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☆ The US military isn't ready for the coming drone war
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-11 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +18 min

The Department of Defense is working on initiatives to face the drone threat, but the US military doesn't yet appear ready to confront this ever-evolving challenge, especially on the scale seen in Ukraine. AdvertisementA US military MQ-9 Reaper drone waits for take-off at Kandahar Air Base in Afghanistan on March 9, 2018. US military leaders have repeatedly stressed there's no silver bullet to defeat small drones in battle. Shellie HallStudents there spend several weeks learning how to identify, engage, and defeat small drones. The drone threat draws certain parallels to fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan, where hidden bombs posed a tremendous threat.

Persons: GENYA SAVILOV, Mick Ryan, hasn't, you've, Franz J, Marty, Samuel Bendett, Paul Scharre, that's, Mike Parent, Mark Schauer, Parent, Paul Butcher, Cpl, Doug Bush, Amber Osei, Moseph Sauda, doesn't, Sauda, America's, Bram Janssen, Scharre, Justin Bronk, Jack Watling, Ryan Organizations: Business, Troops, of Defense, Department of Defense, Getty, Australian Army, Islamic State, Kandahar Air Base, Defense Ministry, Karabakh . Defense Ministry, Azerbaijan, AP, Pentagon, US Army, Aircraft Systems, Solutions, 71st Jaeger Brigade, US Army Yuma, Technology, Army, sUAS University, US Marine Corps, Force, Central Command, Shellie, National Training Center, US Army Air Defense Artillery, Center, New, New American Security, Base, London's Royal United Services Institute Locations: Russian, Ukrainian, Ukraine, prowling, Jordan, Chasiv Yar, Donetsk, AFP, Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Russia, Nagorno, Karabakh, Avdiivka, Yuma, East, Oklahoma's Fort Sill, California, Fort Sill, China, Luhansk Region, Europe, Iran, New American, Iraq, Washington, Bagram, Kabul, Australian

☆ Armies need their own drone air force flown by specialist soldiers, study says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-04 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

The air war in Ukraine has become a cat-and-mouse game where drones must constantly evolve. AdvertisementRUSI envisions each drone battalion being equipped with everything needed to conduct a variety of UAV operations. This would include "situational awareness UAVs optimized for tactical reconnaissance; tactical strike UAVs; ISR [reconnaissance] UAVs able to penetrate into operational depth; operational strike UAVs; and platform-launched effects designed specifically to synchronize with and enable other weapons systems." To support friendly ground troops in contact with the enemy, flocks of expendable reconnaissance drones would operate up to 5 miles beyond the enemy front line. AdvertisementA Ukrainian serviceman launches a drone during a press tour in the Zhytomyr Region, northern Ukraine on September 20, 2023.

Persons: —, Jack Watling, Justin Bronk, Kirill Chubotin, Michael Peck Organizations: Service, Royal United Services Institute, Ukrainian, Staff, Publishing, Getty, Defense, Foreign Policy, Rutgers Univ, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: Ukraine, British, Zhytomyr Region, Forbes

☆ Ukraine isn't the only country Russia is trying to topple
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Even as Russian bombs pound Ukraine, Moscow's mercenaries and spies are busy trying to set much of the rest of the world afire. To Russia, the conventional warfare waged in Ukraine, and unconventional "gray zone" warfare waged around the world, are two sides of the same coin. Human intelligence operations are used to attempt elite capture through the offer of assistance to politicians who support Russian interests. "As the war in Ukraine protracts, Russia has an interest in creating crises further afield," said RUSI. "As a lot of Russia's unconventional operations are self-defeating, countering Russian unconventional warfare must be premised on careful, selective, and intelligence- driven targeting," the study emphasized.

Persons: —, RUSI, Vladimir Putin, Jack Watling, Oleksandr Danylyuk, Nick Reynolds, Britain —, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Putin, Ramzan Kadyrov, Kadyrov, Michael Peck Organizations: Service, Britain's Royal United Services Institute, Business, Kremlin, Soviet Union, NATO, Directorate, Staff of, Armed Forces, Getty, Russian, Central African, Wagner, GRU Expeditionary Corps, Convoy, Defense, Foreign Policy, Rutgers Univ, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Europe, Africa, Central Asia, Soviet, Montenegro, Moscow, Moldova, Russian, Britain, Ukraine protracts, Balkans, Russia's, Libya, Mali, Sudan, Central African Republic, Chechnya, Forbes

☆ Meet a millennial DINK who feels like an outlier in a child-centric world
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-02 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

None of that was true for her, but today she is part of a double-income, no-kids — or DINK — couple. AdvertisementWhile Michelle and her spouse's parents have been supportive, the couple still feels the weight of a culture that's oriented around having kids. There's also a familiar refrain — one that many DINKs come up against — that it's a selfish decision to forego having kids. AdvertisementShe thinks that being a DINK, and opting into it as a lifestyle choice, needs to be more normalized. Are you a DINK or someone grappling with the realities of a child-centric world?

