MILNEWS.ca #coronavirus Update as of 161515UTC Mar 2020

• MILNEWS.ca Coronavirus News/Links
  

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• “Coronavirus: Trudeau to address Canadians as concern grows over COVID-19” (The Canadian Press via Globalnews.ca)
• “Canada toughens coronavirus screening for visitors, Trudeau to unveil further measures” (Reuters via Physician’s Weekly)
• ” ‘The time is now to act’: COVID-19 spreading in Canada with no known link to travel, previous cases” (CBC News)
  

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• “(Toronto) Mayor Tory announces economic task force to aid city in wake of coronavirus outbreak” (Globalnews.ca)
  

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• “(ONT Premier) Ford to announce series of measures to protect workers” (The Canadian Press via CP24.com)
• “Study says few workers have paid leave, qualify for EI if off job due to COVID-19” (The Canadian Press via CP24.com)
  

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• “Montreal, public health authorities aim to inform travellers at airport over coronavirus outbreak” (Globalnews.ca)
  

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• “Coronavirus: Asian stock markets, U.S. futures fall after Federal Reserve rate cut” (The Canadian Press via Globalnews.ca)
• “Canada’s biggest gym chains shut clubs as leisure options shrink amid COVID-19 pandemic” (CTV News)
• “Canadian auto output continues amid coronavirus outbreak, but for how long?” (Automotive News Canada)
  

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• “Nigerian found dead in his Italy home after high fever” (The Guardian Nigeria)
• “Nigerian doctor dies of coronavirus in Canada” (Vanguard News, NG)
  

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• “US Federal Reserve cuts rates and NYC, LA shut restaurants to tackle coronavirus” (Agence France-Presse via France24)
• “North American stock markets plunged at the start of trading today as COVID-19 fears tightened their grip on investors …” (The Canadian Press via CP24.com)
• “The first trial in people of a vaccine to protect against pandemic coronavirus is starting in the US later on Monday, according to reports. A group of 45 healthy volunteers will have the jab, at the Kaiser Permanente research facility, in Seattle. The vaccine cannot cause Covid-19 but contains a harmless genetic code copied from the virus that causes the disease. Experts say it will still take many months to know if this vaccine, or others also in research, will work …” (BBC News)
• “Texas temporarily extends expired driver’s licenses, ID cards during coronavirus outbreak” (Fox News)
• “Coronavirus: US man who stockpiled hand sanitiser probed for price gouging” (BBC News)
  

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• “Alibaba’s Jack Ma Sends Boxes of Coronavirus Test Kits and Masks to U.S.” (Time)
• “Jack Ma Offers to Supply the US With Covid-19 Tests and Masks” (WIRED)
• Jack Ma Foundation on Twitter: “Through a donation of 500,000 testing kits and 1 million masks, we join hands with Americans in these difficult times. https://t.co/tGviVhC6Gx” / Twitter
  

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• “Greek gov’t extends measures over coronavirus fears — Government shutdown includes shops, cafes, malls, bars, and restaurants …” (TUR media)
• “Coronavirus: Greece to put travellers on two-week quarantine” (Gulf News)
• “The Greek Police announced on Monday that there had been a total of 127 arrests for violations of measures meant to prevent and contain the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus in Greece …” (greece.greekreporter.com)
  

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• “Coronavirus: Spain in lockdown as death toll doubles” (Sydney Morning Herald, AUS)
• “Spain declares coronavirus state of emergency” (Zawya MENA Edition)
• “Spain orders nationwide lockdown to battle coronavirus” (The Guardian)
• “Tourism between Spain, Portugal to be suspended due to coronavirus” (Reuters)
  

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• “Coronavirus: Germany latest country to close borders” (BBC News)
  

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• “Why Italy was hit so hard and so fast by COVID-19” (CBC News)
  

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• “Chinese vice premier requires curbing epidemic while resuming work” (CHN state media)
• “Nearly 70 pct major attractions reopen in Shanghai as epidemic recedes” (CHN state media)
• “US hijacks German firm for vaccine monopoly” (CHN state media)
• “Protecting China’s anti-virus achievements” (CHN state media)
  

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• “Coronavirus: How to protect your mental health” (BBC News)
• “Medical impact of coronavirus becomes clearer as experts’ research continues” (Agence France-Presse via France24)

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MILNEWS.ca Highlights – March 3, 2020

• Internal Security
• “Agreement on Wet’suwet’en title hasn’t stopped protests”
• “Wet’suwet’en: Bearing witness on Toronto blockades”
• “Trudeau approval rating down as Wet’suwet’en solidarity blockades linger”
• “Trudeau: Wet’suwet’en People Need Time To Review Proposed Deal On Land, Title Rights”
• “Wet’suwet’en councillor has ‘high hopes’ that issues of governenance, pipeline can be resolved”
• “Wet’suwet’en prepare for clan meetings to discuss rights and title proposal”
• “CN Rail recalls employees laid off amid Wet’suwet’en solidarity blockades”
• “Energy sector advocate wonders ‘who’s pulling the strings’ in opposing oil and gas projects in Canada”
• “CENSORED NEWS: Tyendinaga Mohawks Building Camp as Support for Wet’suwet’en Continues in Canada” (Indigenous news site)
• “Trudeau Refuses To Tell Canadians What’s In ‘Deal’ With Hereditary Chiefs” (Spencer Fernando blog)
  

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• #IRQ-Middle East/#OpIMPACT
• “Russia Sends 4th Warship to Syria Amid Turkey Tensions”
• “America Announces New Humanitarian Assistance for the Syria Crisis Response” (USA State Dep’t info-machine)
• “Lavrov: Russia will continue supporting Syria in its war against terrorism” (SYR state media)
• “Kurds Determined to Try IS Foreign Fighters in Syria”
  

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• Russia-Baltics-Cold War 2.0/#OpREASSURANCE
• “State Duma Committee supports amendment about Russia as USSR successor” (Essence of Time, pro-RUS site)
• “Belarusian defense minister, Russian ambassador discuss cooperation in military sphere” (BLR state media)
• “China in the Estonian Intelligence report” (Warsaw Institute)
  

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• The Koreas/#OpNEON
• “North Korea’s Illicit Cyber Operations: What Can Be Done?” (38 North)
  

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• #Afghanistan
• “Taliban Agreement Is Afghanistan’s Best Chance for Peace, Esper Says” (USA DoD info-machine)
• “Trump says he had a very good conversation with Taliban leader”
  

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• Way Up North
• “Establishing an Arctic Security Institution: Essentials from NORAD and NATO”
• “U.S. Forces to Hone Arctic Warfare Skills in Norway’s High North in Exercise Cold Response 20” (USMC info-machine)
• Exercise Arctic Edge: Interview with Brig. Gen Scott Clancy — Interview with Royal Canadian Air Force Brigadier General Scott Clancy, Deputy Commander, Alaskan NORAD Region, March 2, 2020.” (Pentagon info-machine)
• “Pentagon pressed on Russian, Chinese push in Arctic”
  

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• What’s Canada Buying?
• Wanted: “Site Support Services- Canadian Forces military base, 5 Wing, Goose Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador”
• Wanted: “The Government of Canada is seeking to procure Commercial Pattern Armoured Vehicle – Direct Action Pickup Trucks, integrated Logistics support and ancilliary items …”
• Wanted: “Precision Parachute Training”
• Wanted: “Cold Weather Gloves – MULTICAM®”
• Wanted: “The Department of National Defence (DND) has a requirement for a range of communications analysis equipment and services in respect of articles of interest in order to support Government of Canada initiatives. DND’s objective is to provide its personnel with the ability to analyze articles of interest worldwide and transmit that information to a location of their choice …”
• Wanted: “Garrison Patches & Embroidered Badges for the Canadian Armed Forces”
• Wanted: “The Department of National Defence has a requirement for the supply and delivery of one (1) IONSCAN600 desktop explosives-narcotics detection instrument, or equivalent form, fit and function in accordance the provided Technical Specifications for 22 Wing North Bay. The instruments must be based on Ion Mobility Spectrometry (IMS), utilizing dual mode (simultaneous narcotics and explosives) analysis for a sample …”
• Wanted: “Target Mannequins”
• “Royal Canadian Navy Selects RaceRocks as Digital Training Technology Solution”
• “Elbit to supply on-the-move communications system to Canada”
• “Elbit Systems Selected to Supply SATCOM On-the-Move Systems to Canadian Armed Forces”
• “Elbit to supply SOTM comms to Canadian Armed Forces”
  

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• Veterans & Helping Veterans (or Not?)
• “Veterans Affairs Canada announces new Office of Women and LGBTQ2 Veterans” (VAC info-machine)
• “Création du nouveau Bureau de la condition féminine et des vétérans LGBTQ2”
• “Minister MacAulay to highlight improvements and expansion at Veterans Cemetery in Esquimalt” (VAC info-machine)
  

