Ready to Translate using yourss365 internal Translate tool - 105 Languages Suppot »
Grindr has alerted its Egyptian LGBTIQ+ users about police. Here's its warning
North Korea's missile tests are well known. Now it's tried out something new
Street battles and strikes: Why protests, some violent, have occurred all over France
'Some of us are bald': Why these footballers aren't happy with the newest FIFA game
TikTok chief faces hostile US Congress over China ties, teen mental health concerns
A crypto entrepreneur has been charged with fraud. What does Lindsay Lohan have to do with it?
Why Uganda's proposed anti-gay law is being called 'among the worst of its kind'
Grand jury fails to meet, delaying Donald Trump indictment vote
Football matches in UK to be paused so Muslim players can break Ramadan fast
Scientists warn toxic plastic chemicals a 'stealth threat' to human and planetary health
French government survives no-confidence votes over move to raise pension age
Vladimir Putin says China's peace plan could be used as basis to end war in Ukraine
Benin national park becomes insurgent group safe haven
Civil society is one of the primary victims of terrorism
Originally published on Global Voices
Screenshot of France24 YouTube
As part of the Accra Initiative in 2017, West African countries, like Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana and Togo, joined forces with the European Union, France and Great Britain, to collectively combat the jihadist threat in the Sahel region. By pooling efforts, this coalition of leaders from the abovementioned countries ultimately aims to better contain terrorism. In 2019, Mali, Niger, and Nigeria also joined as observer members.
Unlike the countries with which it shares 2,123 km of land borders, Benin has long been spared from jihadist threats. Burkina Faso (386 km), Niger (277 km), Nigeria (809 km), and Togo (651 km), on the other hand, have all faced so-called asymmetrical warfare for more than a decade now.
However, since May 2019, Benin has recorded an increased number of violent incursions and incidents. The most fatal attack to date, in which at least nine people were killed, was carried out on February 8, 2022. Since 2021, 20 or so terrorist attacks have been recorded on Beninese territory, as this Twitter user notes:
Le terrorisme djihadiste au Sahel s'est répandu de manière incontrôlée dans les pays du nord du Golfe de Guinée. ACLED a enregistré 26 attaques organisées dans le nord du #Bénin attribuées au (JNIM) entre le 1er novembre 2021 et le 14 septembre 2022.
— Hervé Doumbia (@almouslime) 29 septembre 2022
Jihadist terrorism in the Sahel has been spreading uncontrollably within the Gulf of Guinea northern regions. Between November 1, 2021, and September 14, 2022, ACLED (Armed conflict Location and Event Data Project) recorded 26 organized attacks in Northern #Bénin attributed to Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wasl-Muslimin (JNIM).Hervé Doumbia (@almouslime) September 29, 2022
Sahel: “L'enlèvement des touristes français au nord du Bénin a révélé la coopération entre les différentes unités combattantes djihadistes qui opèrent dans la région.” @YGuichaoua spécialiste du Sahel et des questions sécuritaires en Afrique de l'Ouest https://t.co/pcsJeR3sY8 pic.twitter.com/KGT9Ddcl6N
— Xavier Martinet (@XXMonde) 13 mai 2019
Sahel: “The kidnapping of French tourists in Northern Benin exposed the cooperation between the various Jihadist combat units operating in this region.” @YGuichaoua expert in the Sahel and West African security matters. https://t.co/pcsJeR3sY8 pic.twitter.com/KGT9Ddcl6N
— Xavier Martinet (@XXMonde) May 13, 2019
#Sahel | Classement de l'impact du terrorisme mondial en 2022, de 0 à 10 (très fort). Le #Burkina , le #Mali , le #Nigeria et le #Niger occupent les premiers rangs.
Hausse préoccupante au #Togo (+49 places) et au #Bénin (+23 places).Source @GlobPeaceIndex . Publié le 14/03 pic.twitter.com/2gKLMjy0kS
– Wamaps (@Wamaps_news) 17 mars 2023
#Sahel | 2022 Global Terrorism Index Score, from 0 to 10 (very high). #Burkina , #Mali , #Nigeria and #Niger all ranked very high.
There has been an alarming increase in #Togo (+49 places) and #Bénin (+23 places).Source @GlobPeaceIndex . Published on 03/14 pic.twitter.com/2gKLMjy0kS
– Wamaps (@Wamaps_news) March 17, 2023
A terrorism oasis
Inscrit sur la liste du #PatrimoineMondial : Complexe W-Arly-Pendjari [extension du «Parc national du W du Niger»], Bénin, Burkina Faso, Niger pic.twitter.com/zTFCTgTd78
— UNESCO en français (@UNESCO_fr) 7 juillet 2017
Inscribed on the #PatimoineMondial (World Heritage) list: The W-Arly-Pendjari Complex [transnational extension to the “W National Park of Niger”], Benin, Burkina Faso, Niger pic.twitter.com/zTFCTgTd78
— UNESCO in French (@UNESCO_fr) July 7, 2017
Given the lack of defense and security forces for the protection of animal species, this sanctuary has become an inaccessible landmark for these forces, with armed terrorist groups subsequently taking hold there. Since 2018, jihadist groups, like Katiba Ansarul Islam and Katiba Serma, have used this as a support base to extend their reach to Benin and other West African countries. This extensive park has also experienced various conflicts associated with drought, transhumance, poaching and other phenomena.
Benin government's counter-terrorist response
To reduce the terrorist threat impact, the Benin government has implemented various measures. These include capacity-building for the Benin Armed Forces (FAB) and mass recruitment to supplement the existing defense and security forces. As announced in the current government's 2021–2026 action plan, more than 2,000 soldiers and police officers will be recruited to better cover Benin’s total land area of 112,622km². Also, as part of the Franco-Beninese partnership, France provided 20 all-terrain vehicles (Masstech) to support the Benin Armed Forces in combatting violent terrorism and extremism.
In 2022 alone, the Benin government allocated 60,609,557,000 Francs CFA (which is almost USD 100 million) to the defense sector. In 2023, a net increase of 27.82 percent has been recorded for the national Ministry of Defense budgetary requirements. For example, on April 28, 2022, the country's government informed the United Nations Secretary-General of its intention to withdraw its troops deployed in Mali as part of MINUSMA, to further strengthen its border security with Niger and Burkina Faso.
