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☆ Olympics-IOC Has Full Confidence in Paris 2024 Olympics Security Plans
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

(Reuters) - The International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Thursday said it was confident French authorities would keep the Paris 2024 Olympics safe with an extensive security plan. The opening ceremony is considered a major security challenge by itself with more than 45,000 security staff deployed on that day. French President Emmanuel Macron said last month that France was prepared to move the opening ceremony to another location should the security situation require it. With a security budget of 320 million euros ($348.42 million), France will be deploying some 35,000 security staff for the days after the opening ceremony, with many competitions and events held in the centre of the city. "This confidence was built on a report received in December (from French authorities) ... on the measures to be taken during the Games," said Olympic Games Executive Director Christophe Dubi.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Mark Adams, Christophe Dubi, Dubi, Karolos Grohmann, Ken Ferris Organizations: Reuters, Olympic Committee, Games, IOC, Olympic Locations: Paris, France, Israel, South Korea's

☆ Europe wants to Trump-proof in case of a second term. But that is not an easy task
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-14 | by ( Luke Mcgee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —Former US President Donald Trump briefly returned as a central character in European politics earlier this week. Multiple EU officials and diplomats noted to CNN that his sudden recollection came at a particularly sensitive time, as the EU attempts to build its own defense capabilities outside of the US-led NATO alliance. Whether Trump actually made these comments or not is largely immaterial to European officials. And his hostility toward the Ukraine war effort has an impact even now, playing into the Republican Party’s reluctance to pass more US funding for Ukraine. Christine Lagarde, head of the European Central Bank, said only this week that Trump’s return would be a “threat” for Europe.

Persons: Donald Trump, Thierry Breton, Trump, Ursula von der Leyen, ” Breton’s, Russia’s Vladimir Putin, Letitia James, Spencer Platt, ”, Joe Biden, Europe’s, Ian Bond, ” Donald Trump, Jim Watson, Angela Merkel, Jesco Denzel, there’s, Christine Lagarde Organizations: CNN, Former, European, Republican, NATO, New York, Getty, Ukraine, “, Trump, EU, Centre, Economic, European Central Bank Locations: Europe, Iowa, Ukraine, New York City, Brussels, EU, United States, America, China, Davos, AFP, Russia, Beijing, Moscow, Charlevoix , Canada, European

☆ 'No plan B' for Paris opening ceremony after knife attack - sports minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Olympic rings to celebrate the IOC official announcement that Paris won the 2024 Olympic bid are seen in front of the Eiffel Tower at the Trocadero square in Paris, France, September 14, 2017. REUTERS/Christian Hartmann/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsDec 4 (Reuters) - There is no "plan B" for the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games, the French sports minister said on Monday, after a man armed with a knife and hammer killed a German tourist and left two people wounded near the Eiffel Tower on Saturday. "We have no plan B, we have a plan in which there are several sub-plans with a certain number of adjustment variables," Amelie Oudea-Castera told France Inter radio. The attack occurred on the Quai de Grenelle - a spot also included in the plans for the opening ceremony. Reporting by Piotr Lipinski and Tassilo Hummel Editing by Bernadette BaumOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Christian Hartmann, Amelie Oudea, Castera, Jean, Francois Ricard, Pont, Tony Estanguet, Piotr Lipinski, Tassilo Hummel, Bernadette Baum Organizations: IOC, Paris, REUTERS, France Inter, Islamic, Games, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, Islamic State, Grenelle, Chechen, Israel

☆ 'No Plan B' for Paris Opening Ceremony After Knife Attack -Sports Minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Dec. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

(Reuters) - There is no "plan B" for the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Summer Games, the French sports minister said on Monday, after a man armed with a knife and hammer killed a German tourist and left two people wounded near the Eiffel Tower on Saturday. "We have no plan B, we have a plan in which there are several sub-plans with a certain number of adjustment variables," Amelie Oudea-Castera told France Inter radio. The 26-year-old suspect, a French national arrested after the attack, had pledged allegiance to Islamic State in a video recorded beforehand, anti-terrorism Prosecutor Jean-Francois Ricard said on Sunday. The attack occurred on the Quai de Grenelle - a spot also included in the plans for the opening ceremony. France has been on high alert since raising its security threshold in October, when a Chechen-origin man with a knife killed a teacher in a school in northern France.

