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☆ Israeli airstrike kills Hezbollah special forces commander
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-10 | by ( Mohammed Tawfeeq | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —A senior Hezbollah commander has been killed in an Israeli airstrike in Lebanon. Hezbollah confirmed Al-Shaer had been killed and said it responded to his killing by launching “dozens” of Katyusha rockets and several drones toward two locations in northern Israel. The Israeli military added that it had responded by striking Hezbollah launchers “in the areas of Mansouri and At Tiri,” which had been used in the attacks. Earlier Tuesday, the Israeli Air Force said it had struck a Hezbollah military structure in the village of Rachaf in the Nabatieh governorate of southern Lebanon. Lebanon’s Public Health Emergency Operations Center said the strike on Rachaf wounded 12 people.

Persons: CNN —, Mohammed Qassem Al, Shaer, Israel ”, Al Organizations: CNN, Radwan Force, Israel Defense Forces, IDF, Israeli Air Force, Lebanon’s, Health Emergency, Center Locations: Lebanon, Qaraoun, Valley, Israel, Iran, Mansouri, Tiri, Rachaf, Nabatieh, Gaza

☆ US Marines Special Ops test rifle-wielding, AI-powered robot dogs, report says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-11 | by ( Nathan Rennolds | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The US Marines are testing rifle-equipped robot dogs, The War Zone reported. Onyx Industries supplied the rifle system. AdvertisementThe US Marine Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC) is testing rifle-equipped "robot dogs," according to a report in The War Zone. "MARSOC is aware of and follows all DoD policy on autonomous weapons, and comments by Onyx Industries may be more indicative of their current or future offerings." Business Insider has reached out to Onyx Industries and MARSOC for comment.

Persons: —, MARSOC, Eric Shell, Nvidia Xavier Organizations: US Marines, Ghost Robotics, Onyx Industries, Marine Forces Special Operations Command, Service, US Marine Forces Special Operations Command, The Department of Defense, Robotics, Nvidia, US Department of Homeland Security Science, Technology Directorate Locations: Philadelphia

☆ Russian troops are attacking Ukrainian positions at night on quad bikes, report says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Russian troops are using quad bikes in their assaults in Ukraine, according to CNN. Drone footage from the front lines shows quad bikes in use, and some on fire. Ukrainian troops say there are typically three to four Russian soldiers per bike. AdvertisementRussian troops are using quad bikes to attack Ukrainian positions, according to imagery and soldier testimony. This isn't the first report of quad bikes in use in the war.

Persons: —, Robotyne, Oleksandr Syrsky Organizations: CNN, Service, National Guard, Ukraine's 65th Mechanised Brigade Locations: Ukraine, Ukrainian, Russia, Robotyne

☆ Prabowo Subianto: Once banned from the US, this fiery ex-army general is poised to lead Indonesia
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

“The most important objective of democracy is giving people the leaders and representatives they want,” Prabowo told reporters from his pool. Antara Foto/Galih Pradipta/ReutersMany are excited about a Prabowo presidency, like this hardcore supporter who has clearly taken his support to the extreme. Bagus Saragih/AFP/Getty ImagesMore recently, Prabowo has presented himself as a loyal Jokowi ally, serving as his defense minister for the past five years. Experts say Prabowo, known for his fiery speeches, military background and combative past will make for a very different kind of president. Indonesia has long been one of Australia’s most important bilateral relationships and experts say that will not change with Prabowo in charge.

Persons: Prabowo Subianto, ” Prabowo, Prabowo, Indonesia’s, Partai Probawo, Gibran, “ Prabowo, ”, Zachary Abuza, Abuza, “, Antara, Pradipta, Saragih, Widodo, Barack Obama, Tom Pepinsky, Rodrigo Duterte, Javier Milei, Trump, ” “, Dita Alangkara, Jokowi, Jacqui Baker, Laura Schwartz, Schwartz, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Adek Berry, Chong Ja Ian, Suharto, –, Dan Slater, Prabowo “, ” Slater, Chaideer Mahyuddin, Chong, Juni Kriswanto, Usman Hamid, Papuans, Veronica Koman, ” Koman Organizations: CNN, National War College, Getty, Southeast Asia, Cornell University, “, Center, Research, Senior Southeast, National University of Singapore, Center for Emerging Democracies, University of Michigan, Muda Airforce, Amnesty International Locations: Jakarta, United States, South Jakarta, Washington ,, AFP, Indonesia, Singapore, Ukraine, Russia, China, Australia, Asian, Perth, Asia, Beijing, Washington, “ Washington, Sultan, Muda, Aceh, West Papua, South China, Tentara Nasional Indonesia, Southeast Asia, “, Papua, Amnesty International Indonesia, restive, Indonesian, East Timor

