World News Briefs -- November 13, 2020 (Evening Edition)

US President-elect Joe Biden has flipped five states from President Donald Trump's column 

AFP: Biden wins White House with 306 electoral votes to Trump's 232: US media 

President-elect Joe Biden has won 306 votes in the state-by-state Electoral College that decides who wins the White House, against 232 for Donald Trump, US media projected on Friday. 

Biden solidified his victory over Trump in the US election with a victory in traditionally Republican-leaning Georgia, called in his favor by CNN, ABC and other networks. Trump -- who also had 306 Electoral College votes when he beat Hillary Clinton in 2016 -- claimed victory in North Carolina, CNN and NBC projected, putting his final tally this time around at 232.

Read more .... 

MIDDLE EAST 

‘Countdown to catastrophe’ in Yemen as UN again warns of famine. 

Saudis say they thwarted attack on oil facility near Yemen. 

In Iran, a massive cemetery struggles to keep up with virus. 

Iran passes grim milestone of 40,000 deaths from COVID-19. 

Iraq shuts last 'safe haven' camps for vulnerable families. 

Saudi prince vows 'iron fist' against extremists after attacks. 

Activists condemn Bahrain’s use of citizenship revocation. 

Erdogan plans 'picnic' in symbolic Cyprus ghost town. 

Israel seals deal for Covid-19 vaccines. 

 ASIA 

Afghanistan: Suicide car bomb blast in Kabul kills many soldiers.

India, China close in on plan to end months of border standoff. 

India, Pakistan report deadly violence along Kashmir border. 

China attacks fishing boats in conquest of South China Sea. 

US election: China congratulates Joe Biden on victory. 

China prepares to impose new limits on its tech giants. 

Myanmar election: Aung San Suu Kyi's party wins absolute majority. 

Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape's future in doubt as MPs cross floor. 

AFRICA 

Ethiopia: 'Massacre' of civilians in Tigray, Amnesty claims. 

Ethiopia conflict in Tigray region sparks war crime fears as some 14,500 flee to Sudan, UN says. Morocco launches offensive against pro-independence forces. 

‘Desperate’ situation in northern Mozambique: UN rights chief. 

Tensions persist as Libya’s warring sides debate road to peace. 

Africa’s debt crisis grows amid COVID-19 pandemic. 

Zambia on brink of defaulting on foreign debt. 

Nigeria cracks down on 'end Sars' protesters, alleging terrorism. 

Senior South African ANC official granted bail in corruption case. 

 EUROPE 

U.S. and France play catch-up on Karabakh after Russia deploys troops. 

Nagorno-Karabakh: The families burning down their own homes. 

Coronavirus: Italy extends 'red zones' as infections soar. 

Germany may extend lockdown as Covid cases in Italy soar. 

Germany blasts Russia's sanctions plan over Navalny. 

Violent extremism linked to failure of migrants to integrate, EU says. 

French security bill proposes to outlaw dissemination of ‘malicious’ images of police. 

Five years on, Parisians remember how the November 13 terror attacks unfolded. 

Croatia: Former PM Sanader found guilty of corruption, again — sentenced to 8 more years.

AMERICAS 

Trump to deliver first public remarks in over a week on vaccines. 

Biden aide sees localized COVID-19 restrictions, not national lockdown, after inauguration.

Pennsylvania secretary of state will not order a recount. 

Trump campaign drops effort seeking review of Arizona ballots. 

130 Secret Service officers are in COVID quarantine after being exposed while guarding Donald Trump. 

Pompeo begins 10-day, 7-nation tour to Europe and Middle East. 

‘Peru is fired up’: Protests erupt amid political crisis. 

Chinese 'cartels' quietly operating in Mexico, aiding US drug crisis. 

Killing of reporter adds to grim toll of violence against Mexican journalists. 

 TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR 

France says top al-Qaida leader in Mali killed. 

EU mulls new anti-terror measures. 

