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☆ US defense secretary discussed support for Turkish military modernization with counterpart
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

July 10 (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin discussed support for Turkey's military modernization during a call with his Turkish counterpart, according to a U.S. readout released late on Monday after Turkey said it would back Sweden's NATO accession. Turkey requested in October 2021 to buy $20 billion of Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) F-16 fighters and nearly 80 modernization kits for its existing warplanes. "They ... discussed the positive talks between Turkiye, Sweden, and NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg, as well as the Department of Defense's support for Turkiye's military modernization," the Pentagon said of the phone call between Austin and Turkish Defense Minister Yasar Guler. Reporting by Costas Pitas; Editing by Himani SarkarOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, General Stoltenberg, Yasar Guler, Costas Pitas, Himani Sarkar Organizations: . Defense, Turkish, NATO, Lockheed Martin Corp, Department of, Pentagon, Turkish Defense, Thomson Locations: U.S, Turkey, Turkiye, Sweden, Austin

☆ Cuba calls US nuclear submarine in Guantanamo Bay 'provocative escalation'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Nelson Acosta | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

HAVANA, July 11 (Reuters) - Cuban authorities on Tuesday said the U.S. recently had a nuclear-powered submarine at its military base at Guantanamo Bay and called the action a "provocative escalation" of tensions weeks after Washington alleged that there was a Chinese spy base on the island. Washington did not confirm that there was a submarine at the naval base. It said Cuba was looking to distract from the two-year anniversary of largest street protests seen in Cuba since Fidel Castro's 1959 revolution. Critics have said the Guantanamo Bay prison has been used for arbitrary detention and torture of people suspected of terrorism. In June, Havana and Beijing rejected reports citing U.S. officials alleging that China was using Cuba as a spy base.

Persons: Washington, Fidel Castro's, William LeoGrande, Critics, Nelson Acosta, Sarah Morland, Matt Spetalnick, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Washington, U.S . State Department, State Department, House, U.S . Department of Defense, Washington's American University, Reuters, United, Thomson Locations: HAVANA, U.S, Guantanamo, Chinese, Cuba, Cuban, China, Washington, Havana, Beijing, United States, Caribbean

REUTERS/Kim... Read moreLONDON/WASHINGTON, July 10 (Reuters) - When it comes to taking stock of global emissions, there's an elephant in the room: the world's armed forces. NATO, the 31-country Western security alliance, for example, told Reuters it has created a methodology for its members to report their military emissions. And Washington sent U.S. Army and Navy representatives to the COP27 climate summit in Egypt last year, the first time a Pentagon delegation has attended the global climate summit. Ukraine's environment ministry spokesperson said it supports the efforts and would seek backing from governments at COP28 for more transparent military emissions reporting. In the meantime, global military emissions will remain poorly understood, said Stuart Parkinson, executive director of the group Scientists for Global Responsibility.

Persons: Kim, Queen Mary, Axel Michaelowa, Meredith Berger, Neta Crawford, Deborah Burton, Lennard, Klerk, James Appathurai, Markus Ruelke, Stuart Parkinson, Sarah McFarlane, Valerie Volcovici, Sabine Siebold, Richard Valdmanis, David Clarke Organizations: REUTERS, Observatory, United Arab Emirates, UNFCCC, COP28, NATO, Reuters, Washington, U.S . Army, Pentagon, U.S . Navy, The, U.S . Defence Logistics Agency, U.S . Department of Defense, Oxford University, Oxford, Queen Mary University of London, Scientists, Global, Thomson Locations: South Korea, U.S, Pocheon, WASHINGTON, Kyoto, Paris, Lancaster, Oxford, Dubai, UAE, Zealand, Britain, Germany, Egypt, The U.S, Afghanistan, Iraq, Ukraine, Singapore, Switzerland, Syria, COP28, Berlin

☆ Video appears to show Wagner Group troops preparing to leave Africa, suggesting a purge by Moscow, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-09 | by ( George Glover | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A video appears to show dozens of Wagner Group soldiers preparing to leave Africa. The video follows a report by Jeune Afrique that said 500 to 600 mercenaries had left Bangui on Thursday. But Wagner's relationship with the Kremlin has fractured in recent weeks after the group's leader Yevgeny Prigozhin ordered his soldiers to march on Moscow in June. Wagner mercenaries have been accused of committing atrocitiesIn this handout photo taken from video released by Prigozhin Press Service, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the owner of the Wagner Group military company, records his video addresses in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, Saturday, June 24, 2023. Wagner mercenaries have been accused of committing atrocities in CAR, according to reports.

