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NATO says drone shot down in Romania appears to be Russian
US Colonel Martin O'Donnell, a spokesperson for the Headquarters of the Supreme Allied Powers Europe, has said the drone shot down in Romania on the night of 15-16 August appears to be Russian.
NATO fighter shoots down suspected Russian drone that illegally entered Romanian airspace
"Additional details regarding Sunday’s incident remain under investigation, but the drone appears to be Russian," said NATO spokesperson US Army Colonel Martin O'Donnell.
First Thing: Court files show how federal agents spied on anti-ICE protesters | Martin Belam
Undercover agents infiltrated meetings, private chats and local events. Plus Wile E Coyote returns to the big screen Good morning. The extent to which federal law enforcement targeted political opponents and peaceful organizers has been laid bare in newly disclosed court documents. Internal investigative files reveal that the Department of Homeland Security launched a sweeping surveillance operation against anti-ICE protesters, major labor unions and left-leaning advocacy groups – sending undercover agents to infiltrate community meetings and issuing administrative subpoenas to seize financial records. The documents show that DHS investigators obtained financial records of unions and non-profits, as part of an inquiry into “domestic terrorist financing”. What did undercover government agents do? They infiltrated community meetings, joined private activist Signal chats and surreptitiously recorded audio at local events – including a “resistance skills training” at a public library and a sparring session at a church gym, where an agent accidentally dropped his recording device. Agents posed as activists and actively engaged participants by offering to help with “direct-action” protests. How have activists responded? Emilia González Avalos, the executive director of Unidos MN, a Minneapolis social justice non-profit group, said: “I believe that this is a clear attempt to intimidate us, to punish and politically repress disagreement and difference. And that is not the America that we have built through hundreds of years. And it’s definitely not the America that we are organizing for.” Where did the attack take place? The attack took place in Sevastopol, the biggest city in Russian-annexed Crimea. The regional governor, Mikhail Razvozhayev, said a woman had been arrested on suspicion of assassinating Shageyev on behalf of Ukrainian special services. What has Poland said about Russian activity there? A Russian plan to kill a Ukrainian American citizen in Warsaw was thwarted by Poland before it could be carried out, the Polish prime minister has said. Donald Tusk said it was the first time that “someone on the order of Russia” had sought to attack a US citizen on the territory of another Nato country. Continue reading...
Trump administration to invest $3 billion in minerals projects to boost US defence supply chains
The US government will invest $3 billion in critical minerals and battery projects as part of a push to increase domestic production and boost national security and industrial policy, US President Donald Trump said on Friday. “We’re reclaiming America’s rightful place as the minerals superpower of the world,” Trump told more than 200 mining executives, educators, investors and fellow politicians at a roundtable at the State Department aimed at supporting the industry, which he said had not received enough attention from Washington in recent years. He announced a slew of investments during his speech, including a $1.4bn conditional loan from the Defence Department’s Office of Strategic Capital for Sila Nanotechnologies, which makes lithium-ion battery parts. The OSC also extended a $400 million conditional loan to scandium miner Sunrise Energy Metals and a $150m conditional loan to magnet developer Niron Magnetics. The US Export-Import Bank will lend $58m to Westwater Resources, Global Advanced Metals and 5E Advanced Materials, which Reuters reported earlier on Friday. “Critical minerals are the raw materials of American strength that power everything from advanced weaponry to automobiles, and we want these essential products to be mined, refined and made right here in the USA,” Trump said. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and National Security Council official David Copley attended the announcement. Weapons stockpiles drive mineral demand The White House needs critical minerals to replenish weapons stockpiles depleted during the Iran conflict and reduce US dependence on Chinese supply chains. Several executives came with gifts for Trump. Tom Albanese, chairman of deep-sea mining firm American Ocean Minerals, gave Trump a gold replica of a nodule that the company hopes to mine from the Pacific seabed. Trump last year said he may bypass the UN-backed International Seabed Authority and issue international seabed mining licenses. Jim Litinsky, CEO of rare earths firm MP Materials, which is financially supported by the Pentagon, gave Trump magnets that had been produced for General Motors in the company’s Texas plant. Other attendees included executives from Lithium Americas , which is building the largest US lithium mine, NioCorp, which is building a scandium mine to supply defence contractor Lockheed Martin, and Energy Fuels , which received a $725m OSC conditional loan in June. US forces have burned through large numbers of precision-guided missiles and air-defence interceptors during the five-month-old US- Iran war. Defence officials and lawmakers have warned that replenishing some inventories could take years given existing production constraints. The Trump administration has disputed reports of significant shortages. Supplies of minerals including rare earths, tungsten, germanium and scandium are essential for manufacturing precision-guided missiles, fighter aircraft, armored vehicles, infrared sensors and other advanced weapons systems, according to Pentagon officials and defence companies. Mining schools receive funding boost The Department of Energy on Friday hosted representatives from all 14 accredited US mining schools to promote mining careers and encourage more students to enter the field. The department announced $100m in grants to help boost educational programs and set a goal of doubling the number of mining-related graduates at the nation’s universities within two years. “We need to work on some systemic changes to how we as a nation want to offer our brightest students an opportunity to participate in this industry,” said Assistant Energy Secretary Audrey Robertson. The Pentagon also said it would fund $80m in projects at three US mining schools. Officials have pointed to China’s extensive network of mining universities as a key advantage in its dominance of global mineral production. Since returning to office, Trump has launched a $12bn strategic minerals stockpile, backed equity investments in companies developing US mines and processing facilities, and sought to limit defence contractors’ reliance on supplies from China. The administration says government support is needed to counter decades of Chinese investment that left Beijing dominant in the mining and processing of many strategic minerals. Australia’s government on Saturday welcomed the Trump administration’s loan to Sunrise Energy Metals, which is developing a scandium mine in the country’s New South Wales state. “The Sunrise Scandium Project hosts the world’s largest and highest-grade known scandium resource, which has a range of vital aerospace, defence and clean energy applications,” Resources Minister Madeleine King said in a statement.
ABD, savunma tedarik zinciri için kritik minerallere 3 milyar dolar yatırım yapıyorOne of 18 ‘maleta boys’ says P20M to P25M offered to recant statement
MANILA, Philippines — One of the 18 “maleta boys” who claimed to be former bodyguards of ex-Ako Bicol Rep. Zaldy Co said on Friday that they were offered P20 to P25 million to recant their affidavit implicating several government officials, including President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, in the flood control
ABD ile Almanya arasındaki uzun menzilli füze anlaşması zorda: "Yıllar alabilir"
Rheinmetall CEO'su Armin Papperger, Lockheed Martin ile Almanya'da planlanan ATACMS üretiminin artırılmasının iki yıldan uzun süreceğini söyledi. Şirket, İran'la beş ay süren savaşta azalan ABD füze stoklarının yenilenmesine katkı sağlayabilecek ortak üretim tesislerini gelecek yıl kurmayı planlıyor. Almanya merkezli savunma sanayii şirketi Rheinmetall, Lockheed Martin ile planladığı ATACMS üretimini artırmanın zaman alacağını belirterek, İran'la savaşta azalan ABD silah stoklarının yenilenmesinin yıllar sürebileceğine işaret etti. Rheinmetall Üst Yöneticisi Armin Papperger, Reuters'a verdiği ve perşembe günü yapılan, cuma günü yayımlanan röportajda, "Doğal olarak, İran'la çatışmada tükenen ABD askeri cephaneliklerini yenilemek için de yeterli kapasite olacak" dedi. Papperger, "Bu iki yıl içinde gerçekleşmeyecek. Çok daha uzun sürecek" diye konuştu. Bu hafta ABD Kara Kuvvetlerinin İran'la beş ay süren savaş sırasında uzun menzilli hassas füzelerden oluşan küresel stokunun büyük bölümünü kullandığı bildirilmişti. Bu durum, gelecekteki krizlerde ABD ordusunun hazırlık düzeyine ilişkin kaygılara yol açmıştı. ABD Başkanı Donald Trump ise perşembe günü silah kıtlığı endişelerini küçümseyerek, bazı mühimmat türlerinde neredeyse sınırsız tedarik bulunduğunu söyledi. Trump, bazı diğer mühimmatların stoklarının daha sınırlı olduğunu kabul ederken ABD savunma şirketlerinin üretim kapasitesini genişlettiğini de belirtti. Rheinmetall, geçen ay Lockheed Martin ile Almanya'nın kuzeyindeki Unterlüß tesisinde Ordu Taktik Füze Sistemleri'nin, yani ATACMS füzelerinin ortak üretimi için mutabakat zaptı imzalamıştı. Üretim tesislerinin gelecek yıl kurulması planlanıyor. Dünya genelindeki savunma şirketleri, hükümetlerin askeri harcamalarını artırmasıyla yükselen talebi karşılamak için üretimlerini genişletmeye çalışıyor. Bu eğilim, Ukrayna ve Ortadoğu'daki savaşların yanı sıra Avrupa'nın kendi güvenliği konusunda daha fazla sorumluluk üstlenmesi yönündeki ABD baskısı nedeniyle güçleniyor. RHEINMETALL ÜRETİMİ BÜYÜTÜYOR Avrupa'nın en büyük mühimmat üreticisi olan Rheinmetall, artan talebi karşılamak ve üretim kapasitesini hızla genişletmek amacıyla ortaklıklar kurdu ve satın almalar gerçekleştirdi. ATACMS ortak üretimi için hâlâ onay alınması gerekiyor. Ancak Papperger, sürecin ileri aşamada olduğunu ve ABD hükümetinin desteğine sahip bulunduğunu söyledi. Ortakların ATACMS füzeleri için küresel pazarı hedefleyeceğini belirten Papperger, "Önümüzdeki 15 yıl boyunca füzelere yönelik bir pazar olacak" dedi. Üst yönetici, ortak girişimin ilk gelirini 2028'de elde etmesini beklediklerini kaydetti. Papperger ayrıca Rheinmetall'in, İtalya merkezli Leonardo'nun askeri kamyon şirketi Iveco'yu satın alma teklifine hâlâ ilgi duyduğunu, ancak yeni Üst Yönetici Lorenzo Mariani ile yapılacak görüşmelerin belirleyici olacağını söyledi. Papperger, "Selefiyle el sıkışarak vardığım bir anlaşma vardı" diyerek, "Mariani yeni şartlara karar verebilir. Bunların Rheinmetall için hâlâ cazip olup olmadığını göreceğiz" ifadelerini kullandı. Anlaşmanın risk altında olmadığını belirten Papperger, yaz tatilinin ardından Mariani ile görüşmeyi umduğunu söyledi. BOXER SÖZLEŞMESİ YIL SONUNA KADAR İMZANALACAK Rheinmetall, Almanya'nın F126 fırkateyn programını iptal etmesinin ardından perşembe günü satış beklentisini düşürmüştü. Şirket buna rağmen Alman ordusuna Boxer zırhlı araçları tedarik etmek için milyarlarca avro değerindeki sözleşmenin yıl sonuna kadar imzalanmasını bekliyor. Papperger, "Bunun önünde kesinlikle hiçbir engel yok" dedi. Sözleşmede Rheinmetall'in payının 12,4 milyar avro (14,3 milyar dolar) olması bekleniyor. Ortak KNDS'nin payı da dahil edildiğinde toplam sözleşme değerinin yaklaşık 25 milyar avroya ulaşacağı öngörülüyor.
