Halifax Shipyard Launches Canada’s Fifth 

Arctic And Offshore Patrol Ship

The Royal Canadian Navy’s fifth Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship (AOPS), the future HMCS Frédérick Rolette, was launched on December 9, 2023 at Halifax Shipyard.

Naval News Staff  12 Dec 2023

Halifax Shipyard press release

The launch of the fifth of six AOPS for the Royal Canadian Navy, marks a significant milestone for Canada’s National Shipbuilding Strategy (NSS) and the revitalization of the Royal Canadian Navy’s combatant fleet.

A full two months ahead of schedule, the 103-metre future HMCS Frédérick Rolette transitioned from Halifax Shipyard’s land-level facility to a submersible barge on December 8 and launched in the Bedford Basin today.

The ship, constructed by over 2,400 shipbuilders, is now pier side at Halifax Shipyard where work continues in preparation for sea trials and handover to the Royal Canadian Navy in September 2024.

Inside Halifax Shipyard’s facilities, the Royal Canadian Navy’s sixth AOPS, the future HMCS Robert Hampton Gray and the first AOPS variant for the Canadian Coast Guard are under construction, with work progressing as planned.

A generation of shipbuilders will deliver six AOPS for the Royal Canadian Navy, two AOPS for the Canadian Coast Guard, and 15 Canadian Surface Combatant ships for the Royal Canadian Navy as part of the NSS.

“The launch of future HMCS Frédérick Rolette is another milestone achieved on our mission to deliver ships for Canada. I’m proud of the teamwork that delivered this result”.

Dirk Lesko, President of Irving Shipbuilding Inc.

Charles Frédérick Rolette was born in Québec City on September 23, 1785, and joined the Royal Navy as a midshipman while a young teen. He distinguished himself during the War of 1812, earning a reputation as a bold and quick-thinking officer. The historical Canton of Rolette, located on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River, roughly 50 km southeast of the town of Montmagny, Québec, near the American border, was established in 1868 in his honour.

Just before the outbreak of the War of 1812, Rolette was posted to Amherstburg, Upper Canada (now Ontario) as Lieutenant in command of the brig General Hunter. When word of the outbreak of war reached Amherstburg on July 3, 1812, Rolette acted immediately, capturing an American vessel, the Cuyahoga, before the American crew even realized that their country had declared war on Britain. This was the first action of the War of 1812 and a significant prize as the Cuyahoga carried the American commander General William Hull’s papers and dispatches. This provided the British with significant early intelligence on American strength and deployment.

At a time when it was not yet customary to award medals to military personnel in recognition of conspicuous gallantry, Lieutenant Rolette was mentioned in dispatches by senior military officers on several occasions during the war. At the capture of Detroit, Major-General Isaac Brock praised Rolette’s conduct in the highest terms: “I have watched you during the action,” said the general, “you behaved like a lion, and I will remember you.”

– End –

 

Putin beefs up naval nuclear arsenal, promises more subs

Vladimir Putin praised the shipyard in Severodvinsk for its work on building new modern submarines. To the left, Commander of the Russian navy, Admiral Nikolai Yevmenov. Screenshot from Sevmash film via Vkontakte

Putin on Monday attended the flag-raising ceremony for the two nuclear-powered submarines Krasnoyarsk and Imperator Aleksandr III at the Sevmash yard in Severodvinsk.

Read in Russian | Читать по-русски

By

Thomas Nilsen

 

December 11, 2023

“With such sailors, with such vessels and with such weapons, Russia will feel safe,” Vladimir Putin wrote in the guest book on the bridge at one of the warships at port in Severodvinsk. 

Putin’s visit to the north Russian Arkhangelsk region was not announced and came as a surprise to locals who Monday morning discovered police and security forces at every street corner as the president’s motorcade came to Severodvinsk.

The president went directly to Sevmash, the only shipyard in Russia building nuclear-powered submarines. 

“We are consistently equipping the Navy with the most modern equipment and weapons and, let me emphasize, we are increasing serial production. Thus, Imperator Aleksandr III is already the seventh vessel in the series of Borei-class strategic missile carriers, and the cruiser Krasnoyarsk is the fourth vessel in the series of Yasen-class multi-purpose nuclear boats,” Putin said from stage.