Persons: Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin's, Putin, Alia Brahimi, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Prigozhin, Aleksander Lukashenko, Vladimir Putin, Faustin, Fidele Gouandjika Organizations: Wagner Group, Jeune Afrique, Service, Wagner, NBC News, Central African Republic, Council, Foreign Relations, Prigozhin Press Service, Prigozhin Press, Associated Press, Central African, NBC, Sky News, CAR's Department of Defense, Sky Locations: Africa, Wall, Silicon, Moscow, Bangui, CAR, Libya, Mali, Sudan, Belarus, Rostov, Don, Russia, CAR's, Washington

Anthony Di Petta's remains arriving at LaGuardia airport on Friday, July 7. Di Petta’s remains were unable to be found at the time, DPAA says. In August 2021, the nonprofit recovered the remains of multiple missing service members from the site, including those of Di Petta. Di Petta’s remains arrived at LaGuardia Airport in New York on Friday afternoon. Di Petta will be buried in Wrightstown, New Jersey on July 11, according to the DPAA.

Persons: Anthony Di Petta’s, he’s, Di Petta, Anthony Di Petta's, DPAA, Di Petta’s Organizations: CNN, US Department of Defense, US Navy Aviation, Defense POW, Agency, Project, US Navy, Base, Armed Forces Medical, LaGuardia Locations: Nutley , New Jersey, Italy, LaGuardia, Palau Islands, Malakal, Di, Hickam, Hawaii, New York, Wrightstown , New Jersey

☆ Russian fighter jets launched parachute flares and forced US drones to perform evasive maneuvers to avoid 'dangerously close' passes, interrupting military missions in Syria
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-08 | by ( Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Russian fighter pilots have been antagonizing US drones over Syria for several days. Russians fired flares at drones and flew close enough to them to prompt evasive maneuvers. The "unprofessional behavior" continued Friday, according to a statement released by the US Air Forces Central. "Earlier today three MQ-9 drones were once again harassed by Russian fighter aircraft while flying over Syria. Previously, the Russian fighters had been seen dropping flares in front of the drones and flying dangerously close, prompting the drones to take evasive maneuvers to avoid collisions.

Persons: Alexus Grynkewich, Grynkewich, you've, General Organizations: Service, Russian, NATO, US, US Air Forces Central, Air Force, Department of Defense, Air Forces Central Locations: Syria, Wall, Silicon, Russian

☆ 14 promises Donald Trump has made in his campaign for a second term
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-08 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

CNN —Former President Donald Trump has hit the 2024 campaign trail and is giving voters a preview of what a second Trump presidency could look like if he’s elected. Drug cartels“The drug cartels are waging war on America—and it’s now time for America to wage war on the cartels,” former President Donald Trump said in a January campaign video. Trump also said in the campaign video that he would cut funding for schools that teach critical race theory and gender ideology. The former president added in a campaign video that he would stop lobbyists and government contractors from pushing senior military officials towards war. We will reverse almost all of them,” Trump said in a campaign video.

Persons: Donald Trump, Trump, He’s, –, it’s, ”, ” Trump, “, Joe Biden, … ” Trump, Equity “, Biden Organizations: CNN, America, Department of Defense, Education, of Justice, Department of Education, Conference, Marxist, Trump, Democrats, National Guard, Department of Justice, Cities, FBI, CIA, Trump Reciprocal Trade, Congress, Soros District, Rifle Association, Legislative Action, Equity, Pharmaceuticals Trump Locations: Ukraine, America, Washington, Russia, New Hampshire, New, China, United States