Rheinmetall: ATACMS üretimi iki yıldan önce başlamayacakDRC president claims Trump deal requires he seize another term
Last week, the Constitutional Court of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) opened the door for the country’s sitting president, Felix Tshisekedi, to seek a third term. In a widely expected but nonetheless dramatic decision, the court ruled that the country’s constitution — including its provision limiting presidents to two terms in office — can now be amended via a referendum in the event of “major dysfunction” of state institutions. The country’s 2006 constitution not only limits a president to two five-year terms, but Article 220 stipulates that “the number and length of the terms of office of the President of the Republic … may not form the object of a Constitutional amendment.” Tshisekedi already expressed interest in the idea of a referendum on term limits, saying in June, “I have not asked for a third term, but if the people want a third term, I will accept.” The next presidential election is scheduled for 2028. The court’s decision now threatens to set off a political crisis in the country — one in which the United States, which has actively tried to influence both political and economic issues in the DRC for years, has unintentionally become embroiled. In a press conference on May 6, Tshisekedi argued, without evidence, that amending his country’s constitution was among the conditions put in place by Washington in the minerals agreement the two countries signed last December, which gave American firms preferential access to the country’s resources. Members and supporters of the ruling coalition are now repeating this claim across the media, pointing to Article XII of the Strategic Partnership Agreement (SPA) as the condition requiring an amendment to the country’s constitution. The article in question says that the DRC must commit “to undertake any legislative and constitutional reforms within a maximum period of twelve (12) months in order to align its legal framework with the relevant provisions of this Agreement.” But the SPA does not require any specific changes to the Congolese constitution, let alone any that focus directly on presidential term limits. The only explicit requirement in the SPA is that the Congolese government agrees to amend a 2014 law focused on “the fiscal, customs, parafiscal, non-tax revenue and exchange regime” and to “undertake any legislative and constitutional reforms … to align its legal framework” with the SPA. In order to avoid the appearance of foreign interference, the Trump administration should clearly indicate that the SPA does not require the DRC to make any constitutional amendment relating to presidential powers or term limits. Another argument advanced by Tshisekedi and his supporters is that, since the constitution was largely written by foreigners, it never sufficiently accounted for domestic Congolese realities. The text therefore needs to be amended, if not completely overhauled, in order to be more responsive to local needs. U.S.-based organizations funded by the U.S. government were among those that sent experts to the DRC to help in the drafting and implementation of the constitution. A third major argument presented by Tshisekedi and his supporters has to do with the long-standing war ravaging the DRC’s east. The DRC has for years been fighting a proxy war against Rwanda, in which both countries are providing munitions to various armed groups in a conflict whose origins date back to the Rwandan genocide of 1994. In early May, Tshisekedi said “If we cannot end this war, unfortunately we will not be able to organize elections in 2028.” “The resources are there, we can do it, but we cannot organize them without North Kivu and South Kivu,” he argued, referring to two of the country’s eastern provinces where much of the recent fighting has taken place. The United States is directly implicated in the conflict’s future. Washington brokered an agreement in June 2025 to end the war in exchange for preferential access to the region’s minerals — access which was codified in the December SPA. Despite Trump’s claims to have ended the war, fighting has continued sporadically in the year since. If peace continues to be elusive, and if Tshisekedi continues to cite the conflict to argue for deferring elections, Washington could find itself in a difficult position. In such a case, it would need to pressure Tshisekedi to live up to his end of the peace deal, including ceasing “any state support to non-state armed groups except as necessary to facilitate implementation of this Agreement.” Reporting suggests the DRC continues to provide support to several of the armed groups fighting in the country’s east. Ultimately, the United States’ primary objective in the DRC shouldn’t be to support Tshisekedi’s effort to cling to power, no matter how amenable he’s been to U.S. mining interests. The DRC has long struggled to support a liberal democracy where reliable elections happen as scheduled. The country was under a dictatorship until 1997, when long-time ruler Mobutu Sese Seko fled the country under threat. Laurent-Desire Kabila took over the next day, installing an autocratic government. After years of conflict and unstable governance, a constitution was approved in 2006, providing for two five-year term limits for the office of the president. In 2015, then-President Joseph Kabila — the son of Laurent-Desire — expressed his interest in seeking an unconstitutional third term in office. Tshisekedi, who was in the opposition at the time, spoke out against Kabila’s plans, claiming that they were a breach of democracy. Widespread protests and pressure from foreign governments ultimately forced Kabila to step down at the end of his second term, allowing for elections to be held, in which the Constitutional Court declared Tshisekedi the winner amid claims of electoral fraud by the opposition. The opposition has voiced disapproval over Tshisekedi’s apparent attempt to hold onto power. In a speech before the Conference of Catholic Bishops a couple weeks ago, Martin Fayulu, who officially came in second in the 2018 presidential election and third in 2023, said “Tshisekedi has betrayed the oath he took to respect and defend the constitution.” For the United States, the goal in the DRC shouldn’t be to advance or hinder the interests of any single domestic politician, no matter how powerful they might be. Getting embroiled in the domestic political affairs of the DRC risks pulling the U.S. into a crisis from which it has nothing to gain. Rather, Washington should remain focused on promoting its own interests by seeking access to the region’s economic opportunities and extending its investments across the Congo in an effort to integrate the region’s vital resources into global supply chains. The United States should also work to continuously hold each of the belligerent sides accountable for the peace accord signed last year in Washington. If peace takes hold, then the U.S. wins twice: first by securing a diplomatic victory, and second by lowering barriers to investment for American private sector firms.
Trump'ın Hürmüz Boğazı'ndaki Süveyş Anı: Masadaki Anlaşma ABD'nin ÇıkarınaKomşusunun şikayeti nedeniyle 4 milyon sterlinlik evi yıkılabilir! 'Güneşlenirken rahatsız oluyorum'
İngiltere'nin Sandbanks bölgesinde yaşayan 69 yaşındaki Neil Kennedy, komşusunun şikayeti nedeniyle yaklaşık 4 milyon sterlin değerindeki evini yıkmak zorunda kalabilir. Emekli muhasebeci Kennedy, 2023 yılında Poole Limanı manzaralı eski tek katlı evini yıkarak yerine üç katlı lüks bir konut inşa etti. Ancak inşaat sırasında onaylanan projeye aykırı değişiklikler yapıldığı ortaya çıktı. İZİNSİZ DEĞİŞİKLİKLER İzinsiz değişiklikler arasında, komşu bahçeye bakacak şekilde genişletilen bir balkon, yan cepheye eklenen pencereler ve çatıya yerleştirilen klima sistemi yer aldı. ÜNLÜ MİMARDAN ŞİKAYET Komşuları arasında bulunan, Channel 4 ekranlarında yayınlanan "Four Rooms" programıyla tanınan ünlü iç mimar Celia Sawyer, balkonun bahçesini gördüğünü ve mahremiyetini ihlal ettiğini savundu. Sawyer, özellikle güneşlenirken rahatsız olduğunu belirtti. Bir diğer komşu Garth Weston ise yan cephede açılan pencerelerden birinin doğrudan yatak odasını gördüğünü ve klima ünitesinin gürültü oluşturduğunu öne sürdü. MAHKEME BELEDİYENİN KARARINI İPTAL ETTİ The Sun'dan edinilen bilgilere göre Kennedy, yapılan değişiklikler için sonradan imar izni aldı. Ancak Weston, belediyenin süreci hukuka aykırı yürüttüğü gerekçesiyle konuyu Yüksek Mahkeme'ye taşıdı. Mahkeme, belediye planlama görevlisinin bölgeyi yerinde incelemeden karar verdiğini ve komşular üzerindeki etkinin yeterince değerlendirilmediğini belirterek verilen izni iptal etti. Hakim Andrew Keyser, raporda yalnızca yazım hataları değil, olayın gerçek durumuna ilişkin önemli yanlış değerlendirmeler bulunduğunu ifade etti. Kararla birlikte Kennedy'nin evi mevcut haliyle ruhsatsız duruma düştü. YIKIM İHTİMALİ GÜNDEMDE Kennedy, iki yılı aşkın sürenin ardından evini koruyabilmek için yeniden planlama başvurusunda bulundu. Avukatı Martin Hanham, proje değişikliklerinden müvekkilinin değil, inşaat firması ve mimarların sorumlu olduğunu savunarak Kennedy'nin gerekli ek izinlerin alınmadığını bilmediğini öne sürdü. Öte yandan Sandbanks Mahalle Forumu da yeni başvuruya itiraz ederek yapının komşuların mahremiyetini ihlal ettiğini ve klima sisteminin gürültü sorunu yarattığını belirtti. Yetkililerin yeni başvuru hakkında nasıl bir karar vereceği henüz netlik kazanmazken, mevcut haliyle onaysız durumda bulunan lüks ev için yıkım ihtimali gündemdeki yerini koruyor. 40 derece alarmı! Açık alanda çalışmaya saat sınırlaması Aşırı sıcaklardan 21 kişi hayatını kaybetmişti! Ülke alarma geçti, kritik talimat verildi
Komşusunun 'güneşlenirken rahatsız oluyorum' şikayetiyle İngiltere'de 4 milyon sterlinlik lüks ev yıkılabilirStrong El Nino could push 49 million more people into acute hunger, UN agency says