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• Other Military News
• “Feds short hundreds of million in repair, maintenance of defence infrastructure”
• “US Air Force not Exactly Highlighting Cooperation with RCAF in NORAD” (Mark Collins 3Ds Blog)
• “Africom’s Exercise Flintlock 2020 Strengthens Partnerships, Security … Participating African nations include Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Cabo Verde, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria and Senegal. Western partners include Austria, Belgium, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States.” (USA DoD info-machine)
• “Military judges rule they can’t be disciplined by chain of command, only by military appeal court” (The Lawyer’s Daily)
• “Ex-Nazi Helmut Oberlander is too frail and mentally diminished to deport from Canada, his lawyers say”
• “Minister MacAulay to launch commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Liberation of the Netherlands with poster unveiling” (VAC info-machine)
• “Derek H. Burney: The ‘Devil’s Brigade’ and the Canadians who helped make it fearsome”

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MILNEWS.ca Highlights – March 2, 2020

• Internal Security
• “VIA Rail Trains Between Montreal And Toronto Should Resume This Week”
• “Rail service in Montreal disrupted briefly by protest in support of Wet’suwet’en chiefs”
• “Montreal protesters set up new blockade in support of Wet’suwet’en despite proposed agreement”
• “Kahnawake rail blockade remains in place after draft agreement reached”
• “Wet’suwet’en chief says he’ll withdraw support for pipeline if his people turn against it”
• “Why the Wet’suwet’en are protesting”
• “The shifting lens through which Canadians see the Wet’suwet’en crisis”
• “Conrad Black: Canadians will tire of disruptions, and Indigenous people will suffer”
• “Can Native Women of the Wet’suwet’en Succeed Where Standing Rock Failed?”
  

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• “U.S. neo-Nazi group Atomwaffen targeted Canadian police forces for ‘swatting’ hoaxes, FBI says”
  

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• What’s Canada Buying?
• “Saab announces Canadian firms on Gripen fighter jet team”
• “Saab Forms Industry Team For Canada Fighter Bid”
• “Saab bids for Canada’s Future Fighter Capability Project”
• “Saab announces Canadian firms on Gripen fighter jet team”
• “Saab partners for Canada’s FFCP bid”
  

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• Veterans & Helping Veterans (or Not?)
• “Collateral damage: Families of soldiers with PTSD struggle after Veterans Affairs counselling cut”
• “Veterans Affairs Canada launches consultation to improve outreach to Veterans and families …” (VAC info-machine)
  

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• Africa
• “Op CROCODILE: les Casques bleus canadiens de la MONUSCO assistent les orphelins de guerre” – Op CROCODILE page (DND)
  

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• The Koreas/#OpNEON
• “North Korea fires two unidentified projectiles after months: South Korea military”
• “North Korea fires presumed short-range missiles into the sea”
• “DPRK fires 2 unidentified projectiles into eastern waters: S.Korean military” (CHN state media)
• “North Korea fires two short-range missiles into Sea of Japan”
• “North Korea Marks Year of Failed Trump Talks With Missiles”
  

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• #IRQ-Middle East/#OpIMPACT
• “Iraq must ‘lead its own recovery’ from ISIS war: Canadian ambassador” (Rudaw.net, IRQ Kurdish media)
• “Iraq’s Allawi Fails to Form Government, Quits Nomination”
  

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• “Opposition Insurgents Begin Seizing Terrain in Southern Syria” (ISW Blog)
• “(TUR) Defense Minister: 2,557 Syrian regime elements neutralized in Operation Peace Shield” (TUR media)
• “Turkey is crushing Syria’s army after wiping out its heavy armor with superior tech” (Task & Purpose blog)
• “Turkey Destroys Scores of Syrian Army Targets, Says Turkeys Defense Minister”
  

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• “US officials in Turkey to discuss escalation in Syria” (TUR media)
• “US defense chief says discussed Syria with NATO head” (TUR media)
• “Russian Defense Ministry: Safety of Turkish planes can’t be guaranteed over Syria” (SYR state media)
• “Kremlin: Russia will continue to support Syria in its war against terrorism” (SYR state media)
• “‘We don’t plan to go to war with anyone,’ Putin says, amid Syria-Turkey tensions”
• “Germany calls for ‘protected zone’ in NW Syria” (TUR media)
  

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• “Russia and Turkey may have committed war crimes in Syria, UN says”
• “Security Council Briefing on the situation in Syria, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo” (UN info-machine)
• “Russia May Have Committed War Crimes in Syria – U.N.”
• “UN: Syrian regime committed war crimes”
• “Russia transports massive amount of equipment to Syria after Turkish attack: photos”
• “U.N. Panel Says Russia Bombed Syrian Civilian Targets, a War Crime”
• “Russia, Turkey may have committed war crimes in Syria, U.N. says”
• “U.N. report: Russia, Turkey have committed war crimes in Syria”
  

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• Russia-Baltics-Cold War 2.0/#OpREASSURANCE
• “The Navy is practicing escorting convoys across the Atlantic for the first time since the Cold War”
• “Russian anti-sub aircraft on combat training further south in the GIUK gap than normal”
• “U.S. Permanent Military Base in Poland: Favorable Solution For the NATO Alliance” (Warsaw Institute)
• “Russia to Conduct Open Skies Observation Fhttps://defpost.com/russia-to-conduct-open-skies-observation-flights-over-germany/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Defpost+%28DefPost%29lights Over Germany”
• “Belarus holds joint military drills with NATO to tease Russia” (Pravda)
• “Latvia Arrests Spy Working for Russia”
  

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• #UKR/#OpUNIFIER
• “OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) Daily Report 51/2020 issued on 2 March 2020”
• “JFO News. Security situation UPD for 7 AM (2 Mar)” (UKR MoD)
• JFO: МAP – 02.03.2020 (UKR NSDC)
• “JFO News. Security situation UPD for 7 AM (1 Mar)” (UKR MoD)
• “Weekly update of the situation in the operation area of the Joint Forces from 24 February to 01 March 2020” (UKR MoD)
• Essence of Time summary, 27 Feb-1 Mar 2020 (pro-RUS site, in Russian, with maps)
  

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• “Day in the Donbas: Militants nine times violated the ‘silence regime’” (UKR media)
• “Kiev forces fire 16 mortar rounds at Donetsk in one hour” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine)
• “Russian occupation troops have deliberately shelled peaceful settlement” (UKR MoD)
• “Kiev forces violate ceasefire 90 times in a week, fire 11 ammo boxes” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine)
• “Ukrainian troops come under mortar fire near Orikhove and Krasnohorivka” (UKR media)
• “Ukrainian army violates ceasefire 15 times in 24 hours” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine)
• “OSCE records about 50 weapons outside storage sites in occupied Donbas” (UKR media)
• “Kiev forces violate ceasefire three times over 24 hours” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine)
• “One KIA, seven WIA amid 12 enemy attacks in Donbas in past 24 hours – JFO HQ” (UKR media)
  

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• “Developments in “DNR” and “LNR”: 15 February – 1 March 2020 (Newsletter 71)” (Civicmonitoring.org, NGO)
• “TV channel for Ukraine’s occupied territories to cooperate with four media groups” (UKR media)
• “Ukraine launches TV channel for Russia-occupied areas” (UKR media)
  

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• “Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine met with the Director of the European Center of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats” (UKR MoD)
• “Ukrainian Defense Ministry to cooperate with Hybrid CoE” (UKR MoD)
  

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• “US Department of Defense orders next batch of Javelin weapon systems for Ukraine, partner countries” (UKR media)
  

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• “Ukroboronprom CEO: State defense order to hit record high in 2021” (UKR media)
• “Ukraine’s state defense order to reach UAH 30 bln in 2020 – Abromavicius” (UKR media)
  

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• “Russia’s Strategic Considerations on the Sea of Azov” (Warsaw Institute)
  

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• “Russia, Ukraine May Swap Prisoners For Third Time In March” (USA govt funded media)
• “Kiev is not ready for a new POW exchange – Morozova” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine)
• “Kiev Says Russia and Ukraine in Talks for Next Prisoner Swap in March” (RUS independent media)
• “Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak discussed a prisoner swap with Deputy Head of the Administration of the President of Russia Dmitry Kozak at a meeting in Minsk …” (UKR media)
• “Andriy Yermak had a meeting with Dmitry Kozak in Minsk — Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak had a meeting with Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation Dmitry Kozak …” (UKR Pres info-machine)
  

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• “Ukraine doesn’t want to delay next Normandy-format meeting” (UKR media)
  

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• “U.S. Calls On Russia To Hand Over MH17 Evidence, Let Whelan Go” (USA govt funded media)
  

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• “Ukrainian Who Led Volunteer Battalion Detained At Greek Border” (USA govt funded media)
• “Ukrainian Foreign Ministry confirms detention of ex-volunteer battalion commander in Greece” (UKR media)
• “Interpol to review Russia’s request to put on wanted list, arrest Aidar battalion first commander Melnychuk in Greece” (UKR media)
• “Ukrainian Foreign Ministry confirms detention of ex-commander of Aidar Battalion in Greece” (RUS state media)
  

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• “Ukrainian President Calls Extraordinary Parliamentary Session To Discuss Corruption” (USA govt funded media)
  

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• #PS752
• “UIA plane crash: Prystaiko announces visit of Iranian delegation to Kyiv” (UKR media)
• “The downing of Flight PS752: Iran may have kept airspace open due to lucrative overflight fees” (CBC News)
• ” ‘I’m not a terrorist’: Iranian Canadian who lost wife in Iran plane crash denied entry to U.S.”
  

