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☆ Russia takes five villages in Ukraine's Kharkiv region, defense ministry says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-11 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Ukrainian volunteers assit residents of settlements in the north of the Kharkiv region during their evacuation on May 10, 2024, amid the Russian invassion in Ukraine. Russia said on Saturday that its forces had taken five border villages in Ukraine's Kharkiv region, where Russia launched an offensive on Friday, exploiting its increasing advantage on the battlefields of eastern Ukraine. Ukrainian officials said on Friday that Russia had launched a new cross-border offensive against the Kharkiv region, which is centered around Kharkiv City, Ukraine's second-largest. On Saturday, Russia kept up its attacks in the Kharkiv region and was trying to advance further, Kharkiv Governor Oleh Syniehubov said. Russian forces first attacked Kharkiv region in Feb. 2022, but were routed from most of the province by a lightning Ukrainian counter-offensive in September of that year.

Persons: Oleh Syniehubov, Vladimir Putin Organizations: Defence Ministry Locations: Kharkiv, Ukraine, Russia, Ukraine's Kharkiv, Pletenivka, Russian, Keramik, Donetsk, Moscow, Ukrainian, Avdiivka, Kharkiv City, Ukraine's, Russia's, Belgorod

☆ Ukraine war live updates: Conflict reaches day 800, Russia says it curbed Ukrainian attacks overnight
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Sophie Kiderlin | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The Russia-Ukraine war reached day 800 on Friday, crossing another milestone in the ongoing conflict as the battle continues with no resolution appearing imminent. A spokesperson for the Russian foreign ministry late on Thursday reiterated that Russia would not take part in the peace summit that is set to be held in June in Switzerland. The Swiss government said Thursday that Russia has not been invited. Meanwhile, Russia's defence ministry on Friday said it had thwarted attacks from Ukraine overnight, with its air defence systems destroying six drones, according to a post by the ministry on Telegram. Five drones were intercepted over the Belgorod region at the border of Russia and Ukraine, while one was destroyed over Russian-occupied Crimea on the Black Sea, according to a Google-translation of the post.

Persons: Maria Zakharova Organizations: CNBC Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Switzerland, Swiss, Belgorod, Crimea

☆ Oil refinery in Russia's Krasnodar region damaged in Ukraine drone attack, authorities say
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-27 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Slavyansk oil refinery in Russia's Krasnodar region was damaged in a Ukraine drone attack, local authorities said on Saturday. "The tank farm was not damaged due to the organized protection system. The fire was eliminated by joint efforts of responsible services," Siniagovskyi said. A fire broke out in small area at the refinery, local emergency services said, and was later extinguished. Russia's Defence Ministry said on Saturday its air defense units had intercepted and destroyed 66 Ukrainian drones over the territory of the Krasnodar region, and two more over the Crimean peninsula.

Persons: Siniagovskyi Organizations: Russia's Defence Locations: Russia's Krasnodar, Ukraine, Krasnodar, Crimean

☆ Russian courts saw hundreds of AWOL cases in March alone, a record high since the war began: report
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-25 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

In March, Russia dealt with its highest-ever number of AWOL cases since the war began, Mediazona reported. AdvertisementRussian courts assessed 684 absences without leave in March, the highest-ever monthly count since the war in Ukraine began, independent Russian media reported. Citing public records, independent outlet Mediazona reported on April 12 that a daily average of 34 AWOL sentences were carried out in military courts that month. Related storiesRussian courts have dealt with some 2,300 AWOL cases since the start of 2024, and about 7,400 total cases since Moscow invaded Ukraine in February 2022, according to Mediazona. This spring, Russia is set to call up some 150,000 men for routine, statutory military service, which typically lasts about one year.

Persons: Mediazona, —, Christopher Cavoli Organizations: Service, UK Defence Ministry, Russian Ministry of Defense, Business, US Army, NATO Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Moscow, Europe

☆ Taiwan to discuss new funding with U.S. as Chinese warplanes get close to island
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-21 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The United States is Taiwan's most important international supporter and arms supplier despite the absence of formal diplomatic ties. Democratically governed Taiwan has faced increased military pressure from China, which views the island as its own territory. Taiwan has previously reported Chinese military aircraft getting close to but not entering the contiguous zone. On Saturday, Taiwan's defence ministry said China had again carried out "joint combat readiness patrols" with Chinese warships and warplanes around Taiwan. China's defence ministry did not answer calls seeking comment outside of office hours on Sunday.

