Thursday 13 October 2016

SHUTTLE NEWS
Chinese startups making world's largest space plane and more Moscow (Sputnik) Oct 10, 2016 - Access to space has long been an interest area of space agencies. In this domain, China became a force to be reckoned with as several Chinese space companies made great strides in the space race.For several years China's space program has been kept secret. But earlier this year China launched its Long March 7 rocket, developed by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp, marking "a mome ... more


+ Aerojet Rocketdyne motor plays key role in Blue Origin crew escape test
+ GenDyn unit to support U.S. Special Operations
+ China, Russia blast US missile defence at regional forum
+ Austal upgrading Australian Navy patrol boats
+ Iraqi forces deploy to guard huge Shiite pilgrimage
+ IS propaganda arm weakened by military setbacks: study
+ Top military brass among those killed in Yemen funeral strike: official
+ Colombia to launch peace talks with ELN rebels
+ US threatens retaliation for attack on US warships off Yemen
+ Hundreds of troops deployed in Afghan city after attack
+ Taiwan calls for renewed talks with China
+ Gorbachev says world at 'dangerous' point as US-Russia tensions soar
+ Orbital ATK and Stratolaunch partner to offer competitive launch opportunities
+ From nothing to glory in six decades - China's space program
+ Raytheon developing interface for DARPA's ground vehicle program
+ Poland blames Airbus for grounding chopper talks
+ German air force grounds Tornado jets 'over loose screws'
+ U.S. Navy conducts LCS restrained missile firing
+ Oshkosh gets $42 million JLTV delivery order
+ Poland to buy Black Hawks after dropping Airbus choppers

MICROSAT BLITZ
MinXSS CubeSat Brings New Information to Study of Solar Flares Greenbelt MD (SPX) Oct 10, 2016 - Along with the visible light and warmth constantly emitted by our sun comes a whole spectrum of X-ray and ultraviolet radiation that streams toward Earth. A new CubeSat - a miniature satellite that provides a low-cost platform for missions - is now in space observing a particular class of X-ray light that has rarely been studied. On June 9, 2016, the NASA-funded, bread loaf-sized Miniature ... more


SUPERPOWERS
S. Korea vows armed crackdown on Chinese fishing ships Seoul (AFP) Oct 11, 2016 - South Korea's coastguard warned Tuesday of a "more aggressive" firearms policy towards Chinese fishing boats illegally operating in its waters, following a clash that sank one of its vessels. Disputes over illegal fishing have dogged relations between South Korea and China for years, and there have been numerous skirmishes between the coastguard and Chinese crew members. In the latest i ... more


SUPERPOWERS
Russia to hold military drills in Egypt in October Moscow (AFP) Oct 11, 2016 - Russia and Egypt will hold joint military drills involving airborne troops on Egyptian soil for the first time this month, the Russian defence ministry said Tuesday. "The joint Russian-Egyptian drills will happen in mid-October 2016 on the territory of Egypt," it said, without specifying their start date. The drills, called "Protectors of Friendship-2016", will include 500 troops, 15 pla ... more

China raps US interventions in Asia at regional forum


SUPERPOWERS
China raps US interventions in Asia at regional forum Beijing (AFP) Oct 11, 2016 - Beijing rapped Washington Tuesday for its interventions in Asia, as tensions grow between the two powers over territorial disputes in the South China Sea and how to handle increasingly erratic North Korea. Speaking at the 7th annual Xiangshan regional defence forum in Beijing, Chang Wanguan, China's defence minister, levied thinly veiled criticism at recent US involvement in Asia's trouble s ... more

Turkish officers cry foul over failed asylum bids in Greece


SUPERPOWERS
Turkish officers cry foul over failed asylum bids in Greece Athens (AFP) Oct 11, 2016 - Turkish military officers who fled to Greece following the failed July coup claimed Tuesday to be the victims of politics after Greek authorities turned down their initial requests for asylum. "The asylum service has so far rejected in the first instance the request by seven members of the Turkish military," their lawyer Stavroula Tomara told AFP. "We are expecting the decision on the ei ... more

Firm linked to social media surveillance loses data access


CYBER WARS
Firm linked to social media surveillance loses data access Washington (AFP) Oct 11, 2016 - Twitter and Facebook on Tuesday revoked data access for an analytics firm which according to a civil liberties group helped law enforcement track protesters in social movements in US cities. The announcements came after the American Civil Liberties Union reported that the analytics firm Geofeedia had been marketing its services to US police agencies to help track activists using social media ... more

Iraq PM hits back in war of words with Turkey's president


IRAQ WARS
Iraq PM hits back in war of words with Turkey's president Baghdad (AFP) Oct 11, 2016 - Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi hit back on Tuesday against dismissive comments by Turkey's president, mocking his appeal to the nation via video call during a failed coup attempt. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Abadi earlier in the day to "know your place," and said that he is "not on my level" - another escalation in the war of words between the two sides over Ankara's ... more

Airbus protests furiously over Poland's handling of chopper deal


MILPLEX
Airbus protests furiously over Poland's handling of chopper deal Paris (AFP) Oct 11, 2016 - Airbus on Tuesday angrily lashed out against the Polish government's handling of a failed helicopter deal which has caused diplomatic tensions between Paris and Warsaw. "Never have we been treated by any government customer the way this government has treated us," Airbus chief executive Tom Enders said in a statement seen by AFP. The sharp criticism comes days after French President Fran ... more

Philippines' Duterte to visit China


SUPERPOWERS
Philippines' Duterte to visit China Manila (AFP) Oct 11, 2016 - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said Tuesday he would soon visit China and hoped also to travel to Russia, as he again criticised longtime ally the United States for "arrogance". The mission to China will be Duterte's first outside of Southeast Asia since assuming the presidency on June 30, in a symbolic move highlighting the importance he places on improving ties with Beijing that sou ... more