Latest news with #Mission
3 hours ago
- Politics
Israel-Iran live updates: Iranian missile hits southern Israel
Some American diplomats and family members authorized to leave the U.S. Embassy in Israel are now being flown out of the country by the U.S. military, according to two State Department officials familiar with the matter. "Given the ongoing situation and as part of the Embassy's authorized departure status, Mission personnel have begun departing Israel through a variety of means,' a State Department spokesperson said. Those airlifted out today include Chief of Mission personnel, and more military evacuation flights are expected to take place in the coming days, according to one official. The State Department's Diplomatic Security Service has also been aiding in the evacuations, helping to liaise with the military and secure the operation, they added. Inside the State Department, two officials said there have been intensive discussions in recent days about conducting a full evacuation of the U.S. Embassy in Israel; any decision on the matter is expected to be made by the White House.
Newsweek
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
US Grows Defense Partnership Next Door to China
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The United States has transferred a third coast guard ship to Vietnam, as the former foes expand their defense partnership amid China's growing threats in nearby disputed waters. Newsweek has contacted the Chinese defense and foreign ministries for comment by email. Why It Matters In 1995, the U.S. and Vietnam—former adversaries during the Vietnam War, which ended in 1975—normalized diplomatic relations. Following Washington's lifting of an arms sales ban in 2016, Hanoi acquired military equipment from its new partner, including training aircraft. The bilateral defense cooperation comes against the backdrop of tensions in the South China Sea, where overlapping sovereignty claims by countries such as Vietnam and China, as well as the strong presence of the Chinese coast guard, continue to heighten friction in the region. What To Know The U.S. Mission to Vietnam announced on Wednesday that the former U.S. Coast Guard ship USCGC Mellon has been transferred to Vietnam as the high-endurance cutter CSB 8022. The ship arrived in Ninh Hoa, south-central Vietnam, the same day following a trans-Pacific voyage that began in Seattle, with stopovers in Hawaii and Guam. The Vietnam Coast Guard received CSB 8020—formerly USCGC Morgenthau—in 2017 and CSB 8021—formerly USCGC John Midgett—in 2020. All three ships were transferred under a defense cooperation memorandum of understanding, according to the U.S. Mission. "Through this cooperation, the United States and Vietnam is enhancing the development of maritime law enforcement, search and rescue, and humanitarian and disaster relief abilities, and supporting capacity to protect sovereignty," the U.S. Mission said in a statement. The former U.S. Coast Guard vessels were built as Hamilton-class cutters designed for extended maritime operations, each weighing over 2,700 tons and having a range of 10,000 miles—the approximate straight-line distance between New York and Melbourne, Australia. The Vietnam Coast Guard's high-endurance cutter CSB 8022 arrives in Ninh Hoa, Vietnam, on June 18, 2025. The Vietnam Coast Guard's high-endurance cutter CSB 8022 arrives in Ninh Hoa, Vietnam, on June 18, 2025. U.S. Mission to Vietnam This class of cutter is capable of conducting a wide range of missions, including search and rescue, defense operations, and law enforcement. The Mellon was once armed with missiles, torpedoes, and sonar, but all were later removed, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. The recent transfer of the coast guard ship comes as the U.S. and Vietnam celebrate the 30th anniversary of their diplomatic relations. However, an American aircraft carrier canceled its planned visit to Vietnam and transited toward the Middle East amid the Iran-Israel conflict. What People Are Saying U.S. Chargé d'Affaires in Vietnam Courtney Beale said in a statement on Wednesday: "The United States and Vietnam respect each other's sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political system, and remain firmly committed to supporting our shared vision of peace and stability, and of prosperity and security in the Indo-Pacific." The U.S. Mission to Vietnam said on its website: "The United States and Vietnam are trusted partners with a friendship grounded in mutual respect that has developed since the normalization of diplomatic relations on July 11, 1995. U.S.-Vietnam relations have become increasingly cooperative and comprehensive, evolving into a flourishing partnership that spans political, economic, security, and people-to-people ties." What Happens Next The U.S. is expected to continue its defense cooperation with countries in the South China Sea, including the Philippines, its mutual defense treaty ally. Whether Washington will provide additional military equipment to boost Vietnam's capabilities remains to be seen.
