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US reaches agreement on bases to finish arc around china

by
US
  • The US has gained access to four more military installations in the Philippines.
  • Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin made the announcement.
  • The new additions and expanded access will allow more rapid support.

Washington: The US has gained access to four more military installations in the Philippines, a strategic location that would give it a good vantage point for watching Chinese activity in the South China Sea and near Taiwan.

Washington has filled the gap in the US alliance arc that stretches from South Korea and Japan in the north to Australia in the south with this agreement.

The Philippines, which borders Taiwan and the South China Sea, or the West Philippine Sea as Manila insists on calling it, are the missing piece since they are two of the most significant potential flashpoints.

According to a statement from Washington, the new additions and expanded access will “allow more rapid support for humanitarian and climate-related disasters in the Philippines, and respond to other shared challenges,” probably a subliminal reference to countering China in the region. The US already had restricted access to five sites under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA).

The declaration was made following a Thursday meeting between Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin in Manila.

Under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA), the US already had restricted access to five sites. According to a statement from Washington, the new additions and expanded access will “allow more rapid support for humanitarian and climate-related disasters in the Philippines, and respond to other shared challenges,” probably a covert allusion to countering China in the region.

After meeting Philippine President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in Manila on Thursday, Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin made the announcement.

The US has not disclosed the locations of the four facilities, but three of them may be on Luzon, an island off the northern tip of the Philippines, and if you exclude China, the only significant piece of territory close to Taiwan.

The agreement is a significant one since it partially undoes the US’s decision to leave their former colony more than 30 years ago.

“There is no contingency in the South China Sea that does not require access to the Philippines,” says Gregory B Poling, director of the Southeast Asia program at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

“The US is not looking for permanent bases. It’s about places, not bases.”

That is, it is seeking access to places where “light and flexible” operations involving supplies and surveillance can be run as and when needed, rather than bases where large numbers of troops will be stationed.

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US Fed unveils smaller rate hike but signals inflation fight not over

by
US
  • The US central bank raised the benchmark lending rate by a quarter point.
  • The target range will be of 4.50–4.75%
  • The Fed has increased interest rates eight times.

WASHINGTON: The Federal Reserve of the US dialed back the rate of interest rate increases on Wednesday, easing an aggressive drive to contain costs as inflation slows, but signaling that the fight is far from done.

At the conclusion of its two-day policy meeting, the US central bank raised the benchmark lending rate by a quarter point, bringing it to a target range of 4.50–4.75%.

The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), which determines the Fed’s policy, declared in a statement that inflation “has moderated somewhat but remains elevated.”

While recent developments are positive, authorities will need “much more data,” according to Fed Chair Jerome Powell, in order to be certain that inflation is on a persistent downward path.

The FOMC statement claims that in order to get inflation back to where policymakers want it to be, 2%, “the committee anticipates that continuing increases in the target range will be prudent.”

Since March 2022, the Fed has increased interest rates eight times, four times in a row by 0.75 percentage points, in an effort to reduce demand.

The goal is to slow down inflation, which peaked last year but has already started to decline at its quickest rate in decades.

As economic activity slows, the Fed noted on Wednesday that recent data “point to modest growth in expenditure and production.”

The 0.25 percentage point increase is a decrease from the half-point increase in December and the string of higher increases last year.

However, the FOMC’s statement implies that rate increases will go on.

Powell stated on Wednesday that a few more rate increases will be necessary to reach an “appropriately restrictive” level of policy while inflation is high.

And under current expectations, it “will not be appropriate to cut rates this year,” he said.

Pushing back

“The Fed is pushing back against market expectations that rate cuts are coming,” said Ryan Sweet, chief US economist at Oxford Economics.

“The central bank is clearly signaling that it will err on the side of doing too much than too little to tame inflation,” Sweet said.

In the second quarter of this year, he anticipates the onset of a policy-induced recession.

There is a significant probability of positive growth in 2023 because of the robust labor market, declining inflation, and upcoming public and private spending to stimulate economic activity, according to Powell.

A gauge of pay and benefits increased less than anticipated in the fourth quarter of last year, according to statistics that were revealed on Tuesday.

Private hiring slowed more than expected in January, according to data released on Wednesday by payroll company ADP, adding to indications that the economy is slowing.

End in sight

Pantheon Macroeconomics chief economist, An Shepherdson, thinks rate increases are about to come to a halt.

If the Fed raises rates once more in March, he anticipates that it “won’t be going again in May.”

He expressed worry, though, that policymakers would be “so committed to the idea of hiking rates again that they will require disproportionately strong evidence to persuade them to halt.”

Officials have made it clear that they intend to stick with their plan.

Markets initially welcomed the Fed’s change in tone as it highlighted the reduction in costs, according to Shepherdson.

Wall Street stocks ended higher, as Powell struck a less confrontational tone than what analysts expected after the rate hike.

Looking ahead, “services inflation, primarily a function of wage growth, will dictate the path of inflation in 2023,” said Moody’s Analytics economist Matt Colyar.

“While wage growth showed signs of moderation in the final three months of 2022… it would be premature for the Fed to declare victory,” he said

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Ukraine is offered modern drones by a US company for $1

by
Ukraine
  • The US government allowed the sale of two drones to Ukraine for just $1.
  • Ukraine has received a number of tiny attack and surveillance drones from the US military.
  • The business has volunteered to educate Ukrainian operators.

WASHINGTON: Leading US manufacturer of cutting-edge military surveillance drones made an announcement and urged the US government to allow the sale of two drones to Ukraine for just $1.

The powerful Grey Eagle and Reaper drones, which US forces have used to great effect in surveillance and targeted attacks over Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, and other conflict zones, are being withheld from Ukraine, according to General Atomic Aeronautical Systems, which claims it has been pleading with Washington to give them to Ukraine for months.

It claimed that one of the most glaringly evident, force-improving technology Ukraine needs in its conflict with Russian forces is the drone, which can go great distances at medium heights.

Ukraine has received a number of tiny attack and surveillance drones from the US military, but none with the sophisticated engineering and long-range capabilities of General Atomic’s unmanned aircraft.

General Atomics CEO Linden Blue said in a statement that “from the outset of the Russian invasion, we began exploring for possibilities to react to the needs of Ukrainian forces with our equipment, including the MQ-9 Reaper and MQ-1C Gray Eagle.”

Educate Ukrainian operators without charging

According to him, the business has volunteered to educate Ukrainian operators without charging the US or Ukrainian governments anything.

And for a symbolic $1, the corporation was prepared to donate two of its own training planes as well as a ground control center and other equipment.

According to him, the cost of preparing and transporting the aircraft as well as setting up the operation to launch them over the battlefield would be borne by Ukraine or another party.

“The offer is a remarkable deal with no strings attached,” Blue said.

“All that is required is approval from the US government.”

“From our perspective, it is long past time to enable Ukrainian forces with the information dominance required to win this war,” he said

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Myanmar’s streets are deserted in protest on coup’s anniversary

by
Myanmar's
  • It’s the second anniversary of the coup.
  • Western powers initiated a new round of sanctions against the generals.
  • A resident of Mandalay’s second city told that it was similarly calm.