Et comme c'est l'ensemble de la société qui est impacté, c'est une raison suffisante pour que l'ensemble de cette dernière soit légitime pour participer à la recherche des solutions.
As this affects society as a whole, this is reason enough for the whole of society to legitimately take part in finding solutions.
Et donc, la société civile évidemment a un rôle important à jouer parce qu’elle est la première à être affectée des situations d’insécurité. […] Ce sont ces organisations qui sont les plus proches des populations au quotidien et donc leur rôle est vraiment central dans la prévention de l’extrémisme violent ou de l’implantation des groupes armés dans les pays de la région.
As these situations of insecurity primarily affect civil society, it undoubtedly has an important role to play […] These organizations are those closest to the people in everyday life and thereby play a vital role in preventing violent extremism and the settlement of armed groups in this region.
Written by Arnauld Kassouin Translated by Laura · View original post [fr]
Ukraine war throws wrench in massive Russian arms deal after they miss delivery, India says
Russia is unable to meet its commitments to deliver vital defense supplies to India, with Indian Air Force claiming that the war in Ukraine has depleted Moscow's military supplies.
An IAF statement, which was presented before a parliamentary committee and posted on its website earlier this week, said that a planned "major delivery" of Russian equipment would not take place.
Officials blamed the ongoing conflict in Ukraine for the shortage – an excuse they used to scrap a planned procurement of Russian helicopters last year, instead turning to local production to try and fill the gap.
The report did not mention specifics of the delivery, India has received a range of weapons and vehicles from Russia in recent years, such an air defense system in 2018 and spare fighter jets, including the MiG-29 and Su-30MKI. Russia handed off spare units to India in some cases.
BIDEN SAYS CHINA-RUSSIA PARTNERSHIP IS ‘VASTLY EXAGGERATED’ DURING CANADA VISIT
Reuters noted that the biggest "ongoing delivery" from Russia to India concerned the S-400 Triumf air defense system units, which India bought for a sum of $5.4 billion. India received three of those systems, with two more required to complete the contract.
The U.S. Treasury claimed in February that sanctions and export controls put in place as a response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have "degraded Russia’s ability to replace more than 9,000 pieces of military equipment lost since the start of the war."
The sanctions also allegedly "forced production shutdowns at key defense facilities and caused shortages of essential components for tanks and aircraft production."
UN DENOUNCES ALLEGED TORTURE, HUMAN SHIELDS, OTHER WAR CRIMES IN UKRAINE CONFLICT
"Russia is also running out of munitions and has lost as much as 50 percent of its tanks," the department wrote in a statement posted online. "At the same time, our coalition has provided Ukraine with state-of-the-art military equipment, while Russia has been forced to turn to mothballed Soviet-era weapons."
The shortage will have a significant impact on India’s plans to continue modernizing its forces: Officials said they had to slash projected spending for the next financial year by a third compared to the previous one.
A spokesperson for the Russian Embassy in New Delhi told Reuters that it didn’t "have information which may confirm the stated." Rosoboronexport, the Russian government’s weapons export branch, did not say anything on the matter.
RUSSIA'S MEDVEDEV CLAIMS MOSCOW MAY SEND TROOPS BACK TO KYIV: ‘NOTHING CAN BE RULED OUT’
Russia accounted for more than 40% of India’s defense imports in 2017, which equated to roughly $8.5 billion of the total $18.3 billion spent that year, according to The Defense Post.
India initially remained quiet on Russia's actions in Ukraine, even abstaining from the vote to condemn Russia's actions, but shortly after condemned Russia's actions in Bucha and called for an investigation into possible war crimes in Ukraine.
India has tried to cut its reliance on Russia for the past two decades, weening off a relationship that started in 1947.
Instead, India has looked to partners in the United States, France and Israel to provide the needed equipment.
Reuters contributed to this report.
Putin Modi meeting
Tear gas, other riot-control weapons have injured 119K people around the world since 2015, report says
More than 119,000 people have been injured by tear gas and other chemical irritants around the world since 2015 and some 2,000 suffered injuries from "less lethal" impact projectiles, according to a report released Wednesday.
The study by Physicians for Human Rights and the International Network of Civil Liberties Organizations, in collaboration with the Omega Research Foundation, took 2 1/2 years to research. It provides a rare partial count of casualties, compiled from medical literature, from these devices used by police around the world, including in Colombia, Chile, Hong Kong, Turkey and at Black Lives Matter protests in the United States.
The vast majority of the data comes from cases in which a person came to an emergency room with injuries from crowd control weapons and the attending doctor or hospital staff made the effort to document it, said the report’s lead author, Rohini Haar, an emergency room physician and researcher at the University of California School of Public Health in Berkeley.
The report on casualties from a largely unregulated industry cites an alarming evolution of crowd-control devices into more powerful and indiscriminate designs and deployment, including dropping tear gas from drones.
It calls for bans of rubber bullets and of multi-projectile devices in all crowd-control settings and tighter restrictions on weapons that may be used indiscriminately, such as tear gas, acoustic weapons and water cannons, which in some cases have been loaded with dyes and chemical irritants.
U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, a Democrat from Oregon, said the report underscores serious issues.
"These troubling global numbers echo the concerns I raised locally when Donald Trump first dispatched armed troops to Portland in 2020 with no guidance on their use of chemical munitions near schools and against protesters when most were peacefully exercising their First Amendment rights," Wyden said. "The report’s recommendations are very worthy of consideration by the Department of Homeland Security."
Portland, Oregon, was an epicenter of racial justice protests after the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police in May 2020. Police and protesters clashed, with officers firing tear gas, pepper spray and other devices, turning parts of the city into battle grounds.
Then-President Trump sent militarized federal agents to protect federal property and the violence escalated, with officers beating protesters with batons and dousing the crowds with tear gas and other irritants. Bystanders and nearby residents choked on the fumes, their eyes watering and burning.
Portland Police Bureau spokesperson Terri Wallo Strauss noted that the department's updated policy emphasizes "the goal of avoiding the use of force, when feasible."
Police say crowd-control devices are, if used properly, an effective tool for dispersing rioters.
