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RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin urged allied defense leaders Tuesday to “dig deep" and provide more air defense systems for Ukraine, to help the country block increasing barrages of Russian missiles. “Air defense is saving lives,” Austin said as he opened the meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group at Ramstein air base in Germany. “So I urge this group to continue to dig deep on ground-based air defense for Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other Ukrainian leaders have repeatedly pushed for the longer-distance weapons. The Ramstein meeting also marks Milley's final session as U.S. joint chiefs chairman.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, ” Austin, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Bill Blair, Austin, Joe Biden, Kevin McCarthy, “, —, Mark Milley, Milley, Rob Bauer Organizations: RAMSTEIN AIR, —, Ukraine Defense Contact, Ramstein, enrage, The Army Tactical Missile, Abrams, U.S . Defense, Washington , D.C, Republican, Nations, ” Military, Joint Chiefs of Staff, NATO Locations: Germany, Ukraine, U.S, enrage Moscow, Europe, Washington ,, Netherlands, Ramstein

☆ Chinese blockade of Taiwan would likely fail, Pentagon official says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Sept 19 (Reuters) - A Chinese blockade of Taiwan would likely fail and a direct military invasion of the self-ruled island would be extremely difficult for Beijing to carry out successfully, senior Pentagon officials told Congress on Tuesday. China's military in recent years has stepped up activity around Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory. However, whether Xi would order taking Taiwan by force, either through military options like a blockade or an invasion is unclear. "I think it is an option but probably not a highly likely option, when you start looking at the military options - much easier to talk about a blockade than actually do a blockade," McGee told lawmakers. He added flatly: "There is absolutely nothing easy about a PLA invasion of Taiwan."

Persons: Dado Ruvic, William Burns, Xi Jinping, Xi, Ely Ratner, Ratner, General Joseph McGee, McGee, Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali, Michael Martina, Patricia Zengerle, Marguerita Choy Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Pentagon, CIA, Affairs, House Armed Services, People's Republic of China . Army, Pentagon's Joint Staff, People's Liberation Army, PLA, Thomson Locations: Taiwan, Beijing, U.S, People's Republic of China, China

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTAIPEI, Sept 18 (Reuters) - Taiwan's defence ministry on Monday urged China to stop "destructive, unilateral action" after reporting a sharp rise in Chinese military activities near the island, warning such behaviour could lead to a sharp increase in tensions. The ministry said that since Sunday it had spotted 103 Chinese military aircraft over the sea, a number it called a "recent high". Peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are the common responsibilities of all parties in the region, it added. China's defence ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Taiwan's defence ministry noted last week that July to September is traditionally the busiest season for Chinese military drills along the coast.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Ben Blanchard, Yimou Lee, Muralikumar Anantharaman, Gerry Doyle Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Monday, Communist, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Rights TAIPEI, China, Taiwan, Taipei, Taiwan Strait, Philippines, Beijing, South

☆ Anyone seen my F-35? US searches for fighter jet after mishap
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A F-35B Lightning II aircraft from the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 211 launches from the deck aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Essex as part of the F-35B's first combat strike, against a Taliban target in Afghanistan, September 27, 2018. Navy/Handout via REUTERS/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Sept 18 (Reuters) - The U.S. military said on Monday it was still searching for an F-35 fighter jet after a mishap on Sunday near an air base in South Carolina and has asked for the public's help locating it. The pilot of the F-35B Lightning II jet ejected safely from the aircraft, according to a statement from Joint Base Charleston. The fighter jet's main advantages, according to its manufacturer, Lockheed Martin (LMT.N), are that it is nearly impossible to track with radar and is packed with advanced sensors and other gear. Based on the jet's last known position, the base said search efforts were focused north of the base around Lake Moultrie and Lake Marion.

Persons: Matthew Freeman, Lockheed Martin, Phil Stewart, David Shepardson, Leslie Adler Organizations: Marine Fighter Attack Squadron, U.S . Navy, REUTERS, Rights, U.S, Joint Base, Base Defense Operations Center, Twitter, Lockheed, ., Thomson Locations: Essex, Afghanistan, South Carolina, Lake Moultrie, Lake Marion

☆ Moscow has been surrounded by air defenses for a century, but they were never designed to stop the drones Ukraine is using now
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-17 | by ( David Hambling | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

In recent months, Moscow has seen high-profile drone attacks thought to be launched by Ukraine. Moscow has had air defenses for a century, but they haven't been designed for what Ukraine is doing. This is actually the inner defensive ring: The A135 system originally had an outer ring of 51T6 Gorgon missiles with megaton-class warheads. STR/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesAs far back as this January, Russian planners realized that Moscow was wide open to drone attacks. AP PhotoThe first drones hit Moscow in May, with waves of subsequent attacks continuing through July, August and September.

