Fuel debris removal attempt halted at Fukushima Daiichi

Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) has suspended the first attempt to extract fuel debris from within the primary containment vessel of unit 2 at the damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant after an error in the setup of the debris retrieval device was identified.The push pipes to be used in the fuel debris extraction operation (Image: Tepco)

On 19 August, Tepco announced that it planned to remove a few grams of melted fuel debris from unit 2 on August 22. The operation was expected to last about two weeks using a telescopic device equipped with a gripper tool. The device can extend up to 22 metres and access the debris through a penetration point in the primary containment vessel (PCV). The removal technique, which is being used for the first time in unit 2, will then be gradually extended to unit 3, where a large-scale recovery is expected in the early 2030s.

"Unit 2 was selected as the first block for the recovery of the fuel debris because we take into account the situation in terms of safety, reliability, speed and progress in the removal of the used fuel elements," Tepco said.

Workers at the plant today began inserting the guide pipe of the telescopic debris retrieval device into the PCV penetration point. The guide pipe was inserted to the front of the isolation valve and the first of five 1.5-metre-long push pipes to be used was prepared to be connected. The pipes are used to push the device inside the PCV and pull it back out when the operation is completed.

However, it was then noticed during the final checking process that the order of the first push pipe was different from the planned order. The workers had in fact prepared the second push pipe for insertion instead of the first one. It was confirmed the push pipe that should have been in the first position was in the fourth position. The incorrect order of the pipes meant they could not be connected correctly.

"Today's work will be limited to just before the isolation valve," Tepco said. "We are currently investigating the cause of the matter. We will confirm and organise the necessary work and procedures going forward. We will provide further information about the future actions."

"It is better to carry on with the work safely and steadily rather than rushing," Tepco President Tomoaki Kobayakawa was quoted as saying by the Kyodo news agency.

A pre-investigation of the area directly below the pressure vessel - known as the pedestal - was carried out in January 2017 at Fukushima Daiichi 2 using a remotely operated camera on a telescopic probe. Photos taken during that investigation showed a black mass and deposits near a grating in the pedestal area, possibly melted nuclear fuel.

The following month, Tepco sent a "scorpion-shaped" robot into the PCV of unit 2. Although the robot was unable to reach the part of the vessel directly under the reactor pressure vessel, the company said the information it gathered would help it determine how to decommission the unit.

In January 2018, an internal investigation of the PCV of unit 2 using a suspended pan-tilt camera attached to a telescopic guiding pipe identified deposits and fuel assembly components at the bottom of the pedestal area.

The utility carried out a survey in February 2019 of the debris - much of it resembling pebbles - that has accumulated in the bottom of the unit's PCV using a remotely-operated probe. The probe was able to pick up debris in five of the six areas surveyed. No samples were removed from the containment vessel during the survey.In Fukushima Daiichi units 1 to 3, the fuel and the metal cladding that formed the outer jacket of the fuel rods melted, then re-solidified as fuel debris. To reduce the risk from this fuel debris, preparations are under way for retrieving it from the reactors. The current aim is to begin retrieval from unit 2 and to gradually enlarge the scale of the retrieval. The retrieved fuel debris will be stored in the new storage facility that will be constructed within the site. Fuel debris removal attempt halted at Fukushima Daiichi : Waste & Recycling - World Nuclear News

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How the Israel-Hamas war could affect the world economy and worsen global trade tensions

Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock Daniele Bianchi, Queen Mary University of London

Global geopolitical tensions often play a pivotal role in shaping people’s perceptions of economic growth. Research shows concern about such issues can cause people and businesses to become more cautious about spending and investing, which can ultimately lead to economic recession.

The recent escalation of the Israel-Palestine conflict is no different. Investors around the world are worried about the repercussions of this war – particularly in light of an already bleak picture for global economic growth.

Hamas’s October 7 attack on southern Israel is the latest chapter of a cycle of violence that has been going on in this region for decades and, sadly, seems to have no end in sight. While the reasons behind these events are complex, the conflict’s potential immediate and long-term economic ramifications are easier to grasp.

After all, if the Russia-Ukraine war has taught us one thing, it’s that we should be mindful of the intricate interdependencies that shape the global economic and geopolitical landscape.

How conflicts can affect the economy

Internal and inter-state conflicts often have a significant effect on stock market indices, exchange rates, and commodity prices – sometimes even sending prices higher in the lead-up to hostilities. The longer-term economic impact is typically more complicated to assess, however. The lasting effects of even seemingly dramatic events on investor behaviour can be hard to predict.

Conflicts in the Middle East tend to lead to spikes in oil prices – think of the OPEC oil embargo of 1973-1974, the Iranian revolution of 1978-1979, the Iran-Iraq War initiated in 1980, and the first Persian Gulf War in 1990-91. Since the region accounts for nearly a third of global oil supply, any instability can create market uncertainty based on concerns about interruptions to global oil supply.

This uncertainty is reflected in the risk premium in oil markets. This is the price paid for oil traded ahead of time in the futures markets versus the real-time price of oil. It reflects the profits that speculators expect to receive from buying and selling oil during a time of conflict, as well as the hedging needs of businesses that produce and consume oil and their concerns about supply and demand.

And so, the effect of the latest Israel-Hamas conflict on global financial markets will depend on the involvement of other major regional powers. If the conflict remains between Israel and Hamas, the effect will probably be limited and arguably exclusive to countries with direct trade exposure to Israel or Palestine.

But if the conflict spreads to major oil-producing nations in the region such as Iran, the global economy could face severe repercussions as energy costs for businesses and households could spike if supply is interrupted.

Higher energy prices would hamper central banks’ efforts to tame inflation pressures in most advanced and emerging economies. If this leads to a “higher for longer” monetary policy that keeps interest rates elevated, it would push up the cost of borrowing and refinancing by governments, companies and people.