A transcript of Putin’s speech is posted on Vkontakte by Sevmash. 

He promised to keep up Russia’s construction program for more nuclear-powered submarines of the 4th generation. 

“Work to increase Russia’s naval power will certainly continue. In the coming years, as part of the state armament program, three more Borei-A class strategic missile carriers should be launched from the  legendary Sevmash and transferred to the Navy.”

The Borei-A class subs can each carry 16 Bulava ballistic missiles and form the naval leg of Russia’s nuclear deterrence. 

Five more of the multipurpose Yasen-M class subs are currently under construction at the north Russian yard, including the Arkhangelsk which was put on water in late November this year. 

Three additional subs of the class will follow, bringing the total number up to 12, six for the Northern Fleet and six for the Pacific Fleet. 

The Krasnoyarsk will, like the Imperator Aleksandr III, sail for the Pacific Fleet. 

Vladimir Putin recently approved the country’s 2024 budget with a record high portion going to the armed forces. Defense and security structures will next year reach about 40% of the total expenditure.

No details are provided on the costs of each new nuclear submarine now being rolled out. 

• 

  Photo: Sevmash

Putin in Arkhangelsk: Arctic industry and infrastructure on agenda

The Russian ruler gathered the governors of all Arctic regions for a talk about big projects. Among them is a nuclear power station in the north Siberian village of Ust-Kuiga.



Vladimir Putin and Navy Chief Nikolai Yevmenov in Arkhangelsk. Photo: Kremlin.ru

By Atle Staalesen

December 12, 2023

Upon arrival in the Arkhangelsk region on 11th of December, Putin headed straight to the naval city of Severodvinsk where he attended the flag-raising ceremony for the two nuclear-powered submarines.

He subsequently sat down for talks with regional Governor Aleksandr Tsybulsky and chaired a video meeting with the leaders of all of Russia’s nine Arctic regions.

The seaport of Nayba is among Russia’s so-called support points for Arctic industry and infrastructure development.

On the agenda were the so-called Arctic support points that have been chosen as sites for new industry and infrastructure. A total of 16 sites are included in the list.  Among them is the Tiksi-Nayba area in the Sakha region.

According to Head of the Sakha regional government Aysen Nikolayev,  Tiksi-Nayba will be an area of significant growth. Among the upcoming investments is the building of infrastructure to the nearby village of Ust-Kuyga where Rosatom is in the process of planning a small-scale nuclear power station.

 

Together with a representative of Rosatom, Sakha regional government Aysen Nikolayev in August 2023 officially launched construction of a workers village in Ust-Kuyga. Photo: Rosatom

 

The installation will be the world’s first land-based station of its kind and be based on a RITM-200N reactor. It will have a heat and electricity production capacity of 190 MW 55 MW respectively and can serve for up to 60 years, Rosatom informs.

The power plant will provide energy to the nearby Kyuchussky mining area where several minerals and metals will be extracted, among them gold, tin and various rare earth metals.

The seaports of nearby Tiksi and Nayba will serve as local logistical hubs. By year 2032, the port of Nayba will be able to handle up to 15 million tons of goods per year, Governor Nikolayev explained to Putin.

Also the port of Tiksi will significantly be expanded. It will not only be able to handle far more goods, but also serve cruise vessels, the regional leader said.

Arctic developments have been high on the agenda of Putin after he prolonged his presidential tenure in 2018. According to his ambitious plans for the region is the boost in shipments on the Northern Sea Route to 80 million tons in year 2024.

That objective will be far from fulfilment. According to the latest figures from the Ministry of the Far East and Arctic, the volume will amount to 36 million tons in 2023.

UK urged to bolster Arctic defense as grey-zone threats rise: report

British UAV makes ready for take-off from a U.K warship in Arctic Norway. 

Photo: Royal Navy


The U.K. needs to prioritize military investments that will allow it to better respond to activities by Russia and China in the North, says a recent report from the by the U.K.’s International Relations and Defence Committee.

Eye on the Arctic
By Eilís Quinn

December 12, 2023

“We need to prepare for scenarios in which the Arctic becomes much more contested and subject to conflict,” Lord Ashton of Hyde, chair of the committee, said in a statement.