☆ Cluster munitions: US to send munitions banned by over 100 nations to Ukraine after months of debate
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( Natasha Bertrand | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Over 100 countries, including the UK, France, and Germany, have outlawed the munitions under the Convention on Cluster Munitions, but the US and Ukraine are not signatories to the ban. Ryder said the Russians have been using cluster munitions with a dud rate of as high as 40%. Biden reluctant at firstBiden was reluctant at first, officials told CNN, given how many countries worldwide have banned the munitions. It is not clear whether the heavy amount of artillery ammunition the Ukrainians have been expending day-to-day would be sustainable without the cluster munitions if the counteroffensive drags on, officials and military analysts said. Russia’s Ambassador to Belarus Boris Gryzlov said the US decision was “a move of desperation.”“As part of the continued assistance to the Kiev regime, Washington is considering the possibility of sending cluster munitions to Ukraine.

Persons: Jake Sullivan, Biden, “ I’m, ” Sullivan, “, It’s, Joe Biden, Colin Kahl, Boris Pistorias, ” Biden, Patrick Ryder, Kahl, Ryder, Belarus Boris Gryzlov, ”, ” Gryzlov Organizations: CNN, National, Patriot Missile, Pentagon, Defense Department, Munitions, Ukraine, Cluster Munitions, Rights Watch, Foreign, Department of Defense Locations: Ukraine, Russia, France, Germany, Berlin, China, U.S, United States, Belarus, Kiev, Washington, Russian, Ukrainian

☆ SPECIAL REPORT-Inside the subsea cable firm secretly helping America take on China
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Joe Brock | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +23 min

Reuters is revealing details of the Diego Garcia project and SubCom’s deepening ties with the Pentagon. SubCom’s loyalty is especially important because it is the only major U.S. subsea cable company. Rather, they carefully obscured the U.S. military component within a larger private-sector cable project, according to four subsea cable industry sources with knowledge of the arrangement. That project, known as the Oman Australia Cable, was spearheaded by SUBCO, a Brisbane-based subsea cable investment company owned by Australian entrepreneur Bevan Slattery. Once the Navy project was complete, AT&T’s submarine cable project morphed into a commercial business, the former employees said.

Persons: Diego Garcia, SubCom, Cerberus, Stephen Feinberg, Donald Trump, Feinberg, Joe Biden, Biden, Eckhard Bruckschen, They’ve, ” Bruckschen, Trump, Brad Smith, –, Mao Ning, ”, Jacob Helberg, Bevan Slattery, SUBCO’s, Richard Payne, Payne, “ We’re, ” Payne, Alex Kerska, Catherine Creese, Creese, David Coughlan, Coughlan, Slattery, SubCom’s Coughlan, Rich, Australia West Express –, John Mariano, Anthony Albanese, Albanese, Caesar, Kellee Wicker, ” Wicker Organizations: CS, SubCom, Google, Microsoft, Meta, ., U.S, Navy, Cerberus Capital Management, U.S . Navy, President’s Intelligence, Board, U.S . Navy’s Pacific Fleet, U.S . Pacific Fleet, U.S ., Pentagon, America Inc, Cable Consultancy, Reuters, Japan’s NEC Corporation, France’s Alcatel Submarine Networks, China’s HMN, U.S . Department of Defense, White, U.S . Department of Justice, Foreign, Oracle, China Economic, Security, Commission, U.S . Department of Transportation, Department of Defense, government’s, Cable Security Fleet, Oman Australia Cable, SUBCO, The, The U.S . Pacific Fleet, SUBCO’s Oman Australia Cable, Facebook, Defense, Intelligence, SubCom’s, London Stock Exchange Group, U.S . Coast Guard, Naval, Cable, Office, Tyco Telecommunications, Australian, Financial, Australia West Express, GoTo Networks, couldn’t, Netflix, AT, Tyco International, Tyco, New, Washington, Science, Technology, Wilson, “ Cables Locations: Diego, Indian, China, New Jersey, United States, U.S, Soviet, Washington, New York, Philippine, South China, Beijing, America, American, Hong Kong, Switzerland, Eatontown , New Jersey, British, Britain, Australian, Australia, Oman, Brisbane, Southeast Asia, The U.S, SUBCO’s Oman, Perth, SubCom, Guam, U.S . Pacific, Republic of Djibouti, of Africa, Djibouti, Sri Lanka, Scotland, Newfoundland

