tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6227756611557232312024-03-13T07:21:44.307+05:30The Eagle Eye News“ Intellectuals have an obligation to speak truth to power-Professor Noam Chomsky-”.
Contact:+919915322407Rector Kathuriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06225119395785915592noreply@blogger.comBlogger885125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-622775661155723231.post-49853658978121964012023-06-21T05:00:00.001+05:302023-06-21T21:19:07.513+05:30 Will India-Russia DOD Pushes back CAATSA? <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"> <b><span style="color: #4c1130;">It was held on 20th June 2023 but e</span></b><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #4c1130;"><b>mailed on 21st June 2023 at 3:56 AM</b></span></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh Holds a Press Briefing</span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="background-color: #660000; color: #fcff01; font-family: georgia;">We remain Deeply Confident in India's Diversification of Equipment, says US </span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjPk7utvmK5ML7SOtTy3VYQOrGwzusdKO11oHmDc1wI3HiwkLC6-ok_APbfuGeV4RVgJLfCH57kRlyTNucP4V0arUzYFTq7tzT_NCYlty3Mq87EVVsOVgSJfLMLxFUm0qaHuWLTFnjXDgWI6Dy5rvcUW3LqHhhyv2S7GIVry6cfZ5BL7hV43jIgoaVjexy/s1080/Sabrina%20Singh%20Deputy%20Press%20Secretary%20Pantagon.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" data-original-height="807" data-original-width="1080" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjPk7utvmK5ML7SOtTy3VYQOrGwzusdKO11oHmDc1wI3HiwkLC6-ok_APbfuGeV4RVgJLfCH57kRlyTNucP4V0arUzYFTq7tzT_NCYlty3Mq87EVVsOVgSJfLMLxFUm0qaHuWLTFnjXDgWI6Dy5rvcUW3LqHhhyv2S7GIVry6cfZ5BL7hV43jIgoaVjexy/w640-h478/Sabrina%20Singh%20Deputy%20Press%20Secretary%20Pantagon.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-weight: bold;"><div style="text-align: justify;">DEPUTY PRESS SECRETARY SABRINA SINGH: Hi, everyone. Good afternoon.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>All right,</b> so I have a few items to pass along at the top today, and then I'd be happy to take your questions.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>So the secretary returned from his trip</b> to Wiesbaden and Brussels on Friday, where he met with leaders and troops supporting training efforts for the Ukrainian soldiers, and then with NATO defense ministers. The meetings were very productive, and the secretary looks forward to continuing his dialogue and open communications with his NATO counterparts.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Turning to this week,</b> tomorrow, Secretary Austin looks forward to hosting His Excellency Sheikh Mohamud, the president of Somalia, here at the Pentagon. You may recall that in May, 2022, at the request and coordination of the government of Somalia and at the direction of President Biden, U.S. Africa Command returned a small, persistent U.S. military presence to Somalia to train and advise partner forces to degrade Al Shabaab. This reestablished U.S. presence and support from our partners and allies and multilateral efforts stand as straw -- as a strong signal as our -- as of -- our continued commitment to Somalia and the region more broadly.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Following up</b> from some announcements earlier this year, during the department's regular oversight of our execution of presidential drawdown authority for Ukraine, we discovered inconsistencies in equipment valuation for Ukraine. In a significant number of cases, services used replacement costs rather than net book value, thereby overestimating the value of the equipment drawn down from U.S. stocks and provided to Ukraine. Once we discovered this misvaluation, the Comptroller reissued guidance on March 31st clarifying how to value equipment in line with the financial management regulation and DOD policy to ensure we use the most accurate of accounting methods.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>We have confirmed that </b>for F.Y. '23 the final calculation is $3.6 billion and for F.Y. '22 it is $2.6 billion, for a combined total of $6.2 billion. These valuation errors in no way limit or restricted the size of any of our PDAs or impacted the provision of support to Ukraine, and while the DOD -- while the DOD retains the authority to utilize the recaptured PDA, this has no bearing on appropriated USAI or Ukraine PDA replenishment funding approved by Congress.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Sorry, going back</b> in time just one more time, this past weekend, Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Dr. Colin Kahl returned from his travel to Hawaii, South Korea and Japan, where he engaged his counterparts in engagements to address mutual security challenges, identify opportunities to increase defense cooperation and enable efforts to network our alliances with like-minded partners. Throughout his meetings, Dr. Kahl emphasized our shared commitment to building a free and open Indo-Pacific, one that is grounded in core principles, including the rule of law, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>And lastly and finally,</b> as many of you know, Senator Tuberville has placed an indefinite hold on the confirmation of our general and flag officers. The department has 64 three- and four-star nominations pending the positions due to rotate soon. Between now and the end of the year, there are approximately 650 general and flag officers that will require Senate confirmation, and without these leaders in place, these holds severely limit the department's ability to ensure the right person is in place at the right time and to ensure our strategic readiness and operational success. These holds set a dangerous precedent and puts our military readiness at risk at a time when our military is expected to defend the nation with the acute threat of Russia and address the pacing challenge of the PRC.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">And with that, I'd be happy to take your questions.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Q:</b> Thanks for this.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>MS. SINGH:</b> Sure.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Q:</b> I wanted to ask you about the lost submersible near the Titanic. Are there any other resources that DOD will provide that would be able to aid with the search, or is it just a problem of distance and time and possibly the capability that we just do not have vessels that can go deep enough?</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>MS. SINGH:</b> So the DOD is assisting in search operations. As of yesterday, there were two C-130s that conducted search-and-rescue flights and conducted a search flight over the area. By later today, an Air National Guard C-130 will also join the search and conduct a search flight over the area. So by the end of today, we would've committed three C-130s to conducting search-and-rescue flights.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>In addition to that, </b>the Navy has been in touch with the Coast Guard and is working to provide personnel such as subject-matter experts and assets as quickly as possible, but I don't have anything further to read out as the Navy and Coast Guard continue to remain in touch on this issue.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Q:</b> Are there any vessels that could get to the, I guess, suspected location where the vessel is in time?</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>MS. SINGH:</b> Right now, we're working with the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard is the lead on this mission. I believe that we are doing everything we can in terms of surveying the area, and that's been the focus of the department right now. If there are further updates, I'd be happy to keep you updated on that.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Q: </b> The Wall Street Journal reported that China may be building a military base on Cuba. The last couple of weeks, this building has been hesitant to say what China is doing in Cuba. Can you talk about what your concerns are and to the extent you can, describe what this new military facility is?</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>MS. SINGH:</b> Sure. Thanks for the question. So I've seen the reports that you mentioned and the one from this morning. I don't have anything to add to that. I have nothing further to comment or provide to you at this time.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>What we do know</b> and what we have seen is the PRC continuing to make or continuing to express interest in the Western hemisphere. We know that they want to expand their military presence, and so we are going to continue to monitor that. We feel that we will have the resources needed to counter any further actions that if they decide to take any, but at this point, there's nothing that I can add to those reports.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">Great, Liz, in the back.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Q: </b> To follow up on that question --</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>MS. SINGH:</b> Sure.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Q: </b> On the China and Cuba relationship, does the U.S. have any reason to reevaluate its posture in the Western hemisphere, in Latin America or anywhere in South America based on China's actions?</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>MS. SINGH: </b> We feel confident in our resources and our capabilities, and not just here in our hemisphere but around the world. Again, we don't seek conflict with China. Competition is something that the Secretary and this administration has spoken openly about but we feel very confident in our capabilities, but again, I wouldn't be able to speak more specifically to the reports that you referenced.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">Yeah, go ahead.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Q: </b> Thank you. Just one separate question. Following Secretary Blinken's trip to China and meeting with President Xi, does the Defense Secretary feel more or less confident in being able to speak with his Chinese counterpart?</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>MS. SINGH: </b> Well, I think just most recently he was in Brussels and spoke to this. We are certainly keeping a line of communication open. We want to establish communication with the PRC and the Secretary's counterparts.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>We have left that door open,</b> they just have not chosen to walk through that door, but as the Secretary has said before, we remain confident that mil-to-mil communications will resume at some point, and hopefully with Secretary Blinken's visit just this week, that helps sort of unlock some of these communications.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>But again,</b> this is something we encourage. We want to speak to our PRC counterparts but as you know, before his trip to Singapore, we extended that door and tried to have a meeting there and we were turned down.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">Okay, one more. Yeah?</span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Q:</b> Is the Secretary more hopeful or less hopeful?</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>MS. SINGH:</b> I wouldn't know how to characterize the Secretary's feeling at this moment. I think what you heard from him last week is that he's confident military-to-military communications will resume at some point. We will keep that door open and hopefully they will take us up on our invitation.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">Lara?</span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Q: </b> My question is about India.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>MS. SINGH: </b> Sure.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Q: </b> As you know, (inaudible) is expected to visit this week and India has contracts for five squadrons of S-400s from Russia. So I'm wondering if you could speak a little bit about whether DOD has continuing concerns about India's acquisition of Russian weapons, and any plans to push back on that or sanctions under CAATSA, anything like that?</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>MS. SINGH: </b> Sure. So again, we welcome President Modi's visit to the United States this week. Secretary Austin visited India just two weeks ago and was able to meet with his counterpart there. What we always will continue to urge our allies and partners around the world is to avoid transactions with Russia.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>We remain deeply confident in India's diversification of equipment,</b> and over the past decade, our proposal for industrial cooperation will further integrate the U.S. and Indian defense industries. So I think I'll just leave it at that.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Q: </b> Can you speak a little bit as to why the U.S. ended up taking certain measures against Turkey for getting the S-400s, whereas they have not taken such actions against India? Can you speak a little bit to why they're -- different countries are being treated differently?</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>MS. SINGH:</b> We encourage all of our partners and allies to avoid transactions with Russia. That's something that we've continued to reiterate with Turkey, with India, and with others. I think there are very different and two different cases, and when it comes to India, we remain confident in their diversification of equipment and our ability to integrate with them as well.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">Janne?</span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">Q: Thank you.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>MS. SINGH:</b> Hi. Nice to see you. Welcome back from your travels.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Q:</b> Yeah. Thank you. I just have two questions on North Korea.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">MS. SINGH: Sure.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Q: </b> You know that last week North Korea launched two missiles and North Korean Kim Jong-un announced that it will soon re-try a second satellite launch. As you know, North Korea has (inaudible) that they will not give the U.S. notice of launch. When North Korea attempt to launch a satellite, will the United States intercept the Koreans' satellite ?</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>MS. SINGH:</b> So I'm not going to preview or get into our planning or our operations. What you've seen from North Korea within the last week or two weeks, when you mention the satellite launch, is that, again, these are clear violations of UN Security Council Resolutions. It demonstrates DPRK's further use to destabilize and threaten peace and security in the region.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>And I believe you saw</b> just last week the White House put out a readout of National Security Advisor Sullivan's meeting with his counterparts in Japan and South Korea, where he again and we do from this podium we reaffirmed our commitments to the region.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>So while I will say that</b> our agreement between Japan and South Korea will not be shaken by the continuing destabilizing actions that DPRK continues to take.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">Q: (Inaudible) South Korean missile</span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>MS. SINGH:</b> I'm sorry, could you repeat that?</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Q: </b> If South Korea (inaudible)?</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>MS. SINGH:</b> Well, I wouldn't get into specifics from here, but as you know, we continue to coordinate and conduct exercises with the South Koreans, and I'll just leave it at that.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">Q: Last question --</span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">MS. SINGH: Okay.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Q:</b> Do you have anything on the U.S.-South Korea cybersecurity talks?</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>MS. SINGH:</b> I don't have anything more on that, I'm sorry. I'd have to follow back up with you on that.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>I'm just going to take a question from the phone here</b> and then I'll come back to the room. Chris Gordon, Air & Space Magazine?</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Q: Hi, Sabrina.</b> Thanks. Secretary Austin renewed his case for Sweden's admission into NATO last week in Brussels, and yesterday, two U.S. B-1 bombers landed in Sweden. Can we expect more deployments of U.S. assets, such as aircraft, or deployments of more U.S. troops to Sweden while they await membership into NATO?</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>MS. SINGH: </b> Thanks again for the question, Chris. I don't have any announcements to make of any movement of assets into Sweden or anywhere else but what you heard the Secretary say last week is that Sweden has an extremely capable military, and for many years, the U.S. and Sweden and NATO countries have trained side-by-side together.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Sweden's decision to join the alliance</b> and the path to ascension is something that, again, we continue to discuss, but we have an open door when it comes to the joining oof NATO and we look forward to forging an even deeper relationship with Sweden when they become -- when they officially become the 32nd member of NATO.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>I'm just going to take one more question from the phone.</b> I'll go to Howard Altman and then I'll come back in the room.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Q:</b> Thanks, Sabrina, appreciate it. So this morning, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that Ukraine was planning to attack Russian Federation territory, including Crimea, with HIMARS and Storm Shadows, and he said that the use of these weapons would show direct involvement of the USA and the UK. Does the Pentagon have any response to that? What is that response?</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>MS. SINGH:</b> Well, we continue to provide support to Ukraine and have committed to doing that for as long as it takes in their fight against Russia, in retaking their sovereign territory. As we've said from this podium, we believe Crimea is part of Ukraine. The Ukrainians are doing everything that they can with the equipment, with the capabilities that they can on the battlefield to continue to push Russians further back, and we support their efforts to retake their sovereign territory.