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• Way Up North
• “New Canadian Rangers Play Key Role in Exercise Norex20 with Canadian Army” (DND info-machine)
• “Freezing cold as 16,000 NATO soldiers kickstart Arctic war game”
• “The Northern Fleet’s separate motorized rifle brigade in the Pechenga valley near Russia’s border to Norway has started to use UAVs to position targets during live-firing drills …”
  

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• Afghanistan
• “US Starts Afghan Withdraw Amid Mixed Messages”
• “Will US-Taliban peace deal bring lasting peace to Afghanistan?” (CHN state media)
• “Ukraine to keep participating in NATO Operation Resolute Support in Afghanistan – (UKR ForMin) Prystaiko”
• “Prystaiko says Ukraine continues to take part in NATO mission in Afghanistan”
  

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• Other Military News
• “Explosive mortar round found outside Lethbridge supervised consumption site”

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MILNEWS.ca Highlights (including #coronavirus, #PS752, #UKR) – February 17, 2020

• Internal Security
• “B.C., federal ministers call for meeting with Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs at ‘earliest opportunity’ “
• Carolyn Bennett on Twitter: “Today I sat down with Min @ScottfraserNDP to talk about finding a peaceful resolution to the blockades across the country and other issues arising from the concerns of Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs. See our statement below. https://t.co/AT2R7SVbsE” / Twitter
• “lndigenous relations ministers request meeting with Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs to end rail blockades”
• “Trudeau tightlipped on plan to end protests ‘quickly and peacefully’ “
• “Fin du blocage d’une gare de triage du CN près de Toronto”
• “Protest that blocked Canada-U.S. bridge ends”
• “Anti-pipeline protesters shut down eastern Ontario border”
• “Protesters march on Queen’s Park in support of Wet’suwet’en”
• “Anti-pipeline protesters march to Queen’s Park in solidarity with Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs”
• “Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs’ supporters hold highway protest at Blind River (Ontario)”
• “How ongoing, year-old talks between Wet’suwet’en and B.C. government could help solve pipeline impasse”
• “The difference between Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs and band councils”
• “Opinion: The rule of law cuts both ways. Some Coastal GasLink protesters are ignoring that”
• “Canada: Native protests continue to cripple rail network” (World Socialist Web Site)
• “Canadian Opposition, Business Concerned by Economic Impact of Indigenous Protests” (RUS state media)
  

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• “Canadian military works to define ‘hateful conduct’ to help it detect and discipline extremists”
• “What former skinheads say about why they joined hate groups and why they left”
  

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• #CHN/Pacific Rim
• “China appreciates NATO’s remarks of not seeing China as an adversary: spokesperson” (CHN state media)
  

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• “US defines friends, enemies by support for Huawei 5G” (CHN state media)
• “US considers blocking Huawei’s access to domestic chip technology”
• “US mulls cutting China’s Huawei off from global chip suppliers like Taiwan’s TSMC”
• “US Envoy to Germany Warns of Threats to Sharing Intel ‘at Highest Level’ as Huawei Row Flares Up”
• “US Ambassador to Germany starts making intel sharing threats”
  

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• Way Up North
• “Russian Embassy denies accusations of influence operations in Norway”
• “Norway’s intelligence chief fears more accidents with Russia’s reactor-powered weapons systems”
• “New radars to protect (RUS) Northern Fleet against supersonic attack”
• “Murmansk Commandos Conduct Anti-Terrorism Drills Onboard Nuclear Icebreakers”
• “Arctic ‘security vacuum’ increases risk of regional conflict, EU ambassador warns”
• “China’s ambassador brushes off allegations his country is threat in Arctic”
• “China’s ambassador to Norway brushes off allegations his country is a threat in Arctic”
• “Trouble for world’s most powerful icebreaker: the «Arktika» could face more delays”
  

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• Russia-Baltics-Cold War 2.0/#OpREASSURANCE
• “US, UK, Canadian Representatives To Inspect Belarus Military Unit – (BLR) Defense Ministry”
• “USA, Estonia and Lithuania to Perform Open Skies Observation Flight Over Belarus and Russia”
• “Russia Should Drop ‘Terrorist’ Soviet Legacy, Constitutional Court Judge Says”
• “Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Prystaiko says there’s threat of war between Belarus and Russia”
• “Belarusian, Russian paratroopers in army exercise near Pskov” (BLR state media)
• “Russia, Belarus begin joint military exercise” (RUS state media)
  

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• #UKR/#OpUNIFIER
• “OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) Daily Report 39/2020 issued on 17 February 2020”
• “JFO News. Security situation UPD for 7 AM (17 Feb 2020)” (UKR MoD)
• JFO: МAP – 17.02.2020 (UKR NSDC)
• “JFO News. Security situation UPD for 7 AM (16 Feb 2020)” (UKR MoD)
• “Weekly update of the situation in the operation area of the Joint Forces from 10 to 16 February 2020” (UKR MoD)
• Essence of Time summary, 13-16 Feb 2020 (pro-RUS site, in Russian, with maps)
  

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• “Ukrainian forces expend 12 ammo boxes over week to shell DPR territory – JCCC” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine)
• “Day in Donbas: militants 7 times fired at positions of Ukrainian military” (UKR media)
• “Kiev forces shell DPR six times over 24 hours, damage house in western Donetsk – JCCC” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine)
  

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• “Russia’s MFA Lavrov: NATO “has nothing to do with Ukraine,” shouldn’t interfere in Donbas talks” (UKR media)
  

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• “Donbass sees Zelensky’s border patrol scheme as ploy to bog down Minsk Agreements” (RUS state media)
• “Zelensky’s proposal for “joint patrols” aims to drag the Minsk process into the swamp, instead Ukraine should stop dodging and begin to implement step by step all points of the Package of measures, said Denis Pushilin, head of the Donetsk People’s Republic, today …” (pro-RUS rebel leader info-machine, in Russian)
  

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• “Russia informs on condition for next Normandy Four meeting” (UKR media)
• “Normandy Format meeting to take place after fulfillment of decisions made earlier – Russian Foreign Minister announces condition for new Normandy Format meeting — Russia sees no progress in the fulfillment of the decisions of the Normandy Summit in Paris …” (UKR media)
• “New Normandy-format summit can be held only if Paris summit decisions implemented – Lavrov” (UKR media)
• “The decision to hold a new summit in the Normandy format will be made based on progress in implementing the existing arrangements, says Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation, Alexander Grushko …” (UKR media)
  

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• “Zelensky hides lack of political will behind attempts to amend Minsk accords – opinion” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine)
• “DPR Head reminds Zelensky about priority of Minsk accords’ political package” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine)
  

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• “Rotation of Ukrainian investigators on MH17 case is planned, won’t affect upcoming trial – Prystaiko” (UKR media)
• “MH17 case: Four Ukrainian prosecutors join investigation team” (UKR media)
• “Foreign minister Prystaiko: Rotation of Ukrainian prosecutors not to affect MH17 probe” (UKR media)
• “Netherlands Public Prosecutor’s Office not concerned over dismissal of Ukrainian prosecutors” (UKR media)
  

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• “LPR State Security Ministry officers detain Ukrainian “Right Sector” spy” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine)
  

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• “LPR looking for 60 detainees in Ukraine – Kobtseva” (pro_RUS rebel info-machine)
• “Zelensky’s prisoner exchange list not true to fact – Kobtseva” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine)
• “New prisoners’ exchange might happen before Normandy format meeting, – Ukraine’s MFA” (UKR media)
  

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• “Scandalous plan of ending war in Ukraine again appears on Munich Conference website” (UKR media)
• “Only Russia’s responsibility for consequences of aggression can secure peace – Ukrainian experts answer “12 steps” ” (Euromaidan Press)
  

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• “Zelensky, Putin held a telephone conversation – Zelensky, Putin talked on the phone. Press services showed different outcome of this conversation” (UKR media)
  

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• “The threat to civilian life five years after Minsk II” (@AtlanticCouncil’s Digital Forensic Research Lab)
  

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• #PS752
• “Ukrainian security chief in Iran to discuss January 8 crash probe” (RUS state media)
• “Ukraine has all technical capabilities to decrypt ‘black boxes’ of UIA plane shot down by Iran – Danilov” (UKR media)
• “Prystaiko says terms of Iran’s steps for progress in inquiry of UIA plane crash expire” (UKR media)
• “Kyiv Airport Monument Unveiled In Memory Of Iran Plane Crash Victims” (USA govt funded media)
  

