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☆ China roughly doubled the number of missiles it could use to go after US bases in Japan, new Pentagon report shows
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The US Department of Defense released its annual China Military Power Report last week. The report says China's has increased in missile stockpiles, doubling its supply of the DF-21 missile. The increase in what an expert called "Japan Killers" gives China greater capability to threaten US bases. The People's Liberation Army Rocket Force's includes a significant increase in DF-21 medium-range ballistic missiles. The new figures were released last week in the Department of Defense's annual China Military Power Report.

Persons: China's, —, That's, GREG BAKER, Tom Shugart, who's, that's, Shugart, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Roosevelt, Mandel Ngan Organizations: US Department of Defense, China, Service, People's Liberation, Pentagon, Department, Taiwan . Military, Getty, NATO, US, Center, New, New American Security, DF, . Navy, Japan, Self, Defense Force, Reuters, US Navy, Defense, RAND, PLA, Artillery, White, American, DoD Locations: China, Japan, People's Republic of China, Taiwan, Beijing, AFP, Guam, New American, Korea, Soviet, Washington , DC

☆ China's fighter jet fleet is growing in size and appears to have made a big jump in capability, new Pentagon report shows
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

US Department of Defense released its annual China Military Power Report to Congress last week. The Chinese fighter jet fleet appears to have not only grown in size but, more importantly, also in overall capability. AdvertisementAdvertisementA new report from the Pentagon details China's expanding military power, including the growth of its fighter jet fleet, which appears to have also experienced a jump in capability. The Pentagon's report notes that China's fighter jet fleet has both expanded and apparently improved. CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty ImagesExamples of China's fourth-generation fighter aircraft include the Chengdu J-10, Shenyang J-16, and Shenyang J-15.

Persons: —, Xi, Liu Dawei, they've, Matthew P, Funaiole Organizations: of Defense, China, Service, US Department of Defense, People's Liberation Army, PLA, PLA Air Force, PLA Navy, PLAN, PLAN Aviation, DoD, The Air Force, Air, Air Force Aviation University, CFOTO, Publishing, Getty, Shenyang J, 14th China International Aviation, Aerospace Exhibition, Pentagon, China Power Project, Center for Strategic, International Studies Locations: People's Republic of China, China, United States, Nanjing, Jiangsu province, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangxi, Fujian, Chengdu, Shenyang, Chinese, Liaoning, Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, Xinhua, Russian

☆ U.S. government wants to move conversation around UFOs from speculation to science
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Magdalena Petrova | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Unidentified flying objects, or UFOs, have captured the imagination of Americans for decades. But much of the conversation has been confined to science fiction movies and novels. A big one suggests the U.S. has been concealing alien life and technology in secret compounds like Area 51 in Nevada. A 2019 poll found 68% of respondents believed the U.S. government knows "more about UFOs than it is telling us." Then, in June 2022, NASA convened an independent expert panel to help study UAP incidents and advise the Department of Defense on how to gather and interpret data on UAPs.

Persons: Ryan Graves, Graves Organizations: UAP, Safe Aerospace, U.S . Navy, UAPs, National Intelligence, Pentagon, NASA, of Defense, DoD Locations: Nevada, U.S, Washington

☆ Why defense stocks may keep moving higher following initial gains on the Israel-Hamas war
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Sarah Min | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Wall Street analysts expect defense stocks will continue to move higher as a result of the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war making it less likely Congress will delay or curb the nation's defense budget. Defense stocks have underperformed as a group this year amid concerns that partisan divisions in Washington point to lower military spending. Notably, Bernstein analyst Douglas Harned doesn't expect the Israel-Hamas conflict will change the path of U.S. defense spending. He cited prior conflicts, such as Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year, that didn't end up boosting the defense budget. LMT 5D mountain Lockheed Martin Regardless, Wall Street broadly anticipates defense stocks could continue rising from current levels.