Vienna terror attack: Police investigating 21 potential accomplices. 

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS 

Wall Street closes higher.

G20 declares framework to deepen debt relief for poor nations. 

Apple's new iPhone 12s, Pro Max and Mini, hit stores worldwide. 

Lagarde says her ‘hunch’ is that ECB will adopt digital currency. 

A third of the world’s air routes have been lost due to Covid. 

Trump administration grants 15-day extension on TikTok divesture deadline.

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Longtime Political Commentator, Strategist, And Trump Supporter Dick Morris Explains Why He Believes Trump Will Win

 

WNU Editor: A good explanation from Dick Morris on what is happening, and why many Trump supporters are still optimistic that he will win the election. 

What is my take. I said it before. The outcome favors Biden. But at this moment in time anything is possible. This election is still very close, and the votes have not been certified in these swing states .... If 25,000 Votes Had Switched From Biden To Trump In Arizona, Georgia, And Wisconsin, President Trump Will Be On The Verge Of Being Re-Elected (November 10, 2020).

Update: Contrary to the media narrative that President Trump is losing his legal challenges. President Trump has scored another major legal victory today .... Judge sides with Trump, barring Pennsylvania from extending voter ID deadline (Washington Examiner).

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Pentagon Now Configuring A Hypersonic Cruise Missile To Fire From A Carrier-Launched F-18

FOX News: Pentagon to arm F/A-18 Super Hornet with hypersonic missiles 

The decades-old F/A-18 has gone through a large number of upgrades, adjustments, enhancements and service-life extension programs

Could arming the F/A-18 Super Hornet with hypersonic missiles keep the aircraft relevant for the next decade or two as larger numbers of F-35s arrive and the service prepares for stealthy, highly networked, 5th-Gen empowered, longer-range war? 

Possibly. 

The decades-old F/A-18 has gone through a large number of upgrades, adjustments, enhancements and service-life extension programs to preserve its combat functionality in increasingly high-threat environments. The U.S. Navy has spent years reinforcing the airframes of F/A-18s, upgrading weapons, adding new avionics, sensors and electronics and even integrating carrier-landing enhancing software to the jets called “magic carpet.” 

The U.S. Navy has also engineered conformal fuel tanks for the F/A-18 to extend mission dwell time and potentially lower its radar signature. The goal with all of this is to ensure that the 4th-gen fighter remains viable against a new generation of enemy sensors, weapons and air defenses. What would a hypersonic cruise missile do for an F/A-18? 

Read more .... 

WNU Editor: It looks like the F/A-18 Super Hornet is going to be flying around for awhile.

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800 Protesters Arrest In Belarus At Anti-Government Rallies

 

AFP: More than 800 held in Belarus as opposition reaches out to Biden 

Police in Belarus on Sunday detained more than 800 people during the latest in weeks of unprecedented demonstrations against strongman Alexander Lukashenko, as the opposition reached out to US President-elect Joe Biden. 

For three months running, tens of thousands have taken to the streets of Belarus on Sundays to protest against the disputed re-election of Lukashenko, who has been in power for more than two decades. 

His opponents are demanding he hand power to Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, a political novice who ran for president against Lukashenko on August 9. Several thousand protesters, many carrying the red-and-white opposition flag, joined a march in central Minsk on Sunday. 

Read more .... 

 More News On Today's Unrest In Belarus 

Belarusian Activists Say More Than 800 Detained At Anti-Government Rallies -- RFE 

Belarus security services detain hundreds of protesters in the capital -- Reuters 

Belarus: Hundreds arrested as opposition looks to Biden -- DW 

Police arrest 500 protesters in Belarus on 90th day of demonstrations -- The Hill 

‘Crush the fascist vermin’: Belarus opposition summons wartime spirit -- The Guardian 

Weekend of chaos in Minsk as authorities crack down on protests against embattled Belarusian leader Lukashenko -- RT

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Fighting In Ethiopia's Tigray Region Continues

 

 

France 24: Ethiopia's Abiy replaces army chief as casualties mount in Tigray conflict 

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed replaced his army chief on Sunday, as reports of wounded soldiers continued to rise in a five-day-old conflict in the country's northern Tigray region. 