“The Arctic is a very challenging environment to operate in and requires specialised skills. It is vital that we maintain sufficient equipment and regular cold-weather training so that those skills are maintained and consolidated.”

The committee characterizes the present U.K. Arctic policy as “well-calibrated,” emphasizing the ongoing unpredictability of the region. But with increased accessibility due to climate change and ongoing strategic maneuvering by China and Russia for influence in the North, the report underscores the importance of Britain acquiring the requisite military equipment and resources.

\

Cold Response 2022 was NATO’s largest Arctic exercise in decades. The British submarine in Lyngen, northern Norway, was one of many vessels and about 35,000 soldiers from 28 countires taking part. 

Photo: Royal Navy

This readiness is crucial for responding promptly to a spectrum of scenarios, including environmental disasters, search and rescue operations, as well as potential challenges posed by Beijing and Moscow, the committee said.

“UK scenario planning will need to consider the possibility that China could in future seek to establish a military presence in the Arctic,” the report said. “The Government needs to prepare for this and other developments to ensure that it can adapt and respond to changed circumstances.”
Submarine capabilities need to keep pace with Russia

The United Kingdom and the United States are the only NATO countries that can currently send nuclear submarines under the ice cap for patrols, but the report says that Russia’s new generation of submarines are “significantly quieter and harder to detect” and that it’s imperative Britain keep pace.

From the bridge onboard a British warship sailing into the Barents Sea. 

Photo: Royal Navy

“We welcome the UK Government’s increased defence commitments to the region, including the recently announced plans for deeper collaboration with Nordic partners to combat hybrid threats,” the committee said. “The UK Government remains committed to holding cold weather training and military exercises in the High North.

“We are concerned, however, that the UK has insufficient key military assets, such as submarines, maritime patrol or airborne early warning aircraft, to support this increased focus on the Arctic alongside the UK’s growing interest in other regions such as the Indo-Pacific.”

Grey-zone activities need attention

The report stresses the low the possibility of conventional warfare in the North but that the country needs to be alert to hybrid threats like maritime sabotage, GPS attacks, cyber attacks and information warfare.

“While it is not in Russia’s interest to start a conventional conflict in the Arctic, sub-threshold activity and accidental escalation represent significant risks to the region’s security,” the report said.

“Russian sub-threshold activity in the High North is a significant and growing threat. The UK and its allies should prepare contingency plans to detect, deter and respond to hybrid and ‘grey-zone activities’, and consult on how to best do this in situations when public attribution is not possible.”

The International Relations and Defence Committee conducted an inquiry into the Arctic this year, prompted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent diplomatic and security implications affecting Arctic cooperation.

Their report was published on November 29.

This story is posted on the Barents Observer as part of Eye on the Arctic, a collaborative partnership between public and private circumpolar media organizations.

 

China set record for car production

12 December 2023 

By Alimat Aliyeva

In January-October 2023, China produced about 21 million passenger cars for the first time, Azernews reports, citing international media outlets.

In January-October, China produced 20.7 million cars, which is an absolute record for the same period in previous years and more than 20% higher than the results of 2019 before the pandemic.

International media outlets said that at the same time, things are not so good in the European Union and Britain against the background of anti-Russian sanctions: in the first 10 months of this year, production lags behind the indicator by 22.5%.

Among European countries, car production declined the most this year in Finland, Slovenia, Romania, the Netherlands and France.

The events of the last four years have had a painful impact on the dynamics of car sales in Europe – the result for 10 months of this year was 20.22% lower than in 2019.

However, China has steadily increased its dynamics: this year, not only production has increased in the country, but also sales. Sales increased by 20% to 20.6 million units.

China's automotive industry employs about 30 million people, which is twice as many as in Europe (12.9 million people). At the same time, the number of people directly involved in their production - a decrease of 10% over the past few years - is observed against the background of the sad situation related to the production of cars in Europe.

The Biodiversity of India’s Siang Valley Rediscovered After an Infamous Colonial Expedition MASSACRE

A red velvet worm, jeweled corpse flower, and other rare species were found while retracing the route of the bloody 1911-12 Abor Expedition.