Persons: Amelie Oudea, Castera, Jean, Francois Ricard, Pont, Tony Estanguet, Piotr Lipinski, Tassilo Hummel, Bernadette Baum Organizations: Reuters, Paris, France Inter, Islamic, Games Locations: Islamic State, Grenelle, France, Chechen, Israel

☆ Ukraine war live updates: Zelenskyy calls for fortifications, U.S. helps with winter assault preparations
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Ukrainian servicemen of a drone hunting team stand next to an anti-aircraft twin-barreled autocannon that they use to target Russian launched drones, in the outskirts of Kyiv, on November 30, 2023, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday called for quicker fortifications in key battlegrounds that face assaults from Russian forces, particularly in eastern Ukraine. Russia's navy reported early Friday morning that it destroyed a Ukrainian navy vessel without crew that was heading towards Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014. Separately, Russia's presence at a European security meeting taking place Thursday caused a stir. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attended the annual meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, with Baltic nations and Ukraine refusing to attend as a result.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Zelenskyy, John Kirby, Sergei Lavrov Organizations: . National Security, Russian, Organization for Security, Cooperation Locations: Kyiv, Ukraine, Russian, Ukrainian, Russia, Crimea, Washington, Europe, Baltic

[1/3] Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov disembarks from a plane upon his arrival at an airport ahead of a meeting of foreign ministers of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Skopje, North Macedonia, November 30, 2023. Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna told reporters on Wednesday in Brussels where he attended a NATO meeting. The European Union's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said he understood unease about Lavrov attending the meeting in Skopje, North Macedonia. But he said it was a chance for Lavrov to hear broad condemnation of Russia's war in Ukraine. I think that is simply wrong," said Latvian Foreign Minister Krisjanis Karins.

Persons: Sergei Lavrov disembarks, Russia's Sergei Lavrov, Margus Tsahkna, Lavrov, Josep Borrell, Borrell, Dimitar Kovacevski, OSCE Michael Carpenter, Antony Blinken, Helga Schmid, Krisjanis Karins, Humeyra Pamuk, Aleksandar Vasovic, Ronald Popeski, Francois Murphy, William Maclean, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: Organisation for Security, Cooperation, Russian Foreign Ministry, REUTERS Acquire, Organization for Security, Baltic, OSCE, Soviet, NATO, Tass, Russian, North Macedonia's, Kremlin, AS, Ukraine, United, U.S, United Nations General Assembly, Thomson Locations: Europe, Skopje, North Macedonia, BRUSSELS, VIENNA, Ukraine, U.S, Russia, Estonian, Brussels, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Malta, Belarus, United States, Moscow, West, New York, Latvian

☆ NATO navies are worried about Russia using its unique weapons to pick a fight on territory nobody controls
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Constantine Atlamazoglou | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Recent damage to undersea pipelines and cables in Europe has raised concern among NATO members. AdvertisementThe emphasis on defending underwater infrastructure is visible in the alliance's operations. The annual Dynamic Messenger exercise includes a focus on protecting critical underwater infrastructure and involves information exchanges between alliance militaries and private-sector actors. OLE BERG-RUSTEN/NTB/AFP via Getty ImagesProtecting underwater infrastructure is no simple task, however. AdvertisementThe situation becomes more complicated because underwater infrastructure often passes through international waters, muddling the legal framework around its protection and making a response harder.