"Rallies basically spin out of control when they’ve been hijacked by individuals that have come in with a nefarious purpose to create the riots, the looting, those type of things. And then, obviously, law enforcement has to come in and try their best to create a safe resolution and try to restore order," Park City, Utah, Police Chief Wade Carpenter said during the height of the Black Lives Matter protests.
Carpenter is also an official with the International Association of Chiefs of Police, which has more than 32,000 members in more than 170 countries. The group declined to comment on the new report. But in 2019, it recommended guidelines on crowd management.
TURKISH POLICE TEAR GAS PROTESTORS OF WOMEN'S DAY MARCH BAN
Pepper spray, or oleoresin capsicum, may be used against "specific individuals engaged in unlawful conduct or actively resisting arrest, or as necessary in a defensive capacity," the guidelines state. "OC spray shall not be used indiscriminately against groups of people where bystanders would be unreasonably affected, or against passively resistant individuals."
But the internet is full of instances in which pepper spray was used against non-resisting people, including against Tyre Nichols, who was beaten to death by Memphis police in January.
Tear gas "may be deployed defensively to prevent injury when lesser force options are either not available or would likely be ineffective," the IACP guidance states. Projectiles that are supposed to hit a surface like a street before impacting a person "may be used in civil disturbances where life is in immediate jeopardy or the need to use the devices outweighs the potential risks involved."
Direct-fired impact munitions, including beanbag rounds, "may be used during civil disturbances against specific individuals who are engaged in conduct that poses an immediate threat of death or serious injury," the guidance says. Protesters have been blinded and suffered brain damage from beanbag rounds.
Numerous lawsuits have been filed over use of force by police during protests.
In November, the city of Portland reached a $250,000 settlement with five demonstrators in a federal lawsuit over police use of tear gas and other crowd-control devices during racial justice protests.
But last month, a federal judge threw out an excessive force claim against an unnamed federal agent who fired an impact munition at the forehead of protester Donavan La Bella, fracturing his skull, as he held up a music speaker during a racial justice demonstration in Portland in 2020. La Bella continues to struggle with a severe head injury.
Haar, who is a medical adviser for Physicians for Human Rights, said the number of injured is far greater than what she compiled from medical reports.
"Basically, we knew we're capturing sort of the tip of the iceberg," she said. "This is just a tiny fraction of what the world is experiencing on a daily basis. The vast majority of injuries — even significant severe injuries — go unreported."
Editor's Note
Blogging will return this evening.
Oldest pearl town of the Persian Gulf found on an United Arab Emirates island
Archaeologists said Monday they have found the oldest pearling town in the Persian Gulf on an island off one of the northern sheikhdoms of the United Arab Emirates.
Artifacts found in this town on Siniyah Island in Umm al-Quwain, likely once home to thousands of people and hundreds of homes, date as far back as the region's pre-Islamic history in the late 6th century. While older pearling towns have been mentioned in historical texts, this represents the first time archaeologists say they have physically found one from this ancient era across the nations of the Persian Gulf.
"This is the oldest example of that kind of very specifically Khaleeji pearling town," said Timothy Power, an associate professor of archaeology at the United Arab Emirates University, using a word that means "Gulf" in Arabic. "It’s the spiritual ancestor of towns like Dubai."
The pearling town sits on Siniyah Island, which shields the Khor al-Beida marshlands in Umm al-Quwain, an emirate some 30 miles northeast of Dubai along the coast of the Persian Gulf. The island, whose name means "flashing lights" likely due to the effect of the white-hot sun overhead, already has seen archaeologists discover an ancient Christian monastery dating back as many as 1,400 years.
The town sits directly south of that monastery on one of the curling fingers of the island and stretches across some 143,500 square yards. There, archaeologists found a variety of homes made of beach rock and lime mortar, ranging from cramped quarters to more sprawling homes with courtyards, suggesting a social stratification, Power said. The site also bears signs of year-round habitation, unlike other pearling operations run in seasonal spots in the region.
"The houses are crammed in there, cheek by jowl," he added. "The key thing there is permanence. People are living there all year around."
In the homes, archaeologists have discovered loose pearls and diving weights, which the free divers used to quickly drop down to the seabed while relying only on their held breath.
The town predates the rise of Islam across the Arabian Peninsula, making its residents likely Christians. Islam’s Prophet Muhammad was born around 570 and died in 632 after conquering Mecca in present-day Saudi Arabia.
ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY, AUGUST 12, 1877, THOMAS EDISON INVENTS THE PHONOGRAPH
Umm al-Quwain's Department of Tourism and Archaeology, UAE University, the Italian Archaeological Mission in the emirate and the Institute for the Study of the Ancient World at New York University all took part in the excavation. Umm al-Quwain, the least-populated emirate in the UAE, plans to build a visitor's center at the site.
Today, the area near the marshland is more known for the low-cost liquor store at the emirate’s Barracuda Beach Resort. In recent months, authorities have demolished a hulking, Soviet-era cargo plane linked to a Russian gunrunner known as the "Merchant of Death" as it builds a bridge to Siniyah Island for a $675 million real estate development. Authorities hope that development, as well as other building, will grow the emirate's economy.
However, even this ancient site bears lessons for the Emirates.
The story of pearling, which rapidly collapsed after World War I with the introduction of artificial pearls and the Great Depression, holds particular importance in the history of the UAE — particularly as it faces a looming reckoning with another extractive industry. While crude oil sales built the country after its formation in 1971, the Emirates will have to confront its fossil fuel legacy and potentially plan for a carbon-neutral future as it hosts the United Nations COP28 climate talks later this year.
Those searching the site found a dumpsite nearby filled with the detritus of discarded oyster shells. People walking across the island can feel those remains crunching under their feet in areas as well.
"You only find one pearl in every 10,000 oyster shells. You have to find and discard thousands and thousands of oyster shells to find one," Power said. "The waste, the industrial waste of the pearling industry, was colossal. You’re dealing with millions, millions of oyster shells discarded."
Cocaine use has risen across Europe, according to wastewater study
Cocaine use has increased across Europe, an EU-wide wastewater study showed on Wednesday, with the highest levels of residues found in Belgium, Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands.
The study, the largest to date by the Lisbon-based European drugs monitoring agency EMCDDA, analyzed daily wastewater in the catchment areas of treatment plants serving some 54 million people in 104 European cities.
