Category: World

Japanese troops will begin regular training in northern Australia in 2025. US rotational forces will join the exercises as part of a strategy to strengthen the security of the three countries.

Japanese troops will begin regular training in northern Australia as part of military cooperation with Australia and the United States, Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles said on Sunday. This was reported by Bloomberg, according to UNN.

On Sunday, November 17, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin met with Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani and Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles in Darwin, northern Australia.

Today, we are announcing that Japan's Rapid Reaction Airborne Brigades will be deployed to Australia on a regular basis,

– said Richard Marles.

Details

Starting in 2025, Japanese troops will be regularly deployed to conduct joint exercises with rotational US forces in northern Australia. This will be the latest step by the three countries to strengthen security ties in the face of growing strategic competition with China.

At the same time, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin expressed confidence that the United States will provide the opportunities provided for in the AUKUS agreement, under which Australia will purchase US nuclear submarines and develop a new class of nuclear submarines jointly with the United States and the United Kingdom.

The US Department of Defense is focused on a smooth and efficient transition to the new administration of President-elect Donald Trump,

– Lloyd added.

The training is expected to start next year, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corp.

About 2000 US Marines are already in Darwin, the capital of Australia's Northern Territory.

South Korea, the United States, and Japan conducted joint air exercises involving a B-1B bomberNov 4 2024, 12:46 AM • 23391 view

Russian attacks on Saturday resulted in civilians being injured in Zaporizhzhia, Dnipro and Kherson oblasts.

Source: Ivan Fedorov, Head of Zaporizhzhia Oblast Military Administration; Serhii Lysak, Head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration; Kherson Oblast Military Administration

Details: Fedorov reported that at around 17:00, the Russians struck a village in Vasylivka district in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

The blast wave and debris destroyed a car and injured a man.

Serhii Lysak reported that a woman of 75 was injured in a drone attack in Nikopol district. She received medical assistance.

Damage was caused to a transport company, a five-storey building, ten houses and ten outbuildings, three garages, some solar panels, a greenhouse, a power line and a gas pipeline.

Two residents of Komyshany were on a bus at the time of a Russian drone strike in Kherson Oblast at around 17:00. They suffered blast injuries and concussion. One, a 41-year-old man, also sustained shrapnel wounds to his face and forearm. A 19-year-old man was diagnosed with an arm injury. Both men were hospitalised.

Russian troops also dropped explosives from a UAV on a 55-year-old resident of Beryslav. The man was taken to hospital with a blast injury and a leg injury.

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XPeng showed the Land Carrier, a car with the ability to fly, at an air show in China. The modular design with a flying module is scheduled for production in 2026.

China has presented a flying car that could be released in 2026. This is reported by CGTN, UNN reports.

Details

The car, called the Land Aircraft Carrier, made its debut at an air show in China. The unique development was presented by XPeng, a leading electric vehicle manufacturer. "Land Aircraft Carrier made its first public flight at the 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, also known as Airshow China.

The Land Aircraft Carrier is a revolutionary Chinese innovation, the world's first product capable of fitting an airplane into the trunk of a car, making it an exciting achievement. In the future, road trips may mean traveling in this vehicle to scenic locations and enjoying magnificent views of the landscape from the air,

– Zhao Deli, founder of XPeng, told CGTN in an interview.

This futuristic vehicle combines traditional driving with the ability to fly, a significant step in the integration of advanced transportation solutions into everyday life. The XPeng flying car is a modular design that includes a ground vehicle and a removable flying module.

In addition, the vehicle has features that reduce radar visibility, making it potentially useful for military applications. XPeng is leveraging its expertise in electric propulsion systems to create an environmentally friendly aircraft that is in line with global efforts to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

The flying car is scheduled to be released in 2026.

Volkswagen, Porsche and Audi to switch to Tesla charging standardDec 20 2023, 11:41 AM • 31883 views

A Czech company has allocated over €700,000 to Ukraine, which will be used to purchase anti-tank rocket launchers.

Source: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The Foreign Ministry reported that STV GROUP handed over a symbolic cheque for RPG-7 anti-tank rocket launchers for the Ukrainian defence forces in the Ukrainian Embassy in Czechia. The weapons were worth EUR 765,000.

The Foreign Ministry emphasised that the RPG-7 is a weapon that has proven highly effective on the battlefield.

Ambassador Vasyl Zvarych noted that the transfer of this military aid is "another example of solidarity and support of our Czech friends."

Quote from Vasyl Zvarych: "I am convinced that these anti-tank rocket launchers in the hands of our heroic military will play a significant role in defending Ukraine from the aggressor and protecting human lives."

Background:

• Vasyl Zvarych reported in early October that Ukraine had received more than a third of the 500,000 rounds of ammunition to be delivered under the Czech initiative by the end of the year.
• On 16 November, it was reported that the Estonian government supported Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur's proposal to send Ukraine a new military aid package.