Persons: —, David Cattler, Shawn Coover, Adm, Ben Key, Jens Köhler, JEF, Andrey Luzik, Key, Constantine Atlamazoglou Organizations: NATO, Service, Finnish Border Guard, REUTERS, Steam, US Marine Corps, Staff, British Royal Navy's, Royal Navy, Getty, Joint Expeditionary Force, Norwegian Coast Guard, OLE BERG, Russia Ministry of Defense, Directorate, Fletcher School of Law, LinkedIn, Twitter Locations: Europe, Russia, NATO's, Estonia, Finland, Baltic, Norway, Norwegian, Germany, Ukraine, Hiddensee, Nordic, AFP, Severomorsk

More than 10 intelligence and police officials in five European countries including Britain, Germany and France told Reuters they are increasing surveillance of Islamist militants. A British security official said the war in Gaza was likely to become the biggest recruiter for Islamist militants since the Iraq war in 2003, and that calls for attacks on Jewish and Western targets had risen in Europe. Two Islamist militant attacks in France and Belgium last month killed three people, and these two countries, Austria, Slovenia and Bosnia-Herzegovina have raised their terrorism threat alert levels. LONE WOLVESSecurity officials say the main danger for Europe is probably from attacks by "lone wolves" — assailants who are radicalised, often online, but have no formal links to more established groups. Although a truce has come into effect in Gaza, both sides have said the war is far from over.

Persons: Gonzalo Fuentes, radicalised, Mark Rowley, al, Jochen Kopelke, It's, Kopelke, Israel, Peter Knoope, Knoope, Iman Atta, Germany's Kopelke, influencers, Europol, Thomas Renard, Juliette Jabkhiro, Angelo Amante, Johan Ahlander, Phil Blenkinsop, Timothy Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, London, British, Islamic State, Islamic, WOLVES Security, Hamas, Dutch National, International Centre for, Timothy Heritage, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, BERLIN, Israel, Britain, Germany, Russia, China, Iran, Gaza, Iraq, Europe, Belgium, Austria, Slovenia, Bosnia, Herzegovina, Italy, al Qaeda, Islamic State, Qaeda, Afghanistan, Syria, United States, British, al, West

He said the EU had to show "more empathy" for the loss of Palestinian civilian lives in Israel's war against Hamas, launched in response to the deadly Oct. 7 cross-border assault by the Palestinian militant group. On the trip, which ended on Monday evening, Borrell heard Arab leaders and Palestinian civil society activists complain that the 27-nation EU was not applying the same standards to Israel's war in Gaza that it applies to Russia's war in Ukraine. EUROPE STRUGGLESAs High Representative for foreign policy, Borrell is charged with crafting common positions among EU members. It has largely limited itself to support for Israel's right to defend itself within international law and calls for pauses in fighting. Borrell, a veteran Spanish Socialist politician, last month declared that some of Israel's actions contravened international law - to the annoyance of some EU member countries.

Persons: Josep Borrell, Defence Margarita Robles, Isabel Infantes, Kibbutz Be'eri, Borrell, Israel's, Andrew Gray, John Irish, Alexandra Hudson Organizations: EU, Representative, Foreign Affairs, Defence, REUTERS, Palestinian, European Union, Ukraine, Hamas, Reuters, West Bank, United Nations, Spanish Socialist, Alexandra Hudson Our, Thomson Locations: Toledo, Spain, Ukraine, BRUSSELS, Israel, Gaza, Palestinian, Kibbutz, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, EU, United States, East, Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Ireland, Belgium, France, Spanish

Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani attends a joint press conference with French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna (not pictured) at the Amiri Diwan, in Doha, Qatar November 5, 2023. It followed a report in the Washington Post published on Saturday that said a deal for the release of 50 hostages had been agreed. "The challenges facing the agreement are just practical and logistical," Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said at a joint press conference with European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell in Doha. "The deal is going through ups and downs from time to time throughout the last few weeks. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said no deal had been reached yet.

