London Bridge Terror Attack -- News Updates November 29, 2019

Daily Mail: London Bridge terrorist's fake suicide vest revealed: Hero police shoot dead knifeman wearing dummy explosives as passers-by wrestle him to ground after he stabs five people at scene of 2017 attack

 * WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT
 * Video filmed on London Bridge shows at least four people struggling with a man on the ground
 * Armed police officers then drag the man away and fire a shot before officers back away from him
 * Frightened bystanders look on and begin screaming and running for their lives as shots are fired
 * It comes two and a half years after 2017 terrorist attack on London Bridge which saw eight killed

Armed police shot dead a knifeman wearing a fake suicide vest on London Bridge today after he stabbed up to five people in a shocking terrorist attack as frightened crowds fled the scene.

Up to five people were stabbed before the knife maniac ran onto London Bridge shortly before 2pm, where dramatic video showed he was tackled to the ground by at least six heroic members of the public.

Seconds later police told people on top of the suspect to move away, before dragging the last bystander to safety and opening fire. Officers were heard shouting 'stop moving' twice before shooting the man at close range.

One of the brave heroes was on the other side of the bridge, before tackling the man and wrestling the knife off him. The suspect lay on the ground still moving as officers backed away - clearly fearing they were still in danger.

Read more ....

London Bridge Terror Attack -- News Updates November 29, 2019

Latest updates after London Bridge stabbing attack: Live -- BBC
London Bridge attack: suspect in terrorist incident shot dead by police – live news -- The Guardian
London police shoot suspect dead after ‘terrorist’ stabbings -- AP
British police shoot dead knife man at London Bridge, declare terrorism incident -- Reuters
UK police hold man after several hurt in stabbing near London Bridge -- France 24
London Bridge: Man shot dead by police after several stabbed -- BBC
London stabbing attack: Suspect shot dead, several injured -- DW
London Bridge: Man shot dead by police after several people stabbed -- ABC News Online
London police: Several people stabbed in attack, suspect killed -- Al Jazeera
Man shot in London was wearing hoax bomb device: police -- Reuters
London Bridge stabbing: Police fire shots at attacker, multiple people injured (WATCH LIVE) -- RT
WATCH moment London Bridge stabbing suspect shot by police -- RT
'We just ran like hell': City workers and tourists tell of stampede as terror returns to a crowded London Bridge for the second time in two years -- Daily Mail
The heroes of London Bridge: Brave bystander wrestles blade off knife maniac after six stop him in his tracks and bundle him to the ground -- Daily Mail
London mayor praises 'breath-taking heroism' of public during knife rampage -- Reuters
What we know about incident at London Bridge -- Reuters
Factbox: Deadly attacks in Britain in recent years -- Reuters

World News Briefs -- November 2019

The Guardian: London Bridge terror incident: suspect shot dead by police after five injured

Officers say circumstances are unclear but incident being treated as if terrorism-related

Police have shot a suspect after five people were injured in a stabbing incident near London Bridge.

The Metropolitan police said the circumstances were unclear but that the incident was being treated “as though it is terror-related”.

Police said they were called to a stabbing at premises near the bridge shortly before 2pm on Friday.

Graphic footage posted on social media showed armed officers apparently pulling civilians off a person lying on the ground on the bridge before firing at him from close range.

Read more ....

MIDDLE EAST

Iraqi forces kill multiple rioters, pushing death toll to almost 370 since protests began.

Iraq's prime minister to step down amid protests.

PM resignation is 'only first step', say Iraqi protesters.

Iraqis shatter taboos in rage at Iran, but bloodshed may follow.

Yemen's Houthi rebels say they shot down Saudi Apache helicopter.

Iran continues dismantling JCPOA nuclear restrictions.

Palestinian teen shot dead by Israel in southern Gaza Strip.

ASIA

Taliban ready to restart peace talks after Trump visit, official says.

Hong Kong police end unversity siege. Hong Kong set for fresh weekend protests as police end university siege.

Japan, South Korea to hold high-level trade talks.

UK, NZ send medics to Samoa as measles outbreak kills 42.

Papua New Guinea budget reveals Canberra is spending $440m to keep China at bay.

India economic slowdown to exacerbate hunger crisis.

K-pop stars Jung Joon-young and Choi Jong-hoon sentenced to prison for rape.

AFRICA

Guinea temporarily frees jailed opposition leaders.