Persons: Ceng Shou Yi, Wang Ting Organizations: Getty, Taipei, U.S . House, Democratic Progressive Party Locations: China, Pingtung county, Taiwan, Taipei, Japan, Canada, India, Beijing, United States, Ukraine, Israel, U.S, Russian, Taiwan Strait, Taiwan's

☆ Kyiv, Lviv under Russian air attack; missile violates Polish airspace
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-24 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Ukrainian forces continue to investigate the area where rocket fragments fell in a park in Kyiv, Ukraine on March 24, 2024. Russia launched 57 missiles and drones onUkraine on Sunday, including attacking Kyiv and the western Ukrainian region of Lviv, officials said, with Poland's armed forces saying one of Russia's cruise missiles briefly violated Polish airspace. Ukraine's air force destroyed 18 out of 29 Russia-launched missiles and 25 out of 28 attack drones, Ukraine's air force said on the Telegram messaging app. Several explosions rocked Kyiv early on Sunday, with Ukraine air defence forces destroying about a dozen of Russia-launched missiles over the capital and its vicinity, Serhiy Popko, head of Kyiv's military administration, said on the Telegram. "Russia continues to indiscriminately launch drones and missiles with no regard for millions of civilians, violating international law."

Persons: Serhiy Popko, Bridget Brink Organizations: Kyiv, U.S Locations: Kyiv, Ukraine, Russia, Ukrainian, Lviv, Moscow

☆ China Coast Guard Says It Took Measures Against Philippine Vessels in South China Sea
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-22 | by ( March | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

MANILA/SHANGHAI (Reuters) -China's coast guard said it had taken control measures against Philippine vessels in disputed waters of the South China Sea on Saturday, while the Philippine coast guard decried the moves as "irresponsible and provocative". The incident occurred in the Second Thomas Shoal and Spratly Islands waters, according to the Chinese Coast Guard. A Philippine coast guard vessel was "impeded" and "encircled" by one Chinese coast guard vessel and two Chinese maritime militia vessels, the Philippine Coast Guard said in a separate statement. As a result, the Philippine coast guard vessel was "isolated" from the resupply boat by the "irresponsible and provocative behaviour" of the Chinese maritime forces, the Philippine coast guard said. The China coast guard implements regulations in accordance with laws, and handles matters in a reasonable, legal, and professional manner, Gan said.

Persons: Thomas, Gan Yu, Gan, Neil Jerome Morales, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Chinese Coast Guard, Philippine Coast Guard, Convention Locations: MANILA, SHANGHAI, South, Philippine, Spratly, Manila, China, Philippines, South China, Beijing, Shanghai

☆ Russia ordered new defenses meant to stop its navy getting humiliated by Ukrainian drones
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-18 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russia's defense minister visited the HQ of Russia's troubled Black Sea Fleet. The Russian minister, Sergei Shoigu, announced plans meant to stop that happening again. AdvertisementRussia's defense minister, Sergei Shoigu, issued new orders on Monday meant to stop so many Russian ships from being sunk by Ukraine. Russia's Defence Ministry on Sunday announced that Shoigu had visited the Russian Black Sea Fleet headquarters in occupied Crimea. Ukraine claims to have sunk or disabled around a third of Russia's fleet, which was once the Black Sea's dominant naval power.

Persons: Sergei Shoigu, —, Shoigu, Sergei Kotov, Shoigu's Organizations: Service, Russia's Defence Ministry, Sunday, Sea Fleet, AFP Locations: Ukraine, Russian, Crimea, Russia, Sevastopol, Novorossiysk, US

☆ Ukraine's Military: Russian Forces Stopped Near Avdiivka, but Reinforcing Elsewhere
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( March | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

(Reuters) - Ukraine's military said on Monday its forces had contained a Russian advance outside the eastern Ukrainian town of Avdiivka captured last month, but Moscow's troops were regrouping in an area further south. Ukrainian military spokesperson Dmytro Lykhoviy, speaking on national television, acknowledged that Russian forces were in partial control of two more villages -- but their advance had been halted. An account of the fighting by the Russian defence ministry said Moscow's forces had "as a result of coordinated action continued to occupy more advantageous positions" near Avdiivka. Russian forces have focused on securing control of eastern Ukraine in the two-year-old war after their initial attempt to advance on Kyiv failed. Ukraine's Emergency Services reported that two firefighters had been killed near the eastern Ukrainian town of Kramatorsk -- north of Avdiivka -- when they came under Russian shelling while battling a blaze.