Persons: Scott Deuschle, Deuschle, Jason Gursky, Bernstein, Douglas Harned doesn't, Harned, Martin, Northrop, Morgan Stanley, Lockheed Martin Organizations: Defense, U.S . Aerospace & Defense ETF, ITA, Wall Street, Defense Department, Pentagon, Deutsche, Citi, Deutsche Bank, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed, Israeli Defense Forces, L3Harris, Army Locations: Israel, Washington, U.S, Gaza, Ukraine, Congress, China, Russia, North Korea

☆ US preparing to officially designate military takeover in Niger as a coup d'etat after months of delay, officials say
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-06 | by ( Natasha Bertrand Oren Liebermann Alex Marquardt | Natasha Bertrand | Oren Liebermann | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The US embassy can continue to operate and the US military will be able to legally keep forces in Niger if a coup designation is made, US officials said. But the Pentagon is still assessing how the change will impact the approximately 1,000 US forces stationed in the country, officials said. The administration could continue with life-saving and other kinds of assistance that are important for US security interests while simultaneously suspending other assistance to the government, including economic and security assistance. Nigerien military leaders overthrew the democratically elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, in July. Senior Pentagon officials believe that keeping a presence in Niger is vital to efforts to tackle terrorism in the region and believe that it’s feasible even amid the domestic political turmoil there.

Persons: Mohamed Bazoum, ”, Defense Lloyd Austin, haven’t, “, Sabrina Singh Organizations: CNN, US State Department, Pentagon, State Department, Nigerien, France, Congress, Defense, DOD, Congressional Research Service, Senior Pentagon Locations: Niger, ”, Africa’s Sahel, Niamey, Saharan Africa, Djibouti, United States

☆ The US' first electric 'air taxi' was just delivered to the Air Force — meet Joby's eVTOL
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Electric aircraft manufacturer Joby Aviation delivered its first eVTOL to the US Air Force in September. The aircraft will run a range of missions as Joby develops an electric air taxi for passenger service. Take a look at Joby's eVTOL, which will fly with the USAF for a year as part of a $131 million DoD contract. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. AdvertisementAdvertisementTake a look at Joby's experimental eVTOL and how testing at Edwards will help further carve a path toward its eventual commercial use.

Persons: —, Joby, Edwards Organizations: Electric, Joby Aviation, US Air Force, USAF, Service, Edwards Air Force Base, US, Air, DoD Locations: California

But officials have made clear recently that other forms of US aid are potentially in jeopardy if Ukraine does not do more to address corruption. The US has provided Ukraine with over $23 billion in direct budget support since the war began, according to the Congressional Research Service. In a statement to CNN, the Ukrainian embassy in Washington said that Ukraine has moved “ambitiously” to pass reforms, including on its IMF program. That money is also the “most closely scrutinized” form of aid to Ukraine, a senior Democratic Senate aide told CNN. The US intends to provide up to $3.3 billion in direct economic aid to Ukraine if Congress authorizes its $24 billion supplemental request for Ukraine.

Persons: Biden, Jake Sullivan, Antony Blinken, Volodymyr Zelensky, Matthew Miller, Miller, ”, Denys Shmyhal, Blinken, “, It’s, Megan Reed, Sen, Lindsey Graham, Zelensky Organizations: CNN, Ukraine, The State Department, Congressional Research Service, United States Agency for International Development, USAID, World Bank, Ukrainian Ministry of Finance, International Monetary Fund, IMF, National Bank of, General Prosecutors, National Security, Ukrainian, White, Ukrainska Pravda, Government of, EU, State Department, NATO, Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, Democratic, Republicans, Pentagon, The Defense, Ukrainian MoD Locations: Ukraine, Ukrainian, Washington, National Bank of Ukraine, USA, Russia, Kyiv, Europe, Government of Ukraine, United States, EU