Scoop
2 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
Christchurch Airport And Shanghai Airport Sign Agreement To Strengthen Air Links
Sarah Ottrey, Christchurch Airport Board Chair, and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon have signed an agreement between Christchurch Airport and Shanghai Airport Authority marking a new chapter in cooperation between the two aviation gateways. The signing took place as part of the current New Zealand Trade Mission to China which is visiting Shanghai and Beijing to seek to secure and grow trade and economic opportunities. The MOU aims to strengthen strategic ties, encourage direct connectivity and support growing demand for trade and tourism between the South Island and China who are New Zealand's largest trading partner. The wider trade mission is focusing on unlocking new economic opportunities in tourism, education, and premium food and beverage, all vital to New Zealand's future growth. Sarah's appointment to the delegation alongside 27 other NZ business leaders reflects both her leadership at Christchurch Airport and her deep understanding of New Zealand's strategic relationship with China. As a member of the NZ China Business Council, she plays an active role in shaping dialogue between the two countries, offering insights into how trade, tourism and investment can benefit both sides. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says 'I'm delighted to have Sarah join our trade delegation to China. Her deep knowledge of tourism, considerable international delegation experience and her leadership at Christchurch Airport, make her a valuable voice for the South Island. She brings a strong regional perspective to the table, which is vital as we look to strengthen our economic and people-to-people ties with China.' Direct air connectivity is critical to trade and tourism growth and Christchurch Airport plays a key role in linking China to the South Island. In 2024 Chinese visitors spent NZ$1.1 billion and two-way trade with China reached NZ$38 billion1. Sarah Ottrey says the Trade Mission is an opportunity to build on the foundations already in place. 'The New Zealand–China relationship is vital to our regions and our economy. Through the NZ China Business Council, I've seen how trust and partnership create real momentum, and this mission gives us a chance to turn that into outcomes. Direct links through Christchurch Airport are one way we can bring people, goods and ideas together.' The following week from 23 June a Christchurch Airport delegation will be in China hosting its industry leading Kia Ora South events celebrating its 11th year in market. The events are a platform to promote tourism and education travel from China to New Zealand. Traveling from New Zealand is a delegation of 25 industry leaders which is undertaken in conjunction with Tourism New Zealand and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Note: 1 16–20 June – Trade Mission dates About Christchurch Airport: Christchurch Airport is the main gateway to the South Island of New Zealand, serving as a hub for both domestic and international flights. The airport is committed to delivering world-class services, enhancing the region's connectivity, and fulfilling the economic prosperity of New Zealand.
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
The rage of war has placed these military metals in high demand
Metals used in munitions and military technology are in the spotlight as war rages in the Middle East and Ukraine Tungsten, tin, antimony, rare earths and beryllium among the key commodities to follow These ASX stocks are moving to stake out a position in critical minerals markets The rise of fresh tensions in the Middle East has put the spotlight on the minerals needed for military operations. The wars in Ukraine and Gaza continue to rage, and even escalate, while the outbreak of hostilities between Israel and Iran is leading to fears of a much larger regional, or even global, conflict. While the first few days of the conflict have boosted the price of oil, it's also a sad fact that military operations are metals intensive. Even without an additional conflict, US President Donald Trump's 'Big Beautiful Bill' will see the country's defence spending hit US$1 trillion next year for the first time. In a recent presentation in Toronto, Hallgarten + Company analyst Christopher Ecclestone noted that most of the combatants in World War I and, to a lesser extent, World War II, had all the metals and minerals they needed domestically – which is not the case today. He also pointed out that war materials are exceedingly high-tech, both in composition and metal inputs, adding that rare earths 'weren't a thing' in WWII. While loads of different metals, including aluminium and titanium, are needed for defence applications, Ecclestone listed the 'headline' military metals as tungsten, antimony, rare earths, tin and beryllium. While there aren't any options on the ASX for beryllium, we have a look at some of the juniors with near-term production potential in the other four metals. Tungsten Vancouver-based investment firm Mission Critical Metals, of which Ecclestone is also CEO, describes tungsten as the key military metal, due to its use in making bulletproof vehicles, armoured tanks, armour-piercing rounds, high-speed cutting tools, and rocket and aircraft parts. Mission says that given the turnaround in the tungsten price is relatively recent, the space is yet to attract many new players. Outside of the ASX's two listed tungsten producers, Almonty Industries (ASX:AII) and EQ Resources (ASX:EQR), there