Political Turmoil In China?

Sun Zhengcai, then Chongqing Communist Party secretary, is shown attending a meeiting of a top political advisory body in Beijing in March 2016. Photo: Jason Lee/REUTERS

Wall Street Journal: China Expels Party Official Once Seen as Potential Successor to Xi Jinping

Politburo moves quickly to evict Sun Zhengcai ahead of Communist Party Congress.

BEIJING—China’s Communist Party expelled a senior official over alleged corruption and abuses of power just weeks before a pivotal conclave where President Xi Jinping plans to bolster his authority.

State media said Friday’s expulsion of Sun Zhengcai, the former top official in the inland megacity of Chongqing, was ordered by the party’s governing Politburo—ending the career of a party stalwart once seen as a possible successor to Mr. Xi before being placed under probe in mid-July.

Mr. Sun’s downfall echoes the 2012 purge of a predecessor, Bo Xilai, who was Chongqing’s party chief and a rising political star when he fell from grace amid corruption allegations and a murder scandal involving his wife.

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WNU Editor: Leading officials are not expelled a few weeks before the Party Congress unless there is a problem. This is a red flag to me .... it tells me that there are many in China who are not happy with President Xi, especially his push to have an additional 5 year term in his Presidency. And while I do expect President Xi to get what he wants .... limits are going to be imposed on him .... the main one being that he will be leaving in the next Party Congress.

More News On Political Change In China

Sun Zhengcai expelled from CPC, public office -- Xinhau
Communist Party expels former high-flyer Sun Zhengcai in countdown to key congress -- South China Morning Post
China Communist Party expels former star Sun Zhengcai -- Washington Post
China Communist Party Expels Former Rising Star Sun, Xinhua Says -- Bloomberg
China's Communist Party expels top member ahead of congress -- Digital Journal
China's Next President: Reading the Tea Leaves of Chinese Politics -- The Diplomat

U.S. Orders Half Of Its Embassy Staff To Return Home From Cuba. Also Issues A Travel Advisory

New York Times: U.S. to Pull More Diplomats Out of Cuba After Attacks

WASHINGTON — The State Department announced on Friday that it is pulling more than half of its staff out of the American embassy in Havana in the wake of mysterious attacks that have injured 21 people associated with the embassy.

Some of those attacked have suffered significant injuries, with symptoms including hearing loss, dizziness, tinnitus, balance and visual problems, headache, fatigue, cognitive issues and difficulty sleeping. But despite an intensive investigation by the F.B.I., the cause and perpetrators of the attacks remain a mystery, with some experts speculating that some kind of sonic weapon or faulty surveillance device may have been at fault.

The department will also issue an advisory warning to American citizens who travel to Cuba that they could face unusual risks. Some of the attacks occurred in hotels where State Department employees were temporarily staying, leading officials to worry that tourists and others could be affected. But there is no evidence so far that tourists or hotel employees have been affected, according to the State Department.

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More News On The U.S. Ordering Half Of Its Embassy Staff To Return Home From Cuba

US orders 60 percent of staff out of embassy in Cuba: AP -- Reuters
State Department orders most US Embassy staff to leave Cuba in response to unexplained health problems -- Los Angeles Times
State Department orders nonessential diplomats and families out of Cuba following mysterious attacks -- CNN
US slashing embassy staff in Cuba, issuing travel warning because of apparent sonic 'attacks' -- Washington Post
State Department Orders More Than Half Its Staff Out Of Cuba After 'Specific Attacks' -- NPR

Accused NSA Leaker Reality Winner Calls America 'The Worst Thing To Happe On The Planet'

USA Today: Accused NSA leaker called America 'the worst thing to happen on the planet'

A woman suspected of leaking U.S. secrets to a news organization claimed she stuffed a classified report into her pantyhose and walked out of a National Security Agency office in Georgia, mainly because she hates America "like three times a day."

Reality Winner, 25, told FBI agents she was disappointed in her job as a government contractor, court records show.

“Yeah, I screwed up royally,” Winner, told the agents in a transcript that makes public the details of her confession, which prosecutors have alluded to in prior court hearings.

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WNU Editor: The redacted FBI transcript with Reality Winner is here. Her trial starts next year in March. If her lawyers are not able to have this transcript thrown out .... she is going to serve some serious time.