Sudan's rulers repeal Omar al-Bashir-era law regulating women's behaviour and dissolve former ruling party. Sudan crisis: Women praise end of strict public order law.

'Frustratingly slow' vote count in Namibia after extended polling.

South Africa's Zuma loses bid to appeal against corruption trial.

Leading cartoonist detained in Algeria.

Eight detained in Gabon anti-corruption crackdown.

East Africa struggles with heavy rains as thousands displaced.

Polio outbreaks in Africa caused by mutation of strain in vaccine.

EUROPE

Boris Johnson and Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage replaced with blocks of melting ice at climate debate.

General election 2019: Boris Johnson warns Donald Trump against election endorsement.

Paris and Berlin at odds, but talk of rupture overblown.

German parliament passes record budget.

Malta PM says no immunity granted for suspect in journalist killing.

Macron-Stoltenberg meeting: French president defends 'wake-up call' for NATO.

NATO moves towards spending goal sought by Trump, Spain lags.

Albania PM's future daughter-in-law is among dozens of people killed in earthquake, as politician's son reveals 'the closest person to me was found under the rubble'.

AMERICAS

Trump returns to Florida after whirlwind Afghanistan trip.

'Black Friday' becoming a shadow of its former self in US.

Exclusive: U.S. weighs new regulations to further restrict Huawei suppliers - sources.

US vows to 'reinforce' sanctions, accuses Venezuela and Cuba of stirring regional 'strife'.

'No invasion since 1914' - Mexico bristles at U.S. terror designation plan.

Chile announces $20 billion injection to stop economic crash.

Union calls another Colombia strike as protest turnout falls.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

British police shoot dead knife man at London Bridge, declare terrorism incident.

French army denies IS claim for deadly Mali crash that killed 13 soldiers.

My life as a female ISIS law enforcer: Jihadi bride reveals how women had nails pulled out with pliers for wearing nail polish while pregnant 'sinners' were tortured until they miscarried in horrifying account.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Daimler to cut thousands of jobs worldwide by 2022.

Aramco says IPO oversubscribed for individual investors.

Dyson to move global HQ to historic Singapore building.

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- November 29, 2019

RT: WATCH Russian strategic nuclear forces test-launch Topol ICBM

The Russian military has test-fired a nuclear-capable RS-12M Topol, capturing a chilling view of an intercontinental ballistic missile ascending into the night sky in a captivating video.

The test launch was performed from the Kapustin Yar military range in Russia’s southern Astrakhan Region, the Defense Ministry said, revealing little detail besides that the test warhead “successfully hit its designated target” some 2,100km away at the Sary-Shagan range in Kazakhstan.

Read more ....

Military And Intelligence News Briefs -- November 29, 2019

Russian Defence Ministry Successfully Test Fires Topol ICBM -- Sputnik

Over 150 Yars ICBM launchers operational in Russia’s Strategic Missile Force -- TASS

Russian official says it is impossible to intercept Yars missile with existing systems -- TASS

Moscow May Stop Using Nukes as Deterrent Force, Commander of Russian Strategic Missile Forces Says -- Sputnik

Russia isn’t imminent threat but NATO must react to its rising potential — Stoltenberg -- TASS

NATO Seeks to Head Off Budget Row Saying Spending is Rising -- VOA/AP

French helicopters involved in Mali crash were not under IS fire, military says -- France 24

Showcasing the B-52’s Range, Ability -- Air Force Magazine

Navy struggles with stopping dirt from clogging Osprey engines, report warns -- Military Times

Pentagon Eyeing More Advanced Virtual, Augmented Reality Headwear -- National Defense

New Exoskeleton Tech Center Partnering with Army -- National Defense

Army develops hearing protection for military working dogs -- UPI

Navy's Plan to Build More SEAL Platoons Stalled Amid Discipline Problems -- Military.com

Acting Navy Secretary Thomas B. Modly visits Ford crew in first fleet visit -- UPI

Op-ed: Navy corruption and the Gallagher case -- Sean Gallagher, Navy Times

The Icebreaker Gap Doesn’t Mean America Is Losing in the Arctic -- P.C. Avey, War On The Rocks

An NSA contractor allegedly scammed the Pentagon out of $100,000 -- Quartz

Keep Your Friends Close and Your Enemies Closer? Not In Cyberspace. -- Lieutenant Commander Raymond Dennis, US Naval Institute