Persons: Michelle, DINK, —, Michelle didn't, DINK —, They've, She's, it's, Zachary P, Neal, Jennifer Watling Neal, childfree, There's, they're Organizations: Service Locations: DINKs, North Carolina, Europe, Orlando, NerdWallet

☆ Russia offering African governments 'regime survival package' in exchange for resources, research says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-27 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso - Jan. 20, 2023: A banner of Russian President Vladimir Putin is seen during a protest to support the Burkina Faso President Captain Ibrahim Traore and to demand the departure of France's ambassador and military forces. Russia's military intelligence service is offering African governments a "regime survival package" that provides military and diplomatic support in exchange for access to strategically important natural resources, according to a new report. Russia's Defense Ministry was not available to comment on the report's findings when contacted by CNBC. Wagner has for many years been a key component of the Kremlin's efforts to grow its influence in politically unstable countries across central Africa and the Sahel, including the Central African Republic, Mali, Burkina Faso and Sudan. The report's authors Jack Watling, Oleksandr V Danylyuk and Nick Reynolds explained that the GRU chose to divide Wagner's activities in two.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Captain Ibrahim Traore, Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Jack Watling, Oleksandr V Danylyuk, Nick Reynolds Organizations: Royal United Services Institute, Wagner Group, Russia's Defense, CNBC, Central African, Volunteer Corps, Russian Military of Defense Locations: OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso, Africa, Central African Republic, Mali, Sudan, Ukraine

☆ DINKs, Couples With No Kids, Are Living the New American Dream
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Juliana Kaplan | Bartie Scott | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

DINKs are proudly emerging as an aspirational class for young people — and they're ready to live it up. So when she set up her dating profile, Johnson included in her bio that she didn't want to have kids of her own. Amy Blackstone, the author of the 2019 book " Childfree by Choice ," said that the financial gap between DINKs and couples with kids wasn't solely because of the choice about children. DINKs, GINKs, " rich aunties ," and DINKWADs — DINKs with a dog — have become aspirational identities for younger generations. There are the DINKs who can seize the American dream and the parents who are struggling to stay afloat in a country without guaranteed paid leave or affordable childcare .

Persons: Elizabeth Johnson, Johnson, DINK, DINKs, they've, there's, Amy Blackstone, it's, Alex Killingsworth, Killingsworth, Marcia Drut, Davis, Drut, Blackstone, she'd, Gen Z, That's, X didn't, Zachary P, Neal, Jennifer Watling Neal, millennials —, I've, Marcia, she's Organizations: of, Johnsons, Minneapolis townhome, Federal, Consumer Finances, Broadway Locations: Florida, Swiss, Hawaii, Oregon, Canada, Alaska, Dominican Republic, of America, Minneapolis, Texas, New York, Michigan, Drut

☆ Ukraine's tactical switch could make it even harder for an already struggling Russia to make any progress in the war
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A tactical shift by Ukraine will likely make it even harder for Russia to gain new territory in its invasion, an expert told Business Insider. Riley Bailey, a Russia analyst at the Institute for the Study of War, told BI that Ukraine's defenses will make it "harder for Russian forces to attack head on into entrenched fortified positions. Russia has already struggled to make progress, and these fortifications will likely make its goals even harder to reach. It frustrated advanced Ukrainian weaponry like tanks. 110th Separate Mechanized BrigadeThe extra fortifications will now make Russian decision-making harder, Bailey said.