History can offer some insights into how the impact on the global economy could unfold under these different scenarios. For instance, the 50-day war between Israel and Hamas in 2014, which killed 2,200 people, mostly civilians, had no significant effect on the global economy or financial markets.

Yet, when Israel and Hezbollah clashed in Lebanon in 2006, oil prices surged globally due to fears of a broader conflict in the Middle East.

What to expect this time

Unfortunately, there is another factor to consider at the moment. The escalation of the Israel-Palestine conflict has happened alongside the realignment of various global alliances. This slow creep of “deglobalisation” can be seen in a shift in trade policies in recent years.

Countries such as the US and UK are relocating economic activity including sourcing or manufacturing products from different countries out of concern about relying on suppliers in potentially hostile regions, as well as the impact of imports from low-wage countries on struggling local labour markets

At the moment, these shifts can also be seen in the reactions to the Hamas attack on Israel. A two-state solution) to the Israel/Palestine conflict was initially laid out by the United Nations in 1947 and reaffirmed in 1974, with almost unanimous support around the world.

But there has been some nuance in the international reactions to the attack. With most western countries quickly voicing support for Israel’s right to defend itself, while countries like China and Russia called for a ceasefire without taking a stance on Hamas.

This suggests that the issue of Israel-Palestine could tie in with the broader trend towards the new geopolitical divisions that were already starting to emerge before Hamas’s attack.

A prolonged conflict between Israel and Palestine, especially with the involvement of major regional powers, could further accelerate this global realignment and have detrimental consequences for global economic growth.

Investors often invest in gold as a eamesBot/Shutterstock

Under these circumstances, investors are already bracing for increased financial volatility across the board – from stocks and government bonds to commodity markets. So-called safe-haven assets like gold are typically used as protection against overwhelming economic uncertainty. The price of gold has shot up following the latest escalation in the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Financial markets will continue to monitor the conflict between Israel and Hamas for signs of escalation. Anything that pushes oil prices up further will reignite fears of higher inflation.

Unfortunately, this is happening just as many countries were starting to see inflation slow again after two years of persistently high consumer prices.

Daniele Bianchi, Associate Professor of Finance, Queen Mary University of London

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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Directed energy weapons shoot painful but non-lethal beams – are similar weapons behind the Havana syndrome?

 

A television reporter reacts to being hit by a heat ray during a demonstration of the U.S. military’s Active Denial System. Paul J. Richards/AFP via Getty Images Iain Boyd, University of Colorado Boulder

The latest episodes of so-called Havana syndrome, a series of unexplained ailments afflicting U.S. and Canadian diplomats and spies, span the globe. They include two diplomats in Hanoi, Vietnam - which disrupted Vice President Kamala Harris’s foreign travel schedule - in August, several dozen reports at the U.S. Embassy in Vienna earlier this year, and a pair of incidents at the White House last November.

The cause of these incidents is unknown, but speculation in the U.S. centers on electromagnetic beams.

If Havana syndrome turns out to be caused by weapons that shoot energy beams, they won’t be the first such weapons. As an aerospace engineer and former Vice Chair of the U.S. Air Force Scientific Advisory Board, I’ve researched directed energy. I can also personally attest to the effectiveness of directed energy weapons.

In 2020, a study on Havana syndrome by the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine concluded that the more than 130 victims experienced some real physical phenomena, and that the cause was most likely some form of electromagnetic radiation. These incidents began in 2016 with reports of multiple personnel at the U.S. embassy in Havana, Cuba, experiencing alarming and unexplained symptoms. The symptoms included a feeling of pressure on the face, loud noises, severe headaches, nausea and confusion. In some cases, the victims seem to have been left with permanent health effects.

Scientists from Cuba’s Academy of Sciences issued a report refuting the U.S. National Academies report and ascribing the reported symptoms to psychological effects or a range of ordinary ailments and preexisting conditions. But based on my own experience, directed energy appears to be a plausible explanation.

Here’s how these beams affect people.

At the right wavelength

There is a very wide range of electromagnetic waves that are characterized by wavelength, which is the distance between successive peaks. These waves can interact with different types of matter, including human bodies, in a variety of ways. 

 

The electromagnetic spectrum spans radio waves to gamma waves. NASA

At short wavelengths, a few hundred-billionths of a meter, ultraviolet rays from the Sun can burn the skin’s surface if someone is exposed for too long. Microwaves have longer wavelengths. People use these every day to reheat meals. Microwaves transfer energy into the water molecules inside food.

 

The U.S. military has developed an Active Denial System that aims microwaves at people to cause pain without injury. U.S. Air Force

The U.S. military has developed a directed energy technology that shoots beams of a slightly longer wavelength in a focused area over distances up to a mile. This directed energy technology was designed for nonlethal control of crowds. When these waves interact with a person, they pass through the skin and transfer energy to the water that lies just under the surface.

I had the opportunity to be zapped by one of these systems. I stood about a half-mile from the source and the beam was turned on. The portion of my body exposed to the beam got hot really quickly, and I immediately stepped out of the beam. The feeling was as though someone had just opened the door of a large furnace right by me.

 

A demonstration of a military Active Denial System.

At even longer wavelengths, electromagnetic radiation can interact with electronic systems and can be used to disable computers and control systems. For these waves, interaction with matter generates electrical currents and fields that interfere with the electrical systems. The military is developing these technologies to defend against drone attacks.

Defense through detection

It’s plausible that at just the right wavelength, an electromagnetic beam could be projected over hundreds of yards to create the symptoms seen in Havana syndrome incidents. If this is the case, it’s likely that these beams are interfering with the electrical functions of the brain and central nervous system.