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• #coronavirus
• “Canada sends flight to Japan to evacuate citizens from cruise ship” (Reuters via The Jerusalem post)
• “Possible Coronavirus patients to be quarantined at Nav Centre”
• “First quarantined Canadians expected to leave Trenton on Friday” (Durham Radio News)
  

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• “Canadian cruise ship evacuees frustrated with additional quarantine period” (CTV News)
  

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• “The Public Health Agency of Canada says it will review its protocols for health-care workers after nurses’ unions denounced the national guidelines set out for dealing with the novel coronavirus earlier this month The agency says feedback from the nurses’ unions and other associations will be considered by a national advisory committee on infection prevention and control as it looks to update the guidance …” (The Canadian Press via mountainviewtoday.ca)
  

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• “Coronavirus death toll in China rises to 1,868 as epicentre reports 93 new fatalities” (South China Morning Post)
• “Death toll from COVID-19 rises to 1,868, according to latest figures from China” (Associated Press via Globalnews.ca)
• “China Reports Fewer New Cases of Coronavirus” (Voice of America)
  

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• “300+ Americans, 14 with coronavirus, flown to US military bases” (Task & Purpose)
• “Coronavirus: American cruise passengers quarantined at US bases” (Al Jazeera)
• “U.S. quarantining repatriated passengers of coronavirus-hit cruise ship” (Associated Press via CBC News)
• “At least 140 travelers denied entry to US over coronavirus and thousands more screened” (CNN via NBC2 News)
  

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• “Chinese Air Force’s strategic projection capability proven in epidemic” (CHN state media)
• “Annual ‘two sessions’ may be delayed due to epidemic” (CHN military media)
• “China Proposes Postponement of Its ‘Two Sessions’ in March” (Voice of America)
  

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• “Coronavirus is significant uncertainty factor for oil prices in 2020 — Bank of Russia” (RUS state media)
  

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• What’s Canada Buying?
• “Works Starts on New Rolls-Royce Peterborough (Ontario) Facility to Support Canadian Surface Combatant Program”
  

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• Sexual Assault/Harassment in the CF
• “CAF-DND Sexual misconduct class action lawsuit settlement approved by Federal Court” (DND info-machine)
  

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• Other Military News
• “Special forces troops from Petawawa taking part in African training exercise”
• “Despite suggestion, shorter skirts not the way the military is trying to recruit more women”
• “Final Drive: A test of endurance on the Army Operations Course” (Canadian Army Today)
• “Canadian Rangers train Australian counterparts” (DND info-machine)
• “Sajjan à Munich: l’accent sur le maintien d’un ordre international fondé sur des règles”
• “Canada’s Justice Dept. Declines to Comment on Russian Request Regarding Ex-Nazi Probe”
• “Nazi criminals should be prosecuted regardless of circumstances including those who have found safe haven in Canada, a Russian Embassy spokesman said. On Friday, Russia’s Investigative Committee sent a request to Canadian authorities to provide legal materials related to Helmut Oberlander, a translator in a Nazi Einsatzgruppen death squad that Russia accuses of organizing a massacre of orphans in the Russian city of Yeysk during World War II …” (RUS state media)

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MILNEWS.ca Highlights + #UKR Update – February 12, 2020

• #IRQ-Middle East/#OpIMPACT
• “NATO moves to expand Canadian-led military training mission in Iraq”
• “Defence Ministers to address NATO’s ongoing support for Iraq” (NATO info-machine)
• “NATO Agrees to Expand Anti-IS Training Mission in Iraq”
• “NATO to expand Iraq training mission in response to Trump”
• “NATO agrees to expand Iraq training mission, Stoltenberg says”
• “NATO eyes boosting Iraq army training, still needs Iraq’s OK”
  

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• “Iraqi forces launch anti-IS offensive in western Iraq”
• “US to renew Iraq sanctions waiver for 45 days — official”
• “Inside Iran’s push to get Hezbollah to take a role in Iraq”
• “Barzani: ‘All parties must be represented in new Iraqi government’ “
  

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• “Turkey sends additional troops to Syria — media”
• “Erdogan Threatens to Strike Assad Regime Forces ‘Everywhere’ if His Soldiers Are Harmed”
• “Turkey plans to drive Syrian forces beyond Idlib observation points”
• “Kremlin Accuses Turkey of Flouting Agreements Made on Syria”
• “Putin, Erdogan discuss situation in Idlib in phone call”
• “Idlib chaos: The latest test for Turkish-Russian ties” (European Council on Foreign Relations)
  

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• #CHN/Pacific Rim
• “US sends surveillance planes over Taiwan Strait after Chinese war games”
• “(USA) Navy May Cut Submarines In 2021 Plans While China Pumps Out Warships”
  

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• “China won’t join trilateral arms talks with the U.S. and Russia” (CHN mil media)
• “US attempt to rope China into New START negotiations won’t succeed” (CHN state media)
  

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• “US claims Huawei keeps ‘back door’ access to mobile networks”
• “Huawei has backdoor to comms networks, says White House”
• “Pentagon set to back Huawei restrictions”
• “China reiterated on Tuesday its position on cybersecurity, saying the Chinese government and the military never engage or participate in theft of trade secrets through the internet …” (CHN mil media)
  

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• “Trump Downplays Duterte’s Termination of Military Pact”
  

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• The Koreas/#OpNEON
• “Korea, U.S. Rename Joint Drills Again”
  

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• #coronavirus
• “50 people in Edmonton in self-imposed quarantine to prevent spreading COVID-19 coronavirus” (Globalnews.ca)
• “Regina travellers returning from China self-isolating as coronavirus precaution” (Globalnews.ca)
  

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• “Coronavirus: Hubei province reports spike in new confirmed cases and deaths after change in diagnostic criteria” (South China Morning Post)
• “China’s Hubei reports over 14,000 new cases of COVID-19 after method adjustment” (CHN state media)
• “COVID-19: China reports over 14,800 new cases, 242 deaths in highest single-day jump” (Reuters via Globalnews.ca)
• “Coronavirus live updates: China’s Hubei reports 14,840 new cases” (cnbc.com)
• “China’s Hubei reports over 14,000 new cases of COVID-19” (CHN state media)
• “New confirmed coronavirus infections drop by nearly half in China: spokesperson” (CHN state media)
• “Number of new coronavirus cases in China stabilizes — WHO chief” (RUS state media)
• “China’s Hubei province reports surge in daily coronavirus deaths, jump in new cases” (Reuters)
  

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• “Trump says COVID-19 will go away in April. Experts say it’s too soon to tell” (Globalnews.ca)
• “Outbreak may peak in mid or late-February: epidemiologist” (CHN state media)
• “Epidemic turning point unpredictable so far: top epidemiologist” (CHN state media)
• “Coronavirus: top Chinese expert says family isolation curbs outbreak, contradicting claims in Beijing” (South China Morning Post)
  

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• “WHO Calls for Permission for Ship to Enter Port over Quarantined Japan Cruise Ship” (KBS WORLD Radio, KOR)
• “Cruiseliner Diamond Princess now has the largest cluster of covid-19 cases outside of China” (France 24)
• “Cruise ship shunned over coronavirus fears arrives in Cambodia” (Reuters)
• “Coronavirus Casts A Pall Over Cruise Industry At Height Of Booking Season” (NPR)
• “Coronavirus: Are cruise ships really ‘floating petri dishes’?” (BBC News)
  

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• “U.S. airlines extend China flight cancelations into late April” (Reuters)
• “China calls on countries to lift coronavirus travel restrictions” (CHN state media)
• “Time to resume suspended flights to China” (CHN state media)
  

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• “WHO to draft coordination plan for anti-coronavirus measures — head” (RUS state media)
  

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• “Xi says nation can win total victory in NCP fight” (CHN military media)
• “Xi chairs leadership meeting on epidemic control, noting “positive changes” ” (CHN state media)
  

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• “Coronavirus: US dependence on China for pharmaceutical ingredients will hinder outbreak response, lawmakers are told” (South China Morning Post)
  

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• “Here’s How China Is Silencing Coronavirus Critics in the U.S.” (VICE)
  

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• #UKR/#OpUNIFIER
• “Minister of Defense of Ukraine held a meeting with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Canada to Ukraine” (UKR MoD)
  

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• “OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine (SMM) Daily Report 35/2020 issued on 12 February 2020”
• “JFO News. Security situation UPD for 7 AM (12 Feb 2020)” (UKR MoD)
• JFO: МAP – 12.02.2020 (UKR NSDC)
  

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• “Ukraine’s armored vehicles significantly damaged in first two years of Donbas war – media” (UKR media)
• “Ukraine reports five enemy attacks in Donbas on Feb 11” (UKR media)
• “Ukrainian army violates ceasefire six times in 24 hours” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine)
• “No casualties among Ukrainian forces in Donbas over day” (UKR media)
  