A powerful El Nino weather event could push an additional nearly 49 million people into acute food insecurity across some of the world’s most vulnerable regions by the end of next year, the World Food Programme (WFP) said on Wednesday. The UN agency said in a report that there was an 81 per cent chance of a very strong El Nino event, with sea surface temperatures at their warmest levels since at least 1982 and potentially making it the strongest such event since 1950. El Nino, a periodic warming of ocean surface temperatures in the Pacific, alters global weather patterns and is often associated with drought in Southern Africa, delayed monsoons in parts of Asia and erratic rainfall elsewhere. “These are events that in the past have triggered large-scale hunger,” Jean-Martin Bauer, director of WFP’s Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Service, told reporters. Based on an analysis of 45 countries deemed vulnerable to the adverse effects of El Nino, WFP estimates that the number of people facing acute food insecurity could rise by almost 49 million to a total of 274 million people, an increase of 22pc, relative to the baseline population already experiencing crisis-level food insecurity or worse. Central America and Southern Africa are expected to be among the hardest-hit regions, with the number of food-insecure people set to increase by 83pc in Central America and nearly 75pc in Southern Africa, the WFP report said. Southern Africa as well as South America and the Caribbean could each see more than 12 million additional people fall into acute food insecurity. Bauer said global food markets entered the El Nino period in a relatively strong position following good harvests in 2025, but warned that conflict in the Middle East and potential weather-related crop losses could put further upward pressure on prices. While past El Nino events have not typically triggered major global food price spikes, regional shortages and higher prices could worsen food access for vulnerable households, he said. Funding cuts from US and European donors in 2025 were also hampering efforts to monitor the developing crisis, with Bauer describing a growing drought of food-security data used to assess the impact of El Nino. WFP conducted about 1.1 million household surveys in 2024, compared with about 800,000 in 2025, while data collection has fallen further this year due to funding restrictions. “At a time when you have a risk like an El Nino, it is important to have high-frequency data collection,” Bauer said, warning that reduced monitoring could make it harder to identify emerging food crises quickly. Early action required WFP said current forecasts point to rainfall deficits in parts of East Africa, the Sahel, Central America and the Caribbean, while flood risks could rise in Somalia and neighbouring areas. Significant impacts are also projected across South and Southeast Asia, where drought risks, uneven monsoons and localised flooding could disrupt agricultural production, the report stated. The agency stressed that the forecasts remain uncertain and that impacts will vary across regions, but warned that governments and aid agencies needed to prepare. Richard Choularton, director of WFP’s Climate and Resilience Service, said the agency had scaled up anticipatory action programmes in 18 countries, reaching more than 1.3 million people so far this year with cash and other assistance to help in the event of extreme weather.
BM: Güçlü El Nino 49 milyon kişiyi daha akut açlığa sürükleyebilirExpert discusses dwindling U.S. munitions reserve and the effect on the Iran war
NPR's Michel Martin speaks with Center for a New American Security senior fellow Stacie Pettyjohn about the shortage of U.S. long-range precision missiles in the wake of the war against Iran.
Main Chehlum procession concludes peacefully in Karachi amid heavy security
The main mourning procession to mark Chehlum concluded successfully in Karachi on Tuesday amid heavy security, according to the police. Chehlum, also known as Arbaeen (40 in Arabic), marks the 40th day of mourning for the martyrdom of Imam Husain (AS), the grandson of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). It is marked by processions by Shia Muslims across the country. In another update at 4:50pm, the police said the front of the main procession had reached Eidgah Chowk, while its tail was at Britto Road, en route to Hussainia Iranian Imambargah. Earlier today, in a press release, the police said MA Jinnah Road would be closed from Guru Mandir to Tower. Traffic police provided alternate routes for commuters travelling through Karachi’s South, Central and East districts. A map showing the Chehlum procession route in Karachi on August 4, 2026. — Photo courtesy police “People coming from Nazimabad may travel via Lasbela Chowk, then Nishtar Road through Garden, to reach their destinations,” the press release read, outlining alternate routes for commuters in Central district. “Those coming from Liaquatabad should proceed from Teen Hatti to Lasbela Chowk, then turn left towards Central Jail (Martin Road) to reach their destinations.” It added that commuters travelling from Hassan Square towards PP Chowrangi could use Kashmir Road, then Society Light Signal on Shahrah-i-Quaideen, before continuing via the Jail Flyover to Teen Hatti and then proceeding to Nishtar Road. Meanwhile, commuters in Karachi East travelling from Sharea Faisal towards Numaish via Shahrah-i-Quaideen were advised to turn right at Society Light Signal onto Kashmir Road and continue to their destinations. “People travelling from Central Jail Gate (Jamshed Road) toward Guru Mandir/MA Jinnah Road should proceed from Guru Mandir via Bahadur Yar Jang Road and Soldier Bazaar to reach their destinations,” the advisory adds. Shia Muslim devotees take part in the religious Chehlum procession in Karachi on August 4, 2026. — AFP Those in Karachi South travelling from Garden Zoo towards MA Jinnah Road were instructed to proceed via Uncle Saria, turn right towards Gul Plaza, and then turn left via the Coast Guard and Holy Family Hospital to reach their destinations. Karachi’s Additional Inspector General (IG) Javed Alam said in a statement on Monday that 7,465 police officers and personnel would be deployed for security duty at 108 processions, 2,901 at 501 majalis, and 1,113 at 642 imambargahs on Chehlum, for a total deployment of 11,479 officers and personnel. “All roads intersecting the route of Karachi’s main procession will remain completely closed, and extraordinary measures have also been taken around Nishtar Park,” he added. According to the Additional IG, all station house officers were instructed to remain present in their respective areas, intensify patrolling, snap checking, and picketing, and ensure high alert security at sensitive installations, public places, and key government and private buildings.
Electronic tagging system unprepared to monitor thousands of early-release prisoners, watchdog warns
Probation inspector says ‘clunky’ system needs upgrade and huge increase in staff to monitor offenders effectively The electronic tagging system that will be relied upon to monitor thousands of offenders released early from prison is failing to alert the authorities of potential breaches of conditions, a watchdog has warned. Martin Jones, HM inspector of probation in England and Wales, said the current system relied upon hard-pressed police and probation officers looking up individual cases and then deciding whether potential breaches need to be investigated further. Continue reading...
Main Chehlum procession underway in Karachi amid heavy security
Mourning processions to mark Chehlum are under way in Karachi on Tuesday amid heavy security after departing Nishtar Park at 1pm, according to the police. Chehlum, also known as Arbaeen (40 in Arabic), marks the 40th day of mourning for the martyrdom of Imam Husain (AS), the grandson of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). It is marked by processions by Shia Muslims across the country. In another update at 4:50pm, the police said the front of the main procession had reached Eidgah Chowk, while its tail was at Britto Road, en route to Hussainia Iranian Imambargah. Earlier today, in a press release, the police said MA Jinnah Road would be closed from Guru Mandir to Tower. Traffic police provided alternate routes for commuters travelling through Karachi’s South, Central and East districts. A map showing the Chehlum procession route in Karachi on August 4, 2026. — Photo courtesy police “People coming from Nazimabad may travel via Lasbela Chowk, then Nishtar Road through Garden, to reach their destinations,” the press release read, outlining alternate routes for commuters in Central district. “Those coming from Liaquatabad should proceed from Teen Hatti to Lasbela Chowk, then turn left towards Central Jail (Martin Road) to reach their destinations.” It added that commuters travelling from Hassan Square towards PP Chowrangi could use Kashmir Road, then Society Light Signal on Shahrah-i-Quaideen, before continuing via the Jail Flyover to Teen Hatti and then proceeding to Nishtar Road. Meanwhile, commuters in Karachi East travelling from Sharea Faisal towards Numaish via Shahrah-i-Quaideen were advised to turn right at Society Light Signal onto Kashmir Road and continue to their destinations. “People travelling from Central Jail Gate (Jamshed Road) toward Guru Mandir/MA Jinnah Road should proceed from Guru Mandir via Bahadur Yar Jang Road and Soldier Bazaar to reach their destinations,” the advisory adds. Those in Karachi South travelling from Garden Zoo towards MA Jinnah Road were instructed to proceed via Uncle Saria, turn right towards Gul Plaza, and then turn left via the Coast Guard and Holy Family Hospital to reach their destinations. Karachi’s Additional Inspector General (IG) Javed Alam said in a statement on Monday that 7,465 police officers and personnel would be deployed for security duty at 108 processions, 2,901 at 501 majalis, and 1,113 at 642 imambargahs on Chehlum, for a total deployment of 11,479 officers and personnel. “All roads intersecting the route of Karachi’s main procession will remain completely closed, and extraordinary measures have also been taken around Nishtar Park,” he added. According to the Additional IG, all station house officers were instructed to remain present in their respective areas, intensify patrolling, snap checking, and picketing, and ensure high alert security at sensitive installations, public places, and key government and private buildings.
Retiring UNCF president talks about the importance of HBCUs
NPR's Michel Martin speaks with outgoing UNCF President and CEO Michael Lomax about the role Historically Black Colleges and Universities play in American life.
