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Dose of Inspiration: Landscapes2 9 Share Tweet
There are landscapes that cause sensations and feelings in us that don't go unnoticed. Those capable of portraying them are also capable of transporting us to to those landscapes.
As beautiful as a landscape can be we, are not always capable of capturing it perfectly in our cameras. Today, to begin my wandering in Lomography's Magazine, I bring you several examples of landscapes, which have been capable of captivating me and I hope they captivate you too.
There are landscapes that fit in the palm of my hand. Still, we can look around them without getting tired, losing ourselves among their details and nooks.
On the other hand, there are immense landscapes in which it is very difficult not to feel like an ant. The landscape recurs again and again and it surrounds us. It just happens that we become part of it.
The ones that I like the most, are the brightest landscapes, in which the sun ends up always being the protagonist.
When this light goes away, it leaves behind the silent reflex of these landscapes. Then, our imagination does the rest.
There are incredible landscapes, cold landscapes, wet ones, dreamed landscapes, and invented ones. Sometimes I find myself trying to remember them by heart, drawing them in my head over and over again to avoid losing them. If I get lost, look for me inside any of these pictures.
And you, what landscapes do you prefer shooting?
Thanks to Mònica Bedmar and Eva Morell for letting me get lost in their landscapes.
written by itrynottothink on 2012-11-02 in #lifestyle #sol #paisajes #sun #mar #inspiration #analogico #landscapes #inspiracion #sea #woods #light #bosque #analogue #luz
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Westside Update - Today's Christian Videos
Embed paiswestside 2283 views 2008-03-17T00:00:00 This is the 1.Term Update form the Pais Westside Team!!
Watch and enjoy.........!!!
Watch and enjoy.........!!!
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Which sex is the worst about washing up? Why is it so important? We've got the dirty truth on how and when to wash your hands.
Tips for Bedwetting Prevention
In this article
Bedwetting can damage the child's self-image and confidence. The best way to prevent this is to be supportive. Parents should reassure the child that bedwetting is a common problem that has a strong genetic component and that they are confident that the child will overcome the problem.
Here are some tips to help your child cope with bedwetting:
Recommended Related to Sleep Disorders
If you're confiding in a friend about sleep problems, the conversation might turn to topics like not getting enough rest or tossing and turning at night. But what about things your body does during sleep - like drooling, snoring, bedwetting, or passing gas - that you might be embarrassed to talk about by the light of day? For example, take Kindra Hall, vice president of sales at a network marketing firm in Phoenix. She admits that drooling excessively while sleeping is a major source of embarrassment,...
Read the 8 Embarrassing Sleep Secrets article > >
- Focus on the problem: bedwetting. Avoid blaming or punishing your child. Remember, your child cannot control the bedwetting, and blaming and punishing just make the problem worse.
- Be patient and supportive. Reassure and encourage your child often. Do not make an issue out of bedwetting each time it happens. If you or your spouse wet the bed as a kid, remind your child that mommy or daddy had the same issue and eventually outgrew it.
- Enforce a "no teasing" rule in the family. No one is allowed to tease the child about the bedwetting, including those outside the immediate family. Do not discuss the bedwetting in front of other family members.
- Encourage responsibility. Help your child understand that the responsibility for being dry is his or hers and not that of the parents. Reassure your child that you want to help him or her overcome the problem. In addition, have your child help in the clean-up process.
Make clean-up easy. To increase comfort and reduce damage, use washable absorbent sheets, layer sheets among waterproof bed covers, and use room deodorizers.
Tips to Prevent Bedwetting
Along with supporting your child emotionally, there are a number of steps you can take that may help reduce the number of bedwetting accidents. Here are more tips.
- Reduce evening fluid intake. Do not give your child anything to drink in the two hours before bedtime, especially drinks such as tea or sodas that contain caffeine.
- Have your child go to the bathroom before getting into bed.
- Set a goal for your child of getting up at night to use the toilet. Instead of focusing on making it through the night dry, help your child understand that it is more important to wake up every night to use the toilet.
- Make sure the child has easy access to the toilet. Clear the path from his or her bed to the toilet and install night-lights. Provide a portable toilet if necessary.
- Reward your child for remaining dry. A system of sticker charts and rewards works for some children. The child gets a sticker on the chart for every night of remaining dry. A certain number of stickers earn a reward.
- Consider using diapers or pull-ups at night. Some believe that you should avoid using diapers or pull-ups at home because they can interfere with the motivation to wake up and use the toilet. Others argue that pull-ups help the child feel more independent and confident. Talk to your child's doctor to determine what is best for your child.
Monitor your child's bowel movements. Constipation can interfere with the complete and efficient emptying of the bladder. Talk to your pediatrician if your child has troubles with constipation.
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Browse Games
User Review
19 Reviews
|Viewing Reviews 1-10 of 19
User Reviews
Lego Harry Potter Years 5-7 (PS3) - 19 reviews
Lego Harry Potter 5-7 for the PS3 takes Harry through a series of challenges and missions on a quest to stop the evil Lord Voldemort, the Dark Lord, who is back, and Harry suddenly has the realization that he is actually connected to Voldemort. Later the Ministry of Magic decides to try and take appropriate steps in order to stop the potential threat that this imposes.
As you progress through the game you are presented with Lego style characters which represent numerous personalities which are to be found in the Harry Potter movies and books. Unfortunately, if you have played the previous title which is called Lego Harry Potter 1-4, you may feel like this is a rerun of this first encounter. A lot of the mission styles and gameplay are like the original, although to the maker's credit, the storyline is well presented and this enables users to feel like they are following the books or films closely. When most levels end you are presented with a cut scene, a cinematic storyline which enables users to follow the story with relative ease as the game progresses.
You may decide to roam through Hogwarts you can learn an array of spells, which in turn enable Harry to be able to construct items as well as destroy them, via the use of the wand. These include Curses and Charms. You will also have to undergo training in order to defeat various creatures which you encounter in the game, such as the Death Eaters for example. Within the game there are 24 stories to unlock and also 16 classrooms to attend in order to unlock the full attributes that Harry possesses.
During gameplay you will come into contact with over 200 different characters as you progress, and each one is very finely detailed, and on top of this you also have the option of split screen, enabling players to switch between a jump in and jump out style of gameplay. This is mainly designed to allow more than one player to play the game, multiplayer if you will.
The graphics in Lego Harry Potter 5-7 are very sharp, sparks fly in various colors like a projectile from the wand and the shiny Lego characters really do add to the game's overall experience. I should also add that this game is based on the last 4 books created in the Harry Potter series, and the actual Hogwarts is a representation of the Hogwarts in Deathly Hallows Part 2 the film.
If you are looking to venture into the first 4 books then perhaps you should pickup the previous title Lego Harry Potter 1-4. Overall this is by far one of the best in the series of Lego games which seem to be springing up in leaps and bounds.
Lego Harry Potter 5-7 unfortunately did not differ greatly enough from the first title to be a really impressive game. You will find lots of enjoyment here but the makers should have tried harder to expand the overall style and playability so offering something different to the first. The levels are very similar to the original release, but they do follow on from the original game story with some much improved cinematic cut scenes thrown in which does improve the general appeal of the game.
User Reviews
XCOM Enemy Unknown PS3 - 19 reviews
XCOM Enemy Unknown is a remake of a much older PC game series known collectively as XCOM. The game takes place on an Earth, where a multi-national military organization is attempting to push back the threat of complete annihilation at the hands of an alien enemy. Combining action, strategy and consequences, XCOM Enemy Unknown is a game that's both fun and harsh, bringing home the feeling of a war in a way that very few other games have managed successfully.
You're going to lose people in XCOM Enemy Unknown. These will be soldiers that players have come to care about, to rely on even. They're going to die in battle, often by accidents players never saw coming or from lucky shots that they could never have planned for. Veterans of a dozen missions that hold the team together can vanish in a single turn, and it's the job of the player to keep going, and to deal with that both from a story perspective and from a general's perspective. After all, the war doesn't stop just because one soldier, even a decorated one, goes down in the line of duty.
That said, XCOM Enemy Unknown also has the unique ability to combine strategy with resource management, ensuring that neither aspect ever gets boring. Players have to decide which soldiers to take, who to train up and get experience to, and even which alien technology bits to invest in to make sure that he or she has the best possible arsenal against the encroaching threat. Whether it's plasma rifles or satellite warning systems, cluster bombs or space ships, the options are all there. However, players have limited resources and will have to decide which projects get precedence and which ones get put on the back burner. Just like a real military commander.
XCOM Enemy Unknown is surprisingly harsh, which might take players a few reboots to really get used to. There's no regenerating health, or massive doomsday weapons that will win the war (except those owned by the aliens); players are the underdogs, plain and simple. The game is supposed to be hard, and it aims to bring home the feeling of a real battlefield by not coddling players when they make mistakes. On the one hand it's entirely possible to go back to the last save and start from there like a real world Prince of Persia. On the other hand, sometimes players have gotten in so deep that even going back to a previous save won't be enough to change the outcome of what's going to happen.
All in all, XCOM Enemy Unknown is a breath of fresh air in the strategy game section. Turn based combat doesn't have to be boring, and the refreshing twist on an old classic is enough to bring a new generation of gamers into one of the older titles boasted by modern PC gaming. However, it's still a good idea to keep some tissues handy for the funerals you'll have for your soldiers.
