To All,
Good Saturday Morning September 7. It is a little cloudy this morning but still forecast t be in the hundreds and not fit to work outside. But Plenty to do inside. Got to get belts and certificates done for last classes next week and get ready for the start of the Fall quarter on the 16th. Great Bubba Breakfast yesterday morning.
Happy birthday to my wife Toni this morning
Enjoy yuor weekend
Warm Regards,
skip
Make it a good Day
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This day in Naval and Marine Corps History (thanks to NHHC)
Here is a link to the NHHC website: https://www.history.navy.mil/. Go here to see the director's corner for all 83 H-Grams
Today in Naval and Marine Corps History
September 7
During the American Revolution, the British supply ship Unity is taken by the Continental schooner, Hannah, paid for by Army Gen. George Washington. It is the first prize taken by a Continental vessel.
1776 David Bushnell's submarine Turtle is used by Sgt. Erza Lee to attack HMS Eagle in New York Harbor. Lees efforts to attach a "torpedo" to the ship's hull are frustrated by copper-sheathing, marine growth, perhaps merely a hard spot in the hull, which prevents the drill from boring into the ship bottom and it drifts away.
1797 USS Constellation, the second of the original six frigates, is launched. Notable service includes the battles between the French frigate, LInsurgente and Vengeance, during the Quasi-War with France; participation in the Barbary Wars where she helps capture the Algerian frigate, Mashuda in 1815; and service in the West Indies Squadron against piracy and slavery.
1825 The frigate USS Brandywine receives the Marquis de Lafayette on board for return to France after his year-long tour of the United States. The name honors the battle where the Marquis was wounded while serving with the Continental Army during the American Revolution.
1945 The Japanese surrender the Ryukyu Islands area at the U.S. Tenth Army Headquarters on Okinawa.
2013 USS Minnesota (SSN 783) is commissioned at Naval Station Norfolk is the 10th of the Virginia-class submarines and the third Navy vessel to be named after the state of Minnesota.
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Today in World History: September 7
1571 At the Battle of Lepanto in the Mediterranean Sea, the Christian galley fleet destroys the Turkish galley fleet.
1630 The town of Trimountaine in Massachusetts is renamed Boston. It became the state capital.
1701 England, Austria, and the Netherlands form an Alliance against France.
1778 Shawnee Indians attack and lay siege to Boonesborough, Kentucky.
1812 On the road to Moscow, Napoleon wins a costly victory over the Russians at Borodino.
1813 The earliest known printed reference to the United States by the nickname "Uncle Sam" occurs in the Troy Post.
1864 Union General Phil Sheridan's troops skirmish with the Confederates under Jubal Early outside Winchester, Virginia.
1876 The James-Younger gang botches an attempt to rob the First National Bank of Northfield, Minnesota.
1888 An incubator is used for the first time on a premature infant.
1892 The first heavyweight-title boxing match fought with gloves under Marquis of Queensbury rules ends when James J. Corbett knocks out John L. Sullivan in the 21st round.
1912 French aviator Roland Garros sets an altitude record of 13,200 feet.
1916 The U.S. Congress passes the Workman's Compensation Act.
1940 Blitz against London begins during the Battle of Britain.
1942 The Red Army pushes back the German line northwest of Stalingrad.
1953 Nikita Krushchev elected first secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.
1954 Integration of public schools begins in Washington D.C. and Maryland.
1965 Pro Football Hall of Fame opens in Canton, Ohio.
1970 Jockey Bill Shoemaker earns 6,033rd win, breaking Johnny Longden's record for most lifetime wins; Shoemaker's record would stand for 29 years.
1977 Panama and US sign Torrijos-Carter Treaties to transfer control of the Panama Canal from the US to Panama at the end of the 20th century.
1978 Secret police agent Francesco Gullino assassinates Bulgarian dissident Georgi Markov in London by firing a ricin pellet from a specially designed umbrella.
1979 ESPN, the Entertainment and Sports Programing Network, debuts.
1986 Desmond Tutu becomes first black leader of the Church of the Province of Southern Africa (now the Anglican Church of South Africa).
1988 Pilot and cosmonaut Abdul Ahad Mohmand, the first Afghan to travel to outer space, returns to earth after 9 days aboard the Soviet space station Mir.
2004 Hurricane Ivan damages 90% of buildings on the island of Grenada; 39 die in the Category 5 storm.
2008 US Government assumes conservatorship of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the country's two largest mortgage financing companies, during the subprime mortgage crisis.
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OPERATION COMMANDO HUNT Thanks to the Bear
Skip… For The List for the week beginning Monday, 2 September 2024 and ending Sunday, 8 September 2024… Bear🇺🇸⚓️🐻
OPERATION COMMANDO HUNT (1968-1972)
From the archives of rollingthunderremembered.com post of 1 September 1969… Wrap-up on "Balky Company A" and a NYT OpEd by James Reston, "A Whiff of Mutiny." The Nixon Dilemma: how do you keep troops fighting forward while you are pulling out and going home? We lost more than 20,000 American brave hearts (KIA) while fighting the last three years of this lost cause.
(Please note the eye-watering ongoing revamp of the RTR website by Webmaster/Author Dan Heller, who has inherited the site from originators RADM Bear Taylor, USN, Retired, and Angie Morse, "Mighty Thunder")…
To remind folks that these are from the Vietnam Air Losses site that Micro put together. You click on the url below and can read what happened each day to the aircraft and its crew. .Micro is the one also that goes into the archives and finds these inputs and sends them to me for incorporation in the List. It is a lot of work and our thanks goes out to him for his effort.
From Vietnam Air Losses site for "for 7 September
7-Sep: https://www.vietnamairlosses.com/loss.php?id=2996
Vietnam Air Losses Access Chris Hobson and Dave Lovelady's work at: https://www.VietnamAirLosses.com.
This is a list of all Helicopter Pilots Who Died in the Vietnam War . Listed by last name and has other info
https://www.vhpa.org/KIA/KIAINDEX.HTM
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1813: United States nicknamed Uncle Sam
On September 7, 1813, the United States gets its nickname, Uncle Sam. The name is linked to Samuel Wilson, a meat packer from Troy, New York, who supplied barrels of beef to the United States Army during the War of 1812. Wilson (1766-1854) stamped the barrels with "U.S." for United States, but soldiers began referring to the grub as "Uncle Sam's." The local newspaper picked up on the story and Uncle Sam eventually gained widespread acceptance as the nickname for—and personification of—the U.S. federal government.
In the late 1860s and 1870s, political cartoonist Thomas Nast (1840-1902) began popularizing the image of Uncle Sam. Nast continued to evolve the image, eventually giving Sam the white beard and stars-and-stripes suit that are associated with the character today. The German-born Nast was also credited with creating the modern image of Santa Claus as well as coming up with the donkey as a symbol for the Democratic Party and the elephant as a symbol for the Republicans. Nast also famously lampooned the corruption of New York City's Tammany Hall in his editorial cartoons and was, in part, responsible for the downfall of Tammany leader William Tweed, alongside former New York City mayor Fiorello La Guardia who ran his platform on ending Tammany Hall and its corrupt practices.