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• “DNR militant known as Black Lenin detained in Russia — Benes Ayo, the Latvian citizen is taken to custody and may be handed over to Ukraine that requested his arrest …” (UKR media)
• “Latvian office of the prosecutor will ask Russia to hand over the recently detained National Bolshevik Beness Aijo, who had fled Latvia several years ago to join Moscow-supported militants in Eastern Ukraine …” (Baltic News Network)
  

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• “Minister of Defense of Ukraine held a meeting with Latvian Minister of Defense” (UKR MoD)
• “Minister of Defense of Ukraine held a meeting with Polish Minister of National Defense in Brussels” (UKR MoD)
• “Andriy Zagorodnyuk and Raimundas Karoblis discussed important directions of Ukrainian-Lithuanian defense cooperation” (UKR MoD)
• “Turkey supports Ukraine’s initiative to set up commission on defense cooperation” (UKR media)
  

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• “Ukraine’s Armored Vehicles Significantly Damaged In First 2 Years Of Donbas Conflict” (USA govt funded media)
• “Repairing Ukraine’s Gutted Gunboats” (USA govt funded media)
  

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• “Trilateral Contact Group on Ukraine in session in Minsk” (BLR state media)
• “Trilateral Contact Group begins meeting in Minsk – Olifer” (UKR media)
• “Political will of sides needed to resolve conflict in Ukraine’s east” (BLR state media)
• “Next disengagement area in Donbas agreed – Hnutove, Donetsk region” (UKR media)
• “Disengagement of forces near Hnutove agreed on at TCG meeting – Kuchma’s spokesperson” (UKR media)
• “Kobtseva: Kiev’s proposal to open new checkpoints without safety guarantees is absurd” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine)
• “Kiev should discuss border control issue with Donbass republics — Kremlin” (RUS state media)
• “Can the Minsk-2 peace deal between Ukraine and Russia be salvaged?” (Deutsche Welle)
• “Working groups of Trilateral Contact Group on Ukraine in talks in Minsk” (BLR state media)
• “Zelensky, Putin could meet before Normandy format, – Yermak” (UKR media)
• “DPR calls on Ukraine to reread Minsk Agreements” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine)
• “DPR suggests remote discussion over new disengagement areas” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine)
• “Kiev keeps avoiding implementation of Minsk-2 – Nikonorova” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine)
• “Humanitarian subgroup discusses legal aspects of missing persons search” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine)
• “Pasechnik: Kiev ignores Minsk Agreements for 5 years” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine)
• “Minsk talks: Ukraine demands to return enterprises “nationalized” by the militants” (UKR media)
• “If there is no progress in implementation of provisions of Normandy meeting communique, there will be no next meeting in April, – Medvedchuk” (UKR media)
  

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• “Yermak excludes holding elections in Donbas without govt control over its territory” (UKR media)
• “Andriy Yermak outlined the priorities of his work as Head of the President’s Office” (UKR Pres info-machine)
• “Andriy Yermak will continue to address the issue of negotiations with the Russian Federation and the release of captives” (UKR Pres info-machine)
• “Andriy Yermak will continue to address the issue of negotiations with the Russian Federation and the release of captives” (UKR Pres info-machine)
• “Kremlin says will judge Zelensky’s new chief of staff by his actions on Donbass regulation” (RUS state media)
• “Donbas and investments: New head of President’s Office outlines priorities” (UKR media)
  

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• “Reading Posters in Donetsk – In separatist-controlled Donetsk, cultural life goes on, and there are even famous names on the advertising posters …” (Transitions Online)
• “Facebook Says It Dismantles Russian Intelligence Operation Targeting Ukraine” (Reuters via Voice of America)
  

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• Russia-Baltics-Cold War 2.0/#OpREASSURANCE
• “An elite apartment registered under Queen Elizabeth II’s name is up for sale in central Moscow, the online tabloid 7days.ru reported Tuesday. “Her Majesty the Queen, who rules over Canada” is listed as the owner of at least four low-rise block apartments overlooking Christ the Savior Cathedral, Russian media reported last year. The properties belong to the Canadian government, where Queen Elizabeth is the nominal head of state, Canada’s Embassy in Moscow told the Baza news outlet …”
• “(EST) Intelligence service’s annual report highlights Russian and Chinese threats”
• “Estonia: Russia Attack Not Likely but Baltics Under Threat”
• “Capability and Resolve: Deterrence, Security and Stability in the Baltic Region” (EST Int’l Ctr for Defence and Security)
• “NATO develops defense systems against new Russian missiles, – Stoltenberg”
• “Russian Submarine Officer Fired for Drunken Anti-Putin Tirade”
• “Kremlin: Putin did not offer Lukashenko to create “super state” of Russia and Belarus”
  

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• What’s Canada Buying?
• “Canadian First Nation owned global armour provider, NP Aerospace, has been awarded a contract by FFG Flensburger Fahrzeugbau Gesellschaft mbH for the German Army’s WIESEL 1 Armoured Weapons Carrier (AWC) vehicle …”
  

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• Omar Khadr, Continued …
• “University crowd gives Omar Khadr a standing ovation” (The Post Millenial)
  

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• Other Military News
• “Hospitals threatened to not see troops after military cut reimbursement rates”
• “Greater Victoria MP seeks to remove self-harm as disciplinary offence for Canadian Armed Forces” – LEGISinfo – Private Member’s Bill C-203 (43-1)
• “Pour la première fois cette année l’ex UNIFIED RESOLVE implique les trois brigades de la Régulière”
• “Foreign troop deployment at traditionally low levels in Africa amid Security Council campaign — Canada currently has 120 Canadian Force members deployed to Africa, down from 427 members that were deployed to the continent during the Canada’s contribution to the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali …”

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MILNEWS.ca Highlights – January 8, 2020

• #IRQ-Middle East/#OpIMPACT
• “Some US troops transported from Iraq to Kuwait aboard Canadian aircraft, report says”
• “Trudeau confirms Canadian military personnel were at airbase hit by Iranian missiles”
• “Canadian military personnel in Iraq safe after base targeted in Iran missile strikes”
• “General Vance: all deployed CAF personnel are safe and accounted for following missile attacks”
• “No Canadian casualties reported after missile attack on Iraqi bases”
• “Iranian missiles target Iraqi city used by Canadian Forces”
• “REPORT: Canadian Forces Were At Base Targeted By Iranian Missiles” (Spencer Fernando blog)
  

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• “Here’s what we know about the Iraqi airbases Iran has struck”
  

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• “Trudeau says Trump didn’t ask Canada to bolster its presence in Iraq”
• “The future of Canada’s troops in Iraq is still in question”
• “NATO pulling some troops, transferring others within Iraq following missile attacks”
• “Latvia has no plans of recalling its soldiers currently serving in Iraq – Defense Ministry”
  

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• “Subject: Remarks by President Trump on Iran” (Whitehouse info-machine)
• “UN lauds Trump’s statement on Iran, views it as step to de-escalation”
• “Trump: US imposes new tough economic sanctions against Iran”
• “U.S. to impose extra economic sanctions against Iran”
• “Trump’s Options Limited in Slapping Iran With New ‘Punishing’ Sanctions”
• “Trump says Iran appears to be ‘standing down’ after strike”
• “Trump, at Israel’s Request, Assassinated the General Most Responsible for Destroying ISIS” (pro-RUS site)
• ” ‘U.S. Can’t Help But Respond’: Russia Reacts to Iran Strikes on U.S. Bases”
  

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• “Iran-US attack in Iraq: Guterres pledges ‘active engagement’ in further de-escalation efforts” (UN info-machine)
• “UN Secretary-General urges to avoid war in Persian Gulf”
  

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• “Trump urges China to drop Iran nuclear deal”
• “China and Iran: a relationship built on trade, weapons and oil”
  

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• “Turkey Hints Readiness for U.S.-Iran Mediation as Putin Visits”
  

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• “Iran signals retaliatory attacks might be finished for now”
• “Iran has completed its revenge for the killing of General Qassem Soleimani and won’t take any new military steps if there is no US aggression, Iranian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Majid Takht-Ravanchi has said …”
• “Iran’s Military Response May Be ‘Concluded’ but Cyberwarfare Threat Grows”
• “Iran missile attack: Did Tehran intentionally avoid US casualties?”
• “Iraq PM received ‘verbal message’ from Iran before missile attack: spokesperson”
  

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• “Two rockets hit Baghdad’s ‘Green Zone’ “
• “Two Rockets Fall Inside Baghdad’s Green Zone”
• “Assessing the implications of Iran’s missile attack on Iraqi military bases” (intelNews.org)
  

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• “A Look At Three Decades Of Iran’s Secretive Quds Force”
  

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• “Suspending anti-ISIS operations a threat to Iraq’s disputed territories: MP”
  

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• “Iraqi Kurds Concerned About US-Iran Escalation”
  

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• Africa
• “Russia, Turkey Call For Cease-Fire In Libya From January 12”
• “Turkey, Russia Call for Libya Ceasefire as Rivals Clash”
  

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• #CHN/Pacific Rim
• “Indonesia has reacted with anger after Chinese fishing boats protected by coast guard warships forced their way into its territorial waters. Jakarta has mobilised its military and raised its combat alert status in the Natuna archipelago in response to the incursions which began late last year …”
• “Indonesia deploys warships, jets amid China spat”
• “Chinese naval 33rd escort taskforce escorts eight Chinese fishing boats” (CHN mil media)
• “China, Pakistan launch 6th joint naval exercise” (CHN mil media)
• “J-10 fighter jets soar into the air” (CHN state media)
  

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• Russia-Baltics-Cold War 2.0/#OpREASSURANCE
• “Is ‘Escalate to Deescalate’ Part of Russia’s Nuclear Toolbox?”
  