BY DEEPA PADMANABAN

ATLAS OBSCURA

DECEMBER 12, 2023

The Siang River is visible at lower left in this image of the rugged valley that bears its name

ARMED WITH A WALKING STICK, Priyadarsanan Rajan tackled a challenging 45-degree slope in the beautiful but rugged Siang Valley, within India’s northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh. He was several miles deep in the remote Mouling National Park, traversing steep terrain while enduring relentless rain, leeches, and blood-sucking flies.Halfway up the hill, under a rock, he found a strange creature: a long, rich brown, worm-like animal with no eyes, about two dozen pairs of legs, and long antennae.

Unsure of what his find was, the entomologist put the creature in a specimen jar and took it back to his lab at Ashoka Trust Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) in Bengaluru. His chance discovery would be one of dozens of specimens of flora and fauna, either new to science or presumed lost, that were found during an unprecedented exploration of the Siang Valley—a project that also retraced the steps of a much earlier expedition that had mixed scientific discovery with deadly colonial-era brutality.

Rajan had found a velvet worm, one of a group of “living fossils” so ancient—they’ve been around more than 650 million years—that they have no close living relatives. The species he spotted on the hillside, the red velvet worm or Typhloperipatus williamsoni, was first described in 1911 by British biologist Stanley Kemp, who was a part of the infamous earlier expedition. After Kemp’s discovery more than 110 years ago, however, it remained an enigma until Rajan’s specimen.

Stanley Kemp’s sketches of the red velvet worm, Typhloperipatus williamsoni, were published in a lengthy account of the 1911-12 scientific expedition into the Siang Valley. 

PUBLIC DOMAIN

“Its rediscovery after a century is important not just biologically, but also because of its evolutionary position,” says Prathapan KD, an entomologist at Kerala Agriculture University who was not part of the expedition. (Like many people in southern India, Prathapan goes by his first name and uses initials for his family name.) Prathapan adds that T. williamsoni is the first—and so far only—species in the genus to be described on the Indian subcontinent.

Kemp’s initial discovery occurred amid a British military operation in the area against the Indigenous Adi community, whom the British called “Abors.” In March 1911, British officer Noel Williamson—after whom Kemp would name the red velvet worm—led a party of some 40 men through the part of the region that was under British control. The group crossed into a semiautonomous tribal zone, against the advice of people in the nearby Adi village of Kebang. A rumor, possibly groundless, spread that Williamson was preparing to punish Kebang for warning him away. When word of the alleged plan reached the villagers, they killed Williamson and most of his men.

Retaliation for the deaths arrived in October 2011, when the British launched an operation they called the Abor Expedition, during which several villages were attacked and an unknown number of Adi people massacred.

An unidentified Adi village burns in the background of this photograph of members of a Gurkha regiment taken by DHR Gifford during the Abor Expedition of 1911-12. 

COURTESY NATIONAL ARMY MUSEUM (U.K.)

At the same time these horrific events were unfolding, a group of botanists, biologists, and geographers, who were part of the same expedition, were surveying the region’s biodiversity and topography. They were among the first Europeans to explore the Siang Valley’s vast and undisturbed forests, lofty mountains, and deep gorges. Kemp and other members of the scientific survey documented species of worms, frogs, insects, and rare plants never before seen in South Asia. While difficult to fathom in retrospect, brutal military operations and scientific expeditions often occurred hand-in-hand during the colonial era.

“The Abor Expedition is a historical one. It was punitive, but also a scientific exploration,” says University of Calcutta ecologist Parthib Basu, who was not involved in the recent ATREE project.

The British expedition, which was conducted during a single winter and revealed only a fraction of the region’s biodiversity, proved important for providing at least a baseline of the valley’s ecosystems. More than a century later, the ATREE team, consisting of botanists, herpetologists, entomologists, and others, used the earlier surveys as a starting point for their more extensive project.

The entomologists collected thousands of specimens, including potential new-to-science species.

During three different periods in 2022 and early 2023, Rajan and his entomology team alone collected thousands of specimens, including more than 120 species of ants, 60 species of dung beetles, and 180 species of parasitic wasps. At least 30 of the finds are new to India. The teams’ identification work continues, with potential new-to-science species being analyzed, including a blue ant and a second species of red velvet worm.

