Af/Pak & Other News (1/26/2021)

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Al Qaeda ‘gaining strength’ in Afghanistan, U.S. Treasury says

https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2021/01/al-qaeda-gaining-strength-in-afghanistan-u-s-treasury-says.php



Afghan government envoys accuse Taliban of snubbing talks

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210126-afghan-government-envoys-accuse-taliban-of-snubbing-talks



Afghan president’s ultimatum to Taliban: Cut ties with Pakistan & shut safe havens

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/afghan-presidents-ultimatum-to-taliban-cut-ties-with-pakistan-shut-safe-havens/articleshow/80453452.cms









Indian Army Rudra Helicopter Crashes in Jammu and Kashmir, One Pilot Killed

https://defpost.com/indian-army-rudra-helicopter-crashes-in-jammu-and-kashmir-one-pilot-killed/



As Angry Farmers Take to New Delhi’s Streets, Protests Turn Violent

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/25/world/asia/india-farmers-protests-delhi.html



India conducts first test launch of Akash-NG missile

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/india-conducts-first-test-launch-of-akash-ng-missile









Iran Hosts Taliban to 'Exchange Views' on US-backed Afghan Peace Process

https://www.voanews.com/south-central-asia/iran-hosts-taliban-exchange-views-us-backed-afghan-peace-process



U.S. Tries to Seize Oil Shipment It Says Came From Iran

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-26/u-s-tries-to-seize-oil-shipment-it-says-came-from-iran









Purported new militant group claims drone attack against Saudi Arabia

https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2021/01/purported-new-militant-group-claims-drone-attack-against-saudi-arabia.php



Blast Shakes Riyadh Three Days After Projectile Intercepted

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/01/26/blast-shakes-riyadh/



US exploring new bases in Saudi Arabia amid Iran tensions

https://apnews.com/article/dubai-iran-saudi-arabia-united-arab-emirates-persian-gulf-tensions-247314c18d4160ead28fcf6358a95dca



Saudis Expanding US Military Access to Airfields, Port, to Counter Iran

https://www.defenseone.com/threats/2021/01/saudis-expanding-us-military-access-airfields-port-counter-iran/171609/




Here’s what we know about Turkey’s newly launched homemade frigate

https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2021/01/25/heres-what-we-know-about-turkeys-newly-launched-homemade-frigate/



Turkish navy has successfully test-launched new AKYA torpedo from TCG Gür S-357 submarine

https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/defence-news/2021/january/9604-turkish-navy-has-successfully-test-launched-new-akya-torpedo-from-tcg-guer-s-357-submarine.html









Syrian Arab Army forces position themselves on Mount Hermon - report

https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/syrian-forces-position-on-mount-hermon-report-656682




Hezbollah TV Correspondent Captures First Images Of Israeli F-35I Adir Jets Operating Inside Lebanese Airspace.

https://theaviationist.com/2021/01/25/hezbollah-tv-correspondent-captures-first-images-of-israeli-f-35i-adir-jets-operating-inside-lebanese-airspace/









Elbit Systems awarded contract for Sabrah light tanks and direct-fire support vehicles

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/elbit-systems-awarded-contract-for-sabrah-light-tanks-and-direct-fire-support-vehicles









Somali Lawmakers Demand Inquiry on Alleged Troops Fighting in Tigray

https://www.voanews.com/africa/somali-lawmakers-demand-inquiry-alleged-troops-fighting-tigray




Nigeria's President Buhari fires armed forces chiefs

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-55816129









Vaccine Is Now a Weapon in Ukraine’s Conflict With Russia

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-26/europe-s-vaccine-struggle-plays-out-on-front-line-with-russia



'Dethrone the tsar': Putin floats retirement to seaside winery amid Navalny uproar

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/dethrone-the-tsar-putin-floats-retirement-to-seaside-winery-amid-navalny-uproar/ar-BB1d5rC1



As Russia's State Media Deflects Alexei Navalny Protests, Voice of America Amplifies Them

https://www.newsweek.com/russia-media-navalny-putin-protests-voice-america-1564463



Navalny has boxed Putin into a 'humiliating' Catch-22, national-security officials say

https://www.businessinsider.com/navalny-putin-into-a-humiliating-catch-22-2021-1



By trying to silence protesters, Vladimir Putin is falling into a repression trap

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/by-trying-to-silence-protesters-vladimir-putin-is-falling-into-a-repression-trap/ar-BB1d6Vz7




Europe’s court condemns Russia over 2008 war with Georgia

https://apnews.com/article/europe-georgia-salome-zurabishvili-moscow-russia-854c37a67adc9cda0920a00e931efc09




Two U.S. Navy Ships Now Operating with NATO in the Black Sea

https://news.usni.org/2021/01/25/two-u-s-navy-ships-now-operating-with-nato-in-the-black-sea




Greece Signs Contract to Acquire 18 Rafale Fighter Aircraft

https://defpost.com/greece-signs-contract-to-acquire-18-rafale-fighter-aircraft/




The United Kingdom Has Chosen Who Will Build Its First Prototype Loyal Wingman Combat Drone

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/38898/the-united-kingdom-has-chosen-who-will-build-its-first-prototype-loyal-wingman-combat-drone



What is good and bad about the F-35 cockpit: A ‘Panther’ pilot’s guide to modern cockpits

https://hushkit.net/2021/01/21/what-is-good-and-bad-about-the-f-35-cockpit-a-panthers-pilots-guide-to-modern-cockpits/