Persons: Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Catherine Colonna, Amiri, Imad Creidi, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman, Thani, Josep Borrell, Benjamin Netanyahu, Sheikh Mohammed, Andrew Gray, Aziz El Yaakoubi, Emelia Sithole, Hugh Lawson Organizations: Qatar's, French, REUTERS, Rights DOHA, Hamas, Washington Post, White House, Reuters, Qatari, European Union, Washington, Thomson Locations: Doha, Qatar, Palestinian, Israel, United States, Gaza

There's a lot of military people here, I just don't understand how this objective can be realised," Ayman Safadi said at the annual IISS Manama Dialogue security conference in Bahrain. Israel vowed to wipe out Hamas since its deadly Oct. 7 cross-border rampage into nearby Israeli communities. And we need to end that today, not tomorrow," said Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan. "Hamas cannot be in control of Gaza any longer," Borrell told the Manama Dialogue, an annual conference on foreign and security policy. The PA is deeply unpopular among Palestinians, perceived largely as a corrupt security subcontractor for Israel, and Israel is now under a hardline religious-nationalist government.

Persons: Ayman Safadi, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Brett McGurk, Joe Biden's, Prince Turki al, Faisal, Josep Borrell, Borrell, Mahmoud Abbas, Abbas, Fatah, Anwar Gargash, Enas Alashray, Michael Georgy, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: UAE, Hamas, Saudi Foreign, Israel, WHO, United Nations, Palestinian Authority, West Bank, European Union, West Bank ., United Arab Emirates, Thomson Locations: Israel, Gaza Gaza, Bahrain, Gaza, MANAMA, Palestinian, Manama, Gaza City, Regional, Saudi Arabia, GAZA, Saudi, U.S, UAE, Cairo

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty/Serhii Nuzhnenko via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsBRUSSELS, Nov 10 (Reuters) - A European Union plan to spend up to 20 billion euros ($21.4 billion) on military aid for Ukraine is meeting resistance from EU countries and may not survive in its current form, diplomats say. The debate over military aid comes as EU nations are also in discussions over a proposal to give Ukraine 50 billion euros in economic assistance. The EU is also facing challenges over other aspects of its military aid to Ukraine. SECURITY PACKAGESEU governments have stressed that long-term EU military aid must be coordinated with security packages that individual EU countries are negotiating with Kyiv, making it hard to settle on a price tag while those talks are ongoing. Some EU members have also argued they will struggle to make a big long-term pledge as domestic budgets are squeezed.

Persons: Nuzhnenko, Josep Borrell, I'm, Olaf Scholz, David Evans Organizations: Radio Free, Radio Liberty, REUTERS, Rights, Germany, EU, Peace Facility, Ukraine, Facility, Kyiv, Krisztina, Thomson Locations: Avdiivka, Ukraine, Donetsk region, Radio Free Europe, Rights BRUSSELS, Brussels, Russia, EU, Germany, Kyiv, Hungary, OTP

☆ China has a sweeping vision to reshape the world — and countries are listening
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +23 min

All this coincides with longstanding calls from countries across the developing world for an international system where they have more say. Beijing, he added, sees the US as merely “paying lip service” to the “liberal order” to hurt other countries. Sergei Savostyanov/Sputnik/ReutersIn recent years, even some countries that have for decades embraced a close partnership with the US have drawn closer to China and its vision. “Is China really trying to promote multipolarity — or does China just want to (become a) substitute (for) US influence over the world?” he asked. They also raise questions about how a more militarily and economically powerful China would behave globally, if left unchecked.