More News On NSA Leaker Reality Winner

Alleged leaker Reality Winner said she stuffed NSA report in her pantyhose -- Politico
NSA leaker Reality Winner tells the FBI she smuggled classified documents out of the office by stuffing them in her pantyhose -- The Daily Mail
Accused NSA leaker smuggled documents in pantyhose: court filing -- UPI
Accused leaker Reality Winner tells FBI she leaked secret report in pantyhose, transcript reveals -- News.com.au
NSA Leak Suspect Reality Winner Explains Why She Smuggled A Classified Report -- Task & Purpose
Accused NSA leaker was angry over Fox News always being on in the office -- Ars Technica

What Would Trigger A War Between NATO And Russia

Wyn Bowen & Ivanka Barzashka, Conversation: What would it take to trigger war between Russia and NATO? Just a spark

This September in Europe was a tense month of military posturing and preparations. Sweden recently began a three-week war game, its largest since the Cold War. Even as it did so, across the Baltic Sea, Russian and Belarusian forces concluded the Zapad military exercises – which NATO officials called “serious preparations for a big war”.

Major war games such as these bring a risk of real conflict. But neither the Russian invasion that Russia’s neighbours fear, nor the NATO incursion implicit in the Zapad scenario, are likely events. Our research on conflict escalation suggests that the US, Russia and Europe should worry about a far riskier contingency: what if a separate crisis emerged at the same time that large numbers of troops and equipment are already deployed in the region?

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WNU Editor: It would actually take a lot to trigger a war between Russia and NATO. An accident .... a cyber shutdown .... even the shooting down of an aircraft would not be enough. Mind you .... shooting down an aircraft would heighten tensions to an unprecedented degree. What would trigger a war is a coordinated attack that has been OK'd by a government in NATO and/or by NATO as a whole .... and on the other side an attack ordered by Moscow. Another event that could trigger a war would be something like this (where one side believes that they are being attacked) .... In Order For U.S. Missile Defense To Work Against North Korean Missiles, The Interceptions Will Need To Occur Over Russia.

U.S. V-22 Osprey Has Crashed In Syria

A U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey soars through the skies over Hokkaido, Japan, August 18, 2017, in support of Northern Viper 2017. (U.S. Marine Corps photo/Lance Cpl. Andy Martinez)

USNI News: V-22 Osprey Suffers ‘Hard Landing’ in Syria, Two Service Members Injured

This post will be updated as new information becomes available.

A V-22 has gone down in Syria, injuring two service member sometime on Thursday, a defense official confirmed to USNI News on Friday.

The V-22 that was operating in support of the ongoing Operation Inherent Resolve mission against ISIS forces suffered a “hard landing,” according to the official.

The downing resulted in non-life-threatening injuries to two unidentified service member. Other press reports indicate the aircraft was operating from a coalition ground base and was destroyed following the hard landing.

“The two were evaluated for non-life threatening injuries and quickly transported to a medical treatment facility, where they were seen and released,” read a Friday release from U.S. Central Command.

“The other passengers and crew on the aircraft were uninjured, and no other casualties were reported on the ground.”

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Update: V-22 Osprey Crashes in Syria, 2 Troops Injured, Official Says (Military.com)

WNU Editor: The two who were injured have been released from the hospital, and apparently the aircraft has been destroyed.

In Order For U.S. Missile Defense To Work Against North Korean Missiles, The Interceptions Will Need To Occur Over Russia

Depiction of ground based interceptor fired against an ICBM launched from North Korea. Joshua Pollack

Patrick Tucker, Defense One: If North Korea Fires an ICBM, the US Might Have to Shoot It Down Over Russia

Missile-defense physics may require interceptors to fly into ‘the teeth of the Russian early warning net.’

If Pyongyang fires a missile at the United States, its most-likely trajectory would take it over the North Pole. A U.S. attempt to shoot down that missile would probably occur within Russian radar space — and possibly over Russia itself. “It’s something we’re aware of,” Gen. Lori Robinson, who leads both U.S. Northern Command and the North American Aerospace Defense Command, or NORAD, said Wednesday. “It’s something we work our way through.”

By year’s end, the U.S. will have deployed 44 ground-based interceptors, or GBIs: 40 at Fort Greeley, Alaska, and four at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. If deterrence fails, those interceptors would be the last line of defense against a North Korean missile. Each incoming ICBM might be met with four or more GBIs.

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WNU Editor: If Russia early warning systems detects missiles heading into Russian air-space .... they will not know if these are missile interceptors .... they will treat it as a nuclear attack.

Al-Shabab Overruns Somali Military Base Near Mogadishu

VOA: Al-Shabab Overruns Somali Military Base

Al-Shabab militants stormed a military base near the Somali capital Mogadishu Friday using suicide car bombs followed by fighters armed with heavy machine guns, rocket propelled grenades and other small arms.

The governor of Lower Shabelle region, Ibrahim Aden Najah, told VOA Somali that the militants attacked near the town of Barire, 47 kilometers (29 miles) southwest of Mogadishu.