☆ Analysis-Indonesia's Prabowo Poised for Power, but How Will He Rule?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +5 min

One major question is how well, and for how long, his alliance with outgoing President Joko Widodo, or "Jokowi", will hold. On the campaign trail Prabowo has promised policy "continuity", but analysts say that is far from guaranteed. "Make no mistake a President Prabowo would be his own president." 'UNCERTAINTY' ON THE CARDSIn contrast to Jokowi, Prabowo is from an elite family, the son of a prominent Indonesian economist and the ex-son-law of the country's former authoritarian ruler, Suharto. Once his victory is officially endorsed, Prabowo will assume the controls of Southeast Asia's biggest economy on October 20.

Persons: Kate Lamb JAKARTA, Prabowo Subianto, Prabowo, Long, general's, Joko Widodo, Liam Gammon, Jokowi, Doug Ramage, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Indonesia's, Kevin O'Rourke, Suharto, “, He's, ANU's Gammon, Gammon, Kay Johnson, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: Defence, Australian National University, ANU, Jokowi, Analysts, Human Rights Watch Locations: Indonesia, Prabowo, BowerGroupAsia, Indonesian, Ukraine, Qatar

☆ Indonesia's Presumed New President Pays Tribute to Strongman Suharto
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

By Ananda TeresiaJAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia's presumed new president Prabowo Subianto paid tribute to the nation's past leaders during a triumphant victory speech on Wednesday, joking about his close ties to his ex-father-in-law and former authoritarian ruler, Suharto. Addressing a sea of jubilant fans, the 72-year-old waxed lyrical about being carried in the arms of the nation's founder Sukarno, and offered gags about massaging former leader Abdurrahman Wahid and lunching with Suharto, Indonesia's second president. "Regarding the second president, I know him quite well," he said as the crowd at the Senayan sports stadium roared. With the second president, I often had lunch with him." Suharto, Indonesia's late strongman president, oversaw decades of repressive rule and one of the world's most corrupt regimes before being forced to step down during mass protests and an economic crisis in 1998.

Persons: Ananda Teresia, Prabowo Subianto, Suharto, Sukarno, Abdurrahman Wahid, lunching, Indonesia's, Prabowo, Titiek Suharto, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Gibran, Ida Yayan, Muhammad Luth, Joko Widodo, Kate Lamb, Nick Macfie Organizations: Ananda Locations: Ananda Teresia JAKARTA, illiberalism, Jakarta

☆ Indonesia Votes for New President Under Shadow of Influential Incumbent
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

Those surveys show Prabowo with 51.8% and 51.9% support, with Anies and Ganjar a whopping 27 and 31 points adrift respectively. To win outright, a candidate needs over 50% of votes and to secure 20% of the ballot in half of the country's provinces. "Jokowi as the decisive factor has been proven by the rising popularity of Prabowo," said Arya Fernandes of Indonesia's Center for Strategic and International Studies. "But whether or not Prabowo can win in one round, there are some other factors outside of Jokowi," he said, noting turnout would be crucial for Prabowo. "The candidates' programmes will be the decisive factor... Populist pledges that are easy to remember will be very influential."

Persons: Ananda Teresia, Stanley Widianto, Joko Widodo, Ganjar, Anies, Prabowo Subianto, Suharto, Prabowo, Jokowi, Arya Fernandes, Jokowi's, Wasisto Raharjo, Martin Petty, Nick Macfie Organizations: Defence, Widodo, Indonesia's Center, Strategic, International Studies, Central Java, Prabowo, National Agency for Research, Innovation Locations: Stanley Widianto JAKARTA, Indonesia, country's, Jokowi, Jakarta, Jokowi's

☆ Indonesia Presidential Frontrunner Skips Press Freedom Event
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-11 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

JAKARTA (Reuters) - Two of Indonesia's three presidential contenders pledged to protect press freedom in the world's third-largest democracy at a weekend event that frontrunner Prabowo Subianto didn't attend. On the last day of campaigning, ex-Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan and ex-Central Java governor Ganjar Pranowo signed the National Press Council's written declarations to uphold democracy and press freedom. It was unclear if Prabowo, represented at the Saturday event by the head of his campaign team, signed the declaration. He denies the accusations, but critics have questioned Prabowo's commitment to protecting human rights. "Two of the main political teams have done Indonesian voters a service by sharing their views," said Elaine Pearson, Asia director at Human Rights Watch.