Persons: Yuriy Shipilov, Sefa, David Hambling Organizations: Ukraine, Service, UK's Ministry of Defense, Central Press, Kremlin, Ballistic, US Safeguard, Sprint, Spartan, Anadolu Agency, Getty, 1st Air Defense Army, National Security, Russian Federation, Aerospace Defense, Ministry of Defense, SA, Defense Ministry, Arsenal, Fatherland, Moscow Investigators, AP, Aviation, Forbes, The, New, Popular Mechanics, WIRED Locations: Moscow, Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Filatov Lug, Lug, American, North Dakota, Soviet, Crimea, Syria, Libya, Russian, London

☆ An Austrian former minister who controversially danced with Putin at her wedding flew to Russia with her ponies on a military plane, says report
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-16 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Austria's former foreign minister Karin Kneissl has moved to St. Petersburg to manage a think tank. A Russian military plane flew her and her ponies to Russia. She said she had decided to move to Russia to run a think tank at St. Petersburg University, reported Russia's state-owned Tass news agency. I decided to move to St. Petersburg for this work." AdvertisementAdvertisementKneissl said on social media that she took a Russian military plane to St. Petersburg along with her possessions — and ponies — as due to sanctions against Syria there were no commercial flights or DHL.

Persons: Karin Kneissl, Putin, Vladimir Putin, Kneissl Organizations: Service, Russian, Petersburg University, Tass, Gorki, Austrian Freedom Party, BBC, DHL, Guardian, Kneissl Locations: St, Petersburg, Russian, Russia, Wall, Silicon, Austrian, St . Petersburg, Syria, Austria, France, Lebanon

☆ Ukraine's air force has gotten good at fighting on the run, and Russia's military can't catch up, top US general says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Christopher Woody | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Ukraine's air force has been able to keep operating by spreading out its jets among different bases. Russia has struggled to catch up to that dispersal, the top US Air Force general in Europe says. That success underscores the US Air Force's need to be able to distribute its jets and crews. Russia began the war with a larger and more advanced air force, including better radars and longer-range missiles. US Air Force crew chiefs perform a "communications out" launch of an F-16 during an exercise in Lithuania in August.

Persons: James Hecker, they've, Hecker, Danil, " Hecker, OLEKSII FILIPPOV, Justin Bronk, Bronk, Dara Massicot, Massicot, Stephanie Longoria Organizations: US Air Force, Service, US Air Forces, Air and Space Forces Association, Washington DC, Getty, Britain's Royal United Services Institute, Ukraine, Carnegie Endowment, International, Russian BDA, Air Force, Tech Locations: Russia, Europe, Wall, Silicon, Washington, Ukraine, Kyiv, Russian, Lviv, AFP, Moscow, Lithuania, Latvia, Finland

☆ A US Air Force spy plane built in 1962 had to make an emergency landing in Qatar. It's the latest in a string of incidents for the ancient fleet of aircraft.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

A US Air Force spy plane flying for the 55th Wing made an emergency landing in Qatar on Monday. The US Air Force did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. It eventually joined the 55th Wing at Offutt Air Force Base outside of Omaha in 1981 and is still flying more than 40 years later. The Air Force stands behind its incident-prone fleetThe Air Force says it plans to make upgrades to its RC-135 fleet, expecting the planes to fly for another 20 to 30 years. "I have complete confidence in flying this aircraft," 55th Wing vice commander Col. David Berg told the World-Herald in 2018.

Persons: it's, —, Michael Andrews, Steve Lynes, Qatar —, Heather Wilson, Wilson, Frank Strickler, Al Udeid, We've, Todd Feeback, John Rauch, David Berg Organizations: US Air Force, Wing, Service, Boeing, OMAHA, Air Force, Soaring, KC, US Air Forces Central Command, Herald, Offutt Air Force Base, Air, FAA, American Airlines, Al Udeid, Base, Kansas City Star, Tribune, Getty, Air Force Safety Center Locations: Qatar, Wall, Silicon, Bahrain, Nebraska, Omaha, England, Greece, Japan, Persian