For example, the Frey effect involves microwaves activating the auditory sensory nerves. Other studies have noted potential effects of microwaves on the central nervous system, such as decreased response time, social dysfunction and anxiety.

Further study is needed to determine the cause of Havana syndrome incidents. Unfortunately, this type of electromagnetic radiation does not leave a telltale trace like sunburn, which makes it difficult to be certain of the explanation.

While the results of the National Academies study were made public, it is likely that federal agencies are carrying out additional activities behind the scenes to try to explain these incidents and determine who is to blame. Similar to responding to cyberattacks, though, the government may be reluctant to release too much information to the public because it could reveal techniques for detecting and countering the attacks.

If the source of Havana syndrome turns out to be electromagnetic waves, then in principle, buildings could be hardened against them. However, it would be expensive and would still leave people vulnerable outdoors. Perhaps the best option to prevent further attack is detection. It is relatively simple and inexpensive to install sensors to detect electromagnetic waves on buildings and vehicles. Such sensors could also help identify the location of the source of the attacks and, in this way, act as a deterrent.

Assuming Havana syndrome is the result of deliberately targeted electromagnetic beams, employees of the U.S. government and other nations will remain susceptible to these attacks until governments take such defensive measures.

[Understand new developments in science, health and technology, each week. Subscribe to The Conversation’s science newsletter.]

Iain Boyd, Professor of Aerospace Engineering Sciences, University of Colorado Boulder, This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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France, US hail PM Modi's advice to Putin over Ukraine

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was hailed at the United Nations General Assembly for his message to Russian President Vladimir Putin over the Ukraine war, by the US and France at the UNGA meeting in New York. On the sidelines of the SCO summit in Samarkand on September 16, PM Modi had said "today's era isn't of war" while emphasising the need to find ways to address the problems of food, fuel security and fertilizers. France President Emmanuel Macron and US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan on Tuesday (local time) welcomed PM Modi's statement to Putin on Ukraine. "Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India was right when he said the time is not for war. It is not for revenge against the West, or for opposing the West against the east. It is the time for a collective time for our sovereign equal states. To cope together with challenges we face," Macron said. Sullivan in a White House statement said: "I think what Prime Minister Modi said -- a statement of principle on behalf of what he believes is right and just -- was very much welcomed by the United States and for the Indian leadership, which has longstanding relationships in Moscow, from the very top all the way through the Russian government, to continue to reinforce that message that now is the time for the war to end". Apart from the UNGA, PM Modi's statement became popular and was praised by international media. American network CNN praised PM Modi's hold on world politics and reported, "Indian leader Narendra Modi tells Putin: Now is not the time for war." While another US publication The Washington Post's headline was "Modi rebukes Putin over the war in Ukraine". "India's Leader Tells Putin That Now Is Not an Era for War," The New York Times said in its headline. It was the lead story on the webpage of both The Washington Post and The New York Times. Meanwhile, Russian President Putin had said that he knows about India's position on the Ukraine conflict. "I know about your position on the Ukraine conflict. I know about your concerns. We want all of this to end as soon as possible," Putin said. "But the other party, the leadership of Ukraine has claimed... that they refuse to engage in the negotiation process. They said they want to achieve their objectives, as they say, on the battlefield militarily. We will keep you abreast of everything that is happening over there," he added. "The rare reproach showed the 69-year-old Russian strongman coming under extraordinary pressure from all sides," the Post said. Putin said that relations between Russia and India are in the nature of a privileged strategic partnership and continue to develop very rapidly. Copyright © Jammu Links News Source: Jammu Links News

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BSF organizes 'Run up to Teachers' Day' in Dhubri district

A 'Run up to Teachers' Day' programme was organized in various schools of border villages of Dhubri district in the last two days.

By : Sentinel Digital Desk, DHUBRI: A 'Run up to Teachers' Day' programme was organized in various schools of border villages of Dhubri district in the last two days. The programme at Dharmshala Higher Secondary School was inaugurated by Commandant, 19 Bn BSF, Satyendra Giri, in presence of principal of the school, Mainal Haque, President and Vice President of Gram Panchayat, teachers, students and locals. During the programme, many events were organized by 19 Bn BSF including a small walk and run followed by a screening of a documentary film on Border Security Force, a presentation on drug abuse and stopping trans-border smuggling and distribution of pamphlets of recruitment process in BSF. Also Read - Minister Atul Bora visits Namdang Tea Estate under Naharkatia Revenue Circle The winners in running events were also rewarded with special prizes. At the end, Commandant, 19 Bn BSF, Satyendra Giri addressed the students and delivered a motivational speech appealing them to join BSF as a career and advised them to stay away from drugs. The school staff and local people thanked 19 Bn BSF for organizing these types of awareness programme. Source: Sentinelassam

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India is a strong defense power in the world and now its impossible to become a defense threat against India.

India will be celebrating 75 years of Independence on August 15, 2022, now India has become a strong defense power in the world in the every area of defense developments and its hard for any country to fight against India as India is being with weapons of all the class. so threat from China & Pakistan is the talk of past now they can create only propaganda of fight and conducts useless defense meetings but the reality is only that they cant fight against India. just take a look in the defense capacities of India.  

