🇩🇪 Rheinmetall demos Keiler Next Generation armoured breaching system

🔸 Rheinmetall demonstrated the capabilities of its Keiler Next Generation (NG) highly protected armoured breaching system on 14 August 2024 in a live demonstration at the Bergen military training area in northern Germany. Around 100 internationally invited guests from the armed forces, procurement authorities and industry took part in the event.

🔸 During an initial serial the Keiler NG demonstrated the rapid creation of mine lanes in the field using a Pearson mine plough, which is over four metres wide and can clear mines at a speed of up to 250 m per minute. The mine plough can be quickly replaced with a dozer blade, meaning that the Keiler NG can also clear anti-tank obstacles, fill in trenches or create emplacements and prepared positions if required.

🔸 The highlight of the demonstration was the second serial, in which the rocket-supported ‘Plofadder’ detonation cord system was used. The Plofadder system, from Rheinmetall Denel Munition, can effect a breach 160 m long and 9 m wide in minefields and obstacles in a matter of minutes. Fired in overlapping bursts, the Keiler NG’s two Plofadder systems make it possible to overcome deep enemy mine barriers.

🔸 In addition to the mine plough and Plofadder detonation cord system, the Keiler NG is also equipped with a magnetic signature duplicator that detonates second-generation mines in advance of the plough. The vehicle also has an integrated lane marking system that marks the created lanes for the following forces, even in limited visibility or at night.

🔸 The Keiler NG, which was presented to the public for the first time at the Eurosatory 2024 trade fair in Paris in June, also has an integrated crane, which it uses to establish clearing readiness and to load and unload the Plofadder ammunition boxes.

🔸 For self-protection the Keiler NG, which has a crew of two, carries the ROSY rapid obscurant system and the Rheinmetall’s Natter 12.7 mm remotely controlled weapon station. The possibility of remote-controlled deployment of the vehicle has already been taken into account as part of the system’s concept, as has the fitting of an active protection system.

🔗 https://euro-sd.com/2024/08/major-news/39897/rheinmetall-demos-keiler-ng/

🇷🇺💻📉 — Earlier today, Russian media reported a major disruption on Internet services nationwide

📉 Platforms like Telegram, Steam, Wikipedia, GitHub, Roblox went down for some moments

🇷🇺💻📉 — 📰 @ru2ch: The failure of a number of services in Russia, including the Telegram and WhatsApp messengers, is associated with a DDOS attack on Russian telecom operators, Roskomnadzor reported

https://news.1rj.ru/str/ru2ch/120888

🇺🇸❌🇷🇺 — Via its social media, the American Private Military Company " Forward Observation Group" (FOG) confirmed that its mercenaries are taking part on the Ukrainian incursion in Kursk oblast

➡️ On August 16, 2024, the American private military company Forward Observations Group (FOG), consisting of former US Marines and special forces, acknowledged the participation of its soldiers in the Ukrainian offensive near Kursk.

➡️ FOG social networks published a photograph of American military personnel on Russian territory with a geotag indicating their presence in the Kursk region. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs protested to the United States in connection with the participation of the American military in operations on the territory of the Russian Federation

🔗 Link

🇷🇺❌🇺🇸🇺🇸 — 🇷🇺 Russian State Media, RIA Novosti on Telegram:

The participation of the American PMC on the side of the Ukrainian Armed Forces during the invasion proves the involvement of the United States as a direct participant in the conflict, the Russian Foreign Ministry stated.

The video shows the arrival of the American chargé d'affaires at the ministry.

#BREAKING

🇹🇷❌🇺🇸🇸🇾❗️ — Pro-SDF observers report that Turkish Armed Forces conducted a drone strike against a United States Army Base near Derika Hamko at Qarachok Mountain, in unprecedented escalation by Turkey

https://fxtwitter.com/VivaRevolt/status/1826289474462155122

🇾🇪❌🛥❗️ — United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reports that an attack has taken place in the Gulf of Aden, 57 NM from Aden!

➡️ The master of the ship reports at least 5x explosions near the ship, but no damage noticed!

🔗 United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) (@UK_MTO)

🇸🇻 — Nayib Bukele on 𝕏:

Gang members will spend their entire lives in prison. But non-violent criminals can receive training and repay their debt to society.