Persons: Avdiivka, Vladimir Putin, Dmytro Lykhoviy, Lykhoviy, Ron Popeski, Oleksandr Kozhukhar, Sandra Maler Organizations: Reuters, Radio Liberty, Emergency Services Locations: Ukrainian, Avdiivka, Russia, Donetsk, Novomykhailivka, Ukraine, Kramatorsk

☆ Netanyahu's first post-war plan seeks security buffer in Gaza — in blow to U.S. diplomacy
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Ruxandra Iordache | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu looks on as the US Secretary of State gives statements to the media inside The Kirya, which houses the Israeli Defence Ministry, after their meeting in Tel Aviv on October 12, 2023. He is expected to visit Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as Washington closes ranks with its ally that has launched a withering air campaign against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu disclosed his first official plan for the post-war future of the Gaza Strip, calling for Israel's ongoing military presence in the enclave and for the preservation of a security buffer zone — a step antithetical to the wishes of closely-allied Washington. In the intermediate term, Israel wishes to "maintain its operational freedom of action in the entire Gaza Strip, without a time limit," as well as to retain a security buffer within the besieged territory. "The security perimeter being created in the Gaza Strip on the border with Israel will remain as long as there is a security need for it," the document says.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Blinken, Netanyahu, Israel, Matt Miller, Israel — Organizations: Israeli Defence Ministry, Washington, Hamas, NBC News, Gaza, U.S . State Locations: Tel Aviv, Israel, AFP, Gaza, Washington, Palestinian, U.S, Egypt

☆ Russia takes Avdiivka from Ukraine, biggest gain in 9 months
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-18 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

A general view of smoke rising from the Avdiivka Coke and Chemical Plant on Feb. 15, 2023 in Avdiivka district, Ukraine. Russia on Sunday said it had full control of the Ukrainian town of Avdiivka after Ukraine withdrew though Moscow said that some Ukrainian troops were still holed up in a vast Soviet-era coke plant after one of the most intense battles of the war. Ukraine said it had withdrawn its soldiers to save troops from being fully surrounded after months of fierce fighting. Putin hailed the fall of Avdiivka as an important victory and congratulated Russian troops. "The head of state congratulated Russian soldiers on this success, an important victory," the Kremlin said in a statement on its website.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Putin, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Igor Konashenkov Organizations: Chemical, Russian Defence Ministry Locations: Avdiivka district, Ukraine, Russia, Ukrainian, Avdiivka, Moscow, Soviet, Bakhmut, Russian

☆ Russia Says Its Forces Move Forward After Ukraine Withdraws From Avdiivka
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-17 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

By Guy FaulconbridgeMOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia said on Saturday that its forces had inflicted a series of defeats on Ukrainian forces along the 1,000-km (620-mile) front line just as Ukrainian troops withdrew from the devastated eastern town of Avdiivka. Avdiivka is seen as a gateway to Donetsk city, whose residential areas Russian officials say have been shelled by Ukrainian forces, sometimes from Avdiivka. The New York Times reported that there had been chaotic scenes as Ukrainian forces retreated, with some of their wounded abandoned and soldiers starved of ammunition. Russian forces control a little under one fifth of Ukraine's internationally recognised territory. In the month to Feb. 13, Russian forces added 35 square miles of territory while Ukraine added just one square mile, according to the Belfer Center's Russia-Ukraine War Report Card.

Persons: Guy Faulconbridge MOSCOW, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Yuri Podolyak, Guy Faulconbridge, Giles Elgood Organizations: Russia's, Ukrainian, Europe's, New York Times Locations: Russia, Avdiivka, Ukraine, Moscow, Russian, Donetsk, Luhansk, Ukrainian

☆ Prominent Ukrainian Army Unit Launches Own Recruitment Drive to Strengthen Ranks
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

By Dan PeleschukKYIV (Reuters) - A year after the founding commander of Ukraine's Da Vinci Wolves Battalion was killed fighting Russian forces, his portrait adorns an airy new recruitment office in Kyiv casting a watchful eye over would-be members. With its military ranks wearing thin, Ukraine is struggling to overhaul mobilisation and broaden recruitment as the second anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion approaches. For the Da Vinci Wolves, led by war hero Dmytro "Da Vinci" Kotsiubailo until his death near the eastern town of Bakhmut last March, it means relying on a well-honed public image to attract new recruits. 'THE BEST'The Da Vinci Wolves have received more than 1,000 applications and are seeking around 500 new members, Filimonov said. Candidates include Anatoliy Kvasha, 48, who said he wanted a greater say over where he ended up after facing bureaucratic headaches at his local draft office.