• List of Countries with nuclear weapons

1. Russia 5,977 

2. United States 5,428 

3.China 350 

4.France 290

5. United Kingdom 225 

6. Pakistan 165 

7.India 160 

8.Israel 90

9.North Korea 20

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org

• Top 10 Countries with the Highest Number of Active-Duty Military Personnel (in members):

1. China: 2,185,000
2. India: 1,455,550
3. United States: 1,388,100
4. North Korea: 1,280,000
5. Russia: 1,014,000
6. Pakistan: 654,000
7. Iran: 610,000
8. South Korea: 599,000
9. Vietnam: 482,000
10. Egypt: 438,500

• Top 10 Countries with the Highest Number of Active-Duty and Reserve Military Personnel (in members

1. Vietnam: 5,482,000
2. South Korea: 3,699,000
3. China: 3,355,000
4. Russian Federation: 3,014,000
5. India: 2,610,550
6. United States: 2,233,050
7. North Korea: 1,880,000
8. Taiwan: 1,820,000
9. Brazil: 1,706,500
10. Pakistan: 1,204,000

Source: https://worldpopulationreview.com

• Largest militaries in the world by budget (Military Budget 2021 (in USD billions)

1. United States: 778.0

2. China: 252.0

3. India: 72.9

4. Russia: 61.7

5. United Kingdom: 59.2

6. Saudi Arabia:: 57.5

7. Germany: 52.8

8. France: 52.7

9. Japan: 49.1

10. South Korea: 45.7

11. Italy: 28.9

12. Australia: 27.5

13. Canada: 22.8

14. Israel: 21.7

15. Brazil: 19.7

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org

• Top 10 Largest Air Forces in the World (by number of Military Aircraft) - Flight International 2022:

1. United States Air Force - 5,217
2. Russian Air Force - 3,863
3. People's Liberation Army Air Force (China) - 1991
4. Indian Air Force - 1,715
5. Egyptian Air Force - 1,062
6. Korean People's Army Air Force (North Korea) - 946
7. South Korean Air Force - 898
8. Pakistan Air Force - 810
9. Japan Air Self-Defense Force - 746
10. Royal Saudi Air Force - 690

Source: https://worldpopulationreview.com/-

• Top 10 Largest Navies in the World (by total number of warships and submarines - 2020):

1. China - 777
2. Russia - 603
3. North Korea - 492
4. United States - 490
5. Colombia - 453
6. Iran - 398
7. Egypt - 316
8. Thailand - 292
9. India - 285
10. Indonesia - 282

• Foreseeing the future: The top 5 navies in the world by 2030

While the present day is obviously important, some military analysts are already looking toward the future. A 2021 piece on NationalInterest.org revealed expert picks for the top 5 navies of 2030, based upon the state of each country's current fleet, production/manufacturing plans, and overall naval budget.

United States - The U.S. is expected to remain the dominant global naval power in 2030, thanks to an unmatched combination of sheer tonnage and technological advancement. The U.S. Navy doesn't just have many ships, it has many massive, cutting-edge ships.
United Kingdom - While the U.K.'s total number of ships is expected to decline, the addition of two new aircraft carriers and the progressive updating of its submarine fleet should establish the U.K. as the #2 maritime power.
China - The People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) fleet is older, but larger in number (if not tonnage) fleet than the U.S. Navy fleet, and the PLAN has ambitious plans to keep adding more and more vessels.
India - Another Asian country expanding its naval presence, India should have three operating aircraft carriers by 2030, collectively capable of deploying 110-120 aircraft.
Russia - This superpower's aging fleet is likely to suffer some budget constraints as older equipment is decommissioned, but Russia is still expected to have eight ballistic missile submarines (with 20 missiles each) patrolling the seas in 2030.

Source: https://worldpopulationreview.com/

• India: Land-based ballistic missiles 

1. Prithvi-I Short-range ballistic missile: Range 150 KM. 
2. Prithvi-II Short-range ballistic missile: Range 250–350 KM 
3. Prithvi-III Short-range ballistic missile: Range: 350–600 KM 
4. Agni-I Medium-range ballistic missile: Range: 700 KM 
5. Shaurya Medium-range ballistic missile: Range: 700-1900 KM 
6. Agni-P Medium-range ballistic missile: Range: 1,000–2,000 KM 
7. Agni-II Medium-range ballistic missile: Range: 2,000–3,000 KM 
8. Agni-III Intermediate-range ballistic missile: Range: 3,500–5,000 KM 
9. Agni-IV Intermediate-range ballistic missile: Range: 4000 KM 
10. Agni-V Intercontinental ballistic missile: Range 5,000–8,000 KM 
11. Agni-VI Intercontinental ballistic missile & MIRV capable: Range: 8000–12,000 KM, Under development

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/

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USA ,NATO Must need to provide, Nuclear weapons to Taiwan, Japan and South Korea to maintain world Defense balance

As Japan and Taiwan have serious defense threats from 🇨🇳 China, even China is country who is always looking for the land of neighbor's, China used to show its dominance to move beyond the defense boundaries of its neighbor country. Like India, Taiwan, Japan, Tibet are the examples of the same, India is nuclear power so any war of china against India is not possible, with respect to attack against Taiwan and Japan from China is very much possible as these countries are not being with nuclear power but with limited defense capabilities as compare to China. and Chinese air-force use to move unauthorized in the territory of Taiwan and Japan.

For maintaining world 🌎 defense balance its crucial, USA and NATO Countries must need to provide atomic power to Japan and Taiwan.

As well North Korea is a very unauthorized atomic power which a great threat for South Korea as well for united states 🇺🇸 of America.

For maintaining the world defense balance its must for USA and NATO to provide atomic weapons to South Korea.

All such actions need to take urgently. As all such makes defense balance in the 🌎 world and will be diminished the chances of any war, as now world is suffering from Russia and Ukraine war so USA & NATO must need to learn from the same and try to make world war free. 

