Tag Archives: oceania

Satellite pics reveal new Russian weapon in war against Ukraine

Iran is providing Russia with materials to build a drone manufacturing plant east of Moscow as the Kremlin looks to lock in a steady supply of weaponry for its ongoing invasion of Ukraine, according to a US intelligence finding released by the White House on Friday.

National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said US intelligence officials believe a plant in Russia's Alabuga special economic zone could be operational early next year.

The White House also released satellite imagery taken in April of the industrial location, several hundred miles east of Moscow, where it believes the plant "will probably be built".

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Iran is providing Russia with materials to build a drone manufacturing plant east of Moscow as the Kremlin looks to lock in a steady supply of weaponry for its ongoing invasion of Ukraine, according to a US intelligence finding released by the White House on Friday.

President Joe Biden's administration publicly stated in December that it believed Tehran and Moscow were considering standing up a drone assembly line in Russia for the Ukraine war.

The new intelligence suggests that the project, in the Yelabuga region of Tatarstan, has moved beyond conception.

Iran has said it provided drones to Russia before the start of the war but not since.

Kirby said that US officials also have determined that Iran continues to supply the Russian military with one-way attack drones made in Iran: the drones are shipped via the Caspian Sea, from Amirabad in Iran to Makhachkala, Russia, and then are used by Russian forces against Ukraine.

As of May, Russia had received hundreds of one-way attack drones, as well as drone production-related equipment, from Iran, according to the White House.

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"This is a full-scale defence partnership that is harmful to Ukraine, to Iran's neighbours, and to the international community," Kirby said.

"We are continuing to use all the tools at our disposal to expose and disrupt these activities including by sharing this with the public — and we are prepared to do more."

The Biden administration on Friday issued an advisory meant to help businesses and other governments put in place measures to ensure they are not inadvertently contributing to Iran's drone program.

The notice from the departments of commerce, state, justice and treasury said it was "critical that private industry be aware of its legal obligations" to abide by US export controls and sanctions.

The United States, the European Union and the United Kingdom in recent months all issued rules designed to cut off the flow of drone components to Russia and Iran.

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The Biden administration has repeatedly publicised intelligence findings that detail how Iran is assisting the Russian invasion.

The persistent drip of intelligence findings from the administration is intended to detail what US officials say is a deepening defence partnership between Russia and Iran.

It's also part of a broader administration effort to spotlight Moscow's prosecution of its war in Ukraine in hopes of further promoting global isolation of Russia.

The White House last month said Russia was looking to buy additional advanced attack drones from Iran after using up most of the 400 drones it had previously purchased from Tehran.

The Biden administration last year first publicised satellite imagery and intelligence findings that it said indicated Iran sold hundreds of attack drones to Russia.

For months, officials have said the United States believed Iran was considering selling hundreds of ballistic missiles to Russia but White House officials have said they do not have evidence a deal was consummated.

The White House has noted that Iran also has weapons flowing its way from Russia.

Iran is seeking to purchase additional military equipment from Russia, including attack helicopters, radars and YAK-130 combat trainer aircraft, according to the White House.

In April, Iran announced that it had finalised a deal to buy Su-35 fighter jets from Russia.

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Police investigate death of teenager in Adelaide house fire

A teenager has died and another was injured in a house fire in Adelaide's north-west.

Metropolitan Fire Services crews found a body inside a house on Murray Street in Angle Park after they extinguished the blaze about 2.30pm on Friday.

"A 19-year-old woman from the address was taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital by paramedics for treatment," South Australia Police said in a statement.

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Police investigate death of teenager in Adelaide house fire.

"Her injuries are not considered life-threatening.

"A body located inside the house is believed to be that of an 18-year-old woman from Prospect, who is known to the other woman."

Police said the woman's death is not being treated as suspicious.

Anyone with information about the fire is urged to come forward.

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Men rescued after thinking floodwater was 'large puddle'

Two men have been rescued from floodwaters after driving into what they thought was a "large puddle" near Shepparton in Victoria's north.

Emergency services came to the rescue when the pair came into trouble along Ofarrell Road at Seven Creeks in Miepoll about 10.20pm last night.

"Their car quickly became bogged and the water level began rapidly rising as they called emergency services for assistance," Victoria Police said in a statement.

READ MORE: Slow start to snow season as mostly sunny long weekend ahead

Two men have been rescued after driving into floodwater they thought was "large puddle" near Shepparton.

"Police found the men clinging to the back of their vehicle in the fast-moving water.

"SES volunteers arrived at the scene with their rescue boat and pulled both men to safety."

The 73-year-old and 46-year-old men, who are both from NSW, were taken to hospital for observation.

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Four children found alive in Amazon jungle 40 days after plane crash

Four young children have been found alive after more than a month wandering the Amazon jungle, according to Colombia's President Gustavo Petro.

"A joy for the whole country! The four children who were lost 40 days ago in the Colombian jungle were found alive," Petro tweeted on Friday, attaching a image that seems to show search crews treating the children in a forest clearing.

The children, who appear gaunt in the photos, are being evaluated by doctors and will be evacuated for medical treatment.

