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☆ A Ukrainian brigade armed with French tanks, artillery, and heavy weaponry is about to enter the fight
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-15 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

"Now they are able to fight, they are able to maneuver," a French colonel said. AdvertisementA Ukrainian brigade made up of thousands of soldiers trained in France and armed with French-supplied tanks, artillery, and heavy weaponry is about to enter the fight against Russia. It will also have 18 AMX 10 light tanks, 18 truck-mounted Caesar artillery pieces, 128 armored troop carriers, as well as anti-tank and antiaircraft missile systems, the French military said. The Ukrainian military is also training other troops for the brigade back in Ukraine, according to French authorities. The new Ukrainian brigade will enter the war at a critical time.

Persons: —, Anne, France —, Caesar, Ukraine's, Donald Trump Organizations: Service, Russia, Associated Press, Western, White, Trump Locations: France, Russia, French, Champagne, Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukrainian, Kursk, Europe

CNN —Up to 600 people were shot dead in a matter of hours by al Qaeda-linked militants in an August attack on a town in Burkina Faso, according to a French government security assessment that nearly doubles the death toll cited in earlier reports. A series of coups across Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger led to the departure of French and American forces. The Russian mercenaries summoned by the juntas to bolster their grip have instead left a vacuum in which jihadists have thrived, says the assessment, given to CNN by a French security official. A view of the town of Barsalogho, Burkina Faso, where up to 600 people were killed by al Qaeda-linked militants in an August attack, according to a French government security assessment. CNN has reviewed videos of the alleged cannibalism that seem to show Burkina Faso soldiers dismembering and holding up body parts of apparent dead jihadists.

Persons: al, Nusrat al, JNIM, ”, jihadists, “, I’m, Fear, Ibrahim Traore, Zero ”, Burkina Faso’s, Traore, –, Wagner, group’s, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Donat Sorokin, ‘ Organizations: CNN, Getty, United Nations, Reuters, “, Burkina Faso’s, Civil Service, Labs Inc, Rapid Locations: al Qaeda, Burkina Faso, Barsalogho, Africa, Islam, Mali, Sahel, West Africa, United States, jihadists, Niger, Tawori, Bamako, Burkina, France, Moscow, Ukraine, Ouagadougou, Russian, Russia, Saint Petersburg, BIR, Togo, Kompienga, Togolese, Qaeda

☆ New military photo captures a NATO warship taking out an explosive-packed drone boat during a Red Sea rescue mission
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-22 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewA new photo released by the French military on Thursday captures one of its warships battling an explosive drone boat during a rescue mission in the Red Sea. AdvertisementThe rescue mission in the Red Sea. The attack left the Sounion without power and adrift off the coast of Yemen, prompting the French rescue mission. Operation Aspides said on Thursday that the crew was transported to the nearest safe port of call in Djibouti. "The lives of seafarers and freedom on the high seas are nonnegotiable values and their protection is a key objective" of the security mission, Operation Aspides said.

Persons: —, Aspides Organizations: Service, Business, United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, Royal Navy, Union, European, Pentagon Locations: Red, Iran, Gulf, Aden, Yemen, Djibouti

☆ Paris 2024 venues: Where every sport is being held at the Olympic Games
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-22 | by ( Samuel Joseph | Sam Joseph | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

The Olympic Games are coming to the French capital and homes have been found for all 32 sporting disciplines. Breaking, the newest Olympic sport, will take place at La Concorde and will share the area with 3x3 basketball, skateboarding and freestyle BMX. It will become the Olympic Stadium for the duration of the Games, welcoming track and field (athletics) and rugby sevens. Olympic tennis will naturally take place here, but its centerpiece – Court Philippe Chatrier – will also play host to boxing bouts. Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty ImagesSoccer will cover the most ground of any sport at the Games, with matches being held in seven different stadiums across the country.