Deputy army chief Berhanu Jula will take over the Ethiopian National Defence Force, a statement from Abiy's office said, without giving a reason or specifying the fate of Berhanu's predecessor, General Adem Mohammed. 

The announcement came as a medical official told AFP that nearly 100 government soldiers had been treated for gunshot wounds at a hospital in the northern Amhara region, the latest indication that fighting has been intense. 

Read more .... 

WNU Editor: Ethiopia's Tigray region's president wants to negotiate .... Ethiopia's Tigray region's president says it is good to try to negotiate (Reuters).

 More News On The Conflict In Ethiopia's Tigray Region 

Ethiopia: reports of heavy casualties in fighting in Tigray -- The Guardian 

Ethiopia reshuffles top officials as Tigray conflict grows -- AP 

Ethiopia moves to replace Tigray government as conflict spirals -- DW

Ethiopia's army chief sacked as Tigray fighting continues -- BBC 

Ethiopian PM replaces top officials as conflict in Tigray region escalates -- Reuters 

Ethiopian prime minister replaces foreign minister, heads of intelligence and army -- Reuters 

Ethiopia aims to remove leadership of defiant Tigray region -- CNBC/AP 

Ethiopia Prime Minister says Tigray military ops 'limited' as Sudan closes border -- CNN 

Clashes in Ethiopia’s Tigray Region Put Horn of Africa on Edge -- Bloomberg 

Eritrea, Tigray and Ethiopia’s brewing civil war -- Al Jazeera 

Ethiopia's Tigray conflict: A powder keg waiting to explode -- DW

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Do Not Expect A Return To 'Normalcy' Under President Biden

Glenn Harlan Reynolds, USA Today: Sorry, there will be no return to normalcy under Joe Biden 

Biden becoming president will not make COVID-19 disappear and return the country back to normal. Just vote for whatever form of abnormal you prefer. 

As the presidential campaign enters its final phase, one of the messages of the Biden campaign is that putting him, a 47-year veteran of national politics, into the White House will return us to something approaching normal. 

With Biden in charge, all the Trump craziness will expire, and things will be safe, sane and familiar. In fact, there’s no chance of this happening.

If Biden wins, things won’t go back to “normal.” You probably won’t even hear less from Donald Trump. And in a lot of areas, like foreign policy, it turns out the establishment’s version of normal wasn’t all that normal anyway. 

Many of my lefty friends want Biden to win not so much over policy as because they have a visceral reaction to President Donald Trump. They hate the sight of his face, the sound of his voice, even the mention of his name. Electing Biden, they expect, will sweep Trump off the national stage. 

But will it?

Read more .... 

WNU Editor: The above commentary was written before election day, but it is still appropriate today. Bottom line. The pandemic. The economic crisis. Tensions around the world. They are not going to disappear any time soon. In the coming days I will be doing a few posts with my analysis on what to expect under a Biden administration.

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U.S. Approves The Sale Of Four Armed MQ-9 Reaper Drones To Taiwan

Flickr/US Air Force 

ABC News Online: US Government approves drone sale to Taiwan, in arms deal expected to anger China

The US State Department has cleared the potential sale of four "weapons-ready" aerial drones to Taiwan. 

The $US600 million ($833 million) deal would be the first such sale since the Trump administration loosened US policy on the export of sophisticated and closely guarded drone technology. 

The move is likely to infuriate China, which regards Taiwan as a renegade province and has reacted angrily to previous announcements about weapons sales to the island. 

The US State Department's formal notification gives Congress 30 days to object to any sales, which is unlikely given broad bipartisan support for the defence of Taiwan. 

Read more .... 