Najah said government forces repulsed an initial attack, which began around 4:30 a.m. local time, but the militants launched a second assault and heavy fighting ensued.

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More News On Reports That Al-Shabaab Have Killed Scores Of Somali Soldiers Near Mogadishu

Militants attack Somali military base, kill at least 15 -- Reuters
Somalia extremists attack military base, kill 10, says army -- FOX News/AP
Somalia's al-Shabab militants attack military base outside Mogadishu, claim to kill 17 soldiers -- South China Morning Post/Reuters
Shabaab Islamists attack Somali army base killing at least 8 -- AFP
Somalia: Al-Shabab launches deadly attack on army base -- Al Jazeera
Somalia: Al-Shabab seizes army base, kills soldiers -- Garowe Online

World News Briefs -- September 29, 2017

A still image taken from a video footage shows members of the North Korean delegation, who arrived for talks in Moscow, on September 29, 2017 / RT

RT: Behind closed doors: Top N. Korean diplomat arrives in Moscow for talks (VIDEO)

Senior Russian and North Korean diplomats have met in Moscow to discuss the crisis on the Korean Peninsula. It comes as Pyongyang’s war of words with Washington threatens to escalate into all-out conflict.

Oleg Burmistrov, Russia’s ambassador-at-large, met Choe Son-hui, director-general of the North American Department of North Korea’s Foreign Ministry in the Russian capital on Friday. They met behind closed doors.

The talks lasted for almost five hours, RIA Novosti’s correspondent reported from the scene.

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MIDDLE EAST

Dozens of Islamic State militants uncovered in mass grave in Iraq.

Syrian army battles IS attack in Deir al-Zor. 73 Syria government fighters killed in IS attacks: monitor.

'Cautious' State Department asks Iran, Iraq to avoid 'violence' with Kurds.

Vladmir Putin meets Erdogan to secure Syria de-escalation zone.

Turkey raises oil threat after Iraqi Kurds' referendum.

Iraqi ban on flights to Kurdish cities begins Friday.

Turkish military kills three PKK militants in north Iraq near border: sources.

Yemen experiences worst cholera outbreak ever.

ASIA

New Taliban propaganda video features Trump calling Afghanistan a ‘complete disaster’.

Report: North Korea, ex-U.S. officials to meet for informal talks.

Japan's defence chief warns of possible N.Korea provocation on Oct. 10.

UN chief urges Myanmar to end military operations in Rohingya crisis.

Up to 63 Rohingya people dead as vessel carrying refugees shipwrecks.

Fear as Myanmar violence hits Bengali Hindus.

Muslims in China say they are being told to hand over Qurans or face 'harsh punishments'.

Bali: Fear of volcanic eruption forces 130,000 to flee.

AFRICA

Somalia extremists attack military base, kill 10, says army.

Car bomb blast kills seven in Somalia's Mogadishu.

African security officials tackle regional threats.

Cameroon bans pro-independence rallies in Anglophone area.

Libya strongman asks Europe for helicopters to fight migration.

S.Africa court says cannot compel Zuma to set up influence-peddling inquiry.

More than half of Borno schools closed over Boko Haram.

UN rights council extends Burundi abuses probe.

EUROPE

'Miracles' needed to advance Brexit talks by October deadline.

Catalan students rally to defend independence vote.

Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny detained ahead of rally.

Lavrov: Moscow won’t tolerate crusade to blame Russia for everything under the sun in US.

Surge in migration to Greece fuels misery in refugee camps.

Macron’s counter-terror bill risks France’s human rights record, say UN experts .

EU leaders gather in Estonia to discuss Europe's digital future.

AMERICAS

Crowds jam Puerto Rico dock hoping for place on cruise ship.

US 'to pull staff from Cuba over attacks'.

Trump vows to tackle N Korea on Asia trip.

Trump's tax plan is ALREADY in trouble with his own party as plan to axe state and local tax deduction comes under fire from Republicans.

Twitter's Russia briefings 'inadequate' - US senators.

Americans blame Facebook for fake news, new poll finds.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro says his country should be getting ready to fight the US.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Pentagon: Airstrikes killed 3 Islamic State drone experts.

US conducts more air strikes against Islamic State in Libya.

IS leader Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi 'resurfaces' in audio clip.

FBI investigating as many cases of domestic extremism as foreign terrorism.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

OPEC oil output edges higher in Sept as Iraq, Libya pump more.

Volkswagen diesel emissions fixing bill hits $30bn.

U.N. report: Pollution is controllable and avoidable.