Persons: CNN —, Catherine Steenkeste, de Mars, Sarah Meyssonnier, Napoleon Bonaparte, Stade Roland Garros, Philippe Chatrier –, Philippe, Chatrier, Emmanuel Dunand, Germain, Sean M, Blanc Marina, Pierre Mauroy, Pont Alexandre III, Anne, Christine Poujoulat, Yves du, de, Boris Horvat, Geoffroy, Guichard, Stade, Pascal Le Segretain Organizations: CNN, Olympic Games, Aquatics Center, Nations, Eiffel, Reuters, des, Concorde, La Concorde, Chesnot, Getty, Stade de France, UEFA Champions League, Games, Southwest, Stade, Parc des Princes, Paris Saint, Paris, Marseille, Stade Vélodrome, Princes, Aquatics, Chapelle, North Paris Arena, Stade Roland, Palais, Yves du Manoir, South Paris, de Mars, La Chapelle, Nautical, Rugby, Marseille Marina Sailors, Concorde Soccer, Bordeaux, Nice, Parc de Princes Sport, Le, La, Tennis, Garros, Pont Alexandre III Volleyball, Water, Paris La Défense, Wrestling Locations: Paris, France, – Paris, Seine, Versailles, des Invalides, ”, Light, AFP, Parc des, Tahiti, Polynesia, Marseille, Blanc, Bordeaux, Saint, Lyon, Nantes, Nice, Lille, Yvelines, de Versailles, Parc, Le Bourget

☆ Who is Jordan Bardella and what might his far-right party do in power?
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-04 | by ( Christian Edwards | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Handpicked as leader by National Rally (RN) doyenne Marine Le Pen in an effort to purge the far-right party of its racist and antisemitic roots, Bardella has taken it closer to the gates of power than ever before. Whether the RN forms a government and Bardella becomes prime minister after the July 7 runoff is not clear. So, who is Bardella, and what might his party do in power? Le Pen and Bardella address a crowd of RN supporters in Paris, after Macron called a snap election, June 9, 2024. When the prime minister and president belong to different parties – in a rare arrangement known as “cohabitation” – things can grind to a halt.

Persons: CNN — Jordan, –, Bardella, Emmanuel Macron’s, France’s, Denis, Le Pen, Le Pen’s, Louis Aliot, Le, Macron, Julien De Rosa, Freed, Jean, Marie Le Pen, Franco, Paris Anne Hidalgo, Luc Mélenchon, ” Bardella, Julien de Rosa, Gabriel Attal, ” Mujtaba Rahman, Mario Draghi, Giorgia Meloni, Benito Mussolini, Matteo Salvini, Vladimir Putin, Antonio Masiello, Hungary’s Viktor Orban –, Macron – Organizations: CNN, National Rally, National Assembly, Front, Sorbonne university, Getty, Macron’s Ensemble, Immigrants, Ministry of, Armed Forces, New Popular Front, EU, Eurasia Group, European Union Locations: Paris, France, Europe, Seine, Macron, AFP, Vichy, Spanish, Brussels, Italy, Ukraine, Kyiv, Russia

☆ The Houthis are getting smarter with their Red Sea attacks, and the ships sailing these waters are paying the price
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-29 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

'A useful disguise' for the HouthisBetween December and March, Houthi attacks damaged at least 19 commercial ships, according to a June 13 report published by the Defense Intelligence Agency. US Central Command via AP, FileThe following weeks saw a decrease in the pace of successful Houthi attacks. AdvertisementYemen's Houthi group released a video showing an explosive-laden drone boat target a commercial vessel earlier this month. AdvertisementDouble taps and drone boatsBeyond the recent double-tap strikes, the Houthis' ability to learn from past attacks is visible in their drone boat operations. In this photo released by the French military, the MV Tutor sinks in the Red Sea after it was struck by a Houthi drone boat.