☆ Ukraine's Zelenskiy to visit US Congress next week, reports say
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Punchbowl News on Friday said Zelenskiy's visit with Congress was tentatively scheduled for Thursday. The Washington Post also reported Zelenskiy was set to travel to the U.S. Congress on Thursday, while the Wall Street Journal said he would meet with U.S. lawmakers. Representatives for Zelenskiy and congressional leaders could not be immediately reached for comment on the reports. Zelenskiy is expected to head to Washington next week following his trip to New York for the U.N. General Assembly meeting, the U.S. official told Reuters on Thursday. His visit comes as Biden, a Democrat, presses U.S. lawmakers to provide an additional $24 billion for Ukraine and other international needs amid Russia's ongoing invasion.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Biden, Zelenskiy's, Zelenskiy, Susan Heavey, Alison Williams, Chizu Organizations: Ramstein Air Base, Rights, U.S, Congress, Punchbowl, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, U.S ., Reuters, U.S . Senate, . House, Representatives, Ukraine, Thomson Locations: Germany, Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukrainian, Washington, New York

☆ White House: Biden to Meet With Zelenskiy, More Aid Coming for Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Sept. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States expects to announce additional aid to Ukraine next week, national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Friday, while announcing President Joe Biden would host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Thursday at the White House. Zelenskiy is expected to meet with congressional leaders from both political parties while he is in Washington, Sullivan said. Kyiv has repeatedly asked the Biden administration for ATACMS to help attack and disrupt supply lines, air bases and rail networks in Russian occupied territory. But a source familiar with the situation said the U.S. does not plan to announce ATACMS for Ukraine during Zelenskiy’s visit to the White House next week. (Reporting by Steve Holland and Jeff Mason; Editing by Jonathan Oatis and William Mallard)

Persons: Jake Sullivan, Joe Biden, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Zelenskiy, Sullivan, Biden, Zelenskiy’s, White, Steve Holland, Jeff Mason, Jonathan Oatis, William Mallard Organizations: WASHINGTON, United, White, Reuters, Tactical Missile Systems Locations: Ukraine, Washington, U.S

☆ Ukraine's attack on a Russian air-defense system may point to 'systemic tactical failures' with Russia's air defenses in Crimea, experts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ukraine has recently taken out two of Russia's prized S-400 air-defense systems in Crimea. US-based think tank the Institute for the Study of War said the latest attack may signal Russia's air defenses in Crimea have "systemic tactical failures," it wrote on Thursday. In April, Ukrainian defense secretary Oleksiy Danilov hinted that Ukraine sees Crimea as a testing ground for new weapons. The UK's Ministry of Defence said that those attacks also expose weaknesses in Russia's air defenses and have likely prompted a reorganization around air bases. The S-400 system was created as an upgrade to Russia's earlier S-300, the country's answer to the US Patriot air defense system.

Persons: Ukrainska, Oleksiy Danilov, Trump, Michael Kofman Organizations: Service, BBC, for, Ukrainska Pravda, Ukraine, UK's Ministry of Defence, US Patriot, Pentagon, New York Times, Times Locations: Ukraine, Crimea, Wall, Silicon, Yevpatoriya, Ukrainian, Olenivka, Russian, Turkey

☆ Russia hunts for Ukrainian warplanes used in Crimea strikes - Kyiv
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

KYIV, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Kyiv said on Friday a Russian drone attack overnight on a region that hosts a Ukrainian military airfield showed Moscow was searching for warplanes involved in strikes this week on Russian-occupied Crimea. Ukraine's air force said Russia had fired 17 "kamikadze" drones at the central Khmelnytskyi region that is home to the Starokostiantyniv air base, which has been attacked repeatedly during the war. We understand what the enemy is looking for: where the command has hidden our bombers after the events that happened recently in the sea near Crimea," Air Force Colonel Yuriy Ihnat said in televised comments. Kyiv has not said which missiles were used. Sky News reported that British-supplied Storm Shadows cruise missiles fired by Ukrainian warplanes were involved in the operationRussia seized and annexed the strategic Black Sea peninsula of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014.

Persons: Serhiy Tiurin, Yuriy Ihnat, Tom Balmforth, Timothy Organizations: " Air Force, Sky News, Ukrainian, Timothy Heritage, Thomson Locations: Ukrainian, Moscow, Crimea, Russia, Ukraine, Crimea's, Sevastopol, Kyiv

CNN —Two Russian warships were damaged after Ukraine launched an extensive assault on a Russian ship repair base in Crimea early Wednesday morning, officials said, in what appears to be Kyiv’s most ambitious strike on the port since the war began. Russia’s Defense Ministry said Ukrainian armed forces attacked the Sergo Ordzhonikidze shipyard in Sevastopol, which Russia uses as a repair base for its Black Sea Fleet, with 10 cruise missiles and three unmanned boats. But Russian officials confirmed that the attack had damaged two Russian warships and left 24 people injured. An ambulance leaves the area next to the shipyard in Sevastopol, Crimea, on September 13, 2023. Stringer/ReutersAnother prominent Russian military blogger said the attack on the Sevastopol shipyard was carried out by the Ukrainian Air Force, which launched 10 Storm Shadow cruise missiles at the facility.