Persons: Prabowo Subianto didn't, Joko Widodo, Anies Baswedan, Ganjar Pranowo, Prabowo, pip, Rosan Roeslani, Rosan, Ganjar, Elaine Pearson, Bernadette Christina Munthe, Ananda Teresia, Kanupriya Kapoor, Tom Hogue Organizations: Central Java, National Press, Rights Watch, Human Rights Watch Locations: JAKARTA, Jakarta, Asia

☆ Indonesia Presidential Hopeful Prabowo Seen Getting Majority Votes Survey
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-10 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesian defence minister Prabowo Subianto is predicted to secure over 50% of votes needed to win the country's presidential election in one round, a new opinion survey showed on Saturday, the last day of campaigning. Prabowo is projected to gain 51.9% votes, based on a survey of 1,220 respondents by Lembaga Survei Indonesia (LSI), conducted between Jan. 29 to Feb. 5. On Friday, pollster Indikator Politik projected Prabowo to pip the 50% threshold needed to win in a single round. A run-off between two candidates with the most votes will be held in June if no candidate gets more than 50% of votes. Jokowi, as the president is popularly known, has been accused of interference and bias over his implicit support for Prabowo, which his allies have denied.

Persons: Prabowo Subianto, Lembaga Survei, Anies Baswedan, Ganjar Pranowo, pip, Djayadi Hanan, Joko Widodo, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Hanan, Jokowi, Gibran, Jokowi's, Gayatri Suroyo, Kanupriya Kapoor, Sam Holmes Organizations: Jakarta Locations: JAKARTA, Lembaga Survei Indonesia, Central Java, Anies

☆ Indonesia President Not Meddling With Election, Backs Prabowo for Continuity - Loyalist
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +3 min

If so, there must be something wrong with the appointment process," Luhut told CNN Indonesia. CONTINUITY CANDIDATEAsked why Jokowi supported Prabowo, Luhut said the president believed he was the candidate to advance his economic policies, such as creating downstream industries to process natural resources following its successful implementation on nickel. "It has nothing to do with his son being on the ticket," he said of Jokowi backing Prabowo. Luhut praised Prabowo, who was accused of - but denies - committing human rights violations in the 1990s while special forces commander. I never doubted his sense of nationalism, I never doubted his consistency and I never doubted his love for this republic," Luhut said.

Persons: Joko Widodo, Luhut Pandjaitan, Prabowo Subianto, Jokowi, Luhut, Jokowi's, Prabowo, Anies Baswedan, Fransiska Nangoy, Martin Petty Organizations: Constitutional, CNN Indonesia Locations: JAKARTA

☆ Factbox-Candidates for Indonesia's Presidential Election
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-06 | by ( Feb. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

(Reuters) - Indonesia holds a presidential election on Feb. 14, with three contenders vying to succeed incumbent Joko Widodo, or Jokowi, as leader of the world's third-largest democracy and its most populous Muslim-majority nation. He is not a member of a political party but is backed by three parties, including a secular party in the ruling coalition and the conservative Islamic Prosperous Justice Party (PKS). He is the nephew of the late Abdurrahman Wahid, or Gus Dur, a well-respected former president and religious leader. After losing the 2019 election, he was appointed defence minister by Jokowi, a move analysts say helped heal divisions. Prabowo chairs the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) party, which endorsed him as its presidential candidate last year.