Persons: Xi Jinping, —, Xi, Vladimir Putin, General Antonio Guterres, ” Xi, , Shen Hong, they’d, ”, Yun Sun, liberalize, Sanjit Das, Shen Dingli, ‘, ’ ”, Russia’s Putin, Bashar al, Assad —, Assad’s, Sergei Savostyanov, Ali Sarwar Naqvi, “ We’ve, James Marape, ’, Rubens Duarte, Li Zhiquan, “, Tong Zhao, Zhao, Ted Aljibe, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Zhang Youxia, Beijing’s, Gilberto Teodoro Jr, BRICS, Weeks, Joe Biden, Sergio Lima, ” — Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, United Nations, Forum, China, Communist, CNN, Beijing, Washington, Getty, Stimson, Bank, World Trade Organization, . Riot, Bloomberg, Initiative, Asian, Global, Sputnik, Reuters, Center for International Strategic Studies, Papua New Guinea, multipolarity, China News Service, Carnegie Endowment, International Peace, Global Security Initiative, NATO, Russia, Philippine Defense, Shanghai Cooperation Organization, United, New, Seven, Ministry, Global Security, Group, UN, Communist Party Locations: China, Hong Kong, Beijing, United States, Ukraine, Gaza, Russian, Xinhua, Washington, South, Taiwan, Tibet, Xinjiang, America, Shanghai, West, Hangzhou, Israel, Pakistan, Pakistani, Islamabad, Papua New, Brazil, Indonesia, Europe, Asia, Scarborough, South China, AFP, Moscow, Russia, “, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Palestine, India, South Africa, Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, United Arab Emirates, New Delhi, Southeast Asia, Latin America, Caribbean, ” Beijing

☆ The British navy's newest aircraft carrier teamed up with US pilots to launch F-35 jets in 'beast mode' for the first time
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Constantine Atlamazoglou | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Flight deck crew prepare to remove straps from an F-35B aboard HMS Prince of Wales. A series of firstsRoyal Navy handlers direct an F-35B on the flight deck of HMS Prince of Wales. Those tests were also the first time an aircraft launched by HMS Prince of Wales has dropped bombs, albeit inert ones. A flight deck officer signals an F-35B to launch from HMS Prince of Wales. AdvertisementAdvertisement"The last four weeks at sea have been the busiest HMS Prince of Wales has ever seen," the ship's commanding officer, Capt.

Persons: —, Wales, John Etherington, HMS, HMS Prince, Elizabeth , Prince of Wales, of Wales, Queen Elizabeth, Richard Hewitt, Prince, Dane Wiedmann HMS Prince, Elizabeth, Merlin, Gerald, Prince of, Mike Lippert, Constantine Atlamazoglou Organizations: US, Service, Royal Navy, HMS, Royal, British, US Marine Corps, US Marine, Naval, Pax River's, Force, Prince, Atlantic, US Navy, US Navy's Nimitz, Marine Corps, Fletcher School of Law, LinkedIn, Twitter Locations: Coast, Prince, HMS Prince, East Coast, Wales, British, Maryland, Prince of Wales

☆ MBDA's British arm signs $5 bln deal to bolster Poland's air defence system
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

British Secretary of State for Defence Grant Shapps walks outside Number 10 Downing Street, in London, Britain, October 24, 2023. REUTERS/Hannah McKay Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Nov 7 (Reuters) - The British arm of defence firm MBDA has signed a 4 billion pound ($4.92 billion) deal to supply Poland with ground-based air defence systems, the British government said on Tuesday. Britain's Ministry of Defence said the partnership would boost Poland's Narew air defence programme and help bolster European security amid the conflict in Ukraine. "This is another crucial step forward for our historic defence ties with Poland, supplying next generation air defence capabilities to act as a clear deterrent to our adversaries," British Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said. The air defence system would be able to launch missiles at air threats such as cruise missiles and fighter jets at ranges of more than 40 kilometres, the ministry said.

