Friday, April 29, 2016
Thursday, April 28, 2016
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
The US,Germany and NATO - the bilateral piece of the security puzzle
On 24 April,President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel held a news conference in Hannover,Germany.The President gave a readout of their bilateral talks on the occasion of the first visit of an American president to Hannover:
Most of our discussions,as Chancellor Merkel indicated,focused on urgent security challenges,Mr.Obama said.Germany is a valued member of the coalition to destroy ISIL.German aircraft support the campaign and German personnel in Iraq are training local forces.German assistance is helping Iraq stabilise and rebuild the areas it liberates from ISIL and our coalition continues to make progress.
Today we discussed additional steps that NATO could take to support the campaign,as well as economic assistance to Iraq that the G7 could pledge at next month's summit in Japan.Germany is obviously a very strong partner in the effort to provide humanitarian relief to the people of Syria and Iraq.We remain deeply concerned about the upsurge of fighting in Syria in recent days,and we continue to agree that the only real solution is a political solution that moves Syria toward an inclusive government that represents all Syrians.
Given the horrific attacks that we've seen around the world,including Paris,Brussels,Istanbul and San Bernardino,California-and on a much more frequent basis we've seen violence and attacks that's taking place in the Middle East-we discussed the importance of maintaining our strong security cooperation.In Afghanistan,we'll continue to help strengthen Afghan forces as they continue to push back against al-Qaida,the Taliban and ISIL.We'll continue to support the Libyan people and the new Libyan government as it seeks to extend security across its country.We agreed that the US and Germany are going to remain very strong counterintelligence and intelligence partners,and we're committed to using all the tools at our disposal to prevent terrorists from traveling and plotting attacks-and that includes improved information-sharing between our countries and within Europe-and,as always,we'll do so while upholding our values and civil liberties,inculding the privacy of citizens here and in the US.
I want to once again commend Angela for her courageous leadership in the response to migrants who are fleeing the Syrian conflict and conflicts elsewhere in the region.Perhaps because she once lived behind a wall herself,Angela understands the aspirations of those who've been denied their freedom and who seek a better life.And I know the politics around this issue can be difficult in all of our countries.We did discuss the EU's recent agreement with Turkey and Angela and I agreed that our nations can respond to that challenge in a way thatmis both humane and ensures our security.
And finally,as we look ahead to this summer's NATO summit in Warsaw,we discussed the importance of keeping the alliance strong with the investments that's needed for or collective defence.We continue to augment,on a rotational basis,NATO forces in Eastern Europe,including the Baltic States.As I've said since the very beginning of my presidency,we have a treaty obligation to defend every NATO member-and we will.Beyond the alliance,we welcome the formation of a new government in Ukraine,which we encourage to continue the political,economic and energy reforms that can deliver progress for the Ukrainian people.Chancellor Merkel,along with President Hollande,have been tireless in their pursuit of a peaceful anddurable solution to the conflict in Eastern Ukraine,and we agreed that all sides need to uphold the commitments they have made,and that sanctions against Russia can and should be lifted only when Russia fully complies with its commitments under the Minsk agreement,the President said.*
For her part,Chancellor Merkel said that Germany has become a more active partner,I think one can safely say,because we are also threatened.Our own security is threatened and we realise that we cannot ensure this on our own.We have to do this in our alliance,and in certain areas we have shouldered a long-term mission that we're going to continue-if we look at Afghansitan,for example.In a way, we've had a change of paradigm in the sense that we see this challenge of IS as something that is very acute,so we send weapons into a conflict area;we gave them to the Peshmerga-a completely new step compared to our past policies.
