Latest
on top (updated regularly):
(https://twitter.com/martinbroek)
May 9
***
Students at
#University of Sapienza in #Rome begin encampment for Palestine. Law
student Federico underlined that their actions aim to press the
university to stop cooperation with Israel and the government to halt
#arms #exports to the country.
https://www.aa.com.tr/en/europe/students-at-prominent-italian-university-begin-encampment-for-palestine/3214134
***
Josh Paul, a
former US state department official who resigned over the “expanded
and expedited” provision of lethal arms to Israel, has told that
the Biden administration’s decision to #suspend a #bomb shipment to
Israel was “not a moment to celebrate”.
https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/former-us-official-bomb-shipment-suspension-not-enough
***
@CTWnl bracht
in november op basis van openbare onderzoekssubsidiegegevens van de
EU in kaart welke samenwerkingsverbanden er bestaan tussen
#Nederlandse #universiteiten en #Israëlische universiteiten,
instellingen en bedrijven op veiligheidsvlak. Meer:
https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2024/05/08/meer-openheid-over-israelische-banden-van-universiteiten-maar-boycot-gaat-te-ver-a4198332
***
Universiteiten
geven meer openheid over banden met Israël, maar boycot gaat ze te
ver.
***
Special
Operation Forces #SOF are testing ways to add loitering munitions or
#kamikaze drones and other payloads to the medium-size, 60-foot
#watercraft used to insert and extract #SEAL teams on special
missions.
https://www.defensenews.com/naval/2024/05/08/seals-want-loitering-munitions-aboard-insertextract-patrol-boats
***
Another
approach is possible
After 2 days of UB protest camp University of Barcelona faculty passes motion calling to break academic relations with Israel.
***
Pro-Palestine
#protesters disrupt US tech billionaire talk at #university.
Republican Party donor and founder of #Palantir, Peter Thiel accused of profiting from genocide during appearance at #Cambridge.
***
Defence
contractor pleads guilty to #fraud, money laundering and unlawful
#export of military data. It was falsely claimed that military
components were produced in the US, "when in fact, the parts
were being manufactured by Ozcan and Simsek in #Turkey."
***
#Airbus US
finalizes acquisition of Aerovel as it eyes low-cost #drone market.
Airbus would also likely respond to a recent request for information
on drone capabilities that could replace the Navy’s MQ-8C Fire
Scout uncrewed helicopters, said CEO of ...
https://breakingdefense.com/2024/05/airbus-us-finalizes-acquisition-of-aerovel-as-it-eyes-low-cost-drone-market/
#Airbus
acquires small #drone maker #Aerovel, eyes #Replicator business.
https://www.defensenews.com/industry/2024/05/08/airbus-acquires-small-drone-maker-aerovel-eyes-replicator-business/
***
#Japan
sells lethal weapons responding to US demand, using Ukraine as
excuse.
It is reported Japan’s recent policy change to sell s to the US arms a break from its pacifist principle. However, Washington & Tokyo have been watering it down for a long time.
May 8
***
Why #Ukraine
Should Keep Striking Russian Oil Refineries. US Fears About Energy
Markets Are Misplaced, is stated in Foreign Affairs.
https://www.foreignaffairs.com/ukraine/why-ukraine-should-keep-striking-russian-oil-refineries
Fears about CO2 emissions are a luxury, forget about the #ClimateCrisis. #War is a dirty business, live or die with it.
***
Students set
up a camp at the Free University, Berlin. They demand that the
university should call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and stop
German arms exports. University management and the police are taking
tough action.
https://taz.de/Raeumung-eines-Camps-an-der-FU-Berlin/!6006162/
***
#Slovak
#Azerbaijan militarry relations re-established.
Historically, the upgraded Dana howitzers and RM-70 Vampire grenade launchers manufactured by the #Czech arms company #Strnad were crucial in Azerbaijan's arsenal. These weapons, transported via #Bratislava to #Israel
under a Slovak license and subsequently acquired by Azerbaijan, played a vital role in the second #Karabakh War. https://turan.az/en/economics/azerbaijan-and-slovakia-signed-key-agreements-on-military-cooperation-during-the-visit-of-prime-minister-fico-780262
***
Groene: Luis
of schoothond
#Macron en #Thales worden vanwege de Franse wapenleveranties medeplichtig verklaard aan de genocide.