Persons: Joko Widodo, ANIES BASWEDAN, Jokowi, Anies, Basuki Tjahaja, Muhaimin Iskandar, Imin, Abdurrahman Wahid, Gus Dur, Ganjar, Mahfud, Mohammad Mahfud Mahmodin, Suharto, Prabowo, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Gibran, Ananda Teresia, Stanley Widianto, Kanupriya Kapoor, Martin Petty Organizations: Reuters, Fulbright, Islamic Prosperous Justice Party, National Awakening Party, Ulama, Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, Israel, Islamic, NU, Mahfud, Great Indonesia Movement, Constitutional Locations: Indonesia, Jakarta, Chinese, East Java, Central Java, Surakarta

☆ Campaigning gets underway in Indonesia for February presidential election
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Recent surveys have showed former special forces commander Prabowo leading with Ganjar second and Anies a distant third. Prabowo and his vice-presidential pick Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the eldest son of President Widodo, will start their campaign at a later date. The candidates will appear in debates organised by the election commission in the coming weeks, with no schedule unveiled so far. About 205 million of Indonesia's more than 270 million population are eligible to vote in the election. Reporting by Ananda Teresia, Editing by Kanupriya Kapoor, Martin PettyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Prabowo Subianto, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Ganjar, Anies Baswedan, Muhaimin Iskandar, Ganjar Pranowo, Joko Widodo, Prabowo, Mahfud, Muhaimin, Widodo, Ananda Teresia, Kanupriya Kapoor, Martin Petty Organizations: Defence, Java, Thomson Locations: Mahfud, Jakarta, JAKARTA, Indonesia, Papua, Aceh province, Anies, Muhaimin Iskandar, East Java's Surabaya, Prabowo

All three candidates vying to win the Feb. 14 election in Southeast Asia's largest economy have said they will prioritise cleaning up the power sector to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. To do that, Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto and former provincial governor Ganjar Pranowo, running neck-and-neck in recent surveys, would consider ending state-run Perusahaan Listrik Negara's (PLN) monopoly in order to allow renewable power producers to sell directly to customers. Former Jakarta governor Anies Baswedan, trailing in opinion polls, has called for improved leadership for the power sector but has not proposed breaking up PLN's monopoly. Proponents argue that opening the sector would accelerate adoption of renewables, as independent power producers will be incentivised to offer green power to companies pledging carbon neutrality. Agam, from the climate consultancy, said delaying renewable power to companies could mean lost investment.

Persons: Prabowo Subianto, Dita Alangkara, Ganjar Pranowo, Anies Baswedan, Agam Subarkah, Alexander Sonny Keraf, PLN, Prabowo, Eddy Soeparno, Soeparno, Gayatri Suroyo, Ananda Teresia, Stefanno Sulaiman, Stanley Widianto, Tony Munroe, Miral Organizations: Indonesia's Defense, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN, REUTERS Acquire, Rights, Reuters, Defence, Former Jakarta, Cendekia, POWER WHEELING Ganjar, Thomson Locations: Jakarta, Indonesia, Rights JAKARTA, Southeast Asia's

☆ US commandos showed off their little-known underwater skills in Army Special Operations Commands' best combat diver competition
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-11 | by ( Stavros Atlamazoglou | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

In September, US commandos showed off their skills during the US Army Special Operations Command Best Combat Diver Competition — and Army Special Forces divers flexed their little-known underwater muscles to triumph over their Navy brethren. AdvertisementAdvertisementCompetitors in the Army Special Operations Command Best Dive Team Competition at Naval Air Station Key West on September 25. AdvertisementAdvertisementCompetitors begin a dive event during the Army Special Operations Command Best Combat Diver Competition in Key West in September. AdvertisementAdvertisementCombat diving revivalThe 5th Special Forces Group team takes title of best combat dive team during the Army Special Operations Command Best Combat Diver Competition in late September. Competitors in a pool event during the Army Special Operations Command Best Combat Diver Competition in late September.

Persons: —, US Army John F, Maj, Brandon Schwartz, Emely Opio, Wright, Lino Miani, aren't Organizations: Special Operations Command, Commandos, US Army, Navy, Service, US Army Special, Army Special Forces, Naval Air Station Key, Army, Army Special, Naval Air Station, West, Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School, Green Berets, Special Forces Group, Warfare Training Group, 5th Special Forces Group, Special Forces Underwater Operations, Green, Beret, Special Forces, Key West, 1st Special Forces Command, National Guard, Green Beret, Special Forces Command, Combat, Foundation, Pacific, Command, National Guard Green Locations: Russia, China, Key, Iraq, Afghanistan