Looking at the terrorist threat-against France,for example-we've shouldered responsibility for a mission in Northern Africa,which is also a new thing as well,leaving the Congo mission aside where we spent some time;but if we meet in Germany,if we meet at the G7,or,again,in Warsaw-we shall have other opportunities to meet,the President and I-we shall address all of these issues,so,let me say for me,the future with this president is much more important than the past right now.We know that we obviously have to make additional efforts as regards our possibilities to defend ourselves;we have to put in more equipment,more personnel;we know the targets NATO has submitted to us;we think that the whole positioning of our Federal Armed Forces reflects fully the sense that we need to shoulder this national responsibility also as regards,for example,cyber threats-something that we've neglected to do over the past years.And I think that it helps-it helps us to tackle the challenges and to master them,and the cooperation with the US is indispensable.Looking at the larger neighbourhood of Europe,the transatlantic cooperation within NATO,but also other fora,is also highly essential for maintaining or own security and safety,Mrs.Merkel noted.
Most of our discussions,as Chancellor Merkel indicated,focused on urgent security challenges,Mr.Obama said.Germany is a valued member of the coalition to destroy ISIL.German aircraft support the campaign and German personnel in Iraq are training local forces.German assistance is helping Iraq stabilise and rebuild the areas it liberates from ISIL and our coalition continues to make progress.
Today we discussed additional steps that NATO could take to support the campaign,as well as economic assistance to Iraq that the G7 could pledge at next month's summit in Japan.Germany is obviously a very strong partner in the effort to provide humanitarian relief to the people of Syria and Iraq.We remain deeply concerned about the upsurge of fighting in Syria in recent days,and we continue to agree that the only real solution is a political solution that moves Syria toward an inclusive government that represents all Syrians.
Given the horrific attacks that we've seen around the world,including Paris,Brussels,Istanbul and San Bernardino,California-and on a much more frequent basis we've seen violence and attacks that's taking place in the Middle East-we discussed the importance of maintaining our strong security cooperation.In Afghanistan,we'll continue to help strengthen Afghan forces as they continue to push back against al-Qaida,the Taliban and ISIL.We'll continue to support the Libyan people and the new Libyan government as it seeks to extend security across its country.We agreed that the US and Germany are going to remain very strong counterintelligence and intelligence partners,and we're committed to using all the tools at our disposal to prevent terrorists from traveling and plotting attacks-and that includes improved information-sharing between our countries and within Europe-and,as always,we'll do so while upholding our values and civil liberties,inculding the privacy of citizens here and in the US.
I want to once again commend Angela for her courageous leadership in the response to migrants who are fleeing the Syrian conflict and conflicts elsewhere in the region.Perhaps because she once lived behind a wall herself,Angela understands the aspirations of those who've been denied their freedom and who seek a better life.And I know the politics around this issue can be difficult in all of our countries.We did discuss the EU's recent agreement with Turkey and Angela and I agreed that our nations can respond to that challenge in a way thatmis both humane and ensures our security.
And finally,as we look ahead to this summer's NATO summit in Warsaw,we discussed the importance of keeping the alliance strong with the investments that's needed for or collective defence.We continue to augment,on a rotational basis,NATO forces in Eastern Europe,including the Baltic States.As I've said since the very beginning of my presidency,we have a treaty obligation to defend every NATO member-and we will.Beyond the alliance,we welcome the formation of a new government in Ukraine,which we encourage to continue the political,economic and energy reforms that can deliver progress for the Ukrainian people.Chancellor Merkel,along with President Hollande,have been tireless in their pursuit of a peaceful anddurable solution to the conflict in Eastern Ukraine,and we agreed that all sides need to uphold the commitments they have made,and that sanctions against Russia can and should be lifted only when Russia fully complies with its commitments under the Minsk agreement,the President said.*
For her part,Chancellor Merkel said that Germany has become a more active partner,I think one can safely say,because we are also threatened.Our own security is threatened and we realise that we cannot ensure this on our own.We have to do this in our alliance,and in certain areas we have shouldered a long-term mission that we're going to continue-if we look at Afghansitan,for example.In a way, we've had a change of paradigm in the sense that we see this challenge of IS as something that is very acute,so we send weapons into a conflict area;we gave them to the Peshmerga-a completely new step compared to our past policies.