CIA Whistleblower Jeffrey Sterling’s Life as an “Unwanted Spy” -- The Intercept

India Cuts Purchase of P-8 Spy Planes From US in Half -- Sputnik

India Successfully Tests Supersonic BrahMos Cruise Missile in Arabian Sea -- Sputnik

China tests killer drones for street-to-street urban warfare, plans sales overseas -- SCMP

The Shape-Shifting Threat of Chinese Espionage -- The Economist

China Joins the Global Disinformation Order -- Philip N. Howard & Samantha Bradshaw, The Strategist

Seoul’s Temporary Adherence to Intelligence Pact Risks Emboldening China -- Mathew Ha, FDD

China mixing military and science in Arctic push: Denmark -- Reuters

Long-range drones to join Iran navy soon: Khanzadi -- MEHR News Agency

Iran Fits All Warships With New Vertical Launching System as Mideast Freeze Shows No Sign of Thaw -- Sputnik

Russia, China Expected to Equip Iran With Fighters and Tanks When Arms Embargo Lifts -- Military.com

Report: Iran likely to buy Russian and Chinese arms -- Al-Monitor

Remembering The Battle For Fallujah 15 Years Later

Andrea Scott, Marine Times: The second battle of Fallujah: 15 years later

The dust and grime were finally starting to settle as the sun set in Iraq.

Marine Cpl. Stephen Berge was in an ­abandoned factory in Fallujah when he felt the tides turning.

He didn’t know at the time that this second ­battle of Fallujah he currently was in, also known as Operation Phantom Fury, would become known as the bloodiest battle of the Iraq War.

But he did have a feeling in his gut he would be going home soon.

It was Thanksgiving Day. And Berge was sitting down to his first hot meal since the Marines had invaded the city on Nov. 7, 2004.

A tire on a broken-down tram loader had required someone to stay behind that day, and the heavy equipment operator was it.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: 15 years already?!?!?! Time travels fast. The above YouTube video is a documentary on the battle for Fallujah.

President Trump Arrived In Florida Early Friday Morning After His Whirlwind Trip To Afghanistan

Armed U.S. troops travel inside the presidential motorcade ahead of Air Force One, at the tarmac at Bagram Air Field in Afghanistan, November 28. REUTERS/Tom Brenner

The Hill: Trump back in Florida after whirlwind Afghanistan trip

President Trump arrived in Florida early Friday morning following his surprise trip to Afghanistan to see U.S. troops on Thanksgiving, his second visit to a combat zone as president and his first to Afghanistan.

Trump's plane touched down at Palm Beach International Airport shortly before 7 a.m. on Friday. Trump sported a red "Keep America Great" hat and open-collar dress shirt when departing the presidential aircraft, before taking a short drive to his Mar-a-Lago resort.

The president had quietly left the estate on Wednesday night, boarding a military plane at an undisclosed airport and heading to Joint Base Andrews outside Washington, D.C., where he transferred to a second Air Force One 747 that flew to Bagram Airfield north of Kabul.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: Below are some reports on how President Trump was able to do this trip in secret until his arrival in Afghanistan:

Inside Trump's sneak Thanksgiving trip to Afghanistan (CNN)
How Trump’s Thanksgiving Afghanistan trip was kept under wraps amid extreme security (FOX News)
Behind Trump’s secret war-zone trip: A Mar-a-Lago escape, a twin Air Force One and a Twitter plan (Reuters)

China Testing Killer Drones For Street-To-Street Urban Warfare

A Chinese tech firm is testing a drone designed to carry out both reconnaissance missions and close-range strikes against armoured vehicles or individuals in an urban environment. Photo: Weibo

SCMP: China tests killer drones for street-to-street urban warfare, plans sales overseas

* Tianyi quadcopter built by a subsidiary of a state aerospace corporation is designed to carry out ground-level reconnaissance and precision strikes in cities
* The unmanned aerial vehicles are still under development, but once ready could be available on the international market as a cheap and versatile option

A Chinese technology firm is testing a new attack drone specifically designed to help ground troops in street-level combat, in the hope that it can sell the unit abroad, reports say.

Engineers recently completed a successful air-to-ground test firing exercise for the mini quadcopter named Tianyi, Modern Weaponry reported.

The developer, Tianjin Zhongwei Aerospace Data System Technology, said the unmanned aerial vehicle had been designed to carry out both reconnaissance missions and close-range strikes against armoured vehicles or individuals in an urban environment.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: The Chinese are not the only ones who are investing big into military drones .... Israel's drone industry becomes global force (AFP).