☆ Ukraine replaces special forces commander, removed officer wonders why
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address that Colonel Serhiy Lupanchuk would now head the forces and described him as "an experienced officer, combat officer and the right man in command". The president said Lupanchuk's predecessor, Maj-Gen. Viktor Horenko, who led the forces from July 2022, "will continue to perform special tasks" within the Defence Ministry's Intelligence Directorate. The special forces are believed to be behind the most sophisticated operations Ukraine's military has conducted in areas under Russian control, in particular Crimea, annexed by Moscow in 2014, eight years before Moscow's full land invasion. The special forces are also responsible for military information and psychological operations, as well as the organization of resistance in occupied territories. Zelenskiy this week praised Ukraine's military for diminishing Moscow's military strength in the Black Sea through increased air and sea drone attacks on Russian military targets.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Zelenskiy, Serhiy Lupanchuk, Viktor Horenko, Horenko, General Valery Zaluzhnyi, Zaluzhniy, Ron Popeski, Oleksandr Kozhukhar, Rod Nickel Organizations: Defence Ministry's Intelligence, Pravda, Fleet, Economist, Thomson Locations: Moscow, Crimea, Sevastopol, Black

☆ Thousands cheer Indonesia's Prabowo ahead of registration for 2024 presidential race
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Prabowo and Gibran Rakabuming Raka, the eldest son of President Joko Widodo, told a Jakarta stadium packed with thousands of cheering supporters they would deliver programmes aimed at the youth. Former special forces commander Prabowo has been leading in opinion surveys against the two other contenders Ganjar Pranowo and Anies Baswedan. Gibran, 36, said their ticket would roll out loans for digital start-ups and continue development of the mineral processing industry and green economy. Our duty is to continue and perfect programmes related to youth, millennial generation, gen-Z," he said. Reporting by Ananda Teresia and Fransiska Nangoy; Editing by Kanupriya Kapoor and Raju GopalakrishnanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Prabowo, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Joko Widodo, Prabowo Subianto, Ganjar Pranowo, Baswedan, Gibran, Ananda Teresia, Kanupriya Kapoor, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: Indonesia's Defence, Thomson Locations: Surakarta's, JAKARTA, Jakarta, Indonesia

☆ Once disgraced, Indonesian ex-general tipped for presidency after makeover
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Kate Lamb | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Indonesian Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto gestures while attending a meeting of his Gerindra Party, in Bogor, Indonesia August 12, 2022. "We are ready to move forward for Indonesia," Prabowo told a press conference. The former special forces commander has undergone a remarkable transformation since being appointed defence minister in 2019, cultivating a persona that is more charismatic statesman than fiery, pious nationalist, analysts say. An opinion poll published by Lembaga Survei Indonesia (LSI) this month showed Prabowo ahead of his two opponents with 34% support. It's a change from previous campaigns where we've seen nationalist populist Prabowo, and pro-Islamist Prabowo," said Ross Tapsell, from the Australian National University.

Persons: Prabowo, Willy Kurniawan, Prabowo Subianto, Joko Widodo's, Suharto, Lembaga Survei, Ganjar Pranowo, LSI's Djayadi Hanan, Jokowi, Prabowo's, Hashim Djojohadikusumo, Suharto's, Siti Hediati Hariyadi, we've, Ross Tapsell, Najwa Shihab, Shihab, Andreas Harsono, Ananda Teresia, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: Indonesian Defence, Party, REUTERS, Rights, Defence, Pentagon, Australian National University ., Human Rights, Prabowo, Thomson Locations: Bogor, Indonesia, Rights JAKARTA, Jordan, United States, Papua, East Timor, Lembaga Survei Indonesia, Europe, Middle, Paris, Beijing, Indonesian, Jakarta

The presidential race is expected to be dominated by three men - Defence Minister Prabowo Subianto, 72, and popular former governors Ganjar Pranowo and Anies Baswedan, both 54 years of age. The camps of Anies and Ganjar have signalled they will register and present their policy platforms at the election commission on Thursday, when a seven-day window opens to join the five-yearly contest. Opinion polls show Ganjar neck-and-neck with Prabowo, who is making a third run at the presidency having lost to Jokowi in 2014 and 2019. Former special forces commander Prabowo has yet to announce his vice presidential running mate, an issue that has dominated headlines in recent days amid speculation he will be joined by Jokowi's 36-year-old son, Gibran Rakabuming Raka. Reporting by Stanley Widianto; Additional reporting by Ananda Teresia; Editing by Martin PettyOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Pranowo, Mohammad Mahfud Mahmodin, Joko Widodo, Prabowo Subianto, Ganjar Pranowo, Anies Baswedan, Prabowo, Anies, Mahfud, Muhaimin Iskandar, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Stanley Widianto, Ananda Teresia, Martin Petty Organizations: Indonesian Democratic Party, Struggle, Defence, Jokowi, Former Jakarta, Islamic, Jokowi's, Constitutional, Prabowo, Thomson Locations: Jakarta, Indonesia, JAKARTA, Anies