Looking at the terrorist threat-against France,for example-we've shouldered responsibility for a mission in Northern Africa,which is also a new thing as well,leaving the Congo mission aside where we spent some time;but if we meet in Germany,if we meet at the G7,or,again,in Warsaw-we shall have other opportunities to meet,the President and I-we shall address all of these issues,so,let me say for me,the future with this president is much more important than the past right now.We know that we obviously have to make additional efforts as regards our possibilities to defend ourselves;we have to put in more equipment,more personnel;we know the targets NATO has submitted to us;we think that the whole positioning of our Federal Armed Forces reflects fully the sense that we need to shoulder this national responsibility also as regards,for example,cyber threats-something that we've neglected to do over the past years.And I think that it helps-it helps us to tackle the challenges and to master them,and the cooperation with the US is indispensable.Looking at the larger neighbourhood of Europe,the transatlantic cooperation within NATO,but also other fora,is also highly essential for maintaining or own security and safety,Mrs.Merkel noted.
Tuesday, April 26, 2016
Monday, April 25, 2016
Sunday, April 24, 2016
Saturday, April 23, 2016
Friday, April 22, 2016
Thursday, April 21, 2016
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
McCormick Puts Gourmet Garden in its Shopping Cart
Spice maven McCormick & Co. of Sparks,Maryland has acquired Australian vendor Botanical Food Company Pty Ltd for 114 million dollars.Botanical owns the Gourmet Garden line of packaged herbs.Gourmet Garden is considered a global market leader in chilled convenient packaged herbs,exporting to 15 countries, with the US being its largest market.Its 53 million in annual sales has been growing at a double-digit rate.*
Botanical employs about 200 people at its Queensland factory.Australia and North America account for more than 90% of Garden Gourmet sales.*
McCormick already has a branded herb portfolio;but it doesn't contain chilled convenient products.The firm intends to expand Gourmet Garden's global distribution of lightly dried basil;chili pepper;chives;cilantro;ginger and so on.It also plans to increase brand investment to grow Garden Gourmet sales.McCormick is capitalising on an increasing demand for new seasonings as more and more health-minded cooks look to try international dishes.The old Baltimore County,Maryland business gains entrance into the produce aisle with the purchase of the Gourmet Garden brand in the bargain.*
McCormick & Co Inc (MCK)
Botanical employs about 200 people at its Queensland factory.Australia and North America account for more than 90% of Garden Gourmet sales.*
McCormick already has a branded herb portfolio;but it doesn't contain chilled convenient products.The firm intends to expand Gourmet Garden's global distribution of lightly dried basil;chili pepper;chives;cilantro;ginger and so on.It also plans to increase brand investment to grow Garden Gourmet sales.McCormick is capitalising on an increasing demand for new seasonings as more and more health-minded cooks look to try international dishes.The old Baltimore County,Maryland business gains entrance into the produce aisle with the purchase of the Gourmet Garden brand in the bargain.*
McCormick & Co Inc (MCK)
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
Patriarch Bartholomew to Open Restored Church in Turkey
His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew will preside at a Divine Liturgy for the opening of the Church of St.George in the village of Ozluce,Turkey on 7 May 2016 at 10:30 am.The church was restored by the Nilufer Municipality.*
Also attending the service will be Mr.Petros Aggelidis,Mayor of Serres,Greece,whose grandparents are from Ozluce,accompanied by several Greeks from Serres.Ozluce is located near Bursa,Turkey.*
His Eminence Elpidophoros Lambriniadis of the Ecumenical Patriarchate,Metropolitan of Bursa and overseer of the premises of the still closed Halki Theological School,announced the event.
