The Indian government says its military has successfully carried out the first test-firing of a new quick-reaction, short-range missile.

The spokesman for India's Defense Research and Development Organization said the test-firing occurred Thursday morning off the coast of the country's eastern state of Orissa.

The surface-to-surface “Prahaar” missile is capable of carrying different types of warheads and has a range of 150 kilometers. The missile can be launched from a road mobile system in a salvo of six missiles at a time.

A U.S. government bulletin is warning that violent extremists could try to use insider access to sabotage public utility facilities — including chemical plants, oil refineries and nuclear power plants.

This week's bulletin from the Department of Homeland Security notes that extremists have obtained insider positions and attempted to solicit employees at public utilities.

Malawi's president has appealed for calm after at least eight people were killed in clashes between police and anti-government protesters.

President Bingu wa Mutharika addressed the nation by radio Thursday, saying he is willing to sit down and talk with opponents.

Violent protests erupted Wednesday in the country's three largest cities: Blantyre, Mzuzu, and the capital, Lilongwe. Officials say the deaths took place in Mzuzu as police battled demonstrators.

Witnesses say rioters looted shops and set fires during the protests, and that police fired tear gas.

One the eve of his federal terrorism trial, 26-year-old Somali-American Omer Abdi Mohamed pleaded guilty Monday to conspiring to murder, kidnap and maim to overthrow Somalia's government. Mohamed admitted he attended secret meetings and helped arrange transportation for other young men of Somali origin living in the northern U.S. state of Minnesota to join the terrorist group al-Shabab. Mohamed is one of six people of Somali descent to plead guilty in Minnesota as part of a wide federal investigation.

An Afghan-led security force killed several insurgents and detained one suspected insurgent while searching for a Taliban leader in Alisheng District, Laghman province, yesterday.

The leader is responsible for insurgent operations in the Alisheng Valley, Laghman province.

Upon entering the area, the security force encountered multiple insurgents armed with a sniper rifle, AK-47 assault rifles and several grenades. Assessing a threat, the security force fired at the insurgents, killing them. One suspected insurgent was detained during the operation.

Coalition forces officially transferred responsibility for security operations in Lashkar Gah, Helmand province, to Afghan National Security Forces during a ceremony at provincial governor Gulab Mangal’s compound, July 20.

The transfer capped a process that had been ongoing over the last year as an increasing number of operations in the area have been planned and conducted by Afghans.

An echo resounds through the courtyard as a wooden door slams open, the response of a commando’s boot heel kicking the door’s center. Boots scuffle on the concrete as the elite police force rushes through the doorway, rifles raised.

Commandos with the Iraqi Police Abu Risha Brigade participated in close-quarters combat training at the Abu Risha Brigade headquarters July 19. Soldiers with the 194th Military Police Company travel to the headquarters in Ramadi three times every week to conduct training with the commandos. This block of instruction covered room entry and clearing procedures.

For years arguments have been made both for and against the participation of women in the military. To this day, the British Royal Marines remain a male-only service, but that doesn’t mean that women can’t serve alongside them.

Royal Air Force Sgt. Karen Swallow, a Military Stabilization Support Team operator, joined Royal Marines with J Company, 42 Commando, on a route clearance operation between Loy Mandeh Kalay in northern Nad’ Ali District and the Helmand provincial capital at Lashkar Gah, July 2-8.

NEW FAST AND FURIOUS HEARING
A third hearing on Fast and Furious will be held on 26 July.
http://www.sofmag.com/3rd-fast-furious-hearing-scheduled-july-26