Perhaps the most famous image of Uncle Sam was created by artist James Montgomery Flagg (1877-1960). In Flagg's version, Uncle Sam wears a tall top hat and blue jacket and is pointing straight ahead at the viewer. During World War I, this portrait of Sam with the words "I Want You For The U.S. Army" was used as a recruiting poster. The image, which became immensely popular, was first used on the cover of Leslie's Weekly in July 1916 with the title "What Are You Doing for Preparedness?" The poster was widely distributed and has subsequently been re-used numerous times with different captions.
In September 1961, the U.S. Congress recognized Samuel Wilson as "the progenitor of America's national symbol of Uncle Sam." Wilson died at age 87 in 1854, and was buried next to his wife Betsey Mann in the Oakwood Cemetery in Troy, New York, the town that calls itself "The Home of Uncle Sam."
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Thanks to Barrett
Independence night air group
I knew a couple of Night Air Group 41 aviators including Bill Henry, the senior VFN officer and one of the few night aces. Henry and CAG Turner Caldwell were SBD studs of 1942 vintage. Caldwell wrote a Saturday Evening Post article, "We Put the Carriers on the Night Shift." I've cited him a coupla times, as he quoted a steward's mate:
"Man wasn't meant to fly nohow. And if he was meant to fly, he wasn't meant to fly off no boat. And if he was meant to fly off a boat, he dangsure wasn't meant to fly off no boat at night!"
The ship received a variety of mods for the night mission including deck-edge "dustpan" lights and a radar providing optimum position abeam in the pattern.
Caldwell's Avengers tracked Kurita eastbound through San Bernardino Strait the night of 24 October but Mitscher and Halsey discounted the info because at one point the Jap armada seemed to reverse course. Then resumed its path into Leyte Gulf with dolorous consequences...
Barrett
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Thanks to Admiral Davis
Bubbas invitation to EvoNexus Demo Day 2024 16 Sep 4-7pm at Qualcomm Auditorium
Fellow Bubbas, you are invited to join us for Evonexus Demo Day 2024 4-7pm at Qualcomm Auditorium. Register below and use Code "Admiral-VIP-8888".
For those who do sign up, I wlll send you a list of companies that have technology with significant military application. Walt
Register
More about this event
EvoNexus Demo Day 2024 will feature six companies that entered EvoNexus as a small team of founders and have developed to growth stage companies with product revenues. All six have created technology and products that are both disruptive and in diverse sectors. Total venture capital secured collectively by these companies exceeds $600M. Please join us as we recognize these important startup companies and gain insight into how they continue to evolve.
This year's Demo Day will be held in San Diego at the Qualcomm Irwin M. Jacobs Hall (Building N) on Monday, September 16th, 2024, from 3:30-7PM. For those who do not know what a Demo Day event entails, please view the short video linked HERE about the 2018 Demo Day, which was also held in the Qualcomm Jacobs Auditorium.
Fabric8Labs - Their technology is significantly important to DoD
Fabric8Labs, Inc. is revolutionizing metal additive manufacturing with its advanced 3D printing technologies. Founded in 2015, the San Diego-based company is at the forefront of advanced manufacturing and is commercializing breakthroughs in material science and processing - reducing manufacturing costs and supporting significant advancements in material quality and manufacturing capabilities. Their target use cases include thermal management for high-power AI chips in hyperscale data centers, wireless antenna communications, and power electronics.
BRELYON – a dual use company
Brelyon is an MIT spin-off introducing the first-ever, headset-free virtual display for gaming, entertainment, and enterprise applications. The technology uses novel physics with optical and computational techniques to create true depth and panorama, replicating a cinema-like experience in a 32" monitor form factor. Their goal is to provide display solutions that elevate your experience with desktop computers. Early use cases for their immersive display products include training, command and control centers, medical imaging, and automotive.
Biolinq -
A USCD spin-out technology team to EvoNexus, Biolinq has created a new Biowearable experience by using an array of electrochemical sensors so small you can barely feel them. Their metabolic health sensors work together to provide maximum reliability for continuous sensing applications. With the potential of multiple analytes such as glucose, ketones, and lactate, they provide an entirely new user experience with actionable metabolic health insights. Over the next 10 years they intend to bring Biosensing and Biowearables mainstream.
Carlsmed
Carlsmed's mission is to improve outcomes and decrease the cost of healthcare for spine surgery. The company's aprevo devices are designed to improve the standard of care for surgical treatment of patients with adult spinal malalignment. Carlsmed uses patient data and proprietary digital technologies to create optimal surgical plans and personalized aprevo spine fusion devices for each patient. The Carlsmed aprevo devices are FDA cleared and have been granted FDA Breakthrough Designation, an industry first for any implanted device, and are commercially available in the U.S.
Syntiant Corp.
Founded in 2017 and based in Irvine, California, Syntiant Corp. is a leader in delivering end-to-end deep learning solutions for always-on applications by combining purpose-built silicon with an edge-optimized data platform and training pipeline. Syntiant's advanced chip solutions merge deep learning with semiconductor design to produce ultra-low-power, high performance, deep neural network processors for edge AI applications across a wide range of consumer and industrial use cases, from earbuds to automobiles. Syntiant's early use case was providing a chip that provided speech recognition in Amazon's Alexa product.
Obsidian Sensors -
A Qualcomm spin-out to EvoNexus, Obsidian Sensors developed a glass MEMS thermal sensor technology that is more than an order of magnitude less expensive to manufacture than incumbent Si MEMS based sensors. These sensors (also known as microbolometers) are the core of uncooled thermal cameras that image the heat distribution of objects, enabling vision in complete darkness and through obscurants like smoke. Their disruptive reduction in cost will accelerate thermal imaging penetration into automotive night vision and autonomous driving, security surveillance and smartphone applications.
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Thanks to Interesting Facts
Earth is the only place in the solar system where fire occurs.
Fire seems intrinsically linked to life on Earth. The fires of the Earth's molten core formed the land we live on, forests are at their healthiest when they burn in a controlled manner to make way for new life, and even the legendary R&B group Earth, Wind & Fire paid homage to the stuff. In fact, Earth is the only place we know of where fire occurs. That's because fire requires three things to exist: heat, oxygen, and combustible material. This "fire triangle" is only possible on Earth, as far as we know, because of the planet's high levels of free oxygen. Travel to other planets and moons in the solar system, and there isn't enough (or any) oxygen for fire to exist. As for the sun, which some people imagine as a giant ball of fire, it's actually a giant collection of gas that glows thanks to the complex nuclear fusion occurring in its core.