Streets emptied and shops closed in protest across Myanmar‘s street on Wednesday, the second anniversary of the coup that toppled Aung San Suu Kyi’s government, with the junta hinting it may extend a state of emergency and delay new elections.

Myanmar has been in chaos since the military’s takeover of power and a deadly crackdown on dissent, which ignited warfare across large swaths of the country and destroyed the economy.

On the anniversary, Western powers initiated a new round of sanctions against the generals, although prior rounds showed little promise of destabilizing the junta.

According to correspondents of sources, streets in commercial hub Yangon were almost empty by late morning as activists urged people across the country to halt businesses and stay indoors from 10 a.m. (0330 GMT) to 4 p.m.

Most buses on city roadways were empty, and there was a considerable security presence.

A resident of Mandalay’s second city told that it was similarly calm.

“There are a few people walking here and there in neighborhoods but almost no activity on the main roads,” the resident said, requesting anonymity.

Images in local media revealed deserted streets in Mawlamyine, Myanmar’s easternmost city.

Later Wednesday, a pro-military group of “patriots, military fans, monks, and the people” planned to march through downtown Yangon.

The US embassy in the capital has issued a warning about “increased anti-regime action and violence” in the days leading up to the anniversary.

Around 300 protestors gathered outside Myanmar’s embassy in Bangkok, some yelling anti-military slogans and holding photos of Aung San Suu Kyi.

Unrest and violence

The military justified their power grab on February 1, 2020, with unproven charges of extensive fraud in the elections won by Suu Kyi’s party by a landslide.

The junta-imposed state of emergency was slated to expire at the end of January, after which the constitution requires officials to begin planning for new elections.

But on Tuesday, the junta-stacked National Defence and Security Council gathered to examine the state of the nation and found it “had not returned to normalcy yet”.

Junta opponents, including the anti-coup “People’s Defence Forces” (PDFs) and a shadow government dominated by lawmakers from Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) had tried to seize “state power by means of unrest and violence”, the council said.

The “necessary announcement will be released” on Wednesday, it added, without giving details.

We lost everything

The United States, Canada, and Britain announced a new round of sanctions on the anniversary, targeting members of the junta and junta-backed entities.

Myanmar’s former colonial ruler Britain targeted, among others, companies supplying aviation fuel to the military and enabling its “barbaric air raiding campaign in an attempt to maintain power”.

Australia also announced its first sanctions, aimed at 16 members of the junta “responsible for egregious human rights abuses” and two sprawling, military-controlled conglomerates.

US sanctions also targeted the junta-approved election commission, which last week gave political parties two months to re-register, in a sign the military appeared to be going for fresh polls.

But with armed resistance raging across swathes of the country, analysts say people in many areas are unlikely to vote — and run the risk of reprisals if they do.

A United Nations special envoy said Tuesday that military-run elections would “fuel greater violence, prolong the conflict and make the return to democracy and stability more difficult”.

More than 2,900 people have been killed in the military’s crackdown on dissent since it seized power and more than 18,000 have been arrested, according to a local monitoring group.

The junta recently completed a series of closed-court proceedings against Suu Kyi, imprisoning its long-time foe for a total of 33 years in a process that rights advocates have called a fraud.

“Our biggest goal for 2023 is freedom and the right to return home,” said Thet Naung, an activist in the northern Sagaing district, where the military and anti-coup militants have frequently clashed.

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US prepares $2 billion-plus Ukraine aid package with longer-range

by
US
  • The US is preparing more than $2 billion in military aid for Ukraine.
  • It is anticipated to be disclosed this week.
  • The component of the package is estimated to be $1.725 billion.

According to two US sources briefed on the topic, the US is preparing more than $2 billion in military aid for Ukraine, which will include longer-range rockets for the first time, as well as other munitions and weapons.

The help is anticipated to be disclosed this week, according to officials. It is also likely to include Patriot air defense system support equipment, precision-guided bombs, and Javelin anti-tank weapons.

One of the insiders stated that a component of the package, estimated to be $1.725 billion, will come through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), which permits President Joe Biden’s administration to obtain weaponry from industry rather than from US arms stocks.

The White House did not respond. The contents and quantity of aid packages can change until the president signs them.

Since the Russia-Ukraine conflict began in February 2022, the United States has contributed around $27.2 billion in security assistance to Ukraine.

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US says Russia not complying with last remaining nuclear treaty

by
Russia
  • The State Department chastised Russia for suspending inspections and canceling discussions.
  • Russia is not complying with its obligation under the New START.
  • Diplomacy between the two nations has dwindled in the last year.

WASHINGTON – As tensions rise over the Ukraine conflict, the US stated on Tuesday that Russia was not complying with the New Strategic Weapons Reduction Deal (START), the world’s only remaining arms control treaty between the world’s two major nuclear powers.

In response to a congressional request, the State Department chastised Russia for suspending inspections and canceling discussions. However, it did not accuse its Cold War opponent of exceeding agreed-upon limitations on nuclear warheads.

“Russia is not complying with its obligation under the New START to facilitate inspection activities on its territory,” a State Department spokesperson said, charging that Moscow’s refusal “threatens the viability of US-Russian nuclear arms control.”

“Russia has a clear path for returning to full compliance. All Russia needs to do is allow inspection activities on its territory, just as it did for years under the New START Treaty, and meet in a session of the Bilateral Consultative Commission,” he said, referring to the formal talks set up under the treaty.

“There is nothing preventing Russian inspectors from traveling to the United States and conducting inspections.”

In early August, Moscow stated that it would suspend US inspections of its military sites under New START. It claimed to be in response to American obstruction of reviews by Russia, which Washington denies.

Diplomacy between the two nations has dwindled in the last year as the US has led an effort to punish Russia economically and supply Ukraine with billions of dollars in weapons as it fights back against a Moscow invasion.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed thinly disguised threats to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine, reigniting Cold War-era concerns of a nuclear war.

Russia indefinitely postponed talks under New START that had been due to start on November 29 in Cairo, accusing the United States of “toxicity and animosity.”

Make the world safer

President Joe Biden extended New START by five years, until 2026, to allow time for negotiations while protecting what the Democratic government sees as a crucial current deal.

The previous Trump administration blew up past arms control treaties and was unwilling to keep New START in its current form, claiming that any nuclear pact must include China, whose arsenal is quickly rising but still much less than that of Russia and the United States.

The Biden administration showed a desire to preserve New START, stating that the pact was intended to “make the world safer.”

“To fully deliver on the promise of the treaty by ensuring it remains an instrument of stability and predictability, Russia must fully implement and comply with its obligations,” the State Department spokesperson said.

Republican members, who won control of the House in January, had urged Secretary of State Antony Blinken to report on whether Russia was in violation of New START by Tuesday.

The Republican chairs of the foreign affairs, armed services, and intelligence committees wrote last week that Russia’s actions and words “at a minimum create substantial compliance issues.”

The new START treaty, signed by then-President Barack Obama in 2010 during a period of improved ties, limited Russia and the United States to a total of 1,550 deployed strategic nuclear warheads apiece, a reduction of over 30% from the previous limit set in 2002.