☆ The National Guard says it's struggling to hire because workers are being lured in by Wendy's, Amazon, and FedEx instead
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The National Guard says it's struggling to hire as big private companies boost pay and benefits. Maj. Marco Irenze said, per a press release by the National Guard Association of the United States last month. Across all private nonfarm jobs, workers in production and nonsupervisory roles earned $28.75 an hour in May on average, per preliminary seasonally-adjusted BLS data. "This is the most challenging recruiting environment the Department of Defense has probably ever faced," Col. Anthony Pasquale, the chief of the Air Guard's recruiting & retention division, said, per the press release. As well as high wages in other industries luring workers away from the military, the pandemic also made it harder for the National Guard to recruit in traditional ways such as at high schools, the National Guard Association said.

Persons: it's, —, Carl's, Marco Irenze, Irenze, didn't, Col, Anthony Pasquale Organizations: National Guard, Wendy's, UPS, FedEx, Microsoft, Service, Nevada Guard, National Guard Association of, Nevada Guard's, Battalion, Washington Air Guard's, Mobile, Illinois Army Guard's Woodstock Sustainment Program, Workers, Employers, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Department of Defense, Air, Air Guard, National Guard Association Locations: Amazon, United States, Nevada

☆ Inside the subsea cable firm secretly helping American take on China
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +24 min

Persons: Diego Garcia, SubCom, Cerberus, Stephen Feinberg, Donald Trump, Feinberg, Joe Biden, Biden, Eckhard Bruckschen, They’ve, ” Bruckschen, Trump, Brad Smith, –, Mao Ning, ”, Jacob Helberg, Bevan Slattery, SUBCO’s, Richard Payne, Payne, “ We're, ” Payne, Alex Kerska, Catherine Creese, Creese, David Coughlan, Coughlan, Slattery, SubCom’s Coughlan, Rich, Australia West Express –, John Mariano, Anthony Albanese, Albanese, Caesar, Kellee Wicker, ” Wicker, Joe Brock, Mohammad Kawoosa, Edgar Su, Catherine Tai Design, Eve Watling, Marla Dickerson Organizations: CS, SubCom, Google, Microsoft, Meta, ., U.S, Navy, Cerberus Capital Management, U.S . Navy, President’s Intelligence, Board, U.S . Navy’s Pacific Fleet, U.S . Pacific Fleet, U.S ., Pentagon, America Inc, Cable Consultancy, Reuters, Japan’s NEC Corporation, France’s Alcatel Submarine Networks, China’s HMN, U.S . Department of Defense, White, U.S . Department of Justice, Foreign, Oracle, China Economic, Security, Commission, U.S . Department of Transportation, Department of Defense, government’s, Cable Security Fleet, Oman Australia Cable, SUBCO, The, The U.S . Pacific Fleet, SUBCO’s Oman Australia Cable, Facebook, Defense, Intelligence, SubCom’s, London Stock Exchange Group, U.S . Coast Guard, Naval, Cable, Office, Tyco Telecommunications, Australian, Financial, Australia West Express, GoTo Networks, couldn’t, Netflix, AT, Tyco International, Tyco, New, Washington, Science, Technology, Wilson, “ Cables Locations: Diego, Indian, China, New Jersey, United States, U.S, Soviet, Washington, New York, Philippine, South China, Beijing, America, American, Hong Kong, Switzerland, Eatontown , New Jersey, British, Britain, Australian, Australia, Oman, Brisbane, Southeast Asia, The U.S, SUBCO’s Oman, Perth, SubCom, Guam, U.S . Pacific, Republic of Djibouti, of Africa, Djibouti, Sri Lanka, Scotland, Newfoundland

☆ Air Force colonel says it took AI 10 minutes to complete a task that can take humans days
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Sindhu Sundar | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The US government is testing how AI can support its defense capabilities, Bloomberg reported. With AI, some actions can be done in minutes rather than days, an Air Force colonel told the outlet. Matthew Strohmeyer, the colonel, said a large language model, or LLM, zipped through a task in 10 minutes that usually would have taken humans hours or days to complete. The Defense Department could eventually use AI to help make decisions. The guidelines say humans should be involved in "all actions critical to informing and executing sovereign decisions concerning nuclear weapons employment."