Other ATREE teams made important discoveries about the valley’s plants. Despite being nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas and at least 3,000 feet above sea level, the region’s flora is closer to that of Southeast Asia than other areas of India. ATREE expedition botanist Ganesan Rengaian says that the valley’s plants tend to be more similar to those in Indonesia and Malaysia because of a topographical quirk—something British botanist Isaac Henry Burkill observed during the 1911 expedition.

The Siang River, which originates in the Himalayas, cuts a deep gorge to the southeast, forming the valley. The depth and direction of the gorge, combined with regional weather patterns, creates a virtual greenhouse that allows many species of flora to thrive outside their normal ranges.

“This was intriguing for me, how the climate changed the distribution of certain plant species,” Rengaian says.

The parasitic plant Sapria himalayana, also known as the jeweled corpse flower, was one of several rare species found in the Siang Valley by ATREE botanists. DJKITIWAT, CC BY-SA 4.0/WIKIMEDIA

Rengaian followed Burkill’s path along the river, including location descriptions for certain tree species. His team was able to rediscover many of the British botanist’s finds, including Diospyros apiculata, with spiky orange fruits, and the rare subtropical Xanthophyllum burkillii, named for Burkill and sporting five-petaled flowers and roundish fruits.

The team also found the stunning Sapria himalayana, or jeweled corpse flower, a rare parasitic plant, and a tree that Rengaian declined to discuss in detail, pending peer review, but suggested may be a species last described by Burkill and thought to be extinct.

The ATREE team’s finds—which will take years to identify and analyze—are particularly important as development threatens the valley’s biodiversity: Pristine forests are being cut to make way for plantations, and there are controversial plans to dam the Siang River for the country’s largest hydropower project. “There is a chance of losing the forest and plants,” says Rengaian.

As development spreads across the region, the ATREE team’s work, which built on the discoveries of a colonial-era expedition tainted by violence, may become a new baseline for understanding how much of the Siang Valley’s biodiversity is lost in the coming years.

Unusual Boxes and 7,000-Year-Old Trove Found Locked in Ice

Along with obsidian that dazzled scientists in Canada.

BY MEG ST-ESPRIT

ATLAS OBSCURA

DECEMBER 12, 2023


One of nine ice patches released objects from 6200–5300 years ago. DUNCAN MCLAREN

NORTHERN CANADA IS KNOWN FOR its blustery weather, dramatic landscape, and plentiful ice. But with an unprecedented thaw in Canada’s Mount Edziza Provincial Park the past few years, objects began emerging from the ice.

Some of the manmade possessions are 7,000 years old, and they belonged to the Tahltan First Nations. Mount Edziza, a volcano located in northwestern British Columbia, has remained a significant hunting ground for the Tahltan nation for thousands of years. With this discovery, archaeologists are now able to gain more insight into what life was like for people here since around 5,000 B.C.

Plenty of obsidian, a volcanic glass formed from cooled lava, was found on the Kitsu Plateau. DUNCAN MCLAREN

There were containers crafted from birch bark, antler ice picks, tools carved from bones, walking sticks, and even a stitched boot. Among the artifacts discovered were also tools fashioned from obsidian, the black glass created by lava flows. Many others are made from materials such as leather, wood, and bone.

His team was initially blinded by the sparkling glass.

It’s a rare find, according to Duncan McLaren, lead archaeologist on the project. “There was such a high density of artifacts. We knew there was obsidian, but we didn’t realize until we had done this project that there were all these organic artifacts that were preserved around the obsidian,” he explains. McLaren says his team was initially blinded by the sparkling glass, but soon learned to train their eyes to find other artifacts.

These objects were so well-preserved and undisturbed in part due to their remote location. “This keeps visitor numbers low and also aids in the protection and preservation of artifacts,” says David Karn, commenting on behalf of the Ministry of Environment.

The stitches are still evident on birch bark container from around 2,000 years ago. DUNCAN MCLAREN

Within nine patches of ice, 56 objects were recovered overall. “Archeologists were able to carbon-date the organic materials, such as the digging sticks and leather items,” says Karn. “Carbon dating provides researchers with an idea of when the tools were made and how they were used.”