As world has to be nuclear weapons free and as per Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons: The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, commonly known as the Non-Proliferation Treaty or NPT, is an international treaty whose objective is to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology, to promote cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, and to further the goal of achieving nuclear disarmament and general and complete disarmament.^[3] Between 1965 and 1968, the treaty was negotiated by the Eighteen Nation Committee on Disarmament, a United Nations-sponsored organization based in Geneva, Switzerland. Source: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_on_the_Non-Proliferation_of_Nuclear_Weapons. NPT is important but some of nuclear powers are taking advantage of their large defence capacities and try to utilise their power in unauthorised assis in other country's land and try to capture the same, as they don't has fear of nuclear attacks from the country's of limited defence capacity and china is the biggest example of the same mean time if USA, NATO supports such victim country behalf of their military weapons supply and support of their limited soilders but they can't stop to limit the huge lose to victim country. Only the supply of nuclear weapons to such victim country can mange the balance of defence as well create fear in unauthorised attacking country and that will make the defence balance in world by supplying the nuclear weapons to victim country's. Image Source: https://pixabay.com, https://pixabay.com/service/license/

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North Korea nuclear tests any time, warns US official

A US official has warned that North Korea could conduct a seventh nuclear test "at any time".

Sung Kim, US Special Representative to North Korea, made the warning days after Pyongyang test-launched a record eight ballistic missiles on Sunday.

Any such nuclear test would be met with a "swift and forceful response", US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman told reporters.

Pyongyang has not carried out a nuclear test for five years.

However, tensions have been rising on the Korean peninsula. Speaking from Jakarta, Mr Kim said North Korea had tested an unprecedented number of missiles this year - 31 compared to 25 during the whole of its last record-breaking year, 2019.

"And it's only June," he told reporters during a briefing in Jakarta, Indonesia.

He added that rhetoric used by North Korean officials had suggested a willingness to use tactical or small-sized nuclear weapons as well.

When asked by reporters when the next round of testing would take place, Mr Kim warned it could happen "any time" - including as early as this week, according to news outlet Bloomberg.

Meanwhile, Ms Sherman told reporters in Seoul - where she has been meeting with South Korean and Japanese officials - that any such test "would be in complete violation of UN Security Council resolutions".

"I believe that not only ROK (South Korea) and United States and Japan but the entire world will respond in a strong and clear manner," she said.

North Korea is yet to respond to the US assertions.

However, the US - which, with its ally, South Korea, responded to Pyongyang's recent launches by launching eight missiles in response on Monday - remained committed to engaging diplomatically with North Korea "without preconditions", Mr Kim said.

He went on to say the message had been conveyed "through private channels". The US had also offered proposals on humanitarian cooperation and assistance with the recent Covid-19 outbreak in North Korea, he said. The country has been grappling with the spread of the virus in an unvaccinated population of nearly 25 million.

"However, to date, the DPRK has not responded and continues to show no indication that it is interested in engaging," he said. DailyBangladesh/AN Source: https://www.daily-bangladesh.com

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Biden warns China against invading Taiwan

President Joe Biden vowed Monday that US forces would defend Taiwan militarily if China attempted to take control of the self-ruled island by force, warning Beijing was already "flirting with danger".

The remarks, made in Tokyo where he is meeting with Japan's prime minister ahead of a regional summit Tuesday, were Biden's strongest to date on the issue and come amid rising tensions over China's growing economic and military power.

Washington and allies like Japan have framed their tough response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine as a warning to others, especially China, against unilateral military action.

Biden hammered that message home after talks with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in which the pair agreed to monitor Chinese naval activity and joint Chinese-Russia exercises.

Biden then went further. Asked if Washington was willing to get involved militarily to defend Taiwan, he replied: "Yes."

"That's the commitment we made," he added.

"We agreed with the One China policy, we signed on to it... but the idea that it can be taken by force is just not appropriate, it would dislocate the entire region and would be another action similar to Ukraine," Biden said.

Biden directly linked the fates of Ukraine and Taiwan, saying Western sanctions on Russia must exact a "long-term price" because otherwise "what signal does that send to China about the cost of attempting to take Taiwan by force?"

He warned Beijing was already "flirting with danger right now by flying so close and all the manoeuvres undertaken" -- referring to a growing number of Chinese sorties, naval exercises and other power projections in the Taiwan Straits.

In Beijing, foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin swiftly responded, declaring that "no one should underestimate the firm resolve, staunch will and strong ability of the Chinese people in defending national sovereignty and territorial integrity."

"China has no room for compromise or concession," the spokesman said.

- 'Policy has not changed' -

Like most nations, the United States diplomatically recognises Beijing over Taiwan. But it also maintains de facto diplomatic ties with the self-ruled, democratic island.

For decades it has maintained a policy of "strategic ambiguity" in which it never makes clear what it would do in the event of an invasion while agreeing to help Taiwan build its defences against attack from Beijing.

The policy was designed both to keep Beijing from declaring war and also to stop Taiwan from formally declaring independence.

Biden's remarks Monday overshadowed his rollout of a new, 13-nation regional trade framework as well as Tuesday's meeting of the Quad group.

The White House said that Biden was not diverging from the official "One China" policy, which includes the commitment to "provide Taiwan with the military means to defend itself".

"Our policy has not changed," the official said.

But Beijing's growing sabre-rattling on the issue, as well as Russia's Ukraine invasion, is shaking up the status quo.

Among those augmenting diplomatic support for Taipei is Japan, which has regularly warned China against "unilateral" attempts to change the impasse.

Kishida called for stability in the Taiwan Strait and said Tokyo was committed to boosting its defence spending, a sensitive subject in a country with constitutional limits on its military.

"Japan will fundamentally strengthen its defence capacity, and to back that up will significantly increase its defence spending," Kishida said at a joint press conference with Biden.

"We don't rule out any options, including (acquiring) the capacity to counter-attack," he added.

- Asia trade grouping launched -

Biden is in Japan on the second leg of an Asia trip intended to reinforce regional ties and show Washington remains committed to the region despite its heavy involvement with the crisis in Ukraine.

He finished his hectic day by joining Kishida and the prime minister's wife in an upscale Tokyo restaurant set in a peaceful garden and serving sushi and other traditional food.