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">I'll come back in the room. Missy? Hi.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Q: Sabrina, thank you.</b> Just wanted to follow up on Tara's question about the submersible.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">SINGH: Sure.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Q: You said that by the end of the day</b> there will have been three U.S. C130s that will have been deployed for search and rescue flights. Are there any undersea assets that are being deployed or plans to send anything actually down to look for the submersible?</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>MS. SINGH: </b> Right now we are providing air support. I believe the Coast Guard and the Navy have been in touch in terms of what they can provide in terms of assets that can further look for the submersible that has gone missing, I don't have anything more to announce right now. I know that's something that both the Navy and Coast Guard are trying to figure out and what makes the most sense. But the Coast Guard is really the lead for this mission.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>So we are in direct support for them</b> and we will continue to be for as long as they request assistance. Yes, great. Yes, right here.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Q:</b> Thank you, madam.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>MS. SINGH:</b> I'll come back to you. Go ahead.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Q:</b> Going back to U.S.-India military relations. Secretary’s Austin visit to India was at a very critical time when China is expanding in the region and many countries have fears of Chinese attacks or Chinese expansion. But at the same time the prime minister of India is coming tomorrow in Washington. And two weeks before his visit, for the last several months few items were going on discussion about military transfer from the U.S. with India. One, if during the Secretary’s visit was anything was promised or signed in India as part of U.S. military with India is concerned?</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">And second, when the prime minister comes here, how much do you think he will be getting from this building as far as India is concerned? Anything promised or discussed with the Secretary? And I have another one, please.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>MS. SINGH: </b> So a few questions in there. I'll try and address all of them. So I think you've seen the importance that India has for this building, for this administration. Of course there is a state visit that's being hosted this week by the White House. I'm not going to get ahead of any announcements that might come out from the White House or any other agencies. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">But again, as the secretary did on his visit that was really about deepening Indian and U.S. relations and continuing military cooperation. We're not asking countries to choose between us and China.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Again, we do not seek conflict with China. We seek we encourage competition in a healthy and safe way but we're not seeking countries to choose sides here. I think this will be another opportunity for the Secretary to engage with India, his counterparts here at the state dinner and just further deepen cooperation between our two countries.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Q:</b> And number two. Now just before prime minister's visit to Washington, Secretary Blinken (inaudible) in China and some people are just asking the question why just days before the prime minister's visit and also at the same time prime minister gave interview to Wall Street Journal and he will talk about China/U.S. relations—we want peace with China and all that.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">So how much do you think China will be discussed during Prime Minister Modi's visit in Washington because (inaudible) between U.S., China and India? So why Prime Minister Modi, you think, discussed China before coming to Washington and also that (inaudible) in China and also there are something in China and India after?</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>MS. SINGH: </b> So, I think those are great questions, and I would direct you to the appropriate offices to answer those questions, whether it be the State Department or President Modi's office. But I speak on behalf of the secretary and the Department of Defense, so I wouldn't be able to answer those questions. So, I'm going to go ahead and move on here.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Yeah, so right here.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Q:</b> On the security situation in North Syria, I know that Turkey has increased its drone attacks on Syria, and today, they attacked a car and they killed (inaudible). And what's your comment on these attacks, and kind of these attacks distracted local partner from achieving their goal of defeating ISIS?</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>MS. SINGH:</b> Well, as you know, our mission in Syria is the enduring defeat of ISIS, so we continue to work with our partners to accomplish that goal, and that's something that we're focused on. I'm sorry, I'm not tracking the reference to the latest attack so I'm just not familiar to that, so I'm not going to speak to it.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Q: </b> And there are some reports that you have transported some military equipment from Iraq to Syria. Can you confirm that? And do you expect an increase by ISIS if you do, will you forces in Syria, and also, your local partners?</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>MS. SINGH:</b> Well, I'm not going to engage in hypotheticals there, but I can say that, again, our mission is very focused in Syria. It is to ensure the defeat of ISIS. That is something that we continue to do with our partners in the region. It's something that we're focused on, and I'll just leave it at that. I'll just leave it at that.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">To you...</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Q: </b> Last one.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>MS. SINGH: </b> OK.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Q: </b> Last week there were some people from delegation (inaudible), and the Department of Defense officials and they discussed with the Minister of Peshmerga (inaudible) And what's your comment on this reform? On the Peshmerga forces in Iraq and Afghanistan?</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>MS. SINGH:</b> I just don't have anything more to offer at this time on what you're referring to.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Mike?</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Q: </b> The counteroffensive in Ukraine...</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>MS. SINGH:</b> Yeah.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Q:</b> The Pentagon's assessment, how it's been going thus far. People have been too optimistic about they're expecting, you know, an unrealistic outcome this early in the fight?</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>MS. SINGH:</b> I think our assessments have been pretty clear from the beginning. I think, you know, we know, as you're continuing to see the fight that it continued to move to the east, it's become more of a grinding battle every day. You saw that in Bakhmut. The Ukrainians can speak to their operations and more to the day-to-day on what's happening on the ground. But we know this is going to be a hard fight. We know this is going to take time, and we are confident that the Ukrainians have what they need. They have the combat power. They have the ability to be successful in their -- in their counteroffensive operations. We see them launching both defensive and offensive operations right now. But I would let them speak to more of that.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">Warren?</span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Q: </b> Questions on two topics.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>MS. SINGH: </b> Sure.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Q: First on the submersible, when did the conversations between the Navy and the Coast Guard begin to figure out what assets to send? Because we're now two days later, and it seems like the clock is very much ticking here. Why the delay there? And then the other question on the Senator Tuberville holds. Have you asked or urged members of the Senate to go, at least in some cases like the nominee for the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, simply to go for a floor vote in that and just bypass Tuberville in that case?</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>MS. SINGH:</b> So on the first one, I believe conversations between the Navy and Coast Guard began this weekend. Again, the Coast Guard is in charge of this mission, so when they request support or help in the assistance of search and rescue, that is what we are doing. That's what we're providing. But for when those conversations began, I believe they began this weekend.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>In terms of Senator Tuberville</b> and the holds specifically, that is really on Senate procedure, and we can go down a very long path on how Senate procedure works, not that I particularly want to do it. But that is really a question for the Senate and how they decide to conduct their business. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Yes, the chairman is one of those holds.</b> It is very important that we have a seated confirmed chairman in the position when Chairman Milley leaves. But there are so many other positions that also are important and require Senate confirmation.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>We know that these holds are going to have a ripple effect</b> throughout the department, and we're talking about with 852 general and flag officers, 650 that are up for confirmation just by the end of the year. I think Senator Tuberville certainly understands the importance of having a team, a cohesive team together to be able to confront the challenges, the day-to-day challenges that this building faces. And so we would hope and we would urge that he lift his hold.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Q:</b> But has there been any discussions with the senator or the administration on at least in the case of the top officer, moving his to a floor vote and bypassing Tuberville? Sure, the hold is on him, but at least in the case of the top officer, you're two, three months away from having an acting.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>MS. SINGH: </b> Yeah.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Q:</b> Why -- is there consideration or discussion around going a floor vote on that?</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>MS. SINGH:</b> Well, I'm not going to get into private conversations between our office andand senators, but what I will say is that we are urging the hold to be lifted the blanket hold to be lifted on all of our general and flag officers. Great.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">Tony?</span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Q: </b> I have a bunch of questions. You talked about the $6.2 billion evaluation.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>MS. SINGH:</b> Yeah.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Q:</b> I don't expect you to know this off the top of your head, but can you get a written answer in terms of where that $6.2 billion is going to be spent now? This is all PDA money, I assume.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>MS. SINGH:</b> This is all PDA money. We wouldn't have it broken down. It would just be money that's reallocated into presidential drawdown packages.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Q:</b> Yes. Can you check to see if there's going to be specific line items that they're going to use the money for?</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>MS. SINGH:</b> We would not. It's another pot of money that we have access to, so when we have our next presidential drawdown package to roll out, it's not like we're going to have, like, allocated here, this is $6 billion that we, you know, have found through our reevaluation. It's just going to go back into the pot of money that we have allocated for the PDAs, and we will roll out the next package when we have that announcement.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Q:</b> I have a question on the House Armed Services Committee markup. In the markup, they cut out funding for a little-known office here called the CAPE, the Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation office.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>MS. SINGH:</b> Yeah.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Q:</b> It's inside baseball to a point, but this is an office that dates back to the 1960s under the McNamara, then 2009, Senators McCain and Levin and Warner all had weapons reforms the agency agreed to.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>MS. SINGH:</b> Right.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Q:</b> So this agency looks like it's going to get whacked by the House Armed Services Committee. What does this agency provide to the Pentagon that, you know, maybe it's not obvious to someone outside the Beltway?</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>MS. SINGH:</b> Well, as you mentioned, the Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation Office has enjoyed bipartisan support from its founding. CAPE provides unbiased, independent decision support to the secretary and the deputy secretary, and it does so in a way that is transparent and collaborative. CAPE creates options and presents those options to the secretary and deputy secretary to make decisions about the budget and helps inform and guide senior leadership on how to make decisions within this department. These options are also, of course, in con -- in consultation with our combatant commanders and our services.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Q: </b> Can you give an example? Like if the Air Force says something's going to cost "X", then CAPE would come back and say, "No, it's going to cost 'Y', and you need to get more money in it."</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>MS. SINGH:</b> Yeah. I mean, just going back to we’re not commenting on pending legislation here, but again, CAPE is the check to ensure that taxpayer dollars are being spent efficiently and responsibly.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>And in terms of, one of the examples that CAPE</b> has done is making sure that our nuclear modernization program is fully funded each year. That's something that's incredibly important. We know that we're going to have to continue to modernize and develop here as a department, and CAPE ensures that we are on pace to get that done.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Q:</b> So they're in layman's language, they would tell the Secretary that if a service is just saying that something's going to cost X, it's really going to cost a lot more.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>MS. SINGH:</b> Or a lot less. Whichever -- right.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Q:</b> That's their value they provide?</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>MS. SINGH:</b> That's right. They're the independent analysis for the department that provides a more holistic view of the budget, I would say.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Q:</b> Can you give us some examples as this markup process plays out? </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>MS. SINGH:</b> I can do that for you.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">Yes, Konstantin?</span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Q: </b> Thanks, Sabrina. You mentioned -- going back to the submarine rescue, can you clarify something. You mentioned the DOD is providing -- has already provided two C-130s and the Air National Guard is going to provide a third C-130. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>MS. SINGH:</b> Yes, by the end of today. I don't know if they have already done so at this time or they will be doing so later today.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Q:</b> The two C-130s, can you say who they belong who those belong to?</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>MS. SINGH:</b> They're under the purview of TRANSCOM, so I'd direct any further questions that you might have, I would direct you to TRANSCOM.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Q: </b> OK. And the Air National Guard C-130, do you have the unit that that's coming from?</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>MS. SINGH:</b> I do not.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Q: </b> OK </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>MS. SINGH:</b> Yeah. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">Yes, Fadi</span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Q:</b> <b>Thank you, Sabrina.</b> So you talked about the Ukrainian counter-offensive expressed confidence that they were going to be successful although you said it's going to take some time and be a tough fight. Considering the losses that they suffered so far. From what we're seeing on the ground, do you think the Russians are going to be able to adapt or they're basically adapting? And what are you basing your confidence on? Are you seeing early indication that this counter-offensive is being successful in achieving what they needed to achieve within the first two weeks maybe?</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>MS. SINGH:</b> Well, I think what I'm reiterating is what you heard from the Secretary and Chairman Milley last week in Brussels, that we believe we have and not just us, I should say. Again, we had a Ukraine Defense Contact Group last week, over 50 partner nations and allies met in pooling efforts and resources together for Ukraine. So this is not just a United States effort, this is a worldwide effort to provide Ukraine what it needs to be successful on the battlefield.