Ukraine to push on with army offensive
Kiev/Donetsk, May 30
The Ukraine government vowed on Friday to press ahead with a military offensive against separatists, despite a deadly attack on an army helicopter, amid increasing reports that volunteer fighters from Russia were involved in rebellions in the east.

Misawa Air Base, May 30
The US Air Force has deployed two of its most advanced long-distance surveillance drones at a base in northern Japan over the past week, enhancing its ability to monitor nuclear activities in North Korea and Chinese naval operations.

The deployment of the two unarmed Global Hawk drones to Japan, a key US ally, is intended to demonstrate Washington’s commitment to security in Asia as part of its rebalancing of forces to the Pacific. But it will likely rankle with China and North Korea, which have been working to improve their own unmanned aircraft fleets.

Lt Gen Sam Angelella, commander of US Forces Japan, said on Friday the drones would remain here until October, when the typhoon season on the drones’ home base on the Pacific island of Guam is over. Similar rotations from Guam to Misawa are expected in the future, though Angelella said no firm plans have been made.

He refused to comment on the specific missions the drones will carry out but noted that the Global Hawk’s “capabilities are well known.” The drone is considered particularly valuable because it can conduct long-range missions without the limitations of pilot fatigue, is able to fly at a maximum 18.3 km and can “loiter” around any particular site of interest for 24 hours or more.

From Japan, it can easily monitor areas on the Asian mainland, including North Korea’s nuclear sites, or targets at sea - such as areas where China and other countries have had confrontations over territory.

The military keeps much of the Global Hawk’s work secret, but Angelella spoke of its use in humanitarian missions including Japan’s 2011 tsunami and the devastating typhoon that hit the Philippines last year. More recently, he said, the drone was used in surveillance work following the mass abduction of more than 300 girls in Nigeria by Islamic extremists.

The deployment of the drones will also help Japan familiarise itself with the aircraft. Tokyo plans to buy three Global Hawks.

Angelella said the aircraft has proven itself to be one of the most reliable in the Air Force. While still under development, the Global Hawk began supporting overseas contingency operations two months after the September 11, 2001, attacks. — AP

Washington, May 30
Two Indian-Americans - Sriram J Hathwar and Ansun Sujoe - today scripted history by becoming co-champions of the famed Scripps National Spelling Bee after a tense final in which they almost exhausted the 25 designated words to end the duel in a tie for the first time in 52 years.

This is the seventh consecutive year that Indian- Americans have retained the Scripps National Spelling Bee, which was watched live by millions of people.

An eighth grader from the Alternative School for Maths and Science, Sriram (14) is from New York, while Ansun (13) is a seventh grader from Texas.

Like last year, the last three contestants were Indian- Americans—Sriram, Ansun and Gokul Venkatachalam from Missouri. Both Sriram and Ansun received a $30,000 cash prize, an engraved trophy and other gifts.

“It’s a dream come true,” Sriram said soon after being declared the co-champion with Ansun.

“I was happy when I entered the final. I am even happier that I am the co-champion,” said Ansun, who in the last 22nd round correctly spelled “feuilleton”, which is defined as “a part of a European newspaper or magazine devoted to material designed to entertain the general reader.”

And in the 21st round, Sriram correctly spelled “stichomythia”, which is defined as “dialogue especially of altercation or dispute delivered in alternating lines.” This was Sriram’s fifth appearance in the competition. — PTI

Joint winners This is the first time the bee has ended in a tie since 1962. The Bee has previously had co-champions in 1962, 1957 and 1950 in its 89-year history This is the seventh consecutive year that Indian- Americans have retained the Scripps National Spelling Bee. Sameer Mishra won it in 2008, Kavya (2009), Anamika (2010), Sukanya Roy (2011), Snigdha Nandipati (2012) and Arvind (2013)

Kiev/Donetsk, May 30
The Ukraine government vowed on Friday to press ahead with a military offensive against separatists, despite a deadly attack on an army helicopter, amid increasing reports that volunteer fighters from Russia were involved in rebellions in the east.

President-elect Petro Poroshenko, who scored an overwhelming first-round victory in a poll on May 25, swore to punish those responsible for the shooting down the helicopter.

Acting Defence Minister Mykhilo Koval, repeating charges that Russia was carrying out “special operations” in the east of Ukraine, said on Friday that Ukrainian forces would continue with military operations in border areas “until these regions begin to live normally, until there is peace”.

Ukrainian authorities have long alleged that the rebellions have been fomented by Moscow among the largely Russian-speaking population, which is especially vulnerable to cross-border propaganda hostile to Kiev’s “euromaidan” revolution that overthrew Moscow-backed President Viktor Yanukovich in February.

Reports by Ukrainian border authorities and journalists on the ground now appear to show increasing evidence of direct involvement by volunteer fighters from Russia in the rebellions that erupted two months ago in the wake of Russia’s annexation of Crimea. — Reuters

Washington, May 30
Embattled Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki, facing calls for his ouster by lawmakers and veterans groups, resigned on Friday after taking responsibility for a healthcare scandal over delays in medical care for US veterans.

President Barack Obama said he accepted the resignation of the soft-spoken, 71-year-old retired Army general after being briefed on the initial findings of the investigation into abuses that were initially found in Phoenix but later identified at other facilities across the country.

"A few minutes ago, Secretary Shinseki offered me his own resignation. With considerable regret, I accepted," the President told a news conference, praising Shinseki's military career and accomplishments at the VA, including tackling issues like post-traumatic stress syndrome and homelessness among veterans.

"Ric's commitment to our veterans is unquestioned. His service to our country is exemplary," Obama said. "He has worked hard to investigate and identify the problems with access to care. But, as he told me this morning, the VA needs new leadership to address them."

The care delay scandal, with inspector general probes now active at 42 VA locations around the country, has put Obama and his Democrats on the defensive ahead of the November congressional elections. Republicans have attacked the administration over the problems, saying it was an example of mismanagement. Dozens of Democrats, including several senators in tight re-election races, had called for Shinseki to resign following release of the report this week confirming scheduling abuses in Phoenix.

Many Republicans were also calling for his ouster and several veterans groups expressed lack of confidence in Shinseki's ability to fix the problems.

Shinseki's resignation came just hours after he addressed the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans and apologized to veterans, lawmakers and the American people for the abuses, in which administrators manipulated waiting lists to hide exactly how long patients had to wait to see a physician. — Reuters