Also attending the service will be Mr.Petros Aggelidis,Mayor of Serres,Greece,whose grandparents are from Ozluce,accompanied by several Greeks from Serres.Ozluce is located near Bursa,Turkey.*
His Eminence Elpidophoros Lambriniadis of the Ecumenical Patriarchate,Metropolitan of Bursa and overseer of the premises of the still closed Halki Theological School,announced the event.
Monday, April 18, 2016
Orion Progress:Engine Section Hardware Completed for First Flight of NASA's SLS Rocket
Welding Wonder Completes Hardware for First Flight of NASA's SLS Rocket: Flight hardware for the core stage of the world's most powerful rocket, NASA's Space Launch System, finishes final welding and is moved off the 170-foot-tall Vertical Assembly Center at the agency's Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans.
Saturday, April 16, 2016
Friday, April 15, 2016
Wednesday, April 13, 2016
Pacific Air Power:Interior Alaska Selected for F-35 Squadrons
Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James has signed a Record of Decision indicating that the US Air Force has selected Eielson Air Force Base in Interior Alaska to be the home of two Lockheed Martin F-35A Joint Strike Fighter squadrons.Eielson is located near Fairbanks,Alaska.*
Alaska combines a strategically important location with a world class training environment,Ms.James said.Basing F-35s at Eielson AFB will allow the Air Force the capability of using the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex (JPARC) for large force exercises using a multitude of ranges and manoeuvre areas in Alaska.This combined with the largest airspace in the Air Force,ensures realistic combat training for the Defense Department.*
Three years of study produced an Environmetal Impact Statement on the project which considered impacts such as air quality,noise,land use and socioeconomics.The JPARC where the squadrons will train has 65,000 square miles of available airspace.*
The decision to base two F-35 squadrons at Eielson AFB,Alaska will double our fifth generation fighter aircraft presence in the Pacific Theatre,said General Mark A. Welsh III,Chief of Staff Air Force.Integrating that fifth generation force with Navy,Marine and allied F-35 forces will provide joint and coalition warfighters unprecedented survivability,lethality and battlespace awareness in contested environments.It's an exciting time for Pacific Air Power.*
The two F-35 squadrons,totaling 54 aircraft,will join Eielson's F-16 Fighting Falcon aggressor squadron.Construction for the project is expected to start in fiscal year 2017,or as soon as July,in order to be ready to receive the F-35s starting in 2020.Between now and 2020,the Air Force will be increasing the number of active duty maintainers to accommodate the F-35s.The F-35 is to be the Air Force's premier strike aircraft for the first half of the 21st century and will eventually replace the legacy air to ground fighter fleets,the Air Force said.*
We want to ensure,from a security perspective,that we've got all our bases covered-and that's what we're going to be able to do because we've positioned two squadrons of F-35s here at Eielson,said Senator Lisa Murkowski,R-Alaska,at an Eielson AFB celebration to mark the basing decision.*
This decision solidifies that this state has become one of the most critical hubs of air combat power in the US military,added her US Senate colleague Senator Dan Sullivan,R-Alaska.Think about it.That's likely going to mean more missions for all of you,which I know you like,Senator Sullivan told the Airmen.*
Lockheed Martin (LMT)
Alaska combines a strategically important location with a world class training environment,Ms.James said.Basing F-35s at Eielson AFB will allow the Air Force the capability of using the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex (JPARC) for large force exercises using a multitude of ranges and manoeuvre areas in Alaska.This combined with the largest airspace in the Air Force,ensures realistic combat training for the Defense Department.*
Three years of study produced an Environmetal Impact Statement on the project which considered impacts such as air quality,noise,land use and socioeconomics.The JPARC where the squadrons will train has 65,000 square miles of available airspace.*