User Reviews
Skylanders Giants Portal Pack Wii - 19 reviews
Skylanders Giants is the follow up to the original Spyro's Adventure game for the Nintendo Wii. The Skylanders Giants Booster Pack for the Wii includes the new game disk and a giant character. The new game allows players to explore new areas of Skylands in order to stop the bad guys from taking over the world. While a platform game in one sense, Skylanders Giants also takes a few shots at being a role playing game and a strategy game, but what should really surprise gamers is that title accomplishes this lofty task with relative ease.
The controls scheme stays pretty much the same from the previous title. That is to say that the Wii controller gets paired again with the Nunchuk, and that combination controls movement, attacks, and defenses. The controls are well thought out with each button serving a different purchase, which makes the game easy to learn.
The graphics present in the world of Skylands and the several levels throughout Skylanders Giants are pretty much top notch, at least as far as the Wii is concerned. The characters come to life in vivid colors, and the sounds and soundtrack is just as impressive as the first game. However, where the sequel really excels is the number of available characters.
The Giants are basically larger and stronger than traditional Skylanders, but all those figures purchased for the original game can thankfully still be used in this follow. To further propel the collectible market, additional Series 2 Skylanders are also available for purchase. Since the Skylanders Giants Booster pack only contains one Giant, players will have to scramble to find additional characters in their favorite store.
The role playing aspect of the game is what helps drive the addictive gameplay. The characters start out at level one with a few different skill categories, like attack, speed, and defense. As characters collect treasure and defeat enemies the particular figure on the Portal of Power rises in level and also can redeem the treasure collected to purchase new and better attacks and defenses. One nice aspect of the new title is that Skylanders that were completely powered up from the first game maintain all the abilities acquired, which can be a real time saver. Of course, new characters, including all the Giants, have to start from level one.
Also present in the new game is the battle area with several different arenas, however, this time the characters can acquire experience points and treasure by competing in the arena. This makes for a nice break from the main game and really gives players a chance to truly master their favorite characters.
All things considered, the Skylanders Giants Booster Pack is a must have for anyone who purchased the original game, but the game is also a solid title for anyone looking to break into a new franchise. The ease of the controls and the interesting storyline make it a simple title for beginners, but all the unlockables and new characters that need to be acquired make this a great piece of software for all skill levels.
User Reviews
Lego Harry Potter: Years 1-4 (Xbox 360) - 19 reviews
The game charts the progress of Harry Potter and friends, and enemies, through Hogwarts, and although not necessarily true to the wonderful books and films, all the essential elements that make Harry Potter stories so great are still present in this LEGO version. The characters and other creations are obviously LEGO creations but are easily recognizable.
Most of the fun revolves magic, the casting of spells and the mixing of potions. the LEGO pieces can be blown apart by the actions of the characters and the many colored studs which come from these broken pieces can be collected and used as a currency to buy new additional powers and to unlock secret chambers amongst other things.
The game has wonderfully unrealistic visuals and a well presented spell casting system. Among the many spells are the well known Wingardium Leviosa, whic as far as the game is concerned is the most useful and basic of them. There are of course strange creations such as the Lumos and Riddikulus, each with their different colors which can be changed by using your controller buttons. Many of the objects lying around can be used in imaginative ways to entertain you and assist you in your progress.
Away from the main thrust of the game there are other incidentals worth noting, Hogwarts is presented as a stunning visual fantasy world and is worth exploring just for the fun of it. There are around 150 characters to unlock ranging from the well known to the those probably never remembered. The humor from the books and films remains with such creations as the almost headless ghost and the dog Fang.
The game is not perfect but there is so much in it and the sheer enjoyment of playing it far outweighs any shortcomings either real or imagined.
User Reviews
Max Payne 3 (Xbox 360) - 19 reviews
The feeling of Max Payne 3 is all in the name. The game is extremely character centric, continuing Max's story from the previous two games. That said, the game does do a brilliant job of developing and exploring Max's character. Story elements are enhanced with many cut-scenes, both short and long, and these are not just glossy cinematics, in fact they are always meaningful and relevant, and effectively enhance the story and the character of Max.
Max Payne 3 is a violent game, gory right down to its very core. The graphics depict the full horror of the damage done by modern weapons, showing in detail bullet wounds, flying limbs and charred flesh, ensuring that fans of blood and guts action will get all they need. It stands out from other such action shooters by emphasizing the vulnerability and desperation of the character. Yes, Max is certainly a badass who never thinks twice about killing hundreds of enemies or blasting rockets from helicopters, but he is not some invincible superhuman who wades trough hailstorms of bullets or shrugs off grenade explosions.
The game mechanics artfully develop this mood throughout the game. The bullet-time and shot-dodge mechanics present the constant feel of narrowly escaping a lethal attack, but they still give players the tools they need to cause serious mayhem. Unlike many other shooters, which cheat realism by providing players with a constant supply of health packs or health bars, that slowly regenerate overtime, the game has no health regeneration mechanics. It is impossible to duck behind a wall and return to full power while the computer enemies wait around haplessly. The AI in Max Payne 3 will keep the pressure coming, and a highly destructible environment means that walls, doors, crates and pillars may not remain dependable bullet shields for any length of time.
Weapon choice is also a serious deal in Max Payne 3. Max may only carry two side-arm weapons and one two-handed weapon at any one time. Players may find they have to make do with whatever weapon choice they selected throughout a level, facing some challenges that such weapons may be suited to, and others that will punish, their choice. This adds yet another layer of realism and desperation to combat. How many real humans would be packing two pistols, an assault rifle, a shotgun, a sub-machine gun and a rocket launcher all at the same time? Max may not have the perfect weapon for every scenario, but he must adapt and endure anyway.
While the story-telling, realism, graphics and characterization of Max Payne 3 is top notch, level design and pacing may irritate some players. The game is intensely linear, and players will constantly feel themselves nudged toward the next objective or cutscene. While the game provides a variety of weapons to choose from, there is rarely more than one or two ways to approach a combat scenario. The game has a distinct emphasis on direct assaults and mayhem, and it may leave players who enjoy stealthy, tactical approaches wanting.
Taken together, Max Payne 3 is an amazing addition to the action-shooter genre and sets a new precedent for characterization and drama in the video game medium.
User Reviews
Gears of War 3 (Xbox 360) - 19 reviews
The Gears of War trilogy is perhaps one of the most visually recognizable third person shooters in video games today. From the chainsaw bayonet to the gravel voiced brute squad that makes up the male leads, Gears of War is a dystopian apocalypse at its finest, and despite complaints about the consistent presence of chest high walls, the game has a huge following among players. In Gears of War 3 players step back into the worn combat boots of Marcus Fenix, the gruff, grizzled hero that's out to save the world one barrage of bullets at a time.
What's The Story?
With Gears of War 3, things have spiraled completely out of control. The last human city fell a year and a half ago, and to make matters worse there's something brewing in the depths of the planet; something that can only mean more bad business for what's left of humanity. It's up to Marcus to lead what's left of his Delta Squad to key places to destroy the threats and try to rescue the chances for humanity by putting down whatever threats he and his team come across. By the end of the game though, players will have to put their trigger fingers to work to make sure that the world survives.
The end of the epic trilogy has taken what the previous two games did well and made them that much better. The controls are organic, and allow players to tuck, roll, run, dodge, strafe and reload all at speeds that make everything move at the pace of the player. Previous problems, such as the intelligence of the team's AI, or difficulty in aiming at what players really want to target have been mostly repaired, and overall the game flows better than either of the previous two installments, while keeping the same feeling of pedal to the metal action and teeth rattling violence that's made the series so popular for so long.
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
Gears of War 3, like the rest of the series, has all the things that can make a really enjoyable action game. However, there are some things that players will need to put on their blinders for in order to keep the suspension of disbelief. Players can't question the plot, or the logic of the world, for instance. While there aren't as many holes in it as there are in the enemy, there are some logic gaps. As many reviewers have said though, the game more than makes up for its shortcomings with great action and lovely scenery, along with enough twists and turns to keep players shooting and snarling as they go through wave after wave of enemies.
Gears of War 3, just as the previous games have done, has set the standard in the genre. With the conclusion of the trilogy though, players need to wring all the enjoyment they can out of the last chapter; there probably isn't going to be another one after it.
User Reviews
Tekken Tag Tournament 2 Xbox 360 - 19 reviews
Namco brings another edition of Tekken with Tekken Tag Tournament 2 for the Xbox 360, the eighth installment in the Tekken franchise and serves to entice casual and professional gamers alike. This game has a brand new engine but plays very similar to all Tekken games in the franchise. The Xbox 360 utilizes the crisp graphics available and the game will give nostalgia to old time Tekken lovers with the musics vast assortment of playlists.
With the recent surge the fighting game scene has seen since 2009 Namco as well as other fighting game developers have been trying to separate themselves from their competitors. The experienced Namco fighting team developers spearheaded by Yuichi Yonemori has made this game to become one of the most entertaining in the series. Coming out after Tekken 6 this is now the main attraction in the Tekken franchise. With long time Tekken producer Katsuhiro Harada leading the way to make this game.
The goal in Tekken Tag Tournament 2 is to fight against another player that is either controlling one or two other opponents. You hit them and fight against them with your attacks until their health bar goes down to zero. Once you train in the game you can learn to develop combos and strategies to use in combat against your opponent to better your chances at winning. Remember to never become discouraged with a loss, learn after every match and win next time.