are a couple of other hopefuls. Tungsten Mining (ASX:TGN) is considering an early production pathway for its Hatches Creek project in the Northern Territory. Last month, the company reported a maiden inferred resource of 12 million tonnes at 0.17% tungsten trioxide, which will feed into a scoping study. Preliminary metallurgical studies have successfully produced a tungsten concentrate grading at 50% tungsten trioxide. Meanwhile, Rumble Resources (ASX:RTR) discovered a tungsten sweetener at its Western Queen gold project in Western Australia last year. High-grade tungsten mineralisation remains open in all directions with a maiden resource to be reported in the September quarter. The company will then complete metallurgical testwork to determine the quantum of the tungsten revenue stream and incorporate it into the Western Queen South mining schedule. Antimony Antimony is used in military applications including fighter jets, military primers, night vision goggles, lasers, military detonators and military smoke agents. There's been an explosion of ASX companies seeking exposure to antimony due to a price surge driven by shortages. Larvotto Resources (ASX:LRV) is one of the more advanced companies globally, with its Hillgrove project in New South Wales due to start production next year. Nearby, Trigg Minerals' (ASX:TMG) Achilles project contains the Wild Cattle Creek deposit, with a resource of 1.52Mt at 1.97% antimony containing 29,902 tonnes of antimony, which the company says makes it Australia's highest grade primary antimony resource. Trigg also recently boosted it antimony portfolio with the addition of the Antimony Canyon project in Utah, which has a non-JORC resource of 12.7Mt at 0.79% antimony for 100,300t of contained antimony. Felix Gold (ASX:FXG) could be in production the soonest from its Treasure Island project in Alaska. The company is working towards small-scale antimony production by the end of this year from the Scrafford deposit, which previously produced up to 58% antimony. Also in Alaska, Nova Minerals (ASX:NVA) has applied to the US Department of Defense (DoD) for funding to potentially fast track antimony production from its Stibium deposit. Larvotto and Trigg have also reported tungsten resources, while Resolution's new project also has tungsten potential. Rare Earths Rare earths are essential to the defence sector, making the development of new supply chains a matter of national security for countries including the US. Neodymium and praseodymium permanent magnets are used in F-35 fighter jets and unmanned aerial vehicles, while lanthanum is used in night vision goggles and terbium is used in naval sonar systems. Shares in Dateline Resources (ASX:DTR) have exploded recently after Trump tweeted his support for the Colosseum rare earths project in California. Last week, Dateline confirmed further public support from members of the Trump Administration, including Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum. Locksley Resources (ASX:LKY) is a more recent entrant to the space, but its Mojave project in California sits right next to the US' only operating rare earths mine, MP Materials' Mountain Pass, and is also prospective for antimony. This week, Locksley Resources launched strategic collaboration initiatives, targeting engagement with US agencies, national laboratories, US universities and downstream technology partners. In Australia, Victory Metals (ASX:VTM) recently received a letter of interest from the Export-Import Bank of the United States for up to US$190 million in project financing for the development of the North Stanmore heavy rare earths project in WA. The project is set to produce both heavy and light rare earths, as well as gallium and scandium as by-products. VHM (ASX:VHM) is targeting rare earths and mineral sands production from its Goschen project in Victoria in late 2026 after receiving a mining license for the project recently. The company is working towards a final investment decision in the December half. Tin According to the DoD, tin is used in many defence applications, such as soldering to enable electrical connections in semiconductors, high-end capacitors, and other electronic components in nearly all military hardware. There's not a lot of tin exposure on the ASX outside of long-time producer Metals X (ASX:MLX). Metals X-backed Elementos (ASX:ELT) could be next in line after releasing a definitive feasibility study for its Oropesa project in Spain in April. The company is now working on permitting and financing ahead of a making a final investment decision. Stellar Resources (ASX:SRZ) says its Heemskirk tin project in Tasmania has the potential to be a global top 10 producer. A prefeasibility study is due in the second half of this year, with the company expected to move straight into a DFS. Sky Metals (ASX:SKY) holds the advanced Tallebung project in NSW, a historical tin producer. The company is advancing a bulk sample metallurgical program to optimise the process flowsheet and produce marketable tin concentrates ahead of offtake marketing. Earlier stage explorers include Brazilian focused Australian Mines (ASX:AUZ) and Perpetual Resources (ASX:PEC), who are trying to find new deposit in a waning tin power which almost 40 years ago supplied 22% of the world's primary tin.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Restoring forests key to carbon capture: Govt paper