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The Pentagon UFO Office received 757 reports of unidentified anomalous phenomena in 2023. About 300 cases have already been explained, but hundreds more are still under investigation.

In 2023, the Pentagon's Office of UFOs (AARO) received 757 reports of unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs). Some of the most important sightings are still unexplained. This is reported by The Hill, according to UNN.

Details

Between May 1, 2023, and June 1, 2024, a special agency of the U.S. Department of Defense received 757 reports of unidentified anomalous phenomena (previously known as unidentified flying objects). This is stated in the report of the Anomaly Elimination in All Domains (Spatial Areas) Office – AARO, which was declassified on November 14 this year.

The researchers found explanations for nearly 300 incidents. In many of them, the unidentified objects turned out to be balloons, birds, airplanes, or satellites, while hundreds more are in the queue for verification. While the agency is investigating 1,652 cases in total, the office noted in the report that it "has not found any evidence of alien beings, activity, or technology.

There are definitely anomalies, but we have not been able to establish a connection to extraterrestrial life,

– said John Koslosky, director of AARO.

The report was released only the day after the House Oversight and Accountability Subcommittee heard witnesses who claimed that the government was hiding evidence of extraterrestrial technology.

In particular, the former head of the now-defunct Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program, Luis Elizondo, said that the government allegedly seeks to hide the existence of extraterrestrial life.

Excessive secrecy has led to serious crimes against loyal civil servants, military personnel, and the public – all to hide the fact that we are not alone in space,

– said Luis Elizondo.

The publication notes that recently there have been cases of UFOs near important US military facilities, including dozens in December 2023 at Langley Air Force Base. The Pentagon later said that these UAPs were unknown drones.

The director of AARO said that the agency is not aware of any advanced capabilities of a foreign adversary or breakthrough aerospace technologies.

Recall

As early as 2023, the US Senate insistedthat the government disclose classified UFO data.

Elon Musk, an American billionaire and ally of US President-elect Donald Trump, has ridiculed President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's statement that Ukraine is an independent country that cannot be forced to "sit down and listen" at the negotiating table.

Source: Musk on social network X (Twitter)

Details: Musk reposted a modified quote from Zelenskyy's interview with Ukrainian Radio. The tweet reposted by the billionaire read as follows: "The US cannot force us to "sit and listen" at the negotiating table. We are an independent country".

He sense of humor is amazing 😂https://t.co/4BL4rTXaZS https://t.co/pacq5vNkza

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 16, 2024

Previously: In an interview with Ukrainian Radio, Zelenskyy replied to a clarifying question about whether Trump had demanded that Ukraine participate in negotiations with Russia: "We are an independent country. And we have proved during this war – our people as much as I personally in conversations with the US, and Trump, and Biden, and European leaders – that with us, the ‘sit down and listen’ approach does not work."

Background:

• Elon Musk played a key role in Donald Trump's victorious US presidential election campaign, investing tens of millions of dollars in it and promoting Trump on his social media.
• Trump made it clear that he would reward Musk as his supporter by promising in a September speech to create a government efficiency commission headed by Musk if he won the election.
• Later, it became known that the billionaire took part in a telephone conversation between Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
• On 13 November, Trump's transition team announced that businessmen Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy would head the Department of Government Effectiveness (DOGE) under the new Donald Trump administration.
• On 15 November, it became known that Musk had met with Amir Saeid Iravani, the Iranian Ambassador to the United Nations, to "defuse tensions" between Iran and the United States.

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At Dallas Love Field Airport, a bullet hits a Southwest Airlines passenger plane near the cockpit during departure preparations. Flight 2494 was canceled, passengers were transferred to another flight, and no one was injured.

At the Dallas airport (Texas, USA), a passenger plane was hit by a bullet near the cockpit as it was preparing for takeoff. This was reported by SkyNews, according to UNN.

Details

Police in the US city of Dallas are investigating after a Southwest Airlines plane was hit by a bullet as it was preparing to take off from Dallas Love Field Airport in Texas on November 15 in the evening. Flight 2494 was canceled and the aircraft was taken out of service.

According to local authorities, there was no information on casualties.

Southwest Airlines will accommodate our customers on another flight,” the airline said. Law enforcement agencies were notified and the aircraft was taken out of service,

– the message says.

According to the newspaper, it is unclear where the shooting came from and whether the plane was the intended target. As of early Saturday, no arrests had been announced.

Haiti's main airport closed due to a surge in banditryNov 12 2024, 03:16 AM • 33818 views

The Financial Times has reported that North Korea has sent Russia around 50 M1989 Koksan self-propelled howitzers and 20 multiple-launch rocket systems, some of which have been deployed to Kursk Oblast.

Source: Financial Times with reference to Ukrainian intelligence

Details: The newspaper said, citing a Ukrainian intelligence report, that in recent weeks the DPRK has provided Russia with about 50 North Korean-made 170mm M1989 self-propelled howitzers and 20 upgraded 240mm multiple-launch rocket systems that can fire both standard and guided rockets.