It also restricts the number of launchers and heavy bombers to 800, which is still sufficient to destroy Earth.

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Tyre Nichols’ lawyer urges lawmakers to pass urgent police reforms

by
Tyre Nichols
  • Five police officers fatally beat Mr. Nichols.
  • Attorney has urged the US Congress to swiftly approve police reform legislation.
  • The bill would impose a federal ban on police use of chokeholds.

US: In the wake of Tyre Nichols‘ passing, the family’s attorney has urged the US Congress to swiftly approve police reform legislation.

Five police officers fatally beat Mr. Nichols, 29, in January.

Ben Crump encouraged President Joe Biden in a statement to the United States media to exploit Mr. Nichols’s passing to endorse the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.

And he claimed that Mrs. Nichols was dealing with her son’s death by thinking that it would bring about change.

The bill would impose a federal ban on police use of chokeholds and make it easier to punish violating officers.

George Floyd Justice in Policing Act

The law was passed by the House of Representatives, which was then controlled by the Democratic Party, in March 2021, but it was later stalled in the Senate due to resistance.

If we don’t utilize his terrible passing to ultimately enact the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, Mr. Crump told, “shame on us.” According to the attorney, fatalities at the hands of police would continue if the legislation did not alter.

Derrick Johnson, the head of the NAACP civil rights organization, also urged lawmakers to act.

In a statement, Mr. Johnson added, “By neglecting to create a piece of law, you’re writing another obituary.” “We can list every victim of police abuse, but we can’t list a single law you’ve passed to deal with it,” they said.

Jim Jordan, the Republican who chairs the House Judiciary Committee, cautioned lawmakers against rushing through legislation.

“These five individuals did not have any respect for life… I don’t know if there’s anything you can do to stop the kind of evil we saw in that video,” he told NBC’s Meet the Press program.

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Death toll in Afghanistan cold snap rises to 166

by
Afghanistan
  • Afghanistan is in its second winter since US-backed forces retreated.
  • Afghanistan has been frozen by temperatures as low as -33 degrees Celsius.
  • The death toll had grown by 88 in the previous week to 166.

KABUL: At least 166 people have died in a wave of severely cold weather sweeping Afghanistan, an official said Saturday, as the impoverished country was wracked by natural disasters.

Since January 10, Afghanistan has been frozen by temperatures as low as -33 degrees Celsius (-27 degrees Fahrenheit), mixed with heavy snowfall, ice gales, and frequent power outages.

Before the cold snap, aid agencies warned that more than half of Afghanistan’s 38 million people were starving, and nearly four million children were malnourished.

The crisis management ministry reported on Saturday that the death toll had grown by 88 in the previous week to 166, based on statistics from 24 of the country’s 34 provinces.

Natural Disasters

The deaths were caused by floods, fires, and gas heater leaks used by Afghan families to heat their houses, according to ministry official Abdul Rahman Zahid in a video statement.

Over 100 homes were demolished or damaged, and nearly 80,000 animals died in the cold, a critical commodity for Afghanistan’s poor.

The World Health Organization (WHO) announced this week that 17 people had died in a single village in northeastern Badakhshan province as a result of an “acute respiratory infection” outbreak.

“Harsh weather prevents aid from reaching the area,” according to the WHO.

Afghanistan is in its second winter since US-backed forces retreated and the Islamist Taliban reclaimed power in Kabul.

Foreign help has plummeted since then, and the US has confiscated critical central bank assets, exacerbating what is often regarded as the world’s greatest humanitarian disaster.

Last month, the Taliban leadership prohibited Afghan women from working with humanitarian organizations, forcing many to halt activities.

Women NGO workers in the health field were then granted exemptions, and some organizations were able to resume their programs.

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Saudi student killed in US; suspected woman arrested

by
Saudi
  • The student was nearing the end of his scholarship program.
  • The culprit snatched the student’s phone and other belongings.
  • The deceased’s neighbor called the police.

A Saudi scholarship student, 25, was killed in the United States after being stabbed to death by a lady inside his apartment complex.

On January 23, about 11:50 a.m., the crime occurred inside a residence on the 300 block of Hansberry Street in Germantown, Philadelphia. Officers discovered Al Walid Al Gharibi in the third-floor bathroom with a stab wound to the neck, according to police. At the scene, the person was pronounced dead.

Police in Philadelphia offered a $20,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of fugitive suspect Nicole Marie Rodgers, 19, of Columbus, Georgia. The woman was charged with murder, robbery, burglary, and theft.

However, shortly after the prize was announced, Philadelphia police arrested the lady in connection with the fatal stabbing. Nicole Marie Rodgers, 19, of Columbus, Georgia, was taken into custody earlier today, according to a police statement. She has been charged with murder, robbery, burglary, and other crimes. It is unknown what prompted the stabbing or whether the suspect knew the victim.

The student was nearing the end of his scholarship program, with only two months till graduation and the return to his native country. The culprit snatched the student’s phone and other belongings before fleeing the scene, and it was discovered.

The victim’s uncle revealed new information 

He told  that the suspect was the victim’s next-door neighbor, living in the apartment next to his. 
He further revealed that the student’s body was discovered in the suspect’s apartment’s bathroom.

Despite reports on several news websites, the suspect’s uncle denied that the victim’s offer to sell furniture was used as a pretext for the crime. He claimed that the suspect had been plotting the crime for some time and that the preliminary inquiry had revealed this. The suspect allegedly asked the deceased to assist her in moving some stuff and then assaulted him with a knife when he came.

The victim also had stab wounds to the neck, and despite his best efforts, he was unable to fend off the attack and died as a result of his injuries, according to the uncle. The suspect then locked the body in her apartment’s bathroom.

After hearing suspicious noises and noticing the suspect’s suspicious behavior, the deceased’s neighbor called the police. The suspect first claimed her dog was to blame for the disturbance. When the neighbor became suspicious and unlocked the bathroom door, he discovered him in a pool of blood and quickly dialed 911.

Only one subject remained for the student to finish before graduating with a degree in computer science and going home. His father was in Pennsylvania to help with the investigation and ensure that the offender was identified and prosecuted.

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Top U.S. Treasury official to warn UAE, Turkey over sanctions evasion

by
U.S.
  • Turkey’s refusal to approve Sweden’s and Finland’s NATO bids have irritated Washington.
  • Washington will continue to aggressively enforce its sanctions.
  • Nelson will discuss the Treasury’s efforts to crack down on Russian efforts to avoid sanctions and export controls.

The U.S. Treasury Department’s top sanctions official on a trip to Turkey and the Middle East next week will warn countries and businesses that they could lose U.S. market access if they do business with entities subject to U.S. curbs as Washington cracks down on Russian attempts to evade sanctions imposed over its war in Ukraine.

From January 29 to February 3, Brian Nelson, undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, will travel to Oman, the United Arab Emirates, and Turkey to meet with government officials, businesses, and financial institutions to reiterate that Washington will continue to aggressively enforce its sanctions.