Iran, Russia, China To Hold Joint Naval Drills In The Indian Ocean Soon (Update)

Iran, Russia and China are set to hold their first-ever joint military drills in a show of power to the West (pictured, an Iranian destroyer at sea in the Persian Gulf)

Daily Mail: Iran, China and Russia will 'send a message to the world' with first ever joint war drills

* Navies of Iran, China and Russia will hold joint war games in the Indian Ocean
* Admiral Hussein Khanzadi said the drills would take place 'in the near future'
* Iran is hoping for 'collective security' amid maritime tensions in the Middle East

Iran, Russia and China are set to hold their first-ever joint military drills in a show of power to the West.

Admiral Hussein Khanzadi revealed yesterday that the three navies would hold military exercises in the northern Indian Ocean in the 'near future'.

Design and planning for the drills took place last month and troops are already preparing for the exercise, he said.

The joint operation will 'send a message to the world', Khanzadi was quoted as saying by the semi-official Mehr news agency.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: Still no public announcement from Russia or China on these naval drills.

More News On Reports That Iran, Russia, And China Will Be Holding Joint Naval Drills In The Indian Ocean

Iran announces joint drills with Russia and China, says it is ready for US threats -- The New Arab
Iran’s joint wargame with Russia, China delivers message to world -- MEHR News Agency
Iran says to hold military drills with Russia, China -- Anadolu Agency
Iran, Russia, China to hold joint naval drills in Indian Ocean soon -- Navy Recognition

That Is One Big Narco Sub Caught Off The Coast Of Europe

Warzone/The Drive: The First Narco Submarine Ever Seized Off A European Coast Is A Monster

This is the first time authorities in Europe have intercepted one of these vessels, which have been a staple in Latin American drug smuggling.

Spanish authorities have successfully recovered a so-called narco submarine that they seized in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean off the coast of the country's Galacia region this past weekend. This is the first time any country in Europe has seized one of these smuggling vessels and it's not entirely clear how it made the thousands-of-miles-long journey from Latin America.

Spain's Guardia Civil, National Police, and Customs Service captured the craft off Galacia on Nov. 24, 2019. The crew had attempted to scuttle it after failing to transfer the approximately three tons of cocaine onboard to another vessel due to poor weather. Those same conditions prevented Spanish security forces from refloating the drug sub until late the next day. They then towed it to port and it has now been pulled out of the water for further inspection.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: No word yet on where did it come from, and did it do the journey across the Atlantic (in primarily bad weather) by itself.

French President Macron: NATO's Enemy Is Terrorism, Not Russia Or China

RFE: Macron Says Russia, China Not NATO Allies' Common Enemies -- Terrorism Is

French President Emmanuel Macron has said that he stands by comments he made three weeks ago when he described NATO as "brain-dead," and he defended his push for dialogue with Russia.

In a November 7 interview with the Economist magazine, Macron deplored a lack of strategic cooperation among NATO members, and pointed to what he saw as a waning commitment to the Western military alliance by the United States.

The assessment drew sharp criticism from allies, with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg warning against undermining the transatlantic alliance.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: French President Macron is partially correct. When it comes to NATO Russia in some cases is a diplomatic competitor, it is an economic partner in many others, and it is not the enemy militarily even though I know many will disagree with that assessment. China is more complicated. They are not a diplomatic threat, but economically they are a competitor, and their military doctrine is to be very aggressive in Asia. Is it NATO's business to be involved in Asia? I think now. French President Macron is 100% right that NATO members should be pushing harder to have a dialogue with Russia.

Cyborg Soldiers By 2050?

Universal Soldier

Popular Mechanics: The U.S. Army Expects to Field Cyborg Soldiers by 2050

Soldiers with super sight and telepathy could rule the battlefield in 30 years.

* The U.S. Army is trying to forecast what biomedically enhanced technologies could be available by 2050.
* The tech includes electronically super hearing, muscular control, and telepathic transfer of data.
* The Army fully expects to equip soldiers with such technologies, but what about the society that invents them?

The U.S. Army believes that a range of technologies could be available by 2050 that would effectively turn the average soldier into a cybernetically enhanced super soldier. A recent Department of Defense study predicted that enhanced vision, enhanced hearing, musculature control, and what amounts to telepathy would all become possible within 30 years, given the current pace of technological development.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: I am not sure about the telepathy part, but I can see everything else being feasible. And who is to say that only soldiers will be the recipient of this technology. I can also see this being available to the general public.