Robert Kagan: Sometimes US intervention is worth blowback
Robert Kagan surprised some people. One of America’s most influential hawks condemned the Trump administration’s botched war in Iran, suggesting in The Atlantic in March that U.S. involvement in the Middle East has been a catalyst of, rather than a prudent response to, Islamic terrorism. A senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and prolific historian, Kagan has advocated U.S. primacy for decades, starting with his support for Nicaragua’s Contra insurgents as the head of the State Department’s Office of Public Diplomacy (1985-88). In 1997, Kagan co-founded Project for the New American Century, a neoconservative think tank that lobbied for a muscular foreign policy and the maintenance of U.S. global hegemony. The group exercised its considerable influence to push regime change in Saddam Hussein’s Iraq. Kagan’s advocacy has always been based on a belief that the world would collapse into disorder without American leadership, even though U.S. military misadventures have repeatedly destabilized parts of the world. So, is Robert Kagan now reconsidering his past hawkishness? I interviewed him to find out. Our conversation has been edited for length and clarity. Martin Di Caro: Are you undergoing a conversion? Is that fair? Robert Kagan: I don't think so, because I never denied that blowback was a reality. In fact, my writing shows that when the United States is out there acting in the world, Americans tend to not even be aware of the effect of American power on other nations. And so they're constantly shocked whenever the use of American power leads to a response. The best example is Japan and Pearl Harbor. Many Americans acted like it was out of the blue when Japan attacked us when, in fact, the U.S. pursued policies that were likely to lead to a Japanese attack. The same was true of 9/11 in the sense that it was at least in part a response to the American presence in the Middle East. The question is, do you act even though you know that there is going to be blowback because the stakes are worth it. So, I never doubted it and, as I say, recognizing the effect of American power on other nations is an important part of my history. Di Caro: Yet for decades you have advocated for U.S. interventionism and, in the case of the Iraq invasion of 2003, a preemptive war… Kagan: Wait a minute. Can we stop right there? When you say that I’ve advocated for intervention for decades, what in particular are you talking about? I certainly supported the interventions in Bosnia and Kosovo, but it's not like I was just calling for intervention everywhere at all times. That's a shorthand that you use, but it's what people think, you know? Di Caro: Well, you've never called for an invasion of Iran, but you did support the Contras when you were a member of Reagan's State Department going back to the 1980s. Kagan: Totally. Right. Di Caro: So that's what I'm referring to. Kagan: I definitely believe in the exercise of U.S. power in the world. Sometimes that means intervention, but frequently it doesn't necessarily mean intervention. Di Caro: Do you reject the neoconservative label? Kagan: I do reject it, not only because it has taken on connotations that I think are frankly antisemitic, but because it's just a bad description of what I am. What I am is a liberal. Lib-er-al. My foreign policy is liberal. If you look back on the history of American foreign policy, the people who have pursued the policies that I favor have always tended to be progressive and liberal. And conservative foreign policy in America has always tended to be in the direction of restraint. I worked for the neoconservatives. I worked for Irving Kristol. They were called neoconservatives because they had been on the left and then they were newly on the right. I have never accepted it as a reasonable definition [of my views]. Di Caro: We can set aside definitional debates because it may be more important to talk about the consequences of the policies that you've advocated, however you’re labeled, because you're not just some blogger. You’ve been an influential voice in foreign policy. Given your recent commentary about Iran, have you reconsidered your past support for U.S. wars, namely the invasion of Iraq in 2003? Kagan: I went through the process of thinking about my support for the Iraq war long before this Iran issue came up. Look, the key thing about Iraq then and Iran now is the circumstances are just totally different than in 2003. That's not to say that, in retrospect, [the Iraq war] did not turn out to be a mistake, but the strategic arguments were completely different than they are now, and the overall aim of American foreign policy at that time was entirely different from the overall aim of foreign policy now. The strategic context mattered. In 2003 we were not concerned about rising great power challenges. Russia was essentially still on its back. The Chinese were in their Hu Jintao-Wen Jiabao mode. There was no particular threat to the world order when the United States went to war in Iraq. To answer your question, I haven't really fundamentally changed my mind. These are different circumstances. You'd have to assume that I had some kind of doctrine of always invading the Middle East whenever possible. But that has not been my doctrine. Di Caro: In 2003 I thought invading Iraq was justified. I'm ashamed that I had such poor judgment. The Iraq war was unnecessary. Kagan: You say it was unnecessary because you don't take seriously the nature of the threat that was posed. Di Caro: What threat did Saddam Hussein pose? He was a tinpot dictator with a hollowed-out military. Kagan: I don't agree with you. He was not just a tinpot dictator. He was actually special. He had already committed two major acts of aggression against his neighbors. By the way, that’s something that Iran has never done. Saddam had invaded Iran. He had invaded Kuwait. He clearly wanted to be the Saladin of the Middle East. You can feel however you want about it, but you were not alone in supporting the Iraq war. It's bizarre to look back and think that it was somehow a peculiar judgment that Saddam posed a threat, when almost everybody including the Clinton administration thought Saddam was a threat. It was practically a consensus view. When the war went bad, a lot of people wanted to pretend that they never supported it and decided that it was an incredibly stupid thing to do. I just don't think it's right to go back and say this was a silly activity when such a significant majority of Americans, including members of Congress, thought that it was an important thing to do. Di Caro: But we can see how disastrous the consequences were. According to The Costs of War Project at Brown University, there were at least 180,000 civilian deaths from direct war violence, and it was the U.S. invasion that triggered all the chaos and the civil war that ensued. 4,500 U.S. service members and 3,600 American contractors were killed… Kagan: In ten years! Over ten years. Di Caro: …millions of people were displaced across the Middle East in the post-9/11 wars. Trillions of dollars for the U.S. Treasury when we factor in decades of long-term care for our veterans. I'm having trouble understanding why you can't admit that this was a mistake. Kagan: Well, I didn't say I can't admit that it was a mistake. I'm not sure what the utility of admitting that it was a mistake is. It's not going to bring anybody back to life. But, you know, there were obviously elements of the Iraq war that were a mistake. I was very clear about it at the time when it was obvious that the administration not only hadn't sent in enough troops initially, but also didn't understand the role that those troops had to play because [Donald] Rumsfeld, from the moment that they invaded, wanted to get out. And so we didn't accept the responsibility that, as Colin Powell said, when you break it, you own it. The biggest effect that I regret is how it influenced Americans’ attitudes towards foreign policy in general… In retrospect it is clear that Americans had become increasingly unenthusiastic about the role the United States was playing in the world. Di Caro: There were good reasons for Americans souring on what I call military misadventures. There’s the harm done to other peoples, but also the returns for the United States have been meager. Kagan: That's what you say, but your whole line of discussion takes for granted all the ways in which the overall American approach to the world produced enormous benefits both for much of the world and for the United States. You take for granted the world order that was in existence. And I'll tell you what, we're not going to be able to take it for granted anymore because we are now experimenting with the world that, I guess, you think would’ve been better, a world in which the United States is basically staying at home and minding its own business. Di Caro: That's not true. My position is that the United States has other tools rather than the almost exclusive application of hard power and coercion. Kagan: You think we didn't use any of the other tools as well? I think we wound up using military force because the other tools weren't working. Di Caro: Soft power. This is something the political scientist Robert Keohane has discussed… Kagan: You’re going to teach me about soft power now? Di Caro: No, but don’t you agree the U.S. has neglected soft power recently? Kagan: I do not. I do not. And there’s a whole myth about the Iraq war that it somehow led to the disenchantment of the rest of the world with the United States and, therefore, we suffered a reputational disaster. In fact, the U.S. alliances, including countries that opposed the Iraq war, were not only strong but actually strengthened in the second half of [George W.] Bush’s presidency. If your view is that the United States has undermined its position in the world, then why do all the allies continue to rely on the United States for their protection, even though it's allegedly this ogre? There's just no logic to that. As the Trump administration destroys the U.S. position, the rest of the world is basically in mourning for a United States that used to be. Di Caro: Do you think the GCC states still want American bases within their boundaries? Kagan: Not now, but not because of the Iraq war. It’s because the United States has proved [under Trump] to be a terribly unreliable ally. Not because they think the United States is immoral. Do you think they're worried about American morality? What they’re upset about is that the United States proved to be an inadequate protector. If Iran had not been able to hit them with all the drones and the missiles, I don't think they would have turned against the United States. They were largely supportive of getting rid of the regime in Iran. It's just that the United States both failed to do that and was unable to protect them. Another reason that I thought this was a bad idea, which is not about changing doctrines, is that the one thing we learned in the 1990s was that you cannot bomb your way to success in these situations. When they went after Slobodan Milošević [in Yugoslavia], I remember getting a briefing from [General] Wesley Clark, who said after four days of bombing, Milošević is going to cave. And 90 days later, it required the threat of an American ground force to get him to retire. So I think we knew that you couldn’t get rid of [Iran’s] nuclear program and certainly not get regime change simply by bombing people. My problem with some of the critics of American policy is that they don't care what happens when America is not involved. They're only interested when America is involved. So when Saddam Hussein, for instance, was killing 200,000 Kurds and other minorities in Iraq using chemical weapons, nobody cared about those 200,000. They only care about the lives that are lost as a consequence of American action. There's quite a double standard in judging American behavior… Di Caro: You mentioned Saddam and the Kurds. That double standard also applies to the U.S. government. Kagan: Yes, I know. We also abandoned the Kurds. Di Caro: The United States looked the other way in the 1980s when Saddam gassed the Kurds, and right up until the eve of the invasion of Kuwait in August 1990, George H.W. Bush was sending Saddam Hussein chummy letters telling him how much he wanted to nurture their relationship. It was only after the invasion of Kuwait when Saddam Hussein became Adolf Hitler. Kagan: I agree. Do you want to make the case that the United States is a deeply flawed country that does the wrong thing sometimes? Because if you do, I'm perfectly in agreement with that. Di Caro: My point is that the Gulf War was a Pyrrhic victory. The United States has never been able to extract itself from the Middle East. Some would argue Israel is one reason why the United States can't seem to extract itself, at least from the conflict with Iran. Kagan: Well, that's certainly been true. Di Caro: Why have recent U.S. administrations utterly failed to restrain Israel despite the fact that the U.S. has considerable leverage? Kagan: There are multiple elements to the answer. One is obviously the role of Jews in influencing American policy, which is a reality just the way the Irish, Italians, or Greeks have influenced American policy. The other thing is America is broadly Islamophobic, and so any enemy of Islam is a friend of ours for many Americans. I think Islamophobia is a reality in the United States, and Israel is supposed to be the bulwark against Islam. That's unfortunate. My view is that we should not have a foreign policy based on Islamophobia. We should be able to have perfectly good relations with Islamic countries and with Islam itself. Di Caro: What's your view of Israel's conduct in Gaza? How can we talk about a “rules-based order” after the world allowed that to happen? Israel’s conduct was enabled by the United States. Kagan: I myself almost never talk about a rules-based order because the United States has definitely pursued a double standard with regard to the rules-based order. You could say that we supported the rules-based order in the breach as much as in the observance. Di Caro: You sound like a restrainer now. Kagan: Well, this is the thing again. It’s like if you acknowledge that America does bad things in the world, then that makes you a “restrainer.” In my view, it just makes you analytically honest. Knowing that the United States does bad things does not answer the question of should the United States be involved in the world. Di Caro: The question is how the U.S. should be involved in the world. Kagan: Critiques of the American order are legitimate. The question is what is a better alternative? If you want to tell me let's never get involved in the Middle East again, I would say sure. I'm delighted to never get involved in the Middle East again. But that is not what the restrainers are fundamentally talking about. They're talking about getting out of the whole alliance structure system and ending the nature of American leadership since 1945. The assumption behind that has to be that the world is going to be at least as calm or calmer, and there'll be less turmoil. And I just absolutely reject that. I think there is going to be more turmoil. And I think there are a lot of things that the restrainers are not thinking about and they're almost in my view a little utopian in their assumption that a multipolar world can exist in some kind of peaceful harmony when I think history suggests otherwise.