WNU Editor: China's response has been quick .... China says U.S. sends out 'wrong signals' to Taiwan on proposed drone sale (NBC). More here .... China pledges 'proper and necessary response' to new US arms sale to Taiwan (The Hill). 

 More News On The U.S. Approving The Sale Of Four Armed MQ-9 Reaper Drones To Taiwan 

US approves armed MQ-9B drones purchase by Taiwan -- Defense News/AP 

US approves sale of armed MQ-9 Reaper drones to Taiwan -- AFP 

U.S. Congress notified of drone sale to Taiwan: Pentagon -- Reuters 

$600 Million Sale of Four MQ-9 Reaper Drones to Taiwan Approved by US State Department -- Sputnik 

United States approves $600m sale of armed drones to Taiwan -- Al Jazeera

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U.S. Elections -- Live Blogging

19:30 EST: Joe Biden is doing better in the other counties of Florida making this a very close race right now. He now leads with 51% of the vote (59% of the vote counted). 

The polls in the north western part of the state close at 8:00 EST. They are Republican rich. But will it be enough? With the exception of Miami-Dade, Joe Biden is doing better than expected in Democrat rich counties. 

19:24 EST: Georgia's polls are now closed and Joe Biden is in the lead with 55% of the vote with 3% reporting. But most of these votes are from Democrat rich Atlanta (Cobb county).

19:20 EST: Joe Biden is in trouble. In 2016 Hillary Clinton received 63.68% of the vote in Miami-Dade county. With 84% of the vote tallied, Joe Biden has only received 54.2% of the vote. President Trump is doing 10% better in this Democrat dominated county than what he did in 2016.

19:05 EST: The polls have closed in Florida. 

President Trump has 49.3% of the vote Joe Biden's 49.8%. 23% of the votes have been counted. This tally  includes Democrat vote rich counties like Broward and Miami-Dade.

In 2016 President Trump received 49.02% of the vote in Florida.

18:55 EST: The polls closed in Indiana and Kentucky an hour ago. 

In Indiana President Trump received 56.47% of the vote in 2016. With 7% of the votes in, he has a lead of 64.6%.

In Kentucky President Trump received 62.52% of the vote in 2016. He now has 54.2% of the vote with 16% of the votes counted. But it should be noted that almost all of Biden's numbers are from Fayette county that voted heavily for Hillary Clinton in 2016. Jefferson county gave the most votes for Hillary Clinton in 2016. Their numbers have not been reported.

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U.S. Presidential Election -- Live Updates

U.S. Presidential Election -- Live Updates 

US Election News Updates -- AP News 

Election 2020 Live News Updates -- Reuters 

U.S. Presidential Election Results 2020 -- NBC News 

Election Day 2020 live updates -- ABC News 

Election Live Updates -- FOX News 

Presidential election results 2020 -- CNN 

2020 Election Day Live Updates: First polls close as Americans brace for results -- CBS 

Election 2020 live results and updates -- CNBC 

Election Day -- Live Updates and Results -- Wall Street Journal

Live updates: Election Day news and results in 2020 presidential race -- Chicago Sun Times 

2020 presidential election results map: Live updates from across the US -- NY Post 

Live: Final voting underway in the US presidential election 2020 -- France 24 

Live: US Elections -- BBC 

US election 2020 live: country on course for highest voter turnout in more than century -- The Guardian

US election live updates: America decides between Trump and Biden -- DW 

US election live updates -- ABC News (Australia) 

U.S. Presidential Election Results

U.S. election results -- Reuters 

Presidential Election Results -- FOX News

 U.S. House Races 

House Races -- FOX News 

House Races -- CNN

U.S. Senate Races

Senate Races -- FOX News 

Senate Races -- CNN

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U.S. Elections -- Live Video

U.S. News Coverage

   

 International News Coverage

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If Trump Declares Victory On Election Night, NBC Will Not Broadcast His Speech

 

RCP: Scarborough: If Trump Declares Victory On Election Night, We Will Not Broadcast His Speech

MSNBC's "Morning Joe" hosts Joe Scarborough and Willie Geist said Monday that if President Trump declares victory on election night before all the votes have been counted, their show will not broadcast the video of him saying he has won. 