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• What’s Canada Buying?
• Wanted: Field Message Books x 70,000
• Wanted: Almost $460K worth of “Drugs and Biologicals” for DND from ChemProtect SK sro in CZE
• Wanted: “… DRDC is supporting a Directorate of Land Requirements (DLR) acquisition project on night vision modernization. As part of this project, DRDC will evaluate the capability offered by different night vision goggle (NVG) configurations (monocular, binocular, thermal-i2 fused systems). In order to carry out these evaluations, fused binocular NVGs must be acquired. The systems should achieve fusion with an integral thermal and i2 capability rather than with a clip-on or modular system …”
• Wanted: “… This contract is to provide in service support services for the cryptographic subsystems of the Canadian Space Agency’s RADARSAT Constellation Mission (RCM) and of the Department of National Defence’ Polar Epsilon 2 (PE2) project. As the designer and manufacturer of both the RCM and PE2 cryptographic subsystems, Airbus Defence and Space Limited was identified as the sole corporation having the unique expertise and experience required to perform this type of work …”

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MILNEWS.ca Highlights – December 16, 2019

• #IRQ-Middle East/#OpIMPACT
• ” ‘Deploy before Christmas’: Edmonton-based helicopter squadron heads back to Iraq”
• “Violence in Iraq isn’t stopping Canada’s training mission there, says general”
• “On Monday, Canada’s newly-appointed ambassador to Iraq, Ulric Shannon, visited Erbil, where he met the Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), Masrour Barzani, as well as Safeen Dizayee, Head of the KRG’s Department of Foreign Relations. The Prime Minister and the Canadian ambassador “discussed recent developments in Iraq and the Middle East and their impact on the Kurdistan Region,” a statement on the KRG website read …” (Kurdish media)
• “Stop propping up brutal Baghdad regime”
• “Erdogan accuses Russia and US of violating agreements on Kurds”
• “Turkey Boosts Military Presence In Northeast (SYR)” (pro-RUS site)
• “Senior US official says foreigners involved in Iraq protest arrests”
• “Pentagon chief urges Iraq to stop attacking bases housing U.S. forces”
• ” Iraq warns against ‘escalation’ in wake of attacks on US military bases “
• “Iraq warns against ‘escalation’ after strikes on US interests”
  

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• #MLI-Africa/#OpPRESENCE
• “UN probing Montreal lobbying firm’s possible role in Sudanese troop deployment in Libya”
• “Unprecedented humanitarian crisis in Mali revealed in new report” (UN info-machine)
• “West Africa ‘shaken by unprecedented violence’, UN envoy tells Security Council”
• “Islamic State claims responsibility for Niger attack”
  

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• Russia-Baltics-Cold War 2.0/#OpREASSURANCE
• “Turkey may close Incirlik air base for US in case of sanctions on Ankara — Erdogan”
• “Erdogan threatens to close American military bases in Turkey”
• “Ankara: Turkey wants to buy Patriot missile systems from the US”
• “Turkey plans to purchase Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems from the United States – Turkey plans to purchase American anti-aircraft missile systems”
• “Turkey intends to purchase another batch of Russian S-400 missile systems”
• “The US and NATO are preparing for Russia to go after troops in the field and at home”
• “Russia Developing Nuclear Arms Beyond U.S. Arsenal, Strategic Command Says”
• “First (RUS) regiment equipped with Avangard system to assume combat duty by year-end”
• “Russian Strategic Missile Forces to test-launch 6 ICBMs in 2020 — commander”
• “Launch of a Glonass-M satellite from Plesetsk” (Russian strategic nuclear forces blog)
• “Russia’s Sarmat Missile Could Be Armed With Next-Gen Hypersonic Combat Units – Military”
• “Simulated attacks repelled with Iskander missile system in southern Russia” (RUS state media)
• “NATO: Russia increases its present in Norwegian Sea and North Atlantic”
• “NATO records Russia’s largest submarine activity since end of Cold War”
• “NATO Summit: Kremlin’s Unfulfilled Hopes” (Warsaw Institute)
  

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• #CHN-#RUS Nexus?
• “Unpacking the China-Russia ‘alliance’ ” (Brookings Institute)
• “Why Russian Military Expenditure Is Much Higher Than Commonly Understood (As Is China’s)”
• “Defense technology cooperation between Russia, China reached several bln dollars per year” (RUS state media)
  

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• #CHN/Pacific Rim
• “The China committee is a victory for Canadians … and a problem for Beijing”
• “Japan’s defence chief hits out at Beijing on South China Sea, military build-up”
• “Beijing protests after US expels two Chinese diplomats who drove onto military base”
• “US-China tech war’s new battleground: undersea internet cables”
• “China leads world in successful orbital launches” (CHN mil media)
• “Aerial early warning, reconnaissance training boosts PLA Navy’s capability in S. China Sea” (CHN mil media)
• “Angela Merkel faces revolt over Huawei as German lawmakers seek full ban”
  

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• The Koreas/#OpNEON
• “Resumed North Korean ICBM Testing: Possible Technical Objectives” (38 North)
• “North Korea’s Sohae Satellite Launching Station: More Activity at the Vertical Engine Test Stand” (38 North)
• “North Korea’s Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site: Some Personnel Remain Onsite” (38 North)
• “Trump says he’ll be ‘disappointed’ if North Korea has something ‘in the works’ on nuclear program”
• “U.S. tells North Korea over nuclear talks: ‘You know how to reach us’ “
• “U.S. Calls on N.Korea to Return to Talks”
• “US envoy urges N. Korea to return to nuclear talks”
• “China, Russia propose easing North Korea sanctions”
• “North Korea’s Sohae Satellite Launching Station: Post-Engine Test Activity Observed” (38 North”
  

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• #Afghanistan
• Fmr CAN aid chief for AFG: “Why we still need a review of Canada’s role in Afghanistan”
• “Canada’s war in Afghanistan was complicated, but it was no failure”
• “Parents of Canadian soldier killed in Afghanistan say a memorial is more important than an inquiry”
  

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• Way Up North
• “Arctic features prominently in new Canadian defence marching orders”
• “Canadian NORAD Region hosts first Arctic Airpower Seminar” (RCAF info-machine)
• “Earth’s Magnetic North Pole Continues Drifting, Crosses Prime Meridian”
• “How US Army engineers keep things working at the US’s northernmost military base in the world”
• “Russian N-powered icebreaker ends test run”
  

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• Internal Security
• “Canada has a secret program that grants visas to war criminals, terrorists, security threats”
• “Abdulahi Hasan Sharif Sentenced To 28 Years For Edmonton Van Attack”
• “18 ans pour l’attaque lors d’une soirée d’appréciation envers les militaires à Edmonton”
  

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• What’s Canada Buying?
• “Lockheed Martin awarded $18M for F-35 support for Australia, UK, Canada”
• Wanted: Answer to the question ” What’s firing a .50 cal sniper rifle doing to snipers’ heads?”
• Wanted: “… The Department of National Defence (DND) has a requirement for the provision of seven (7) complete EED-L2 kits …”
• Wanted: “… DND has a requirement for 21 wrist worn physiological monitoring devices …”
  

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• Veterans & Helping Veterans (or Not?)
• “Veterans Affairs Canada announces funding to support homeless and at-risk Veterans — Good Shepherd Refuge Social Ministries to receive nearly $400,000 from the Veteran and Family Well-Being Fund to ensure Veterans achieve their housing, health and social goals …” (VAC info-machine)
  