Persons: Defence Grant Shapps, Hannah McKay, MBDA, Grant Shapps, Mariusz Blaszczak, Italy's Leonardo, Sachin Ravikumar, Alan Charlish, William James Our Organizations: State, Defence, REUTERS, Britain's Ministry of Defence, British, Airbus, Britain's BAE Systems, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, British, Poland, Ukraine, Poland's

☆ Russia formally withdraws from key post-Cold War European armed forces treaty
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] Deputy head of Russia's Security Council and chairman of the United Russia party Dmitry Medvedev visits the Raduga State Machine Building Construction Bureau named after A. Bereznyak in Dubna, Moscow region, Russia February 2, 2023. Sputnik/Yekaterina Shtukina/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 7 (Reuters) - Russia formally withdrew on Tuesday from a key post-Cold War security treaty designed to de-escalate potential East-West conflicts, in a latest sign of rising tensions between Russia and NATO. "At 00:00 on November 7, 2023, the procedure of Russia's withdrawal from the CFE (Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe), was completed," Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement on its website. Russia suspended its participation in the treaty in 2007 and halted active participation in 2015. "Thus, the CFE Treaty in its original form lost touch with reality."

Persons: Dmitry Medvedev, Vladimir Putin, Dmitry Peskov, Lidia Kelly, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Russia's Security, United, Sputnik, NATO, CFE, Conventional Armed Forces, Thomson Locations: United Russia, Dubna, Moscow region, Russia, Europe, Warsaw, Ukraine, United States, CFE, Melbourne

☆ Russia Formally Withdraws From Key Post-Cold War European Armed Forces Treaty
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

(Reuters) - Russia formally withdrew on Tuesday from a key post-Cold War security treaty designed to de-escalate potential East-West conflicts, in a latest sign of rising tensions between Russia and NATO. "At 00:00 on November 7, 2023, the procedure of Russia's withdrawal from the CFE (Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe), was completed," Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement on its website. Russia suspended its participation in the treaty in 2007 and halted active participation in 2015. "The CFE Treaty was concluded at the end of the Cold War, when the formation of a new architecture of global and European security based on cooperation seemed possible, and appropriate attempts were made," the Russian foreign ministry said. "Thus, the CFE Treaty in its original form lost touch with reality."

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Dmitry Peskov, Lidia Kelly, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Reuters, NATO, CFE, Conventional Armed Forces Locations: Russia, Europe, Warsaw, Ukraine, United States, CFE, Melbourne

Israel says Hamas killed some 1,400 people including children and took more than 200 hostages in its Oct. 7 rampage. "I welcome the growing global consensus for a humanitarian pause in the conflict. INTERMEDIARY NEEDEDEven among Israel's allies, there is no consensus on what is meant by a humanitarian pause. She said "ceasefire" tends to refer to a general suspension of fighting while humanitarian pauses or corridors are more limited. "If that's what it requires, then we absolutely will try to get such pause or pauses in place."

Persons: Khan Younis, Abu Mustafa, Israel, Yoko Kamikawa, Antonio Guterres, Guterres, Gilad Erdan, Chiara Gillard, John Kirby, U.N, Stephane Dujarric, Dan Williams, Andrew Gray, Michelle Nichols, Emma Farge, Steve Holland, Sakura Murakami, Frank Jack Daniel, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: Hamas, REUTERS, EU, Foreign Ministry, White, General, Oxford Institute for Ethics, Law, . National Security, UN, Thomson Locations: Israel, Palestinian, Gaza, United States, Japan, New York, Brussels, Spain, Egypt, Rafah, rearm, Jerusalem, Geneva, Washington, Tokyo

EU leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz have visited the Middle East to express solidarity with Israel and bolster diplomatic efforts to prevent the conflict spiralling into a regional war. "These developments require our immediate attention, without distracting us from our continued support to Ukraine." The EU and its member countries have provided billions of euros in assistance to Ukraine since Russian forces invaded in February last year. At the summit, the leaders will have their first debate on that budget package, which diplomats expect to be contentious. "It's hard to ask for more money for the EU budget when national budgets are getting squeezed," said one EU diplomat.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz, Charles Michel, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Julia Payne, Philip Blenkinsop, Jan Strupczewski, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Union, Ukraine, Hamas, EU, Diplomats, French, European Council, Kyiv, year's, European Commission, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Israel, Brussels, Palestinian, Gaza, Europe, Ukraine, Russian, United States, EU