Persons: Riley Bailey, Bailey, Thomas Peter TPX, Patrick Bury, William Alberque, Ukraine doesn't, Alberque, Jack Watling Organizations: New York Times, Institute for, Business, REUTERS, Patrick, UK's University of Bath, NATO, Mechanized, International Institute for Strategic Studies, Reuters Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Ukrainian, Kupiansk, Kyiv, Avdiivka

☆ They fell in love on vacation but went their separate ways. Four years later, she sent him an email: ‘Remember me?’
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Francesca Street | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +23 min

Long distanceAfter Dan visited Gabriella in Italy, Gabriella visited Dan in the US. Gabriella Vagnoli and Dan WatlingA couple of months later, Gabriella planned a trip to the US to visit Dan in Chicago. But despite being tired from the flight, Gabriella felt immediately welcomed by Dan’s family. Gabriella Vagnoli and Dan WatlingToday, Gabriella and Dan live in Seattle with their two teenage kids. While a love of adventure unites them, Gabriella and Dan insist they’re quite different in many other ways.

Persons: CNN — Gabriella Vagnoli, ”, Dan Watling, Dan, they’d, Gabriella, She’d, I’m, he’s, –, ” Gabriella, Gabriella Vagnoli, Bill Watling Gabriella, Loch, Bill “, He’d, ” Dan, Bill, “, ’, Gabi, Dan didn’t, she’d, Gabriella couldn’t, Skye, strode, Gabriella “, Read, Gabriella’s, he’d, Dan couldn’t, “ It’s, ’ ”, “ We’re, Dan Watling Gabriella, Siena, Dan’s, ‘ I’m, Dan Watling “, San Giuliano, who’d, “ Dan, ‘, Walter Moretti, “ Michelangelo, Dan haven’t, they’ve, they’re, He’s, it’s, we’re, Storr, ” “ Organizations: CNN, Google, CNN Travel, Scottish Highlands, Piazza del Campo, Italian, Chicago, Rio, “ Locations: Scotland, Italy, Loch Ness, Isle, Skye, Europe, Scottish, Germany, Portugal, Edinburgh, Chicago, Pisa, Rome, Urquhart, glens, 1111IESPDJ, America, Munich, Siena, Piazza, Bryce, Italian, Gabriella's, Galena , Illinois, Tuscan, San, Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, Rio, Seattle , Washington, Seattle

☆ Giant seamount discovered in Guatemala is nearly twice the height of the world’s tallest building
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Taylor Nicioli | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

At 1,600 meters (5,249 feet) tall, it’s nearly twice the height of Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, according to a news release from Schmidt Ocean Institute, a nonprofit organization that advances oceanographic research. The ship is designed to map the seafloor by using a multibeam echosounder, which sends out sound waves to the ocean floor in a fan-shaped pattern, then measures the time it takes for the sound to reach the ocean floor and return. Schmidt Ocean InstituteThe seamount was discovered 84 nautical miles outside the Guatemalan Exclusive Economic Zone. Watling was not involved with the discovery but was part of a Schmidt Ocean Institute exploration in 2019. The recently discovered seamount may be taller than the world’s tallest building, but some have been found to have a height of 4,000 meters (13,123 feet) or more, Watling said.

Persons: it’s, Tomer, Ketter, ”, Jyotika Virmani, Les Watling, Watling, ” Watling, —, Tony Koslow, Koslow, “, ” Koslow Organizations: CNN, NOAA, Exploration, National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration, Schmidt Ocean Institute, Israeli National Institute for Oceanography, Ocean Institute, Schmidt Ocean, University of Hawaii, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, Pew Locations: Guatemala, Burj, Guatemalan, Manoa, Mauna Kea, Hawaii, San Diego

☆ Ukraine wants Russian soldiers to be 'hungry, cold and have no desire to fight' by disrupting its logistics this winter
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-20 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ukraine's winter goal is disrupting Russia's logistics, a military spokesperson said. The aim is to make Russian forces "hungry, cold, and have no desire to fight." AdvertisementThe main goal for Ukraine's military over the winter months will be disrupting Russia's military logistics so much that its troops are left with no will to fight. He said Ukraine's "main task" over the winter will be to disrupt Russia's logistics "so that they are hungry, cold, and have no desire to fight." Russia's troops can be stuck "outside, getting wet and cold" and targeted strikes by Ukriane could degrade Russian logistics, Watling said.