Persons: Dan Peleschuk, Ukraine's Da, Dmytro, Da, Kotsiubailo, Serhii Filimonov, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Filimonov, Anatoliy Kvasha, Kvasha, Kyrychenko, Anna Voitenko, Timothy Heritage, Toby Chopra Organizations: Dan Peleschuk KYIV, Ukraine's Da Vinci Wolves Battalion, Da Vinci Wolves, Vinci Wolves, 59th Motorized Brigade, Reuters, Separate Assault Brigade, Service Locations: Kyiv, Ukraine, Bakhmut, Russian, Lviv

☆ Taiwan Reports Another Chinese 'Combat Readiness Patrol' Nearby
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan's defence ministry said it detected 14 Chinese air force planes operating around Taiwan and carrying out "joint combat readiness patrols" with Chinese warships on Wednesday. Taiwan's defence ministry said that starting around 1 p.m. (0500 GMT) on Wednesday it had detected 14 Chinese aircraft including J-16 fighters and drones operating off northern and southwestern Taiwan. Nine of those aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait's median line, or areas close by, working with Chinese warships to carry out "joint combat readiness patrols", the ministry added. There was no immediate response from China's defence ministry. Photos You Should See View All 22 ImagesTaiwan sent its own forces to monitor, its defence ministry said.

Persons: Lai Ching, Lai, Ben Blanchard, Muralikumar Anantharaman, Sonali Paul Organizations: Taiwan Locations: TAIPEI, Taiwan, China, Taipei

☆ Germany Hits 2% NATO Target for First Time Since 1992, Reports Dpa
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

The German government is allocating the equivalent of $73.41 billion for defence spending in the current year, dpa reported. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had this week stated that Germany would meet the NATO target, but the government has not divulged precise figures so far. NATO defence ministers are due to meet in Brussels on Thursday. A separate meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, hosted by the United States, takes place on Wednesday. Scholz's government has spotlighted its rising defence spending at an uncertain time for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Persons: Olaf Scholz, Donald Trump, Boris Pistorius, Trump, Pistorius, Trump's, Alex Ratz, Matthias Williams, Miranda Murray, Ros Russell Organizations: BERLIN, NATO, dpa, Ukraine Defence Contact, North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Former, WELT, German, America Locations: Germany, Ukraine, Brussels, United States

☆ Russia Downs 9 Ukraine-Launched Drones, RIA Agency Reports
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

(Reuters) - Russia's air defence systems destroyed nine Ukraine-launched drones over Russia's Belgorod and Voronezh regions, as well as over the Black Sea, RIA state news agency reported on Wednesday, citing the Russian defence ministry. Two of the drones were downed over the Belgorod region and one over the Voronezh region, RIA reported. Vyacheslav Gladkov, governor of the Belgorod region, said on social media that one woman was hospitalised with injuries as a result of the attack. There was no information from Gladkov or the Russian defence ministry on potential damage. The Latest Photos From Ukraine View All 91 ImagesReuters was not able to independently verify the reports.

Persons: Vyacheslav Gladkov, Lidia Kelly, Kim Coghill Organizations: Reuters Locations: Ukraine, Belgorod, Voronezh, Russia's, Russia, Melbourne

☆ Russia's Airstrikes Hit Hospital, Injuring Several in East Ukraine, Governor Says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

(Reuters) - Russia launched several missile attacks on the town of Selydove in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, damaging a hospital, destroying a dozen residential flats and injuring several people, Donetsk Governor Vadym Filashkin said on Wednesday. "Reportedly, three people, including a child, are under the rubble (of the hospital)," Filashkin said on the Telegram messaging app, adding that 100 patients were evacuated to hospitals in nearby towns. The 1 a.m. Wednesday strike (2300 GMT Tuesday) damaged a wing of the hospital, Filashkin said. The Latest Photos From Ukraine View All 91 ImagesReuters was not able to independently verify the reports. Photos You Should See View All 22 ImagesBoth Russia and Ukraine deny targeting civilians in strikes on each other's territories.