While fire may not exist in any other place in the solar system (as far as we're aware), that doesn't mean humans can't export the stuff. NASA has experimented with fire in microgravity for more than a decade — both to discover its behavior and also design fire-resistant space material. Turns out fire in microgravity behaves much differently, appearing more sluggish (likely due to low oxygen) and forming strange, orb-like flames. So while it's not impossible for fire to exist beyond the confines of Earth, it'll need a lot of help from future astronauts to export it to the moon, Mars, and beyond.
Humans discovered fire 20,000 years ago.
The U.S.'s first volunteer firefighting service was created by founding father
Benjamin Franklin
Numbers Don't Lie
Year the U.S. Forest Service introduced Smokey Bear to promote fire prevention
1944
Degrees (Fahrenheit) the hottest part of a candle flame can reach
2,552
Maximum loudness (in decibels) of a typical fire alarm; about as loud as a chainsaw
120
Number of books lost when the Library of Alexandria caught fire, according to Roman philosopher Seneca
40,000
The hottest place ever recorded on Earth was seven times hotter than the sun.
Human control of fire has come a long way since its ancient origins, and today scientists are hard at work trying to recreate the very plasma that fuses at the center of the sun. Known as nuclear fusion reactors, these incredibly complex machines could help humanity kick its diet of fossil fuels while simultaneously providing nearly limitless, clean energy. Fusion reactors do this by recreating the physics at the center of stars, but because Earth isn't nearly as dense as a star, scientists must make machines that can get really, really hot. This heat helps particles overcome their natural resistances and fuse, forming a new element while releasing lots of energy. In 2022, a fusion reactor in South Korea recorded a scorching temperature of 100 million degrees Celsius, seven times hotter than the core of the sun. This reaction lasted for only 30 seconds, but within that half-minute, that terrestrially bound mini star was the hottest place ever recorded on Earth. This is only the beginning of how hot things will get — scientists estimate that when the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, the world's largest fusion reactor, goes online in 2025, it'll eventually reach temperatures of 150 million degrees Celsius.
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Thanks to YP
I think that many of us have been hassled at Air Force Bases over the years. Crossing the dreaded RED line got my CO dragged out of his cockpit and spread-eagled against the side of his F-8 once. At Naha Okinawa…..We were sort of happy about that one though. But they gave him back. skip
Here is another from YP
RE airplane noise: When I was going thru VA-43 at Oceana, then the Northern Scoot RAG, we lived in an upstairs garage apartment on Back Cove Road (it really was on a back cove!) several miles north of Oceana. Late at night, the distinctive hard burner lights of F-8 engine tests would still shake us.
Barksdale AFB: I was cross country back to NAS Dallas from Cecil in my Crusader. When I turned the corner into FT Worth Center air space, they advised me that there was a 30 minute ATC hold into their airspace due WX. Um. No hab gas. Change my flight plan to….um, Barksdale in Shreesport (Grits pronunciation), and how about one of them vectors? All right, when I got there, I got put on a real long downwind. Seems that I arrived during a B-52 scramble-ex RTB, and I was fitted in amongst the Buffs. When I landed and exited the runway, I was met by a truck full of airmen with rifles pointed at me! Oy! I popped my canopy, and they demanded and I furnished my DD-175. They reluctantly figgered I wasn't a commie, but, even worse, still might be a secret Squid ORI inspector! They escorted me to the base of the Tower, which was serving as a transient line for Suspicious Creatures. They finally allowed me to shut down and deplane. Eventually, things calmed down enough to tell me to git out and don't come back.
Worked for me.
YP
Thanks to Phil
A kindrede spirit and fellow Loring AFB kid. I spent time up there with the B-36 and first B-52…skip
My dad was a plankholder at Loring (originally Limestone AFB) and we spent 5 years there during the B-36 era. Base housing wasn't the highest of priorities and we spent several months in an apartment over a garage in downtown Limestone, which meant we heard the B-36s every day (and night), but they normally weren't all that loud. That changed and things got really sporty once we went into our base quarters because of our proximity to the runway. Recoveries were loud, but when they launched the windows would rattle and any sort of dish or plate on the dinner table during mealtime would do the Peacemaker Shuffle towards the edges and awaiting floor. I was a kid and I loved it. My dad had spent WW2 in the mud of New Guinea and the Philippines as a grunt and nothing much phased him. My mom hated it.
As a point of real-world reference we also spent 7 years at Sheppard and were there when SAC began using the place for B-52 operations in the very early 60s. My mom would occasionally take us to an off-base church that was located near the end of the runway, so we received the full benefit of the Mighty BUFF launching and recovering. That was impressive too but noise-wise the Boeing products couldn't hold a candle to all those recips and their associated prop noise coupled with the podded jet engines on the B-36. It was quite literally no contest.
If you ever heard a B-36 you'd never forget it---thanks very much for sharing that photo.
phil
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This Day in U S Military History…….7 September
1927 – American television pioneer Philo T. Farnsworth, 21, succeeded in transmitting an image through purely electronic means by using a device called an image dissector. When Philo T. Farnsworth was 13, he envisioned a contraption that would receive an image transmitted from a remote location–the television. Farnsworth submitted a patent in January 1927, when he was 19, and began building and testing his invention that summer. He used an "image dissector" (the first television camera tube) to convert the image into a current, and an "image oscillite" (picture tube) to receive it. On this day his tests bore fruit. When the simple image of a straight line was placed between the image dissector and a carbon arc lamp, it showed up clearly on the receiver in another room. The New York World's Fair showcased the television in April 1939, and soon afterward, the first televisions went on sale to the public.
1942 – A force of Marine Corps Raiders, 600 in strength, attack the Japanese base at Taivu. The raid succeeds in damaging the base and disrupting the Japanese preparation for an attack on the main American position at Guadalcanal.
1986 – Off the Coast of Florida — An F-106 "Delta Dart" of the 125th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron encounters a Soviet Air Force Tu-95 "Bear" bomber flying parallel to the twelve-mile limit of U.S. airspace as it makes its way from Russia to Cuba. These are routine flights which are just as routinely met by Air Guard fighters who act as 'escorts' to be sure the bombers pose no threat to the U.S. homeland. Since 1953 Air Guard fighter-interceptor units took on an air defense mission, challenging unidentified aircraft flying into American airspace. Air Guard pilots and aircraft stood alert 24 hours a day, every day. This mission grew each year and by 1965 the 22 interceptor squadrons flew 30,000 hours and completed 38,000 alert sorties. By 1988 the Air Guard provided 86% of the Air Force units assigned to national airspace security. In the post 9/11 environment the Air Guard has continued and expanded its role in homeland defense by flying overhead cover for major cities in times of heightened alert as well as investigating all suspicious air traffic heading toward or across the country.