Persons: Vasily Bykov, Mikhail Razvozhaev, Razvozhaev, Don ”, Stringer, Rybar, ” Rybar, Andriy Yermak, ” Yermak, Mykola Oleshchuk, Volodymyr Zelensky, Elon Musk, Walter Isaacson’s Organizations: CNN, Russia’s Defense Ministry, Reuters, Ukrainian Air Force, Su, Storm, Ukrainian, Russian, SpaceX Locations: Ukraine, Russian, Crimea, Ukrainian, Sevastopol, Russia, Rostov, Minsk, ”, United Kingdom, France, Novorossiysk, Kerch, Crimean

☆ Trinity Site, where first atomic blast was set off, opens for one day in October
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Kathleen Bangs | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

Trinity Site is the national historic landmark that’s home to mankind’s first nuclear blast on July 16, 1945, where plutonium gamma rays lit up the night sky. A caution sign warns of radioactive materials at Trinity Site in New Mexico back in 2008. The open house event, hosted by the US Army, is free but limited to the first 5,000 guests, on a first-come, first-served basis. Trinity Site’s atmosphere during an open house is reminiscent of a small-town carnival from a bygone era. And on April 6, 2024, Trinity Site again opens for a single day.

Persons: CNN —, “ Oppenheimer, ”, Matt McClain, Jonathan Larsen, J, Robert Oppenheimer, McDonald, Sam Wasson, you’ll, Jim Lo Scalzo, Oppenheimer, “, John Dempsey, brightens, Jim Eckles, Trinity, we’ve, Bettymaya, Patricia Henning, Henning, Karl G, Jon G, Fuller Organizations: CNN, Jornada, Trinity, Washington Post, US Army, White, Manhattan Project, Sipa, AP, Albuquerque, Army, Venture, Jumbo, Alamos National Laboratory, New Mexico Gov, National Security Research, Alamogordo Air Base, Radio Astronomy, Getty, “ SETI, Extraterrestrial Intelligence Locations: New Mexico, New York City, Nagasaki, Japan, Trinity, Hiroshima, Socorro, San Antonio . New Mexico, San Agustin, Mexico

☆ Taiwan says China bolstering air power along coastline facing island
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Taiwanese flags are seen at the Ministry of National Defence of Taiwan in Taipei, Taiwan, December 26, 2022. REUTERS/Ann Wang/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTAIPEI, Sept 12 (Reuters) - China is bolstering its air power along the coast facing Taiwan with a permanent deployment of new fighters and drones at expanded air bases, Taiwan's defence ministry said on Tuesday in its biennial report. China staged war games around Taiwan in August of last year and again in April, and its forces operate around the island almost daily. In its National Defence Report, the ministry said China uses "realistic combat training and exercises to strengthen its preparedness against Taiwan". China's defence ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Persons: Ann Wang, Joe Biden, Huang Wen, Ben Blanchard, Yimou Lee, Miral Fahmy, Michael Perry Organizations: Ministry of National Defence, REUTERS, Rights, Beijing, National Defence, Taiwan, Democratic, Taiwan's, Staff, Intelligence, Thomson Locations: Taiwan, Taipei, Rights TAIPEI, China, United States, Beijing

☆ NATO's 2 least-friendly members have a history of aerial showdowns, and they're both about to get new stealth jets
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-12 | by ( Paul Iddon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Greece and Turkey both plan to roll out new stealth jets by the end of the decade. Greece is acquiring F-35s from the US, while Turkey is building the domestically designed TF Kaan. The TF KAAN at its presentation ceremony in Ankara on May 1. AdvertisementAdvertisementBohl said several factors could hinder timely production of the TF Kaan, including fiscal considerations, national spending priorities, and Ankara's foreign partnerships. Stealth jets over the AegeanAn F-16 with Greece's Zeus solo display team at an airshow in Pireus in November 2016.

