winph4 Tweet Facebook Mail The family of Hannah Kobayashi, the Hawaii woman who went missing in early November after arriving in Los Angeles on a flight from Maui, insists their search for Hannah is not over despite police saying she is a voluntary missing person. "My heart is still broken, and my worry for Hannah has not lessened," Kobayashi's aunt Larie Pidgeon said in a statement Tuesday. "It has been 21 days since I last heard from her — 21 days of silence, of fear, and of questioning what could have led to this." READ MORE: A missed flight, strange texts and a father's death: How Hannah Kobayashi's mysterious disappearance has played out Hannah Kobayashi has not contacted her family for three weeks. (Nine) Police say the 30-year-old was spotted on video surveillance from US Customs and Border Protection "crossing the United States border on foot into Mexico" on November 12. "She was alone, with her luggage, and appeared unharmed," Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said Monday in a news conference. Kobayashi had arrived at Los Angeles International Airport from Maui on November 8, but did not board her connecting flight to New York, her sister previously said. The family last heard from her on November 11 and police created a missing person poster for her on November 15. Video and photos show Kobayashi at various locations around Los Angeles between November 8 and 11, police said. "To date, the investigation has not uncovered any evidence that Kobayashi is being trafficked or is the victim of foul play. She is also not a suspect in any criminal activity," McDonnell said. "She has a right to her privacy, and we respect her choices but we also understand the concern her loved ones feel for her." Tragedy struck the family during their search for Hannah when her father Ryan Kobayashi, who had travelled from Hawaii to Los Angeles to help look for her, was found dead Sunday near the airport, having taken his own life , the family and authorities say. Pidgeon said that he "died of a broken heart." Ryan Kobayashi, centre, during an interview. The father of a Hawaii woman was found dead after taking his own life. (CNN via CNN Newsource) Hannah's family is raising red flags on what they say is aberrant behaviour leading to the Hawaiian native's decision to travel to Mexico. "They say that they've seen her alone but that doesn't discount the fact that someone could be watching her from afar, knowing how big this case has gotten and kind of like maybe controlling her or like telling her what to do," Hannah's sister Sydni Kobayashi told CNN affiliate HawaiiNewsNow on Tuesday. "Now that she's there (Mexico), it feels like they're kind of washing their hands clean of the situation," Kobayashi said. When asked, the LAPD said they had no further comment or information to provide on Hannah's case. The father of a Hawaii woman who went missing two weeks ago was found dead on November 24. The father of a Hawaii woman who went missing two weeks ago was found dead on Sunday, the Los Angeles Police Department said.Ryan Kobayashi had traveled to Los Angeles to help find his daughter, Hannah Kobayashi. (Courtesy Sydni Kobayashi via CNN Newsource) Hannah's aunt expressed the family's appreciation for the Los Angeles Police Department who "worked tirelessly" to track down her niece saying, "Their efforts have brought us to this new piece of the puzzle." However, Pidgeon noted that her usually communicative niece "never mentioned any plans to travel to Mexico, and no one in her life knew she intended to go there." Attorney Sara Azani tells CNN the family is shocked and frustrated because Hannah is still in the missing person's database and now the family has to take the investigation into their own hands. "They're very concerned because Mexico is not a safe place, at least not near the border," Azani says. "Even if Hannah was safe as of November 12, there's no telling that she's safe today." "What alarms me even more is her complete disconnection from her phone, her social media, and her world—this is not who she is," Pidgeon said. Azani said her team and members of the Kobayashi family are hoping to engage the US State Department and plan on traveling to Mexico soon where they feel like they will have to start all over with the campaign to find Hannah. "Everything I've done, every plea I've made, every step I've taken—it's all been out of love," Pidgeon said. "I will not stop until I can confirm, face-to-face, that she is safe and making these decisions of her own accord. "Stock futures are little changed as Wall Street gears up for potential Fed rate cut this week: Live updates

KUWAIT: solutions by stc, the specialized business arm of Kuwait Telecommunications Company–stc, announced that it has won the top honor within the “Best Use of Digital by Sector – Technology/Telecommunications” category at the MENA Digital Awards, a bespoke awards show promoting digital innovation and media in the MENA region. The recognition highlights solutions by stc’s longstanding commitment to empowering businesses in Kuwait, especially SMEs, through innovative and cutting-edge digital solutions that support their unique digital transformation strategies. The awards ceremony was held in Dubai, UAE where Mohammed Al-Farsi, Director of Telecom Products Management at solutions by stc and Salem Soud Al-Mutawa, Branding Executive at stc Kuwait accepted the award on behalf of the company. The “Best Use of Digital by Sector – Technology/Telecommunications” award highlights solutions