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SLNS Vijayabahu returns after taking part in AMAN – 2025
Sri Lanka Naval Ship (SLNS) Vijayabahu which took part in the multinational naval exercise AMAN – 2025, hosted for the ninth time by Pakistan Navy, arrived the island on successful completion of the exercise on 17 Feb 25.
Upon her arrival, the Navy welcomed the ship in compliance with naval traditions at the Port of Colombo.
AMAN series of multinational exercises were started in 2007 with a view to promote regional cooperation and stability, greater interoperability and to display a united resolve against piracy, terrorism and crimes in maritime domain.
The multinational naval exercise which encompassed both Harbour and Sea Phases, was held from 10 to 14 Feb, centered around Karachi and the Arabian Sea and the exercise saw participation from 11 countries, involving 22 naval ships, 02 submarines, and aircraft.
Representing the Sri Lanka Navy, SLNS Vijayabahu took part in an assortment of exercises including; maritime security, counter piracy and humanitarian assistance, manoeuvres and formation, firing practices and a wide range of other exercises.
The ninth edition of AMAN 2025 successfully concluded following the International Fleet Review, which marked the end of the Sea Phase.
Commander Northern Naval Area, Rear Admiral Thushara Karunathunga represented the Sri Lanka Navy at AMAN Dialogue – 2025, held with the attendance of navy chiefs, intellectuals and stakeholders from the maritime fraternity, on the sidelines of the multinational naval exercise.
Moreover, Rear Admiral Thushara Karunathunga had the opportunity to call on Chief of the Naval Staff of Pakistan Navy, Admiral Naveed Ashraf. Additionally, the Chief of the Naval Staff of Pakistan Navy took time off to visit SLNS Vijayabahu and the significant occasion was marked with an exchange of mementoes.
In conjunction with this event, a cultural exchange programme was organized, featuring a series of vibrant cultural performances by the Navy’s cultural troupe.
SLNS Vijayabahu also participated in a food gala, showcasing an array of traditional culinary delights.
The Pakistan Navy had organized cross ship visits to witness the operational effectiveness and technical equipment of the participating vessels. During this event, the crew of SLNS Vijayabahu had the opportunity to enhance their knowledge regarding the capabilities of both regional and extra-regional navies, as well as to exchange valuable experiences.
Taking part in this nature of naval exercises would open new avenues to the Sri Lanka Navy to build inter-operability with regional and extra-regional partners, exchange best practices and procedures in maritime operations, identify new challenges in maritime domain and collectively find solutions to overcome those issues.
A tiny possum with one extra-long finger on each hand is one of two species thought to have been extinct that have been discovered in West Papua, in what’s been called an “exceptional” scientific discovery.
The other is a a ring-tailed glider with a tail that can grasp branches. Both have been found living in remote rainforests after they were thought to have disappeared 6,000 years ago.
Finding living examples of a lost species is rare, but discovering two is “remarkable,” say scientists who published their findings in the Records of the Australian Museum journal on Friday.
Such discoveries are known as “lazarus taxon”, a term inspired by a biblical figure who was raised from the dead.
“The discovery of one lazarus taxon… is an exceptional discovery,” said Prof Tim Flannery, a prominent Australian scientist best known for his 2005 The Weather Makers book about climate change.
“But the discovery of two species, thought to have been extinct for thousands of years, is remarkable.”
The first rediscovered species was the pygmy long-fingered possum, a striped marsupial weighing about 200g, which is understood to have vanished from Australia during the Ice Age.
A distinguishing feature is that on each hand, the possum’s fourth finger is twice the length of other digits, which scientists say help it dig out wood-boring insect larvae, it’s main source of food.
The second species is the ring-tailed glider, and just like its Australian cousin the greater glider, it lives in the hollows of tall trees.
The discoveries were made by piecing together parts of a puzzle with scientists combing through decades-old fossils, rare photos and old specimens to gather clues before making visits to remote New Guinea locations.
Flannery, along with another of the paper’s co-authors Prof Kris Helgen and researchers from the University of Papau, spoke to local elders from the Tambrauw and Maybrat clans – some of whom have only had contact with the modern world since the 1960s.
Identification of the species would not have been possible without their help, according to Rika Korain, a Maybrat woman and another co-author.
“They’re very traditional people,” Flannery added, and regard the glider as so sacred that “not only won’t they hunt it, they won’t mention its name”.
But the gliders habitat was increasingly coming under threat from logging in the area, Flannery said.
This, in part, has prompted efforts by scientists and wildlife groups to try secure native title for the forests to ensure logging cannot be carried out without consent from locals, he said.
(BBC)
The death toll from Israeli attacks on Lebanon this week has risen to at least 123 people, the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health says, as a new wave of strikes pounded the country and Hezbollah warned Israeli residents to evacuate towns within 5km (3 miles) of their northern border, in one of the fiercest fronts in the wider United States – Israel war on Iran.
“The toll from the Israeli aggression on Monday, increased to 123 martyrs and 683 wounded,” a ministry statement said on Thursday.
Lebanese state media said early on Friday that Israel had launched air strikes on several towns in southern Lebanon.
“Enemy warplanes launched nighttime strikes on the towns of Srifa, Aita al-Shaab, Touline, as-Sawana and Majdal Selem,” the official National News Agency (NNA) reported.
Another strike hit the eastern Lebanese town of Douris at dawn, the NNA said.
The Israeli army also reported a new attack on the suburb of Dahiyeh in Beirut.
It has also continued attacks in southern Lebanon with raids on the area’s biggest city Sidon, according to sources on the ground.
NNA also reported Israeli warplanes over the southern towns of Tyre and Bint Jbeil.
(Aljazeera)
Hungary’s tax authority has said it has arrested seven Ukrainians and two cash-transport vehicles on suspicion of money-laundering after Ukraine’s foreign minister accused Budapest of taking them hostage.
“The reasons are still unknown, as well as their current well-being,” Andrii Sybiha wrote on X. “We have already sent an official note demanding an immediate release of our citizens.”
According to Ukraine’s state savings bank, Oschadbank, the seven workers were in two vans carrying $80m (£60m) worth of cash and 9kg of gold in a regular transport between Austria and Ukraine. They were “unjustifiably detained” and GPS data showed their vehicles in Budapest, it said.
Hungary’s tax authority said on Friday that it was conducting criminal proceedings and added that one of the group was a former general of Ukraine’s intelligence service.
(BBC)
Tiny possum and glider thought extinct for 6,000 years found in remote West Papua
Maldives Coast Guard Ship Huravee departs island
Cost to US for war on Iran is $3.7bn in first 100 hours, says think tank
More than 120 killed in Israel’s Lebanon attacks as Beirut, south, east hit
Hungary confirms it is holding seven Ukrainian bank workers and $80m
US and Venezuela agree to resume diplomatic ties after Maduro capture
‘Dates have the highest sugar content to fight Coronavirus’
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