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Sikorsky won a $29.5, which procures logistics support analysis and products resulting from production engineering changes and diminishing manufacturing sources and material shortages to include technical publications, logistics support analysis and logistics product data in support of CH-53K aircraft production and fielding. The Super Stallion can be fielded from amphibious assault ships for the transportation of personnel and equipment. Estimated completion date is in December 2022. Work will be performed in Connecticut and the US.

Northrop Grumman won a $245.8 million contract modification, which provides for the exercise of five option contract line items to procure eight Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar systems, and associated spares, data, and travel in support of Program Executive Officer Land Systems, Quantico, Virginia. The AN/TPS-80 G/ATOR is a short- to medium-range, air-cooled Active Electronically Scanned Array radar under development for the Marine Corps. Work will take place in Maryland. Expected completion will be in January 2025.

Middle East & Africa

Israel Innovation Authority recently approved the establishment of a new innovation consortium, led by Elbit Systems C4I and Cyber, for Human-Robot Interaction (HRI) technologies research and development. Dr. Aviv Zeevi, VP Technological Infrastructure at the Israel Innovation Authority, commented: “The Israel Innovation Authority is working to close technology gaps in the field of robotics using various tools as well as by promoting knowledge transfer from the defense sector and academia to the wider industry.”

Europe

The French Armament General Directorate (DGA) signed a contract with Airbus Helicopters for the development and procurement of the H160M in the frame of the Light Joint Helicopter programme (HIL). The contract includes the development of several prototypes and the delivery of a first batch of 30 aircraft (21 for the army, 8 for the navy and one for the air force). The French Ministry for the Armed Forces plans to order a total of 169 H160M helicopters, or Guépard as it will be known in the French armed forces.

Northrop Grumman won a $353.6 million contract modification, which provides for the production and delivery of three E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft for the government of France. The E-2D is the US Navy’s premier airborne command and control aircraft for all targets and all environments. The French Navy has been operating the E-2C Hawkeye since 1998 and is the only country other than the United States to operate its E-2 Hawkeyes from an aircraft carrier. France’s plan to acquire three E-2Ds to replace the Navy’s old E-2C Hawkeyes was first revealed more than a year ago. The U.S. approved this sale for $2 billion in July 2020. The French Navy will be second only to Japan, to own these jets. Work will take place in New York, Florida, Indiana, California, Illinois and Connecticut. Estimates completion will be in April 2027.

Asia-Pacific

Malaysia’s Deputy Defense Minister Datuk Seri Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz told the Senate that Kuala Lumpur is “still waiting for discussions” with Kuwait over the purchase of the latter’s F/A-18C/D fleet. He was responding to an supplementary question from Senator Datuk Zaiedi Suhaili. Ikmal said the Royal Malaysian Air Force intends to use the aircraft till 2035.

Today’s Video

Watch: Airbus Helicopter H160M

A német kormány az orosz állami RT DE német nyelven sugárzó televízió leállításával folytatja az információs térben a tisztogatás gyakorlatát, amellyel tudatosan vezeti rá Oroszországot a szükséges válaszintézkedések meghozatalára – írta Marija Zaharova orosz külügyi szóvivő.

Zaharova arra reagált, hogy Németországban szerdán blokkolták az RT DE műholdas tévéadást, amelyet az orosz médiaszolgáltató, a szerb hatóságok segítségével, “a határokon átnyúló televíziózásról szóló európai egyezménynek megfelelően” kiadott engedély alapján indított el. A szóvivő rámutatott, hogy Németország is aláírója a vonatkozó nemzetközi dokumentumnak.

“Ily módon minden okunk megvan rá, hogy a hivatalos Berlin tevékenységét cáfolhatatlan bizonyítéknak tekintsük arra, hogy eredendően meghatározó szerepet játszott az orosz tömegtájékoztatási eszközökre változatos módszerekkel történő többéves nyomásgyakorlás és az alkalmazottjaik zaklatásának megszervezésében” – mondta.