Persons: —, Volodymyr Fitio, Fitio, Dr Jack Watling, Watling Organizations: Service, Ground Forces Command, Kyiv Post, Royal United Services Institute Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Kyiv

☆ Russia stockpiles 800 missiles in Crimea ahead of winter bombing campaign, says Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-18 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russia has stockpiled 800 missiles in Crimea in preparation for its second winter campaign. It is feared the missiles are intended for strikes on critical Ukrainian civilian infrastructure. AdvertisementUkraine is bracing itself for an aerial onslaught this winter, with reports suggesting Russia has stockpiled 800 missiles in Crimea to strike at Ukrainian civilian infrastructure. Last winter, Russia adopted the same tactic it appears to be preparing for this year — targeting Ukrainian power and water infrastructure with missiles. As the war in Ukraine heads into its second winter, territorial movement could be limited in the months ahead.

Persons: —, Humenyuk, Jack Watling, Volodymyr Zelensky Organizations: Ukrainian Southern Military Command, Service, Kremlin, International Rescue Committee, NATO, of Energy Locations: Russia, Crimea, Ukrainian, Ukraine, Crimean, Kyiv

☆ Ukraine plans to use winter to cut off Russia's military supply chains and 'freeze them out' of the country, official says
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-13 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

It aims to cut off Russian supply chains and "freeze them out" of Ukraine, a spokesman said. Winter conditions typically slow fighting, but Ukraine said "rain and frost" may help its efforts. AdvertisementAdvertisementUkraine's aim for the winter months is to cut off Russian military supply chains and "freeze them out" of the country, Volodymyr Fito, a spokesperson for Ukraine's Ground Forces, said. Winter conditions are expected to slow down the fighting between Ukrainian and Russian forces, as is typical in war. The UK Ministry of Defence said last month that Russia appeared to be stockpiling cruise missiles to use against Ukraine's energy infrastructure over the winter months.

Persons: —, Volodymyr Fito, Fito, Jack Watling Organizations: Service, Ground Forces, Pravda, Royal United Services Institute, UK Ministry of Defence Locations: Ukraine, Russian, Russia

☆ Russia and Ukraine are building up huge armies, but they both have the same problem with using them in battle
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-12 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

The Russian and Ukrainian militaries both lack junior officers who can lead large forces in battle. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe difference between an army and a well-armed mob often comes down to the presence of good junior officers. "The heavy attrition of experienced junior officers and trained field-grade staff has limited the scale at which offensive action can be synchronized." This same pattern can be seen today in Ukraine, where Russian operations have been characterized by rigid tactics and slow reaction times on the ground and in the air. AdvertisementAdvertisementCostumed folk singers pose with a Russian military officer during a celebration in Moscow in September.

Persons: —, Jack Watling, Viktor Fridshon, Watling, there's, Ed Ram, Arkady Budnitsky, Pavel Luzin, Luzin, Michael Peck Organizations: Service, Britain's Royal United Services Institute, Getty, Bradley, Washington, Anadolu Agency, Russian, Jamestown Foundation, Defense, Foreign Policy, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Bakhmut, Ukrainian, Zaporizhzhia, Stalingrad, Rostov, US, Russian, Moscow, Kyiv, Forbes

☆ Thousands of Black women claim hair relaxers gave them cancer
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-04 | by ( Reuters Graphic | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +12 min

Some of the ads show Black women applying hair products before cutting to a summary of the NIH study’s findings. “We do not believe the science supports a link between chemical hair straighteners or relaxers and cancer,” Revlon said. Lead author White said in a statement in response to Reuters questions that there is currently no strong evidence linking family history of breast cancer to increased risk of uterine cancer. The sisters said they wanted their mother’s death last year following a battle with uterine cancer to mean something. Bush, the St. Louis cosmetologist, joined the litigation in August, she said, because of the possibility that hair relaxers cause cancer.

Persons: Sheila Bush, Bush, Revlon’s, ” Revlon, L’Oreal, ”, Ben Crump, George Floyd, Diandra, ” Debrosse Zimmerman, Jenny Mitchell, Crump, “ it’s, ” Crump, Louis, Jayne Conroy, don’t, Adam Zimmerman, Alexandra White, phthalates, White, Weiss, Porter Kaye Scholer, Jennifer Hoekstra, Zimmerman, “, X Ante, Quiana Hester, Ariana, Nakisha, Patrice Hester, Louis cosmetologist, Mike Spector, Richa Naidu, Kristina Cooke, Diana Novak Jones, Eve Watling, Lawrence Bryant, Alicia Powell, Angela Johnston, Lucy Ha, Vanessa O’Connell, Suzanne Goldenberg Organizations: L’Oreal, Revlon, U.S, National Institutes of Health, Reuters, NIH, Supreme, University of Southern California Gould School of Law, U.S . House, American Cancer Society, U.S . Food, Drug Administration, World Health Organization, Paul, Arnold, FDA, USC, Washington DC Locations: Louis, Olive, U.S, India, Minneapolis, Missouri, Chicago, United States, Rifkind, Baltimore, Houston, Washington, San Diego, Bush

