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Although he is known to be a hardline opponent of public debt, the new German finance minister showed his openness to compromise during his first trip to Paris only days after taking office.

An effective way to avoid being exposed to gas price volatility would be for the EU to produce its own renewable energy. This is where citizens and local communities come in, writes Dirk Vansintjan.

Avec 19 voitures volées chaque jour, la Suisse est un endroit privilégié des voleurs, montre une compilation du service britannique de comparaison des assurances Confused.com. Sur une année, elle enregistre 85 vols de véhicules pour 100’000 habitants.

Der Osten Indonesiens wurde von einem Seebeben der Stärke 7,5 getroffen. Es wurde eine Tsunami-Warnung herausgegeben. Mittlerweile ist sie wieder aufgehoben.

Americas

General Dynamics won a $93.5 million deal for M1A2 Abrams engineering, manufacturing, design and production. The M1A2 is an improvement of the Abrams M1A1 main battle tank. It includes a commander’s independent thermal viewer, weapon station, position navigation equipment, and a full set of controls and displays linked by digital data bus. Work will take place in Ohio. Estimated completion date is September 30, 2025.

General Dynamics Bath Iron Works won a $12.9 million modification for the accomplishment of planning yard efforts such as engineering, technical, planning, ship configuration, data and logistics efforts for DDG-1000 class destroyers post-delivery and in-service life-cycle support. The DDG-1000 or Zumwalt class destroyers provide multi-mission offensive and defensive capabilities. A few days ago the lead ship, USS Zumwalt, caught media attention due to noticeable rust all over its exterior. Work under the modification will take place in Maine and California. Estimated completion will be by December 2022.

Middle East & Africa

Egypt will be hosting its first naval defense exhibition in September 2022, dubbed “Naval Power,” according Defense News quoting the commander of the Navy. Lt. Gen. Ahmed Khaled Hassan Said Ahmed announced this during the Egypt Defence Expo, which was held from November 29 to December 2. “After hitting its goal with more than 400 exhibitors at EDEX 2021, Egypt is moving to more specialized defense exhibitions, and the naval expo to be held is in accordance with all the country’s efforts to boost its naval and maritime capabilities,” Ahmad Eliba, a defense expert at the Egyptian Center for Strategic Studies, told Defense News.

Europe

Finland chose the F-35A to replace its ageing F/A-18 fleet and will order 64 of the jets and their support equipment in a $9.4 billion deal. The government of Finland authorized the Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Command to sign a procurement contract with the Government of the United States on Finland’s next multi-role fighter. The procurement includes 64 F-35A Block 4 multi-role fighters, substantial and versatile weaponry tailored for the operating circumstances, required training and sustainment solutions, other related systems as well as sustainment and maintenance services until the end of 2030.

Asia-Pacific

A multirotor mini-UAV developed by Turkey’s Zyrone Dynamics is ready to be exported to India’s DCM Shriram which has a 30% stake in the Ankara-based company. Zyrone Dynamics is preparing for the first product delivery to its Indian partner. Thirty percent of the company was sold to India-based DCM Shriram Industries for $3.5 million with the agreement made at the 15th International Defense Industry Fair in August this year.

India’s Defense Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Air Force (IAF) flight-tested the indigenously developed Helicopter launched Stand-off Anti-tank (SANT) Missile from Pokhran ranges on December 11. The flight-test was successful in meeting all its mission objectives. The release mechanism, advanced guidance and tracking algorithms, all avionics with integrated software, performed satisfactorily and tracking systems monitored all mission events.

Today’s Video

Watch: Finland Chooses the F-35 | Breaking News

Renate Muddemann ist mit 83 Jahren die älteste «Wer wird Millionär?»-Kandidatin. Schon letzte Woche machte sie durch das Zeigen ihres Mittelfingers von sich reden. Jetzt verdoppelte Günther Jauch ihr beinahe den Gewinn.

Der Nationalrat debattiert am Dienstag über die Massentierhaltungsinitiative. Diese will die tierfreundliche Unterbringung, den regelmässigen Auslauf und die schonende Schlachtung von Nutztieren in der Verfassung verankern.

Wegen der sich häufenden Fälle von Gewalt bei Protesten gegen die Corona-Massnahmen mehren sich in Deutschland die Rufe nach einem harten Vorgehen gegen den Online-Dienst Telegram.

Der Ausschuss zur Aufarbeitung des Angriffs auf das US-Kapitol hat den Weg für strafrechtliche Schritte gegen den Stabschef des damaligen Präsidenten Donald Trump vorbereitet.

The fourteenth meeting of the Accession Conference with Montenegro at Ministerial level was held on Monday 13 December 2021 in Brussels.

The Council imposed sanctions against the Wagner Group, a Russia-based private military company, targeting the Wagner group itself, and eight individuals and three entities connected to it.

Council adopts conclusions on new plan to safeguard Europe’s food supply

Main agenda items, approximate timing, public sessions and press opportunities.

Main agenda items, approximate timing, public sessions and press opportunities.

Press briefing ahead the European Council meeting of 16 December 2021

Council adopts conclusions on the Civilian CSDP Compact, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening the civilian branch of the Common Security and Defence Policy.

The President of the Eurogroup, Paschal Donohoe, has sent a letter to the President of the Euro Summit, Charles Michel. The letter takes stock of the progress achieved in the Eurogroup on key policy issues relevant for the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Council has adopted a decision and a regulation setting out new listing criteria for restrictive measures in view of the situation in Mali, in order to be able to target individuals and entities obstructing the political transition and handover of power to elected authorities.

The fourteenth meeting of the Accession Conference with Montenegro at Ministerial level was held on Monday 13 December 2021 in Brussels.

The Council imposed sanctions against the Wagner Group, a Russia-based private military company, targeting the Wagner group itself, and eight individuals and three entities connected to it.