“Individuals and institutions operating in permissive jurisdictions risk potentially losing access to U.S. markets on account of doing business with sanctioned entities or not conducting appropriate due diligence,” the spokesperson said.

Nelson will discuss the Treasury’s efforts to crack down on Russian efforts to avoid sanctions and export controls imposed as a result of its brutal war against Ukraine, Iran’s destabilizing activity in the region, the risks of illicit finance undermining economic growth, and foreign investment while in the region.

The visit is the latest by a senior Treasury official to Turkey to discuss sanctions, following a series of warnings from Treasury and Commerce Department officials last year as Washington increased pressure on Ankara to ensure the implementation of US sanctions against Russia.

STRAINED RELATIONS

Most recently, Turkey’s refusal to approve Sweden’s and Finland’s NATO bids have irritated Washington, while Ankara is dissatisfied that its request to buy F-16 fighter planes is becoming increasingly dependent on whether the two Nordic nations can join the alliance.

Nelson will travel to Ankara, Turkey’s capital, and Istanbul, the country’s financial center, on February 2-3. According to the spokeswoman, he would warn firms and banks to avoid transactions involving potential dual-use technology transfers that could be exploited by Russia’s military in the future.

Dual-purpose objects can serve both commercial and military purposes.

Since the invasion, which has killed and injured hundreds and destroyed Ukrainian cities, Washington and its allies have slapped three rounds of sanctions against Moscow.

Turkey has denounced Russia’s invasion and has dispatched armed drones to Ukraine. Simultaneously, it rejects Western sanctions on Russia and maintains tight ties with both Moscow and Kyiv, its Black Sea neighbors.

It’s also increased trade and tourism with Russia. Some Turkish corporations have purchased or attempted to purchase Russian assets from Western partners who are withdrawing owing to the sanctions, while others hold huge assets in the nation.

However, Ankara has stated that foreign sanctions will not be ignored in Turkey.

Washington is also concerned about Iranian sanctions evasion.

The US sanctioned famed Turkish businessman Sitki Ayan and his network of companies last month, accusing him of acting as a middleman for oil transactions and money laundering on behalf of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Nelson will observe the country’s “poor sanctions compliance” while in the UAE, according to the spokeswoman.

Washington has imposed a number of penalties on UAE-based corporations for evading Iran-related restrictions, and on Thursday designated a UAE-based aviation firm for its support of Russian mercenary group the Wagner Group, which is fighting in Ukraine.

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The US demonstrates its military might in Beijing’s backyard

by
US
  • The Nimitz is leading a carrier strike group that entered the South China Sea.
  • The South China Sea transports approximately $3.4 trillion in annual trade.
  • China claims historic jurisdiction over almost the entire South China Sea.

US: Hundreds of combat planes and helicopters roar on and off the flight deck of the aircraft carrier Nimitz over a few hours under grey skies, in a display of US military power in some of the world’s most hotly contested waters.

As they land in the drizzle on the Nimitz, MH-60 Seahawk helicopters and F/A-18 Hornet jets with pilot call letters like “Fozzie Bear,” “Pig Sweat,” and “Bongoo” emit deafening screams. The Nimitz is leading a carrier strike group that entered the South China Sea two weeks ago.

The tour, according to the group’s commander, Rear Admiral Christopher Sweeney, is part of the United States‘ commitment to maintaining freedom of passage in a region vital to global trade.

“We are going to sail, fly and operate wherever international norms and rules allow. We’re going to do that safely and we’re going to be resolute about that,” Sweeney told on Friday.

“It’s really just about sailing and operating obviously with our allies and partners in the area and assuring them of free and open commerce and trade in the Indo-Pacific.”

The US in the South China Sea

The presence of the United States in the South China Sea, which transports approximately $3.4 trillion in annual trade, has been welcomed by allies such as Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, and Australia, but it continues to irritate rival China, which sees the exercises as provocations in its backyard.

China claims historic jurisdiction over almost the entire South China Sea, including Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and the Philippines’ exclusive economic zones.

Beijing has also been conducting regular exercises and maintains a large presence of coast guard and fishing vessels far off its mainland, which has caused frequent tensions with its neighbors.

Bunker Hill and the guided-missile destroyers Decatur, Wayne E. Meyer, and Chung-Hoon are part of the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group 11. The Chung-Hoon sailed through the sensitive Taiwan Strait on January 5, irking China.

This comes just two weeks after a Chinese navy J-11 fighter jet came within 10 feet (3 meters) of a US Air Force plane over the South China Sea.

Sweeney stressed the importance of international rules and said the United States presence in the South China Sea demonstrated its commitment to its regional allies.

“We’ve operated in the same body of water as the Chinese, Singaporean, and Filipino navies since we arrived, and everything has been safe and professional,” he said.

“We’re not going anywhere; we’re going to sail, fly, and operate wherever international waters allow us to.”

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Meta to reinstate Trump’s account on its platforms

by
Meta
  • President Trump is one of the country’s leading political figures.
  • The ACLU has filed over 400 legal actions against Trump.
  • He was barred for two years  from using the platforms due to the 2021 US Capitol insurgency.

SAN FRANCISCO: Meta, the social networking giant, announced Tuesday that it would soon reinstate former President Donald Trump‘s accounts on Facebook and Instagram with “new guardrails,” two years after he was barred from using the platforms due to the 2021 US Capitol insurgency.

“We will be reinstating Mr. Trump’s Facebook and Instagram accounts in the coming weeks,” Nick Clegg, Meta’s president of global affairs, said in a statement, adding that the move would come with “new guardrails in place to deter repeat offenses.”

Clegg stated that the Republican leader, who has already declared himself a presidential candidate for 2024, could be suspended for up to two years for each violation of platform policies in the future.

It was unclear when or if Trump would return to the platforms, and his representatives did not respond to a request for comment immediately.

However, the 76-year-old tycoon responded in typically bullish fashion, claiming that Facebook had lost “billions of dollars in value” while he was gone.

“Such a thing should never happen again to a sitting President, or anyone else who is undeserving of retribution!” he declared on his Truth Social platform.

Facebook banned Trump a day after a mob of his supporters stormed the US Capitol in Washington on January 6, 2021, seeking to prevent the certification of his election defeat to Joe Biden.

The former reality television star had spent weeks falsely claiming that the presidential election had been stolen from him, and he was later impeached for inciting the riot.

Trump’s lawyer Scott Gast said last week in a letter asking for the ban to be lifted that Meta had “dramatically distorted and inhibited public discourse.”

He requested a meeting to discuss Trump’s “immediate reinstatement to the platform” of Facebook, where he had 34 million followers, arguing that his position as the Republican nominee in 2024 justified it.

Anthony Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union, said Meta was making “the right decision” by reintroducing Trump to the social network.

“Whether you like it or not, President Trump is one of the country’s leading political figures, and the public is eager to hear his speech,” Romero said in a statement.

“In fact, some of Trump’s most inflammatory social media posts were used as critical evidence in lawsuits filed against him and his administration.”

According to Romero, the ACLU has filed over 400 legal actions against Trump.

Extremism engine?