It analysed samples collected over a one-week period between March and April last year for traces of cocaine, amphetamine, methamphetamine, MDMA/ecstasy, ketamine and cannabis and found drug-use was greater than in previous studies.
"Today's findings, from a record 104 cities, paint a picture of a drugs problem that is both widespread and complex, with all six substances detected in almost every location," EMCDDA director Alexis Goosdeel said in a statement.
The results showed a "continued rise in cocaine detections", a trend observed since 2016, and that more cities had reported traces of methamphetamine, also known as crystal meth.
More than half of the 66 European cities with data for 2021 and 2022 recorded increases in cocaine residues.
Ketamine was included for the first time in the 2022 analysis due to "signs of increased availability of ketamine in Europe". The highest amount of residues were found in wastewater in cities in Denmark, Italy, Portugal and Spain.
The US Had Three "Doomsday" Aircraft Up At The Same Time Today
WNU Editor: Two were flying in the US, and one in Europe.A third E-6B Mercury is active over the middle of the country. #AE0419 as JUST17 out of McConnell AFB, KS. https://t.co/GXQOIXtAip pic.twitter.com/Oru0BzpvDv
— TheIntelFrog (@TheIntelFrog) March 24, 2023
US President Biden Says China-Russia Partnership Is 'Vastly Exaggerated'
FOX News: Biden says China-Russia partnership is 'vastly exaggerated' during Canada visit
President Biden's comments come after Russian President Vladimir Putin's meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping this week
President Biden had a tense exchange with a reporter when asked about Russia and China's economic relationship, arguing that their partnership is "vastly exaggerate[d]."
Biden held a joint press conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Ottawa on Friday. A reporter asked Biden what he thought the significance of the Russia-China alliance was.
"In ten years, Russia and China have had 40 meetings, 40 meetings," Biden began. "And I disagree with the basic premise of your question."
Read more ....
Update: President Biden Downplays Deepening Russia-China Ties (Bloomberg).
WNU Editor: President Biden has a reputation in Washington of always being wrong on major foreign policy issues (link here). He is definitely wrong on this one.
NORTHCOM Tells Congress That Russian Nuclear Attack Submarines Will Be On Persistent Patrols Off Either U.S. Coast In The Next Two Years
The Yasen-M nuclear cruise missile submarine Krasnoyarsk in January. Tass Photo
USNI News: NORTHCOM: Russia Close to Persistent Nuclear Cruise Missile Attack Sub Presence off U.S. Coasts
Russia could have its most powerful and quiet nuclear attack submarines on persistent patrols off either U.S. Coast in the next two years, the head of U.S. Northern Command told the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday.
In response to questions from Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) on the threat of Chinese and Russian cruise missile submarines operating close to the U.S., NORTHCOM commander Gen. Glen VanHerck said that the deployments of the Russian Yasen-class nuclear cruise missile attack boats have been deploying more frequently.
“[The risk is] absolutely increasing. Within the last year, Russia has also placed their [Yasens] in the Pacific,” he said. “Now not only the Atlantic, but we also have them in the Pacific and it’s just a matter of time – probably a year or two – before that’s a persistent threat, 24 hours a day. … That impact has reduced decision space for a national senior leader in a time of crisis.”
Read more ....
Update: Russia Nuclear Submarines Deployed Off U.S. Coast Spark Alarm (Newsweek)
WNU Editor: Russian subs are already making their presence felt off the coast of Norway .... Norway watches warily as Russian subs and aircraft step up Arctic patrols (NBC News).
Several More Attacks Against U.S. Bases In Syria Are Being Reported. President Biden Says US Forces Will Act Forcefully To Defend Americans
New York Times: Conflict in Syria Escalates Following Attack That Killed a U.S. Contractor
WASHINGTON — The conflict in northeast Syria escalated on Friday as Iran-backed militias launched a volley of rocket and drone attacks against coalition bases after American reprisals for a drone attack that killed a U.S. contractor and injured six other Americans.
President Biden, speaking at a news conference in Canada, sought to tamp down fears that tit-for-tat strikes between the United States and militant groups could spiral out of control, while at the same time warning Tehran to rein in its proxies.
“Make no mistake, the United States does not, does not, I emphasize, seek conflict with Iran,” Mr. Biden said in Ottawa, where he was making a state visit. “But be prepared for us to act forcefully to protect our people. That’s exactly what happened last night.”
Read more ....
WNU Editor: It looks like a decision has been made to target US forces in Syria. My gut tells me that these attacks Against US forces in Syria are going to escalate.
Several More Attacks Against U.S. Bases In Syria Are Being Reported. President Biden Says US Forces Will Act Forcefully To Defend Americans
US combats Iranian-backed groups in Syria -- The Hill
Biden warns Iran after U.S. forces clash with proxy groups in Syria -- Washington Post
Syria attacks: Biden warns Iran US will ‘act forcefully’ to protect Americans -- The Guardian/Reuters
Biden Warns Iran After Deadly Strikes in Syria -- VOA
Pro-Iranian forces in Syria warn US of response to air strikes -- Al Jazeera
Pro-Iranian forces in Syria warn they can respond to further U.S. strikes -- Jerusalem Post/Reuters
A look at the US military mission in Syria and its dangers -- AP
Top US General Predicts Much Of The World's Militaries 'Will Be Robotic' In 15 Years
An MQ-9 Reaper on San Clemente Island in California on June 23. 2022.US Air National Guard/Staff Sgt. Joseph Pagan
Business Insider: Top US general predicts that much of the world's armies, navies, and air forces 'will be robotic' in 15 years, if not sooner
* The top US general says technology is changing the ways that wars are being fought.
* He said that robots will play a huge role in the world's armies, navies, and air forces within the next decade or so.
* Gen. Mark Milley also highlighted the role of artificial intelligence as a military application.
Technology is changing the ways that war is being fought, and the top US general predicts this will lead to an increasing use of robots in armies, navies, and air forces.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley told the Eurasia Group Foundation on a podcast that the world is undergoing a "fundamental change" in the "character of war."
Unlike the "nature of war," which Milley described to mean human dynamics and intra-country relationships, he clarified that the character of the war incorporates items like tactics, weapons, technologies, organizations, and management.