Zaharova azzal vádolta meg Berlint, hogy a demokratikus társadalom alapelveit “durván semmibe véve és a nemzetközi jogból eredő kötelezettségeit megsértve” akadályozza a polgárokat az alternatív információforráshoz történő hozzáférésben. Elfogadhatatlannak nevezte azt a gyakorlatot, hogy egy műhold-üzemeltetővel szemben kényszert alkalmazzanak, megkerülve a vonatkozó egyezményben rögzített vitarendezési eljárásokat.

A történteket Zaharova “célirányos, politikai indíttatású médiaszegregációnak” és “nyilvánvaló cenzúrának” minősítette. Kifogásolta, hogy az olyan jogvédő intézmények, mint az ENSZ, az Európa Tanács és az EBESZ szakosított szervei, szemet hunytak a történtek felett.

Dmitrij Peszkov, a Kreml szóvivője az NTV orosz csatornának nyilatkozva “új cowboyvalóságnak” nevezte, hogy az illetékes német médiafelügyelet elrendelte RT DE európai sugárzásának lekapcsolását. (A műsor az interneten és telefonos alkalmazásban továbbra is elérhető.) Peszkov szerint Moszkvának reagálnia kell az ilyen lépésekre, mert, mint mondta, “egy egész európai tömegtájékoztatási eszköz blokkolása ellentétes magával az európai szellemiséggel, az EBESZ összes normájával és elvével, és mindennel, amivel csak lehet”.

A TASZSZ hírügynökség háttér-összefoglalója szerint a luxemburgi médiahatóság augusztus közepén megtagadta az RT-től a német nyelvű sugárzási engedélyt, arra hivatkozva, hogy a német nyelvű szolgálat munkatársainak jelentős része Berlinben dolgozik, ezért a német közönség számára terjesztett tartalmak az NSZK joghatósága alá tartoznak. Az RT szerint a berlin-brandenburgi regionális média- és hírközlési hatóság (Medienanstalt Berlin-Brandenburg – MABB) arra kényszerítette az Eutelsat 9B európai műhold-üzemeltetőt, hogy távolítsa el platformjáról a moszkvai stúdiókból sugárzott, német nyelvű RT DE tévécsatornát. Az RT sajtószolgálata közölte, hogy a társaság jogellenesnek tartja a szabályozó német hatóság eljárását, és kifejezte reményét, hogy a döntést bírósági úton felül fogják vizsgálni.

The post Orosz külügy: Moszkva válaszolni fog az orosz RT televízió németországi leállítására appeared first on .

Die wegen Korruption verurteilte frühere südkoreanische Präsidentin Park Geun Hye wird im Rahmen einer Amnestie vorzeitig vor Jahresende aus der Haft entlassen.

Sie leben unter uns – und sind doch unsichtbar. Das investigative Rechercheformat «Undercover» beleuchtet in der neuen Staffel das Leben von Obdachlosen in der Schweiz. Die dreiteilige Serie ist ab Montag auf Blick TV, Blick.ch und in der gedruckten Zeitung zu finden.

France and its 15 allies say this could "further deteriorate the security situation in West Africa".

An den Festtagen tischen Schweizerinnen und Schweizer gerne teure Delikatessen auf. Wer sich dieses Jahr mit Champagner, Lachs und Trüffel eindecken will, muss allerdings noch tiefer in die Tasche greifen als sonst. Dafür werden Traditionsgerichte zum Schnäppchen.

Fast 50 Jahre sind vergangen. Jetzt ist die Neuauflage von «Drei Haselnüsse für Aschenbrödel» da – mit der norwegischen Sängerin Astrid S (25) in der Titelrolle.

Obwohl eine Krebstherapie Teil der Grundversicherung ist, hat die Krankenkasse SLKK einem 82-Jährigen die Finanzierung verweigert. Das Gericht hat sie zwar zur Zahlung verpflichtet, doch zu spät. Der Mann ist bereits tot. Experte Felix Schneuwly schätzt den Fall ein.