Of particular interest to researchers are two bark containers that are believed to be around 2,000 years old. One has detailed stitching along one edge that is still largely intact. The second container is more unique. Sticks are stitched to the inside of the container to reinforce the framework, creating a basket that could bear heavier loads.

The team also found an ice pick, carved from an antler, or ede’ in Tahltan, that was dated at around 5,000 years old—a useful tool for Indigenous residents of a cold, snowy region. Though one end appears to be broken, researchers were able to see the antler had been intentionally sharpened and shaped with a handle for ease of use.

An ice pick carved from an antler was radiocarbon-dated around 4,000 to 5,000 years old. BRENDAN GRAY

The remains of a shoe, which McLaren describes as a moccasin-like boot, consists of complicated stitching and flaps—further evidence that early Tahltan hunters created complex items to thrive in the harsh climate of the region. Of note, says McLaren, is that the design hasn’t changed much through the millenia. “It is very similar to the types people have been wearing historically through the years,” he notes.

As to why these objects surfaced now after millennia encapsulated in ice, researchers attribute it to low snowpack in the region over several years. “It took us over five years to get the funding for this project,” says McLaren, who first began excavating the area in July of 2019. Now that the objects have been recovered, the team is working on study and preservation; the ancient items are very fragile. While housed in a climate-controlled provincial museum at the moment, McLaren says plans are underway to create a museum site in Tahltan territory that is capable of storing the artifacts safely.

A wooden walking staff with a beveled top was found on the surface of the melting ice near Goat Mountain Peak. DUNCAN MCLAREN

The research team worked in conjunction with several other organizations, including the Obsidian Discoveries Tahltan Tene Mehodihi Youth Group Hike. Tene mehodihi translates to “the trail we know,” and the land-based education program seeks to educate Tahltan youth about the history of their nation through exploratory experiences such as this one.

Tene mehodihi translates to “the trail we know.”

“The findings further identify the archeological and cultural significance of the land encompassed within Mount Edziza Park,” says Karn. The Tahltan Central Government was not available for interview at this time, but tourism director Alex Buri says visitors should be aware of several things: Mount Edziza is extremely remote with a harsh climate, and visitors should consider hiring a local guide for exploration. The region is also extremely significant to the Tahltan First Nations people. Visitors should be respectful, not take any objects, and remember that artifacts are protected under provincial law.

Ukraine braces for funding fight with Hungary and US

David Ehl

DW

Dec 12, 2023


Hungary's Viktor Orban threatens to derail EU military aid to Ukraine. And Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy can't rely on ongoing support from the United States either.

Zelenskyy and Orban's exchange at Milei's inauguration in Buenos Aires was a visibly lively one

 Fernando Gens/dpa/picture alliance

Volodymyr Zelenskyy's trip to the Americas has been marked by difficult conversations. On Sunday, the Ukrainian president witnessed the inauguration of his new Argentinian counterpart, right-wing libertarian Javier Milei. Sat near Zelenskyy at the ceremony was none other than the Hungarian prime minister, Viktor Orban.

It didn't take long for a 21-second video clip of them talking to start making the rounds on the internet. You can't hear what the pair are saying, but the body language seems clear. Even from a vantage point as far away as Buenos Aires, Ukraine and Hungary's positions remain miles apart.

Both of them separately commented on their exchange later. In an evening video address, Zelenskyy, who is hoping his country can join the European Union, said that he had presented Ukraine's European policy interests to Orban "as openly as possible".




The Hungarian Prime Minister's spokesperson said that Orban had simply informed Zelenskyy that EU members states were "continuously negotiating with each other" regarding Ukraine's possible accession.

Despite what the neutral diplomatic language might suggest, the stakes are high. On Thursday and Friday, EU leaders are gathering in Brussels to discuss plans for a new €50 billion ($54 billion) aid package for Ukraine as well as the opening of formal accession talks. The meeting is set to be tense, however. Hungary has openly threatened to veto them.

Ukraine in a tough spot

At the start of Ukraine's second winter at war, the country finds itself in possibly the most perilous position it has faced since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

In military terms, the last few months have been defined by attrition rather than territorial gains. In Kyiv, soldiers' wives and relatives recently protested (as have soldiers' families in Russia), demanding combatants be granted a longer break from the frontline after 21 months at war.