☆ The U.S. consumer is 'walking towards a cliff,' strategist warns
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Trouble is brewing for the U.S. consumer, according to one strategist, and a substantial labor market downturn could kickstart a recession. "I think the U.S. consumer is walking towards a cliff, basically," Chris Watling, chief executive of financial advisory firm Longview Economics, told CNBC's "Squawk Box Europe" on Tuesday. He said that a slew of recent economic indicators had showed consumers are quickly running out of excess cash, while household savings are coming under pressure. I mean, quite the reverse, I think there are some real challenges coming for the U.S. Gross domestic product is projected to post a 4.7% annualized gain for the third quarter, according to a Dow Jones consensus estimate.

Persons: Chris Watling, CNBC's, Watling, Dow Organizations: Longview Economics, Gross, Dow Jones, Commerce Department Locations: U.S, Longview

☆ 'The U.S. consumer is walking towards a cliff': Longview Economics CEO
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via Email'The U.S. consumer is walking towards a cliff': Longview Economics CEOChris Watling, CEO at Longview Economics, discusses the outlook for the U.S. economy, saying there are "some real challenges coming for the U.S.

Persons: Chris Watling Organizations: Longview, Longview Economics Locations: U.S

☆ Ukraine can still badly bleed the Russian army through the winter even if its forces can't break through enemy lines, land warfare expert says
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

A land warfare expert said even if Kyiv can't break enemy lines, it can still cause pain for Russian forces. But even if Kyiv's forces aren't necessarily able to break through the enemy lines, they could still inflict significant damage on Moscow's army throughout the winter, a land warfare expert says. The key could be drawing out Russian forces into the cold by pushing into opportunities rather than attempting to batter their defenses. AdvertisementAdvertisement"Kyiv must balance reconstitution with a need to keep up pressure on Russian forces," he said. AdvertisementAdvertisementOne area where Ukrainian forces have found recent success is with long-range strikes.

Persons: —, aren't, Jack Watling, there's, Libkos, Watling, Getty Images Watling, Wagner Organizations: Service, Royal United Services Institute, Kyiv, Storm, EG, MGM, Tactical Missile Systems, SPG, Getty Images, Dnipro, Wagner Group Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Bakhmut, Donetsk, Ukrainian, North Korea, Britain, France, Crimean, Russian

☆ WhatsApp clampdown highlights video call compliance threat for finance firms
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Sinead Cruise | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

Video calls are broadly considered proxies for face-to-face meetings and therefore are currently subject to little or no formal record-keeping obligations. At least two major global banks are now recording Zoom calls, said sources with knowledge of the matter, who declined to be named because the information is not public. One bank is recording Zoom calls undertaken by certain staff, including traders, while the other is recording all Zoom calls so content can be reviewed later if needed. FINRA declined to comment on how many firms were subject to the rule or whether the rule also extended to video calls. Video calls pose "unique risks" and technology needed to efficiently screen video calls is not widely used, said Matt Smith, CEO of communications surveillance firm SteelEye.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Brad Levy, Morgan, Goldman Sachs, Matthew Nunan, Gibson, Dunn, Morgan Stanley, Sarah Pritchard, Claire Garrett, Michael Watling, Seward, FINRA, Matt Smith, Ryan, Yonk, Symphony's Levy, Chris Prentice, Michelle Price, Huw Jones, Sharon Singleton Organizations: REUTERS, U.S . Securities, Exchange Commission, SEC, Finance, Reuters, U.S, EMEA, Microsoft, Britain's, Authority, HSBC, Bloomberg, U.S . Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Employees, American Institute for Economic Research, Washington D.C, Thomson Locations: Marsh, U.S, New York, Washington, London

☆ Images show North Korea has secretly been sending cargo to Russia, likely supplying munitions as Russia's own stockpiles dwindle
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Satellite images suggest that North Korea and Russia have developed an elaborate supply line. The images show that two cargo vessels have repeatedly transported hundreds of containers from North Korea to Russia. AdvertisementAdvertisementNew satellite images appear to show that North Korea has been supplying Russia with far more military equipment and munitions than was previously known. "North Korea has the ability to manufacture a lot of ammunition, and it has significant stockpiles." Satellite images showed two cargo ships making multiple trips between Russia and North Korea.