EU officials also drafted a statement in support of the proposal for an EU summit later this week, although they cautioned the text could still change in the coming days. "There's a vital need to get water, to get food, to get medical supplies into Gaza," said Irish Foreign Minister Micheal Martin. Some questioned whether a pause would impede Israel's right to defend itself as it seeks to destroy Hamas positions in Gaza. But Israel has the right to self-defence," said Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg. Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky questioned "how such a ceasefire should be established with a partner inside Gaza, where the Hamas terrorist organisation now is controlling the situation".

Persons: Josep Borrell, Juan Medina, Antonio Guterres, Borrell, Micheal Martin, Annalena Baerbock, Israel, Alexander Schallenberg ., Jan Lipavsky, Andrew Gray, Bart Meijer, Jan Strupczewski, Charlotte Van Campenhout, Alison Williams Organizations: European Union for Foreign Affairs, REUTERS, Rights, Hamas, U.N, United Nations, Irish, Austrian, Thomson Locations: Granada, Spain, Rights BRUSSELS, Israel, Palestinian, Gaza, Egypt, Rafah, Luxembourg, France, Netherlands, Ireland, Slovenia, Germany, Alexander Schallenberg . Czech

☆ A first-of-its-kind drone landing shows how the British navy plans to keep its new aircraft carriers in action for longer
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Constantine Atlamazoglou | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

During a test in September, a drone flew on and off a British aircraft carrier for the first time. A difficult operationRoyal Navy airman secure a W Autonomous Systems drone aboard HMS Prince of Wales in early September. In 2021, the Royal Navy tested a drone system meant to help crews train to defend against incoming jets and missiles. AdvertisementAdvertisementTurkey's navy will soon add TCG Anadolu, the world's first aircraft carrier designed for a drone air wing. The US Air Force's Next Aircraft Dominance Program is developing a sixth-generation family of aircraft, drone wingmen designed to fly alongside piloted planes.

Persons: —, Wales, Richard Hewitt, HMS Prince, LPhot Finn Stainer, Hutchins, Hewitt, Merlin, Ash Loftus, Prince, Burak, NavyMCS2 Colby, Alex Hollings, Hollings, George H.W, George H.W . Bush, MCS3 Brandon Roberson, Constantine Atlamazoglou Organizations: Service, Royal Navy, Autonomous Systems, Royal Navy Carrier Strike Groups, Wildcat, Fleet, Royal Navy Air Test, Anadolu, Anadolu Agency, Getty Images, US Air Force, Navy, US, Force's, Air Force, US Navy, Fletcher School of Law, LinkedIn, Twitter Locations: British, Prince, Wales, Dardanelles, Tulsa, Vietnam, George H.W .

☆ An 87-year-old deal is keeping a lid on the naval war in Ukraine — for now
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Constantine Atlamazoglou | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Fighting between Russia and Ukraine in the Black Sea has picked up in recent months. The fighting is taking a toll on Russia's Black Sea Fleet, which Moscow can't reinforce. Russia's Black Sea Fleet hasn't been defeated, but its losses, including the sinking of its flagship, the Moskva, weigh more heavily on Russia's war effort because of a deal signed nearly a century ago that is preventing Moscow from bringing more ships into the Black Sea. The convention distinguishes between Black Sea powers — those with a Black Sea coastline — and non-Black Sea powers. "Initially it was thought that it was a big deal that some of the Russian warships were prevented from entering the Black Sea.