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>We believe that</b> we have provided Ukraine the systems, the capabilities that they need right now in the fight. We know this is going to be a tough fight. Of course the Russians are going to adapt, as they would have from the beginning of the war of, you know, things that worked, things that didn't, but so have the Ukrainians.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>You've heard</b> the Secretary speak about the training that we've conducted and continue to conduct overseas. That is helping the Ukrainians in their fight every day, and we believe that what we have supplied them will enable them to be successful on the battlefield. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>And we have accounted for losses.</b> We know there are going to be losses on the battlefield. That's the unfortunate part of this war but it's something we've seen the Ukrainians overcome since the beginning. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>And so again,</b> the packages that we provide, they are done in collaboration with the Ukrainians, meeting their needs, finding out what else they need, and making sure that they get that in time on the battlefield.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">I can take a few more and then I'll have to wrap up. Yes?</span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Q:</b> Hailey Underwood from AFCEA Signal Magazine</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>MS. SINGH:</b> Great.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Q:</b> Could I just ask about the new NATO-Ukraine Defense Council that's been proposed? How is the Secretary working to help shape this council? And any considerations you can share about kind of the U.S.' point of view of how it should be established or look like and be, compared to what the U.S. is providing and NATO allies are providing, as far as support to Ukraine?</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>MS. SINGH:</b> Just to clarify, are you speaking of NATO -- potential accession of Ukraine to NATO? </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Q: </b> The preliminary step before that, the NATO-Ukraine Defense Council that's been announced?</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>MS. SINGH: </b> So I think the Secretary has said this before and something that we continue to highlight, is every country has its own path when it comes to membership in NATO. We are certainly encouraged by what we are seeing with Sweden, and when it comes to Ukraine, they will have their own path to NATO ascension.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>We certainly have. NATO has an open door policy</b> when it comes to membership. What we are focused on here at the department is making sure Ukraine has what it needs on the battlefield today. We are of course committed to its long term efforts but our efforts right now are focused on the security packages that we're providing, that you see us roll out every week or so, and what we can get to what we can get to them on the battlefield that they need right away. Great.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">Yes, right over here?</span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Q:</b> Hi. I had a budget question as well. House appropriators had moved to cut the multi-year munition request that DOD has said it needs to help prepare for a potential conflict in the Indo-Pacific region. They said that DOD has not provided enough information. Has DOD been back to Congress to sort of walk them through the cost savings and sort of the process of getting to these contracts?</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>MS. SINGH:</b> So in terms of -- again, it's hard to comment on pending legislation, so I'm going to refrain from that. The department is of course in touch with Congress and are working with them to address what we need in -- in the budget. And so I won't get ahead of any of those conversations happening. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>And pending legislation is, </b>again, hard to comment on, but I think Congress is well aware of the pacing challenge that the PRC proposes to the U.S. military and our country. And so we are continuing to modernize, we are continuing to meet that challenge, but I just don't have more to add at this point.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Q: </b> Can you address what impact this would have on readiness in the production base if you do not receive the dollars to move forward with these contracts?</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>MS. SINGH:</b> Well, I think that's a great question but I am just not going to engage in hypotheticals right now. Thank you.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">Yes, at the back?</span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Q: </b> Thank you.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>The submersible. Is DOD</b> preparing for a potential deployment of underwater drones to aid with that effort? And is that some -- is that type of assistance something that DOD has offered the Coast Guard?</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>MS. SINGH:</b> I just don't have more to provide at this time. We're working closely with the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard is the lead for this mission right now. You know, we're of course thinking of those onboard the submersible and their families, and we are doing everything we can right now to provide air search and support. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>If that, </b>you know, changes, if our mission evolves, I'd be happy to update you, but at this time right now, again, we're working with the Coast Guard. They are the lead on this and -- and we'll continue to support. Great.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">I'll go to Mike and then I'll -- this will be the last one.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Q: Sure.</b> You commented about the story in The Intercept magazine about the Pentagon Protective Service Battalion monitoring social media to run down tweets about General Milley and the other top military brass here. Can you comment on that at all? Is that true or not or ... </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>MS. SINGH:</b> I just don't have any comment for that. I'm sorry, I haven't seen the reporting on that. Great.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: georgia;">Thanks, all. We will wrap this up for today.</span></b></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Media Link Ravinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13038836894222322159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-622775661155723231.post-45967695189347346342023-04-29T14:30:00.013+05:302023-04-29T21:09:22.915+05:30MPs from across the G7 call on their leaders<p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #666666; font-family: georgia;">Saturday 29th April 2023 at12:49 PM</span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="background-color: #660000; color: #fcff01; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Take action on nuclear disarmament at upcoming Hiroshima summit</span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaMY9vSwr6Qe4hyVkHYE5cuEGWsmAMqF3wDjyB2Xkch5PxHzb9IPuWMfEUq6O_4QiAY1okR6GHqBMgzUaTH8qQigkf51dcvXtOnWGeaoBVtfy7nV193wse-yA4xRCagk-6LcFvn-l_a65QmFkbpBMNYI6Ef1CR5S30BAqQcklQEgTYZ-kWaoORtp7GMA/s1125/Nuclear%20Disarmament%20pexels-photo-By%20Pixabay.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1125" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaMY9vSwr6Qe4hyVkHYE5cuEGWsmAMqF3wDjyB2Xkch5PxHzb9IPuWMfEUq6O_4QiAY1okR6GHqBMgzUaTH8qQigkf51dcvXtOnWGeaoBVtfy7nV193wse-yA4xRCagk-6LcFvn-l_a65QmFkbpBMNYI6Ef1CR5S30BAqQcklQEgTYZ-kWaoORtp7GMA/w640-h426/Nuclear%20Disarmament%20pexels-photo-By%20Pixabay.jpeg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div><div style="color: #2b00fe; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span><span style="font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></span></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-weight: bold;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Hiroshima</span><span style="color: #444444;">: 29 April 2023: (</span><span style="color: #2b00fe;">The Eagle Eye News</span><span style="color: #444444;"> Bureau)::</span></div></span></span></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3DpLQ1Z5b10q20K21iZyzEL9xWMqTKrwTak4PnaSGPv8Cs5xhgq2SZK79rINBG3OAzCwdmVi6Ktlbqj2IAsjqMU_TTP6qP-m82zipjvKl-UgvCxAY0S2UZHZ1tQq1tdxw5GCBOzd_7ndlbpqIjMumnb2GyZ38ho-OZYQ0UKezaOEyLPFPxFl0sGrWuA/s1920/ICAN%20G7%20Parliament.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="1920" height="75" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3DpLQ1Z5b10q20K21iZyzEL9xWMqTKrwTak4PnaSGPv8Cs5xhgq2SZK79rINBG3OAzCwdmVi6Ktlbqj2IAsjqMU_TTP6qP-m82zipjvKl-UgvCxAY0S2UZHZ1tQq1tdxw5GCBOzd_7ndlbpqIjMumnb2GyZ38ho-OZYQ0UKezaOEyLPFPxFl0sGrWuA/s320/ICAN%20G7%20Parliament.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Parliamentarians from the G7 countries</b> have urged their leaders to take concrete action on nuclear disarmament at their summit in Hiroshima in three weeks’ time. The MPs have been attending the G7 Parliamentarians’ Forum for the Elimination of Nuclear Weapons in Tokyo and Hiroshima, where they met survivors of the world’s first nuclear attack that killed 140,000 people and obliterated the city in 1945. The forum was organised by the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) and concluded with a collective statement.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><u><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">Quote Hon. Laura Boldrini (Italy):</span></b></u></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">“Visiting the Peace Memorial in Hiroshima gives a clear idea of what war and peace mean. It is more powerful than a 1000 speeches. Everybody, especially Youths, should once in a lifetime take the opportunity to come here and listen to Hibakusha’s stories, the impact the atomic bombing had on their existence, and their suffering. This leaves no doubt on the importance of promoting the abolition of nuclear weapons. This is why we have to urge the G7 leaders to increase their efforts towards a world free from the threat of nuclear weapons and to adhere to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.”</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">Quote Hon. Heather McPherson (Canada):</span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>“There is no better place than Hiroshima to recognize</b> that the use of nuclear weapons would have catastrophic consequences for humanity and the planet. Visiting these memorial sites, particularly in light of the recent nuclear threats by countries like Russia and North Korea, highlights the urgent need to eliminate these weapons of mass destruction. The upcoming G7 summit in Hiroshima is the perfect opportunity for Canada to join the growing international consensus and announce a delegation to observe the next meeting of states parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. We have heard a lot of empty rhetorics by Prime Minister Trudeau, now is the time for action. ” </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>In the collective statement</b> the participants urged the G7 leaders to listen to the survivors they will be meeting in Hiroshima– known as Hibakusha – and to acknowledge the devastating harm to people and the environment caused by nuclear weapons. The statement calls on the G7 leaders to unequivocally condemn any and all threats to use nuclear weapons and to recognise the significance of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), which came into force in 2021 and has broad and growing international support, in advancing global nuclear disarmament efforts.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>It continues:</b> “We maintain that all countries should engage in sincere and constructive negotiations to achieve the total elimination of nuclear weapons so that never again will any person be subjected to the fate endured by the Hibakusha.”</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Their statement condemned North Korea’s missile tests </b>and nuclear weapons programme for “dangerously and irresponsibly” increasing the risk of nuclear war. It also condemned Russia for its illegal war in Ukraine which has exposed the “unacceptable risks associated with nuclear weapons” that Russia has brandished to intimidate other countries from intervening to stop its invasion.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Nuclear threats are explicitly banned under the TPNW</b> and the statement says: “In order to strengthen the norm of not using and not threatening to use nuclear weapons, we condemn any and all nuclear threats and reiterate that the only guarantee of non-use is the total elimination of nuclear weapons.”</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>The MPs called for an end to the nuclear arms race</b> in which all nuclear weapon states are involved because it increases the risk of the use of these weapons either by accident or design and “must therefore be stopped as a matter of international urgency”. In this light, they called on their governments to engage constructively with the TPNW and highlighted how the TPNW complements the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). They made personal commitments to strengthening both treaties that “together provide the crucial, mutually-reinforcing framework for achieving a world free of nuclear weapons”.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>The MPs were hosted by their Japanese counterparts</b> at the Diet’s House of Councillors in Tokyo on April 28 where they made official statements and were addressed by Kuniko Inoguchi, LDP MP and Japan’s former Disarmament Ambassador. They then travelled to Hiroshima where they visited the Peace Memorial Museum and attended an official remembrance event at the Hiroshima Cenotaph. Following this they took part in a workshop with Hibakusha to learn more about what happens to people when they are attacked with nuclear weapons.</span></p>Media Link Ravinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13038836894222322159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-622775661155723231.post-40318209368719118802022-12-06T17:49:00.000+05:302023-04-07T20:10:29.194+05:30Rs.166.255 lakhs spent for Yoga training<p> <b><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-small;">07-April-2017 16:03 IST</span></b></p><p><b><span style="background-color: #660000; color: #fcff01; font-size: large;">11428 Physical Education Teachers Trained during 2016-17</span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"></span></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr3t-90XBxAYFcLugf7Kp24teY6hYHXpt9Oven8CJohFg3tkW6f65kKxKJnXebUVkUQ6IgpThIuM3Fz1t0xoZCRYYKjiC_waLF5AzNnO54B8dCffaYVtwSh4XR8EPKehGbJXbWSBR9MsPyHdfaS7PFJ-6dJs6LwIXbP0y5elROeNKDJcozPFcm_H0yOQ/s1180/Yoga%20Training%20Details%20in%20The%20Eagle%20Eye%20News.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="515" data-original-width="1180" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr3t-90XBxAYFcLugf7Kp24teY6hYHXpt9Oven8CJohFg3tkW6f65kKxKJnXebUVkUQ6IgpThIuM3Fz1t0xoZCRYYKjiC_waLF5AzNnO54B8dCffaYVtwSh4XR8EPKehGbJXbWSBR9MsPyHdfaS7PFJ-6dJs6LwIXbP0y5elROeNKDJcozPFcm_H0yOQ/w640-h280/Yoga%20Training%20Details%20in%20The%20Eagle%20Eye%20News.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></b></div><b><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br />New Delhi</span>: <span style="color: #444444;">06th December 2022</span>: (<span style="color: #2b00fe;">The Eagle Eye News</span> <span style="color: #444444;">Desk</span>)::</span></b><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>The Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Human Resource Development has spent</b> Rs.166.255 lakhs during 2016-17 under Rashriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) for Yoga training of 11428 Physical Education Teachers of Government Secondary Schools.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) 2005</b> recommended Yoga as an Integral Part of Health and Physical Education as part of National Curriculum Framework (NCF). Health and Physical Education is a compulsory subject from Class I to Class X and optional from Classes XI to XII. According to National Curriculum Framework 2005, “the entire group Health and Physical Education and Yoga must be taken together as a comprehensive Health and Physical Education Curriculum, replacing the fragmentary approach current in schools today. As a core part of the curriculum, time allocated for games and for yoga must not be reduced or taken away under any circumstances”. Further, they have already developed integrated syllabi on Health and Physical Education from Class I to Class X. The content of Yoga has been included from Class VI onward. It also prepared separate syllabus on Yoga from Upper Primary to Secondary Stage.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>NCERT has brought out</b> the following two textual materials for Upper Primary (VI to VIII) and Secondary Stages (IX & X):</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(<b>i) Yoga: A Healthy Way of Living (Upper Primary stage) and</b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>(ii) Yoga: A Healthy Way of Living (Secondary Stage)</b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>NCERT</b> organised Yoga Olympiad from school to National Level from 18th to 20thJune, 2016.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>CCRYN </b>under Ministry of AYUSH has been conducting one hour Yoga Classes for Government employees in few Government Offices/Ministries n Delhi</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>MDNIY</b> is creating awareness about healthy food habits and concept of Yogic Diet through its courses /programmes.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>There are 9 universities offering Higher education in Yoga;</b> and 2 universities offering higher education in ‘Yoga and Naturopathy’ in the country.