Persons: Vadym Filashkin, Filashkin, Lidia Kelly, Himani Sarkar Organizations: Reuters Locations: Russia, Selydove, Ukraine's, Donetsk, Ukraine, Russian, Melbourne

☆ Russia Uses Zircon Hypersonic Missile in Ukraine for First Time, Researchers Say
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-12 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

(Reuters) - A preliminary analysis concluded that Russia hit Kyiv last week with the hypersonic Zircon missile, its first use in the nearly two-year-old war, the head of a Kyiv research institute said on Monday, presenting a new challenge to Ukraine's air defences. Oleksandr Ruvin, director of the Kyiv Scientific-Research Institute for Forensic Examinations, said on his Telegram channel that his institute completed a preliminary analysis of missile fragments from a Russian attack on Feb. 7. "In this case, we see elements that are characteristic of the 3M22 Zircon missile. Photos You Should See View All 22 ImagesRussia previously said it completed testing of the Zircon missile in June 2022, and Russian President Vladimir Putin has described the Zircon as part of a new generation of unrivalled arms systems. Russia conducts regular air strikes on Ukraine using an array of different long-range missiles and drones.

Persons: Oleksandr Ruvin, Vladimir Putin, Yuliia Dysa, Gareth Jones, Tom Balmforth, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: Reuters, Kyiv Scientific, Research Institute, Forensic, Military Locations: Russia, Russian, Ukraine

☆ Russia's Wagner Group expands into Africa's Sahel with a new brand
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-12 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Natalia Kolesnikova | Afp | Getty ImagesWagner Group has been replaced by a new entity known as Russia's Africa Corps across its key strongholds in the continent, its new leader has confirmed. The new entity has been subsuming operations in Mali and Libya for several months, and negotiations to establish a Russian military base in the CAR are reportedly underway. watch now"The Africa Corps consists of mercenaries and volunteers, and does not form part of the Russian Armed Forces. It began recruiting in December 2023, and has also included job offers for former Wagner Group mercenaries; it may also recruit local residents," they explained. Russian Deputy Defense Minister Yunus-bek Yevkurov oversaw the creation of the Africa Corps, which is expected to be fully completed by this summer.

Persons: Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Natalia Kolesnikova, Dmitry Utkin, Anton Yelizarov, Ibrahim Traoré, Piotr Żochowski, Miłosz Bartosiewicz, Yunus, bek Yevkurov, Yevkurov Organizations: Afp, Getty, Wagner, Africa Corps, Central African, Russian National Guard, Russian Federation, Telegram, Centre, Eastern Studies, CAR, Africa, Russian Armed Forces, Wagner Group, CES Locations: MOSCOW, Moscow, Central African Republic, Libya, Mali, Sudan, Burkina Faso, Belarus, Russia, Cossack, Sahel, Russian, Warsaw, Algeria, Africa, Ouagadougou

☆ Taiwan Reports More Chinese Balloons Over Taiwan Strait
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-10 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan's defence ministry said on Sunday it had detected eight Chinese balloons crossing the Taiwan Strait in the previous 24 hours, of which five flew across Taiwan, the second day in a row is has reported a large number of balloons. In its daily report on Chinese military activities, Taiwan's defence ministry said it spotted the first balloon on Saturday morning and the last one mid-afternoon, having spotted the same number of balloons on Friday. China's defence ministry did not answer calls seeking comment on Sunday. Both China and Taiwan are currently celebrating the Lunar New Year holiday, the most important festival in the Chinese-speaking world. Chinese warplanes operate daily in the Taiwan Strait and often cross its median line that previously served as an unofficial barrier between the two sides.

Persons: China's, Lai Ching, Lai, Ben Blanchard, William Mallard, Sonali Paul Locations: TAIPEI, Taiwan, China, Taipei, United States

☆ Russia Says It Foiled Ukrainian Drone Attack on Civilian Cargo Ships in Black Sea
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-10 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russia said on Saturday it had repelled an attempted Ukrainian drone attack on Russian "civilian transport ships" on Friday evening in the southwestern part of the Black Sea, a key artery for grain and oil exports from both countries. It said Russian patrol boats and warplanes had averted the attack, destroying one Ukrainian naval drone by artillery fire and disabling the rest by electronic warfare. A day later, Ukraine said it would adopt the same stance on ships bound for Russian and Russian-controlled Ukrainian ports. The southwestern part of the Black Sea adjoins Turkey's Bosphorus Strait through which cargoes leaving the sea travel. Ukraine has in recent months mounted a series of drone and missile attacks on Russian military targets in the Black Sea, sinking at least one naval vessel and damaging others.