Persons: —, Archer Macy, Behshad, Houthis, Brian Carter, Ambrey, Carter, they're, des, they'll, Macy, they've, Alex Stark, John Kirby, Kirby, Yemen —, Dwight D, Theodore Roosevelt Carrier, Stark Organizations: Service, Business, US Navy, Defense Intelligence Agency, US military's Central Command, US, Command, AP, Military Times, American Enterprise, Houthi Media, Getty, des Armées, AP Experts, Center for Strategic, Studies ' Missile Defense, RAND Corporation, National Security, Eisenhower, Eisenhower Carrier Strike, Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group Locations: Gulf of Aden, Iran, Iranian, Yemen, Tehran, Israel, Gulf, Aden, Ukraine, Russian, Red, France, Sanaa

☆ France is set for its most consequential election in decades. Here’s what you need to know
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-27 | by ( Christian Edwards | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

CNN —France’s snap parliamentary election is one of the most momentous in decades, for both the country and the rest of Europe. Politicians rarely call an election when their party trails in the polls and there is no need to do so. Although Macron was elected to a second presidential term in 2022, his party failed to win an outright parliamentary majority. One theory about why Macron called an election now is that France might soon have been forced to the polls anyway. With Le Pen seeming increasingly likely to succeed him as president in 2027, this election may force her party to take up responsibility beforehand.

Persons: CNN —, Emmanuel Macron, he’ll, ” Kevin Arceneaux, …, France’s, Macron, Pen, Antonio Masiello, –, Laure Boyer, Hans Lucas, Gabriel Attal – Macron’s, Jordan Bardella, Bardella, Le Pen, Denis, Eric Ciotti, Jordan Bardella's, Julien De Rosa, Jean, Luc Mélenchon, Raphaël, Sylvain Thomas, Mujtaba Rahman, “, Rahman, ”, Jordan, we’re, Macron –, I’m Organizations: CNN, Paris hamstrung, –, Sciences Po, Fifth, Assembly, National Assembly, Palais Bourbon, Getty, Sorbonne university, Socialists, New, Eurasia Group Locations: Europe, France, Paris, Fifth Republic, Italy, AFP, Seine, Montpellier, Brussels, Ukraine, Kyiv, Russia

☆ US Navy warships are stuck in a Red Sea battle they can't fight forever
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-15 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

Components of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Group steam in formation with the Italian navy in the Red Sea on June 7. A fighter jet parks on the deck of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower in the Red Sea on June 11. Elements of the Eisenhower strike group have already left the Red Sea once to be rearmed and resupplied, and the Pentagon recently extended its monthslong deployment for a second time. A fighter jet is launched from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower during a strike against Houthi military targets in Yemen on Feb. 3. A commercial ship in the Red Sea in March.

Persons: —, they've, Dwight D, Navy Carlos Del Toro, What's, Eisenhower, Bernat, National Intelligence Avril Haines, Joseph Votel, John Kirby, Jorge LeBaron, Haines, Biden, Brian Finucane, Finucane, Votel, Mohammed Hamoud, That's, Nadimi Organizations: Service, US Navy, Business, Washington, Eisenhower Carrier Group, Eisenhower Carrier Strike, Ike, Navy, Pentagon, US Central Command, AP, National Intelligence, White House National Security Council, BI, Handout, US, Crisis, US State Department, Screengrab, Ministry of Defense, Defense Intelligence Agency, Galaxy Leader, The Washington Institute for Near East Locations: Gulf of Aden, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Western, Africa, Gaza, Persian, Bab, Red

☆ French IT firm Atos falls 12%, faces major share dilution after selecting rescue deal
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-11 | by ( Sophie Kiderlin | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

This photograph taken on April 26, 2024 shows the headquarters of the French multinational information technology company ATOS in Bezons, near Paris. Atos said it would go ahead with a proposal by major shareholder David Layani, whose IT firm Onepoint held around 11% of Atos' share capital and voting rights as of December 2023 according to its website. The deal will nevertheless lead to a "massive dilution" of existing shareholders, who are set to hold less than 0.1% of share capital once it is completed, Atos said. Atos said Layani's deal included a stronger capital structure and provided the firm with enough financial liquidity to stay in business. Layani's deal is fronted by Onepoint, as well as investment company Butler Industries, IT company Econocom and some of Atos' financial creditors.