We’ve already started with the first 48,000. Here’s just one of the things they do

Nayib Bukele (@nayibbukele)

🇺🇸🔋 Mapped: Electric Vehicle Adoption By State in 2023

🔗 https://www.visualcapitalist.com/mapped-electric-vehicle-adoption-by-state/

🇺🇸🤝🇧🇦 CIA Chief In Bosnia To Emphasize U.S. Support And 'Worrying' Rhetoric Of Republika Srpska President

CIA Director William Burns was in Sarajevo on August 20 to discuss the “worrying secessionist rhetoric and actions” of the pro-Russian president and government of Bosnia-Herzegovina’s Serb entity, a U.S. government official told RFE/RL.

“They discussed issues of mutual interest, which include the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Bosnia-Herzegovina,” according to the official, who asked not to be named.

Almir Dzuvo, the chief of Bosnia's Intelligence and Security Agency, confirmed earlier to RFE/RL that Burns was in Sarajevo. Burns “voiced his support for the cooperation of U.S. and Bosnian intelligence agencies" during his meeting with Dzuvo, the Bosnian intelligence chief told RFE/RL.

Bosnia’s head of diplomacy Elmedin Konakovic, who also met with Burns, said Bosnia “once again received confirmation of full support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Bosnia and condemnation of secessionist messages and moves.”

Konakovic told RFE/RL that while he could not comment on some parts of the discussion, a universal message was sent that the American administration is “very clear that Bosnia’s foreign policy partner is still firmly with Bosnia-Herzegovina."

Burns's visit is a “very good message” to Serbia that the United States will not tolerate its actions, Assenova said.

🔗 https://www.rferl.org/a/cia-burns-bosnia-dzuvo/33085824.html

🇺🇸🇷🇸 CIA Chief William J. Burns is on a surprise visit to Serbia.

He is being hosted by the Serbian Security Intelligence Agency (BIA).

🔗 https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/direktor-cia-berns-poseta-beograd/33087580.html

🇺🇸🤝🇽🇰 The head of the CIA in the Presidency of Kosovo

The head of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), William Burns, was seen entering the Kosovo Presidency building on August 22.

His visit to Kosovo comes after the senior American intelligence official stayed in other countries of the region.

Previously, the American Embassy in Pristina did not confirm Burns' visit to Kosovo. Radio Free Europe did not receive confirmation either from the Presidency of Kosovo, or from the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

However, the American army plane, with which the head of the American Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), William Burns, is believed to have traveled to Bosnia and Serbia, was seen at noon on Thursday at Pristina's "Adem Jashari" International Airport.

Burns' visit to the region comes at a time when the American ambassador to Kosovo, Jeffrey Hovenier, has said that his country has been challenged in several aspects by the Government of Kosovo, led by Albin Kurti.

The USA and other countries of the international community have criticized some decisions and actions taken recently by the Kurti Government, which have been considered "unilateral" and "uncoordinated".

The US Department of State has asked the Kurti Government to return to "constructive and close engagement" with Washington, the European Union and NATO, while Washington is also demanding that Kosovo's institutions not open the bridge over the Ibër River to traffic. , citing security concerns.

🔗 https://www.cna.al/english/kosova-bota/shefi-i-cia-s-ne-presidencen-e-kosoves-i406468

🇮🇹 Italy's foreign minister says country needs more African students

Tajani's centre-right Forza Italia party has urged the government to consider granting citizenship to foreign minors who have completed most of their education in Italy.

The proposal has met with opposition from the two hard-right coalition parties, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's Brothers of Italy and Matteo Salvini's League.

"I think the numbers of African students studying in Italy should be increased", Tajani said at a Catholic business and politics conference in Rimini, on the Adriatic coast.

He was discussing an Italian development initiative for African countries, known as the Mattei Plan, named after the late founder of Italy's state controlled energy company Eni.

Tajani likened the project to a modern day Marshall Plan, which saw the United States support European economies in the aftermath of World War Two.

Far fewer foreigners study in Italy than in other large European Union nations.

Data from Italy's national statistics institute ISTAT shows the country issued around 25,000 study permits in 2022, compared to almost 105,000 issued by France and about 70,000 by Germany.

ISTAT cited the relatively limited use of Italian as an international language and the difficulties of finding work in Italy among probable reasons for the dearth of foreign students.

🔗 https://www.reuters.com/world/italys-foreign-minister-says-country-needs-more-african-students-2024-08-22/