Earlier, he announced Monday that 13 countries have joined a new, US-led Asia-Pacific trade initiative touted as a counterweight to China's aggressive expansion.

And on Tuesday, Biden meets with fellow Quad leaders from Japan, Australia and India.

He arrived in Tokyo on Sunday after stopping in Seoul for talks with newly elected President Yoon Suk-yeol.

While there, Biden said he was willing to meet Kim Jong Un if the leader-for-life is "sincere", despite the threat of a possible North Korean nuclear test hanging over the Asian tour., Source: https://www.daily-bangladesh.com/

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Russia to expand defence co-operation with India

• India and Russia have decided to expand their military cooperation with additional production of Russian military equipment in India under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s `Make-in-India’ programme, visiting Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said after meeting his counterpart S Jaishankar in New Delhi on Tuesday.
• The two countries also decided to pursue bilateral cooperation despite dissuations caused by regional and global developments. Moscow and New Delhi also reassured themselves that neither threats of sanctions from the United States nor military threat posed by China will stand in the way of bilateral trade and defence ties.
• Lavrov said talks touched on manufacturing of state-of-the-art weapon systems, even as he noted that Russia is the only partner that transfers cutting-edge military technology to India.
• “In this strategically important area, Russia is a major foreign contractor for New Delhi. I am sure deepening of Russian Indian military cooperation serves the national interest of both countries,” said Lavrov.
• Lavrov said military ties with India were deepening while ruling out any military alliance with China. The statement is significant considering the India-China military standoff for nearly a year in East Ladakh.
• Speaking alongside Indian external affairs minister S Jaishankar, Lavrov also spoke of Russia manufacturing 750 million doses of the Sputnik-V vaccine in India. Discussions about the manufacture of the Bharat Biotech in Russia are on, he said .
• The two foreign ministers also discussed the Afghanistan situation and agreed on the involvement of the Taliban and other regional powers, without which any solution would be "unsustainable."
• Lavrov also said that Moscow respected India's decision to diversify the purchase of military weapons from other countries, a reference to the United States and France, adding that Russia has assurances that there was no plan for an Asian NATO.
• Denying that he had said US exercises pressure on India, Lavrov said there were no discussions on statements from the US against arms trade with Russia.
• Both sides also touched on cooperation in energy, including nuclear, peaceful exploration of space and manned programs, rocket engine building, satellite navigation, the Russian Far East and the Arctic.Fresh from a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi last month, Lavrov said though Russia-China relations at the summit-level are at their highest levels in history; there are no discussions on a military alliance. Whether it was a Russia-China military alliance or talks of a Middle East NATO or an Asian NATO, “we believe it is counterproductive. Our Indian friends have the same position,” he observed. Source: https://www.domain-b.com/

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DRDO successfully flight-tests solid fuel ducted ramjet technology for air-to-air missiles

• Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) today successfully carried out a flight demonstration based on Solid Fuel Ducted Ramjet (SFDR) technology from the Integrated Test Range Chandipur off the coast of Odisha at around 1030 hrs.
• DRDO said all the subsystems, including the booster motor and nozzle-less motor, performed as expected. During the test, many new technologies were proven, including Solid Fuel based Ducted Ramjet technology, it added.
• The successful demonstration of Solid Fuel based Ducted Ramjet technology will enable DRDO to develop long range air-to-air missiles. At present, such technology is available only with a handful of countries in the world.
• During the test, air launch scenario was simulated using a booster motor. Subsequently, the nozzle-less booster accelerated it to the required Mach number for Ramjet operation.
• The performance of the missile was monitored using data captured by electro optical, radar and telemetry instruments deployed by ITR and confirmed successful demonstration of the mission objectives. The launch was monitored by senior scientists of various DRDO labs, including Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL), Research Centre Imarat (RCI) and High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL).
• Defence minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO scientists, Indian Air Force and the industry on the successful flight test of SFDR.Secretary Department of Defence R&D and chairman DRDO G Satheesh Reddy also congratulated the team involved in the successful flight test. Source: https://www.domain-b.com/

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Suu Kyi faces second charge by military

Aung San Suu Kyi was hit with another charge after the military deposed her and seized power in a coup on February 1, her lawyer said on Tuesday.

Suu Kyi’s lawyer Khin Maung Zaw told local media Suu Kyi was facing a second charge of violating the country’s Natural Disaster Law.

Meanwhile, she has already been charged with importing walkie-talkies.

He said that Suu Kyi had met with a judge on a video call due to COVID-19 regulations, but lawyers could not attend because they had not been granted power of attorney.

Asked about her health, Khin Maung Zaw said, “No news is good news. We haven’t heard or received bad news.”The date of the next court hearing will be March 1, he added Source: https://www.daily-bangladesh.com

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India approves 156 defence equipment for export

• India on Thursday approved the export of 156 defence equipment, including Astra missiles and Tejas indigenous Light Combat Aircraft, artillery guns, explosive, tanks and missiles, anti-tank mines and others, worth an estimated Rs35,000 crore, as the government is looking at enhancing defence exports to friendly countries.
• The export list also includes 19 aeronautical systems, 16 nuclear-biological-chemical equipment, 41 armament and combat systems, 28 naval systems, 27 electronic and communication systems, 10 life protection items, four missile systems, four micro-electronic devices and seven other material.
• Defence Research Development Organisation (DRD0) released the extended list, which now includes even Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air missile Astra, anti-tank guided missile Nag and Brahmos weapon system.
• Earlier, it was the Akash missile that was given clearance for export.
• Akash is a surface-to-air missile system that provides short-range air defence and can operate in autonomous or group modes of operation with a range of three to 25 km.
• The Astra missile is a beyond-visual air-to-air system integrated with Indian Air Force's Su30 MKI. In times to come, other Indian fighter jets will also be integrated with the Astra.
• Brahmos is a supersonic missile intended for use by the Army, Navy and Air Force. This universal missile can be launched from ships, mobile launchers, submarines and aircraft.
• The government is now looking at enhancing its defence exports, aiming to record export of defence equipment worth Rs35,000 crore ($5 billion) by 2025, as per the Defence Production Export Promotion Policy 2020.
• The new policy aims at enhancing exports and building a domestic defence industry for self-reliance, and targets a turnover of Rs1,75,000 crore ($25 billion dollars) by 2025.
• The policy also looks at doubling the domestic procurement from the Indian industry. Source: https://www.domain-b.com/