☆ Candidates for Indonesia's presidential election
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

A recent poll of potential candidates by Lembaga Survei Indonesia showed Prabowo top with the support of 34% support. After losing the 2019 election, Jokowi appointed Prabowo defence minister, a move analysts say helped heal divisions. Prabowo chairs the Great Indonesia Movement (Gerindra) party, which endorsed him as its presidential candidate last year. Erick Thohir - A businessman-turned-politician who once owned Italian football giant Inter Milan, Erick, 53, heads Indonesia's football association and serves as State Owned Enterprises Minister. Khofifah Indar Parawansa - One of Indonesia's most prominent female politicians, the popular, 58-year-old East Java governor has been courted by all three presidential candidates.

Persons: Ganjar Pranowo, Mohammad Mahfud Mahmodin, Antara, PRABOWO SUBIANTO, Joko Widodo, Jokowi, Prabowo, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Gibran, Erick Thohir, Erick, Indar, Khofifah, Ganjar, Mahfud, BASWEDAN, Anies, Basuki Tjahaja, Muhaimin, Imin, Abdurrahman Wahid, Gus Dur, Ananda Teresia, Stanley Widianto, Martin Petty Organizations: Indonesian Democratic Party, Struggle, Lembaga, Great Indonesia Movement, Inter Milan, State Owned Enterprises, Ulama, Indonesia's, Indonesian Democratic Party of, Israel, Islamic Prosperous Justice Party, National Awakening Party, Thomson Locations: Jakarta, Indonesia, JAKARTA, Surakarta, Italian, Central Java, Jokowi, Chinese, East Java

☆ Indonesian President's Son Among 'Strongest VP Candidates' for Prabowo - Party Official
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

JAKARTA (Reuters) - The eldest son of Indonesian President Joko Widodo is among the "strongest" potential running mates for Prabowo Subianto, a retired general who is a leading contender in next year's presidential election, a party official said on Tuesday. "Gibran is certainly one of the strongest candidates for Prabowo's VP... especially, after the Constitutional Court approved the petition that made him eligible to run," said Andre Rosiade, an official at Prabowo's Gerindra party. Besides Gibran, the shortlist of running mates for Prabowo includes East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa and State-owned Enterprises Minister Erick Thohir, he added. The same seven parties have agreed to back Gibran for Prabowo's vice president, according to a report in news portal Katadata citing an alliance party official. Candidates and their running mates are expected to register with the election commission between Oct 19-25.

Persons: Joko Widodo, Prabowo Subianto, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Critics, Jokowi, Prabowo, Gibran, Andre Rosiade, Khofifah Indar, Erick Thohir, Andre said, Ananda Teresia, Kanupriya Kapoor, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: Prabowo, East Java, Reuters Locations: JAKARTA, Surakarta, State, Prabowo's

☆ U.S.-Iran relations from 1953 coup to 2023 detainee swap deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

1980 - The U.S. cuts diplomatic ties with Iran, seizes Iranian assets and bans most trade with Tehran. U.S. officials accuse Tehran of operating secret nuclear weapons program. 2013 - Hassan Rouhani is elected Iran’s president on a platform of improving Iran’s relations with the world and its economy. In September, Saudi Arabia’s state-run oil company is attacked by drones and missiles believed to be from Iran; Tehran denies involvement. 2023 - In August, Iran and the United States agree a swap of detainees and the unfreezing of $6 billion of Iranian assets in South Korea.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Mohammed Mossadegh, Shah, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, Ruhollah Khomeini, Jimmy Carter, Carter, Ronald Reagan, Reagan, George W, Bush, Barack Obama, Hassan Rouhani, Donald Trump, Qassem Soleimani, Ebrahim Raisi, Arshad Mohammed, Michael Georgy, Parisa, Samia Nakhoul, William Maclean Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Central Intelligence, CIA, U.S, Embassy, Hostage, Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Thomson Locations: Rights DUBAI, United States, Iran, South Korea, Qatar, U.S, Tehran, Iraq, North Korea, Britain, France, United, Fordow, Saudi Arabia’s, Baghdad, Vienna, Washington

☆ Recent coups in West and Central Africa
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

BURKINA FASOIn January 2022, Burkina Faso's army ousted President Roch Kabore, blaming him for failing to contain violence by Islamist militants. Doumbouya became interim president and promised a transition to democratic elections within three years. CHADIn April 2021, Chad's army took power after President Idriss Deby was killed on the battlefield while visiting troops fighting rebels in the north. Deby's son, General Mahamat Idriss Deby, was named interim president and tasked with overseeing an 18-month transition to elections. But the coup leaders clashed with the interim president, retired colonel Bah Ndaw, and engineered a second coup in May 2021.