Hoewel de activisten zich richten op
Frankrijk en elke aanval veroordelen, krijgt dit protest?van Angela
Dekker, DGA 9/5/24.
https://www.groene.nl/auteur/angela-dekker
Overigens
is dat zo neutraal neergezette tech-bedrijf uit het artikel, Thales
in Nederland (samen met Damen) de grootste militaire producent. Het
bedrijf is ook sterk betrokken in technologie om de grenzen te
verdedigen tegen vluchtelingen.
Wat is er met De Groene A. gebeurd?
***
***
Earning money,
creating dead and destruction:
War on #Gaza: #Barclays has 'increased' Israel arms trade investments. Palestine Solidarity Campaign, #CAAT and others have found that UK bank has upped Israel-linked weapons investments.
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/uk-israel-gaza-barclays-arms-trade
***
US
#Defence contracts to support policy & regulation have helped
Alexandr #Wang, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology dropout and
#AI tycoon (#Scale_AI), to achieve his riches (billionaire at 24).
His customers also include OpenAI, Microsoft and Meta.
https://www.cityam.com/youngest-self-made-billionaire-chooses-london-for-european-hq/
May 7
***
16 Dead &
30 injured, victims of #bombing (May 3) of 2 #refugee camps at Lac
Vert and Mugunga, east of the DRC. Most of the victims are women and
children. Kinshasa accuses the #M23 guerrillas and the #Rwandan armed
forces of the bombing.
#Armsembargo?https://cargreen.es/eshiio/2024/07/8R237489TDIu43SUsE.html
***
Attention on
Boeing's longstanding connection with Israel and the Israeli military
use of Boeing weapons intensifies. On US campuses and outside
Boeing's Virginia HQs, protesters have assailed #Boeing for its
involvement in the #Israel war against #Gaza.
https://www.seattletimes.com/business/as-opposition-to-israels-war-in-gaza-grows-boeing-arms-sales-draw-scrutiny/
***
Clear letter
to the editor of The Irish Times:
Arms sales to Israel
The US must feel the pressure, show
humanity, and halt arms sales to Israel.
https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/letters/2024/05/07/arms-sales-to-israel/
***
Wie
rijk wil worden, belegt in de wapenindustrie. Fonds dat speciaal in
militaire investeert, is in 1 jaar 50% meer waard geworden. 'Alle
ethische bezwaren daargelaten, het is gewoon hartstikke lucratief.'
Noemen we daarom militaire/wapenbedrijven defensief?
https://www.parool.nl/nederland/is-beleggen-in-de-defensie-industrie-onethisch-je-kunt-wel-tegen-oorlog-zijn-maar-dan-bereik-je-het-tegendeel~b7ac5cc3/
Eigen
militaire en wapenproductie noem je vanzelfsprekend defensief. Die
van de tegenstander is offensief. Dit terwijl je zelf het gros van
alle wapens in de wereld produceert van kernwapens t/m geweren.
Zouden de Gazanen de JDAM bommen van #Boeing die vallen defensief
noemen?
Offensive or defensive systems?
Death of 23 civilians in military strikes with Turkish MAM-L glide bombs, which are dropped from TB-2 drones may amount to war crimes.
https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/05/somalia-death-of-23-civilians-in-military-strikes-with-turkish-drones-may-amount-to-war-crimes-new-investigation/
***
#Airbus
plans to invest in a 3rd #helicopter flight
#simulator in #Malaysia, with operations expected to
commence in 2026. The Airbus Helicopters Malaysia
Simulation Centre, a JV with #Boustead Heavy Industries Corporation,
is located in Subang.
https://www.businesstoday.com.my/2024/05/06/airbus-to-invest-in-third-helicopter-simulator-in-subang/
***
#Dutch
appeals court finds no direct evidence #Damen shipwharf profited from
human trafficking of #DPRK workers at Polish shipyards.
https://www.nknews.org/2024/05/the-hague-dismisses-case-against-dutch-firms-accused-of-using-north-korean-labor/
Press release La Strada International https://documentation.lastradainternational.org/lsidocs/3552-LSI%20Press%20release%2030%20April%202024%20-%20EN%20-%20DEF.pdf
***
Military
Spending & Climate Emergency: Squaring the Circle. A video
recording of a meeting on YouTube. #ENAAT
https://youtu.be/w4r90JRCQEA?si=_N5qFetRwX5hdPVL
***
The #EU will
open an innovation office in #Kyiv at the end of the year to promote
the growth of #Ukrainian start-ups and military #companies.