by stc’s digital capabilities and strengths in supporting a diverse range of businesses in achieving their unique digital transformation strategies. As a strong supporter of Kuwait’s SME market, solutions by stc actively explores and introduces innovative solutions that assist small businesses in optimizing and enhancing their operations while contributing towards building a secure and resilient digital environment in line with Kuwait’s Vision 2035. The company’s various digital platforms are advanced and enable customers to manage all their accounts and portfolios under one umbrella. Commenting on the award, Mohammad N Al-Nusif, Chief Executive Officer of solutions by stc, said: “Receiving this recognition at the MENA Digital Awards is a testament to the breadth of innovative solutions and platforms we offer to our SME customer base. As advocates for Kuwait’s SME sector, we continuously strive to provide value adding solutions and platforms that will assist SMEs in growing their operations efficiently and with ease. In addition, solutions by stc always seeks to innovate in its digital services and solutions to meet the growing needs of customers in line with the rapid developments in the field of technology. Lastly, I would like to thank the MENA Digital Awards organizer for this recognition, as it also reflects our commitment to leveraging digital platforms and channels to deliver a seamless, holistic, and impactful brand experience.” He also thanked all the employees at solutions by stc who worked effortlessly to plan and execute this campaign. solutions by stc has built and solidified its positioning in the market as a powerful one-stop shop for business and wholesale solutions, catering to the needs of government and corporate entities nationwide and across the region.

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Plant-based Natural Cat Litter Market Innovations and Key Players: Feline PineFeline Pine, Oil-Dri, Mars, Eco-Shell, Kent Nutrition Group (World's Best Cat Litter), Purina, SWheat Scoop, LPBy BIANCA VÁZQUEZ TONESS and DAVE COLLINS BOSTON (AP) — After weeks of fear and bewilderment about the drones buzzing over parts of New York and New Jersey , elected officials are urging action to identify and stop the mysterious flights. “There’s a lot of us who are pretty frustrated right now,” Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said on “Fox News Sunday.” “’We don’t know’ is not a good enough answer,” he said. National security officials have said the drones don’t appear to be a sign of foreign interference or a public safety threat. But because they can’t say with certainty who is responsible for the sudden swarms of drones over parts of New Jersey, New York and other eastern parts of the U.S. — or how they can be stopped — has led leaders of both political parties to demand better technology and powers to deal with the drones. Sen. Chuck Schumer called Sunday for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to deploy better drone-tracking technology to identify the drones and their operators. “New Yorkers have tremendous questions about it,” Schumer, the Senate Majority leader, told reporters about the drone sightings. “We are going to get the answers for them.” The federal government did little to answer those questions in its own media briefings Sunday morning. “There’s no question that people are seeing drones,” U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos. “But I want to assure the American public that we are on it. We are working in close coordination with state and local authorities.” Some of the drones reported above parts of New York and New Jersey have turned out to be “manned aircraft that are commonly mistaken for drones,” Mayorkas said. “We know of no foreign involvement with respect to the sightings in the Northeast. And we are vigilant in investigating this matter.” Last year, federal aviation rules began requiring certain drones to broadcast their remote identification, including the location of their operators. It’s not clear whether that information has been used to determine who is behind the drones plaguing locations over New York and New Jersey. Mayorkas’ office didn’t respond to questions about whether they’ve been able to identify drones using this capability. Schumer wants the federal government to use a recently declassified radio wave technology in New York and New Jersey. The radio wave detector can be attached to a drone or airplane and can determine whether another flying object is a bird or a drone, read its electronic registration, and follow it back to its landing place. Schumer said state and local authorities do not have the authority to track drones. On Sunday, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said federal officials were sending a drone detection system to the state. “This system will support state and federal law enforcement in their investigations,” Hochul said in a statement. The governor did not immediately provide additional details, including where the system will be deployed. Dozens of mysterious nighttime flights started last month over parts of New Jersey, raising concerns among residents and officials. Part of the worry stems from the flying objects initially being spotted near the Picatinny Arsenal, a U.S. military research and manufacturing facility and over President-elect Donald Trump’s golf course in Bedminster. Drones are legal in New Jersey for recreational and commercial use, but they are subject to local and Federal Aviation