The largest potential of creating additional carbon sinks is through restoration of degraded forests, which have impaired in the last 15 to 20 years, along with afforestation of open forests, wastelands and agroforestry, according to the National Mission for Green India document released by the environment ministry on Tuesday. Restoration of natural forests through plantations can contribute up to 60% of the total carbon sink which can be achieved by 2030, the report released on the occasion of World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought by union environment minister, Bhupender Yadav has said. It is also indicated by the Forest Survey of India evaluation that to bring about an increase in carbon sink (CO2 equivalent billion tonnes) by 2.51 and 3.39 by 2030, as committed by India in its nationally determined contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement, a corresponding increase of 18.71 and 24.69 million hectares of enhanced forest and tree cover area would be required respectively. The Green India Mission is being implemented during the 10-year period from 2021 to 2030. A part of these plantation activities have already taken place. Annual afforestation/ tree plantation at the current trend of over 2 million hectares should cover another 12 million hectares during 2025-30, the report has said. Ten categories of activities have been considered by FSI for the potential increase in carbon sink and forest cover in the country and include afforestation of impaired forests, open forests, wastelands, agroforestry, setting up of green corridors, undertaking plantations along roads and railways on railway sidings, along rivers and canals and creation of urban green spaces. The National Governing Council of the Mission will be chaired by Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav and the National Executive Council will be headed by the secretary, environment. There will be a Mission Director of the Green India Mission who will be the member-secretary of the National Governing Council. The Mission Directorate chaired by the Mission Director will have overall accountability for the Mission deliverables at the National level and will be supported by a team of experts and secretarial staff, the report said. 'The scale and the magnitude of the national effort required for the restoration of degraded land and an improvement of tree cover would imminently require the proactive involvement of all the stakeholders. An active association and involvement of the private sector will, therefore, be pursued as a strategy for funding some of the interventions under the Mission,' the report stated. It added that private sector can be involved via companies utilising wood and wood-based raw material to develop their supply chain by involving the community through join forest management committees and panchayat bodies; contributions from Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds for restoration of vulnerable and critical areas or adoption of certain villages by supporting committed individuals or groups could act as a feather in the cap for the private entity concerned and by undertaking greening of vacant institutional lands through the institution owning the land. During an event on combating desertification in Jodhpur on Tuesday, Yadav said a significant portion of India's land is facing challenges due to desertification, primarily caused by unsustainable agricultural practices, excessive use of fertilisers like urea, and indiscriminate pesticide application. 'Such practices not only degrade the land but also pose a threat to food security and biodiversity. In line with India's commitment to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, the government has adopted a comprehensive approach focusing on ecosystem restoration, drought resilience, and biodiversity enhancement. To address the challenges, Centre will focus on: Amrit Sarovars: aimed at rejuvenating water bodies; Matri Van: planting trees in Aravalli region; Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam: a nationwide movement to plant trees,' he said. Garnering the commitment of institutions, both public and private, commercial and non-commercial, can be explored through existing laws and guidelines. State agencies can help these institutions by providing planting material and technical know-how whereas the institution can provide watch and ward and inputs in addition to land. Harvesting of such plantations may be allowed at the request of the owner or user of the land as per their need and request without any liability or compensation, the report has said. The Mission will also focus on highly vulnerable landscapes, including Aravalli landscape, Western Ghats, arid regions of North West India, mangroves in coastal areas, Indian Himalayan region and degraded bamboo forests, on priority for enhancing ecosystem services and carbon sink. The financial outlay under the Mission is ₹12,190 crore for implementation of afforestation activities over 1.0 million hectare during the period of 10 years (2021-30). The Mission costs will be met partly from the budget ( ₹5,000 crore) under the ongoing Green India Mission scheme and balance from funds available under the National Fund of CAMPA ( ₹7,190 crore), the report said. 'Desertification, as we know, is not only an ecological problem, but a direct threat to food security, public health and economic stability. Highlighted that with PM Narendra Modi ji in the lead, India has launched the National Action Plan for Combating Desertification. To date, over 30 crore Soil Health Cards have been generated nationwide, enabling farmers to make informed decisions regarding fertiliser. India has also rolled out the iconic Aravalli Green Wall initiative to combat desertification,' Yadav wrote on X.