Medal of Honor Citations for Actions Taken This Day
KING, HUGH
Rank and organization: Ordinary Seaman, U.S. Navy. Born: 1845, Ireland. Accredited to: New York. G.O. No.: 176, 9 July 1872. Citation: On board the U.S.S. Iroquois, Delaware River, 7 September 1871. Jumping overboard at the imminent risk of his life, King rescued one of the crew of that vessel from drowning.
MAXWELL, ROBERT D.
Rank and organization: Technician Fifth Grade, U.S. Army, 7th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Besancon, France, 7 September 1944. Entered service at: Larimer County, Colo. Birth: Boise, Idaho. G.O. No.: 24, 6 April 1945. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty on 7 September 1944, near Besancon, France. Technician 5th Grade Maxwell and 3 other soldiers, armed only with .45 caliber automatic pistols, defended the battalion observation post against an overwhelming onslaught by enemy infantrymen in approximately platoon strength, supported by 20mm. flak and machinegun fire, who had infiltrated through the battalion's forward companies and were attacking the observation post with machinegun, machine pistol, and grenade fire at ranges as close as 10 yards. Despite a hail of fire from automatic weapons and grenade launchers, Technician 5th Grade Maxwell aggressively fought off advancing enemy elements and, by his calmness, tenacity, and fortitude, inspired his fellows to continue the unequal struggle. When an enemy hand grenade was thrown in the midst of his squad, Technician 5th Grade Maxwell unhesitatingly hurled himself squarely upon it, using his blanket and his unprotected body to absorb the full force of the explosion. This act of instantaneous heroism permanently maimed Technician 5th Grade Maxwell, but saved the lives of his comrades in arms and facilitated maintenance of vital military communications during the temporary withdrawal of the battalion's forward headquarters.
CRUMP, JERRY K.
Rank and organization: Corporal, U.S. Army, Company L, 7th Infantry Regiment, 3d Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Chorwon, Korea, 6 and 7 September 1951. Entered service at: Forest City, N.C. Born: 18 February 1933, Charlotte, N.C. G.O. No.: 68, 11 July 1952. Citation. Cpl. Crump, a member of Company L, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and outstanding courage above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. During the night a numerically superior hostile force launched an assault against his platoon on Hill 284, overrunning friendly positions and swarming into the sector. Cpl. Crump repeatedly exposed himself to deliver effective fire into the ranks of the assailants, inflicting numerous casualties. Observing 2 enemy soldiers endeavoring to capture a friendly machine gun, he charged and killed both with his bayonet, regaining control of the weapon. Returning to his position, now occupied by 4 of his wounded comrades, he continued his accurate fire into enemy troops surrounding his emplacement. When a hostile soldier hurled a grenade into the position, Cpl. Crump immediately flung himself over the missile, absorbing the blast with his body and saving his comrades from death or serious injury. His aggressive actions had so inspired his comrades that a spirited counterattack drove the enemy from the perimeter. Cpl. Crump's heroic devotion to duty, indomitable fighting spirit, and willingness to sacrifice himself to save his comrades reflect the highest credit upon himself, the infantry and the U.S. Army.
*KANELL, BILLIE G.
Rank and organization: Private, U.S. Army, Company I, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Pyongyang, Korea, 7 September 1951. Entered service at: Poplar Bluff, Mo. Born: 26 June 1931, Poplar Bluff, Mo. G.O. No.: 57, 13 June 1952. Citation: Pvt. Kanell, a member of Company I, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and outstanding courage above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. A numerically superior hostile force had launched a fanatical assault against friendly positions, supported by mortar and artillery fire, when Pvt. Kanell stood in his emplacement exposed to enemy observation and action and delivered accurate fire into the ranks of the assailants. An enemy grenade was hurled into his emplacement and Pvt. Kanell threw himself upon the grenade, absorbing the blast with his body to protect 2 of his comrades from serious injury and possible death. A few seconds later another grenade was thrown into the emplacement and, although seriously wounded by the first missile, he summoned his waning strength to roll toward the second grenade and used his body as a shield to again protect his comrades. He was mortally wounded as a result of his heroic actions. His indomitable courage, sustained fortitude against overwhelming odds, and gallant self-sacrifice reflect the highest credit upon himself, the infantry, and the U.S. Army.
*PORTER, DONN F.
Rank and organization: Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company G, 14th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. Place and date: Near Mundung-ni Korea, 7 September 1952. Entered service at: Baltimore, Md. Born: 1 March 1931, Sewickley, Pa. G.O. No.: 64, 18 August 1953. Citation: Sgt. Porter, a member of Company G, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and outstanding courage above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. Advancing under cover of intense mortar and artillery fire, 2 hostile platoons attacked a combat outpost commanded by Sgt. Porter, destroyed communications, and killed 2 of his 3-man crew. Gallantly maintaining his position, he poured deadly accurate fire into the ranks of the enemy, killing 15 and dispersing the remainder. After falling back under a hail of fire, the determined foe reorganized and stormed forward in an attempt to overrun the outpost. Without hesitation, Sgt. Porter jumped from his position with bayonet fixed and, meeting the onslaught and in close combat, killed 6 hostile soldiers and routed the attack. While returning to the outpost, he was killed by an artillery burst, but his courageous actions forced the enemy to break off the engagement and thwarted a surprise attack on the main line of resistance. Sgt. Porter's incredible display of valor, gallant self-sacrifice, and consummate devotion to duty reflect the highest credit upon himself and uphold the noble traditions of the military service.
*ENGLISH, GLENN H., JR.
Rank and organization: Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, Company E, 3d Battalion, ~03 Infantry, 173d Airborne Brigade. Place and date: Phu My District, Republic of Vietnam, 7 September 1970. Entered service at: Philadelphia, Pa. Born: 23 April 1940, Altoona, Pa. Citation: S/Sgt. English was riding in the lead armored personnel carrier in a 4-vehicle column when an enemy mine exploded in front of his vehicle. As the vehicle swerved from the road, a concealed enemy force waiting in ambush opened fire with automatic weapons and anti-tank grenades, striking the vehicle several times and setting it on fire. S/Sgt. English escaped from the disabled vehicle and, without pausing to extinguish the flames on his clothing, rallied his stunned unit. He then led it in a vigorous assault, in the face of heavy enemy automatic weapons fire, on the entrenched enemy position. This prompt and courageous action routed the enemy and saved his unit from destruction. Following the assault, S/Sgt. English heard the cries of 3 men still trapped inside the vehicle. Paying no heed to warnings that the ammunition and fuel in the burning personnel carrier might explode at any moment, S/Sgt. English raced to the vehicle and climbed inside to rescue his wounded comrades. As he was lifting 1 of the men to safety, the vehicle exploded, mortally wounding him and the man he was attempting to save. By his extraordinary devotion to duty, indomitable courage, and utter disregard for his own safety, S/Sgt. English saved his unit from destruction and selflessly sacrificed his life in a brave attempt to save 3 comrades. S/Sgt. English's conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the cost of his life were an inspiration to his comrades and are in the highest traditions of the U.S. Army
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AMERICAN AEROSPACE EVENTS for September 7, FIRSTS, LASTS, AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOMPLISHMENTS. THANKS TO HAROLD "PHIL" MYERS CHIEF HISTORIAN AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE, AND RECONNAISSANCE AGENCY
7 September
1911: Lt Theodore G. Ellyson (USN) demonstrated a shipboard wire launching of the Curtiss seaplane. His plane took off from a wire cable stretched across a platform on shore, representing a ship's deck, and then alighted on the water at Lake Keuka. (24)
1917: A winged foul anchor became the official insignia for Navy aviators. It was nearly the same as the device used today.