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: georgia;"><b>This information was given by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for AYUSH, Shri ShripadYesso Naik in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: xx-small;">***** NB/SK</span></p>Media Link Ravinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13038836894222322159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-622775661155723231.post-51669841931039758512022-10-30T15:30:00.064+05:302023-04-07T20:09:29.782+05:30MHA gives a boost to “Make in India” in the field of manufacturing of arms<p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-small;">30-October-2017 at 15:05 IST</span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="background-color: #660000; color: #fcff01; font-size: large;">The liberalisation of the Arms Rules will encourage investment</span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">New Delhi</span>: <span style="color: #444444;">30th October 2023</span>: (<span style="color: #2b00fe;">The Eagle Eye News </span><span style="color: #444444;">Desk</span>)::</span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm0TUzQcW4UuPdHBFEu9uLjDpXEMrmJ08OGVCDRjftln9S_JOtbR3bwm5hph3vwXGcL8IdkKmppJelM8x43wtiutkstcNj57X9vPvmYSAsaKqXH8d8hVnjix-TMBf_wOTEoSp92XjJrB0bnaI8fhr_aTcVI2rfNXwyrhrSUtWE8pl1oJVFPYZSXrwT9A/s750/Make%20in%20India%20Pexels-Photo%20By%20Rahul%20Sapra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="750" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm0TUzQcW4UuPdHBFEu9uLjDpXEMrmJ08OGVCDRjftln9S_JOtbR3bwm5hph3vwXGcL8IdkKmppJelM8x43wtiutkstcNj57X9vPvmYSAsaKqXH8d8hVnjix-TMBf_wOTEoSp92XjJrB0bnaI8fhr_aTcVI2rfNXwyrhrSUtWE8pl1oJVFPYZSXrwT9A/w200-h200/Make%20in%20India%20Pexels-Photo%20By%20Rahul%20Sapra.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>The Ministry of Home Affairs has liberalised the Arms Rules</b> to boost “Make in India” manufacturing policy of the Government as also to promote employment generation in the field of manufacturing of arms and ammunition.</span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>The liberalisation of the Arms Rules will encourage investment</b> in the manufacturing of arms and ammunition and weapon systems as part of the “Make in India” programme. The liberalised rules are expected to encourage the manufacturing activity and facilitate availability of world class weapons to meet the requirement of Armed Forces and Police Forces in sync with country’s defence indigenization programme. The liberalised rules will apply to licences granted by MHA for small arms & ammunition and licences granted by Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), under powers delegated to them, for tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, defence aircrafts, space crafts, warships of all kinds, arms and ammunition and allied items of defence equipment other than small arms.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><u><span style="font-family: georgia;">The salient features of the liberalised rules are:</span></u></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(i) The licence granted for manufacturing shall now be valid for the life-time of the licensee <br />company. The requirement of renewal of the license after every 5 years has been done away with.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(ii) Similarly, condition that the small arms and light weapons produced by manufacturer shall be sold to the Central Government or the State Governments with the prior approval of the Ministry of Home Affairs has been done away with.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(iii) Further, enhancement of capacity up to 15% of the quantity approved under licence will not require any further approval by the Government. The manufacturer will be required to give only prior intimation to the licensing authority in this regard.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(iv) The licence fee has been reduced significantly. Earlier the licence fee was Rs. 500/- per firearm which added up to very large sums and was a deterrent to seeking manufacturing licenses. The licence fee will now range from Rs. 5,000/- to the maximum of Rs. 50,000/-.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(v) The fee for manufacturing licence shall be payable at the time of grant of license rather than at the time of application.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">(vi) Single manufacturing licence will be allowed for a multi-unit facility within the same State or in different States within the country. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: georgia;"><b>A notification for the Arms (Amendment) Rules, 2017 has been issued by MHA on October 27, 2017.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: georgia;"><b>Click here for notification:</b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia;"><b><a href="http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2017/179873.pdf">http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2017/179873.pdf</a></b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #666666; font-size: x-small;">*** KSD/NK/PK</span></p>Media Link Ravinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13038836894222322159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-622775661155723231.post-69768085837618982402022-07-24T01:00:00.010+05:302022-08-06T15:01:14.663+05:30A Click Camera Report of Desert Training<p><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: #660000;"> US Soldiers Succesfully become the victorious </b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"></span></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMLN3y-7Rti2dQps_fLoipYnhwLf2NwBisuLOLX6ye8DPUNYTefoBj7o-205W5CBT087oByRQGGoMJMYZfhbTl8cEMcXfvCi6Ubwk8QlEN2PDVmGqPWO1lXKGlxQ_WSX9aI1ULAgG6j1ln6K1-0lp-dM7l5219i3Lb3HW2Xgpe78Forv5pil04ajP8-g/s1080/Desert%20Training%20C1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1080" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMLN3y-7Rti2dQps_fLoipYnhwLf2NwBisuLOLX6ye8DPUNYTefoBj7o-205W5CBT087oByRQGGoMJMYZfhbTl8cEMcXfvCi6Ubwk8QlEN2PDVmGqPWO1lXKGlxQ_WSX9aI1ULAgG6j1ln6K1-0lp-dM7l5219i3Lb3HW2Xgpe78Forv5pil04ajP8-g/w640-h426/Desert%20Training%20C1.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></b></div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br />Calif.</span>, <span style="color: #444444;">July 23, 2022</span>: (<span style="color: #2b00fe;">The Eagle Eye News</span>)</b><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Desert Training</b> is very tough but essential. Brave Soldiers of US Army perform all tests and training successfully. This training make the strong and more strong. After This Training They become victorious.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Marines advance towards</b> their support by fire position during a training exercise at Marine Corps Air-Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, Calif., July 23, 2022.</span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: georgia;"><b>Photo was clicked By Marine Corps Lance Cpl. David Intriago during this training.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="color: #444444;">Photo Courtesy: </span><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="https://www.defense.gov/Multimedia/Photos/igphoto/2003050414/">US Department of Defense</a></span></b></span></p><p><br /></p>Media Link Ravinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13038836894222322159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-622775661155723231.post-40099074966665229182022-03-16T07:26:00.002+05:302022-03-17T22:39:46.615+05:30There Will Be 'High Price to Pay'--NATO Chief Warns<p><b><span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-small;">16th <span face="Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white;">March 2022 at 6:27 AM</span></span></b></p><p><b><span style="background-color: #660000; color: #fcff01; font-size: large;">Russia is lying again on Russian Use of Chemical Weapons</span></b></p><p><b><span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-small;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgEgIxtzJJf1j97F5G6niQXUR81iKbKaHnEOGbLtRESr4oV72zPACkPVrylg1_Myt8EATZmDrAHcIl3_dFYl9MRl3wdxnBFbHMsO2ALlFdUlQtOBBXzqMq34pRQvqvMCSGnUQ8bZKv1xkfVXwSq-yz0K6FN2qM18LSNrb6OpSe3Y9fYQiFS52MQJ0_Wkw=s924" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="617" data-original-width="924" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgEgIxtzJJf1j97F5G6niQXUR81iKbKaHnEOGbLtRESr4oV72zPACkPVrylg1_Myt8EATZmDrAHcIl3_dFYl9MRl3wdxnBFbHMsO2ALlFdUlQtOBBXzqMq34pRQvqvMCSGnUQ8bZKv1xkfVXwSq-yz0K6FN2qM18LSNrb6OpSe3Y9fYQiFS52MQJ0_Wkw=w640-h428" width="640" /></a></span></b></div><b><span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-small;"><br />March 15, 2022 | By C. TODD LOPEZ </span></b><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"They are making absurd claims about biological labs and chemical weapons in Ukraine," said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who spoke today during a press conference in advance of tomorrow's meeting of NATO countries' defense ministers. "This is just another lie. And we are concerned that Moscow could stage a false flag operation, possibly including chemical weapons." </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEilyTzYVx1aHvVTS5S2wgTt1ryA5sfXxN2UIWky_vkmGAtpNfKhyn_EA5ppt_-byrAfTGpwMxNex87dYDgdLqRvK5yCD1s0JboLMwAXwzfwxFsND_lN3VtBwzXiwm2o1s_zrscLTpId2ah7RMSgsLt1QF0xPnWLlHfoZM-yp1J-f2e4RJ4xDyly2fxldw=s1280" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEilyTzYVx1aHvVTS5S2wgTt1ryA5sfXxN2UIWky_vkmGAtpNfKhyn_EA5ppt_-byrAfTGpwMxNex87dYDgdLqRvK5yCD1s0JboLMwAXwzfwxFsND_lN3VtBwzXiwm2o1s_zrscLTpId2ah7RMSgsLt1QF0xPnWLlHfoZM-yp1J-f2e4RJ4xDyly2fxldw=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />Stoltenberg said Russia has already staged "false flag" operations within Ukraine to justify its actions there. A false flag operation is a hostile action made to appear as if it were perpetrated by another party, then used to justify other aggressive actions. </span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"We have seen that they, throughout this crisis, have tried to create different kinds of false flag operations to try to provide excuses for use of force," Stoltenberg said. "We saw that in the lead-up to the intervention. And now we are seeing them accusing Ukraine and also NATO allies of producing and developing chemical weapons, and that's an absolute lie." </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The secretary general said Russia's false claims that Ukraine and NATO operate chemical and biological weapons labs raise the specter that Russia itself may be planning to use such weapons. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"The president of the United States and other allies also made very clear that if they use chemical weapons, there will be a high price to pay," he said. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Russia is one of the nations that signed on to the Chemical Weapons Convention prohibiting the development, production, stockpiling and use of chemical weapons, but it has not held true to the commitments it made there, Stoltenberg said. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"Russia has used chemical agents before to attack and actually kill political opponents," he said. "We have also seen that Russia has supported the Assad regime in Syria and helped to facilitate the use of chemical weapons several times in Syria." </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Any use of chemical weapons is absolutely unacceptable, Stoltenberg said. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"It is also extremely important that Russia understands that it is unacceptable if they consider any use of chemical weapons, and we are also very vigilant about the possibility of them trying to stage some kind of pretext, false flag operation to provide the excuse for any type of use of chemical weapons," he said. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">While Russian aggression continues in Ukraine, Stoltenberg said NATO will do what it's designed to do: defend the alliance. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"NATO's core task is to protect and defend all allies," he said. "We have responded to this crisis quickly, activating our defense plans, raising our readiness, and deploying the NATO Response Force for the first time for collective defense." </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Right now, there are hundreds of thousands of NATO forces on heightened alert. Already, Stoltenberg said, there are 100,000 U.S. troops in Europe and around 40,000 troops under direct NATO command, as well. Many of those are deployed in the eastern part of the alliance and are backed by major air and naval power, as well as air defenses. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"The U.S. is currently deploying Patriot batteries to Poland and Germany, and the Netherlands are also deploying Patriots to Slovakia," he said. "All of this sends an unmistakable message: An attack on one ally will be met with a decisive response from the whole alliance." </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Tomorrow's meeting of defense ministers, Stoltenberg said, will focus in part on a reset of NATO's military posture in the face of Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiD8wSiXsychFMnVLuHbrd9p2c7hmoYKgjPrVFlxA3Hsmn5JADi_aEmRlXXh3mi5yIZGHIRsYQEgxxVTWqCxe-LE0KRFNEKcIw40FDb5iwSJxF10_SSlHTjE9nUvQdfqFjaYqyVnp3QcYIMKzlFaQmtr3CrUHIYnfWxfXUcUFiDMz9vqkEhiB4o-mGEiA=s1280" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="849" data-original-width="1280" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiD8wSiXsychFMnVLuHbrd9p2c7hmoYKgjPrVFlxA3Hsmn5JADi_aEmRlXXh3mi5yIZGHIRsYQEgxxVTWqCxe-LE0KRFNEKcIw40FDb5iwSJxF10_SSlHTjE9nUvQdfqFjaYqyVnp3QcYIMKzlFaQmtr3CrUHIYnfWxfXUcUFiDMz9vqkEhiB4o-mGEiA=w640-h424" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />"Ministers will start an important discussion on concrete measures to reinforce our security for the longer term in all domains," he said. "On land, this could include substantially more forces in the eastern part of the alliance, at higher readiness and with more pre-positioned equipment." </span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">lso to be considered are increases to air and naval deployments, the strengthening of integrated air and missile defense, the reinforcement of cyber defenses, and more military exercises for NATO partners. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Stoltenberg also commended NATO nations that are increasing their own commitment to defense — something he said is now truly necessary in the face of Russian aggression. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"Major reinforcements of defense will require major increases in investment," he said. "I welcome that Germany and other allies have already announced they're stepping up, and I encourage all allies to spend the minimum 2% of GDP on defense. We must do more, so we must also invest more to protect peace and freedom and uphold our values at this critical time." </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Continued strengthening of the alliance, he said, will involve continued strengthening of air and missile defense — which is ongoing, as well as investments in more advanced conventional capabilities, including fifth-generation aircraft, Stoltenberg said. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Spotlight: NATO</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"I welcome the German decision to invest in fifth-generation aircraft," he said. "We need also to increase readiness and our ability to monitor and detect. And, of course, we also need to make sure that NATO's nuclear deterrent remains safe and secure and effective." </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">When it comes to Ukraine, Stoltenberg said that for many years now NATO allies have been training Ukrainian soldiers — many who are now fighting on the front lines in Ukraine. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">And now allies of Ukraine are providing to that country critical equipment — including anti-tank and air defense weapons, drones, ammunition and fuel — to help them in their fight. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"This training and equipment is helping Ukraine to defend itself," he said. "Ukraine has a fundamental right to self-defense enshrined in the U.N. charter, and NATO allies and partners will continue to help Ukraine uphold that right by providing military equipment and financial and humanitarian assistance." <b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/2967390/nato-chief-there-will-be-high-price-to-pay-for-russian-use-of-chemical-weapons/source/nato-chief-there-will-be-high-price-to-pay-for-russian-use-of-chemical-weapons/">Source Courtesy</a></span></b></span></p>Media Link Ravinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13038836894222322159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-622775661155723231.post-2113969677330494612022-02-27T19:30:00.006+05:302022-02-28T09:59:07.311+05:30Russian Strategic Forces Reportedly on High Alert<p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="background-color: #660000; color: #fcff01; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">As Fighting in Ukraine Intensifies</span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b style="color: #444444; font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: georgia;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="color: #444444; font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEisJb4l2Du1npHQvLP25f4EYkfO20dXR1pEI1LlKhjNad3-MUKkXu6ggUwTttO7O05QMGJPgZqix2M3Rn0oqgwYcq9sPkeQjSH5wmwNtE1MfSnHCXQh_b1tYAaaNEZ9xWVpHPGq-4qsVFpzGV4XU1q6mXcfsHOB0FmNi29OMimZ-iSlvB1kNK71r8ZlNA=s789" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="561" data-original-width="789" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEisJb4l2Du1npHQvLP25f4EYkfO20dXR1pEI1LlKhjNad3-MUKkXu6ggUwTttO7O05QMGJPgZqix2M3Rn0oqgwYcq9sPkeQjSH5wmwNtE1MfSnHCXQh_b1tYAaaNEZ9xWVpHPGq-4qsVFpzGV4XU1q6mXcfsHOB0FmNi29OMimZ-iSlvB1kNK71r8ZlNA=w640-h456" width="640" /></a></span></b></div><b style="color: #444444; font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: georgia;"><br />27th February 2022 | By David Vergun DOD News</span></b><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>U.S. officials don't doubt reports</b> that Russian President Vladimir Putin has placed Russia's nuclear deterrence forces on high alert, a senior defense official said at a press briefing today.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>"We have no reason to doubt</b> the validity of these reports," the official said.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Two soldiers look out from a large military vehicle.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>This is an unnecessary step</b> for Putin to take because Russia has never been under threat from NATO and certainly not from Ukraine, the official said.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>It is escalatory</b> because it's potentially putting at play forces that could, if there's a miscalculation, make things much more dangerous, the official said.