Administration regulations and flight restrictions. Operators must be FAA certified. Drones are now being reported all along the northern East Coast, with suspicious sightings in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Virginia, according to news reports. Some U.S. political leaders, including Trump, have called for much stronger action against these drones, including shooting them down. Certain agencies within the Department of Homeland Security have the power to “incapacitate” drones, Mayorkas said Sunday. “But we need those authorities expanded,” he said. A bill before the U.S. Senate would enhance some federal agencies’ authority and give new abilities to local and state agencies to track drones. It would also start a pilot program allowing states and local authorities to disrupt, disable or seize a drone without prior consent of the operator. “What the drone issue points out are gaps in our agencies, gaps in our authorities between the Department of Homeland Security, local law enforcement, the Defense Department.,” said Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Fla., Trump’s pick to be his national security adviser, speaking on CBS’ “Face the Nation” on Sunday. “Americans are finding it hard to believe we can’t figure out where these are coming from.’’ ___ Collins reported from Hartford, Connecticut. 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Who are the Mangiones of Baltimore County? ‘Why did we even start doing this?’: Santa Clara officials say 2026 FIFA World Cup is ‘highly likely’ to be a money loser The Navy’s fighter pilots fly at the extremes. Their brains may suffer. 1,000-foot-tall roller coaster about to become a realityMajor stock indexes on Wall Street drifted to a mixed finish Friday, capping a rare bumpy week for the market. The S&P 500 ended essentially flat, down less than 0.1%, after wavering between tiny gains and losses most of the day. The benchmark index posted a loss for the week, its first after three straight weekly gains. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.2%, while the Nasdaq composite rose 0.1%, ending just below the record high it set on Wednesday. There were more than twice as many decliners than gainers on the New York Stock Exchange. Gains in technology stocks helped temper losses in communication services, financials and other sectors of the market. Broadcom surged 24.4% for the biggest gain in the S&P 500 after the semiconductor company beat Wall Street’s profit targets and gave a glowing forecast, highlighting its artificial intelligence products. The company also raised its dividend. The company's big gain helped cushion the market's broader fall. Pricey stock values for technology companies like Broadcom give the sector more weight in pushing the market higher or lower. Artificial intelligence technology has been a focal point for the technology sector and the overall stock market over the last year. Tech companies, and Wall Street, expect demand for AI to continue driving growth for semiconductor and other technology companies. Some tech stocks were a drag on the market. Nvidia fell 2.2%, Meta Platforms dropped 1.7% and Google parent Alphabet slid 1.1%. Among the market's other decliners were Airbnb, which fell 4.7% for the biggest loss in the S&P 500, and Charles Schwab, which closed 4% lower. Furniture and housewares company RH, formerly known as Restoration Hardware, surged 17% after raising its forecast for revenue growth for the year. All told, the S&P 500 lost 0.16 points to close at 6,051.09. The Dow dropped 86.06 points to 43,828.06. The Nasdaq rose 23.88 points to 19,926.72. Wall Street's rally stalled this week amid mixed economic reports and ahead of the Federal Reserve's last meeting of the year. The central bank will meet next week and is widely expected to cut interest rates for a third time since September. Expectations of a series of rate cuts has driven the S&P 500 to 57 all-time highs so far this year . The Fed has been lowering its benchmark interest rate following an aggressive rate hiking policy that was meant to tame inflation. It raised rates from near-zero in early 2022 to a two-decade high by the middle of 2023. Inflation eased under pressure from higher interest rates, nearly to the central bank's 2% target. The economy, including consumer spending and employment, held strong despite the squeeze from inflation and high borrowing costs. A slowing job market, though, has helped push a long-awaited reversal of the Fed's policy. Inflation rates have been warming up slightly over the last few months. A report on consumer prices this week showed an increase to 2.7% in November from 2.6% in October. The Fed's preferred measure of inflation, the personal consumption expenditures index, will be released next week. Wall Street expects it to show a 2.5% rise in November, up from 2.3% in October. The economy, though, remains solid heading into 2025 as consumers continue spending and employment remains healthy, said Gregory Daco, chief economist at EY. “Still, the outlook is clouded by unusually high uncertainty surrounding regulatory, immigration, trade and tax policy,” he said. Treasury yields edged higher. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.40% from 4.34% late Thursday. European markets slipped. Britain's FTSE 100 fell 0.1%. Britain’s economy unexpectedly shrank by 0.1% month-on-month in October, following a 0.1% decline in September, according to data from the Office for National Statistics. Asian markets closed mostly lower.