However, advocacy groups such as Media Matters for America are vehemently opposed to Trump using Facebook’s social networking reach.

“Make no mistake: by reintroducing Donald Trump to its platforms, Meta is refueling Trump’s misinformation and extremism engine,” Media Matters president Angelo Carusone said.

“Not only will this affect Instagram and Facebook users, but it also poses increased threats to civil society and an existential threat to US democracy as a whole.”

In December, a US congressional committee recommended that Trump be prosecuted for his role in the US Capitol attack.

After the riot, his Twitter account, which has 88 million followers, was also blocked, forcing him to communicate through Truth Social, which has fewer than five million followers.

Trump’s unexpected victory in 2016 was attributed in part to his use of social media and his vast digital reach.

According to Andrew Selepak, a social media professor at the University of Florida, Facebook does not want to go to war with Trump’s congressional supporters, who are likely to protest if he is barred from using the platform.

“Trump needs the platform for fundraising, and Facebook doesn’t want to testify in front of Congress,” Selepak wrote on Twitter.

Conservative republican leaders have raged against Trump being booted from Facebook, while a group of Democrats in Congress last month urged Meta to extend the ban to keep “dangerous and unfounded election denial content off its platform.”

New Twitter owner Elon Musk reinstated Trump’s account last November, days after Trump announced a fresh White House run. He has yet to post.

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Boeing faces a fraud charge after the 737 Max crashes

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Boeing
  • Boeing to answer a fraud charge stemming from two plane crashes.
  • Relatives of the deceased are attempting to reopen the settlement.
  • Both accidents were caused by flaws in the 737 Max aircraft.

Boeing will appear in court later to answer a fraud charge stemming from two plane crashes that killed 346 people.

Both accidents were caused by flaws in the 737 Max aircraft’s flight control systems, which caused nosedives.

Boeing was found to have failed to disclose system information but avoided a trial by agreeing to pay $2.5 billion (£1.8 billion) in fines and compensation.

Relatives of the deceased are attempting to reopen the settlement.

It means that the company will be charged in court for the first time in relation to the two crashes, and will have to enter a guilty or not guilty plea.

Boeing has previously stated that reopening the agreement with the US Department of Justice (DOJ) would be “unprecedented, unworkable, and unjust.” It refused to comment on the arrest.

Following the crashes in 2019, Boeing 737 Max aircraft were cleared to fly again in the United States in 2020, and in the United Kingdom and the European Union in 2021.

Ethiopian Airlines Flight ET302 crashed minutes after takeoff from Addis Ababa to Nairobi nearly four years ago. In March 2019, it crashed into farmland outside of Ethiopia’s capital, killing 157 people.

The 737 Max, a new aircraft design

An almost identical aircraft operated by the Indonesian carrier Lion Air had crashed into the Java Sea on what should have been a routine flight from Jakarta to Pangkal Pinang just months before.

189 passengers and crew members were killed.

It was later revealed that both accidents were caused by design flaws, specifically the use of MCAS flight control software.

The system was designed to assist pilots who were familiar with previous generations of the 737, preventing them from needing costly additional training to fly the new model.

However, sensor failures caused it to malfunction, and in both cases, it forced the aircraft into a fatal dive that the pilots were unable to avoid.

The US Department of Justice (DoJ) charged Boeing with fraud in January 2021. However, the company avoided going to trial by agreeing to pay $2.5 billion in fines and compensation and promising to tighten up its compliance procedures.

A number of relatives of those who died aboard ET302 were outraged by this settlement, known as a deferred prosecution agreement.

They claimed, and continue to claim, that the transaction was a “sweetheart agreement” that was reached without their knowledge, violated their rights, and allowed the company to avoid full accountability.

The Department of Justice defended its decision, claiming that the settlement was appropriate because it could not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Boeing’s alleged crimes were directly related to the two crashes.

Investigations in the United States revealed that Boeing had failed to include information about the MCAS system in pilot manuals or training guidance, and had purposefully sought to minimize the system’s impact in communications with the US regulator, the Federal Aviation Administration.

Major milestone

The hearing comes after more than a year of legal wrangling in a Texas court, where the families are trying to reopen the agreement.

Boeing has been directed to send an “appropriate person” to testify in its place. It is unclear who this individual will be.

Meanwhile, relatives of the victims will be allowed to read or have impact statements read to the court on their behalf.

There is no doubt that the arraignment hearing is a significant milestone for families, including those in the United Kingdom.

Zipporah Kuria’s father, Joseph Wathaika, was killed in the ET302 crash, and she has been a vocal advocate for Boeing’s accountability ever since.

She plans to attend the hearing in Texas and says her statement will be a tribute to an “incredible” man who changed many people’s lives.

“It feels like we’re finally being noticed,” she explained. “It feels like the deaths of our loved ones, of 346 people, have some relevance now.”

‘A cover-up is not justice’

Mark Pegram, whose son Sam died on the same plane while working for a refugee agency, has been unable to travel to Texas. He did, however, express his gratitude for the hearing.

“A fine and a cover-up is not justice to us,” he said.

“It is critical that a precedent is established to prevent similar loss of innocent lives in the future, and that Boeing understands the horrific impact their misconduct has had on so many families,” he added.

It is unclear whether the legal action will eventually result in the reopening of the deferred prosecution agreement between Boeing and the DOJ.

Such an action would be extremely unusual. However, it could have far-reaching consequences, according to Robert A Clifford, a Chicago lawyer representing the families in a separate civil action, including action against individuals.

“These families want the maximum penalty imposed on Boeing, and they want any immunity from prosecution that senior Boeing officials received lifted,” he said.

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China tells US to fix its own debt problems

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China
  • Chinese Embassy in Zambia asked the US to work on monetary policies.
  • Republicans in the House are threatening to refuse to vote on a new debt ceiling.
  • The national debt of the United States is approximately $31 trillion.

Washington: After U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen called China a “barrier” to debt reform in Africa this week, Chinese officials in Zambia had a pointed response – get your own house in order.

The Chinese Embassy in Zambia said on its website Tuesday “the biggest contribution that the United States can make to the debt issues outside the country is to act on responsible monetary policies, cope with its own debt problem, and stop sabotaging other sovereign countries’ active efforts to solve their debt issues.”

Republicans in the House are threatening to refuse to vote on a new debt ceiling, a figure that reflects money already spent and now owed by the government, in order to put pressure on the Biden administration and Democrats to cut spending programs. So far, the Biden administration has refused to negotiate, relying on hardline Republicans to back down in the face of pressure from businesses, investors, and moderates.

The national debt of the United States is approximately $31 trillion, up from $5.6 trillion in 2000, due in part to increased spending for an aging population, outlays for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, COVID-19 programs, and tax cuts that reduced revenues.

Yellen and IMF

Yellen and IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva arrived separately in Zambia on Sunday to emphasize the importance of debt reform in Africa.

Zambia defaulted on its debt in 2020 and has made little progress in restructuring it with Chinese and private creditors to date, contributing to citizens’ poverty.

According to the World Bank, the world’s poorest countries face $35 billion in debt-service payments to official and private-sector creditors in 2022, with China accounting for more than 40% of the total.