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>"We remain confident</b> in our ability to defend ourselves and our allies and our partners, and that includes in the strategic deterrent realm," the official said.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Regarding the situation in Ukraine, the official said that roughly two-thirds of Russian forces arrayed along the border are now inside Ukraine, an increase over the last 24 hours when roughly half of those forces were inside Ukraine.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Ukrainians are putting up stiff resistance in the face of invading Russian forces, the official said, adding that no major cities inside Ukraine have yet been captured.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Four soldiers walk around two tactical vehicles.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"We believe that their advance was slowed both by resistance from the Ukrainians, who have been quite creative in finding ways to attack columns, and, number two, by the fuel shortages and the sustainment issues that they have had," the official said.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Logistics shortages have been particularly acute in their advanced on Kharkiv," which is in northeast Ukraine, the official said.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Some Russian reconnaissance elements have been in Kyiv over the last two days, and there are reports that they are wearing Ukrainian military uniforms to disguise themselves, the official said. In some cases, they have been identified by locals and by the Ukrainian military.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Russian forces, which are converging from the northeast and northwest, remain about 30 kilometers from the city center of Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, the official said.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">In the south of Ukraine, Russian forces are moving northeast toward Mariupol and are now about 50 kilometers from the center of that city, the official said. They are also moving northwest toward the city of Kherson.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"Our assessment is that Mariupol is defended, and the Ukrainians will put up stiff resistance there," the official said.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The airspace over Ukraine is still contested, and that means that Ukrainians are still using their own aircraft and air and missile defense systems, which are believed to be still intact and still viable, although somewhat degraded, the official said.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">In flight, a long tube extends from one plane to a jet flying below it.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Russians continue launching missiles against targets in Ukraine, mostly short-range, ballistic missiles, the official said. There are indications that some of the missiles launched have experienced failures.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">There are indications that Russian forces are adopting siege tactics around the city of Chernihiv, which is northeast of Kyiv. This is particularly troubling as it could result in civilian casualties, the official said.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The U.S. and NATO continue providing Ukraine with lethal and nonlethal assistance, the official said.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">An increased number of people, including some Americans, are leaving Ukraine, with many going to Poland, the official said. The 82nd Airborne Division is poised near the border and prepared to assist should the need arise.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskyy is still governing his country, still viable, still active," the official said. "He still has command and control over his armed forces."</span></p>Media Link Ravinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13038836894222322159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-622775661155723231.post-18731105082106193472022-02-26T18:15:00.012+05:302022-02-26T22:24:14.522+05:30Russian Armed Forces hit 821 military objects of Ukraine<p style="text-align: justify;"> <b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: georgia;">Updated-26th February 2022</span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: white; font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><b style="background-color: #660000;">Updates from the Russian Defence Ministry-February 26, 2022</b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-family: georgia;"><u>Russian Defence Ministry spokesperson:</u></b><span style="font-family: georgia;"> Groupings of troops of Donetsk and Luhansk, with the fire support from the Russian Armed Forces, expanded the areas of the breakthrough in the enemy's defence during the day and continue to develop the success of the offensive.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi1DzD87JGQmHS4YK9Oq2bE6kfsSQl2veDYKObJxMzx6J9euk-9rXjFR0a_VFfgBbAohQFLlKYb5lDNMFTY8x2wK5R3PYWE9hQUXL0gLXu0210ZwcKw-gWLUxU_Gp7yLsdOvhxXxprj6v2jy-ZAfV91ZAlROKWXUn5OfVLpe0EpPrq7draQ01wKUbNmUg=s769" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="497" data-original-width="769" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi1DzD87JGQmHS4YK9Oq2bE6kfsSQl2veDYKObJxMzx6J9euk-9rXjFR0a_VFfgBbAohQFLlKYb5lDNMFTY8x2wK5R3PYWE9hQUXL0gLXu0210ZwcKw-gWLUxU_Gp7yLsdOvhxXxprj6v2jy-ZAfV91ZAlROKWXUn5OfVLpe0EpPrq7draQ01wKUbNmUg=s320" width="320" /></a></b></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>The grouping of troops of the Luhansk People's Republic</b> advanced to a depth of 30 kilometers and captured the settlements of Bakhmutovka and Grechishkino.</span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Formations and military units of the Donetsk People's Republic,</b> advancing in the direction of Novomayskoye, covered another 6 kilometers. Nationalist battalions, retreating, blow up power substations and bridges across rivers behind them.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>The units of the Russian Armed Forces have established full control</b> over the city of Melitopol. Russian servicemen are taking all measures to ensure the safety of civilians and exclude provocations by Ukrainian special services and nationalists.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>During the night,</b> the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation struck with high-precision long-range weapons using air- and sea-based cruise missiles at the objects of the military infrastructure of Ukraine.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>I would like to emphasize once again</b> that the fire is conducted only on the objects of the military infrastructure of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, excluding damage to residential and social infrastructure.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>In total, the Russian Armed Forces hit 821 objects of the military infrastructure of Ukraine.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Among them: 14 military airfields, 19 control points and communication centers, 24 S-300 and Osa anti-aircraft missile systems, 48 radar stations. Downed: 7 combat aircraft, 7 helicopters, 9 unmanned aerial vehicles.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>87 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 28 multiple rocket launchers, 118 units of special military vehicles were destroyed.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>The forces of the Russian Navy destroyed 8 military boats of the Ukrainian Navy.</b></span></p>Media Link Ravinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13038836894222322159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-622775661155723231.post-6237722241204414362022-02-22T02:30:00.018+05:302022-02-28T00:13:31.211+05:30Oleksiy Danilov: Ukraine will return the temporarily occupied territories<p style="text-align: justify;"> <b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: georgia;">21st February 2022 at 14:59</span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #fcff01; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><b style="background-color: #660000;">But solely by peaceful means</b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjtWTV3Nk2uocmZwxVO5in5iIBrAp9pw6btehRaqFuyJdbZ90mhkuVbqzgmZLBgKFOzNswsF5IGJ3GvxtxXmCxuZY3BmuyW-IF13GPc5WqlLCvw8GhNuPoBDLAgUauXtG4Skj2hT6kJiQFKHUXf-GHHs_ugeOxdRq37-DnOzt8LUNoRJhxerSyFJVVKWw=s1027" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="820" data-original-width="1027" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjtWTV3Nk2uocmZwxVO5in5iIBrAp9pw6btehRaqFuyJdbZ90mhkuVbqzgmZLBgKFOzNswsF5IGJ3GvxtxXmCxuZY3BmuyW-IF13GPc5WqlLCvw8GhNuPoBDLAgUauXtG4Skj2hT6kJiQFKHUXf-GHHs_ugeOxdRq37-DnOzt8LUNoRJhxerSyFJVVKWw=s320" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Ukraine’s task is to return</b> the temporarily occupied territories solely by peaceful means. Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov emphasized this at a press conference within the National Forum “Safe and Capable Communities of the Future”, organized by the NSDC Staff together with the Association of Small Towns of Ukraine under the patronage of the President of Ukraine.</div></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Answering journalists’ questions,</b> the NSDC stressed that security issues are under the constant control of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy. “The security and defense sector is working 24/7”, - he added.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>The NSDC Secretary noted </b>that Russia is trying to create a casus belli, underlining that the Russian occupation forces are conducting shelling but not the Armed Forces of Ukraine.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>“They won’t manage to provoke us.</b> <b>We will not conduct warfare against our population”, - Mr. Danilov stated adding that “President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s plan is a political and diplomatic way of de-occupying territories”.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Mr. Danilov also noted that the Russian Federation is conducting a powerful information campaign against Ukraine, and called to “calm down and not give in to panic”. “Our military and our society are ready for any challenge”, - he said.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span><span style="color: #666666; font-family: georgia;"><b>Issued by </b></span><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="https://www.rnbo.gov.ua/en/Diialnist/5273.html">National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine</a></span></b></span></p>Media Link Ravinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13038836894222322159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-622775661155723231.post-18253697266970936332022-02-15T05:15:00.016+05:302022-02-15T18:03:55.630+05:30Putin has added additional military capability in Belarus<p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="background-color: #660000; color: white; font-size: large;">Russian Border with Ukraine, Kirby Says</span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: georgia;">14th February 2022 | By David Vergun DOD NEWS</span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Over the last couple of days,</b> Russian President Vladimir Putin has added additional military capability along his border with Ukraine, as well as in the Belarus area that borders Ukraine, said Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby, who briefed the media today. </span></p><p><b></b></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhE5Q4-1j3OKSTE2VU_RBfunLjCsoEEnzO5scbxkI-89I8NAUX_EnwvbFkixP6H_ZdN2HCCgmEStZ69h2d0SM-blPq5Qa8IjZig5BwL3HKxPAwP7gy_JdAH2cVGrEiJJOHgeaagMvNSHkydorrfv6Al5ouSVD-p3JTRiF5Qq75p9UTeZknzyzck2Zy3lA=s1027" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" data-original-height="684" data-original-width="1027" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhE5Q4-1j3OKSTE2VU_RBfunLjCsoEEnzO5scbxkI-89I8NAUX_EnwvbFkixP6H_ZdN2HCCgmEStZ69h2d0SM-blPq5Qa8IjZig5BwL3HKxPAwP7gy_JdAH2cVGrEiJJOHgeaagMvNSHkydorrfv6Al5ouSVD-p3JTRiF5Qq75p9UTeZknzyzck2Zy3lA=w640-h426" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: georgia;">A U.S. soldier of 1st Battalion, 185th Infantry Regiment, Battle Group Poland, chats with a Romanian soldier as the pair line up respective battle fighting vehicles Feb. 12, 2022, during a hand over, take over ceremony at Bemowo Piskie Training Area, Poland. </span><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: georgia;">Photo By: Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Eddie Siguenza</span></b></div><b><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #444444;"> </span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-align: left;">The United States is being very transparent with Kyiv</b><span style="text-align: left;"> about its intelligence assessments of those Russian forces, he said. </span><b style="text-align: left;">Among those added assets,</b><span style="text-align: left;"> he said, are combined arms capabilities that include: artillery; air and missile defense; landing craft in the Black Sea; infantry; armor; offensive air; special operations; logistics and sustainment; cyber; and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. </span></div></span></b><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"[Putin] continues to do the things that you would expect one to do if one were planning on a major military action, that is, to sharpen the readiness and to add to the capabilities of his force," Kirby said. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">"We obviously don't want that to be the outcome, and neither do Ukrainians and certainly neither do our NATO allies," he added. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_CYClEMZf7ZYLnknMoxp7SMAwPrVR6qR-u7ZnvnEbXPD-VOUsyK_I392Osll0frd481V3W7ZRsVKVvhFM_4ThVYlfIEJyc76a9I8KmTHW-Rh7_7mK74LIxAViFZ5hzF37zdL6PVEzYnmmqms-qIe4QQJ0bRIzWfYzUnx-KuNfAz5sQCFIpY01d-0P2g=s1027" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="684" data-original-width="1027" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_CYClEMZf7ZYLnknMoxp7SMAwPrVR6qR-u7ZnvnEbXPD-VOUsyK_I392Osll0frd481V3W7ZRsVKVvhFM_4ThVYlfIEJyc76a9I8KmTHW-Rh7_7mK74LIxAViFZ5hzF37zdL6PVEzYnmmqms-qIe4QQJ0bRIzWfYzUnx-KuNfAz5sQCFIpY01d-0P2g=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #444444;">An F-15C Eagle assigned to the 493rd Fighter Squadron taxis to a parking space after a local area familiarization flight in support of the NATO operations at Lask Air Base, Poland, Feb. 11, 2022. </span><span style="color: #0b5394;">Photo By: Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jacob Albers</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: georgia;"><br />Russian Foreign Minister Sergeĭ Lavrov seemed to indicate earlier today that he still thinks there's room for diplomacy, Kirby said. "We would welcome a pursuit of that path by the Russians, because we, too, believe that there still should be and can be a diplomatic path forward." </span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Should Putin decide to invade, many Russian and Ukrainian lives would be lost, Kirby said. Russia can deescalate immediately and take a diplomatic path forward. "It's within Mr. Putin's power to make the right decision now. And obviously, we hope to see him do that." </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="color: #444444;">Courtesy Link:</span><span style="color: #2b00fe;"> </span><a href="https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/2934726/putin-adds-military-capabilities-in-belarus-russian-border-with-ukraine-kirby-s/" style="color: #2b00fe;">U.S. Department of Defense</a></b></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Media Link Ravinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13038836894222322159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-622775661155723231.post-63621520703564098332021-08-27T04:45:00.021+05:302021-08-27T10:48:48.048+05:30Tragic Deaths of U.S. Service Members in Afghanistan<p style="text-align: justify;"> <b><span style="color: #444444; font-size: x-small;">27th August 2021 at 3:58 AM</span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="background-color: #660000; color: #fcff01; font-size: x-large;"> Won't Stop Evacuation Mission </span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #ff00fe;">AUG. 26, 2021 | BY C. TODD LOPEZ, DOD NEWS</span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: georgia;"><b>A dozen American service members were killed, 15 more were injured and a number of Afghan civilians were also killed or injured during attacks this morning in Afghanistan.</b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>The attacks involved an explosive set off</b> by a suicide bomber near the Abbey Gate entrance to Hamid Karzai International Airport. Nearby, another suicide bomber set off an explosive at the Baron Hotel. Those attacks were followed by gunfire from ISIS gunmen.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b></b></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg4-4wqivAmmh1Nv38_EqAP75z8h2twgFyfEI5vtUYWDho99LdaHg8yDJrz-XCj_xYWUW1SNnBApVkWgnm7vrsO7O_TrLNxbMMDPCEOYGs9_tcKPBEmVIBsAu_9SOSztxABFFuuLkBrGBB/s1280/Pentagon+Media+Meet.webp" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="852" data-original-width="1280" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg4-4wqivAmmh1Nv38_EqAP75z8h2twgFyfEI5vtUYWDho99LdaHg8yDJrz-XCj_xYWUW1SNnBApVkWgnm7vrsO7O_TrLNxbMMDPCEOYGs9_tcKPBEmVIBsAu_9SOSztxABFFuuLkBrGBB/w640-h426/Pentagon+Media+Meet.webp" width="640" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #444444;">Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby and Marine Corps Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr., commander of U.S. Central Command, brief the media at the Pentagon, Aug. 26, 2021</span></b></div></span><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Despite the tragic loss of life,</b> the mission to evacuate American citizens and vulnerable Afghan civilians from Afghanistan will continue undeterred, Marine Corps Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr., commander of U.S. Central Command, said during a briefing today at the Pentagon.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>"Let me be clear: </b>while we're saddened by the loss of life, both U.S. and Afghan [citizens], we're continuing to execute the mission," the general said.