( MENAFN - EIN Presswire) Precipitated Calcium Carbonate Global market Report 2024 - Market Size, Trends, And Global Forecast 2024-2033 The Business Research Company's Early Year-End Sale! Get up to 30% off detailed market research reports-for a limited time only! LONDON, GREATER LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, December 16, 2024 /EINPresswire / -- The Business Research Company's Early Year-End Sale! Get up to 30% off detailed market research reports-limited time only! In recent years, the precipitated calcium carbonate market has seen robust growth, strengthening from $1.96 billion in 2023 to $2.09 billion in 2024 at a compound annual growth rate CAGR of 6.8%. Factors such as rising emphasis on product quality, growing demand for PCC, a surge in high-performance coatings, increasing manufacturing of consumer goods, and elevated consumer spending have significantly contributed to this growth. Are Market Projections Bullish for the Precipitated Calcium Carbonate Industry? Market projections for the precipitated calcium carbonate industry suggest strong growth in the upcoming years. The market is expected to expand to $2.73 billion in 2028, boasting a compound annual growth rate CAGR of 6.9%. This projected growth is largely attributable to a transitioning focus toward specialty GCC grades, emphasis on environmental compliance and sustainability, industrialization growth in emerging economies, concentrate efforts on effective functional fillers, and health and safety. Dive Into Detailed Insights of the Global Template Market with a Free Sample Report: What Trends and Innovations are Shaping the Precipitated Calcium Carbonate Market Going Forward? Covering the forecast period, major growth trends include advancement in papermaking technology, embracement of digital twin technology, integration with digital marketing, alliance with biodegradable materials, and advanced surface modification. Furthermore, the ever-increasing personal care and cosmetics industry is projected to be a significant propeller for market growth. The industry, which encompasses a broad range of products and services designed to enhance or maintain an individual's appearance, hygiene, and overall wellbeing, has seen continued expansion due to heightening beauty consciousness, health and wellness trends, expanded diversity and inclusivity efforts, and e-commerce developments. Here, precipitated calcium carbonate's PCC role is essential. It stabilizes emulsions and suspensions in personal care products, ensuring uniform texture and extended shelf life. As it is non-toxic and hypoallergenic, PCC delivers a cost-effective solution that aligns with increasing demand for natural products and allows manufacturers to remain competitive. Pre-book the report for a swift delivery: Which are the Key Players in the Precipitated Calcium Carbonate Market? Major players in the precipitated calcium carbonate market include Solvay S.A., Nippon Paper Industries Co. Ltd., Omya AG, Sibelco Group, Carmeuse Holdings Inc., Graymont Limited, Maruo Calcium Co Ltd., SCHAEFER KALK GmbH & Co. KG, Cales de Llierca S.A., Astra Mining Private Limited, Calcinor S.A., Nanoshel LLC, Lime Chemicals Limited, EZ Chemicals Inc., Shree Karni Chemicals Pvt Ltd., Chemical & Mineral Industries Private Limited, Deepali Minerals, Kunal Calcium Limited, HTMC Group, Mahaveer Ceramic Industries, Braj Chemical & Minerals. What Emerging Trends are being seen in the Precipitated Calcium Carbonate Market? Recently, market key players have centered their focus on the expansion of manufacturing plants to meet the surging demand for their products. Expansion and investment in new manufacturing plants benefit these players by increasing their calcium carbonate production capacity, catering to the rising demand, and reinforcing their market position. How is the Market Segmented? The precipitated calcium carbonate market encapsulates various segments, including: 1 By Grade: Food, Pharmaceutical, Reagent, and Cosmetic 2 By Distribution Channel: Direct Sales, Distributors, Online Retail, and Specialty Stores 3 By Application: Polyvinyl Chloride Pipe PVC, Rubber, Sealant And Adhesives, Paper Industry, Paint And Coating Industry, Printing Ink, Pharmaceutical Industry, Food Industry, Cosmetics Industry, and Other Applications What does the Regional Analysis Reveal about the Market? Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the precipitated calcium carbonate market in 2023. North America takes expectations of the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regional analysis embraces Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. Browse Through More Similar Reports By The Business Research Company: Polyolefins Global Market Report 2024 Stucco Global Market Report 2024 Tile Adhesives & Stone Adhesives Global Market Report 2024 About The Business Research Company Learn More About The Business Research Company. With over 15000+ reports from 27 industries covering 60+ geographies, The Business Research Company has built a reputation for offering comprehensive, data-rich research and insights. Armed with 1,500,000 datasets, the optimistic contribution of in-depth secondary research, and unique insights from industry leaders, you can get the information you need to stay ahead in the game. Contact: The Business Research Company: Americas: +1 3156230293 Asia: +44 2071930708 Europe: +44 2071930708 Email: ... Follow The Business Research Company on LinkedIn: and YouTube: To access their Global Market Model, visit: global-market-model . Oliver Guirdham The Business Research Company +44 20 7193 0708 email us here Visit us on social media: Facebook X LinkedIn Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above. MENAFN15122024003118003196ID1108995418 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.