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China, India say disengagement of troops started at Pangong Tso

• After a bloody fight that left 20 Indian soldiers dead and a border standoff that lasted several months, Chinese and Indian troops have finally started simultaneously pulling back from the Pangong Tso Lake in Ladakh, as part of an agreement reached during the last round of military talks.
• The Chinese defence ministry said on Wednesday that troops on both sides have begun simultaneous pullback, which was also confirmed by India’s defence minister Rajnath Singh in Parliament on Thursday.
• “The Chinese and Indian frontline troops at the southern and northern bank of the Pangong Tso Lake started synchronised and organised disengagement from 10 February," China’s defence ministry spokesman senior colonel Wu Qian said.
• “This move is in accordance with the consensus reached by both sides at the 9th round of China-India corps commander level meeting," Wu said in a written statement put up on the ministry website.
• In New Delhi, defence minister Rajnath Singh said on Thursday that there was progress on the disengagement issue after nine months. He gave full credit to Indian troops for making China agree to disengage their forces.
• Tensions have been running high between India and China for nine months since India first detected Chinese intrusions into its territory in May. India quickly mobilized troops to match the Chinese deployment that Singh said had started in April last year.
• Last month, foreign minister S. Jaishankar warned ties were “truly at a crossroads" and that “choices that are made will have profound repercussions, not just for the two nations but for the entire world".
• Over the weekend, Jaishankar acknowledged some progress in dialogue but added that this had not eased the situation.
• However, reports citing sources said India was moving out some armoured components, while also “thinning out of troops" from the rear on the Indian side.
• “We continue to hold strategic heights. Frontline troops are not disengaging at the moment. It is still early days," the report cited one source as saying.
• He declined to confirm if the development could be described as “disengagement. “It’s a multi-step process, and there will be verification at each stage," the person said.
• According to strategic analysts, India’s cautious response is understandable, given the tense situation on the ground.
• “We will not judge the Chinese by their words, we will judge them by their actions," said former Indian ambassador to China Gautam Bambawale.Even if there is disengagement of troops, “the trust deficit between both sides will not be bridged, considering that the Chinese have gone back on almost all the agreements they have signed in decades to stabilise the border," said the second person cited above. Source: https://www.domain-b.com

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India approves 156 defence equipment for export

• India on Thursday approved the export of 156 defence equipment, including Astra missiles and Tejas indigenous Light Combat Aircraft, artillery guns, explosive, tanks and missiles, anti-tank mines and others, worth an estimated Rs35,000 crore, as the government is looking at enhancing defence exports to friendly countries.
• The export list also includes 19 aeronautical systems, 16 nuclear-biological-chemical equipment, 41 armament and combat systems, 28 naval systems, 27 electronic and communication systems, 10 life protection items, four missile systems, four micro-electronic devices and seven other material.
• Defence Research Development Organisation (DRD0) released the extended list, which now includes even Beyond Visual Range (BVR) air-to-air missile Astra, anti-tank guided missile Nag and Brahmos weapon system.
• Earlier, it was the Akash missile that was given clearance for export. 
• Akash is a surface-to-air missile system that provides short-range air defence and can operate in autonomous or group modes of operation with a range of three to 25 km.
• The Astra missile is a beyond-visual air-to-air system integrated with Indian Air Force's Su30 MKI. In times to come, other Indian fighter jets will also be integrated with the Astra.
• Brahmos is a supersonic missile intended for use by the Army, Navy and Air Force. This universal missile can be launched from ships, mobile launchers, submarines and aircraft.
• The government is now looking at enhancing its defence exports, aiming to record export of defence equipment worth Rs35,000 crore ($5 billion) by 2025, as per the Defence Production Export Promotion Policy 2020.
• The new policy aims at enhancing exports and building a domestic defence industry for self-reliance, and targets a turnover of Rs1,75,000 crore ($25 billion dollars) by 2025.The policy also looks at doubling the domestic procurement from the Indian industry. Source: https://www.domain-b.com/

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US military in Iraq targeted again

The U.S. military in Iraq has been targeted again as a US-led coalition military convoy has reportedly been targeted near the Iraqi city of Samarra in the northern Province of Salahuddin. 

A bomb targeted the logistics convoy on Tuesday, Iraqi media said. According to Press TV, no casualties or damage were reported in the incident. 

The attack came a day after a supply convoy of the US military was also struck by an improvised explosive device in the southern city of Nasiriyah in Dhi Qar Province, ParsToday news. On 03 January last year, Lt. General Qassem Soleimani, the Commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), and his Iraqi trenchmate Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the Deputy Head of the Popular Mobilization Units, were killed in a terror drone strike authorized by US. Since then, there has been intense public outrage against US troops in Iraq. Source: https://www.daily-bangladesh.com/

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Indian Army rescues pregnant woman stuck in snowbound Kashmir

Soldiers of the Indian Army rescued a pregnant woman stuck in snowbound Kupwara in Kashmir and safely took her for about two km in knee-deep snow tol the hospital, the Indian Army said on Thursday.

Late on Tuesday, the Company Operating Base at Karalpura in Kupwara received a distress call from Manzoor Ahmed Sheikh saying that his wife Shabnam Begum was in labour pain and needed to be evacuated to the hospital immediately.