It said Ukrainian officials provided information about the weapons after a photo showing North Korean howitzers began circulating on social media this week. The photograph, which open-source analysts were able to georeference to the Krasnoyarsk Krai in central Russia, showed several howitzers covered in camouflage netting being transported by rail westward.

These heavy weapons systems can fire projectiles up to 60 km away. The M1989 howitzers, produced in 1989, are slightly upgraded versions of the original M1979 models, first produced in the late 1970s, which Pyongyang supplied to Tehran during the Iran-Iraq War.

The upgraded rocket system is based on the Soviet BM-27 Uragan (Hurricane) system, a self-propelled 220mm multiple-launch rocket system designed to deliver cluster munitions. In May, North Korea said it had successfully tested an updated system with precision-guided munitions.

A senior Ukrainian official told the FT that Pyongyang now wants to test the weapon in combat. Kyiv expects it to be used against Ukrainian forces, which currently hold about 600 sq km of territory in Russia's Kursk Oblast.

Background: In a report on 14 November, the Institute for the Study of War reported, citing Russian sources, that North Korea may have provided Russia with North Korean-made M1989 Koksan 170mm self-propelled howitzers. Russian bloggers posted photos of a train carrying what is believed to be North Korean 170mm M1989 Koksan self-propelled howitzers in Krasnoyarsk.

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German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had a phone conversation with Putin about the war in Ukraine. The conversation turned out to be beneficial for both sides, but the Russian dictator benefited the most.

On Friday, November 15, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had a telephone conversation with Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. These talks were beneficial to the representatives of both countries. This is stated in the publication of the newspaper Zeit, reports UNN.

Details

It is noted that one of the topics of conversation was the war in Ukraine. In particular, the German chancellor called on the Russian dictator to finally start negotiations to establish a “lasting and just peace.” In addition, Scholz condemned Russia's aggressive war against Ukraine and called on Putin to withdraw his troops.

According to the newspaper, the very fact that a conversation took place between them benefits both leaders.

According to Moscow, Scholz had been asking for a phone call for a long time. Now that the talks with Putin are finally over, the German politician can start campaigning as a caring “chancellor of peace.

This is Pandora's box: Zelensky on Scholz's call to Russian dictator PutinNov 15 2024, 05:16 PM • 28389 views

The newspaper notes that the Sarah Wagenkohnet Union (BSW) has long denied the status of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) as a party of peace. However, Scholz can now tell Wagenknecht that while she is just talking, he is talking to Putin.

Scholz can also signal to Friedrich Merz that while Merz wants to deliver Taurus missiles, he is already negotiating.

But as Zeit emphasizes, despite the whole situation, Putin himself benefits greatly from this conversation.

In particular, for two and a half years, the Russian dictator has been disrupting possible negotiations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, but at the same time his troops continued to advance. He claimed that he was generally ready to negotiate, but only on his own terms.

Now, according to the newspaper, Putin can present the conversation with Scholz as proof of his willingness to negotiate. In addition, other European politicians will also have to make the call. Before that, talks with US President-elect Donald Trump are expected.

Thus, almost three years into the war, Putin is seeking a ceasefire on his own terms.

Conversations give Putin hope for easing international isolation: Foreign Ministry reacts to Scholz's conversation with Russian dictatorNov 15 2024, 06:24 PM • 32831 view

Former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz consulted with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy several months ago about a possible call to Russian ruler Vladimir Putin.

Source: Kuleba on social network X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda

Details: According to the former foreign minister, several months ago, Scholz asked Zelenskyy if a call to Putin would be appropriate.

"Zelensky opposed the idea, and Scholz refrained," he said.

However, according to Kuleba, after the US election, despite Zelenskyy's previous objections to the advisability of negotiations with Putin, Scholz decided to call the Kremlin leader.

"Zelensky publicly but gently criticised him for it," he said.

Kuleba added that the German chancellor's decision has several implications, including the fact that Putin "broke out of European isolation, and Germany paved the way. Right after Hungary."

"Putin showcased to the world that his strategy is working – the West will eventually bow its head under the cover of urging him to stop the war which he is not going to do," he said.

Kuleba also drew attention to the fact that with this step, Scholz had damaged Germany's reputation among Ukrainians.

The former minister is also confident that the German chancellor's decision will not strengthen his image among German voters.

At the same time, the former foreign minister admitted that he may not know "all the arguments in favour of the call", but he "struggles to see how it was justified".

Background:

• On 15 November, it was revealed that Olaf Scholz had spoken with the Kremlin leader for the first time in two years. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described Scholz’s call with Putin as a "Pandora’s box".
• Jürgen Hardt, a member of the Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) opposition bloc in Germany, believes that Putin will see Scholz's move as "a sign of weakness, not strength".
• At the same time, Secretary General of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) Matthias Miersch defended the chancellor's decision.

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