President Joe Biden asked Congress in July to approve another $24 billion related to Ukraine, which Ukraine supporters - Republicans as well as Democrats - had hoped could become law as part of a spending bill. A U.S. official said that, as of Monday, the Defense Department had $1.6 billion left to replace weapons sent to Ukraine, no funds left under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) and $5.4 billion worth of Presidential Drawdown Authority. But he, and some other Republicans in both the House and Senate, refused to include more aid for Ukraine in the measure. "Today, DoD has exhausted nearly all available security assistance funding for Ukraine," McCord wrote in the letter, dated Sept. 29 and expressing concern that the stopgap spending bill did not include security assistance for Ukraine. Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Kyiv was in talks with Republicans and Democrats in Congress, and that the drama around the stopgap bill was an "incident" rather than something systemic.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy, Ken Cedeno, Joe Biden's, Biden, McCarthy, Joe Biden, UKRAINE DRUMBEAT, Donald Trump, White, Matt Gaetz, Karine Jean, Pierre, Vladimir, Putin, Jean, Michael McCord, McCord, Lockheed Martin’s, Dmytro Kuleba, Patricia Zengerle, Mike Stone, Moira Warburton, Makini Brice, Steve Holland, Don Durfee, Alison Williams Organizations: ., U.S, Capitol, REUTERS, Rights, Ukraine, Republican, Republicans, Defense Department, Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, Congress, Senate, Reuters Graphics REPUBLICAN, Kyiv, Monday, White, Department of Defense, Pentagon, DoD, RTX, Lockheed, Democrats, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, U.S, Washington, Kyiv, Russia, Ukraine, UKRAINE, Tucson , Arizona, Camden , Arkansas

☆ US Congress Debates Ukraine Aid as Pentagon Warns Money Running Low
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-02 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

Washington has sent the Kyiv government $113 billion in security, economic and humanitarian aid since Russia invaded in February 2022. A U.S. official said that, as of Monday, the Defense Department had $1.6 billion left to replace weapons sent to Ukraine, no funds left under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) and $5.4 billion worth of Presidential Drawdown Authority. But he, and some other Republicans in both the House and Senate, refused to include more aid for Ukraine in the measure. We'll have another package of aid soon to signal our support for the brave people of Ukraine," Jean-Pierre said. "Today, DoD has exhausted nearly all available security assistance funding for Ukraine," McCord wrote in the letter, dated Sept. 29 and expressing concern that the stopgap spending bill did not include security assistance for Ukraine.

Persons: Patricia Zengerle WASHINGTON, Joe Biden's, Kevin McCarthy, Biden, McCarthy, Joe Biden, UKRAINE DRUMBEAT, Donald Trump, White, Matt Gaetz, Karine Jean, Pierre, Vladimir, Putin, Jean, Michael McCord, McCord, Lockheed Martin’s, Dmytro Kuleba, Patricia Zengerle, Mike Stone, Moira Warburton, Makini Brice, Steve Holland, Don Durfee, Alison Williams Organizations: Ukraine, Republican, Republicans, U.S, Defense Department, Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, Congress, Senate, REPUBLICAN, Kyiv, Monday, White, Department of Defense, Pentagon, DoD, RTX, Lockheed, Democrats Locations: U.S, Washington, Kyiv, Russia, Ukraine, UKRAINE, Tucson , Arizona, Lockheed Martin’s Camden , Arkansas

☆ Government shutdown doesn't halt, but hinders Pentagon work
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Mike Stone | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Troop pay is delayed during a government shutdown, but Singh said housing and bills are not. For example, Ukrainian "F-16 pilot training would continue," said Chris Sherwood a Pentagon spokesman. However, some "delivery of defense articles, services, and/or military education" could be paused, Sherwood said. "Under a shutdown, the government stops payments on invoices not yet paid for costs incurred before the shutdown," the letter said. NDIA and PSC represent companies like Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N), L3Harris Technologies Inc (LHX.N), Bank Of America Corp (BAC.N) and Oracle Corp (ORCL.N).

Persons: Carlos Barria, Sabrina Singh, Singh, Chris Sherwood, Sherwood, David Norquist, David Berteau, Mike Stone, Alistair Bell Organizations: Pentagon, REUTERS, Rights, Department of Defense, Democratic, U.S, Senate, National Defense Industrial Association, Professional Services Council, Congressional, NDIA, PSC, Lockheed Martin Corp, L3Harris Technologies, Of America Corp, Oracle Corp, Thomson Locations: Arlington , Virginia, U.S, Ukraine, Washington

☆ US military barracks are so neglected that troops in one facility are left to clean up 'biological waste that may remain in a barracks room after a suicide,' government report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-25 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

At one facility, service members are responsible for "cleaning biological waste that may remain in a barracks room after a suicide," said the Tuesday report filed by the Government Accountability Office, citing officials at the barracks. "Thousands of service members live in barracks below standards, according to officials," the report said. Military personnel in all 12 discussion groups said their barracks conditions affected their mental health, the report said. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe report said service members in at least six of 12 discussion groups spoke of bedbugs, rodents, cockroaches, and wasps in their barracks. Ventilation, heating, and air conditioning systems were broken at all 10 facilities visited by investigators, the report said.