Persons: Matthew Strohmeyer, Insider's, Michael Horowitz, " Horowitz Organizations: Bloomberg, Air Force, Pentagon, The Defense Department, Department of Defense, Defense, State Department

☆ Boeing converted its 767 airliner into a military tanker that can refuel other planes midair — meet the KC-46A Pegasus
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-04 | by ( Taylor Rains | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Boeing's newest military tanker is the KC-46A Pegasus, which can refuel other planes in midair. Boeing is one of the world's leading defense manufacturers providing advanced military aircraft for the US armed forces and allied nations. While Boeing's defense arm is military-focused, it has used its commercial planes as a blueprint for production. One of its biggest — yet controversial — jets is the KC-46A Pegasus aerial refueling tanker, which was derived from the Boeing 767 widebody airliner. The Pegasus is Boeing's newest air refueler, having started production in February 2011 and sending its first to the US Air Force in January 2019.

Organizations: KC, US Air Force, USAF Pegasus, Paris Airshow, Boeing, Department of Defense, Pegasus, USAF

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Persons: —, you've, Wells, Banks, Foster, Ally, you’ll, Charles Schwab, Chase, Wells Fargo Organizations: Service, Bank of America, Credit Union, Chevron, Alliant Credit Union, Express, American Express, FDIC, Reading Chevron, Axos, Axos Bank, Blue Federal, Blue Foundation, NOVA, Capital, Schwab, Savings, Chase Bank, Overdraft, Chase, locator.chase.com, Green, Banking, The Bancorp Bank, Stride Bank, N.A, CIT Bank, Bank, FDIC CIT Bank, CIT, Connect, Citi, Member FDIC Citi, BBB, Consumers Credit, Credit, Consumers Credit Union, Delta Community Credit, Community Credit, Utah Free, Discover, Discover Bank, FDIC Discover, Falcon International, International, Falcon International Bank, International Bank of Commerce, American, Laredo Federal Credit Union, Latino Community Development Center, North Carolina, Community Credit Union, Latino Community Credit, Navy Federal Free, Federal Free, NCUA Navy Federal Free, Navy Federal Credit Union, Department of Defense, Premier, LifeGreen, Regions Bank, City Federal Credit, River City Federal Credit, Federal Credit, City Federal Credit Union, Employees Credit, NCUA, State Employees Credit Union, Member, Service Credit Union, American Consumer, Security, Security Service, UT, Stripes, Security Service Credit Union, The Security, Synchrony Bank, . Bank, U.S, Bank's Locations: Chevron, Colorado and Wyoming, NY, LA, TX, VA, NJ, Washington, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, CA, CT, FL, Chicago , Illinois, eDocuments, Metro Atlanta , Georgia, Kentucky , Texas, Georgia, Texas, AZ, Arizona , California, Colorado, Oklahoma, Laredo, North Carolina, Charlotte, Piedmont Triad, North, American, City, River City, River, San Antonio , Texas, Bexar County, Europe, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Colorado , Texas, Utah

☆ Sen. Tommy Tuberville's hold on military nominees in protest of the Pentagon's abortion policy is disrupting the succession of top military leadership as the US confronts multiple threats abroad
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-01 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Sen. Tommy Tuberville's hold on military nominees is rippling throughout the Pentagon. But Tuberville continues to stand by his position, a protest against the Pentagon's new abortion policy. If the senator's hold on nominees stands in the coming weeks, though, the leaders of the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps — along with the chairman — won't have respective successors installed. The hold on nominees also comes as the US continues to navigate its diplomatic relationship with China. Arnold Punaro, a retired Marine Corps major general and former staffer on the Senate Armed Services Committee, told Politico that Tuberville is "taking the military nominees as political hostages."

