Agrégateur de flux

NATO officially terminated its 'Ocean Shield' counter-piracy mission in the Indian Ocean on 15 December, although the mission's activities operationally ended in late November. Launched in 2009 at the height of pirate raids off Somalia, 'Ocean Shield' worked alongside the EU's Operation 'Atalanta'

Americas

• BAE Systems has unveiled their first Amphibious Combat Vehicle 1.1 prototype, part of a $103.7 million contract to deliver 16 prototypes to the USMC. Developed to combine open-ocean amphibious capabilities with land mobility, the vehicles will provide armored transport for infantry personnel traveling from a ship to a shore. The Marine Corps expects to begin testing the prototypes in the first quarter of 2017.

• The US Navy’s Strategic Systems Programs office has awarded BAE Systems $368 million to perform weapon system engineering services for US and UK Ohio- and Vanguard-class submarines. Tasks to be performed will include weapon system integration, engineering, and testing. BAE will also provide IT support, assist with training programs, and develop fleet documentation materials.

Middle East & North Africa

• Boeing will supply military flight training equipment and services for the government of Saudi Arabia, following the awarding of a foreign military sales contract by the Pentagon. Valued at $59.9 million, the deal will see company provide one Database Generation System, one Full Mission Trainer, and an Integrated Avionics Trainer database to Riyadh.

Europe

• UK PM Theresa May has come under increased pressure by opposition lawmakers and campaigners for her government’s continued support of the supply of munitions to Saudi Arabia. May came under pressure in the House of Commons following the decision by the US to limit the supply of certain munitions that have been used in military strikes by the Saudi Air Force in Yemen. In defense of the sales, May hailed the bilateral cooperation between both governments in their counter-terrorism initiatives saying that the information gained from Saudi Arabia over the years had saved countless lives.

Asia Pacific

• South Korea’s Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) will commence research on an indigenous Taurus-class cruise missile. Development work on the missile will begin in 2018, with the aim being to produce around 200 missiles for deployment on the upcoming KAI KF-X fighter jet. Costing $690 million, the new missiles will give Seoul an increased cruise missile range from 280 km to 500 km.

• Beijing received an early Christmas present this year with the advanced delivery of four Sukhoi Su-35 fighters from Russia. Initially expected for delivery in 2017, the shipment process was expedited to send the first batch before the new year. Signed last November, the $2 billion deal will see Russia provide China with 24 Su-35s alongside ground equipment and spare engines.

• Despite recent diplomatic tensions between the US and the Philippines, the US State Department has cleared the $25 million sale of two Saab AN/SPS-77 Sea Giraffe 3D Air Search Radars to the archipelago’s navy. Manilla plans to install the radars on two Hamilton-class cutters acquired through the Excess Defense Articles (EDA) program which will aid them in monitoring their waters. The sale also aims to improve interoperability with the US Navy, allowing the two armed forces to collaborate on missions more effectively.

• US aerospace and defense firms looking to increase their presence in the Asia-Pacific region are looking to next year’s International Aerospace & Defense Exhibition (ADEX) 2017. The biennial event is organized by the Korea Aerospace Industries Association (KAIA), Korea Defense Industry Association (KDIA) and the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), and will allow foreign firms to get closer to buyers and decision-makers there, particularly those involved in the modernization of South Korea’s defense forces. Kallman Worldwide will be organizing the US effort, with a 1,250 sqm US International Pavilion to act as a destination for buyers looking for an efficient way to meet a critical mass of US suppliers, an on-site business hub for US exhibitors looking to maximize their exposure and time at the event, and a forum for all to share ideas and insights.

Today’s Video

Taxi test of the Saab Gripen E:

Russian T-72B4 Main Battle Tank

Nach dem Referendum in Dänemark vom 3. Dezember 2015 sind wir uns einig, dass operative Vereinbarungen erforderlich sind, um die negativen Auswirkungen des Ausscheidens Dänemarks aus Europol am 1. Mai 2017 so gering wie möglich zu halten. Dies wird sowohl Dänemark als auch den anderen Ländern der Europäischen Union bei der Bekämpfung der grenzüberschreitenden schweren und organisierten Kriminalität und des internationalen Terrorismus zugutekommen. Die Vereinbarungen müssen auf Dänemark zugeschnitten sein und dürfen keinesfalls einer vollen Mitgliedschaft bei Europol gleichkommen, d. h. sie dürfen weder Zugang zu den Europol-Datenbeständen noch eine volle Beteiligung an der operativen Arbeit und der Datenbank von Europol ermöglichen oder Stimmrechte in den Verwaltungsgremien von Europol verleihen. Sie sollten jedoch eine ausreichende operative Zusammenarbeit, u. a. den Austausch relevanter Daten unter angemessenen Sicherheitsvorkehrungen, gewährleisten. 