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• Other Military News
• “Canada transfers command of Standing NATO Maritime Group Two”
• “In a ceremony held at the Taranto Naval Base in Italy, command of Standing NATO Maritime Group Two (SNMG2) was transferred to Rear Admiral Paolo Fantoni of the Italian Navy, on Monday, December 16, 2019. The outgoing commander, Canada’s Commodore Josée Kurtz, had commanded the group for a six-month planned rotation which began in June, 2019 …” (NATO info-machine)
• “Le Canada transfère le commandement du 2e Groupe maritime permanent OTAN”
• “Sajjan given mandate to modernize NORAD, buy fighter jet fleet”
• “The 2019 Mandate Letter to Minister of Defence: Some Reactions” (Saideman’s Semi-Spew blog)
• “Canada ‘very fortunate’ to have Vance as defence chief, minister says”
• “Slower-than-expected economic growth to help Canada’s defence spending numbers”
• “Priorities for Canada’s National Defence Go Beyond Just Spending More”
• “Defence Minister Harjit S. Sajjan to Visit Europe and the Middle East” (DND info-machine)
• “Symposium hosts unprecedented number of air chiefs from across Indo-Pacific … Nations represented included Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei, Canada, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mongolia, New Zealand, the Philippines, South Korea, the Republic of Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam …”
• “Capt. Terrance Birch appeared in a Cornwall courtroom on Thursday, Dec. 12 to face criminal charges for illegally wearing military medals he was not entitled to. Birch came under scrutiny in August when Stolen Valour Canada accused him of wearing four military service medals he allegedly did not earn, including the Special Service Medal, Centennial Medal, Canada 125th Medal or the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal …”
• “New Junior Canadian Ranger Patrol for Pikangikum”
• “100,000 letters and counting for “Write the Troops” “

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MILNEWS.ca Highlights + #UKR Update – December 9, 2019

• #UKR/#OpUNIFIER
• “Russia and Ukraine agree to revive peace process and exchange prisoners”
• “Normandy Four leaders agree to implement measures to stabilize situation in Donbas”
• “Putin, Zelinskyy agree Russia Ukraine prisoner exchange in summit”
• “Ukraine, Russia agree to restart peace process”
• “Overall agreed conclusions of the Paris Summit in the Normandy format of December 9, 2019” (UKR Pres info-machine)
• “Zelensky-Putin agreement: Minsk deal as basis, full ceasefire, demining, Steinmeier formula (Document)”
• “Paris “Normandie” Summit – Common Agreed Conclusions”
• “Lasting peace deal again eludes Russia and Ukraine”
• “Progress but no breakthrough for Putin, Zelensky at Ukraine summit”
• “Leaders of Russia, Ukraine agree to try new cease-fire but fail to agree on timeline for elections in separatist east”
• “Normandy Four may discuss local elections in occupied Donbas in four months”
• “Moscow wants equal rights for the Russian-speaking population of Donbass and the whole Ukraine – Putin” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine, in Russian)
• “Russia’s Putin says he wants changes to Ukraine constitution”
• “Putin: we want the Russian-speaking population in Ukraine to enjoy equal rights” (pro-RUS rebel info-machine, in Russian)
• “Ukraine’s Zelenskiy calls dialog with Putin ‘positive’ “
  

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• Russia-Baltics-Cold War 2.0/#OpREASSURANCE
• “NATO does not define Russia as enemy, – Stoltenberg”
• “Stoltenberg: Russia is not NATO’s enemy, but it attacked Ukraine”
• “NATO chief says Trump remains committed to alliance”
• “Russian Defense Minister: Russia-NATO relations continue to deteriorate”
• “NATO Targets Disinformation Efforts”
• “Canada maintains leading role in NATO, despite Trump’s grumbling”
• “Ankara Still Hopes to Get F-35 Jets From US – Turkish Defence Minister”
• “Turkey hopes to still receive F-35 stealth fighters from US”
• ” ‘NATO stronger, more meaningful with Turkey’ ” (Turkish media)
• “Turkish-US Fighter Jet Dispute Rekindles Century-Old Animosities”
• “Erdogan in NATO: Russia’s ‘Trojan horse’?”
• “Russia boosts air component of its nuclear triad”
• “All new Russian warships fit to carry Tsirkon hypersonic missiles — shipbuilders’ chief”
• 3M22 Zircon/Tsirkon (Wikipedia)
• “Pentagon Concerned Russia Cultivating Sympathy Among US Troops”
• “Russia ready to exchange non-interference guarantees with US, says says source”
• “US fails to furnish evidence of Russia’s INF violations — Foreign Ministry source” (RUS state media)
• “Latest Russia-Belarus Integration Talks Fall Flat”
• “Hundreds Protest Russia-Belarus Integration Pact in Minsk”
• “Lukashenko at talks with Putin: We are asking for nothing but equal conditions” (BLR state media)
• “Putin hopes Belarus, Russia to benefit from Union State integration” (BLR state media)
• “Lukashenko leaves Russia and Belarus integration meeting without speaking to media”
• “Lukashenko, Putin to meet in St Petersburg on 20 December” (BLR state media)
  

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• #IRQ-Middle East/#OpIMPACT
• “No exit timeline for NATO training mission strengthening Iraq military, says outgoing (CAN) commander”
• “Unidentified warplanes bomb Iranian military base on Syrian-Iraqi border”
• “Russian Forces Enter Former Islamic State Stronghold in Syria After U.S. Pullback”
• “Russian senior diplomat meets with Syrian Kurdish opposition members”
  

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• #MLI-Africa/#OpPRESENCE
• “Deux officiers de la police canadienne seront déployés au Mali à partir de janvier 2020 pour une année. Ils renforceront les effectifs de l’Ecole de Maintien de la Paix Alioune Blondin Bèye de Bamako …”
  

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• Internal Security
• “We need to combat terrorism on a number of fronts, but it’s unclear if terrorist entity listings are necessary — One tangible thing Public Safety Canada does do is maintain what is known as the ‘list of terrorist entities.’ Would anything change if the listings disappeared tomorrow? Probably not …”
• “Assessing the Relationship of Sikh-Canadians with Canada and India” (DIvergent Options paper)
  

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• #CHN/Pacific Rim
• “COMMENTARY: Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor have been in a Chinese jail for one year”
• “Detained Canadian Michael Kovrig clinging to ‘sense of humour,’ boss says”
• “Huawei – A dragon in sheep’s clothing?”
• “China mass-produces special mission aircraft — China is mass-producing special mission aircraft, including anti-submarine aircraft, early warning aircraft, surveillance aircraft and electronic warfare aircraft, a genre of warplanes that Chinese experts said on Sunday will help create a full information system that allows the Chinese military to recognize every hostile movement and even sabotage enemy communications …” (CHN mil media)
• “Macao Chief Executive thanks PLA for protecting Macao” (CHN mil media)
  

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• #CHN-#RUS Nexus?
• “U.S. military to shift focus to competing with China and Russia: Esper”
  

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• The Koreas/#OpNEON
• “North Korea carries out ‘very important test’ at rocket site”
• “Resumed North Korean ICBM Testing: Possible Technical Objectives” (38 North)
• “North Korea Has ‘Nothing More to Lose’, Slams Trump’s Warnings Over Missile Tests – Official”
  

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• Way Up North
• “White Sea areas closed off for Russian weapons testing”
• “Russia Plans to Set Up Arctic Air Defense ‘Dome’ With S-400 Missiles”
• “Russia plans to protect Arctic with air defense dome”
• “Danish intelligence: Russia is building new airbase in Arctic”
• “Canadian Rangers Expand their Presence in Northwestern Ontario”
• “The Thunder Bay Police have been awarded two Canadian Army commendations for their work with Junior Canadian Rangers. Nine members of the police service spent up to two weeks running archery and paintball programs at Camp Loon, an annual advanced training camp for Junior Rangers in July …” (Canadian Ranger info-machine)
• “Arctic Narratives and Political Values: Arctic States, China and NATO” (NATO StratComm info-machine)
  

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• What’s Canada Buying?
• Wanted: “Weapon systems analysis, modeling and simulation … The objective of the work is to provide DRDC Valcartier Research Centre, Weapons Systems Section with specialized technical services in the area of weapon concept development and analysis. This includes development of models and sub-models of munitions launch platforms, targets, development of tools, modelling and simulation, analysis, and execution of option analysis and trade-off studies …”
• “Heddle Shipyards have invited Niagara regional councillors on board as the company looks to expand its Port Weller operations. Heddle wants to be the third shipyard in a National Shipbuilding Strategy that already includes Irving Shipbuilding in Halifax and Seaspan Marine in Vancouver Company president Shaun Padulo told the Region’s planning and economic development committee Wednesday the federal shipbuilding plan is a “huge” opportunity for the drydocks, St. Catharines and all of Niagara. The federal strategy aims to supply the Royal Canadian Navy and Canadian Coast Guard with new ships …”
  

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• Veterans & Helping Veterans (or Not?)
• “Suicide victim outside (AB) legislature was military veteran with depression, family says”
  

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• Other Military News
• “Another major move of Defence department employees and Canadian military personnel is being planned, this time shifting workers from multiple office locations in Gatineau and Ottawa into the downtown headquarters at 101 Colonel By Dr. …”
• “At Christmas time, remember our Armed Forces abroad”
• “Combat Systems Engineers ensure HMCS Ottawa is ready to fight” (RCN info-machine)
• “The Bank of Montreal (BMO) today announced a ten-year extension of its partnership with Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services (CFMWS) …” (BMO info-machine)
• “A Canadian compromise could win UN Security Council seat … We could negotiate a shared two-year term with Norway or Ireland – as Italy and the Netherlands have done recently – or even propose a first-ever three-way sharing of the two-year term between our like-minded, multilateral institution-supporting countries …”