Persons: Ludovic MARIN, LUDOVIC MARIN, Atos, David Layani, Onepoint, Daniel Kretinsky Organizations: Getty, Butler Industries, Paris Locations: Bezons, Paris, AFP, French, London, Czech

☆ Biden heralds close US-France ties as he’s treated to a state visit
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-08 | by ( Betsy Klein | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Paris CNN —President Joe Biden heralded the close ties between the United States and France on Saturday, calling his current visit “the most remarkable trip” that he’s made to the country as French President Emmanuel Macron hosted his US counterpart for an official state visit in Paris. “When we stand as one, our countries are stronger and literally, the world is safer,” Biden said during a state dinner later Saturday. Macron is returning the favor to Biden, who hosted the French president for a state visit at the White House in December 2022, the administration’s first. France, Biden said, “was our first friend. “One of the things the president respects and admires about President Macron is he’s as honest and forthright as President Joe Biden is.

Persons: Joe Biden, he’s, Emmanuel Macron, ” Biden, Macron, Brigitte Macron, Biden, Jill Biden, Banner ”, “, Grace, ”, Macrons, Evan Vucci, Donald Trump, ’ ” Biden, –, Volodymyr Zelensky, Vladimir, Putin, Ukraine – it’s, Benjamin Netanyahu, Yahya Sinwar, John Kirby, Kirby, ” Kirby, CNN’s Kayla Tausche, Xiaofei Xu Organizations: Paris CNN, Macron, Champs, AP, French, White House, US, Independence, Ukraine –, Western, Ministry, Israeli, Saturday, Australia, “, National Security Locations: United States, France, Paris, “, Élysée, Ukraine, Israel, Triomphe, We’re, America, New York City, Europe, Gaza, ”, Washington

☆ French military instructors in Ukraine would be a 'legitimate target' and may already be active, says Russia
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-05 | by ( Thibault Spirlet | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Russia's foreign minister said French military instructors in Ukraine would be "legitimate targets." Sergey Lavrov said he had reasons to think some were already active in Ukraine. Russia has threatened nuclear strikes on countries that are considering sending troops to Ukraine. AdvertisementFrench military instructors operating in Ukraine would be a "legitimate target" for Russia, Russia's foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, said on Tuesday. Lavrov was speaking at a press conference in the Republic of the Congo when he was asked about reports that French instructors would shortly be sent to Ukraine.

Persons: Sergey Lavrov, —, Lavrov Organizations: Service, French Army, Russian Armed Forces, Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Business Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Republic of, Congo

☆ Biden aims to deepen transatlantic ties with trip to France for D-Day, state visit amid Ukraine crisis
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-05 | by ( Kayla Tausche | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Paris CNN —US President Joe Biden touched down in Paris on Wednesday for a trip marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day and engaging in a state visit hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron. Biden “really believes we’re at an inflection point in history,” John Kirby, spokesman for the National Security Council, said. The visit to France aims to bring Biden closer to one of his key allies on the world stage. Biden quietly gave Ukraine permission to use those weapons; Macron was less subtle in his support for the measure. By contrast, European Union member states together have sent Ukraine $53 billion in direct financial assistance and $35 billion in military aid.