Zelenskyy is also reckoning with domestic political critics, not least Mayor of Kyiv Vitaly Klitschko.

And as much of the world's attention has shifted from Ukraine to the fighting in Gaza, the promise of further weapons and aid packages, which are probably vital for Ukraine's survival, is also crumbling.

Against this backdrop, Hungary is now actively taking sides against further military aid. Only a month ago, Orban praised Russia's President Vladimir Putin for "good relations".

In October, Orban held lengthy talks with Vladimir Putin in Beijing. Meanwhile, Hungary's approval of Sweden's accession to NATO is still pending.

Sputnik/Grigory Sysoyev/Pool via REUTERS

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis, one of Kyiv's staunchest backers, shared his own interpretation of Orban's behavior on Monday in Brussels.

"The only way I can read the Hungarian position, not just on Ukraine but on many other issues, is that they are against Europe and everything Europe stands for," he told reporters.

Orban has the upper hand as summit nears

Markus Kaim, a researcher from the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, sees Orban's threats in the run-up to the summit as "very dangerous" given that important EU decisions are always made by unanimous agreement.

"If Orban rejects Ukraine's membership prospects, there is little the others can do. So he is controlling the levers, directly and indirectly," Kaim told DW.

Ukraine is warning of "devastating consequences" in the event of a Hungarian veto. The people of Ukraine would be extremely demotivated if there is no positive decision, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba warned on the sidelines of Monday's meeting with his EU counterparts in Brussels.


At those talks, EU foreign ministers approved a proposal by the European Commission to transfer €900 million to Hungary without preconditions to deal with the energy crisis.

Kaim sees this as an opportunity for concessions to be made. Hungary could also support the next Ukraine aid package at the EU summit at the end of the week.

"They could possibly delay tackling the question of EU accession candidacy for now," he suggested
Support from the US on thin ice

Hungary is also lobbying on a different political stage against assistance payments to Ukraine. According to a report in the British newspaper The Guardian this week, Hungarian diplomats wanted to meet with US Republican Party politicians in Washington this week.

In parallel, Zelenskyy was trying to meet with the head of the Republicans in the House of Congress, Mike Johnson, on Tuesday. Further support for Ukraine depends on Johnson.
Mike Johnson from Louisiana has been Speaker of the House of Representatives since October, after Republican hardliners ousted his predecessor Kevin McCarthy.Image: Stephanie Scarbrough/AP Photo/picture alliance

After the meeting with Orban, this appointment could be the second uncomfortable debate for Zelenskyy on his diplomatic tour. There are just over 11 months left before the US heads to the polls to select its next president, its House of Representatives and a third of the Senate.

Former president Donald Trump and his supporters in the Republican Party seem to be setting the tone. They are opposed to granting Ukraine massive amounts of aid, as incumbent Democratic President Joe Biden's administration has done.

Biden had already petitioned Congress to release a new tranche in October, but the passage of the budget and approval of a further $61 billion for Ukraine has so far been blocked by the Republicans, who are calling for spending cuts.
'First flare-up' before a possible Trump return

Whether Zelenskyy can bring about a change of heart in Washington ― or whether the Republicans will stick to their hard no to Ukraine support ― remains to be seen.

"Then it would be up to Europe," said Kaim. "It would be the first flare-up of what many people fear after Donald Trump's re-election: The US failing as guarantor of the international security order. And then the burden-sharing between the US and Europe would have to be readjusted."

A definitive "no" from the Republicans in Washington or a veto from Hungary at the EU summit would certainly cause headaches for Ukraine. Germany at least is set to double its military aid to Ukraine from €4 billion to €8 billion in 2024, as German Minister of State for Europe Anna Luehrmann announced Monday.

This article was adapted from the original German.

US Space Force ‘Attacks’ Satellite in Cyber Defense Drill


US Space Force Guardians participate in Moonlighter, an exercise designed to focus on refining their defensive and offensive skill sets. 

Photo: Ethan Johnson/US Space Force

US Space Force ‘Attacks’ Satellite in Cyber Defense Drill

 JUSTER DOMINGO

DECEMBER 12, 2023

The US Space Force (USSF) has conducted a cyber defense exercise using a satellite in orbit as its primary training environment.