Also, due to heavy snowfall and inclement weather, neither a community health service vehicle nor civil transport was available and the same was possible only after the snow was cleared from the road.

Understanding the gravity of the situation and the plight of the family, Army troops at Karalpura along with battlefield nursing assistant and medical comforts reached the spot in time.

The troops escorted the woman and the family for about two km in knee-deep snow till the road head, from where she was taken to Karalpura hospital. On reaching the hospital the woman was immediately attended to by the medical staff which was coordinated beforehand by the Army with the civil administration.

"The family and the civil administration thanked the unit for its humanitarian efforts and recognised the Army as the true friend of Awam at the time of distress. The father came to the Company Operating Base to distribute sweets to all troops after being blessed with a boy," the Arny said in a statement.

The force so far has evacuated more than two-dozen pregnant women from the snow-bound areas in Kashmir. (IANS) Source: https://southasiamonitor.org

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Taliban commander among 13 killed in Afghan airstrikes

At least 13 militants including a Taliban group commander Mohammed Omar were killed in air raids in Batikot district of Afghanistan’s eastern Nangarhar province over the past 24 hours, said a statement of provincial government released on Monday. 

Mohammed Omar, who served as Taliban group commander in the area, was a former Taliban prisoner released from government prison months ago, the statement said. 

As per the US-Taliban so-called peace deal inked in February last year, the Afghan government set free more than 5,000 Taliban inmates in exchange for 1,000 security personnel from Taliban custody.

According to Afghan officials, hundreds of the Taliban fighters freed by the government have returned to battleground. 

The Taliban outfit which begun peace talks with the Afghan government on September 12 in line with the US-Taliban peace deal, has rejected the government claim, saying no released Taliban has returned to battle. DailyBangladesh/AN, Source: https://www.daily-bangladesh.com/

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India, Pakistan exchange lists of nuclear installations, prisoner

India and Pakistan today exchanged the lists of civilian prisoners and fishermen in custody and their nuclear installations and facilities.

The list of civilian prisoners and fishermen was exchanged through diplomatic channels keeping with the provisions of the 2008 Agreement, Indian ministry of external affairs statement said here.

Under the bilateral arrangement, India handed over lists of 263 Pakistan civilian prisoners and 77 fishermen in India’s custody to Pakistan while Pakistan has shared lists of 49 civilian prisoners and 270 fishermen in its custody.

Both the countries called their respective counterparts for early release and repatriation of civilian prisoners and fishermen along with their boats.

However, India and Pakistan today exchanged list of nuclear installations and facilities under the bilateral arrangement that prohibits the two countries from attacking each other’s nuclear installations and facilities.

The exchange was also made through diplomatic channels simultaneously at New Delhi and Islamabad, the MEA said in a separate statement here today.

“The Agreement, which was signed on 31 December 1988 and entered into force on 27 January 1991 provides, inter alia, that India and Pakistan inform each other of the nuclear installations and facilities to be covered under the Agreement on the first of January of every calendar year,” it added.

This is the 30th consecutive exchange of such list between the two countries as the first one having taken place on January 01, 1992. The exchange of list of nuclear installations and facilities were made amid frosty ties between the two countries over the Kashmir issue as well as cross-border terrorism.DailyBangladesh/SA Source: https://www.daily-bangladesh.com/

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Lockheed Martin to acquire Aerojet Rocketdyne for $4.4 billion

• US defence major Lockheed Martin Corporation on Sunday announced the signing of an agreement to acquire rocket engine manufacturer Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings Inc for $4.4 billion, including debt and net cash, or $56 per share in cash. 
• Lockheed Martin would be paying $51 per share after the payment of a pre-closing special dividend. This represents a post-dividend equity value of $4.6 billion and a total transaction value of $4.4 billion, including the assumption of net cash.
• The deal is Lockheed’s biggest acquisition since Jim Taiclet took over as chief executive in June. He is seeking to beef up the company’s propulsion capabilities amid competition from new entrants such as SpaceX and Blue Origin, for space contracts with the US government.
• As part of approving the transaction, Aerojet Rocketdyne announced a special cash dividend, revocable at its option through the payment date, of $5 per share to its holders of record of common stock and convertible senior notes (on an as-converted basis) as of the close of business on 10 March 2021, and payable on 24 March 2021
• Aerojet Rocketdyne's complementary capabilities and skilled workforce will help Lockheed Martin achieve substantial growth in Hypersonics, Tactical Missiles, Integrated Air and Missile Defense, Strategic Systems and Space Exploration.
• "Acquiring Aerojet Rocketdyne will preserve and strengthen an essential component of the domestic defense industrial base and reduce costs for our customers and the American taxpayer," said James Taiclet, Lockheed Martin president and CEO. 
• "This transaction enhances Lockheed Martin's support of critical U.S. and allied security missions and retains national leadership in space and hypersonic technology. We look forward to welcoming their talented team and expanding Lockheed Martin's position as the leading provider of 21st century warfare solutions," he added.
• With 2019 revenue of approximately $2 billion, nearly 5,000 employees, and 15 primary operations sites across the United States, Aerojet Rocketdyne is an established aerospace and defense rocket engine manufacturer. 
• The proposed acquisition adds substantial expertise in propulsion to Lockheed Martin's portfolio, and expands on the solid foundation built by Lockheed Martin and Aerojet Rocketdyne over many years. Aerojet Rocketdyne's propulsion systems are already a key component of Lockheed Martin's supply chain and several advanced systems across its Aeronautics, Missiles and Fire Control and Space business areas.The transaction is expected to close in the second half of 2021 and is subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals and approval by Aerojet Rocketdyne's stockholders, Lockheed Martin said. Source: https://www.domain-b.com/

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