Latest news with #Guards'
The Hindu
18-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Iran, Azerbaijan hold joint military drill
Iran and Azerbaijan have launched a joint special forces exercise, state media in the Islamic Republic said on Sunday (May 18, 2025), weeks after Iran's president visited the neighbouring country. The "Aras-2025" exercise, running through May 21, involves Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Azerbaijani troops, the IRNA news agency reported. The drill was being held in areas of Karabakh previously disputed with Armenia before Azerbaijan regained control in September 2023. "This drill is a key step in boosting border security and confronting potential threats," said Brigadier General Vali Madani of the Guards' ground forces. Last month, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian made a rare visit to Baku, where he met his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev. "Iran will make efforts to ensure that its relations with Azerbaijan are strategic across all spheres," Mr. Pezeshkian said at the time. Ties between the two neighbours were strained over Azerbaijan's close security cooperation with Israel and a deadly 2023 attack on its embassy in Tehran. Baku reopened the embassy in mid-2024 and the attacker was sentenced to death. Tehran has been strongly opposed to the so-called Zangezur corridor linking Azerbaijan to Turkiye, which would run along Iran's border with Armenia. In November, the two countries held a joint naval exercise in the Caspian Sea.
Time of India
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Iran, Azerbaijan hold joint military drill
Representative Image Tehran, May 18, 2025 -Iran and Azerbaijan have launched a joint special forces exercise, state media in the Islamic republic said Sunday, weeks after Iran's president visited the neighbouring country. The "Aras-2025" exercise, running through May 21, involves Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Azerbaijani troops, the IRNA news agency reported. The drill was being held in areas of Karabakh previously disputed with Armenia before Azerbaijan regained control in September 2023. "This drill is a key step in boosting border security and confronting potential threats," said Brigadier General Vali Madani of the Guards' ground forces. Last month, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian made a rare visit to Baku, where he met his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev. "Iran will make efforts to ensure that its relations with Azerbaijan are strategic across all spheres," Pezeshkian said at the time. Ties between the two neighbours were strained over Azerbaijan's close security cooperation with Israel and a deadly 2023 attack on its embassy in Tehran. Baku reopened the embassy in mid-2024 and the attacker was sentenced to death. Tehran has been strongly opposed to the so-called Zangezur corridor linking Azerbaijan to Turkey which would run along Iran's border with Armenia. In November, the two countries held a joint naval exercise in the Caspian Sea.
USA Today
17-03-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Princess Kate marks St. Patrick's Day after cancer battle: See her festive green outfit
Princess Kate marks St. Patrick's Day after cancer battle: See her festive green outfit Show Caption Hide Caption Princess Kate says cancer in remission, thanks hospital staff Princess Kate thanks the staff at a London hospital after revealing her cancer is in remission. Princess Kate is feeling green this St. Patrick's Day. The Princess of Wales, 43, took part in the Irish Guard's parade at Wellington Barracks in London to mark the holiday Monday. Dressed in a matching forest green beret, coat and scarf, the outfit was complemented by a gold, three-leaf clover pin. In celebration, Kate also appeared to sip a beer and posed for photos with the Irish Guard. Kate did not take part in the British Army regiment's annual event last year, which came days before the princess revealed to the world that she had cancer. Last March, Kate was set to undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy. Princess Kate steps out for first Commonwealth Day service since 2023 after cancer battle Her treatment ended in September, with the princess sharing in a video posted to social media at the time: "My path to healing and full recovery is long and I must continue to take each day as it comes." In January, she announced her cancer was in remission after visiting the hospital where she was treated. "It is a relief to now be in remission and I remain focussed (sic) on recovery," the Princess of Wales said in a post on social media Jan. 14. "As anyone who has experienced a cancer diagnosis will know, it takes time to adjust to a new normal. I am however looking forward to a fulfilling year ahead. There is much to look forward to. Thank you to everyone for your continued support." Prince William kisses Princess Kate in rare intimate post for Valentine's Day Kate holds the role of honorary Colonel of the foot guard regiment and presents guards with a St. Patrick's Day shamrock, including the Guards' Irish wolfhound mascot, Turlough Mor. The position was previously held by her husband, Prince William. It has been a year of returns for the princess, as earlier this month, she also took part in her first Commonwealth Day service since 2023. It was also King Charles III's return to the Commonwealth Day service. He did not attend in 2024 while he, too, was battling cancer. Contributing: Brendan Morrow
Sky News
17-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News
Kate, Princess of Wales enjoys Guinness at St Patrick's Day event - and buys round of drinks for troops
The Princess of Wales has been celebrating St Patrick's Day with a half-pint of Guinness. Kate, dressed in a bottle-green coat and percher hat, presented shamrock to officers of the Irish Guards at a parade in Wellington Barracks, central London. She also bought a round of drinks for the troops, with money put behind the bars serving junior guardsmen and officers to mark the Irish Guards' 125th anniversary. The princess presented operational medals to soldiers recently deployed in Iraq and awarded long service and good conduct medals to two soldiers. Kate also met the regiment's mascot, Irish wolfhound Turlough Mor. Huge crowds braved the biting cold to gather at the gates of Wellington Barracks and catch a glimpse of the ceremony. Kate, who is colonel of the regiment, missed the Guards' celebrations last year after being diagnosed with cancer. After Monday's parade, the princess posed for official photographs with the regiment. She laughed and joked with soldiers as two children playfully held up the pictures, before joining soldiers in the junior ranks' cookhouse, where she enjoyed some Guinness. Nursing the drink, she chatted with soldiers about their experiences on deployment. She said: "Being able to manage that work-life balance - it's tough." Kate later visited the sergeants' mess, where she met families of soldiers and heard about their experiences. Meanwhile, officers from the regiment deployed in eastern England paused their training of Ukrainian troops to present shamrocks to their recruits as part of Operation Interflex, a UK-led programme providing battlefield skills to Ukrainian soldiers. The Irish Guards have played a key role in the programme, which has trained more than 45,000 Ukrainian recruits since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. Millions of people in Ireland and around the world are celebrating their Irish heritage and the country's patron saint today.
Nahar Net
17-03-2025
- Nahar Net
Crowds pack Dublin's streets for national St. Patrick's Day parade
by Naharnet Newsdesk 17 March 2025, 17:23 Hundreds of thousands of people packed the streets of Dublin on Monday to watch Ireland's national St. Patrick's Day parade, as crowds in green flooded cities and towns across the country to mark the annual holiday. Officials said half a million spectators were expected to line the parade route in the capital to watch the colorful floats, performers and dancers. Some 4,000 people and 12 marching bands from across Ireland, North America and Austria were taking part this year to commemorate Ireland's patron saint. While the tradition of St. Patrick's Day parades began in the United States in the 1700s, and the biggest parade these days takes place in New York, officials say the holiday draws some 100,000 tourists to Ireland each year. In London, Kate, the Princess of Wales, marked the occasion with a solo visit to the Irish Guards at Wellington Barracks. The royal, who is the ceremonial colonel of the regiment, presented fresh sprigs of shamrock and awarded medals to soldiers before the regiment's St. Patrick's Day parade. She enjoyed a half pint of Guinness afterward as she chatted and joked with the soldiers. Kate, who missed the Guards' celebrations last year after she was diagnosed with cancer, has gradually returned to public duties.