The Tekken universe has an expansive story and Tekken Tag Tournament 2 only adds for fans to indulge into. If you are interested in the story behind the Tekken universe then this is a must pick up game. What gives this game a lot of replay value is the fact that there are so many characters to play as and pass the game with. Each character has their own unique story so it makes playing this game interesting each time because of how much the characters have their paths intersect. The only problem is that playing the game over and over again can feel to get too repetitive. This can be seen as both a good and bad aspect of Tekken Tag Tournament 2. Although players might feel overwhelmed by the amount of characters there are to pass the game, this adds high replay value at some point down the line. You can choose to drop the game for a couple of weeks and pick it back up to pass it with the characters you never got a chance to do so with.
Any fighting game fan can find themselves enjoying quality hours spent playing Tekken Tag Tournament 2. The biggest reason why this game is so fun is because of the endless amount of team combinations that a player can choose when they are playing this game. Having one of the biggest casts in Tekken history and fighting games in general players will always find themselves figuring out new combinations that are fun to play.
User Reviews
Saints Row the Third (Xbox 360) - 19 reviews
What, as a gamer, do you look for when your playing a video game? Most would say a good time. You want to have fun and have a good time while playing a video game. Saying that Saints Row the Third is fun, or a good time, would be a huge, gross understatement. This adult filled theme park of fun definitely delivers on good times. Do not dismiss this game as a Grand Theft Auto clone. It is a great game in itself and definitely deserves a play through.
In Saints Row the Third you are no longer in Stilwater, where the first to games took place, but instead in Steelport, a new huge city. Three locally run gangs currently run and operate the city, But now that Saints Row has moved in, they won't be settling for anything less than the top. And it is your job to take out and crush any competition that comes in your way. As the violent war between the gangs grow, STAG, which is an elite paramilitary police force, Headed by Commander Cyrus Temple, is sent to the city of Steelport to stop the war and put an end to the violence. After an intro mission begins your exit from Stilwater, you get the option to customize your character. Customization is really great, and almost no 2 people will ever look alike.
If you ever get bored of story missions, there are tons of fun things to do in Saints Row the Third. All these optional activities are sure to earn you both cash, and street cred on the streets of Steelport. One of the best things to do are fraud missions, a throwback to Saints 2. Basically, you run out into traffic and try to cause as much bodily harm to yourself as possible.
Actually, pretty much everything you do in Saints Row The Third is incentivized, and will get you either cash or street cred. With money you can purchased new cool clothes, awesome and powerful guns, new territory, and even upgrades. Respect however is kind of like experience points. With respect you get the ability to unlock new skills, such as no falling damage, and infinite sprint. In Saints Row the Third, everything from running through public naked, or nearly colliding with oncoming traffic will earn you respect, which is pretty awesome.
Certain story missions in Saints Row the Third give you access to frankly, bad ass vehicles. You can get an awesome pixilated retro game tank, or even a cool transforming hover jet. Another cool feature, is that you have an infinite supply of these vehicles in your homes. You can take out your game tank, or hover jet, fly it around without a care and crash it, then just go grab another. You can even have it delivered to you.
Saints Row The Third is a really well polished and extremely satisfying game to play. You should definitely give this game a play whenever you get the chance to, because you wont be disappointed.
User Reviews
Clive Barker's Jericho (PC) - 19 reviews
The game has a hefty amount of direction from Clive Barker, renowned horror writer. The story has to do with another race of creature, known as the first born, created before Man. This creation attempt failed, and God stashed the failure away from humanity in another dimension. Thats not the end of the story, though, as the first borns occasionally break into this dimension. When they do, the Jericho squad is there to send them back to their Hellish universe. As leader of that squad, Ross, youll lead your team of five Jericho team mates through time to stop the enemy.
As your team proceeds through the game, you have the ability to switch between playing any of them at will. This leads to the most interesting gameplay dynamic in the game, which is that every character has unique abilities and play style for you to switch between. This gives players the chance to discover which skills they will use the most to fit their style of play, and thereby use that character the most. The method the game uses to teach all the different skills of the six will allow you to pick these talents up naturally as you play, not rushing you to gain talent in six different areas. Once you get them down though, the wide range of options open to you is staggering.
When youre not playing them, however, your team mates are controlled by the AI, which leads to some of the most troublesome parts of playing this game. Your team mates arent exactly horrible at fighting, but the level design and the gameplay style for the game itself dont allow your team mates to live. What youll continually find are levels that have no cover available for characters, and enemies that run up on your team and explode. These enemies can take a lot of fire, too, which usually ends with it getting close enough to blow half of your team apart when you take it down. Without any cover, your entire team is repeatedly left in a group in the open, and becomes cannon fodder when those enemies come charging. Its an annoying system in a game that has such good potential.
Its seeing that potential that makes the game so difficult to play through and handle. One the one hand, the idea of your squad is implemented so incredibly well, with each character feeling, and playing, like an individual. On the other hand, so much of the game is spent healing your characters after they have had a run-in with even a few of the enemy demons, that it continually saps the fun out of the gameplay experience. Overall, if you can handle being frustrated, Clive Barkers Jericho has a lot of fun new elements to be enjoyed, in addition to the horror experience.
User Reviews
Clive Barker's Jericho (Xbox 360) - 19 reviews
The game has a hefty amount of direction from Clive Barker, renowned horror writer. The story has to do with another race of creature, known as the first born, created before Man. This creation attempt failed, and God stashed the failure away from humanity in another dimension. Thats not the end of the story, though, as the first borns occasionally break into this dimension. When they do, the Jericho squad is there to send them back to their Hellish universe. As leader of that squad, Ross, youll lead your team of five Jericho team mates through time to stop the enemy.
As your team proceeds through the game, you have the ability to switch between playing any of them at will. This leads to the most interesting gameplay dynamic in the game, which is that every character has unique abilities and play style for you to switch between. This gives players the chance to discover which skills they will use the most to fit their style of play, and thereby use that character the most. The method the game uses to teach all the different skills of the six will allow you to pick these talents up naturally as you play, not rushing you to gain talent in six different areas. Once you get them down though, the wide range of options open to you is staggering.
When youre not playing them, however, your team mates are controlled by the AI, which leads to some of the most troublesome parts of playing this game. Your team mates arent exactly horrible at fighting, but the level design and the gameplay style for the game itself dont allow your team mates to live. What youll continually find are levels that have no cover available for characters, and enemies that run up on your team and explode. These enemies can take a lot of fire, too, which usually ends with it getting close enough to blow half of your team apart when you take it down. Without any cover, your entire team is repeatedly left in a group in the open, and becomes cannon fodder when those enemies come charging. Its an annoying system in a game that has such good potential.
Its seeing that potential that makes the game so difficult to play through and handle. One the one hand, the idea of your squad is implemented so incredibly well, with each character feeling, and playing, like an individual. On the other hand, so much of the game is spent healing your characters after they have had a run-in with even a few of the enemy demons, that it continually saps the fun out of the gameplay experience. Overall, if you can handle being frustrated, Clive Barkers Jericho has a lot of fun new elements to be enjoyed, in addition to the horror experience.
|Viewing Reviews 1-10 of 19


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Greensburg: To the Stars through Difficulties
Airs Saturday at 6AM on 93.9 FM and 2PM on AM 820 and Sunday at 8PM on AM 820
Saturday, May 08, 2010
One night in May of 2007, a tornado wiped Greensburg, Kansas, off the map. The town's residents have decided to not only resurrect the town, but to rebuild in a true spirit of renewal. State of the Re:Union examines the profound devastation and the rigors and rewards of this innovative rebirth.
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Greenhouse Performer
This symbol is assigned to only those varieties that we have found, based on our trials, to be the best performers in a climate-controlled greenhouse environment. These varieties have been selected based on proven vigor and disease resistance to sustain healthy growth through a longer season, high yields to justify the investment in the structure, and excellent flavor and appearance.
NufarPelleted Basil Seed
Product ID: 2178P
Fusarium-resistant, Italian large-leaf type.
For field or greenhouse growing. Leaves up to 4" long, sweet scent and flavor. Ht. 24-30". Seed size 13.0 (13/64" or 5 mm). Organic seed and organic seed with NOP-compliant pelleting are also available. Avg. 1,350 seeds/oz. Packet: 200 seeds.
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Latin Name: Ocimum basilicum
Days to Maturity or Bloom: 77
Plant Cycle: (A)
Shipping Information & Notes
Additional Information:
About Our Pelleted Seed
Basil | Common Pests & Diseases
Basil Downy Mildew | Prevention Guide
Basil Varieties | Comparison Chart
Growing Information
DAYS TO GERMINATION: 5-10 days
SOWING TIME: After last frost
SEEDING METHOD: Direct or Transplant
SUNLIGHT PREFERENCE: Sun
PLANT HEIGHT: Varies
HARDINESS ZONES: Annual


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In this issue;
- PCAOB Solicits Comments on Proposed Amendments to Improve Audit Transparency
- SEC's Division of Corporation Finance Issues Cybersecurity Disclosure Guidance
- FINRA to Require Electronic Submission of Annual Audit Reports
- FINRA May Not Bring Civil Actions to Collect Disciplinary Fines
- Brokerage Firm's Sale of Account Holder's Securities Not a Securities Violation
- Volcker Rule Proposal Issued By Federal Reserve, FDIC, and SEC
- Financial Stability Oversight Council Issues Proposed Rule on Which Non-Bank Financial Companies Will Be Subject to Regulation
- Federal Reserve Proposes Changes in Reserve Requirements Of Depository Institutions and Related Programs
An excerpt from Federal Reserve Proposes Changes in Reserve Requirements Of Depository Institutions and Related Programs
Section 19 of the Federal Reserve Act (the Act) authorizes the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the Board) to impose reserve requirements on certain deposits and other liabilities of depository institutions for the purpose of implementing monetary policy. The Board's Regulation D (Reserve Requirements of Depository Institutions, 12 CFR part 204) implements section 19 of the Act. Transaction account balances maintained at each depository institution are subject to reserve requirement ratios of zero, three, or ten percent, depending on the level of transaction accounts at that institution.