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Right now,</b> that mission is to evacuate from Afghanistan U.S. citizens, third-country nationals, special immigrant visa holders, U.S. embassy staff, and at-risk Afghans. Currently, there are now some 5,000 individuals awaiting evacuation from the country, McKenzie said.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Since Aug. 14,</b> he noted, more than 104,000 civilians have been evacuated — including about 5,000 Americans. He said he believes there are a little over 1,000 American civilians left in the country now.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>"We're doing everything we can,</b> in concert with our Department of State partners, to reach out to them and to help them leave, if they want to leave. And remember, not everybody wants to leave," he said.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b></b></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmNs6jmuV8oAwM4CskDoOqEarkakTvU2eK4KjbzDt9myJ2NqMroXsddSMMGT1Zn_xIYKl6d3zAtm6vcVK0q9m10hokoXRNmqzXwA3m9GKix5ddyxhStCus7CVHRe2W-MxQE7RJpntFQgAm/s1080/Pentagon+Media+Meet+2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="719" data-original-width="1080" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmNs6jmuV8oAwM4CskDoOqEarkakTvU2eK4KjbzDt9myJ2NqMroXsddSMMGT1Zn_xIYKl6d3zAtm6vcVK0q9m10hokoXRNmqzXwA3m9GKix5ddyxhStCus7CVHRe2W-MxQE7RJpntFQgAm/w640-h426/Pentagon+Media+Meet+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #444444;">Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby and Marine Corps Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr., commander of U.S. Central Command, brief the media at the Pentagon, Aug. 26, 2021<br /><br /></span></b></td><td class="tr-caption"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><b style="font-family: georgia;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>The risks to U.S. forces</b><span style="font-family: georgia;"> conducting evacuation operations in Afghanistan are well-known, McKenzie said, and include a number of what he described as "tactical threats."</span></div></b><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Those threats include </b>rocket attacks, which he said could be countered by anti-rocket and mortar systems in place at the airport. "We feel that we'd be in good shape should that kind of attack occur," he said.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Also a risk,</b> he said, are larger suicide bomb attacks similar to the ones this morning. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>"We also know they aim</b> to get a ... vehicle-borne suicide attack in if they can — from a small vehicle to a large vehicle — they're working all those options," he said. "All of those things we look at."</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>The Taliban is now doing security </b>outside the airport and McKenzie said the U.S. military is working with them so they can help mitigate some of the threats.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Right now, it's not 100% clear </b>exactly who is responsible for planning the bombings, but McKenzie said that the U.S. military is looking for the perpetrators and will take action once it is discovered who is responsible.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>"If we can find </b>who's associated with this, we will go after them," he said. "We've been clear all along that we're going to retain the right to operate against ISIS in Afghanistan, and we are working very hard right now to determine attribution to determine who is associated with this cowardly attack, and we're prepared to take action against them. 24/7, we are looking for them."</span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b></b></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBlurW7As7eGL62_AbmKog-1fkSp0k0Ulu3mmXy1ouJvBUQ6WjMiqRg8iPq4cMd7VqBuoVw_ElOi0ciHXtplG1BzNtxj1dbWTdVNYLFIXP6lfgFk_j3VUqPeObp-5HRf1ym1_wkSlUXsv7/s1080/Pentagon+media+meet+3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="719" data-original-width="1080" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBlurW7As7eGL62_AbmKog-1fkSp0k0Ulu3mmXy1ouJvBUQ6WjMiqRg8iPq4cMd7VqBuoVw_ElOi0ciHXtplG1BzNtxj1dbWTdVNYLFIXP6lfgFk_j3VUqPeObp-5HRf1ym1_wkSlUXsv7/w640-h426/Pentagon+media+meet+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #444444;">Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby and Marine Corps Gen. Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr., commander of U.S. Central Command, brief the media at the Pentagon, Aug. 26, 2021</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: georgia;"><b></b></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: 700;"><br /></span></div><b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Inside Afghanistan,</b> U.S. Central Command continues to execute the mission to evacuate as many civilians as possible. Back in the U.S., the military services will conduct next-of-kin notifications to the families of those service members who were killed, McKenzie said.</div></b></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Earlier today,</b> Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III expressed condolences to the families, loved ones and colleagues of those lost in the attacks.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>"On behalf of the men</b> <b>and women</b> of the Department of Defense, I express my deepest condolences to the loved ones and teammates of all those killed and wounded in Kabul today," he said. "Terrorists took their lives at the very moment these troops were trying to save the lives of others. We mourn their loss. We will treat their wounds. And we will support their families in what will most assuredly be devastating grief."</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Like McKenzie, Austin reiterated</b> the U.S. commitment to continue the mission in Afghanistan until it is complete.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>"We will not be dissuaded</b> from the task at hand," he said. "To do anything less — especially now — would dishonor the purpose and sacrifice these men and women have rendered our country and the people of Afghanistan." <a href="https://www.defense.gov/Explore/News/Article/Article/2749726/tragic-deaths-of-us-service-members-in-afghanistan-wont-stop-evacuation-mission/source/GovDelivery/"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;">US Department of Defense</span></b></a></span></p>Media Link Ravinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13038836894222322159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-622775661155723231.post-60946750456924488032021-06-05T02:45:00.001+05:302021-07-17T14:06:15.193+05:30Family Affair An Important Part of Life<p> <b><span style="background-color: #660000; color: white; font-size: large;"> Navy Senior Officer Steven Styger embraces his family </span></b></p><p><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivgdy4Ulj5uHmJQEFFzCTZCbw_m3vYf1NgoERfJ2Jl20Uqx17I4eWdswTw_snoiCcFjNncoFT3zOavi-hz4_CKJnbAY0OGbGcMsjEXaiYVTti0lPXVyhh7tv1yY7RmhFkiHFcHCCapE1aY/s992/Family+Affair+C1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="661" data-original-width="992" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivgdy4Ulj5uHmJQEFFzCTZCbw_m3vYf1NgoERfJ2Jl20Uqx17I4eWdswTw_snoiCcFjNncoFT3zOavi-hz4_CKJnbAY0OGbGcMsjEXaiYVTti0lPXVyhh7tv1yY7RmhFkiHFcHCCapE1aY/w640-h426/Family+Affair+C1.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></b></div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br />Naval Base Guam</span>: <span style="color: #444444;">5th June 2021</span> (<span style="color: #2b00fe;">The Eagle Eye News</span>)::</b><p></p><p><b>Can you imagine a long time distance with family? Yes it is happened not only in our life but even in the life of Army. When the army officers return from the duty they hug with all family members. You may se the grace of happiness during a meet with family members.</b></p><p><b>Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Steven Styger embraces his family after returning to Naval Base Guam, June 1, 2021, following a deployment aboard the USS Asheville.</b></p><p><b>Photo was clicked by Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Charlotte Oliver</b></p><p><b><span style="color: #444444;">Courtesy</span>: <span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="https://www.defense.gov/observe/photo-gallery/igphoto/2002752333/">US Department of Defense</a></span></b></p>Media Link Ravinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13038836894222322159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-622775661155723231.post-90443752930789550162021-03-16T02:45:00.008+05:302021-03-19T12:31:28.083+05:30 Bomber Takeoff<p> <b><span style="background-color: #990000; color: #fcff01; font-size: large;"> A click at Orland Air Force Station, Norway</span></b></p><p><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAksQXenlCSUhPBcHo-weT99Cx8CkZuWCpKjzXRiTF_YpFJKR9MykmCNHU_1tYiLNvupKrZ-mcctd9W29ZFwY8IOzoTFRh4lMIlth3tIca0hCr030qe6LmmXt6o3kG21ItTDMUQW-n_Hdl/s1088/Bomber+Takeoff+210314-F-TK640-1383M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="726" data-original-width="1088" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAksQXenlCSUhPBcHo-weT99Cx8CkZuWCpKjzXRiTF_YpFJKR9MykmCNHU_1tYiLNvupKrZ-mcctd9W29ZFwY8IOzoTFRh4lMIlth3tIca0hCr030qe6LmmXt6o3kG21ItTDMUQW-n_Hdl/w640-h428/Bomber+Takeoff+210314-F-TK640-1383M.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></b></div><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br />Norway</span>: <span style="color: #444444;">14th March 2021</span>: (<span style="color: #2b00fe;">The Eagle Eye News</span>)::</b><p></p><p><b>An Air Force B-1B Lancer takes off from Orland Air Force Station, Norway, March 14, 2021.</b></p><p><b><span style="color: #444444;">Photo By: Air Force Airman 1st Class Colin Hollowell</span></b></p><p><b><span style="color: #674ea7;">Courtesy: </span><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="https://www.defense.gov/observe/photo-gallery/igphoto/2002603504/">US Department of Defense </a></span></b></p>Media Link Ravinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13038836894222322159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-622775661155723231.post-5971776248764401212021-03-12T02:45:00.001+05:302021-03-19T11:56:33.348+05:30Skills of a military working dog<p><b><span style="background-color: #660000; color: #fcff01; font-size: x-large;"> A soldier demonstrates the capabilities </span></b></p><p><b style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3sF6ZyhPzDLdhCRrPm1QzT0GdaioGyh5yzRmelSxTgXZwYEFDv3DMbpdH4H2HUC28crhS0bwmzHQoB0_DNU4tSCgTI0LzmYg01dJ59QguSXQRHGtNUfNYESZSEYGnj82zqMM37iVAqUH5/s876/Canine+Skills+210308-A-KI711-026M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="584" data-original-width="876" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3sF6ZyhPzDLdhCRrPm1QzT0GdaioGyh5yzRmelSxTgXZwYEFDv3DMbpdH4H2HUC28crhS0bwmzHQoB0_DNU4tSCgTI0LzmYg01dJ59QguSXQRHGtNUfNYESZSEYGnj82zqMM37iVAqUH5/w640-h426/Canine+Skills+210308-A-KI711-026M.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></b></div><b style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br />Myer-Henderson Hall</span>: <span style="color: #444444;">12th March 2021</span>:(<span style="color: #2b00fe;">The Eagle Eye News</span>)::</b><p></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>A soldier demonstrates the capabilities and skills of a military working dog at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Va., March 8, 2021.</b></span></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: georgia;"><b>Photo By: Army Sgt. Nicholas T. Holmes</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="color: #674ea7;">Courtesy: </span><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="https://www.defense.gov/observe/photo-gallery/igphoto/2002603404/source/GovDelivery/">US Department of Defense</a></span></b></span></p>Media Link Ravinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13038836894222322159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-622775661155723231.post-73877270013411408642021-02-20T02:45:00.002+05:302021-03-06T15:28:01.910+05:30 Tenacious Two with hope and confidence<p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="background-color: #660000; color: #fcff01; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"> The event tested competitors </span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"></span></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhylhI6DkAAUozhQ72OITO3rNAs0hj-c08M0cDjQJger6i8ADZ1oYaBIh7GHhpaxfveySgGyPa1TOnabzb_13RdAdRzEIIwH9Unjp_b-0Fmoje55vJnX8YWNs91rSdoe2ZA0mYEv5H5Ojy9/s1088/Tenacious+Two.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="725" data-original-width="1088" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhylhI6DkAAUozhQ72OITO3rNAs0hj-c08M0cDjQJger6i8ADZ1oYaBIh7GHhpaxfveySgGyPa1TOnabzb_13RdAdRzEIIwH9Unjp_b-0Fmoje55vJnX8YWNs91rSdoe2ZA0mYEv5H5Ojy9/w640-h426/Tenacious+Two.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></b></div><b><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br />Internet</span>: <span style="color: #666666;">21st February 2021</span>: (<span style="color: #990000;">USA Defense Department</span>//<span style="color: #2b00fe;">The Eagle Eye News</span>)::</span></b><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;">Soldiers participate in a weeklong competition at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, Feb. 16, 2021. The event tested competitors’ physical readiness and tenacity.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #444444; font-family: georgia;">Photo By: Army Spc. Jessica Scott</span></b></p>Media Link Ravinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13038836894222322159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-622775661155723231.post-61052515437504193582021-01-24T19:45:00.001+05:302021-01-24T22:19:55.615+05:30Heroin worth around Rs. 68 crore recovered<p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #666666;">Sunday: 24-January-2021 18:54 IST</span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: white;"><b><span style="background-color: #660000;"> Two foreign nationals held at IGI Airport</span></b></span></span><b style="background-color: #660000;"><span style="color: white;">recovered </span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"></span></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir-jrhhtDBSvvj7N9Ye1btTeGMFCSwLMXrHQQsEBABzJumodJZ8-upwa3jxBXu-alqx3sLD18klb_X0gPc37l7DVGhyAsZpXS4xPrTbMnKzy-R5sTP9kPICD0RxU0433OR_xC8tvkKBzc/s670/heroin+representing+picture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="243" data-original-width="670" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir-jrhhtDBSvvj7N9Ye1btTeGMFCSwLMXrHQQsEBABzJumodJZ8-upwa3jxBXu-alqx3sLD18klb_X0gPc37l7DVGhyAsZpXS4xPrTbMnKzy-R5sTP9kPICD0RxU0433OR_xC8tvkKBzc/w640-h232/heroin+representing+picture.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></b></div><b><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br />New Delhi</span>: <span style="color: #444444;">24th January 2021</span>: (<span style="color: red;">PIB</span>//<span style="color: #2b00fe;">The Eagle Eye News</span>)::</span></b><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">On the basis of suspicion, two Ugandan nationals coming from Entebebe via Doha by flight QR-578 were intercepted by air customs officers at IGI Airport here today. During search of the checked in bags of the two passengers, total 51 pouches containing 9.8 kg (approx) of white powdery substance, suspected to be narcotics was recovered. When this material was subjected to diagnostic test, prima facie it appears to contain commercial quantity of heroin, valued at Rs 68 crore (approx).</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">In view of the above, it is clear that the saidpassengers had violated provisions of section 8 of the NDPS act, 1985 and had committed offence punishable under section 21, section 23 and section 29 of NDPS act 1985 read along with provisions of the Customs Act, 1962. It is one of the biggest detection of heroin/narcotics at any international airport in the country. Further investigation in the matter is under process.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">****//</span><span style="font-size: x-small;">RM/KMN</span></span></p>Rector Kathuriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06225119395785915592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-622775661155723231.post-74897334802993673912020-11-20T02:45:00.009+05:302020-11-20T10:26:24.581+05:30Welcome Home<p><b style="font-family: Lato, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #660000; color: #fcff01; font-size: x-large;"> A moment with a loved one </span></b></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Lato, sans-serif;"><b></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj336VuCLIeaChk8Kfu2rR_Eg4jDmb-p9F7KWf3RFtK5J8p3mtAxRTsZwnaBS2T_aiYtuC0Oz5chIRbxFeTQDjeewn9sw8oE3TnbdVxBrxipABWJFmcdQPGTpgR2f0Euq3T1u6ieJlvUSEb/s1095/Welcome+Home+C1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="729" data-original-width="1095" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj336VuCLIeaChk8Kfu2rR_Eg4jDmb-p9F7KWf3RFtK5J8p3mtAxRTsZwnaBS2T_aiYtuC0Oz5chIRbxFeTQDjeewn9sw8oE3TnbdVxBrxipABWJFmcdQPGTpgR2f0Euq3T1u6ieJlvUSEb/w640-h426/Welcome+Home+C1.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></div><b><br />A Missouri Air National Guardsman shares a moment with a loved one upon returning home to Kansas City, Mo., Nov. 18, 2020, after an overseas deployment. </b><p></p>Media Link Ravinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13038836894222322159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-622775661155723231.post-90252179968137825472020-10-20T02:45:00.003+05:302020-11-15T09:13:21.288+05:30 Women Courage: Sharp Shooter with carbine<p style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="background-color: #660000; color: #fcff01; font-size: large;"> During weapons qualification course in Kuwait </span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"></span></b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimq14EbWxMNh-7MSkD10cMPz3AOP_3NLva95SX1tJc5WR7MbOCGji_nODuHGfztbO3JKVwg8xZkJuvtYMtG-CxYm-BTN83IY5KLDFr6uXmLKcnW8FIm_rfBfo9Mas07KXwhqdm1c8g4Vvv/s1095/Sharp+Shooter+201019-A-FS682-530M+C1+Details+in+The+Women+Screen+and+The+Eagle+Eye+News.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="730" data-original-width="1095" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimq14EbWxMNh-7MSkD10cMPz3AOP_3NLva95SX1tJc5WR7MbOCGji_nODuHGfztbO3JKVwg8xZkJuvtYMtG-CxYm-BTN83IY5KLDFr6uXmLKcnW8FIm_rfBfo9Mas07KXwhqdm1c8g4Vvv/w640-h426/Sharp+Shooter+201019-A-FS682-530M+C1+Details+in+The+Women+Screen+and+The+Eagle+Eye+News.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></b></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b><span style="color: #2b00fe;"><br />USA</span>: <span style="color: #444444;">20th October 2020</span>: (<span style="color: #2b00fe;">The Eagle Eye News</span>)::</b></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><b>Women are growing with fast speed even on war front. They are getting themselves trained in weapon training too. Women are surprising the world with their capacity to learn and perform. You are watching the picture of a brave American soldier. Missouri Army National Guard Spc. Lauren Cabrera fires from an M4 carbine during a specialized law enforcement weapons qualification course at the Udairi Range Complex, Kuwait, Oct. 19, 2020.</b></span></p>Media Link Ravinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13038836894222322159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-622775661155723231.post-27771229173401170072020-07-23T18:45:00.000+05:302020-07-24T17:09:17.548+05:30Marines Donate Plasma in Fight Against COVID-19<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="background-color: #660000; color: yellow; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> These antibodies could lead to developments </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">23rd July 2020 | By Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Jacob L. Greenberg</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxCWG6AYJ8Oz2si8n-bvuM-IlVbmDVx1tYXH-6wwgJN-1dw1DBDVp1StQCGn_P0uhIThyHucrQG5W5ZveQJXKfbYd-oVA48W-YCH54lJgl-W3FWwv4Kbun_iH_ndVShbKHI4YR_i8IN5ZJ/s1600/DOD+plazma+story+pics+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="854" data-original-width="1281" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxCWG6AYJ8Oz2si8n-bvuM-IlVbmDVx1tYXH-6wwgJN-1dw1DBDVp1StQCGn_P0uhIThyHucrQG5W5ZveQJXKfbYd-oVA48W-YCH54lJgl-W3FWwv4Kbun_iH_ndVShbKHI4YR_i8IN5ZJ/s640/DOD+plazma+story+pics+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Marines assigned to Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego in California who have tested positive for COVID-19 donated plasma at Naval Medical Center San Diego.</div>