"It is going to be a wild night," Willie Geist said. "He said we're going to flood the zone with lawyers, send them into Pennsylvania and Michigan and Wisconsin and we are going to dispute this election, no matter what happens he's already saying that. Meanwhile, there are some reports that say he could go out and declare victory as early as he can on Tuesday night. Of course, he will not have won, but he'll try to say it anyway." 

Read more .... 

WNU Editor: Is Joe Scarborough talking for the network or for his show? Either way it is not a good sign when you say you will censure such a speech.

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Election Clashes Erupt Across The U.S. This Weekend

Antifa supporters marched to oppose the Trump rally, and violent clashes broke out between the groups as cops struggled to keep them separated and maintain the peace 

Daily Mail: Election clashes erupt across the US: Antifa attacks Trump supporter in Beverly Hills while North Carolina BLM march ends with police pepper spray and eight arrests with the vote two days away 

 * Antifa supporters were seen attacking Trump backer with fists and pipe in Beverly Hills on Saturday   * Police declared an unlawful assembly after the black-clad attackers fled the scene 

 * In North Carolina, get-out-the-vote rally was met with police pepper spray during march to the polls   * Cops say the irritant was sprayed into the ground after rally participants failed to clear the roadway 

Unrest has begun across the U.S. ahead of Tuesday's presidential election, with violent political clashes occurring in Beverly Hills and a get-out-the-vote Black Lives Matter march in North Carolina ending with police pepper spray and eight arrests. 

In Beverly Hills, thousands of President Donald Trump's supporters gathered on Saturday afternoon, waving American flags and signs declaring support for the Republican candidate. At around 2.30pm, video from the scene shows black-clad Antifa supporters attacking a participant in the 'USA Freedom Rally'. 

At first, a Trump supporter is seen grappling with a black-clad counterprotester who is attempting to snatch away his American flag after heated verbal disputes. 

Read more .... 

WNU Editor: When compared to what happened this summer in places like New York City, Portland, Seattle, Washington D.C., etc. .... this weekend's violence has been tame.

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Poll: Half Of Americans Believe Nov. 3 Will Be The Most Stressful Day Of Their Lives!

Study Finds: 2020 Election Day: Over half of Americans believe Nov. 3 will be most stressful day of their lives! 

NEW YORK — As if the coronavirus pandemic wasn’t giving Americans enough anxiety already, you may have heard there’s a presidential election this November. With political divisions reaching historical highs, a survey finds a majority of the country believe their most stressful day of 2020 hasn’t even arrived yet. The poll examining mental health reveals 55 percent of Americans think Election Day 2020 will be the most stress-filled day of their lives. 

The OnePoll survey examined the current mental health of 2,000 adults, focusing on the stress caused by COVID-19 and the presidential race. Nearly six in 10 people can’t imagine being more stressed than they already are this year, while 67 percent want the year to be over now. 

The study, commissioned by Feelmore Labs and Cove, reveals Millennials (61%) and members of Generation X (58%) are feeling the Election Day strain more than anyone else. Only one-third of Baby Boomers feel the same way about the upcoming vote. 

Read more .... 

WNU Editor: No stress here. I will be chilling in Montreal on November 3 giving my analysis and opinions on the vote. If I am stressed it is over the pandemic, and the severe economic damage that it has done to the U.S. and global economy. I have already lived through one economic depression (Russia in the 1990s). I do not want to live through another in North America.

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Is China Controlling The Coronavirus?

Tourists lined up to enter the Forbidden City in Beijing on Sunday.Credit...Andy Wong/Associated Press 

New York Times: U.S. Says Virus Can’t Be Controlled. China Aims to Prove It Wrong. 