1918: Several planes carried 18 enlisted men from Chanute Field to Champaign, Ill., to make the first demonstration of troop transport by air in the US. (18) (24)
1933: Lt Cmdr H. E. Holland led six Consolidated P2Y-1 flying boats on a 25 hour 19 minute nonstop flight from Norfolk to Coco Solo, Panama Canal, to set a 2,059-mile record for formation flying. (24)
1938: Seventeen Navy planes completed a mass flight from San Diego to Hawaii, covering the 2,570 miles in 17 hours 21 minutes. (24)
1950: KOREAN WAR. The 22 BG employed 24 B-29s against the iron works at Chongjin in north-east N. Korea. (28)
1956: At Edwards AFB, Capt Iven C. Kincheloe set an altitude record for manned flight by flying the Bell X-2 rocket-powered aircraft to 126,000 feet Iven Carl "Kinch" Kincheloe Jr., served in the USAF during the Korean War, in which he was recognized as a flying ace. He continued as a test pilot after the war, participating in the Bell X-2 program, in which he set an altitude record of 126,200 feet (38,470 m) in 1956. For this suborbital flight above most of the atmosphere, he became known as "The First Spaceman". He later received the Mackay Trophy for this flight. He was selected for the Air Force's program to put a man in space but was killed in a plane crash in 1958.
1968: Max Conrad set a closed circuit record in a twin-engine Piper Aztec, flying 4,968 miles over a 621-mile triangle between St. Louis, Des Moines, and Kansas City, eight times in 37 hours 50 minutes.
1975: Through 3 November, following the Angolan civil war, USAF-managed civil aircraft flew 31,597 refugees to Portugal. Altogether, international airlift moved over 204,000 refugees. (18)
1979: President Carter selected the horizontal multiple protective shelter basing mode for the M-X missile (Peacekeeper). (6)
1988: The F-15 STOL demonstrator made its first flight at St. Louis. (30)
1995: Two 436 AW C-5s from Dover AFB airlifted gas turbine generators from Ramstein AB to Incirlik AB to provide electrical power for Kurdish refugees living in northern Iraq. (18)
1997: F-22 Chief Test Pilot Paul Metz flew the Lockheed Martin-Boeing F-22 Raptor for the USAF for the first time from Dobbins ARB over Marietta and north Georgia. The aircraft reached 15,000 feet in altitude in three minutes, where Metz then tested its handling characteristics and engine performance.
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Thanks to Brett….Catching up with what is going on in the world
Stratfor snippets - Haiti, Bangladesh, South Korea, Myanmar, Columbia, Canada, Russia/U.S., Bahrain, Brazil, Senegal, Ethiopia, Global, India/Singapore, China/Malaysia, Japan/Australia, Russia,
Haiti: Multinational Deployment Struggling With Resource Shortages, Poor Morale
What Happened: Kenyan police officers participating in the U.N.-backed multinational deployment to Haiti have complained of equipment and personnel shortages, as well as delays to officers' income, saying these issues are hurting morale, Reuters reported on Sept. 3.
Why It Matters: The Multinational Security Support Mission has faced regular logistical challenges in Haiti and political challenges within participating nations, and the reporting confirms that these challenges have resulted in resource shortfalls for the mission. These resource and personnel shortages, as well as poor officer morale, risk undermining the mission's success in retaking control of Port-au-Prince from Haiti's gangs, which almost certainly maintain control of most of the capital. If conditions worsen and new equipment does not arrive soon enough, Kenyan officers could refuse to participate in operations, potentially enabling gangs to retake some territory given Haitian security forces' poor capabilities. As the mission struggles to make progress over the coming months, safety and logistical challenges in Port-au-Prince will remain critical for the foreseeable future.
Background: Kenya has yet to provide all 1,000 of its promised forces, while the other countries that promised forces have yet to send any, meaning three months after the arrival of the first Kenyan forces, the multinational deployment remains far below the expected 2,500. Funds are also below their expected level, with the provided funds $150 million short of the expected $589 million for the first year's operations. Most of the promised funds have come from the United States, with some from the United Nations.
Bangladesh: Garment Workers' Protests Block Highways, Shut Down Factories
What Happened: Ready-made garment workers in Bangladesh's city of Gazipur began protesting and blocking major highways, including the Dhaka-Mymensingh route, while ongoing demonstrations have led to the closure of at least 60 garment factories in Ashulia, Savar and Dhaka, the Daily Prothom Alo reported on Sept. 4. Protesters' demands center on salary increases, higher attendance bonuses, and separate allowances for lunch and transport, with some also calling for the removal of Indian officials due to allegations of misconduct and arbitrary behavior.
Why It Matters: While the government has assured protestors that it will meet some of their demands, there is still a high risk of continued unrest, which would exacerbate Bangladesh's economic challenges. Amid ongoing manufacturing disruptions, factories are struggling to return to normal operations and meet shipping deadlines for September and October to fulfill higher demand as the Christmas holiday season approaches, which increases the risk that buyers may diversify their sourcing. Additionally, disputes over control of the jute business allegedly involving political party leaders are exacerbating the issue and risk further politicization. To address workers' demands, the interim government might implement labor reforms, but this would likely only occur in the medium-to-long term, as the government is currently focused on political reforms.
Background: Garment workers' protests are the latest instance of unrest challenging Bangladesh's interim government. The interim administration has struggled to stabilize the country and maintain law and order since it assumed power from the 15-year-old government of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who resigned and fled the country on Aug. 5 amid student-led anti-government protests. Bangladesh's ready-made garment sector is a key source of export revenue.
South Korea: Pension Reform To Hit Legislative Opposition, Spur Protests if Passed
What Happened: South Korea's health ministry released a pension reform proposal that would raise wage earners' pension contribution rate from 9% to 13% and hold the nominal income replacement rate at 42% (not continue to cut it to 40% through 2028, as per state plans), Yonhap News Agency reported on Sept. 4. The government is also considering raising the mandatory subscription age from 59 to 64 and introducing a fiscal stabilization mechanism for future benefit cuts to delay the fund's depletion from 2055 to 2072.