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Egypt, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Kuwait are in the midst of preparing alliance to counter groups in Libya and Yemen who are arming themselves. In a statement to the AP agency, Egyptian senior officials have said that the four countries are considering an alliance in order to monitor and respond to any developments in the region. The Egyptian officials said that this new coalition will be separate from the alliance that was created by USA against ISID.
Kosovo will soon have its army
The transformation of the Kosovo Security Forces into the Army of Kosovo has no other alternative now. The new parliament of Kosovo will vote the formation of Armed Forces immediately after it's constituted. "The creation of Armed Forces of Kosovo has no other alternative. It's a priority for the parliament of Kosovo to form the Armed Forces as soon as possible in order to complete the full constitution of our state", said the president. We all believe in you to defend Kosovo and to cooperate with strategic partners.
Qatar runs covert desert training camp for 'moderate' Syrian rebels
At a desert base, Gulf state Qatar is covertly training moderate Syrian rebels with U.S. help to fight both President Bashar Assad and ISIS and may include more overtly Islamist insurgent groups. The camp, south of the capital between Saudi Arabia's border and Al Udeid, the largest U.S. air base in the Middle East, is being used to train the Free Syrian Army (FSA) and other moderate rebels. Small groups of 12 to 20 fighters are identified in Syria and screened by the Central Intelligence Agency, the sources said.
South Korea in military drill to prevent invasion of disputed islands
South Korean armed forces on Monday conducted a drill to prevent a hypothetical invasion of the Dokdo islets whose sovereignty is claimed by Japan and which could further strain the diplomatic relations between the countries. South Koreian army, navy, air force and coast guard units participated in the drill. The maneuvers involved six destroyers and convoys, fighters and patrol planes which simulated a defense against non-military forces invading the islets by sea and by air.
Mutiny Inside Yemen's Special Forces
Officers suspected to be loyalists of ousted President Saleh are leading a mutiny inside the headquarters of an elite paramilitary unit, seeking to oust their commander. The officials say gunfire was heard Thursday afternoon inside the Special Forces headquarters, located in the heart of the capital near the presidential palace. The mutineers chanted "leave leave" and tried to storm the office of Mohammed Mansour al-Ghadraa, their new commander.
Chinese naval base to be established on Nambia's Walvis Bay
Walvis Bay will be one of 18 naval bases that will be established in various regions: Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Mynanmar in the northern Indian Ocean; Djibouti, Yemen, Oman, Kenya, Tanzania and Mozambique in the western Indian Ocean; and Seychelles and Madagascar in the central South Indian Ocean. "These three strategic lines will further enhance China's effectiveness in taking responsibility for maintaining the safety of international maritime routes thereby maintaining regional and world stability," the media reports said.
PLA has set up Chinese version of 'PRISM' monitoring in Hong Kong
The People's Liberation Army has established a large-scale signals and information monitoring facility in Hong Kong similar to the U.S. PRISM monitoring program. Satellite photos show that with a diameter of 15.63 meters, the facility is far larger than the aerial fairings of Hong Kong's weather radar and aviation radar, which Kanwa said allows it to intercept and record signals from telephones, cellphones, Wi-Fi networks and radios. It looks similar to other data mining facilities established in Kashgar in the restive western regions of Xinjiang and Tibet and along the contested border with India
NSA monitoring situation: China training Pakistani troops along India border
The report, accessed by PTI, said these military manoeuvres were being conducted at forward defence locations of Pakistan which are usually manned by border guarding personnel. The BSF intelligence reported that phone intercepts along the border indicate that Pakistan Army and Rangers are planning to deploy snipers and sharp shooters at strategic locations and posts to target Indian soldiers and assets. The Border Security Force intelligence also reported that a special squad of Pakistani Army commandos have been placed at select locations along the IB and LoC
International Monitors Report Surveillance Drones in Region Being Jammed and Shot At
The OSCE grounded the drones several days ago, largely because their information systems were being jammed. The contractor supplying the aircraft described the jamming as highly sophisticated. "They say it is high-grade military-specification jamming, so it isn't an amateur job," Mr. Zannier said. "We are working to find countermeasures so we can continue to use" the drones. Asked who has such jamming capability in the region, Mr. Zannier said, "I can't speculate. I can imagine who has it, but I can't say for sure."
Russia to Open Arctic Military Drone Base 420 Miles off the Alaskan Coast
Russia has announced plans to build a drone base for military reconnaissance in a town just 420 miles off mainland Alaska and just over 300 miles off the US state's St Lawrence Island, Russia's state news agency reported on Thursday. "The command of the eastern military district in charge of the military development of the Arctic zone has moved forward with plans to form an unmanned aerial vehicle division," Alexandr Gordeev, spokesperson for the district said.
France mulls military deployment in Jordan for ISIS fight
France will decide in the coming weeks whether to send fighter jets to Jordan to strike ISIS militants in Iraq in an effort to increase the number of missions and reduce the cost, the army spokesman and officials said Thursday. France was the first country to join the U.S.-led coalition in airstrikes on ISIS insurgents in Iraq, who have also taken control of large parts of neighboring Syria during the course of the three-year-old civil war there. "We are thinking about a deployment in Jordan," Army spokesman Gilles Jaron told reporters.
US links arms with Vietnam in maritime security fight
The importance of the decision in Vietnam–US relations will depend on whether Hanoi decides to take advantage of its new access to American technology. The new policy makes it possible for Vietnam to buy patrol boats for its coast guard and surveillance planes. The Lockheed P-3 Orion planes have advanced sonar detection equipment to monitor activities off Vietnam's coast, including detecting Chinese submarines operating in its exclusive economic zone. In the wake of the US announcement, China launched a charm offensive with Hanoi.
Azerbaijan Risks New Armenia Conflict as Military Chopper Downed
Azerbaijan shot down an Armenian helicopter that it said violated its airspace in an attack that may trigger fresh confrontations between the two countries over a disputed region. The Mi-24 helicopter was "trying to attack" Azeri positions near a cease-fire line when it was hit, the Defense Ministry in Baku said on its website. Armenia's Defense Ministry said the aircraft was unarmed and called its downing an "unprecedented provocation."
Space to be the next frontier for China's air force
Despite the advances there remains one gaping hole in China's winged military industrial complex – one that could stop it from realising the next mission set for it by the highest echelons of power. Whatever their individual missions, the various jets fighters and aerial drones are building blocks for China's aim to push the next frontier – space. It said that some space superpowers had developed all-weather, near real-time and high-precision cameras to collect data on China's military, political, economic and technological abilities.
Korea and US to Host Largest Military Exercise in History: Simulation of NK Invasion
The South Korean military began its annual war exercise involving all branches of service on Monday to bolster its defense posture against potential threats from North Korea, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said. This year's 12-day Hoguk exercise involving the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps "will focus on ways to establish supreme military defense capabilities against (North Korea's) possible regional provocations and all-out war," the JCS said in a statement.
Iran general said to mastermind Iraq ground war
When Islamic State militants retreated from the embattled town of Jurf al-Sakher last week, the Iraqi military was quick to flaunt a rare victory against the extremist group, with state television showing tanks and Humvees parading through the town and soldiers touring government buildings that had been occupied by the militants since August. Militia commanders told The Associated Press that dozens of advisers from the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and the Lebanese Hezbollah were on the front lines.
Taiwan Conducts Live Fire Drills on Spratlys, Angering Vietnam
Taiwan's coast guard is conducting a second day of live-fire drills on an island in the disputed Spratly chain, prompting condemnation from Vietnam. The drills are conducted annually on Taiping Island, said Shih Yi-che, a public relations official at Taiwan's Coast Guard Administration. The island is known as Ba Binh in Vietnamese and claimed by both governments as well as China. Vietnam's foreign ministry said yesterday the drills violate Vietnam's sovereignty, threaten maritime security, and add to tensions in the South China Sea.
Moroccan army deploy to streets
In an unprecedented measure in Morocco, army and police personnel were deployed to streets and squares in the kingdom's main cities, and outside vital sites and tourist facilities. The heavy presence of military and other security forces came as part of the "Hadar" counter-terrorism plan announced last week. We have never seen such a security alert in Morocco since the Years of Lead," Ahmed Filali, a real estate agent, told Magharebia. "Even following the terrorist bombings in 2003 and 2007, things didn't go that far," he said.