ABD'nin Şahini Kagan: Bazen Müdahale Tepkisine DeğerUS signs deal to boost Patriot and THAAD missile parts production
The US has signed a more than US$3 billion deal with Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman to ramp up production of Patriot and THAAD interceptor missile parts, as conflicts in Iran and Ukraine strain stockpiles. The deal, announced by the Pentagon and Northrop on Monday, follows last week’s announcement of a contract for Lockheed worth up to US$58.6 billion to produce Patriot interceptor missiles. The United States has supplied large amounts of arms to allies while also using munitions in the...
Batı'dan Nükleer Yatırım, Avrupa'da Sıcak Dalga, Enerji Krizi ve Güneş TutulmasıEurope needs more than soldiers if Russia attacks, defense expert says
In this interview, the Kyiv Independent's Martin Fornusek speaks with Martin Sklenar, former Slovak defense minister, about the likelihood of a Russian attack on NATO, Europe's military readiness, U.S. troop reductions, defense spending, and the growing debate over conscription.
Eski Slovak Savunma Bakanı: Avrupa'nın Rusya Tehdidine Karşı Askerden Fazlasına İhtiyacı VarIreland and WHO work together to improve access to assistive technology globally
Ireland is becoming a global leader in the field of innovation in harnessing digital technologies as a tool to address various barriers for access to care. In alignment with WHO, Ireland recognizes the importance of mobilizing assistive technology to help the 2.5 billion people in need globally, including older persons, people with disabilities, and those living with health conditions. This includes ensuring equitable access to assistive products such as glasses, hearing aids, walking aids, wheelchairs, prosthetics, and communication and memory devices. In March 2024, Anne Rabbitte, T.D., Ireland’s Minister of State with special responsibility for disabilities at the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, agreed to a €12.5 million donor agreement between the Government of Ireland and WHO, aimed at accelerating affordability and availability of assistive technology for those in need. The cooperation has been building throughout the years. Back in 2022, Taoiseach Micheál Martin, TD, launched the Global report on assistive technology, along with the Director-General of WHO and the Executive Director of UNICEF. The Taoiseach highlighted the importance of international cooperation to ensure more equitable access to assistive technology, in order to achieve a society where everyone is included and enabled to live their best life. Minister Rabbitte stated that: “Ireland has identified the serious need to invest in public health systems alongside the WHO. The present risk of rising health needs coupled with a decreasing pool of health and social care professionals globally reveals an urgent need for all of us to act now. Ireland’s contribution aligns with the recommendations of the Global Report on Assistive Technology and supports a five-year initiative towards achieving national health system models that include assistive technology. The programme will explore and demonstrate how digital technology can facilitate people-centred services, assistive technology policy, improve the affordability and appropriateness of assistive products, enable effective provision systems, and boost the capacity of health personnel to identify, screen, refer and provide assistive technology for all those in need.” Health personnel in Tanzania participating in on-line training on assistive products, as part of an overall program aimed at provision of simple assistive products through community and primary health care facilities - making products such as walking aids and reading glasses more readily available for people within their local area. Digital technology was instrumental in facilitating efficient learning through the platform, and enabling support for health workers from their mentors through communication apps after the training. Credit: WHO/Kylie Shae With an ageing global population and a rise in noncommunicable diseases, an estimated 3.5 billion people will need assistive technology by 2050. Dr Yukiko Nakatani, WHO Assistant Director-General, Access to Medicines and Health Products, welcomes this important contribution from Ireland and their leadership in the digital initiative. She said: “The 2018 World Health Assembly resolution on assistive technology calls upon WHO to take the necessary steps to promote equitable access to assistive technology in our endeavour to build a more inclusive world. Our partnership with the Government of Ireland will support WHO in achieving our mission to ensure health for all, everywhere, with assistive technologies as an important enabler of well-being, inclusion, and participation.” Through Ireland’s contribution, and in collaboration with its broad network of partners, WHO will develop evidence-based guidance for Member States on strengthening access to assistive technology through understanding, prioritising and stimulating increased innovation and use of digital solutions. The work will also involve national, regional, and global projects that test digital solutions designed to address persistent access barriers such as: digital platforms that empower users with information about assistive technology and how to access it; digital tracking of products to manage supply; and online training and support for health workers. The results and lessons learned will help countries expand their knowledge, skills, and capacities in the provision of assistive technology as an integral component of Universal Health Care. ‘Leaving no one behind’ means ensuring that people with disabilities, the older population, those affected by chronic diseases and everyone who needs assistive technology are included in society and able to live healthy and dignified lives. * * * * Click below to find out what is assistive technology, who needs it, and how it improves lives Assistive technology is an umbrella term for external products used by individuals to help maintain or improve their bodily functions. Common examples are wheelchairs, glasses, prosthetic limbs, white canes, and hearing aids as well as digital solutions such as speech recognition or time management software. Assistive technology helps people in all aspects of their lives, including in education, employment, fitness, leisure and other everyday activities such as self-care, cooking and reading. Most people will need assistive technology at some point in their lives, especially as they age. While some may require assistive technology temporarily, such as after an accident or illness, others may require it for a longer period or throughout their lifespan. It is commonly needed by older people, children and adults with disabilities, people who have been injured or who have a health condition such as diabetes, stroke and dementia. Equitable access is key Improving access to assistive technology enables the inclusion and participation of users in their family, community and all areas of society, including the political, economic and social spheres. Assistive technology positively impacts a person, their family and friends, and has broader socioeconomic benefits. For example: early provision of hearing aids for young children supports their development of language and communication skills, limiting negative impacts on their education, future employment and community participation; provision of appropriate wheelchairs facilitates mobility, improving individuals’ access to education and employment while reducing healthcare costs due to a reduction in secondary complications such as pressure sores and contractures; therapeutic footwear for diabetes reduces the incidence of foot ulcers, preventing amputations and the associated impact on individuals and burden on health-care systems; and timely provision of assistive technology for older people can improve their independence and safety as well as enable them to live at home for as long as possible. Show less Show more
Ireland and WHO work together to improve access to assistive technology globallyPentagon imzaladı. 135 milyar doları geçiyor