Persons: —, Russia —, hasn't, Sergey Ponomarev, US Navy Arleigh Burke, OZAN KOSE, Ben Wallace, Stringer, Turkey's, Volodymyr Dubovyk, Dubovyk, Sabina Joja, Joja, Constantine Atlamazoglou Organizations: Montreux Convention, NATO, Service, Fleet, Sea Fleet, AP, US Navy, Getty, Russian, REUTERS, Mechnikov National University, Middle East Institute, Washington DC, Fletcher School of Law, LinkedIn, Twitter Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Moscow, Montreux, Crimea, Moskva, Sevastopol, Rostov, AFP, Turkey, Baltic, Northern, Odessa's, Ukrainian, Turkish, Romanian, Iulia, Washington, Izmail, Ankara, NATO

BRUSSELS, Oct 17 (Reuters) - European Union leaders aim on Tuesday to settle on a united approach to the crisis triggered by the Hamas attack on Israel after days of confusion, infighting and mixed messaging. Some officials and lawmakers also criticized von der Leyen, who visited Israel on Friday, for not declaring that the EU expects Israel to abide by international humanitarian law in its response to the attack, as other EU leaders did. Von der Leyen stated that position publicly for the first time at the weekend. Commission officials have insisted von der Leyen had already conveyed the message privately to Israeli officials and defended her swift visit to Israel as an important sign of solidarity. The EU leaders are likely to task ministers with exploring potential risks in more detail, according to officials.

Persons: Ursula von der Leyen, Charles Michel, Von der, von der Leyen, Von der Leyen, der Leyen, Michel, John Irish, Andrew Gray, Howard Goller Organizations: Union, European Council, EU, European, Von der Leyen's, Israel, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Israel, Gaza, Europe

☆ Ukraine's 'free-spirited use' of anti-tank missiles is wrecking Russian armor, but it doesn't mean the tank's days are over
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Michael Peck | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Anti-tank missiles have wreaked havoc against Russian tanks in Ukraine. AdvertisementAdvertisementVideos of burning Russian tanks — victims of Ukrainian anti-tank missiles — has reignited the long-running debate over whether those missiles and other anti-armor weapons have rendered tanks obsolete. Celestino Arce/NurPhoto via Getty Images"Neither side appears capable — or willing — of forming much more than a company-sized battle group for offensive operations," Cranny-Evans wrote. As a result, many engagements involving armor have seen small numbers of tanks face large numbers of missiles. AdvertisementAdvertisementUkrainian troops display anti-tank missiles, including NLAW and Javelin, at an exhibition in Lviv in December 2022.

Persons: —, Sam Cranny, Evans, Muhammed Enes Yildirim, Cranny, Celestino Arce, ATGMs, YURIY DYACHYSHYN, Michael Peck Organizations: Service, Security, Defence, Royal United Services Institute, Anadolu Agency, Getty, US, Israel Defense Forces, IDF, ATGMs, Defense, Foreign Policy, Twitter, LinkedIn Locations: Ukraine, Ukrainian, Eurasia, British, Donetsk, Afghanistan, Kippur, Yom, Russian, Kherson province, Lebanon, Lviv, AFP, Forbes

BRUSSELS, Oct 12 (Reuters) - Defence ministers at NATO's Brussels headquarters watched stunned as their Israeli counterpart Yoav Gallant on Thursday showed them "shocking" and "horrific" video from the Hamas attack on Israeli civilians, diplomats said. Gallant, who remotely attended the one-hour NATO session, briefed ministers on the attack and showed them what the Times of Israel, which was the first to report on it, called an "uncensored video of Hamas atrocities". In a statement after the session with Gallant, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg declared: "Israel does not stand alone." On Wednesday, Stoltenberg said Israel had the right to defend itself and NATO expected its response to the Hamas attack to be proportionate. There was no immediate comment from the Turkish delegation to NATO or the Turkish foreign ministry.

Persons: Yoav Gallant, Israel, Gallant, Germany's Boris Pistorius, Jens Stoltenberg, Stoltenberg, Sabine Siebold, Andrew Gray, Ingrid Melander, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: NATO's Brussels, NATO, Israel, Turkish, Thomson Locations: BRUSSELS, Gaza, of Israel, Germany, Israel, Turkey

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