Coup leader in Burkina Faso received U.S. military training
The army officer who has seized power in Burkina Faso amid popular protests in the West African country was twice selected to attend counterterrorism training programs sponsored by the U.S. government, U.S. military officials said. Lt. Col. Isaac Zida, the former deputy commander of the presidential guard, emerged Saturday as the country's ruler — at least on an interim basis — after angry demonstrators attacked government buildings and forced Burkina Faso's longtime strongman to flee the country.
Pentagon scales back plans for spy service to rival CIA
The Pentagon has scaled back its plan to assemble an overseas spy service that could have rivaled the CIA in size, backing away from a project that faced opposition from lawmakers who questioned its purpose and cost, current and former U.S. officials said. Under the revised blueprint, the Defense Intelligence Agency will train and deploy up to 500 undercover officers, roughly half the size of the espionage network envisioned two years ago when the formation of the Defense Clandestine Service was announced.
Egypt, Gulf Arab allies discussing anti-extremist military alliance with possible joint force
U.S. Arab allies Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait are discussing the creation of a military pact to take on Islamic militants, with the possibility of a joint force to intervene around the Middle East, The Associated Press has learned. The alliance would also serve as a show of strength to counterbalance their traditional rival, Shiite-dominated, Iran. Two countries are seen as potential theatres for the alliance to act, senior Egyptian military officials said.
450 Gabonese soldiers form private battalion by Sovereign Global France (SGF)
Planned to be deployed at the end of the first quarter 2015 in the Central African Republic, a battalion of 450 soldiers to join the Gabonese UN contingent should be formed shortly by the Sovereign Global France (SGF). Terms of the transaction were signed on October 31 in France, between the Minister of National Defence, Ernest Mpouho Epigat and President of SGF, Jerome Paolini. SGF will put in operational condition and standards of OMP (Operation peacekeeping) Gabonese soldiers a period of 3 years.
US considers arming Iraqi tribes in IS fight
The U.S. will consider arming tribes in Iraq's al-Anbar province with the precondition that the move is approved by the Iraqi government, Anadolu Agency reoprted reffering to the statement by the chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff. Gen. Martin Dempsey said Iraqi security forces in the province are in defensive positions and would be unlikely be able to respond to a request for assistance from the Albu Nimr tribe, stranded by IS.
France Is Slowly Reclaiming Its Old African Empire
More than 50 years after granting its colonial empire independence, it seems Paris cannot keep its nose out of Africa. French military engagement there is much more wide-ranging than just battling Islamist insurgents in Mali. French forces are active in at least 10 African countries. Along with the 2,000 troops France has sent to help restore order in the chaotic Central African Republic, more than 5,500 are tasked with fighting armed terrorist groups, intelligence gathering, training the local military and providing rapid reaction forces.
Swedish support for joining Nato swells after Russian sub tale
More Swedes are now in favour of their country joining Nato than are against the idea, according to a new survey by pollsters Novus. 37 percent of Swedes questioned said they supported joining Nato compared with 36 percent who were against the idea. It is the first time a survey has suggested that a larger proportion of Swedes back joining Nato as opposed to keeping out of the organisation. In May 2014, just 28 percent of Swedes polled wanted to join Nato, compared with 56 percent of people who rejected the idea of signing up.
Was The Swedish Hunt for The 'Russian' Sub Complete BS?
There was no Russian distress call. That's the opinion of a Swedish signal intelligence (SIGINT) source after a massive $2.8mn military and media sub-hunt consumed the country for a week. Reports of a Russian distress signal and a grainy-picture were enough to deploy the navy while the media widely concluded the vessel had to be a Russian submarine spooking Stockholm. The proof of this was an alleged comms intercept, at distress call frequency, between the supposed sub and Kaliningrad base.
Australian commandos may join with Iranian Quds in fight against Islamic State
Australian commandos could work alongside soldiers from the feared Iranian Quds forces in the battle against the Islamic State group in Iraq, Defence Minister David Johnston has said. Johnston said the crisis created by the Islamic State's brutal capture of vast tracts of territory was sufficiently acute that differences should be put aside in the common interest of stopping their reign of terror. His remarks came as the government revealed that Australians were continuing to join extremist groups such as the Islamic State either as fighters or supporters.
India to spy China, Pakistan 'borders' with Israeli drones
The Northern Command of the Indian Army has recently purchased 49 miniature unmanned aerial vehicles to patrol its 'border region' with Pakistan and China, a foreign media reported on Sunday. The report said that the Indian Army would deploy these Israeli drones to carry out 'reconnaissance mission' over its 'border areas' after soldiers of the People's Liberation Army of China set up camp in Ladakh, part of disputed state of Jammu Kashmir. The Chinese Army soldiers were located 10 kilometres inside the Line of Actual Control.
French moving troops toward Libyan border
France is moving troops toward the Libyan border within weeks and, along with U.S. intelligence, is monitoring al-Qaida arms shipments to Africa's Sahel region, a top French military official said Thursday. A French base will go up within weeks in a desert outpost 100 kilometers (60 miles) from the lawless Libyan border region overrun by Islamic militants, the official said on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to speak publicly on the matter. U.S. intelligence is helping French troops "a lot," he said.
Russia is Creating Underwater Combat Robots to Protect its Arctic Territories
Russia has been reported to be creating underwater combat robots that are geared to protect its oilrigs and transportation networks as it expands its hold over in the Arctic region. Davydov said it was necessary for the country to develop the robots because of the number of rival countries contesting for the region's abundant mineral resources, including hydrocarbons. The robots are needed to ensure the stability and security of Russia's operations in the Arctic, including discovery, production and transportation of resources, sub-glacial operations and infrastructural security.
Militarization of Mayberry: What Were Police Snipers Doing at a Pumpkin Festival?
To casual observers, the annual pumpkin festival in the small college town of Keene, New Hampshire, would seem like a harmless bit of seasonal fun. But to the local police, the event is apparently so threatening, it has to be monitored by military-style sniper units. Photos and videos taken by partygoers show what appear to be teams of plainclothes officers stationed on rooftops, scanning the crowds below with binoculars and military-grade sniper rifles.
Turkey could build 'EU army' if allowed membership
Turkish Hurriyet Daily News reports that Turkish Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator Volkan Bozkύr said during a visit to Berlin that if Turkey becomes a member of the European Union, the EU would be able to establish an army of 60,000 soldiers."EU is in a superpower position but it has been unable to build its army, " he said. "The EU is always in the "soft power" stance because it cannot establish a European army consisting of 60,000 soldiers."
An Egyptian Intervention in Libya
Two Egyptian officials claimed the country's warplanes had begun bombing positions in Benghazi, the second-largest city in neighboring Libya, on Wednesday, in an attempt to wrest control of the city from the Ansar-al-Sharia Islamist militia. The mission, which will be led by Libyan pilots, marks the highest-profile collaboration between the two North African countries, both of which are beset by instability, since they experienced simultaneous Arab Spring revolutions in 2011. The Egyptian government has officially denied the news.
Russia Is Now Dealing With Armenian Army
Russia is scaring Azerbaijan, as well as Armenia with Karabakh. Moscow is showing that it can provoke both Azerbaijan and Armenia, thus keeping both beside it. In fact, Moscow's possibilities in Karabakh are highly limited, and perhaps it has decided that it would be cheaper to devour Armenia and Azerbaijan (through the Eurasian Union) in both economic and military terms. Azerbaijan is Russia's natural ally, unlike Armenia which is making friends with Russia under the threat of blackmail.
Gulf states plan joint naval force as a counterbalance to Iran
The Gulf states plan to launch a joint naval force, a top Kuwaiti defence official said on Wednesday, in a bid to protect waters shared with neighbouring Iran. The new force is expected to be formed in the "coming months", Maj Gen Ahmad Yussef Al Mulla was quoted as saying by the official Kuna news agency. The Gulf Cooperation Council states – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE – formed the Peninsula Shield force in 1982 as a 5,000-strong army.
Raytheon tests JLENS for integration in NORAD systems
Raytheon has completed a series of laboratory tests that demonstrated the ability of the US Army's joint land-attack cruise-missile defence elevated sensor (JLENS) radar system to integrate into the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD)."With JLENS providing data to NORAD, our military will have a more accurate picture of what is flying in the National Capital Region's airspace, and be able to identify slow and low-flying threats such as cruise missiles and drones."
MRAP sale to Arab Emirates may enable regional military force
The tiny, oil-rich nation United Arab Emirates could be laying the foundation for an Arab peacekeeping force by seeking to buy more than 4,500 roadside-bomb protected trucks from the Pentagon, according to a U.S. government official. It follows a series of meetings in recent years between officials from the United States, UAE and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), a regional group of six Middle Eastern nations to establish joint security forces in the region.
Ukraine Reaction: Lithuania introduces new measures against unconventional war threats
The Lithuanian Ministry of National Defense announced new legal and practical measures created to respond to unconventional war threats. "Nowadays, procedures activating the military forces don't ensure a proper scope and timely response," Juozas Olekas, Minister of National Defense, said in a statement. Olekas said that current global context requires more efficient processes of army activation and a wider mandate to use munitions.
Probe of Pentagon clandestine weapons program leads to murky private army
The mysterious workings of a Pentagon office that oversees clandestine operations are unraveling in federal court, where a criminal investigation has exposed a secret weapons program entwined with allegations of a sweetheart contract, fake badges and trails of destroyed evidence. The exact purpose of the silencers remains hazy, but court filings and pretrial testimony suggest they were part of a top-secret operation that would help arm guerrillas or commandos overseas.