The decision to base two F-35 squadrons at Eielson AFB,Alaska will double our fifth generation fighter aircraft presence in the Pacific Theatre,said General Mark A. Welsh III,Chief of Staff Air Force.Integrating that fifth generation force with Navy,Marine and allied F-35 forces will provide joint and coalition warfighters unprecedented survivability,lethality and battlespace awareness in contested environments.It's an exciting time for Pacific Air Power.*
The two F-35 squadrons,totaling 54 aircraft,will join Eielson's F-16 Fighting Falcon aggressor squadron.Construction for the project is expected to start in fiscal year 2017,or as soon as July,in order to be ready to receive the F-35s starting in 2020.Between now and 2020,the Air Force will be increasing the number of active duty maintainers to accommodate the F-35s.The F-35 is to be the Air Force's premier strike aircraft for the first half of the 21st century and will eventually replace the legacy air to ground fighter fleets,the Air Force said.*
We want to ensure,from a security perspective,that we've got all our bases covered-and that's what we're going to be able to do because we've positioned two squadrons of F-35s here at Eielson,said Senator Lisa Murkowski,R-Alaska,at an Eielson AFB celebration to mark the basing decision.*
This decision solidifies that this state has become one of the most critical hubs of air combat power in the US military,added her US Senate colleague Senator Dan Sullivan,R-Alaska.Think about it.That's likely going to mean more missions for all of you,which I know you like,Senator Sullivan told the Airmen.*
Lockheed Martin (LMT)
Tuesday, April 12, 2016
Πατριαρχικό κερί στη μνήμη του Γρηγορίου Ε’ |Amen.gr - Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew lights a candle in memory of his predecessor Patriarch Grigorios V,who died in 1821
Πατριαρχικό κερί στη μνήμη του Γρηγορίου Ε’ |Amen.gr: Τον οφειλόμενο σεβασμό προς τον ιερομάρτυρα προκάτοχό του Γρηγόριο τον Ε’ απέδωσε το πρωί της Τρίτης ο Πατριάρχης Βαρθολομαίος, καθώς την Κυριακή που συμπληρώθηκαν τα 195 χρόνια από τη μαρτυρική επέτειο επισκεπτόταν την Ίμβρο.
Saturday, April 9, 2016
Friday, April 8, 2016
Thursday, April 7, 2016
Pope Francis,Patriarch Bartholomew and Archbishop Ieronymos to Visit Lesbos Refugees
Being profoundly concerned by the plight of refugees and persecution of Christians in the Middle East,His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew reached out to a representative of His Holiness Pope Francis in February and by personal letter on 30 March,the Ecumenical Patriarchate announced.In the context of this interest and shared concern of Religious Leaders,and the urgent need to assume a common initiative and action,Pope Francis,Patriarch Bartholomew and His Beatitude Archbishop Ieronymos II of Athens and All Greece will visit the Greek island of Lesbos on 16 April to meet with and support the refugees there.Lesbos is presently coping with about 3500 refugees at a reception center.
This measure and initiative by the Religious Leaders will encourage and strengthen the thousands of suffering refugees,while inspiring the implementation of appropriate actions for the protection of afflicted Christian Communities,as well as the proper response to the critical refugee situation,the Chief Secretariat of the Holy and Sacred Synod said.
This measure and initiative by the Religious Leaders will encourage and strengthen the thousands of suffering refugees,while inspiring the implementation of appropriate actions for the protection of afflicted Christian Communities,as well as the proper response to the critical refugee situation,the Chief Secretariat of the Holy and Sacred Synod said.
Wednesday, April 6, 2016
Inside Exercise Balikatan 16 - why it matters so much
As part of their role in the ongoing Exercise Balikatan 16,the US Marines have taken their High Mobility Artillery Rocket System,HIMARS,to Palawan,the Philippines' westernmost island in the hotly disputed South China Sea.The presence of HIMARS and dozens of aircraft in BK 16 indicates the drills are about territorial defence and retaking territory,analysts say,conditioned by international disapproval of Chinese militarisation of islands in the South China Sea,almost all of which it claims to be its territorial waters.