Persons: Joe Biden, Emmanuel Macron, Biden, Biden “, ” John Kirby, “ It’s, ” Kirby, ”, Andrew Bates, “, Republican –, Macron, ” Macron, Volodymyr Zelensky, Jake Sullivan, ” Marcon, Zelensky, ” CNN’s Jessie Gretener, Mariya Knight, Joseph Ataman Organizations: Paris CNN, French, National Security Council, Army Rangers, Biden, Wall, Air Force, Congressional, Republicans, Republican, White House, United, Union, Bank, European Union Locations: Paris, Europe, Russia, Ukraine, China, Normandy, Nazi Germany, Pointe, Omaha and Utah, France, Washington, Italy, Los Angeles, Moscow, Kharkiv, Meseberg, Brandenburg, Germany, United States

☆ Fake Tom Cruise documentary is part of a Russian influence campaign aimed at Paris Olympics, report finds
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-03 | by ( Sean Lyngaas | Donie O'Sullivan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The IOC has placed restrictions on Russian athletes’ participation in the Paris Olympics because of Russia’s war on Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron’s refusal to rule out the possibility of sending French troops to Ukraine has infuriated the Russian government. Hany Farid, a digital forensic expert and professor at UC Berkley, said the video had hallmarks of being manipulate using AI. But Lee Foster, another information operations expert, expressed skepticism that the imagery in the video was made using AI. Officials at the Paris Olympics are bracing for a similar threat next month.

Persons: denigrate, Tom Cruise’s, Gavin Wilde, irrelevance, ” Wilde, Emmanuel Macron’s, Matthew Miller, Miller, Hany Farid, Farid, ” Farid, Lee Foster, ” Foster, Russia’s, ”, John Hultquist, ” Hultquist Organizations: CNN —, Ukraine, CNN, International Olympic Committee, IOC, National Security Council, “, Netflix, New York Times, Microsoft, Telegram, Paris Olympics, CIA, Russian Embassy, US State Department, State Department, BBC, UC Berkley, US Justice Department, Paris, Olympics, Google, Olympic Locations: Ukraine, Paris, Russia, Russian, Washington , DC, ”, South Africa, deepfakes, South Korea, France

☆ Russia's pulling combat forces from another continent to fuel its latest offensive push in Ukraine, Western intel says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-24 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewRussia has moved some combat forces from Africa to help support its latest offensive efforts in northeastern Ukraine, according to a new Western intelligence assessment. The Russian defense ministry created the Africa Corps last year as a way to expand its footprint on the continent and also in the Middle East. Photo by Kostiantyn Liberov/Libkos/Getty ImagesRussia's defense ministry "almost certainly redeployed detachments from the Africa Corps to the Ukrainian border during April 2024 in preparation for this offensive," the defense ministry said. Other Africa Corps detachments are believed to have deployed to Syria, Libya, Burkina Faso, and Niger, the UK said. French Army via APThe recent deployment of certain Africa Corps units to the Kharkiv region appears to underscore Russia's commitment to its new offensive.

Persons: —, Wagner, Kostiantyn Liberov, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Volodymyr Zelenskyy Organizations: Service, Africa Corps, Business, Nazi, French Army, AP, Libkos, Staff of, Armed Forces, Facebook Locations: Russia, Africa, Ukraine, Moscow, Vovchansk, Ukraine's Kharkiv, Kharkiv, Ukrainian, Syria, Libya, Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali

☆ Houthi rebels are going to keep lobbing missiles at ships in the Red Sea 'for some time,' US intel chief says
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-03 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewFor months, the Houthis have relentlessly fired missiles and drones at merchant and Western naval vessels in key Middle Eastern waterways. The US and UK militaries have carried out several rounds of joint strikes targeting Houthi facilities across Yemen. On a far more frequent basis, however, American forces have carried out unilateral, preemptive strikes targeting drones or missiles before the rebels can fire them at nearby ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. A commercial ship in the Red Sea in March. Beyond going after ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, the Houthis, as part of Iran's broader proxy network that spans the region, have also launched missiles at Israel.