Persons: Dhruv Gopinath, Pratt, Whitney, Ryan Bohl, RANE, Yavuz Ozden, Bohl, George Tzogopoulos, Tzogopoulos, Greece's, George Panagakis, Cuneyt Organizations: NATO, Service, US Air Force, Souda Air Base, Tech, Turkish Aerospace Industries, GE, East, TF, Hellenic Air Force, Turkish, BAE Systems, Stealth, Pacific Press, Getty, NATO Air Policing, Anadolu Agency, Ankara Locations: Greece, Turkey, Wall, Silicon, Dhruv Gopinath Athens, Ankara, North Africa, Turkish, Crete, Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Pireus, Athens, Malbork, Poland

☆ Russia is getting hundreds of volunteers to protect its vulnerable planes from attacks, likely because it lacks enough trained security teams, intel says
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

A recent drone attack on a Russian airbase left several military aircraft damaged and destroyed. A satellite image shows the air base in Pskov, after what Kyiv confirmed to have been a Ukrainian drone attack, in Russia, August 31, 2023. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe new measures to protect its bases underscore major deficiencies in Russia's domestic security and air-defense network. TELEGRAM / MIKHAIL VEDERNIKOV/via REUTERSAugust alone saw over two dozen drone attacks on Russian territory. AdvertisementAdvertisementAn Ilyushin Il-76 Strategic airlifter, several of which were damaged in the drone attack.

Persons: Kyrylo Budanov, they'll, MIKHAIL VEDERNIKOV, it's, Sefa, Biden Organizations: Western intel, Service, Kyiv, Planet Labs, Handout, REUTERS, quadcopter, Anadolu Agency, Getty Images, NATO, Pentagon Locations: Russian, Russia, Moscow, Western, Wall, Silicon, Pskov, Estonia, Ukraine, Soviet, Russia's, Ukrainian, Ukraine Britain's, Crimea

☆ Exclusive: Ukraine could get long-range missiles armed with US cluster bombs - officials
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-11 | by ( Mike Stone | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Ukraine is currently equipped with 155 mm artillery with a maximum range of 18 miles carrying up to 48 bomblets. The GMLRS rocket system, a version of which Ukraine has had in its arsenal for months, would be able to disperse up to 404 cluster munitions. At present Ukraine has only one U.S.-furnished cluster munitions, the 155 mm rounds that were announced in July. Cluster munitions are prohibited by more than 100 countries. Russia, Ukraine and the United States have not signed onto the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which bans production, stockpiling, use and transfer of the weapons.

Persons: Biden, Dmytro Kuleba, Antony Blinken, Lockheed Martin, ATACMS, Joe Biden, Mike Stone, Chris Sanders, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: Korean, Army Tactical Missile, United States Army, REUTERS, Rights, Army Tactical Missile Systems, Russian, Reuters, Russia, U.S . Army, Lockheed, High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, Ukraine Defense Contact, Ramstein Air Base, Cluster Munitions, Thomson Locations: United States, South Korea, Ukraine, U.S, Kyiv, Orikhiv, Germany, Russia, Washington

☆ Photo emerges of Su-34 fighter-bomber covered with tires days after Russian bombers were spotted with the same
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A photo surfaced online showing a Russian Su-34 fighter-bomber covered in tires. The photo appeared just days after satellite images showed Russian bombers also covered in tires. The approach comes after drone strikes have bombarded Russian air bases, costing the country both bombers and airlift planes. In the photo, which Insider has been unable to independently verify, the Sukhoi Su-34 fighter-bomber, known to NATO as the Fullback, looks to be exposed in the open but is partially wrapped in a canopy. The image of the Su-34 is similar to satellite images of Tu-95 bombers and Tu-160 heavy bombers shared online last week.

Persons: aren't, Sukhoi Su Organizations: Service, Russian Air Force, Russian, NATO, Aviation, Ilyushin, Ukraine's, Directorate of Intelligence, Russia Locations: Russian, Wall, Silicon, Ukraine, Russia, Pskov, Soviet, Russia's

Ultimately, as many as half of the 1,100 troops stationed in Niger could be pulled from the country, two officials said. A final decision to withdraw troops from Niger has not yet been made, the officials said, and the number of troops that could leave has not been determined. But a transfer of troops from one base to another could compel the military to pull some troops from Niger. The removal of some troops from Niger could start in the coming weeks, one official said, and the pace at which it happens depends on conditions on the ground. In addition, some troops from Air Base 101 near the capital of Niamey would relocate to Air Base 201 in Agadez.

