a week, the competition has turned to personal attacks and cyber warfare against candidates, intensifying the already fierce atmosphere.

Former minister and LDF candidate from Vadakara, KK Shailaja, once again came forward yesterday demanding action as cyber attacks escalated. Shailaja alleged in a complaint to the Central Election Commission and the Chief Minister that there is an organized attempt by a criminal gang in the UDF to personally smear her using morphed photos, with the alleged connivance of UDF candidate Shafi Parambil. PM State Secretary MV Govindan accused a section of the media of abetting this.

Meanwhile, Shafi Parambil approached the High Court seeking to halt the fake votes planned by the LDF in Vadakara. Alleging that most of the polling officers and policemen assigned to election duty are Left sympathizers, Shafi also blamed the Panoor bomb blast.

In a petition filed by sitting MP Adoor Prakash in the High Court, the demand is to remove about one and a half lakh double votes in the Attingal constituency. LDF candidate V Joy’s response is that he is being accused out of fear of failure.

BJP targets Tharoor

BJP is targeting Tharoor, citing Supreme Court lawyer Jai Anand’s revelation that Thiruvananthapuram sitting MP and Congress Working Committee member Shashi Tharoor behaved indecently with a woman in a Delhi hotel in October 2022. It was also alleged that media activist Karan Thapar tried to cover up the complaint. BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya demanded answers from Tharoor and Thapar. Tharoor’s stance is that the allegation is timed before the election and if the woman has a complaint, she should come forward with proof.

CM responds to Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has accused the Chief Minister and his daughter of corruption, has stated that the culprits will not be spared, which is being interpreted as an indication of internal drama ahead of the elections. Yesterday, the Chief Minister responded that there are clear records of the money transfer between the two companies and no…

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Importance of cyberwarfare a key takeaway from this year’s Cobra Gold, general says

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A U.S. Marine and a Thai soldier exchange contact information ahead of a Cobra Gold amphibious assault on Hat Yao Beach, Thailand, March 1, 2024.

RAYONG, Thailand — Thousands of troops from 30 nations started for home Friday as the largest military exercise in mainland Asia officially came to a close.

More than 9,000 service members from 30 countries — including 4,500 troops from the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps — gathered throughout Thailand beginning Feb. 27 for Cobra Gold, the world’s longest-running annual exercise of its kind.

Over nearly two weeks, those troops made amphibious assaults and airborne drops, fired live artillery rounds, trained for jungle survival and took part in community relations projects and other activities.

Lt. Col. Lindsay Mathwick, commander Combat Logistics Battalion 15 and Marines aboard the amphibious transport dock USS Somerset, said she visited each training area where members of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit were engaged.

“We learned so much as a force,” she told Stars and Stripes by email Friday.

“Some of our Marines also had the opportunity to participate in community relations events with locals – a truly memorable experience,” Mathwick wrote. “But what truly moved me and showed me the impact we have coming to participate in these exercises, was seeing the Marines laughing, eating, and sharing stories with each other during their breaks.”

U.S. Marines and Thai soldiers adjust one another's protective gear during a Cobra Gold evacuation drill in Rayong, Thailand, March 3, 2024.