Die Vereinbarungen wären an den Verbleib Dänemarks in der Europäischen Union und im Schengen-Raum, an die Verpflichtung Dänemarks, die Richtlinie 2016/680/EU über den Datenschutz in polizeilichen Angelegenheiten bis zum 1. Mai 2017 vollständig in dänisches Recht umzusetzen, sowie an die Zustimmung Dänemarks zur Anwendung der Rechtsprechung des Gerichtshofs der Europäischen Union und die Anerkennung der Zuständigkeit des Europäischen Datenschutzbeauftragten gebunden.

Die Kommission und Dänemark werden sich bemühen, das notwendige rechtliche Verfahren so rasch wie möglich einzuleiten, und alle erforderlichen Maßnahmen, wie Kontakte mit den einschlägigen institutionellen Akteuren, zu ergreifen, um sicherzustellen, dass die neuen Vereinbarungen bis zum 1. Mai 2017 oder so bald wie möglich danach in Kraft treten können. Auf diese Weise soll zwischen dem 1. Mai 2017 und dem Inkrafttreten des künftigen operativen Abkommens so wenig Zeit wie möglich verstreichen, um negative Auswirkungen auf die Zusammenarbeit und den Datenaustausch zu minimieren. 

Die einzige Möglichkeit Dänemarks, sich bis zum 1. Mai 2017 uneingeschränkt an der neuen Europol-Verordnung zu beteiligen, besteht darin, das Verfahren nach Protokoll Nr. 22 zum Vertrag über die Europäische Union und zum Vertrag über die Arbeitsweise der Europäischen Union anzuwenden.

 

Le comité d'éthique britannique a donné son feu vert à la conception d'enfants à partir de l'ADN de trois personnes différentes. Une technique expérimentale destinée à faire barrage à la transmission d'une maladie héréditaire maternelle mais très critiquée par certains responsables qui estiment que c'est une pente dangereuse vers l'eugénisme.

Par la voix de son président, la France a dénoncé les sanctions concernant la dette grecque lors du sommet européen à Bruxelles. Même son de cloche du côté du ministre français de l'Economie et des Finances, Michel Sapin, qui conteste la décision de la présidence de l'Eurogroupe qui souhaite suspendre les mesures d’allégement de la dette grecque.

Zaev gathers Bitola Criminals, Thanks them for their Support Thursday, 15 December 2016   Instead of heading to a scheduled Court appearance where he is criminally charged, SDSM leader Zoran Zaev headed to Bitola to thank local criminals for their election support.   Among the few dozen people gathered, Bitola based media reports the brothers Igor and Vasko Angelovski known for their ties to the undeground were seen. A man nicknamed by locals as „Ukach“ was also seen embracing Zaev. Ukach is known for narcotic dealings, whose brother is currently in jail for transporting illegal substances.   Meanwhile, in Bitola SDSM thugs attacked Jove P (68) known for leading the […]

Mit den Terroranschlägen in Istanbul und Ankara schaden die »Freiheitsfalken« (TAK) der PKK in ihrer Rolle als Maklerin für den Frieden, meint Rayk Hähnlein. Es ist daher an der Zeit, dass die PKK sich deutlich von ihrem Ableger distanziert.

(Own report) - The EU will significantly increase the number of its military interventions. This was one the results of the EU heads of state and government summit meeting, held yesterday in Brussels. The member countries will also intensify cooperation of their armed forces. This coincides with demands repeatedly put forward by the German government during its campaign, launched last summer to promote the militarization of the EU. Recently, after the EU defense ministers, along with other bodies, including the European Parliament, passed several resolutions, the EU Commission published a "Defense Action Plan," which provides for annual expenditures from a "European Defense Fund" of half a billion Euros for weapons research, beginning in the early 2020s. Most recently, the European Parliament called for the EU to upgrade its military to be able to use "its full potential as a world power." The objective, according Hans-Peter Bartels (SPD), Parliamentary Commissioner for the German Armed Forces, is to establish an EU army.

Kanzleramtschef Peter Altmaier hat eine Studie der Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung zu Integration und Wahlverhalten von Zuwanderern vorgestellt.