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Police: The Washington State murderer who killed three, shoots himself

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Police
  • The gunman called his mother before shooting himself dead.
  • Police received a 911 emergency call hours later from a woman.
  • Murdered made several incriminating statements.

LOS ANGELES — A gunman who killed three people in what US police described as a random attack called his mother before shooting himself dead in the state of Washington on Tuesday.

The upsetting incident came on the heels of two mass shootings in California that left 18 people dead, as the United States grapples with the horror of spiraling gun violence once more.

Yakima police say a man identified as 21-year-old Yakima resident Jarid Haddock shot people in and around a convenience store overnight before fleeing.

Officers conducted a massive manhunt throughout the 100,000-person city, which is located 100 miles (160 kilometers) southeast of Seattle, warning that the wanted man was armed and dangerous.

“It appears to be a random situation,” Yakima Police Chief Matthew Murray said.

“There was no apparent conflict between the parties. They just walked in and started shooting.”

Police received a 911 emergency call hours later from a woman who claimed the wanted man had borrowed her phone.

“He then called his mother and made several incriminating statements, including, ‘I killed those people,'” Murray said.

“He made several statements in front of her that he was going to commit suicide.”

First responders rushed to the scene near a supermarket, just in time to hear gunshots as he committed suicide.

“They provided medical care and attempted to save his life, but he was later pronounced dead.”

The shooting in Yakima was the latest spasm of gun violence to shake the United States.

On Monday, seven people died at two agricultural sites south of San Francisco when a Chinese-American farmworker is believed to have opened fire on his colleagues.

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Israeli minister visits UAE ahead of Netanyahu trip

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Israeli minister
  • Israeli minister made a secret trip to the United Arab Emirates.
  • First visit to the UAE by an Israeli minister.
  • Israel and the UAE normalized relations in 2020.

According to Israeli media, an Israeli minister made a secret trip to the United Arab Emirates ahead of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s possible visit to the Gulf state.

Ron Dermer, Israel’s strategic affairs minister, visited Abu Dhabi on Sunday and met with senior officials.

Tzachi Hanegbi, National Security Adviser, accompanied Dermer.

This would be the first visit to the UAE by an Israeli minister since the new Israeli government took office at the end of December.

Netanyahu had planned to visit the UAE soon after assuming the prime ministership, but the arrival of his provocative national security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, at the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in January forced the cancellation of the trip.

The UAE issued a public condemnation of Ben-Gvir’s actions at the time.

During his visit to the UAE, Dermer attempted to assuage some of the UAE government’s concerns about Ben-Gvir and other far-right members of the Israeli government.

Israel and the UAE normalized relations in 2020 under the Abraham Accords, which were brokered by the US, and have since strengthened their ties, including by signing a free trade agreement in May.

When the agreements were signed, Dermer was Israel’s ambassador to the United States.

Naftali Bennett, a right-wing politician who will succeed Netanyahu as Prime Minister in 2021, was the first Israeli leader to visit the UAE in December of the same year, before returning for talks in June of the following year.

Despite Israel’s continued occupation of Palestinian territory and near-daily raids in the occupied West Bank, which have already killed 17 Palestinians this month, the UAE is central to Israel’s strategy of normalizing relations with Arab governments.

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US relations with Pakistan, India “stand on their own”, State Dept

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India
  • Washington doesn’t see its ties with Pakistan and India as zero-sum.
  • The pace, scope, and character of any dialogue between India and Pakistan are up to them.
  • Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s offer to improve relations with New Delhi.

US State Department has said that Washington doesn’t see its ties with Pakistan and India as “zero-sum” despite the two countries being strategic rivals as well as key players in the regional politics in South Asia.

Even though the US wants regional stability, its relationships with Pakistan and India “stand on their own,” according to State Department Spokesperson Ned Price, during a press briefing on Monday in response to a question about Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s offer to improve relations with New Delhi.

On January 17, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif requested that his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, hold serious and sincere talks in order to resolve outstanding issues, including Kashmir.

“We’ve long called for regional stability in South Asia. That’s certainly what we want to see. We want to see it advanced. When it comes to our partnership – our partnerships with India and Pakistan, these are relationships that stand on their own. We do not see these relationships as zero-sum,” said Price.

Dialogue between India and Pakistan

The pace, scope, and character of any dialogue between India and Pakistan, according to the spokesperson, are up to those two countries.

When asked if Washington is sending someone to Pakistan for a long-term solution to the collapse of the power grids, Price said the US has “assisted Pakistani partners across any number of challenges and is prepared to do so in this case if there is something that we’re able to provide”.

However, he stated that he is unaware of any specific requests.

He was also asked if the US would open the door to talks with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan and his party if he is elected prime minister, given his stance that his ouster was the result of a “US conspiracy” last April.

In response, the spokesperson stated that Washington is open to working with any elected government in Pakistan.

“Pakistan is a partner of ours; we share a number of interests. We have demonstrated our desire to see constructive relations with Pakistan over the course of successive governments. As we have said in different contexts, we judge governments by the policies they pursue. It would ultimately be a question of the type of policy that any future government of Pakistan might pursue.”

Sustainable growth via IMF reforms

Meanwhile, according to The News, US Ambassador Donald Blome stated that Pakistan requires sustainable growth based on IMF reforms because the global lender operates within a strict policy framework.

He said this while speaking to members of the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), and added that the IMF and World Bank reforms will put Pakistan on a sustainable growth path.

Blome stated that the United States is looking for ways to relieve economic pressure on Pakistan. “In 2022, our bilateral trade reached $9.9 billion, with Pakistan exporting goods worth $6.8 billion.”

He stated that the US Commerce Department is looking for ways to assist Pakistan and that the country needs to transition away from imported fossil fuels and toward indigenous fuels.

“Pakistan has a lot of potential in this area. “The United States is assisting the country in realizing its potential through consultancy and investment,” he added.

Climate change, according to the US envoy, has had a negative impact on Pakistan, and a few weeks after the devastation caused by floods, numerous US officials visited the country’s affected areas.

“The US since then has committed $200 million for relief efforts and is trying to assist Pakistan in overcoming the climate impact through a planning mechanism to respond to floods. This includes putting together a resilient infrastructure,” he said.

Blome stated that the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Pakistan is a lengthy process that will take time, and that there is a backlog after the COVID-19 that is being cleared, and that things will return to normal in a few months.

He stated that Pakistan has a huge untapped tourism potential and that the US is assisting the country in preserving its cultural heritage, which attracts tourists.

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US files: Investigators seized six more classified documents at Joe Biden’s house

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Documents
  • Department of Justice discovered six more classified documents during a 13-hour search.
  • The president granted access “to his home to allow DoJ to conduct a search.
  • Mr. Biden and his wife were not present.

The US Department of Justice (DoJ) discovered six more classified documents during a 13-hour search of President Joe Biden’s home in Delaware, according to Mr. Biden‘s lawyer.

Some of the documents seized on Friday at his Wilmington home were from his time as a senator, while others were from his time as Vice President under Barack Obama.