S. Korea deploys more weapons to border regions to deter N. Korea
The South Korean military said Monday it has deployed additional weapons to islands near the tense western maritime border to better deal with North Korea's growing threats. The disputed sea border remains a powder keg with the two Koreas fighting bloody battles there in 1999, 2002 and 2009. In the latest incident, both sides briefly exchanged fire last week as a boat from the North violated the Northern Limit Line (NLL).
Forced military training for Chinese students encounters resistance
Military training for students was introduced in 1955, but it was given greater emphasis after the army crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators at Tiananmen Square in 1989. Students at universities that authorities regarded as hotbeds of counterrevolutionary protest. Training became compulsory for all high school and university students in 2001. But Chinese society and social values have radically changed since then, as reflected in the pushback from students and parents.
France's Operation Barkane Launches First Attack in Sahel
French forces in Niger have attacked and destroyed what they say is a militant convoy transporting weapons south from Libya, Paris said on Friday. Few details of the operation were disclosed, but France said the attack destroyed weapons and personnel sent by militants in Libya through Niger to support their comrades in Mali. The attack marks the first engagement for a 3,000-strong French force deployed in August, Operation Barkane, aimed at combatting what Paris says are militants who move men and material across the Sahel region of North Africa.
Russia to build space-based system to detect missile launches
Russia will create a space-based ballistic missile warning system capable of detecting launches of inter-continental and tactical missiles, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Thursday. "Creation of the unified space system is one of the key directions for the nuclear containment development, especially Russian nuclear deterrent forces," Shoigu told a teleconference with senior ministry officials. The system will be able to detect launches of various types of missiles, both strategic and tactical, including those launched from underwater positions.
China builds military airstrip on disputed island, reports state media
Beijing has completed a runway for military aircraft on a South China Sea island also claimed by Vietnam, state-run media reported, as it asserts its territorial claims in the area.The Paracels are also claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan, and tensions between Beijing and Hanoi rose this year over Chinese construction and oil exploration there. The runway is Beijing's latest physical assertion of control in the area, two years after it declared a city named Sansha centered on Woody Island to administer vast swathes of the South China Sea.
NATO can put troops wherever it wants, new secretary-general says
New NATO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg said on Sunday that the Western alliance could deploy its forces wherever it wants, apparently calling into question post-Cold War agreements that have been shaken by Russia's actions in Crimea and Ukraine. At a summit a month ago, NATO leaders agreed to set up a "spearhead" rapid reaction force that could be sent to a hotspot within days, and to pre-position equipment and supplies in eastern European countries to receive the force if needed.
Bundeswehr to send 200 armed troops to observe the Ukraine ceasefire
The Bundeswehr is preparing for a mission to monitor the ceasefire in eastern Ukraine. Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen advised the Stewards of the Bundestag about the planned German involvement in a mission of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). "Our common goal is that the situation stabilized in eastern Ukraine and in a peace process ends," she said. However, a final decision on the application shall be made after completion of talks with the OSCE and France.
Airborne Directed Energy Technology Maturing in the U.S.
The U.S. Air Force is ready to "weaponize" and quickly field directed-energy technology, following two recent successful high-power microwave (HPM) demonstration programs. Progress is also being made with solid-state high-energy lasers (HELs). Directed Energy was one of three "game-changing" technologies discussed by Maj Gen Tom Masiello, the commander of the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), at the recent Air Force Association (AFA) Conference in Washington, D.C. The others were hypersonics and autonomy.
French troops edge closer to Libya border to cut off Islamists
France is setting up a base in northern Niger as part of an operation aimed at stopping al Qaeda-linked militants from crisscrossing the Sahel-Sahara region between southern Libya and Mauritania, officials said. Paris, which has led efforts to push back Islamists in the region since intervening in its former colony Mali last year, redeployed troops across West Africa earlier this year to form a counter-terrorism force. "A base is being set up in northern Niger with the throbbing headache of Libya in mind," a French diplomat said.
Philippeans eye deployment of add'l Marine troops near disputed islands
The Philippine military is mulling the transfer of a Sulu-based Marine battalion to Palawan near the disputed West Philippine Sea, citing "territorial defense operation." A source said this is being studied by the military top brass in Camp Aguinaldo in coordination with the Armed Forces' Western Mindanao Command. "That's being planned by GHQ (General Headquarters) but there is still no confirmation to it. It is still being discussed," a ranking official said Tuesday.
Germany Unable to Meet NATO Readiness Target
Germany's military is unable to meet its medium-term readiness target should NATO call on its members to mobilize against an attack, officials said Monday. The revelation follows days of embarrassing reports about equipment failures that included German army instructors being stranded in Bulgaria en route to Iraq when their plane broke down, and delays in sending weapons to arm Kurdish fighters because of another transport problem. But, he said, Germany's short-term readiness isn't an issue.
Turkey deploys 35 tanks in border town near Syria
Turkey's military on Monday deployed 35 tanks in a border town near Syria after mortar shells landed on Turkish territory, injuring three people, media reported. As clashes between Islamic State (IS) militants and the People's Protection Units (YPG) intensified in Kobane city in northern Syria, the Turkish Armed Forces stepped up security measures on the border line in Suruc town of the southeastern province of Sanliurfa, Xinhua reported citing the semi-official Anadolu Agency.
US AFRICOM to establish its own Air Command
Come the start of October US Air Forces Africa will be activated and given the designation of the 17th Air Force. This announcement was made at Ramstein Air Base in Germany by General William Ward, Commander of US Africa Command (Africom). Welcoming the US Air Forces Africa to Africom he said it was a major undertaking involving hard work to establish a new air force service component command from the ground up. The airborne component of Africom, Ward said, will have the same mission.
Poland sells military drones to Ukraine
Speaking at the 11th Arms and Security exhibition in Kiev, Ukrainian chairman of parliament Oleksandr Turchynov said that the government is buying drone aircraft from Poland to assist 'anti-terrorist' operations in rebel-held areas of eastern Ukraine. "It's very important to us, and our Polish colleagues want to supply these products to Ukraine," Oleksandr Turchynov is quoted by Interfax as saying. The Polish unmanned aircraft are able to lift up to 15 kilograms of cargo, including arms, he said, and would be used immediately in battle zones.
Turkish warship monitors Cyprus gas exploration
Turkey has sent a warship to the island of Cyprus to monitor a drillship that has been sent to search for natural gas reserves off the island's coast. Italian-Korean consortium ENI/KOGAS has sent the Bahamas flag-carrier Saipem 10000 drillship to the "Onasagoras" gas field in Block 9 of the island's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) on Tuesday. In response, the Turkish navy has sent its Bafra Korveti warship to observe the drillship's activities. Greek Cypriot Foreign Minister said that hydrocarbon exploration in the region will continue despite Turkey's objections, calling Turkey's actions 'potential harassment'.
Courting Vietnam, US Prepares to Ease Arms Embargo
Senior U.S. officials with knowledge of the initiative said Washington wants to support Vietnam by strengthening its ability to monitor and defend its coastline, and said unarmed P-3 surveillance planes could be one of the first sales. Such aircraft would also allow Vietnam to keep track of China's increasingly assertive activities in the South China Sea, a potential flash point because of interlocking claims from many countries to its islands and reefs. Two senior Obama administration officials said discussions on easing the embargo are taking place in Washington and could result in a decision later this year.
Bahraini fighter jets join Syria strikes
Bahraini fighter jets have joined US-led air strikes in Syria to prevent extremist fighters from expanding throughout the region. The US operation included the Royal Bahrain Air Force (RBAF) and military forces from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE and Jordan, which was part of an international action plan to stamp out the Islamic State (IS) terrorist organisation. "A group of fighter jets from the RBAF carried out, along with the air forces of the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) states and those of allied and friendly countries, air strikes against a number of selected targets of terrorist groups and organisations, and destroyed them."
Chinese and Indian troops in Himalayan standoff
Hundreds of Indian and Chinese troops have dug into positions on a high Himalayan plateau, leading India's army chief to cancel a foreign trip and monitor a standoff that underscores deep differences between the Asian giants as they seek closer ties. Military officials in New Delhi and Kashmir said on Tuesday that Chinese troops set up a camp about 3 km (2 miles) into territory claimed by India in the Chumar region of the Ladakh plateau more than a week ago.
Turkish army to be authorized in Iraq and Syria
Turkish government will ask for the parliament's authorization for military operations in Syria and Iraq, the newly-elected PM Ahmet Davutoğlu said at a press conference on Tuesday. The proposal will be submitted to the Turkish Parliament after the new legislative year starts on Oct. 2, Davutoğlu said. "There can be two different bills depending on the risks in the region," Davutoğlu said. "We hope that the security situation will not deteriorate for Turkey in the region and that we will not have to send armed forces."
Half of German navy helicopters grounded
The Süddeutsche Zeitung reported that crew aboard the frigate Lübeck found a 20-centimetre rip on the tail of one of their aircraft in June. A Defence Ministry report seen by the paper shows that the navy decided "to stop all flight operations with this model until further developments," and ordered checks to be made on all of its 22 machines. The engineers found similar rips on three different machines and "substantial damage" to several more, leading the navy to ground all 22 of that model.