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<b>A phlebotomist drawing and testing blood.</b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNQBSTLkIQTzeJSD3K6qBgseBIXgSUj5AhdffL7hwHmjNJjVK4S8QM3j5-L2DM_lMsatLuB967TVXwZcEv4WQkEyiqWvczpZrY20Oi2g5YzChGREwYIVIuUpB8sRMPmJMIYKzaVXEvr4Bp/s1600/DOD+plazma+story+pics+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="550" data-original-width="825" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNQBSTLkIQTzeJSD3K6qBgseBIXgSUj5AhdffL7hwHmjNJjVK4S8QM3j5-L2DM_lMsatLuB967TVXwZcEv4WQkEyiqWvczpZrY20Oi2g5YzChGREwYIVIuUpB8sRMPmJMIYKzaVXEvr4Bp/s400/DOD+plazma+story+pics+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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In support of the development of an effective treatment, The Defense Department launched a campaign in late May to collect 8,000 units of plasma from patients who have recovered from COVID-19.</div>
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"The hope is that these Marines who have tested positive and recovered from COVID-19 will have developed antibodies," said Ellyn Alcantara, a clinical nurse assigned to the medical center's blood donor center. "These antibodies could lead to developments in a treatment for COVID-19."</div>
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All of the Marines volunteered to donate their plasma with the hope that their antibodies will help others.</div>
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"It makes me feel good to be a part of the solution to this pandemic," said Marine Corps Pfc. Xavier Flores, a recent donor.</div>
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A Marine gets blood drawn while lying in a hospital bed.</div>
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Upon arriving at the donor center, the Marines were given a medical health screening to determine their donor eligibility. Once they are cleared to donate plasma, a complete blood count and hematocrit test ensures the proportion of red blood cells in the body is optimal for donation and would have no adverse effects on the donor.</div>
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"A transfusion transmissible infection test will be performed on all donors as a part of their screening process," said Navy Lt. Therica Reynolds, the officer in charge of the medical center's Blood Donor Center. "We're trying to maximize our plasma collection and do our part for patient care."</div>
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Reynolds said apheresis — the plasma donation process — takes about an hour from the beginning of the screening process to the end of the collection. Convalescent COVID-19 plasma, or CCP, from recovered COVID-19-positive patients has been used at the medical center to help symptomatic patients recover.</div>
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<b>A phlebotomist drawing and testing blood.</b></div>
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"A qualified donor is eligible to donate every 28 days, and one person can potentially donate four doses, or bags, of CCP per visit," Reynolds said. "We highly encourage potential donors to make an appointment for one of our five apheresis machines. Anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19 and has recovered is encouraged to come into our [donation center] and get screened to donate."</div>
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NMCSD's mission is to prepare service members to deploy in support of operational forces, deliver high quality healthcare services and shape the future of military medicine through education, training and research. It employs more than 6,000 active duty military personnel, civilians and contractors.</div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #741b47;">(Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Jacob L. Greenberg is assigned to Naval Medical Center San Diego.)</span></i></b></div>
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Media Link Ravinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13038836894222322159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-622775661155723231.post-58724618595456119322020-04-04T00:45:00.000+05:302020-04-04T12:30:10.023+05:30WHO and UNICEF to partner on pandemic response<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: yellow; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: #660000;">Through COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="color: white; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><u style="background-color: #660000;">Unprecedented fund an ‘all-hands-on-deck’ approach to tackle COVID-19 pandemic</u></span></b></div>
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<span style="color: #a64d79; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>3 April 2020 News release New York/Geneva/Washington, DC</b></span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7hW8vEbXqzU0ifVF1b4QYXnKYTDQ8fdXk8fOBtLbreAqU_TLzS3eI_NQIn4lszrSmmpVCiJqki-3WSKJniPaETpxy8xO79dP5TBEhbpP46Zohpqa_xR1WmgA-zVW27r-s9PWtMpmUAqWo/s1600/Global+fund+for+fight+against+Covid-19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7hW8vEbXqzU0ifVF1b4QYXnKYTDQ8fdXk8fOBtLbreAqU_TLzS3eI_NQIn4lszrSmmpVCiJqki-3WSKJniPaETpxy8xO79dP5TBEhbpP46Zohpqa_xR1WmgA-zVW27r-s9PWtMpmUAqWo/s400/Global+fund+for+fight+against+Covid-19.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/essity/photos/basw.AbpelF74Qze0G8AcvfAsLVoWC5N2_Yu3e5Lcb2jSGHJr4Aw0RJ8LHIpTdMFdVhzeDopTxgisdBSeYN7zOsZ5KdvCih69OCVSTs9V-GjruU5Ul34ZIR9s0CEGB52WkcymZ3wazzAtpdsLC4PxdPdnKES_g6vYpSjMv6y6jxnCtT4iAz6_-PZwUHI7wZdDgSYg9rs.3471035862913813.3046817938672090.10157874235191013.2982039165195701.2805568459519825.10160256035638499.10222098139343292.2777510412476448.2843231612440289/3046817938672090/?type=1&opaqueCursor=AbogxzNRke5GTDt4XzD-3f6JUZAuEjgZXl8hjANKRtoc4mDTMBS3reAX5-V3kDgMkuPGPsw9cPYo9zCQJhVuVPEFo63CdYRKRYUaUL5Y8PJcubRZWYrOBiPlNsRUwKOOvUW_KBZmxN_6VVi9uF_n2k1CU1Q79uFKl3bX61nzHL-M17ATWotbsFKYGVF6hf7YnjjQe6tAOyhgzjjZCkpxw7uxvidQPBfN21ts6gtjpwDoL2YmICNaWQ_d9n6Q8wvMkENhpndvXbNVoHycTtq4ov2uKvuBAidEISf81q-lhbcpVZ_ayaJ1PDxrBsyaLQLoU2Xgi5m2f1vlmXnaTjZPp6A0S5xkTorjXn7cU6pQuCQnAuy09yPyCN4IHR3UntdOc25wZkp7qfl6K3qFPjUCp5Ka8xKP0Wr9B_LkMZehUV5J2zqkPK6JB19T-NFGsrz9jPMM3tchqJk8QhQ9vp8d29tDkSrydV5a_lGazt7y-q-TrJwZJiMnxjFpLsu2o53Tjfn9qY4jKQviVcnk1mtPVGUNvdkqBYx0d2vqosb4rS7xVtrokw6QLsRa68YfdyjrsEeDlOxIhFaZ42xesKKkPVBzrio0Dk0OyoUkdYJSsNcoMYDjoChENglrrPRsmj4lzoPzz7yWBJILtlaAXfc8JtXDom_nSLWsdpWOtUpIZm4qeEw8LIj0xxG5N5N_eYaE3Gg5Uvjno4tiP6MWD_EkO9cdLy0UuJNxWvDisAa38T5ypDZTzDHJpG1-qYbHDZoZggg&theater"><b><span style="color: blue;">Courtesy Photo</span></b></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">WHO and UNICEF today announced an agreement to work together on COVID-19 response, through the historic COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund powered by the United Nations Foundation and Swiss Philanthropy Foundation. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund has been set up to facilitate an unprecedented global response by supporting the WHO Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan. As part of the agreement, an initial portion of the money from the Fund – which currently stands at more than $127 million – will flow to UNICEF for its work with vulnerable children and communities all over the world.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“COVID-19 is an unprecedented pandemic requiring extraordinary global solidarity to urgently respond,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “I’m pleased that UNICEF joined the Solidarity Response Fund. With their extensive experience both in fundraising and in implementing programmes, this partnership will help us to work together closely to save lives.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The money collected through the fund will be used, among others, to train and equip communities and health-care workers to prevent, detect and treat COVID-19. It will help countries expand their health-care capacity and mitigate its social impact, especially on women, children and vulnerable social groups. And it will accelerate research and development of treatments and preventive vaccines.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As a key partner in this joined-up effort, UNICEF will lead emergency efforts to ensure families and communities in the most vulnerable countries are fully engaged in the response and have access to water, sanitation and hygiene and other infection prevention and control measures. UNICEF will also ensure children, caretakers, and frontline responders such as social workers, teachers and healthcare workers are supported through evidence-based guidance through its vast community outreach and country programs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“This is an extraordinary emergency that demands an extraordinary response, and we need all-hands on deck—individuals, corporations, foundations, governments and other organizations around the world,” said UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore. “UNICEF is pleased to join the Solidarity Response Fund. It will bolster our efforts to strengthen health and sanitation systems and help protect the most vulnerable families from knock-on impacts of COVID-19 on already overstretched health systems.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Funds raised will be spent in alignment with the global response plan, and where needs are greatest. At the direction of WHO leadership, it is expected that resources will go directly toward:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">WHO, for its work to track the spread of the virus, assess gaps and needs, equip frontline health workers with personal protective equipment, ensure lab and testing tools are available in countries around the world, and keep communities and frontline responders informed with the latest technical guidance.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">UNICEF, to ensure children and families around the world are equipped with all the evidence-based information and latest WHO guidance as well as locally relevant information to protect themselves from the spread of COVID-19; to support vulnerable countries by providing access to water, sanitation and hygiene, and basic infection prevention and control measures; and to provide access to care for vulnerable families and children.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">CEPI, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, a key partner leading the financing for research and development for novel vaccines to combat COVID-19, working closely with WHO.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund was set up at WHO’s request by the UN Foundation and Swiss Philanthropy Foundation and launched three weeks ago. It is the only way for individuals and organizations to contribute directly to WHO’s global efforts to tackle the pandemic. To date the fund has $127 million raised or committed from more than 219,000 individuals from all over the world plus more than 90 global companies and organizations. The partnership is also a tremendous demonstration of solidarity across UN organizations in coordinating, partnering and supporting each other in dealing with the immediate and longer-term impact of the pandemic. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“There has never been a more urgent need for global cooperation,” said Elizabeth Cousens, President & CEO of the UN Foundation. “The COVID-19 pandemic shows us that we all can play a part to stop the spread. The incredible generosity shown to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund from around the world will help WHO, UNICEF, CEPI and partners accelerate their lifesaving work, especially to support the most vulnerable communities and speed the development of a vaccine.”</span></div>
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<b><span style="color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><u><i>Notes:</i></u></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">About <u>UNICEF</u></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone. Learn more at <a href="https://unfoundation.org/" style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: blue;">https://unfoundation.org</span></b>/</a></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">About <u>WHO</u></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">WHO is the United Nations’ specialized agency for health. It is an inter-governmental organization and works in collaboration with its Member States usually through the Ministries of Health. The World Health Organization is responsible for providing leadership on global health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and standards, articulating evidence-based policy options, providing technical support to countries and monitoring and assessing health trends. Learn more at <a href="http://www.who.int/"><span style="color: blue;"><b>www.who.int</b></span></a>.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">About the <u>United Nations Foundation</u></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The UN Foundation brings together ideas, people, and resources to help the United Nations drive global progress and tackle urgent problems. Our hallmark is to collaborate for lasting change and innovate to address humanity’s greatest challenges. Learn more at <a href="http://www.unfoundation.org/"><span style="color: blue;"><b>www.unfoundation.org</b></span></a>.</span></div>
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Media Link Ravinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13038836894222322159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-622775661155723231.post-29017270842929964872020-04-01T00:45:00.000+05:302020-04-01T15:16:26.127+05:30OHCHR, IOM, UNHCR and WHO joint press release:<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="background-color: #660000; color: white; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> In COVID-19 response</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="background-color: #660000; color: yellow; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The rights and health of refugees, migrants and stateless must be protected</span></b></div>