Why It Matters: Though necessary from a fiscal standpoint, the pension reform is controversial and will have to pass through the opposition-run legislature, where the Democratic Party is likely to either reject it outright or propose a drastically different reform with more benefits and fewer cuts. If a pension reform plan eventually passes, which remains unlikely at this time, the higher costs and fewer pension benefits for South Korea's working-age and retired populations will likely spur large-scale protests. If the legislature does not pass pension reforms in the next year or so, South Korea's major parties will likely stop pursuing them until after the 2027 presidential election to avoid losing support at the polls.
Background: South Korea is one of the fastest aging societies in the world, which makes fiscal sustainability of the pension system a chief governing problem. However, the issue is a drag on electoral support, especially as South Korean households are already dealing with cost-of-living concerns.
Myanmar: Resistance Forces Target Second-Largest City
What Happened: Myanmar resistance forces launched a rocket attack on the country's second-largest city of Mandalay, targeting the Central Military Command headquarters and damaging buildings, Channel News Asia reported on Sept. 4. Reports offer conflicting casualty figures, but military authorities have armed select civilians in the city in response to the threat of a rebel offensive.
Why It Matters: The resistance's targeting of the metro area speaks to its heightened confidence and substantial battlefield gains since October 2023, as well as to deteriorating conditions for the military. Myanmar's rebels may continue to harass Mandalay, making attacks like the Sept. 4 incident a new norm. However, the resistance is unlikely to capture the city since it is one of the junta's primary strongholds and hosts its Central Military Command, with modern defenses and a multitude of surrounding garrisons. Even so, rebel attacks on cities like Mandalay will raise businesses risks, including disruptions to telecommunications, internet access, electricity and travel.
Background: Resistance forces are pushing south after capturing territory in the northern Mandalay region in recent months. The People's Defense Force (the military wing of Myanmar's exiled government) primarily led the attack on Mandalay with support from ethnic militias. The resistance is strongest in rural areas, with the country's major metropolitan areas like Mandalay remaining firmly under junta control.
Colombia: Persisting Road Blockages Over Fuel Subsidy Cuts To Fuel Supply Chain Disruptions
What Happened: Truck drivers blocked roads in Bogota and 13 out of Colombia's 32 departments, causing heavy traffic jams and affecting public and school transport, garbage collection, and ambulance services, El Pais reported on Sept. 3. Protests erupted after the government started to phase out diesel subsidies and a 20.5% price increase entered into force on Aug. 31, while unions called for further mobilization on Sept. 5.
Why It Matters: The blockades and protests show that transport unions will continue to strongly oppose President Gustavo Petro's plan to increase diesel prices, sparking recurring protests that will cause operational disruptions over the coming weeks. For instance, truck drivers will leverage their mobilization capacity to block roads across the country, disrupting supply chains and potentially leading to product shortages in some regions, as Colombia relies on road transportation for 90% of the goods it produces and consumes. These potential product shortages and spillover inflationary impacts on freight prices and the wider economy could also trigger broader anti-government demonstrations over the coming weeks.
Background: President Gustavo Petro seeks to increase diesel prices by 67% and use the $288 million currently spent on subsidies to fund targeted social policies instead, such as the provision of education and food for low-income citizens. The Colombian government subsidizes more than half of fuel costs in the country through a price stabilization mechanism introduced in 2007 to limit international price shocks, and prices have been frozen since 2020, making them the third-cheapest in South America, only behind Ecuador and Bolivia.
Canada: NDP Exits Supply-and-Confidence Agreement Supporting Liberal Government
What Happened: Canada's New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh announced on social media that his party was exiting the 2022 supply-and-confidence agreement that enabled Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Liberal party to form a minority government, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported on Sept. 4. Singh said Trudeau had failed and was "too weak" to defeat the Conservative party and its leader Pierre Poilievre in the next federal election, which is due by October 2025.
Why It Matters: Trudeau and his Liberal party must now walk a thin line to court Canada's main three opposition parties in Parliament to avoid a no-confidence vote triggering early elections. These developments show that for Singh and the NDP, association with the wildly unpopular Trudeau government has become a liability in the leadup to the next federal election. If Canada held the election today, Canadian election site 338Canada projects that the NDP would win just sixteen seats in Parliament compared with the 25 it currently has, continuing the party's slow decline in popularity since it was Canada's official opposition party from 2011 to 2015.
Background: Preelection polls show that the Conservative party has a commanding lead over the Liberal party, with 338Canada projecting that the Conservatives would win 210 seats, up from its current 118 seats, which is well above the 172-seat threshold needed for a majority. However, 338Canada projects that the Liberal Party would win just 71 seats, which is less than half of the 156 seats the party currently has. The 2021 supply-and-confidence agreement between the NDP and the Liberal party was the first of its kind at the federal level in Canada's history and was due to expire in June 2025.
Russia, U.S.: U.S. Indicts Russian State Media Employees for Election Influence Efforts
What Happened: Several U.S. departments simultaneously announced actions on Sept. 4 in response to purported Russian efforts to influence the 2024 U.S. presidential election. The Justice Department charged two employees of Russian state media outlet Russia Today with distributing content to U.S. audiences and using online commenters to push divisive messaging, the Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control designated 10 people and two entities as participating in Russian influence efforts targeting the U.S. presidential election, and the State Department announced three similar actions, including a new visa restriction policy on individuals designated as using Russian state media as cover for covert activities.
Why It Matters: The indictment underscores the Kremlin's larger efforts to influence the 2024 U.S. presidential election in November, shedding light on Russian methodology to disseminate its messaging. Content often focused on emotionally charged issues in attempts to exploit social tensions and sow division, exacerbating friction in what is already likely to be a contentious election and increasing the likelihood of protests, riots and targeted violence. Additionally, Russia Today's efforts to co-opt online commenters to spread disinformation gives the illusion that real users support the ideas included in the influence campaigns, making the narratives more believable and increasing the likelihood that other users will spread and repeat them, further stoking divisions.
Background: The Justice Department alleged that Russia Today and its employees recruited online commenters to spread pro-Russian propaganda and disinformation across social media by funneling them nearly $10 million. U.S. intelligence agencies have previously warned of Russian attempts to interfere in the upcoming election. For example, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence released a report in July saying that Russia sought to undermine support for the Democratic presidential nominee in favor of former President Donald Trump, in part due to Trump's indications that he would favor reduced support to Ukraine.
Bahrain: Another Prisoner Release Signals Easing Repression, but Crackdowns Remain Possible
What Happened: Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa pardoned 457 prisoners to mark the 25th anniversary of his rule in the latest sign of easing repression in the island kingdom, AP reported on Sept. 4. According to the Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy, many were released from the Jaw Rehabilitation and Reform Center, a center for political prisoners, suggesting that many were originally arrested for political offenses.