EU High Representative @JosepBorrellF stated today at the EU-Ukraine Defense Industries Forum. https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/3860616-borrell-announces-opening-of-defense-innovation-office-in-kyiv.html
***
Macron
welcomes #China's commitment not to sell arms to #Russia. "We
welcome the commitment of the Chinese authorities to refrain from
selling any #arms or providing any aid to Moscow and to strictly
control the export of #dual_use products," Macron said.
https://menafn.com/1108181125/Macron-Welcomes-Chinas-Commitment-Not-To-Sell-Arms-To-Russia
May
6
***
At the next
European #elections there will be a guest: the arms industry. The
#arms industry has managed, through intense lobbying, to obtain flows
of money from the European Union to arm wars. In Italy this isuue is
ignored, wrote Enza Plotino.
https://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2024/05/04/alle-prossime-elezioni-europee-ci-sara-un-convitato-di-pietra-lindustria-delle-armi/7534277/
***
#Israeli
airstrike that killed seven health workers in #Lebanon used US
munition (#JDAM made by #Boeing
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_Direct_Attack_Munition so if you
fly in e.g. a 747 ...), analysis reveals.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/06/israel-airstrike-lebanon-us-weapons-international-law
Biden
administration delayed arms shipments to Israel ... neither the White
House nor the US DoD and State have offered an official explanation
for the delay. https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-799957
***
Bedrijfsverandering
van civiel militaire vliegtuigbouwer #GKN #Fokker veroorzaakt
#overlast. Gemeente #Papendrecht stopt vier ton in de oplossing
ervan.
https://www.pzc.nl/dordrecht/gkn-fokker-laat-vergunningaanvraag-voor-bouw-van-parkeerdek-vervallen-en-dient-binnenkort-nieuwe-in~a8ae6a7c/
***
The #Indian
Air Force #IAF has taken the delivery of its second C-295 aircraft
from #Airbus in #Spain, and the ₹21,935-crore (€ 2.5bn) project
to modernise the IAF’s transport fleet.
https://www.indiandefensenews.in/2024/05/second-c295-transport-aircraft.html
***
Lockheed,
Howmet settle lawsuit over F-35 #titanium.
#Lockheed Martin alleged in court filings that its supplier #US #Howmet cut off the supply of titanium after the aerospace giant refused to agree to higher prices, threatening production of the #F35.
https://breakingdefense.com/2024/05/lockheed-howmet-settle-lawsuit-over-f-35-titanium-exclusive/
May 4
***
Palestine
Action use van to block entrance to Elbit factory, This is far from
the first time that Palestine Action has blockaded Elbit’s Bristol
HQ in the months since Israel’s genocide in Gaza commenced.
https://www.thecanary.co/trending/2024/05/03/palestine-action-van-elbit-bristol/
***
Campus
protests over the war in Gaza have gone international.
Student concerns in the U.K. — for instance — seemed to echo the focus of an increasingly high-profile nationwide campaign to end British arms exports to Israel.
https://www.npr.org/2024/05/03/1248661834/student-protests-gaza-universities-international
***
Military
Industrial Family Complex
UK PM Rishi Sunak’s family firm Infosys has ties to major arms firms including a firm that provides parts for Israeli military helicopters, The National reveals. https://www.thenational.scot/news/24298240.rishi-sunaks-family-firm-infosys-deep-ties-major-arms-firms/
***
Activist
raise up
#Japan abstained voring on the UN resolution calling for a halt to arms exports to Israel. In addition, Japan’s MoD is trying to import state-of-the-art military #drones. Some of these are manufactured by #Israeli military companies. https://www.arabnews.jp/en/japan/article_121042/
***
Federal
agents investigating the illegal flow of #weapons & contraband
between the US and #Haiti are turning to South Florida’s Haitian
community for help in cracking down on the gang violence that is
fueling instability in the volatile Caribbean country:
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/haiti/article288287025.html
May
3
'***
Retweet with comment
@obsarm: Exports of critical components to #Russia in 2023. $20.3
million for #Thales; $8.4 million for #Safran; $4.8 million for
#Nicomatic; $3.8 million for #Michelin; $200,000 for
#STMicroelectronics.