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<i><span style="color: #a64d79; font-size: x-small;"><b>To unite the world in the fight against coronavirus, WHO is bringing together a wide array of partners on a series of engaging initiatives to motivate and mobilize people to Be Ready to beat COVID-19, and to support the <a href="https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/donate" style="box-sizing: border-box; text-decoration-line: none;">COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund</a>.</b></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #a64d79; font-size: x-small;"><b>Musicians, footballers, athletes and artists will help you stay connected and healthy through shows of solidarity, lifesaving health messages and entertainment during lockdown.</b></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #a64d79; font-size: x-small;"><b>Click on the campaigns below to learn how you can spread the word and help increase solidarity, awareness and funds to support the global response against COVID-19.</b></span></i></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #990000;">31 March 2020</span>//<span style="color: blue;">Joint News Release</span></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In the face of the COVID-19 crisis, we are all vulnerable. The virus has shown that it does not discriminate - but many refugees, those forcibly displaced, the stateless and migrants are at heightened risk. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Three-quarters of the world’s refugees and many migrants are hosted in developing regions where health systems are already overwhelmed and under-capacitated. Many live in overcrowded camps, settlements, makeshift shelters or reception centers, where they lack adequate access to health services, clean water and sanitation. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The situation for refugees and migrants held in formal and informal places of detention, in cramped and unsanitary conditions, is particularly worrying. Considering the lethal consequences a COVID-19 outbreak would have, they should be released without delay. Migrant children and their families and those detained without a sufficient legal basis should be immediately released.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This disease can be controlled only if there is an inclusive approach which protects every individual’s rights to life and health. Migrants and refugees are disproportionately vulnerable to exclusion, stigma and discrimination, particulary when undocumented. To avert a catastrophe, governments must do all they can to protect the rights and the health of everyone. Protecting the rights and the health of all people will in fact help control the spread of the virus.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It is vital that everyone, including all migrants and refugees, are ensured equal access to health services and are effectively included in national responses to COVID-19, including prevention, testing and treatment. Inclusion will help not only to protect the rights of refugees and migrants, but will also serve to protect public health and stem the global spread of COVID-19. While many nations protect and host refugee and migrant populations, they are often not equipped to respond to crises such as Covid-19. To ensure refugees and migrants have adequate access to national health services, States may need additional financial support. This is where the world’s financial institutions can play a leading role in making funds available. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">While countries are closing their borders and limiting cross-border movements, there are ways to manage border restrictions in a manner which respects international human rights and refugee protection standards, including the principle of non-refoulement, through quarantine and health checks. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">More than ever, as COVID-19 poses a global threat to our collective humanity, our primary focus should be on the preservation of life, regardless of status. This crisis demands a coherent, effective international approach that leaves no-one behind. At this crucial moment we all need to rally around a common objective, fighting this deadly virus. Many refugees, displaced, stateless people and migrants have skills and resources that can also be part of the solution.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We cannot allow fear or intolerance to undermine rights or compromise the effectiveness of responses to the global pandemic. We are all in this together. We can only defeat this virus when each and every one of us is protected. </span> <b><span style="color: blue;">(Courtesy: WHO)</span></b></span></div>
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Media Link Ravinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13038836894222322159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-622775661155723231.post-4669273008158730842020-03-17T15:45:00.000+05:302020-03-19T12:44:45.632+05:30Chirag Purshotam as the youngest chairman of IACC<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: yellow; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-large;"><b style="background-color: #660000;">Chirag Purush</b><span style="background-color: #660000;"><b>otam Reddy a 19 year old boy</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: blue;">Mumbai:</span> <span style="color: #a64d79;">17th March 2020</span>: (<span style="color: #990000;">M. Mumtaz</span>)::</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZepc5JhFgQQUuTFaX69f-yYEP_PFDswwfdD8wgyK9Z0tyVh0aqKULuze2mjgQNIVjWNfP5-fLkikT_j7UynS71dTW_SYoayRmHeGXtLvLNaiwPFdg9yj5cvFVsRwf0ywzO9pbz-Ev0oI/s1600/Chirag+WhatsApp+Image+2020-03-17+at+13.14.55.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="669" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZepc5JhFgQQUuTFaX69f-yYEP_PFDswwfdD8wgyK9Z0tyVh0aqKULuze2mjgQNIVjWNfP5-fLkikT_j7UynS71dTW_SYoayRmHeGXtLvLNaiwPFdg9yj5cvFVsRwf0ywzO9pbz-Ev0oI/s400/Chirag+WhatsApp+Image+2020-03-17+at+13.14.55.jpeg" width="391" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Chirag Purshotam appointed as the youngest chairman Indian American Chambers of Commerce.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mr Chirag Purushotam Reddy a 19 year old has been named as the first and the youngest chairman of the international board of entrepreneurs of the Indian American Chambers of Commerce in Washington DC on 16th of March 2020.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The board has selected the young talent for his abilities and intellectual skills in bringing both India and the United States to work closely in Business development.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The chamber is headed by Mr KV Kumar who has served as the adviser to the White House and has worked with 6 presidents of the United States.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mr Ashish Chauhan who is the CEO of the Bombay Stock Exchange is also member of the chambers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The chambers' mission is to promote and foster economic development of the United States of America and the Republic of India together with the rest of the world for the benefit of all.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"It is in the best interest of the future of our nation's youth that we have conglomerated this chamber and conferred this position to an outstanding individual who has the potential to steer ambition in our talented youth",said Chirag Purshotam.</span></div>
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Media Link Ravinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13038836894222322159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-622775661155723231.post-45089832886670117842020-02-11T19:45:00.000+05:302020-02-11T21:46:08.755+05:30Pine Island Glacier spawns piglets<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-style: italic;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">11-02-2020 10:27 AM CET</span></span><br />
<b><span style="background-color: #660000; color: yellow; font-size: x-large;">Pine Island Glacier, known as PIG for short</span></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWCu1illTTsKpcUikC7UX31NO7keMJb7KqwKYridYLHbx3O9_c0AUB-Chthag9TddMOrrAKAJReaZ8_Bsi2d1HHQzfLVVlTRW8mMtV88O7N4UN2EwhWzp1QI9vNvTyIy4VTaPN68cbkKEk/s1600/Pine+Island.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="889" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWCu1illTTsKpcUikC7UX31NO7keMJb7KqwKYridYLHbx3O9_c0AUB-Chthag9TddMOrrAKAJReaZ8_Bsi2d1HHQzfLVVlTRW8mMtV88O7N4UN2EwhWzp1QI9vNvTyIy4VTaPN68cbkKEk/s640/Pine+Island.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As anticipated, Pine Island Glacier, known as PIG for short, in Antarctica has just spawned a huge iceberg. At over 300 sq km, about the size of Malta, this huge berg very quickly broke into many ‘piglet’ pieces the largest of which is dubbed B-49. Thanks to images from the Copernicus Sentinel satellite missions, two large rifts in the glacier were spotted last year and scientists have been keeping a close eye on how quickly these cracks were growing. This animation uses 57 radar images captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-1 mission between February 2019 and February 2020 (the last frame is from today, 11 February 2020) and shows just how quickly the emerging cracks grew and led to this calving event. <b><span style="color: #741b47;">Courtesy:<span style="background-color: white; letter-spacing: 0.2px; white-space: nowrap;">European Space Agency</span></span></b></span></div>
Media Link Ravinderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13038836894222322159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-622775661155723231.post-60466673700267112982019-12-24T00:15:00.000+05:302019-12-24T10:50:37.854+05:30Oath of Office to Colon-Lopez<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="background-color: #660000; color: yellow; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;">With Colon-Lopez is his wife, Janet</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw18WGMzcpaOieEsdOLUAA1dKm9zxJhPwr-5G6_81FWuaFDfX3KqeX4nB_CphDsSwKTf6qkBPKh5OIsxDuAscrdnhW0tGsan-YGOC52iO2bm9J9dmqNU7G-gjXPdEqSBh8Y3ajaGpU6VM/s1600/Oath+of+Office+13th+Decdember+2019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="621" data-original-width="932" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw18WGMzcpaOieEsdOLUAA1dKm9zxJhPwr-5G6_81FWuaFDfX3KqeX4nB_CphDsSwKTf6qkBPKh5OIsxDuAscrdnhW0tGsan-YGOC52iO2bm9J9dmqNU7G-gjXPdEqSBh8Y3ajaGpU6VM/s640/Oath+of+Office+13th+Decdember+2019.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Gen. Mark A. Milley administers the oath of office to Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Ramon "CZ" Colon-Lopez at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Va., Dec. 13, 2019. With Colon-Lopez is his wife, Janet.</b></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Photo By: Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Dominique A. Pineiro, DOD</b></span></div>
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Rector Kathuriahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06225119395785915592noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-622775661155723231.post-16673549040093732072019-12-23T18:45:00.000+05:302020-03-19T12:25:47.886+05:302019: A year in review<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: #741b47; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: xx-small;">11:37 (UTC) on Mon 23 Dec 2019</span></div>
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<span style="color: yellow; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;"><b style="background-color: #660000;">2019 has been a year of extremes</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXY94t0flEz-G-bKklkswJ1kN-7-z8E4aww5Bsg-QbZzC-dHAZuyrWEF6FscycZl3b2TmiBuRH65xPb2jVTCtvUHp6F2gmqhLFS3OIgT-Z7HOiSH1TgedfX2pb9pFAeEvnKXtheqt4EEJV/s1600/metofficegovuk_lg+2019+pics+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="770" data-original-width="1366" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXY94t0flEz-G-bKklkswJ1kN-7-z8E4aww5Bsg-QbZzC-dHAZuyrWEF6FscycZl3b2TmiBuRH65xPb2jVTCtvUHp6F2gmqhLFS3OIgT-Z7HOiSH1TgedfX2pb9pFAeEvnKXtheqt4EEJV/s640/metofficegovuk_lg+2019+pics+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Author: Press Offic</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">2019 has been a year of extremes: record-breaking heat and rain, along with notable spells of cold and windy weather have all been prominent.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; text-align: justify;">As we approach year-end, we’ve highlighted the most notable climate features of the year, including two all-time temperature records: </span><br />
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<b style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; text-align: justify;">Warmest winter day on record: 21.2 °C recorded at Kew Garden on 26 February </b><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">Hottest day on record: 38.7 °C recorded at Cambridge University Botanic Gardens on 25 July </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Dr Mark McCarthy is the head of the Met Office’s National Climate Information Centre. Commenting on 2019, he said: “2019 will be remembered as an exceptional year for weather records, as it is unusual to get both the UK summer and winter high temperature records within the same calendar year. But this continues a pattern of high-temperature records in the UK over the last few decades, as a result of our warming climate.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Winter </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">January got off to a cold start, with the coldest January night for seven years recorded on 31 Jan with -14.3 °C in Braemar, in Scotland. In parts it was also dry, with one of the driest Januarys on record for Clackmannanshire with 23.1mm of rain (just 15% of the expected average), East Lothian with 9.9 mm of rain (15% of the expected average) and Fife 12.1 mm (15% of the expected average). </span></div>
<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; text-align: justify;">No one could have missed that February was record breaking. Despite starting with snow and freezing temperatures, the warmest winter and February day on record was recorded at Kew Gardens with 21.2 °C on 26 February with temperatures exceeding 20 °C in London, west Wales and as far north as Rochdale making this a more widespread event than the previous record set in February 1998. The Daily minimum temperatures were also well above average, but not record breaking. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; text-align: justify;"> Scotland and Wales also broke national records for warmest winter and February days with 18.3 °C recorded at Aboyne in Abderdeenshire on 21 February, and 20.8 °C recorded in Porthmadog, Gywnedd on 26 February. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; text-align: justify;"> In total 21 locations in the Met Office observing-network broke previous national (England, Scotland, Wales) records, some of these on multiple days. Overall It was the seventh warmest, sixth sunniest, and twenty-third driest winter in series from 1910. </span><br />
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<b style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">Spring </b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">With a mean UK temperature of 6.8 °C (1.3 °C above average), March 2019 provisionally came in as the 10th warmest March on record. A number of records were broken including the hottest Easter Monday on record in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Even though Easter fell relatively late this year, it was notably warm for the time of year and over the Easter weekend many weather stations across the UK broke their local April temperature records. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; text-align: justify;">Through April, England saw particularly low levels of rainfall, especially in the east. East Anglia received just 25% of its average monthly rainfall. Essex was the driest county, with just 9.2mm of rain through the whole of April. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Summer</b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">June was a significantly wet month for some parts of the UK. Notably, Lincolnshire received 230% of the rainfall expected for the month, compared with the average between 1981-2010. Leverton in Lincolnshire, recorded 101.2 mm on 10th June. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; text-align: justify;">Across Lincolnshire, the rainfall wasn’t sufficient to break the June county rainfall record of 181.9 mm in 2007, but with 128.9 mm it was in fourth place in a series stretching back to 1910. New records were set for two-day and three-day total rainfall in Lincolnshire on 10-11 and 10-12 June respectively. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; text-align: justify;">July will be remembered for the hottest day on record ever recorded in the UK. A maximum temperature of 38.7 °C was recorded at Cambridge University Botanic Garden on 25 July. This figure exceeded the previous record of 38.5 °C recorded in Faversham, Kent, in August 2003. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; text-align: justify;">The exceptionally high temperatures gripped large parts of central and western Europe, with Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands breaking national temperature records. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; text-align: justify;">Also during July, Cheshire received more than twice the average rainfall for the month (219%). Other counties in central and northern England, including Lancashire, Staffordshire Derbyshire and Leicestershire, also received more than one-and-a-half times the month’s typical rainfall for July. Thunderstorms and intense rainfall caused flooding across parts of northern England on 30th and 31st July.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; text-align: justify;">Overall Summer 2019 was the twelfth warmest on record since 1910 across the UK, but unusually this summer was also relatively wet. Previous hot summers have been largely dry, but this summer was seventh wettest overall in the UK in a series dating back to 1910. Scotland was very wet overall as it recorded its second wettest summer, only surpassed by summer 1985.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Autumn </b> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Many people in England will remember Autumn 2019 as a very wet season, with significant flooding in parts of the Midlands and days of prolonged rainfall. But this wasn’t the case across the whole of the UK. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; text-align: justify;">There was been a marked difference in rainfall amounts between eastern parts of England and north western Scotland. Autumn rainfall records were broken for South Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, and Lincolnshire, with the previous records set in 2000. England as a whole has had its fifth wettest autumn with 348mm. These areas had also experienced a wet summer, so that the rain was falling on already wet ground.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; text-align: justify;">South Yorkshire was the wettest county compared to the long-term average (1981-2010) with more than double its average rainfall for the season (425.4 mm compared to an average of 208 mm). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; text-align: justify;">Sheffield was a notably wet location, breaking its autumn record weeks before the end of the season. In total it recorded 474.8mm, breaking its previous record of 425.2mm also set in 2000. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; text-align: justify;">The location with the highest total through the autumn was Holne - on the southern edge of Dartmoor, in Devon - with 899mm. The driest spot was Shoeburyness, in Essex, with 148mm. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; text-align: justify;">Conversely, northern and western Scotland have been much drier than average, with our north Scotland climate region having just 69% of the seasonal average (364.1mm). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; text-align: justify;">In comparison to the rainfall distribution in 2000 - when many autumn records were set - this season’s highest rainfall accumulations were focused in the East Midlands. In 2000 the highest totals affected much of England and Wales, with just parts of Scotland ending the season below average. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; text-align: justify;">The full end of year statistics, as well as those for December 2019, are due to be published on January 2nd 2020.</span><br />
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