Für Ski-Legende Bernhard Russi gehört seine Handorgel zu Weihnachten wie Guetzli und Geschenke.

Weihnachten in Pandemiezeiten, Post aus Sapporo, sein Rücktritt aus allen Ämtern im Skisport und Kniebeugen während dem Zähneputzen. Das Skihütteninterview mit dem Mann, der bald ein goldenes Jubiläum feiert.

Davos-Verteidiger Magnus Nygren stellt kritische Fragen nach der Olympia-Absage der NHL. Was ist der Unterschied zwischen NHL-Spielern und sonstigen Hockeyprofis? «Wir sind doch auch Menschen», sagt der Schwede.

Ist es schlimm, wenn ich nur an Weihnachten in der Kirche erscheine? Und warum suchen Menschen gerade in der Spiritualität ihre Antworten? Darüber hat Blick-Redaktor Andrea Cattani mit seinem Pfarrersbruder gesprochen.

Ein antikes Medikament soll Covid-Todesfälle um die Hälfte verringern. Das sagt ein israelischer Wissenschaftler. Erste Studien seien «vielversprechend». Die Arznei ist billig, nur in geringer Tagesdosis einzunehmen und gut verträglich. Hoffnung oder Hype?

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in his Christmas Eve message on Friday exhorted the UK public to get jabbed as a "wonderful" gift for the nation as cases soar.

Geimpfte und Genesene sollten, wo immer möglich, auf eine Schutzmaske verzichten, fordert der Zürcher Virologe Cornel Fraefel. Wer sich noch nicht impfen lassen habe, solle dies unbedingt nachholen.

Geimpfte und Genesene sollten, wo immer möglich, auf eine Schutzmaske verzichten, fordert Virologe Cornel Fraefel. Und wer sich noch nicht impfen lassen habe, solle dies unbedingt nachholen.

A selection of the best photos from the African continent and beyond.

Up to four billion people – over half the population of the planet – are already facing severe water stress for at least one month of the year, while half a billion suffer from permanent water stress. Credit: Jeffrey Moyo/IPS

By Baher Kamal
MADRID, Dec 23 2021 (IPS)

Now it comes to the scary water crises, as it is estimated that, globally, over two billion people live in countries that experience high water stress.

On this, the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) also reports that ”other estimates are even more pessimistic, with up to four billion people – over half the population of the planet – already facing severe water stress for at least one month of the year while half a billion suffer from permanent water stress.”

About 71% of the world’s irrigated area and 47% of major cities are to experience at least periodic water shortages. If this trend continues, the scarcity and associated water quality problems will lead to competition and conflicts among water users

This means that about 71% of the world’s irrigated area and 47% of major cities are to experience at least periodic water shortages. If this trend continues, the scarcity and associated water quality problems will lead to competition and conflicts among water users, it adds.

 

Climate crisis aggravates the risk

“Climate change will increase the odds of worsening drought and water scarcity in many parts of the world. Drought ranks among the most damaging of all natural hazards. While droughts affect every climate zone, drylands are particularly susceptible to drought and its impacts.”

Currently, most countries, regions and communities use reactive and crisis-driven approaches to manage drought risk. To address this issue, healthy land is a natural storage for fresh water. If it is degraded, it cannot perform that function. Managing land better and massively scaling up land rehabilitation are essential for building drought resilience and water security, explains UNCCD.

“Land restoration is the cheapest and most effective solution to improved water storage, mitigating impacts of drought and addressing biodiversity loss.”

 

Not enough rain? Too much rain?

Meanwhile, the UN Convention to Combat Desertification explains that communities all over the world have suffered some of the most brutal effects of drought and flooding this year.

“Flash floods in Western Europe, Eastern and Central Asia and Southern Africa. And catastrophic drought in Australia, southern Africa, southern Asia, much of Latin America, Western North America and Siberia are cases in point. The impacts extend well beyond the individual events.”