Read more ....
Update #1: Milley Tells House Panel Joint Force Is at 'Inflection Point' (US Department of Defense)
Update #2: Top US general predicts much of world’s forces ‘will be robotic’ in 15 years (SCMP)
WNU Editor: Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley is correct. Technology is changing the ways wars are being fought, and this is due to advancements in robots/drones, computer networks, and AI/software.
Iran could produce nuclear weapon in matter of months, senior defense official claims
Iran would be only months away from building a nuclear weapon if it opted to produce a bomb, according a top U.S. military official.
"From the time of an Iranian decision … Iran could produce fissile material for a nuclear weapon in less than two weeks and would only take several more months to produce an actual nuclear weapon," Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told Congress Thursday.
Milley presented a much shorter timeline than officials previously have when discussing Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
He added that the U.S. won’t allow Iran to have a "fielded nuclear weapon."
BIDEN ON BACK FOOT AS IRAN PROXIES HIT US TROOPS IN SYRIA, CAN ‘EXPORT MORE, NOT LESS ATTACKS’
"We, the United States military, have developed multiple options for our national leadership to consider if or when Iran ever decides to develop an actual nuclear weapon," Milley said.
Officials remain concerned about Iran’s nuclear capabilities after attempts to revive the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, known as the Iran Nuclear Deal, which the U.S. withdrew from during the Trump administration in 2018.
US BASE IN SYRIA ATTACKED BY IRANIAN PROXY FORCES AFTER RETALIATORY AIRSTRIKES
Unnamed senior diplomats told Bloomberg in February Iran has accumulated uranium enriched to 84% purity, a concentration 6% below what’s needed for a weapon, marking the highest levels found by inspectors in Iran to date.
Iran had previously told the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that its centrifuges were configured to enrich uranium to a 60% level of purity.
NIKKI HALEY: WE HAVE TO WAKE UP TO THE THREATS FROM CHINA, RUSSIA
It remains unclear whether the material was intentionally produced or it was an unintentional accumulation within the centrifuges used to separate the isotopes.
The timeline to create a nuclear weapon remains unclear, with some experts believing it could take between six months and three years, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Gary Samore, the director of the Crown Center for Middle East Studies at Brandeis University and a former White House official during the Obama administration, told the Journal no one can tell "how quickly Iran can restart and finish the research and development work they were doing before 2003."
Col. Dave Butler, a spokesman for Gen. Milley, declined to elaborate on his assessment to Congress, telling the Journal that the "chairman’s statement speaks for itself."
Fox News Digital’s Bradford Betz contributed to this report.
Milley
Russia - Ukraine War: Military Summary And Analysis For 3.24.2023 (Video)
WNU Editor: A lot of updates on the Russia - Ukraine war from the Military Summary channel (see above). Alexander Mercouris gives his updates on the war below.
In Suriname, protestors demand president's resignation
A few hundred protesters gathered in Suriname’s capital on Friday to demand that the president of the South American country resign.
They accused the administration of President Chan Santokhi of trying to postpone the 2025 general election, which can’t be organized until legislators amend an electoral law as required by a court ruling last year that aims to create a fairer voting system.
Earlier this week, the government set up a committee that submitted two proposals to amend the electoral law, with Santokhi saying the bill would be presented to legislators within two months. But activists are demanding that the law be approved within a week, even though the chairman of Suriname’s National Assembly warned Thursday that that won’t be enough time.
NO OPPOSITION CANDIDATES RUNNING IN CUBAN ELECTIONS
Activist Maisha Neus said she would organize more protests if there’s a delay.
"We will hit them where it hurts. Economically," she said.
It is the second such protest since mid-February, when demonstrators stormed Parliament to decry the end of government subsidies that has led to a spike in the cost of power, fuel and water. The mob clashed with police that day, who arrested at least 126 people after initially being taken aback by the fury and size of the crowd.
This time, police outnumbered protesters, and officials set up barricades around the presidential office and Parliament.
GUATEMALAN PROSECUTOR EYES STRIPPING PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE OF LEGAL IMMUNITY
"Is this democracy, keeping your people behind a fence?" one demonstrator yelled.
The protests come as Santokhi’s Cabinet implements cost-cutting measures ordered by the International Monetary Fund as it phases out subsidies on electricity, water and fuel. The current inflation rate is 58%, and increases in cost-of-living expenses are angering many.
There is no prospect of sudden relief given that Suriname has not received any money from the IMF for about a year because the government has not met the targets imposed. The IMF agreed to loan Suriname $690 million in December 2021, but only $100 million so far has been released.
suriname_protests
Tribal violence in Sudan's troubled Darfur region kills 5
Two days of tribal violence in western Sudan's long-troubled Darfur region killed at least 5 people, tribal leaders and a rights group said Friday.
The violence between African Masalit tribesmen and Arab shepherds in West Darfur erupted Thursday after two armed assailants fatally shot a merchant in a remote area, leaders from both groups said.
In a statement, Masalit tribesmen accused Arab militia of being behind the killing. The slaying sparked a series of targeted attacks that killed at least four more people, the tribal leaders and the rights group both said.
Five victims were later identified by the Darfur Bar Association, a Sudanese legal group focusing on human rights in the western province. The group called on both sides to de-escalate tensions.
The violence comes as wrangling cross-party talks continue in Khartoum over how the African country will usher in a civilian government following 17 months of military rule.
SUDAN MILITARY ARRESTS PRIME MINISTER, DISSOLVES GOVERNMENT: 2 PEOPLE DEAD IN PROTESTS
Sudan has been steeped in chaos after a military coup, led by the country’s top Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, removed a Western-backed government in October 2021, upending its short-lived transition to democracy.
But last December the country's ruling military and various pro-democracy forces signed a preliminary agreement pledging to reinstate the transition.
Last week, signatories to December's agreement vowed to begin establishing a new civilian-led transitional government April 11. However, many major political forces in the country remain opposed to the deal.
Since the military takeover, Sudan has also seen a spike in inter-tribal violence in the country’s west and south.
Analysts see the violence and growing insecurity in Sudan’s far-flung regions as a product of the power vacuum caused by the military takeover.