Obwohl etwa ein Fünftel der Menschen in Deutschland eine Zuwanderungsgeschichte hat, gibt es kaum Studien zu Einstellungen von Migranten und Ausländern. Zudem gibt es keine repräsentativen Studien zu Einstellungen und Integration von Muslimen. Die vorliegende Studie soll einen Beitrag leisten, um Forschungslücken zu schließen. Daher hat die Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung mithilfe einer reinen Zufallsauswahl eine repräsentative Umfrage unter Deutschen mit und ohne Migrationshintergrund sowie in Deutschland lebenden Ausländern durchgeführt.

Le vote hier, jeudi 15 décembre 2016, à l’unanimité par les députés du budget général de l’Etat, exercice 2017 n’a pas laissé indifférent Laurent Mètongnon, administrateur des finances et du trésor et Secrétaire général de la Fédération des syndicats des travailleurs de l’administration des Finances (Fésyntra-Finances).

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Let me start with Syria. Today I invited the chairman of the local Council in Aleppo to personally address the leaders so that the voice of the people of Aleppo is heard, at least in this symbolic way. To be clear, faced with the brutality of the Syrian regime and its supporters, notably Russia and Iran, we are not as effective as we would like to be. But we are not indifferent to the suffering of the Syrian people. We will exert pressure on other global players who are present in Syria using all available diplomatic channels. The aim is clear: the immediate opening of humanitarian corridors to allow aid into Aleppo, and for civilians to be evacuated safely under neutral, international supervision. There must be full and unrestricted access for all medical personnel and aid workers. The protection of civilians is the absolute priority.

Another point on the agenda was migration. Leaders stressed their commitment to implement the EU-Turkey Statement, which also requires continued efforts from Turkey. High Representative Mogherini reported progress with African countries. For example, our partnership with Niger is reducing the numbers of people using smugglers to get to Libya. But we know that more needs to be done, and so we will discuss Libya and our approach to the Central Mediterranean route at our next informal summit in Malta in February. As for the reform of the common asylum system, Prime Minister Muscat will continue this work under his presidency. The aim will be to achieve consensus.

As regards Ukraine, we did what we could to help save the Association Agreement that has been ratified already by 27 Member States and the European Parliament. We have adopted a legally binding decision of the leaders to facilitate the ratification in the Netherlands. This decision addresses all the concerns expressed by the Dutch voters earlier this year. Now the responsibility lies with the Netherlands. The ratification is important not only for Ukraine, but also for Europe's geopolitical standing and credibility. We are counting on our Dutch colleagues.

Today we also agreed to step up our work on security and defence, in partnership with NATO. It is evident that Europe needs to do more to fulfil our international responsibilities and to protect our own citizens,. We committed to increase cooperation and to allocate more resources to security and defence.

Moving on to Brexit, the EU27 had a short informal meeting where we finalized procedural arrangements and reconfirmed our principles, meaning the indivisibility of the four freedoms, the balance of rights and obligations and the rule "no negotiations without notification". We adopted the organisational structure with the European Council maintaining political control over the process, and the Commission as the Union's negotiator. And Michel Barnier as the Commission's Chief Negotiator.

Finally, let me thank Prime Minister Fico and his team for a very successful and productive presidency. Not only did you host the historic EU27 summit in Bratislava, but thanks to your professionalism you have also succeeded in making a number of promises from Bratislava a reality. To give a few examples, the Council agreement on the Trade Defence Instruments, the Visa Suspension Mechanism and the Schengen Borders Code. So let me conclude by again thanking Robert and the entire Slovak Presidency for a great performance.

Les autorités de la République démocratique du Congo ont, jeudi, demandé une coupure des réseaux sociaux à partir du 18 décembre, soit moins de 48 heures avant la fin du mandat de Joseph Kabila qui, selon la Constitution, ne peut se représenter.

A brit miniszterelnököt nem hívták meg a brexitről szóló munkavacsorára. Törökország a barátunk marad, kvóta-ügyben nincs megegyezés.

A brit miniszterelnököt nem hívták meg a brexitről szóló munkavacsorára. Törökország a barátunk marad, kvóta-ügyben nincs megegyezés.

Az EU28-ak csütörtökön jogilag kötelező érvényű határozatban rögzítették, milyen jogokat nem biztosít Ukrajna számára az EU-val aláírt társulási és szabadkereskedelmi megállapodás. Az EU azt reméli, hogy ez megnyitja az utat az Ukrajnával kötött egyezmények hollandiai ratifikálásához, jóllehet az ellenzék komoly fenntartásokkal fogadta a döntést.