South China Sea: Chinese military deploys ballistic missile’s launchers for training

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3119203/south-china-sea-chinese-military-deploys-ballistic-missiles



PLA Plans New South China Sea Exercise Amid Fresh U.S.-China Tensions

https://www.newsweek.com/pla-plans-new-south-china-sea-exercise-amid-fresh-us-china-tensions-1564495



New Chinese 155mm self-propelled howitzer spotted on public roads

https://defence-blog.com/news/army/new-chinese-155mm-self-propelled-howitzer-spotted-on-public-roads.html



Hong Kong police obtain financial records of arrested democracy activists

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-security-banks-exclusive/exclusive-hong-kong-police-obtain-financial-records-of-arrested-democracy-activists-idUSKBN29V0FY



Beijing wiped out the democracy camp in Hong Kong. Now it’s replacing its friends.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/beijing-wiped-out-the-democracy-camp-in-hong-kong-now-its-replacing-its-friends/ar-BB1d6tar



Those Bombers China Sent Toward Taiwan? They Were A Dress Rehearsal For War

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2021/01/26/those-bombers-china-sent-toward-taiwan-they-were-a-dress-rehearsal-for-war/





Taiwan air force flexes muscles after latest Chinese incursion

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-taiwan-security/taiwan-air-force-flexes-muscles-after-latest-chinese-incursion-idUSKBN29V0ID





North Korean Hackers Hacked Famous Hackers With Fake Hacking Website, Google Says

https://www.vice.com/en/article/akdawb/north-korean-hackers-hacked-famous-hackers-with-fake-hacking-website-google-says





Australia, U.S. Teaming to Develop High-Tech Cruise Missiles

https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2021/1/26/australia-us-teaming-to-develop-high-tech-cruise-missiles





Philippine Navy to start upgrade of its three Del Pilar-class frigates

https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/defence-news/2021/january/9599-philippine-navy-to-start-upgrade-of-its-three-del-pilar-class-frigates.html










Article of impeachment against Trump formally delivered to US Senate

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210126-article-of-impeachment-against-trump-formally-delivered-to-us-senate



Declassified CIA file reveals US spies believed that Soviet doctors had 'perfected' Extra-Sensory Perception in the 1980s and could transmit thoughts and feelings to subjects

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9186895/Declassified-CIA-document-reveals-spies-believed-Russians-perfected-extra-sensory-perception.html



With new Air Force One planes still bare, Biden will choose between the jet’s classic livery or a fresh paint scheme

https://www.defensenews.com/air/2021/01/25/with-new-air-force-one-planes-still-bare-it-will-be-up-to-biden-to-choose-between-the-jets-classic-livery-or-a-fresh-paint-scheme/



The “Lady Bird Special” Was The Lowliest Of Air Force One Aircraft

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/38913/the-lady-bird-special-was-the-lowliest-of-air-force-one-aircraft



U.S. Intelligence Analyst Given Stiff Prison Sentence For Trying To Pass Information To Russia

https://www.rferl.org/a/ruussia-u-s-intelligence-analyst-shirley-prison-sentence-selling-information/31070021.html



The Hidden Nuclear Policy The New U.S. Administration Needs To Tackle

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidhambling/2021/01/26/the-hidden-nuclear-policy-the-new-administration-needs-to-tackle/



Jeff Bezos Is Backing an Ancient Kind of Nuclear Fusion

https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/energy/a35276502/magnetized-target-fusion-technology-jeff-bezos/



To Defeat Enemy Drone Swarms, Troops May Have to Take a Back Seat to Machines, General Says

https://www.military.com/daily-news/2021/01/25/defeat-enemy-drone-swarms-troops-may-have-take-back-seat-machines-general-says.html



Red Flag 21-1 kicks off at Nellis

https://www.blogbeforeflight.net/2021/01/red-flag-21-1-kicks-off-at-nellis.html



Missile Defense Agency picks 2 vendors for hypersonic weapon tracking sensor prototypes

https://www.c4isrnet.com/battlefield-tech/space/2021/01/25/missile-defense-agency-picks-two-vendors-for-hypersonic-weapon-tracking-sensor-prototypes/



Pentagon Advances "Next-Generation Interceptor" to Kill ICBMs in 2028

https://defensemaven.io/warriormaven/land/pentagon-advances-next-generation-interceptor-to-kill-icbms-in-2028-R3Ma52Km00-mBqIakCXpFg



Newest Bradley fielding delayed as Army works to fix battery problem

https://www.defensenews.com/land/2021/01/25/newest-bradley-fielding-delayed-as-army-works-to-fix-battery-problem/



Boeing And Lockheed Martin Reveal What Could Be The Army's UH-60 Black Hawk Replacement

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/38903/boeing-and-lockheed-martin-reveal-what-could-be-the-armys-uh-60-black-hawk-replacement



US Marine Corps selects Metal Shark to develop Long Range Unmanned Surface Vessel LRUSV

https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.php/news/defence-news/2021/january/9605-us-marine-corps-selects-metal-shark-to-develop-long-range-unmanned-surface-vessel-lrusv.html



US Navy eyes future targeting capability for Triton UAS

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/us-navy-eyes-future-targeting-capability-for-triton-uas



Navy to Expand Land-Based Testing for Unmanned Vessels, Conduct Offensive Firepower Analysis for USVs

https://news.usni.org/2021/01/25/navy-to-expand-land-based-testing-for-unmanned-vessels-conduct-offensive-firepower-analysis-for-usvs