Persons: Sen, Tommy Tuberville's, Staff Mark Milley, Tuberville, —, GOP Sen, Tommy Tuberville, Roe, Wade, Biden, Arnold Punaro Organizations: Pentagon, Joint Chiefs, Staff, Service, GOP, of Defense, Chiefs, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Senate Armed Services Committee, Politico Locations: Alabama, Ukraine, Russian, China

☆ Opinion: It’s time to bring these US military veterans home
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-01 | by ( Opinion Saúl Ramírez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —Bartolomé, a US military veteran, has spent the last 15 Fourth of July holidays in Mexico. “It’s a stab in the back.”Between 2013 and 2018, 250 US military veterans were placed in removal proceedings and 92 were deported. Unfortunately, an accurate count of deported veterans is nonexistent, because Immigration and Customs Enforcement does not keep a comprehensive record of removed US veterans. Veterans who did not receive a dishonorable discharge are entitled to a military burial in the United States. As a result, the urgency in addressing noncitizen military members’ precarious situation is particularly palpable now.

Persons: CNN —, he’s, Saúl Ramírez Christopher Smith Bartolomé, ” Bartolomé, ”, “, Joe Biden, Mark Takano, Sen, Alex Padilla, “ I’m, I’m, ‘ I’m, ’, Bartolomé, ‘ Don’t, they’ve Organizations: Harvard University, CNN, US Armed Forces, Pew Research Center, United States, Judiciary, Department of Homeland Security, Immigration, Immigration Services, Department of Defense, Immigration Systems, New, of State, Department of Justice, DHS, of Homeland Security, Committee, Veterans Affairs, Veterans, Los, Twitter, Facebook, Bartolomé Locations: Mexico, United States, Los Angeles

☆ What is Wagner Group doing? Operations in Africa and rest of world explained
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Several hundred Wagner fighters were killed by U.S. forces during a confrontation in Syria in 2018. U.N. sanctions monitors reported in 2020 that Wagner had deployed up to 1,200 people in Libya and the U.S. military Africa Command said Russian military aircraft were supplying Wagner fighters there. As well as bringing in Syrian fighters as mercenaries, Wagner worked alongside foreign fighters from Sudan, Chad and elsewhere. Russian mercenaries including from Wagner intervened in 2018 on the side of the government to quell a civil war that has raged since 2012. Wagner fighters have been accused of involvement in an incident last year in Moura, in central Mali, where local troops and suspected Russian fighters allegedly killed hundreds of civilians.

Persons: Russia's Wagner, Wagner, UKRAINE Wagner, BELARUS Wagner, Prigozhin, Alexander Lukashenko, Vladimir Putin, Bashar al, Assad, LIBYA Wagner, Khalifa Haftar's, Haftar, U.N, Omar al, Bashir, Angus McDowall, Alison Williams Organizations: Defence Ministry, Evro Polis, United States Department of Defense, United Arab Emirates, U.S ., Africa Command, CENTRAL, Central African, Reuters, Russian, Rapid Support Forces, Reuters newsrooms, Thomson Locations: Europe, East, Africa, UKRAINE, Ukraine, Bakhmut, BELARUS, Belarus, Asipovichi, Minsk, SYRIA Russia, Syria, U.S, Syrian, Libya, Hmeimim, Russia, LIBYA, Tripoli, Egypt, UAE, Russian, Sudan, Chad, Republic, Central African Republic, States, MALI, Mali, Moura, SUDAN, Moscow, Middle East

OAKLAND, California June 27 (Reuters) - Artificial intelligence and quantum computing startup SandboxAQ on Tuesday said it has won a U.S. government contract for military cyber security in a deal that includes Microsoft (MSFT.O) and Deloitte & Touche (DLTE.UL) as subcontractors. The contract is with the Defense Information Systems Agency which provides global communications infrastructure for the Department of Defense, the Silicon Valley firm said. Earlier this year, SandboxAQ won a contract with the U.S. Air Force to research quantum navigation technology which could serve as an alternative to the Global Positioning System (GPS), which can be jammed. Quantum navigation uses sensors based on quantum physics to monitor slight local changes in the Earth's magnetic field, making navigation systems much more precise, Hidary said. Reporting by Jane Lanhee Lee; Editing by Christopher CushingOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Jack Hidary, Hidary, SandboxAQ, Jane Lanhee Lee, Christopher Cushing Organizations: Microsoft, Deloitte, Touche, Defense Information Systems Agency, Department of Defense, Reuters, U.S . Air Force, Global, Thomson Locations: OAKLAND, California