Persons: GAO Organizations: Service, Government, GAO, Defense Department, US Army, Military, Pentagon, Department of Defense, The Defense Department, DOD Locations: Wall, Silicon

☆ Pentagon determines Ukraine training and support exempt from potential government shutdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Oren Liebermann | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —The Pentagon has determined that the training and support of Ukrainian forces is exempt from a potential government shutdown, according to the Defense Department, and will continue even in the increasingly likely event that Congress fails to pass a spending bill in the coming days. The determination allows critical elements of American support for Kyiv, such as the training of Ukrainian forces and the ongoing transfer of weapons to Ukraine, to proceed in the midst of an ongoing counteroffensive. “Operation Atlantic Resolve is an excepted activity under a government lapse in appropriations,” said Defense Department spokesman Chris Sherwood. Operation Atlantic Resolve refers to the US effort to support Ukraine and to bolster NATO’s eastern flank. The decision to shield the US military’s operations related to Ukraine from the effects of a possible shutdown come as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited Washington, DC, meeting with President Joe Biden, as well as top leaders at the Pentagon.

Persons: ”, Chris Sherwood, Sherwood, “, Volodymyr Zelensky, Joe Biden Organizations: CNN, Pentagon, Defense Department, Kyiv, Defense, Politico, US M1A1 Locations: Ukraine, Crimea, Ukrainian, Washington, DC

☆ US Navy 'Ghost Fleet' ships make first-of-its-kind visit in the Western Pacific as Pentagon looks to counter China's military mass with drones
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

US Navy drone boats made a first-of-its-kind visit to a key US ally in the Western Pacific. said Rear Adm. Blake Converse, deputy commander of US Pacific Fleet, in the statement. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe unmanned surface vessel Ranger transits the Pacific Ocean during Integrated Battle Problem (IBP) 23.2, Sep. 15, 2023. IBP 23.2 is a Pacific Fleet exercise to test, develop and evaluate the integration of unmanned platforms into fleet operations to create warfighting advantages. IBP 23.2 is a Pacific Fleet exercise to test, develop and evaluate the integration of unmanned platforms into fleet operations to create warfighting advantages.

Persons: Blake Converse, Jesse Monford IBP, Carl Vinson, Carlos Sardiello, Arleigh Burke, Jesse Monford, USVs, Kathleen Hicks, Hicks Organizations: Navy, Western Pacific, Pentagon, Service, Fleet, US Pacific Fleet, Pacific Fleet, US Marine Corps, Carrier, Initiative, DoD Locations: Western, Wall, Silicon, Western Pacific, Yokosuka, Japan, Pacific, Beijing, Washington, Taiwan

☆ A 'sugar baby' is taking over TikTok with her post about the many demands her 'daddy' has for her, but the real story is wilder than you'd think
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Hannah Getahun | Kwan Wei Kevin Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

"Did I say sugar baby? "Did I say Sugar baby? I meant Soldier," Desirè Victoria wrote in a TikTok post published on August 27. AdvertisementAdvertisement@its_perfectlyimperfect_ I quit my job and became a full time sugar baby 🤷🏽‍♀️ - - - Many dont realize the perks of being a Soldier , the easist job I have had. Victoria said the "sugar baby" benefits include money for rent, flights and transportation, and personal expenses.

Persons: Victoria, Uncle Sam Organizations: US Army, Service Locations: Wall, Silicon

☆ A pilot training in one of America's most expensive weapons systems ejected over South Carolina. Officials can't find the F-35 he was flying.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-17 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A pilot ejected from his F-35B Lightning II jet following a "mishap" during a Sunday training flight. While the pilot was unharmed, the jet was lost and has not yet been recovered by officials. The F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter program is the DOD's most expensive at $1.7 trillion. The F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter program is the Department of Defense's most expensive weapon system program, according to the US Government Accountability Office. The US Air Force deployed F-35s to NATO's front line to patrol for Russian missiles following the invasion of Ukraine.