Persons: It's, —, John Kirby, Kirby, we've, RUSI, Jack Watling, wishlist, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Biden Organizations: Service, National Security, Royal United Services Institute, The Washington, Democratic People's, Labs, Washington ., House, MGM, Tactical Missile Locations: Korea, Russia, North Korea, Ukraine, Angara, Maria, North, Pyongyang, Dunai, DPRK, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Moscow, Washington, House Russian, Kyiv, United States

☆ Israel's military has tools to take down Hamas' new drone arsenal, but actually using them may not be easy
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-14 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

AdvertisementAdvertisementIsrael has been a pioneer in drone warfare, producing an array of reconnaissance and strike drones. The assault began with a Hamas drone that dropped a bomb on an Israeli Merkava 4 tank, one of the most advanced in the world. Hamas members display a drone in a parade for the anniversary of Hamas' founding, in Gaza City in December 2014. NurPhoto/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesThe full breadth of Hamas' drone arsenal will not become evident until Israel attacks. AdvertisementAdvertisementKnocking out a Merkava tank indicates greater skill and boldness in Hamas' drone use, though it enjoyed the advantage of surprise against IDF troops.

Persons: Israel, —, Gaza City's, Mustafa Hassona, John Spencer, Spencer, Jack Watling, JACK GUEZ, Watling, it's, Michael Peck Organizations: Service, Israel Defense Forces, Israel, Hamas, Getty, IDF, Anadolu Agency, Modern, Institute, Britain's Royal United Services Institute, Wilson Center, Washington DC, Palestinian, Defense, Foreign Policy, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: Gaza, Israel, Ukraine, Gaza City, Gaza City's Abu Nasr, West, Turkish, Russian, Iraq, Washington, Israeli, AFP, jammers, Forbes

☆ London’s Pointe Black ballet school aims to break racial barriers
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Alishia Abodunde | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

And classical ballet companies strive for a uniform look especially in works like “Swan Lake,” making it harder for dancers of colour to get hired or promoted. At The Royal Ballet, “we are determined to make our theatre a welcoming and inclusive place for all,” a company spokesperson said. “Dance is for everybody,” noted a spokesperson at The Royal Academy of Dance, whose syllabus is taught worldwide. “Ensuring there is diversity in the dance world is important to everyone at the RAD.”Essel wants to speed up change by disrupting the status quo. And it’s really just about celebrating the person no matter where they come from.”Maya Beale-Springer, a 10-year-old student at Pointe Black and another ballet school, enjoys exploring various styles.

Persons: Sandie Bourne, ”, Essel, “, ” Maya Beale, won’t, ” Essel, Richard Chang, E Wong, Eve Watling Organizations: Britain’s Society for Dance Research, Royal Ballet, The Royal Academy of Dance, Springer, Pointe Black Locations: Asia, South America, Cuba, perm

☆ U.S. revives Cold War submarine spy program to counter China
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +21 min

The original network of fixed spy cables, which lie in secret locations on the ocean floor, was designed to spy on Soviet submarines seven decades ago, the three people said. China, meanwhile, is working on its own maritime spy program, known as the Great Underwater Wall, two U.S. Navy sources told Reuters. Sense of urgencyAmerica’s underwater espionage program was launched in the 1950s with a submarine detection system known as the Sound Surveillance System. The U.S. Navy’s Undersea Surveillance System The United States is expanding and upgrading its anti-submarine surveillance capabilities as tensions rise with China. Japan also operates a fleet of three ocean surveillance ships, fitted with U.S. SURTASS cables, the two U.S. Navy sources said.