Persons: Gerauds Wilfried Obangome, Ali Bongo, Mohamed Bazoum, Abdourahamane Tiani, Burkina Faso's, Roch Kabore, Colonel Paul, Henri Damiba, Captain Ibrahim Traore, Mamady Doumbouya, Alpha Conde, Conde, Doumbouya, Idriss Deby, General Mahamat Idriss Deby, Assimi Goita, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, Bah Ndaw, Goita, Hereward Organizations: REUTERS, Islamic, West, ECOWAS, Chadian, Mali's West, Thomson Locations: Libreville, Gabon, West, Central Africa, NIGER, Niger, al Qaeda, Islamic State, Mali, Burkina, BURKINA FASO, GUINEA, CHAD, N'Djamena, MALI

☆ Taiwan boosts counter-espionage effort after suspected China infiltration
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Taiwan's armed forces hold two days of routine drills to show combat readiness ahead of Lunar New Year holidays at a military base in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, January 11, 2023. REUTERS/Ann WangTAIPEI, Aug 2 (Reuters) - Taiwan's military vowed on Wednesday to step up counter-espionage efforts as authorities investigated several serving and former military officers suspected of spying for China. China, which is pressing the island to accept its sovereignty, has in recent years mounted a sustained espionage campaign to undermine democratically governed Taiwan's military and civilian leadership, a Reuters investigation has found. "Betraying your own fellow soldiers and country should be punished by law strictly," he said, adding that authorities had been working hard to prevent such incidents happening again. China's Taiwan Affairs Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Persons: Ann Wang, Hsiao, Alex Huang, Yimou Lee, Robert Birsel Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, army's Aviation, Special Forces Command, Central News Agency, CNA, Chinese Communist Party, Taiwan Affairs Office, Thomson Locations: Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Ann Wang TAIPEI, China, Taoyuan, Taipei

BURKINA FASOBurkina Faso's army ousted President Roch Kabore in January 2022, blaming him for failing to contain violence by Islamist militants. MALIA group of Malian colonels led by Assimi Goita ousted President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita in August 2020. But the coup leaders clashed with the interim president, retired colonel Bah Ndaw, and engineered a second coup in May 2021. Deby's son, General Mahamat Idriss Deby, was named interim president and tasked with overseeing an 18-month transition to elections. GUINEASpecial forces commander Colonel Mamady Doumbouya ousted President Alpha Conde in September 2021.

Persons: Mohamed Bazoum, Roch Kabore, Colonel Paul, Henri Damiba, Captain Ibrahim Traore, Assimi Goita, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, Bah Ndaw, Goita, CHAD Chad's, Idriss Deby, General Mahamat Idriss Deby, Mamady Doumbouya, Alpha Conde, Conde, Doumbouya, Bate Felix, Nick Macfie Organizations: Economic, West African States, ECOWAS, African, BURKINA FASO Burkina Faso's, Mali's West, Chadian, GUINEA Special, Thomson Locations: DAKAR, Niamey, African Union, West, Central Africa, BURKINA FASO, MALI, Mali, N'Djamena, GUINEA

☆ Moscow's 'special' forces: An inside look at how Russia's famed Spetsnaz really operate
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-30 | by ( Mark Galeotti | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +24 min

Russia's Spetsnaz forces are often depicted as a kind of Russian super troops. Osprey PublishingMost countries' special forces emphasize physical fitness, determination and aggression. Special people, for special tasksMembers of the Russian military's 16th Separate Special Purpose Brigade during an exercise in 2018. Even so, being better than most of the Soviet army's miserable and recalcitrant conscript forces did not make most of them truly special, special forces. The special operations commandMembers of Russian's 22nd Separate Guards Special Purpose Brigade during an exercise in November 2017.

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