MiG interceptors air cover naval group in major military exercise on disputed Kuril Islands
Crews of four Mig-31 aircraft took off from Yelizovo airfield in Kamchatka's regional centre of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, heading for the Pacific to air cover warships in an imaginary evasive action. Despite difficult weather conditions, they successfully simulated air fights and also fired missiles at sea targets.A strategic command and staff exercise code-named Vostok 2014 (East 2014) with about 100,000 troops participating began in the Eastern Military District.
China sends surveillance ship to monitor US naval drill off Guam
China sent a surveillance ship to waters off Guam to monitor a US naval drill, the exercise's operational chief said yesterday. Over the past week, the Chinese Dongdiao-class auxiliary general intelligence – or AGI – ship has been in waters near the site of Exercise Valiant Shield, a biannual training exercise that began on Monday and ends on Tuesday, said Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery. He said interaction between the Chinese and US ships had been professional. "We respect the right of a nation like that, [or] any nation, to safely and responsibly operate their ships," he said.
The F-35′s X-Ray Vision Is The Future Of Naval (And All Other) Warfare
One of the most 'popular' features on the controversial F-35 is the jet's Distributed Aperture System (DAS). DAS creates an all-seeing sphere and classifies and relays data and video to the pilot's helmet and to the jet's mission computers. This game-changing system has now been adapted for the high seas, and it won't stop there. DAS accomplishes its unique task via a constellation of electro-optical cameras installed around the F-35, each staring in a separate direction.
Russia, Egypt seal preliminary arms deal worth $3.5 billion
Russia and Egypt have reached a preliminary deal for Cairo to buy arms worth $3.5 billion from Moscow, Interfax news agency quoted the head of a Russian state arms agency as saying on Wednesday. Speaking during an arms trade exhibition in South Africa, the head of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, Alexander Fomin, did not give further details. Russia, the world's second-largest arms exporter, has sought to boost its military ties with Egypt after relations between Cairo and its long-standing ally Washington soured.
Turkish military weighs 'buffer zone' against Iraq, Syria threats
Turkey's military is drawing up plans for a possible "buffer zone" on the country's southern border, where it faces a threat from Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria, Turkish media quoted President Tayyip Erdogan as saying on Monday. The government will evaluate the plans and decide whether such a move is necessary, Turkish television stations quoted Erdogan as telling reporters on his plane as he returned from an official visit to Qatar. Turkey, a member of the NATO military alliance, has made clear it does not want a frontline role in a military coalition.
Arab states mull air strikes on ISIS
Several Arab countries have offered to carry out airstrikes against militants from the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, senior US state department officials said on Sunday. The offer was disclosed by American officials traveling with US secretary of state John Kerry, who is approaching the end of a weeklong trip that was intended to mobilize international support for the campaign against ISIS. "There have been offers both to Centcom and to the Iraqis of Arab countries taking more aggressive kinetic action," said one of the officials.
Encircle China: India plans to supply Vietnam BrahMos missiles
With President Pranab Mukherjee set to leave for a four-day visit to Vietnam on Sunday, New Delhi confirmed that it was in talks with Hanoi for supply of BrahMos missiles to the South East Asian country, which was locked in a territorial dispute with China. Several countries like Brazil, South Africa, Indonesia and Malaysia evinced interest in importing the BrahMos. Sources, however, said that Vietnam could be the first country to have a deal with BrahMos Aerospace Private Limited for import of the missiles.
Global strategic move: India increases defence trainings in Asia, Africa and Latin America
India is subtly increasing defence training programmes in friendly countries in southeast Asia Africa and Latin America, with a global strategic objective. Besides training military officers and personnel of Afghanistan, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Asean, African and Latin American nations in domestic training facilities, Indian trainers are also visiting countries like Laos and Vietnam and Namibia and Ethiopia to impart military training, official sources told ET.
Clandestine spy satellite launched by China
"Yaogan 21 will be used for scientific experiments, natural resource survey, estimation of crop yield and disaster relief," Xinhua reported. But experts say the Yaogan series of satellites likely serve Chinese military authorities with information from optical and radar imaging sensors. Tracking data from the U.S. Air Force's space surveillance network indicate the Yaogan 21 payload launched Monday was put in orbit about 480 kilometers, or 300 miles, above Earth. The orbit is tilted 97.4 degrees to the equator.
Renegade Lesotho general 'seizes weapons'
Lieutenant General Tlali Kamoli, who has refused to step down as the commander of the Lesotho Defence Forces, seized a cache including anti-aircraft guns, mortars and small arms from state armouries. "He has refused to vacate offices and depleted armouries," Lieutenant General Maaparankoe Mahao said, adding the material was being used to prepare for both "defensive and offensive" operations. "Intelligence reports indicate he slips in and out of the mountains," Mahao added.
US confirms death of al Shabaab leader Godane in Somalia strike
"We have confirmed that Ahmed Godane, the co-founder of al Shabaab, has been killed," Rear Admiral John Kirby, the Pentagon's press secretary, said in a statement. Since taking charge of al Shabaab in 2008, Godane had restyled the group as a global player in the al Qaeda network, carrying out bombings and suicide attacks in Somalia and elsewhere in the region, including the Sept. 21, 2013, attack on the Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi, Kenya, that killed 67 people.
US, South Korea create army unit to destroy North Korea's nukes
South Korea said it would create a combined army unit with the United States, reportedly tasked with destroying North Korea's weapons of mass destruction in the event of an all-out conflict. The mechanised unit led by a US major general will be set up in the first half of next year as part of elaborate preparations for any future war between the two Koreas. "It will be the first combined 'field combat' unit to carry out wartime operations," a defence ministry spokesman said without elaborating on its mission.
The German Army trains Kurdish fighters
A day after Berlin announced it would send anti-tank rockets, assault rifles and hand grenades to the Kurds, Merkel said Germany had a responsibility to intervene in the conflict to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe in Iraq, citing evidence of ethnic cleansing by Islamic State fighters. Meanwhile the Bundeswehr army plans to bring a small group of Kurdish peshmerga fighters to southern Germany for a week's training with the equipment. Critics fear the arms could end up in the hands of jihadists.
What the US military wants for missile defence: multi-use sensors in the Arctic
American military officials have shed some light on what Canada could contribute to the missile-defence program should it choose to join after a decade spent on the sidelines. Several conversations with high-ranking U.S. military officers point to a common desire: multi-purpose sensors in Canada's Arctic that would sniff out a wider range of potential threats than just intercontinental ballistic missiles. Those state-of-the-art systems would be designed to track maritime vessels, airplanes and small cruise missiles — all in addition to any large missile fired off by North Korea or some hypothetical rogue state.
Operation Washtub?: Fearing invasion, the U.S. once trained Alaskans as "stay-behind agents"
Fearing a Russian invasion and occupation of Alaska, the U.S. government in the early Cold War years recruited and trained fishermen, bush pilots, trappers and other private citizens across Alaska for a covert network to feed wartime intelligence to the military, newly declassified Air Force and FBI documents show. Invasion of Alaska? Yes. It seemed like a real possibility in 1950. "The military believes that it would be an airborne invasion involving bombing and the dropping of paratroopers," one FBI memo said.
Building NATO's "Weimar Triangle"
The upcoming NATO summit offers an opportunity to demonstrate Europe's commitment to collective defense, to a stronger European defense posture, and to the transatlantic alliance. The countries of the so-called Weimar Triangle – France, Germany, and Poland – are well suited to lead such an effort. The three big countries in the middle of Europe should thus staff a regional headquarters, which would serve as the basis for defense planning and exercises and support the rotating US troops.
Taiwan to spend US$2.5b on anti-missile systems
The defence ministry aims to purchase the locally-made Tien Kung 3 (Sky Bow 3) surface-to-air missile system between 2015 and 2024 to replace the ageing Hawk missile systems, said lawmaker Lin Yu-fang of the parliament's defence committee. This will be the biggest procurement of domestically-made weapon systems in recent years. The Tien Kung 3 surface-to-air missile system, developed by Taiwan's Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology, is designed to counter tactical ballistic missiles for air defence missions and missile interception
Military coup under way in landlocked region Lesotho
Military units in Lesotho have surrounded government and police buildings and gunfire has been heard in the small mountainous southern African kingdom. Speaking to Al Jazeera from South Africa, where he had travelled to on Friday, Prime Minister Tom Thabane said that the army had taken over government buildings and he planned to try to return to the country. "The armed forces, the special forces of Lesotho, have taken the headquarters of the police."
Coast Guard Narrowly Avoids Sparking World War III
The U.S. Coast Guard fired at an Iranian fishing boat in the Persian Gulf on Tuesday, nearly adding to a long list of global headaches for President Obama. Fortunately, the incident ended quickly with nobody hurt, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said, according to a CNN report. The Iranian boat had pointed a weapon at the American crew, Kirby said, prompting a single shot from the Coast Guard vessel. "I don't know whether the shot was just a warning shot, or it hit the dhow." "In any event, it pulled away and nobody was hurt."
German fighter jets unable to fly and mechanics forced to borrow spare parts, claims magazine
The German air force is facing such a severe funding shortage that many of its aircraft are unable to fly, mechanics are forced to cannibalise parts from existing planes and only eight of the country's 109 Eurofighters are fully operational, according to a report in Spiegel magazine. German defence sources have rubbished the article, saying it is inaccurate and does not match up to official air force logs. But the claim that Germany's air force is not as strong as previously thought will cause concern among its Nato allies at a time of growing worldwide instability.