ABD Savunma Bakanlığı, Patriot önleme füzeleri ve nükleer denizaltı üretimini hızlandırmak amacıyla savunma yüklenicileriyle 135 milyar doları aşan çok yıllı dev sözleşmeler imzaladı. ABD Savunma Bakanlığı (Pentagon), bu hafta Patriot önleme füzeleri ile nükleer denizaltı üretimini hızlandırmak amacıyla temel savunma yüklenicileriyle toplam değeri 135 milyar doları aşan iki dev sözleşme açıkladı. Anlaşmalar, ABD Başkanı Donald Trump'ın savunma şirketlerine hissedar ödemeleri yerine fabrikaları büyütme ve üretime öncelik verme yönünde baskı yaptığı bir dönemde duyuruldu. Trump yönetimi, gelecekteki çatışmalara hazırlık amacıyla "nesiller boyu gerekli bir yatırım" olarak nitelediği 1,5 trilyon dolarlık eşsiz bir savunma bütçesi talep ediyor. Açıklanan çok yıllı anlaşmalar, silah tedarikçilerini güvenceye almayı ve savunma yüklenicilerine üretim hatlarındaki kapasiteyi artırma güveni vermeyi amaçlıyor. Aralarında Savunma Bakanı Pete Hegseth'in de bulunduğu üst düzey Pentagon yetkililerinin, büyük yüklenicilerin ürünleri geç ve bütçe aşımıyla teslim etmesinden şikayet etmesinin ardından çok sayıda sözleşme duyurusu yapıldı. PATRIOT FÜZELERİNDE HEDEF KAPASİTEYİ ÜÇ KATINA ÇIKARMAK ABD Ordusu, Lockheed Martin ile nisan ayında yapılan ön anlaşmayı, PAC-3 MSE (Füze Segmenti Geliştirme) önleme füzeleri için 58,6 milyar dolar değerinde ve yedi yıla yayılan bir sözleşmeye dönüştürdü. Reuters'ın haberine göre 2032 mali yılına kadar sürecek olan plan, Lockheed Martin'in yıllık füze üretimini 2 bin adede çıkarma ve 2030 yılına kadar kapasitesini üç katına yükseltme hedefini destekliyor. Sözleşme, Trump'ın yüklenicilere kritik silahların üretimini dört katına çıkarma yönünde yaptığı çağrının ardından geldi. İdarenin, şirketlerin temettü ve hisse geri alımlarına odaklanmak yerine fabrikalara yeniden yatırım yapmasını istediği bildirildi. Ön anlaşmanın tam değere ulaşması için ABD Kongresi'nin ödenek tahsis etmesi gerekiyor. Lockheed Martin'in daha önce yılda yaklaşık 600 füze üreten kapasitesini 2030'a kadar yıllık 2 bin adede çıkaracak bu sözleşme, şirketin ikinci büyük uzun vadeli füze anlaşması oldu. Şirket, 2026'nın başlarında Pentagon'dan THAAD (Yüksek İrtifa Bölge Hava Savunması) önleme füzelerinin üretimini yedi yılda dört katına çıkarmak üzere 35 milyar dolar değerinde bir sözleşme almıştı. Lockheed Martin ayrıca, tanesi yaklaşık 4 milyon dolar olan PAC-3 MSE'nin yarı fiyatından daha ucuza mal olan daha düşük maliyetli bir Patriot füzesi tanıttı. NÜKLEER DENİZALTI ÜRETİMİNE 76,6 MİLYAR DOLAR Pentagon, füze sözleşmesinden ayrı olarak, ABD Deniz Kuvvetleri bünyesinde General Dynamics'e bağlı Electric Boat ile HII'a (Huntington Ingalls Industries) bağlı Newport News Shipbuilding şirketlerine dokuz adet Virginia sınıfı hücum denizaltısı ve beş adet Columbia sınıfı balistik füze denizaltısı inşası için 76,6 milyar dolarlık sözleşme verdi. Çalışmaların Temmuz 2038'e kadar sürmesi bekleniyor. Bloomberg medya kuruluşunun aktardığına göre sözleşmeler, Tomahawk seyir füzesi kapasitesi artırılmış dokuz adet yeni model "Block VI" Virginia sınıfı denizaltıyı ve planlanan 12 gemilik filodaki beş ek Columbia sınıfı nükleer füze denizaltısını kapsıyor. ABD Deniz Kuvvetleri bu yatırımı "nesilde bir görülecek bir yeniden yapılanma" olarak tanımladı. Reuters'a konuşan Koramiral Robert Gaucher, kesintisiz üretimin "dünyanın en ölümcül, hayatta kalma kabiliyeti en yüksek ve esnek muharebe platformunu" teslim ederken gemi yapım altyapısını istikrara kavuşturacağını belirtti. Anlaşmalar ayrıca tersane altyapısını geliştirme çalışmalarını da içeriyor. Açıklamanın ardından New York borsa kapanışı sonrası işlemlerde General Dynamics hisseleri yüzde 2,6, Huntington Ingalls hisseleri yüzde 3,9 ve Lockheed Martin hisseleri yüzde 0,5 değer kazandı. İRAN SAVAŞI STOKLARI ERİTTİ ABD'nin İran'da önleyici füzeler kullanması ve Ukrayna'ya hava savunma sistemleri tedarik etmesi nedeniyle Patriot füzelerine olan talep büyük artış gösterdi. Savunma sanayii ve güvenlik odaklı düşünce kuruluşu Stratejik ve Uluslararası Çalışmalar Merkezi (CSIS), ABD'nin elinde binden az Patriot önleme füzesi kaldığını tahmin ediyor. İran ile yaşanan savaş, ABD silah stokları üzerindeki baskıyı artırdı. Ortadoğu'daki ABD kuvvetleri, İran'ın balistik füzelerine ve tek yönlü saldırı insansız hava araçlarına karşı savunma yapmak amacıyla her biri yaklaşık 4 milyon dolara mal olan yüksek değerli önleme füzelerinden büyük miktarlarda tüketiyor. Savaşın Ortadoğu geneline yayılmasıyla birlikte Basra Körfezi ülkeleri de enerji tesislerine ve kritik altyapılara yönelik yüzlerce füze ve İHA saldırısına karşı korunmak için Patriot füzelerini konuşlandırdı. Dünya doğalgaz ve petrol akışının yaklaşık beşte birinin geçtiği Hürmüz Boğazı stratejik önemini korurken, tırmanan savaşa rağmen tankerlerin bölgeden geçişi sürüyor. ABD Merkez Kuvvetler Komutanlığı (Centcom) 29 Temmuz'da İran'a yönelik misilleme saldırıları düzenlendiğini duyurdu. Lockheed Martin'in kapasite artırımı hedeflerine rağmen, bu üretim özellikle Çin gibi İran'dan daha güçlü bir rakibe karşı uzayan bir savaşta ABD'nin askeri ihtiyaçlarını karşılamaya yetmeyebilir. Pentagon'un taahhütleri savunma sektöründe yeni bir stok yenileme dönemine işaret ediyor. Füze talebinin satışları ve sipariş toplamını artırmasıyla Lockheed Martin ve RTX Corp. 2026 tahminlerini yükseltti. Sektördeki harcama artışı savunma borsa yatırım fonlarına (ETF) da yansıdı. RTX, General Dynamics ve Lockheed Martin hisselerini tutan iShares U.S. Aerospace & Defense ETF (ITA) yılbaşından bu yana net varlık değerinde yüzde 9,21 getiri sağladı. Her üç şirkete de portföyünde yer veren Invesco Aerospace & Defense ETF (PPA) yüzde 8,23 kazandırdı. Eşit ağırlıklı SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF (XAR) ise yılbaşından bu yana yüzde 6,11'lik getiriye öncülük etti. Bu artışlar Trump'ın 1,5 trilyon dolarlık savunma bütçesi önerisine yönelik piyasa beklentilerini yansıtsa da sözleşmelerin uygulanması Kongre'nin fon onayına bağlı kalmaya devam ediyor.
Pentagon İran Savaşı Stokları İçin 135 Milyar Dolarlık Sözleşme İmzaladıABD'den dikkat çeken Patriot hamlesi! '58.6 milyar dolara yükseldi'
Yerel basında yer alan haberlere göre, ABD Kara Kuvvetleri, Lockheed Martin şirketine verdiği füze siparişini 53.9 milyar dolar artırdı. 58.6 MİLYAR DOLARA YÜKSELDİ Revize edilen sözleşmeye göre, nisan ayında verilen 4.7 milyar dolarlık ilk siparişle toplam Patriot füzesi tedariki 58.6 milyar dolara yükseldi. Pentagon, ayrıca balistik füze tehditlerine karşı tasarlanan Bölge Yüksek İrtifa Hava Savunması (THAAD) önleyici füzeleri için de şirketle 35 milyar dolarlık ön sözleşme imzaladı. NE OLMUŞTU? ABD Savunma Bakanlığı, nisan ayında yaptığı açıklamada, kritik füze bileşenlerinin üretim kapasitesini üç katına çıkarmak amacıyla Boeing ve Lockheed Martin ile çerçeve anlaşmaya varıldığını duyurmuştu. Boeing ve Lockheed Martin ile çerçeve anlaşmalar ise ABD hava savunmasında kritik role sahip Patriot füzelerinin hedefe kilitlenmesini sağlayan arayıcı başlıkların üretimini artırmayı hedefliyor.
Pentagon İran Savaşı Stokları İçin 135 Milyar Dolarlık Sözleşme İmzaladıUS strikes $58.6 billion Patriot missile deal amid rising stockpile concerns
WASHINGTON, July 29 - The U.S. Army awarded Lockheed Martin a contract worth up to $58.6 billion to produce Patriot interceptor missiles, the Pentagon said on Wednesday, as conflicts in Iran and Ukraine strain U.S. weapons stockpiles.
Batı'dan Nükleer Yatırım, Avrupa'da Sıcak Dalga, Enerji Krizi ve Güneş Tutulması- Güvenlik29 Tem
Pentagon expands Patriot missile order to nearly $59B
Lockheed Martin secures contract valued at up to $58.6 billion for production of Patriot interceptor missiles
Oil jumps after Iran attempts ‘surprise attack’; chip stocks slump further as AI sell-off continues – business live
Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news The attempted attack by Iran on US forces have thrown “cold water on the idea of a swift de-escalation in the Persian Gulf”, analysts at the broker ING have warned. Warren Patterson and Ewa Manthey wrote in a note this morning: With Saudi oil infrastructure increasingly targeted, the risk of more prolonged supply disruptions grows. There are reports that the 400k b/d Jazan refinery in Saudi Arabia has shut following Houthi attacks over the weekend. If confirmed, this will only add to tightness concerns in the refined products market already dealing with disruptions from the Persian Gulf, as well as Russia. …Meanwhile, tanker traffic through the strait of Hormuz remains essentially halted. While Iran and Oman have held talks on managing vessel transits through the strait, Iran has rejected Oman’s proposal for a 50-50 shipping plan. It would facilitate an inbound route on one country’s side and the outbound route on the other’s. Instead, Iran wants oversight of both inbound and outbound vessels. QatarEnergy has reportedly extended its force majeure for buyers in Asia and Europe to as far as the end of September. There have also been reports of QatarEnergy looking to subcharter an LNG carrier until the end of October, given the ongoing disruptions to Qatari LNG exports. EU LNG imports are on track to fall a little more than 25% YoY in July, which is making the job of refilling storage more difficult. EU gas storage is 56% full at the moment, below the 10-year seasonal average of 72%. Heatwaves across Europe will only add to the difficulty in filling up storage ahead of the winter. Tighter-than-usual storage at the start of the heating season suggests that gas prices will remain elevated through the winter, with the risk of spikes higher. All that leaves a volatile backdrop ahead of today’s FOMC decision, which is the most finely poised in years in terms of market pricing. With a 32% chance of a rate hike today priced as of last night, this is the most uncertain that the market has been on whether the Fed will change rates going into a meeting since December 2018, when the eventual 25bps rate hike was about 65% priced the day before. We’ve seen considerable volatility in the July hike pricing over the past couple of weeks, falling as low as 10% in mid-July following the soft June US CPI print but rising to as high as 38% on Monday. So with chair Warsh shying away from policy guidance, we’ve seen one regime shift compared to the past few years when markets received a steer from officials’ commentary or via the financial press. 7am BST: Aberdeen half-year (HY) results, Greggs HY, Airbus HY, Aston Martin Lagonda HY, Campari HY, Danone HY, Deutsche Bank Q2, Hermès HY, L’Oréal HY, Porsche HY, Procter & Gamble Q4/FY, Reckitt Benckiser HY, Rio Tinto HY, Standard Chartered Q2/HY, UBS Q2 9.30am BST: ONS workless households data 7pm BST: US Federal Reserve decision on interest rates 9pm BST: Microsoft Q4/FY 9.30pm BST: Meta Q2 Continue reading...