Algerian ambassador returning to France after diplomatic spat
Algeria’s ambassador to France, recalled home in February, will be returning to his post in the coming days, President Emmanuel Macron’s office said Friday in a sign that the latest diplomatic spat between the two countries has been resolved.
Ambassador Said Moussi was recalled after a well-known Algerian militant was whisked to France from Tunisia on Feb. 6 with the help of French diplomats, a move that defied an official demand for her to be returned home. Amira Bouraoui also holds French nationality. She was not supposed to leave Algerian territory and authorities in Algiers said her flight to France amounted to an "illegal exfiltration."
President Abdelmadjid Tebboune informed Macron in a phone call that the ambassador would be returning to Paris shortly.
ALGERIA DISBANDS REFORM GROUP THAT HELPED DEPOSE EX-PRESIDENT
"This exchange allowed for the lifting of misunderstandings," Macron’s office said, adding that the two leaders agreed to strengthen communication channels between services concerned to ensure "that this regrettable type of misunderstanding is not repeated."
Tebboune is expected to make a state visit to France, perhaps in May, making the return of the ambassador and resolution of the spat of particular importance.
ALGERIA'S ARMY CHIEF ON OFFICIAL DISCREET VISIT TO FRANCE
Algeria and France have long had delicate relations, marked by 132 years of French colonial rule and a brutal seven-year war that ended with Algerian independence in 1962.
In 2021, Algeria’s then-ambassador Antar Daoud was recalled home for three months in another diplomatic spat — that time over "irresponsible comments" by Macron concerning post-war Algeria.
Macron had reportedly said that Algeria rewrote its official history with a discourse based not on truths but on "a hate of France." The remarks at the time, made during an encounter between the French president and descendants of people who fought in the Algerian war, were reported by the French newspaper Le Monde and flashed across the Algerian media.
France-news
New Iranian rocket attacks injure more US forces in Syria
U.S. forces in Syria were injured Friday from Iranian rocket attacks, Fox News has learned.
The attacks occurred in Deir Ezzor in eastern Syria. The number of casualties has not been disclosed but some may be serious. The Pentagon was assessing its response.
US BASE IN SYRIA ATTACKED BY IRANIAN PROXY FORCES AFTER RETALIATORY AIRSTRIKES
The attacks came after an American contractor was killed by a suspected Iranian drone that hit and injured six servicemen in northeast Syria.
U.S. intelligence has assessed that the drone that struck the base was Iranian.
The injured U.S. service members were in "stable" condition and have been transported to a hospital in Landstuhl, Germany, a senior U.S. defense official told Fox News Friday.
SYRIA-CONFLICT-COALITION-US
British Museum faces pressure to return Parthenon artifacts to Greece
Greece on Friday welcomed the return of ancient artifacts from the Acropolis, furthering a campaign to press the British Museum to hand back a collection of sculptures taken from the ancient site in Athens more than 200 years ago.
Culture Minister Lina Mendoni led a ceremony Friday for the repatriation of three sculpture fragments — representing a horse and two male heads — from the Parthenon temple on the Acropolis which had been kept at the Vatican Museums.
"Initiatives like these show the way, how the pieces of the Parthenon can be reunited, healing the wounds caused by barbaric hands so many years ago," Mendoni said.
EGYPT'S OLDEST MUSEUM UNVEILS RENOVATED WING, ANCIENT 50-FOOT SCROLL
"This takes us to the just and moral demand of the entire Greek people, and of this government and its prime minister, for the final return of all the sculptures of the Parthenon." The fragments will be added to the collection at the Acropolis Museum, which opened in 2009 at the foot of the ancient site in the center of the Greek capital.
Mendoni said Greece would be willing to lend the British museum ancient Greek artifacts for exhibition to "fill the gap" if the marbles were returned.
"Greece cannot recognize possession and ownership by the British Museum because it considers the sculptures to be there as a product of theft," she said.
The Vatican called the return an ecumenical "donation" to Greece’s Orthodox Church, but the gesture added pressure on the London museum to reach a settlement with Greece following a campaign launched by Athens 40 years ago.
"This act by Pope Francis is of historical significance and has a positive impact on all levels … We hope it sets an example for others," the leader of Greece’s Orthodox Church, Archbishop Ieronymos II, said.
Greece argues that the Parthenon sculptures are at the core of its ancient heritage, while supporters of the British Museum maintain that their return could undermine museum collections and cultural diversity globally.
Carved in the 5th century BC, the sculptures from the Parthenon were taken in the early 19th century by British diplomat Lord Elgin before Greece won independence from the Ottoman Empire.
Culture Ministry officials in Greece have played down remarks made last month by British Museum chair George Osborne that the U.K. and Greece were working on an arrangement to display the Parthenon Marbles in both London and Athens.
ROMAN ARISTOCRAT'S MILLENNIA-OLD REMAINS UNEARTHED IN NORTHERN ENGLAND IN 'ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME FIND'
Last year another marble sculptural fragment from the Parthenon temple — depicting a foot of the ancient Greek goddess Artemis — was returned to Athens from a museum in Palermo, Sicily.
Bishop Brian Farrell, a Vatican secretary for promoting Christian unity, headed the visiting delegation to Athens and said the return of the three fragments from the Vatican had been discussed during a visit to Athens by Pope Francis in 2021.
"The gifting of the fragments of the Parthenon which had been held in the Vatican Museums for more than two centuries, shows itself as cultural and social gesture of friendship and solidarity with the people of Greece," Farrell said.
"We assure you of our intimate joy at the realization of your legitimate wish to have the ... fragments at home in their place of origin," he added.
greek_artifacts
Is Deutsche Bank The Next Bank That Needs To Rescued?
CNBC: Deutsche Bank shares slide after sudden spike in the cost of insuring against its default
* The German lender’s shares retreated for a third consecutive day and have now lost more than a fifth of their value so far this month.
* The emergency rescue of Credit Suisse by UBS, in the wake of the collapse of U.S.-based Silicon Valley Bank, triggered contagion concern among investors, which was deepened by further monetary policy tightening from the U.S. Federal Reserve on Wednesday.
Deutsche Bank shares fell on Friday following a spike in credit default swaps Thursday night, as concerns about the stability of European banks persisted.
The Frankfurt-listed stock was down 14% at one point during the session but trimmed losses to close 8.6% lower on Friday afternoon.