Why It Matters: The government will likely release more prisoners around Bahrain's National Day on Dec. 16 and other important events, which may improve the country's human rights reputation. However, without political reform, these releases do not fundamentally change the structure of human rights in Bahrain, and the government will likely continue to conduct occasional arrests in response to political activism. Should the opposition movement resurge, the government would likely resort to mass crackdowns to prevent a viable challenge to the monarchy's rule.
Background: In April, King Hamad released another 1,500 prisoners, almost half of whom were considered political prisoners. Bahrain's government has steadily eased political crackdowns more than a decade after a major political uprising in 2011 nearly overthrew the monarchy and sparked a Saudi-Emirati military intervention. Since then, protests have largely disappeared and simmering sectarian tensions have eased despite Bahrain's normalization with Israel and the population's outrage over Israeli military action in Gaza.
Brazil: Worst Drought on Record To Increase Electricity Prices
What Happened: The worst drought in Brazil's recorded history is affecting 58% of the country's territory, with many areas experiencing no rain in over 100 days and low river levels impacting hydroelectric power generation, Folha de S.Paulo reported on Sept. 4. On the same day, the Brazilian Electricity Regulatory Agency confirmed a surcharge of $0.80 per 100 kilowatt-hours (kW/h) on households' and companies' electricity bills.
Why It Matters: With rains unlikely to resume until October, Brazil will likely continue facing severely dry weather conditions over the coming weeks, which will continue to impair power generation and increase electricity costs. The government will use the announced surcharge to fund the activation of gas power plants and likely electricity imports to prevent blackouts in the coming months, and the surcharge will likely remain in force at least until the rainy season replenishes reservoirs. As a result, electricity costs for companies operating in Brazil will likely increase in the short term, while the higher frequency of extreme droughts in Brazil suggests this scenario is likely to become more common in the coming years amid broader climate change impacts and the occurrence of the weather phenomenon El Nino.
Background: Brazil relies on hydroelectric plants for about two-thirds of the electricity it produces, and low river levels, especially in the north of the country, have impaired power generation. For instance, the Santo Antonio plant in the Amazon is using only seven of its 50 turbines, generating only 490 megawatts compared with its installed capacity of 3,568 megawatts. Current weather conditions are a combination of winter's usual dry weather with a severe heat wave that has pushed temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) in some states. Brazil has faced severe droughts at least five times over the past 11 years.
Senegal: Faye Calls Extraordinary Session of Parliament, Portending Snap Legislative Elections
What Happened: Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye issued a decree requesting the opening of an extraordinary session of the National Assembly, Radio France Internationale reported Sept. 5. This comes after the National Assembly's opposition-led bureau called an emergency meeting with the goal of launching a vote of no confidence against Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko after Sonko hinted at snap legislative elections being called on Sept. 12.
Why It Matters: Faye's summoning of an extraordinary session of the National Assembly will forestall the opposition's plans to launch a vote of no confidence against Sonko in the coming days, as no such provision is on the agenda of the extraordinary session. Given that the latter may be extended by up to 15 days according to the Senegalese Constitution, this means that the government will likely survive beyond Sept.12 — by which point Faye appears likely to call snap legislative elections, with early indications suggesting that these would take place in November. Faye's leveraging of institutional tools to prevent a vote of no confidence will likely frustrate the opposition Benno Bokk Yaakkaar (BBY) coalition and could prompt BBY to organize demonstrations. Although Faye's landslide victory in March means that the Patriots of Senegal Party (PASTEF) and its allies are highly likely to increase their presence in parliament, the government's declining popularity in recent months means that Faye may still fail to secure a parliamentary majority.
Background: Despite winning Senegal's March presidential election in a landslide, Faye does not have a parliamentary majority — with the ruling PASTEF party and allies holding only 60 of the assembly's 165 seats. However, the Senegalese constitution entitles the President to dissolve the National Assembly and call for snap legislative elections two years after the first session of the present-day parliament, which in the current cycle would be Sept. 12.
Ethiopia: Djibouti-Ethiopia Port Deal May Not Break Deadlock Over Somaliland
What Happened: Djiboutian Foreign Minister Mahamoud Ali Youssouf said he expected Ethiopia to respond positively to Djibouti's proposal to offer Ethiopia "100% management" of the port of Tadjourah, located in northern Djibouti, Bloomberg reported on Sept. 4. The proposal is aimed at easing tensions between Ethiopia and Somalia over Addis Ababa's port deal with Somalia's breakaway region of Somaliland.
Why It Matters: The Djiboutian proposal would be advantageous for Ethiopia, but it would not enable Addis Ababa to diversify its maritime access away from Djibouti nor secure a naval base on the Gulf of Aden, both of which are key objectives for Addis Ababa that Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has secured through Ethiopia's port deal with Somaliland. This means that while Ethiopia may accept Djibouti's proposal, the deal is unlikely to prompt Abiy to scrap the port deal with Somaliland. In turn, tensions between Ethiopia and Somalia will likely persist over the coming months and will risk leading to skirmishes between Somali and Ethiopian soldiers. Skirmishes could occur along the two countries' undemarcated border, as well as within Somalia, where Ethiopian troops are deployed bilaterally and through the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia.
Background: Relations between Ethiopia and Somalia have nosedived since Jan. 1, when Addis Ababa signed a memorandum of understanding with Somalia's breakaway region of Somaliland to secure commercial and military access to a stretch of land near the port of Berbera in exchange for considering recognizing the region's independence. Somalia has called this agreement a violation of its territorial integrity. Youssouf's statement comes after he publicly unveiled the proposal on Aug. 30.
Global: Council of Europe Members To Begin Signing Global AI Treaty
What Happened: The European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States are expected to sign the Council of Europe's Framework Convention on Artificial Intelligence, or AI, in Vilnius, Lithuania, on Sept. 5, the Financial Times reported the same day. The document is a legally binding international treaty emphasizing human rights, democracy and the rule of law in the signatories' development and regulation of AI systems, and it will require member countries to be accountable for any harmful and/or discriminatory outcomes of AI systems via mechanisms like legal recourse options for victims of AI-related rights violations.
Why It Matters: The treaty is the latest example of government efforts to address growing concerns around the significant and potentially harmful capabilities of advancing AI systems. However, like many other recent international initiatives, there appear to be few prospects for the treaty to be robustly enforced across signatory states due to highly generalized language around safety requirements and a lack of articulated noncompliance penalties such as sanctions or fines. Additionally, the treaty will rely on member states to self-monitor and report potential AI safety violations. Taken together, these limitations create broad leeway for member states to continue prioritizing domestic AI advancement while minimizing investment in safety initiatives.