Almanya Başbakanı Merz'den İsrail yaptırımlarına ret! 'Genel yaptırımları doğru bulmuyoruz'
Almanya Başbakan Friedrich Merz Dublin'de İrlanda Başbakanı Micheal Martin ile düzenlenen ortak basın toplantısında, İsrail'e yönelik Avrupa Birliği (AB) yaptırımlarıyla ilgili soruya, "İsrail'e genel yaptırımları doğru bulmuyoruz." dedi. Ancak Merz, Batı Şeria'daki İsrail işgali altındaki bölgelerden gelen ürünlerin AB'nin İsrail'e tanıdığı ticari ayrıcalıklardan yararlanmaması gerektiğini de belirtti. Batı Şeria'daki yerleşim faaliyetlerinden duyduğu endişeyi dile getiren Merz, bunu İsrail Başbakanı Binyamin Netanyahu ile yaptığı görüşmelerde defalarca söylediğini aktardı. Ülkesinin İsrail'e karşı özel tarihi sorumluluğu bulunduğunu yineleyen Merz, "Bu nedenle İsrail’e yönelik yaptırım rejimlerine genel olarak katılamayız ve katılmak da istemiyoruz. Bu durum, en azından şimdilik böyle kalacaktır." diye konuştu. Japonya'da 7.1'lik deprem sonrası kabus senaryosu! 'AVM'deki çökme sonucu çok sayıda ölü' AB BÜTÇESİNDE KESİNTİ ÇAĞRISI Merz, AB bütçesinin mevcut haliyle kabul edilemeyeceğini belirterek, bütçede "birkaç yüz milyar avroluk" kesintiye gidilmesini istedi. 2028 sonrasında uygulanacak çok yıllık mali çerçevenin 2026 sonuna kadar sonuçlandırılmasını hedeflediklerini belirten Merz, Avrupa Komisyonunun bütçe teklifini desteklemediklerini ifade etti. Merz, Avrupa'nın Rusya-Ukrayna savaşı, ABD'nin ticaret politikaları, Orta Doğu'daki gelişmeler ve enerji krizinin baskısı altında bulunduğuna dikkati çekerek, AB'nin ekonomik rekabet gücünü artırmasının zorunlu hale geldiğini söyledi. İzin süreçlerinin hızlandırılması, dijitalleşme, enerji ve karbonsuzlaşma yatırımlarına öncelik verilmesi gerektiğini vurgulayan Merz, rekabet gücü ile iklim korumasının birlikte ele alınmasının önemine işaret etti. KARADAĞ BEKLETİLMEMELİ AB'nin genişleme sürecine de değinen Merz, Ukrayna için üyeliğe giden yolda "ortak üyelik" modelini önerdiğini hatırlattı. Moldova'nın reformlarda önemli ilerleme kaydettiğini dile getiren Merz, Batı Balkan ülkelerinin üyelik sürecinin hızlandırılması gerektiğini ifade etti. Karadağ'ın üyelik kriterlerini büyük ölçüde yerine getirdiğini belirten Merz, "Karadağ'ı diğer ülkeler hazır değil diye bekleme listesine alamayız. Bu on yılın sonuna kadar AB üyesi olmalıdır." değerlendirmesinde bulundu. Bir gazetecinin Rusya'ya yönelik yeni yaptırımlar ve Rus uranyumuna olası yasaklarla ilgili sorusunu yanıtlayan Merz, bu konuların Avrupa ve Almanya'nın çıkarları çerçevesinde değerlendirildiğini kaydederek, ayrıntı vermekten kaçındı. Bir gazetecinin İrlandalı aktivist Daniel Tatlow-Devally'in 8 Eylül 2025'te Ulm'daki İsrailli savunma şirketi Elbit Systems bürolarına düzenlenen eylem nedeniyle Stuttgart-Stammheim'da yargılandığını ve yargılamanın İrlanda'da eleştirildiğini hatırlatması üzerine Merz, şu yanıtı verdi: "Almanya’da hukukun üstünlüğüne dayalı yargılama süreçleri vardır. Konsolosluk desteği de güvence altındadır. Sanıkların yanında ceza avukatları da bulunmaktadır ve Almanya’da, milliyet ne olursa olsun, uluslararası geçerli standartlara uygun olarak hukukun üstünlüğüne dayalı yargılama süreçlerinin yürütüldüğünden hiç şüphem yoktur." 80'lik nineden şaşkına çeviren gösteri! 'Ellerinden geleni yapsınlar'
Almanya Başbakanı Merz İsrail'e genel yaptırımları reddettiTrump is playing chicken with America's oil reserves
Back in 1975, reeling from the Arab Oil Embargo of 1973, President Gerald Ford signed the Energy Policy and Conservation Act. The law established the nation’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) and framed it as a rainy day fund, made ready for the benefit of the American people should a crisis in supply reach us once more. Today, after two consecutive administrations, our rainy day fund has been drawn down to the lowest levels since 1983. Biden drew down 50 million barrels in response to COVID. The next year, he withdrew an additional 180 million barrels in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the largest release in SPR history, arguing that the move was needed to calm gasoline prices and cushion the shock from the war. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (July 2026) Now, President Donald Trump is draining what is left to manage the price and supply shocks of his Iran war. The latest withdrawal — a release of 172 million barrels of oil — brought the SPR down to 311.4 million barrels as of July 17th, leaving the American people less secure just as the conflict threatens to engulf other strategic chokepoints in the Middle East. If the next round of escalation sends oil prices surging, there will be far less of a buffer between a regional war and the price Americans pay at the pump. The SPR at 300 million barrels The SPR consists of crude oil stored inside 60 salt caverns along the Gulf Coast, mostly in Texas and Louisiana. The salt walls of the caverns seal well, leak little, and, because of their unique chemical properties, allow the oil to slowly churn inside the cavern instead of sitting still. This delicate system can maintain up to 727 million barrels for decades — that is, as long as it is being dealt with responsibly. Many experts treat the 300 million barrel threshold as the SPR’s “Minimum Operating Level” because of the precise engineering required to extract the oil. When it drops below this limit, experts in the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) warn that the reserve faces severe “risks to its ability to operate and meet future energy crises.” That’s The problem is practical. To pull crude out, operators pump massive volumes of fresh water into the caverns to hydraulically displace the lighter oil upward. But with each draw cycle, fresh water dissolves the cavern's salt lining, structurally warping the walls, enlarging the cavity over time, and drastically changing the cavern's volume-to-pressure ratio. This aggressive low-level draw cycling accelerates salt erosion and risks causing a catastrophic collapse of the cavern's integrity. Even Trump has publicly acknowledged the risks of a continued drawdown. During a recent press briefing, Trump candidly admitted the vulnerability of the depleted reserves, warning that “we run out of reserves in about 4 weeks.” Limp diplomacy and rudderless escalation Bipartisan voices, from Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) to high-ranking House and Senate Democrats, are sounding the alarm bells about this aggressive drawdown to no avail. Massie explicitly warned that using the reserve globally “to mask the costs of the war risks physically collapsing the very salt caverns holding it.” Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) also warned that the United States must maintain an SPR “that has adequate capacity to absorb shocks like this” instead of leaving consumers to “still feel huge impacts with respect to gasoline prices.” Far from stabilizing the situation, the administration is playing an erratic, high-stakes game of chicken with Iran that has brought the global oil supply to a cliff. The administration tore up the Treasury's June 22nd special general license that had previously allowed Iran to sell crude. Tehran immediately retaliated by escalating a violent, tit-for-tat military cycle, launching drone and missile strikes against three major commercial tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz, including a Qatari gas carrier left burning off Oman and a Saudi crude vessel. The U.S., in turn, responded aggressively, bombing roughly 90 targets on Iran’s southern coast over a two-day retaliatory blitz. This volatility has driven maritime insurance risk premiums to astronomical highs and chilled shipping fleets. By reneging on large swathes of the Memorandum of Understanding his administration signed with Iran, Trump is plunging global oil markets into the abyss. Rory Johnston, founder of Commodity Context, told RS that crude markets are “pricing in sharply higher risk” as shipping traffic collapses due to another escalation cycle. “Hormuz is miles from solved,” he said. Maritime data shows commercial tanker traffic passing through the Strait of Hormuz has cratered to just one-fifth of pre-war levels, leaving only a fraction of the usual 20 million daily barrels moving through the passage. The U.S. had up until this point served as a global backstop to this supply strain by exporting millions of barrels of oil daily. Now, even that cushion is in question, as the latest figures from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) show a precipitous decline in U.S. crude oil exports, which plummeted by 746,000 daily barrels this week, falling from over 4 million barrels down to just 3.2 million barrels each day. The government has not explained the reason for this steep export drop, but the most likely reason is a need to prevent domestic fuel shortages as the SPR nears its floor. The chokeout scenario We are already operating in a deeply destabilized economic reality in which market uncertainty is fluctuating per-barrel oil prices from the low $70s to high $90s in the span of days. Following a dip in late June and early July amid hopes of a lasting ceasefire, prices have risen back to nearly $100. Worse, there is reason to believe that Chinese consumption of their own billion-barrel stockpiles and Washington’s near emptying of its SPR are keeping prices down artificially. The moment Beijing restarts its imports later this year, that hidden demand will flood back into the market, skyrocketing prices. If Trump continues this tit-for-tat escalation, regional dominoes will topple. We have already seen the dangerous preview: U.S. strikes on Iranian oil processing refineries, then an Iranian retaliation against key oil facilities across Arab Gulf states and attacks on the Saudi Petroline and Emirati ADCOP pipelines, which are used to circumnavigate the strait. The next step on the escalation ladder was taken by the Houthis. By launching a concentrated aerial campaign against Saudi ports and tankers, they are severing the southern route of the Red Sea at the Bab el-Mandeb chokepoint. Bob McNally of Rapidan Energy said such an escalation of the conflict at the region’s chokepoints “would quickly restore crude prices to well above $100, undoing the collapse in risk premium the oil market had priced in in June.” The White House appears to be ignoring the final card that Iran or its allies in the Middle East could play. If Iran finds itself driven into a corner with nothing left to lose, it could resort to targeting the Middle East’s final maritime artery: the Suez Canal. Even a small disruption of the canal can have enormous economic consequences, as the 2021 Ever Given episode demonstrated. Iran or its allies could create a similar crisis by targeting a ship in the canal or even by committing an act of international terrorism, such as intentionally scuttling, booby-trapping, or beaching an ultra-large carrier directly inside the canal's narrowest channels. The result would be the freezing of the third and final sea route out of the Middle East. This is where the SPR story becomes bigger than oil. Yale economist Marnix Amand described Trump’s broader approach to RS as “a man cashing in decades of American hegemony, drawing down long-term reserves of U.S. power, legitimacy, and security for short-term political aims.” The SPR is the physical version of that bargain: a strategic asset built over decades, drained down by a president scrambling to soften the blow from a war he appears unwilling to end.