The USSF Cyber Guardians used the Moonlighter imaging satellite to simulate malicious attacks and real-time countermeasures to develop new cyberspace defenses.

Real-world threats were replicated by the 527th Space Aggressor Squadron Cyber Flight squad in a controlled environment, while units from six Cyberspace Squadrons and Delta 6 First Detachment deployed strategies to protect the satellite and its critical functions.

The Moonlighter is the world’s first and only hacking sandbox satellite, designed to advance cybersecurity through simulated tests that probe its defenses.
Acknowledging Evolving Threats

The 527th Space Aggressor Squadron adversary cyber flight technical director Captain Eric Lu said that the drills focused on the element of real-time response to emerging threats in space.

“By utilizing the Moonlighter satellite as a testbed for adversarial emulation and defense, it allowed our Guardians to execute defensive cyber tactics, techniques, and procedures to defend an on-orbit satellite, bolstering their readiness to counter sophisticated space-cyber threats,” he said.

Lu added that the exercise served as the primary program to implement the Aggressors squad’s “know, teach, replicate” mission, which seeks to primarily eliminate evolving threats in the space-cyber domain.

The US has been bolstering its presence in space as a way to avoid war in the domain, mapping out launches for reconnaissance and multi-domain defense capabilities. Former Chief of Space Operations General John W. Raymond once stated that space power is greatly needed in order to compete and win in a modern conflict.

Sikkim: Satellite images show devastating Himalayan floods

11th December 2023
By Cherylann Mollan

BBC News, Mumbai

Construction vehicles covered in debris caused by the flash floods in October

New satellite images show the extent of the damage caused by deadly flash floods that hit a village in India's north-eastern state of Sikkim in October.

The photos show how the Teesta river broke its banks and submerged a huge portion of a nearby village.

The devastating floods killed more than 30 people and destroyed the livelihoods of thousands.

Dozens of people are still missing after being swept away.

The flash flood was triggered by a cloudburst, which caused the South Lhonak glacial lake to burst its banks. The excess water flowed into the Teesta river downstream, causing its water level to rise.

The situation worsened after more water was released into the river from a nearby dam. The gushing water from the river wreaked havoc on the Chungthang village, which adjoins its banks.

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Earth observation experts at the University of Leicester in the UK have now released photos that show the devastating impact of the floods.

Of the two satellite photos, one shows the village before the floods and one captures it after.

In the photo taken before the floods, the Chungthang village, located close to the banks of the Teesta river, as well as the Teesta III dam - which is a short distance away from the village - is intact.

 2023 Planet Labs PBCChungthang village before the flood

But on 4 October, the Teesta III dam collapsed due to the bursting of the South Lhonak glacial lake.

In the photo taken 10 days after the flood, one can see the collapsed dam as well as clusters of houses submerged in debris left behind by floodwaters.

Although the image doesn't capture the flood, it depicts the areas that were submerged, revealing the extent of destruction experienced by Chungthang village.

 2023 Planet Labs PBCChungthang village after the flood

Matthew Payne from the School of Geography, Geology and the Environment at the University of Leicester says that the images could be useful in "tackling climate change".

"This catastrophe is a stark reminder of the escalating challenges faced by the verdant Himalayan regions and the increasing magnitude of flooding events necessitates resilient infrastructure capable of tolerating climate-induced excessive rainfall," he says.

Mr Payne adds in a statement that satellite imagery can help track the onset, duration and retreat of floodwaters, providing crucial insights for relief and recovery efforts.

Experts say global warming is causing glaciers to melt faster and this has led to an increase in the water levels of several Himalayan lakes.

They also say that this has led to an urgent need for authorities to install early warning systems in these glacial lakes.

Prior to the floods in Sikkim, several studies had warned that there was a high possibility of South Lhonak lake flooding, the BBC's environment correspondent, Navin Singh Khadka wrote earlier.

The lake's area had expanded more than 2.5 times in the past three decades because of a rapidly melting glacier that feeds it, but authorities had not installed an early warning system.

People working at the Teesta III dam told local media that when they received orders to open the dam's floodgates it was too late as water had already started hitting the infrastructure, causing its eventual collapse.

Sikkim alone has more than 700 small and large glacial lakes and experts say around 20 are at risk of bursting.