China’s approach to keep Covid-19 at bay has helped restore confidence and allowed businesses to reopen. But it is a strategy steeped in authoritarianism. 

The United States is hitting records in daily coronavirus cases. But China, the country first afflicted with the scourge, is having a different experience. 

Unlike the Trump administration, which has said it is prioritizing opening the economy while essentially giving up on controlling the pandemic, China moved aggressively to stop the virus. The result: China’s economy is growing and life there is returning to a semblance of normal, while the United States is struggling with a third wave of infections and the prospect of new restrictions. 

Economic growth in China has surged, hitting 4.9 percent in the latest quarter, and consumer spending has slowly started to recover. Residents are once again flocking into malls, bars, concert halls and hair salons, while schools, subways and offices are crowded. 

China has effectively sealed off its borders from the outside world and doubled down on efforts to eradicate the virus. When a crop of cases emerge, the government swiftly shuts down vast areas and quickly tests millions of people, to help keep local transmissions near zero. 

China’s authoritarian government has the ability to act in a way that democracies that must be accountable to the public cannot. But it has demonstrated that the way to open the economy is to first safeguard public health. 

While Mark Meadows, the White House chief of staff, has said the United States is “not going to control the pandemic” but will focus on getting vaccines and therapeutic treatments to combat the disease, China’s approach has helped to restore confidence and allow businesses to reopen. 

Read more .... 

WNU Editor: The New York Times likes to believe that China is controlling the coronavirus. That what Beijing is saying is the truth. It is not. Everyone I know in China is telling me the same thing. Restrictions are the rule and not the exception. Outbreaks do occur regularly, and when they are spotted severe measures are imposed immediately. Everyone is on edge, and everyone is expecting another major wave. If not now, later. And no one has confidence that Beijing's strategy will work in the end.

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Did China's Xi Jinping Blow A Golden Opportunity With US President Donald Trump

US President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping and their wives Melania Trump and Peng Liyuan at the Mar-a-Lago estate. (AFP) 

Ben Westcott, CNN: How China's Xi Jinping blew a golden opportunity with US President Donald Trump 

Hong Kong (CNN) At the first meeting between Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, held over chocolate cake and sorbet at the US President's vast Mar-a-Lago private club in Florida, the two leaders seemed on the brink of establishing an unlikely and potentially special relationship. 

Trump, less than three months into his first term, had spent his election campaign denouncing the Chinese government for undermining the United States, through a wide trade imbalance and cheap labor. "We can't continue to allow China to rape our country," Trump said in May 2016. 

But when Trump was standing alongside Xi at Mar-a-Lago the following April, his tone changed dramatically. The two leaders exchanged compliments during a news conference, with Trump describing their relationship as "outstanding." Pictures from the meeting showed the two men sitting side-by-side, smiling broadly, on a golden couch. 

"It was a great honor to have President Xi Jinping and Madame Peng Liyuan of China as our guests ... Tremendous goodwill and friendship was formed," Trump tweeted shortly after the visit. 

Read more .... 

WNU Editor: The first indication for me that the U.S. - China relationship was going to go downhill was when President Xi broke the promise that he had made to President Trump at Mar-a-Lago to buy US goods to bring down the U.S.-China trade deficit. After that everything got worse. But what broke the "camel's back" was the pandemic. 

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Japan Chooses Mitsubishi To Lead The Development Of A New Stealth Fighter Jet

The logo of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is seen at the company's Sagamihara plant in Sagamihara, Japan, July 4, 2016. REUTERS/Maki Shiraki/File Photo 

Reuters: Japan picks Mitsubishi Heavy to lead development of new stealth jet fighter 

Japan on Friday said it had picked Mitsubishi Heavy Industries 7011.T (MHI) to lead the development of a new stealth fighter jet that Japan wants operational by the mid-2030s to counter advanced Chinese aircraft. 