Persons: —, National Intelligence Avril Haines, Haines, Abdul Malik al, Houthi, it's, Virginia Sen, Tim Kaine Organizations: Service, Business, National Intelligence, Armed Services, AP, Department of Defense, US, Command Locations: Iran, Yemen, Israel, Gaza, Sanaa, Tehran, Gulf of Aden, Red

☆ Russian forces are operating at same base as US troops in Niger
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Natasha Bertrand | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The Russians have been using a separate hangar on the base, known as Air Base 101, the sources said, and are not operating in the same space as the Americans. They also raised questions about the future of Air Base 101 and whether it would be ceded to the Russians, CNN previously reported. Reuters first reported that the Russians troops had entered Air Base 101. Russian media reported on April 11 that Russia was sending equipment and 100 military trainers to Niger, though one of the sources said Russian troops were in the country well before April. More than half of the US troops stationed at the French military base in Chad’s capital, N’Djamena, have now left the country and relocated to Germany.

Persons: Michael Langley, Celeste Wallander, Sabrina Singh Organizations: CNN, Russian, Air Base, US Africa Command, Nigerien, Pentagon, Reuters, Russia’s Defense Locations: Niger, Ukraine, Russian, Russia, Chad, N’Djamena, Germany

☆ Goldman Sachs names 4 global defense stocks to watch as geopolitical risks rise
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Amala Balakrishner | In Amala-Balakrishner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Several countries have been beefing up their defense budgets in light of mounting geopolitical tensions, and Goldman Sachs has named several European stocks to play the theme right now. European defense stocks "have closely tracked super-cycles and are now "trading at peak multiples (20x 12-month forward price-to-earnings) vs history," which translates to a 45% premium to the benchmark Stoxx 600 index , the bank's analysts noted. Stocks Goldman's analysts said they "increasingly favour stocks exposed to long-term secular growth themes with superior visibility on growth." Other stocks with an exposure to the defense industry on Goldman's buy-rated list include aerospace names Rolls-Royce Holdings (also on its "conviction list") and Airbus . The bank has increased its 12-month price target on the stock by close to 60% to 606 euros, giving it nearly 13.4% upside potential.

Persons: Goldman Sachs, Victor Allard, Goldman, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: Stocks, Thales, Royce Holdings, Airbus, Rheinmetall

☆ Russia's hunted A-50 command planes are its eyes over Ukraine. Here's how it compares to the Boeing E-3 Sentry.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Benjamin Brimelow | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

Ukraine's most significant aircraft kills in 2024 are two Russian A-50 command planes. AP PhotoThe MainstayAEW&C aircraft are aerial radar stations meant to detect and track enemy weapon systems — namely aircraft, missiles, and naval ships. An E-3 Sentry takes off at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada in January 2024. Last November, the Russians threatened to destroy a French Air Force E-3 that was operating over the Black Sea in what a French military spokesman described as "a particularly aggressive radio exchange." AdvertisementLast year, the US Air Force announced that it had selected the Boeing E-7 Wedgetail as the E-3's intended replacement.

Persons: —, Tupolev, William R, Park Chung, hee, Anwar Sadat, Joseph Barron, hasn't, Benjamin Brimelow Organizations: Service, Russian Aerospace Forces, Soviet Union, Machulishchy, State TV, Radio Company, AP, Western Allies, Beriev, Ilyushin, NATO, Nellis Air Force Base, US Air Force, System, Boeing, Air, Air Force, North American Aerospace Defense Command, NORAD, Saudi, Royal Air Force, Control Force, NATO Air Base, U.S . Air Force KC, US Air Force Ukraine, Ukrainian Air Force, Allied, French Air Force, Global Affairs, Fletcher School of Law, Diplomacy, Business, Modern, Institute Locations: Russian, Ukraine, Soviet, Minsk, Belarus, Ukrainian, USSR, China, India, Turkey, Chechnya, Georgia, Syria, Syrian, Nevada, American, Latin America, South Korea, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, France, Chile, NATO, Germany, Europe, Azov, Russia, Poland, Romania, Australia, West