Persons: Captain Stephany Moore, Richard Seif, Moore, Seif, ”, Tim Hawkins, Mariana Trench, Brent Sadler, We're, Sadler, ” Jon Nelson, Phillip Sawyer, Sawyer, United States –, SOSUS, SubCom, Stephen Askins, Lockheed Martin, Chuck Fralick, Leidos, ” Fralick, Hawkins, Richard Jenkins, Saildrone, Joe Brock, Mohammad Kawoosa, Simon Scarr, Edgar Su, Catherine Tai Design, Eve Watling, Marla Dickerson Organizations: U.S . Navy, Navy, Undersea Surveillance Command, Undersea Surveillance, United, Submarine Force U.S . Pacific Fleet, Reuters, U.S . 5th Fleet, U.S, Pacific, China Academy of Sciences, China’s Ministry of Defense, Foreign, China Naval, U.S . Naval Forces Korea, The Heritage Foundation, Department of Defense, Naval Air Station Whidbey, Processing, Undersea, Undersea Warfare, Naval Postgraduate School, Taiwan, Ships, Titan, Navy’s, CS, U.S . Department of Defense, Lockheed, U.S . State Department, An Australian Defense, Self, Defense Force, Leidos Locations: Seattle, U.S, Whidbey, China, Taiwan, Beijing, United States, Australia, Pacific, South China, Mariana, Yap, Federated States, Micronesia, Guam, Russian, Ukraine, Washington . U.S, Washington, Soviet Union, Washington State, Virginia Beach , Virginia, Monterey , California, Japan, India, States, London, Taiwan Strait, Virginia, San Francisco

☆ Ukrainian soldier says new Leopard tanks are better than old Soviet ones because the ammo doesn't explode, kill the crew, and blow the turret off if it takes a hit
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Ryan Pickrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Ukraine's armor arsenal was bolstered by Western tanks like the German-made Leopard ahead of the counteroffensive. A gunner with the 47th Mechanized Brigade says these vehicles are vastly superior to Soviet tanks. SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP via Getty ImagesWith Soviet-era tanks like the T-64 or later T-72 and T-80, crew survivability wasn't the highest priority. Dogukan Keskinkilic/Anadolu Agency via Getty ImagesBeyond tanks, Ukrainian service members also speak very highly of Western-made protected mobility platforms, such as armored personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles. Other Western vehicles, like the American-made Humvee, have also received praise from Ukrainian forces.

Persons: Vladyslav, it's, SERGEI SUPINSKY, Dogukan, Ukraine Ed Ram, Jack Watling, Nick Reynolds Organizations: 47th Mechanized Brigade, Service, 47th Mechanized, Strategic Communications, 2A6, —, Getty, Anadolu Agency, ABC News, Bradley, Washington, Britain's Royal United Services Institute Locations: Soviet, Wall, Silicon, Ukrainian, Robotyne, Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, Russian, Skybyn, Kyiv, AFP, Peremoha, Brovary, Zaporizhzhia Region

☆ Some of Ukraine's Western-made vehicles are getting 'killed' on the battlefield, but it's not as much of a win for Russia's forces as it was
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( Ryan Pickrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Ukraine has lost protected mobility vehicles in its counteroffensive, including some Western-made vehicles. Because Western vehicle design prioritizes survivability, Ukraine's crews are surviving hard hits. Western vehicles are ensuring those troops survive even the brutal front-line combat of the ongoing counteroffensive. AdvertisementAdvertisement"While Western-supplied protected mobility may be doing a good job at enabling their dismounts to survive," Watling and Reynolds wrote, "there is still a high loss rate of platforms." In their new report, Watling and Reynolds argue that "Ukraine's international partners need to ensure that the industrial support is available to make the Ukrainian military sustainable."

Persons: wasn't, Bradley, SAMEER AL, Jack Watling, Nick Reynolds, Watling, Reynolds, Ed Ram, Getty Images Watling Organizations: Service, Vehicles, Getty, Britain's Royal United Services Institute, West, Washington, ABC, —, Getty Images Locations: Ukraine, Soviet, Wall, Silicon, AFP, Russia, Zaporizhzhia, Ukrainian

☆ A shortage of land mines forced Russian troops to put down irregular minefields, creating new problems for Ukraine: report
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Ryan Pickrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Russia began laying minefields deeper than normal to make them harder for Ukraine to cross. The inconsistent and often improvised approach that followed, however, still created headaches for advancing Ukrainian forces. The result was that Russian minefields became irregular, which isn't necessarily out of the ordinary to begin with given terrain and time considerations. Citing conversations with Ukrainian forces, he also revealed that Russia sometimes built fake trench traps rigged with explosives. AdvertisementAdvertisementAnd the inconsistency and irregularity of the Russian minefields has only further complicated matters.

Persons: Jack Watling, Nick Reynolds, Watling, Reynolds, Michael Kofman Organizations: Service, Royal United Service Institute, Russian, 35th Marine Brigade, Anadolu Agency, Getty, Ukraine Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Russian, Donetsk

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