Trump'ın Stratejik Petrol Rezerviyle Oynadığı Riskli Kumar- Diplomatik24 Tem
Anduril in talks to raise funding at about $100 billion valuation
Anduril is discussing a new funding round that could see it valued at about $100 billion, rivaling companies such as Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin.
Burnham urged to award £2.4bn military satellite contract to Airbus over US rival
Unite union leader says giving Skynet 6 WSS contract to Lockheed Martin would be a ‘massive mistake’ Business live – latest updates One of the Labour party’s biggest union backers has called for Andy Burnham to award a £2.4bn military satellite contract to the European manufacturer Airbus rather than a US rival, Lockheed Martin, amid concerns that as many as 600 jobs may be at risk. Sharon Graham, the general secretary of the Unite union, said it would be a “massive mistake” to go for a US company over Airbus, which is headquartered in France but designs and builds satellites in Stevenage in Hertfordshire and Portsmouth in Hampshire. Continue reading...
F-35 devlerine 100 milyar dolarlık rakip
ABD’li savunma teknolojisi şirketi Anduril, yaklaşık 100 milyar dolarlık değerleme üzerinden yeni yatırım turunu görüşüyor. İki ay önce 61 milyar dolara çıkan şirket, F-35 üreticisi Lockheed Martin’in piyasa değerine yaklaşıyor.
Ireland urged to put pressure on Germany over pro-Palestinian activist’s trial
Irish politicians concerned about Daniel Tatlow-Devally’s treatment in jail want Micheál Martin to send observers to Ulm 5 trial A cross-party delegation of Irish politicians has urged Dublin to send observers to a high-security trial of pro-Palestinian activists in Germany and to raise concerns about the Irish defendant’s detention when the German chancellor visits next week. Mairéad Farrell of Sinn Féin, a member of the seven-member delegation, said she and her colleagues had attended the hearing in Stuttgart on Wednesday of the so-called Ulm 5 activists, who are facing charges over an attack on an Israeli arms company. Continue reading...
Ireland pledges 125 million euros for Ukraine as Martin says alumina probe found no definitive weapons link
Ireland announced 125 million euros in new aid for Ukraine during Prime Minister Micheal Martin's visit to Kyiv, as he said a government review found no definitive evidence linking a Russian-owned Irish refinery to Moscow's weapons industry.
Could Russia attack NATO? We asked its military chief
The Kyiv Independent's Martin Fornusek speaks with Admiral Giuseppe Cavo Dragone, chair of the NATO Military Committee, at the 2026 NATO Summit about the lessons NATO is drawing from the war in Ukraine and how the alliance is preparing for the future of warfare.
Former State Department official on the implications of the U.S.-Saudi nuclear deal
NPR's Michel Martin talks to Daniel Benaim, a former State Department official who worked on Gulf issues, about the U.S.-Saudi nuclear deal.
Trump, Suudi Arabistan'a Uranyum Zenginleştirme Yolunu Açan Nükleer Anlaşmayı Onayladı- Diplomatik22 Tem
The Zumwalt-class destroyer is an ever-growing boondoggle
After ten years of upgrades, repairs, and program-related issues, the lead Zumwalt-class destroyer is finally returning to service this September. But it will have to go without the hypersonic missiles many hoped would give the troubled program a purpose. Thanks to ongoing modernization efforts, the lead Zumwalt-class destroyer now has a launcher, making it the Navy’s first hypersonic strike ship. But the missiles themselves will not be tested until next year, as the Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS) hypersonic missile rollout is about two years behind schedule. Experts tell RS the problem is par for the course for the Zumwalt program. “The Zumwalt program had extraordinary promise,” Ben Freeman, the director of the Quincy Institute’s Democratizing Foreign Policy program, wrote to RS. “But it was curtailed from 32 ships to just 3 for a reason: it didn't come close to living up to that promise.” The Zumwalt’s initial role as a land-attack ship was scrapped in 2016 after ammunition for its land-attack gun became prohibitively costly, reaching $800,000 to $1 million per round. Beyond that, “they couldn't get the [ship’s] weapon to work properly,” Dan Grazier, who directs the Stimson Center’s National Security Reform program, told RS. In the end, the military built three Zumwalts at a cost of $9.5 billion per ship. Now, efforts to convert the remaining into hypersonic strike ships have only steered the program into more procurement issues. “They foisted an unproven missile system with its own checkered acquisition history onto the Zumwalt seemingly in hopes that two wrongs would make a right,” Freeman said. “Spoiler: they didn't.” The Pentagon plans to invest $50 billion into developing and fielding its CPS hypersonic capability across Army and Navy programs. But a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report published last week found the project "does not have a comprehensive strategy" to accomplish its objectives. Canceled and failed test flights and quality control issues also plague the hypersonic missile program. One test, for example, was canceled in 2023 after a battery failure during a pre-launch check. Lockheed Martin can only make six or seven hypersonic missiles each year, short of the military’s target of 12 missiles, jeopardizing the program’s ability to scale. Meanwhile, costs are compounding for the Zumwalt, with questionable payoff. The hypersonic missile capability will tack on about $452 million to the cost of each destroyer. Each ship will only be able to carry 12 hypersonic missiles, which leaves them with far fewer munitions than their naval counterparts. The missiles themselves are estimated to cost tens of millions of dollars each. As Freeman concluded, “taxpayer dollars will still be wasted until the Navy comes to its senses.”
PM call with the Taoiseach of Ireland: 21 July 2026
The Prime Minister spoke to the Taoiseach of Ireland, Micheál Martin, today.
Lockheed Martin unveils baby Patriot missile to address urgent gap
Ukraine is begging for more anti-ballistic missile interceptors, and other allies want them too.
First Thing: US continues attacks on Iran ‘in honor’ of dead service members | Martin Belam
The US launches a ninth night of strikes targeting Iran. Plus, the glorious art deco LA Central Library celebrates 100 years Good morning. The US launched a ninth night of strikes targeting Iran early Monday, after announcing the death of another American service member – the third in recent days. Donald Trump said the new attacks were “in honor” of the dead. Iranian supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei warned of “unforgettable lessons” if the US kept attacking. Trump has threatened to target Iran’s power stations and bridges to try to compel Tehran to loosen its hold on the strait of Hormuz. Last week the US reimposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports. On Saturday, the military said it had redirected six ships and disabled one since then. Oil prices rose at the opening of trading in Asia on Monday, with the price of Brent crude climbing 2.72% to $90.50 a barrel. Where have US service personnel been killed? The service member was killed on Saturday in northern Iraq during a controlled detonation of what was called unexploded ordnance on a downed Iranian attack drone. It was the third US death in recent days, after two military service personnel were killed in an Iranian attack on a Jordanian airbase on Friday, with a third missing in action. Since the war began, 17 US service members have been killed. What is the US mission against Iran? The war was started in February when the former Iranian supreme leader was killed in joint US-Israeli strikes. Trump has indicated several motives for the war, including preventing Tehran from gaining nuclear weapons and trying to force regime change. On Sunday, the US energy secretary, Chris Wright, argued the mission has shifted toward ensuring oil shipments can move through Hormuz, after the US-Iran ceasefire has faltered. What did Mamdani say? “I believe that Netanyahu belongs in The Hague. He’s a war criminal who has been charged by the ICC, and what you will find is that is an opinion that is held by many, purely because of what his actions have wrought over these past many years. Whatever the law allows me to do in New York City, that’s what we will do.” What is Netanyahu accused of by the ICC? The warrant which the ICC issued for the arrest of Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders accused them of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza, including “starvation as a method of warfare, and … murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts”. Continue reading...
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i2Cool Co-Founder and CEO Prof. Martin Zhu Honoured with 2025 Leader of the Year Young Entrepreneur Award
i2Cool today announced that its Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Prof. Martin Zhu, has received the Young ...
Patriot füzelerinde maliyet savaşı başladı
Lockheed Martin, yaklaşık 4 milyon dolarlık PAC-3 MSE’ye alternatif olacak ACE önleyicisini yarı fiyatından daha ucuza üretmeyi planlıyor. İlk üretim için 36 aylık takvim açıklanırken, ABD ve Avrupa’daki ortaklarla geliştirme planı duyuruldu.
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Lockheed Martin launches cheaper Patriot missile as air defence demand surges
Lockheed Martin announced a lower-cost Patriot interceptor on Monday as militaries seek cheaper ways to counter drones and missiles, while defence contractors face competition from start-ups making low-cost weapons that can be produced at scale. Lockheed said its new PAC-3 Adapted Capability Effector (ACE) missile would cost less than half as much as its PAC-3 MSE interceptors, which cost roughly US$4 million per missile, according to US Army budget documents. Initial production could start...