The Philippines also have an airstrip on Thitu Island (population 350) and small troop contingents on smaller outcrops such as Thomas Shoal,where they post their Marines on an old World War II vessel.The Philippines Navy has surplus US Navy ships.*
Under the new Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement between the US and the Philippines,US troops will rotate through five camps,including two air bases near the South China Sea.The US Embassy Manila said that,during BK 16,the two allies will work together to enhance maritime law enforcement throughout the Philippines to meet training requirements and enhance techniques,tactics and procedures as a critical part of interoperability of our forces.They will also conduct combined simulation supported events in three main commands of the Armed Forces of the Philippines:Western,Northern Luzon and Southern Luzon,and other major military camps:Crow Valley;Fort Magsaysay;Clark Air Field;Subic Bay;Palawan and Panay to improve their ability to work together and plan follow-on operations.One of the main operations will be the implementation of a rapid reaction force as part of distributed operations in the vicinity of Panay.About 11,000 US,Philippine and Australian troops are participating in BK 16,which runs from 4-16 April.BK 16 is the 32nd annual Exercise Balikatan,which means "Shoulder-to-Shoulder."
The US has reportedly sent five ships to BK 16,including a destroyer,amphibious transport dock and expeditionary fast transport ship;while the Philippines sent two ships.*
BK 16 is a sharing of best practices,not just the US teaching Filipinos,said AFP Major General Rodolfo Santiago,Assistant Exercise Director.Besides a staff exercise component,BK 16 has a field exercise component with live fire that includes an amphibious landing and a humanitarian civil action programme on Panay Island.The Australian Defence Force team,besides supporting the amphibious landing and providing a maritime surveillance aircraft,will assist in the refurbishment of a school and provide special dental mentoring to AFP dental personnel.It is Australia's third year in this annual exercise hosted by AFP and US Pacific Command.
The Philippines also have an airstrip on Thitu Island (population 350) and small troop contingents on smaller outcrops such as Thomas Shoal,where they post their Marines on an old World War II vessel.The Philippines Navy has surplus US Navy ships.*
Under the new Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement between the US and the Philippines,US troops will rotate through five camps,including two air bases near the South China Sea.The US Embassy Manila said that,during BK 16,the two allies will work together to enhance maritime law enforcement throughout the Philippines to meet training requirements and enhance techniques,tactics and procedures as a critical part of interoperability of our forces.They will also conduct combined simulation supported events in three main commands of the Armed Forces of the Philippines:Western,Northern Luzon and Southern Luzon,and other major military camps:Crow Valley;Fort Magsaysay;Clark Air Field;Subic Bay;Palawan and Panay to improve their ability to work together and plan follow-on operations.One of the main operations will be the implementation of a rapid reaction force as part of distributed operations in the vicinity of Panay.About 11,000 US,Philippine and Australian troops are participating in BK 16,which runs from 4-16 April.BK 16 is the 32nd annual Exercise Balikatan,which means "Shoulder-to-Shoulder."
The US has reportedly sent five ships to BK 16,including a destroyer,amphibious transport dock and expeditionary fast transport ship;while the Philippines sent two ships.*
BK 16 is a sharing of best practices,not just the US teaching Filipinos,said AFP Major General Rodolfo Santiago,Assistant Exercise Director.Besides a staff exercise component,BK 16 has a field exercise component with live fire that includes an amphibious landing and a humanitarian civil action programme on Panay Island.The Australian Defence Force team,besides supporting the amphibious landing and providing a maritime surveillance aircraft,will assist in the refurbishment of a school and provide special dental mentoring to AFP dental personnel.It is Australia's third year in this annual exercise hosted by AFP and US Pacific Command.
Statement from Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook on Airstrike in Som
Statement from Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook on Airstrike in Som: In cooperation with the Federal Government of Somalia, on Thursday, March 31, the U.S. military conducted an airstrike in Somalia against Hassan Ali Dhoore, a senior leader of al-Shabaab, who is part
Tuesday, April 5, 2016
Saturday, April 2, 2016
Friday, April 1, 2016
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