Persons: Biden, Sabrina Singh Organizations: CNN, US, Pentagon, Air Base, Politico, Defense Department, Nigerien Locations: Niger, Niamey, Agadez, Mali, Burkina Faso

☆ Panama announces new measures to curb record migration through Darien Gap
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Deportation flights for irregular migrants with criminal records are set to double with the help of the country's security ministry, Panama's immigration institute chief Samira Gozaine said. Official data shows some 352,000 people have crossed the dangerous stretch this year by Sept. 8, already surpassing the record high of nearly 250,000 seen for all of 2022. Panama will also increase financial thresholds at its checkpoints, requiring people expecting to stay 90 days to show proof of funds of at least $1,000, rather than the $500 it previously expected. The United Nations expects crossings through the jungle to surpass 400,000 this year. Reporting by Elida Moreno: Editing by Sarah MorlandOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Samira Gozaine, Elida Moreno, Sarah Morland Organizations: Nicanor Air Base, PANAMA CITY, Authorities, United Nations, Thomson Locations: Choco, Panamanian, Colombia, Darien, Panama, PANAMA

After the coup, the United States paused certain foreign assistance programs for Niger and military training has been on hold. "The leaders of this attempted coup are putting Niger's security at risk, creating a potential vacuum that terrorist groups or other malign groups may exploit," the official said. The United States has been pressing for a diplomatic resolution of the crisis that erupted on July 26 when Niger military officers seized power, deposed President Mohamed Bazoum and placed him under house arrest. Military juntas have come to power through coups in Mali and Burkina Faso - both neighbors of Niger - in recent years. But so far, Paris has rejected calls by the coup leaders to withdraw their 1,500 troops.

Persons: Joe Biden, Mohamed Bazoum, Kathleen FitzGibbon, Nusrat al, Idrees Ali, Phil Stewart, Jonathan Oatis, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Pentagon, Reuters, American, Air Base, Islamic State, Troops, United, Niger, Thomson Locations: Niger, U.S, Niamey, Agadez, West, al Qaeda, United, Washington, United States, State, Mali, Burkina Faso, France, Paris

☆ A Russian pilot who defected to Ukraine said his helicopter crew panicked when they realised what was happening but couldn't stop him as he was the only one who could fly it
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A Russian pilot defected and brought his helicopter to Ukraine last month, Ukrainian officials said. The pilot said his crew couldn't stop him as he was the only one on board who knew how to fly it. Ukrainian officials said both were killed. Ukrainian officials said a six-month plot led to the Russian Mi-8 AMTSh landing at a military air base in Kharkiv, in northeast Ukraine, last month. "Nobody could put up any resistance," he added, because no one else on board knew how to fly the helicopter.

Persons: Kuzminov, Kyrylo Budanov Organizations: Service, Ukraine's Defense Intelligence, Daily, Radio Free Locations: Russian, Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Kharkiv, Russia's, Radio Free Europe

☆ A Russian commander used military helicopters to transport his pet cat, says pilot who defected to Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A Russian commander used two military helicopters to transport his pet cat, according to a defector. One helicopter was used to fly the cat, and another was used to provide cover, he said. The operation burned through "a lot of fuel" and involved six servicemen on board, the pilot added. Ukraine's Defense Intelligence identified the pilot as Kuzminov, who is a 28-year-old former captain in Russia's 319th separate helicopter regiment. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe pilot is now calling on other Russian servicemen to follow his example, Ukraine's intelligence department said.

Persons: Maxim Kuzminov, Kuzminov, Volodymyr Zolkin Organizations: Service, New, Ukraine's Defense Intelligence, EuroMaidan Press Locations: Russian, Wall, Silicon, Ukraine, Kuzminov, Ukrainian, Kharkiv, Russia's

☆ Russia is piling tires on top of its prized bombers, images show — a possible crude attempt to trick Ukraine's missiles
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-05 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Black coverings resembling tires have appeared on planes at a Russian air base. It may be an attempt to confuse Ukraine's newly-adapted R-360 Neptune cruise missiles. The tires were seen partially covering the fuselages and some of the wings on Tu-95 bombers and Tu-160 heavy bombers, the outlet reported. It's unclear if the measure will work, but it coincides with Ukraine's announcement that it has modified its R-360 Neptune anti-ship cruise missiles to strike targets on land. AdvertisementAdvertisementPer the Drive, the tire covering could be intended to break up the planes' infrared signature, which is used by cruise missiles to recognize targets.

Organizations: Service, UK's Ministry of Defense Locations: Russian, Russia, Wall, Silicon, Saratov, Ukraine, Crimea

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