Af/Pak & Other News (6/23/2021)

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UN urges world to push Afghanistan from battlefield to talks

https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-taliban-united-nations-middle-east-afghanistan-7a0af1ee6c46c914a9a3c3ad90b5a198



50 of Afghanistan's 370 districts have fallen to Taliban since May: UN envoy

https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/22/americas/afghanistan-taliban-districts-intl/index.html



Kunduz province in danger of falling to the Taliban

https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2021/06/kunduz-province-in-danger-of-falling-to-the-taliban.php



Calls grow to evacuate Afghans to Guam as US troops leave

https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-guam-government-and-politics-fc45df629a6e3b7b0c3d24cc8a4f4fca



Securing America’s Interests Over Afghanistan

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davedeptula/2021/06/23/securing-americas-interests-over-afghanistan/



Turkey Says It Will Not Send More Troops to Afghanistan for Airport Security

https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2021-06-23/turkey-says-it-will-not-send-more-troops-to-afghanistan-for-airport-security









Indian officials engaging with Taliban ‘quietly’

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/indian-officials-engaging-with-taliban-quietly/articleshow/83765373.cms



A 2020 explosion forced early return of SSN Chakra to Russia

https://gentleseas.blogspot.com/2021/06/a-2020-explosion-forced-early-return-of.html









Feds seize dozens of Iran-linked websites spreading disinformation in U.S.

https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2021/06/23/United-States-seizes-Iran-linked-websites/3621624420508/



Pentagon tracked failed Iranian satellite launch and new images reveal Tehran is set to try again

https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/22/politics/iran-failed-satellite-launch/index.html



Iran says it's foiled sabotage drone attack on nuclear facility

https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2021/06/23/iran-nuclear-drone-attack/7581624451570/



Iran atomic facility substantially damaged in attack - sources

https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/drone-attack-targets-irans-atomic-energy-organization-671834









‘Old guard’ of Iraqi parties, militias dig in against a weak state

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iraq-politics/old-guard-of-iraqi-parties-militias-dig-in-against-a-weak-state-idUSKCN2DZ235









Yemen rebels claim downing of US-made drones, US denies it

https://apnews.com/article/yemen-middle-east-business-1eb57d7e9e2785f1777ed431064527ff









Assad forces’ shelling in Syria causes 5,000 civilians to flee

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jun/23/assad-forces-shelling-in-syria-causes-5000-civilians-to-flee



Russian Air Force Orlan-10 UAV Crashes in Syria

https://fighterjetsworld.com/latest-news/aircraft-crash/russian-air-force-orlan-10-uav-crashes-in-syria/26094/




Lebanon may need a savior, but it likely won't be Syria this time

https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2021/06/23/lebanon-Lebanan-savior-Syria-unlikely/2051624382867/









Israeli Firm Unveils ‘Invisibility Cloak’ Technology for Soldiers

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/06/23/israeli-camouflage-soldiers-invisible/



Israel: Protecting The Future

https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htada/articles/20210623.aspx









Over 50 Killed, 100 Wounded After 'Horrific' Airstrike Hits Tigray Market

https://www.newsweek.com/over-50-killed-100-wounded-after-horrific-airstrike-hits-tigray-market-1603505




Congo: Power Peacekeeping

https://www.strategypage.com/qnd/congo/articles/20210623.aspx




EU military mission to Mozambique to be approved next month

https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/eu-military-mission-mozambique-be-approved-next-month-2021-06-23/




Ivory Coast sentences former PM Soro to life imprisonment for plotting coup

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210623-ivory-coast-sentences-former-pm-soro-to-life-imprisonment-in-absentia-for-plotting-coup









Ukraine Unveils Unmanned Combat Rotorcraft

https://www.thedefensepost.com/2021/06/23/ukraine-unmanned-combat-helicopter/



Ukraine Delivers Dozor-B Armored Vehicle to the U.S.