☆ Donald Trump is the only living US president whose ancestors didn't own slaves, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Donald Trump is reportedly the only living US president whose ancestors did not own slaves. That's because Trump's ancestors came to America after slavery had already been abolished. Even Barack Obama — the country's first Black president — is the descendant of a slaveowner on his white mother's side of the family. According to Reuters, the slaveholding ancestors of living US presidents include:Joe Biden — One direct ancestor, five generations removed, owned one slaveBarack Obama — One director ancestor, six generations removed, owned two slavesGeorge Bush — One director ancestor, six generations removed, owned 25 slavesBill Clinton — One director ancestor, five generations removed, owned one slavesJimmy Carter — One director ancestor, four generations removed, owned 54 slavesBut Trump stands out among the bunch. While other presidents have deep ancestral roots in America, Trump's ancestors did not immigrate to the United States until after slavery was abolished in 1865.

Persons: Donald Trump, Barack Obama, —, Mitch McConnell, Sen, Lindsey Graham, Sens, Elizabeth Warren, Tammy Duckworth, Joe Biden —, George Bush —, Bill Clinton —, Jimmy Carter —, Trump, Mary, Confederate, Robert E, Lee Organizations: Service, Reuters, Department of Defense Locations: America, United States, Kallstadt, Germany, Scotland, Charlottsville , Virginia

☆ Wagner fighters almost certainly aim to march on Moscow, UK intel says. What happens next depends on the loyalty of Russia's security forces.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-24 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Wagner Group fighters entered the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don in an apparent armed rebellion. What happens next will largely depend on the loyalty of Russia's security forces, the department said. "With very limited evidence of fighting between Wagner and Russian security forces, some have likely remained passive, acquiescing to Wagner," the department said. The loyalty of Russia's security forces, particularly the Russian National Guard, will be "key to how the crisis plays out," it added. Unverified videos have circulated on social media appearing to show Wagner fighters moving through the Voronezh region toward Moscow.

Persons: Wagner, —, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Sergei Sobyanin, Yevegny Prigozhin Organizations: Wagner Group, MoD, Service, Group, UK Department of Defense, Russian National Guard, Guardian Locations: Russian, Rostov, Moscow, Russia, Ukraine, Voronezh Oblast, Voronezh

☆ What is the Wagner Group? A look at the mercenary group led by man accused of 'armed mutiny' in Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-24 | by ( Phil Helsel | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Called by Russia a "private military company" the Wagner Group is called a proxy force by U.S. officials and others, while others label it a mercenary group. Worldwide effortsThe Wagner Group has also been involved in other parts of the world, including Africa. Senior Western diplomats have said that the Wagner Group took control of a gold mine there. Human Rights Watch said in a report that suspected Wagner Group forces have committed atrocities, including executing unarmed men. watch nowThe U.S. in January designated the Wagner Group a transnational criminal organization.

Persons: Maksim Konstantinov, Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, general's, Vladimir Alekseev, RBK, Vladimir Putin, Dmitry Peskov, John Kirby, U.N, Kirby, Prigozhin Organizations: PMC, Private Military Company, PMC Wagner Center, Lightrocket, Wagner Group, Telegram, NBC, Wagner, Prigozhin, U.S . National Security, Strategic, International Studies, U.S . Department of Defense, Central African, Rights Watch, U.S . Treasury Department, U.S . National Security Council, Russian Defense Ministry Locations: St . Petersburg, Ukraine, Russia, U.S, Washington, Russian, Africa, Libya, Central African Republic, Senior

☆ Defiant Wagner chief Prigozhin claims he has 25,000 'patriot' soldiers who will not surrender despite Putin's demands. 'All of us are ready to die.'
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-24 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Wagner Group's leader Yevgeny Prigozhin has defiantly responded to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin had said that the "armed mutiny" was a "betrayal" and vowed that Russia would defend itself. Prigozhin said the Russian president was "deeply mistaken" and that he and his men were "patriots" in a voice note posted to his Telegram channel on Saturday. All 25,000, and then another 25,000," he said about his troops in a social media post, per an Al Jazeera translation. The UK Department of Defense said on Saturday that Wagner forces are now "almost certainly" aiming to march to Moscow.