According to lawyer Bob Bauer, “personally handwritten notes” and “surrounding materials” were also taken.

Mr. Biden and his wife were not present.

The president granted access “to his home to allow DoJ to conduct a search of the entire premises for potential vice-presidential records and potential classified material,” Mr. Bauer said in a statement on Saturday.

Earlier this month, Mr. Biden’s lawyers announced that the first batch of classified documents had been discovered on November 2 at the Penn Biden Center, a think tank founded by the president in Washington, DC.

A second batch of records was discovered in his Wilmington home’s garage on December 20, while another document was discovered in a storage space on January 12, according to his lawyers.

‘It’s unclear why Mr. Biden kept them’

The president stated that after discovering the documents, his team immediately turned them over to the National Archives and the Justice Department. It’s unclear why Mr. Biden kept them.

The Presidential Records Act requires that White House records be transferred to the National Archives after an administration ends, where they can be securely stored.

Robert Hur, a special counsel, has been appointed to oversee the investigation into how the sensitive documents were handled.

The lengthy search and subsequent discovery of more documents are causing the president political headaches as he prepares to declare whether he will run for re-election in 2024.

The two-month gap between the first discovery of Biden – days before the midterm elections – and the news being made public in January raises awkward questions about transparency for the president.

Mr. Biden’s team maintains that the president has fully cooperated with the DoJ investigation. Mr. Biden has dismissed the affair as an oversight, saying he has “no regrets” about failing to publicly disclose the discovery of some classified files before the November midterm elections.

The discovery comes as former US President Donald Trump is being investigated for allegedly mishandling hundreds of classified documents at his Florida Mar-a-Lago estate and failing to comply with a subpoena.

Mr. Trump and his attorneys refused to turn over the documents until the FBI raided his Florida vacation home last August. He claims that the FBI is treating President Biden more favorably.

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Drone strikes a US-led coalition base in southern Syria

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US-led
  • A drone attack hit a US-led coalition base in southern Syria.
  • The coalition shot down two of the drones.
  • The attackers made no immediate claim of responsibility.

According to the US military’s Central Command, a drone attack hit a US-led coalition base in southern Syria.

“Three one-way attack drones attacked Syria’s al-Tanf Garrison,” CENTCOM said in a statement on Friday.

The coalition shot down two of the drones, but the third struck the compound, injuring two allied Syrian opposition fighters who were treated, according to the statement.

“Attacks of this kind are unacceptable,” CENTCOM spokesperson Joe Buccino said, without naming the perpetrators.

“They place our troops and our partners at risk and jeopardize the fight against ISIL.”

The attackers made no immediate claim of responsibility.

Iran-backed forces are stationed near al-Tanf, a desert garrison on the strategically important Baghdad-Damascus highway, near the Iraqi and Jordanian borders.

Iran is a key ally of the Syrian government, and the coalition has previously disrupted similar attacks on al-Tanf.

In the area, there are also sleeper cells of the armed ISIL (ISIS) group.

In 2016, the coalition established the base to train Syrian fighters for the fight against ISIL.

Even after the fighters’ last Syrian outpost was overrun by Kurdish-led forces in March 2019, it kept the facility.

As part of the coalition’s ongoing campaign against ISIL remnants, approximately 900 US troops remain at al-Tanf and other bases in the Kurdish-controlled northeast.

The US has previously carried out attacks on infrastructure facilities allegedly used by groups affiliated with Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

The raids, it said, were in response to alleged attacks on al-Tanf by Iranian-backed fighters.

The Syrian government has consistently expressed its opposition to the US role in Syria and has demanded that US forces leave the country.

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Idaho Murder Suspect’s Apartment: Police Discovery

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Idaho

A preliminary hearing for Kohberger is anticipated to take place in June. A single-use glove was also found and taken as evidence. Several dozen hairs were also collected as evidence from the apartment. Items taken from Bryan Kohberger’s apartment include a stained pillow, a disposable glove and receipts. “A reddish/brown stain on a pillow.” a … Read more

Body of Missing Pennsylvania Mother Found Buried

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crime scene

Uncertainty surrounds both her death’s cause and method. The body of a Pennsylvania woman was discovered partially buried. Authorities seemed to be looking through potential evidence behind a warehouse. After what authorities characterised as an extensive search on Wednesday, the body of a Pennsylvania woman who vanished this month was discovered partially buried. According to … Read more

Flo Rida Wins $82 Million Against Celsius

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Flo Rida

Flo Rida wins $82.6M in lawsuit against Celsius. Celsius found guilty of violating agreement and withholding info. Flo Rida expresses gratitude and newfound respect for legal system. Rapper Flo Rida sued Celsius energy drinks in Florida, and a jury there found in his favour, awarding him $82.6 million in damages. A jury convicted Celsius guilty … Read more

Pennsylvania Couple Found Dead and Dismembered with Chain Saw

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Pennsylvania Couple

lady in Pennsylvania was charged with killing her parents. Steele reported that a relative had last spoken to them on January 7. Beck was ordered held without bond. Authorities said Wednesday that a lady in Pennsylvania was charged with killing her parents by shooting them in the head and chopping up their bodies with a … Read more

US-Turkey Diplomatic Meeting: F-16, Syria, NATO on Agenda

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NATO

Turkish FM in US for talks on F-16, NATO with US Secretary of State. First official visit of Turkish diplomat since Biden’s inauguration. Complex nature of US-Turkey relations to be discussed. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu is being hosted by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington, DC for a meeting that is anticipated … Read more

SpaceX launches a GPS satellite of the next generation

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SpaceX
  • GPS satellite lifted off from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
  • SpaceX launched a new GPS satellite for the US military.
  • The mission delivered the sixth spacecraft in a new generation of GPS satellites.

On Wednesday, SpaceX launched a new GPS satellite for the US military, bolstering the constellation of global positioning and navigation satellites that power smartphone apps, wartime operations, and more.

The GPS satellite lifted off from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at 7:24 a.m. ET.

SpaceX confirmed the satellite’s deployment in a subsequent tweet that included a video of the moment.

Lockheed Martin’s next-generation GPS III satellites will modernize the system, with plans to build up to 32 satellites, including the six that have launched since 2019.

Despite the fact that GPS services are commonly used by smartphones, Lockheed Martin notes on its website that it also serves military purposes.

“Space has become a more contested environment — with more-competitive adversaries,” the company’s website reads. “Our warfighters need enhanced capabilities to take on evolving threats. The need to return the focus on GPS as a ‘warfighting system’ has never been clearer.”

The previous generation of GPS satellites began entering service in the late 1990s.

After the launch

After the Falcon 9 rocket launched from Cape Canaveral and burned through most of its fuel, the first stage — the large bottommost portion that provides the initial thrust at liftoff — separated from the rocket’s second stage and the satellite and returned to a precise landing on a platform at sea. It’s a routine maneuver for SpaceX, which recovers and reuses rockets on a regular basis to cut costs.

The first-stage rocket booster used on Wednesday was previously used to launch SpaceX’s Crew-5 mission, which carried four astronauts to the International Space Station in October 2022.