https://www.defenseworld.net/news/29873/Ukraine_Delivers_Dozor_B_Armored_Vehicle_to_the_U_S_#.YNN9ZkxlBaQ



UK and Ukraine Sign a Memorandum On The Implementation of Maritime Partnership Projects

https://www.overtdefense.com/2021/06/23/uk-and-ukraine-sign-a-memorandum-on-the-implementation-of-maritime-partnership-projects/



How Vladimir Putin uses natural gas to exert Russian influence and punish his enemies

https://theconversation.com/how-vladimir-putin-uses-natural-gas-to-exert-russian-influence-and-punish-his-enemies-162413



Vladimir Putin Warns of 'Unpredictable Incidents' as U.K. Denies Russia Fired on Warship

https://www.newsweek.com/russia-black-sea-hms-defender-vladimir-putin-unpredictable-incidents-1603327



Russia Claims Bombs Dropped To Warn Off British Warship, Royal Navy Says It Never Happened

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/41239/russia-claims-bombs-dropped-to-warn-off-british-warship-royal-navy-says-it-never-happened





Citing “Insiders” Swiss Public Television Says The F-35 Has Won The Swiss Air Force Fighter Jet Evaluation

https://theaviationist.com/2021/06/22/swiss-air-force-f-35/




Germany backs 1.4 bln euro purchase of Boeing maritime patrol aircraft - source

https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/germany-backs-14-bln-euro-purchase-boeing-maritime-patrol-aircraft-source-2021-06-23/




Britain's spy agency honours codebreaker Turing in giant artwork

https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/britains-spy-agency-honours-codebreaker-turing-giant-artwork-2021-06-22/



New British 50 pound note with WW2 codebreaker Turing enters circulation

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-britain-boe-turing/new-british-50-pound-note-with-ww2-codebreaker-turing-enters-circulation-idUSKCN2DY2O7



British shipbuilder Babcock to help beef up Ukraine’s navy

https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2021/06/22/british-shipbuilder-babcock-to-help-beef-up-ukraines-navy/



A British army email mishap publicly mentioned a military intel unit so secretive its members are banned from social media

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/a-british-army-email-mishap-publicly-mentioned-a-military-intel-unit-so-secretive-its-members-are-banned-from-social-media/ar-AALkkq9









China’s military build-up at disputed border worries India, foreign minister says

https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3138403/chinas-military-build-disputed-border-worries-india-foreign



Chinese S-400 systems across LAC, forces India to rethink air defence

https://www.hindustantimes.com/analysis/chinese-s-400-systems-across-lac-forces-india-to-rethink-air-defence-101624417959950.html



China’s Latest Submarine Seems To Have Lifted Its Sail Design From Sweden’s New A26 Class

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/41230/chinas-latest-submarine-seems-to-have-lifted-its-sail-design-from-swedens-new-a26-class



China prepares for Communist Party centenary in secret

https://apnews.com/article/china-business-3849bf23beb9842c6ce0e987dbb342da





North Korea Nearly Hacked Its Way to a $1,000,000,000

https://www.19fortyfive.com/2021/06/north-korea-nearly-hacked-its-way-to-a-1000000000/





Why Indonesia Wants Large Frigates from Italy.

https://gentleseas.blogspot.com/2021/06/why-indonesia-wants-larger-frigates.html





US-Philippine VFA military pact ‘in limbo’ until Duterte leaves office

https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3138489/us-philippine-vfa-military-pact-limbo-until-duterte-leaves










Pentagon UFO report: Here's what we know

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-57559179



NASA Has No Idea What To Do About The UAP/UFO Report

http://nasawatch.com/archives/2021/06/nasa-has-no-ide-1.html



“I Hope the Mindset Has Changed”: John Podesta Is Thrilled That Congress Finally Cares About UFOs

https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2021/06/john-podesta-leslie-kean-ufo-report-congress