☆ US, UK, French military shoot down Houthi drones after attack on bulk carrier, destroyers
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-10 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The container ship, Safeen Pride, with a destination of 'HODEIDAH (ARMED GUARDS)' seen at sea on January 17, 2024 in Djibouti, Djibouti. U.S., French and British forces downed dozens of drones in the Red Sea area overnight and on Saturday after Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis targeted bulk carrier Propel Fortune and U.S. destroyers in the region, the U.S. military said in a statement. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said the U.S. military and coalition forces had downed at least 28 uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) over the Red Sea in the early hours of Saturday. Earlier on Saturday, CENTCOM said the military was responding to a large-scale attack on ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden between 4 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. (0100-0330 GMT). The UAVs were intended to present "an imminent threat to merchant vessels, U.S. Navy, and coalition ships in the region", it said in a post on social media platform X.

Persons: Yahya Sarea, CENTCOM Organizations: U.S, . Central Command, U.S ., Coalition Navy, U.S . Navy Locations: Djibouti, Djibouti . U.S, British, Red, Iran, Gulf of Aden, Gaza, Gulf, Aden, U.S

Either way, Washington paid little attention to his birthday according to Mountvernon.org, the website of the organization that manages his estate. The official designation is as Washington’s Birthday, although it has come to be known informally as Presidents Day. A small number of states, including Illinois, observe Lincoln’s birthday as a public holiday, according to the Library of Congress. And some commemorate both Lincoln and Washington on Presidents Day. The Uniform Monday Holiday Act took effect in 1971, moving Presidents Day to the third Monday in February.

Persons: George Washington, Alexis Coe, George of Washington, ”, “ It's, “ Jefferson, Lincoln, Washington, ” Coe, Marquis de Lafayette, —, Coe, Thomas Jefferson, comte de Rochambeau, Seth Bruggeman, Bruggeman, Arbelbide, “, ” Bruggeman Organizations: Washington, Temple University, Congressional Research Service, District of Columbia, Library of Congress, National Archives, The Locations: NORFOLK, Va, Washington, Virginia, Mount Vernon, Philadelphia, District, Illinois, Lincoln, The Republic, America

☆ Coup juntas threaten to quit West Africa bloc: Here’s what it means for the region — and Russia
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +9 min

ACCRA, Ghana - ECOWAS flag with member flags at the second extraordinary summit on the political situation in Burkina Faso, in Accra, Ghana, on February 3, 2022. OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso - Jan. 20, 2023: A banner of Russian President Vladimir Putin is seen during a protest to support the Burkina Faso President Captain Ibrahim Traore and to demand the departure of France's ambassador and military forces. Mali has ruled out leaving WAEMU, while Burkina Faso is considering it. "Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger will likely draw on the extractive sector to improve their weak economies. A recent UN Development Programme report surveyed 5,000 people who had directly experienced a recent coup or unconstitutional change of government, including citizens of Burkina Faso, Chad, Guinea, Mali and Sudan.

Persons: NIPAH DENNIS, Bola Tinubu, Vladimir Putin, Captain Ibrahim Traore, Alex Vines, there'd, Tinubu, Ouattara, —, Vines, Mucahid Durmaz, Verisk Maplecroft, Durmaz, Balima Boureima, insurgencies, Wagner, Niger, specter, Mohamed Bazoum, Rey Byhre Organizations: Getty, Economic, West African States, ECOWAS, Nigerian, Africa, Chatham House, CNBC, Algeria —, West, Cote D'Ivoire, Anadolu Agency, Getty Images, Wagner Group, West African Economic, Monetary Union, CFA, National Council for, UN Locations: ACCRA, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Accra, AFP, Mali, Niger, Sahel, Mauritania, OUAGADOUGOU, Chatham, France, Nigeria, Côte d'Ivoire, Algeria, Malian, Russia, Bamako, Mucahid, West Africa, Togo, Benin, Cote, NIAMEY, NIGER, Niamey, West, U.S, Moscow, WAEMU, Seme, Chad, Guinea, Sudan, The Gambia, Tanzania, Kati