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MILNEWS.ca Highlights – December 6, 2019

• Internal Security
• “Canadian arrested in Turkey this summer charged with terror offences”
• “Turkish authorities alleged detained Canadian had ISIS propaganda on phone”
• “RCMP Integrated National Security Enforcement Team lays terrorism charges in Ontario” (RCMP info-machine)
• “La GRC dépose des accusations de terrorisme contre un jeune Ontarien”
  

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• #IRQ-Middle East/#OpIMPACT
• “La mission de l’OTAN en Irak indispensable pour une armée irakienne forte”
• “15 killed in Baghdad square as assailants fire live rounds”
• “US announces sanctions on leaders of Iran-backed militias in Iraq for protestor killings”
• “Sanctions on Killing Protestors and Corruption in Iraq” (USA State Dept info-machine)
• “Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs David Schenker On Iraqi Global Magnitsky Designations” (USA State Dept info-machine)
• “Iraq cleric calls for new premier without foreign influence”
• “Iraq loses billions as key oil port kept shut ‘by order of the people’ “
• “Iraq’s Kurdish region hands oil to Baghdad for first time”
• “U.S. Military Says Iran Is Stashing Missiles in Iraq”
  

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• Russia-Baltics-Cold War 2.0/#OpREASSURANCE
• “Checking in with ATF Romania”
• “Putin: Russia is ready to extend Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty ‘without any conditions’ “
• “Russia committed to its intermediate-range missile initiative despite no response — Lavrov” (RUS state media)
• “The Self-Appointed Spies Who Use Google Earth to Sniff Out Nukes”
• “Russia Built A NATO Spec Identification Friend Or Foe System For Turkey’s S-400 Batteries”
• “Russian Navy 2019: Two new submarines, 23 new surface vessels and 480 new kinds of armament”
• “A Misleading Claim About Russia’s Defense Spending” (polygraph.info, fact checking site)
• “Russia Shifting Cargo Traffic Away From Baltic Ports to Its Own”
  

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• #HongKong
• “Hong Kong tensions in Canadian schools trigger meetings with principals, after anonymous pro-communist letter warns pupil of ‘consequences’”
• “China tells Germany to butt out: no inquiry into Hong Kong police protest tactics”
• “A New Game in China Lets Players Attack the Hong Kong Protesters — ‘Fight the Traitors Together’ is a Chinese game about attacking pro-democracy protesters …”
• “Game targeting Hong Kong ‘traitors’ popular on mainland social media” (CHN Communist Party media)
• “The Hong Kong protests have affected Taiwan’s election – but Beijing won’t back down”
  

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• #CHN/Pacific Rim
• “With China gunning for aircraft carriers, US Navy says it must change how it fights”
• “China in the Crosshairs: NATO Names Beijing as Major ‘Challenge’ Alongside Old Nemisis Russia”
• “China-Pakistan “Warrior-VII” joint military exercise kicks off in Pakistan” (CHN mil media)
• “PLA Support Base launches “Bright Eyes Operation” in Djibouti” (CHN mil media)
• “Rare documentary reveals counter-terrorism perseverance in Xinjiang” (CHN mil media)
  

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• Way Up North
• “Norway’s defense minister: Change and stability in the High North”
• “China is the New Buzzword in the Arctic. Some Argue It Is About Time. Others are Tired of Talking About China”
  

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• What’s Canada Buying?
• “Canada’s Future Fighter Capability: Supplier teams are visiting two Air Force fighter Bases” (The Maple Leaf)
• Wanted: “Canadian Forces Housing Agency (CFHA) Low-Rise Residential Accommodations at various locations across Canada … CFHA has an upcoming infrastructure program that includes low rise apartment buildings and non-apartment style residential units such as detached, semi-detached, town and row houses. CFHA is looking to bring consistency in the design and construction of the various housing models. It is therefore the intent to develop designs that are repeatable and can easily be site adapted for use at various bases and wings across each region …”
• Wanted: “Tactical Training Facility … The Department of National Defence (DND) has a requirement for the provision of Tactical and Collective Mobility Training Services, on an “as and when requested” basis. The Contractor must provide a training facility, including accommodations, long live fire ranges, and support staff, all specialised for tactical and collective mobility training capabilities, to enable Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members to practice and maintain the necessary skills and safely function on a day-to-day basis while deployed …”
• Wanted:  “… The Department of National Defence (DND) has a requirement for experienced role players to participate in and support training activities involving surveillance, counter-surveillance and complementary capabilities. To realize this objective, the Contractor could be required to provide qualified personnel for the following roles: Up to 8 Non-Verbal Role Players per training event who will conduct surveillance and be the target of surveillance in both vehicle and on foot scenarios Up to 8 Verbal Role Players per training event who will interact with DND participants to extract or provide information cues Up to 2 Instructors per training event who will design and deliver training in the domain of human intelligence operations …”
• Wanted:  “Smallpox Therapeutic Drug … Public Services and Procurement Canada proposes to negotiate a contract with Meridian Medical Technologies Inc. on behalf of the Department of National Defence (DND) for the purchase of TPOXX® …”
• Wanted:  “Custom-Built Prototype Aerosol Monitoring Sensor … A 3D human model for predicting the aerosol protective capability of CBR military clothing was developed by DRDC Suffield; however, it has not been validated yet for its predictive capability through experimental testing. Test apparatus and equipment will be acquired and designed to obtain experimental data that can be inputted as parameters into the model …”
• “FAIL: Trudeau Government Promotes Purchase Of Australia’s Leftovers With Photo Of Super Hornet They Aren’t Buying” (Spencer Fernando blog)
  

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• Other Military News
• “Snowbirds aerobatics team returns to full operations after crash in U.S.” – “Retour aux opérations des Snowbirds après l’écrasement d’un avion en octobre”
• “Justin Trudeau should have told Donald Trump Canada refuses to fund its military on the backs of the needy”
• “Joint military-RCMP operation helping Santa get toys to remote Labrador”
• “NATO is the enemy when it comes to fighting climate change”

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MILNEWS.ca Highlights – November 30, 2019

• #CAN Def Spending/NATO
• “Canada’s NATO Spending Unchanged Despite Trump Calls For More”
• “Canada is planning to ramp up its defense spending through 2026 and strengthen engagement with industry to address a wide range of threats, said Canada’s minister of national defense Nov. 22 …”
• “NATO Seeks to Head Off Budget Row Saying Spending is Rising”
• “NATO Secretary General announces increased defence spending by Allies” (NATO info-machine)
• “Defence Expenditure of NATO Countries (2013-2019)” (NATO info-machine)
• “Trudeau to attend NATO leaders meeting in U.K., 70th anniversary of alliance”
• “Matt Gurney: Canada’s defence free ride is ending, and our sovereignty could be at stake”
• “We must strengthen our Canadian Armed Forces now” (The Post Millenial)
  

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• “The head of the Canadian Armed Forces has warned Canada will inevitably be challenged by growing international upheaval as the effect of climate change and global political struggles intensify. “The country will be tested,” General Jonathan Vance told a special summit on global leadership in Ottawa Thursday …”
  

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• #CHN/Pacific Rim
• “Canadian Governments Have ‘Failed Abominably’ On China: Ex-CSIS Director”
• “Huawei’s Meng Wanzhou fears cameras in Canadian court would trigger threats from Donald Trump”
• “Chinese Ambassador Visits Huawei Exec Under House Arrest in Canada”
  

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• Veterans & Helping Veterans (or Not?)
• “More than 100 military veterans homeless in Vancouver”
  

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• Way Up North
• “Arctic rivalries simmer in Halifax security forum’s cauldron of ideas”
  

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• What’s Canada Buying?
• “The South African airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) community will next week see a Viking Twin Otter Guardian 400 aircraft fitted with state-of-the-art equipment as part of the Africa leg of the Guardian 400 World Tour organized by Viking and Airborne Technologies (ABT) …”
• Viking Guardian 400 World Tour (Viking Air Ltd., Canada)
  

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• Internal Security
• “Appeal rejected for Montreal man who wanted to join ISIL”
• “The Quebec Court of Appeal today released its decision on the conviction and sentence appeals of Ismael Habib, 32. The Court dismissed the appeals and upheld the conviction and sentence …” (Public Prosecution Service of Canada)
• “Ismaël Habib n’aura pas de nouveau procès”
• “As its powers grow, cyber intelligence agency looks to fill hundreds of job vacancies”
  

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• Other Military News
• “All-male panel talking about virtues of women in security sparks outcry”
• “Calgary students pen more than 700 Christmas cards for soldiers overseas”
• “NORAD Tracks Santa program kicks off for 2019” – “NORAD Tracks Santa program kicks off for 2019” (RCAF info-machine) – https://www.noradsanta.org/
• “The remembrance poppy is becoming a weapon against immigrants to Canada. We need to remember everyone’s contribution to the war”

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