And by the way also the defending party
is armed. Its business as no other.
Exportations de
composants critiques vers la Russie en 2023. 20,3 millions $ pour
Thales ; 8,4 millions $ pour Safran ; 4,8 millions $ pour
Nicomatic ; 3,8 millions $ pour Michelin ; 200.000 $ pour
STMicroelectronics.
https://www.obsarm.info/spip.php?article651
***
How about the
role of Israeli arms in the Rwandan genocide? Information is secret.
But 20 years before Tutsi's murdered Hutu's in Burundi. In that case "declassified Foreign Ministry correspondence about Burundi hints at indifference to ethnic massacres."https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-05-02/ty-article-opinion/.highlight/genocide-in-rwanda-massacre-in-burundi-its-business-as-usual-for-israel/0000018f-3ad3-d414-a5bf-bbf752870000
***
How
about the role of Israeli arms in the Rwandan genocide? Information
is secret.
But 20 years before Tutsi's murdered Hutu's in Burundi. In that case "declassified Foreign Ministry correspondence about Burundi hints at indifference to ethnic massacres."https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-05-02/ty-article-opinion/.highlight/genocide-in-rwanda-massacre-in-burundi-its-business-as-usual-for-israel/0000018f-3ad3-d414-a5bf-bbf752870000
May 2
***
Embarking on
the Cold War 2.0 track includes devides and a struggle for allies.
As the #UAE seeks closer defense ties with the #US and #China alike, the prospects of exporting the #F35 fighter to Abu Dhabi anytime soon may be getting slimmer. https://www.defensenews.com/global/mideast-africa/2024/05/01/emirati-f-35-prospects-languish-amid-high-stakes-chinese-us-courting/
***
The
#Lithuanian government has approved new procedures designed to lower
administrative hurdles for foreign defense looking to start
production.The move is connected with the European hunger for
weaponry from artillery shells to drones.
https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2024/04/30/lithuania-eases-red-tape-for-defense-firms-looking-to-set-up-shop/
***
A wave of
#orders from Europe
#Climatecrisis destruction, cost and expansion of air fleets.
Arrival of the DHC-515 in Europe will supplement CL-215T and CL-415 aircraft in service with Europe’s air forces and civil protection agencies.
***
Students at
the #University of #Sheffield walked out of lectures yesterday to
demonstrate against the genocide in #Palestine and the university’s
links to the arms trade.
The Uni was instrumental in developing tech to scale up #F35 production rates. https://nowthenmagazine.com/articles/university-of-sheffield-students-set-up-encampment-on-campus-to-show-solidarity-with-palestine
***
It is
possible!
The University of York Cuts Ties with Arms Investors
The University of York has become the first UK university to cut investment ties with the arms industry, fossil fuel banking and international law violators.
https://www.yorkvision.co.uk/news/the-university-of-york-cuts-ties-with-arms-investors/01/05/2024
***
#Ukraine
ramps up production of Bohdana Howitzers
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/31938
#Russia to increase arms production, speed up arms deliveries, Moscow says. https://kyivindependent.com/russia-to-increase-arms-production-speed-up-weapons-delivery-shoigu-says/
Russian & Ukrainian casualties rise in a 'meat grinder' of a war https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/04/30/russia-troops-ukraine-toll-casualties/
#CeasefireNOW
May 1
***
On May Day,
which is traditionally a holiday for workers and trade unionists,
groups across the UK are blockading arms factories, including the BAE
plant in Govan. Ali, 25, a junior doctor, said: "Targeting the
arms trade in the UK has already been effective - protests &
direct action against Israeli weapons company Elbit Systems in
England has forced it to close and sell its factory in Staffordshire.
We’re here to make sure that there’s no business as usual for
those who sell arms to genocidal regimes."
https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/24287555.bae-systems-glasgow-shut-israel-arms-protest/
***
#Colombian
President Petro reported the discovery of an #arms #trafficking
network within the National Army. Those involved extracted
ammunition, weapons, military equipment and explosives from the army
to sell them in different countries, such as Haiti.
https://www.telesurenglish.net/amp/news/Colombian-President-Denounces-Network-Arms-Trafficking-Army-20240430-0025.html