Organizations: Service, Marine Corps, Joint, Marine Fighter Attack Training, 2nd Marine Aircraft, United States Marine Corps, Corps, Joint Base Charleston, Marine Corps Air, Beaufort, Lockheed, US Air Force, Russian, AIM Locations: Wall, Silicon, South Carolina, South Kenwood, North Charleston, Ukraine

Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) speaks to supporters in Memphis, Tennessee, U.S. March 17, 2019. L3 Harris said on July 26 it was informed that the U.S. Federal Trade Commission would not block its $4.7 billion deal for Aerojet Rocketdyne. The letter was signed by Warren, chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee Subcommittee on Personnel, as well as U.S. The lawmakers also requested correspondence between the Pentagon and the companies regarding potential conditions, including how they would be enforced. Reporting by Diane Bartz; additional reporting by Mike Stone; editing by Timothy GardnerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Elizabeth Warren, Karen Pulfer Focht, Lloyd Austin, Harris, Warren, L3Harris, William LaPlante, Representatives John Garamendi, Mark Pocan, Diane Bartz, Mike Stone, Timothy Gardner Organizations: Democratic, U.S, REUTERS, Rights, Democrat, L3 Harris Technologies, U.S . Federal Trade Commission, Aerojet, Pentagon, Federal Trade Commission, Senate Armed Services, Representatives, Defense Department, Thomson Locations: Memphis , Tennessee, U.S, Austin

Let’s go to work.”Tuberville’s blockade is unique because it affects hundreds of military nominations and promotions. But, while unusual, Tuberville's office notes that lawmakers from both parties have threatened holds on military promotions over the years. But if Republican leaders are pressuring Tuberville to end his holds, they are not doing so publicly. Some Republicans have suggested that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., could hold votes on some of the most critical nominations. “I'd like to vote to rescind the policy, but I'm not going to hold the military up in perpetuity,” Graham said.

Persons: Alabama Sen, Tommy Tuberville, “ We're, ”, servicemembers, Navy Carlos Del Toro, Tuberville, ” “, “, ” Tuberville, Lloyd Austin, Let’s, It’s, What's, Austin, Court’s Dobbs, “ I'm, Sen, John Thune, Chuck Schumer, Schumer, ” Schumer, Lindsey Graham, it's, I'm, ” Graham, Roger Wicker, ” Wicker Organizations: WASHINGTON, Alabama, Pentagon, Navy, Air Force, Army, Washington Post, Marine Corps, CNN, ‘, Democratic, Senate, Defense Department, Senate Armed Services Committee, Republican, Marines, Space Force, Senate Armed Services Locations: Washington, Russia, Tuberville

☆ Investing in Space: Why the Pentagon is spending billions to build its own satellite constellation
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-31 | by ( Michael Sheetz | In Michaeljsheetz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

CNBC's Investing in Space newsletter offers a view into the business of space exploration and privatization, delivered straight to your inbox. Low Earth orbit satellite constellations are all the rage, but up to this point they've been the prospective domain of commercial entities. SDA is about to launch the second mission of its constellation known as the "Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture," or PWSA. The Transport satellites in Tranche 0 cost about $15 million each, according to Jennifer Elzea, the agency's chief of strategic engagement. Investing in Space programming note: I will be out next week, but back the following for the World Satellite Business Week conference in Paris!

Persons: Lockheed Martin's, CNBC's Michael Sheetz, Lockheed Martin, Chris Winslett, Winslett, Jennifer Elzea, Elzea, It's, Mike Eppolito, we'll, Eppolito Organizations: Lockheed, Space Development Agency, U.S . Space Force, Transport, Pentagon, SpaceX, Space Force, Command, PWSA, World Locations: tranches, York, Paris

☆ Alleged Russian crime boss sanctioned by Ukraine owns a major stake in US biotech firm
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

Buried in corporate filings is another relationship that is central to Humacyte: Russian billionaire Gavril Yushvaev is the company’s second-largest individual shareholder. Humacyte: Russian billionaire has no ‘control’ over firmYushvaev has not been sanctioned by the US government. “There are patients walking today on their own limbs who would not be doing so without access to the HAV to repair their damaged arteries,” a Humacyte spokesperson said. ‘It shows poor judgment’Yushvaev was brought in as an accredited private investor by Credit Suisse’s capital markets advisory group, a Humacyte spokesperson told CNN. Dougan does not personally know Yushvaev, a Humacyte spokesperson told CNN.