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Lesly Jacobombaire Mucutuy, age 13, Soleiny Jacobombaire Mucutuy, 9, Tien Ranoque Mucutuy, 4, and infant Cristin Ranoque Mucutuy were stranded in the jungle on May 1, the only survivors of a deadly plane crash.

Their mother, Magdalena Mucutuy Valencia, was killed in the crash along with two other adult passengers: pilot Hernando Murcia Morales and Yarupari indigenous leader Herman Mendoza Hernández.

The children's subsequent disappearance into the deep forest galvanised a massive military-led search operation involving over a hundred Colombian special forces troops and over 70 indigenous scouts combing the area.

Four children missing in the Amazon jungle have been found alive.

For weeks, the search turned up only tantalising clues, including footprints, a dirty nappy and a bottle. Family members said the oldest child had some experience in the forest, but hopes waned as the weeks went on.

Indigenous leader Lucho Acosta, the coordinator of indigenous scouts, credited the "extra effort" of search and rescue teams and local authorities to find the children in a statement on Friday.

"They all added a little effort so that this Operation Hope could be successful, and we can hope the kids will emerge alive and stronger than before. We have been hoping together with the strength of our ancestors, and our strength prevailed," he said.

"We never stopped looking for them until the miracle came," the Colombian Defence Ministry tweeted.

During a press conference Friday evening, Petro said the children would receive immediate medical evaluation and treatment, and that he hoped to speak with them on Saturday.

https://twitter.com/FuerzasMilCol/status/1667324165278277638

"The most important thing now is what the doctors say, they have been lost for 40 days, their health condition must have been stressed. We need to check their mental state too," he said.

"They will receive medical treatment and depending on what the doctors say they might be transferred to Bogota or Villavicencio. I'm going to try speak with them tomorrow," he said.

Petro, who was previously forced to backtrack after mistakenly tweeting that they had been found last month, described the children's 40-day saga as "a remarkable testament of survival."

"These are the children of peace and the children of Colombia," he said.

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Slow start to snow season as mostly sunny long weekend ahead

The ski season is off to a slow start as minimal snow has fallen across Australia's alpine regions, with the majority of the country in for a sunny long weekend.

Mount Buller and Perisher have been able to open this weekend but Thredbo and Falls Creek have remained closed due to the lack of snow fall.

Angus Heinz from the Bureau of Meterology (BoM) said it was slim pickings for snow at the moment.

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Man made snow has allowed Mount Buller to open this weekend.

"The snow we got in May has mostly melted away with the warm and wet weather since then," Heinz said.

"There was a bit of snow around Tassie yesterday.

"A couple of cool showers lowered the snow to 700m or so… Outside of that as I say slim pickings to start the snow season."

Mount Buller began operating its ski lift about 8am this morning with man-made snow, which has been in the making for about a month.

Heinz is expecting it to be "clear, dry and mostly sunny" for most of the country this King's birthday weekend.

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A snow plough is preparing snow at Mount Buller.

"That is good for most outdoor activities but it is not music to the ears of those hoping to get the big bump of snow across the mountains," Heinz said.

Tasmania has a few damaging wind warnings as well as hail.

Perth should expect winds, showers and possibly thunderstorms.

Central Australia and tropical Queensland should also expect some showers.

Today's capitals are heading for a top of 18 in Sydney, 16 in Melbourne, 23 in Brisbane, 19 in Perth, 17 in Adelaide, 15 in Hobart, 14 in Canberra and 33 in Darwin.

Tomorrow Sydney is 18 degrees, Melbourne 16, Brisbane 24, Perth 17, Adelaide 17, Hobart 17, Canberra 17 and Darwin 33.

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Russia claims it blew up advanced Ukrainian tank but video shows something else

A grainy black-and-white gunsight video Russia released this week to bolster a claim its military blew up some of Ukraine's most fearsome tanks actually documented the destruction of a tractor, according to a visual analysis by The Associated Press.

The Russian Embassy in Washington announced Monday on Twitter its forces had "annihilated" eight German-made Leopard tanks, among the most advanced and powerful weapons NATO countries have provided to Ukraine.

The Russian Ministry of Defense then posted a video Tuesday on the social media network Telegram with text saying it showed "footage of the destruction of foreign armored vehicles, including Leopard tanks".

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A German army Main battle tank Leopard 2A6 maneuvers during a visit by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to the Training Range in Pabrade, north of the capital Vilnius, Lithuania, May 30, 2023.

The video was shown extensively by Russian state-controlled broadcasters and news sites, which said it was recorded from the thermal imaging system of a KA-52 Alligator attack helicopter.

Several black silhouettes of vehicles can be seen, before the helicopter launches a guided missile that strikes one, causing it to explode. "Direct hit!" says a voice on the recording, speaking in Russian.

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Germany announced earlier this year it would provide 18 Leopard 2 main battle tanks to Ukraine, which hopes to receive around 100 donated by various NATO countries over next year.

The Leopard 2 is one of the most maneuverable and heavily armored battle tanks in the world, featuring a 120mm gun capable of slicing through Russia's Soviet-era tanks from more than 4 kilometres away, according to its manufacturer, Krauss-Maffei Wegmann.