Egypt, UAE behind 'mystery' strikes at Libya Islamists:US
Senior US officials on Monday said the United Arab Emirates and Egypt have 'secretly' launched airstrikes against Islamist militias battling over Tripoli, the New York Times reported on Monday. A number of unidentified aircraft roared over Libya's capital as loud explosions were heard in the last few days, as the clashes between militias prompted hundreds of people to flee. Egypt has previously denied its involvement, and various warring factions in Libya tried to claim responsibility for the attacks.
With eye on China, India deploys Akash missiles in northeast
After basing its most potent Sukhoi-30MKI fighters at Tezpur and Chabua, India has now begun deploying six Akash surface-to-air missile (SAM) squadrons in the northeast to deter Chinese jets, helicopters and drones against any misadventure in the region. Defence ministry sources on Thursday said IAF has started getting deliveries of the six Akash missile squadrons, which can "neutralize" multiple targets at 25-km interception range in all-weather conditions, earmarked for the eastern theatre.
Guam is Strategic Hub to Asia-Pacific Rebalance
Guam, because of its military bases, Army anti-ballistic missile system and location 3,300 miles west of Hawaii is an increasingly important strategic hub for the U.S. Asia-Pacific rebalance, Deputy Defense Secretary Bob Work said today. "We're going to have 60 percent of the Navy out in the Pacific and we're going to have 60 percent of our combat air forces out in the Pacific," he said. "But it's not just about military things. The other part of the rebalance involves an initiative called the Trans Pacific Partnership.
Merkel pledges military support to Baltic states
Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania – former Soviet republics with their own Russian-speaking minorities – are increasingly anxious that the conflict in Ukraine and Russia's annexation of Crimea could herald destabilisation in their own region by Moscow. The Baltic states have asked for an increased NATO presence to reinforce Article 5 of the alliance's constitution, which states that an attack on one of its members is an act of aggression against all, obliging them to react.
USA to build a military airport in Kurdistan Region
The Ministry of Peshmerga forces in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq announced that the ministry in coordination with the United States is about to start a project of establishing a military airport in Erbil (Hewler), capital of Iraqi Kurdistan. Brigadier Halkurd Hikmet said that the U.S. military team in the Region to monitor the situation in Sinjar Mount, and they provided the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) with a report recommending establishment of a military airport in Erbil in cooperation with the U.S. and the Iraqi Central Government.
Saudi rules out imminent military conscription
Saudi Arabia has ruled out conscription for its defence force in the near future, according to Minister of National Guard Prince Miteb Bin Abdullah. Prince Miteb said the kingdom was restructuring its elite force and applications to join the military exceeded the requirement, making conscription unnecessary, local media reported. "There is a big response from citizens to join the military sector, whether from the colleges, institutes or training centres."
Deficiencies In Missile Defense System Put US At Risk, Audit Says
Concerns about failures to properly improve the accuracy and effectiveness of the Missile Defense Agency's (MDA) ground-based missile interceptors have been raised in a new Government Accountability Office (GAO) audit report The GAO audit details three separate flight tests of the GMD's Capability Enhancement I (CE-I) interceptor and the upgraded version called the Capability Enhancement II (CE-II) in which both interceptor designs had issues with their guidance systems.
Blackwater: A poor example for Chinese security companies going global
We could explore the huge potential of retired military officers, offering professional training and technical expertise to local security enterprises in developing and underdeveloped countries, which are often crowded with Chinese enterprises. We could also bring into play the low-cost advantage, equipping overseas Chinese enterprises with low-cost but high-quality homemade security installations. After three decades of development, China now has 3,997 security companies with over 4.5 million security guards.
South Korea likely to acquire Iron Dome system from Israel
The South Korean Government is reportedly interested in the acquisition of an Iron Dome anti-missile defence system from Israel in an effort to bolster protection against rockets launched from North Korea. Rafael Advanced Defense Systems CEO Yedidia Yaari was quoted by Israel's Army Radio as saying that Iron Dome's performance in the ongoing Gaza war had fuelled foreign interest in its procurement, including by South Korea.
Pentagon Ordered to Better Track Threats to Taiwan
The language, incorporated into the House Armed Services Committee's passed version of the defense bill, asks the Defense Department to better assess anti-access/area-denial threats in the Asia-Pacific region, submit a report on the cross-strait balance of forces between China and Taiwan, and better estimate China's fast-growing Naval military power. They (China) are preparing for potential conflict in the Taiwan strait, which includes deterring or defeating third party intervention.
South Korean Armed Forces Face Enemy Within: Suicides And Murder
South Korea's army faces a foe that's currently causing far more controversy than the North Korean forces massed above the demilitarized zone – and may be just as dangerous. Sagging military morale among the South's 640,000 troops has resulted in suicides, mass shootings and, most alarming of all from the viewpoint of the top command, the torture murder of a young soldier. In a country that still requires a minimum 21 months military service, young Koreans seem increasingly unwilling to serve.
Chinese military set up joint operations command center
The Chinese military has set up a joint command center that would integrate the operations of its army, navy and air forces, in a move aimed at making military strategy and tactics more efficient. The joint operations command center has been established under the People's Liberation Army's General Staff Headquarters, which is responsible for taking command of military strategies, as part of military reform efforts to boost the unified operations of Chinese capabilities on land, sea, air and in dealing with strategic missile operations, the sources said.
Lebanon seeks French arms supplies as it battles jihadists
France said it would respond "quickly," and Saudi Arabia, which is financing the French arms purchases for Lebanon's army, also pledged to accelerate implementation of the deal. Speaking to AFP, Lebanon's army chief General Jean Kahwaji said the military was hamstrung in its fight against the jihadists. "This battle requires equipment, materiel and technology that the army doesn't have," Kahwaji said. In December, Riyadh agreed to finance a $3-billion package of French military equipment and arms for Lebanon's army.
Report: Egypt and Algeria considering military operation in Libya
Egypt and Algeria are considering a joint military operation in Libya to prevent the rise of Islamic State (ISIS) fighters in their increasingly unstable neighbour Libya, an Algerian newspaper reported. According to Sunday's editorial in the Algerian Al-Watan newspaper, Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika is "worried" about the threats from its eastern borders. It pointed out that Bouteflika is "prepared to wage a war against Jihadists in the region".
Crisis in Ukraine may convince NATO on regional HQs
NATO's top commander has begun entertaining the idea of a regional headquarters specifically focusing on Article 5 violations – which requires members to come to the aid of another member if it is attacked – ahead of an alliance gathering in Wales. Retired Adm. James Stavridis(SACEUR) said in an op-ed in June that NATO members needed to prepare more special forces for threats coming from the southern border of the alliance, especially Iraq and Syria, and to deter Russia.
Evolving Chinese Views on U.S. National Missile Defense
The current focus of Chinese concern appears to be on the ancillary intelligence gathering and surveillance capabilities the United States is putting in place during peacetime rather than the ability of U.S. defenses to intercept a Chinese missile fired during an actual conflict. Chinese military planners worry—justifiably or not—that the radars the United States is deploying in the region, including those that support missile defense, could be used to observe the testing or track the deployments of Chinese missiles.
Iranian commanders at forefront of Iraqi fight
A powerful Iranian general has emerged as the chief tactician in Iraq's fight against Sunni militants, working on the front lines alongside 120 advisers from his country's Revolutionary Guard to direct Shiite militiamen and government forces in the smallest details of battle, militia commanders and government officials say. The startlingly hands-on role of Iranian Gen. Ghasem Soleimani points to the extent of the Shiite-led Iraqi government's reliance on its ally Tehran. The Iranian role, however, risks further sharpening the sectarian rifts in the conflict.
The U.S. has supplied 747,000 weapons to Afghanistan. It might have a difficult time figuring out where some ended up.
The Pentagon has supplied 747,000 weapons and auxiliary equipment, most via federal contractors, to the Afghan National Security Forces during the last decade. And according to a new report, it might have a hard time figuring out where a fair share of them ended up. The discrepancies show examples of where DOD was not in compliance with its internal operating procedures and accountability requirements, and where missing information could result in the inability to locate weapons.
Heavy Chinese military build-up in Tibet
The Chinese goal is beyond Tibet and that country has border disputes not only with India, but with almost all its neighbours. Dr Sangay said the move of the Chinese to expand its bases proved the country's intention to look beyond Tibet as China established strong bases in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and even set up sea ports in Pakistan. He revealed that China is also constructing a sea port in Sri Lanka and it is evident that the Chinese are trying to gain control over the Bay of Bengal.
Over half of China military airfields threatened by high-rise buildings
More than half of China's military airfields have flight paths that are obstructed by tall buildings, causing accidents and airport closures, Chinese state media reported. Nearly 100 accidents have occurred at military air bases due to high-rise buildings and development in the past 20 years, the website of the ruling Communist Party's mouthpiece, the People's Daily said. The problem has become so great that more than 10 military airfields have been forced to close or move.
US Military Dusts Off Decades-Old 'Readiness' Plans for Russia
As American officials fire of diplomatic salvos at Russia in response to that nation's purported actual artillery salvos into Ukraine, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said recently that among other actions, the U.S. military is dusting off decades-old plans, just in case. "We're looking inside our own readiness models to look at things that we haven't had to look at for 20 years, frankly, about basing and lines of communication and sea lanes." "What the military does when faced with these crises is – our job is preparedness, deterrence and readiness."