President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee, Pete Hegseth, is not qualified to be secretary of defense, even if we put aside unproven sexual assault allegations made against him. While Hegseth is a veteran, Senate confirmation of a nominee with no leadership experience in such a large and complex organization as the Department of Defense would be in stark contrast with the notion of our military as a merit-based, professional force. Leading millions of service members and civilian workers is not an entry-level or training opportunity. Also, Hegseth’s publicly-stated views do not inspire confidence that he would provide apolitical leadership. He has cast the political/social situation in the United States as a crusade between irreconcilable foes with the only option being total victory for his — and Trump’s — chosen side. The ultimate loyalty of our military is to the U.S. Constitution, not political parties. Hegseth’s nomination appears to be based on the idea that the military must stop being “woke,” but its current challenges have nothing to do with “wokeness.” They have to do with chronic congressional delays in passing appropriations bills; inadequate funding of maintenance and modernization; competition with private industry for recruits; and stress on equipment, personnel and logistics systems brought on by decades of overcommitment around the globe. The list goes on. This hyperattention on getting rid of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs, and every other military program that promotes fair treatment and inclusion is a bogeyman that takes the spotlight away from the real problems affecting our military readiness. Mike Lontoc, Hainesport Note: The writer is a retired U.S. Navy commander. What Bernie had that Kamala didn’t When I asked my blue-collar Pennsylvania friends why they voted for President-elect Donald Trump, I got an astounding reply. They said, “...because Bernie Sanders was not on the ticket.” On the surface this makes no sense, with Sanders way on the far left, and Trump certainly way on the far right. But look a little deeper. Back in 2016, when Sanders, the independent Vermont senator, was running against Hilary Clinton in the Democratic primaries, he “got it” in connection with these voters. He got it in town hall meeting after town hall meeting in a way Clinton could never understand. She seemed aloof and elitist. It’s my belief that Sanders would have beaten Trump in that presidential election, although that’s still pure conjecture. Across the Atlantic back in 2019, the Labour Party’s Jeremy Corbyn lost the British working-class vote, and the Conservatives’ Boris Johnson became the United Kingdom’s prime minister. This year , Labour’s Kier Starmer got the working class back, becoming prime minister in a vote that bucked a recent European trend of movement to the right and populist politics. This year in America, Kamala Harris lost the blue-collar vote. The Democrats will need to do some serious house cleaning to get it back! Tony Grant, Newton Proposed law is for the birds So, some New Jersey lawmakers want to restrict the use of residential bird feeders to control interactions between back bears and humans? Proposed regulations contained in legislation include elevating the feeders to at least 10 feet above the ground, and taking them indoors every night between April 1 and Nov. 30. Really? My only conclusion is that recent articles about this bill were meant to be printed on April Fool’s Day. Ellen Rogers, Skillman Congressional pair should call it quits U.S. Reps. Mikie Sherrill, D-11, and Josh Gottheimer, D-5, recently won reelection to Congress. They suggested to the voters that they would work full time for them in the next session of Congress. But, now, they are both declared candidates for governor in next year’s Democratic primary. Running for governor and being a member of Congress should be considered to be two full-time jobs. It’s no secret that Gottheimer and Sherrill have each planned their gubernatorial runs for months. They should do the honorable thing and resign from Congress. Their ambitious power plays are one of the many reasons why people don’t vote. Fred Stein, South Brunswick Election over; stop dividing the country This letter was sent to the Star-Ledger, but it is directed to all of the left-leaning media: Stop dividing the country. A plurality of the voting public elected Donald Trump as president. Even with all of the hate speech that the left could spew, it did them no good for the result. Some of the things they did is compare Trump to Hitler and say that Trump’s supporters are “garbage.” Now, the liberals are directing all of their venom to Trump’s cabinet picks. Realize that Trump was elected a second time because the American people are tired of all of the retreads that the left parades around Washington. So, instead of giving Trump’s picks the benefit of the doubt, the left goes into attack mode. They will not give Trump or his programs or his cabinet choices a chance. The left finds fault with everything. These tactics did not work for the election and they won’t work now. Again, stop dividing the nation and help it come together. RECOMMENDED • nj .com Which Trump cabinet pick steps aside next? GOP has one in its crosshairs Nov. 22, 2024, 11:32 a.m. Trump chooses Pam Bondi for attorney general pick after Gaetz withdraws Nov. 21, 2024, 7:06 p.m. Don Montefusco, Maplewood Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com The Star-Ledger/NJ.com encourages submissions of opinion . Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion . Follow us on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and on Facebook at NJ.com Opinion . Get the latest news updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.com’s newsletters .But alongside his stark warning of the threats facing Britain and its allies, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin said there would be only a “remote chance” Russia would directly attack or invade the UK if the two countries were at war. The Chief of the Defence Staff laid out the landscape of British defence in a wide-ranging speech, after a minister warned the Army would be wiped out in as little as six months if forced to fight a war on the scale of the Ukraine conflict. The admiral cast doubt on the possibility as he gave a speech at the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi) defence think tank in London. He told the audience Britain needed to be “clear-eyed in our assessment” of the threats it faces, adding: “That includes recognising that there is only a remote chance of a significant direct attack or invasion by Russia on the United Kingdom, and that’s the same for the whole of Nato.” Moscow “knows the response will be overwhelming”, he added, but warned the nuclear deterrent needed to be “kept strong and strengthened”. Sir Tony added: “We are at the dawn of a third nuclear age, which is altogether more complex. It is defined by multiple and concurrent dilemmas, proliferating nuclear and disruptive technologies and the almost total absence of the security architectures that went before.” The first nuclear age was the Cold War, while the second was “governed by disarmament efforts and counter proliferation”, the armed forces chief said. He listed the “wild threats of tactical nuclear use” by Russia, China building up its weapon stocks, Iran’s failure to co-operate with a nuclear deal, and North Korea’s “erratic behaviour” among the threats faced by the West. But Sir Tony said the UK’s nuclear arsenal is “the one part of our inventory of which Russia is most aware and has more impact on (President Vladimir) Putin than anything else”. Successive British governments had invested “substantial sums of money” in renewing nuclear submarines and warheads because of this, he added. The admiral described the deployment of thousands of North Korean soldiers on Ukraine’s border alongside Russian forces as the year’s “most extraordinary development”. He also signalled further deployments were possible, speaking of “tens of thousands more to follow as part of a new security pact with Russia”. Defence minister Alistair Carns earlier said a rate of casualties similar to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine would lead to the army being “expended” within six to 12 months. He said it illustrated the need to “generate depth and mass rapidly in the event of a crisis”. In comments reported by Sky News, Mr Carns, a former Royal Marines colonel, said Russia was suffering losses of around 1,500 soldiers killed or injured a day. “In a war of scale – not a limited intervention, but one similar to Ukraine – our Army for example, on the current casualty rates, would be expended – as part of a broader multinational coalition – in six months to a year,” Mr Carns said in a speech at Rusi. He added: “That doesn’t mean we need a bigger Army, but it does mean you need to generate depth and mass rapidly in the event of a crisis.” Official figures show the Army had 109,245 personnel on October 1, including 25,814 volunteer reservists. Mr Carns, the minister for veterans and people, said the UK needed to “catch up with Nato allies” to place greater emphasis on the reserves. The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said Defence Secretary John Healey had previously spoken about “the state of the armed forces that were inherited from the previous government”. The spokesman said: “It’s why the Budget invested billions of pounds into defence, it’s why we’re undertaking a strategic defence review to ensure that we have the capabilities and the investment needed to defend this country.”

NoneLNG Energy Group Reiterates Value Proposition and Announces Financing and Process to Review Strategic Initiatives