“We awarded the prime contract to Mitsubishi Heavy,” a ministry of defence spokesman said. The fighter jet project, which is expected to cost about $40 billion, comes at an opportune time for MHI, as the company is pulling back from plans to build its SpaceJet regional passenger aircraft as coronavirus travel curbs leave airlines with little cash to buy new planes. 

The decision was expected because MHI is Japan’s only jet fighter manufacturer, and no other company bid for the contract. Other suppliers and partners will most likely be identified by the end of the year. 

Read more .... 

Update #1: Japan picks Mitsubishi Heavy to develop own stealth fighter (AP) 

Update #2: Japan names contractor to build its future fighter jet (Defense News) 

WNU Editor: Japan wants to support its military industrial base. This is putting money where its mouth is.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- October 29, 2020

U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper (file photo) 

NBC: Top U.S. officials were briefed on an active threat against Pentagon leaders, say five officials

Some officials said the briefings suggested the threat may be potential retaliation for the U.S. military's killing of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani. 

WASHINGTON — U.S. military, intelligence and law enforcement officials were briefed late last month on a threat against the Pentagon's most senior leaders while they are on American soil, not just traveling overseas, according to five senior U.S. officials with direct knowledge of the matter. 

Some officials said the briefings suggested the threat, which remains active, may be potential retaliation for the U.S. military's assassination of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani in January, although the information provided did not draw a definitive link.

Read more .... 

 Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- October 29, 2020 

Biden White House Seen Revamping Strategy for Nuclear Weapons -- Blooomberg 

Dems Likely To War Over Defense After Election; Navy A Big Target: HASC Chair Smith -- Breaking Defense 

A Biden Administration Would Rewrite NDS, Toss 500-Ship Navy Overboard, Lawmaker Says -- Military.com 

Trump has ‘no plan’ to exit Afghanistan by Christmas, key lawmaker says -- Defense News 

U.S. Air Force wants to transform its transport planes into cruise missile carriers -- Defence-Blog

Shortfalls of Defensive Hypersonic Weapons Must Be Addressed, NORAD General Says -- US Department of Defense 

How a Pacific missile test site is keeping up with challenging tests in a pandemic -- Defense News 

Ford sailors test positive for COVID-19 -- Navy Times 

Another littoral combat ship breaks down on deployment -- Defense News 

U.S. Army begins testing new version of Bradley fighting vehicle -- Defence-Blog 

U.S. Army unveils new laser gun system for the first time -- Defence-Blog 

The best combat boots according to special operators -- SOFREP 

U.S. State Department approves possible $10.4 billion sale of F-35s to UAE -- Defence-Blog 

US Defense Secretary Meets With Bahraini, U.S. Military Leaders -- US Department of Defense 

Mark Esper Awaits the End of Trump's Term -- New York Times 

Trump Admin Sets Allied Defense Spending Targets, Taiwan Deals Lead Way -- Breaking Defense 

SecNav Says China Poses 'Threat Beyond Any Comparison' to American Way of Life -- Military.com 

Chinese, U.S. military chiefs hold crisis communication, says China defence ministry -- Reuters 

A Chinese Database Is Tracking American Nuclear Scientists and Military Officers -- Popular Mechanics 

China ramps up pilot training to boost drone operator ranks as unmanned vehicles rise in military importance -- SCMP 

Russia Equips Chinese Special Forces With Latest Helicopters As It Battles India In The Eastern Ladakh -- EurAsian Times 

Russia successfully test-fires new ABM interceptor missile -- TASS 

Russian Navy tracking NATO warships in Black Sea -- TASS 

Russia’s defense chief highlights tension along borders with NATO countries -- TASS 

Pakistan, China ‘Seriously Concerned’ After India Signs Geospatial Pact With The United States -- EurAsian Times 

India will get access to U.S. satellite data that can make military missiles more precise -- CNBC 

Italy defense budget rebounds despite coronavirus crisis -- Defense News 

Iran puts air defense assets on display -- Military Times 

Is Iraq’s Military Good Enough for US Troops to Leave? -- Katie Bo Williams, Defense One 

Will COVID-Stressed Countries Slow Their Arms Buys? -- Marcus Weisgerber, Defense One

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What Will Be The Value Of The U.S. Dollar After This Year's Presidential Election?