The German lender’s Frankfurt-listed shares retreated for a third consecutive day and have now lost more than a fifth of their value so far this month. Credit default swaps — a form of insurance for a company’s bondholders against its default — leapt to 173 basis points Thursday night from 142 basis points the previous day.
Read more ....
Update #1: Meltdown in Deutsche Bank Shares Shows Banking Crisis Is Not Yet Over (US News and World Report)
Update #2: Deutsche Bank, UBS stocks sink as fear of European banking crisis returns (CNN)
WNU Editor: Concerns on the stability of the global banking system continue .... Moody’s sees risk that U.S. banking ‘turmoil’ can’t be contained (Market Watch).
Update #3: This is not a sign of stability .... US Banks Are Still Drawing on the Fed for $164 Billion of Emergency Cash (Bloomberg).
Russian Pilot Explains How They Intercepted US MQ-9 Reaper Drone Over The Black Sea
EurAsian Times: Russian Pilots ‘Spill The Beans’ On How They Intercepted US MQ-9 Reaper Drone Over The Black Sea
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu awarded the Order of Courage to the pilots that ‘downed’ the US MQ-9 Reaper drone over the Black Sea.
Last week, the Russian Defense Ministry said a US MQ-9 drone plunged into the Black Sea after engaging in sharp maneuvering, noting that Russian fighter jets sent to intercept it did not come into contact with it nor used weapons against it.
The ministry said the air control of the Russian Aerospace Forces recorded the drone’s flight in the Crimean peninsula’s region in the direction of the Russian border.
Read more ....
Update #1: Moscow honors pilot who crashed US drone, Washington labels him ‘at best an idiot’ (Al Arabiya/AA)
Update #2: Russia warns US not to fly over Black Sea, honors pilots who forced drone to crash (Stars and Stripes)
WNU Editor: The US has a different opinion on the incident .... Kirby on Russia giving award for hitting US drone: pilot was ‘at best, just an idiot’ (The Hill). More here .... White House says Russian pilot who ran into a US drone and broke it was, at best, 'an idiot' (Insider).
Update #3: US drones appear to be using a different Black Sea route since this incident .... US flying surveillance drones farther south over Black Sea after collision with Russian fighter jet, officials say (CNN). More here .... The US is flying drones farther from Russia to be less 'provocative' after a Russian jet harassed and smashed into one, making it crash: report (Insider).
Tweets On The Russia - Ukraine War
Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - 24 March 2023.
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) March 24, 2023
Find out more about Defence Intelligence's use of language: https://t.co/rQBoHmhsbB
🇺🇦 #StandWithUkraine 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/leo9MwlOvq
NEW: #Wagner Group financier Yevgeny #Prigozhin has softened his rhetoric towards the #Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) likely out of fear of completely losing his mercenary force in #Bakhmut.
— ISW (@TheStudyofWar) March 24, 2023
Latest on #Ukraine w/ @criticalthreats : https://t.co/K1DRdsfgIm pic.twitter.com/NAVetrE5Xe
Mark Milley speaks to the Congressional Security Committee: The combined forces of the United States today are "the most deadly and combat-ready armed forces in the world." The US military will simultaneously prevent a Russian victory in Ukraine, Iran's https://t.co/CZzQRAT6NK… pic.twitter.com/sMddWk9fgM
— Victor vicktop55 (@vicktop55) March 24, 2023
#UPDATE The United Nations said on Friday it was "deeply concerned" by what it described as summary executions of prisoners of war carried out by Russian and Ukrainian forces on the battlefield ➡️ https://t.co/rDQSDIGIWv
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) March 24, 2023
📷 A Ukrainian serviceman in the town of Chasiv Yar pic.twitter.com/yHlopWD6cS
EU leaders endorsed a deal to ramp up the supply of artillery shells to Ukraine as the country defends itself against Russia's unprovoked invasion.
— DW News (@dwnews) March 24, 2023
Ukraine is currently facing an acute ammunition shortage as it fights Russian troops.https://t.co/zWxq567Pxq
Dozens of Ukrainian soldiers trained in Castrillo del Val, Spain, as part of the four-week training provided by Spain’s Armed Forces on how to build trenches and bridges before heading back to the war in their country pic.twitter.com/RinpQNDhoX
— Reuters (@Reuters) March 24, 2023
Ukraine renewed its push to keep Russian athletes out of the Olympics ahead of an International Olympic Committee board meeting next week which is expected to set the framework for their return to international sports events. https://t.co/t4BujmJA5Q
— The Associated Press (@AP) March 24, 2023
Tweets Of The Day
US lawmakers battered TikTok’s CEO with questions about potential Chinese influence over the social media platform. King Charles’ visit to France was postponed after social unrest over President Macron’s pension reforms erupted into violence, and more. 5⃣ stories you need to know pic.twitter.com/Eb4x41ipKt
— Reuters (@Reuters) March 24, 2023
• EU leaders convene to discuss banking stability
— DW News (@dwnews) March 24, 2023
• French protests against pension reforms turn violent
• North Korea tests underwater nuclear drone
Today's top stories in 1 minute: pic.twitter.com/deK0mXnp2k
Deutsche Bank share slide reignites worries among investors https://t.co/iUEk1fnliS
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) March 24, 2023
As the week ended, investors once more grew concerned that the crisis for lenders may not be contained. Deutsche Bank fell for a third day, sinking more than 11% after a sharp jump in the cost of insuring the bank's bonds against the risk of default https://t.co/EAQjv3C4dH pic.twitter.com/qtDrJOgCrt
— Reuters (@Reuters) March 24, 2023
The level of police brutality in France is beyond shame. Why is western media silent on this?
— Hassan Mafi (@thatdayin1992) March 24, 2023
French police violently beat up protesters.pic.twitter.com/oNcnT9Hb2g
King Charles III's state visit to France has been postponed indefinitely amid widespread protests over President Emmanuel Macron's pension reforms, putting a damper on the new monarch's debut on the international stage. https://t.co/N9rNboYg8z
— The Associated Press (@AP) March 24, 2023
French President Emmanuel Macron takes off 'luxury' watch during TV interview https://t.co/NHrReAwad3
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) March 24, 2023
Beijing has warned the US after a navy destroyer sailed around disputed islands in the South China Sea for the second day in a row. https://t.co/0rWRCFFkJo
— DW News (@dwnews) March 24, 2023
No opposition candidates running in Cuban elections
Cuba holds National Assembly elections Sunday, but there are only 470 candidates running for the 470 seats, with no opposition challengers and no campaigning. Voters essentially will do no more than endorse the nominated slate of candidates.