Persons: ReutersWriting, Felix LightEditing, Helen PopperEditing, Mark Heinrich, Giles Elgood, Helen Popper Organizations: Civilian, Russia's Defence Ministry Locations: MOSCOW, Russia, Ukrainian, Russian, Moscow, Ukraine, Turkish

☆ Indonesia Scraps Plan to Buy Mirage Fighter Jets From Qatar
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-10 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia has ditched a controversial plan to buy 733 million euros ($790 million) worth of Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets previously used by Qatar, the defence ministry spokesperson said late on Saturday. "There is no purchase of Mirage jets. Last month, the ministry said the deal to purchase the 12 fighter jets was delayed due to fiscal constraints and that the military would order a retrofit for its existing Sukhoi and F-16 aircraft instead. The planned purchase garnered controversy when it was announced last year, as lawmakers said the secondhand jets were old. Prabowo has overseen the military's efforts to modernise its ageing fleet, which include purchases of Rafale fighter jets, drones from Turkish Aerospace and fighter jets and transport helicopters from U.S. companies Boeing and Lockheed Martin.

Persons: Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak, Prabowo Subianto, Prabowo, Lockheed Martin, Ananda Teresia, Gayatri Suroyo Organizations: Mirage, Defence, Rafale, Turkish Aerospace, Boeing, Lockheed Locations: JAKARTA, Indonesia, Qatar, Israel, Gaza, U.S

☆ Ukraine war updates: Putin claims Russia has no interest in wider war; UAE mediates prisoner exchange
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends an expanded meeting of the Defence Ministry Board at the National Defence Control Centre in Moscow, Russia December 19, 2023. Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed Moscow has no interest in expanding the war beyond Ukraine to the likes of Poland and Latvia. Putin made the comments in a two-hour interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson and spoke in Russian, with Carlson's team providing the dubbed translation. It was his first interview with an American media outlet since Russia's invasion of Ukraine nearly two years ago. In the translated recording, Putin says he could only imagine a scenario in which Russia would send troops into Poland, a NATO member, if "Poland attacks Russia."

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Putin, Tucker Carlson, Russia Michael McFaul, Evan Gershkovich, — Elliot Smith Organizations: Defence Ministry Board, National Defence Control Centre, Fox News, NATO, U.S, Wall Street, Kremlin, Ukraine, CNBC Locations: Moscow, Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Latvia, American, Crimea, Georgia

☆ UAE Says Mediation Efforts Led to Russia, Ukraine Swap of 100 Prisoners Each
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-09 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: 1 min

DUBAI (Reuters) - The United Arab Emirates said it succeeded in mediating the release of 100 Russian prisoners of war in exchange for 100 war prisoners from the Ukrainian side. Russia's Defence Ministry, in a post on the Telegram messaging app, noted the UAE's "humanitarian mediation", as did Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and the Ukrainian body overseeing exchanges of POWs. The UAE's foreign ministry said it is the third mediation effort between Russia and Ukraine this year adding that it is calling for diplomacy, dialogue, and de-escalation, state news agency WAM reported. (Reporting by Nayera Abdallah; Editing by Kim Coghill)War in Israel and Gaza View All 194 ImagesThe Latest Photos From Ukraine View All 91 Images

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, WAM, Nayera Abdallah, Kim Coghill Organizations: Reuters, United Arab, Russia's Defence Ministry Locations: DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Ukrainian, Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Gaza

☆ North Korea Leader Kim: We Will Wipe Out Enemies if They Use Force -KCNA
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

Kim made the comments during a visit to the defence ministry on Thursday, rallying soldiers to uphold the ideology of the ruling Workers' Party and defend the country with their lives, KCNA news agency reported. "If enemies try to use force against our country, we will make the bold decision to change history and not hesitate to use all our super power to wipe them out," KCNA quoted him as saying. Kim repeated his vow to never hold dialogue or negotiations with South Korea, which he said was his country's "enemy No. 1," and said the policy of powerful military readiness was the only way to ensure peace and security for North Korea, KCNA said. North Korea has marked the foundation of its military on Feb. 8 and last year held a large military parade at midnight showcasing its largest intercontinental ballistic missiles.

Persons: Jack Kim SEOUL, Kim Jong Un, Kim, KCNA, Ae, Jack Kim, Chris Reese, Jamie Freed Organizations: Workers ' Party Locations: South Korea, North Korea, Seoul, Korea

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