Residents wearing protective masks cast ballota at an early voting polling location for the 2020 Presidential election in San Francisco, California, U.S., on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2020. In June, Governor Newsom signed a one-time-only bill making the November election a mail-ballot vote in hopes of protecting voters from the coronavirus. © Bloomberg 

Bloomberg: At Stake in the November Elections: The Value of the Dollar 

The dollar has been in a slump against major currencies in the last few months, and betting on more declines has become a popular trade. 

Wells Fargo macro strategist Zachary Griffiths joins the latest episode of the “What Goes Up” podcast to discuss how the election results could interrupt or continue the trend. 

Some highlights of the conversation: 

Read more .... 

WNU Editor: There are a lot of things at stake in this year's U.S. elections. The value of the dollar is just one of many. But there is one thing that I do know. This pandemic will end one day, and the next crisis will be a fiscal/unemployment/pension, and debt emergency of the likes that North Americans have never seen in modern times. The solution to these multiple crisis will be to restart the economy and create the conditions for massive economic growth. Who will be best to deliver this economic growth? Is it President Trump or former Vice-President Biden? Unfortunately, this is a discussion that has not been fully debated upon.

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Is The Pentagon Going To Get The Laser Weapon That They Always Wanted?

The laser weapon system is designed to be mounted on a variety of platforms General Atomics   

New Atlas: General Atomics and Boeing team up on high-energy laser weapon 

General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems (GA-EMS) and Boeing have entered into a partnership to develop a scalable 100 kW to 250 kW-class High Energy Laser (HEL) weapon system for air and missile defenses. 

Laser weapons have been high on the wish lists of major military powers ever since the first laser was invented by Theodore Maiman at the Hughes Research Lab, Malibu, California in 1960. With enough concentrated power to burn through steel, enough range to cover literally astronomical distances, an operating cost of a dollar a shot, and an unlimited number of shots so long as there's power available, the laser looked like the so-called ultimate weapon – if it could be made practical. 

Read more .... 

WNU Editor: Advancements in laser technology have truly been impressive in the past few years. What was once always said to be impossible is now very possible. I am not sure on what this General Atomics and Boeing joint venture will achieve, but they appear to be very confident that they will be successful.

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Is China Occupying Nepal Territory?

ZEE News: China illegally occupies Nepal's land at several places; Indian intelligence agencies sound alert

China has illegally occupied Nepal`s land at several places spreading over seven bordering districts and Indian intelligence agencies have sounded an alert in New Delhi. 

New Delhi: China has illegally occupied Nepal`s land at several places spreading over seven bordering districts and Indian intelligence agencies have sounded an alert in New Delhi. 

The agencies have flagged that Beijing is fast moving forward and further pushing Nepali boundaries by encroaching more and more landmass. 

"The actual scenario could be worse as the Nepali Communist Party (NCP) is trying to shield the expansionist agenda of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)," an internal intelligence agency report pointed out. 

The report also talked about the Survey Department of Nepal flagging China`s attempts to grab land before Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli which was ignored. It stated that Nepali districts which are victims of China`s land-grabbing plan include Dolakha, Gorkha, Darchula, Humla, Sindhupalchowk, Sankhuwasabha and Rasuwa. 

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WNU Editor Chinese media is saying there is no border problems with Nepal .... Exclusive: Buildings ‘occupying Nepalese land’ fall within Chinese territory, repeated surveying shows (Global Times). Nepal has a different point of view .... Nepal warms to India on territory spat, cools to China (Nikkei Asian Review).

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