The polling held every five years technically is nonpartisan, but falls under the indirect control of the country’s true power under the constitution, the ruling Communist Party.
Half of the candidates come from municipal assemblies chosen in local elections last November. The other half are nominated by groups representing broad swaths of society — such as a women’s group and workers unions. All are vetted by election committees with ties to the party.
ANTI-COMMUNIST PROTESTS TAKE CENTER STAGE DURING WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC BETWEEN US AND CUBA
Cuba’s establishment says the system is inclusive and builds unity, while steering clear of the divisiveness of party politics or any ill effects of big-money donors.
The outcome may be a foregone conclusion, but one indicator that will be closely watched is how many voters abstain from the process. That number has been growing over the past decade, which some critics point to as an erosion of confidence in Cuba’s one-party system as the country suffers a deep economic crisis.
What is the National Assembly?
The National Assembly is nominally the country’s highest governing power. It approves laws and votes for the president and executive officials from among its members.
In practice, the chamber typically endorses initiatives and the leadership favored by the Communist Party, which is the only political party allowed on the island nation and is enshrined in the constitution as the leader of society.
Half of the delegates come from municipal assemblies voted in during November elections, in which voters chose councilors from 26,746 candidates to fill 12,427 seats around the country. The other half are made of well-known personalities proposed by workers’ unions and social organizations such as the Women’s Federation, University Youth Federation and National Association of Peasants.
Special candidacy commissions with ties to the Communist Party then whittle the candidates down to 470.
The new National Assembly is expected to convene April 19, when it will vote on the executive leadership, with current President Miguel Díaz-Canel expected to be re-elected.
Who are the Candidates?
Candidates include major Cuban leaders such as Díaz-Canel, the semi-retired former Communist Party leader Raúl Castro, Economy Minister Alejandro Gil, and Premier Manuel Marrero.
They also include musician Eduardo Sosa, LGBT community representative Mariela Castro and scientist Eduardo Martínez. Also a candidate is Elián González, who as a child in 2000 famously became the center of a diplomatic custody battle between Cuba and the United States.
Carlos Miguel Perez, a 36-year-old computer engineer who owns a medium-sized business, is a candidate in the capital’s Playa municipality. He told The Associated Press that he accepted the nomination of a telecom union after learning that the current assembly approved a 2023 budget that limits tax breaks to small and medium-sized businesses like his.
"It is necessary that there also be a representation of this private sector in the Cuban parliament," said Perez, who is not a member of the Communist Party. "In Cuba, the election process, as I see it, is very popular, very popular with the people."
There is no salary for being a National Assembly member.
CALIFORNIA SENATE CANDIDATE BARBARA LEE ONCE PRAISED FIDEL CASTRO AS 'A SMART MAN'
How Many People Vote?
Participation in elections in Cuba is high, but has been on the decline for a decade.
The National Electoral Commission said that for last November’s municipal elections about 31% of eligible voters abstained from voting, That translates to 69% participation, which is still high by international standards, but a substantial decline for Cuba where voting is not compulsory but traditionally was considered a national duty.
The rate of abstention for national elections was 14% in 2018 , and only 6% in 2013.
Many observers see the trend as a sign of declining enthusiasm for Cuba’s government as it fails to turn around deteriorating economic conditions.
Manuel Cuesta Morua is a dissident and the leader of Council for a Democratic Transition in Cuba, which is calling for people to stay away. "People will abstain because they are tired and fed up with a system that does not represent the plurality of the society," Morua said. "There is no possibility for citizens to choose between different faces, different alternatives, different visions."
Julio Antonio Martínez Estrada, a lawyer, professor and a fellow at Harvard University, said he believes participation will continue to decline, in part due to the economy. "It is a response to the political and socio-economic problems of recent years," Estrada said, adding that it reflects "distrust and an enormous hopelessness" among Cubans.
cuban_election
Man drives at pedestrians inside German airport garage, 3 injured
A motorist drove at pedestrians and rammed parked cars on Friday in a parking garage at Cologne-Bonn Airport in western Germany, injuring three people slightly, police said.
Two police officers also were slightly hurt as they pinned down the 57-year-old man, who appeared to have mental health issues, according to a police statement.
Most people apparently were able to get out of the way of the vehicle, though one of the injured was squeezed between cars.
GERMANY URGES NORTH MACEDONIA TO AMEND CONSTITUTION FOR EU BID
The driver was detained and taken to the hospital. He was uninjured.
Police said that, before the incident, security officers had twice thrown the man out of the airport "because of his behavior." They didn't elaborate.
He then apparently climbed into a rental company's minibus that had been parked in the garage for cleaning and drove across the parking garage — shifting gears, going forward and backward over and over again until police stopped him.
Man threatens passengers on German train, injures teenager
A man threatened passengers Friday on a train in eastern Germany and injured a teenager with an ax-like implement, police said.
The incident took place on a local train traveling from Cottbus to Frankfurt an der Oder, on the Polish border, German news agency dpa reported. The suspect, whom police identified as a 37-year-old Polish citizen, was arrested.
Witnesses said the man boarded the train in the town of Guben, started threatening passengers and damaged the train's interior fittings with the ax-like implement, apparently destroying monitors, police said. He also hit a 17-year-old girl with the implement, and she sustained an injury to the head.
GERMAN POLICE OFFICER SHOT WHILE CARRYING OUT RAIDS AGAINST EXTREMISTS
The teenager was taken to a hospital and authorities said her life was not believed to be in danger.
There was no information on the cause of the man's behavior. The suspect wasn't believed to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and police said there was no immediate indication of a religious or political motive.
Russia - Ukraine War: Military Summary And Analysis For 3.24.2023 (Video)
WNU Editor: A lot of updates on the Russia - Ukraine war from the Military Summary channel (see above). Alexander Mercouris gives his updates on the war below.
1
Posts