Background: The Council of Europe is an international organization separate from the European Union that focuses on safeguarding human rights across member countries, including all 27 EU member states, Australia, Argentina, Canada, Israel, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. The AI Framework Convention has been in development since 2019 and was officially adopted in May 2024 following discussions among the Council's 57 member countries. The treaty follows several other recent jurisdiction-level and international efforts to regulate AI tools such as the EU AI Act, the Group of Seven's AI code of conduct, the Bletchley Declaration and initiatives by U.S. states like California.
India, Singapore: Four MoUs Strengthen Cooperation, Including on Semiconductors
What Happened: During his two-day trip to Singapore, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alongside Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, signed four memorandums of understanding focused on digital technologies, semiconductor development, health collaboration and skill enhancement, The Hindu reported on Sept. 5.
Why It Matters: The MoU on a semiconductor ecosystem partnership details how Singapore will assist in the growth of India's semiconductor sector, while India will help Singaporean companies enter and develop supply chains within its extensive market. The agreement focuses on fostering investment in chip manufacturing, enhancing supply chain resilience, and advancing workforce development through upskilling and technical training. Singapore accounts for about 10% of global chip production and 20% of semiconductor manufacturing equipment, and India offers a $10 billion incentive package as part of its economic strategy, making both countries key emerging destinations for chip investment. Additionally, the meetings highlight the strong bilateral ties between India and Singapore and underscore India's Act East policy, which aims to bolster strategic, economic and cultural connections with Asia-Pacific countries.
Background: Less than two weeks before Modi's visit, India and Singapore held a ministerial roundtable to identify new opportunities for collaboration in areas like digitization, sustainability, skills development, health, advanced manufacturing and connectivity. Singapore is India's leading trade partner within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and ranks as India's sixth-largest trade partner globally. Additionally, in 2023, Singapore emerged as the top source of foreign direct investment into India.
China, Malaysia: Anwar Says Malaysia Will Keep Drilling in South China Sea
What Happened: Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim stated that Malaysia will continue its oil and gas activities off Sarawak's coast, despite a recently leaked demand from China to stop, The Straits Times reported on Sept. 5. He emphasized that the activities are within Malaysian territory and not meant to provoke or antagonize China.
Why It Matters: Malaysia has controlled the area in question for decades, with its oil and gas resources crucial to its energy and broader economic interests, so simply ceasing its activities was always unrealistic. However, Malaysia's recent tilt toward China necessitates careful political and diplomatic posturing for Anwar, who seeks simultaneously to avoid confrontations, strengthen ties with China, defend territorial claims and avoid opposition criticism for being weak on national defense. Domestically, the leak suggests the existence of internal discontent within Malaysia's defense and/or foreign ministries, so Kuala Lumpur will look to crack down on internal dissent to avoid further disclosures that could escalate the situation. However, the government's ability to do so remains in question, so further leaks are possible. In the meantime, the decades-long China-Malaysia South China Sea dispute will likely continue at its usual low intensity.
Background: Anwar was reacting to the revelation of an Aug. 29 leaked diplomatic note from China, and he made these remarks during a state visit to Moscow, Russia. Anwar also acknowledged receiving "one or two" diplomatic notes from China demanding a halt, indicating that several such demands remain undisclosed. Malaysian authorities announced a police investigation into the leak on Sept. 4.
Japan, Australia: Countries Deepen Cybersecurity, Defense Ties
What Happened: Japan and Australia signed the Pacific Digital Development Initiative, or PDDI, following a meeting between the countries' defense and foreign ministers, Nikkei Asia reported on Sept. 5. The initiative focuses on digital and telecommunications infrastructure for Pacific island countries and also has defense and cybersecurity applications.
Why It Matters: Cooperation will focus on undersea cables, data centers, cybersecurity and capacity enhancement for Pacific island partners, another bid to counter growing Chinese influence in the Pacific islands region. The meeting also moves Japan and Australia toward tighter conventional defense cooperation, with Australia now set to participate in Japan's Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade training exercises and the U.S.-Japan Orient Shield exercise. Moreover, the PDDI marks another example of Asia-Pacific countries deepening defense ties in the context of China's assertiveness in the region. With Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on his way out and the potential for former U.S. President Donald Trump to return to the White House, there is even more incentive to quickly and firmly establish such ties, which will continue among the likes of Japan, Australia, South Korea and the Philippines (and, to lesser extents, India, New Zealand, Indonesia, Singapore and Vietnam).
Background: The initiative comes in the context of larger Japanese, Australian and U.S. efforts to build influence in the Pacific islands region and follows similar initiatives, such as undersea cable assistance for Tuvalu and Palau. Japan and Australia signed a Reciprocal Access Agreement in 2023 under which Japan has already deployed F-35 fighter jets to Australia.
Global: OPEC+ Delays Voluntary Production Cut Phase Out by Two Months
What Happened: Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates and other oil producers participating in OPEC+'s voluntary 2.2 million barrel per day production cut agreed to delay the cut's phase out from Oct. 1 to Dec. 1, OPEC+ said in a press release published on its website on Sept. 5.
Why It Matters: By delaying the unwinding of voluntary production cuts, OPEC+ is hoping to ease pressure on crude oil prices, which are currently at nine month lows, and prevent a further collapse in oil prices. Nevertheless, European crude oil price benchmark Brent rose only 2% at the news and has since retreated over concerns about economic health ahead of the Sept. 6 U.S. jobs report.
Background: OPEC+ initially agreed in June 2024 to unwind the 2.2 million barrel per day voluntary production cuts between October 2024 and September 2025. The cuts are separate from OPEC+'s mandatory 3.66 million barrel per day cut, which OPEC+ already extended through 2025 at its June meeting. OPEC's next ministerial meeting is scheduled for Dec. 1. The planned increase would have lifted production by 180,000 barrels per day in October and 540,000 barrels per day through the end of the year.
Russia: Joint Advisory Links Russia's GRU to Cyberattacks and Digital Sabotage
What Happened: A Sept. 5 joint advisory from security services in 10 Western countries attributed a series of cyberattacks across the world since at least 2020 to Unit 29155 of Russia's military intelligence agency, the GRU. The attacks targeted governments, financial services companies and critical infrastructure entities for the purpose of espionage, sabotage and reputational harm through hack-and-leak operations and website defacement.
Why It Matters: The advisory claims to be the first linking Unit 29155 to cyberattacks and digital sabotage, indicating that the unit has expanded its threat arsenal, increasingly leveraging cyber tactics to carry out offensive sabotage attacks. In conjunction with the group's efforts to cause reputational damage to organizations through hack-and-leak operations and website defacements, the development highlights Russia's offensive cyber strategy to carry out disruptive activity and harm Western organizations, particularly those supporting Ukraine.
Background: Previous advisories have linked Unit 29155 to physical attacks, including foreign assassination attempts and attempted coups throughout Europe, as well as influence operations. The United Kingdom believes the same group was responsible for the attempted assassination of double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in England in 2018.
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