Devices of Unknown Origin Part I: Mystery in the Caribbean

https://thedebrief.org/devices-of-unknown-origin-part-i-mystery-in-the-caribbean/



Police Helicopter Crew Says Mysterious Craft They Chased Was “Not Like Any Other” Drone

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/41223/tucson-mystery-drone-was-not-like-any-other-police-had-ever-encountered



Intel agencies in an age of ‘nuclear’ cyberattacks, political assassinations

https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2021/06/the-state-of-spy-craft-according-to-former-cia-director/



Feds Shoot Down Rumor China’s Missing Spymaster Defected to U.S.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/feds-shoot-down-rumor-chinas-missing-spymaster-dong-jingwei-defected-to-us



The Next War: How the U.S. Armed Forces are evolving

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/the-next-war-how-the-u-s-armed-forces-are-evolving/vi-AALk0pJ



Russian Warships Came Within Just 34 Miles Of Hawaii During Recent Drills

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/41229/russian-warships-came-within-34-miles-of-hawaiian-shores-u-s-military-confirms



The U.S. Military Wants A Better Microwave Weapon. Will The Police Also Use It?

https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelpeck/2021/06/23/the-us-military-wants-a-better--microwave-weapon-will-the-police-also-use-it/



MDA Sees EW, Cyber For Future Missile Defense

https://breakingdefense.com/2021/06/mda-sees-ew-cyber-for-future-missile-defense/



The Army Should Diversify Its Vehicle Fuels But Not Rely On Electricity Or EVs, A DoD-Sponsored Report Says

https://www.forbes.com/sites/erictegler/2021/06/23/the-army-should-diversify-its-vehicle-fuels-but-not-rely-on-electricity-or-evs-a-dod-sponsored-report-says/



Hero-120 loitering munition selected for USMC OPF-M system requirement

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/hero-120-loitering-munition-selected-for-usmc-opf-m-system-requirement



The Marine Corps Is Redesigning Infantry Battalions for the Future

https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2021/06/marine-corps-experimenting-less-grunts-and-more-tech-future-infantry-battalions/174891/



USAF Plans to retire 42 A-10 Warthogs. Indiana ANG and one squadron at Davis-Monthan will lose their aircraft, but both units will pick up new missions.

https://theaviationgeekclub.com/usaf-plans-to-retire-42-a-10-warthogs-indiana-ang-and-one-squadron-at-davis-monthan-will-lose-their-aircraft-but-both-units-will-pick-up-new-missions/



Air Force Flightlines Are Under Threat From Drones And It Wants Your Ideas On How To Protect Them

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/41215/air-force-flightlines-are-under-threat-from-drones-and-it-wants-your-ideas-on-how-to-protect-them



US Air Force funds development of pulsejet-powered air decoy

https://www.flightglobal.com/military-uavs/us-air-force-funds-development-of-pulsejet-powered-air-decoy/144270.article



Boeing begins Phase 2 of Red Hawk flight trials

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/boeing-begins-phase-2-of-red-hawk-flight-trials



Senators grill Navy leaders on budget to deter China as US destroyer sails through Taiwan Strait

https://warisboring.com/senators-grill-navy-leaders-on-budget-to-deter-china-as-us-destroyer-sails-through-taiwan-strait/



The U.S. Navy’s Next Amphibious Ship Aims To Blend In, Sneak Around

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2021/06/23/the-us-navys-next-amphibious-ship-aims-to-blend-in-sneak-around/



The US Navy says parts on its Virginia-class attack submarines are breaking sooner than expected

https://www.businessinsider.com/navy-says-parts-on-attack-submarines-failing-sooner-than-expected-2021-6



Pentagon Plan Sets Navy Up To Quickly Shed 30% Of Cruiser And Destroyer Fleet

https://www.forbes.com/sites/craighooper/2021/06/23/dod-plan-sets-navy-up-to-quickly-shed-30-of-cruiserdestroyer-fleet/