Persons: Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Prigozhin, —, Vladimir Putin's, mutinying Wagner, Prighozin Organizations: Service, Russian Ministry of Defense, UK Department of Defense Locations: Russia, Russian, Ukraine, Jazeera, Moscow

“We’re looking for any kind of enemies everywhere, air, on land and on the river as well,” Captain Anton, his surname withheld for security reasons, says of his mission. It cuts through Ukraine, connecting some of its major cities — such as Kyiv, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson — providing water, electricity and a natural barrier against advancing armies. “The river is a strategic object,” Captain Anton says. “Our mission is to patrol the Dnipro River, since it’s prohibited to use any kind of navigation since 24th of February 2022,” Captain Anton explains. “In cases where Russia is using Shaheds, we can use (these boats) to try and strike them,” Captain Anton explains.

Persons: Captain Anton, Vasco Cotovio, Anton, “, “ We’re, ”, Anton’s Organizations: CNN, Vasco, Dnipro, NATO, US Department of Defense, Moscow, Snake, United Locations: Dnipro, Europe, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, United States, Washington, Russian, “, Moscow, Moskva, Ukrainian

☆ Pentagon's Ukraine accounting error revised up to $6.2 billion
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

June 20 (Reuters) - The Pentagon found it had overestimated the amount of funding for ammunition, missiles and other equipment it sent to Ukraine by $6.2 billion due to an accounting error, a spokesperson said on Tuesday, more than double the amount previously disclosed. The value of the accounting error was revised up from the $3 billion that was first reported by Reuters in May, the result of assigning a higher-than-warranted value on U.S. weaponry shipped to Ukraine. Additional funding was uncovered as Pentagon officials researched the situation more thoroughly and clarified protocols for valuing equipment based on Financial Management Regulation and Department of Defense policy, Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh said. The $6.2 billion breaks down to $3.6 billion for fiscal year 2023 and $2.6 billion for fiscal year 2022, she said, adding that the errors did not impact the size of presidential drawdown authority or support for Ukraine. Reporting by Mike Stone in Washington, D.C., and Tyler Clifford in New York; Editing by Leslie AdlerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Sabrina Singh, Mike Stone, Tyler Clifford, Leslie Adler Organizations: Pentagon, Reuters, Financial Management, of Defense, Washington , D.C, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Washington ,, New York

☆ Trump lacked power to declassify secret nuclear arms document, experts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-18 | by ( Jonathan Landay | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/2] Former U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks following his arraignment on classified document charges, at Trump National Golf Club, in Bedminster, New Jersey, U.S., June 13, 2023. REUTERS/Amr Alfiky/File PhotoWASHINGTON, June 18 (Reuters) - Even when he was president, Donald Trump lacked the legal authority to declassify a U.S. nuclear weapons-related document that he is charged with illegally possessing, security experts said, contrary to the former U.S. president’s claim. The special status of nuclear-related information further erodes what many legal experts say is a weak defense centered around declassification. “The president is the executive branch and so he can declassify anything that is nuclear information,” he said. And it takes forever,” said Thomas Blanton, director of the National Security Archive.

Persons: Donald Trump, Amr Alfiky, Trump, ”, Steven Aftergood, David Jonas, Elizabeth Goitein, it’s, Thomas Blanton, Jonathan Landay, Don Durfee, Amy Stevens, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: U.S, Trump National Golf Club, REUTERS, WASHINGTON, Atomic Energy, Department of Energy, Department of Defense, Federation of Atomic Scientists, Prosecutors, Trump, Republican, Atomic Energy Act, DOE, Pentagon, AEA, U.S . National Nuclear Security Administration, Brennan Center for Justice, Constitution, DOD, National Security, Thomson Locations: Bedminster , New Jersey, U.S, declassify, declassification, United States, Florida

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