New excise and value-added taxes are among the proposals that will be included in a supplementary budget to be tabled in parliament for approval, according to a report published on International Monetary Fund’s website following a review of the East African nation’s finances.
Archiv: „we want (even more) money / power / everything that the plebs have left“
Congress, Pentagon: Compromise NDAA released with $857.9 billion topline
(December 06, 2022)
And of course, it wouldn’t be a defense-related topic in 2022 without a focus on China. “The language extends the Pacific Deterrence Initiative (PDI) through fiscal year 2023, identifies approximately $11.5 billion of investments in support of PDI objectives, and authorizes approximately an additional $1 billion to address unfunded requirements identified by the Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM).” It also includes potentially interesting language requiring “the establishment of a joint force headquarters within the INDOPACOM area of responsibility.”
Lawmakers Want Increase in Pentagon’s INDOPACOM Budget for 2023
(May 2, 2022)
President Biden has requested a massive $813 billion military budget for the 2023 fiscal year, but it isn’t enough for Congress. Lawmakers have been combing the budget to find ways to increase the spending, and one area of concern is the Pentagon’s budget request for US Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM).
Iron Dome plan to shield German skies
Germany is looking to create an “Iron Dome” protection shield, similar to the one used by Israel, to protect against Russian missiles.
“That is certainly among the things that we are discussing, and for good reasons,” Olaf Scholz, the chancellor, told the state television channel ARD. “We need to be aware that we have a neighbour who is prepared to use violence to enforce their interests.”
New Zealand to pass counter-terrorism law after horror stabbings, mass shootings
A counter-terrorism legislation bill has returned to the parliament for second reading in an important step taken by New Zealand towards giving enforcement agencies greater power to protect the country from terrorist activities, a move following a terror attack in Auckland more than two weeks ago.
C.D.C. Internal Report Calls Delta Variant as Contagious as Chickenpox
The Delta variant is more transmissible than the viruses that cause MERS, SARS, Ebola, the common cold, the seasonal flu and smallpox, and it is as contagious as chickenpox, according to the document, a copy of which was obtained by The New York Times.
The immediate next step for the agency is to “acknowledge the war has changed,” the document said. Its contents were first reported by The Washington Post on Thursday evening.
US-Haushalt: Erhöhung
Mit 715 Milliarden Dollar liegt der Antrag für den kommenden US-Verteidigungshaushalt leicht höher (1,4%) als im Vorjahr (siehe IMI-Aktuell 2021/400). Das scheint Republikanern und Demokraten im Kongress aber noch nicht zu genügen, überrparteilich drängen sie auf eine weitere Erhöhung
FBI Director Compares Ransomware Challenge to 9/11
(04.06.2021)
Christopher Wray points to Russian hackers, calls for coordinated fight across U.S. society
‚They are hair on fire‘: Biden administration mulls cyberattacks against Russian hackers
(03.06.2021)
Although using the military to take action against criminals wouldn‘t be without precedent, it‘s controversial in legal circles, and any American cyber action against targets in Russia would risk retaliation.
Kyrgyzstan referendum backs presidential rule
“I voted against (the reform) because this is a power grab,” said a 32-year-old entrepreneur who only gave his first name, Bakyt. “All the power must not be given to one person.”
AstraZeneca says vaccine against new Covid variants may take six months
AstraZeneca has said it could take between six and nine months to produce Covid-19 vaccines that are effective against new variants of the coronavirus, and begin administering them to the public.
Global partnership COVAX secures two billion COVID-19 vaccine doses
(19.12.2020)
UNITED NATIONS: Global vaccine partnership COVAX has lined up almost two billion doses of existing and candidate COVID-19 vaccines for use worldwide, including 200 million doses of the AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine through an agreement between the Vaccine Alliance Gavi, the Serum Institute of India and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
SolarWinds breach raises stakes for NDAA Trump still threatens to veto
Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) said the breach makes a clear case for the work of the Cyberspace Solarium Commission and the cyber provisions that made it into the annual defense policy bill passed by the House and Senate.
“This is the most important bill on cyber ever passed by Congress, and that’s why I’m really hoping that the president will either sign the bill or let it become law without a signature, because there is so much critically important material in the bill,” King said during an annual summit hosted by Defense One.
Cyberspace Solarium Commission
The Cyberspace Solarium Commission (CSC) was established in the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 to „develop a consensus on a strategic approach to defending the United States in cyberspace against cyber attacks of significant consequences.“ The finished report was presented to the public on March 11, 2020.
Our Report
The Cyberspace Solarium Commission‘s proposes a strategy of layered cyber deterrence. Our report consists of over 80 recommendations to implement the strategy. These recommendations are organized into 6 pillars:
– Reform the U.S. Government‘s Structure and Organization for Cyberspace.
– Strengthen Norms and Non-Military Tools.
– Promote National Resilience.
– Reshape the Cyber Ecosystem.
– Operationalize Cybersecurity Collaboration with the Private Sector.
– Preserve and Employ the Military Instrument of National Power.
The moon may contain more water than previously believed, including on its sunlit surface
The research is based on data gathered by NASA‘s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, in orbit around the moon since June 2009, as well as the agency‘s Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy airborne telescope, called SOFIA. The latter is a Boeing 747SP aircraft modified to carry a 2.7-meter telescope.
UN Urges Inquiry into Violence by Anti-Terrorism Force Against Malian Protestors
MINUSMA, the U.N. Peacekeeping Mission in Mali, has confirmed at least 14 protestors were killed and another 154 injured during a violent clampdown by FORSAT, a special anti-terrorism unit operating in Mali.
Turkey: 7 martyred after reconnaissance plane crash
The 2015 model-plane was missioned for reconnaissance and surveillance in Van and Hakkari provinces since Monday, said Soylu.
Coronavirus: Premier says NSW-Victoria border to close tomorrow
New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian provides an update on COVID-19 cases and a border closure with Victoria.
Colombia: Displaced Minor Killed During Eviction by Riot Police
„The public force completes a terrible week after the bombing in Caqueta where 4 children were killed, the rape of a 12-year-old girl in Risaralda by seven soldiers, and now the death of Duvan,“ local outlet Las 2 Orillas commented.
Trump confirms plan to cut US troops in Germany to 25,000
“We’re putting the number down to 25,000 soldiers,” Trump told reporters at the White House.
“Germany’s delinquent,” Trump added. “They’ve been delinquent for years, and they owe NATO billions of dollars, and they have to pay it. So we’re protecting Germany, and they’re delinquent. That doesn’t make sense.”
„Eric, do you really believe that Los Angeles police officers are killers?“ LAPPL board member Jamie McBride said. „The same officers that provide you 24-hour security at your residence 365 days a year?“
During a contentious meeting between LAPD officers and @MRodCD7 , one officer says that if the city is going to cut, it should start by cutting protection details at council members‘ homes (see minute 15:30 or so)
Northcom Commander Calls for 21st Century Tools to Defeat Current Threats
(11.03.2020)
The command will continue to partner with the U.S. defense and commercial industries a „to transform rapidly evolving scientific information into leading-edge digital age technology,“ he said.
The command is building a SHIELD — the Strategic Home and Integrated Ecosystem for Layered Defense — to defend the homeland.
„Our layered defense needs to establish awareness in all domains; from below the oceans to the highest levels of space, including the unseen cyber domain, which are all at risk,“ he said.