But French military technicians riding farther back in the aircraft, monitoring screens that display the word "secret" when idle, have a far more penetrating view. “We can detect aircraft, we can detect UAVs, we can detect missiles and we can detect ships. The Russian aircraft also seemingly spotted the French AWACS: Sensors along the fuselage picked up Russian radar signals. Able to fly for 12 hours without refueling, French AWACS aren't limited to surveillance, communications and air-traffic control missions for NATO. It says allied aircraft took to the skies more than 500 times in 2022 to intercept Russian aircraft that ventured close to NATO airspace.

Persons: Russia's, —, Richard, ”, Major Romain, “, snoop, Justin Bronk, ” Bronk Organizations: AIR FORCE, Associated Press, AP, NATO, AWACS, Boeing, Sensors, THE, Paris, U.S . Air Force, Royal United Services Institute, Russian Locations: Ukraine, Romania, France, Romanian, Russian, Crimea, NATO, Russia, ”, Azov, Poland, Europe, U.S, London, Brussels, russia, ukraine

☆ With geopolitical tensions mounting, Bernstein expects 3 defense stocks to soar 20%
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Amala Balakrishner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

"The rising geopolitical threats in APAC has been a driver of military spending for the Western nations. In addition, APAC countries have become more important for their own military expenditures, which present some opportunities for Western defense contractors through either exports or partnerships," they added. Quoting research from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute , Bernstein said that global defense spending reached a record high of $2.2 trillion last year. Why is defense spending on the rise? For instance, South Korea's defense spending is high given its longstanding tensions with neighbor North Korea.

Persons: AllianceBernstein, Bernstein, Northrop Grumman, CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: Asia, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Boeing Co, Dassault Aviation, U.S Locations: Asia, Pacific, U.S, APAC, Stockholm, China, North Korea, North America, Europe, Russia, Japan, Australia, United Kingdom, India, Pakistan, Soviet, Vietnam, Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia, Brunei

☆ France Sends Second Helicopter Carrier to Gaza Coastline Eyeing Medical Help
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-02 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

PARIS (Reuters) - France will send a second French helicopter carrier off the coast of Gaza as it works with Israeli and Egyptian authorities to find a way to provide medical assistance to people affected by the bombings in the besieged area. Paris has already sent the Tonnerre carrier to the eastern Mediterranean on what President Emmanuel Macron described as a mission to support Gaza hospitals. Egypt this week began admitting limited numbers of wounded across its Gaza border. Speaking to France Info radio, Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu said the helicopter carrier Dixmude would also now be heading to the region. He said he hoped that France's decision to send ships would encourage others to do so therefore creating critical mass.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Sebastien Lecornu, Lecornu, John Irish, Sudip Kar, Gupta, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: PARIS, Defence Locations: France, French, Gaza, Paris, Egypt

☆ French Military Intelligence Says Israeli Strike Not Behind Gaza Hospital Blast
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Oct. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

By John IrishPARIS (Reuters) - A blast at a Gaza hospital was not the result of an Israeli missile strike, but likely caused by a misfiring Palestinian rocket, the French military intelligence directorate (DRM) said on Friday. Palestinian officials said 471 people were killed in the blast at Al-Ahli al-Arabi Hospital on Tuesday. Gaza's health ministry blamed an Israeli air strike, while Israel said the blast was caused by a failed rocket launch by militants. "There is nothing that allows us to say that it is an Israeli strike, but the most likely (scenario) is a Palestinian rocket that had a firing incident," the DRM said. According to the DRM, the impact crater was too small to have been caused by an Israeli missile.

Persons: John Irish PARIS, Israel, Emmanuel Macron, John Irish, Chris Reese, Rod Nickel Organizations: Reuters Locations: Gaza, Palestinian, Al, Ahli, Arabi, Israeli, Israel

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