International

NATO begins unprecedented air drill in ‘show of strength’

Published

2 years ago

June 12, 2023

NATO will begin the largest air force deployment exercise in Europe in the alliance’s history on Monday in a display of unity toward partners and potential threats such as Russia.

The German-led “Air Defender 23” will run until June 23 and include some 250 military aircraft from 25 NATO and partner countries including Japan and Sweden, which is bidding to join the alliance.

Up to 10,000 people will participate in the drills intended to boost interoperability and preparedness to protect against drones and cruise missiles in the case of an attack on cities, airports or sea ports within NATO territory.

Presenting the plans last week, Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz of the German Luftwaffe said “Air Defender” was conceived in 2018 in part as a response to the Russian annexation of Crimea from Ukraine four years before, though he said it was “not targeted at anyone”.

He said that while NATO would defend “every centimetre” of its territory, the exercise would not “send any flights, for example, in the direction of Kaliningrad,” the Russian enclave bordering alliance member states Poland and Lithuania.

“We are a defensive alliance and that is how this exercise is planned,” he said.

US Ambassador to Germany Amy Gutmann said the drill would show “beyond a shadow of a doubt the agility and the swiftness of our allied force” and was intended to send a message to countries including Russia.

“I would be pretty surprised if any world leader was not taking note of what this shows in terms of the spirit of this alliance, which means the strength of this alliance, and that includes Mr Putin,” she told reporters, referring to the Russian president.

“By synchronising together, we multiply our force.”

Russia’s war on Ukraine has galvanised the Western military alliance set up almost 75 years ago to face off against the Soviet Union.

Finland and Sweden, which long kept an official veneer of neutrality to avoid conflict with Moscow, both sought membership in NATO after Russia’s February 2022 invasion.

Under NATO’s Article Five, an attack on one member is considered an attack on all.

– ‘Great power competition’ –

The exercise will include operational and tactical-level training, primarily in Germany, but also in the Czech Republic, Estonia and Latvia. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will visit pilots based at the Schleswig-Jagel airfield in northern Germany on Friday.

General Michael Loh, director of the US Air National Guard, said NATO’s duties were at an “inflection point”.

“A great deal has changed on the strategic landscape throughout the world, especially here in Europe,” he said.

The exercise will focus on “supplementing the permanent United States presence in Europe” as well as providing training “on a larger scale than what was usually accomplished on the continent”, Loh added.

He said many of the alliance pilots would be working together for the first time.

“It’s about fostering the old relationships that we have but also building new ones with this younger generation of airmen,” he said.

“And so this is about now establishing what it means to go against a great power in a great power competition.”

Gutmann said that while there were no plans to make “Air Defender” a recurring exercise, she added: “We have no desire for this to be the last.”

Asked about potential disruption to civilian air transport during the exercise, Gerhartz said the planners would do “everything in our power” to limit flight delays or cancellations.

German authorities had warned that flight schedules could be impacted by the drills.

International

BREAKING: US President Elect, Donald Trump sentenced to unconditional discharge in hush money case

Published

5 days ago

January 10, 2025

Charles Flames

A judge sentenced Donald Trump to an unconditional discharge Friday for covering up hush money payments to a porn star despite the US president-elect’s last-ditch efforts to avoid becoming the first felon in the White House.

This court has determined that the only lawful sentence that permits entry of a judgement of conviction without encroaching on the highest office of the land, is an unconditional discharge”,” said New York judge Juan Merchan delivering the sentence during a court session that Trump attended virtually.

International

Biden, and Trump pay last respect as Carter is buried

The funeral gathered political figures across the spectrum, celebrating a statesman whose impact resonated globally.

Published

5 days ago

January 10, 2025

OCHEFA

▪︎ Biden touched Carter’s coffin/ Getty Image

The funeral of former President Jimmy Carter on Thursday was marked by heartfelt tributes from leaders, family, and close associates, ABC News reports.

President Joe Biden highlighted Carter’s unwavering commitment to dignity, justice, and integrity in his eulogy, emphasising lessons of character and respect.

“We have an obligation to give hate no safe harbor and to stand up to — [what] my dad said, the greatest sin of all — the abuse of power,” Biden said, as all of the former presidents looked on.

“It’s not about being perfect, none of us are perfect.

We’re all fallible.”Jimmy Carter, throughout his life, he showed us what it means to be a practitioner of good works and a good and faithful servant of God, and of the people,” Biden said.

Carter’s grandson, Jason Carter, called him the “definition of integrity,” reflecting on his grandfather’s consistency in private and public life, as well as his pioneering environmental and humanitarian efforts.

Carter’s domestic policy adviser, Stuart Eizenstat, praised his moral compass and bipartisan approach, noting Carter’s role in advancing civil rights and prioritising human rights in US foreign policy.

Former United Nations Ambassador Andrew Young spoke to Carter’s sensitivity and spirituality, recalling his efforts to foster unity and equality.

“I don’t mean this with any disrespect, but, it’s still hard for me to understand how you could get to be president from Plains, Georgia, Young noted prompting a big laugh from the crowd in the cathedral.

“He never wavered from his commitment to God almighty and his love of all of God’s children,” Young added. Carter, who passed away at the age of 100 on December 29, 2024, was remembered as a leader whose vision transcended his time.

His legacy, including the near-eradication of Guinea worm disease, stands as a testament to his lifelong service.

The funeral gathered political figures across the spectrum, celebrating a statesman whose impact resonated globally.

Former US Vice Presidents Al Gore and Mike Pence, Karen Pence, former US President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former US President George W. Bush, Laura Bush, former US President Barack Obama, US President-elect Donald Trump, Melania Trump, US President Joe Biden, first lady Jill Biden US Vice President Kamala Harris and second gentleman Doug Emhoff attend the state funeral for Carter at Washington National Cathedral.

International

Boeing and Google give $1m each to Trump’s inauguration

The list also includes oil producer Chevron and technology giants Meta, Amazon and Uber.

Published

5 days ago

January 10, 2025

OCHEFA

Photo Credit : Getty Image

US aviation giant Boeing has told BBC News it is donating $1m (£812,600) to an inauguration fund for President-elect Donald Trump.

Google has also confirmed that it has made a similar donation as the two firms join a growing list of major American companies contributing to the fund.

The list also includes oil producer Chevron and technology giants Meta, Amazon and Uber.

Trump’s inauguration, marking the start of his second term in the White House, is set to take place on 20 January. We are pleased to continue Boeing’s bipartisan tradition of supporting US Presidential Inaugural Committees,” Boeing said.

The company added that it has made similar donations to each of the past three presidential inauguration funds.

Boeing is working to recover from a safety and quality control crisis, as well as dealing with the losses from a strike last year. The company is also building the next presidential aircraft, known as Air Force One.

The two jets are expected to come into service as early as next year. During his first term as president, Trump forced the plane maker to renegotiate its contract, calling the initial deal too expensive. Google became the latest big tech firm to donate to the fund, following similar announcements by Meta and Amazon.

It also said it will stream the event around the world. Google is pleased to support the 2025 inauguration, with a livestream on YouTube and a direct link on our homepage,” said Karan Bhatia, Google’s global head of government affairs and public policy.

Car companies Ford, General Motors and Toyota have also donated a $1m each to the inaugural committee.

In the energy industry, Chevron confirmed that it has made a donation to the fund but declined to say how much.

“Chevron has a long tradition of celebrating democracy by supporting the inaugural committees of both parties.

We are proud to be doing so again this year,” said Bill Turene, Chevron’s manager of global media relations.

Credit: BBC