1. Armed Forces Veteran Day
• The Armed Forces are celebrating the Veterans Day on 14 Jan to honour the veterans the Army, Navy and Air Force.
• This special day started as a day to reflect upon the heroism of those who died in our country’s service and was originally called Armistice Day.
• It fell on Nov. 11 because that is the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I.
• However, in 1954, the holiday was changed to ‘Veterans Day’ in order to account for all veterans in all wars.
• In India –For the first time the Indian Armed Forces celebrated the Veteran’s Day on 14th January 2015, the day on which the first Field Marshall General KM Cariappa retired from service.
2. Iran vows to keep military forces in Syria defying Israeli threats
• Iran said it will keep its military forces in Syria, defying Israeli threats that Iranian forces might be targeted if they do not leave the country.
• Calling Israel`s threats a joke, Revolutionary Guards commander, Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari, warned that Ankara is playing with lion’s tail.
• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had said that his forces will continue to attack Iranians in Syria unless they quickly get out of there.
• Iran has backed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in a seven-year war against rebels and militants, and have sent thousands of soldiers to the country.
• Israel is concerned that Iran might establish a long-term military presence in neighbouring Syria. Last weekend, Israel`s Air Force attacked Iranian warehouses containing weapons in the Damascus international airport.