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- September 29, 2017

Wikimedia Commons

Task & Purpose: North Korea’s Military Is Getting Millions Of New Volunteers, According To North Korean Propaganda

As talks of an all-out war with the United States rage on, 4.7 million patriotic “students and workers,” including more than a million women, have volunteered to join the North Korean military. At least, that’s what the North Korean state-controlled media said Sept. 28.

The country, which only boasts a population of around 25 million, does have one of the largest ground armies, according to a June report from Newsweek. It is also one of a handful of countries with compulsory military service, even for female citizens. Which sort of leads one to wonder how the Hermit Nation would have one-fifth of its undernourished populace suddenly, uh, volunteer for service.

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Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- September 29, 2017

North Korea claims almost 5 million have signed up to join its already enormous army -- The Independent

S. Korea Seeks to Take Over Wartime Control of Military From US -- VOA

North Korea war a real possibility, says RUSI -- The Australian

North Korea-US war now 'a real possibility', warns influential Rusi think tank -- The Independent

NORTHCOM General ‘Amazed’ at North Korea’s Rapid Missile Advances -- DoD Buzz

Seoul's VERY special forces: South Korea invests £18million and creates a crack weapons team to protect Winter Olympics to be staged just 50 miles from Kim Jong-un's border -- Daily Mail

Alarming graphic predicts radioactive aftermath of N. Korean nuclear launch -- RT

Australia should prepare for North Korean attack, former Pentagon missile boss warns -- ABC News Online

Kalashnikov's next military gear might be hoverbikes -- Endgadget

Russia receives down payment from Turkey on S-400 air defense systems – Moscow -- RT

Beijing Wants You! to Join the People’s Liberation Army in Hong Kong -- Sputnik

China and Pakistan Demonstrate Alliance, Flex Muscles During Joint Exercise -- Sputnik

China’s J-20 stealth fighter jet is in service -- Defense News

US urges suspension of weapons supplies to Myanmar -- DW

Australia to continue military training in Myanmar despite ethnic cleansing allegations -- ABC News Online

German military investigating right-wing extremism within its ranks -- DW

Germany extends military missions, expecting long coalition talks -- DW

Emmanuel Macron calls for shared European military force -- CBC/AP

Lithuania has a volunteer army fighting a war on the internet -- Euronews

Mattis makes unannounced visit to Qatar -- CNN

The Army’s Lethal New Sniper Rifle Is Still In The Works Despite Cancellation Fears -- Task & Purpose

Navy Awards Money for 2 More Arleigh Burke Destroyers -- US News and World Report/AP

US Army awards billion-dollar contract for 100-foot landing ships -- Defense News

US Army to Stop Buying Tactical Network Systems, General Says -- DoD Buzz

The US Navy Has Created Its First Ever Underwater Drone Squadron -- The Warzone/The Drive

Navy Using ‘Legally Creative’ Contract Structure to Keep Ship Availabilities On Track Despite Continuing Resolutions -- USNI News

'You have to be a computer genius': Trump likened the Navy's new catapult technology to learning the seat controls in a new car -- Business Insider

Industrial base war-gaming: Pentagon wants companies to find supply-chain weaknesses -- Defense News

Inside ‘Ripper Lab,’ Marines 3D-Print Drones That Can Support Combat -- Defense Tech

U.S. appoints general to oversee military response to Puerto Rico disaster -- Reuters

Low-Tech Logjam at San Juan Port Stymies Puerto Rico Relief Effort -- Defense Tech

U.S. Renews Airstrikes On Libya Targeting The Islamic State

CNN: US hits ISIS in Libya a second time in less than a week

The US military conducted airstrikes against ISIS fighters in Libya Tuesday, for a second time in less than a week and only the second time the US has struck targets in the North African country since Donald Trump became President.

"US forces conducted two precision airstrikes in Libya against ISIS militants," US Africa Command, which oversees US troops in the region, said in a statement issued Thursday.

Africa Command added that the strikes killed "several ISIS militants" and were carried out "in coordination with the Libyan Government of National Accord," the internationally recognized government based in Tripoli.

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More News On Libya

US renews air attacks on IS in Libya -- Deutsche Welle
US carries out airstrikes in Libya -- The Telegraph
U.S. airstrikes in Libya kill several ISIS fighters -- CBS/AP
US Air Strike Kills 'Several' Islamic State Militants in Libya -- U.S. News & World Report/Reuters
US Strikes Daesh in Libya, Killing Several Terrorists - US Africa Command -- Sputnik International
Egyptian air force 'destroys 4x4 vehicles carrying weapons' across Libya border: Spox -- Ahram Online
Libya lists more than 830 wanted jihadists -- News24
Islamic State set up Libyan desert army after losing Sirte: prosecutor -- Reuters
ISIS, private militias threaten Libyan recovery, says former prime minister -- Fox News