Persons: — Weeks, Kathleen Sebelius, Gavril Yushvaev, Yushvaev –, ”, Yushvaev, ” Forbes, Dann, Charles Whitehead, That’s, Steven Tian, Putin, Vladimir Putin, Trump, Sebelius, Humacyte, Obama, ” Yushvaev, Yale’s Tian, Whitehead, “, ” It’s, Brady Dougan, Dougan, Laura Niklason, ’ Yushvaev, Jeff Sonnenfeld, Sonnenfeld, ” Humacyte, Lawrence Ward, Ward, Eleanor Bloxham, ” Bloxham, ’, Lyft, Mother Jones Organizations: New York CNN, Pentagon, Nasdaq, US Department of Defense, CNN, Securities and Exchange Commission, Ukraine, Pepsico, Cornell Law School, BlackRock, Vanguard, Yale School of Management’s, Institute, Treasury Department, Kremlin, Credit, Ayabudge, Credit Suisse, Humacyte, PTC, Yale, Yushvaev, SEC, “, Soviet, US Treasury, Dorsey, Whitney’s, Value Alliance, The Department of Defense, DOD, Cornell, Russia Locations: Ukraine, North Carolina, Humacyte, Russian, Russia, Crimea, Cypriot, Yale, Bloxham, Lyft

☆ North Korea confirms custody of U.S. soldier Travis King, who crossed DMZ in July
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( Phil Helsel | Mosheh Gains | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

A U.S. soldier who had served in South Korea crossed the military demarcation line separating the two Koreas into North Korea without authorization. North Korea commented Tuesday for the first time about a U.S. soldier who ran into the isolated country's territory last month. North Korea also alleged that King said he decided to cross into North Korean territory. North Korea had offered a very brief response to United Nations officials about King, the Pentagon's spokesman said Aug. 1. North Korea has also six times conducted nuclear tests, which are also banned by the U.N.

Persons: KCNA, Travis King, Lloyd Austin, King, Jonathan Franks, Claudia Gates, Gates, today's, Travis, Franks, Martin Meiners, Private King, Meiners, Patrick Ryder, Ryder Organizations: Security Area, DPRK, Democratic People's, U.S . Army, Army, Korean Central News Agency, . Defense Department, Private, United Nations, Pentagon, Air Force, Command, Joint Security Agency, United Nations Command, North Locations: Paju, South Korea, U.S, North Korea, Panmunjom, Korea, Korean, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North, DPRK, KCNA

☆ Lynas Rare Earths signs updated contract with US govt for Texas facility, shares rise
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Aug 1 (Reuters) - Lynas Rare Earths (LYC.AX) said on Tuesday it had signed an updated contract with the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) for the construction of the heavy rare-earths component of its rare-earths processing facility in Texas. Lynas, the world's largest producer of rare-earths outside of China, said the updated contract follows detailed design work and cost updates for the project. Lynas' Texas facility will serve both the DoD and commercial customers, and is targeted to be operational in the financial year 2026. Feedstock for the facility will be sourced from the company's Mt Weld deposit and Kalgoorlie facility in Western Australia, the miner added. Reporting by Himanshi Akhand in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel, Sherry Jacob-Phillips and Rashmi AichOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Lynas, Amanda Lacaze, Himanshi, Maju Samuel, Sherry Jacob, Phillips, Rashmi Organizations: U.S . Department of Defense, U.S, DoD, Thomson Locations: Texas, China, Lynas ' Texas, Mt Weld, Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, Bengaluru

☆ Lynas Rare Earths signs updated contract with US govt for Texas facility
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Aug 1 (Reuters) - Lynas Rare Earths (LYC.AX) said on Tuesday it had signed an updated contract with the U.S. Department of Defense for the construction of the heavy rare-earths component of its rare-earths processing facility in Texas. Under the contract, a contribution of about $258 million by the U.S. government is currently allocated to the project, higher than the $120 million contribution announced last year, Lynas said. Lynas, the world's largest producer of rare-earths outside of China, said the updated contract follows detailed design work and cost updates for the project. Lynas' Texas facility will serve both the DoD and commercial customers, and is targeted to be operational in the financial year 2026. Feedstock for the facility will be sourced from the company's Mt Weld deposit and Kalgoorlie facility in Western Australia, the miner added.