For example, the rise in food insecurity in the Southern African region and unprecedented wildfires in North America, Europe and Central Asia.

 

What is going on?

This is much more than bad weather in some cases, and is increasingly so, adds the UN Convention.

“Extreme events, including both droughts and floods are on the rise. With more land projected to get drier and more and more people living in drylands in the future, the discussions centred on the shift more than 60 countries are making from “reactive” response to droughts and floods to “proactive” planning and risk management designed to build resilience.”

 

Production systems, so constrained

For its part, the report The State of the World’s Land and Water Resources for Food and Agriculture warns that production systems where the land and water resources supporting agricultural production are constrained to a point where their capacity to meet current and future needs is seriously jeopardised.

Constraints may be further exacerbated by unsustainable agricultural practices, social and economic pressures and the impact of climate change.

Land and water resources are central to agriculture and rural development and are intrinsically linked to global challenges of food insecurity and poverty, climate change adaptation and mitigation, as well as degradation and depletion of natural resources that affect the livelihoods of millions of rural people across the world, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)’s report.

 

Food demand to surge

Current projections cited in the report indicate that the world population will increase from 6.9 billion people today to 9.1 billion in 2050. In addition, economic progress, notably in the emerging countries, translates into increased demand for food and diversified diets.

World food demand will surge as a result, and it is projected that food production will increase by 70% in the world and by 100% in developing countries.

“Yet both land and water resources, the basis of our food production, are finite and already under heavy stress, and future agricultural production will need to be more productive and more sustainable at the same time.”

 

Increased competition for land and water

And there are warning signs. Rates of growth in agricultural production have been slowing, and are only half the 3 percent annual rate of growth seen in developing countries in the past, says the report.

In 2007 and 2008, any complacency was jolted by food price shocks, as grain prices soared. Since then, the growing competition for land and water is now thrown into stark relief as sovereign and commercial investors begin to acquire tracts of farmland in developing countries. Production of feedstock stability of land and water resources.

“Deeper structural problems have also become apparent in the natural resource base. Water scarcity is growing. Salinisation and pollution of water courses and bodies, and degradation of water-related ecosystems are rising.”

 

Waters are shrinking

In many large rivers, only 5% of former water volumes remain in-stream, and some rivers such as the Huang He no longer reach the sea year-round.

Large lakes and inland seas have shrunk, and half the wetlands of Europe and North America no longer exist. Runoff from eroding soils is filling reservoirs, reducing hydropower and water supply, it explains.

 

Groundwater, over-pumped

Groundwater is being pumped intensively and aquifers are becoming increasingly polluted and salinised in some coastal areas.

Large parts of all continents are experiencing high rates of ecosystem impairment, particularly reduced soil quality, biodiversity loss, and harm to amenity and cultural heritage values, the report continues.

 

Agriculture, a major contributor to greenhouse emissions

Agriculture is now a major contributor to greenhouse gases, accounting for 13.5 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions (IPCC, 2007). At the same time, climate change brings an increase in risk and unpredictability for farmers – from warming and related aridity, from shifts in rainfall patterns, and from the growing incidence of extreme weather events.

“Poor farmers in low-income countries are the most vulnerable and the least able to adapt to these changes.”

 

Also aquaculture

The steady increase in inland aquaculture also contributes to the competition for land and water resources: the average annual per capita supply of food fish from aquaculture for human consumption has increased at an average rate of 6.6 percent per year between 1970 and 2008, leading to increasing demand in feed, water and land for the construction of fish ponds.

The deteriorating trends in the capacities of ecosystems to provide vital goods and services are already affecting the production potential of important food-producing zones, according to FAO.

“If these continue, impacts on food security will be greatest in developing countries, where both water and soil nutrients are least abundant.”

“On present trends, a series of major land and water systems and the food outputs they produce are at risk.”

 

Im Fall der Tötung des Afroamerikaners Daunte Wright in den USA ist die angeklagte weisse Ex-Polizisten des Totschlags für schuldig befunden worden.