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Actor Julian Sands Missing in California Hike

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Julian Sands

British actor Julian Sands, 65, missing in California due to bad weather. Rescue crews halted but drone and helicopter searches continue. Sands known for roles in “A Room with a View” and TV shows “24” and “Smallville.” The hiker who vanished last week in the San Gabriel mountains has been identified as British actor Julian … Read more

 Top US, Ukraine military leaders meet over ‘pressing needs’

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Ukraine
  • US military official met face-to-face with his Ukrainian counterpart.
  • Soldiers’ immediate needs were discussed.
  • The conference comes as the international community increases military aid to Ukraine.

The two will meet for the first time in person as the international community increases military aid to Ukraine, including tanks and air defence systems.

As Russia’s war on Ukraine approaches the one-year mark, the senior US military official traveled to Poland and met face-to-face with his Ukrainian counterpart for the first time.

General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, met with Ukraine’s top military leader, General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, at an undisclosed location in southeastern Poland near the Ukrainian border.

Zaluzhnyi stated that he discussed his soldiers’ “immediate needs” with Milley on Tuesday.

Over the past year, the two leaders have spoken regularly about Ukraine’s military needs and the situation of the war, but they have never met.

The conference comes as the international community increases military aid to Ukraine, including the provision of a Patriot missile battery, tanks, and strengthened air defence and other weapons systems by the US and a coalition of European and other nations.

It also marked a significant milestone in the battle. Ukraine’s army is engaged in severe warfare in the eastern Donetsk province, where Russian forces backed up by thousands of private Wagner Group contractors are attempting to turn the tide following a string of battlefield setbacks in recent months.

Looking each other in the eyes

Milley’s spokesperson, Army Colonel Dave Butler, said the two generals felt it was vital to meet in person.

“These men have been chatting on a regular basis for over a year now, and they’ve gotten to know each other,” Butler explained.

“They’ve talked in length about the defense that Ukraine is trying to conduct against Russia’s assault. And it’s significant – there is a difference when two military personnel look each other in the eyes and discuss very, very important subjects.”

Butler stated that there was some hope that Zaluzhnyi would fly to Brussels this week for a meeting of NATO and other defense chiefs. When it became evident on Monday that it would not happen, Milley and Zaluzhnyi decided to meet along the border in Poland.

While various US civilian leaders have visited Ukraine, US President Joe Biden’s administration has made it plain that no uniformed military servicemen would enter Ukraine other than those associated with the embassy in Kyiv. Butler stated that only Milley and six of his top staff members drove to the meeting.

He stated that the meeting will allow Milley to transmit Zaluzhnyi’s concerns and information to the other NATO military leaders during the NATO summit.

Milley will be able to “explain the tactical and operational situations on the battlefield and what the military needs for that, and the way he does that is one by understanding it personally but also by talking to Zaluzhnyi on a regular basis,” he said.

Milley will also be able to detail the latest US training of the Ukrainian military at Grafenwoehr in Germany. Over 600 Ukrainian troops have started the enhanced training program.

Sending a message

This week’s meetings between Milley and Zaluzhnyi are the first in a series of high-level gatherings of military and defense leaders. Milley and the other defense chiefs will meet in Brussels on Wednesday and Thursday. The Ukraine Defense Contact Group will then meet on Thursday and Friday at Ramstein Air Base in Germany.

The sessions are anticipated to focus on Ukraine’s current and future military requirements, as the hard-packed terrain of the winter months gives way to muddy roads and fields in the spring.

Zaluzhnyi estimated that Ukraine would require 300 tanks, 600-700 infantry fighting vehicles, and 500 howitzers to repel the invasion.

Over the weekend, the United Kingdom broke the taboo on heavy tanks by pledging a squadron of Challengers. However, it is insufficient to establish the foundation of the Ukrainian military. The US Abrams tanks have turbine engines, which are thought to consume too much fuel for Ukraine to field in sufficient numbers.

That leaves the Leopards, which Germany produced in large numbers during the Cold War and are currently used by militaries all over Europe. Poland and Finland have already stated that they will provide Leopards if Berlin grants re-export permission.

“We hope a few partners, allies would supply tanks to Ukraine,” Polish President Andrzej Duda said at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Tuesday.

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Elon Musk trial: Prospective jurors name him as narcissistic, smart

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Elon
  • The case revolves around his 2018 tweet announcing his intention to take Tesla private.
  • Mr. Musk is being sued by Tesla shareholders.
  • Mr. Musk might be ordered to pay billions of dollars in damages.

Prospective jurors in a civil action against Elon Musk have voiced conflicting views of the Tesla leader, with some calling him smart and others suggesting he is “off his rocker”.

Mr. Musk is being sued by Tesla shareholders for allegedly manipulating the Tesla share price.

The case revolves around his 2018 tweet announcing his intention to take Tesla private.

Because of this position, US regulators ousted Mr. Musk as Tesla chairman.

On 7 August 2018, he tweeted that he had “funding secured” to take the carmaker private in what would be a $72bn (£58.7bn) buyout. No such deal went ahead.

Shareholders claim the tweet lost them billions of dollars after the stock price crashed.

The Tesla CEO, on the other hand, said that he thought he had secured finance from Saudi Arabia’s Investment Fund and thus did not commit securities fraud.

The case revolves around his 2018 tweet announcing his intention to take Tesla private.

Because of this position, US regulators ousted Mr. Musk as Tesla chairman.

“On a personal level, I think he’s a touch off his rocker,” one potential juror remarked on a form questioning if they could be impartial.

“I truly believe you can’t judge a person until you walk in their shoes,” said another possible juror, who added that Mr. Musk seemed “narcissistic”.

Another person said Mr. Musk had a “mercenary” demeanor since he’s “ready to take risks… that’s my view of him”.

Another termed him a “fast-rising business guy”, while yet another said he was a “clever, successful pioneer”.

Elon Musk trial

When the judge inquired if she would be biased against him, the woman replied, “A lot of individuals are not always likable people…. sometimes I don’t like my husband.”

A jury of nine members was eventually chosen, and opening arguments are scheduled to begin on Wednesday.

Mr. Musk had requested that the trial be transferred to Texas, claiming that a fair jury could not be found in San Francisco.

He said that major layoffs at Twitter, which he purchased last year, impacted many employees in the California city.

Mr. Musk’s lawyers contended that a significant majority of potential jurors had a negative opinion of the billionaire.

However, the judge said on Friday that the trial would take place in California.

If a jury in San Francisco judges in favor of the shareholders, Mr. Musk might be ordered to pay billions of dollars in damages.

He has already paid the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) $20 million for the tweet, and Tesla must pay a further $20 million.

His tweet has become famous in Silicon Valley, demonstrating the tremendous power of 140 characters on Twitter.

Legal experts believe Mr. Musk’s challenge will be tough to win, and that the punishment he paid to the SEC will be used against him in the case. Jury trials in cases of fraud, on the other hand, are notoriously difficult to predict.

Mr. Musk may be called to testify under oath in the case. Oracle CEO Larry Ellison and media magnate James Murdoch are among the witnesses.

It is projected to last approximately three weeks.

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