Persons: Lynas, Himanshi, Maju Samuel, Sherry Jacob, Phillips Organizations: U.S . Department of Defense, U.S, DoD, Thomson Locations: Texas, China, Lynas ' Texas, Mt Weld, Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, Bengaluru

July 28 (Reuters) - The United States and its partners are communicating with military leaders in Niger, a State Department spokesperson said on Friday, as Washington warned a military takeover could end U.S. cooperation with the nation. Coup leaders in Niger on Friday declared General Abdourahamane Tiani as the new head of state following the seventh military takeover in West and Central Africa in less than three years. Military leaders from ECOWAS nations and international partners including the United States are in communication with a broad array of military leaders in Niger," the State Department spokesperson said. So far in fiscal year 2023, the U.S. has provided nearly $138 million in humanitarian assistance for vulnerable populations in Niger, the State Department spokesperson said. The State Department spokesperson said there was no announcement about when she would travel to Niger.

Persons: Abdourahamane Tiani, John Kirby, Washington, Washington's, Biden, Kirby, Lloyd Austin, Kathleen FitzGibbon, Steve Holland, Daphne Psaledakis, Phil Stewart, Patricia Zengerle, David Ljunggren, Jonathan Oatis, Sandra Maler, Don Durfee, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: State Department, Friday, Military, White House, U.S . Agency for International Development, ., Pentagon, DoD, Department of Defense, The State Department, Thomson Locations: United States, Niger, Washington, West, Central Africa, U.S, Africa's, Niger . U.S

☆ The world's top alien hunters explain why a Harvard physicist's discovery of 'alien' tech is likely a false alarm
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-22 | by ( Adam Barnes | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Harvard physicist Avi Loeb announced the discovery of tiny "spherules" at the bottom of the Pacific. But three of the world's top experts on the search for aliens are skeptical the tech is from aliens. The fragments "could be a spacecraft from another civilization, or some technological gadget," Loeb told CBS News. This will constitute independent evidence for the interstellar origin of IM1 in addition to its measured speed," Loeb wrote. Loeb told Insider that, when ready, the team will publish their findings in a scientific paper that will be "shared openly and submitted for a peer-reviewed journal."

Persons: Avi Loeb, Loeb, Dan Werthimer, IM1, aren't, Douglas Vakoch, Vakoch, Monica Grady, Werthimier Organizations: Service, CBS, SETI Research, University of California, Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence, SETI, Center, Object, Sun, Space Command, NASA, DOD, The Open University, HMS Locations: Wall, Silicon, Berkeley, Papua New Guinea

The plots to steal the weaponry and equipment were disrupted by Ukraine’s intelligence services and it was ultimately recovered, according to the report, titled “DoD’s Accountability of Equipment Provided to Ukraine.” CNN obtained the report via a Freedom of Information Act request. In late October, the US resumed on-site inspections of Ukrainian weapons depots as a way to better track where the equipment was going. The personnel did not provide the IG with corroborating paperwork by the time the investigation concluded, however, the report notes. Ukraine’s intelligence service disrupted the plot, according to the report. The Pentagon inspector general wrote that some larger items like missiles and helicopters were easier to track through intelligence mechanisms.

Persons: CNN —, ”, Military.com, Kyiv “, Colin Kahl, Biden, Kevin McCarthy, Ron DeSantis, Defense Department “ Organizations: CNN, Defense, ” CNN, Arms, Control, of Defense Cooperation, Kyiv, DoD, US, Republicans, Republican, Florida Gov, Command, Pentagon, Defense Department Locations: Ukraine, United States

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