In this image from video, released by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on June 6, 2023, shows what Russia claimed was the destruction of a German-made Leopard tank.

Ukrainian officials declined to comment this week on whether any of their Leopard tanks have been used in battle.

Almost immediately after the Russian video spread online, multiple weapons experts and military bloggers began casting doubt on social media that the helicopter's missile struck a tank, much less a Leopard.

The visual analysis by the AP shows that the vehicles seen in the video, which was recorded at night, appear to be large pieces of stationary farm machinery parked in a field, specifically a self-propelled sprayer and two combines used to harvest corn and wheat.

The vehicle struck by the Russian missile has four large wheels and sits high off the ground. Leopard 2 tanks are low slung and have treads, like a bulldozer.

In this image from video, released by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on June 6, 2023, shows what Russia claimed was the destruction of a German-made Leopard tank.

The Russian Embassy also claimed this week that its forces had destroyed three French-made AMX-10 light tanks, which do have wheels. But the AMX-10 has six wheels, not four.

The silhouette of the vehicle destroyed in the video appears to more closely match a self-propelled sprayer, a type of specialized tractor common on modern farms.

Thermal imaging systems like that on the Russian helicopter detect sources of heat to target enemy tanks and trucks in smoky or low light conditions. The stationary vehicles in the video appear black, meaning their engines were cold.

Tank crews operating at the front lines typically conceal themselves in vegetation or behind buildings, emerging only to move and shoot, two experts in military vehicles told the AP. It would be highly unusual for tanks to be parked in the open, where they make easy targets for enemy gunners, they said.

The two experts, who watched the Russian video, said the vehicle struck by the helicopter's missile was not a Leopard tank nor any other type of armored vehicle.

"The silhouette of that particular vehicle or object did not look commensurate with what I'd be expecting for a Leopard tank," said George Barros, who leads the Geospatial Intelligence Team for Russia and Ukraine at the Institute for the Study of War. "I agree … that it was probably a piece of heavy farm equipment."

Two Leopard 2 tanks are seen in action during a visit of German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius at the Bundeswehr tank battalion 203 at the Field Marshal Rommel Barracks in Augustdorf, Germany, Feb. 1, 2023.

Valentin Châtelet, a research associate at The Atlantic Council's Digital Forensic Research Lab, also said the objects in the video were clearly not Leopard tanks.

"They are pointing their thermal camera at three vehicles that appear to be harvesters," said Châtelet, who is based in Brussels.

"And the first target they're hitting is most likely a sprayer."

Though both Ukraine and Russia have at various times sought to downplay their battlefield losses, the analysts said the Russian military was particularly notorious for making claims of great victories later proven to be false.

"If you follow what they post and what they claim, you will find that they've been outrageously wrong about a variety of different things, be it weapons systems hit that had never been delivered into the theater or official announcements of the Russians capturing particular villages or settlements multiple consecutive times without ever having gotten there in the first place," Barros said.

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Woolworths begins trialling major change to supermarket shelves

Eagle-eyed customers at a Woolworths store in Sydney's west will notice a change to their shelves.

The supermarket giant has begun trialling the use of small cameras in aisles to monitor stock levels at its Wetherill Park store.

The trial will see more than 500 cameras mounted to shelves near price tags. They will take pictures of the shelf opposite every hour so staff can see which products require replenishing.

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Generic image of a Woolworths store sign.

"Customers of our Wetherill Park store may notice a number of new mini cameras in each aisle and on every shelf," a Woolworths spokesperson said.

"We've recently begun a trial of new camera technology at the store to assist our teams by reducing manual processes and with replenishment tasks, such as real-time inventory management and restocking prioritisation.

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The new in-aisle stock level cameras Woolworths is trialling.

"This is expected to improve product availability throughout the day for all our customers, not just at regular intervals.

"We'll listen to feedback from our Wetherill Park customers and team members over the coming months before assessing our next steps."

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An image with stock level imaging taken by Woolworths' new in-aisle camera.

The cameras will be placed all around the store, including in the fridge, freezer and fresh produce sections, as well as every aisle.

Signs are being put up at the front of the Wetherill Park store to let customers know about the trial, while any shoppers who are inadvertently photographed by the cameras will be silhouetted out.

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Search for man underway after reported stabbing in Sydney's west

One man is dead and a search is underway for another after a stabbing in Sydney's west on Friday afternoon.

Police rushed to the home in St Clair at 4.30pm and conducted CPR on the man who was unconscious with serious injuries.

Paramedics arrived shortly after. Despite their efforts, the man died at the scene.

One man is dead and a search is underway for another after a stabbing in Sydney's west on Friday afternoon.

Police said initial inquiries suggested another man came to the property and became involved in an altercation, stabbing the victim before fleeing the scene.

Two women who were at the home at the time were not physically injured but will be assessed by paramedics.

Police are searching for the other man who they believe may still be armed.

"Information from witnesses indicate the man may be travelling on a dirt bike," police said in a statement.

The man is described as being aged in his mid-20s, of African appearance, with a solid build and black hair in short dreadlocks.

If sighted, members of the public are urged not to approach the man but to instead call triple zero immediately.

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